NEWS
--On Tuesday at 1:08am, the Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched to 13945 Highway 238 in Pike Creek Township on a report of an abandoned house on fire. Firefighters arrived and found the house fully involved with fire. The fire also spread to some surrounding grass in the field nearby. Firefighters extinguished the fire in the house and the surrounding grass fires. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Firefighters first cleared the scene at 4:15am but then were called back at 6:45am as the remains of an old barn on the property were now on fire. Firefighters arrived and extinguished that debris. It is believed that the barn debris started on fire from embers from the earlier fire in the house as we had several spot fires around the barn. They cleared this time shortly after 9am.
--At least one person died in a two-vehicle crash in Stearns County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 7pm Monday on Interstate 94 near Freeport. Both vehicles were traveling west when they collided. The driver of a car was a 36-year-old man from Pelican Rapids. He had two passengers in his vehicle, a 69-year-old man from Grand Island, Nebraska and a 48-year-old man from Pelican Rapids. The driver of a pickup was a 23-year-old man from Albany. The names and the conditions of all of the people involved have not been released yet from the State Patrol.
--One person was hurt when the car they were driving left the road and crashed. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 3pm Sunday on Highway 71 near Sauk Centre. Forty-five-year-old Michelle Skrypek of West St. Paul was driving south on Highway 71 when her car went into the ditch. She was taken to the hospital in Sauk Centre with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A man is left for dead in the middle of a St. Michael roadway after a potential hit-and-run incident. Wright County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the intersection of Ochoa Avenue Northeast and 60th Street just before 11pm on Friday, September 1st, because a body was lying motionless on the pavement. First responders from Allina Ambulance and St. Michael Fire Department attempted life-saving efforts at the scene but were unsuccessful. He was declared dead and taken to Midwest Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy. The man was identified Monday as Kyle Dixon, who lived in the city. The sheriff’s office says in a press release that Dixon’s injuries are consistent with being struck by a vehicle. The sheriff's office is looking for the public’s help. If you have any information on the incident, please contact the department at (763) 682-1162.
--Through September 30, 2023, Veterans who deployed to a combat zone, never enrolled in VA health care, and left active duty between September 11, 2001 and October 1, 2013 are eligible to enroll directly in VA health care. This special enrollment period gives Veterans who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones an opportunity to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Eligible Veterans can apply in several ways, including through their County Veteran Service Office, in Morrison County the number is 320-632-0290 or by calling the St. Cloud VA or going online. This special enrollment period is a part of the 2022 PACT Act, a new law that expands health care and benefits for Veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances. Although this deadline is written into law for this specific group of Veterans, many other groups of Veterans can enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Again check with the VA of assistance.
--Purva Watten of the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce wants to welcome all to Little Falls this weekend for the 50th Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair. Over 500+ vendors, food vendors, marketplace vendors, over 130 new vendors coming to Little Falls from 17 different U.S. States. The event is Saturday from 8am-6pm and Sunday from 9am-4pm. There is free parking at the Morrison County Fairgrounds to take the shuttle bus downtown both days. Guides with info on the vendors is available on the Chamber website or also a printed guide will also be available this weekend by red shirted volunteers and at the Info building downtown at 122 East Broadway where chamber members will be Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. If you have questions on the event call Purva at the chamber building at 632-5155. She wanted to thank all the organizations, community groups, volunteers, her staff and the businesses that work together to make this weekend a success.
--The Morrison County Historical Society have a correction to information they sent out to their members that the annual meeting will begin at 6pm as the Cass Gilbert Depot, home of the Little Falls Chamber Of Commerce. Their guest speaker is Steve Glischinski on September 21st again starting at 6pm. For information call 632-4007.
--The Friends of the Little Falls Carnegie Library will host an autumn used book sale at the library starting today for members and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday for the general public. Thousands of books in all genres, for all ages, as well as jigsaw puzzles, DVDs, CDs and other media, will be available, each for $1 or less. A pre-sale begins at 4:30pm today for Friends of the Library members. Proceeds fund the Friends’ mission of supporting the Little Falls Carnegie Library and promoting literacy in the community. The sale runs during library hours to come and get those books.
--The total attendance at the Minnesota State Fair was 1,835,826 people in the 12 days. That is down about 7.000 from 2022 and no where near the record total 2.12+million people in 2019.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Steve Harwell, the lead singer of the band Smashmouth has died at 56. The band had success starting in the late 90s then broke out in the early 2000's with the remake of the Monkees' I'm a Believer from Shrek and their other songs like Walkin' on the Sun and All Star.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Michael Gage and Kaitlin Purinton of Little Falls, a boy on Aug 25th.
WEATHER
AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL 6PM TONIGHT.
TODAY= AM clouds, sprinkles, smoke at times, then sunny, high 67.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cool night, low 46.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high near 70, low around 48.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 78, partly cloudy night, low 51.
SPORTS
TWINS= Solano hits a 3 run triple as the Twins beat the Guardians last night 8-3. The Twins wrap up in Cleveland today, pregame coverage starts at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers host Eastern Michigan on Saturday at 6:30pm.
NFL= Vikings open the regular season at home Sunday afternoon with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, kickoff is slated for noon.