NEWS
--Jason Kern from the local DNR Forestry Office in Morrison County spoke on KLTF Tuesday and stated that normally in July Morrison County firefighters respond to about 2 wildfires of small acreges but this year 9 fires of fairly significant acreges of over 100 total acres burned last month and peat fires were call responded too in July due to the very dry conditions. Kern stated they have monitored precipitation in July and as a whole we are down 6 inches for the year and down 2+ inches for July alone in the county. Kern said that baler fires, equipment fires are up and remind farmers to watch their surroundings from a spark or hot baring that could start a wildfire. Kern said as for burning restrictions right now are expected to stay in place until a widespread push of rain comes through to ease the dry conditions but until then Kern said we are in the long haul of restrictions and not allowing much of any outdoor burning. If you have questions on restrictions, wildfire prevention or other forestry questions call 320-232-1061. Kern stated if your have fish and wildlife (hunting) questions or conservation type questions contact their DNR Conservation Office at 320-232-1060.
--Pierz Superintendent George Weber announced that after reviewing the new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Education, the Pierz school board discussed the fall policy at their meeting last week and stated at this time, Pierz Schools will not be requiring masks for students or staff at any grade level this coming school year. Weber stated that the school will continue to be vigilant in the district's sanitizing and have invested in upgrades to all the air quality standards. Pierz Schools of course supports any students or staff who would still prefer to wear a mask in School District buildings but it will not be required.
--A Fridley man is seriously hurt after a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Collegeville. The Minnesota State Patrol says 37-year-old Kenneth Turner was heading westbound on I-94 when he went to exit on County Road 159, went onto the shoulder and rolled multiple times. The crash happened just before 7:30pm Monday. Turner was brought to St. Cloud Hospital with reported life-threatening injuries.
--A two-vehicle accident injured one person Sunday after the driver swerved to avoid a pedestrian chasing his dog Sunday afternoon on Highway 10 at the Wadena/Otter Tail County line. At 2:19pm the state patrol said that 34-year-old Rose Hilliker of Hermantown was traveling east on Highway 10 at mile post 88 when a pedestrian ran out in front of the vehicle chasing the dog, causing the vehicle to swerve into the other lane and was struck by 27-year-old Alexander Peterson of Ramsey. Peterson was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. No one else involved in the crash was injured.
--The Morrison County Historical Society is already looking into their exhibit at the Morrison County Fair in 2022. The exhibit is to be on the Morrison County Creameries and their history. They are asking if anyone has items, stories or the history behind any of the creameries in Morrison County to call the Historical Society for their exhibit to be on display at the fair in 2022. Call Mary Warner at 632-4007 for info.
--The Crow Wing County Fair is underway with plenty of events this week including a Demolition Derby tonight at the grandstand, country western music this afternoon and tonight, a large midway of rides for the kids and many other daily and evening events at the fairgrounds also today AM960 KLTF Party Line live from the Crow Wing County Fair at 10:05am and streamed online fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls Summer Musicial “Darling” will be performed Thursday through Saturday night at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium in Little Falls. Advance tickets at the website lfsummermusical.com or they are available at the door for $10 for adults. There will also be a display from the Historical Society that was at the fair on the 1905 murder of Annie Kintop in the lobby of the auditorium before the performances each of those nights.
--A Benton County prosecutor has been charged with criminal sexual conduct involving a teenage girl. County Attorney Philip Miller is charged with 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim under 16-years-old, and two counts of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct. One of those charges involves being older than 48 months than the victim who is between 13-and-15-years-old and the other involves being in a position of authority over the victim. According to the charges, the 60-year old Miller is charged with groping a 15-year-old girl both over her clothing and underneath her clothing in March 2020 and again "one or two months" after the first incident. Court records allege the girl was in her bed when Miller came into her room and sexually assaulted her on those occasions. Members of the victim's household testified that the girl had become withdrawn and would try to avoid being around Miller. Court records show Miller was interviewed by investigators and denied ever groping the girl or touching her anywhere else that would be of a sexual nature. The charges have been filed in Benton County District Court, but the case has been referred to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for the prosecution to avoid a conflict of interest.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and hazy at times, high 86.
TONIGHT= storms after midnight, low 64.
THURSDAY= storms in morning, then sunny, high 82, low 58.
FRIDAY= sunny and less humid, high near 80, low near 60.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get 3 in the top of the 9th inning and hold on to beat the Reds yesterday 7-5. Twins have an early game today to wrap up with the Reds in Cincinnati, pregame at 11am today on Q92 WYRQ.
OLY= Simone Biles finished with a strong performance in the Beam exercise and took the Bronze Medal to finish play at the Tokyo games. St. Paul's Suni Lee finished 5th in the beam but still finished with 3 medals. The United States finished with 76 total medals at end of Wednesday's action China has 69 and Russia (ROC) has 52.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1790= Revenue Cutter Service is established, later renamed the United States Coast Guard as it started their active service.
IN 1821= first edition of Saturday Evening Post is published.
IN 1942= the movie Holiday Inn opens in New York with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, the movie introduced the world to songs like White Christmas and Easter Parade from Irving Berlin.
IN 1958= The Dumont TV Network goes out of businesses, the network gave the world shows like Bishop Fulton Sheen's Life is Worth Living which was the top show for the network 1954-1956.
IN 1982= Joel Youngblood makes baseball history singling as a New York Met in the afternoon, then traded after the game and singled as a pinch hitter for the Montreal Expos later that same evening becoming he first player to get hits for 2 different teams in 1 day.