News

On Saturday night the Morrison County Sheriff's Office sent out this statement: The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is deeply saddened to share the passing of former Jail Programmer, Tim Brummer. Tim retired in June of 2025 after more than 34 years of dedicated service to Morrison County. He was a man who loved life, cherished his colleagues and friends, and held his family close. His faith was a guiding force, and his kindness touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Throughout his career, Tim made a profound impact. He cared deeply for others and often said that if he could change even one life for the better, every day of work was worth it. His legacy reflects exactly that. Tim passed away this morning at his cabin, one of the places he loved most. We ask that you keep Tim’s family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Tim Brummer, badge #164, we love you and we will miss you.

Two people were injured Friday around 12:15pm on Highway 10 in Scandia Valley Township of Morrison County. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 54 year old Jennifer Johnson of Browerville was crossing Highway 10 at 330th Street when her vehicle was struck by an oncoming vehicle driver by 53-year-old Jay Dailey of Staples. Both drivers were taken to Staples Hospital for treatment of injuries. 

A home in Sartell is considered a total loss after a fire early Friday morning. Sartell Public Safety responded to a structure fire on Hi Vue Drive in Sartell to find a mobile home on fire. Authorities say the occupants were able to safely exit the home before firefighters arrived to put out the flames. Several neighboring trailer homes sustained cosmetic damage due to heat exposure. The State Fire Marshal's Office is assisting with investigating the cause, but authorities believe the fire originated near the front of the home. The Red Cross is assisting the homeowner with housing assistance.

Sartell police are warning residents about a mail and email scam involving fraudulent invoices designed to look like official city documents. The scam uses fake letterhead from a so-called “Planning Commission” bearing the City of Sartell logo. The invoices include an itemized breakdown totaling $5,954 for services like “Preliminary Plat Application Review” and “Safeguard Compliance Oversight,” and direct recipients to pay by wire transfer. City Hall alerted the Sartell Police Department after learning of the mailings, which the city says are not legitimate. The City of Sartell does not have a “Planning Commission” that sends invoices, and the city never requests payment exclusively by wire transfer. Official payments are only processed through the city’s community payment portal. Residents who receive a suspicious invoice are urged not to respond or send payment. The city recommends looking up official contact numbers independently rather than using any number listed on a suspicious notice. Anyone with questions about a development-related invoice can contact Kari Haakonson at 320-258-7312. For all other invoice questions, residents can reach Lydia Olson at 320-258-7316. This comes as Morrison County and others have sent out scam information using local banks or local law enforcement agency asking for payments or financial information, these are scams and you should hang up if any caller asks for money. Local law enforcement and banks do not ask for information over the phone as they would have that information already. Questions call 320-632-9233. 

The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs is awarding Stearns County a large grant to continue combating sex trafficking in central Minnesota. The Stearns County Attorney's Office is receiving $955,000 to enhance the efforts of the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force. It's made up of law enforcement agencies, community organizations, human services organizations, and school districts. The Stearns County Attorney's Office was recommended for the grant based on the demonstrated strength of its task force model, its proven investigative capacity, and the ongoing commitment to regional collaboration. The grant will help fund the trafficking task force from May 1st, 2026, through April 30th, 2028.

A Buffalo woman has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after her six-year-old daughter brought a chocolate bar laced with hallucinogenic mushrooms to school, leading to two children overdosing. Forty-year-old Cassie Rae Tauriainen pleaded guilty in Wright County District Court to fifth-degree drug possession. The incident happened on September 10th, 2025, at Cokato Elementary School, where Tauriainen’s daughter and a five-year-old boy fell ill after eating the chocolate during morning snack time. School staff said the two children had been laughing and crying while acting in an unusual manner. Staff later found packaging for a mushroom chocolate bar containing six grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms in a garbage can. The girl told a social worker that she had taken the chocolate bar from the refrigerator. According to the criminal complaint, when deputies searched Tauriainen’s home, they found fentanyl, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in multiple rooms, including meth near a child’s cup and clothing. Tauriainen has a lengthy criminal history in Minnesota, including convictions for theft, drug offenses and drunken driving. She was on probation for meth possession at the time of the school incident. She has voluntarily given legal custody of the girl to the child’s father.

