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Archives starting June 13th

July 24th, 2007

 

        LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--A longtime Sauk Rapids City Council member was found dead in his home Monday morning. Donald Pappenfus, a former city employee had spent 33 years in the public works department, a 25-year veteran of the Sauk Rapids Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the City Council for 2 ½ years. Monday’s City Council meeting in Sauk Rapids was cancelled and agenda items moved to the next meeting on August 13th. Funeral arrangements for Pappenfus are pending. Sauk Rapids police stated that foul play is suspected in his death. Pappenfus was 62.

--The Little Falls Police Department is investigating a break-in at the airport over the weekend. The complaint came in on Saturday advising that several items had been taken from a hangar. More than $6,000 worth of equipment was taken including 2 airplane pontoon floats and a GPS system. If you have any information please contact the Little Falls Police Department at 616–5570.

--The body of a missing Iowa man has been recovered. CassCounty authorities found 48-year-old James Tomka of Des Moines in Steamboat Lake Monday morning. Searchers found his canoe and paddle on the southwest shore of the lakeFriday. Officials believe his canoe capsized Friday and he was unable to reach shore.

--The family of Abigail Taylor says she’s been upgraded to fair condition and should be released from the hospital by the end of the week. The six-year-old was seriously injured when she sat over an open drain in a wading pool last month. Her father, Scott, points to the girl’s strength and positive attitude after the accident. Abigail’s parents expect her to start school in the fall, even though she’s still being fed through an I-V. Senator Amy Klobuchar appeared with the Taylor’s Monday in a news conference to try to get through the bill she has sponsored to have Federal Poll Safety Legislation so that the incident that occurred with Abigail does not happen again.

--MinneapolisHospital officials say the fifth sextuplet born to a St. Louis Park couple died Sunday. Lucia Rae Morrison, a sister and four brothers were born to Brianna and Ryan Morrison on June 10th. Lucia’s death leaves her brother Sylas as the sole survivor of the Morrison sextuplets. Sylas is in critical condition. Their mother was in her 22nd week of pregnancy when the babies were born.

--Governor Pawlenty took the reins Monday as new chairman of the National Governor’s Association at the group’s national meeting in Michigan. Pawlenty’s focus as NGA chair is “securing a clean energy future” and he called on fellow governors to encourage production and discovery of more American energy. The two-term Republican is the first Minnesota governor to head the National Governor’s Association since Harold Stassen in 1942.

--Prices at the pump across the Twin Cities have dropped below $3-a gallon. AAA is Minneapolis says the average Metro Area price is currently $2.97 for a gallon of regular-unleaded. The state average is a cent lower at $2.96 with some stations as low as $2.76-a gallon.

--Clarence and Mayme Vail are the longest married couple alive in the U.S. and they have made their happy lives right here in Minnesota. They reside in a retirement community in White Bear Lake and have been married for over 82 years. 101-year-old Clarence says the secret to a long and happy marriage is to just find a good woman and do what she wants you to do. 99-year-old Mayme says accept your spouse as they are. The couple married in 1925. They have 6 children and 180 grand, great and great-great grandkids.

 

 

       MORE NEWS

--Brainerd and Baxter officials will meet with Pollution Control officials today in St. Paul to discuss the cause for elevated levels of a toxic chemical found in the Mississippi River near Brainerd’s Wastewater facility. The meeting to mainly to expand the an application from Brainerd for its wastewater treatment facility which was put on hold after the elevated levels of the chemical, perfluorated chemical of PFC was found in the wastewater. Tomorrow, an MPCA official from Duluth is expected to be in Brainerd to take samples from the water and collect fish from the river and testing will be done to see if the chemicals are in the fish tissue, this will take a couple of weeks. The Baxter City Council says if the water is still found to be contaminated it will definitely put problems into their expansion efforts for the wastewater treatment plant that is to be completed by 2009.

--Between Saturday and Monday alone, Brainerd firefighters were called out 7 different times. Fires included a garage fire in Oak LawnTownship, the kitchen at Buffalo Wild Wings in Baxter, a gas line cut on Cedar Scenic Road, a ditch fire on Highway 210 near Fletcher Trucking and a car fire near Brainerd International Raceway. In all cases the fires were extinguished and no one was injured. The DNR has also been busy with the dry conditions being called to many grass fires in central and north-central Minnesota and reminds residents to watch when burning and that burning restrictions remain in effect for Morrison, Todd, Mille Lacs, Stearns and Benton counties.

--An Annandale man was injured Monday morning in WrightCounty when his bicycle collided with a dump truck. Just after 8:30, 68-year-old William Rataczek was leaving a driveway on 80th Street Northwest near the Stearns/Wright County line when he struck the dump truck owned by the Stearns County Highway Department. Rataczek was taken to St. CloudHospital by Lifelink helicopter and is in critical condition. The truck driver from Sauk Rapids was not hurt.

 

       DEATH NOTICES

--Daniel Kornovich, age 87 of Onamia.

 

       WEATHER

TODAY= mostly sunny and humid, high of 93, heat index near 100.

TONIGHT= clear to partly cloudy, low around 70.

WEDNESDAY= hot and humid, high 95, heat index of 105.

THURSDAY= 40% chance of early and late storms, high near 90.

 

       SPORTS

MLB= Justin Morneau hit 2 home runs but Frank Thomas had 2 of his own last night and Toronto out homered the Twins 4 to 3 and beat the Twins 6-4. Johan Santana made history has the first Cy Young award winner to give up 4 home runs in a game since Pedro Martinez did it in 1998. Twins and Jays tonight 5:35 on Q92 WYRQ.

 

      TODAY IN HISTORY

IN 1956= the team of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin called it quits.

IN 1974= the Supreme Court ruled that President Nixon had to turn over subpoenaed White House tape recordings to Watergate Feds.

IN 1984= Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw retired.

IN 1987= Hulda Crooks climbed Mt.Fuji, she was 91 at the time.

IN 1998= the movie “Saving Private Ryan” debuted in theaters.

IN 2005= Lance Armstrong won his 7th and last Tour De France.

 

“Hot Hits” Wednesday through Saturday night at West Side Bar



July 23rd, 2007

 

        LOCAL/STATE NEWS
--As many families are welcoming home soldiers from Iraq. Families of 158 CampRipley soldiers are saying goodbye. The 851st Vertical Engineer Company is scheduled to deploy Wednesday for Fort McCoy, Wisconsin for approximately 3 months before leaving for Iraq for a year. During that year they will be tasked to carpentry, concrete, plumbing and electrical support of building projects.

