NEWS
--Today is President's Day, a federal holiday, no mail delivery and government agencies are likely closed today. Schools are closed, and some businesses many have different hours. It is best to call ahead before venturing to places to make sure they are open today.
--One person was injured last Wednesday night just after 7:30pm in Morrison County when their vehicle struck a deer near Lincoln on Highway 10. 22-year-old Brittney R. Schommer of Browerville was taken to the Staples Hospital and treated for injuries.
--The Department of Natural Resources Friday confirmed chronic wasting disease in a wild deer in Crow Wing County. More testing is being asked for by legislators to make sure the strain is contained. There is no vaccine for the disease which effects deer, elk and moose. The disease is not known to affect humans.
--Three people are dead and a sheriff’s deputy is injured as the result of an incident that happened on Thursday night in Nevis at the Hubbard/Cass County line. Shortly before 8:00pm, Hubbard County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call of a shooting incident at a home on the 100 block of Paul Bunyan Trail in Nevis. When deputies arrived, they found a deceased female outside of the home. The armed suspect had fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle before law enforcement arrived. A second victim, who had also been shot, was still inside of the vehicle. Hubbard County deputies located the suspect’s vehicle north of Nevis and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit lasted approximately 20 minutes. During the pursuit, the suspect fired at the pursuing vehicles, striking one of the deputies. The pursuit continued and the suspect eventually put the vehicle into a ditch on County Road 119. As a pursuing deputy came upon the vehicle the suspect was outside of both the suspect and deputy fired their weapons. The suspect got back into the vehicle. Deputies later determined that the suspect was deceased. All three deceased people were taken to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification. The injured deputy was airlifted to a Fargo hospital and treated for the gunshot wound and released. On Saturday the identities of the three dead were released as Heidi Eve Pierce, 40, of Akeley, Minn., died of homicide due to a gunshot wound. Candi Cheryl Goochey, 37, of Akeley, died of homicide due to a gunshot wound. Bryce Anthony Bellomo, 34, of Nevis, died of suicide due to a gunshot wound. The sheriff's office has called in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to assist in the investigation.
--Anglers on Lake Mille Lacs will have an opportunity to keep some walleye during the open-water fishing season this year. This follows several seasons of catch-and-release fishing on the lake. Last year, state anglers stayed well under the lake’s safe-harvest allocation for walleyes. With an improving walleye population, the Department of Natural Resources will allow some walleye harvest when the season opens Saturday, May 11. The DNR will announce the Mille Lacs walleye regulations for the upcoming season in mid-March.
--Emergency first responders discovered a deceased individual in a burning home Wednesday night in Menahga. The Menahga Police Department arrived on scene within minutes and found the residence was fully engulfed in flames. Crews found a deceased individual located inside the residence. Officials stated it was that of 57-year-old James Conklin of Menagha. Foul play is not suspected.
--County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9am at Little Falls City Hall.
--Congratulations to the Brainerd/Little Falls girls hockey team for advancing to the state tournament for the second year in a row by defeating North Wright County 3-2 Friday night in Alexandria for the section title. The team got seeded #3 on Saturday and will take on White Bear Lake Thursday afternoon at 1pm from the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. You can hear the game live on Q92 WYRQ.
--The Norwegian Home Guard continues to be at Camp Ripley north of Little Falls checking out the facility and all that is has to offer with training the soldiers. The Home Guard is scheduled to be the guest on KLTF Party Line Tuesday at 10am on AM960 KLTF and streamed online at fallsradio.com.
--On Friday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force executed a search warrant at 816 9th Ave South East, St. Cloud in Sherburne County. Investigators learned thru various investigative techniques that the home owner, 56-year old Herbert Campbell of St. Cloud, was believed to be in possession of guns and controlled substances. Herbert is prohibited by law from possessing guns. When investigators entered the residence, they located Campbell in his bedroom with loaded handguns and suspected methamphetamine. Campbell was taken to Sherburne County Jail and is being held on 5th degree possession of controlled substance and ineligible person in possession of firearms.
--State Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, has authored a bill that would provide $100 million to improve high-speed internet access for unserved and underserved areas of the state. Kresha has been a strong proponent of broadband expansion throughout his first six years in the House and has successfully authored previous legislation to fund Minnesota’s Border to Border Broadband Development Grant Program. The Border to Border program was launched in 2014 and covers up to 50 percent of a project’s infrastructure costs, with a maximum amount of $5 million per request. Reports indicate that, through the 2017 grant cycle, $85 million from the state program has invested $85 million in broadband improvements, providing service to nearly 34,000 households, almost 5,200 businesses and 300 community institutions.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Timothy and Nicole Yorek of Little Falls, a boy born February 14th.
DEATH NOTICES
--James Leonard Gohl-AKA Chubby, age 64 of Rice.
--Luella Kruchten, age 89 of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny skies, high 16.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cold, low -10, wind chills near -25.
TUESDAY= sunny skies, high 12 above, snow late night, low 0.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely 3-5 inches possible, high 20.
SPORTS
WRE= Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton-Upsala and Holdingford were all defeated Saturday during team section wrestling. Foley, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle-Browerville won section titles and advance to state. Individual wrestling sections are this weekend for area wrestlers. The State Tournament begins March 28th in St. Paul-live on Q92 WYRQ.
BHK= Flyers open playoffs with River Lakes Tuesday 7pm on Q92.