NEWS
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported from Thanksgiving to New Years Eve 2,656 drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence which was up from 2,407 in 2016. More than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state teamed up for extra enforcement during that time period. The most arrests occurred on Thanksgiving eve and Thanksgiving Day back in November which had over 1,100 of those arrests. With Super Bowl weekend coming up the first weekend of February, which averages of 3.4 DWI arrests an hour from 12:00pm Sunday to 6:00am Monday, another enhanced law enforcement effort will be going on by the Department of Public Safety and Law Enforcement.
--The Brainerd Fire Department is thanking neighbors for helping a woman escape a fire in her home Tuesday night around 7:00pm on Highland Scenic Road in Brainerd. The fire was in the kitchen when crews arrived. The female occupant attempted to break a window and neighbors were able to pull her out of the house. She was taken to the hospital to be checked out for cuts from the window glass and smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire was from unattended use of the stove.
--Two guns were found hidden in a park near Walmart on Wednesday afternoon, but no arrests were made. At about 4:20pm, both Sartell and St. Cloud police received reports of gunshots in similar areas near the Sauk River. Sartell police responded to a call about shots near Walmart on Stearns County Road 120. St. Cloud police responded to a call about possible gunfire in Whitney Park. St. Cloud police found three men crossing the bridge over the Sauk River, from Sauk River Regional park on the Sartell side to the St. Cloud side of the river. Officers were able to identify the men. But no weapons were found on them and they were released. Officers found two guns hidden in the park on the Sartell side of the river. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information should call either Sartell police or Tri-County Crimestoppers.
--The St. Cloud Tech High School Board approved Wednesday about $53 million of bids of projects, including a bid for roofing and mechanical work to McDowall Co. of Waite Park for about $17 million. Because the bids came in lower than estimated, the district was "able to increase the technology and equipment budgets from the initial amounts that were included in the referendum budgets by $3.7 million in order to fully fund the amounts that were identified during the design based on programming meetings with staff. Voters approved the $104.5 million project in November 2016. The high school site is off 33rd Street South and Stearns County Road 74 on the south side of St. Cloud.
--A Richmond woman was injured in a crash south of Rockville Thursday morning. 18-year old Morgan Hemmesch was driving on Stearns County Road 8, near 210th Street and Grand Lake around 6:15am when she lost control of her vehicle and drove off the road into the ditch. She hit several trees before coming to a stop. A passerby called in to report the incident. At the time, the road had a coating of snow and was slippery. Hemmesch was also in the process of negotiating a slight curve. Hemmesch had to be extricated from her vehicle by the Rockville Fire Department. She was transported to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries.
--Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday honoring Dr. King. Many government agencies are closed Monday in observance of the holiday. Banks, financial institutions, post offices, some schools and some offices are closed Monday for the holiday. Many other schools and offices are open so call ahead. Many use this day as a National Day of Service to help charities and many in need to continue the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Also with city offices closed on Monday, the Little Falls City Council will hold their next regular meeting Tuesday night at 7:30 at City Hall.
--A St. Cloud woman was injured after spinning out and hitting a semi on Interstate 94 early Thursday morning. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 32-year old Nicole Shelton was driving west on Interstate 94 around 2:45am when she lost control and spun out, hitting the truck. She then went off the road, hitting a sign. Shelton was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries. 35-year old Daniel Wieman of Owatonna, was driving the semi and was not injured.
--A 59-year old Brainerd man is accused of pushing a victim to the ground twice and strangling her. The documents state that Keith Ellingboe allegedly struck, tossed down, pinned down and attempted to choke a victim at a residence last Saturday morning. Ellingboe has been charged with domestic assault by strangulation, stalking charges with intent to injure and other gross misdemeanor charges. His next court hearing is on March 6th in Brainerd.
--The city of Deerwood gained a full-time police officer and lost one of its longest-serving city council members. Council member Debby Leonard resigned her seat following a Monday night vote during which a council majority approved the hiring of Officer Jesse Smith to the city's department. Leonard, who voiced her opposition to hiring Smith at a December council meeting, voting against it at the time and voting against it when it came before the council again Monday. Although not cited in her resignation letter, Leonard confirmed Wednesday the Smith hiring was the reason.
--The Loras College of Iowa Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Choir will put on a concert at Mary of Lourdes Middle School Gym in Little Falls Sunday at 2:00pm. Lora College is in Dubuque and is a Catholic Liberal Arts College. The concert is free, though a free will offering will be taken during the event which goes to Catholic Education.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and cold, high near 0, not as windy.
TONIGHT= clear and very cold, low -21, wind chills near -30.
SATURDAY= sunny and cold, high -1, low -14, temps rise late night
SUNDAY= snow develops, 1-3 inches, high 12, clearing, low -14.
MONDAY= sunny and cold, high -3, low -18, wind chills near -30.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Mora at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Divisional Playoffs this weekend, Atlanta at Philadelphia Saturday at 3:30, Tennessee at New England Saturday at 7:15pm, Jacksonville at Pittsburgh Sunday at noon and then the Vikings host New Orleans at 3:40pm Sunday, all live on AM960 KLTF. Winners play in the AFC Championship 2pm next Sunday the 21st and the NFC Championship is 21st at 5:45pm, with Super Bowl February 4th.
WRAP= Saturday Morning Sports Wrap, a review of the past week in high school sports and coaches interviews, Saturday morning just after 9am on AM960 KLTF and online at fallsradio.com.