NEWS
--Authorities have arrested the suspected bank robber that was being sought since last Friday. On Friday morning the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an armed robbery in progress at the Deerwood Bank, Garrison Branch. On Monday, the suspect authorities believe entered the bank was arrested at a residence in Andover. The suspect is 51-year old James Richard Ardito. Ardito was previously convicted for the armed robbery of the same bank in 2007. The suspect is currently being held on probable cause charges of Aggravated Robbery. Authorities are still looking for the getaway vehicle used in this case which is believed to be a white Cadillac type 4 door sedan. Anyone with information about this car is asked to call the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 829-4749.
--Frank Gosiak filed for reelection Tuesday for the Little Falls City Council. Gosiak is running again as a councilman representing Ward 3 consisting mostly of western Little Falls.
--The Morrison County Public Works Department reminds political campaigners that Minnesota Statute 160.2715(a)(9) prohibits placement of signs on Highway Right of Way. This long-standing law includes political campaign signs. Political campaigners are asked to place their signs on the back slopes where the appropriate permission has been given by the landowner. County Crews and State Crews have the right to take signs that were left on the right of way and dispose of the them and the homeowner could face a fine.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting a wine liquor license was approved for the Pierz Golf Course and Campground. The council approved the purchase of four radios for the Pierz Fire Department. They also approved grant applications for the Pierz Fire and Pierz Police to Sourcewell for different equipment. City Administrator Bob Otremba also updated the council on 2020 street project where paving is scheduled either late this week or early next week on Kamnic Street, 1st Avenue South, and Memorial Drive.
--The Carnegie Library in Little Falls announced that they will be reopening their doors for those to enter and check out books next Monday. They will continue with the curbside pickup like they have been doing since the restrictions of COVID-19 went into place back in March. Masks are required as per the Governor's mask mandate to enter the library next Monday. Computers are being used by appointment but space is limited due to social distancing guidelines. There are less computers to use so call for an appointment. Even with the opening of the libraries next week, computer time will still be limited so appointments would be best. The library will have regular hours in Little Falls but others may have some different hours. Right now none of the events the library does will happen for the immediate future including book sales. The library is also asking when they open Monday to come in, get and check out books and take them home with you. They are asking for no long gatherings inside the library due to the restrictions for their opening.
--Authorities in western Minnesota say a 3-year old child has died after being pulled from a lake last week. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office got a report Friday that the child had been pulled from the water unconscious at the Eagle Lake public swimming area. People on the scene performed CPR. The child was loaded onto a medical helicopter and flown to a hospital in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Deputies stated on Monday that they were notified that the child had died. No other information was released.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the owner of a go-cart believed to have been stolen on or before Sunday. It started with a call at 8:30am Sunday that a theft was in progress at a business in the 16400 block of Hwy 10 NW in Langola Township. Investigating deputies learned that the suspects had been engaged in stealing building materials from the business on Hwy 10. The stolen building materials were recovered with the trailer the suspects dumped along the roadside. Investigating deputies learned that the trailer had been stolen earlier on July 26th from a business in the city of Rice. Investigating deputies, with the assistance of Crow Wing
County deputies, were able to locate the suspect vehicle at about 1:45pm in Crow Wing County and identify the occupants of the vehicle. The investigation into these thefts remains active and on-going. The owner of the go-cart pushed out of the cargo bed of the truck has not yet been identified. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office would like to locate the owner of this go-cart to return the vehicle to them and examine the scene of the theft for any evidence that may remain. The go-cart is a Manco brand White Fox 2 go-cart with bright green padding on the left side, front, and top of the frame. The go-cart has purple padding on the right side of the frame. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office is asking the owner of this go-cart contact our office at (320) 968-7201.
--On Friday at 10:35am Stearns County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of County Road 75 and County Road 3 in St. Joseph Township. Calvin Coplan, 18, of Holdingford reportedly drove over the fog line and corrected the vehicle back into its lane, crossed the center line and quickly moved the vehicle back into its lane and over the fog line again. Two other vehicles were crossing the intersection. Richard Blonigen, 34, of Holdingford, was struck in the driver’s door by Coplan’s vehicle. The impact sent Mr. Blonigen’s vehicle into the northwest ditch of County Road 75. Mr. Coplan’s vehicle sustained front-end damage and came to rest in the center median. Blonigen, his wife, and two children, ages 2 and 1 month, were transported to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported in the accident.
--Linden Hill is hosting its annual Raise the Roof Pork Roast and Dance fundraiser Thursday, August 6th from 5:30-9pm. Tickets are available at the Linden Hill office by calling (320) 616-5580.
--This Saturday would have been the annual Platte River Day events in Royalton, but the events are cancelled due to COVID-19. They will have their raffle Saturday, few tickets left from Lions members.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Travis and Kimmie Herman of Royalton, a boy born July 27th.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 81, clear night low around 55.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 80, clear night, low near 55.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 84, storms late night, low 61.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get a 5 run 2nd inning including a Polanco homerun to beat St. Louis 6-3 last night at Target Field. Game 2 tonight of the Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals, pregame 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
MIAC= The MIAC Conference announced Tuesday they are postponing several fall sports including football until next spring. So there will be no Johnnie football in the fall of 2020.