NEWS
--Due to the icy conditions and strong winds, all of these schools are two hours late today, Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Upsala, Holdingford, Staples-Motley, Foley and Onamia. The Mid State Education District is also opening two hours late. Swanville schools are e-learning today with no students in class.
--Another Township election result from Tuesday. Swan River Township- Supervisor Paul Fussy; Treasurer Paul Rudolph.
--Two people were hurt Thursday on Highway 10 at Azure Road in Cushing Township Thursday around 3:30pm. 47-year-old Jason Simmons of Kasson lost control on the slippery roads and went into the ditch. Simmons and his 14-year-old passenger Joseph Simmons of Kasson were both injured and taken to Staples Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--An 18-year-old from Deerwood was injured last night in Crow Wing County. At 9:52pm Chantelle Merrell was southbound on Highway 371 at Victory Road went of the road and struck a mailbox. Merrell was taken to the Brainerd Hospital and treated for minor injuries.
--The Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety is coordinating a statewide campaign to crack down on drunk driving on St. Patrick’s Day. Authorities say with the holiday falling on a Friday this year, it is imperative that you plan ahead to figure out a safe way home if you are drinking. OTS says St. Patrick’s Day presents risks no matter when it falls on the weekly calendar. From 2015 to 2022, law enforcement made over 1,400 DWI arrests. For those who avoided being pulled over, they contributed to 169 alcohol-related crashes on state roadways. OTS says even if you are staying away from the revelry and parties, there are things you can do to keep everyone safe. It recommends you buckle up as a way to protect yourself if you are hit by a drunk driver. Officials say do not hesitate to report drunk driving. When you call 911, you will need to provide your location, what you saw that makes you believe the driver is drunk, and a license plate number if you can get it. OTS says that even if an alcohol related crash does not kill anyone involved, it often leads to life-changing injuries that result in chronic pain and mounting medical bills. Please this St. Patrick's Day holiday don't drink and drive.
--An assistant principal at ROCORI High School will be leading a new school district this fall. Earlier this week, the MACCRAY School Board approved a contract with Joshua Austad to become the district's next superintendent. The contract is for two years with an annual salary of $112,000 for the 2023-24 school year, and $115,000 for the 2024-25 school year. He will succeed Sherri Broderius, who has been serving as the district's interim superintendent. Austad's first day as superintendent will be July 1st.
--A Milwaukee man has been arrested in connection to a bank robbery in Clearwater back in August 2022. The Wright County Sheriff's Office says back in November, they received information that evidence recovered at the scene had been linked to a Wisconsin man. With the assistance of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin, authorities were able to find and arrest 30-year-old Daren Teague. Teague has been extradited from Wisconsin and is currently being held at the Wright County Jail. He faces charges of Aggravated Robbery and Terroristic Threats. On August 22nd, 2022, Teague entered the American Heritage Bank, said he had a gun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night at 7:30pm.
--Thank you to all who attended the Little Falls Lindy's Dance fundraiser Taco Challenge last night. The Falls Ballroom was chosen as the people's choice and judges top choice award. The 4th annual Lindy's Taco Challenge is being planned for March next year.
--Authorities Thursday worked to contain a water leak detected at the Monticello Nuclear Power Plant. Xcel Energy reported a water leak was found during routine groundwater monitoring on November 22nd and reported the leak to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that same day. Xcel Energy identified the source of the leak as a water pipe running between two buildings. The company has since coordinated regularly with state and federal regulators and local officials. Xcel claims they took swift action to contain the leak to the plant site, which poses no health and safety risk to the local community or environment. The company has been pumping, storing, and processing the water for reuse, which contains tritium levels below the NRC safety thresholds. Tritium is a compound naturally present in the environment and is commonly created in the operation of nuclear power plants. It emits low levels of radiation, similar to everyday materials people use and the food we all eat. Xcel says it has recovered about 25% of the tritium released and will continue recovery over the next year. The company tells officials they will install a permanent solution in the spring of 2023. According to company officials, over two dozen on-site monitoring wells confirms the leak is contained and has not been detected in local drinking water. State agencies continue to monitor Xcel Energy’s remediation work to ensure the local community’s and surrounding environment’s continued safety. The company will also examine the one pipe that leaked in a laboratory to better understand why this happened and ensure it does not encounter the same issue moving forward.
--A busy weekend of events. Sunday is Share Sunday at Mary of Lourdes Middle School at 1:30pm, a talent show, raffle and items to be given out. The event is free to come and take in but you can donate and help the Food Shelf, Oasis and Boys and Girls Club. Knight of Columbus is hosting a breakfast at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Bowlus and another at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Sobieski both are for a free will offering. A quilt bingo and raffle is scheduled Sunday at 1pm at St. Michaels' Parish Center in Buckman. More details on events can be found at fallsradio.com.
ST. PATRICKS DAY HISTORY.
--Today is St. Patrick's Day, the feast day of St. Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland. Other stories continued on that he ran the snakes out of Ireland too and more have surfaced on his life thereafter. In Ireland they go to church and have family day with loved ones. In the United States there are parades, green rivers, wearing green (where in Ireland most wear Orange) and many more events. Many Catholics follow the Lenten tradition of no meat on Fridays. This year with St. Patrick's Day on a Friday most Archbishops across and some in Minnesota include the St. Cloud Diocese have announced that the tradition of no meat on Friday has been lifted for the feast day of St. Patrick. Some will still opt for the meatless day.
WEATHER
TODAY= light snow, very windy, steady temps around 14.
TONIGHT= cold night, light snow early, low 5 wind chills near -20.
SAT/SUN= clouds Saturday 21 and 4, sunny Sunday high 29, low 12