News: Wednesday, February 5th, 2025

--Congratulations to Erin Thesing of Pierz Healy High School for being chosen as a MSHSL state recipient for the 2025 ExCEL award. Profiles of each Recipient will be aired throughout the broadcast of the winter tournaments. Erin will be honored at Halftime on March 15 at 2:00pm during the state Girls Basketball tournament. ExCEL stands for: Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership - is a unique recognition program sponsored by the MSHSL designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show Leadership qualities, and who are model citizens.
Erin is the daughter of Chad and Meghan Thesing , she is involved in: Cross Country, Basketball, Softball, Peer Helping, Band, Pit Band, Jazz Band , Pep Band, Big Brother/Big Sister, Spanish Club, EPIC , MHS and Youth Group.

--Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has charged a Paynesville Dairy Farm owner with racketeering and wage theft less than a year after reaching a settlement with the owners over back wages and sub-standard housing conditions. Ellison has filed one count of racketeering and four counts of wage theft in excess of $5,000 against Keith Schaefer of Richmond. Schaefer owns Evergreen Acres Dairy, LLC in Paynesville. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, Schaefer systematically deprived workers of their full wages, failed to pay workers for overtime, and withheld final paychecks when the workers left the company. Schaefer is also accused of threatening employees with physical harm or death and threatening to report them to immigration authorities. The Attorney General's Office reached a settlement with Schaefer last October where he and co-owner Megan Hill agreed to pay $250,000 in back wages and bring employee housing up to standard. Schaefer's first appearance in court is scheduled for March 17th.

--A Stearns County fire destroyed one tractor and damaged two others Monday. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office got a call at around 11:25 a.m. about a fire in the 16000 block of Lakewood Road in Eden Lake Township. Twenty-seven-year-old John Salzl arrived at the farm to find flames coming out of the cab of a Ford tractor that was parked inside a canvas-style hoop shed. The sheriff's office says 59-year-old Rodney Salzl of Eden Valley had plugged the tractor in the night before. No one was hurt in the fire, but the flames damaged two other tractors parked nearby, as well as the canvas covering the shed.

--The Initiative Foundation is celebrating giving out nearly $400,000 to nonprofits across central Minnesota in the last three months of 2024. The organization provides grants for projects and programs that empower people across central Minnesota to build a thriving economy, vibrant communities and a culture of generosity. They help in 14 counties, including Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties, along with two Native nations. The Little Falls-based group handed out funds to 124 organizations in the fourth quarter. That includes nearly $10,000 to the Sauk Rapids-Rice Education Foundation for 11 programs. The Albany Area School District received help with curriculum. Saint Benedict’s Monastery earned $10,000 during Give to the Max. Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta got two grants, one for $2,500 and another for $1,100. Both will cover operational costs. The Stearns Historical Society, Anna Marie’s Alliance in St. Cloud and the Rocori School District Backpack Program were all handed $2,000 for operating costs. The United Way of Central Minnesota and the St. Cloud State University Baseball Program were awarded $3,000. Other recipients include the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, which got $5,000 to organize networking events for area college students, and the Islamic Center of St. Cloud, getting $1,300 for operating costs.

--Four central Minnesota teachers are in the running to be named Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year. The list of nominations has been narrowed down to a field of 142. Making the cut are St. Cloud Apollo High School teacher Chris Ann Johnson, Sartell High School social studies teacher Karrie Fredrickson, Pleaseantview Elementary School teacher Jill Zimpel with the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District, and Milaca High School English Teacher Jessica Kunst. An independent selection panel will read candidates’ portfolios over the next few weeks and narrow the list to a group of semifinalists. In March, an independent selection panel will meet again and narrow that list to a smaller group of finalists. The winner will be announced at the 61st annual Minnesota Teacher of the Year banquet on May 4th at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

DEATH NOTICES- James "Jim" Cloutier, age 81 of Little Falls.

WEATHER- today- cloudy skies, high 22 snow after 3pm some heavy into evening 2-5 inches before midnight, low night around 11 above. Thursday turning windy and colder temps dropping with gust of 35mph by late morning into afternoon, by Thursday night temps drop to -4 wind chills near -20 or colder. Friday partly sunny and high of 16 but more heavy snow possible Friday night into Saturday with another 3-6 inches possible.

SPORTS- congratulations to Elliott Oberton of Little Falls Nordic Ski Team advancing to the state tournament next week after finishing 7th yesterday in the section meet. Roseau eliminated Brainerd/Little Falls from playoffs last night 7-2 in girls hockey. Boston beat the Wild last night 3-0 in the NHL.

Please join Pierz Healy High School February 17th for a night to remember the 50 years of the Girls Basketball Program in Pierz with a look back to the first team in Pierz in the 1974-1975 season, the school is encouraging former girls basketball players to come and remember and be part of the night also with the current girls taking on Moose Lake-Willow River. The game at 7:15pm program to start before and reception to follow that night at Pierz High School.