NEWS
--At the regular Pierz School Board meeting Wednesday they approved a resolution setting April 10th, 2018 for a referendum to invest in its school facilities. In a process that began last summer, the school board engaged the community in a conversation that led to the new proposal. A public opinion survey was conducted, community engagement meetings were held, and a Facilities Committee, which included community members, met to explore options on how to solve facility challenges. “In our survey,” said George Weber, superintendent, “80 percent said they would support additional elementary classrooms, and more than 60 percent said they would support elementary gym space, band room, parking lot, and kitchen/cafeteria improvements, so those are the things included in this plan.” The one-question referendum is for a building bond just under $10 million. The last referendum, held in May 2017, was for $18.75 million. The new proposal is $8.8 million less, and does not include an auditorium and a number of other improvements that community members felt were unnecessary. Besides the new proposal, other changes make now the right time to bring a new proposal to the voters, according to Joanne Broschofsky, board member. “The school board is planning to cap open-enrollment, which was a major concern of the community,” she said. “And, the state approved a 40% tax credit on school bond levies for agricultural property. We feel this will help keep costs down for farmers in an area with historically low taxes.” In addition, 67 percent of survey respondents said they wanted the school district to refine the plan based on feedback and ask for voter support of a new proposal. If approved, the cost to homeowners will be $140 per year, or $11.67 per month on a $132,000 home, the average home value in Pierz. Pierz Schools will be making a concerted effort to provide information to the community by sending direct mail to residents, making presentations to community groups, and communicating through the district website, email, and social media. Pierz School Superintendent George Weber is expected to be an in studio guest next week at 9:05am on Tuesday on Up Front on AM960 KLTF.
--Kelsi Stuckmayer and Jesse Marshik were nominated from Pierz Healy High School to participate in the District 19 Academics, Arts and Athletics (Triple A) awards banquet Wednesday. Stuckmayer was declared the female winner and will advance to the Region 5A Triple A banquet to be held Wednesday, January 31st in St. Cloud.
--Motorists who travel Highway 371 between Brainerd and Nisswa will encounter slow or stopped traffic as the road is reduced to a single lane, and flaggers control traffic at various locations tomorrow from 7:00am to 6:00pm. The lane closures are needed to accommodate the increased traffic and shuttle buses for the annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Hole in the Day Bay on Gull Lake. Fishing contest participants and spectators are encouraged to use the two shuttle bus service locations. The shuttle services are located at Brainerd International Raceway, just north of Baxter, and at the temporary parking lot at Highway 371 and the north junction of Crow Wing County Road 77 in Nisswa. The buses will run from 8:00am to approximately 5:00pm. The Minnesota State Patrol will provide increased patrols and DWI enforcement to support local law enforcement agencies throughout the event. Motorists are urged to slow down, use caution and be prepared to stop as they navigate the area. For real-time travel information visit www.511mn.org.
--An 18-year old man faces multiple criminal charges for breaking into a Brainerd apartment and sexually assaulting a 16-year old girl. Dreson Dehvon Berglin, who told authorities he was homeless, was charged December 19th in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd, where he faces five felonies: two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct; two counts of first-degree burglary; and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He was also charged with gross misdemeanor fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a misdemeanor for giving a false name to a peace officer and two petty drug misdemeanors. Berglin has not posted bail and is in the Crow Wing County Jail. His next court appearance is February 6th.
--More than a year after a broken sewer pipe shut down Stearns County Road 1, the city of Sartell has been fined $1,800 for waste water violations by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The fine is related to the way the city handled cleanup after the break. While the city did a good job mobilizing emergency contractors to fix the break that occurred March 1st, 2016 the efforts to recover sewage floating in the Mississippi River could have been quicker. The work to fix the break that day took approximately 12 hours. Public works departments from the surrounding communities, including St. Cloud, Waite Park and Sauk Rapids, assisted with the main break.
--A 36-year old Pequot Lakes man continues to face criminal sexual conduct charges from a 2016 incident when he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman while giving her a tattoo at Sixth Street Tattoo in Brainerd. David Stephen Charpentier was charged November 10th, 2016, in Crow Wing County District Court in Brainerd with gross misdemeanor fifth degree criminal sexual conduct due to non-consensual sexual contact, three gross misdemeanors of stalking by mail, letter, telegram or package and two misdemeanors of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure in a public place. On November 23rd, 2017, the three stalking charges were dismissed. According to court records, Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan Tuesday appointed Brian Middendorf, the Morrison County attorney, to step in for the state for the purpose of assuming prosecutorial responsibility for the case. The charges against remain pending in district court.
--Weekend events include, Upsala Upstage Players murder mystery dinner theater tonight, Saturday and Sunday, KC Buffalo Feed and Raffle Saturday, candlelight hike at Crane Meadows 5:30 Saturday, super breakfast Sunday in Morrill to help first Responders, MCCL banquet Sunday noon in Little Falls, honors concert at the convent Sunday, bean bag tournament Saturday in Upsala and many more events this weekend can be found at fallsradio.com.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 40, cloudy night, low 22.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 28 and windy, clearing late, low 5.
SUNDAY= sunny and colder, high 14, low around -3.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high 18, low around 0.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Pierz at Sauk Centre tonight 7:15pm on FM94.
HS BHK= Fergus Falls at Little Falls Saturday 7:15pm on Q92
HS GBB= Sauk Rapids at Little Falls Saturday 6pm on FM94
HS BBB= Sauk Rapids at Little Falls Saturday 8pm on FM94
COL HK= Gophers vs. #1 Notre Dame tonight 6:30 on KLTF.
NFL= The AFC NFC Pro Bowl Sunday 2pm on AM960 KLTF.