NEWS --A 64-year-old Brainerd man was found guilty on two of eight criminal charges in a 2015 case that started with a dog killing chickens and ended in a brief stand-off between the suspect and law enforcement authorities. Larry Walter Prahm was given credit for time served of 44 days in Crow Wing County Jail and will be on unsupervised probation for three years. Prahm was charged with six felonies and two gross misdemeanors. According to the criminal complaint filed against Prahm in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd, he disagreed with a deputy as to how restitution for the chickens would be handled after deputies were called to Prahm's residence. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation where Prahm punched the deputy in the jaw and scratched his throat. The deputy was unable to deploy his stun gun and Prahm got back in his vehicle and fled the scene. Prahm, who pleaded not guilty to all eight charges in February, entered into an Alford plea in August on the charges of felony fifth-degree assault demonstrating bodily harm or throwing bodily fluids and gross misdemeanor fourth-degree assault-physically assaulting a peace office. As part of the sentence, Prahm must follow conditions that include he remain law abiding; he cannot possess firearms, ammunition or explosives; and cannot have any contact with the victims. He also must pay $635 in fines.
--On Wednesday, Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) and Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) announced the new members of the House Republican Caucus leadership team. The House Republican Caucus elected District 9B Representative Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) Majority Caucus Whip for the 2017-18 Legislative Session. The role of the whip is to communicate information to other members of a party caucus during floor debate and prior to votes. In addition, members of the House Republican Caucus chose six Assistant Majority Leaders. First term representative-elect Randy Jessup (R-Shoreview), Representative Dan Fabian (R-Roseau), Representative Jim Nash (R-Waconia), Representative Marion O’Neill (R-Maple Lake), and Representative Roz Peterson (R-Lakeville) were all elected to serve as Assistant Majority Leaders. In addition, Speaker Daudt appointed Representative Kelly Fenton (R-Woodbury) Assistant Majority Leader and Representative Tony Albright (R-Prior Lake) Speaker Pro-Tempore. As Speaker Pro Tempore, Representative Albright will oversee and conduct House floor debate when the speaker is away.
--Motorists who travel Highway 24 near the Mississippi River bridge in Clearwater should plan for delays while crews close the road up to four times each weekday beginning Monday. The closures will occur each weekday from sunrise to sunset and is expected to be complete by December 23rd. Each closure will last up to 15 minutes with flaggers holding traffic on both directions of Highway 24 near the bridge spanning the Mississippi River, located just east of downtown Clearwater, while lanes are closed. No closures will occur during inclement weather. The daytime road closures are needed while crews deliver oversized concrete beams that will span the new Highway 24 bridge across the Mississippi river.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Month for December is Jennifer Neu. Neu has been a physical therapist at CHI St. Gabriel's Health for 14 years. As employee of the month Neu received a number of gift certificates from Chamber businesses.
--Shortly after 1:00am Wednesday the Stearns County Sheriff’s office responded to a shed fire at 711 Riverside Road in Holdingford. The property is owned by 82-year olds Donald and Celia Coffield. Upon arrival, deputies found a detached shed fully engulfed. Part of the shed was used as a woodworking shop and was heated by a wood stove. It is believed the fire started in the woodshop area. The fire was extinguished but the shed and all property inside including two vehicles and several thousand dollars worth of woodworking equipment was a complete loss. A camper trailer that was parked near the shed was also damaged.
--The Minnesota Restaurant Association in November named A.T. The Black & White Restaurant in Little Falls as the Minnesota Restaurant Association's 2016 Restaurant of the Year. It was originally built as a diner in 1931. The restaurant has been owned by Amanda and Tomas Zimmerman, graduates of the LeCordon Bleu program at Brown College, for the past 10 years.
--Flensburg Fire Department Fundraiser Sausage Tasting and Feed will be this Friday 5pm-9pm at Flensburg Municipal Liquor. Free will offering. Proceeds go towards payment of the fire truck that was purchased from the Little Falls Fire Department. Questions contact Carol 632-9024.
--Events today include the Randall Holly Day event 4-7pm with Santa's workshop, taste of season, lights of love and more tonight in Randall. A blood drive is today 8am-2pm at the MAC in Pierz put on by the Pierz Minnesota Honor Society, an open mic night tonight at 7pm (doors open at 6:00pm) at Great River Arts and more events in the days ahead that can be viewed online at fallsradio.com.
WEATHER TODAY= areas of drizzle, cloudy, high 34. TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, cooler, low 24. FRIDAY= mostly cloudy, clearing late, high 29, low around 20. SATURDAY= partly sunny, high near 30, low around 20. SUNDAY= snow showers/freezing drizzle develops, high 34.
SPORTS NFL= Vikings host Dallas tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF. Head Coach Mike Zimmer could miss tonight's game after having emergency eye surgery on Wednesday. Initial reports state if Zimmer is not with the team tonight, Pat Shurmur and Tony Sparano would take over much of the head coaching duties in Zimmer's absence. HS BB= girls and boys doubleheader in basketball on Friday has Pierz at Little Falls, girls 6pm, boys 8pm live on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1750- first manual training school (later would be called a vocational college) opens in the U.S. Colonies in Massachusetts. IN 1843- first life insurance company opens in the United States. IN 1878- first telephone installed in the White House. IN 1887- Sherlock Holmes first appears in print, “Study in Scarlet” IN 1913- first drive-up gasoline station opens in Pennsylvania. IN 1929- Edwin S. Lowe credited for inventing the game of BINGO IN 1955- Rosa Parks is arrested for not moving to back of a bus. IN 1959- first color photograph of Earth is taken from outer space. IN 1982- Michael Jackson releases Thriller album, the album would have 5 songs hit #1, and would stay #1 album for 37 straight weeks