Politics

The wheels of local government are in full swing this week in Morrison County, with the Board of Commissioners' schedule packed with a series of vital meetings that span a range of key community concerns from budget planning to community development and environmental stewardship. On May 13, according to the...

BAXTER, Minn.— Those who travel on Highway 115 in Randall, Morrison County, should plan for short-term delays and a detour as Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad crews repair the crossing May 20–24, reports the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Highway 115 will close between Superior Avenue and Eagle Drive...

The following people charged with a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor in Morrison County District Court have recently been sentenced: Gross misdemeanors: • Robert Andrew Sowada, 31, Randall (offense: 11/5/23) — Third-degree DWI, fined $510 and sentenced to 16 days in jail and supervised probation for four years. • Steven Charles Studler, 58, Vadnais Heights (offense:...

Pierz is a small town in east central Morrison County in Central Minnesota with a population of 1.418. Minnesota state highways 25 and 27 are the main routes to Pierz.

Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf and his staff have filed felony complaints against the following individuals: • Frank Eugene Loehrer, 38, Clear Lake — In connection with an incident between Feb. 1 and March 31, Loehrer was charged with one felony count of violating an order for protection. • James Gordon Hatella, 33, Minneapolis — In connection with a May 9 incident, Hatella was charged with one felony count of...

Pierz is a small town in east central Morrison County in Central Minnesota with a population of 1.418. Minnesota state highways 25 and 27 are the main routes to Pierz.

Residents and businesses in Little Falls were left puzzled after a power surge struck the area on the evening of Monday, April 29. According to Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc, a surge of unknown origin impacted the Morrison County Government Center that night. It triggered circuit breakers and caused minor equipment issues. The county’s IT department continued to assess damage levels. According to Allete Senior Corporate Communication Specialist Lori Melton,...

The Morrison County Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Protection Team presented its annual report to the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 2. The team, led by Child Protection Director Katie Knettel, continues to balance child safety with family preservation in the face of ongoing challenges. In 2023, the team screened 831 reports of alleged child maltreatment, down from 938 in 2022 and 951 in 2021. Of reports that opened into child welfare and child protection assessments or investigations, there were 124 in 2023,...

LITTLE FALLS (WJON News) -- Fans of the Wizard of Oz can travel the yellow brick road to Little Falls to see some rare memorabilia. The Linden Hill Historic Estate is bringing out its collection of Wizard of Oz artifacts starting on May 30th. Peter Miller Musser was an investor...

There are several opportunities to honor those who served this weekend

The following people charged with a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor in Morrison County District Court have recently been sentenced: Gross misdemeanors: • Shawn Michael Rice, 48, Little Falls (offense: 9/10/23) — Third-degree assault, fined $185 and sentenced to 30 days in jail with Sentence to Serve and work release as approved and supervised probation for five years. ...

(KNSI) – Two central Minnesota cities will benefit from freight rail service improvements. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says $9.5 million is being disbursed statewide, which should support overall economic development. The projects selected include sites in Stearns County and Morrison County. Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is slated to receive $1.5...

--On May 7th 2024, during their Board meeting the Morrison County Board of Commissioners honored all county employees for their dedication to excellent customer service for Morrison County residents and guests by proclaiming this week as Public Service Recognition Week in Morrison County. Public Service Recognition Week, celebrated the first week of May since 1985 (beginning on the first Sunday of the month), honors the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local, and tribal government employees. This event provides an opportunity to honor county employees who may otherwise go unrecognized in the increasingly busy, daily course of work. By recognizing and honoring these efforts, Morrison County hopes to improve and maintain cost-effective, high-quality services to its residents by recognizing and honoring these efforts. “It’s an honor, and one of my favorite times of the year to be able to recognize employees for all their hard work and dedication,” states Randy Winscher, Morrison County Board Chairman. “We would like to formally thank those who have helped create an effective, customer service-driven organization that services thousands of people. They truly deserve a big thank you and recognition for standing out and contributing to making public service what it’s meant to be, and I’m proud to be a part of this organization because of it.” Chairman Randy Winscher stated, “Morrison County has hard-working and dedicated employees. We have employees who are committed to serving the public and helping those in need. The employees recognized today truly represent the organization and what we strive to be.” The County Board appreciates all of our employees who put our residents and our clients first, day in and day out.

Morrison County officials have a packed agenda for the upcoming week, with a varied lineup of meetings and conferences slated for May 5 through May 11. According to a public notice released by the Morrison County Board of Commissioners, the gatherings will cover a range of topics from public safety to community health initiatives.

In other business Monday, May 13, the Pierz City Council: • Approved a concrete permit for Scott Herold and an application for a lot split/merge for Jean Litke; • Approved an exempt permit for St. Joseph Church for Sunday, Aug. 4; • Approved a bond sale resolution, issuing and selling $2.79 million in bonds; ...

Get your spurs, boots, hats, and other rodeo gear ready because the Bulls and Barrels rodeo is coming back to the Morrison County Fairground in just a couple of weeks. This is the 2nd annual Bulls and Barrels rodeo. There is something for everyone too, including mutton bustin'. This is for the kids. You can sign your kid up for the event as well. There are certain criteria that your child needs to fit, however.

County Assessor Jean Popp discussed the 2024 property and land value assessment map for Morrison County. As county assessor, Popp is responsible for ensuring all department policies and Minnesota state statutes related to property taxes are followed. This includes estimating property values for tax purposes and bringing assessments in line with Department of Revenue guidelines. Although the map shows the average percentage increase of property and land value, Popp said there is no true “average” increase. The map provides a general overview, with some properties...

The Morrison County Government Center bid farewell to three long-serving employees at the Board of Commissioners planning session on Tuesday, April 30. Health and Human Services (HHS) Child Support Officer Trina Ebinger, HHS Eligibility Worker Jodi Wetzel and HHS Eligibility Worker Bonita Strassburg were recognized for nearly a century of combined service to the county. Ebinger worked for the county from 1995 to 2024, a total of 28 years. Both Wetzel and Strassburg worked for the county from 1988 to 2024, a total of 35...

The Morrison County Board of Commissioners engaged in an hour of discussion around potentially allowing anaerobic digesters at its Tuesday, April 30 planning session. The proposal sparked robust debate as commissioners weighed its opportunities and challenges. Anaerobic digesters convert biodegradable material like manure into biogas through decomposition in an oxygen-free environment. The current Morrison County land use ordinance does not have anything in it about anaerobic digesters. Because an upcoming land use ordinance amendment hearing is taking place Tuesday, May 14, the Board considered what...

Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf and his staff have filed felony complaints against the following individuals: • Dustin Elijah Mattson, 42, Arden Hills — In connection with an April 20 incident, Mattson was charged with one count of violating a Domestic Abuse No Contact order and one count of violating a restraining order. • Rose Marie Smith, 38, Motley — In connection with an April 19 incident, Smith was charged with one count of being a fugitive from justice from another state.