[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Monday, February 1st 2016[/title][fusion_text]Monday, February 1st 2016
NEWS
–The ice on Hole-in-the-Day Bay of Gull Lake is thick enough to host the world’s largest ice fishing tournament. Lt. Scott Goddard of the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday afternoon a permit will be issued for the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza. The event was initially scheduled for January 23rd, but uneven ice forced postponement to Saturday, February 6th. Holes drilled on the contest surface showed the center and the western perimeter have 19-20 inches of ice, while the eastern perimeter was 14 inches thick. Goddard said the sheriff’s office will be in discussions with the Jaycees this week about vehicle travel restrictions, borders of the contest area and buffers around the 15,000 to 20,000 holes to be drilled this week.
–Despite questions about the price tag, Minnesota regulators on Thursday approved Minnesota Power’s planned $30 million solar power project at the Minnesota Army National Guard’s Camp Ripley Training Center near Little Falls. The project’s 120,000 solar panels covering 80 acres will generate electricity used by the Duluth-based utility’s customers. It is the first large-scale solar project to be built by Minnesota Power. The project site is a former gravel and sand pit partly covered with trees to be removed before construction begins in May. The solar array’s 10-million-watt output will deliver about one-third of the solar energy the utility needs to meet a state requirement to get 1.5 percent of its electricity from the sun by 2020. The output is the equivalent to the electricity used by 2,000 homes. Residential ratepayers’ bills will go up about 50 cents per month to pay for the solar project.
–Water will be shut off in Little Falls today from approximately 10:00am to 3:00pm in the following areas: On 12th St SW between 9th and 10th Ave SW; on 10th Ave SW between 10th and 12th St SW; and on 10th St SW between 10th Ave SW and Lindbergh Dr South. The shut off is due to repair work.
–16-year old Ammelia Weidenbach was named “Youth of the Year” at the Boys and Girls Club of Little Falls. She will compete against other Boys and Girls Club members for the Organization Youth of the Year title and a $1,000 college scholarship from Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The Youth of the Year program honors the nation’s most awe-inspiring young people on their path to great futures and encourages all kids to lead, succeed and inspire.
–Minnesota ranks first in job creation accordign to the 2015 Job Creation Index report released by Gallup Incorporated a polling company. Minnesota received a score of 38 in the index, based on worker reports from their workplaces. Georgia and Utah tied for second while Delaware, Nebraska, Nevada and Oregon were next followed then by North Dakota and Wisconsin. The index reported that of the Minnesota workers polled nearly half said their place of employement was hiring workers or expanding their size of the workplace compared to less than 10% reducing their staff.
–Little Falls Artist Charles Kapsner will be unveiling his lastest portrait of the U.S. Military, the Coast Guard at a public ceremony this Saturday at 2:00pm at the committal hall at the State Veteran’s Cemetery north of Little Falls. Kapsner installed the portrait this past Thursday at the cemetery. The portrait is the third of five that Kapsner is painting for the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery. Kapsner will be the guest on community events this morning at 8:45am on AM960 KLTF and at fallsradio.com.
–KLTF Party Line is live today at 10 from Mary of Lourdes Middle School as part of Catholics School Week.
–The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce employee of the month for February is Colleen Johnson. Johnson is a occupantional therapist and cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator for CHI St. Gabriel’s Health. Johnson has spent more than 17 years working for the hospital and has over 30 years experience in her field.
–A 17-year-old from Foley was injured Friday around 9:45pm on Highway 23 near 95th Avenue in Benton County. Tristan Kauder ran off the road and rolled end over end in the median. Kauder was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with reported non-life threatening injuries.
–A late night traffic stop in northeast Brainerd turned into a chase with a driver who was only 13 years old. The driver fled pollice after they tried to stop the vehicle on 11th Avenue Northeast. The juvenile later exited his vehicle and fled on foot where K-9 officer Gator located the teen and the 13-year-old was arrested on charges of fleeing a peace officer and driving without a license. There was also a 12-year-old in the vehicle who was cited for curfew violations. No one was injured in the chase that occurred around 1:40am Thursday.
–A level three predatory offender 31-year old Brandon Keith Churchill will be released from incarceration and returning to a previous address in Northeast Brainerd. Because Churchill has previously resided in that location there will not be a community notification meeting. Churchill will be living in the 600 block of “F” Street in Brainerd. He has a history of sexual contact with female victims between the ages of 12 and 15. Force was used to gain compliance and he was known to the victims.
–A Maple Lake woman was injured Friday morning when her SUV sideswiped another vehicle and rolled onto its side. 49-year old Tracy Gerhardson was driving east on Minnesota Highway 55 around 9:27am when she sideswiped a truck while changing lanes. Gerhardson’s vehicle then rolled into the westbound lanes, coming to a stop on the driver side. She was taken to Buffalo Hospital with injuries the State Patrol did not consider life-threatening. The driver of the truck did not report an injury.
–The Little Falls City Council hold their regular council meeting tonight at 7:30 at the council chambers.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Bradly VanScoik and Keisha Stevenson of Little Falls, boy on Jan 28th
DEATH NOTICE
–Irvin Crosby, age 86 of Browerville
–Warren “Dan” Day Jr. age 54 of Bruce Township, Todd County.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 35, low around 20.
TUESDAY= cloudy, afternoon snow showers, high 22
TUES NITE= snow likely, up to 1 inch, low 8.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and colder, high 15, low around 0.
SPORTS
HS BHKY= Little Falls at St. Cloud Cathedral tonight 7:15 on Q92
PRO= Russell Wilson tossed 3 touchdowns, Teddy Brigewater and Jameis Winston each tossed 2 more as team Michael Irvin whipped Team Jerry Rice 49-27 in the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
NFL= sources stated Sunday that Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson known as Megatron to NFL fans has told his family and his coach Jim Caldwell that he is planning to retire from the NFL.
NFL= Super Bowl 50 Sunday Carolina vs. Denver 5:30pm on KLTF.
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