NEWS –A Detroit Lakes woman was injured in a one-vehicle accident Saturday around 2:50pm on Highway 10 at Highway 27 exit in Little Falls. 70-year-old Cheryl Kluender of Detroit Lakes was driving north on Highway 10 when she apparently fell asleep and left the roadway striking a tree. Cheryl and her 73-year-old passenger Howard Kluender of Detroit Lakes were taken to the hospital in Little Falls with unknown injuries.
--A Motley woman was injured around 2:30pm Saturday on Highway 10 at 385th Street in Motley Township when her truck collided with a semi. 20-year-old Alicia Goltz of Motley was on Highway 10 and pulled in front of the semi causing a collision. The semi-driver from Jacksonville, Florida was not hurt. Goltz was treated at the Staples Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
--The Morrison County American Dairy Association is currently seeking candidates to be dairy princesses for 2017-18. Candidates or their parents/legal guardians must live on or work for an active dairy farm. Eligible candidates include seniors in high school up to ladies who not past 24 years of age on or after July 1st. The deadline to apply is March 1st. To apply contact Stacy Happke at 468-6257 or Cindy Welle at 745-2615.
--The Child Care Provider of the Year nominations are now being accepted. If you are using or observing a licensed child care home in Morrison County and feel that the provider is deserving of such a nomination, please fill out the form found that their Facebook page at Morrisoncountyprovideroftheyear or send a letter explaining what special qualities he/she has and why you feel that the provider should be considered as the Provider of the Year for Morrison County. Please send your nominations in by January 31st by using the nomination form in your local paper or email morrisoncountypoy@yahoo.com. Jessica Nutz was named the provider of the year in 2016.
--A St. Cloud woman was injured following a vehicle versus pedestrian crash Friday morning. Officers responded to the intersection of Fifth Avenue South and Seventh Street South at 7:50am. 74-year old John Edward Lohman of St. Cloud was driving north on Fifth Avenue South when he struck 63-year old Lou Elizabeth Krueger of St. Cloud as she was crossing Fifth Avenue South in the crosswalk. Krueger was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries. Lohman was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The police department believes an ice-covered front windshield was a contributing factor in the incident.
--A plan to temporarily lower the water level of Little Rock Lake to improve its water quality has been postponed until 2018. The drawdown proposed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was supposed to happen this summer. It’s been delayed because of concerns about lost revenue from the company that owns a hydroelectric dam on the Mississippi River. Lake advocates still support the idea, and a DNR fisheries expert says some type of drawdown is still on track for next year. In the last four years, the Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District has tackled 60 projects to reduce runoff to the lake. The DNR proposed a drawdown of the lake as a partial solution. In shallow lakes, lowering the water level can use up more of those nutrients by increasing aeration and stimulating plant growth.
--Two Central Minnesota residents have been appointed to separate state boards, according to information released by Governor Mark Dayton. Leslie LeCuyer of Foley has been appointed to the Perpich Center for the Arts board of directors. Her term begins on the 11th and expires in 2021. She is one of four appointees to the Perpich Center board; all four are replacing previous members. Andrea Redetzke of St. Joseph has been reappointed as an advocate member of the State Rehabilitation Council, which guides decisions about Minnesota's Vocational Rehabilitation Services program. VRS serves thousands of people with severe disabilities. Redetzke's new term begins on the 11th and runs into 2020, two others were appointed to replace previous members.
--The Palisade man found last Wednesday unresponsive on a Crow Wing County road remains in critical condition at HCMC in Minneapolis. 47-year-old Brian Kokesh crashed his snowmobile in a ditch last Tuesday night and it started to fill with water. He walked for a mile down road for help and collapsed from the elements. He was found by a passerby early Wednesday and taken to the Crosby Hospital then airlifted to Minneapolis and still in critical condition.
--St. Cloud Firefighters responded to a call came around 6:00pm Thursday reporting a fire at a duplex at 308 Ninth Avenue South. People on the first floor of the duplex smelled smoke, later discovering a fire on the second floor. The fire was started by improperly discarded smoking materials. No injuries were reported. The residents of the second floor were displaced due to the fire. The damages are estimated at $55,000.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office has selected a name for their new K-9. On December 27th they put out a call for name suggestions. The name chosen for the K-9 is Ragnar. Three people suggested this name and they are now in the process of notifying the lucky person who will have the chance to meet Ragnar and his handler.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Matthew DeZurik and Brittany Wolthuizen of Pierz, girl on Jan. 4th. --Kyle and Janine Johnson of Little Falls, girl on January 4th.
DEATH NOTICES --Tamara “Tammie” J. Amundsen Reignier, age 54 of Little Falls. --Eva Deminsky-Rudnicki, age 96 of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
WEATHER TODAY= snow likely, 1-2 inches by late tonight, high 16. TONIGHT= snow likely overnight, rising temps up to 21 degrees TUESDAY= snow early, PM sun, temps rise to 25 then fall to 10. WEDNESDAY= sunny and much colder, high 7, low -13.
SPORTS --On Friday P.J. Fleck announced he is leaving Western Michigan to become head football coach at Minnesota. Fleck, 36, just finished his fourth year as Western Michigan's head coach, and is 30-22 with three bowl appearances, including a 24-16 loss to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl last Monday. A 5-year deal was completed for Fleck. NFL= Houston beat Oakland 27-14, Seattle beat Detroit 26-6 in the wild card games on Saturday. Then on Sunday- Pittsburgh defeated Miami 30-12 and Green Bay downed the Giants 38-13 in Lambeau. COL FB= Alabama and Clemson tonight for the national title.