NEWS
--A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until noon today. Snow this morning could be 3-5 inches when finished, sleet and ice pellets were also falling earlier causing slippery roads, driveways, parking lots and sidewalks, wind gusts over 20mph blowing the snow around causing poor visibility. Schools in the area are delayed 2 hours, continue to listen to Little Falls Radio for the latest weather information.
--The Minnesota National Guard has released the names of the three guard members killed in Thursday's black hawk helicopter crash near Kimball. According to the National Guard, 28-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr., 30-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Charles P. Nord, and 28-year-old Sgt. Kort M. Plantenberg were on board the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter when it crashed. The Minnesota National Guard says all three of them were members of Company C, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, based in St. Cloud. In May the unit returned from a nine-month deployment to the Middle East where they conducted medical evacuations in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. Governor Tim Walz ordered flags be flown at half-staff in honor of three Minnesota National Guard soldiers killed in a helicopter crash near Kimball starting on Thursday and lasting until 2:05pm today. The crash occurred about 16 miles southwest of St. Cloud after giving a mayday signal around 2:15pm. The landowner near the crash site has also placed an American Flag as a tribute to the three soldiers who lost their lives on Thursday. Churches and other locals have been helping investigators with food, shelter and water when needed as they try and figure out the crash.
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a one-vehicle rollover Friday around 12:15am on 73rd Street, east of Sage Road, approximately 12 miles east of Buckman in Lakin Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 22-year old Rebecca Virnig from Royalton was traveling east on 73rd Street. Virnig lost control of the vehicle, went in the ditch and rolled the vehicle. Virnig was transported to St. Cloud Hospital and treated for unknown injuries.
--During a special hunt to prevent overpopulation of deer and protect resources December 7th-11th, Crow Wing State Park will be closed to all visitors. All available hunt permits for this special hunt have been assigned. Hunts will also take place at other Minnesota state parks and recreation areas this fall, and access to the parks will vary. Some will remain open to all visitors, some will have limited public access and some will be open only to hunters with special permits.
For a list of parks that are open, partially open or closed during the 2019 hunting season, visit dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/hunting.html or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us
--St. Cloud has been named a finalist for one of the most livable cities in the world. The annual Livcom Awards will be handed out next week in Rome. St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis says only about 120 cities across the globe were invited to submit an application to be considered, and from those, just 21 were selected as finalists. St. Cloud has been there a few times in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Each time we've gone there's always been a number of cities from the U.S. This time St. Cloud will be representing the city but the nation at the competition in Rome as the only U.S. city up for the honor. Kleis says there are four finalists in our population category. St. Cloud is also nominated as a project finalist for its renewable energy initiatives. The awards begin on Wednesday.
--At a recent Morrison County Commissioners meeting they learned from Social Services that there has been an uptick in cases of children dealing with mental health issues. Children’s Mental Health is a voluntary service provided by the county for residents ages 0 to 21 who present with a severe emotional disturbance (SED). The service provides case management and access to several mental health programs. Erickson said to qualify a patient must be diagnosed by a mental health provider. Patients can be referred by school mental health services, private practices, social workers or parents can go directly to social services and inquire about qualifications. There are currently 173 cases in the program, with a patient as young as 2 years old. Many children involved are wards of the state and/or have been mentally affected by drug use or fetal alcohol syndrome. And many kids experience trauma related to child protection issues and foster care. The goal of the services is to keep kids in the community and help them to learn coping skills and independent living skills to lead full, enriched lives. Northern Pines Medical Center provides mental health services through the program. While other mental health providers have outpatient services at TCC offices.
--The St. Cloud Police Department will be holding a sex offender notification meeting Wednesday, December 18th regarding a level 3 offender moving to St. Cloud. 20-year old Okello Ojulu Gillo is planning to move into the 100 block of 12th Avenue North on December 26th. Gillo was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in public and has served his sentence. The community notification meeting will be held at the St. Cloud Police Department headquarters on December 18th at 7:00pm.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall, agenda items including the passing of the 2020 levy/budget.
DEATH NOTICES
--Susan Junglen, age 72 of Cushing formerly of Little Falls.
--Regina R. Grittner, age 94 of Little Falls formerly Royalton.
--Betty Heinz, age 54 of Pierz.
--Dorothy Zilka Pierzina, age 92 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= snow, 3-5 inches total, windy, temps dropping to 5 above.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, cold and windy, low -11, wind chills -25.
TUESDAY= sunny and cold, high -3, low around -22.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high -1, low around -17 then rising.
SPORTS
COL FB= following the championship games on Saturday, the championship semi-finals are set as #4 Oklahoma takes on #1 LSU in the Peach Bowl and the #3 Clemson vs #2 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl both on December 28th with the winners playing on January 13th for the national title. Other bowl games are Georgia vs. Baylor in the Sugar Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Oregon in the Rose Bowl, Virginia vs. Florida in the Orange Bowl, Memphis vs. Penn State in the Cotton Bowl. Michigan vs. Alabama in the Citrus Bowl and the Gophers land a January 1st Bowl Game as they will take on Auburn in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida at noon on 1st of January on AM960 KLTF. NFL= Vikings take an early lead and beat the Lions yesterday at U.S. Bank Stadium 20-7. Green Bay wins 20-15 over Washington to go to 10-3 while Vikings at 9-4 are at LA Chargers on Sunday.