NEWS
--Little Falls Firefighters were called to a fire at a home on 16816 Riverwood Drive Friday at 12:27pm. The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters. It is believed it was space heater in the laundry room that started the fire. A dog and a cat perished in the fire but no people were hurt. The house was a total loss. Fire chief Mike Niemann did not know the owner of the home.
--Chuck Zwilling announced on Friday that his family was able to give a check of $15,000 in donations to the Flyer Pride Backpack Program at the Little Falls Community Schools from the Ice Fest held in January where Zwilling's family broke the world record again for the largest ice carousel. Zwilling also stated that both Finland and Maine were not able to construct an ice carousel, so the hope is that other groups will come forward and try this feat this year so that the Zwilling's can break another record, or their own in January of 2020. They do want to thank the hundreds that came out to the event and all who volunteers, performed and donated to the event this year.
--The former superintendent of the Rocori School District won't serve any jail time after pleading guilty to indecent exposure, unless he violates terms of his probation. The attorney for Scott Staska told a judge in Stearns County District Court Thursday that the superintendent's actions were the result of trauma and stress, including the 2003 school shooting in Cold Spring in which two students died. Defense attorney Wanda Gierman told the judge it may take years for effects of trauma to surface. Staska was initially charged with 19 counts of exposing himself at gas stations and retail stores. He pleaded guilty to four counts in an agreement with prosecutors. The judge stayed a sentence of 90 days in jail on each count, meaning Staska won't serve time unless he violates probation.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard reports the arrest of 30-year-old Cole James Grieger for various charges involving burglary and theft in northern Crow Wing County. Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office Investigators have linked Grieger to at least eight (8) burglaries in the Ideal Township, Mission Township and Crosslake areas where power tools, ATVs and snowmobiles were taken. Grieger was found in possession of a stolen side by side ATV at the time of his arrest and led investigators on a short foot pursuit. Investigators continue to investigate this case and believe there may be more discoveries of burglaries attributed to Grieger.
--A fugitive wanted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections was arrested this week and faces two felony counts on suspicion of first-degree drug sale and possessing or using a tear gas compound. 39-year old James William Graham of Mora is charged in two incidents. The first incident, was on November 17th 2017 when investigators with the Violent Offenders Task Force met with an informant who made arrangements to buy drugs from Graham. Officers watched as the informant exchanged money with Graham for 7.38 grams of methamphetamine. A similar exchange happened again a month later when he purchased 22.8 total grams of meth from Graham through the informant. A second complaint said on September 7, 2018 law enforcement responded to the 500 block of St. Germain St. in St. Cloud to a report of someone who had been maced. The complaints said Graham is a fugitive wanted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. According to Stearns County Jail logs, he was arrested at 2:20am Wednesday and taken to the Stearns County Jail.
--Join KLTF Party Line this week (due to last week's cancellation of schools) at Mary of Lourdes Middle School in Little Falls at 10:05am Tuesday and Holy Trinity School in Pierz Wednesday at 10:05 on AM960 KLTF. Many of the schools announced that activities that they were planning for last week will be rescheduled for some this week at the schools in Little Falls and Pierz. Both of the programs can be streamed live at fallsradio.com and click on the streaming tab.
--A Sartell man faces criminal charges after a bizarre incident at another person's home Wednesday. Sartell Police were called to a home in the 300 block of Sunset Avenue just before 6:00am. The homeowner awoke to a loud noise and discovered 46-year-old Robert Thurston inside his home. According to the charges filed in Stearns County District Court, Thurston told the homeowner he would pay for the broken front door and that he was on the phone with police. Thurston had called 911 to report gunshots, saying the shooting was taking place both inside and outside the home and at one point someone had been shot. When officers arrived, Thurston reportedly told police he had broken into the home and officers should take him to jail. Due to the report of guns, officers told Thurston to remove his hands from his pockets. He failed to comply and resisted as officers made the arrest. Police say there is no evidence of any gunshots. Thurston is charged with felony 1st-degree burglary, gross misdemeanor fake 911 call, and misdemeanor obstruction.
--Minnesota's bitterly cold weather last week, according to environmental experts say the frigid temperatures did have an advantage. Experts say subzero weather can be good for the state's many lakes by curbing the growth of harmful algae and reducing water loss. Extended cold weather covers lakes with thick ice, keeping water temperatures cooler in the spring. Minnesota aquatic biologist Valerie Brady says thicker ice can help slow the growth of invasive species that prefer shallow water, such as zebra mussels. Brady says another positive benefit of the cold is slowing lakes' loss of water due to evaporation in warmer weather.
DEATH NOTICES
--Duane R. Sowada, age 78 of Little Falls.
--David Weise, age 52 of Onamia.
--Eleanor Benshoof, age 89 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT THIS MORNING.
TODAY= freezing drizzle and light snow early, windy in PM hours, temps will drop from the low 20s this morning to near 0 by late PM.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, colder, low -11, wind chills near -25.
TUESDAY= partly sunny, high 8 above, snow develops later in day.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely 1-3 inches, high 14, low around 3 above.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Pillager at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
SB= The New England Patriots win their 6th Super Bowl as they beat the Los Angeles Rams last night 13-3 in Atlanta. Patriot's Julian Edelman was named the MVP. A very defensive game where the only touchdown came midway through the 4th quarter for the Patriots.
NFL= former Vikings quarterback Wade Wilson died Friday. Wilson had been an assistant for the Dallas Cowboys. He was 60 years old.
SKI= Lindsay Vonn announced she is retiring from skiing this week.