NEWS
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will be hosting a legislative update on March 8th at Little Falls City Hall, Council Chambers. The Chamber will Host State Representatives Ron Kresha, Isaac Schultz, Mike Wiener, and Senator Nathan Wesenberg. This will be Friday, March 8th from 9am-11am. Attendees will have the opportunity to direct questions and comments regarding issues that will impact the 2024 legislative session to Senator Wesenberg and Representatives Kresha, Wiener, and Schultz. Hearing first hand the concerns and issues that impact the success of your business and our community will assist these elected officials with decision making at the Capitol. Please direct you questions about the legislative update to the Chamber office at 320-632-5155 before March 8th.
--A man has died in the Crow Wing County Jail. The Sheriff's Office says Thursday at about 9pm jail staff discovered the unresponsive man in a jail cell. He had been booked earlier in the evening on suspicion of DWI. Staff at the jail attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Minnesota Department of Corrections is investigating.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced an upcoming project on Highway 169 south of Garrison that will affect those visiting the Mille Lac Lakes area this year. Starting in mid-May, workers will improve seven miles of the highway between Crow Wing County 26 south of Garrison to a half-mile north Ojibwe Drive. The good news is that most of the work will occur overnight and at off-peak hours during weekdays. There will be alternate one lane, one-way traffic controlled by flaggers with the exception of a brief 4-to-6 day detour for pipe work. The detour will be via Crow Wing County Road 26, Crow Wing County Road 8, and Crow Wing County Road 2/460th Street. The project is scheduled to be completed by mid-July.
--St. Cloud Police say the second suspect in a shootout outside the St. Cloud public library has been arrested. Officers identified a 17-year-old St. Cloud boy as the second shooter. He was arrested without incident on Thursday in the 1200 block of East Division Street. Members of the St. Cloud Police Department Investigative Unit, Community Response Team, and SWAT team assisted in the arrest. The exchange of gunfire happened Saturday evening at around 5pm. No one was hurt in the incident and earlier this week, the first suspect, 18-year-old Jatrell Mitchell was arrested in the town of St. Anthony. The 17-year-old faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, 2nd-degree assault, and a felon in possession of a gun.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office in the past week responded to a one-vehicle on Highway 238 in Bowlus on the 14th. Assisted Little Falls Police with a report of a possible break-in in the 2200 block of Lindbergh Drive. Responded to Bricks Travel in Motley on a report of a retail theft in progress. Suspected was located and items returned to the business. Assisted the State Patrol with a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 371 in Fort Ripley. Responded to 140th Avenue in Little Falls where a piece of equipment digging a trench leaked hydraulic fluid. The leak was cleaned up and a company will be hired to mediate any contamination. Paged out Pierz Fire to the possible rekindling of a fire reported earlier on Oakridge Lane in Brainerd. Also reported of DWI arrests and patient control at the hospital in the past week. If you need assistance from the sheriff's office 632-9233.
--Listen online to all 3 Little Falls Radio stations at fallsradio.com.
--Minnesota’s political parties will gather for precinct caucuses in Morrison County and throughout the state tomorrow (February 27th) night. The Secretary of State website says the Morrison County areas will meet as follows: Republican Party, Pierz High School, 112 Kamnic Street, Pierz. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, Little Falls Community Middle School, 1000 1st Ave. NE, Little Falls. To verify information about your caucus location, contact your district or county political party or check online at: caucusfinder.sos.mn.gov.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has new annual fishing licenses on sale. The 2024-25 variety go into effect on March 1st, 2024 and last until February 28th, 2025. You can select from a wide variety of options. Some of the most popular are an individual angling pass for one person, a combination permit for married couples, or an individual sports license to allow for hunting small game and fishing. The individual version is $25 for a year, with the combination license priced at $40. Revenues received by the state go into the Game and Fish Fund and can only be used for DNR initiatives pertaining to fish and wildlife. If you purchase yours before the end of February, make sure you specify the 2024-25 pass at checkout.
DEATH NOTICES
--Austin Szczodroski, age 25 of Fort Ripley.
--Leander H. Motschke, age 88 of Little Falls.
--Joyce M. Moran, age 84 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, very mild, high 57.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low near 28.
TUESDAY= cloudy, possible rain/snow showers changing to all snow by late afternoon, 1 inch total, temps drop from 35 down to 3 above.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, breezy and cold, high 18, low near 9 above.
SPORTS
BHK= Monticello beat Little Falls Saturday night 3-2 after the game went into three overtimes. The Flyers season comes to an end with Monticello now facing Cathedral Wednesday in the section title game.
WRE= Congratulations to a number of local wrestlers heading to state as individuals including 4 from Royalton-Upsala, 7 from Holdingford, 5 wrestlers from Little Falls and 2 from Pierz. There are many others from Staples-Motley, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle and other area schools who will compete Friday and Saturday at state tournament in St. Paul. Team coverage for Little Falls will be Thursday at 9am against Simley live on Q92 WYRQ.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1732= first reported Catholic Mass celebrated in U.S. Colonies.
IN 1933= The Golden Gate Bridge is dedicated in San Francisco.
IN 1936= Germany introduced the “Volkswagen”.
IN 1960= Verne Gagne begins American Wrestling Alliance out of Minneapolis, the pro wrestling circuit begins its own association later that year with Gagne training many of the wrestling's top talents.
IN 1966= Nancy Sinatra hit #1 with “These Boots are Made for Walking”, knocking her Dad Frank off the top spot with “Strangers in the Night” first time Daughter removes father for #1 spot.
IN 1977= NASA makes first flight of their “Space Shuttle”.