NEWS
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard is asking for the publics help in locating an individual who has been reported as missing. 34 year old Jenna Kaye Bartylla of Brainerd has been reported missing by family members. A report was filed with the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. Jenna was last seen on Tuesday at a residence south of Brainerd. Her purse and phone were left behind. Anyone with information on Jenna Bartylla’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office at: (218) 829-4749, and ask to speak with an investigator.
--A Minnesota National Guard Soldier died at Fort Jackson Training Center. 19-year old Pvt. Connor J. McGurran was found unresponsive Wednesday morning following a training exercise at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. McGurran was born May 3rd, 2000, in Owatonna. He obtained a GED in the fall of 2019, enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on September 12th, and began training with the Arden Hills Recruit Sustainment Program. He reported to Army Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson in October. He was on track to become a Bradly fighting vehicle system maintainer. According to the Fort Jackson Public Affairs Office, McGurran was immediately transported by Emergency Medical Services to Providence Hospital where he was pronounced deceased by medical authorities. An investigation into the cause of the death continues.
--The America’s Farmers programs, are back for another year to strengthen farming communities across Minnesota. Beginning January 1, America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education is partnering with farmers across the country to help strengthen rural public school districts through $15,000 STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) grants. Since 2010, America’s Farmers have awarded more than $53 million to worthy causes, students and public schools across the country. For the Grow Rural Education program specifically, farmers nominate a local public school to apply for one of the grants by visiting AmericasFarmers.com. The process takes less than five minutes and has strengthened schools by bringing together students, teachers, farmers and community members to make STEM programs more engaging. To nominate their local school district for a Grow Rural Education grant, eligible farmers in Minnesota can visit AmericasFarmers.com from January 1 to April 1, 2020 and complete the nomination form. After the school district receives a nomination, they will be notified and teachers are encouraged to submit a grant application describing their desired STEM project by April 15, 2020. A panel of qualified math and science teachers reviews the applications and selects the finalists. The program’s Farmer Advisory Council, consisting of approximately 30 farming leaders from across the country, will then select the winning school districts. In the fall, farmers can enroll in the Grow Communities program for the chance to direct a $2,500 donation to a local eligible nonprofit organization, and the Grow Ag Leaders program will begin accepting applications for $1,500 scholarships for students pursuing an education in agriculture-related fields. Last year Upsala schools received one of the grants to help with their programs in the school district.
--Weekend events include Kendra Sobania fundraiser Saturday at 2pm at the St. Francis Convent proceeds go to the music center. A country jam session in honor of Jeanette Janson's 93rd Birthday with Kenny and Zack is Saturday afternoon at Buckman Parish Center. Plus other events can be found at fallsradio.com community calendar.
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office will provide dedicated officers to patrol Kimball and Fairhaven Township this year, gradually working to provide full-time services in Kimball under a new contract. The contract was approved Tuesday by the Stearns County Board of Commissioners. Stearns County had been offering "quasi" administration to the Kimball Police Department for some time. Sheriff Steve Soyka said that Jason Mehr resigned as Kimball's police chief in November 2018 as he started working for Albany in 2019. The Kimball Police Department had two full-time officers and four part-time officers, but by January 2019, the department only had one full-time officer. Stearns County will provide extra officers to the Kimball and Fairhaven Township area and the full time Kimball officer has been told they can apply for the sheriff's office and that position.
--The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is looking for candidates to fill up to 200 paid internship positions for the coming summer. The internships are for college students who are fulfilling academic requirements or receiving academic credit for their work. The positions are located throughout the state, and run the gamut from wildlife management to accounting. All pay $15 per hour, and require between 20 and 40 hours of work per week. The DNR says summer interns not only gain valuable experience and training, they will help the agency create a healthy, sustainable, and livable Minnesota for future generations. To apply, visit the state of Minnesota careers website and enter “intern” into the keywords field on the job search page. Select “Natural Resources Dept” in the Agency column on the left side of the page. Choose the internship(s) of interest and click the apply button to submit an application. Applications will remain open until January 31. Those selected will start their internships in May and June.
--Governor Tim Walz announced the authorization of state disaster assistance for the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for damage sustained from severe thunderstorms with hurricane force winds on October 12th, 2019 and for Carlton, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, and Roseau counties for damage sustained from heavy rains and flooding from September 20th through October 17th. --The Pierz City Council holds their first meeting of the new year on Monday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny and cold, temps stay steady near 9 above.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, very cold, low -14, wind chills near -25.
SATURDAY= sunny and cold, high 6 above, temps rise overnight.
SUNDAY= snow likely 1-2 inches late in day, high 18, low 11.
MONDAY= cloudy, high 23, more snow at night into Tuesday.
SPORTS
HS BSK= Little Falls at Albany in a boys/girls double-header Friday with boys starting at 5:45pm and the girls to follow at 7:30 on Q92.
HS GBB= Pierz at St. Cloud Cathedral Friday 7:15pm on FM94.
NFL= The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend with all four games that are Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco Saturday at 3:30 followed by Tennessee at Baltimore, Sunday at 2pm it's Houston at Kansas City and then Green Bay hosts Seattle at 5:40pm, will be live this weekend on AM960 KLTF.
COL FB= After doing virtually everything he could at the collegiate level, Minnesota Gophers defensive back Antoine Winfield Junior has announced his availability for the 2020 NFL Draft this April.