NEWS
--It is back to school for many students in the state of Minnesota today, while some went back over the past few weeks and a few grades in Morrison County begin tomorrow the major load of students returning to school begins today. Please remember to watch for school buses out this morning and later this afternoon, as they will be slowing down to pick up students. You are never allowed to go around a bus when its red lights are flashing and stop arm extended. Let's make this a safe start to the school year for all involved.
--Minnesota Power reported a large outage due to repairs needed to be done to a power pole and line Saturday night which knocked out power to parts of Little Falls for hours. Full power restored by 2:24am on Sunday but no report on what damaged the pole and line.
--Hot Hot Hot, the high Sunday was 103 degrees, the first triple digit day in Little Falls since June 20th of last year when it got to 100.
--State health officials have linked eight cases of cryptosporidiosis and one case of E. coli illness to raw milk from a farm in Hillman. The Minnesota Department of Health urges anyone who recently purchased milk from Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen to discard the product and not consume it. The milk may be labeled natural A2 milk, and consumers may be unaware that the milk has not been pasteurized. The illnesses have been caused by Cryptosporidium parvum, a parasite commonly found in cattle. The cases have related subtypes of Cryptosporidium parvum, suggesting a common source. All people who became ill with gastrointestinal symptoms in early August reported purchasing or consuming raw milk from Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen before the onset of their illness. Four of them are younger than 10, and one has been hospitalized. One person was infected symptoms of E. coli at the same time. Being infected with multiple germs is not uncommon in raw milk outbreaks. People infected with Cryptosporidium generally develop watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, and weight loss approximately a week after consuming contaminated foods or touching infected animals. The illness typically lasts two weeks, but symptoms may go in cycles in which people seem to get better for a few days and then feel worse again before the illness ends. Symptoms of E. coli infections typically include stomach cramps and diarrhea, including bloody diarrhea. People typically become ill two to five days after consuming contaminated food. In some cases, people may develop severe illness that leads to hospitalization. Children under the age of 5, adults over 65, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk. The health department is working to identify all people who may have purchased milk from Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen to inform them of the risks to prevent additional illnesses. If you or someone you know has experienced gastrointestinal illness after consuming unpasteurized milk from Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen, please complete a confidential online survey or email health.zdu@state.mn.us. If you are sick, please get in touch with your healthcare provider.
--Fire damaged the Rocky Bottom at the Y restaurant in the early morning hours of Thursday. The Garrison Fire Department responded to the incident, reported around 5:30am at 27430 Highway 18, in Garrison. The department arrived to find the building on fire. Crews were on scene for about four hours battling the fire with no injuries reported. The building sustained extensive damage. The fire is currently under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
--A 23-year-old woman suffered a shoulder injury after accidentally being shot in Crosslake. The Crosslake Police Department received a report of a woman who was shot in the shoulder at 10:41am Friday on the 30000 block of Aspen Way. The 911 caller said the victim was going to a hospital via a private vehicle. Officers intercepted the vehicle and provided first aid to the woman until an ambulance arrived. North Ambulance transported the victim to the Crosslake Fire Department parking lot, where she was transported via air care to a trauma center in the Twin Cities. Officers conducted interviews with all parties involved and the initial investigation shows the shooting was accidental and there is no threat to the public. Currently, there are no subjects in custody and this incident remains an active investigation. Police did not identify the woman who was shot.
--The Meeker County Sheriff's Office is crediting residents with helping catch a fugitive Thursday. Deputies responded to a suspicious activity call in Forest City Township at around 2pm. The suspect, 39-year-old Benjamin Miller of Litchfield fled into some woods when he saw deputies arrive at the scene. Additional officers from the D-N-R and the CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force were called in to set up a perimeter and help with the search. The sheriff's office says area residents also assisted officers by providing them with details of the woods Miller had fled into. Miller was arrested without incident about an hour later and booked into the Meeker County Jail.
--A procession was held Thursday for man who was struck and killed by a dump truck while working for MnDOT on a construction project in Plymouth. 54-year-old Mike Gau died last Wednesday after he was hit while working in a construction zone at Rockford Road and Nathan Lane North. MnDOT immediately notified MNOSHA to begin an investigation. In addition to working for MnDOT, Gau was a longtime Belle Plaine volunteer firefighter, where he was a lieutenant.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--”Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett who turned beach bum lifestyle into an empire has died. Buffett died Friday at age 76.
DEATH NOTICES
--Carol Lochner, age 59 of Pierz.
--John Faust, age 91 of Little Falls.
--Roman Beam, age 84 of Royalton.
--Martin Copa Jr., age 65 of Barrett.
WEATHER
TODAY= warm and humid, high 88, storms likely, some severe.
TONIGHT= storms likely, some severe, clearing overnight, low 56.
WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, breezy, rain showers, high 68, low 50.
THURSDAY= sunny and pleasant, high near 70, low near 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins go deep 3 times Friday to win 5-1 over Rangers. Twins needed extra innings Saturday to beat Texas 9-7 in 10 innings. Texas walks off the Twins in the 9th Sunday and wins 6-5. Twins pound and then pound some more Cleveland last night to win 20-6. The Twins continues series at Cleveland tonight at 4:30pm on Q92.
CLASS C= Avon was eliminated 5-4 Friday to St. Martin. Buckman beat Hutchinson Saturday, Nisswa Sunday but lost to Bird Island in the semi-finals Sunday night ending the Region 8C teams at state.