NEWS
--St. Cloud Police arrested one man while conducting a search warrant in East St. Cloud on Wednesday afternoon. St. Cloud Police say they have arrested 33-year-old Jordan Kansanback of St. Cloud after conducting the search in the 1200 block of Killian Blvd. SE in relation to an investigation for violations of a domestic abuse no-contact order. Police say due to Kansanback's prior history and contact with police, St. Cloud SWAT was used to serve the warrant and there was a large police presence in the neighborhood for a small amount of time. No suspects or officers were hurt during the arrest or while serving the warrant.
--A Stearns County shed and all of its contents are considered a total loss after a fire Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews were dispatched to a home in St. Martin Township just after 4:30pm for a structure fire. Sheriff's deputies went to the property in the 28000 block of County Road 12 to find a detached shed fully engulfed. The property owner, Peter Rothfork, was not home at the time of the blaze but authorities learned there were several pieces of equipment inside the shed including trailers, tractors, boats, and a side-by-side ATV. The buildings and all of its contents were lost in the fire. The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time.
--Pierz Pioneer Elementary School and Pierz Healy High School were awarded the designation of a High Reliability Schools Model Site.
As part of the nationally-recognized Marzano Institute for Effective Schools’ High Reliability Schools Framework helps schools focus on specific, research-based conditions for continuous school improvement. The designation of a High Reliability Model Site lifts up schools that can produce consistently high achievement results with students year after year. Pierz has been on a journey with High Reliability Schools for more than five years, working with nationally-recognized educational leaders to develop its own internal set of teams, structure and consistent checking of outcomes in order to be considered as a Model Site. The five levels the Marzano model examines include: Safe and supportive collaborative culture. Highly effective teaching. Guaranteed and viable curriculum. Standards referenced reporting and Competency-based education. Being selected as a Model Site will allow Pierz to access national experts in these areas who will work directly with staff. It means other schools will visit Pierz to learn and see what is working well.
--On February 19, the Minnesota House of Representatives introduced a bill to mandate an open wolf season once the gray wolf is federally delisted and to establish the Northeast Deer Management Taskforce to develop effective and timely policies to increase deer populations in the northeastern part of the state. A similar bill was introduced by the Minnesota Senate the next day. While there are a number of natural predators of the white-tailed deer; including bears, coyotes, bobcats, and wolves; the gray wolf is currently the only species we do not actively manage. The target recovery number for wolves in Minnesota was set by the US Fish and Wildlife Service at 1251-1400 wolves. The DNR expanded that goal to 1600 wolves. Current estimates put the Minnesota wolf population at 2700-2900 wolves, approximately half of the entire population in the nation. The Minnesota Deer Hunters Association thanks all who have put these bills together. The bipartisan support for these bills marks a significant milestone for responsible wolf management in Minnesota.
--A reminder that the Legislative Update with State Representatives Ron Kresha, Isaac Schultz and Mike Weiner along with State Senator Nathan Wesenberg is today from 9-11am at Little Falls City Hall. The event is put on by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, questions can be directed to the legislators at the event.
--Finalists for Minnesota Teacher of the Year were announced Wednesday. Jean Voigt, who teaches second grade at Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph, was named one of the initial 159 candidates. The field has been narrowed down to 27. An independent selection panel of 18 community leaders chose the semifinalists.
The panel will review the semifinalists’ portfolios again and review semifinalist video submissions in mid-March. The panel will select about 10 finalists from among the group. Michael Houston, the current Minnesota Teacher of the Year, will announce his successor at the banquet, which is scheduled for May 5th in St. Paul. Joe Osowski of St. Michael-Albertville Schools also made it to the final 27. The full list is on the Education Minnesota website.
--Get details on events like Bunny Bingo for the Morrison County United Way Saturday 10am-2pm at the Falls Ballroom and the Lindy Dancers fundraiser taco challenge next Thursday night also at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls at fallsradio.com on community calendar.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Following a poor performance even in his own state of Minnesota during the Super Tuesday Primary in 15 states Tuesday, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips has suspended his campaign for U.S. President and endorsed President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
DEATH NOTICES
--Frances M. Stangl, age 90 of Little Falls formerly of Buckman.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny skies, high 38.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low 20.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 42, low near 26.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 48, low near 32.
MONDAY= partly cloudy, breezy and mild, high near 60, low 34.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Upsala beat Mille Lacs last night 76-41 to advance to Saturday and will take on Braham at 2:45pm in Hinckley, hear the action live on Q92 WYRQ. Swanville, Royalton, Holdingford were defeated and eliminated in boys playoffs last night. Foley won.
NBA= terrible news for the Minnesota Timberwolves as star player Karl Anthony Townes will be out indefinitely with a torn meniscus in his knee. The Wolves at 43-19 have a chance for #1 seed in playoffs.
TWINS= Catch more spring training Twins baseball games this weekend starting at noon Saturday and Sunday on Q92 WYRQ.
Remember to Spring Ahead this weekend, turn your clocks one hour ahead before 2AM Sunday morning as we go to Central Daylight Light on Sunday. Good time to check the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors also to make sure they are working properly. Again we Spring Ahead Sunday.