NEWS
--Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday to honor the Civil Rights leader on the third Monday in January. A reminder that Federal, State, County and City agencies, city halls, government centers, courthouses, banks, financial institutions are likely closed today due to the holiday. U.S. Post Offices are closed and regular mail delivery will not happen today, however they will be doing priority mail and 1 day delivery service today. Trash collection may be interrupted in some areas so you might want to check with your local haulers. Some schools are off today for the holiday while other schools are in session today. In the past years many have called for a day of community service in ways to remember Dr. King's message.
--The Little Falls Fire Department was called to a reported gas leak at Nouis Home Care, 308 1st Street Southeast Sunday just before 3pm. A large chunk of ice fell from the roof and struck a gas line on the back of the building causing the gas line to break. Firefighters were able to shut the gas off at the gas meter which stopped the leak. Staff evacuated the residents right away as gas could be smelled inside the building. After the gas was shut off, the building was ventilated until there was no longer any gas detected inside. Once the building was clear, the residents were allowed back inside. Firefighters were on the scene for less than 1 hour.
--A six-year-old Onamia girl was struck and killed by a vehicle in Mille Lacs County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 11pm Thursday on Highway 169 near Onamia. A vehicle driven by a 48-year-old woman from Garrison was going south on the highway when she hit the girl in the road. The State Patrol has not released the name of the girl or the driver yet.
--Xcel Energy reported multiple power outages around the St. Cloud area starting between 5:30am-7am Sunday morning and then a second cluster of outages was reported between 11am-12pm in Avon, Clear Lake, Clearwater, Cold Spring, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, and Waite Park. The power was restored to all areas by 3pm in the afternoon. The cause of the outage is unknown.
--Occupants of a southeast Brainerd house awoke to a smoke alarm going off Thursday on the 1100 block of Pine Street. The report states heavy smoke and flames could be seen coming from the home as the Brainerd Fire Department was called to the fire at 4:11am “The smoke alarms saved their lives,” Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes said. “If they didn’t have working smoke alarms, it would have been a very different story.” The occupants, three adults, made it out of the building. Firefighters got the fire under control shortly after arriving. Crews remained on the scene for about four hours to ensure the fire was out. The home was ruled inhabitable due to extensive damage. The family said the family dog perished from the fire.
--Nine people have been displaced after a fire broke out at a St. Cloud rooming house Saturday night. The St. Cloud Fire Department says all units responded to a fire at a house in the 500 block of 7th Avenue South shortly after 11:30pm. The St. Cloud Police Department helped evacuate residents at the scene. No one was hurt. Authorities say the fire damaged the second and third floors as well as the attic. Officials say they believe the fire was an accident and started near a baseboard heater. The damage is estimated at $120,000. The residents are being assisted by the Red Cross.
--A note from Morrison County Solid Waste Office that you can drop off and dispose of your Christmas Trees at the south side of the Public Works building near the Compost Site or at the County Sold Waste Management Facility that is located on Iris Road.
--The Little Falls School Board last week approved Policy 491, which relates to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or testing and face coverings, Monday. While the policy was approved, Superintendent Stephen Jones said that the district will not implement this plan at this time and are NOT mandating these items now. However, the reason for approving the policy was simply to give the district time to prepare and be ready, just in case. As the President Joe Biden Administration is seeking to require COVID vaccinations in the workplace and other items that may be mandating which would include schools, Jones said the district is waiting to find out what the United States Supreme Court’s decision will be on the issue. Only then, if it is in support of the Biden Administration efforts, will the Little Falls School District implement Policy 941. Another scenario, which may require the Little Falls School District, along with other school districts in Minnesota, to implement the policy, is if the United States Supreme Court leaves the decision to each state to make. Little Falls was not the only school, as Swanville, Pierz, Royalton and others placed plans and policies in place if this has to happen still this school year. Jones said that by being ready to implement the policy, if necessary by law, whether federal or state or both, the district can avoid getting potentially cited for not being ready. However, if neither state or federal law require employees to be fully vaccinated or if not vaccinated, to wear a face covering and submit to weekly COVID testing, Policy 491 will not be implemented.
--A fire damaged a barn in Sauk Centre Thursday night. Fire crews from Sauk Centre and Melrose arrived at the scene in the 38000 block of County Road 185 to fight the flames. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says the fire appeared to have begun in a small attached shed at the front of the barn. The homeowner, 65-year-old William Wessel of Sauk Centre, told authorities a small heater was being used in the shed to keep the water lines from freezing. Authorities say the animals inside the barn were able to escape through the rear barn doors. None of the animals were hurt or lost.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kurt Thomas Novotny, age 56 of Fort Ripley.
--John “Jack” Russell, age 84 of Sartell formerly Little Falls.
--Linda M. Rutz, age 67 of Flensburg.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, high near 30, cloudy night, low near 16.
TUESDAY= cloudy skies, high 32, snow and sleet in morning, then winds turn gusty in afternoon with dropping temps into evening.
TUES NIGHT= clearing skies, cold and windy, low -8, wind chills -30.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high near 0, low around -23.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Crosby-Ironton at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS.
NFL= Cincinnati held off Las Vegas 26-19 Saturday for Bengals to win first playoff game since 1990 season. Buffalo routed New England with 5 touchdowns from Josh Allen to win 47-17 Saturday. Tampa Bay beat Philadelphia 31-15 on Sunday as Tom Brady and company advance on. San Francisco held off Dallas going to the last play of the game to win 23-17 eliminating the Cowboys then Patrick Mahomes 5 touchdowns as Kansas City beat Pittsburgh 42-21 last night to advance in Ben Roethlisberger's last game. The Wild Card Round continues tonight with Arizona at the LA Rams with pregame at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.