Tuesday, May 6, 2025
DNR Forestry and Little Falls Fire Department were called to a grass fire at 2pm on Sunday, May 4 in Belle Prairie Township. At one time, an outbuilding was threatened, but no damage was done thanks to the efforts of the combined DNR Forestry and Little Falls Fire Department efforts. The wildfire was declared contained at around 5pm with approximately 40 acres of grass and woodlands burned. Firefighters and equipment remained on scene until around 6pm. DNR Forestry stated they will be patrolling the area the next couple of days to mop up and ensure that it was out cold.
On Sunday at approximately 12:12pm, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to a grass fire in the 6400 block of Wetherbee Rd, Crow Wing Township, Crow Wing County. It was reported to the Sheriff’s Office that a field was on fire near a residence, with a victim possibly being deceased. Upon arrival, Deputies located the homeowner, a 65-year-old Brainerd woman, deceased near a lawn mower. The Brainerd Fire Department and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources extinguished the fire. The name of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of family. No structures were burned in the fire. The fire is currently under investigation by the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Camp Ripley reported to Little Falls Radio Monday that there were calls of large plumes of smoke north of town, that was Camp Ripley doing a large controlled burn around their airfield on Monday and they reported that more controlled burns are expected to be done this week at the military base due to warmer temperatures, lower humidity and less wind so just to be advised from Camp Ripley.
Morrison County Maintenance employees are working on many projects this week including a large contracted project that started Monday replacing culverts on CSAH 46 north of Little Falls. Installing culvert on County Road 202 at intersection of West Shamineau Drive, graveling County Road 254 and patching potholes and crack sealing on CSAH 12, CSAH 43, and CSAH 76. More projects will start up next week. There are many more projects in Little Falls and also around state highways in the area with Mn Dot. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights.
An Eden Valley man was hurt in a tree-trimming accident Sunday. The incident happened around 1:50pm in the 26000 block of Stearns County Road 34 in Paynesville Township. The incident happened around 1:50 p.m. in the 26000 block of Stearns County Road 34 in Paynesville Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene where 62-year-old Daniel Ruprecht was cutting a large branch from a tree. The branch measured 20 feet long and was approximately 10 inches in diameter. The sheriff's office says when the branch came down, it struck Ruprecht on the head, causing a laceration. Family members at the scene rendered first aid until first responders arrived to take Ruprecht to the hospital.
Congratulations to Sherri Hoheisel of Pierz being selected by the United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors to receive one of their USBC National Recognition Awards.Hoheisel is this year’s recipient of the Helen Baker Award for Outstanding Association Service.The annual awards honor outstanding bowling leaders for their contributions to the sport. Selections were made from submitted applications, and the recipients will receive their awards at the 2025 USBC Convention in Las Vegas. The USBC Helen Baker Award for Outstanding Association Service is named in honor of the fifth president of the Women’s International Bowling Congress (WIBC) and recognizes an outstanding bowling leader who has made invaluable contributions to local and state associations as an innovator, creator and mentor of adult programs. Hoheisel has been involved in leagues and associations on the local and state level in Minnesota for more than 40 years. Her work in the sport started as a league officer and then progressed to her local USBC association (Little Falls-Pierz) where she served as association secretary (1993-2005) and president (2005-present). From there, Hoheisel moved to the state level with the Minnesota State USBC where she was a director (2007-2011), vice president (2011-2012) and president (2012-2018). In 2018, she became the association manager for the organization and remains in that role today. She has been a national delegate to the USBC Convention since 2011. Hoheisel also serves on the tournament side, serving as director for the Minnesota State USBC Women’s Tournament since 2011, which she describes as a “source of great pride and joy.” Hoheisel says her role with that event provides her with “the boots on the ground opportunity to meet and greet about 3,000 women bowlers from across the state” who participate. In 2015, Hoheisel proposed the Youth Scholarship Program to the state board, and that program now awards approximately $20,000 a year in scholarships for Minnesota youth bowlers.
Death Notices- Gloria Jeanne Pazik, age 78 passed away in Mexico in February. Charlotte "Char" Peterson, age 93 of Little Falls.
Weather- Tuesday sunny and warm, high 82, clear night Tuesday night, low 51. Wednesday morning clouds then afternoon sun, cooler, high 66, Wednesday night clear, low around 38. Sunny skies on Thursday with highs around 72, low around 48 and more sunshine and warm again on Friday, high around 80.
Sports- Twins open series at home against Baltimore Tuesday night, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ. Timberwolves open series with Golden State tonight at Target Center in round 2 of the NBA playoffs Tuesday night at 8:30pm, game 2 is Thursday also in Minneapolis. High School baseball Tuesday with Albany at Pierz in a double-header, first game at 4pm with 2nd game to follow on AM960 KLTF due to the two games the 5pm news will be heard in between the two games later today on KLTF.