--About 270 Minnesota National Guard soldiers from West St. Paul and Bloomington Armories are the latest of the 2,600 Minnesota troops who served in Iraq to come home Friday. The First Brigade Combat Team spent 22 months away from home and 16 of those in the war zone. All of them are back on American soil but some remain at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin for demobilization and will be returning to their home bases by early this week.

--A nine-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after being hit a tractor-trailer while riding his bike. Cody Linz was riding northbound on a county road near Holdingford when he was hit by the semi around 5:30 Thursday afternoon. The boy was airlifted to St. CloudHospital and is listed in good conditions with only minor injuries.

--St. Cloud police say charges are pending against five teenage boys who participated in the beating and robbery of a man who was attacked on UniversityBridge early Friday. Police say one of the teens hit the 31-year-old Mora man on the back of his head with a metal pole. The attack left the victim unconscious. Police say he was taken to a hospital with significant but non-life threatening injuries. The teen who hit the victim faces felony charges of aggravated robbery and third-degree assault. The Stearns County Attorney’s Office is considering charges against the other four teens who were arrested.

--A drug sweep at the 10,000 Lakes Music Festival near DetroitLakes, netted a dozen arrests and close to $25,000 worth of illegal substances. Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon says there was a small amount of heroin and cocaine, but ecstasy and mushrooms seem to be the drugs of choice that dealers were pushing. The music festival ended on Saturday with possibly more arrests still expected.

--Health officials are reporting the state’s second human case of West Nile this year. A ClayCounty teenager, first diagnosed with meningitis is at home recovering. The State Health Department says the population of disease-carrying mosquitoes has increased because of hot and dry weather last month. They say it could be a bad year for West Nile. Experts say the virus-carrying mosquitoes are mostly out early the day and at dusk. A woman from PolkCounty was the first to contract the virus and has since recovered.

--A young woman from Minneota was killed in a two-vehicle accident Thursday afternoon on Highway 68 east of Minneota in the southwest part of the state. 18-year-old Emily Ufkin died after she lost control of her vehicle which crossed the center line and struck an oncoming garbage truck. The truck driver was not injured.

--CassCounty authorities are searching for a missing canoeist. Late Friday a man on SteamboatLake north of Walker went missing. His canoe was found Friday night. Through Sunday, numerous agencies searched the lake and the air but as of now have not found the man.

--The motorcyclist killed in a head-on accident Wednesday in WrightCounty has been identified as 40-year-old Daniel Burgess of St. Michael. Burgess was driving his cycle westbound on Highway 241 when he crossed the center-line and collided with two vehicles. One of the two drivers sustained minor injuries.

 --Forecasters have put the Twin Cities in an air advisory for the week. Due to warm temperatures, clear skies and southerly winds, ozone and particle pollutants will be in moderate to high levels. People who are sensitive to the air quality should not be outdoors for a long time. 

--A coalition of landowners continues to appeal a decision that allows an oil pipeline to be built across Minnesota that includes portions of Stearns and MorrisonCounties. The landowners are working with a nonprofit group and filed an appeal last week on the state Pubic Utilities Commission’s to great the Minnesota Pipeline Company the right to begin work on the 304-miles pipeline next month. The landowners that appealed the ruling stated they were notified of the pipeline or not given enough time to have any meaningful participation in the process. The company states it has signed agreements with owners of 85% of the 1,100 properties along the route and has started condemnation proceedings with the owners of the remaining 15% of properties.

--The sinkhole that stopped traffic Thursday in St. Cloud has been fixed. Road crews had the road opened by Friday night. Crews repaired the 80-year-old sewer line that caused the 10 foot deep and 15-foot wide sinkhole between 29th and 30th Avenue of Veteran’s Drive. The sinkhole was similar to one in 2002 that closed Veteran’s Drive, near the CentennialPlaza shopping mall for 40 days and cost $600,000 to repair. Some minor work on the line may still need to be done but for now traffic is back running in that area.

 

        NATIONAL NEWS

--Former television evangelist and InternationalFalls native Tammy Faye Messner has died. Tammy Faye came to fame in the 1980’s when married then to evangelist Jim Bakker and making their PTL TV Program a nationwide success. Bakker scandals ended their marriage and in 1992 she divorced Bakker and married Roe Messner. Tammy Faye died Friday after a bout with cancer. She was 65.

 

        BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

--Corey and Heidi Rakow of Little Falls, a boy born July 18th.

--Luke and Tracy Harakel of Bowlus, a boy born July 19th.

--Charles and Patti Eggerth of Swanville, a boy born July 20th.

--Matthew and Sommer Oslund of Little Falls, a girl born July 19th.

--Kevin and Beth Kunstleben of Brainerd, a boy born July 20th.

 

       DEATH NOTICES

--Gail M. Ficek, age 49 of Sobieski.

--Chester Young, age 84 of Little Falls.

--Denny R. Zillmer, age 72 of Little Falls.

 

       WEATHER

TODAY= partly cloudy and humid, high of 90.

TONIGHT= mostly clear, lows around 70.

TUESDAY= sunny and humid, high of 90.

WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, hot, high’s in the mid 90’s.

 

      SPORTS

MLB= Twins take 2 of 3 from Angels over the weekend, winning 7-5 Friday and 5-2 Saturday. Twins lost 7-2 on Sunday. The Twins hit the road and travel to Toronto tonight 5:35pm on Q92 WYRQ.

 

“Hot Hits” Wednesday through Saturday night at West Side Bar



July 20th, 2007

 

         LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--The last 30 CampRipley soldiers that have been away from their families for almost 2 years were led though Little Falls Thursday morning. They, as prior troop buses, were escorted by members of Little Falls police and fire departments, the Morrison County Sheriff’s office and the “Patriot Guard”. Currently all of the 1st battalion red bulls are back on U.S. soil.

--A 21-year-old Minneapolis man was sentenced Wednesday to more than 16 years in prison for the November murder of a McGregor woman. Jason Quaderer was sentenced in AitkinCounty on the murder of 73-year-old Eva Mae Mitchell, who was a friend of his father. Quaderer pleaded guilty to the murder back in April. According to reports, Quaderer and Mitchell were drinking at his father’s house last year when an argument ensued. Quaderer told police he hit and kicked Mitchell several times and tossed the body in the woods behind the house where it was found the next morning.

