[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Thursday, April 14th 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–This is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota. Today the National Weather Service will issue test tornado warnings at 1:45pm and again at 6:55pm. Outdoor warning sirens will activate at these times in many counties including Morrison County who will participate. As today the focus is on tornadoes, tomorrow will focus on issues related to extreme heat.
–On Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled a series of proposals to increase broadband access throughout Minnesota. The proposals total $35 million including $7 million dedicated to improving broadband access for Minnesota students through new, innovative grant programs. Representative Ron Kresha of Little Falls stated, “Because of innovation in education and health services, people in unserved and underserved areas in Minnesota are relying on adequate broadband speeds. Students, local governments, and main street businesses rely on increased broadband offerings to compete globally.” Of the $7 million of broadband funding in the supplemental education proposal, $5 million would be used as grants for broadband wifi hotspots, while $2 million would be allocated to build broadband capacity. Inner city, suburban, and rural districts can use the grants to purchase mobile hotspots for student use or provide wifi hotspots to adult education classes and displaced workers. School districts statewide can receive up to $100,000 for equipment and operating costs to improve broadband connectivity. Along with broadband education funding, Republicans proposed an additional $28 million for rural broadband expansion. Combined with federal Connect America Funds, Minnesotans will see a historic broadband infrastructure investment. The funding focuses on unserved and underserved areas, as well as areas with larger numbers of low-income households.
–Customers were asked to leave the Sartell Wal-Mart Supercenter for about half an hour Wednesday morning due to what police said was a false alarm from the store’s pressure valve alert system. The store’s system detected “a low pressure valve and fluctuating water flow,” which started an automated alarm that asked shoppers and employees to leave the store immediately. Sartell Police and Fire were dispatched to the store at 21 Stearns County Road 120. All employees and shoppers had been evacuated by the time authorities arrived on scene. Firefighters walked through the entire store before people were allowed to return. The evacuation started at about 10:15am. Customers were allowed to return to the store at 10:40am.
–The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota performs thier spring concert this weekend with music ranging from Phantom of the Opera to recent songs from Coldplay and jazz, rock and classical items with a night and stars theme. The concerts are Friday night 7pm at Holy Cross in Onamia, Saturday at 7pm at Pequot Lakes High School and Sunday at 3:30pm at Tornstrom Auditorium. The Friday and Sunday shows are $12 for adults and all students K-12 are free of charge.
–The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s department and Baxter Police are investgating a terroristic threat and for a time yesterday closed a portion of Highway 25 south of Brainerd. Authorities do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the public at this time.
–Little Falls Community School Superintendant Stephen Jones is expected to be an in studio guest on this mornings Up Front program at 9:05am on AM960 KLTF. Jones will discuss the upcoming referendum and issues brought up recently by callers regarding new students to the district.
–Minnesota DNR fire crews have been busy with grass fires across central Minnesota. Monday a grass fire burned about a half care on McKay just off Riverside Drive in Brainerd. The DNR is urging all to be mindful of burning restrictions and be aware that with warm and windy conditions through the weekend grass and wildfires can spark and spread very quickly.
–A Ponsford, Minnesota man has been found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl in the basement of his mother’s house. After a four-day jury trial in Becker County District Court, 40-year old Joseph Lee Bellanger was found guilty of two felony counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. On May 29th, 2015 White Earth Officers responded to the St. Mary’s ER on a report of a sexual assault. The officers talked with the 16-year-old, who reported that the night before Bellanger had sexually assaulted her. Sentencing for Bellanger is scheduled for May 27th.
–Two people were injured Wednesday morning in a rear-end collision on Interstate Highway 94. 43-year old Troy VanHorsen of Big Lake was driving east on I-94 around 9:20am when he moved from the left lane to the right lane. A vehicle driven by 46-year-old Salah Jama, of St. Cloud, was also going east in the right lane and rear-ended VanHorsen’s vehicle. VanHorsen and one of Jama’s passengers, 76-year-old Khadija Ibrahim, were taken to a Monticello hospital with injuries not consider life-threatening.
–The Becker mayor is suing the city and members of the City Council, accusing them of violating his free speech rights. An attorney for Jerome Kleis served notice of the lawsuit to be filed in Sherburne County against the city and council members Adam Oliver and Tracy Bertram. It seeks an injunction to lift censures the City Council passed against Kleis and restraints on his actions as mayor. The lawsuit asks for an injunction and damages in excess of $50,000.
–A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Highway 371 four lane expansion project will be at 2:00pm on Friday at the Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes. A seperate public open house is scheduled from 4:30-6:30pm tomorrow at the Cole Memorial Building in Pequot Lakes.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
–Cory Villnow and Jessica Stafki of Little Falls, a boy born April 11th
DEATH NOTICE
–Douglas Vogel, age 63 of Motley
–Doris C. Christenson, age 98 of Randall formerly Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and breezy, high 75. wind gusts 30-40mph.
TONIGHT= clear skies, breezy, low 48.
FRIDAY= sunny and breezy, high 71 wind gusts 30mph+
SAT/SUN= possible showers Sat high 70, Sunday high 58.
SPORTS
TWINS= White Sox beat Twins 3-0 Wednesday. The Twins (0-8) wrap up series with White Sox today at Target Field with a pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ. Twins announced Wednesday they have put Glen Perkins on the disabled list for what called a shoulder strain.
NHL= Wild open playoffs tonight at Dallas, puck drop at 8:30pm. Wild got bad news Wednesday that Zach Parise will be out indefinitely for the playoffs due what is called an upper body injury.
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