NEWS --The Little Falls Fire Department responded to several incidents this past weekend. Around 12:15pm Saturday 15-firefighters responded to the Susan Olson residence at 21749 263rd Street in Ripley Township for a detached garage fire. Authorities battled the blaze for 90 minutes. The garage was believed to be a total loss. There were no injuries and the cause is under investigation. 16-firefighters also responded to a seal coating trailer owned by Ron Struchen on fire at the DNR Parking Lot Office located on the north side of Little Falls. Firefighters battled this blaze for about 45 minutes and the trailer was heavily damaged. The Little Falls Fire Department also responded to several alarms including at the Little Falls Exchange Arena and at Falls Machine over the weekend.
--Today is the voter registration event at the Morrison County Historical Society. All who wishes to register to vote, and have not already can do so free of charge from 10am-5pm today. For more information on the event contact Mary at 632-4007.
--A Sartell man was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital after the motorcycle he was riding hit loose gravel in an intersection Saturday afternoon. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 44-year old Eric Blumke was turning onto County Road 48 in Maine Prairie Township around 1:45pm. As he was making the turn, Blumke hit loose gravel in the intersection and crashed. A family member trailing him immediately got help according to authorities. Blumke was not wearing a helmet. He was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital for his injuries.
--Authorities believe alcohol was a factor in a crash that happened early Sunday morning in Onamia. The incident happened shortly after 1:30 at the intersection of County Road 152 and Highway 27. The Minnesota State Patrol say an SUV driven by 35-year-old James Barker of Zimmerman was heading south on the county road, crossed the highway, and vaulted over the ditch and came to a rest on the south side of the road. Barker was taken to North Memorial in Robbinsdale with non-life threatening injuries.
--A Minnesota man is being charged with third-degree murder in connection to the death of a Barnesville teenager who was found dead in June. According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office, 34-year-old Michael Buchanan is facing charges of third-degree murder, selling and distributing controlled substances and causing great bodily harm by distribution of drugs. Police say this was apart of a 4-month investigation. The arrest stems from a June 8th incident where 19-year-old Jordan Bolgrean of Barnesville was found dead by the railroad tracks. The release says Bolgrean died from an overdose. In June no foul play was suspected. Buchanan was arrested last Friday.
--An electrical fire at Munsinger Gardens causes $1,500 in damage in St. Cloud Saturday morning. The fire was under a deck at the Riverside Avenue building in the gardens. No injures reported. The cause is under investigation by St. Cloud Fire Department.
--The Royalton High School has scheduled a drill and training exercise on Monday, October 8th of an active intruder simulation with the Morrison County Sheriff's Office, SWAT Team, Royalton police and fire departments and the staff of the Royalton School District. There is no school for students that day. The are just reminding the community to not be alarmed as this is a drill. There will be a number of squad cars, SWAT vehicles, firetrucks and others on hand during the drill.
--Last night Little Falls Community High School crowned their Homecoming Royalty. Connor Skeesick was King and Katie Kurowski was Queen. Parade, tailgate party and game come up Friday.
--Authorities responded to a train vs vehicle crash near Sartell over the weekend. The incident happened just after 7:00am Saturday on the railroad tracks by the old paper mill site. Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes says according to the train operator, a Uhaul truck was parked on the tracks. The train went into emergency mode, but was unable to stop in time, striking the front corner of the vehicle. No one was hurt. Authorities used a drone to search the area to find anyone who may have been inside the vehicle, however no one was found. Police called the Uhaul company and learned the vehicle was rented by a St. Cloud resident. The renter told police the vehicle had been parked on a street in St. Cloud and was stolen. Hughes says at this time it is unknown if the vehicle was reported stolen to law enforcement. The investigation remains active.
--Wildlife managers say Minnesota's gray wolf population remains stable and healthy. The Department of Natural Resources released its annual estimate Monday. The midwinter survey put the state's population at 2,655 wolves and 465 packs. Given the survey's margin of error, the DNR says that's statistically unchanged from last winter's estimate of 2,856 wolves and 500 packs. DNR large carnivore specialist Dan Stark says long-term trends demonstrate that Minnesota's wolf population is fully recovered. The DNR conducts the survey in mid-winter near the low point of the wolves' annual population cycle. The population typically doubles after pups are born in the spring, though many pups don't survive until the next winter. Minnesota held three wolf hunting seasons before a federal judge in 2014 returned the animals to the federal threatened list.
--A Paynesville man was hurt in a crash on Highway 23 near Hawick. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 8:00am Monday in Kandiyohi County, one mile east of Hawick. 25-year-old Tanner Caldwell of Paynesville was driving east when he was attempting to turn into a driveway and was rear-ended by a car. Caldwell's pickup rolled and came to a rest in the ditch. He was taken to Paynesville Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car, 61-year-old Paul Pearson of New London, was not hurt.
WEATHER TODAY= scattered showers at times, cloudy and cooler, high 53. TONIGHT= clearing skies, low around 38. WEDNESDAY= sunny and breezy, high 58, rain late night, low 46. THURSDAY= showers off and on, partial sun and windy, high 55.
SPORTS HS= following the announcement of Pierz moving to the Granite Ridge Conference in 2019, the same conference that Little Falls, Foley and others are in, excluding the football schedule: Royalton has been offered to replace Pierz in the Central Minnesota Conference in 2019 to take on teams like Holdingford, Kimball and Paynesville Area. The item was discussed at a previous school board meeting. Whether or not to join the CMC will come up at the October 15th meeting. NCAA= The NCAA announced that the Women's College Basketball Final Four semis and finals will be at the Target Center in 2022. TWINS= Twins host Detroit tonight 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. NFL= Vikings at Los Angeles Rams Thursday 7pm on AM960 KLTF