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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 was compensated for time he did 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

Little Falls Directory • Morrison County Record • www . mcrecord . com • 2024 • 3

SPECIAL SECTION : Grad Tab , meet area 2022 graduates BUSINESS : Tretter named June Employee of Month .. Page 9A PEOPLE : Oelrichs ready to embrace new chapter ....... Page 1B

MORRISON COUNTY

Record

Serving Morrison County and Surrounding Communities

Investigative report of Royalton police chief outlines alleged misconduct

Important Announcement for Readers !!!

JUNE 23 JULY 28

AUGUST 25 2022

Le Bourget Park

LF waiting for word on potential bridge funding

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 .

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That ’ s what we mean when we say we ’ re geared to your needs - and the needs of your car , too . Next time you suspect car trouble , count on us . No matter what type of car you have , you ’ ll find our level of service is way above standard .

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

Index

A Midsummer Soirée

MORRISON COUNTY

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