News: Wednesday, January 15th, 2025

--Minnesota Department of Transportation reported slippery roads across Minnesota yesterday and Monday. On Monday many reports of spinouts and cars in ditches on Highway 27 from Osakis to Pierz and east into Mille Lacs and Aitkin County. Another accident in Aitkin County on Highway 210 happened yesterday with injuries. Yesterday reports of accidents on Highway 29 in Douglas County, Highway 210, Highway 34 and Highway 12. One fatal accident occurred in southern Minnesota. After nearly 500 accidents occurred over the weekend another 140 occurred Monday and 88 on Tuesday mainly due to drivers going fast for the icy conditions. Icy roads will be a factor again today with cold temps this morning and snow and freezing rain in the afternoon. Get the latest road conditions on the 511mn.org website.

--Damage from a fire at a church in Fergus Falls will likely exceed $500,000. Fire crews were called to Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church shortly after 9 Tuesday morning. An attached school was evacuated. As fire crews arrived, firefighters encountered moderate to heavy smoke in the office area and smoke pouring from the roof. They deployed hose lines to the main level and the basement to confine the fire, which involved an enclosure surrounding the generator exhaust venting. The fire then breached the enclosure and spread. Crews were able to remove wall and ceiling material, and the roof decking to finally knock down the fire. There was significant damage to portions of the church office and the church sanctuary had smoke damage. Fire doors between the church and the school kept smoke damage to a minimum in the school. It's believed the fire followed the generator exhaust from the basement to the roof. One firefighter suffered a cut from falling debris and was treated on-site and remained on scene.

--Minnesota's Take a Kid Fishing Weekend is this weekend and the Department of Natural Resources has some reminders. Adults who take a child 15 years old or younger don't have to have a fishing license. Kids under 16-years-old never need a license. The DNR says the Take a Kid Fishing Weekend will last into Monday, January 20th due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Authorities say ice safety should be top of mind when going out fishing. Some tips include wearing a life jacket, carrying ice picks or a rope, checking ice thickness at regular intervals, bringing a cell phone, and don't go out alone. Parents should also talk with kids about ice dangers on lakes, rivers and neighborhood ponds. Ice fishing tips and a webinar are available on the DNR's website.

--House Democrats boycotted the opening day of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session Tuesday in an effort to stop Republicans from exploiting a temporary majority to advance their agenda, but GOP representatives forged ahead and named their leader as speaker in a move that Democrats rejected. There was applause as Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon entered the chamber to convene the proceedings in accordance with state law. But the Democratic side of the House chamber was empty and only Republicans replied “present” as a clerk took the roll. Simon announced they had not reached the 68 members needed for a quorum, declared the chamber adjourned and left. But Republicans stayed in their seats, saying that with 67 members present they had a quorum. They then voted to elect their top leader, former Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, as speaker, a move that Democrats immediately denounced as an “unlawful sham with no legal authority.” Demuth vowed to “work tirelessly” to foster a “culture of respect and civility” in the House but didn’t directly mention the boycott in her acceptance speech. Republicans adjourned the session until Wednesday.

--The Brainerd Fire Department reminds homeowners to check carbon monoxide detectors and make sure your home is safe. Since December 21st the departments of Brainerd, Nisswa, Mission and Ideal Township have responded about 10 cases where detectors have gone off and in two cases found traces of carbon monoxide in homes. Luckily no one was injured and one person had to be treated before Christmas at the scene with Oxygen. Please check detectors during the winter season to make sure they are working properly. If you have questions contact your local fire departments.

--John Justin of Morrison County Citizens Concerned for Life invites all to the 52nd MCCL Dinner on January 26th social at noon, dinner at 12:45 and program at 1:45pm at the Falls Ballroom. Listen to the guest speaker, essays from area students, drop off baby items for expecting mothers in need and get a great chicken and ham dinner. Tickets are $18 and must be purchased in advance by January 19th by calling Sue at 320-630-7045. Depending on head count they may have limited tickets at the door and for youth 18 and younger to come for free. There will also be a bus to the March for Life at the State Capitol on January 22nd leaving from Little Falls, Pierz and Buckman that morning. The bus is free of charge. Call Dale at 360-7100 to sign up to go next week.

DEATH NOTICES- Julie Holmquist, age 67 of Royalton.

WEATHER= TODAY- increasing clouds, snow and freezing rain afternoon, high 29 winds pick up later in day. Tonight- light snow early, steady temps in the 20s. Thursday- cloudy skies, some freezing fog, high 33, low around 23. Friday- Party Sunny high near 30, then falling with gusty winds in the afternoon.

SPORTS- GBB- Foley at Little Falls Thursday 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ. GBB- Cathedral at Pierz Thursday 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.

VL= there will be changes to the Victory League playoffs later this year. The Minnesota Amateur Baseball Association stated Sobieski, Nisswa, Fort Ripley, Avon, Buckman, St. Stephen and Foley will move to District 4B for playoffs and state tournament. The other teams Randall, Pierz Lakers, Freeport, Opole, Pierz Brewers, Pierz Bulldogs, St. Wendel, St. Mathias, Royalton, Swanville, Upsala, Aitkin and Flensburg will now be Region 9C when the playoffs start in August. This will not effect any games in the regular season only the upcoming playoffs for now Class B and Class C Teams from the Victory League.