The second year of construction for a three-year Highway 10 expansion project through Wadena is set to begin soon. Half of the new four-lane segment west of Highway 71 was constructed in 2025. This year, the Minnesota Department of Transportation will continue expansion work both east and west of Highway 71, with all four new lanes of the west segment scheduled to open in fall 2026. According to MnDOT, the first work this summer will involve a detour from early May to June for about five weeks, as Highway 10 will be closed between Wadena County Road 4 and Harry Rich Drive to excavate and replace poor soils and install the Union Creek culvert. Motorists will use County Road 4 and Harry Rich Drive. Later in June, the detour will extend to Verndale for about six weeks. More details on the entire project can be found on the MnDOT website.

The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau are recognizing 68 Minnesota farms as 2026 Century Farms. According to a release from the Minnesota State Fair, family farms are recognized as Century Farms when three requirements are met. The farm must: be at least 100 years old, according to authentic land records; be in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required); and have at least 50 acres currently be involved in agricultural production. 2026 Century Farm families on the list include these from the Lakeland viewing area, with purchase years in parentheses: Aitkin County: Hasselius Family Farm in Aitkin (1893) Otter Tail County: Ehnert Farms in New York Mills (1920) Roseau County: Jacobson Farms in Wannaska (1926) Todd County: Oftedahl Farms in Eagle Bend (1913), Benton County: Piotrowski Farm in Foley (1915), Sherburne County: Jensen Farms of Zimmerman (1925). The list did not have any century farms as of now listed for Morrison, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs or Stearns County. Century Farm families received a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Gov. Tim Walz. Since the program began in 1976, more than 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.

The Pierz City Council meets Monday night 7pm at Pierz City Hall. 

Weather: Sunday dense fog this morning, then showers likely before noon, clearing skies this afternoon and warmer, high 77, gusty southwest winds 20-40mph could bring high fire danger. Sunday night clearing skies, low 47. Monday partly sunny skies, high 66, showers and storms likely, some with heavy rains afternoon and evening, isolated severe storms possible with strong winds, low 45 Monday night. Tuesday sunny skies, isolated PM shower, high 62, low 42. Wednesday showers likely, high 67, low near 50. Thursday sunny and mild high 74, low around 47 with storms overnight. Rain likely colder Friday high 57, low 29 with rain changing to snow Friday night into Saturday. Saturday colder, high 44, low around 27 with snow showers. 

Sports: Toronto beat the Twins 10-4 on Friday. Twins beat Blue Jays 7-4 on Saturday. Timberwolves beat Houston 136-132 on Friday night. Nashville beat Wild 2-1 Saturday. Denver wins 2-1 over Wisconsin to win the Frozen Four Title, 11th Championship in school history. High School Track Pierz boys and girls both first at Pierz invite Friday. Little Falls baseball win 8-0 over Milaca as Evan Lemieur pitches a no hitter. Pierz wins 10-3 in baseball over Pillager and 5-1 over Holdingford in Softball on Friday. Swanville softball wins 12-0 over Mille Lacs. Pioneers and Bulldogs are 3-0 on season. Little Falls wins 11-0 over Cloquet Saturday in baseball while Little Falls beat Detroit Lakes and lost to Hutchinson in softball Saturday. 

A message from the City of Royalton Police Department "We are aware of an attempted scam taking place involving a person claiming to be from Pine Country Bank calling customers...

The Swanville School District is invited all to their groundbreaking ceremony today at 1:30pm. All are invited to come and celebrate the start of the renovations in the works for...

The Morrison County Government Center is sending out this information about another scam floating in teh area: Minnesota DVS is warning residents about fake emails and text messages pretending to...

The Morrison County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management wants to remind everyone that Severe Weather Awareness Week is next week April 13th through 17th. On Thursday, April 16th will be Statewide...