NEWS
--Curtis Robertson, adviser of the Upsala Robotics team and members from Swanville Robotics Team spoke on KLTF yesterday about the first central Minnesota Regional Robotics Competition on Friday through Sunday at Rivers Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud. The teams will create a robot which the students mentioned some do the building, others the coding for the brain of the robot to compete against other teams in gaming modes, in a large volleyball size area of the convention center against 54 other high schools and teams competing from Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Robertson said the teams that win will qualify to the International Robotics event later this month in Houston, Texas. The event is free for all 3 days to come and interact with the teams, walk on the floor during setups to see how they operate, set up is Friday, opening rounds begin at 8:30am Saturday and concludes with awards presentation after the finals on Sunday later afternoon into the evening. You are encouraged to come and root on the robotics teams at the event this weekend in St. Cloud. More details at fallsradio.com on the calendar.
--The St. Cloud Police Department says they have been informed of a scam involving public utilities. The Public Utilities Department says residents have received information regarding water quality or water update information through mailings. Investigators say these are similar to door hangings and mailings received in several other communities around the country. This is a scam. Police say do not contact the number on the mailings or door hangers or provide anyone with personal or financial information over the phone. The fake notices are meant to solicit responses which are fake, again these are NOT connected to the city.
--Officials say an employee of CentraCare Rice Hospital in Willmar was seriously injured earlier this week after being stabbed by a patient. According to the report, the incident took place on Monday in the emergency room. Authorities were called for assistance with a combative patient. Officers found an individual who had been in the hospital for an apparent mental health issue had produced a knife and had stabbed a CentraCare employee. The employee was injured but escaped to safety while the suspect was subdued by CentraCare Security, EMS and other Emergency Department staff. The CentraCare employee suffered serious injury and is undergoing treatment. Their current medical condition is unknown. The suspect has been identified as a 31-year-old male from Willmar. He’s being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on 1st and 2nd degree assault.
--A Dassel man facing 3rd Degree Burglary charges has now been charged in other burglary and arson incidents that took place last summer. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says 46-year-old Barry Klingelhoets has been charged with 3rd Degree Burglary and 1st Degree Arson for two incidents that happened at a home in Dassel Township. Authorities say a burglary at the home was reported on August 28th, and on September 11th the homeowner woke up in the middle of the night to find his truck on fire. The sheriff's office says the fire spread to the garage and damaged the home. As evidence from both incidents was processed at the Minnesota BCA lab, authorities say it became clear the two were connected. That evidence and surveillance video led to the charging of Klingelhoets. He was arrested back in December and booked into the Meeker County Jail after allegedly breaking into a warehouse in the 600 block of Pacific Avenue West. His next court appearance is in early May.
--The Little Falls Police Department stated back last Friday and this past Monday, their department along with the Morrison County Sheriff Office, Morrison County Dispatch, Pierz Fire Department, Royalton Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol conducted scenario-based training at the Little Falls Community High School. This opportunity for our Law Enforcement community to use the Little Falls High School for a couple of days was invaluable. Our agency was grateful to be involved in the scenario based training at the Little Falls High School. We credit all the instructors, role players and school staff for allowing this training to occur. Preparing officers to respond effectively and decisively in high-stress, life-threatening situations is critical. Pictures and posts of their training is available on the sheriff's and police Facebook pages.
--The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has fined a St. Cloud cabinet maker nearly $13,000. The MPCA says it has fined Alpine Cabinetry for mislabeling and improperly storing hazardous material, for failing to conduct weekly inspections, and for failing to properly train staff on how to handle and store hazardous waste. An MPCA inspection last August determined the company failed to properly contain hazardous waste and stored improperly labeled barrels of waste setting up the possibility the barrels could be tampered with or leak hazardous waste into the ground. In addition to the civil penalty of $12,933, Alpine Cabinetry must provide hazardous waste training for employees, clean up all hazardous waste spills, submit a management plan for how to prevent future spills, submit a plan on how the company will store the waste properly, and apply for an industrial stormwater permit.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kristy A. Yorek, age 71 of Little Falls formerly Shakopee.
--Morris L. Nelson, age 82 of Darling Township.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, less windy, high 51.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cooler night, low 25.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 51, low near 32.
SATURDAY= increasing clouds, breezy, high 56, rain/snow late night.
SUNDAY= AM snow, then rain likely, high 47, low 28 and windy.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins get back in the win column with a 5 run 7th inning to beat Milwaukee 7-3 yesterday. Twins host Cleveland in their home opener today at Target Field with a lot of pageantry planned for the game. Pregame coverage begins at 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= The Gopher Women's Basketball team has advanced to the finals of the WNIT Tournament with a 74-69 win over Troy last night. The Gophers will face St. Louis in the Championship on Saturday.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1818= Congress established that each new state will be given a star on the United States Flag, thought it remain with 13 stripes.
IN 1896= Gold is struck in the Yukon, the Alaska Gold Rush begins.
IN 1917= U.S. Senate agrees 82-6 to participate in World War I.
IN 1973= The World Trade Center opens in New York, both towers were destroyed in the September 11th 2001 terrorist attacks.