Abby Faulkner

ST. CLOUD – It’s not uncommon to see canoes making their way down the Mississippi River for long distances – but how many people trek out with a 14 foot aluminum boat and outboard motor to navigate hundreds of miles of river?

A pair of friends is in the middle of doing exactly that.

Drew Erickson of Minneapolis and McKeon Roberts of Grand Rapids, both 22, set out from Grand Rapids last Saturday with the plan to boat all the way to the Twin Cities.

As the two spent Friday night in St. Cloud, Erickson explained how the plan was hatched earlier this year.

The two studied DNR maps of the river’s path prior to the expedition. Erickson says, at first, he and Roberts weren’t entirely sure if it were possible to make it with the heavy boat, fuel and all required gear, through the necessary canoe-sized portage trails.

Roberts says they’ve met with some roadblocks along the 300 + mile trip – one being the Blanchard Dam outside of Royalton.

Roberts adds, making it through the dam site would have been “nearly impossible,” but they were fortunate to meet a fisherman who offered to transport the boat with his car.

Erickson says they anticipate another 2 days of travel before reaching their Minneapolis destination – unless severe weather forces them to make camp for longer than expected.

“Or if we bump into islands,” Erickson says. “Islands usually mean we’re going to have to carry the boat for a while.”

Asked if they’d do it again, the pair agree they would. “Maybe south of Minneapolis, more dams with locks.” Erickson says.

All told, the river trip from Grand Rapids to Minneapolis is 330 miles long, compared to 190 miles by car.

Abby Faulkner

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) – Supporters of maverick Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul are seizing control of Minnesota’s state Republican Convention.

The Paul backers scored a major victory Saturday when they claimed 12 of 13 delegate slots to the GOP National Convention in Tampa in August.

Twenty-seven other delegates were previously chosen. In all, 32 of 40 Minnesota national convention delegates support Paul over presumed presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Even U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann failed to win a delegate slot on the first ballot. She faced a runoff against a Paul supporter but he conceded out of respect to the congresswoman.

Paul appeared at the state convention Friday and Saturday. He is no longer actively campaigning against Romney but his supporters are seeking a prominent role for him at the national convention.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Abby Faulkner

ST. CLOUD – With the State GOP Convention in full swing, it’s definitely been a big weekend for politics in St. Cloud.

However, lawmakers aren’t the only folks in and around the River’s Edge Convention Center during the event.

A small group of ralliers clustered outside the building  on Saturday afternoon with signs.

Their message to lawmakers focused on ending wars and withdrawing troops.

Doug Olson is one of the sign-bearers. He says the group is made up of peace advocates from Brainerd and Little Falls.

Olson says they’re not really protesting the convention. Instead, they’re using it as a stage for sharing their anti-war message. Olson actually supports Ron Paul, who was Friday’s keynote speaker during the convention.

The group decided to break away from a group that had been protesting the convention earlier in the day in front of St. Cloud City Hall which Olson described as “very democratic.”

GOP lawmakers and delegates have been in St. Cloud since Friday, at which time they selected Rosemount-based Kurt Bills as the official candidate to challenge U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in November’s election.

Jim Maurice

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) – Minnesota Republicans have endorsed a state representative and high school economics teacher as their candidate to challenge U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in November.

Kurt Bills won the support of 64 percent of delegates on the second ballot at the Republican State Convention at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. His chief opponents were former state representative Dan Severson and military veteran and activist Pete Hegseth. Both Severson and Hegseth said they wouldn’t run in the August primary without the party endorsement.

Bills jumped to a wide lead on the first ballot and clinched the endorsement on the second. The Rosemount resident is stressing his experience teaching high school economics as ideal for connecting with voters on the economy.

Klobuchar, the Democratic incumbent, is running for a second term.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Mark Alan

Meet Mark:
From San Diego, Calif.
One thing about my life is I’ve had a chance to see many parts of the world, whether it be as vacation or through the military (served six years in USAF), or because of a new job.

I have two daughters, both of whom have graduated from college with honors ( they got their brains from me). My wife’s name is Karli, and her son Westin is in high school.

I graduated from Brown college in Minneapolis, and am also a graduate of Long Ridge Writers Group in New Britain, Ct.

I am a SYFY freak, love horror movies, but no movie without popcorn. Love the ocean and surfing, Dallas Cowboy fan and NY Mets fan. Enjoy theater and have performed in many productions.

Without listing every radio station I’ve worked at, I’ll at least start with the first one which essentially was the Armed Forces Radio Network (1976-77) in Turkey. That adventure eventually led me to commercial radio. Some of my favorite markets I worked were in San Antonio, Tx., (KMMX) and the Twin Cities (KEEY, KLXK, KJJO). I  have been in the radio business for about 35 years and it has been a thrill to entertain, whether it be on the air or on location or even on-stage with National recording acts.

