NEWS
--Two men pleaded in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to selling methamphetamine on the White Earth Reservation. The men, 28-year old Michael J. Blandford of Monticello, and 26-year old Matthew J. Leigland of Ponsford admitted in court they traveled from the White Earth Indian Reservation to the Twin Cities to purchase methamphetamine from a source and then brought it back to the reservation to distribute. The men were arrested when a Minnesota State Patrol trooper conducted a traffic stop March 18, 2019, in Motley, for speeding and for having loud exhaust. Blandford and Leigland, both convicted of one count each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, were initially charged April 26, 2019. According to the defendants’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, the trooper observed drug paraphernalia and Blandford showed signs of recent drug use. When asked to step out of the vehicle, he fled on foot and tossed an item out of his pocket, which was later found to be 10 grams of methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a methamphetamine smoking device, used razor blades, a small digital scale, two measuring cups and a gallon plastic baggie containing 480 grams of methamphetamine. The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and many others.
--Emergency personnel responded to a structure fire Tuesday night north of Sebeka in Wadena County. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a structure fire at 10:35pm, on 109th Avenue in section 18 of Red Eye Township. When a deputy arrived on scene, the single family dwelling was full of smoke and flames had already reached the second story of the structure. Fire crews from the Sebeka and Menahga fire departments arrived on scene and quickly extinguished the blaze. After talking with the occupant of the residence it is believed the fire was caused by the furnace.
--A 46-year old man suffered injuries after being thrown off the snowmobile he was operating Saturday on Clamshell Lake in Pequot Lakes. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash reported at 3:18pm. The sheriff’s office reported Billy Jo Mitchell of Brooklyn Center was traveling across Clamshell Lake when the snowmobile struck an ice heave, lost control and spun sideways, causing the driver to be thrown from the machine. Mitchell was transported by North Memorial Ambulance to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd to be treated for injuries.
--The Sauk Rapids-Rice Board of Education has named five candidates for the district's next Superintendent. The candidates include: Thief River Falls Superintendent Bradley Bergstrom, Milaca Superintendent Timothy Truebenbach, Robbinsdale Executive Director Kristine Wehrkamp, Foley Superintendent Paul Neubaue and Belle Plaine Superintendent Dr. Ryan Laager. The board started to interview candidates yesterday and will interview more today and then will eventually select the two finalists which will return for another round of interviews next week.
--Weekend events including the Ice Fishing Tournament on Long Lake Saturday for the Swanville/Sobieski Lions followed with the large raffle that night in Swanville, a wild game feed is scheduled Saturday in Rice, breakfast at St. Michael's in Buckman on Sunday for 6th graders Camp Foley trip, pork chop dinner Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls, bingo on Sunday at St. Rita's in Hillman and other events can be viewed at fallsradio.com click on calendar.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce are proud to announce that LeBlanc's Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation has been named the Chamber's Large Business of the Year. Current owner's Joe and Gregg LeBlanc said that Joes' Dad and uncle built the facility at Rice Creek in 1961. Greg and Joe took it over in 1981. The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce had announced that the “Small Business of the Year” is Little Falls Radio Corporation. The radio station on Haven Road is on the current site of the original KLTF transmitter which went on the air in 1950. WYRQ started as a separate business and then merged in with KLTF and KFML to form Little Falls Radio in 1996 by Jack Hansen and Steve Van Slooten which was then later purchased by Rod and Chris Grams in 2004. These two businesses and the citizen/volunteer of the year will be honored at the annual Chamber Dinner on February 27th at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls.
--The Red Bull Assistant Division Commander Colonel Shawn Manke will be promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a promotion ceremony today in Coon Rapids. Manke currently serves as the Assistant Division Commander for Operations of the Minnesota National Guard's 34th Infantry "Red Bull" Division. He formerly served as the Chief of the Joint Staff for the Minnesota National Guard. The promotion ceremony will be today at 4:00pm at the Bunker Hills Event Center in Coon Rapids.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Bradley and Rebecca Piekarski of Little Falls, a girl on Feb 18th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Delphine Parsons, age 82 of Pierz.
--Viola “Dolly” Parish, age 88 of Long Prairie.
--Mathew J. Motschke, age 82 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high 33.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 12.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 40, low around 15.
SUNDAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 40, low around 10.
MONDAY= sunny early, clouds late day, high 34, low 23.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Foley at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
HS BHK= Little Falls vs. Alexandria in section semi-final playoffs Saturday night at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
GOPHER= catch Gopher hockey tonight and tomorrow with Penn State and Gopher Men's Basketball Sunday afternoon on KLTF.
WRE= Listen to State Wrestling coverage for Royalton/Upsala team wrestling next Thursday starting at 9am on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1782= The U.S. Mint was first established.
IN 1842= first demonstration of the sewing machine in the U.S.
IN 1878= first telephone book is issued in New Harbor, CT.
IN 1885= The Washington Monument is dedicated.
IN 1931= Alka Seltzer is introduced at drug stores.
IN 1947= E.H. Land demonstrates the first instant camera.
IN 1976= red M&M's are taken out of packs. Returned in 1987
IN 1992= Kristi Yamaguchi wins the U.S. Olympic Gold Medal in women's figure skating. First to win gold since Dorothy Hamill in 76.