News

The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for central and southern Minnesota until 11pm Sunday night. Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, may experience health effects. Ground-level ozone is expected to be high Sunday through the day and into the late evening hours across much of Minnesota. Mostly sunny skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity will provide a favorable environment for two types of pollutants (volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides) to react with sunlight in the air to produce ground-level ozone. The ozone levels will decrease after sunset tonight. Consider moving outdoor activities outside of the afternoon hours.

The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office Saturday morning shared that Douglas County was searching for Endangered Missing Person. The sheriff's office was asking all residents to please keep an eye out for the missing individual and vehicle described in the alert, with special attention to the Motley area and surrounding communities. 68-year-old Kathryn Woessner was reported missing June 3rd in Hubbard County south of Akeley and may been going to the Motley area. It was reported later on Saturday by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office that Woessner has been located. They thanked everyone who helped assist in the search and that Woessner has been located according to Douglas County. 

The Como Park Zoo & Conservatory evacuated all guests and nonessential staff after bomb threats were made on Saturday.   In a statement, the Como Zoo spokesperson Matt Reinartz said they received a report that a bomb had been placed on the grounds of the zoo. In an update shortly before 4pm zoo officials said there was a thorough search and no threat was found. The zoo will remain closed for the rest of Saturday. All animals have been secured, according to the statement.  "The safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and animals remains our highest priority. We appreciate the swift response of the Saint Paul Police Department and the cooperation of our guests and staff," Reinartz said in a statement. The zoo was opening two hours earlier (8am) Sunday to make up for those who were evacuated Sunday as many were coming to the zoo to get a glimpse and a smell of Horace the blooming Corpse Flower. 

A Central Minnesota man has been convicted of sexually assaulting six juveniles over seven years. The Minnesota Attorney General's Office and Todd County Attorney's Office have convicted Mervin Kauffman on six counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. Kauffman pleaded guilty to all six counts at his hearing on Thursday. Attorney General Keith Ellison says Kauffman's crimes shock the conscience of all decent Minnesotans, and his heart breaks for the children he assaulted, and he prays for their recovery and well-being. The assaults took place in Clarissa between August 14, 2015, and September 5, 2022. Ellison says Kauffman was over 18 at the time he sexually assaulted six children at his family home in Todd County. Kauffman admitted to having a significant relationship with each of the victims at his plea hearing, and is being held in the Todd County Jail pending sentencing. The Attorney General's Office prosecuted Kauffman upon a referral from Todd County Attorney John Lindemann.

One person was injured in a shooting in Cass Lake Thursday night. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office received reports around 7pm of shots being fired in the city, and when deputies arrived, they learned that individuals were shooting at each other. A juvenile male was struck in the leg and taken to Sanford Bemidji with non-life-threatening injuries. Sheriff Bryan Welk says several parties of interest, including juveniles and adults, have been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the District Office. 

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

On Sunday, June 7th Father Tim Wenzel will be celebrating 60 years as a Catholic Priest. There will be a special Mass for Father Wenzel at 11am at St. Mary's Church in Little Falls followed by a dinner (which you had to RSVP for already) then there will be reception from 2:30-4:30pm at the Falls Ballroom open to everyone to come and congratulate Father Wenzel on his years as a Priest with many years in Morrison County and still works his way around to area churches to celebrate Mass to the parishes. 

Death Notices: Gary H. Irwin, age 88 of Little Falls. John Heisick age 83 of the Upsala area. 

Weather: Sunday sunny skies, warm, high 87, slight chance of T-storms tonight, better chance after 2am tomorrow morning, low 63. Showers and storms at times on Monday before 1pm some could produce heavy rains, high near 80, partly cloudy Monday night low 65, storms after midnight are possible. Tuesday sunny and hot, high near 90, storms afternoon and evening are possible, storms overnight Tuesday night humid night low near 70. Wednesday sunny and hot, high 92, storms Wednesday night likely to become severe low around 68. Storms Thursday high 74, cooler Thursday night low 53. Friday isolated showers, highs near 70, low around 50. Saturday and Sunday cooler temps high near 70 Saturday, 72 Sunday low in the 50s. 

One person was injured in a one vehicle accident Thursday around 1:08pm in Lastrup of Morrison County. 86-year-old Sharon Schlegel was on Highway 27 at Pine Street when she hit...

People in communities near the Camp Ripley Training Center will be hearing some loud noise and seeing smoke trails throughout the next few weeks. National Guard soldiers are working to meet...

The National Weather Service reports a slight risk of severe weather tonight into tomorrow morning for the central and southern portions of the state. The main risk is high winds...

Authorities have released the name of the man who drowned this past Saturday in Crow Wing County. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office says 29-year-old Cody Kent of Burnsville drowned...