NEWS
--A Winter Storm Warning is in effect this morning as many areas in central Minnesota received 6-8 inches of snow from yesterday into today. Now the winds get gusty and temps drop to -20 with wind chills to -35 and temps are going to get colder with teens below zero for highs and lows near -35 with wind chills near -50 into Wednesday because of that Governor Tim Walz on Friday said his administration is considering closing down Minnesota schools later this week if need be due to the dangerous cold conditions. Governor Walz said that local superintendents have been on top of the situations but felt if need be for the safety of students, faculty and bus drivers that a statewide closing would help since Minnesota is excepted to see the coldest temperatures in the past 15+ years. There are many schools that were delayed this morning from the snow and wind. Plows have been out since last night but the commute will be slow today.
--A 48-year old Anoka woman was arrested Saturday, January 19th following an ongoing investigation involving narcotics authorities believe were heading for Cass County and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation for further distribution. Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch reported the sheriff's office and members of the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force recently worked cooperatively in an ongoing investigation, with the arrest of the woman. The woman was the subject of a traffic stop by a Minnesota State Patrol trooper on Highway 169 in Mille Lacs County. K-9 searches of the exterior of the vehicle led to the confiscation of methamphetamine and marijuana. The woman was taken to the Mille Lacs County Jail pending formal charges.
--If you think Minnesota drivers are bad, you are right - at least according to a new study. Drivers in Minnesota were the sixth worst in the country in 2018 according to QuoteWizard, an online insurance comparison marketplace. That is an improvement from the previous year when Minnesota was ranked second in the country when it came to bad drivers. QuoteWizard determines the rankings through data collected from its own site and the Federal Highway Administration fatality data. It calculates accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs, citations and fatalities in each state. In 2018, the worst drivers are in Maine. Our neighbors in North Dakota were ranked fifth. The best drivers, however, are also from the Midwest. The top spot went to Michigan. Illinois was also in the top five. The rankings were released the same day the Minnesota Department of Public Safety issued new numbers showing more Minnesotans are getting tickets for texting and driving. 9,500 people were cited in the last year, an increase of 30 percent from 2017. State lawmakers have a bill that passed its first committee last week that would ban drivers from holding devices while driving, as well as increase the fine for drivers who text and drive.
--Around 5:50pm on Wednesday the Todd County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of two vehicle crash on County 11 near 286th Street. Janet Holmquist of Clarissa was traveling northbound on County Road 11 when she rear-ended a tractor driven by Douglas Brackin of Alexandria. Both Holmquist and Brackin were transported by ambulance to the Long Prairie Hospital for minor injuries. Holmquist's Jeep was totaled. The tractor received moderate damage. The Browerville Fire Department, Browerville Ambulance and Long Prairie Ambulance assisted at the scene.
--Last week the bloodmobile at the St. Francis Convent exceeded their goal. A thank you to all who came and gave.
--This year, WreathsFortheFallen.org was able to place more than 5,000 wreaths on all the veteran graves in only 17 minutes at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls back in December. The wreaths will be removed this Saturday at 11am with the cold they hope for quick action like back in December. Due to the limited parking at the cemetery, it is recommended that those who want to take part car pool to minimize parking congestion.
--A garage was burglarized in St. Joseph last Monday afternoon and now authorities are asking for your help in finding the thieves. The incident happened sometime between 11:00am-5pm at a residence in rural St. Joseph Township. Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka says the burglars forced their way through the attached garage door and door to the home. The thieves took two safes containing $200 in older quarters and 50 cent pieces, photos and papers containing the victim's personal information. Also, a silver serving set was taken. Deputies say that the residence is vacant but the owner checks on it frequently. If you have any information on the burglary call the Stearns County Sheriff's Office.
--On Tuesday a fish house break in was reported on Fairy lake. The incident happened sometime over the previous weekend. The rear window was broken out of a 16 foot white ice castle fish house and a smaller flat screen TV was taken. A total of 7 fish houses were reported to be damaged or broken into on Fairy Lake. It is believed that the incidents occurred during the evening hours on January 21st.
--A St. Cloud man faces four felony charges after allegedly beating on a woman and threatening to kill her. According to the criminal complaint filed in Benton County, 33-year-old Michael Smith had been drinking when the incident happened at an apartment in the 400 block of East St. Germain Street Tuesday night. The woman told police Smith grabbed a knife from the knife block in the kitchen and swung it at the woman and told her he was going to kill her. When police arrived, they say the woman had a golfball-sized bump on her head. Smith was found nearby and police say he resisted arrest and tried to bite arresting officers. Smith is charged with 2nd-degree assault, two counts of domestic assault and threats of violence.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--If the weather cooperates KLTF Party Line will be at Mary of Lourdes Middle School on the west side of Little Falls Tuesday at 10:05 and then Holy Trinity School in Pierz Wednesday at 10:05am on AM960 KLTF and streamed online at fallsradio.com. This is in honor of Catholic Schools Week going on this week.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON.
WIND CHILL WARNING STARTS TONIGHT.
TODAY= snow ending, temps around 7 above, winds pick up.
TONIGHT= flurries and cold, low -18, wind chills near -35.
TUESDAY= sunny and very cold, high -18, wind chills near 40.
TUES NIGHT= clear and very cold, low -31, wind chills near -55.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and very cold, low -16 wind chills near -50.
SPORTS
BB= a correction from Sunday, Flyer boys basketball get a big win at Fergus Falls Saturday night 45-39.
NFL= AFC beats the NFC in the Pro Bowl Sunday 26-7. Vikings Adam Thielen tossed his first NFL pass and it was intercepted.