--The much needed rain that fell in parts of Minnesota, near the Twin Cities mostly, Wednesday did little to alleviate the dry conditions. The National Weather Service says 1.18-inches fell at the St. PaulAirport and ¾ of an inch fell at TwinCitiesInternationalAirport. The weather service says moderate drought conditions have expanded across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin with severe drought also remaining in parts of the “arrowhead region” of northeast Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Forecasters say a brief respite from the hot, dry weather will continue through the weekend but temperatures by Sunday in parts of the state and most of the state by Monday will be back into the 90’s for daytime highs.

--A head on accident in WrightCounty has left one man dead. The Minnesota State Patrol isn’t releasing the St. Michael mans name pending notification. A motorcycle traveling eastbound on Highway 241 collided with a car driven by a Maple Grove Woman on Wednesday.  A truck driven by Kyle Tougas of FortRipley also struck the motorcyclist. The driver of the car Cindy Nordin was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Tougas was not injured.

--Sometime late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning an unknown person or persons tried to steal gas and farm fuel from the Holmquist farm in GermainiaTownship. ToddCounty deputies received other reports from the same night from residents of Bertha, EagleValley and GermaniaTownships where someone or ones had entered the person’s residence into their yard and attempted to steal gas or tamper with vehicles. If you have any information you are encouraged to contact ToddCounty at 320-732-2157.

--Authorities in Grand Forks have released the name of a worker killed in a construction accident Wednesday. 51-year-old Craig Knoff of Grand Forks was an employee of Aggregate Industries of Moorhead. The company was involved in a paving project when a truck containing oil backed over Knoff, pinning him underneath. Emergency crews were able to life the truck off Knoff but he died at the scene. The accident is under investigation.

--A Princeton man accused in a bizarre bank robbery has been indicted. 25-year-old David Atchison is accused of robbing a Wells Fargo bank in Maple Grove in a series of events that began with a floral arrangement and ended with a drop off at a nearby church. A floral arrangement sent to the bank on May 19th contained what looked like a bomb. A limousine then took the cash to the church.

 --St. Cloud motorists are to use caution when traveling Veteran’s Drive for now. An aging sewer line broke causing a large sinkhole yesterday. Repairs on the 12-foot-deep by 10-foot diameter began yesterday with those expected to be done by late today. Ironically the repairs for the aging sewer were just passed at Monday’s St. Cloud City Council with repairs to begin in about 3 weeks. The repairs total around $1.3-million dollars from Minnesota Highway 23 to 23rd Avenue. The repairs being done now are temporary and just to the area of the sinkhole. Permanent repairs are expected to start soon.

--A 51-year-old man is dead crashing the motorcycle he was driving Wednesday evening near Dent in west-central Minnesota. Authorities say Cory Orvik lost control of the cycle, which left the road and flipped. Orvik died at a Fargo hospital.

--A new Minnesota Health Department report says hospital treated dog bites increased 40% between 1998 and 2005. The study has found more than 24,500 people were treated in emergency rooms during the study period and 849 were hospitalized. According to the report, children between the ages of one and four had the highest rate for both hospitalization and emergency room treatment. The majority of dog bites occurred between May and August. One person died as the result of a dog bite during the eight-year study period.

--The Minnesota Vikings have turned down a plan that would renovate the Metrodome for a fraction of the nearly one-billion-dollar cost to build a new stadium on the existing site. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission said Thursday that estimated cost of a potential Metrodome renovation would be around $270-million dollars. Plans for a new stadium include a retractable roof, 65,000 seats, 150 private suites, a Vikings Hall of Fame area and a restaurant. The commission hopes to start a “learning tour” in August in an effort to sell the new stadium idea to lawmakers and fans.

 

        BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

--John and Genevieve Czech of Little Falls, a girl born on July 18th.

 

       DEATH NOTICES

--Clarice L. Erickson, age 97 of Grey Eagle.

--Gary K. Larson, age 69 of Foley.

--Marlys A. Bucholtz, age 65 of Pierz.

 

       WEATHER

TODAY= sunny with a high near 80.

TONIGHT= clear skies, lows near 55.

SATURDAY= sunny and warmer, high of 85

SUNDAY= mostly sunny, warm and humid, high 93.

MONDAY= partly cloudy with a high near 90.

 

       SPORTS

MLB= Brandon Inge doubled in the winning run in the 10th inning as the Tigers sweep the Twins winning 4-3 Thursday. Twins open up a three game series with the Angels tonight 6:40, Saturday 5:35 and Sunday 12:35, all games on Q92 WYRQ this weekend.

VL= 2 west playoff games this weekend on AM960 KLTF.

       Saturday 1:30pm= Upsala at Randall.

      Sunday 1:30pm= winner of Saturday’s game at Sobieski.

The final Victory League Roundup is Sunday night at 6:30 on KLTF.

 

“Hot Hits” tonight and Saturday at West Side Bar

 



July 19th, 2007

 

           LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--Another wave of troops returning from Fort McCoy, Wisconsin after two years away from their families will come through Little Falls today. They are expected in town between 11:15 and 11:30 this morning. Already over 50 soldiers have come through Little Falls to CampRipley returning from oversea duty. 2,600 in all have returned after spending two years away from loved ones and 16 months in Iraq. If you can, please grab a flag or someone and take them outside during the drive through Little Falls to thank the soldiers for their great service and welcome them back to our community.

--The man accused of beating a fellow inmate in the SherburneCounty jail last August has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness. 29-year-old Bruce Christenson faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of Carl Moyle when Christenson allegedly took a handicap railing in his cell and beat Moyle with it. Christenson was found competent to stand trial after a contested competency hearing was held this year. Christenson is expected to stand trial beginning October 15th. If convicted would serve life in prison with no parole.

--The Little Falls Fire Department was called to a mobile-home fire around 7 pm Tuesday night at 15495 120th avenue in PikeCreekTownship. It is believed the refrigerator was responsible for the cause of the fire and the mobile-home was ruled a total loss.

--24-year-old Demetrius LeSean Stewart was convicted Wednesday in StearnsCounty for threatening to kill an informant if she testified in a drug case against him. Stewart was found guilty on one count of aggravated first-degree witness tampering and two controlled substance crime counts. The judge sentenced Stewart to 175 months in prison the maximum allowed under state guidelines for someone with Stewart’s criminal history. Last year Stewart and Jamel Striblin were arrested following separate undercover drug deals in the early part of the year. In March, an undercover deal unraveled when Striblin pointed a rifle at the head of an informant, who had made the undercover buys from two prior incidents with the men. During an earlier arrest Stewart had seen the identity of the informant from investigative documents. When police were called in following the unraveled bust, the two men fled and then later captured. Striblin is stands trial starting Tuesday. He’s charged with aiding and abetting witness tampering and 2nd-degree assault and terroristic threats.

