NEWS --The Little Falls Exchange Club has announced that Mary Larson is this years Book of Golden Deeds Award Winner. The Book of Golden Deeds is an award to honor men and women who have unselfishly rendered service to the community, usually without recognition. These are every day folks who have given of their times and talents to simply help others. The banquet will be on Thursday, May 3rd at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. There will be a 6:00pm social with the dinner at 7:00pm and a program to follow. To RSVP for the dinner and banquet call Mark Gerbi at 632-5425 by April 28th. Congratulations to Mary Larson, this years recipient of the Little Falls Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management wants to remind everyone that Severe Weather Awareness Week is next week April 9th-13th. On Thursday, April 12th, Morrison County will be participating in the Statewide Tornado Drill with sirens being activated at 1:45pm and 6:45pm. Outdoor warning sirens and NOAA Weather Radios will sound in a simulated tornado warning. The tornado drills allow everyone in the community to practice their emergency plans for tornadoes. The first drill is intended for institutions and businesses. The evening drill is intended for second shift workers and families. Each day of the week highlights an important seasonal weather safety topic: Monday- Alerts and Warnings; Tuesday- Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail; Wednesday- Floods; Thursday- Tornadoes and Friday- Extreme Heat. They encourage everyone to be informed and prepared.
--Morrison County Sheriff’s Office wants everyone to know that National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 8-14th. Emergencies can occur at any time that requires police, fire or emergency medical services. 911 Dispatchers are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services. The 911 Dispatcher gathers essential information from callers and dispatches the appropriate first responders to the scene. They have to take control of situations which may be chaotic, stressful and sometimes heart-wrenching. 911 Dispatchers are the unseen heroes who are committed to keeping our first responders and community safe. Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is fortunate to have a team of dedicated 911 Dispatchers. Morrison County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank each of their 911 Dispatchers for their service to their agency and community.
--A Colorado man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a St. Cloud home in the summer of 2016. 21-year old Ryan Rees of Bailey, Colorado pleaded guilty to one count of 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim between 13-15 years old. Rees was 19-years old at the time of the assault. In exchange for his guilty plea, another criminal sexual conduct charge involving a helpless victim has been dismissed. Rees will be sentenced June 11th.
--An 18-year old was injured Tuesday night around 7:40pm in an accident in Benton County. Cheuset Taruel of Brooklyn Park was on Highway 10 at 115th Street near the train tracks at Rice when he went off the roadway and struck the tracks causing the vehicle to roll over. Taruel was able to escape the vehicle. Shortly after the car was struck by an oncoming train. Taruel was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. No one on the train was injured.
--The Heartland Symphony Orchestra perform: The Essence of Spring Saturday night at 7:30pm in the Little Falls Community High School.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl would like to make the public aware of a recent scam taking place in our area. Within the past two days, the Sheriff’s Office has received three separate reports of a male calling area residents stating there is a warrant for their arrest and instructs the person on how to pay by credit, debit or cash card to avoid being arrested. This scam may appear to be realistic, as the caller uses the name of one of their licensed peace officers. If you receive this type of a call, simply hang up. Incidents such as these should be reported to the Sheriff’s Office by calling (218) 829-4749. Sheriff Dahl says, “these scams can seem very real. We will not call you seeking payment. A good rule of thumb is to only provide personal information when you make the phone call to a known business or organization.”
--The Stearns County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call of a structure fire located at 28420 Sauk Valley Road in St. Martin Township just after 4:00am Wednesday. A small barn was partially engulfed in flames. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. The small barn housed several goats, chickens, miscellaneous tools and lawn equipment. The homeowners believe a homemade goat hut caught fire. Both homemade goat huts contained heat lamps. The homeowners believe all of the goats and chickens were saved. The barn is believed to be a total loss. There were no injuries reported.
--St. Cloud Technical and Community College security learned about two stolen campus vehicles last Thursday. An unmarked, 12-passenger van with state license plates was stolen Wednesday. It was reported missing Thursday. Athletics and other college programs use the van. It was left unlocked with the keys in it. It's not standard policy to leave the keys in state vehicles on campus. A laboratory assistant reported another missing vehicle later in the day Thursday, which was a parts truck. That 1989 GMC Sierra turned up Monday at an impound lot. It had been towed and the St. Cloud police contacted the technical and community college about the truck. If you have any information on either theft, or the whereabouts from the van taken contact the St. Cloud Police Department or college authorities.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Jonathan Giessinger & Michelle Zimmerman of Little Falls, girl 3-30 --Jordan and Anna Schutz of Pierz, boy on April 2nd
DEATH NOTICES –-Jackalyn “Pookie” Wilwerding, age 27 of Freeport. --Beverly Tatro, age 90 of Pierz.
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, snow after 4pm, high 31. TONIGHT= snow in evening, 1 inch, then clearing, low 10. FRIDAY= sunny and very windy, cold, high 21, low near 0. SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 28, low around 4 above. SUNDAY= snow likely, 3-6 inches possible, high near 30.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins beat Pittsburgh 7-3 Wednesday. Twins host Seattle today in the coldest home opener in the history of Target Field (2010) and could be the coldest opener since 1962 when the game time temp was 31 degrees. Pregame at 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.