NEWS
--The Little Falls City Council met on Tuesday. At the meeting the council approved the streets and water addition just south of Edmund Street to the Sunrise 3 addition for future housing development potential. The property owners will be assessed the cost. The council approved the Mayor's appointment of James Birchem to the Planning Commission. The council also approved amending the city's advertising bench fees to $40 per year per bench. This is the amount the city gets from the franchise they have an agreement with, not the total cost that potential advertisers would pay which would be far more. Marcus Fruechte was approved to be hired as a park maintenace worker. The Little Falls City Council meets again Monday, March 2nd at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Officials are monitoring air quality since a fire in Becker early on Tuesday. Fifteen fire departments worked at the Northern Metals Recycling plant and were called back to smoldering debris Tuesday night from 6pm to after midnight. Firefighters were expected to remain at the site throughout the day Wednesday. The city has requested help from the National Guard, the state Pollution Control Agency and health department to assist with making sure the fires are out. No structures were damaged. Police have told residents with respiratory problems who live near the plant to stay inside or in well-ventilated areas. Water quality checks have been completed at the site and no harmful chemicals were detected. On Tuesday it was reported the smoke from the debris burning could be seen and smelt in St. Cloud and Waite Park so breathing issues likely expanded in a farther radius from the metals plant in Becker.
--On Tuesday Governor Tim Walz announced the appointment of Corey Harbott as District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. Harbott’s appointment fills a vacancy that occurred upon the retirement of the Honorable Paul E. Rasmussen. He will be chambered at Warren in Marshall County. Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District consists of Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau Counties.
--The city of St. Cloud will be asking the legislature for authority to collect an additional half-cent sales to help pay for the Municipal Athletic Complex renovations and four street construction projects. If approved, St. Cloud residents will then vote the measure up or down in the November election. City Administrator Matt Staehling says to be clear, this request is an increase to the existing sales tax, not an extension. It would be a one-cent sales tax in total. Half of it would be allocated under the old law which is regional, the six cities including St. Cloud, and allocated for regional projects. The difference in the new law is that we had to pick five specific projects and justify their regional significance. The projects identified for that additional half-cent include Stearns County Road 136 from Cooper Avenue to 25th Avenue North, 3rd Street North from Highway 15 to downtown St. Cloud, Lincoln Avenue, and 16th Street South from near the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center across Clearwater Road and connecting to County Road 75. The sales tax would also help pay for renovations to the Municipal Athletic Complex. St. Cloud voters need to approve both the tax and the identified projects even if the legislature grants approval takes place.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--In order to repair the water main on 1st Street SE the water will be shut off from approximately 8am-5pm on Monday February 24th on 1st Street SE from 6th Avenue SE to Cherry Avenue; on 6th Avenue SE from Highland Avenue to 2nd Street SE and on 7th Avenue SE from Highland Ave to 1st Street SE. Any questions can be directed to Little Falls City Hall at 616-5500.
--From the week of February 5th-11th the Little Falls Police Department responded to numerous traffic stops, alarms, scams, theft and fraud cases. On February 11th officers responded to two seperate counterfeit bills being passed in Little Falls only hours apart from eachother. Law enforcement continues to encourage the public to report when you witness any suspicious activity.
--Wright County authorities are investigating a fatal crash that happened near Buffalo. Authorities responded to a two vehicle crash in the area of County Road 35 and Eaken Avenue Northeast around 9:30pm Tuesday. The sheriff's office says 26-year-old Sarah Robole, of River Falls, Wisconsin, was heading east on County Road 35 when she crossed the center line and hit another vehicle head-on. Robole was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center for multiple injuries. The driver of the second vehicle, 60-year-old Gary Wagner of Buffalo, was pronounced dead at the scene. There have been no arrests and no charges filed at this time in this case.
--6th District U.S. Representative Tom Emmer will host a town hall meeting in Benton County Friday. The congressman is holding this town hall in the Foley City Hall council chambers starting at 7pm. Emmer says by holding these meetings, he's fulfilling a promise to remain accountable and accessible to the people of the 6th District.
--Pine Grove Zoo Gone Wild event is next Friday (February 28th) at the Falls Ballroom with social at 6pm and show at 8pm with the Dueling Pianos. Tickets are $48 and there are only a few left so best to call today at 616-5595 to get yours from the Zoo. Also at the event Marnita of the Zoo will announce the new animal that will make its home this year Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls so find out next Friday.
--Little Falls Radio was informed that meal tickets for the Mardi Gras event in Randall are all sold out for Friday night in Randall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Christopher and Lisa Bertram of Holdingford had a baby girl.
DEATH NOTICE
--Echo G. Kowalzek, age 95 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 18.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low 6 early, rising toward morning.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, breezy, high 36, low around 11.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 40, low around 26.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 37, low around 13 above.
SPORTS
HS GBB= St. Cloud Apollo at Little Falls tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS BBB= Milaca at Pierz tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1792= the U.S. Postal Service started operations, postage 6-cents.
IN 1929= Major League Baseball gave the OK for teams to play games on Sundays for the first time in the upcoming season.