I find being involved with Townsquare Media as an on-air talent with 103.7 The Loon and working in the news department at AM 1240 WJON to be challenging and rewarding.

We’re also pleased to have a young woman with a promising journalism career join us in the newsroom this summer.  St. Cloud native Ashli Gerdes will be our summer intern, and will also be working on stories and covering local events for us.

Ashli Gerdes

Meet Ashli:
I was born and raised in St. Cloud Minnesota. I’ve lived here most of my life with the exception of the two years I lived in Sarasota, Florida between the ages of nine and 11.
I graduated with honors from Apollo High school in 2009 before attending St. Cloud State University. I am majoring in Mass Communications with an emphasis in broadcast journalism, and a minor in Political Science. My interests have always been current events and journalism.

In 2009 I started out as a volunteer radio deejay at KVSC Radio. A few months after I started at KVSC I became the assistant program director. A year later I was hired on as the program director, which is a title that I currently hold.

With my interests in current events I was inspired to run for Student government. I was elected to the St. Cloud State University senate my freshman year in college. While in student government I was honored to have served as the Legislative Affairs chair, and elected as the fine arts and humanities college senator.

I started as a staff writer for the St. Cloud State Chronicle in 2010 where I had the opportunity to interview people, such as the CEO of Famous Daves. My love for journalism inspired me to also join the Society of Professional Journalists at St. Cloud State which I served as the Vice President in 2010.

My passion for journalism led me to the St. Cloud State television station, UTVS. While at UTVS I produced content for the two live broadcasts each Friday. I also anchored two live newscasts each Monday evening. I currently serve as the UTVS web director.

My involvement with Townsquare Media started in the summer of 2011.  A few months after starting my internship I became the morning show intern on MIX 94.9. I have recently started hosting the overnight show on 98 Country. I am very excited and honored to be the newsroom intern for WJON!

Mark and Ashli join a news team that includes News Director Jim Maurice, and anchor/reporters Lee Voss and Abby Faulkner.  We are proud to have the largest radio news team in greater Minnesota.

Google Maps

SAUK RAPIDS – Benton County is getting nearly $3 million in grant money to improve the interchange between Highway 10 and Golden Spike Road.

The Transportation Economic Development (TED) Program is a joint effort by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Communities that apply for TED funding must document job growth or retention.   The Highway 10/Golden Spike Road project was chosen because it’s next to two industrial parks where more than 1,000 people work, and two vacant manufacturing buildings are available for other businesses.

The total cost of the project is $4.9 million.

Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has repeated her pledge to get gas prices down to $2 a gallon.

Bachmann also made that pledge while running for President.  The idea of $2 gas has been met with skepticism from some experts.  What do you think, is it possible?

Getty Images

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sixth District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann seems to have changed her position on the Bush Era Tax Cuts, which are set to expire at the end of this year.

During an interview with WJON news today (Friday), Bachmann says the tax cuts need to be extended to avoid a tax increase.

However, back in February, she told us she would vote “no” on the extension, and called out Speaker of the House John Boehner for going along with the plan.

We challenged Bachmann on her change of position.

Bachmann also went record on CNN’s State of the Union program in November of 2011 as being against the tax cut extension.  The tax cuts were going to expire at the end of last year, but got extended through the end of this year, Congress man act before the November election to extend them once again.

The show’s cast features 21 central Minnesota kids, ages 10 to 16.

The show is being staged at The Humphrey Theatre on the St. John’s University campus. It’s tonight at 7p.m, and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is part of GREAT Theatre’s summertime Shakespeare festival.

Stearns County Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Unit (Photo courtesy Stearns County Environmental Services)

ST. AUGUSTA – Stearns County’s Household Hazardous Waste truck will be in St. Augusta tomorrow (Saturday).  They’ll be at the city hall from 7:00 until 11:00 a.m.

Residents can get rid of items such as:  paints, cleaners, poisons, ink/toner cartridges, roofing tar, fuels, automotive chemicals, sealers, garden chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, adhesives, aerosols, solvents, mothballs and mercury.

It’s a free service offered by the Stearns County Environmental Services Department.

Items that can’t be disposed of include:  used motor oil (although a used oil recycling facility is permanently located in East St. Cloud at East Side Oil Company, 625 Lincoln Ave SE), antifreeze, explosives, furniture, household garbage, tires, medical waste, appliances or any other unknown products.  Also not accepted is business waste.  These collections are designed to collect home, not business, products.