--Four U of M football players involved in a sexual assault investigation has been kicked off the team. Coach Tim Brewster announced the Athletic Department has severed its ties with the four players. Dominic Jones has been charged with sexual assault. The other three have not been charged but remain under investigation.

--The DNR has confirmed the discovery of Eurasian Water Milfoil in six Minnesota lakes. The infested bodies were found in KimballLake in CrowWingCounty, MapleLake in WrightCounty, SpectacleLake in IsantiCounty, McMahonLake in ScottCounty, BigLake in SherburneCounty and WilmesLake in WashingtonCounty. The DNR urges boaters to continue to take precautions to avoid spreading the weed.

--University of Minnesota graduate and Iowa native Doctor Norman Borlaug received the nation's highest civilian honor Tuesday. President Bush and leading lawmakers presented Borlaug with a Congressional Gold Medal. Borlaug is often called the "Father of the Green Revolution" for his work in plant genetics that helped reduce world hunger. Borlaug received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970. He's still the only person to receive that award for work in agriculture.

 --A November trial date has been set for 24-year-old Timothy Peterson of Sauk Rapids in the shooting death of his neighbor Howard Hines in March, 2005. A grand jury indicted Peterson on first-and-second-degree murder charges after a ruling that he was competent to stand trail. Peterson’s attorneys state that their client has a history of mental illness and had been previously committed before the shooting took place. Peterson fired five rifle shots from his third-floor apartment in the 2005 incident, killing Hines instantly, who was sitting in his car. Peterson then walked out and surrendered.

--A Rice man was arrested Monday after a motorcycle chase through StearnsCounty. Sheriff John Sanner stated that 45-year-old David Fielder led deputies on a chase exceeding speeds of 100 miles-per-hour. They attempted to stop Fielder on Stearns County Road 2 but he sped off, Fielder continued to avoid police until he crashed his cycle and then ran on foot where he was captured. Alcohol is believed to be involved in the incident. Fielder is expected to be charged with fleeing a peace officer and other charges by the Stearns County Attorney’s Office.

--The Initiative Foundation based in Little Falls awarded a new round of 31 community grants totaling over $146,000. Some of the recipients include Central Minnesota Work Force Center in Monticello to support economic development, Child Care Choices of St. Cloud for Hope Retreat. $10,000 will go to MorrisonCounty, Little Falls, methane digester feasibility study for the study of a methane generator and distribution from a MorrisonCounty dairy operation. St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls received $5,000 for their Families and Schools Together project, to help pay for certifying a local trainer in the program. For more information on the Initiative Foundation or the recent grant recipients go online to www.ifound.org.

 

      NATIONAL NEWS
--The U.S. Senate failed to get the 60 votes needed to override a Presidential veto from President Bush on a pull-out date of troops in Iraq. The vote Wednesday fell 8 votes short of the 60 needed. Minnesota Senators split on the issue as Democrat Amy Klobuchar voted to end debate and move forward the troop withdrawal measure as Republican Norm Coleman opposed it.

 

     BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

--Charles Erickson and Stephanie Klassen-Erickson of Little Falls are parents of a girl born on July 17th.

--Eric and Nicole Schultz of Little Falls, parents of a boy born 7-17.

 

     WEATHER

TODAY= mostly sunny, cooler with a high near 80.

TONIGHT= mostly clear and cool, low near 50.

FRIDAY= mostly sunny, highs again near 80.

SATURDAY= sunny, warmer, high of 85.

SUNDAY= sunny and warm with a high of 90.

 

     SPORTS

MLB= Twins blew too many scoring opportunities leaving 14 on base last night and lost to Detroit 3-2. Johan Santana pitched a pretty good outing going 8 innings. Twins need a win today as they wrap up with 1st place Detroit. Game time is at 12:10pm on Q92 WYRQ.

 

“Hot Hits” tonight through Saturday at West Side Bar



July 18th, 2007

 

         LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--An update on KLTF Party Line hostess and Little Falls native Lucas Czech. According to HennepinCountyMedicalCenter, Hilmerson’s remains in critical but stable condition. Donna is expected to have more surgery on Thursday and is expected to remain in intensive care unit for at least a month. Lucas, according the website

www.caringbridge.org remains in intensive care but continues to improve. The families of both are asking to keep both Donna and Lucas in your hearts and prayers.

--Another 30 soldiers arrived Tuesday at CampRipley and saw there families for the first time in two years. Family members stood waiting with welcome home signs and American flags. The soldiers came through Little Falls around 11:20 yesterday morning; almost the same time at 22 soldiers came through on Monday. They were escorted through town by members of the Minnesota Patriot Guard, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office and Little Falls Police. An additional 30 troops are to arrive on Thursday and right now are expected around the same time as the earlier two bus loads. Well wishers are encouraged to line the streets and welcome them home.

--The price of school lunch is the big news coming out of Monday nights Little Falls School Board meeting. A food service recommendation was debated and a new 3 pronged system was put into place. in the 20o6-07 school year the school came close to the projections for costs but revenue was lower and has cause a shortfall, to make up for this without dipping into the general fund school lunch will now be increased 25 cents across the board. Breakfast will remain free for elementary school students, one dollar for junior high and high school students and two dollars for adults. After discussion the board voted 5-1 to pass the recommendation.

--The Morrison County Farm Service Agency reminds area farmers that the nomination period closed August 1st for FSA County Committee election nominees. This year’s election in Local Administrative Area 2, which includes the townships of Bellevue, Buckman, Hillman, Lakin, Morrill, Mount Morris, Elmdale and Two Rivers. Voters in LAA 2 include those who have an interest in a farm or ranch as an owner, operator, tenant or sharecropper. Spouses are also eligible to vote in they are listed on the property deed. The committee oversees the programs administered by the countyFSA office. Nomination formers are available at the Morrison County FSA Office in Little Falls or online at www.fsa.usda.gov on form FSA-669A. Nominations must be field at the county office or postmarked by August 1st. Questions contact the FSA office at 320-632-5477.

