NEWS
--Three Morrison County Correctional Officers recently received an Award of Excellence for saving an inmates life that needed medical attention. Correctional Officer LeBlanc was working in the Master Control tower inside the jail and was alerted by a female inmate that another female inmate may need medical attention. Correctional Officer Pelzer responded to the female housing unit of the jail and noticed a female inmate who had what appeared to be a medical condition. Sergeant Herman assisted and helped escort the inmate to a mattress before she went unconscious. Sergeant Herman then radioed the jail nurse and an ambulance to respond. Narcan was later administered to the inmate by Sergeant Herman. The inmate was transported to the hospital where it was determined narcotics was in her system. Because of the teams quick response and attention to detail, their combined efforts saved the inmates life.
--Current District 9B Representative Ron Kresha announced his intention to run for election in the newly formed House 10A District. With the recent redistricting in the state legislature “District 10A extends from Aitkin, Mille Lacs Lake, to the southern boundaries of Little Falls,” said Kresha. “I know this area from my teaching and coaching career and I have run businesses here as well. This is home to my family.” Kresha plans to seek the Republican endorsement for the new district and will run for the primary to be placed on the November ballot again for what will be District 10A for the election.
--Fire crews were called to a dryer fire at an apartment building. The call came in just before 9am Wednesday for 741 32nd Avenue North. Firefighters were able to put out the fire quickly and then ventilated the building. No one was hurt. The damage estimate is about $2,600.
--Two women have been charged in a drug overdose death. The Grant County Sheriff's Office says 24-year-old Rachel MacMillan of Elbow Lake and 30-year-old Montana Hedstrom of Dalton allegedly provided 27-year-old Jonathan Murtland with fentanyl that led to his death. Murtland was found not breathing at his Elbow Lake home on March 2nd, 2021. He died several days later at St. Cloud Hospital.
--Saturday marks the first of four Free Park Days in Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is offering free admission to all 75 state parks Saturday in an effort to get people outdoors and enjoying nature. Minnesota State Parks are open year-round to give people places to recreate even during the winter. Some of the parks including Itasca, Jay Cooke, and Mille Lacs Kathio will offer snowshoeing programs and Charles A. Lindbergh State Park on the southwest end of Little Falls. The other Free Park Days will be on April 23rd, June 11th, and November 25th.
--A community wide event focusing on online safety is being held in Sartell. The Sartell Police Department and Sartell-St. Stephen school district are hosting the informative event "Online Safety and Healthy Relationships" at the high school Monday night. Officer Rob Lyon says they try to put on events like this throughout the year on some of today's key issues. The topic will focus on online conversations, risk behaviors, red flags and what to do if you become a victim. Special Agent Nick Riba from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Kate LePage from MN Safe Harbor will be the evenings keynote speakers.
The event is free to attend and will be held in the Sartell High School Performing Arts Center starting at 7pm.
--Due to President's Day on Monday, the Little Falls City Council will meet Tuesday at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers. All city offices will be closed Monday for the President's Day holiday.
--Congratulations to Hayden Dodge of Pierz Healy High School, who was selected to represent Pierz as a member of the 2021-2022 Minnesota All-State Band Through his work with Mr. Carl Mathwig, Hayden auditioned and was chosen to participate as a member of the Symphonic Band, Hayden performed with the band in August after the All-State camp and February 19th at Orchestra Hall as part of the 2022 Minnesota Music Educators Association annual conference. Hayden plays the trumpet and will be recognized during Tuesday's girls basketball game in Pierz.
--Longtime Melrose boys basketball coach Ryan Dusha has been named as one of 50 2022 regional recipients of the PCA’s Double-Goal Coach Award presented by TeamSnap. PCA stands for Positive Coach Alliance. They are a national group that promotes positive coaching. They offer to coaches different methods and speakers to help promote this message. Dusha says a double goal coach is someone who has sport specific knowledge and is good with life skills and life lessons learned from sports. Dusha is a 1997 graduate of Cathedral High School and 2001 St. John's graduate. Dusha played basketball for Bob Karn at Cathedral and for Jim Smith at St. John's. Dusha credits both Karn and Smith as big influences on him.
--Weekend events include Pine Grove Zoo Gone Wild event tonight at the Falls Ballroom. A benefit for Chris Magee of Randall who is battling bone cancer is Saturday 1pm on at Randall VFW with a meal, silent and live auction, cash raffle, DJ Music and more with 94ROCKs afternoon DJ Paladin emceeing from 1-4pm. Sunday there is a free concert at Pierz High School with the Kingery Family though donations to the Pierz Food Shelf are suggested. More details on each of the events can be found at fallsradio.com/communitycalendar.
DEATH NOTICES
--Janet Berge, age 61 of Swanville.
WEATHER
WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT NOON TO 9PM TONIGHT.
TODAY= snow showers, gusty winds near 50mph, high 28.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, low -11, wind chills near -30.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, still windy, high 17, temps rise at night
SUNDAY= partly sunny, warmer, high 35, snow after midnight, low 0
MONDAY= snow likely 1-3 inches, windy and colder, high 8 above.
SPORTS
SKI= The Little Falls Flyer boys Nordic Ski team finished 15th on Wednesday in the prelims but improved to finish 13th Thursday in the final race at state. Yesterday the Sprint Team of Elliott Oberton and Edward Sobiech placed 12th overall. In the finals of the pursuit, Ethan Yorek finished 26th (up from 29th Wednesday), Connor Grant improved to 51st place (from 77th), Grant Yorek was 91st (from 99th), Alexander Oberton finished 96th both days and Angus Rustud 101st (up from 103 on Wednesday. Great Job by the Little Falls Boys Nordic Ski Team.
GHK= The Brainerd/Little Falls Girls Hockey team is heading back to state with a 2-1 win over Moorhead last night in Fergus Falls. The State Girls Hockey Tournament begins Wednesday in St. Paul.
BHK= Little Falls and Detroit Lakes end in a 2-2 tie last night. Boys hockey playoffs begin Tuesday night for the Flyers on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Pierz at Little Falls tonight 5:45pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BBB= Pierz at Little Falls tonight 7:45pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Northwestern Saturday 2:30pm on KLTF.
OLY= The Olympics wrap up with closing ceremonies on Sunday.