Ashli Gerdes, WJON News

ST. CLOUD — You have a chance to get an up-close look at St. Cloud Hospital’s new $223-million expansion project this weekend.  The hospital is holding open house tours of the new 360-thousand square-foot expansion tomorrow and Sunday.

Jim Davis is the Vice President of Operations for the CentraCare Health System. He says they built the new east wing to create more single-patient rooms, add technology, add more operating rooms and rebuild their Intensive Care Unit.  The new addition also includes the first endovascular operating rooms in central Minnesota.

The hospital says more than 4,200 benefactors donated $18-million toward the project. It’s scheduled to open in June.

The tours will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. tomorrow and from 11:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sunday.  Because the tours are an hour-long, you are asked not to bring young children.

St. Cloud Police Department

ST. CLOUD — Authorities are looking for a woman who robbed a north St. Cloud bank today.

St. Cloud police say it happened when a woman walked into the U.S. Bank in the 10 block of 33rd Avenue North at around 1:45 p.m. and handed the teller a note indicating she had a weapon. The teller gave the woman an undisclosed amount of cash and she left the bank and walked northbound on 33rd Avenue.

The suspect is described as 5’5″ to 5’8″, about 150 pounds with baggy clothes. It appears her race is white.

If you have information about this robbery, you are asked to contact the St. Cloud Police Department or St. Cloud FBI Office.

St. Cloud Police Department

St. Cloud Police Department

Steven Wright

WASHINGTON (AP) – The nearly bankrupt U.S. Postal Service is moving ahead with plans to close dozens of mail processing centers, saying it can no longer wait for Congress to decide how to cut postal costs.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says postal operations are simply too big given declining mail volume. The agency will consolidate 140 mail processing centers within the next year, including 48 this August. Most will occur next January and February, after the busy election and holiday mail season.  The Waite Park Distribution Center is slated to close, with the operation being consolidated with the one in Minneapolis.  About 70 people at the Waite Park facility are expected to lose their job.

Another 89 closings would occur in 2014.

The Postal Service had previously planned to close 252 mail processing centers beginning this summer but was awaiting congressional action.

With Congress stalled over a bill, the mail agency say it is moving forward, but now over a longer timeframe.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)

Nomination forms can be found on the city’s website, the Granite City Days website, or by calling the Mayor’s office.

The awards will be presented on Thursday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. at the Lemonade Concert and Art Fair at St. Cloud State University.

Nominations can be made for individuals, groups, or organizations.

I was a country kid going to a school filled with “townies”, which automatically meant I’d better know my place.

There were so many rooms and floors to try to remember which class was where, especially confusing to a kid who had 3 other students in his class in one of the last “country schools” in Minnesota.

And of course, all those new girls…

Good thing I had my trusty new wristwatch to look at whenever I met one in the hallway!

The Lincoln students seemed so much more confident and ready to make the change than I remember being at that age.

Listen to what I mean:

Stearns County Jail photo

MINNEAPOLIS — A St. Cloud man faces 15 years in a federal prison after he was found with a gun on a city bus.

Authorities say 33-year-old Bryant Griffin is a convicted felon who is prohibited from having a gun.

The incident arose March 25th when Griffin was spotted on a Metro Transit Bus in Brooklyn Park with a handgun. Police responded and found the 32-caliber pistol under Griffin’s seat.

If convicted, Griffin will be sentenced under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act which carries a mandatory 15 years in federal prison.

Griffin has past convictions for terroristic threats and drug sales in Hennepin, Stearns and Benton counties.

followtheseinstructions, flickr

UNDATED – The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory.  It will be in effect until 7:00 p.m. tonight (Thursday) from St. Cloud south and west.  Alexandria, Willmar and Litchfield are also included in the advisory.

South winds will increase to 25 to 30 miles an hour, with some gusts up to 45 to 50 miles an hour.

iStockPhoto

ST. CLOUD – The Republican State Convention is coming back to St. Cloud for the first time in several years.  They’ll be at the River’s Edge Convention Center on Friday and Saturday.

GOP Chairman Pat Shortridge says one of their biggest tasks is endorsing a candidate for U.S. Senate.

Shortridge says Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul is scheduled to speak to the crowd on Friday night.  They’ll also elect national delegates and alternates to the GOP convention in Tampa in August.

This is expected to be the largest event ever held at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

National Weather Service

UNDATED – Summer will be in the air the next couple of days, especially across western Minnesota, as strong southerly winds send temperatures surging into the 80s and even the 90s.

Some high based showers will struggle to get rain to the ground this morning, but otherwise it is looking dry until Saturday and Sunday as a cold front slowly moves through.

After that, the first half of next week looks pleasant and dry, before more active weather looks to return Wednesday night.

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