NEWS
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at the Little Falls City Hall council chambers.
--After agreeing last month not to refund donations made to save Brainerd's historical water tower, should the effort fail, the water tower committee changed its tune. In January, all committee members except for Chair Mary Koep agreed to donate to Brainerd Restoration any proceeds collected if enough funds to save the water tower are not raised by the October 2020 sunset date. The group's thought process at the time was refunding money would be difficult, and this way the donations would still go toward historic restoration. During a meeting Wednesday after calls from community members asking the committee to reconsider issuing refunds, especially in the case of larger donations. The committee agreed to issue refunds for cash or check donations of $250 or more. Anything less than that will be donated to Brainerd Restoration if efforts to save the water tower failed. They do not want to discourage smaller donations either—as even $50 is a lot of money for some, it was noted that some refund money was better than none. Even though some board members wanted to see the threshold for refunds lower.
--The Minnesota FFA Alumni Association is proud to announce the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame Class of 2019. The class consists of Judy Barka of Watkins, Nancy Dahlman of Cokato, Roy Johnson of Elk River, Fred Troendle of St. Charles, Neil Pearson of Grove City, Ken Hammer of Frazee, Jeff Voss of Jackson, Gary Olson of Moorhead and Doug Hoseck of Hector. These nine inductees will join the 176 members that have been inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame the past sixteen years, including the 75 inaugural members in 2004. The FFA Hall of Fame is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota FFA Association, Alumni and Foundation. A selection committee consisting of FFA members, alumni, agricultural educators and foundation representatives selected the final inductees. Inductees will be introduced at the 2019 Minnesota FFA Alumni Annual Meeting this Saturday at Anoka Technical College.
--A man is dead after rear-ending a snowplow in his pickup Wednesday morning in Big Lake Township. The Sherburne County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened just before 9:00am. 37-year old Ross Ness was driving his pickup south on 196th Street Northwest at 212th Avenue when he hit the snowplow. The plow was stopped while lowering the plow wing before turning off 196th. Authorities say the plow's driver, 43-year old Michael Leverty of Zimmerman attempted to turn out of the way when he saw Ness approaching. Ness was killed in the crash Leverty was not hurt.
--There are many weekend events, tonight alone, Lindbergh PTO hosting a carnival style event at Lindbergh Elementary at 6pm, Handbag bingo fundraiser at VFW for Horizon Health daycare, St. James in Randall has Mardi Gras celebration and their large fundraiser raffle tonight starting at 5:30, St. John's of Swanville has a dinner and auction fundraiser tonight at Sobieski Community Center. Saturday from 11-1 there will be master gardener and seed experts at the Carnegie Library in Little Falls to answer any spring fever questions out there. Saturday night Jason Schommer performs at GRA at 7:30pm, Winter Wonderland Figure Skating shows Saturday at 2 and 7pm and Sunday at 2pm at Exchange Arena in Little Falls. Get more details on event at fallsradio.com click on calendar.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their March Employee of the Month is Karen Johnson at Little Falls Care Center. Karen has been a Certified Nursing Assistant and Trained Medication Aid at Little Falls Care Center for the past two years. Congratulations to Karen Johnson.
--The National Weather Service stated Wednesday that the flood forecast for Minnesota could be the worst in years. Due to the heavy snow pack in February and more in the forecast, when the spring thaw begins, melting could be significant and the frozen ground won't be able to soak it all in. This means that southern and central Minnesota are in a high to extreme risk for massive flooding through the spring. Northwestern and northern Minnesota are in a moderate risk still to see flooding this spring from the snow from this winter.
--Two gun restriction measures likely will receive a full Minnesota House vote after years of some of the most heated legislative debate, but Senate Republicans stand in their way. The House public safety committee voted 10-7 Thursday in favor of a bill, known as a “fed flag” measure, that would allow family members, law enforcement officers and government attorneys to seek court orders taking away guns from persons determined to be an “extreme risk” if living in a home with guns. The “red flag” vote came a day after the committee took five hours of emotional testimony and questions on the two gun bills and advanced another gun control proposal. On that bill, committee members voted 9-7 along party lines to advance a measure that would require background checks at the point of purchase or sale of a firearm.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Today is World Day of Prayer takes place internationally on the first Friday of March every year. There are many services including one at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls today at 5pm.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Tim and Amy Middendorf of Pierz, parents of a boy on Feb. 27th.
DEATH NOTICE
--Methodie “Toby” Czech, age 93 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= snow by late morning, 2-4 inches by evening, high 18.
TONIGHT= snow ends, then cloudy, low -2.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, windy, high 14, cold night, low -16.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, windy, high near 0, low around -14.
MONDAY= light snow by afternoon, high 7 above, low -5.
SPORTS
WRE=Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Browerville wins the Class A team wrestling title Thursday while Simley and Shakopee also win as team. Foley wrestlers went 0-2 on the day. Individuals start at 9am today with Little Falls in the first session followed by Pierz and Foley wrestlers around 11am and Royalton-Upsala, Holdingford and others around 1pm today. Hear local matches live on Q92 WYRQ.
GBB= Swanville, Royalton, Holdingford win playoff games Thursday, while Foley beat Pierz and Upsala lost to KMS in overtime.
GBB= Swanville vs. East Central Saturday 7:45pm FM94 KFML.
TWINS= Twins in spring play Sunday at noon on Q92 WYRQ.