NEWS
--More than two dozen community members, staff and school board members gathered in Pierz on Wednesday, January 3rd. They reviewed information that was discussed at their first meeting on December 5th regarding the Public Schools facility needs. They reviewed facility investment options and tax impacts presented by the district’s facility consultants, and they made a number of recommendations to the school board, including a selection of one of the options. Based on the survey results and directive from the community, along with the progress the school board has made, the board will consider these recommendations: A referendum request under $10 million. Decrease the project cost to the community by seeking alternative funding sources. Begin working on a policy for capping open enrollment. Take advantage of the Ag2Credit that is now in effect. The Facilities Committee is determined to move forward by showing the community both the value and the need for this investment. The school board will consider the Facility Committee recommendations and may approve a resolution to hold a referendum on Tuesday, April 10th.
--The city of Randall was approved for a funding package of nearly $1.38 million from the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority for a new drinking water treatment plant. The city of Randall will use the funding to build a plant designed to remove nitrate, arsenic, iron and manganese from the community's water supply. The funding includes a $599,612 grant from the PFA's Water Infrastructure Fund and a $776,658 loan from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund. The 20-year, 1 percent loan will save the city $135,065 compared with what it would have paid for a conventional loan of the same amount.
--At least three people were injured, one seriously, in a collision in Watab Township Friday morning, according to Minnesota State Patrol. At 7:00am, a vehicle being driven by 25-year old Jared Mark Becker of St. Cloud was heading north on U.S. Highway 10. A vehicle being driven by 46-year old Julie Kristine Kaba of Sauk Rapids was headed west on Little Rock Road. Kaba stopped for a stop sign on Little Rock Road, then pulled out to cross Highway 10. Becker's vehicle then struck Kaba's vehicle in the intersection. Becker and his passenger, 24-year old Jordynn Marie Beckman, Little Falls, were transported to St. Cloud Hospital with injuries not believed to be life threatening. Kaba was also transported there with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Kaba's passenger, 46-year-old Teresa Lindemann from Sauk Rapids was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with serious life threatening injuries.
--The slick roads made for a tough day on the roads Thursday. The Minnesota State Patrol says they responded to a total of 274 crashes statewide on Thursday. Thirty people were hurt in those crashes, but there were no serious injuries or fatalities. Troopers also assisted with 141 vehicles that went into the ditch and 10 jackknifed semis. Two drivers were hospitalized following a two-vehicle crash at 8:07 a.m. Thursday on 21st Avenue Southwest, also known as Cass County Road 36, in Pillager.
--A reminder again that today is a federal holiday meaning that there is no regular mail delivery. Call ahead to see if your bank is open as city, county, state and federal government offices are mainly closed today. Some schools also have the day off. However, many other schools and businesses are open today. Call ahead.
--Ken Primus, a lifelong resident of Morrison County, has announced he will run for the seat of District 5 commissioner. The seat was left empty when Commissioner Duane Johnson passed away in October 2017. Primus is a Marine Corps veteran, serving from 1969-1972. For more than 35 years, he has been a member of St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski, and was on the Morrison County Pork Producers Association for 30 years, before it disbanded. Primus has lived in Swan River Township for almost 40 years, farming the land there. He was also a heavy equipment operator and worked road construction for many years. This now makes three vying for the District 5 (Greg Blaine and Charlie Gunderson also running) and that also means a primary date of February 13th will be set to narrow candidates to 2. --The Cass County Sheriff's Office reported a crash occurred just after 8:00am Thursday when a vehicle driven by 18-year old Jade Parks of Pequot Lakes, pulled out of a driveway in front of 38-year old Erika Misenko of Pillager. Parks was extricated by the Pillager Fire Department and transported by North Memorial Ambulance to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Misenko was transported to Essentia by private vehicle. The roadway was slippery at the time of the crash.
--A St. Cloud woman was hurt in a two-vehicle crash in Mille Lacs County. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just after 10:00pm on Thursday night on Highway 169 south of Onamia. 31-year old Kirsten Wiant of St. Cloud was going north when a pickup pulled out in front of her. Wiant tried to change lanes but lost control and hit the pickup. Wiant was taken to Onamia Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the pickup, 19-year old Nathan Strelow of Onamia was not hurt.
--The Baxter Police Department responded at 3:40pm Wednesday to a suspicious vehicle at the public access at Whipple Beach in Baxter. Upon arrival, officers found a 49-year old man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man was transported by North Memorial Ambulance from the scene. Baxter police could not confirm his current condition. Police continue to investigate the incident.
DEATH NOTICES
--Ardis M. Lehner, age 74 of Upsala
--Deloras Sammons, age 103 of Royalton
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL TUES 9AM.
TODAY= cloudy, scattered flurries, high 2 above, wind chills -30.
TONIGHT= cold and windy, low -14, wind chills near -35.
TUESDAY= partly sunny and cold, high 4 above, lows around -11
WEDNESDAY= partly cloudy, warmer, high 21, low around 5 above.
SPORTS
NFL= On Saturday, Philadelphia defeated Atlanta 15-10 while New England routed Tennessee 35-14. On Sunday, Jacksonville beat Pittsburgh in a high scoring affair 45-42 while Stefon Diggs scored as time expired for the Minnesota Vikings to come back 29-24 and beat the New Orleans Saints in dramatic fashion last night. Jacksonville will be at New England this Sunday at 2pm for the AFC Championship while Minnesota will travel to Philadelphia at 5:45pm Sunday for the NFC Championship with winners heading to Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis on Sunday, February 4th. All Games live on AM960 KLTF