NEWS
--A Crow Wing County man accused in the hit-and-run death of his wife on June 25th has pleaded guilty. Forty-seven-year-old Tony McClelland of Fort Ripley has pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal vehicular homicide, operating a vehicle with negligence and under the influence of alcohol. The body of 49-year-old Angela McClelland of Fort Ripley was found on the morning of June 25th near the intersection of Legend Lane and Killian Road south of Fort Ripley. The sheriff's office said at the time that Angela McClelland died after being hit by a vehicle. The criminal complaint says data showed that an SUV driven by Tony stopped, then reversed to the area where Angela's body was located in the road and stopped again before speeding off. Investigators say his wife's blood, tissue, and hair were found under the vehicle. Tony McClelland will be sentenced in April.
--District 10B State Representative Isaac Schultz is seeking a second term in the Minnesota Legislature. Schultz represents District 10B, which covers parts of Benton, the southern half of Morrison County excluding Little Falls but including Pierz, parts of Mille Lacs, Kanabec, and Isanti Counties. Schultz’s caucus elected him assistant Republican minority leader last session. He is a member of the environment and natural resource, labor and industry, and sustainable infrastructure committees. Schultz says he supports the dignity of life, the Second Amendment, election integrity, lowering taxes, and limiting government mandates and overreach. “Minnesotans have endured a difficult challenge with complete Democrat control in St. Paul. Today, we must be more resolved than ever to change course and ensure that every voice is heard by restoring balance to state government. Our family budgets, small town Main Streets, and rural family farms cannot afford another two years of the radical liberal agenda and their $10 Billion tax increases.” Schultz is a fifth-generation resident from rural Upsala and works as an auctioneer for his family’s auction and real estate business.
--A Benton County man accused of shooting at police officers during a drug raid last October is undergoing a mental competency examination. A Benton County judge ordered the exam for 64-year-old Karl Holmberg in January. Prosecutors have also added a seventh count of 1st-degree attempted murder of a peace officer and a seventh count of 1st-degree assault against a peace officer. A 2nd-degree drug charge and a charge of unlawful gun possession were also added in an amended criminal complaint. Several police officers were serving a narcotics search warrant at the home on the morning of October 10th. Holmberg is accused of shooting blindly through the door with a rifle. Police returned fire as they retreated out of the house. Six officers were inside the house and five were struck by gunfire. All of the officers survived the ordeal. After hours of negotiating, Holmberg was taken into custody without further incident. Holmberg was scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday but now a review hearing moved due to the mental competency exam where the hearing could be pushed back to March.
--Michael Retka informed Little Falls Radio that there very few tickets left for the Valentine's dinner next Tuesday St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski. If you want one of the last tickets contact either Michael Retka or Janet today 320-630-4245 to get them before gone.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the Middle School Media Center likely to vote on Elementary school banding.
--Congratulations to FFA Member Alicia Holtz who was selected to be the Region 2 FFA Star Farmer for her work within the FFA program and her Supervised Agricultural Experience project of raising and marketing Sheep. She also earned top honors for her Sheep Entrepreneurship Project. Her applications will move on to compete at the State level in April. Antonio Becker was selected to help with choosing the next Region 2 FFA Officers at the event on Friday. The Region Officers help run contests and meet with members of the region. Holtz and Becker recently stopped by the Little Falls Radio and helped in recording ads that will be heard during FFA Week the week of February 18th. They also have their FFA Breakfast coming up on February 25th from 9am-1pm at the Little Falls VFW.
--The world premiere stage adaptation of Prince’s film and album “Purple Rain” is set for spring 2025 at an appropriate place, Prince’s hometown of Minneapolis. The musical will be staged downtown at the State Theatre with music and lyrics by Prince and a story by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for his plays “Gloria” and “Everybody.” Lileana Blain-Cruz, a Tony Award nominee for "The Skin of Our Teeth," will direct. Larry Mestel, founder & CEO of Primary Wave Music, in a statement. “We’re very excited for the creative team to be inspired by the Minneapolis sound and the unparalleled and unique spirit of the city that Prince inspired.” Production dates, cast and details will be revealed later.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Quaker is expanding its recall of bars and snacks due to potential contamination from salmonella. The company’s Chewy Dipps Llama Rama bars are now included in the more than 30 products recalled. They were sold across all 50 states with a best before date of February 10th or 11th, 2024. Quaker Oats advises consumers to check their pantries and dispose of recalled products immediately.
Quaker’s chewy granola bars and granola cereals, the Quaker oatmeal squares, Cap’n Crunch cereals and cereal bars, instant oatmeal and Munchies snack mix are all under recall. That is in addition to the chewy bars, big chewy bars, Dipps and Mini Dipps variety packs, other granola snack bars, and granola cereals recalled last month. Consumers should check their pantries for products and dispose of them or contact Quaker toll free at 1-800-492-9322.
DEATH NOTICES
--Floyd L. Mathiowetz, age 76 of Pierz.
--James “Jim” D. Willhite, age 79 of Little Falls.
--Gladys Helen Barber, age 81 of Little Falls formerly Pillsbury.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain likely, high 50, rain to snow later tonight, low 29.
FRIDAY= AM flurries, cloudy and windy, high 31, low near 18.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, windy and colder, high 27, low 16.
SUNDAY= mostly cloudy, high near 31, low around 22.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls at Detroit Lakes tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS WRE= Pierz at Royalton vs. Royalton/Upsala in wrestling tonight, with coverage starting after the 5pm news on 94ROCKS KFML.