News

The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reports that on 7-1-2026 at approximately 4:06 am, their office received a report of a motorcycle accident on 165th Avenue just north of 233rd Street, approximately five miles north of Little Falls, MN in Ripley Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the motorcycle, 59-year-old Dean Gangl of Richmond, MN was traveling north on 165th Avenue when a deer ran out and struck his motorcycle. Gangl was transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital by Mayo Clinic Ambulance with unknown injuries.

The City of Little Falls and Little Falls Police were made aware from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad that railroad construction will be Tuesday on the railroad tracks at Trunk Highway 27 going eastside to westside of Little Falls. The work will start Tuesday and last through at least Friday July 10th weather permitting. During this time there will be a posted detour around the railroad tracks next week and expect delays and slowdowns around the tracks as many will be using the posted detour. Burlington Northern said they thank those for their patience as this important maintenance is being completed. 

One person is dead after a two-vehicle accident Tuesday around 3:11pm on Highway 371 in Nisswa of Crow Wing County. 33-year-old Tyler Dokkebakken of Brainerd was on his Italian style motorcycle when he crossed Highway 371 and struck a pickup from behind. Dokkebakken was pronounced dead at the scene when authorities arrived. The pickup driver, a 42-year-old from Nisswa was not injured. 

AAA projects 72.2 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Independence Day holiday, setting a new record, topping last year’s mark of 71.8 million. An estimated 61.4 million people will travel by car over July 4th week, just above last year’s 61.3 million. AAA says 85% of holiday travelers plan to drive to their destination, even with gas prices at four-year highs. Last year’s national average for a gallon of regular gas was $3.15 on Independence Day. This year’s prices are higher at $3.85, but still below the $4.80 national average from 2022. Even so, AAA notes that driving remains cheaper than flying for many travelers, especially families with kids. Locally, the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded around St. Cloud is $3.60, up six cents from Tuesday. A year ago, drivers were paying $2.88. Statewide, Minnesota’s average is $3.65, up three cents from Tuesday. Last year at this time, the average was $3.02.

A central Minnesota teacher and cross country coach is accused of sending explicit photos of himself to a high school student. Sutton Thomas Junkermeier, 26, faces two felony charges and one misdemeanor count related to harassing a minor, including with sexual or aggressive intent. Deputies with the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office arrested Junkermeier, an Atwater Cosmos Grove City School employee, on June 26 after a 16-year-old’s mother reported that the teacher was sending explicit images and messages to her child, who attends the same school. According to a criminal complaint, Junkermeier sent photos showing his bare chest, naked torso, and genitals on Snapchat through the username “Sutton_Junk” after initially conversing with the victim about college and sports. One of the images that Junkermeier is accused of sending on June 23 said: “We best not tell anyone about this.” Junkermeier allegedly sent this message to the victim as well: “I know last night got a little crazy but let’s keep this between us.”  The complaint says the victim was “so alarmed” by the messages and images from Junkermeier that he or she used another device to capture them before they disappeared on Snapchat and kept those screengrabs to show their mother, who reported it the following morning. Deputies searched Junkermeier’s residence in Lake Lillian to gather electronic devices and photographs, while a detective spoke with him about the allegations. Junkermeier initially claimed that he did not know anything about any inappropriate communications with students, then he admitted to messaging with the victim and sending photos of himself shirtless, some of which may have shown his genitals, according to the complaint. He later told the detective that he sent two explicit images to the victim. Junkermeier doesn’t currently appear in Atwater Cosmos Grove City School’s staff directory, but the complaint indicates that he worked there for six years. Lynk confirmed to other news organizations that Junkermeier was been placed on leave after his arrest. Junkermeier was taken to the Meeker County Jail, where he was released on bail Monday.

