NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office had approximately 15 incidents throughout the county that were reported to their agency. They included tree debris on roadway in Buckman, trees downed a powerline and started it on fire in Upsala; branches on the roadway and a power cable sparking on 3rd Street Little Falls, tree down and powerline causing a transformer explosion on Highway 27 east of Little Falls. Trees down blocking a roadway in Elmdale; trees down blocking roads in Pierz; tree down on a powerline at the Darling Cemetery, trees and branches down west of Buckman and another blocking the roadway on Ginger Road north of Little Falls. Powerline damaged and hanging near the traffic lane east of Buckman on Partridge Road and a deer was found pinned under a tree on Partridge Road in Morrill Township. A tree was leaning on a powerline near Darling Town Hall, hail, high winds and rain had patrols out all over the county. Straight line winds caused damages to outbuildings in Lincoln Lakes area and toward Motley. A lot of the damage is still being assessed. Townships, Fire Departments, County and City Public Works Departments and emergency personnel have been busy.
--Minnesota Power released a statement late Monday they they are responding safely and as quickly as possible to restore power after at least one tornado near Eagle Bend and severe thunderstorms caused significant damage throughout the Minnesota Power range of customers. Because of the scope and scale of the damage to power lines and other infrastructure this could took Monday then Tuesday with some possible work still to be done today. Monday evening Minnesota Power stated that a round of severe storms early Monday left nearly 7,000 of our customers without power. Crews responded and restored power to about 6,000 customers. Another round of severe weather hit Monday afternoon and evening, including at least one confirmed tornado. Some crews were forced to shelter in place in Todd County before resuming restoration work related to the morning storms. Multiple power lines and power poles are down across our service area, causing numerous outages affecting about 17,000 customers as of 8pm Monday. The hardest hit areas include Little Falls, Eagle Bend, Clarissa, Browerville, Pequot Lakes, Crosby, Ironton, Deerwood, Nisswa, Pine River, Verndale and Pequot Lakes. Other outages are scattered across the region including the Iron Range area and International Falls. With the field work by employees going on Tuesday by 5pm the power had been restored to over half o the customers effected. Work was to continue through the night.
--Earlier this month, Governor Tim Walz signed the 2022 Veterans and Military Affairs budget bill into law. Bonus amounts under the law would be $600 for soldiers who did not serve in Afghanistan or Iraq campaigns but where in service during that time. For those who did serve in Iraq and Afghanistan it would be $1,200. The bill also includes $2,000 for Gold Star Families for the soldiers who were in Afghanistan and Iraq and died during their tour of service. The Application process begins July 1, 2022 and goes to June 30, 2024. If you served in the Global War on Terrorism make sure you have your DD214 form, a copy of your orders, or if the solder has passed on, you would need proof of relationship to the veteran, birth or death certificates. Questions can directed to Kathy Marshik at the Morrison County Veterans Service Office at 320-632-0290.
--The Morrison County Chaplaincy Golf Tournament is Friday at Eagles Landing Golf Course with a shotgun start at 7:30am, a breakfast will be served, all goes to help the Chaplaincy program.
--The Wadena Police Department issued the all clear after the city's fire department earlier told residents to shelter in place following a fire at an agricultural storage facility operated by Minnesota Valley Irrigation. Due to the nature of the chemicals stored at the facility, located at 602 Ash Avenue Northeast, Wadena emergency services issued a shelter-in-place order for the entire city that was not terminated until just after 6pm Monday. Officials say inclement weather and a tornado warning initially prevented fire crews from assessing and combating the blaze. Ultimately, the building was considered a total loss. The Wadena Fire Department says an investigation into the cause of the fire is still underway. The fire department originally warned residents to avoid Highway 10 just after 3:45pm when the first reports of the fire were called in. This followed minutes later by a post recommending the entire city shelter in place.
Just before 5pm the Wadena Police Department confirmed the fire broke out at Minnesota Valley Irrigation. Police said the smoke wasn't dangerous to breath in, but recommended residents close their windows and turn off their air conditioning. No injuries reported.
--Steven Wenzel, a lifelong resident of Little Falls and Morrison County, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for state senator for District 10. The new legislative district includes virtually all of Morrison County and parts of six other surrounding counties. Wenzel was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1973-2001.
--Two people were hurt Tuesday morning at 7:45am on Highway 71 at Hewitt in Todd County. A vehicle driven by 18-year-old Mkelle Wagner of Alexandria tried to cross 71 at Highway 210 and struck by an oncoming semi-truck driven by 29-year-old Rolando Gomez of Texas. Both were taken to Wadena Hospital and treated for injuries.
--The State Patrol said three people were hurt in a two-vehicle accident in Nokay Lake Township of Crow Wing County just after 5:30pm Saturday. A 17-year-old from Aitkin and two from Brainerd were all taken to the Brainerd hospital for non serious injuries.
--There will be clean up days in Belle Prairie Township Saturday at the town hall from 8am-12pm for those outside the city limits and in the township of Belle Prairie. A cleanup day Saturday in Bellevue Township at the town hall from 8am-12pm also for the residents of the Township outside of the city limits. Cushing, Darling and Parker Township will also have a cleanup day on Saturday at the Darling Town Hall from 8am-11am. If you have questions on are clean up days in your area contact your local township officials.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, pleasant day, high 66, clear night, low 43.
THURSDAY= sunny and windy, high near 70, clear night, low 42.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy skies, high 67, rain shower late night, low 48.
SPORTS
SB= Little Falls beat Detroit Lakes 10-6 to advance on then beat Alexandria 8-3 to advance to section title game vs. Rocori at St. Ben’s and would have to win twice on Thursday on AM960 KLTF.
SB= Pierz vs. Holdingford in Waite Park moved to today at 5pm with the winner playing again at 7pm tonight on 94ROCKS KFML.
BAB= Pierz vs. Melrose today at 4:30pm on AM960 KLTF. Little Falls face Detroit Lakes Thursday elimination game on KLTF.
TWINS= Twins win the first of the double-header 8-2 on a 3 RBI game by Max Kepler. Twins lost 4-0 in game 2. Twins continue their series in Detroit tonight, pregame begins at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.