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320-632-2345 • LITTLE FALLS , MN • June 5 , 2022
Volume 54 , No . 14 www . mcrecord . com $ 1.50
By SHEILA BERGREN Staff Writer
sheila . bergren @ apgecm . com
In October 2021 , the Royalton City Council hired Soldo Consulting in Woodbury to externally investigate alleged misconduct of the city ’ s chief of police , Lindsay Bruyere .
The decision stemmed from a complaint that was brought to Council Member Ron Verley , former liaison for the Royalton Police Department , and former Mayor Andrea Lauer on May 8 , 2021 .
The complaint alleged that Bruyere had falsely claimed and wascompensatedfortimehedid not work . Documentation that allegedly supported the complaint was also given to Verley and Lauer .
Verley , as the liaison at the time for the Royalton Police Department , spoke with Bruyere about the complaint . He accepted Bruyere ’ s explanation as to why he hadn ’ t punched in or out on his time cards , but had simply written it in by hand . He had simply forgotten to do so , he allegedly told Verley .
On July 6 , 2021 , Verley presented Bruyere ’ s annual performance review to the Council . He said it
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a joint meet- between the Little Falls City Council and Morrison County Board of Commissioners , Radermacher said the city is still waiting to find was positive and didn ’ t mention anything about the complaint . As none of the other council members , Jeff Gerads , Brenda Weiss- Pesta and Kurt Schott , were aware of the complaint , the Council approved Bruyere ’ s annual performance review .
Schott , Gerads and Pesta found out about the complaint two days later , on July 8 , 2021 , in a conversation with the complainant , Pesta ing said .
While the three council members pushed for a third-party investigation , Pesta said Verley and Lauer felt the matter had already been resolved in-house .
The Council then held a special meeting July 15 , 2021 , to discuss the complaint and the need to hire an external investigator . Part of the meeting was closed to the public . While council meetings can be closed to discuss personnel issues , the Minnesota open meeting law requires that closed meetings are electronically recorded . However , when requested , the Morrison County Record was informed by Pesta that when the city was gathering material for Soldo ’ s investigation , they found out the recording had been accidentally erased .
Pesta said that the recording ( Continued on Page 5A )
By ZACH HACKER Staff Writer
zach . hacker @ apgecm . com
Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher gave an update , May 24 , on a potential major bridge realignment project .
During
out if it will secure state funding to help pay for the project . The rail-grade separation on the Me-
By ZACH HACKER Staff Writer
zach . hacker @ apgecm . com
Graphic by Short Elliott Hendrickson A preliminary design by Short Elliott Hendrickson shows how a possible realignment of the
morial Bridge in downtown Little Falls — which crosses the Mississippi River on Trunk Highway 27 — would realign the bridge so that it goes over the railroad tracks on
Dustin Donald Watkins , 39 , Little Falls , was charged in Morrison County District Court with one count of first-degree aggravated robbery .
The Morrison County Sheriff ’ s Office announced , Wednesday , that Watkins was arrested in connection to an armed robbery atTheCaveBar & Grill , located near the intersection of Highway 27 and 370th Avenue , about four miles north of Hillman in Richardson Township .
According to the Sheriff ’ s Office , at about 12:18 a . m . Tuesday , it received a report of an armed robbery at the business . The sus- the west side of the river .
“ For us , the primary reason is public safety ,” Radermacher said . “ We have our police station , our ( Continued on Page 2A )
pect allegedly entered the business wearing “ a scarf around his neck , holding what appeared to be a black rifle .” He demanded money from the electronic pull tabs
( Continued on Page 2A )
( 060522-MemorialDay22 ) Staff photos by Sheila Bergren
and VFW Post 6037 ; Izaak Schafer , ( Army National Guard ), member of VFW Post 6037 ; and Chuck Harrison ( Navy ), member of American Legion Post 313 .
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Auctions ............................... 12C Crossword .............................. 6A Obituaries ............................ 11B Religion ................................ 12B Sports ................................... 14A Business .................................. 9A Education ............................... 2B Public Notices ...................... 13B Society / Arts .......................... 12B Viewpoint .............................. 4A Courts / Crime ........................ 10A Entertainment ..................... 12B Recipes ................................. 12A Soduko .................................. 6A
Clubs and Organizations
Little Falls Directory • Morrison County Record • www . mcrecord . com • 2023 • 9
Prairie Point Quilters Contact : Audrey Terwey • ( 320 ) 632-6716 Meets the first Tuesday of the month , 7 p . m .
