Saturday, April 11, 2026
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.
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: Saturday rain showers possible in the afternoon, heavier showers after 4pm, high 48. Rain likely Saturday night, some thunder possible, low of 46 early rising into the 50s overnight and breezy. Sunday showers in the morning then clearing and warm, high 80 with breezy southwest winds in the afternoon, there is a slight chance of isolated T-storms late in the day on Sunday with heavier storms south and east of the area. Sunday night clearing skies, low 47. Monday sunny and mild, high 68 with late afternoon showers and possible stronger thunderstorms Monday night low 45. Tuesday rain likely, high 60, low around 40. Wednesday sunny and warmer, high near 70 slight chance of showers and T-storms in the afternoon.
Sports: Toronto beat the Twins 10-4 on Friday. Timberwolves beat Houston 136-132 on Friday night. 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.