NEWS
--The next phase of the Governor's stay safe order can begin today with limited indoor dining at restaurants today with social distancing guidelines, also gyms and fitness centers may open with limited capacity, hair salons can go to 50% capacity as can also places of worship (churches) beginning today. There are other inside and outside venues of entertainment that may also open today for limited spacing. Locally we have heard of some facilities opening for limited space today but others have decided to wait it out a little longer to get items in place for the next phase of the order so still best to call ahead before venturing out to these establishments. It was reported that the largest Mall in Minnesota, The Mall of America will reopen today but some of the businesses inside will only have curbside pickup but the doors of the mall will reopen today.
--The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Monday announced that they are working to help Minnesotans safely get back to the sports they love. Governor Walz announced a careful turn of the dial to allow for more activity, which included updated guidance for youth and adult sports. According to MDH, different sports carry different risks of COVID-19. These depend on how close people are, whether they share equipment, and other factors as guided by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic organizations, NCAA, and others. Different risk levels mean different precautions. See guidance for youth and adult sports, including the full list of sports at Stay Safe Guidance for Organized Sports on the Governor's Stay Safe website. MDH also announced Minnesota has averaged over 11,000 tests per day for the last five days. Tests are available and they're a valuable tool to curb the spread of COVID-19. Find a provider near you.
--Minnesota Department of Health update from Tuesday show 307 new cases of COVID-19 in the state and another 20 deaths. 28,523 positive cases and of those 24,221 no longer in isolation. Morrison County is still at 51 cases. Stearns now at 17 deaths and 2,076 cases, Todd 361, Benton 190, Crow Wing 86, Mille Macs 24 and Cass 12. Also as of June 9th reports, 2 counties Cook and Lake of the Woods still has not have one confirmed positive case of COVID-19 yet.
--Fire crews responded to a barn fire near Kimball over the weekend. The incident happened around 6:15pm Saturday in the 16000 block of 66th Avenue in Maine Prairie Township. Crews arrived to find two barns on fire. One was already burnt to the ground, while the second one was fully engulfed. Authorities say 47-year old Benjamin Fox, of South Haven, was attempting to burn the older barn down, when the second barn caught fire. No one was hurt and fire was extinguished. Authorities say Fox has a burning permit for a 20' by 20' brush pile, but not for the structures. He was given a citation.
--Kinship of Morrison County is in need of mentors and asking for those to take kids fishing, hiking, biking and enjoying the summer months. If you would like more information on Kinship of Morrison County and thier mentoring program call Aaron Olson at 632-8806. Aaron also stated that the Kinship Soup and Chili Cookoff for Kids that was postponed back in March due to the early phases of COVID-19 postponments was rescheduled October 13th.
--More cancellations were reported to Little Falls Radio Tuesday that St. Rita's Parish in Hillman has cancelled their Parish Bazaar in July and Sacred Heart Church in Wakhon cancelled their bazaar that was scheduled for August 9th. Get the latest cancellations reported to Little Falls Radio on the cancellation page at fallsradio.com.
--A Minnesota State trooper is recovering following a crash at the intersection of Highway 371 and County Road 2 in Fort Ripley Township Tuesday morning. Just after 7:10am, State Patrol dispatch received a 911 call regarding a crash involving a State Patrol squad and a Ford F-150. The crash occurred in the northbound lanes of the intersection. Both the F-150 and State Patrol squad had significant damage as a result of the crash. The trooper involved in the crash was extricated from the squad and airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center with serious but non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the F-150, 38-year-old Jeffrey Fink, of Little Falls, had non-life threatening injuries. The Trooper 54-year old Gregg Gerhartz of Baxter Township, who was not responding to an emergency call, did not have his emergency lights or siren activated at the time of the crash. The State Patrol is investigating the crash. Impairment is not suspected. This remains an active investigation and the cause of the crash is under investigation.
--At 12:11pm Tuesday the Aitken police department received a 911 call regarding a plane crash at the Aitken Municipal Airport. A fixed wing, single engine Cessna was found crashed on the grass portion of the runway on the north side of the airport. There was only structural damage to the plane. Both the pilot, 22-year old Ryan Frank of Brainerd and 63-year old Kenneth Mehr of Deerwood were both uninjured. The cause of the crash was unknown. The FAA will be assisting the Aitken Police Department with the investigation.
--The final piece of the Benton Drive improvements in Sauk Rapids gets underway Monday. Benton Drive will be closed in both directions between Highway 10 and Summit Avenue. Detours will be posted, but the intersection of Summit Avenue and Benton Drive will remain fully open. The work is expected to be completed in September.
--FM94 KFML's Ladies Night Out Pierz Style has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 23rd. We will learn more about what the event and how it will look like this time around; as the date nears but save the date on July 23rd. The theme will be the Roaring 20's.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain showers in morning, sunny in PM hours, high 68.
TONIGHT= clear skies and breezy, cooler, low near 50.
THURSDAY= sunny skies and breezy, high 72, low around 49.
FRIDAY= sunny and less windy, high 73, low around 54.
SPORTS
MLB= the first 37 picks of the Major League Baseball Draft will be held tonight. The Twins (because they won the AL Central last year) will pick near the end as the 27th overall pick tonight. The draft will be virtual just like the NFL draft was earlier this spring due the recent restrictions of COVID-19. Question still arise if there will be a season this year as players and owners continue to work out a plan to use.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1610= first Dutch settlers arrived in the United States colonies.
IN 1652= first mint to make money built in the U.S. in Boston.
IN 1752= according to Ben Franklin's journal this was the night he took the kite and key outside and harnassed electricity by lightning.
IN 1809= first U.S. steamboat makes maiden voyage leaving NYC.
IN 1898= U.S. Marines land in Cuba to fight Spanish-American War.
IN 1915= The U.S. Girl Scouts of America are founded.
IN 1985= Coca Cola Classic retruned to shelves after new Coke fails.