NEWS
--Tony Housey from Camp Ripley stated yesterday on KLTF that the recent biathlon at Camp Ripley went every well with many teams from the United States competing, even with three of the better teams in China last week for the Olympics. Housey said that training will continue through the next few months at the base and you may hear a few booms now and then while training is going on. All is hopeful that the Norex- Norwegian Exchange can be done late next month at the end of the March where soldiers from Norway will come to Camp Ripley and around 100 from Camp Ripley will head overseas to Norway to take in training and their culture. Housey said stay tuned for more details on that. Housey said you can always check on what is happening at Camp Ripley through their social media pages, the National Guard website or call him at 616-3122 at Camp Ripley.
--Tuesday's round of snow and wind had emergency crews working hard. The Minnesota State Patrol says they responded to 452 crashes statewide between 5:00am Tuesday and 7:30am Wednesday. 44 people were hurt in those crashes. Troopers helped with another 220 vehicles that spun out and went into the ditch.
--66-year-old John Ulrick of Hillman, announced he will run for the Minnesota House District 10B seat, currently open in the newly-created district. A retired Army officer, Ulrick served for 32 years and retired as a chief warrant officer 4 on his 60th birthday. He completed four overseas combat deployments. He and his wife raised a blended family of 10 and run a 280-acre farm in Lakin Township, Morrison County. A pro-life conservative, Ulrick said he will support and defend the Constitution. High on his priority list is bureaucracy oversight. Ulrick said he looks forward to working on such issues as energy, transportation, agriculture, criminal justice, veteran support, tax reform, the budget and health care. District 10B will be the southern half of Morrison County from Upsala through Royalton and into Hillman then into some of the portions of Benton, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Kannebec counties. District 10A will be Little Falls and areas north and east and the northwestern part of the county from Scandia Valley to Motley will now be in District 5B which will begin following the November general elections.
--Calm weather, sunshine and excellent snow conditions over the long weekend brought out a significant number of snowmobilers to Cass County trails leading four snowmobile crashes Thursday through Sunday resulting in injuries. Two were in the Backus area, one in Pine River, one in rural Brainerd. Please use caution on snowmobile trails.
--The Brainerd Fire Department responded to both a multi-vehicle crash and assisted in response to a structure fire late last week. The pileup crash was reported 11:55am Friday, in the area of Hole-in-the-Day Bay and Highway 371, north of Baxter where nearly 20 vehicles were involved, they had to help in extricating one driver with non serious injuries. Firefighters responded to a call for mutual aid from the Little Falls Fire Department at 9:54pm Thursday on the 5200 block of South Killian Road in Fort Ripley Township. The fire was extinguished with no injuries. At 7:36 am. Friday to the intersection of See Gull Road and Highway 371 to assist with traffic at a crash scene. At 2:52 pm. Thursday to Teeny Bubbles Child Care, 17140 Highway 371, for a fire alarm. Upon investigation, it was determined to be a false alarm. At 11 am. Thursday to the 7000 block of Clearwater Road for a report of a gas smell. Upon investigation, it was determined to be unfounded.
--remember you can stream all 3 LF Radio Stations at fallsradio.com.
--The family of Westside Liquor founder and owner Bob Feuling says he died Monday morning. According to the Westside Liquor Bob Feuling bought West Side Bar in Little Falls in 1979 and opened a small liquor store. A few years later, Bob and his new bride Linda bought a vacant grocery store nearby and opened the current 6,500 square foot store. Since then they have expanded to Waite Park, Sauk Centre, St. Cloud and in the past years to Willmar, Albertville, Sartell, and Baxter. Bob Feuling was 86 years old.
--CentraCare's Paynesville Hospital is getting set for a major expansion. The $28-million project is part of CentraCare's commitment to improving the future of health care in the communities they serve. Paynesville Hospital joined the CentraCare Health Care System in 2013, several core improvements to the campus were identified to help enhance patient care for the future. The major components of the project include: New main hospital entrance with covered canopy drop-off, spacious lobby, and private waiting area; New In-patient hospital wing, with traditional, acuity adaptable and universal patient rooms (used for procedures and surgical recovery) along with labor and delivery rooms, in-patient rehabilitation therapy and a family waiting area; New Emergency Department with trauma, procedure, and behavioral health spaces; Re-located helipad for retention of Life Link transfers; New conference spaces for employee and public meetings. The project will be completed in two phases, with each phase taking roughly 11 months to complete. The new project, which will be constructed to west side of the campus, will include some remodeled space and new construction. They hope to break ground in late April and complete the project sometime in 2024. Long Prairie had this done in 2017.
--The Pine Grove Zoo is excited to announce that the new animal at the Zoo this year announced last week at Pine Grove Zoo Gone Wild is a sloth to their animal family. The newest family member will be arriving in March. The Zoo is planning on opening for the season on Thursday, April 14th, 2022.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, light snow in afternoon, high 10 above.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, cold temps, low -18.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 8 above, low 0 early then rising.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, windy, warmer, high 28, low 4 above.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, not as windy, high 24, low around +3.
SPORTS=
HS BHK= Little Falls beat Sauk-Rapids Rice 6-2 last night in section quarterfinal hockey. Little Falls vs. Monticello in semi-finals Saturday.
GHK= good luck to the Brainerd/Little Falls girls hockey team in action tonight vs. Andover in the State Tournament in St. Paul.
HS BBB= Little Falls at Foley tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Wisconsin beat Gophers 68-67 in a close one last night.
VIKINGS= Vikings announced that new head coach Kevin O'Connell has hired Wes Phillips as the new offensive coordinator. Phillips recently worked as tight ends coach and passing game coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Phillips is also the son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator and former head coach Wade Phillips, and grandson of the legendary Bum Phillips who was head coach with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints. O'Connell made it clear during his introduction last week that he will be calling the plays for the Vikings, but Phillips should play a key role in the evolution of the team's new offense.