NEWS
--The filing period opened Tuesday for anyone interested in running for election in Minnesota's August Primary. The Minnesota State Legislature House and Senate seats are also up for election this year. The candidate filing period for the August 11th Minnesota Primary runs Tuesday through June 2nd. Absentee voting starts on June 26th. Due to many county and city offices closed many of the filing items will be available online for candidates. The candidate filing period for local governments that don't have a primary election will be open from July 28th through August 11th. Those candidates will automatically be on the November 3rd general election ballot.
--Minnesota K-12 schools will be allowed to open their doors to students starting this summer. That means summer school, day camps, and district-based child care have the green light to open — as long as they meet public health guidelines and maintain physical distancing. Students enrolled in summer school will partake in a hybrid model of in person and distance learning. The new guidelines recommend school districts and charters offer in person options starting in late June, but allow them to begin these sorts of programs as soon as the end of each district’s traditional school year. “By slowly turning the dial for school settings this summer, we can better serve Minnesota’s students and families, and provide more opportunities for the in person learning and social interactions that are critical to learning,” Walz said in a statement Thursday after issuing an executive order on the matter.
--Stearns County responded to an ATV accident around 7:30am Monday at 40679 County Road 183 in Ashley Township. 52-year-old, David Walter of Sauk Centre, was operating his 2006 Polaris Ranger 4x4 to escort cattle that escaped from the pasture. One of the cows moved in front of the ATV and Mr. Walter turned sharply to avoid striking the cow. The ATV rolled, pinning Walter underneath. A relative used a skid loader to lift the ATV and Mr. Walter was pulled out from under the ATV. Sauk Centre Ambulance transported Mr. Walter to the Sauk Centre Hospital and later to the St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of his leg injury. Mr. Walter was not wearing a seat belt.
--A Little Falls woman was hurt in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 10 south of Rice Tuesday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car driven by 47-year-old Mohamed Said Mabrukh of Waite Park was in the left lane of eastbound Highway 10 around 11:15 a.m. when a second eastbound vehicle in the right lane approached. The patrol says the driver of the second vehicle was 18-year-old Kaltumo Sharif Abdiladif. Troopers say Abdiladif went to switch into the left lane, sideswiped Mabrukh's car, causing her to go off the road and rolled. Abdiladif was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Mabrukh was not hurt.
--Crews are demolishing the historic St. Mary's church this week, which has sat empty after a fire heavily damaged the building in 2016. Residents and parishioners looked on as heavy machinery took apart the 121-year-old church. Back in 2018, the Diocese of St. Cloud and Parish Council members announced they would not be restoring the church but rather building a new church a few blocks over. Construction of the new church is underway and expected to wrap up this winter. The blazed caused roughly $5-million in damage and was ruled an arson. A 13-year-old was charged with intentionally starting the fire after confessing to authorities back in 2018. St. Mary's Church in Melrose was dedicated in 1899.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office took a report of a stolen Buffalo brand turbine blower that is made to mount on the front of a skid steer. The blower is hydraulic powered and is valued at approximately $5,500. The theft occurred off State Highway 27, north of Flensburg. If you have any information regarding this theft, please contact their agency at (320) 632-9233 and ask to speak with an investigator. Pictures of the item can be seen on the Morrison County Sheriff's Office facebook page.
--Since last Friday, Morrison County has added six positive COVID cases for a total of 29. They include a three residents in their 20s, and one each in their 30s, 50s, 60s and 70s. One of the residents has been hospitalized. The rest are quarantined in their home. Morrison County Public Works Director Brad Vold said quarantines are for two weeks, so any residents tested positive two or more weeks ago are assumed out of quarantine.
--Father Ben from the Tri-Parish of Little Falls Catholic Community stated Tuesday that Bishop Donald Kettler announced last Friday that the church is preparing for the opening of public Masses in the parish. The bishops have proactively engaged public officials about the importance of some limited opening of our churches for Mass. Father Ben stated that 10 people or less is all that can be in churches at this time for public Masses, adoration, rosary or prayers during hours when the churches are open. They will start to allow those wishing to attend Mass to call and reserve a spot, but again only 10 can be part of each Mass at this time. Bishop Kettler stated that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains suspended until further notice. Father Ben said that the governor and Bishop were not thrilled with an outdoor Mass idea at this time and social distancing guidelines must be taken. Father Ben stated as we move into June more guidelines will decide the next steps to be taken in the church.
--The Brainerd Ski Loons water skiing club announced they are taking a year off due to COVID-19. They will not be performing any shows this year in Brainerd with hopes of being back in 2021.
--Little Falls Community High School principal Tim Bjorge stated that High School yearbooks can be picked up today from 8am-12pm in the south loop of the high school for all that have purchased yearbooks.
RELIGION NEWS
--longtime Christian Evangelist Ravi Zacharias died Tuesday. Ravi started a working in ministry in the late 1960s and helped U.S. soldiers starting in 1971 during the Vietnam War. Ravi's Sunday program has aired on KLTF and KFML since 2004. He was 74.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gene A. Bliese, age 81 of Swanville.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy early, then sunny, high 77.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low 58.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy skies, breezy, high 73, low near 60.
FRIDAY= showers and storms likely, high near 70, low near 60.
SPORTS
VL= with no Victory League still this weekend, AM960 KLTF will rebroadcast the Class C State Amateur Baseball Championship Game from Labor Day, 2014 between the Sobieski Skis and New Ulm Monday afternoon at 1pm on KLTF and streamed at fallsradio.com.