--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting to solicit comments on proposals to implement special fishing regulations on several BeckerCounty lakes. Numerous regulations are expected to be put in place to help rejuvenate the population on many OtterTailCounty lakes.  The open house style meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on August 23, 2007 at the Minnesota State Community and TechnicalCollege in DetroitLakes

--The U.S. Senate race in Minnesota for 2008 got one person smaller on Tuesday as Orono tax lawyer and bank owner Bob Olson announced he would not seek the U.S. Senate in 2008 but instead will seek the DFL endorsement for the 6th Congressional District seat currently held by Michelle Bachmann. Olson stated that the DFL endorsement for senate is too crowded with candidates seeking the endorsement such as Al Franken and Mike Ciresi.

 --The “Quiet Zone” was a hot topic yet again at Monday’s Little Falls City Council Meeting. Mayor Cathy Vanrisseghem said she doesn’t think that the railroad wants the city to have a quiet zone. They have learned they will now receive a written notice of the requirements needed to retain the “Quiet Zone” but that involves adding medians and a right in/right out at Paul Larson Memorial Drive and Highway 27 that Morrison County is opposed to. The mayor says the issue is not dead and that they will continue to fight and look for a solution.

--Two Rice men were injured last evening in MorrisonCounty. Just after 6:30, a vehicle was north on Great River Road in Swan River Township when it lost control on a curve, went off the road, hit an approach and rolled. Authorities are unclear still on who was driving the vehicle when it crashed. 38-year-old Jason Claire and 44-year-old Rodney Mrozek were both ambulanced to an area hospital for treatment of unknown injuries.

--StearnsCounty authorities have released the name of the man who drowned in CrookedLake on Monday afternoon. 61-year-old Gary Manea of Clearwater was swimming alone and began to holler for help. Neighbors attempted to rescue Manea but without success. His body was recovered from the lake by numerous agencies and he was pronounced dead.

 

      BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

--Brad and Anita Hollenhorst, a boy born July 16th.

 

      DEATH NOTICES

--Genevieve Kastanek, age 92 of Pierz.

--Donna Mae Pierskalla, age 73 of St. Cloud.

--Marjorie Dahlstrom, age 93 of Onamia.

 

      WEATHER

TODAY= partly cloudy, 20% chance of rain with a high of 87

TONIGHT= partly cloudy becoming clear, low of 60

THURSDAY= sunny and a high of 78

FRIDAY= sunny with a high of 80

 

      SPORTS
MLB= Twins lose 1-0 to Detroit last night. Matt Garza pitched great in his second start as the lone Tiger run was an unearned run. Twins and Tigers play again tonight 7:10 on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= former Viking quarterback Dante Culpepper is now a former Miami Dolphin. The Dolphins officially released Culpepper on Tuesday. Jacksonville has shown interested in signing him.

 

     TODAY IN HISTORY

IN 1914= 6 U.S. planes formed the Signal Corps Aviation Division.

IN 1927= Ty Cobb got his 4,000 hit with Detroit, first player to do it.

IN 1936= the first Oscar Meyer “wienermobile” was completed.

IN 1964= The Four Seasons had the top hit with “Rag Doll”.

IN 1969= Senator Edward Kennedy’s car plunged off a bridge on ChappaquidickIsland. The crash killed May Jo Kopenche.

IN 1976= 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci earned a perfect score of 10 on the uneven bars in the Olympics.

IN 1989= “My Sister Sam” actress Rebecca Schaeffer was shot and killed at her home in Los Angeles by an obsessed fan. She was 21.

 

“Hot Hits” tonight through Saturday at West Side Bar



July 17th, 2007

 

          LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--An accident Monday afternoon has left the hostess of Little Falls Radio’s “Party Line”, Donna Hilmerson in critical condition. According to family members, Hilmerson collided with a construction company truck at the intersection of 1st Street South and 7th Avenue. She suffered numerous broken bones and internal injuries and is currently at HennepinCountyMedicalCenter in the Twin Cities. The driver of the truck was not injured.  As Donna has done so often for others, her family is requesting your prayers for her recovery.

--The Todd County Sheriff’s Office along with Sauk Centre police has arrested two individuals in connection with selling narcotics. An 8 month investigation by the two agencies and the Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force led to the arrests of 33-year-old Viviano Ramirez Juarez and 45-year-old Cecilia Hernandez both of Sauk Centre on 1st Degree Sale of a Controlled Substance, 1st Degree Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and felony child endangerment. They are being held in StearnsCounty.

--22 members of the B Company of 134th Brigade Support Battalion met family members yesterday around noon at CampRipley. The soldiers were returning from almost two years away from their loved ones and 16 of those months spent in Iraq. This one only the first group to arrive at CampRipley as more are expected through the week. 2,600 Troops are expected in all back by July 31st.

--Authorities are still searching for a man accused of shooting another man in Morris Sunday. Helicopters and search dogs canvassed the area for 18-year-old Sergio Valdes with investigators saying Valdes also goes by the name Demetrio Paz. He is considered armed and dangerous. A 21-year-old man was shot in the chest by a small caliber weapon and witnesses told police Valdes was carrying a silver or chrome handgun.

--A Gopher football player is in the Hennepin County Jail charged with criminal sexual conduct. 20-year-old Dominic Jones was arrested by University of Minnesota police last night. His arrest is apparently part of an ongoing sexual assault investigation involving three other players. Alex Daniels, E.J. Jones and Keith Massey were arrested but not charged after an 18-year-old woman claimed he was raped on campus in April. Jones has been suspended from the football team.

--A southwest Minnesota man is dead after trying to pass a farm tractor on a MurrayCounty highway Sunday afternoon. The State Patrol says 21-year-old Thomas Pruitt of Iona was driving one of the two cars that tried to get around the tractor pulling a wagon. Pruitt was ejected as his car entered the ditch and rolled. He was dead at the scene. The other driver was not hurt and the tractor operator suffered minor injuries. The State Patrol is investigating.

--St. LouisCounty authorities are attempting to locate 25-year-old Andy Wetherill. Wetherill has outstanding warrants in Minnesota for 1st and 2nd Degree Murder and Fleeing in a Motor Vehicle. Wetherill may be possession of a firearm and should be handled with caution. If you see Wetherill or know his whereabouts, do not approach, but contact law enforcement immediately. Wetherill is described a white male, 6’2 and 245 pounds, was last seen with a shaved head and has a large tattoo on his upper left arm and shoulder that depicts a princess and waterfall scene. He was driving a black/silver Buell motorcycle with license plate 53306MD.

