NEWS
–A Wind Chill Warning is in effect this morning. All Little Falls, Pierz, Upsala and Swanville schools are running 2 hours late, Royalton is running 3 hours late and Holdingford schools are closed today.l This comes after nearly a foot of snow fell Thursday in Little Falls with heavier amounts just north of the area. The cold stays here today and Saturday then more snow with heavy amounts next week.
--Formal charges are pending against 37-year-old Blaine Beaulieu from Onamia for his involvement in four separate burglaries which involved thefts of four firearms, two motor vehicles and a side by side ATV from residences in Little Falls, Belle Prairie and Platte Townships. According to the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday deputies responded to a residential burglary at a residence located east of Little Falls on Game Farm Road. According to the home owners, their garage was entered and their side-by-side ATV was stolen. The ATV was located in the ditch nearby with foot tracks leading to another residence on Game Farm Road. Deputies learned there was a truck stolen from that residence which headed north on Game Farm Road. When deputies arrived in the area, they discovered another pickup was left at the Knife River gravel pit off Highway 27, east of Little Falls. Deputies contacted the registered owner and discovered that the pickup had also been stolen. The Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious male near a residence north of Harding in Pulaski Township. Deputies arrived and later located the suspect in a swampy wooded area northeast of the residence. The stolen truck from Game Farm Road was also located on the property along with the stolen firearms. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen would like to thank the public for their assistance by calling in suspicious activity. Along with the public’s tips and our law enforcement efforts, Beaulieu was unable to continue his crime spree. Beaulieu is being held in the Morrison County Jail pending formal charges.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office along with local police officers, CHI and Stand Up for U are hosting a Coffee with a Cop event on Tuesday from 8:30-9:30am at Kip's Kafe in Swanville to talk about prescription drug prevention and opiod abuse in the area and other topics that the audience can bring up at this event.
--The wintry weather Thursday led to a number of vehicles going into the ditch or spinning out on the 6-10 inches of snow that fell in central Minnesota. A reminder to drive for the conditions.
--After just over two hours of deliberation, a Benton County jury has found 26-year-old Cheryl Albert guilty on two counts of 2nd degree murder in the 2015 killing of Keletigui Keita. Jurors were told to consider expert witness testimony, evidence like phone records, DNA and fingerprints found at the scene to link Albert to the murder. The investigation into Keita's murder lasted two years and culminated with Albert's arrest at the Los Angeles Airport. She was extradited back to Minnesota to face the charges.
--Area DNR Conservation officers stated that the snowmobile trails around central Minnesota are in very good conditions and now even better with the latest snowfall this week. Trails in Little Falls, Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, Staples and many more in the north-central part of the state are the best they have been since 2014. They do remind snowmobilers to obey the laws and make sure your snowmobile is working properly before hitting the trails. Put safety first.
--Events this weekend include tonight Pioneer Elementary School's Tied to the Tracks play will be performed free of charge at 7:00pm. Author Allen Eskins will be at the Carnegie Library in Little Falls Saturday at 1:00pm to speak about how he started and to help others start in book writing. St. Ann's Mission quilt bingo Sunday at 1:00pm at Sobieski Community Center. The Empty Bowl fundraiser for Oasis Share a Meal in Little Falls is this Sunday at 11:30am at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls. The Knights of Columbus District Free Throw Competition is Sunday at noon, registration at 11:30am at Pierz Healy High School with students ages 9 to 14 competing from around the area. The one act play which has been rescheduled twice due to weather will now be on Sunday at 2:00pm at Little Falls High School. For more information on events go to fallsradio.com then community calendar.
--A man from North Dakota is jailed in Stearns County after a traffic stop uncovered a stolen vehicle, drugs and stolen merchandise. According to the criminal complaint, 31-year-old Levi Jerome of St. Michael, North Dakota was stopped at the rest stop along Interstate 94 in Avon Tuesday morning. Jerome allegedly denied knowing anything about the stolen vehicle, saying he had rented it from a friend. Officers searched the vehicle and say there were hypodermic needles, drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and heroin inside. Records also show there was a large amount of clothing and electronic devices, many of which still had tags and anti-theft devices on them. Jerome allegedly told police that a woman passenger inside the vehicle had nothing to do with the items in the vehicle and that he would take responsibility for everything. Court records indicate Jerome has a domestic abuse no-contact order against him which prohibits him from having contact with the woman. He's due back in court in March.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the media center inside the Community Middle School. Agenda items include a presentation from Junior Achievement and When Students Code. There will be approval of Sourcewell Funding Grants and to sell surplus technology equipment from the school.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Ruben Aceves and Sara Mata of Little Falls, a boy on Feb. 6th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marlyn “Marty” G. Merrill, age 83 of Sauk Rapids.
--Robert Joseph Monte, age 92 of Little Falls formerly of Babbit.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= sunny and cold, high -4, wind chills in morning near -30.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, very cold, low -23, winds calm.
SATURDAY= cloudy, light snow in afternoon, high 5 above, low -3.
SUNDAY= mostly cloudy, high 15, snow after midnight, low 5.
MONDAY= snow likely getting heavier by night, high 20, low 11.
SPORTS
HS WRE= Royalton at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
HS GHK= Moorhead at Brainerd/Little Falls Saturday 2pm on Q92.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Michigan State Saturday 12:30pm on KLTF.