NEWS
--Flooring is being installed in the lobby of the Little Falls Police Department today. As a result, the lobby will be closed to foot traffic. There will be a sign on the front door with a phone number to call, and if you need help an officer can meet you outside.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at City Hall. It is expected they may vote in the next Mayor and City Treasurer in Pierz from this past week's interviews and discussion on the applicants who applied for the positions earlier this month. John Perleberg was the only applicant for the vacant Pierz Mayor seat. Three applicants including Gary Berg, Sarah Fyten and Angel Lundblad applied for the Pierz City Treasurer opening.
--A Pine River driver was hurt Thursday around 9:37am on Highway 371 in Crow Wing County when the pickup they were driving struck the back end of a MN Dot snowplow. The plow was making a left turn and the pickup could not stop in time. The pickup driver, 28-year-old Levi Burgess was taken to the Brainerd hospital with reportedly non life threatening injuries. The snow plow driver, 35-year-old Derek Jacobson of Brainerd was not injured.
--A Sartell woman was hurt in a crash in Nicollet County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Wednesday at about 8:30am on Highway 111 and Highway 99 near Nicollet. A pickup driven by 39-year old Jeremy Fuchs of Sartell was going north on Highway 111 while a semi driven by 28-year-old Ashantre Davis of Las Vegas was going west on Highway 99 and the two vehicles collided at the intersection. Neither driver was hurt, but a passenger in the pickup 52-year old Nadine Sather of Sartell was taken to Mayo Hospital in Mankato with non-life-threatening injuries.
--An Aitkin woman was injured in an accident yesterday at 7:36am in Morrison Township of Aitkin County. 74-year-old Elizabeth Lamson was on Highway 210 when she went off the snowy road into the ditch. She was taken to a hospital with her non serious injuries.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding snowmobile operators of ice safety. Even with the recent colder temps and snowpack there have been reports mostly in northern Minnesota of snowmobiles going through the ice. The most recent reported was on Thursday morning of one going through on Detroit Lakes on Becker County. Just a reminder to check lake surfaces and if you notice open water, please alert your local officials of the safety hazard on the lakes in the area to keep all safe.
--Multiple fire crews were called to a house fire early Thursday morning. The incident just before 12:30am at 155 Highway 4 in Meire Grove. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says the homeowner, 26-year-old Ethan Walz, was awakened by smoke alarms going off and could see smoke coming from the basement. Walz, his roommate, 28-year-old Alex Zierden, and their two dogs were able to get out of the house safely. The Melrose, Sauk Centre and Freeport Fire Departments arrived and put out the blaze. Authorities say the home sustained heavy smoke and fire damage. No cause was given.
--A 25-year-old Melrose man is facing three felony counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct after police say he got a 15-year-old girl pregnant. The girl told officers that Wilber Berduo-Perez lived with her family and for the last five or six months, she said the two had been in a sexual relationship. That relationship, which began when she was 14. She says Berduo-Perez is the father of her baby. He allegedly admitted in a sworn statement he had sex with her and also knew what he was doing was illegal.
--At 12:43pm Wednesday, the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a call reporting an unresponsive female was located on the ground at the address of 22431 State Highway 6 in Deerwood. 48-year old Nicole Gutzman of Perham, was pronounced dead at the scene. At this time it is unknown how long Gutzman had been in this position. The incident and cause of death is under investigation at this time.
--With the recent heavy snowfall, homeowners should remember to keep their natural gas meter clear of snow and ice. If gas is what keeps your home warm in the winter (or at least runs some of your appliances), you’ll need to give it a little love when it snows. Gas meters have a vent that regulates the pressure – but it has to be unobstructed to work properly. This isn’t a problem in warmer months, but when the snow begins to pile up, it’s important to keep the pressure regulator vent clear. If it’s blocked with snow or ice, the consequences could lead to a service interruption or it could even lead to a gas leak, which could cause a fire or an explosion. After it snows take a broom, your hands, or the brush for your car windows and gently brush the snow off your gas meter. If there is ice on your gas meter that won’t come off with a brush or your hands, call your utility company. You might be tempted to try to kick the ice off the meter, or chop away at it with a snow shovel but this could damage the meter. Your utility company can send a professional who has the proper training and tools to clear the vent safely.
--Events include a number of fish fry meals around the area at many establishments and put on by many organizations. The Swanville/Sobieski Lions are hosting their 30th Annual Fishing Derby event on Saturday on Long Lake in Swanvillle from 12-3pm. The Little Falls VFW hosts their FFA Community Breakfast Sunday from 8:30-12:30pm with many items included with the breakfast event for a free will offering with proceeds going to help the FFA projects. St. Rita's in Hillman is hosting a quilt bingo on Sunday. You can check out other event details at fallsradio.com on the calendar.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, high near 10, wind chills in AM -25.
TONIGHT= light snow, dusting to ½ inch before 9pm, low -5.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, high near 20, low around 3.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high near 30, low around 23 snow late.
MONDAY= freezing rain/snow possible 1-2 inches, high 35.
SPORTS
BBB= Pierz at Pillager tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
GBB/BBB= a girl boy double-header tonight with Albany at Little Falls the girls at 5:45pm and boys to follow live on Q92 WYRQ.
BHK= Little Falls hosts Cambridge Isanti in the section semi-finals Saturday at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ winner plays next Wednesday.
WRE= Royalton-Upsala got seeded #4 in the Class A Team State Tournament and will face Howard Lake-Waverly at 9am next Thursday in St. Paul. Hear the coverage of state wrestling on Q92.
TWINS= Twins and Baltimore from Florida for the first radio game of the 2023 Spring Season Saturday at noon on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1868= first reported use of floats in a parade (Mardi Gras)
IN 1868= U.S. House voted 126-47 to impeach Andrew Johnson.
IN 1942= The Voice of America made first broadcast, the program was in German to work against the Nazi propaganda at the time.