NEWS
--The Little Falls Fire Department has been busy the past few days including responding to two fires on Monday morning. At 12:45am 23 Little Falls Firefighters responded to a house fire at 109 6th Avenue SE in Little Falls. The home is owned by Jeremy Santala but was being rented out by Devin Robbins. Both Devin and his brother Logan were home at the time of the fire but smoke alarms woke them up as both were able to escape safely. Firefighters battled the fire for three hours and were able to limit the fire to moderate damage sustained in the upstairs and attic area. The fire appeared to be electrical in nature, perhaps caused by space heaters that overloaded an electrical circuit but the official cause is still under investigation. There was also a grass fire on Highway 10 quickly extinguished with the assistance of the Little Falls Police Department. There were no injuries from either fire Monday. The Little Falls Fire Department also responded to an auto extrication on Highway 371 at 6:48am Saturday and two alarms on Sunday.
--According to the recent Morrison County sheriff's report there has been a number of calls of thefts reported since October 17th. Including a cabin in Pierz broken into, a business in Motley on Highway 10 reported a theft, and a resident in Cushing reported a theft of copper wire. There was also damage to property incidents and a scam report on social security to a residence on Highway 115. The sheriff's office as with other law enforcement remind you if you notice something suspicious to call their office at 632-9233.
--Brainerd police were dispatched to O'Neary's Pub on South 7th Street in Brainerd to investigate an assualt with a knife. Officers met with a 27-year old Brainerd man who was suffering from a laceration to his index finger on his left hand. The victim said he was walking near the intersection of Laurel and 7th and was approached by a male that had a knife and demanded his money. The victim said he knew the suspect and refused to give him money and then he tried to take the knife from the suspect who cut him on the hand and fled on foot. The victim was treated and released at a nearby hospital. Officers were able to find the suspect and he was identified as 35-year old John Alton Piffier III. He was taken into custody and charged with assault and attempted robbery.
--On Sunday evening at approximately 5:19pm the Stearns County Communications Center received a call regarding a two-vehicle crash with injures. The location given was the intersection in Fairhaven Township about 6 miles north of the townsite of Fairhaven. 58-year-old Lynette Kleve of Howard Lake was driving southbound on county road 7 when 72-year-old Clayton Johannes of Jordan was eastbound on county road 146. Johannes entered into the intersection and was struck by Kleve. Kleve was treated on scene for her injuries and later transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment. Her injuries were not life threatening. Deputies made contact with Johannes and observed indications of alcohol consumption. After additional investigation Johannes was arrested and booked on Criminal Vehicular Operation resulting in injury-felony and Fourth Degree DWI. He was held at the Stearns County Jail pending a court appearance. The crash remains under investigation.
--The St. Francis Convent will be hosting a blood drive today from 1-7pm, Wednesday 12-6pm and Thursday from 8:30am-2:30pm, appointments can be made at 632-0663, walk ins are welcome too.
--Trick or Treating starting at 3:30pm Thursday in Little Falls & Pierz.
--The Swanville School District has two questions for a referendum with voting day next Tuesday, November 5th from noon to 8:00pm at Swanville Fire Hall. Question one is an operating levy of ten years for a renewal of an existing levy of $38.31 per pupil which otherwise expires after 2020-21. Also included in question one would be an additional $47.03 per pupil which maximizes state aid. Revenue may be used for any operating expenses. For question one the referendum property taxes are not levied on seasonal recreational property (cabins), agricultural land and buildings (only levied on house, garage, and 1 acre). Question two for the Swanville School District which would be voted on at the same time would be a technology levy of a ten year term for an annual increase of $75,000 per year for technology purposes effective in Fiscal Year 2021. Recreational and agricultural property are taxed under this levy Revenue would be used for technology expenses such as: 1) Adding more time to current technology staff; 2) Providing more training for staff; 3) Starting with one classroom with a cart of ipads to use all day long as a pilot program prior to pursuing having more students using devices such as ipads on a regular basis; 4) Supplementing/ Updating their current wireless network. Swanville Superintendent Gene Harthan will be the guest on Up Front today at 9:05 on AM960 KLTF to discuss the referendum vote in Swanville on November 5th.
--Maintenance crews will continue sealing cracks on CSAH 76 North of Little Falls this week as weather permits. Crews will also be blading gravel roads around the county. Public Works will be spot shouldering roads on CSAH 1, 2, and 28 in the northwest part of the county. Please use caution around work crews as flaggers will be present directing traffic.
--The Morrison County Sheriffs Office received a report of a 4-wheeler stolen on Friday from the Pierz area. The owner states it has a black rack on the front and back, a winch on the front, and a black mesh bag that hangs off the rear. Also a Paddle Boat with an aluminum pontoon style float was recovered on Fish Trap Lake recently. Please contact an investigator at the Morrison County Sheriff's Office at (320) 632-9233 if you have information on the stolen 4-wheeler or to identify the recently found pontoon.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and chilly, high 35.
TONIGHT= clear and calm, cold temps, low near 15.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 33, clear and chilly night, low 18.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 38, clouds increase late, low 24.
SPORTS
HS VB= Royalton at Albany in playoffs tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
WS= Game 6 of the World Series tonight in Houston, the Astros won three straight on the road to lead 3-2 and could wrap it up tonight.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1682= William Penn lands in the new world, forms Pennsylvania.
IN 1833= first U.S. College Fraternity formed.
IN 1956= the Huntley/Brinkley news program first airs on NBC.
IN 1960= Cassius Clay wins first professional boxing match.
IN 1982= Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson record together for the first time, for “The Girl is Mine” for the Thriller album.
IN 1998= Senator John Glenn returns to space, now at age 77 and first time since 1962 as a payload specialist on the Discovery.