[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 21st 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Little Falls Police Department has had a variety of responses this month. They continue to receive word of different types of scams. Also a high number of burglary and thefts have been reported this month. There was a blend of burglaries at both residences and businesses. Amongst the incidents include the Little Falls football field was broken into and the Flyer concession stand was entered and damage done inside the building. Police continue to request area residents to report suspicious activity as it comes up.
–One of the fires earlier this week on Monday was reportedly suppressed within two hours but actually burned for nine hours in total. The Little Falls Fire Department was on scene for two hours at the swamp fire Monday that started about 9:00am. However, the DNR accompanied by US Fish and Wildlife Service continued to battle the blaze until around 6:00pm Monday. There were no injuries. No structures were lost and a pine plantation was saved. 90 acres were burned in the swamp fire Monday.
–A crash Wednesday at 8:18am injured the two drivers. 82-year old Damus Matros of Longville was leaving the Crow Wing Power parking area getting onto highway 371 when his truck was struck by a car travelling north on Highway 371 driven by 22-year old Brittney Boeder of Brainerd. According to the State Patrol both drivers sustained non life threatening injuries from the broadside collission.
–The disc golf course at Lum Park will be closed for the next few weeks as construction on the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport utility extension project has begun. Heavy equipment has moved onto the course and a number of trees are being cut down and removed. There will be a large trench dug, starting at Hole 4 and traversing toward Highway 210. Lum Park Road remains open, but park users should slow down and use caution as they enter and exit Lum Park.
–Minnesota’s oldest state park turned 125 on Wednesday. Itasca State Park, home of the Mississippi Headwaters, totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Visitors can walk across the Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico or stand beneath towering pines at Preacher’s Grove to take a virtual tour, stand at the headwaters, go inside Douglas Lodge and get a bird’s eye view from an observation tower. Birthday celebrations included more than 200 fourth-graders from Bagley and Park Rapids elementary schools singing “Happy Birthday.” Itasca State Park was established on April 20, 1891.
–Police arrested a St. Cloud man early Tuesday after a 24-year-old man said he was assaulted with a golf club. Police were called around 2:00am to the scene on Ninth Street South. 24-year old Isiah Oluwasheun Ero-Phillips is being held in Stearns County Jail on possible charges of second-degree assault and terroristic threats. St. Cloud police say the victim reported that Ero-Phillips also threatened to kill him. The victim refused medical treatment at the scene.
–Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County invites everyone to participate in the groundbreaking of their seventeenth home in Morrison County on Monday, May 2nd at 6:30pm in Little Falls. The address is 14498 Oak Ridge Drive in Little Falls. People interested in volunteering on the house are encouraged to attend. To find out more, please call the Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County office today at (320) 616-2084.
–Get advance tickets for Pierz Freedom Fest at LF Radio today 8-5.
–Motorists may encounter delays as two ramps at the Highway 15/Stearns County Road 1 intersection in Sartell close beginning Monday. After 7:00pm Monday, the ramp from northbound Highway 15 to eastbound County Road 1 will temporarily close, and the ramp from eastbound County Road 1 to southbound Highway 15 will temporarily close. Both ramps are scheduled to open in mid-May. Another note for motorists is those on Interstate 94 and Highway 15 in St. Cloud, and on I-94 between St. Cloud and Collegeville, may encounter delays as a series of lane closures begin Friday. Eastbound I-94 at Highway 15 will be reduced to a single lane and shifted to the single auxiliary lane at the I-94/Highway 15 interchange. The closure, which will be in place through May 26th, is needed while crews resurface and repair the eastbound I-94 bridge spanning Highway 15. Motorists who travel southbound Highway 15 to eastbound I-94 during peak travel times should seek alternate routes and stagger travel times to avoid morning rush hours, if possible. Beginning Monday, I-94 between Highway 23, west of St. Cloud, and County Road 159, near Collegeville, will be reduced intermittently to a single lane. The closures are needed while crews build temporary crossover lanes as part of a project to resurface six miles of I-94.
–Staff from the Department of Commerce, the Public Utilities Commission and Enbridge/North Dakota Pipeline Company will be hosting public comment meetings including one in Little Falls regarding the proposed Sandpiper Pipeline which will run through Northwest Minnesota. These public meetings will provide Minnesotans an opportunity to learn more about the proposed projects, as well as ask questions and provide input. The meeting in Little Falls is Tuesday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Falls Ballroom.
NATIONAL NEWS
–Treasury Secretary Jack Lew annnounced yesterday that Alexander Hamilton will stay on the front of the $10 bill while women’s voting rights activists will go on the back of the bill and former President Andrew Jackson will be replaced on the front of the $20 bill by anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman. The changes are expected to take place before 2020. There is also going to be changes to the logo and other items on the $5 bill but Abraham Lincoln will remain on it.
DEATH NOTICES
–Joseph A. Duberstein, age 73 of Hillman.
–Verlyn “Vern” Metcalf Sr., age 84 of Onamia.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 60.
TONIGHT= clear skies, colder, low 33- scattered frost possible.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 58, clear night low 40.
SATURDAY= sunny, afternoon showers, high near 70, low 50.
SUNDAY= showers and storms likely high 52, low 37.
SPORTS
TWINS= Brewers win 10-5 over Twins last night. Twins and Brewers today 12pm pregame to wrap up series on Q92 WYRQ.
NHL= Dallas beat Wild 3-2 to take a 3-1 lead in best of 7 series. Game 5 is in Dallas on Friday night.
WOLVES= the Timberwolves have agreed to name Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach and Scott Layden as new General Manager.
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