--The body of a 61-year-old man was recovered from CrookedLake in StearnsCounty yesterday afternoon. The Clearwater man was reported swimming and he began to holler for help. Neighbors attempted to rescue the man but without success. Numerous agencies worked to get the man from the water but he was pronounced dead. The name of the victim has not been released.

--Thanks to the drought, Minnesota is short about two month’s worth of rain since April. Climatologist Pete Boulay says the drought has worsened from the Iowa border up through the Twin Cities and across much of central Minnesota. Boulay says with the exception of a few days of sweltering heat, Minnesota has stayed well north of a zone of high heat that would only worsen the drought.

--The Wright County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man killed in a rollover accident Sunday near Hanover. 46-year-old Dolapo Ero-Phillips of Brooklyn Park died after being thrown from the vehicle after it rolled Sunday night on Wright County Road 20. He was alone in the vehicle when the accident occurred.

--The Heartland Symphony Orchestra has named Daniel O’Bryant as its new music director. O’Bryant is also the director of orchestras at St. CloudStateUniversity and the music director for the St. Cloud Symphony Youth Orchestra. His first directorial assignment will be October 13-14 when the Symphony does “A Tribute to the Cowboy” for their fall concert in Little Falls and Brainerd.

 

 

      BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Thomas Sowada and Amanda LeNore of Little Falls, a boy on 7-13

 

      DEATH NOTICES

--Edward J. T. Nacey, age 93 of Little Falls.

--Melvin Johnson, age 38 of Onamia.

 

      WEATHER

TODAY= partly cloudy, 20% chance of PM storms, high 85.

TONIGHT= slight chance of storms, partly cloudy, low 65.

WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, 20% chance of storms, high 85.

THURSDAY= sunny skies, cooler and less humid, high 78.

 

      SPORTS

MLB= The Twins host the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers tonight to open up a 3 game set. Game time is at 7:10pm on Q92 WYRQ.

 

 

     TODAY IN HISTORY

IN 1862= National Cemeteries were authorized by the U.S.

IN 1867= Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 1st dental school.

IN 1917= British Royal Family took on the surname Windsor.

IN 1920= author Sinclair Lewis finished his novel “Main Street”.

IN 1941= Yankee slugger Joe DiMaggio went hitless in a game against Cleveland ending his record 56-game hitting streak.

IN 1955= Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California.

IN 1959= Jazz singer Billie Holiday died at the age of 44.

IN 1961= baseball hall-of-famer Ty Cobb died age 74.

IN 1968= The Beatles “Yellow Submarine” movie premiered.

 

“Hot Hits” Wednesday through Saturday at West Side Bar



July 16th, 2007

 

        LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--After nearly two years of active duty, 320 Minnesota National Guard soldiers are returning to CampRipley today. The first companies with the B and C Companies of the 134th Brigade Support Battalion arrive today, with A Company on Tuesday and Headquarters Company on Wednesday. The Companies known as “Red Bull” has been in Iraq for the past 16 months. Official arrival times have not been released. In a related story, on Tuesday at 3pm, Governor Pawlenty will welcome home another 200 troops from the National Guard’s 1st Brigade Combat Team 34th Infantry Division at Volk Field in Wisconsin.

--State Representative Mark Olson of Big Lake was found guilty Friday on one count of misdemeanor domestic assault for causing fear but was found not guilty on the more serious charges against him. With the less serious conviction, Olson will likely not face jail time. Sentencing is scheduled fro August 16th. Olson says he has no plans to resign from the state legislature amidst pressure from other legislators to resign if convicted of domestic assault against his wife.

--On Friday, Minnesota’s legislative auditor has accused former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer and her administration of overpaying more than $200,000 in wages given to 17 employees that was over the allowable salary ranges. Kiffmeyer’s mileage reimbursements are also being questioned by the auditor. In a report covering Kiffmeyer’s final two years of her second term, auditors were informed that her staff did not get proper approval for various personnel transactions and new hires were paid over $11 more per hour than they were entitled. Of the new hires only 6 are still with the office and many of the workers are no longer on the payroll. Employee Relations Commissioner Patricia Anderson is trying to determine how the money will be recovered.

--Folks in the northwest corner of OtterTailCounty are cleaning up after a short-lived windstorm did some damage Friday night. The National Weather Service says strong winds downed dozens of trees on the north side of LakeLizzy. Meteorologist Brad Bramer says there was a microburst in the thunderstorm which is a short-lived phenomenon but wind speeds can approach 80 to 100 miles per hour. Some of the downed trees ended homes and vehicles. Weather service personnel planned to survey the damage on Saturday.

--Road construction season continues on many central and northern Minnesota highways. Starting today, workers on Highway 210 will begin on the new center turn lanes between the north and south Junction of Cass County 1 in Pillager. The work zone will be reduced to 45 miles-per-hour and wide loads will be restricted. Starting on Monday, July 23rd, a 26-mile segment of Highway 25 between Fourth Avenue in Pierz and three-tenths of a mile south of Highway 18 in CrowWingCounty will be detoured as crews replace culvert throughout the work zone. Earlier this month work began on 25 for turn lane construction and bituminous pavement on surfaces. Starting the 23rd, traffic will be detoured via Crow Wing County Highways 117/Thiesse Road, County Road 45 and County Road 2 on Monday through Friday afternoons. Motorists are urged to watch for signs and plan ahead. The detour will be lifted on the weekends and the whole process is expected to last two weeks weather permitting. Travelers are encouraged to visit www.511.mn.org for updated traffic, construction, weather and travel information.

--The Little Falls School Board meets at 7 tonight at the Board Room at the MorrisonCountyGovernmentCenter.

--With significantly less rainfall than average in June, Morrison, Todd, Benton, Mille Lacs and StearnsCounty have been put into a very high wildfire risk. The drying of normally wet areas has lead to the increased chances of peat fires, which are difficult and costly to contain and extinguish. The DNR advises farmers to take extra precautions when haying. Having a wet burlap bag and a pail of water in the tractor can save the costly bill of fire suppression. Already due to the dry conditions three wildfires in MorrisonCounty have been caused by hay bailing. In these fires, two pieces of equipment and numerous hay bales were lost. Fireworks have caused fires in Mille Lacs and BentonCounties. As of July 9th, burning restrictions have taken effect in the five counties. If you have questions on the fire danger or burning restrictions contact you local DNR office for information. In Little Falls the number is 616-2450.

