NEWS
--Tony Housey of Camp Ripley spoke on KLTF yesterday morning and said that even with non wintry conditions they have kept busy at the base with the U.S. Navy, and other groups using the large area of land for training. Housey said that the Norwegian Home Guard will be back in Little Falls this weekend and staying through the 13th of February. This marks the 51st year of the Norwegian Exchange program between the two Military brands. They will work with Camp Ripley along with some soldiers from Camp Ripley being over in Norway. Housey said the Norwegian Home Guard will plan on visiting KLTF Party Line program on February 12th at 10am.
--Authorities in Mille Lacs County hope new billboards will lead to tips about the November hit-and-run death of Doctor Cathy Donovan.
Fifty-six-year-old Donovan was struck by a vehicle while walking across Highway 169 with her dog. Her employer, Mille Lacs Health System, turned its billboards in the Onamia area into "reward offered" signs asking for information. A ten-thousand-dollar reward is offered for information in the case. Sheriff Kyle Burton says they believe Donovan was talking to someone in a car before she was hit.
Anyone with information should call the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office or State Patrol. Burton still believes that the person who struck Donovan had to have known they struck someone that afternoon.
--A fast-acting sheriff's deputy and some bystanders helped save the life of a person involved in a fiery crash. The Isanti County Sheriff's Office says on Monday their dispatch received a report of a crash on 1st Avenue North near Main Street in Cambridge. The report was that a vehicle struck a utility pole, and the driver was unresponsive, with his foot on the accelerator. Deputy Oltz was in town and arrived on the scene first and quickly removed the driver from the vehicle with the help of some bystanders. The vehicle quickly went from smoking to then catching fire. The Sheriff's Office posted on social media thanking everyone involved in saving the driver's life.
--Local law enforcement in Brainerd, Baxter and the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office are reminding those that even though the Brained Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza has changed to a Hybrid system using more lakes and more time on Saturday, motorists are still expected to see more traffic in the Brainerd Lakes area on Saturday fro the large ice fishing fundraiser. Details on the event are on the Brainerd Jaycees Facebook and website pages. Law enforcement remind motorists to expect more delays around lake areas and remind anglers to check with Jaycees and spotters on lake ice conditions before venturing on many lakes this Saturday. They want all to enjoy themselves help out the Brainerd Jaycees with donations but also make this a safe weekend with the temperatures expected to be the 40s compared to last year's sub zero event.
--The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire at 8:47am Saturday on the 8000 block of Lucky Lane in Brainerd. Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said when law enforcement arrived on scene they found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof. When firefighters arrived they found the fire was contained to a single wall and they were able to extinguish the fire without it spreading to the rest of the home. The mobile home sustained minimal smoke and heat damage. Holmes said the fire likely started due to repair work being done on the home’s well pump. Firefighters were on scene for about 45 minutes and no injuries were reported.
--Yesterday records were shattered for high temperatures around the state. The first time ever the temp got above 50 in January in International Falls since weather records started in the 1880s. The Twin Cities hit 55 degrees breaking a record from 1944, and Little Falls got to 54 degrees breaking a record from 1993 of 46 degrees. More records could be broken as there is another shot at 50 degrees over the weekend in parts of the state.
--Today is the 1st day of February and The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism announced their February Employee of the Month as Hailey Sobania. Her supervisor Amanda said that Hailey is a wonderful asset to Animal Haven to work with clients and their pets. Congratulations to Hailey Sobania the February Employee of the Month from the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism for Little Falls.
--The Laura Jane Musser Fund announces the 2024 grant round of its Little Falls/Morrison County granting initiative. The Laura Jane Musser Fund wants to help the citizens of Little Falls and Morrison County continue to develop and maintain strong, vibrant, and healthy communities. Musser Fund grants up to $10,000 are available through two distinct programs, the General Operating Support Program (open to organizations with annual expenses of $1 million or less), and the Small Grants Program. Charitable, 501(c)(3) organizations and local units of government located in Little Falls and/or Morrison County are eligible to apply to the Laura Jane Musser Fund’s Little Falls/Morrison County Initiative. Online application instructions and grant guidelines can be found on the Fund’s website at www.musserfund.org. The application will be available online from February 21 through March 21, 2024. Funding decisions will be announced by July 2024.
--The City of Sartell has announced it has opened its National Community Survey. The city is looking for input on safety, economic impacts, and the overall health of the community. The city says the survey will help it gather data to help the community move forward in a direction guided by residents and businesses. Engagement Director Nikki Sweeter says it is important for residents who received a survey in the mail to complete it and use the URL provided to complete it.
Sartell residents who didn't receive a mailed survey can take it on online on the city's website and it must be completed by Feb 14th.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM fog, increasing clouds in PM hours, high 45.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, fog overnight, low 27.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, high near 40, low around 30.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, breezy, high 45, low around 32.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 50, low near 32.
SPORTS
NHL= The NHL All Star Weekend begins with items Friday and Saturday with the game at 2pm Saturday in Toronto.
NFL= first Skills Game for NFL Pro bowl weekend is tonight in Orlando with the flag football game played Sunday at 2pm.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1893= Thomas Edison opens first movie studio in New Jersey.
IN 1920= first Armored Car introduced in St. Paul, Minnesota.
IN 1935= March of Times begins Newsreels at Movie Theaters.