NEWS
--A reminder that the Highway 27 Bridge in Little Falls will close today until May 11th for part of the Highway 27 construction project. This will also include the intersection at Lindbergh Drive and Front Street by the Post Office being closed during this time period. Please allow extra time to follow the detours and expect delays during the road work. This is only the beginning phases of the construction project which will effect the downtown Little Falls area by the end of next month and last through the summer months.
--With the construction underway today, a reminder to those with students at Lincoln Elementary School in Little Falls that they will be dismissed at 2:50pm earlier than usual so that buses can work around the detour, and students at Lindbergh Elementary and the Community Middle School will be picked up a bit later by school buses, however their dismissal time for students will remain the same, the students at the elementary that wait for the bus will be taken to the gym to wait until they arrive so that the buses can work through the detour time needed around the construction work.
--Two people were hurt in an early morning crash Friday in Morrison County. Shortly before 5:00am the crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 27 and 260th Avenue near Pierz. A car driven by 24-year old Travis Johnson of Little Falls was going south on 260th Avenue when it went through the intersection and was struck by a pickup. Johnson has non-life threatening injuries and was not brought to the hospital. His passenger 35-year old Robert Raley of Pierz was taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls and later transferred to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The pickup driver, 54-year-old Keith Marshik of Pierz, was not hurt.
--A fire consumed a cabin Thursday night on Upper Mission Lake in Crow Wing County which started a grass fire that got out of control. Firefighters battled the blaze reported around 9pm which burned grass, debris, trees, the structure and a pontoon all in an area of 7 acres around Mission Lake. A drone was called in to help in extinguishing the fire which lasted into the night. There was no report of any injuries. The cause is under investigation.
--A fire caused by an electrical malfunction of a motion light fixture on an attached garage started Tuesday at a residence between Baxter and Pillager. The Pillager Fire Department was paged to the 2400 block of Little Red Sand Drive Southwes around 11:15pm to the home owned by Steven Fuchs. A motion light fixture that was attached to an overhang on the garage was on fire. Fuchs was spraying water on the fire to put it out when firefighters arrived. About 13 firefighters responded and were on scene for about an hour. The home had to be ventilated, but was OK for the family to stay in as the fire mainly stayed in the corner area of the garage.
--Two teenagers were hurt in a Collegeville Township crash Wednesday night. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says it happened at the intersection of County Road 160 and Island Lake Road around 8:15pm. Sheriff's officials say 17-year-old Amy Dukowitz of Cold Spring was headed south on Island Lake Road when her car was hit broadside on the passenger side by an SUV driven by 16-year-old Emma Zimmer of St. Joseph. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch. Dukowitz had to be freed from the car and treated with
non-life threatening injuries. Zimmer had minor injuries.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is proposing to update the refuge's hunting program and is seeking public comment on the changes. The last update to Crane Meadow's hunting program was in 2010, when three refuge units totaling 1,205 acres were opened to managed deer and turkey hunts for youth and persons with disabilities. The proposed changes include expanding hunting to include all migratory bird, upland game and big game species legal under Minnesota state regulations, and opening units that were previously closed to hunting. The public is invited to review draft documents related to these changes, including the Draft Hunting Plan, Draft Environmental Assessment, and Draft Compatibility Determination. The documents are available beginning on May 1, 2019 for 30 days. Additionally, there will be an open house on May 7, 2019 from 5-7pm at the Sedge Meadow Classroom near the Refuge Shop at 19502 Iris Road southeast of Little Falls.
--Firefighters responded after a home in St. Cloud caught fire on Thursday evening. St. Cloud Fire Department Battalion Chief Jerry Raymond says the fire started around 5pm at a home located at 614 12th Ave North. The homeowners were there at the time of the fire, but no one was hurt. The fire department estimates the damage to be around $28,000. The cause is under investigation.
--The Pine Grove Zoo is reminding those that signed up to volunteer for their spring clean day from earlier this month that the date is now this Saturday May 4th at the zoo. If you still wish to volunteer, call Marnita at the Zoo at 616-5595 for the event this Saturday.
--After 12 years in business at their location, the Famous Dave's in Waite Park announced they have closed their doors on Saturday.
DEATH NOTICES
--Evelyn N. Haviland, age 98 of Little Falls
--Dorothy Dahmen, age 61 of Harding.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain/snow then rain and windy, high 47.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low 32.
TUESDAY= scattered rain/snow showers, high 45, low near 30.
WEDNESDAY= rain showers likely, windy, high 52, low near 35.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins hit 5 homeruns in a 6-1 win over the Orioles on Friday. Twins hit another 5 homeruns on Saturday for a 9-2 win over the Orioles. Twins settle for two homers Sunday in a 4-1 win to get the sweep. Twins host Houston tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings go with more offense Friday picking up a tight end in round 2 and a running back in round 3. Picked a center on Thursday. Vikings picked nine more players on Saturday for a complete draft.
VL= Get the latest details from Sunday's Victory League games at the website victoryleague.org and listen Monday mornings during the 7:35am Sports for the Victory League Roundup on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1813= rubber is patented.
IN 1852= first edition of Roget's Thesaurus published.
IN 1961= ABC's Wide World of Sports debuts.
IN 1967= Aretha Franklin releases “Respect”.
IN 1992= LA Jury acquits police officers in the Rodney King beating.