NEWS
--At 2:53pm on Wednesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two vehicle accident with injuries at the intersection of 153rd Street and 285th Avenue, in Pierz Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 60-year old Raymond Dauphinais of Little Falls was traveling westbound on 153rd Street as 80-year old Delwyn Cronquist of Pierz was traveling southbound on 285th Avenue. Cronquist’s vehicle went through the stop sign and both vehicles collided in the intersection. Dauphinais was taken by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with unknown injuries. Cronquist was treated at the scene and cleared by the ambulance.
--The City of Little Falls will be conducting its Local Board of Appeals scheduled for April 23rd beginning at 9:00am via teleconferencing in conjunction with Morrison County Land Services Office. As in the past, all property owners wishing to discuss their property valuation for their property within the City of Little Falls, must contact Morrison County Land Services to schedule a time on April 23rd. Land Services telephone number is (320) 632-0170. When you schedule your time, you will be given the contact information for the teleconference, which will be held by phone or a Zoom meeting.
--According to the Minnesota Department of Health updated statistics as of Thursday morning show that there have been 742 positive tests of COVID-19, up 53 cases from Wednesday. The total approximate number of completed tests is 22,934. There have been 18 deaths with 373 patients who no longer need to be isolated. 138 cases required hospitalization including 75 still hospitalized on Thursday with 18 of those in ICU. 56 of Minnesota's counties have positive cases. Morrison, Todd, Mille Lacs, Wadena and Aitken counties are among the 31 counties without positive tests. Other neighboring counties show Cass and Benton with one case, two in Crow Wing, 5 in Stearns and 8- in Sherburne. Testing is very restricted presently because of limitations of available tests at this time. Locally, St. Gabriels Hospital tested around 30 with no confirmed cases. Because of the low sample size, the Department of Health continues to urge all to assume COVID-19 is present in all communities, and to follow precautions to prevent the spread.
--The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Warning for the Mississippi River in St. Cloud starting this (Friday) evening. Additional precipitation is forecast for St. Cloud and areas upstream through Friday afternoon. The Mississippi is expected to reach minor flood stage by then and continue to rise slowly through the weekend. The river is expected to crest Monday at 9.7 feet. The flood stage is at 9 feet. The flood warning impacts Stearns, Benton and Sherburne Counties until further notice.
--Governor Tim Walz signed a bill into law that provides an extension for Minnesotans whose driver’s licenses or ID cards expire during the peacetime emergency. This means any Minnesotan whose valid driver’s license, instruction permit, provisional license, operator’s permit, limited license or farm work license that would expire during the peacetime emergency will not expire until two months after the month the peacetime emergency ends for the state of Minnesota.
--Join Little Falls Radio for the Palm Sunday Mass, which will be a bit earlier around 8:40am on AM960 KLTF due to its Gospel length. Also starting this Sunday, there will be the Sunday service from Grace Covenent Church in Little Falls at 10:30am on FM94 KFML. Both services are also available at fallsradio.com from those stations.
--Four candidates applied to be Brainerd’s next mayor, following the recent resignation of Ed Menk. Menk’s term officially ends December 31st, 2022 but he announced in February his decision to resign effective March 31st to downsize his responsibilities in life and spend more time with ailing family members. Since the meeting to appoint a replacement on March 23rd was canceled, Menk agreed to extend his tenure until someone else is in the seat. The council plans to choose someone during its teleconference meeting April 6th. Four candidates submitted applications — current council members Dave Badeaux and Dave Pritschet, former council member Kevin Goedker and Brainerd resident Heather Aanes.
--A message from the Great River Regional Libraries that their libraries may be closed but with your library card, you can access their digital world of eBooks and eAudiobooks. All you need is a computer or a tablet/phone. On griver.org there are multiple platforms to search. Libby/Overdrive and Axis360 have a wide variety of eBooks and Audiobooks. eBooksMN has many eBooks for download (with no library card required). Tumblebooks has youth narrated picture books, graphic novels, and even puzzles and games. If there is a title that they don't own please visit the “Suggest a Title” page to submit your book recommendation. Their “Ask a Librarian” chat service can be accessed 24/7 to answer your reference or technology questions and more. Their “Databases A-Z” page is a great place to find other useful resources. Find help with a research project, test prep materials, learn a new language with Pronunciator, learn more about your family tree with HeritageQuest and much more. They also have pages dedicated to kids and teens including homework help and games. These resources can be especially helpful to families as students return to school through distance learning.
--Quick response by some co-workers helped save an Avon man's life. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says they received a medical call around 12:40pm Wednesday of a man not breathing. The caller says the man, 53-year-old Mark Lieser, was thrown from a forklift, hit his head on the floor and wasn't breathing. Several co-workers began CPR until first responders arrived. When Mayo Ambulance arrived, Lieser began breathing again and was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for further testing. Deputies says Lieser was operating a standing style forklift and had the forks in a lifted position, when the forks hit the wall above the garage door causing him to fall and hit his head.
--If your home is in need of repairs, but you’re unsure of affordable financing options, you may be eligible for a home repair loan or grant through USDA Rural Development. They offer very low income homeowners affordable financing to repair, improve or modernize their homes. Grants are available for elderly homeowners 62 years of age or older to remove health and safety hazards. For more information call (218) 829-5965 or visit rd.usda.gov/mn.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1PM TODAY.
TODAY= drizzle and light snow, clearing late, high 31.
TONIGHT= clear skies, colder temps, low 16.
SATURDAY= sunny and less windy, high 44, low around 28.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, warmer, high 53, low around 32.
MONDAY= rain showers possible, high near 60, low near 40.
SPORTS
TWINS= 2014 All Star Game from Target Field Sunday noon on Q92