NEWS
--A 91-year old from Pierz suffered life threatening injuries on Sunday morning when her vehicle collided with an another on Highway 10 at County Road 14 in Randall. 91-year-old Inez Hayes of Pierz was east on 14 when she crossed Highway 10 and was struck by 20-year-old Kaitlyn Hughes of Little Canada. Hughes and her passenger 18-year-old Alexes Filley of Kansas had non life threatening injuries and taken to Staples Hospital. Hayes was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital with life threatening injuries.
--Congratulations to the contestants and winners of the National Geographic Geography Bee done in Upsala last week. They were Brayden Leners (5th Grade), Alyssa Young (7th Grade), Anders Aleckson (8th grade), Paige Gerads (8th grade), Beau Ripplinger (6th Grade), Daniel Kokett (7th Grade), Landon Krebs (4th grade), Cal Leners (4th grade), Lois Wardlaw (6th grade) and Holly Johnson (5th grade). In 3rd place was Alyssa Young, 2nd place was Lois Wardlaw and the winner was Anders Aleckson. Aleckson received an Atlas for a prize and a chance to move on to see if he is eligible for the state competition later this year and even to the National event in May that is televised on ESPN.
--Dale Beierman and Floyd Richmond were on KLTF Friday to state there is a bus going to the March for Live in St. Paul on January 22nd free of charge. It will leave Coborn's in Little Falls at 7:30 then St. Joseph's in Pierz at 8 and St. Michael's in Buckman at 8:15. There will be a service at the St. Paul Cathedral and then the march to the State Capitol before returning in the late afternoon. You do not need to march as the bus will follow the marchers to the capitol. There will be some refreshments at the State Capitol but you should bring a bag lunch, and there is a bathroom on the bus. Please sign up to day by calling Floyd at 632-2880 or Dale at 468-6225.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man on DUI charges as he was preparing to operate a school bus in Rice. On January 10th the Rice Police Department learned that Erik Richard Bonde (age 46 of Rice) had a driver’s license that was suspended. At about 1:30pm, an officer made contact with Bonde concerning this suspended driver’s license. The officer advised Bonde of the fact that his license was suspended and told Bonde that he could not drive until his license was re-instated. About 90 minutes later at 3:05 pm, a Rice police officer learned that Bonde had driven a school bus to the Rice Elementary School and was currently seated in the driver’s seat of the bus. A Rice police officer and Benton County deputies approached the bus and made contact with Bonde. The officers reminded Bonde that his driver’s license was still suspended. While speaking with Bonde, officers observed signs indicating that Bonde was intoxicated. Bonde was requested to submit to a PBT, which indicated that Bonde’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit for driving. Deputies also located a container Bonde had on the bus which held an alcoholic beverage. Bonde was placed under arrest and transported to the Benton County Jail. It should be noted that no students were in the bus while Bonde was operating it.
--One person was killed Saturday night when their vehicle collided with a pickup truck on Highway 71 in Stearns County near Sauk Centre. The pickup driver had non life threatening injuries. The driver of the Cadillac died. The name of the person has not been released.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--It's official. The world record for an ice carousel is back in Little Falls. Chuck Zwilling and his crew with help from the group from Finland and Maine broke the world record at Ice Fest this past weekend at 154.3 meters shattering last year's record by Maine. The hope is now that Finland and later Maine could again break the record and continue this next year at the event. Thousands of dollars were raised for the Flyer Pride Pack backpack program and hundreds turned out to take part in the event this past weekend on Green Prairie Fish Lake. Zwilling thanked all who helped with Ice Fest.
--More AAA Award winners have been announced as Little Falls Community High School announced Katherine Corbett and Thomas Kula were their winners. Pierz had recently announced that Laura Skiba and Jake Andres were their AAA award recepients. Swanville schools have announced that their AAA nominees are Grace Schultz and Gage VanRisseghem. In Upsala, the AAA winners are Annika Gunderson and Brandon Young. The award recognizes high school seniors who have excelled in Academics, Arts and Athletics.
--Due the continued government shutdown, Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge has canceled the candlelight ski scheduled for this Saturday. With the shutdown, the refuge has been closed and the Friends of Crane Meadows would not be allowed to use refuge facilities and there would be not refuge staff in attendance. The hope is to have their Habitat Day in March if the shutdown is ended.
--Wisconsin police have arrested Jake Thomas Patterson for the kidnapping of 13-year-old Jayme Closs and for the murder of her parents in their northwestern Wisconsin home back in October. Authorities Friday stated that 21-year old Jake Patterson is believed to have targeted the 13 year old, killed her parents and kidnapped her taking her to a cabin where she was held captive for the past 3 months. Patterson makes his first court appearance today.
--The Little Falls School Board will meet today at 5pm at the Community Middle School Media Center. Agenda items include budget assumptions and enrollment predictions for 2019-20 school year. Rusty Gwost is scheduled to discuss Lindbergh Elementary.
DEATH NOTICES
--Darlene Lorraine Brausen-Jutz, age 71 formerly of Shoreview.
--Marie A. Charpenter, age 57 of Little Falls.
--Conrad M. Stanley, age 76 of Little Falls.
--Donna M. Tretter, age 72 of rural Hillman.
WEATHER
TODAY= fog early, the cloudy and mild, high near 30.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cooler night, low 16.
TUESDAY= partly sunny, high 27 early, falling late, low -2.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high 11, low around -4.
SPORTS
NFL= Kansas City beat Indianapolis 31-13 Saturday to get to host the AFC Championship against the defending AFC Champions New England Patriots who beat the LA Chargers 41-28 on Sunday. New Orleans will host the LA Rams in the NFC title game as the Rams beat Dallas 30-22 Saturday and the Saints held off Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday 20-14. Coverage of the Championship games begins at 1pm on Sunday on AM960 KLTF. The Super Bowl is on February 3rd.
Check out local broadcast schedule at fallsradio.com.