NEWS
--Morrison County website on COVID-19 on Tuesday showed 779 total cases, 258 active cases, total cases hospitalized 37, the latest city zip code active cases, Little Falls 138, Pierz 29, Royalton 22 with others at 15 or under for the zip codes in Morrison County. The state health website reported 2,178 new cases of COVID-19 Tuesday and another 15 new deaths linked to the virus including one in their 80s in Morrison County marking the 10th confirmed death. New cases in counties were Benton 25, Crow Wing 26, Stearns 101, Todd 37, Mille Lacs had 14 and Morrison County reported 24 new cases Tuesday.
--A Minnesota woman who went missing around last Friday has been found dead, according to an update from the Kanabec County Sheriff's Office. Andrea "Andi" Nyberg, 80, of Elk River, was located near Cambridge, Minnesota. The sheriff's office announced that "she was found deceased, well off the roadway in an unharvested cornfield making her vehicle difficult to find." Nyberg, who suffered from dementia, disappeared around 5pm Friday after taking a red 2004 Buick LeSabre even though she does not drive. An update from her family over the weekend said there were 40 cars out searching for Nyberg. It's unclear why her vehicle was in a cornfield. No further information has been released. Local law enforcement wishes to thank all who aided in the search for Nyberg.
--Back on Saturday the Prescription Drug Take Back Event was held at Little Falls Walmart. 32 pounds of unused and expired medication was collected in a 4 hour timeframe. The Sheriff's Office would like to thank everyone that dropped off their medications and also to the volunteers who helped take the items in the cold outdoors Saturday.
--A message from the Little Falls Community Schools nurse that she is reminding parents to please continue to contact the school district if your student is ill and/or test positive for COVID-19 during distance learning as they need to report this even when the kids are not in school. Contact your local schools if you need more information.
--Two Waite Park residents died after their car collided with a semi Monday morning in southwestern Minnesota, according to Minnesota State Patrol. Hussein Hassan Noor, 30, was driving a 2014 Ford Focus south on 380th Avenue west of Windom when the vehicle crashed with a semi driving eastbound on Minnesota Highway 62 at about 9:48am Monday. A passenger of the Focus, 25-year-old Abdiqadar Yunis Abdi, also died in the crash. The driver of the 2018 Mack semi, 25-year-old Slayton resident Logan Jeffrey Like, was not injured.
--One person was hurt in a crash on Highway 23 in Waite Park. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 6:30pm Friday at the intersection of Highway 23 and 2nd Avenue South. A vehicle driven by 26-year-old Kelvin Oneal of Faribault was going east on the highway and a pickup driven by 37-year-old Trent Lammersen of South Haven was going west trying to make a left turn when the two vehicles collided. A passenger in Oneal's vehicle, 27-year-old Shamika Turner of Northfield, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No one else in the accident sustained injuries.
--Father Pierz School of Religion will be collecting food for the Food Shelf from around Pierz, Buckman, Lastrup and Harding on Halloween, October 31st. They will be going around Pierz and then the surrounding communuities starting around 5pm in Pierz and other towns around 5:30pm on Halloween Saturday.
--Free COVID-19 testing continues today at Bethel Lutheran Church, walk ins are welcome along with appointments 12-6pm today.
--St. Cloud police reported Tuesday that the 9 year boy shot last Saturday night at an apartment complex in southeast St. Cloud has been released from the hospital and will make a full recovery. The case remains active as authorities have not found where the shot came from or a weapon used in the incident. They do state it is likely the boy was not the target of the shooter and are asking the public to come forward if they have any information in the shooting case.
--St. Cloud Police are investigating reports of several gunshots early Tuesday morning in the 1200 block of Washington Memorial Drive. Police responded to the area shortly after midnight but couldn't find any evidence of shots being fired or anyone who may be responsible. Officers were called back to the area just after 5am on a report that damage from apparent gunshots was found on the third floor of an apartment unit at 1420 Washington Memorial Drive. Police determined the damage was consistent with shots being fired from an adjacent parking lot at 1212 Washington Memorial Drive. The shots damaged a window and an interior portion of the apartment unit. There were people inside at the time of the shooting but no one was hurt. The investigation is ongoing and police ask anyone with information about the incident to call them at (320) 251-1200.
--Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program will be held virtually this year. A 30-minute recorded program will be available starting at 8am on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11 on the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs website at MinnesotaVeteran.org/VeteransDay2020. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) invites all Minnesotans to celebrate and honor all Veterans who have served our state and country but logging on to see and hear the program.
--Some local area schools (that are in class still) are asking students to wear orange today in the fight against bullying at school and online. Stand United to Fight Bullying Day is today on October 28th for schools nationwide to come together.
DEATH NOTICES
--Georgina “Jean” Wehlage, age 91 of Brooklyn Park formerly Pierz.
--Anselm “Ansie” Sperl, age 98 of Albany.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 40, clear night, low 24.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, cooler, breezy, high 35, light snow at night.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 38, clear night, low near 20.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz vs. Minnewaska at Brainerd High School is scheduled for Friday at 3pm while Royalton vs. Holdingford has been moved to St. Cloud Tech High School scheduled for 7:30pm. Hear the Pierz game on FM94, and The Royalton game on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= The NFL Tuesday announced due to issues with COVID-19 and fan restrictions there will be no AFC/NFL Pro Bowl this January.
MLB= The L.A. Dodgers win the 2020 World Series in 6 games over the Tampa Bay Rays winning 3-1 last night for first title since 1988.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1870= postcards are introduced in the United States.
IN 1924= first Little Orphan Annie comic strip debuts.
IN 1955= Tappan sells first Microwave Oven to general public.
IN 1971= Roy Disney dedicates Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.