NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to the Wetzel family, as George (Pete) Wetzel passed away earlier this week. Pete was a man of service, who dedicated his life to helping others. Pete worked as a Dispatcher and Special Deputy for our agency. He also worked as a Patrol Officer for the following agencies; Pierz, Little Falls and Edina police department.
Pete was also an instructor for Central Lakes College in Brainerd, where he was enthusiastic and passionate about helping others entering the law enforcement field. Pete was a successful attorney at Wetzel Law Firm in Brainerd. Pete, we are forever grateful for your service. Please keep the Wetzel family in your prayers. Please help me honor Pete Wetzel for his service to others. That is a statement from the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Shawn Larsen.
--A string of vandalized mailboxes has caught the attention of the Morrison County Sheriff. Officials say the latest reports came in Monday morning when a total of eleven mailboxes were either damaged or stolen along Iris Road and 170th Avenue in Bellevue Township southeast of Little Falls. The Sheriff’s Office believes the incidents are related, and asks anyone in the area to check any outside surveillance cameras. This comes after a mailboxes were vandalized northwest of Little Falls about two weeks ago. If you have any information on the individuals responsible, contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office by calling 320-632-9233.
--Deer hunters will be able to feed deer and put out attractants in 24 more Minnesota counties this year including Morrison. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has removed the counties to focus restrictions on areas where the risk of chronic wasting disease is most likely. The DNR says deer feeding bans and the ban on attractants are to help prevent the unnatural crowding of deer and therefore reduce the risk of spreading CWD. The bans will stay in effect for 23 counties and five new counties are being added to the list. Some of the counties in central Minnesota that have been removed include Stearns, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd, and Douglas. For a complete list and a map of the removed counties and those with attractant and feeding bans in place, you can visit the DNR website for Minnesota and click on the CWD link for the latest info.
--An Annandale woman was taken to the hospital following a crash in Clearwater. The incident happened around 7:40am Sunday on Highway 24. The Minnesota State Patrol says a truck going south and a car going north on Highway 24 collided at the intersection of Highway 24 and Interstate 94. The driver of the car, 28-year-old Allison Abfalter, was taken to Monticello Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger in the truck, 65-year-old Keith Putnam and 63-year-old Lori Putnam both from Brainerd did not sustain injuries in the accident.
--Loose clothing was to blame for a Sunday evening motorcycle crash. The Minnesota State Patrol says 42-year-old Jason Beck of Eden Prairie was driving north on Highway 169 south of Princeton when a piece of clothing got caught in the rear tire of the bike. The motorcycle came to rest on its side and was blocking the right lane of traffic. Beck was sent to the Princeton hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Jeff Barth of the Swanville Lions will speak today at 8:30am on KLTF Community Program on the Mid Summer Carnival coming to Swanville this Friday through Sunday, details at fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced their July Employee of the Month is Gloria Henry who works at Wal-Mart.
--A male appeared to be stabbed numerous times in Crosslake early Monday morning and a suspect is in custody. The Crosslake Police Department responded to the scene at 3:45am Monday after reports of a male who fell and was bleeding on the 15000 block of Birch Narrows Road. The responding officer found the male, who appeared to be the victim of stab wounds. The officer administered medical care, and the victim was transported by ambulance to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby and later flown to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. A suspect was arrested Monday on first- and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm. The suspect was taken into custody and booked into the Crow Wing County Jail.
--Governor Tim Walz announced that Minnesota sent a crew of 17 wildland firefighters to Manitoba, Canada. The hand crew was deployed after a mutual aid request from Manitoba through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) partnership with the Great Lakes Forest Fire Compact. Canada is experiencing a historic fire season this year and Governor and the DNR wildland firefighters are ready to protect life and property in Minnesota and beyond, whenever the call comes in. The crew, which departed from the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center in Grand Rapids, will support Canada’s ongoing wildfire suppression efforts. Upon arriving in Manitoba, they will receive their initial assignment to support ground suppression efforts, likely helping establish fire fuel breaks in the remote back country. No timeline was given on how they will be there fighting the wildfires that continues to be smoke and haze into the state and some of the air quality alerts across the nation.
--A Bagley, Minnesota man drowned in a lake Sunday night, police said. The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office received a call around 8:15pm reporting the incident at Lake Lomond in Bagley, west of Bemidji. The victim, 20-year-old Derek Vanscott McCann, reportedly jumped off a swimming raft at the public beach and didn't resurface. A dive team later recovered a body around 11:15pm that was confirmed to be McCann. He was found deceased in 18 feet of water.
DEATH NOTICES
--Joseph “Joe” Wielinski, age 82 of Little Falls.
--George “Pete” Wetzel Jr., age 60 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, cooler, high near 70.
TONIGHT= clear night, cool for July, low 46.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 72, clear night, low near 50.
FRIDAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high 77, showers late, low 59.
SPORTS
TWINS= Carlos Correa has 4 hits to lead the Twins to an 8-4 win over Kansas City Monday at Target Field. Solano and Buxton go back to back homers and Kepler hits his 12th as the Twins win 9-3 on Tuesday over the Royals and try to sweep them today. The Twins wrap up series with Kansas City tonight, pregame starts at 6pm with first pitch at 6:40pm on Q92 WYRQ. Twins are off on Thursday.
ALL STAR= The Twins announced Sunday that Sonny Gray will be the lone Twin in the All Star Game next Tuesday in Seattle.