[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=”” padding_right=”” 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 22nd 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Brainerd School Board announced Thursday night they have selected Laine Larson as their next school superintendent. The board has decided to offer the position to Larson after an hour discussion on the final three candidates they interviewed in the past week. Larson is the current superintendent at Thief River Falls Public Schools. If all is approved by Larson and the School Board, Larson would take over as Brainerd Superintendent effective July 1st.
–A Long Prairie woman has pleaded guilty to five counts of theft by swindle, admitting Thursday that she took more than $533,000 from Minnesota Veterinary Associates, where she worked as an office assistant in accounts receivable. 44-year old Sherry Lynn Anderson pleaded guilty to five of eight counts against her. Her attorney and prosecutors agreed on a joint recommendation that she spend 4½ years in prison. Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced May 6th in Stearns County. A court complaint charging her accuses Anderson of keeping cash payments from MVA’s clinics rather than depositing them and altering payroll records to pay herself more on her check than what her salary was supposed to be. The court complaint against her indicates that she took $759,317 between May 2008 and March 2014. The statute of limitations allowed prosecutors to charge her only with what she took in the five years before she was charged.
–A St. Paul teenager was injured Wednesday night in a one vehicle rollover near Ft. Ripley. 19-year-old Dakota Machgan was on Highway 371 around 11:30pm when his vehicle entered the median, rolled and came to rest on its roof. Machgan was taken to the Brainerd hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
–A Willmar man was injured in a rollover in Benton County early Thursday morning. According to the report, 82-year-old Ronald Hagen was traveling west on Minnesota Highway 23 when it went off the road and rolled. Hagen was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
–A St. Cloud man has been charged with three felonies after he choked a woman and attempted to burn their mobile home down. According to a criminal complaint 34-year old Mark Allen Olson, Jr. was charged in Benton County Court Wednesday with attempted arson, terroristic threats, and assault by strangulation.
–A report from the Minnesota Department of Health stated that accidents or errors at St. Cloud Hospital caused one death and 10 serious injuries during the 12 months that ended in October. The death, related to the “use or malfunction of a device in patient care,” was the second at the hospital in as many years after a five-year run with no deaths due to reportable accidents or errors. The 12th annual statewide Adverse Health Events report released Friday includes two reports of bad outcomes because a device malfunctioned or was used incorrectly. The other incident caused a serious injury at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. The total number of serious injuries at St. Cloud Hospital also increased from the previous year. The hospital reported 20 adverse health events in 2015, including 10 that involved a serious injury. In 2014, the hospital reported 15 adverse health events with five serious injuries. In the latest report, three mishaps happened in the previous reporting period. Institutions have to report incidents for the period in which they are discovered.
–The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at Pierz City Hall. Agenda items include summer camp request, town hall meeting March 5th with Representative Kresha, annual informational meeting with Morrison County Assessor and renewal of consumption and display permits to the Pierz Ballroom and Pierz Golf Course.
–Two people were arrested Thursday after a search warrant was executed in Culdrum Township by Morrison County Sheriff’s deputies with the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, Todd County and Little Falls Police. Inside the residence a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun was recovered. It had been reported stolen earlier this month in Browerville. 33-year-olds Erik Blanco and Brenda Rahn both of rural Long Prairie were arrested for probable cause of possessing a stolen firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm.
–A Bowlus woman was injured Saturday around 5:45am on Nature Road by the Mississippi River west of Royalton. 41-year-old Samantha Lashinski was east on Nature Road as she lost control and went into the south ditch. The vehicle went down a steep embankment and hit a tree. Lashinski was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
–The State Patrol reported a fatal accident in Todd County Saturday morning just after 9am. 61-year-old Allen Howard of Staples was on Highway 210 when he missed the turn onto Highway 71, went off the road rolling several times and striking a bridge pillar. Allen Howard was pronounced dead at the scene when authorities arrived.
–A semi-driver was seriously injured Friday around 9pm on Interstate 94 and Highway 71 in Sauk Centre. 50-year-old Curt Willoughby of Fullerton, California was driving his semi on I-94 when he crossed the median and struck the bridge pillar causing the trailer to tip over and end up in the right lane where wheat/grain covered the westbound lanes from the semi. The driver, Willoughby, was airlifted from the scene to St. Cloud Hospital with reported serious injuries.
–Governor Mark Dayton has ordered all flags on state and federal buildings be flown at half staff today in honor of Fargo Police Officer Jason Moszer who was killed February 10th in the line of duty. Moszer’s funeral is today. He was from Sabin, Minnesota.
ELECTION NEWS
–Donald Trump wins in South Carolina while Hillary Clinton wins in Nevada. Jeb Bush announced the end of his campaign on Saturday.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
–Author of Too Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee died Friday at age 89.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Adam and Amanda Notsch of Sobieski, a boy born February 18th
DEATH NOTICES
–Valery Gruber, age 98 of Pierz.
–Louise M. Miles, age 72 of Cloquet formerly of Royalton.
–Pamela A. Woitalla, age 43 of Monticello formerly of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= afternoon flurries, high 33, light snow late, low 25
TUESDAY= rain/snow mix, high 36, cloudy night low 18.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 30, cloudy night, low 20.
SPORTS
BHK= Little Falls beat Apollo 4-1 Saturday to advance to section finals Thursday against St. Cloud Cathedral, winner to state tourney.
WRE=Little Falls advanced 4 wrestlers to state tournament while Pierz advanced 11, Foley 6, Royalton/USA 5, Holdingford 1. The tournament begins Thursday for teams and Friday for individuals.
NHL= Wild win outdoor game over Chicago Sunday 6-1.
NFL= Jarod Allen announced he is retiring from NFL after 12 years.
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