NEWS
--At 7:51am Friday the Morrison County Sheriff's Office received a report of a two-vehicle crash on Infantry Road, inside Camp Ripley. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 25-year old Tyler Fish of Blackduck, was traveling north on Infantry Road and 40-year old Mark Wood of Rogers pulled out from a parking lot and collided with Fish’s vehicle. Wood was transported by ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with unknown injuries. Fish was not injured.
--Reports from the Backus Fire Department show that they were called to a fire at 5:15am last Sunday (January 19th) in Ponto Lake Township, firefighters knew to expect a deck fire. Backus firefighters statedt that man was trapped in the burning basement. Fire Chief Jason Smith said "Two guys went down by the basement door where it was fully engulfed. They could see him in the doorway. He got out as far as he could and fell down. They had to grab him and drag him out of there. They definitely risked their lives by doing it. I think in another minute and a half or two minutes he would have been dead or burned very badly. He was very lucky and very appreciative." The conflagration was made particularly challenging due to the three feet of snow surrounding the building everywhere except for the narrow, plowed driveway. One firefighter who had arrived with his plow truck was able to make room for the tanker trucks that carried the department's supply of water as they fought the blaze for hours. The homeowner said he suspected the fire started with a container of ashes from his wood stove. The homeowner escaped without life-threatening injuries and boarded an ambulance on the scene for warmth and observation. Firefighters Michael Peterson and Tyler Smith were responsible for pulling the man from the building.
--In a news release last Thursday, 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber, R-Duluth, stated efforts to work with the Trump administration to repeal Obama-era Waters of the United States rules led the Environmental Protection Agency to introduce a new rule redefining which streams and wetlands are regulated by the Clean Water Act. “The WOTUS rule put in place by the previous administration was one of the biggest federal overreaches in modern history, as the rule expanded the definition of ‘navigable waterways’ to include everything from rivers to ditches and ponds on private land,” Stauber stated in the release. “This move threatened the livelihoods of thousands of Minnesota’s farmers, miners, manufacturers, and small business owners who rely on access to this water and land. I have been fighting to repeal this harmful rule since coming to Congress and am proud that our efforts to end this harmful federal overreach have paid off, allowing hardworking Minnesotans to focus on providing the food and commodities upon which we all rely.” The new rule looks to clarify language stipulating exactly what the legal term “water of the United States” refers to in terms of environmental protections, restrictions on pollution, and responsibilities as they pertain to property owners by bodies of water. In the new rule, “waters of the United States” are defined as waters within the ordinary meaning of the term, such as oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands. In turn, a tributary is defined as a river, stream or naturally occurring surface water channel that contributes perennial or intermittent flow to traditionally navigable water. However, this term does not apply to features that only flow in response to precipitation, groundwater or drainage systems. In addition, ditches are not considered “waters of the United States.”
--The 2020 Morrison County Provider of the Year Committee are informing the community it’s time to nominate a licensed family child care provider to be the Provider of the Year for 2020. If you are using or observing a licensed child care home in Morrison County and feel that the provider is deserving of such a nomination, visit our Facebook page at Morrisoncoutyprovideroftheyear or send a letter explaining what special qualities he/she has and why you feel that the provider should be considered as the Provider of the Year for Morrison County. Please send your nominations in by February 14, 2020. Please return the letter to: Jessica Nutz at the address of 140 East 6th Street, Randall MN 56475 or email them to Morrisoncountypoy@yahoo.com.
--Eight people have died in fires in Minnesota already this year, and officials say half of them are smoking-related. An 80-year-old woman from Maple Grove, and an 83-year-old man in Montevideo, a 77-year-old woman from Eveleth, and a 29-year-old man from St. Paul have all died in fires that were started by a lit cigarette. Smoking is typically the leading cause of fatal fires each year in Minnesota.
--Three people were hurt in a two vehicle crash Thursday morning near Clearwater. The incident happened just before 8:00 a.m. on Highway 24 at 148th Street Northwest in Clearwater Township. The Minnesota State Patrol says 16-year-old Connor Wipper, of Clearwater, was heading south on Highway 24 when the slick road conditions caused him to cross the center line and hit another vehicle heading north. Wipper and his passenger, 13-year-old Jack Wipper of Clearwater, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the second vehicle, 59-year-old Lorie Hegle of Annandale, was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--This week is Catholic Schools Week. A week set aside to see what is being accomplished in Catholic Schools across the nation and also locally. Join Little Falls Radio Party Line during Catholic Schools Week tomorrow live at Mary of Lourdes Middle School in Little Falls and Wednesday live at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Pierz talking with students and faculty. The programs start both days at 10:05am on AM960 KLTF and streamed online at fallsradio.com.
DEATH NOTICES
--Heather Kotzer, age 34 of Motley.
--Edward Kampa, age 90 of Hillman.
--Carol Bell, age 82 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy skies, high 28.
TONIGHT= partial clearing overnight, low 15.
TUESDAY= mostly cloudy, bit cooler, high 20 temps rise late.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy, light snow late day, high 30, low 24.
SPORTS
KOBE= NBA star Kobe Bryant, his 13 year old daughter and the seven others on board a helicopter died when the copter crashed in Calabases, California just before 10am California time Sunday. The investigation into the crash continues, only that conditions were hazy and the copter crashed into a hillside. Bryant was 41 years old and had played his entire 20 season career with the Los Angeles Lakers.
HS GBB= Osakis at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
NFL= AFC wins the Pro Bowl 38-33 over the NFC Sunday. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the MVP.