NEWS
--A three vehicle crash occurred around 7:40pm Tuesday on Highway 27 east of Lastrup in Richardson Township. The State Patrol said that 30-year old Amanda Johnson of Monticello was on Highway 27 when she attempted a U-turn, got stuck and blocked the lane. Another driver 40-year old Travis Moshier of Monticello stopped to assist Johnson and was parked in the westbound lane. 27-year old Michael Marshik of Little Falls was eastbound on 27 and was unable to stop in time and struck the parked vehicle. Marshik was taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. Moshier and Johnson were not hurt. Three passengers in the Marshik vehicle, 23-year old Nakota Patrick of Little Falls had unknown injuries; 24-year old Kassandra Doble of Little Falls and a third unnamed passenger were not injured.
--The Sauk Rapids Rice School District's Board of Education appears to have chosen the next person to lead the district, Aaron Sinclair. Sinclair went through numerous interview sessions Wednesday afternoon, including with the Board of Education, District Administration, district staff and community representatives. After the interviews, the board decided to enter contract negotiations with Sinclair. He was one of five finalists. Sinclair's currently the Assistant Superintendent of Brainerd Public Schools. If he approves the contract, he would tentatively take over on July 1st. Before going to Brainerd, Sinclair worked for the Little Falls School District.
--A 17-year old was injured Tuesday just before 8:00am due to the snow and ice on Highway 47 near Isle in Mille Lacs County. 54-year old Danny Chambers of Meadowlands was driving a semi truck turning onto 290th Street off the highway when 17-year old Summer St. George of Mora was unable to stop in time and struck the back end of the semi. St. George was taken to the Princeton hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries. Chambers was not hurt.
--A 66-year old Mora man was hospitalized Sunday after the snow tube he was riding on struck a vehicle in Pine River. David Vegt was tubing down a hill at Trout Lake Camp when he struck a passing vehicle at the bottom of the hill. Vegt was taken to the hospital to be checked out. There was no word on the extent of any injuries. The driver from Crane Lane was not injured.
--Fire has destroyed a business and damaged a second property in a small community in Otter Tail County. Reports say the fire broke out about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Periwinkle Marketplace on Highway 78 in Ottertail. Periwinkle is a clothing, furniture, and home decor store. Ottertail Liquors next door sustained minor damage. Fire departments from Ottertail, Battle Lake, Henning, and Perham battled the fire, bringing it under control several hours later. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
--Another very busy weekend of events, tonight fish frys galore include the Kiwanis Fish Fry at the Little Falls VFW 4:30-7pm with proceeds to help pay for Washington Playground equipment, Lindbergh Elementary PTA in Little Falls has a fun night 6-8pm tonight with cake walk, rock wall, food and more at Lindbergh Elementary in Little Falls, Swanville/Sobieski Lions 25th Annual Fishing tournament tomorrow on Long Lake begins at noon, $5 to fish and be in the cash raffle at 6pm at Red's Irish Pub, breakfast for Little Falls FFA Sunday at VFW, breakfast at St. Francis Church south of Upsala Sunday for free will offering, bingo Sunday at St. Rita's in Hillman plus many more events that can be found by going to fallsradio.com then community calendar.
--The Pierz City Council meets 7pm Monday at Pierz City Hall.
--After 4-7 inches of snow Thursday night, another round is forecast for Saturday. Snow will start by mid-afternoon and last through Saturday night bringing 4-10 inches over central and eastern Minnesota. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect because behind the snow comes very gusty cold winds on Sunday.
--Early absentee voting begins today for the Pierz School District building bond referendum of just under ten million dollars. The actual election day is Tuesday, April 10th but early voting starts today. Last May voters rejected an $18.75 million dollar referendum. Since then the Pierz School District held a community survey and refined their new proposal to reflect the survey results. More information about the referendum is posted on the Pierz School District website of pierz.k12.mn.us.
--According to data from the office of Minnesota Employment and Economic Development in December Morrison County had a 6.9% unemployment rate up from 4.7% in November and down from 7.3% in December of 2016. Here is how our other are counties fared with unemployment rates in December: Aitken 7.8%, Benton 4.4%, Cass 7.3%, Crow Wing 5.6%, Mille Lacs 6.5%, Stearns 3.4%, Sherburne 3.8%, Todd 5%, and Wadena County 6.3%. The city of Brainerd registered at 6.1% and St. Cloud was at 3.3%. The state unemployment rates not seasonally adjusted was 3.3% and the national average was 3.9%.
--A St. Cloud man is accused of having sex with a minor and providing the victim with methamphetamine and alcohol. 31-year old Chad Daniel Nelson of St. Cloud was booked into Stearns County Jail Tuesday. He is accused of third degree criminal sexual conduct and possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Nelson's first hearing is scheduled for March 8th.
--Upsala Grades 5 through 12 will have parent-teacher conferences on Monday from 3:30-7:30pm, for information call Rita 573-2175.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Brandon and Jenny Freudenrich of Little Falls, girl on February 21st
DEATH NOTICE
--Loretta (Kegg) Kalk, age 74 of Onamia
--Randy Lemm, age 59 of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WATCH 3PM SATURDAY TO 6AM SUNDAY.
TODAY= becoming sunny by late morning, high near 30.
TONIGHT= clear skies, colder, low near 0.
SATURDAY= clouds increase, snow starts in afternoon, high 28.
SAT NITE= snow, heavy at times, 4-10 inches, low 15.
SUNDAY= sunny and windy, high 25, clear night low 4 above.
MONDAY= partly cloudy, warmer, high 36, low 18.
SPORTS
GHK= Edina shut out Brainerd/Little Falls 4-0 at the state girls hockey tournament. The Warriors face Andover today at noon in the Class AA consolation semi-finals, if they win they would play at noon on Saturday for the consolation championship. Today's game again is at noon from Ridder Arena and live on Q92 and fallsradio.com.
TWINS= Twins vs. Baltimore from Florida Saturday 5pm on Q92.