NEWS
--Morrison County Public Works Maintenance employees have started mowing roadside ditches this week in all areas of the county. Maintenance crews will continue painting Stop Ahead symbols on various roads around the county. Shouldering will start on CSAH 16, CSAH 47 and County Road 209 in the northern part of the county. A Public Works contractor will be spray patching various roads around the county in the months of June and July. Please use caution around work crews and be aware that loose material may be present in driving lanes during some of the maintenance activities. Public Works employees continue to practice social distancing guidelines in their travels and on the various job sites as we continue to preserve and maintain Morrison County infrastructure.
--The past three weeks the Pierz Police Department received numerous phone calls of golf carts being driven by young teenagers that were almost struck by passenger cars while traveling down streets and highways, having too many passengers resulting in a safety issue, and violating many traffic laws. Like most Cities, Pierz has a city ordinance pertaining to golf carts. Due to the high number of complaints on golf carts within the City of Pierz authorities will begin enforcing this ordinance. In Pierz, it is unlawful for any person to drive, operate or be in control of any motorized golf cart on the roadways or shoulders of roadways under the jurisdiction of the city, unless the driver, operator or person in control has in his or her actual physical possession a valid, current and un-revoked driver’s license. It is unlawful for any person to drive, operate or control any motorized golf cart on the roadways or shoulders of roadways under the jurisdiction of the city which is between sunset and sunrise, in inclement weather, when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions, or at any time when there is insufficient light clearly to see a person or vehicle on a roadway at a distance of 500 feet and also without prominent display of a slow-moving vehicle emblem, on the rear of the vehicle. d. Without a mirror so located as to reflect to the driver, operator or controller, a view of the roadway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle. For information call Pierz Police Chief Eric Hanneken at (320) 630-1510.
--An unoccupied house near Kimball is a total loss after an early morning fire Monday. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says police and fire were called to the home along 335th Street in Kingston Township just after midnight. Deputies arrived to find the home fully engulfed and learned the house was not occupied at the time of the fire. The home, owned by Schiefelbein Farms is considered a total loss. The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
--The Minnesota Department of Health continues to see the numbers go down of COVID-19 in Minnesota. On Wednesday the numbers show that there were 197 new cases and 9 more deaths linked to the virus. Morrison still at 54 cases, Todd 375, Stearns 2,109, Benton is at 193, Crow Wing at 90 with 10 reported deaths of COVID-19.
--Pike Creek Township is holding a Clean-Up Day for Residents within the Township on Saturday from Noon to 3pm at the Pike Creek Town Hall. Items accepted at the event include appliances for $5 each, electronics for $7 each, car tires for $5 each, truck tires R16.5 and up for $7 each, and tractor tires for $16 each. The tire price is double if the rim is left on the tire. The Township is paying $15 per household towards disposal. Additional items will be accepted and charged the prices listed above. For information call Adam at 360-9632.
--Nearly 700 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s Mankato-based 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry will be honored Friday, June 19th at Camp Ripley, prior to deployment to the Horn of Africa. The soldiers have been quarantined at Camp Ripley since the first week of June, and will soon depart for Fort Bliss, Texas, for additional training before traveling to Africa. As part of the requirements of the soldiers’ quarantine, families will be unable to attend the departure ceremony in person. With COVID-19 restricting traditional military departure ceremonies and family send-offs, the St. Paul-based civic group Serving Our Troops is hosting a special socially distanced ceremony and a simultaneous statewide virtual steak meal cookout for soldiers and their families. On Friday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Departure Ceremony for the 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment followed by an on-site meal and virtual event with families at Camp Ripley.
--Last night into early this morning a large group of people gathered in south St. Cloud to protest, this time it started peacefully but ended with violence when about 1am several fights broke out among the participants which brought the police in. The crowd has been lighting off fireworks and throwing them onto University Drive. At one point someone started a dumpster on fire on 10th Avenue South which the fire department came in and quickly extinguished. The speakers did ther best to calm the crowds and reportedly by 2am the crowds began to disperse peacefully, there was not word on any arrests.
--The Todd County Transfer Station located at 30433 Highway 71 for a fire which was extinguish a short time later. On June 9th at 6:36pm the Todd County Sheriff's Office received a report of a two vehicle crash at the intersection of US Highway 71 and County Road 6 in Little Sauk with possible injuries. 42-year old Holly Jo Kramer of Long Prairie was attempting to turn onto County Road 6 when 23-year old Aneuri Caraballo Mejia of Long Prairie was traveling southbound and struck the rear of her vehicle as she was attempting to turn onto County 6. Kramer was transported to the Long Prairie Hospital for possible injuries sustained in the crash. Back on June 7th just before 10:00pm the authorities were called to an electrical fire at the address of 22033 County Road 1 near Osakis. No injuries reported.
--St. Joseph's Church of Pierz will be holding their $10,000 raffle drawing this Friday at 4:00pm at the Parish House in Pierz. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the parish house or call Dan at 360-1178. The drawing due to COVID-19 will be done live streamed only from the Parish House, though Little Falls Radio will read them after.
--St. Paul Lutheran Church in Royalton will resume services Sunday mornings at 8:30am. Grace Covanent announced services inside their church will resume on June 28th. St. Francis Health and Wellness will reopen to the public on Monday June 22nd call the convent for info.
--Blood Drive at First United Church in its final day today from 8:30am to 2:30pm, call for appointments as there are spots still available for today at 632-0663. No walk ins please.
DEATH NOTICES
--Todd J. Walker, age 63 of Burtrum.
--Jane Tillman, age 56 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and hot, windy again, high 93.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, storms toward morning, low 68.
THURSDAY= storms early, partial sun, storms late, high 81, low 58.
FRIDAY= sunny and cooler, less humid, high 77, low 53.