NEWS --Wabash National Corporation is expanding its operations to Little Falls. They expect to create more than 100 jobs over the next five years. On Thursday, Wabash National Corporation, a diversified industrial manufacturer and North America’s leading producer of semi-trailers and liquid transportation systems based in Indiana, announced its plans to invest more than $3 million for the Larson Boats manufacturing facility in Little Falls. Expectations are that it takes ownership of the facility in April. The investment is part of a $10 million longer-term plan to expand production operations for molded structural composites (MSC).
--The city of Little Falls have installed barricades and stop signs along 9th Street Southeast and 5th Avenue Southeast in an effort to monitor traffic patterns around the Little Falls Community Schools. This study will be conducted from today through February 27th. Motorists are advised to watch for and obey the traffic devices.
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask for the public’s assistance in the investigation of Terrence “Terry” Brisk’s death that occurred on Monday November 7th, 2016. The Sheriff’s Office is joining with the statewide nonprofit Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to invite the public to come forward easily and anonymously with any information, large or small, about this case. Crime Stoppers will forward the information to the investigators while preserving the anonymity of any person submitting information. Sheriff Larsen states that there is up to a $30,000 reward from local donors for information that leads to the arrest of the person who shot and killed Terrence Brisk. In addition, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Winchester Model AE 30-30 lever action rifle belonging to Terrence Brisk. The rifle is described as an older model, with a wooden stock and forearm with no sling attached. Terrence Brisk was known to carry the rifle in the woods while hunting and at this point in the investigation it has not been located. If you have information about this case you can report it and stay anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at their website www.CrimeStoppersMn.org. All contact with Crime Stoppers is anonymous and you may qualify for a reward of up to $1,000 from them if your information leads to an arrest.
--Around 7:15pm on Wednesday the Morrison County Sheriff's office received a report of a one vehicle accident with possible injuries at the intersection of Nature Road and 260th Avenue in Buckman Township west of Little Rock. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 21-year old Jordan Meehl of Royalton was traveling south on 260th Avenue, went through the stop sign at the T intersection and crashed his vehicle. Meehl was treated at the scene by medical personal for unknown injuries. Meehl’s vehicle sustained severe damage.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday 7pm at Pierz City Hall, a comprehensive plan public hearing is scheduled for 6pm Monday.
--A St. Cloud man is accused of agreeing to pay a girl he thought was 15 for sex. 40-year old Ryan Mulliner is charged with felony-level prostitution. He told officers he was meeting the girl to talk her out of the illegal lifestyle. Mulliner was arrested last November during a sting operation at a hotel in St. Cloud. Police say the defendant responded to an ad on backpage-dot-com where investigators were posing as a 15-year-old girl. Mulliner is scheduled to make his first court appearance on April 17th.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce invites all community members to the dialog with Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon today starting at 12:15pm at the Cass Gilbert Depot in Little Falls. Secretary Simon will be in Little Falls to hear firsthand from the community their thought on the business climate of the area. No RSVP needed. For information call Deb at (320) 632-5155.
--A Brainerd mother and her 1-year-old son were injured Wednesday morning when they were struck by a Chevrolet Blazer while walking on the south side of Highway 210 at the intersection of Golf Course Drive in Baxter near the stop lights. The vehicle driven by 43-year old Melissa Joy Patterson of Brainerd struck 28-year old Jasmyn May Wickham of Brainerd and her son Declan. Both the mother and son were transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd where they were treated and then released.
--Region Five communities and schools wanting to develop safer routes for students to walk and bicycle to school can apply for planning assistance grants through the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. The application deadline is March 3rd. Planning assistance grants are the first step for communities to assess their current conditions for walking and bicycling to school and decide what they need to effectively implement a Safe Routes to School program.
--Police arrested a man in connection with an early morning apartment fire in Paynesville Tuesday that left more than 40 people without a home. Shortly before 4:00am police and firefighters arrived where they evacuated the building and scrambled to get the blaze under control. Authorities battled the fire for around 2 and a half hours. Damage was believed to be significant. Evidence gathered indicates the fire is a case of arson. Formal charges are anticipated.
--Good luck to Foley 8th Grader Haley Evenson who will compete on February 21st at the state multi-region spelling bee in Fergus Falls. Haley was one of four winners Wednesday at the central regional in Sartell to advance to the state level. The winners on the 21st would advance to the National Spelling Bee in late May in Washington DC.
--Great River Arts are holding auditions for their dinner theater production of “Moon over Buffalo” by Ken Ludwig. Auditions will be held at Great River Arts on Sunday from 6 - 8pm and on Monday at 6pm. Great River Arts also has a Valentines concerts tonight and Saturday. Other events include bingo in Sobieski Sunday, gun raffle calendar drawing in Pierz Saturday, ice fishing/log sawing event in Bulldog Lake Saturday, candlelight event Saturday at Crane Meadows, St. Rita's in Hillman dinner Saturday, Empty bowls event Sunday for Oasis Central Minnesota and breakfast Sunday at Pierz Senior Site.
DEATH NOTICES --Kenneth Zimmer, age 87 of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= partly sunny, high 44, drizzle late night, cloudy, low 28. SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, high 40, light snow late, low 25. SUNDAY= snow early, then sunny and breezy, high 34, low 15.
SPORTS HS GBB= Pierz at Paynesville Area tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML HS GHK= Buffalo/Maple Lake at Brainerd/Little Falls in girls hockey playoff action Saturday 3:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.