NEWS
**ALL MORRISON COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY, LITTLE FALLS, PIERZ, ROYALTON, SWANVILLE, UPSALA. ALSO LONG PRAIRIE-GREY EAGLE, BROWERVILLE AND PILLAGER SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY.
--A WINTER STORM WARNING is in effect through 9:00pm tonight for central Minnesota including Morrison County, Todd and Stearns County are in a BLIZZARD WARNING for high winds over 50 miles per hour. Snow heavy at times from 6am to 6pm where 6-12 inches will fall in areas. Add in gusty winds and very poor visibility is expected today. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larson reminds motorists to slow down your speed, have a readied cell phone in case you get stranded, keep headlights on when raining or snow, have a winter survival kit handy with warm clothes, non perishable foods, flashlight and other safety items on hand and drive defensively to stay safe with bad weather today. Continue to listen to Little Falls Radio for the latest weather announcements and cancellations.
--A St. Cloud man has pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his 16-year-old sister at a hunting camp in Mille Lacs County two years ago. Twenty-year-old Luis Rosa pleaded guilty to second degree murder in September and was sentenced November 10th to just under 22 years in prison. Rosa was 18-years-old at the time when he shot his sister twice after an argument over a malfunctioning heater in the camper. When investigators questioned Rosa, he admitted he shot his sister “because he was tired of her being mean to their dad.” The incident happened at a campground in the Rum River State Forest on November 7th, 2014. Rosa gets credit for the two years he spent in the Mille Lacs County Jail, bringing his sentence to just under 20 years remaining on his prison term.
--Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents have identified a juvenile who on Wednesday posted a message in an online chat room threatening violence at an unnamed northern Minnesota school. Based on their investigation, the BCA has determined that there is no ongoing threat to schools related to this incident. The BCA received a report early Wednesday morning from an individual who was participating in an anonymous online chat with an unknown person who claimed to be considering carrying out violence Wednesday at a northern Minnesota school. No other information was provided. The BCA immediately launched an investigation and notified northern Minnesota law enforcement agencies about the possible threat. The juvenile is not in custody at this time. The BCA has been in communication with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office regarding possible charges related to this threat. Schools were shut down from East Grand Forks all the way to Milaca and Princeton from the post. In all 7 schools lockdowned and many others went into a process of not allowing visitors without appointments into the buildings.
--A grass fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in Baxter in a wooded area. Firefighters responded to Mapleton Road in the mid afternoon as the fire raced through a stand of woods and burned grass and dry wood. There were no structures damaged and no injuries.
--Pierz Activities Director David Rocheleau is reminding those that the musical that was rescheduled from Saturday for tonight will be Monday at 7pm. There will also be a show Sunday at 2pm in Pierz.
--Give to the Max is reporting the highest ever day of charitable donations in its history. As of midnight, the Give to the Max. org website reported over 20.1 million dollars raised Thursday for non-profits and charities in the state on Give to the Max Day.
--A St. Augusta woman has pleaded guilty to stealing approximately $46,000 from the Order of St. Benedict where she worked. 36-year-old Laura Schwindel pleaded guilty to two counts of felony theft-by-swindle earlier this month. As part of the plea agreement, two other counts were dropped and she was required to pay the money back. The Stearns County Attorney’s Office says Schwindel has paid the restitution in full and she now must serve 20 days in jail. Schwindel will also be on probation for 10 years and if she violates the terms of probation could be sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of the two counts. Schwindel had taken the money between September 2013 and October 2015. Records show employees at the convent began noticing deposits failing to show up in various accounts. An investigation revealed a number of transactions where checks were deposited, the receipts voided and then cash receipts under Schwindel’s username completed.
--With line crews and equipment positioned across its service territory, Minnesota Power is prepared for heavy, wet snow and high winds today which often can cause power outages. An early forecast from the National Weather Service allowed timely preparations to ensure power will be restored as quickly and safely as possible if outages occur. If you sustain an outage you are asked to contact Minnesota Power at (800) 228-4966 to report any problems.
--One person was seriously injured near Pequot Lakes last Saturday. The Nisswa Police Department reported 64-year-old Robin E. Otto of Pequot Lakes was eastbound on County Highway 77 and 22-year-old Spencer R. Kelly of Shakopee was in the westbound lane. Police reported a third vehicle was stopped on 77, waiting to turn left, when the Toyota did not slow down for it, entering the eastbound lane to avoid colliding with the vehicle and colliding head-on with Otto. Otto was injured taken to the hospital and transferred to the Twin Cities. Kelly was injured but taken by private vehicle to get checked out.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marlys R. Engelhardt, age 93 of Little Falls formerly Royalton
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING TODAY INTO TONIGHT
TODAY= snow and wind, heavy at times, temps dropping into 20s, gusty winds, poor visibilities throughout the day. 6-12 inches.
TONIGHT= snow ending, windy until overnight, low 20 another inch
SATURDAY= sunny and cold, windy morning, high 27, low 5 above.
SUNDAY= sunny and less windy, high 29, clear night low 13.
MONDAY= sunny early, clouds late, high 35.
SPORTS
HS FB= Eden Valley Watkins won Thursday to advance to Class AA Championship in High School Football. State Semi-Finals tonight for Rocori, tomorrow for Browerville-Eagle Valley and Pierz. Pierz plays at 4:30pm Saturday from U.S. Bank against St. Croix Lutheran. Listen to the game on Saturday on FM94 KFML and online fallsradio.com.
COL FB= Gophers vs. Northwestern on Saturday
NFL= Vikings host Arizona Sunday at noon