NEWS
--Snow Saturday and Sunday led to 3-5 inches over Morrison County and hundreds of crashes across the state including in central Minnesota. Around 11:30am Sunday, 49-year-old Darla Grotheer of Elk River attempted to pass a semi truck on Highway 10 at 270th Street in Morrison County when her vehicle slid going back into the lane and was rear-ended by the semi. A passenger in the Grotheer vehicle, 22-year-old Brittany Grotheer had non life threatening injuries. Both drivers and one other passenger had no injuries. Around 10:30am Sunday, two vehicles collided on Highway 27 and Oak Street in Mille Lacs County near Isle. 56-year-old Penny Simonsen and 65-year-old Ross Christensen both of Isle were treated at the Onamia hospital for their injuries. Four accidents were reported from 9pm Saturday to 3pm Sunday in Stearns County which led to a number of people being treated for injuries. Another chance of light snow today before below zero temperatures roll in on Tuesday.
--On Friday the Ramsey County Medical Examiner confirmed the identity of the body found in Benton County on Tuesday is that of 22-year old Seth Taylor Juedes of St. Cloud. Juedes was the person reported as missing to the St. Cloud Police Department the night before his body was found. The determination as to the cause and manner of Juedes’ death remains open pending toxicology results.
--The Minnesota DNR has confirmed zebra mussels in their larval stage in two locations of Leech Lake in Cass County. The DNR has found no adult zebra mussels in the lake, but the locations and numbers of zebra mussel larvae, called veligers, indicate a reproducing population may be present. The DNR confirmed more than 30 veligers from a sample collected in deep water off the shore of Portage Bay, on the northeast side of the 110,000-acre lake, and more than 40 veligers from a sample collected in the center of Kabekona Bay, on Leech Lake's western edge. No veligers were present in samples collected from three other sites between Portage and Kabekona bays. The two sites where veligers were confirmed are nearly 17 miles apart. Leech Lake is the third-largest lake in the state. Less than 2 percent of Minnesota's 11,842 lakes are listed as infested with zebra mussels.
--The Little Falls Community High School has nominated Sophia Sowada and Mitchell Schirmers for the ExCEL (Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership) Award. ExCEL is a recognition program designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors. Students who are active in fine arts and/or athletic activities, who show leadership qualities, and who are model citizens in their community are eligible for the award. Sophia, daughter of Gary and Mary Sowada, has participated in band, cross country, flyer activity leadership council, volleyball, basketball, track and field. Mitchell, son of Karla Bearce and Greg Schirmers has participated in band, fellowship of christian athletes, girl's gymnastics manager, target club, key club, link crew and track.
--The Brainerd Community Action has chosen Holly Holm as their new executive director. Holm has been employed by the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce for the past eight years. Holm will succeed Nancy Cross, who has been the Brainerd Community Action executive director for the past 25 years.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--On Monday 44-year old Tony Lamaine Harrison of Minneapolis was convicted of felony first degree controlled substance possession in Morrison County District Court. The incident occurred on February 3rd. Harrison was spotted driving and admitted he did not have a valid driver’s license, and a check of his record showed his driving privileges had been revoked. After further investigation a search was conducted of Harrison’s vehicle, during which the officer noticed a suspicious-looking pack of cigarettes. Inside the cigarette package, heroin was found. The substance later field tested positive for heroin and was found to weigh 36 grams. Harrison was sentenced to 150 months in prison and fined $135.
--A 34-year-old woman was hospitalized after she and her five children were rescued early Friday morning from a house fire. The Alexandria Fire Department says they were dispatched to the scene around 3:25am on Unumb Drive, and arrived to find thick smoke billowing from the second story windows. Alexandria police officers were able to get all five children -- ages 5, 8, 11, 16 and 17 -- out of the home safely. But once out of the home, the children told officers their mother was still stuck inside. Firefighters found an active fire on the lower level and while battling the fire, found an unresponsive woman on the floor with visible burns. The woman was taken to Douglas County Hospital before being airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center, via helicopter. Her condition is not known at this time. Authorities say the fire appears to have started in the kitchen of the home but the cause is still under investigation. The fire is believed to have damaged 75 percent of the home, which is valued at $150,000. Adjoining residences were evacuated for safety, as the fire occurred in an area of connected townhomes. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a house fire at 29573 Crest Ridge Road in Paynesville Township Friday just after 9:30am. Paynesville Fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The home, which belongs to Michael and Bonnie Franta of Maple Grove was a total loss. The residence is a seasonal home and was not occupied at the time of the fire. The total amount of the loss is not known at this time and the cause of the fire is still undetermined. The fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
DEATH NOTICES
--Dr. Robert James Mayhew, age 97 of Scottsdale, formerly of Staples
--Charles “Chuck” Tschida, age 55 of Little Falls.
--Roberta “Bert' Busker, age 92 of Cushing.
--John M. Kruzel, age 86 of Sobieski.
WEATHER
TODAY= light snow, up to 1 inch, high near 10, wind chills of -10.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cold, low -8, wind chills near -20.
TUESDAY= sunny and cold, high 2 above, low -11, wind chills -25.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and windy, high 5 above, wind chills near -30.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings score 2 touchdowns in 4th quarter to beat Jacksonville on Sunday 25-16. The 7-6 Vikings host the Colts on Sunday. Detroit beat Chicago and Green Bay routed Seattle on Sunday NFL action.
HEIS= Lamar Jackson, quarterback from Louisville won the 2016 Heisman Trophy for College Football, youngest player ever to win it.