Saturday, June 6, 2026

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 Saturday and Sunday afternoon 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 Saturday and be lower Sunday morning before increasing again Sunday afternoon. 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. 

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 storms possible after 4pm, thunderstorms likely Sunday night, some could be strong, low 62. Showers and storms at times on Monday, some could produce heavy rain, high 82, still a chance of showers and storms Monday night then cloudy, low 61. Tuesday sunny and warm, isolated afternoon thunderstorms, high 89, muggy with thunderstorms at times overnight Tuesday night into Wednesday low 68. Wednesday sunny and hot high 92, with again chances of isolated t-storms, more chances Wednesday night through Friday afternoon, but temps getting cooler, high near 80 on Thursday then highs around 74 on Friday, with lows dropping back into the 50s at night.