NEWS
--A flood warning is in effect through Monday night for the Mississippi River at Fort Ripley and also at Aitkin due to the recent rainfall and snow melt from last week. Flood stages will be high this weekend.
--Linden Hill Conference and Retreat Center on the grounds of the Musser and Weyerhauser Mansions will be hosting a 10,000 egg, Easter egg hunt Saturday morning at 11am. There will be no vehicles allowed on the grounds of Linden Hill so you will have to park on the roads around the facility. The event is free for all 12 years of age and under to participate and they will register at the event so that a head count on how many eggs each child can have is made. The Easter Bunny will also be there so bring the camera. Julia of Linden Hill stated also that the grounds may be a little soft so please dress appropriately for the event and volunteers will be on hand to make sure that the kids and adults stay on the marked areas for the hunt.
--A family member says two children who survived a house fire in Sherburne County that killed their father and two siblings have been released from the hospital. The uncle of the children's mother, Jim Tully says the surviving children, ages 7 and 9 years old, are back home following the April 12th fire that killed 1-year old Spencer Parker, 2-year old Landon Parker and 36-year old Anthony Parker. Investigators believe the father intentionally started the fire at the Big Lake home. The children's mother was not home at the time.
--Bishop Donald Kettler of the Diocese of St. Cloud has released a statement in response to Monday's devasting fire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. “I was deeply saddened Monday by the images I saw on television of flames engulfing Notre Dame Cathderal. I prayed throughout the day that Our Lady would intervene to save this beautiful church and that she would keep all the first-responders safe. My heart aches for what was lost. I remember visiting there on a few trips to France to pray and to be inspired by its art and architecture. The historical and cultural significance of Notre Dame to the people of France and the world can't be overstated. But, for me, and for so many other people of faith, Notre Dame is an 800-year-old reminder of the power of beauty to lead people to God. As we enter Holy Week and the most sacred days of the Church year, we remember that Good Friday isn't the end of the story. Easter brings the promise of new life. I am confident that there will be new life for Notre Dame Cathederal and all of the people of God who enter its doors. The interior of the Cathedral is a total loss but the structure appears intact. Its two rectangular towers and the great stone vault stands atop heavy walls supported by massive flying buttresses. An edifice built to last an eternity withstood its greatest test. Now, careful checks will be needed to determine whether the stones of the vaulted ceiling have been weakened and cracked by the heat. If so, the whole vault may need to be torn down and re-erected. The cathedral's exquisite stained-glass rose windows appear intact but are probably suffering "thermal shock" from intense heat followed by cold water, said Jenny Alexander, an expert on medieval art and architecture at the University of Warwick. That means the glass, set in lead, could have sagged or been weakened and will need minute examination. Once the building has been stabilized and the damage assessed, restoration work can begin. It's likely to be an international effort. One big decision will be whether to preserve the cathedral just as it was before the fire, or to take a more creative approach.
--The Little Falls Community High School Activities and Fine Arts Banquet will be held on Monday, May 6th at 6:30pm at the Falls Ballroom. This banquet is for senior varsity letter winners and fine arts students, their families and friends. Tickets are $15 and can be
purchased at the high school activities office by Thursday, April 25th.
--A reminder that the deadline for volunteers to sign up for the 9th Annual Day of Caring in Little Falls is tomorrow, April 19th. Although school is closed on Friday the best thing to do is to call today if you wish to volunteer by contacting Becky Abbott at the Little Falls Community High School at 616-2000. You can still call on Friday and leave a message if you wish to volunteer on May 9th.
--There will be a cleanup day for Agram, Buckman, Buh, Granite, Hillman, Leigh, Mt. Morris and Pierz Townships on Saturday, April 27th at the Rich Prairie Livestock Yard from 8 am-noon. Any questions can be directed to Loren at 468-6503.
--Police in Sartell are asking for the public's help in finding a suspect in a drive by shooting that happened last week. The incident happened on Thursday, April 11th just before 1:30pm on County Road 120 near Highway 15. Authorities say a 56-year old man was driving his car when another car pulled up to him and fired a shot at his car. The bullet was stopped by the door frame, and the man was able to take down the license plate number of the suspect vehicle. The suspect has been identified as 47-year old Gregory Parker and the suspect vehicle is a black Mazda 5 Hatchback with Minnesota license plates BDH-158. Parker faces 2nd degree assault and dangerous weapon charges and is considered to be dangerous. Police say he has been known to stay at places in Sartell, Blaine, and St. Michael. If you have any information you are asked to call the Sartell Police Department at (320) 251-8186.
--A Minneapolis woman made her television debut on Tuesday on one of the Food Network's hit shows. Janene Holig, will be one of the chefs on the show "Chopped". The show features four chefs, competing in three different rounds until one is left standing. Holig, who is originally from Swanville. She says the show presented many challenges for her, especially from the ingredients she had to use in each dish, however she learned a lot from the judges critiques.
Holig's episode of Chopped aired last night and can now be seen on the Food Network's website.
--Join AM960 KLTF Friday for the Good Friday Service from Grace Covenant Church in Little Falls at noon.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mark S. Waldoch, age 63 of Cushing.
WEATHER
TODAY= morning showers, PM sunshine, high 54.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, low around 30.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high around 60, clear night, low near 40.
SATURDAY= sunny and warm, breezy, high near 70, low 48.
EASTER= sunny and cooler, breezy, high 57, low around 35.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins win with quick scoring last night and the pitching staff holds the lead 4-1 over the Blue Jays. The Twins wrap up series with Toronto today, pregame begins at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
HS SB= Royalton at Pierz today at 4pm on FM94 KFML.