--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30 at City Hall. They will accept a grant from the Laura Jane Musser Fund for a security camera at the Carnegie Library. Mayor Cathy VanRisseghem will proclaim the week of October 1st as Financial Planning Week. Discuss the expense commitment for the Linden Hill Task Force for the operations, management and improvements to Linden Hill and discuss the tabled issues from June 25th on the improvements to Haven Road/County Road 76 project from 13th Avenue Northeast to a point just north of Living Hope Assembly of God Church. There is also expected in the planning meeting to discuss the recent voting down of the work near the railroad tracks that the Federal Railroad Administration stated was needed to keep the quiet zones in place.

--Two Minnesota men were injured in separate motorcycle accidents on Sunday. Just after 11am, 37-year-old Brian Bird of Grand Rapids was north on Highway 371, south of Brainerd when he collided with a deer and skidded into the ditch. Bird sustained massive internal injuries and is in critical condition at St. CloudHospital. Then around 5:30pm, 38-year-old Michael Wewers of Harris was east on Edgeton Road in Munson Township of Stearns County when he lost control on a curve and left the road. Wewers was taken by ambulance to St. CloudHospital with non-life threatening injuries.

--A PolkCounty woman is the state’s first laboratory confirmed case of West Nile virus of the year. She developed meningitis in late June after becoming infected with the virus and is recovering. Last year, 65 cases were reported in Minnesota with 3 leading to death.

 

         DEATH NOTICES

--Margaret M. Liebsch, age 103 of Upsala.

--Edward W. Rastetter, age 94 of Hibbing and Pierz.

--Delrose Pohlkamp, age 78 of St. Michael.

 

         WEATHER

TODAY= chance of morning showers then clearing, high 80.

TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low of 60.

TUESDAY= partly cloudy, high of 85.

WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, chance of late day storm, high 85.

 

         SPORTS

MLB= Twins sweep Oakland in the 4 game series over the weekend winning 6-2 Thursday, 5-3 Friday, 4-3 Saturday and 4-3 Sunday. Twins 6 back in the AL Central have the day off today.

 

“Hot Hits” Wednesday through Saturday night at West Side Bar



July 13th, 2007

 

         LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--City officials in Little Falls continue to debate the possibility of an injunction against the Federal Railroad Administration. The council plans to take up the issue once again at Monday night’s meeting. According to Mayor Cathy VanRisseghem there was not enough to study the effect of traffic flow and businesses if medians were places on Paul Larson Memorial Driveand First Avenue Northwest causing no left turns. Council voted down that idea last Monday. Officials also tabled a decision to install a temporary median. The FRA gave the city 30 days to make improvements and that deadline in July 18th.

--A Brainerd teen wasn’t without a crown for long. Just two weeks after finishing her reign as MissBrainerdLakes, 19-year-old Mackenzie Ross was crowned Miss Northwest 2007 Tuesday night in DetroitLakes. The pageant is sanctioned by the Miss America program and Mackenzie will be eligible to compete for Miss Minnesota in 2008 where the winner goes to compete for Miss America.

--The Disabled Veterans of Morrison County are inviting all interested parties to Little Falls Community High School Saturday to take part in a D-A-V information seminar. A highly trained National Service Officer from FortSnelling will conduct the seminar. If you are a veteran with a question for the seminar, you should bring your V-A claim number and social security number. The seminar begins at 10AM.

--Three more units of the Minnesota National Guard landed at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin on Wednesday. Among them were 90 soldiers from the 134th Brigade Support Battalion out of CampRipley. They join 80 additional soldiers from CampRipley that arrived Tuesday and 100 soldiers from Sauk Centre. It takes about 8 days for them to demobilize before they return home to be with their families. Over 2,600 troops, some who have returned already, are expected back in the states from Iraq before the end of the month.

--St. Cloud firefighters battled a house fire Thursday morning. Just after 10, firefighters were called to a house on 25th Avenue North and found the roof on fire. Four units responded to the blaze and it was quickly extinguished. Battalion Chief Leon Faust says it appears the fire started on the deck before quickly spreading to the attic. No one was injured and a Fire Marshal will determine the official cause.

--Police believe they have found the man responsible for four attempted abductions. A man approached two girls in Northfield Wednesday afternoon and tried to lure them into his car. Later that day in CannonFalls, a 12-year-old girl called police saying a man asked her if she wanted to go cruising. Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof says about 30 minutes after receiving that information another 12-year-old in Lakeville called police saying a man tried to convince her to get in his car. The man has been arrested and is expected to formal charges against him tomorrow.

--Ontario Provincial Police have recovered the body of a missing Minnesota angler. 62-year-old James Brogan of Oronoco in OlmstedCounty was found in a rocky area of shoreline on KearnsLake in northeastern Ontario. Officials say two men were fishing on the lake when their boat capsized last Friday. Only one of men made it to shore. They say Brogan was not wearing a lifejacket.

--What’s grown in Minnesota may soon end up in your car seats. Ford Motor Company has announced it will replace petroleum-based foam that is now in Ford Mustang seats with soybean-based foam in 2008. With seat-stuffing weighing on average 30-pounds per car, Ford says it will save thousands of barrels of oil in the manufacturing process.

 --The DNR says large wildfires are a major threat again in five central Minnesota counties. They are Morrison, Todd, Mille Lacs, Benton and Stearns. The fire danger rating is also high in Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca and Koochiching counties. Officials point out one safety precaution in particular for the coming weekend; make sure any fires at the campsite are put out completely, as hot ashes can stay hot for days or even weeks.

--A soldier from Brainerd was injured serving in Iraq. Army Sergeant Evan Tougas, a 2003 graduate from BrainerdHigh School, was injured last Saturday after a mortar shell exploded near him. He sustained a blown-out ear drum and a concussion. Tougas is stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington and was only in Iraq for four months of an 18 month tour. He is expected to make a full recovery.

--The jury is expected to get the case in SherburneCounty against State Representative Mark Olson of BigLake today. Yesterday Olson stated that he had failed as his duties as a husband, but did not assault his wife. Olson is accused of pushing his wife to the ground three times during an argument last November.

--Crow Wing County is on the lookout of a cougar. Evidence of the large cat surfaced south of Brainerd in recent days from a farmer in DaggettBrookTownship when he went to his goat pen on Wednesday and found several goats had been attacked. Jamie Litke, a veterinarian from Pierz examined the animals and determined that they were attacked by an animal such as a cougar, bobcat or even a coyote because the animal had to be able to fit through a cattle-panel fence or jump over it into the yard. Brainerd DNR Wildlife Manager Gary Drotts stated that cougars have been spotted in CrowWingCounty in the past and if anyone witnesses a suspicious animal, they should contact his office at 218-833-8620.

