NEWS
--Tami Klucas at Family Assistance Center at Camp Ripley stated that effective end of the business day today the Military Family Assistance Centers nationwide will be temporarily closed due to a lapse in contract. During this time all of the Minnesota FAC calls will be forwarded to the MN National Guard State Family Programs Director so that people can still receive assistance. For assistance please contact: (612) 618-6927 or 1 (888) 234-1274. Tami stated they are hopeful that the new contract will be awarded soon and that FAC staff will be back in their offices before the end of February.
--Congratulations to the Little Falls girls and boys nordic ski teams as they have advanced to the State Tournament next week at Biwabik. The girls team of Kendall Hendrickson, Christy Masog, Nicolett Gamon Deering, Molly Lange, Alice Foote, Savanna Slettom and Catherine Zak finished first at sections Tuesday with Kendal the overall champion and Christy and Nicolett finishing 4th and 5th. The boys team finished 2nd behind Brainerd but also qualified for the state meet for their team of Hunter Zupko, Colton Yorek, Seth Crocker, Cormac Shanoff, Jackson Grant, Colton Gottwalt and Isaac Jackson. Zupko was the overall boys champion with Yorek finishing 6th. Good luck to the skiers next Thursday February 16th in Biwabik at State.
--Members of the Little Falls Community High School band program participated in the Section Solo and Ensemble Contest on February 1st at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School. Isaac Olson with a flute solo and Jordyn Waldoch as a tuba soloist received best in site scores including a perfect score for Isaac Olson. Eight soloists received Superior ratings including Isaac Olson, Jordyn Waldoch, Angela Meschke, Lucas Burr, Mitchell Schirmers, Tyler Moore, Logan Schuett and Morgan Nelson. A 41 member non Jazz Band ensemble received a superior rating. It was also the 22nd consecutive year the Jazz ensemble I consisting of 25 members received a superior rating.
--The White House has released a list of 78 attacks it describes as “executed or inspired by” the Islamic State group. The White House says most did not get sufficient attention. The Crossroads Center mall stabbings that injured 10 people in September of last year is included on the list. Dahir Adan was killed in the attack by an off duty police officer from Avon. Special Agent with the FBI Rick Thornton said shortly after the incident Adan may have become radicalized recently and that the attack likely was premeditated.
--Two people were hurt when a pickup and a car collided. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on Highway 10, in Todd County, east of Staples. A pickup driven by 70-year-old Robert Hamann of Staples was in the median, crossed over, and failed to yield to a westbound car. Hamann was not hurt. The car was driven by 25-year-old Misty Mahto of Brainerd. She was taken to Staples Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, two-year-old Jaxson Dause of Brainerd, was also taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a candelight ski and snowshoe event Saturday 5:30-8:30 at the refuse southeast of Little Falls but stated yesterday on KLTF that due to the lack of snow, the event may turn into a candlelight hike through the woods on Saturday. The hike is free for all to come with refreshements and a bonfire to follow the event on Saturday night. If you have questions all the refuge at 632-1575.
--The Little Falls Fire Department responded to a structure fire Monday night in Fort Ripley. Around 6:40pm 15-Little Falls firefighters responded to the residence on the 2800 block of Lawson Road off Highway 371 north of Fort Ripley between Brainerd and Little Falls. A Crow Wing County Sheriff's deputy and a North Memorial Ambulance personnel used a fire extinguisher and put out the fire before firefighters arrived to the manufactured home near Mud Lake, to stop the fire from spreading. However, the fire rekindled and firefighters needed to battle the fire too. The fire was contained in the bathroom. The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is not suspicious. The homeowner, Jeffery D. Olson, was the only occupant of the home and he was able to get out safely.
--The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in finding a 16-year-old girl who's considered a runaway. The girl, Lucia Tiahre Garcia, was last seen about noon on January 27th at Perham High School, and she did not return home that evening. She's described as 5-foot-5, 105 pounds and Hispanic, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing jeans, short brown boots and a white winter jacket with a fur-lined hood. If she's not in Otter Tail County, she may be in the Alexandria area. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Ottertail County Sheriff's Office at (218) 998-8555.
--Brainerd Public Schools announced that special education teacher, Sue Sorensen, has been named the Minnesota Association of Career and Technical Education/Special Needs Personnel (MnACTE/SNP) Teacher of the Year 2017. Sorensen was nominated by her coworker, Twila Ehrich-Belton. Sorenson has been with Brainerd Public Schools for more than 16 years at Lincoln Education Center where she teaches classes in Occupational Skills and Career Exploration.
--On Monday, House Speaker Kurt Daudt appointed District 9B Representative Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, to the Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. The task force was created to look for legislative solutions to improve Minnesota’s child welfare system. The task force is made up of legislators from both parties.
--The Mississippi Valley Cattleman's Association Annual meeting is this Friday at the Pierz Ballroom at 7:30pm. A representative from Central MN Renewables will speak about the Little Falls Green Biologics and there will be the Crowning of the 2017 MVCA Beef Princess. The silent auction has been a main fundraiser for a number of years. The Mississippi Valley Cattleman's Association uses those funds to provide opportunities for youth in agriculture, promote beef and develop ag learning for their members and the beef community at large. For more information call Darv at 630-6337.
DEATH NOTICE
--Clarence Yanta, age 94 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny, high 15, cloudy night temps rise into 20s.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, windy, high 42, low around 25.
SATURDAY= partial sun, high 40, rain/snow at night, low 28.
SUNDAY= snow shower early, then sunny, high 35.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Maple Lake at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
COL BB= Gophers beat Iowa 101-89 last night, Gophers 17-7.