NEWS
--The Tri-Parish of Little Falls Catholic Churches are sending out a scam alert as they have received calls that people have gotten emails from the church asking for money to help with church projects. This is a scam. The Tri-Parish said they do not send out emails asking for money. If you have concerns you should contact the Parish offices.
--Little Falls Community High School has selected seniors Katherine Corbett and Thomas Kula to represent Region 8AA in the Academics, Arts, and Athletics Award program. Established in 1988, the Academics, Arts and Athletics Award (Triple “A” Award) is sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League. The award is presented to high school seniors who have a “B” or better grade point average and who participate in League-sponsored athletic and fine arts activities. Katherine is the daughter of Tim and Bridget Corbett. She has participated in choir, basketball, cross-country, Nordic skiing, swimming, and track and field. Thomas is the son of Anthony and Valerie Kula. He has participated in band, football, and basketball. Triple “A” Award recipients are selected through a multi-level process involving member schools of the League, the League’s administrative regions, and a special committee of educators, business leaders, and members from the fine arts and athletic communities. The top two award finishers from each region will be invited to a state banquet. A boy and a girl from both Class A and Class AA Schools will receive a four-year $1,000 scholarship.
--Around 9:05pm Wednesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reported a Morrison County Deputy noticed a vehicle traveling north on Highway 10 where the owner had a canceled driving status. The deputy made a traffic stop on Highway 10, just south of Little Falls. During the traffic stop the deputy noticed items being thrown out of the passenger side window which were later found to be baggies and a pipe containing suspected methamphetamine. After a search of the vehicle approximately 10.5 grams of methamphetamine were located and seized. The driver, 37-year old Jason Clayton Adam Bailey from Long Prairie and the passenger, 36-year old Robert James Dunham Devereaux from Swanville were taken into custody. They are being held in the Morrison County Jail pending formal charges for 5th degree possession of a controlled substance.
--Police used a search warrant to arrest a woman in south St. Cloud. The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force conducted the search warrant in the 1300 block of 9th Avenue South on Tuesday. Investigators had information that 62-year-old Linda Merritt had methamphetamine inside her home, and they also knew Merritt had multiple felony warrants for her arrest. Authorities found about 150 grams of methamphetamine in the home. Merritt is facing charges of 1st degree possession of a controlled substance and five outstanding warrants. She was brought to the Stearns County Jail.
--The ICE Fest is this weekend at Green Prairie Fish Lake north of Little Falls. Events 10:00am-8:00pm Saturday and 10:00am-6:00pm Sunday include a world record attempt at an ice carousel and more will take place between the two days. Shuttles will be going from establishments along the lake to the area where it is taking place. Full details on the events can be found at fallsradio.com and click on community calendar.
--The Pierz City Council meets for the first time in 2019 this Monday night at 7:00pm at Pierz City Hall.
--13-year-old Jayme Closs has been found alive in Gordon, Wisconsin. The girl went missing in October after her parents were found dead inside their home in northwest Wisconsin. A suspect was taken into custody shortly after finding Jayme. No other details released.
--A fire broke out Tuesday night in the GreenForest Recycling center at the Brainerd Industrial Center off Mill Avenue in Brainerd. The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 7:49pm Tuesday, to the fire and were on scene until after midnight. Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said a bunch of shredded and baled paper in the recycling area caught on fire. Firefighters had to remove the paper on the top to get to the bottom of the recycling pile to put the fire out. The recycling center is located inside the BIC building on the northwest corner, where the loading dock is located. Holmes said the fire was contained to the recycling area and did not threaten any other parts of the building. Holmes said with help from BIC owner Mike Higgins and his crew of about eight and their fleet of skid loaders, firefighters were able to get to the fire. Brainerd firefighters were called back to BIC for a report of smoldering debris around 8am Wednesday and quickly put out some hot spots.
--The State Fire Marshal says fire deaths in Minnesota dropped 47 percent in 2018. A total of 36 people died last year in fires in Minnesota, according to preliminary figures released Thursday by the Department of Public Safety's State Fire Marshal Division. That's down from 68 fire deaths in 2017. The decline comes after a deadly fire year in 2017, which recorded Minnesota's most fire deaths since 1995. State Fire Marshal Bruce West credits Minnesota fire departments for going into their communities and teaching people about fire prevention and safety. So far there have been two fire deaths in Minnesota in 2019 _ one in Brainerd and one in St. Paul. Careless smoking was the leading cause of fatal fires in Minnesota last year, followed by cooking and portable heaters.
--Leaders of the new Democratic majority in the Minnesota House unveiled the first 10 bills they'll introduce this session. Including a proposal to let all residents buy into the MinnesotaCare health program, which is currently reserved for the working poor. They acknowledged at a news conference Wednesday it will be a struggle to find enough votes in the GOP-controlled Senate to get all their proposals enacted, including the MinnesotaCare buy-in and two bills aimed at reducing gun violence. But they say their agenda is based on their values, not just on what will pass.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, high 26, cloudy night, low 17.
SATURDAY= cloudy skies, high near 30, flurries at night, low 16.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, high 32, cloudy night, low 21.
MONDAY= sunny skies and mild, high 36, colder night, low 12.
SPORTS
NFL= Weekend #2 in NFL playoffs begins at Indianapolis at Kansas City at 3:30pm Saturday followed by Dallas at the LA Rams. Sunday it's the Chargers at New England at 11:30am then Philadelphia takes on New Orleans at 3:40 Sunday all live on AM960 KLTF.
LF= Olympics weight-lifting will take place on Saturday at the Little Falls Community High School for girls and boys. Al Windsperger will have more on this on the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap with the week in high school sports at 9am Saturday on AM960 KLTF.