NEWS --There will be a blessing and rededicating of the Gabriel Statue this afternoon at 2:45pm on the Festival of St. Francis at CHI St. Gabriel's Health in Little Falls. The blessing ceremony will include speakers from CHI, the Franciscan Sisters, Father Joe Herzing of the Tri-Parish in Little Falls and Bishop Donald Kettler. Refeshments will be served after the program this afternoon at the hospital in Little Falls.
--The Stearns County Emergency Management center is holding a monthly county wide outdoor warning siren test at about 1:00pm today. Five minutes after the county test, a second test will take place for the city of Waite Park only. The test is meant to assess the coverage capabilities of the four Waite Park sirens as the community has grown. Questions can be directed to Waite Park city hall.
--Many Minnesotans were at the Las Vegas concert where a gunman opened fire and killed 59 people and wounded over 500 others. A Breezy Point couple ran from the rear section of the Harvest Festival, Mandi and Tom Hanson were not injured. As mentioned yesterday and Cold Spring woman and three others escaped injury as did a Thief River Falls Radio Station general manager and his crew. A Roseville man remains in critical condition after being struck by a bullet. The gunman took his own life, motive under investigation. Also one Morrison County church is holding a vigil today in honor of the victims killed in the shooting in Las Vegas. Motley Free Methodist Church announced they will host a vigil at noon today. It is open to anyone who wishes to pray for the Las Vegas. The church is located at 33 Wellwood Street in Motley.
--A crash early Saturday morning near Benson has claimed three lives. The three were identified by family and friends on social media this past weekend as Dylan Peterson of Benson; Austin Ardoff of Willmar, formerly of Clara City; and Autumn Nicole McLain of Willmar. The three were together in a vehicle that collided with another vehicle at a township road intersection just southeast of Benson. The crash was reported to the Swift County Sheriff's Office around 5:00am Saturday. The driver of the other vehicle, a 49-year old male, was treated at Swift County Benson Hospital and released. The Sheriff's Office said the first vehicle apparently failed to yield to the other driver at the intersection.
--Baxter police investigated a personal injury accident on Golf Course Drive and Clearwater Road Monday. One of the vehicle was tipped over its side when police arrived. The driver was taken to the hospital. Another injury accident was also reported by Baxter police earlier in the morning. No more details were released.
--A 19-year-old Pine River man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl. William Schnoor was charged last fall with six felonies. Schnoor accepted a plea agreement and is expected to be sentenced to 57 months in prison and 10 years supervised probation after that. He will be sentenced on November 13th.
--Brainerd firefighters responded to a chicken coop on fire around 8:15am Monday on Kennedy Road in Brainerd. Around 3 dozen chicks perished in the fire, the 50 adult chickens in the coop escaped the blaze. The heat lamps inside the coop is believed to be the blame. The coop was a total loss valued around $12,000 with another $500 loss in the chicks. No humans were injured in the fire.
--The Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls hosts their 4th Annual Zoofest on Saturday 11am-3pm. $6 per person. More details at fallsradio.com.
--The Semi-Annual Veterans Retiree Breakfast and Seminar will be held October 12th at the Camp Ripley Hanger. Breakfast at 9am with speakers on Tri-Care, Veterans affairs, state veterans cemetery, ID cards and more. For more information, contact Kris VonBerge 616-4959 or Tony Wenzel 749-2428.
--A Sauk Rapids man was taken to the hospital after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash in Sherburne County. Just after 5:00pm Monday on westbound Highway 10 in Elk River, both cars were going in the same direction when the front vehicle stopped for traffic and was struck from behind. Thirty-one-year-old Joshua Hannan of Sauk Rapids was the driver of the front vehicle. He was taken to Princeton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle was 32-year-old Anthony Greseth of Elk River was treated at the scene but not hospitalized.
--The 2017 Governor's Deer Hunting Opener will be held November 2nd-4th in Grand Rapids. This is the 15th annual event and will include exhibition by the National Archery in the Schools Bow and Arrow Program located in Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is the home of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association's state headquarters and the northeast regional office of the Minnesota DNR. According to the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association, almost half a million Minnesotans will take part in this popular pastime.
--Four people are hurt in a four-vehicle crash Monday on Highway 23, east of Milaca in Borgholm Township. The accident happened around 3:30pm on Highway 23 and 100th Avenue. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car driven by 31-year old Beth Foote of Milaca, was heading east on Highway 23 when she lost control and crossed the center line, sideswiping an SUV driven by 61-year old Marsha Schrader of Annandale. Foote was then hit in the westbound lane by an SUV driven by 61-year old Yoko Imholte of St. Cloud, who was then rear-ended by a car driven by 37-year old Lindsay Ashworth of Mora. Foote was hurt but not taken to the hospital. Imholte’s passenger, 62-year old Lila Imholte of Clear Lake was taken to the hospital in Princeton with non-life threatening injuries. Foote, along with Schrader and her passenger 66-year old Mavis Flowers of Annandale were also taken to an area hospital. No one else was hurt.
--Little Falls Community High School will be holding Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday, October 9th from 3:45 -7:45 pm in the High School Commons. For more information on conferences at area schools in Little Falls and around the area- call your local school.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 58. TONIGHT= clear skies, low 42. THURSDAY= increasing clouds, PM showers, high 57, low 41. FRIDAY= rain likely, cloudy, high 55, low around 45.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins started off hot last night with 1st inning homeruns by Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario but then the Yankees struck back with long homeruns and scoring in each of the first 4 innings to go on to eliminate the Twins 8-4 in the AL Wild Card. Yankees move on to face the Indians Thursday night. Twins season ends at 85-78 for 2017. WNBA= Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx in the deciding 5th game of the WNBA finals tonight 7pm at Williams Arena. COL FB= Gophers at Purdue Saturday 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.