 

          NATIONAL NEWS

--The U.S. House has voted to withdraw most American troops from Iraq by next spring. The vote was 223 to 201, not enough to override a Presidential veto.

 

         BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Randy and Carrie Paggen of St. Stephen, a boy on July 11th

 

         DEATH NOTICES

--Marion Mucha, age 92 of Onamia formerly of Isle.

 

        WEATHER

TODAY= partly cloudy, a bit warmer, high of 82.

TONIGHT= partly cloudy, 50% chance of late night storms, low 58.

SATURDAY= sunny with a high near 80.

SUNDAY= partly cloudy and windy, high of 85.

MONDAY= partly cloudy with a high of 80.

 

        SPORTS

MLB= Scott Baker pitched 6 strong innings and Michael Cuddyer had four hits as the Twins beat Oakland last night 6-2 at the Dome. Twins and A’s this weekend with games at 6:40 tonight, 5:35 Saturday and 12:40pm Sunday. All games can be heard on Q92 WYRQ.

VL= Pierz Brewers at Lastrup in a winner-bracket playoff game Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF. Roundup Sunday at 6:30pm

 

“Hot Hits” tonight and Saturday at West Side Bar

July 12th, 2007

 

           LOCAL/STATE NEWS

--A 2007 Little Falls graduate is getting a chance to show off her artwork at the GovernmentCenter through next month. Kayla Gilman has her artwork being showcased on the 2nd Floor Gallery of the government center through August. She has had her artwork shown in St. Cloud several times and at the Little Falls Community High School Senior Art Show. She has plans to attend art school in the future but is thinking about tattooing, another one of her traits.

--Two-hundred more Minnesota National Guard soldiers returned to American soil yesterday. They followed the large wave of 400 that returned at Volk Field, Wisconsin earlier this week. In all 2,600 are expected back in the states from Iraq in the next two weeks.

--Governor Tim Pawlenty announced the filling of two judge positions in the Seventh Judicial District Court. Judge John Pearson will retire in September from his seat in Alexandria and the Minnesota legislature has created a new judgeship that will be located in Little Falls effect January 1, 2008.

--The search continues in St. Cloud for two men who stabbed a man sitting inside a vehicle early Wednesday in the parking lot of a convenience store. Police say one of the suspects reached through the window of the vehicle and stabbed the 20-year-old victim in the chest. The victim was taken to St. Cloud hospital and is expected to recover. It is still unclear if the victim and suspects knew each other.

--Minnesota Republicans don’t want to be left out of next year’s “Super Tuesday” and Democrats likely aren’t far behind. On Tuesday, the GOP’s Executive Committee voted to move up the party’s caucuses by a month to join the ever growing list of states holding primaries on February 5th. Democrats have approved the move but will have an official vote in September.

--Ontario Provincial Police continue to look for a missing Minnesota angler. The 62-year-old man is presumed drowned in a remote fly-in lake in northeastern Ontario. Officials say two men were fishing on KeansLake when their boat capsized last Friday but only one person made it to shore. The victim’s name is being withheld until relatives are notified. Four days of searches so far have turned up nothing.

--There’s been a 16% decline in sales of existing homes in Minnesota with the biggest decline in the Twin Cities area. In addition to fewer realtors calling the 2007 housing market “anemic”, fewer purchases mean that the median sale price fell more than 2% to $225,000. The potential home buyers are waiting for the market to “settle out”, according to realtors, and that it will take at least six months for the market to return to full stability.

--A 43-year-old motorcyclist was killed Tuesday when he missed a curve and hit a signpost near the Minnesota-South Dakota border. The state patrol identified the rider as Craig Lambert of Pipestone. Troopers say Lambert was westbound on Highway 19 when he was thrown off the motorcycle after he failed to navigate a turn.

--A lawyer and environmental activist from Minneapolis is the latest DFL candidate to throw this hat in the ring for next year’s U.S. Senate race. Jim Cohen officially announced his candidacy last night. Cohen describes himself as “pragmatic and progressive” and thinks he’ll have a wider appeal to Minnesotans. He’s competing for the DFL endorsement against comedian and radio talk show host Al Franken, trial attorney Mike Ciresi, tax attorney Bob Olson and perennial candidate Dick Franson.

 --The wife of State Representative Mark Olson took the stand yesterday in the domestic assault trial in Elk River. Heidi Olson says her husband pushed her to the ground three times while in their backyard last fall and even blocked her from running back inside the house. She alleges that there were three other incidents in which he became physical. Mark Olson’s attorney says his client will use a “battered husband” defense. Representative Olson is expected to take the stand today in the trial.

--Gas prices continue to rise in portions of the state, some places as high as 30-cents. One expert says it is only the beginning of the very pricy summer and that gas could rise as high as $3.50 a gallon before the weekend is over. David Morris with the Institute of Local Self-Reliance says problems with refineries in Indiana, Kansas and Oklahoma have caused issues in the pipeline. Even though most of Minnesota’s fuel comes from the north, one problem in the system affects the entire country. According to Triple A’s Dawn Duffy, Minnesota’s gas prices are higher than the national average.

 

         NATIONAL NEWS

--Former First Lady Claudia Alta “Lady Bird” Johnson has died. Johnson is remembered for her work to put on the environment on the national agenda. Johnson passed away at her home in Texas, she was 94. She got the nickname “Lady Bird” as child by a nursemaid.

Johnson’s husband Lyndon B. Johnson was President following the assassination of President John Kennedy in 1963 and remained in office until 1969. President Johnson died in 1973.

--The Space Shuttle Endeavour in on the launch pad at KennedySpaceCenter in preparation for a launch next month. Endeavour has been grounded since 2002. It’s been overhauled, including a new electrical system that will allow it to stay longer at the International Space Station if needed. Teacher Barbara Taylor is expected to be among the crew members when Endeavour launches on August 7th.

 

        DEATH NOTICES

--Lucille Schmidt, age 78 of Randall.

--Eugene B. Vnuk, age 73 of Little Falls.

 

        WEATHER

TODAY= partly cloudy, chance of showers in PM, high 75.

TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low near 50.

FRIDAY= partly cloudy, 30% chance of storms, high of 80.