NEWS --Today is President's Day, the third Monday of February named to give recognition to the birthdays of President George Washington (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12). As a federal holiday many government agencies, banks, schools, post offices and other businesses may be closed so it is best to call ahead.
--Following the deadly school shooting last week in Florida, Upsala High School. Deputies and Officers from the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and the Little Falls Police Department assisted with the training of ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate). ALICE is showing what individuals and organizations can do to proactively handle a threat of an aggressive intruder or active shooter. If you would like more information regarding the free training, call Deputy Bill Vanden Avond or Deputy Al Yoder at (320) 632-9233.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday morning at 9:00am at Little Falls City Hall in the Council Chambers. On the agenda is a coop agreement between the State and Morrison County to use County State Aid Highway 52 on the west side of Little Falls from Lindbergh State Park to Mill Park for the Camp Ripley Veteran State Trail. There will also be reports given by Sheriff's Office, Public Health, Social Services and others.
--A man is dead and another hospitalized after being shot early Friday morning. At 2:43am police responded to a report of gunshots at 3466 Old Creek Place in Sauk Rapids. Two adult males were found with gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to St. Cloud Hospital to be treated for their injuries. One victim has died as a result of the injuries sustained. The second victim is recovering from surgery and was sedated later Friday morning. The names of both victims are being withheld by police. Although there are no suspects in custody, Police "do have leads" and that there is no risk to the community. The investigation into the incident is active. The Sauk Rapids Police Department is being assisted in the investigation by the state bureau of criminal investigation.
--Around 7:00am on Friday the Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division executed a search warrant at a residence located at 411 5th Avenue NE in Crosby. As a result of the warrant, four individuals were arrested for various drug and probation charges. The search warrant was a result of an ongoing investigation into the sale and distribution of narcotics within Crow Wing County. All individuals arrested are being held in the Crow Wing County Jail.
--Applications from Crosby and Aitkin graduating seniors for the 2018 Bay Lake Lions $1000 Scholarship are due on Friday, March 2nd. The Bay Lake Lions have awarded ten scholarships each year for the last nineteen years, five to students from each school. Scholarships will be awarded later in the spring before graduation.
--Two were hospitalized after a crash near Belgrade involving a semi Thursday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says around 3:00pm a semi driven by 67-year old Harold Lahr of Sauk Centre was driving south on Highway 71 near County Road 32 in Crow River Township. At the same time, a car driven by 27-year old Blayne Jongeward of Spicer was heading west on CR 32. The Patrol says Jongeward failed to yield to right-of-way while turning south onto Highway 71. The vehicles hit each other and went into the ditch. Both men sustained non-life threatening injuries. Lahr was taken to Sauk Centre Hospital and Jongeward to St. Cloud Hospital.
--City offices are closed today so the Little Falls City Council will meet Tuesday night.
--The Little Falls Fire Department responded to a gas leak at an apartment unit Thursday night. Around 9:00pm 18-firefighters were on scene at 805 Buck Lane for a leak on a stove. There were no injuries and no threat to any nearby apartment.
--City leaders in rural Minnesota say they want a boost in state aid during the 2018 legislative session, which begins Tuesday. The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) outlined a proposal Thursday for a permanent $30.5 million increase in the funding known as Local Government Aid or LGA. John Radermacher, the city administrator in Little Falls, said the lack of child care options has become a problem for employers seeking workers. “We see it as an economic development issue for us,” Radermacher said. “People who have families and pre-school aged children, they’re going to need a place to take those kids. There are a lot of providers but when you actually start talking to them and calling them up everyone that's out there has a waiting list. It can go anywhere from six months to a year to potentially two years.”
--Police are asking for your help in finding a man who allegedly robbed a St. Cloud bank Friday afternoon. The incident happened at about 2:40pm at US Bank at 27 33rd Avenue North. St. Cloud Police Lieutenant Lori Ellering says the suspect used a note to demand money but didn't show or say that he had a weapon. After getting the money, the suspect walked out of the bank and after a short distance got into a four door car. The suspect is described as a white man in his mid-20s about 5'7" tall. He was wearing aviator-style sunglasses, a gray zip-up jacket, a knit hat and blue jeans.
--Early Friday morning, Richard and Sally Swartz watched their barn on the 6000 block of 128th Street Southwest in Cass County, just east of Motley, burn to the ground. It was just a little after 7:00am when the barn was on fire. Pillager and Motley fire departments battled the blaze but could not save the 50 year farm and all the animals (cows and chickens) inside the barn except for one calf was killed. Some equipment was also destroyed, but the family was able to retrieve the tractors in the barn. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No people were hurt in the blaze.
DEATH NOTICES --Janice Smoot, age 70 of Sobieski.
WEATHER WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6PM TUESDAY. TODAY= snow likely, heavier after 5pm, high 16. TONIGHT= snow likely, 2-4 inches, low around 8. TUESDAY= snow in morning, another inch, windy, high 17. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 18, low around -5.
SPORTS GHK= Brainerd/Little Falls beat Roseau 2-1 in triple overtime Friday to advance to the Girls Hockey State Touranment Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. Pierz's Ella Kalushe had the game winner in the third OT to send the Warriors to state. Brainerd/Little Falls will face top seed Edina Thursday 6:00pm on Q92 WYRQ. SKI= congratulations to the Little Falls Flyer Boys Nordic Ski team finishing 9th at the State Tournament last week. Also Hunter Zupko finished 16th to get All State Honors. Two members of the Flyer girls team also competed last week in Biwabik at State. NBA= Team LeBron beat Team Curry in All Star Game 148-145.