NEWS --The Morrison County Relay for Life Event was held this past Friday night at the Little Falls Community High School Track. According to preliminary numbers (not including funds raised the night of) a total of $55,000 was raised by seven teams. About 250 people were in attendance. The top fund raising team was Spirit Lifters with $8,200.
--The surrounding communities of Camp Ripley should be aware that throughout the next few weeks there will be training on Camp Ripley that the public may be able to hear during both the day and night. Additionally, there may be the opportunity to see illumination flares above Camp Ripley while this training takes place. Camp Ripley would like to thank you for your support during this required training period which will help the men and women of our Armed Forces meet federal, state and community mission readiness goals.
--Last Wednesday a Swanville man was sentenced to 6 years in prison for possession and dissemination of pornographic images depicting minors. 31-year old Brian Forcier was sentenced following his conviction for four counts of possessing pornographic images involving minors and one count of disseminating pornographic images involving children. Forcier plead guilty to five felony child pornography related charges on May 16th.
--The Brainerd City Council Monday night heard from residents on the future of the historic water tower. The towers stucco is falling apart and needs a lot of repairs that would cost over 2.5-million dollars where it would cost a lot less, only around $300,000 to tear down completely. However, residents say would that would be a devastating loss to their community and historic background. The council did not make a decision but took all the information and concerns from the public under advisement.
--A driver and a 9-year old passenger were injured when the vehicle they were in rolled over Friday just after 4:30pm on the 27000 block of Crow Wing County Highway 3 in Merrifield. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported the vehicle crossed in front of oncoming traffic and left roadway. The vehicle struck a driveway approach and went airborne. The driver, 71-year old Patricia M. Schoonover of Crosslake, was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale to be treated for injuries. The passenger, Abigail K. Schilling was transported to Essentia Health- St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd for minor injuries.
--A St. Cloud man is charged with sexually assaulting three girls under the age of 10 this year and last. 67-year old Mark Robert Mjolhus faces three charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct. Mjolhus was booked in the Stearns County Jail on Friday and remained there as of Tuesday. His bail is set at $250,000 without conditions and $125,000 with conditions. Mjolhus has an omnibus hearing scheduled for September 24th.
--A 23-year old St. Cloud man was arrested after admitting to police he pulled a gun on a man during an argument in Waite Park a few weeks ago. Rahab Sulub Ali was arrested Saturday in connection with a gun and assault complaint police responded to about 7:20pm on June 28th. Ali is charged with one felony count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and one felony count of terroristic threats. He made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
--A reminder again from Benton County that they will be testing the civil defense sirens at 1:00pm today- they were canceled July 4th.
--Sartell-St. Stephen school board unanimously approved a resolution Monday night to put an operating referendum question on the ballot for voters come November. According to resolution documents, the district currently gets $324.83 in operating costs for each student in referendum revenue. Should this new referendum pass in the November 6th general election, it would jump to $760 per student. This money would be used to fund operating costs for the district. This means line items like paying staff and teachers, tending to the grounds and heating the schools through the winter. Resolution documents said those who own a home valued at $150,000 would pay $180.51 in 2019, an increase of about $124. Someone with a $350,000 home would pay $421.19, which is an increase of $289. The levy would last 10 years.
--A 17-year old Brainerd teen was injured when the vehicle he was driving went off the roadway Friday night around 11:30pm and crashed on Crow Wing County Road 123 and Greenwood Street in Brainerd. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported Kevin D. Chrisinger was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd for minor injuries.
--Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) was recently selected to participate in the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Child Welfare Fellows Program. The program consists of 25 state legislators from across the country and is designed to support legislators and legislative staff who are experienced or emerging leaders on child welfare issues. The Child Welfare Fellows Program will focus on several relevant topics, including child welfare structure and financing; data on child maltreatment, foster care and adoption; child welfare workforce challenges; prevention and early intervention; family preservation and reunification; trauma-informed services; supporting foster parents and older youth transitioning to adulthood; new opportunities through the recently enacted federal Family First Prevention Services Act; and Native American and African-American children in care. Child Welfare Fellows will participate in several activities, such as in-person meetings and webinars.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Wayne and Michelle Monson of Cushing, a girl born July 16th
DEATH NOTICES --Lavonne Seipkes, age 87 of Motley. --Harvey Donald Schuett, age 71 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high near 80. TONIGHT= storms late night, low 63. THURSDAY= steady rain through day, high 71 THURS NITE= steady rains ending before midnight, low 59. FRIDAY= cloudy and breezy, high 74, some PM T-storms.
SPORTS MLB= Alex Bregman and George Springer both of Houston hit back to back homers in the 10th inning to lift the American League to a win over the National League 8-6 in 10 in the All Star Game in DC. Twins Jose Berrios pitched a scoreless hitless 5th inning for the AL winners. VL= second weekend of playoffs begin Friday night with the KLTF Game of the Week Saturday, Randall at Upsala at 1:30pm.