Construction to replace the bridge that crosses over Rabbit Lake in Crow Wing County will begin next week. County State Aid Highway 31 at the bridge, located just north of the city of Cuyuna, will be closed starting Jul. 6, and traffic will be detoured to Trunk Highway 6. The city of Cuyuna will still be accessible from the south as the existing bridge is removed and a new one is built. The public boat landing on Rabbit Lake will remain open from the north during construction, but boat access through the channel between the East Bowl and West Bowl of Rabbit Lake will be restricted. Channel access updates can be found on the Crow Wing County website. The project is expected to last through the end of October.

Now that the Morrison, Todd and Cass County Fair in Pine River are done. The County Fair season will continue later this month as the Stearns County Fair is July 29th through August 2nd in Sauk Centre, Benton County Fair is August 4th through the 9th in Sauk Rapids, Crow Wing County Fair is August 4th through the 8th in Brainerd and the Mille Lacs County Fair is August 5th through the 9th in Princeton this year.

The next Rock Roll and Stroll car show in Pierz with classic cars, poker walk, food and more items to view will be tonight 5-8pm in Pierz come and see the classic cars and enjoy the fun in Pierz Thursday night. 

Entertainment News: Village People lead singer Victor Willis (dressed as the cop) has died at age 74. Willis died of a short aggressive illness according to family. Willis sang YMCA, Macho Man and In the Navy.

Death Notices: Gerald "Jerry" Tillman, age 65 of Little Falls. 

Weather: sunny and hot today high near 90, heat index values near 96. Showers and storms after 2am some heavy rains tonight low 64. Friday isolated early storms before sun up then partly sunny, high 84, strong to severe storms possible Friday night low around 63. Saturday morning and afternoon thunderstorms possible, some with heavy rains, high near 80, thunderstorms before dark Saturday night then clearing low around 64. Sunday sunny skies, high near 84, low around 58 Sunday night. Monday sunny and warmer, high 88, low around 61. Tuesday sunny and warm, high 86, storms possible Tuesday afternoon and evening low around 64. Wednesday sunny skies, still warm high 86, low around 62.  

Sports: Twins win 8-3 last night over Houston to take another series, homeruns by Clemens, Bell and Keaschall get the win. The Twins are off today and at New York Yankees Friday. Team USA is moving on the round of 16 with a 2-0 win last night over Bosnia, first time USA in the round of 16 at World Cup Soccer since 2002, they will take on Belgium next. Little Falls VFW won both games yesterday over Sauk Rapids and now are 13-2 on season, at Brainerd Monday. The Little Falls American Legion Baseball will be at Pierz American Legion baseball tonight at 7pm in Pierz. Former Timberwolves player Mike Conley is signing with Boston and former Wild player Mats Zuccarello has signed with the LA Kings. Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier has returned to team practices after two off season surgeries, though no timeline and when she will return to play for the Lynx who are at New York Friday night. Last night Pierz Lakers beat Ft. Ripley 6-4 in the Victory League. The league takes this weekend off and returns to action late next week.

A reminder with the 4th of July on a Saturday this year, the Federal Observance of the holiday will be Friday July 3rd, almost all government agencies will be closed Friday for the holiday, government centers, city halls, some financial institutions, credit unions, Veterans Offices, and other businesses will be closed Friday. Some offices like most Banks will be open Friday and closed on Saturday, though federal items at banks will not be running, also post offices will be open Friday and have mail delivery, with none on Saturday, but again hours could be modified as Federal Offices and State Offices will not be running on Friday which could effect some services. You might want to call ahead to make sure what is happening on Friday July 3rd, the offices of Little Falls Radio will be closed on Friday, July 3rd. 

A strong storm damaged numerous trees and knocked power out to thousands of people late Monday, June 29, in Crow Wing County. A tornado warning was issued shortly before 11 p.m....

Another stormy day across central and north central Minnesota has heavy rains affected the Brainerd Lakes area with very heavy downpours as 1.89 inches of rain at the Brainerd Airport...

Little Falls Radio learned there is no bone builders at the Little Falls Senior Center Today.  An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect across parts of central and southern Minnesota...

Today, Friday June 26th is Day 2 of the Morrison County Fair east of Little Falls. Llama/Alpaca Show at 8:30am, meat goat and sheep show at 10am, carnival opens at...