[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 29th 2016 Leap Day[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–A legislative update will be today from 9:30-11am at the Little Falls City Hall, council chambers put on by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. State Senator Paul Gazelka and State Representative Ron Kresha will be on hand to discuss the upcoming legislative session and listen to the concerns of the public. All are invited to attend.
–A 9-year-old was injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday in Brainerd. Police say that 31-year-old Samantha Wibstad and 34-year-old Chelsea Sambroski both of Brainerd were the drivers and not injured in the collision. 9-year-old Kaira Lee Bacon was a passenger in the Wibstad vehicle and sustained minor injuries in the crash.
–A St. Cloud gas station was robbed Thursday night. Police were called to the SuperAmerica on Northway Drive around 8:00pm after two masked suspects with a handgun entered and robbed the store. There were two employees and one customer in the store at the time. One employee was injured after being hit by one of the suspects. The suspects left the store with money and it is unknown if they got into vehicles. Police said the suspects were described as black men wearing ski masks and dark clothing. One was described as around 6 feet 5 inches tall with a thin build and in his 20s. The other was described as 6 feet 1 inches, appearing older and heavier than the first suspect. The case is active and there is no further information at this time. Anyone with information is urged to call the St. Cloud Police Department at 320-251-1200.
–Air Force Colenol Sandra Best was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during a pinning ceremony Thursday in Minneapolis. Best is the first woman to achieve the rank in the Minnesota National Guard. Originally from Minneapolis, Best joined the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard in 1984, as a Personnel Specialist and progressed through the enlisted ranks to Technical Sergeant. Best has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008. Brigadier General Best will serve as the Chief of Staff, Minnesota Air National Guard, responsible for command supervision, oversight and leadership of the 133rd Airlift Wing and 148th Fighter Wing to include all items pertaining to manning, operations, readiness, training and equipping of units in the Minnesota Air National Guard.
–School officials and police are investigating a threat of a school shooting made against Albany Area Secondary School intended for this week. Superintendent Greg Johnson said a student found the threat in a bathroom stall this past week. It was a “threat of violence” taking place at the school planned on Thursday, March 3rd. Police in Albany and Avon are investigating. At this time they did not yet know whether the threat was credible. Albany Police Chief Ozzie Carbajal said the threat warned of a school shooting at a specific time on that date. Johnson stated they are hopeful it was simply a poor decision by one of their students but they have to take it as something that’s credible for now. The district will increase security this week, and have a full-time police officer at each of its schools.
–The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says it is investigating a hit-and-run that did damage to a building at Jeff’s Auto Body in Rockville. The incident occurred on February 13th around 11:30pm. Anyone with information as to the identity of the people pictured or the vehicle from surveillance video on the Stearns County website is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office at 320-251-4240.
–The Winter Wonderland Figure Skating Club presents “Silver Blade Celebration” Ice Show Saturday at 2pm and 7pm and Sunday at 2pm at the Exchange Arena in Little Falls. Advanced tickets $6 or $8 at the door. The club is celebrating their 25th anniversary.
–The Brainerd School Board Friday approved the contract for Laine Larson as the district’s new school superintendent. The board stated that Larson of Thief River Falls agreed in principal to the contract and has been sent to her to sign. The terms of the contract will not be disclosed until both sides have signed the contract.
–To protect Veterans and families and to prevent the spreading of influenza related illnesses, the St. Cloud VA Medical Center is implementing visitor restrictions in the Community Living Center. Visitors will be limited to immediate family members. Individuals who are ill or who may have been exposed to people with flu like symptoms are asked to reconsider their visit. Additionally, young children should not visit Community Living Center residents until the outbreak of influenza related illnesses across the state subsides. Families of residents with special situations should consult with their treatment teams to arrange visits.
–7th District Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson announced that legislation passed by the U.S. House will return management of the gray wolf population to Minnesota. The Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act of 2015 includes a Peterson-sponsored amendment to delist gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes States from Endangered Species Act protections and return gray wolf management to Minnesota.
–The Crow Wing County Dairy Princess Banquet is March 12th in Pierz at 7pm. This years candidates are Arica Caughey, Elizabeth Studinski, Jenna Caughey, Kirsten Schroer, Grace Studinski, Mariah Koering, Reilley Hettver and Alyson Koering. The first four are vying for Dairy Ambassador which ranges in ages 13-15. The next three are vying for Junior Dairy Princess ages 15-17. There is only one Alyson Koering who is eligible for Crow Wing County Dairy Princess who is 19. The Morrison County Dairy Princess Coronation Banquet will be held on March 19th at the Falls Ballroom. Contestants released this week.
BIRTH NOTICES
–Travis and Ashley Reese of Little Falls, a girl on Thursday
DEATH NOTICES
–Zita Poser, age 88 of Pierz
–Cheryl Johnson, age 64 of Fridley, formerly of Onamia
–Juanita Weyaus, age 69 of Onamia.
–Marshall Lee Fischer, age 74 of Onamia.
–Armella T. Otremba, age 93 of Pierz.
–Leon Norberg, age 74 of Little Falls.
–Ernest “Ernie” Neumann, age 83 of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, temps dropping into teens, very windy.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low 6 above.
TUESDAY= mostly sunny, high 24, increasing clouds late, low 10.
WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, scattered flurries, high 32.
SPORTS
WRE= Pierz’s Colton Eischens finished 3rd, Teddy Dehler 4th and Brett Kapsner 5th at State Wrestling, Royalton-Upsala’s Brad Kroll was 4th, Little Falls’s Justin Jenks 3rd and Gage Blechinger was 5th. Foley’s Spencer Elwell was 2nd and Sailor Schmitt 2nd at the state tournament.
BBB= Braham beat Pierz Saturday, Albany beat Holdingford, Browerville/Eagle Valley and Swanville both won Saturday night and will play each other tonight 7pm in Little Falls live on Q92 WYRQ.
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