[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Friday, November 20th 2015[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The City of Pierz will be holding a community meeting on Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm at Pierz Senior Center located in the Pierz City Hall building. The meeting will discuss a grant opportunity, talk on a community center, voice ideas and show support for the city of Pierz. It is open for all to attend.
–Minnesota’s unemployment rate continues to fall to 3.7 percent even as the state loses more jobs. The Department of Employment and Economic Development reported Thursday that the state lost 1,700 jobs in October. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked slightly down from 3.8 percent in September. One reeason offered for the contradicting data is more baby boomers are retiring and leaving the workforce. October’s job losses add to a slow stretch for Minnesota. The state also lost 6,700 jobs in September but Minnesota employment is still up by nearly 24,000 for the year. Education, health and business services are major bright spots for job growth in the last year. The nation’s unemployment rate stayed at five percent for October.
–With snow on the ground Thursday morning, the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported a number of crashes in the St. Cloud-area and other portions across central Minnesota. Two crashes occurred on U.S. Highway 10 yesterday north of St. Cloud near Little Rock Road Northeast. Cars collided at Third Street North and 33rd Avenue. Minnesota 511 also reported two crashes on Interstate Highway 94 between Minnesota Highway 15 and Stearns County Road 7, and between Stearns County Road 7 and Exit 173. Another vehicle spun out on I-94 between Stearns County Road 9 and Stearns County Road 159 near Avon. In Albany, a crash was reported on I-94 between First Avenue South and Minnesota Highway 238. St. Cloud police reported six crashes in 50 minutes after 8:00am. The majority of the collisions were at intersections.
–Two Lakeville teenage sisters missing since April 2013 have been found at a horse farm in western Minnesota. Gianna Rucki, now 16, and Samantha Rucki, now 17, who ran away more than 31 months ago as family turmoil set in, were found Wednesday at the White Horse Ranch near Herman, about 40 miles west of Alexandria in Grant County. The Lakeville police said in a release late Wednesday afternoon that they executed a search warrant at the farm, which described itself as a place where abused children and horses can come together to heal. Both of the girls were found “safe and in seemingly good health” the release said. The founder and president of the ranch operation Gina Dahlen along with her husband Doug, were cooperative when law officers arrived. The sisters were returned to Dakota County where the “unification process” can begin. The police and the Dakota County Attorney’s Office asked for respect and privacy for the Rucki family during the reunification process. The department called the investigation into how the girls got to the farm very active and fluid. No one was taken into custody at the ranch.
–The hockey athletic trainer who allegedly filmed a 14-year-old girl showering in the Breezy Point Ice Arena in Breezy Point appeared in court Tuesday on a criminal charge stemming from the incident. 32-year old James William Diffley of Maple Grove was charged June 24th in Crow Wing County District Court with felony interfering with a minor’s privacy. Judge Kristine DeMay presided over Tuesday’s hearing and a contested hearing was scheduled for 9am on April 26th.
–Flyer Boys Hockey tonight on 92.1FM WYRQ. Hibbing at Little Falls.
–Around 1:00pm Thursday a two vehicle collission one mille south of Brainerd on Business 371 injured two from Fort Ripley. 17-year old Kaleb Cherene of Brainerd was heading south on Highway 371 when his truck was broadsided by another truck carrying both 68-year old Robert Anderson and 68-year old Carol Anderson of Fort Ripley. Both Robert and Carol Anderson suffered non life threatening injuries while Cherene was not injured.
–Two motorists were injured Wednesday morning in a broadside collision in St. Cloud. 37-year old Jennifer Wiener of St. Cloud was crossing Minnesota Highway 23 at Stearns County Road 6 as 62-year old Lloyd Scheeler of St. Cloud was heading east on Highway 23 when both vehicle collided in the intersection. Both drivers were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries.
–USDA Minnesota Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting Executive Director, Jane Ray announced that approximately 92,000 Minnesota farms who enrolled in the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill will soon begin receiving financial assistance for the 2014 crop year. The programs, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), are designed to protect against unexpected drops in crop prices or revenues due to market downturns. “These new safety-net programs provide help when price and revenues fall below normal, unlike the previous direct payments program that provided funds even in good years,” said SED Ray. “For example, 87 counties in Minnesota harvest corn and soybeans. For corn and soybean producers, the average price for the market year was higher than the historical benchmark established by the programs, so financial assistance did not occur. Similarly, the county-based option of ARC protects against lower revenue from a combination of price and yield. Payments by county can vary because average county yields will differ. Statewide 92,100 farms participated in ARC-County and 1,880 farms participated in PLC.
–Another busy weekend of events including the St. Mary’s Christmas Bazaar in Little Falls Saturday and Sunday, bingos Sunday in Flensburg, Motley and at Holy Family Belle Prairie, final days of the dinner theater event at GRA call 632-0960 for last chance tickets and the Harvest Ball for Horizon Health is tonight at 5 at the Falls Ballroom call for info on that at 468-6451.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Michael and Hannah Van Heel, of Randall boy on November 17th
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high around 30, less windy.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 15
SATURDAY= sunny and cold, high 24, low around 15 clouds increase
SUNDAY= mostly cloudy, few flurries, high 33, low 25
MONDAY= sunny, warmer high near 40.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Hibbing at Little Falls tonight at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
COL FB= Gophers host Illinois Saturday 10am on AM960 KLTF.
NFL= Vikings host Green Packers at 3:25pm Sunday on KLTF.
Next week is Thanksgiving, Tim Sumner says thank you to all who have called to volunteer and they have enough for the annual meal next week so no more volunteers are needed. Now just eaters, please attend 11-1 Thursday at High School.
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