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Little Falls Radio News
Wednesday, December 12th 2018
NEWS –Fire destroyed a small utility trailer and an old camper Monday east of Brainerd. The Brainerd Fire Department was called just after 8:00am to the fires on the 11000 block of Burgwald Road, south of Paul Bunyan Land off Highway 18. There were 15 firefighters on scene for about an hour extinguishing the two fires. The trailers were in separate locations on the property and were fully engulfed when firefighters arrived. Holmes said a passerby called in the fire. The home on the property was untouched. The sheriff’s office is investigating the fire as a “potential arson.”
–The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating a car versus squad car crash that happened in Cold Spring on Friday night. The incident took place at the intersection of County Road 2 and 11th Street around 9:40pm. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says a marked squad car activated its emergency lights and was attempting a U-turn turning around with his lights on to make a traffic stop when a car pulled out in front of it and hit the driver’s side front tire. The driver of the car, 24-year old Tyler Klein of Cold Spring, and the driver of the squad car, Sergeant Steven Noetzel were not hurt.
–An 88-year old woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash last week on Highway 371, south of Pequot Lakes. The Minnesota State Patrol reported Kimberly A. Adams, 48, Pequot Lakes, was driving north on Highway 371 when it skidded into another vehicle driven by Jacqueline A. Seils, 88, Pequot Lakes. Adams was not injured. Seils was transported to Brainerd for non-life-threatening injuries.
–The Brainerd Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, continue to investigate the disappearance of a 44-year-old Brainerd man. Theodore Erickson was last seen November 2nd and has not had contact with friends or family since. Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston stated in an email release Erickson has a warrant out for his arrest and it is unknown at this time if the Brainerd man is actively avoiding law enforcement contact. The warrant is for second-degree assault. Erickson has health concerns and does not have any of his medications. Authorities are concerned for his welfare. Erickson is believed to have some connection to the areas of northern Crow Wing County, southern Cass County and Aitkin County. Erickson is described as 6 feet tall and 240 pounds with reddish-brown graying hair and hazel/blue eyes. He walks with a limp and has a scar on his throat from a tracheotomy. Authorities are asking people to check their properties in case Erickson might have sought shelter. Anyone who may have seen the Brainerd man or knows of his whereabouts is asked to call the Brainerd Police Dept. at (218) 829-2805 or 911.
–About one fifth of the respondents in a recent survey said they had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in the Minnesota House. The anonymous survey was conducted in October and completed by about 230 House members and staff. That equates to about half of House members and about three-fourths of staff. The findings come a year after two lawmakers resigned amid sexual harassment allegations. The House Task Force on Workplace Safety and Respect is expected to discuss the findings Friday. House members went through a refresher course last year on harassment and bias, and more training is scheduled for next month when the 2019 legislature begins with their session on January 8th.
–An air quality alert has been issued until 6pm Thursday for portions of central and south central Minnesota including Stearns County and areas south of Little Falls. The alert was issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The agency says fine particles levels have risen into the “orange” category. That means the air is unhealthy for people with conditions like asthma and heart disease, children and the elderly. The cause is stagnant weather, which the MPCA says should clear up tomorrow night.
–The Morrison County Holiday Gift Giving Program wants to remind all that took tags from the trees from the area churches, businesses and organizations to please return with the item on them or to give monetary donations to the program prior to next Monday. Any tags not returned would have to be reimbursed personally for the distribution on Saturday, December 22nd. For more information please contact Judy at 630-8497. Also a reminder that the Morrison County Gift Giving Program is only the tree with tags, other boxes and groups that may be in town are not affiliated with the local gift giving program so please make sure to return the tags from those trees.
–Winter truck load increases will begin Friday for unrestricted highways in the central frost zone, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Winter load increases have already begun in the north and north-central zones. Vehicles will be allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight tolerances. Drivers should check with local agencies before increasing any weights on city, county and township routes. The sign erected on the roadway governs the load limit in effect. A winter weight increase permit is required to take advantage of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways only; a permit is not required for state trunk highways. For questions about over legal weight/size “heavy haul” trucking, call MnDOT’s Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Weight Permits, 651-296-6000.
DEATH NOTICES –Leonard Sanoski, age 71 of Cushing.
WEATHER TODAY= fog early, then mostly cloudy, high 28. TONIGHT= fog early then light snow and freezing drizzle late, low 22 THURSDAY= freezing drizzle and snow early, then clearing, high 33 THURS NIGHT= clearing out, low 19. Sunny on Friday high 36.
SPORTS NFL= The Minnesota Vikings announced the firing of John DeFilippo Tuesday morning, just hours after the Vikings’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Kevin Stefanski has been elevated to Interim Offensive Coordinator and will handle play-calling duties. DeFilippo joined the Vikings after two seasons as quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the 2017 season in which the Eagles won the Super Bowl. The Vikings will host Miami on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium at noon. TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
