NEWS
--At 2:11pm Thursday the Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office received a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Greyhound Road and 165th Street, approximately one mile north of Little Falls in Green Prairie Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a 17-year-old male juvenile of Holdingford was traveling east on 165th Street as 37-year-old Brian Petersen of Nisswa was traveling south on Greyhound Road. The male juvenile’s vehicle slid through the stop sign at the intersection on the icy roads and was struck by Petersen’s vehicle. The male juvenile was treated for unknown injuries.
--On Friday morning at 8:41am the Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched to 4477 Legend Lane in Fort Ripley Township on a reported chimney fire that may have extended into the attic. When firefighters arrived on scene, we found that the owner had the fire out. Firefighters checked the attic to verify that there was no fire extension. The fire was contained to the fireplace and did not cause any damage to the house.
--A fire south of St. Rosa Tuesday morning destroyed a hay barn and killed 48 heads of cattle. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office got the call at about 5:40 a.m. with reports that flames could be seen coming from the front of the barn located on Wedgewood Road in Millwood Township. The owner of the farm, 56-year-old Glenn Heinen said the cattle were still inside the barn. The deputy determined that because a large portion of the barn was already engulfed, it was unsafe to approach the structure. The Stearns County Highway Department had to be called in to salt and sand the road that become flooded and frozen. A number of fire departments assisted but the barn suffered extensive damage and none of the livestock survived.
--Two men were able to escape a house fire that severely damaged their Fairhaven Township home Friday morning. The Stearns County Sheriff's office got the call at around 8:45 a.m. that a house was on fire in the 1900 block of Bayberry Road. When deputies arrived, the home was nearly fully engulfed. Two occupants, 64-year-old Ricky Pettis and 80-year-old Darwin Pettis, were able to escape the home. Sheriff's officials believe the cause of the fire was a propane gas heater that was being used to defrost pipes inside the home. Darwin Pettis was evaluated for possible smoke inhalation, otherwise there was not other reports of injuries from the fire.
--Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber spoke Friday on KLTF and said that he is pleasantly surprised on the outcome of this school year to have very few students out sick, have not had to cancel any events or concerts and though staff is short with barely no subs they are overworked but still get the job dones in Pierz schools. He thanked all his teachers, staff, bus drivers, medical personnel and students and parents for all doing their part in making this as normal as possible this year and continued to be grateful for that. Weber said that the next big investment will be in the agriculture and metal shops to increase the items that can be used for those parts of the schools and thanked Pat Tax for her work with the FFA. If you have Questions contact George Weber at 468-6458. at Pierz Healy School.
--Brooklyn Park police say a missing 1-year-old boy has been found safe after he vanished in a stolen SUV Friday afternoon in Minneapolis which caused a statewide Amber Alert Friday evening. Police say the child was found Friday night in Brooklyn Park and has been reunited with his mother. The vehicle was stolen in Minneapolis that afternoon and the child and SUV were found in Brooklyn Park. Police did not indicate if a suspect was captures from the incident.
--Nearly 60 Soldiers from the B Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment based in St. Cloud, Minnesota, began returning to Minnesota Saturday after a deployment to Kuwait and Iraq. While deployed, the unit provided the aerial movement of troops, supplies, and equipment for support of maneuver, combat support, and combat service support operations. The unit flies CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters capable of transporting personnel and equipment. The unit deployed in February 2021 and, during their deployment, supported Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. They previously deployed in 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2011 in support of Operation New Dawn, and 2016 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Members included soldiers from Little Falls, Pierz and Brainerd.
--There will be a bus to the annual “March for Life” at the State Capitol which will depart from the north parking lot of Coborn's, Little Falls, on January 22nd, at 7:30am and from St. Joseph’s parking lot in Pierz at 8:00am and Buckman at 8:20am. Call Floyd Richmond in Little Falls at 632-2880 or Dale Beierman in Pierz at 360-7100 by January 19th to reserve a space. The Pro-Life Dinner in Morrison County will be January 30th at the Falls Ballroom also they are accepting donations for the Lakes Area Pregnancy Center. Lakes Area Pregnancy Support Center is a non-profit organization funded by the generosity of our local community. LAPS has been serving the Brainerd Lakes Area in Minnesota for 25 years, and the Staples branch for 8 years. Donate new unused items please. Some needed items are new Car Seats, Baby wipes, diapers or other baby or preemie items for the Chose Life Drive can be dropped off at the Falls Ballroom on January 30th or call John Justin 632-6752 for info.
DEATH NOTICES
--Joanne Koenig, age 80 of Onamia.
--Rosemary A. Anderson, age 74 of Little Falls.
--Gerardene “Gerri” E. Klimek, age 66 of Little Falls.
--Lucille Hubner, age 96 of Motley formerly of Swanville.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 12PM TODAY.
TODAY= sunny and cold, high near 0, clouds tonight -5, then rising.
TUESDAY= partly cloudy, high 28, cloudy with flurries late, low 15.
WEDNESDAY= partly sunny, breezy and mild, high 34, low near 21.
SPORTS
VIKINGS= Kirk Cousins tossed 3 touchdowns in the second half as the Vikings beat Chicago 31-17 to finish the season at 8-9. Detroit beat Green Bay 37-30 though Aaron Rodgers played limited time.
LFCHS= Little Falls Community High School Acitivites Director Kevin Jordan Friday stated that Little Falls High School Senior Austin Neu has committed to play football at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa. Austin is the son of Shawn and Jennifer Neu of Little Falls. Also Little Falls High School Senior Emma Holey has committed to play volleyball at Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. Emma is the daughter of Joel and Melissa Holey of Little Falls.
HALL OF FAME= The Little Falls activities office announced the Little Falls Flyers Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will be inducted on January 21st. The following Flyer alumni will be honored: Joe Sczublewski class of ‘72, Gerry Shimek class of ‘74, Brad Gillingham class of ‘84, Sue Lies-Silber class of ‘85, Jeff Hubbard class of ‘85, Kris Jackson-Fregin class of ‘87, and Todd Sandman class of ‘89.