NEWS
--The city of Little Falls will soon decide how to move forward with garbage pickup. The choice is between an all cart (with wheels) or hybrid cart and bag collection system. A recent survey with roughly 40% of residents responding had a 51-49% feedback in favor of the all cart system. The close response is tough for council members because a hybrid system is the least cost effective choice because of operational inefficiencies. The issue will be brought up at tonight's city council meeting. Residents are encouraged to contact their council members or mayor with their feedback before the decision tonight. If you wish to speak at the council meeting you are asked to please arrive before 6:15pm and you may speak during the public forum at the beginning of the work session. They request that you provide your name and address, and keep your comments to 3 minutes or less. Proposed bin sizes are 32 and 64 gallon carts. Recycling will continue and not change.
--Nearly two and half years ago Marc Welzant went missing in Brainerd and has not been seen since. Welzant would have turned 50 Friday and his 10 siblings sadly don't know where their next step will be. Welzant left a developmental group home in Brainerd on October 26th, 2014. He was seen later that day on video cameras at a gas station blocks away and then nothing since. Searches across Brainerd and near the river have turned up nothing. The family has put together non-profit searches. Another one is set for April 22nd throughout the Brainerd lakes area where Welzant went missing. If anyone knows anything about the disappearance of Welzant, please contact the Brainerd Police Department at (218) 829-2805.
--JC Penney's has announced they are closing 138 stores nationwide including eight in Minnesota. The JC Penney's in Baxter will close but the location in St. Cloud will remain open.
--A 19-year old man from Hutchinson was hurt in a single vehicle crash. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at 12:45pm Thursday on Highway 4 near Spring Hill in Stearns County. Alan Stone was going south when his car left the road and rolled into the ditch. He was hospitalized for non life-threatening injuries.
--Motorists who travel the Highway 27 bridge over Interstate 94, south of Osakis, will encounter a detour and, potentially, significant delays when the bridge closes next Monday. Signed detours will direct motorists to the I-94/Highway 29 interchange, located 11.5 miles west of Highway 27 in Alexandria, or to the I-94/County Road 46 interchange, located 4.5 miles east of Highway 27 near West Union. The closures are needed while crews redeck, repair and resurface the Highway 27 bridge; repair and resurface both bridge approaches; and resurface all four interchange ramps. When complete, the project will extend the life of the bridge and improve the road’s ride quality. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org.
--St. Cloud firefighters extinguished a car fire shortly after 10:00am Friday at First Fuel Bank at 3110 Seventh Street North. The vehicle was near pumps, raising concerns about explosions. After the owner of the car 77-year old Frank Pallansch of St. Cloud finished fueling, he noticed the car's windows turning black. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The owner of First Fuel Bank, arrived on scene after the fire was extinguished and shut off the gas pumps. At least one of the gas pumps was damaged by the fire.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported two people were killed Saturday around 7:20am on Highway 10 at St. Germain Street in St. Cloud when a taxi-van stopped at the red light and was struck from behind by a semi-truck. Sixty-six-year-old driver Thomas Findlay of Sartell and 22-year-old passenger Emily Letourneau of Big Lake both died in the crash. A second passenger, 24-year-old Marche Price of New Hope was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with life threatening injuries. She was not wearing her seatbelt. The driver of the semi was 61-year-old James Cockram of Owatonna. He was not hurt.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9:00am in the government center boardroom. Agenda items include reports from the Airport Commission, Sheriff, social services, public health and extension offices, and discuss county board warrants.
--Minnesota leads the nation once again in voter turnout for a presidential election. It's the second consecutive presidential election that the state had the most voters going to the polls, and the eighth time in the past nine presidential elections. Nonprofit VOTE and the US Election Project compiled the numbers. About 75 percent of eligible voters in Minnesota cast ballots in the 2016 election. Nationwide, about 60 percent of eligible voters went to the polls for the presidential election. That's up one percentage point from 2012.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, Eden Valley Police, Eden Valley rescue and Watkins Ambulance were dispatched to a one vehicle rollover on County Road 34 in Eden Lake Township Friday around 2:30pm. 60-year old Theresa Kirkpatrick of Paynesville, was westbound on CSAH 34 when she swerved to miss an animal that was crossing the roadway. Kirkpatrick left the roadway, went into the ditch, and rolled over. Her vehicle came to rest on its roof. Theresa and her 3 year old granddaughter Magnolia Czech had to be taken to a hospital in St. Cloud with minor injuries. The driver was not hurt.
--The State Patrol responded to two accidents about 45 minutes apart on Interstate 94 near Sauk Centre Saturday morning. In all 4 people were hospitalized from the 5 vehicles involved in the two accidents. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Legendary rock and roll singer Chuck Berry died Saturday. Berry rose to fame in the 1950s with songs like Maybelline, Johnny B. Goode, Roll over Beethoven and many more. Berry was 90.
DEATH NOTICES
--James 'Big Jim' Witucki, age 78 of Little Falls
--Winnifred E. Harrison, age 99 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high near 50.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cooler, low near 20.
TUESDAY= sunny and cooler, high 35, low around 14.
WEDNESDAY= sunny, high 40, rain/snow mix by nightfall.
SPORTS
HOK= Penn State beat the Gophers 4-3 in double overtime Friday in the Big 10 Tournament. Penn State then beat Wisconsin in double overtime Saturday to win first Big 10 Tournament Title.
GBB= four champions crowned Saturday in girls hoops. Goodhue in Class A, Roseau in AA, Orono in AAA and Elk River in Class 4A.