NEWS --Cass County authorities announced Sunday that the body of pregnant 27-year old Kara Blevins who was reported missing February 5th was found deceased in the Chippewa National Forest late Saturday. An autopsy is being scheduled for the exact cause of death. Nothing at the scene indicated foul play.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Spectrum Marketing Services is their large business of the year, Ritters Thompson and Olson has been named their small business of the year and Kyle Hoggarth of Edward Jones has been named their volunteer of the year as Kyle has volunteered for many organizations for the Little Falls and Morrison County area. All three will be given awards and honors this Thursday at the Chamber annual meeting and awards event at the Falls Ballroom.
--A phone scam asking for credit card information is targeting St. Cloud area residents by claiming payment is due for medical services. The automated calls appear to come from St. Cloud Hospital — a practice called "caller ID spoofing" — and an automated message states "St. Cloud Hospital Credit Card Company needs payment for a credit card limit that has been reached." After the automated message, the call is transferred to a person who asks for credit information. This is a scam. Authorities recommend to never give out personal information unless you initiate the call. If you are unsure, it is best to hang up and call who the caller claims to be. That way you can be assured of who you are talking to.
--Motorists who travel across the Sartell bridge may want to consider alternative routes this summer. The bridge opened in 1984 and turns 34-years old this summer The plan consists of fixing the bridge expansion joints, pier caps and concrete cracks. Benton County commissioners will consider Tuesday, whether to add a preventive piece to the project this year or wait until a future date. That work would be replacing the concrete bridge deck overlay. The cost of the project will be approximately $2-million with the preventive work included, or about $1.4-million if the bridge deck work is delayed.
--Minnesota families with a century old farm are encouraged to apply for the 2018 Century Farm Program. The program was created by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms across the state. Families submitting an application must meet three requirements including the farm being at least 100-years-old, in continuous family ownership for a least 100-years and at least 50 acres and currently involved in agricultural production. Applications are available online at the Minnesota State Fair website, and must be turned in by April 2nd. Winners will be announced in May. More than 10,000 Minnesota farms have been honored since the program began in 1976.
--Lieutenant General Paul Nakasone has been nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command. The U.S. Cyber Command is the Department of Defense's digital warfighting division. Nakasone has been the Chief of Army Cyber Command since 2016. He's also held other positions in the Army including completing assignments in the U.S., Republic of Korea, Irag and Afganistan. Nakasone graduated with an economics degree from St. John's University in Collegeville in 1986. He says St. John's and St. Ben's helped provide him a framework for thinking, grow his faith and give him the opportunity to create life-long friends.
--Today marks the start of the 2018 Minnesota Legislative session.
--Yesterday Todd Kosovich was the special guest on the Up Front Program. Todd gave a presentation of 45 presidents in 45 minutes that you can listen back to on fallsradio.com. To find the program select the AM960 KLTF local sports stream underneath the streaming tab. The program will be at the top of the page.
--Last week at the Pierz City Council meeting Pierz Police Chief Eric Hanneken gave the department's annual report. Hanneken stated there were 98 fewer incidents in Pierz in 2017 when compared to 2016. The 2017 total was 1,122 incidents. The Pierz City Council also approved a $500 donation towards Pierz Freedom Fest at the Genola Ballfields on Saturday, July 14th. The council is looking into setting up additional campsites at a property the city aquired last year for the event. The Pierz City Council meets again on Monday, February 26th.
--St. Cloud Police and the St. Cloud Fire Department are investigating a car fire. The fire was called in just before 4:00am Friday on the 400 block of 4th Street Southeast. When crews arrived they found a vehicle, that was parked on the street, fully engulfed in flames. Crews were able to put out the blaze. Officers found a gas can outside of the vehicle. The cause is under investigation. No one was hurt.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported over 350 accidents yesterday from 6am-8pm from the snow, ice and wind. Of those 14 accidents had injuries and there were two fatal accidents. The state patrol expect more accidents and spin outs today as the snow continues into the late morning.
DEATH NOTICES --Laurie Rae Titel, age 55 of Bowlus --Charles W. Young, age 69 of Little Falls
WEATHER WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON TODAY. TODAY= snow likely, 1-3 inches by 10am, high 17. TONIGHT= decreasing clouds, cold, low -9, wind chill -20. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 20, clear night, low -3. THURSDAY= becoming cloudy, snow afternoon, high 18.
SPORTS BHK= Little Falls hosts River Lakes in the Section tournament quarter-finals tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. GHK= there are fan buses being set up for the girls hockey game Thursday in St. Paul at the state tournament. For more information contact the Little Falls Community High School activities office. The Warriors take on Edina Thursday 6:00pm on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com. Win or lose they will have a game on Friday.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1792= the U.S. Postal Service began service, postage prices were decided on distance from 6 to 12 cents. IN 1816= the opera “Barber of Seville” opened in Rome. IN 1872= The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened in New York City. IN 1929= Major League Baseball voted that all American League teams could play games on Sunday, before that no games in the AL were played on Sunday. The National League began Sunday games back in 1914, but the AL felt that Sunday games to be forbidden. IN 1944= first Batman and Robin comic books released. IN 1962= John Glenn is the first American to orbit the earth. IN 1971= Sammi Smith hit #1 with Help me make it thru the night.