NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones stated Tuesday on Little Falls Radio that the school district is serving free breakfast and lunch for all 18 years of age or younger, because of the need seen from area food shelves, food programs and the back pack programs in the past year in Little Falls to help students receive a hearty meal. The program which is ongoing Mondays through Thursdays is taking place at the Little Falls Community Middle School, Lincoln Elementary and Dr. S.G. Knight in Randall. Again all students and kids 18 and younger are free, parents and adults (over 18) may purchase a meal with the kids. The cost for adults to enjoy the meals are $2 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch. The program is made possible by a government subsidy and therefore the school district does not pay for any of the free food programs. Stephen Jones also elaborated on the new Lindbergh Elementary basketball court being installed by the Minnesota Timberwolves organization. Jones stated that the court will have an unveiling scheduled near the end of July to show off the new court that was voted in by the online vote for Lindbergh Elementary to receive the new court later this summer from the Timberwolves “Our Court, Our Future” program.
--All are invited to a workshop on how growing our local food economy and farmers can support and further our work to enliven our downtown, increase activity, improve food access, and support a healthier and stronger, Little Falls. Anyone interested is encouraged to share ideas at the opening evening session on June 24th from 5:30-8:30pm. If you have continued interest and time, please also attend the full-day session on June 25th to help develop a community action plan. For information contact the Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau at 616-4959.
-- A statewide speeding crackdown began Tuesday and continues through July 21st. The four week enforcement campaign comes as crash deaths attributed to speeding surged above 100 for the first time in more than a decade. There were 113 speed-related fatalities on state roads in 2018. That was the most since 2008 when 125 people died in crashes in which speed was a contributing factor, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, preliminary numbers show 30 people died in speed-related crashes in 2018. State data shows speeding was a contributing factor in nearly one out of four fatal crashes last year. A speeding ticket will typically cost a driver $110, but fines double for drivers caught going more than 20 mph over the speed limit. Motorists tagged for going more than 100 mph can lose their licenses for six months.
--The Sartell-St. Stephen School District has selected Jason Mielke as the new Oak Ridge Elementary principal beginning the 2019-2020 school year. Mielke served as principal at Foley Elementary School this past year and has previous principal experience in the Rush City School District. He replaces former Oak Ridge Elementary Principal Kip Lynk who has taken a position as a Principal Leadership Specialist with the Southwest Prairie Regional Center of Excellence in Marshall.
--Join Little Falls Radio today at Heartland Tire in Little Falls for their customer appreciation event. Get some free lunch and check out the facility on the west side of Little Falls. Broadcasting live from 11am-1pm on Q92 WYRQ and online at fallsradio.com.
--Another Cone Zone Block Party Thursday 5:30pm in Little Falls.
--Waite Park resident Boyd W. Sorenson will be awarded France's highest distinction — the Legion of Honor — for his participation in the liberation of France during World War II, according to an announcement issued by the Consulate General of France in Chicago. Consul General of France to the Midwest Region Guillaume Lacroix will present the Legion of Honor medal to Sorenson at 4:30pm on July 1st in the community room of Willow Creek Apartments in Waite Park. Sorenson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1941 and was transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 as a fighter pilot. He was assigned to the 78th Fighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron, 8th Air Force, flying 89 missions in the European Theater during WWII. Sorenson also participated in the Normandy, northern France and Air Offensive Europe campaigns, and flew 72 missions during the Korean War. The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction that France can bestow as it was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. Recipients are named by decree by the French President.
--A Sartell man is charged with felony reckless discharge of a gun within city limits and near a school after a shooting Saturday that left another man with life-threatening injuries. Sartell Police were called to an apartment building in the 900 block of 7th Street North across from the Sartell Middle School Saturday morning. Officers were responding to a man who had been shot in the chest. Police say the man was outside having a cigarette when he was shot. The victim quickly went up to his apartment where his wife called 911. 23-year-old Troy Heavirland also called 911 immediately after the gunshot to report he accidentally fired the gun. The shooter told police he dry fired his gun thinking it was not loaded and it went off. The victim suffered a fractured collarbone, fractured ribs, spleen damage, and lung damage. He underwent emergency surgery to remove part of the lung, but the bullet went through the 37-year-old man and was found near the tennis courts across the street. No court dates are currently scheduled for Heavirland.
--A 41-year old Parkers Prairie man died after he was trampled by a bull or cows on his farm over the weekend. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office received a report about the death of Craig Allen Thoennes around 11:30am Saturday west of Parkers Prairie. Deputies responded to the scene and talked with family members. Deputies found Thoennes' body near a shed in the cow yard where two cows and a bull were roaming free there and in the yard. Douglas County Sheriff Troy Wolbersen in a press release stated, “At this time, it appears the male had been trampled by the bull and/or cows".
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 74.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, low 52.
THURSDAY= showers and T-storms likely, high 73, low near 50.
FRIDAY= showers and T-storms at times, high 71, low near 52.
SPORTS
TWINS= A very long Twins game last night, almost 6 hours before Max Kepler singled home Reyes in the 17th to win 4-3 over Boston. Twins have the rubber game with Boston tonight 6:30pm on Q92.
AXE= Paul Bunyan's Axe, the trophy is coming to St. Cloud today and it will be down at Eastman Park for Summertime By George from 5-9pm tonight. It is a free event and no preregistration is required. The Gophers got the Axe from the Badgers winning last November.