NEWS
--A 21-year old from Pierz was injured Wednesday morning on Highway 371 south of Brainerd. Kaitlyn Kelm went off the road and struck the ditch just after 6:00am. She was not a wearing a seat-belt and was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported both a car broken into with items stolen and a residence broken into. Each were on 2nd Avenue North in Bowlus back on March 30th- 31st. The sheriff's office is asking if anyone noticed suspicious activity in the Bowlus area that weekend to contact their office at (320) 632-9233.
--Motorists and residents along Highway 27 and several local streets near downtown Little Falls may encounter workers, heavy equipment and occasional slow traffic while crews remove trees beginning Monday, April 15. The tree removal will take up to 10 days to complete. The work is the first part of a major 2019 project that will improve Highway 27 and other infrastructure through downtown Little Falls. When complete, the project will reconstruct or resurface two miles of Highway 27 between 15th Street SW and Ninth Street, install new underground utilities, curb, gutter and sidewalks, improve signals, add new bike lanes through downtown Little Falls and improve short segments of local roads. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, check www.511mn.org.
--A former Little Falls Credit Union CEO pleaded guilty to stealing $2.5 million dollars following a five year fraud investigation by the FBI. Margurite Mary Cofell, former President of the St. Francis Campus Credit Union in Little Falls appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Paul last week on the felony credit fraud criminal charge where she entered her guilty plea. A sentencing date has not yet been set. The FBI started their investigation by closing the credit union in February of 2014 then in 2016 announced their findings of fraud and worked on finding the over 3 million dollars in losses. Cofell allegedly informed investigators that she began embezzling in the 1990s but it was not until the past year that investigators could verify the take of millions of dollars to charge her with embezzlement. The Credit Union had around 3,400 members when it closed which totaled around 51-million dollars in assets. The credit union was chartered in 1963.
--Minnesota Department of Transportation announced their 2019 projects last week. Of course the largest project in Morrison County this year is Highway 27 through Little Falls. Others include a number of projects on Highway 371 and Highway 210 in Brainerd/Baxter, then up to Nisswa and to Jenkins along 371. Wadena County will have Highway 71 detoured through the city this summer, and dozens of more projects in our district at their website www.mndot.gov.
--Those familiar Gold Cross ambulances you've been seeing in the area since the mid-1990s, will have a new look soon. Gold Cross Ambulance is now Mayo Clinic Ambulance. Mayo Clinic has owned Gold Cross since 1994, but as of April 1st, the company has aligned all of its ambulance logos and signage under the Mayo Clinic identity. Mayo Clinic officials say the changeover will be done in phases and you may see both Gold Cross and Mayo Clinic Ambulances around town for a time. Mayo Clinic Ambulance serves more than 120 communities in the Midwest, including St. Cloud, Little Falls, Duluth/Superior, and Rochester.
--A National Online survey out of Delaware has named St. Cloud the worst city in the entire United States to drive in.
--The 2019 11th Annual Rock'n'Run will be May 18th at the Belle Prairie Athletic Complex. The event this year is being sponsored by CHI St. Gabriel's Health and Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union. The run begins at 8:30am for the 10K and 5K, 3K at 10am and kids 1K race at 10:15pm for ages 11 and under. Kids in Grades K-5th in Morrison County run free with a registration through their respected schools. For more information or to preregister early and save some money contact CHI St. Gabriel's Health or go to their website.
--The names of the two adults found dead in an Aitkin County house fire last week have been released. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the individuals as 80-year old Raymond Jackman and 69-year old Sandra Lee Neumann. According to the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office, Neumann reported a fire at her home in Shamrock Township Sunday at 11:10pm The woman told authorities that everyone was outside except for her two dogs. When fire officials arrived at the scene around 11:30pm they found no one outside of the home. After entry, the McGregor Fire Department discovered both individuals dead inside the residence. Investigators say there is suspicion of smoking and falling asleep on the couch. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office preliminary cause of death was determined to be soot and smoke inhalation.
--The Morrison County Commissioners will meet Tuesday at 9am at the Little Falls City Hall Council Chambers. There will be number of proclamations for April including one from the sheriff. They will also hear from Public Health, Council on Aging, Social Services, Initiative Foundation, Land Services and Public Works at the meeting.
DEATH NOTICES
--Doris Anderson, age 94 of Little Falls.
--Nancy Molden, age 93 of Onamia.
--Janet G. Peer, of Florida formerly of Minnesota.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 60.
TONIGHT= mostly clear skies, low 35.
TUESDAY= cloudy skies, PM rain/snow showers, high 48, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= snow showers likely, turning to rain, high 41, low 28.
SPORTS
TWINS= Phillies score 5 in the first inning and go on to roll over Twins on Friday night 10-4 in Philadelphia. Max Kepler and Willians Austudillo both homered to help the Twins beat the Philllies 6-2 on Saturday. Phillies hold off Twins on Sunday 2-1 to take the series. The Twins are off today and at New York Mets on Tuesday.
NCAA= Virginia defeated Auburn 63-62 Saturday and Texas Tech knocked off Michigan State 61-51 to go the National Championship game tonight at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis at 8pm.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1766= first use of a fire escape in the U.S. Colonies it was done with a wicker basket and a pulley and chain.
IN 1869= first Museum of Natural History opens in New York City.
IN 1946= The League of Nations forms and assembled for 1st time.
IN 1969= first Major League Baseball game played outside the United States as the Montreal Expos win at home over the Mets 10-9.
IN 1986= Clint Eastwood becomes Mayor of Carmel, California.