NEWS
--With the recent cold weather, area lakes may be starting to freeze. Ice is never completely safe, but authorities often recommend at least 4” of new clear ice before it is safe to venture on foot. 5”-7” of new clear ice is needed before use of a snowmobile or ATV, 8”-12” for a car or small pickup, and 12”-15” of ice thickness is needed for a medium sized truck. One great source for information on ice conditions is to check with local bait shops or lakeside resorts. Always tell someone where you are going and what time you expect to return. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated, “Unless you know the ice is safe, please don't put yourself or our first responders at risk. Be safe this ice fishing season and have fun.”
--Motorists traveling on Highway 371B/South Sixth Street between Highway 210/Washington Street and Joseph Street in Brainerd, may encounter some delays as tree clearing begins next Wednesday. The work will be done weekdays, during daylight hours, and will require temporary single lane closures and flaggers controlling traffic as trees are cut and hauled away. Pedestrian sidewalks may also close temporarily; watch for signs and please stay out of closed areas. The tree clearing is in preparation for the Highway 371B/South Sixth Street reconstruction project in Brainerd that will begin early-spring 2018. The tree removal is necessary over winter to ensure that it does not disturb the Northern Long Eared Bat, which is classified as an endangered specie, and is in hibernation now away from trees. All work will be completed by the end of November.
--A Crow Wing County Deputy was injured while attempting to take a probation violation suspect into custody. Around 4:05pm Wednesday, the suspect, 33-year old Brandon Morris of Baxter was inside his vehicle that was parked in the Crow Wing County Judicial Center Parking Lot. Morris abruptly reversed the vehicle he was driving and the vehicle struck Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Deputy Tony Brunhuber. Morris then fled the parking lot in his vehicle. Another deputy witnessed what had taken place and radioed for assistance. Deputy Brunhuber was taken by ambulance to Essentia Hospital in Brainerd where he was treated and later released. The search for Morris concentrated in the area of Southwest Brainerd. Morris was located at about 7:00pm in a vehicle parked inside the garage of a residence located on the 600 block of Southwest 6th Street. Morris was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Crow Wing County Jail for numerous charges. An acquaintance of Morris, 27-year old Ashley Johnson of Baxter was arrested for Obstructing the Legal Process and Aiding an Offender to Avoid Arrest.
--On Tuesday the Onamia schools referendum failed with 63.6% voting no. In Menahga questions 1 and 2 passed for $14 million in new money for new infrastructures but the third question for $5 million for robotics classroom space and upgrades to the gymnasium failed by the less than 7 percent. In Isle, two school board candidates that ran unopposed were reelected.
--Little Falls High School Senior Sophia Sowada signed a national letter of intent to participate in track and field at Moorhead State University. In High Jump, Sophia cleared 5'4" and qualified for State in the 2017 season. Sophia parents are Gary and Mary Sowada.
--The Morrison County Salvation Army is needing bell ringers for the holiday season to ring the bells at a couple locations in Little Falls. To volunteer- call Betsy at 360-0332.
--Saturday is Veterans Day. On Saturday banks, post offices and some businesses will be closed in honor of Veterans Day. Because it falls on a Saturday, some government offices, libraries and others places may be closed today, so it is best to call ahead. Little Falls Community High School has a Veterans Program at 9am today, Mary of Lourdes of Middle School on the west side of Little Falls has a program at 1:30pm today and that will be heard live on AM960 KLTF and also streamed online at fallsradio.com. Lindbergh Elementary in Little Falls is Monday at 10am. Some businesses will also have special meals or items for Veterans so check around. Saturday night at 7:30pm is the USA Community Chorus Concert in Swanville and next Tuesday is the Kinship Veterans Program from 6-8:30pm at the Little Falls Alliance Church.
--A Forest Lake man is in Benton County Jail after a vehicle pursuit and foot chase through Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud. 37-year old Ryan Krueger was arrested after an incident that started shortly after midnight Thursday. That's when Sauk Rapids police officers saw a vehicle swerving on a street and making an illegal turn. Officers turned on emergency lights to signal the driver to stop, but the vehicle instead drove south on U.S. Highway 10, turning into St Cloud near East St. Germain St. The vehicle went to Lincoln Avenue and then back north into Sauk Rapids. The vehicle went around stop spikes that officers put on the street, then went through a business parking lot and traveled south down the BNSF Railroad right of way. The vehicle became disabled after trying to cross the railroad tracks near 4 ½ Street Northeast in St. Cloud. The suspect ran from the vehicle, heading east into St Cloud. A northbound train struck the vehicle. The suspect entered a St. Cloud home but left at the demand of the owner. Krueger was taken into custody after that.
--The Minneapolis VA Health Care System suspended an employee without pay after he faced a domestic assault charge in Sherburne County court Wednesday. The alleged assault took place in St. Cloud. 55-year old Herbert Campbell, whose last known address was in St. Cloud, was acquitted of attempted murder this summer by a Stearns County jury. Campbell had an initial appearance in Sherburne County court Wednesday and faced a felony third-degree assault charge and a misdemeanor domestic assault charge.
--Today marks the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corp. established November 10th, 1775. Today also marked the birthday of the American Legion Auxiliary, the largest Veterans Service Organization for women, established November 10, 1919.
DEATH NOTICES
--Babi Starr Moose, age 26 of Wahkon.
--Evelyn Kegg, age 78 of Onamia and from Foley.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds- afternoon snow showers, high 22.
TONIGHT= temps rising overnight, light snow before midnight.
SATURDAY= gradual clearing, warmer, high 38, low near 25.
SUNDAY= sunny and cooler, high near 32, low around 19.
MONDAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high 39, low around 22.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz vs. Proctor in State Quarterfinal football from Brainerd is Saturday at 3pm on FM94 KFML and online at fallsradio.com.