News: Thursday, January 16th, 2025
-CHI St. Gabriel's Health announced Wednesday they have implemented their mandatory masking policy at each of their facilities. Until further notice all patients entering St. Gabriel's Hospital, Family Medical Center, Little Falls Orthopedics, Pierz and Randall Clinics will be required to wear masks (no matter of vaccination) at each of the buildings. This is a proactive measure to protect everyone from the recent increase in respiratory illnesses that have been happening around the area. The hospital is reminding parents with young children and yourself if you have cold symptoms to self-medicate. Only seek medical assistance from the clinic if you or your child have a high fever over 101, severe or persistent chest pain, difficulty or shortness of breath, severe dehydration and dizziness. They also recommend if you child is suffering from cold or flu like symptoms they should be home and not at school. Again masks are now required at all medical facilities of CHI St. Gabriel's Health.
-At least six units of a storage complex on the south end of Clear Lake caught fire Wednesday morning at 11am. Approximately 25 firefighters responded, staying on scene for over four hours. Both the Becker and Clearwater Fire Departments responded and Elk River also sent over a rehab truck. They don't know what caused the blaze. Sherburne County and the State Fire Marshal are investigating the scene. Highway 24 was shut down for a time during the firefighters working on the blaze. Traffic was diverted beginning at Church Street in the downtown area. The fire got knocked down quickly but firefighters were on the scene for about 4 hours. The units that burned are a total loss along with the contents inside the units. There were no injuries. Some of the contents that caught fire include lawnmowers and other seasonal yard equipment or decorations and one vehicle.
-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs – Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from Jan. 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31. ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. Meanwhile, DMC provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. A press release containing additional information is attached to this email and has been posted to our state website at the following link: USDA Announces 2025 Enrollment Periods for Crop and Dairy Safety-Net Programs. Please contact the Minnesota Farm Service Agency Executive Section at [email protected] if you have questions.
-The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan will close to all marine traffic beginning 11:59 p.m. January 15, or until commercial traffic ceases, through 12:01am March 25 to perform seasonal critical maintenance. Federal regulation (33 CFR 207.440) establishes the operating season based on the feasibility
of vessels operating during typical Great Lakes ice conditions. “Every year, the Corps of Engineers uses the non-navigation winter period to perform
maintenance and keep the Soo Locks operating,” Maintenance Branch Chief Nicholas Pettit said. “The Soo Project Office team works long hours in extreme conditions to complete a significant amount of maintenance during this annual closure period. The work they perform is unique, especially given the harsh northern Michigan winter conditions they work in.” The team will install a temporary panel bridge across the Poe Lock. This panel bridge will
provide the ability to mobilize materials and equipment to the job sites throughout the winter closure. Soo Project Office maintenance crews will fabricate and replace anchorages on gate 3, commission the temporary dewatering system, fill in nonoperational ship arrestor recess on the downstream end, flush and clean the hydraulic systems for the rehabilitated ship arrestor systems, navigation button rehabilitation, remove underground storage tanks and repair the winter work bridge recesses. The Poe Lock will not be dewatered this year for the scheduled maintenance. In addition to the above, crews also will perform a wide range of other maintenance tasks from replacement of pier fender timbers to inspections and preventative maintenance on electrical and mechanical systems on both the Poe and MacArthur Locks.
--A man wanted for sexually assaulting a teenage girl has been arrested months after charges were filed against him in Stearns County District Court. Authorities booked 33-year-old Dillon Wallace into the county jail Monday after searching for him since charges were filed last April. Wallace is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl while he was living in Albany in the fall of 2023. The girl told investigators Wallace raped her three separate times at his apartment. In addition to the assault allegations, the girl also told authorities that Wallace was harassing her by calling her dozens of times and using an app to make it appear he was calling from different phone numbers. According to the criminal complaint, Wallace is accused of calling the girl 22 times in a row on one occasion, making threats to hurt her, and making threats to get the girl in trouble with her parents. Records show when police started investigating the incidents, Wallace abruptly moved back to Michigan where his mother said he'd be "couch hopping". Wallace is charged with three counts of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct involving a victim between 14 and 15 years old. He is also charged with a gross misdemeanor charge of harassment causing fear of substantial bodily harm. Wallace is due in court at the end of January.
--Have you ever wanted to live in Iowa? A senator announced a bill Wednesday that could change the addresses of many Minnesota homes. At the Land Investment Expo, Senator Michael Bousselot said he planned to introduce a bill in the Iowa legislature to purchase the lower nine counties in Minnesota. In a post on X, Bousselot titled his efforts "Make Minnesota Iowa Again," likely taking inspiration from President-elect Donald Trump's slogan. Bousselot said residents can expect low taxes and a farm-friendly state. Our new Iowans, former MN residents, will have lower income, sales, business taxes. A more farm friendly state. And a better managed state. This announcement follows Trump's ideation to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." The president-elect is also eyeing Greenland and the Panama Canal as he has stated that U.S. control is an important issue to him.
WEATHER- Today- partly sunny and breezy, high 34, tonight, partly cloudy skies, low 23. Friday- morning sunshine, high 36 by noon, then falling temps in afternoon with chances of snow and sleet with gusty winds. Friday night- snow showers, much colder, low -3, wind chills near -23. Saturday- sunny and cold temps around 3 above dropping in afternoon. Saturday night into Sunday very cold, clear night low -17, highs around -7 on Sunday during the day.
SPORTS- GBB= Foley at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ. GBB- Cathedral at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
Friday- BBB= Albany at Pierz Friday 7:15pm on 94ROCKS. BHK= Little Falls at Thief River Falls Friday 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.