Variety Garden Club Contact : Chris Siemers • ( 320 ) 749-2978 Meets the first Friday of every month . Call for location .
Sports
Little Falls / Pierz Bowling Association Contact : President Sherri Hoheisel • ( 320 ) 630-7802 Email : sherrilynnsinpierz @ gmail . com
Morrison County Pheasants Forever Email : krauscj @ gmail . com Facebook : @ morrisoncountypheasantsforever
Morrison County Recreational Trails Association Contact : President Allan Stangl • ( 320 ) 360-1575
Deer Hunters Association of Morrison County Contact : Brad Heinen • ( 320 ) 249-4779 Email : morrison @ mndeerhunters . com
Ducks Unlimited , Morrison County Chapter Contact : Dion Plante • ( 320 ) 632-5367 Email : deplante @ msn . com
FAB - Flyer Athletic Boosters www . flyerathleticboosters . com Contact : Doug Dahlberg • ( 320 ) 632-9073
Little Falls Country Club and Golf Course www . littlefallsgolf . com Contact : ( 320 ) 616-5520
Little Falls Softball League Contact : Joe Masog • ( 320 ) 232-8258 or John Witucki • ( 320 ) 360-0200
Pinnacle Hunting Club Contact : Michel Wetzel • ( 320 ) 630-2625
Saturday A . M . Youth Bowling Contact : Cathy Molitor • ( 320 ) 761-2649
Senior Golf League Golf every Thursday morning at 8:30 a . m . Contact : Golf course at ( 320 ) 616-5520 Ladies golf league : Tuesdays ; Men ’ s golf league : Wednesdays
Sno-Dogs Snowmobile Club Contacts : Tom Meyer • ( 320 ) 360-3542
Sportsmen ’ s Club Contact : Chuck Santala • ( 320 ) 632-2588
Winter Wonderland Figure Skating Club Contact : Ashley Parker • ( 320 ) 224-9049 Email : wwfskate @ yahoo . com For information , mail : P . O . Box 464 , Little Falls , MN 56345
Women ’ s Golf League Contact : Jessica Warzecha • ( 320 ) 232-8683
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MORRISON COUNTY
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Serving Morrison County and Surrounding Communities
Investigative report of Royalton police chief outlines alleged misconduct
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LF waiting for word on potential bridge funding also find us online at www . mcrecord . com
Memorial Bridge in Little Falls would look compared to keeping the bridge in the same place if the city is to move forward with a grade separation project .
Watkins arrested for alleged armed robbery
Fallen soldiers , those missing in action and prisoners of war , remembered during Swanville ceremony
A multitude of people gathered at the Lions Park in Swanville on Memorial Day , May 30 , where a program honoring and recognizing the brave men and women who died for their country , as well as the soldiers who were missing in action or prisoners of war . A missing man table was set up in the park building with a white tablecloth , a single red rose , its vase tied with a red ribbon , a slice of lemon , a pinch of salt , a Bible , an inverted glass and an empty chair . After the program , a parade was held on DeGraff Avenue until visitors and participants boarded two school buses that took them to the Spring Brook Cemetery for another short program before a gun salute was held and David Hollenkamp played taps on the bugle . Pictured above left ( from left ) are Fred Duke ( U . S . Marine Corp ), commander of American Legion Post 313 ; Royce Bacon ( Army ), member of American Legion Post 313 ; Bob Popkins , ( Army ), member of American Legion Post 313 and VFW Post 6037 ; Don Tisdell ( Air Force ), member of American Legion Post 313 ; Glenn Palm ( Army ); member of American Legion Post 313 ; David Sobania ( Army ), member of American Legion Post 313 ; Bill Schillinger ( Army ), commander of VFW Post 6037 . Pictured above right : Rick Krauel ( Navy ), member of American Legion Post 313 and VFW Post 6037 ; Bruce Johnson ( Army ), member of American Legion Post 313 and VFW Post 6037 ; Harvey Johnson ( Navy ), member of American Legion Post 313
A Midsummer Soirée
Index
Record
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