NEWS
--Public safety officials are warning Minnesotans about a new phone scam circulating in the state. The FBI and Minnesota BCA say scammers are impersonating law enforcement using spoofing technology. Authorities say the scammers are able to imitate FBI and BCA numbers to make the line they are actually calling from look official on caller ID. Once they have you on the line, the scammers will claim to be agents conducting an investigation and try to get sensitive information such as your social security number, banking information, and home address. Officials say both agencies do have to reach out to residents from time to time during investigations, but legitimate agents will encourage you to verify their identity. Authorities say you can protect yourself from this type of scam by asking for a callback number and calling the agency's main information number to confirm the identity of the person you are speaking with. The FBI number is 763-569-8000 and the BCA number is 651-793-7000. There is also help available for people who have been victimized by this scam on the Public Safety website.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office had an official swearing in of four personnel members, Sgt. John DeCock, Deputy Jake Fasching, Deputy Cody Holtz and Deputy Caleb Elfering with the sheriff's office. Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated that Morrison County is fortunate to have these men protecting and serving our county.
--Sheriff Shawn Larsen of Morrison County announced today the commencement of the Law Enforcement Scholarship Program for 2023. Sheriff Larsen proudly announced that the MSA Board of Directors has established a scholarship fund for the awarding of up to 20 $2,000 scholarships for this year. These scholarships are due to the coordinated efforts of the 87 Sheriffs of the State of Minnesota. The Members of MSA gives special recognition to the financial needs of students attending the peace officer skills course, or one of the two, or four-year law enforcement degree colleges. “The Board of Directors feel peace officers in our democratic society have complex duties to perform” said Sheriff Larsen. MSA recognizes the importance of pre-entry training for people considering law enforcement as their career choice. MSA recognizes some students need outside help in meeting the costs of such training, even though they excel academically. The Scholarship Committee, in making its selection of awards, intends on achieving representation from all geographical areas of the state. Scholarship awards will be announced by December 29th of the same year. Application forms and a statement of procedures are available at the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office. Scholarships are only available to students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories: Mandated POST Skills Program, In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program. In their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. In order to qualify, students must have completed at least one year of the two-year program or two years of a four-year program. Students meeting these criteria are invited to obtain a scholarship application form from their local sheriff’s office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org.
-–A person was killed after getting attacked by a bull near Parkers Prairie. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office says first responders were called to a property in Effington Township around 6:15 on Saturday evening. Officials say the bull killed Jerry Altman, and police had to euthanize the animal. The death is still under investigation.
--The Morrison County Historical Society invites the public to see what is involved in the Phase 1 Archeological Survey being conducted on the property of the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. This Saturday, September 2, archeologists from McFarlane Consulting and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Tribal Historic Preservation Office will be working to examine the property. Time slots to see this work are 11am, Noon, and 1pm. Walk-ups are welcome but if possible please let us know you might be stopping by to see the work by calling 320-632-4007 or email: mocohistory@gmail.com. This survey is being financed by a grant from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, a part of the Legacy Amendment.
--Tonight a super blue moon will appear in the sky, an extremely rare event. A blue moon is a second full moon in the same calendar month. The lunar cycle is about 29 days, so it shifts forward gradually. A blue moon comes roughly every three years. The next one is in 2026. Saint Cloud State University Assistant Professor Rachel Humphrey explains what a super-moon is. She says, “Our orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle, right? It’s what we call an elliptical. That is true of the orbit of the moon around us as well. So, sometimes, the moon is closer to us. When that happens, sometimes the moon looks a little bit brighter. So, that’s the super part of the super blue moon.” The term super moon is traced back to astrology, but scientists and the general public have embraced it in recent years. It will also have the distinction of being one of the brightest full moons of the year. Humphrey says it all comes down to angles. “So, the brightest moon is going to be when it is higher above our heads in the sky because there’s less atmosphere that that light has to travel through. It’s the same reason that you should never look at the sun without sunglasses or anything like that during the high part of noon.” The blue super-moon should appear in the sky around 8:15.
--Many of our area schools are hosting open houses tonight like in Little Falls, Royalton, Pierz, Upsala and Swanville check with your school calendar for information on meeting the teachers for the upcoming school year. School begins for most on Tuesday.
DEATH NOTICES
--Ervin “Butch” Maleski, age 85 of Harding
--Fairymae Okerman, age 85 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, some early hazy, high 77.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low 58.
THURSDAY= clouds rolls in, breezy, high 83, rain at night, low 63.
FRIDAY= sunny and warm, breezy, high 88, storms overnight, 65.
SPORTS
TWINS= Cleveland beats the Twins 4-2 last night. The Twins wrap up series with Cleveland today at Target Field, pregame coverage begins at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
WNBA= Lynx lose 83-72 to Washington. At 17-19 the Lynx still hold the 6th playoff spot in the WNBA with 4 games left in the season.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1905= Ty Cobb debuts for Detroit Tigers.
IN 1968= Beatles open Apple Records and record “Hey Jude”.
IN 1976= Tom Brokaw becomes anchor of NBC Nightly News.