NEWS --The Morrison County Sheriff's Office responded to an ATV accident with injuries nine miles east of Buckman on 355th Avenue in Morrill Township Sunday around 4:15pm. 55-year-old Timothy Miller of Foley was driving on 355th Avenue with a passenger, 53-year-old Arlynn Miller of Foley, when he swerved to miss another ATV and both were thrown from the vehicle. Timothy sustained unknown injuries and was treated at St. Cloud Hospital. Arlynn sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to North Memorial in the Twin Cities Metro.
--Voters in the Holdingford school district will be deciding on two ballot questions next week. The first question is a bond referendum for $11.14 million. Superintendent Chris Swenson says the money would be used for improvements to four key areas. One is a roof, we have two parts of our school that need a roof replacement, some safety and security improvements, six-classroom addition in the elementary, and some other traffic flow and pedestrian safety issues. So that's question one this time for a little over $11 million. Last November Holdingford residents defeated a larger bond referendum of $19.7 million by a 61 percent to 39 percent margin. The second question is a technology operating levy of $200 per pupil for the next 10 years. Last year voters rejected that same question by a 47 percent to 53 percent margin. Swenson said these are two independent questions. If both questions pass, property taxes on a $150,000 home in the Holdingford school district would increase by $193 a year.
--Following the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday that left 11 dead and six injured, Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all United States flags and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at state and federal buildings in the state of Minnesota. As directed by President Donald Trump's proclamation, flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Wednesday out of respect for the victims of Saturday's shooting of the Jewish community at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pennsylvania.
--St. Cloud Police responded to the student union on the campus of St. Cloud State University early Sunday after a report of a possible gunshot. An officer was flagged down just after 1:00 a.m. Sunday and told of a possible gun being fired at an event at the Atwood Center. Police arrived to find large groups of people leaving quickly. Officers met with campus security who said they didn't hear or see any gunshots but said there was a brief fight or physical altercation. Police say no injuries were reported and no one was arrested. Based upon their investigation, police do not believe there was a gunshot or any weapons at the event.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office was asked to have more patrols around Belle Prairie Park north of Little Falls. Recently the Morrison County Commissioners were told that vandals had driven through the disc golf course tearing up the grass and land around it also items were knocked down by the fast moving vehicles. The Sheriff's Office said they will patrol the grounds more in hope in finding those responsible for the vandalism.
--There is a fun run for kids and adults today at 3:30pm the Little Falls High School Track. Students were asked to sign up ahead of time for a charm and treat after the run. You can run in costume if you desire. There is no charge and the run is around 2 miles in length as the run goes into the wooded area across from the schools.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a motorcycle crash on 195th Street at County Road 49 in Luxemburg Township southwest of Cold Spring around 3:45pm Saturday. 40-year-old Bryan Bemboom of Pine City was riding his motorcycle on a gravel road when he reached the shoulder of the road which was soft due to the recent rain. Bemboom’s motorcycle got caught in the mud. Bemboom tried to hold the motorcycle upright but was unsuccessful. The motorcycle tipped over causing an injury to Bemboom’s lower right leg. Bemboom was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
--One person was hurt in a car versus pick-up truck crash near Rockford on Friday. The incident happened at the intersection of Highway 55 and County Road 33 around 3:30pm The Minnesota State Patrol says the pick-up truck was stopped and waiting to turn onto County Road 33 when it was rear-ended by the car. The name of the 17-year-old driver of the car was not released. She was taken to North Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the truck, 65-year-old Douglas Salfer of St. Michael, was not hurt. The two passengers in the truck, 55-year-old John Salfer of St. Michael, and 64-year-old Karen Salfer of Dayton were not hurt either.
--Friends of Erika Dalquist, who was murdered in 2002, are hosting an event to honor her memory tonight at 7pm outside The Parlor in downtown Brainerd. Cynthia Ann Vice said Dalquist was her best friend, and she and another friend have placed yellow ribbons and flameless candles every year on the day the 21-year-old woman disappeared 16 years ago after she was at a Brainerd downtown bar. Vice said the public is invited to attend and are encouraged to bring flameless candles to honor Dalquist's memory. Dalquist disappeared October 30, 2002 from downtown Brainerd. After 18 months of searches, her remains were found May 15, 2004, in a shallow grave on property east of Brainerd owned by the grandparents of her killer, William Myears. Myears pleaded guilty to second-degree unintentional murder and was sentenced to 21 years in prison, with the final one-third of time to be served on supervised probation. Myears was released from prison in April and is now on supervised probation.