NEWS
--Flags will be flown at half-staff Monday to honor a South Haven firefighter. Governor Tim Walz the act is to honor and remember Allen Fischer who died earlier this month due to complications from a medical condition obtained in the line of service. Fischer dedicated 42-years of service with the South Haven Fire and Rescue Department. His funeral will be at 11:00 am. Monday at Dingmann Funeral Care Chapel in Annandale. At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies its flags at half-staff following the death of Minnesota first responders fallen in the line of duty. Fischer is the fourth central Minnesota firefighter/first responder to have the flags lowered in honor of them since the first part of December.
--Two men have been charged with slashing tires at Morrison County bars earlier this month in district court. 22-year-old Trevor Uecker of Corcoran and 37-year-old Floyd Albert Jares Jr. of Maple Grove, have each been charged with felony first degree damage to property in Morrison County District Court. The charge stems from a Jan. 15 incident, when deputies responded to a report of criminal damage to property at an establishment. The owner reported that the tires on 11 vehicles parked outside their business had been slashed. The owner told deputies there were two suspects, one they knew and the other they did not know. While searching the area, a deputy saw a vehicle in the ditch with two men inside, identified as Uecker and Jares, the report said. The two men were placed under arrest. Another deputy arrived and observed a large buck knife and a screwdriver inside the two men’s vehicle, consistent with the slash marks in the tires. While the deputy and the suspects were enroute, the Sheriff’s Office received another report from a different bar in Cushing, with the owner stating the tires had been slashed on four vehicles at their bar. The owner stated that two men had been at the bar causing a scene and trying to sell marijuana to other bar patrons. In total, 15 vehicles had their tires slashed at the two bars. The total damage was estimated to be more than $1,000. If convicted, Uecker and Jares each face five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
--Two people were hurt and a third was arrested after a head-on crash in Meeker County Thursday night. The crash happened on Highway 15 southwest of Dassel at about 10pm. The sheriff's office says 55-year-old Paul Waibel of Litchfield was northbound on Highway 15 when he crossed the centerline and struck another vehicle heading south. The driver of the 2nd vehicle, 35-year-old Katie Lene, and her passenger, 34-year-old Justin Lene both of Hutchinson were taken to Hutchinson Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Deputies determined alcohol was a factor in the crash and booked Waibel into the Meeker County Jail on suspicion of DUI and criminal vehicular operation causing bodily harm.
--A reminder from area fire departments that please when crews fighting a structure fire or any fire that means that hose lines are out along roads or sidewalks to please do not run over them as recently some hoses ended up with holes in them and had to be discarded and when a fire emergency is underway could not more issues for the firefighters and the home owners are the fire is happening. They also say thank you for all the cooperation helping area fire departments.
--A crash closed down Highway 210 and County Highway 59 near Riverton Thursday evening for at least an hour while traffic was rerouted. The Minnesota State Patrol confirmed the two-vehicle crash occurred at 5pm on Highway 210, and one person was flown via helicopter to receive medical care. No other information released.
--This week is Catholic's School Week. AM960 KLTF Party Line is live at Holy Trinity School in Pierz today at 10:05am and then tomorrow live at Mary of Lourdes Middle School at 10:05am. Hear both programs on AM960 and also streamed at fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls Fire Department posted the welcome back through Little Falls pictures and photos from Friday when soldiers returned from one year of deployment and met up with family and friends at Camp Ripley. Area firefighters, police and sheriff deputies helped in welcoming the soldiers home to their families. Another welcome home for the same task force will take place in Rosemount on Saturday. You can view Friday's pictures on the Little Falls Fire Department Facebook page.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a gift card scam taking place in St. Cloud. Each year the department selects a family or two to give a little extra financial help to around the holidays. This year two families were chosen and given Walmart gift cards, but the sheriff’s office says when the families went to use them, they discovered that most of the money had already been spent. Authorities investigated and discovered that the purchases had been made before the department gave out the gift cards. The sheriff’s office says someone went into a Walmart store, took a bunch of gift cards, and removed the coating on the backs of them to get the codes. Once he had the codes he entered them into the Walmart pay app, replaced the coating on the back of the cards, and waited for someone else to buy and activate them. Authorities were able to determine where the card had been used, identified a suspect using video and photos, and executed a search warrant at his residence in St. Cloud. Inside, authorities discovered most of the items bought using the money from the gift card along with tools used to manipulate the gift cards and evidence of a larger scheme.
DEATH NOTICES
--Matthew “Matt' James Conrad Spiess, age 39 of Little Falls.
--Sylvia C. Wiczek, age 86 of Little Falls.
--Leonard L. Czech, age 89 of Elmdale.
--Margaret M. Buersken, age 68 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, breezy, high near 30.
TONIGHT= gusty winds and blowing snow overnight, low 12.
TUESDAY= falling temps, blowing snow, gusty winds, high 18 early.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high 2 above, lows around -23.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls at Alexandria tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Melrose at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
NFL= Cincinnati came from 18 down to beat Kansas City 27-24 in overtime heading back to first Super Bowl since 1989 in the AFC Championship. Los Angeles Rams held off San Francisco 49ers with a late interception 20-17 to win NFC Championship. The Super Bowl is February 13th in Los Angeles at 5:30pm on AM960 KLTF. This Sunday is the AFC/NFC Pro Bowl from Las Vegas 2pm on KLTF.
BRADY= sports sources reported Saturday that quarterback Tom Brady is expected to announce his retirement from the NFL. After playing 22 seasons and winning 7 Super Bowl rings. Though many sources reported this Saturday, Brady has yet to make it official.
WOLVES= T-Wolves beat Utah last night 126-106 to go 25-25.
WILD= Wild beat Rangers Friday and Islanders Sunday in New York.