NEWS
--A St. Cloud man was hurt in a crash on Highway 10. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 5pm Tuesday in Haven Township. 52-year-old Chad Madison was driving east when lost control of his vehicle and it went into the ditch. Madison was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--St. John’s Abbey has a new leader. The monastic community has elected Abbot Douglas Mullin as the 11th abbot of St. John’s, succeeding Abbot John Klassen, who just retired at age 75. Abbot Douglas was born in Laredo, Texas in 1954 and was accepted by St. John’s Abbey in 1979. He was ordained a priest in 2007. Abbot Douglas served as Vice President of Student Affairs at St. John’s University and as the chaplain at the Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud before being elected Tuesday afternoon. The blessing of Abbot Douglas will take place January 28th, 4pm in the Abbey and University Church of St. John the Baptist in Collegeville. The blessing will be presided over by Diocese Bishop Patrick Neary.
--The dates have been announced for the Central Minnesota Farm Show. It’s at the River’s Edge Convention Center on February 27th and 28th. Organized by the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Show features a large exhibitor floor, educational speakers, prizes, and more, including free donuts, cookies, coffee, and networking with attendees from all over central Minnesota. The hours are 9am to 4pm on Tuesday and from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday.
Allen Brinkman is the co-chair of the Central MN Farm Show planning committee. “The Farm Show is a great way to learn more about the agriculture industry, check out the latest equipment and technology, and discover farm resources all in one place,” Brinkman said. He encourages farmers and anyone interested in the agriculture industry to come and check it out. “No matter how involved you are in farming, we have a lot of great things to offer at the Farm Show,” Travis Theis said. Theis is the other co-chair of the Central MN Farm Show. “We give out agriculture scholarships to students, host educational sessions, and have over 200 exhibitor booths for attendees to visit.” Admission is free, and the public is welcome.
--A farmer will be okay after getting trapped inside a grain bin. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened Tuesday just before 11:30am near Parkers Prairie. Sixty-four-year-old Marvin Ost of Parkers Prairie was in a shed that stores corn when he became submerged up to his chest. He was on top of the corn pile working with a grain vacuum hose when a caller 25-year-old Robert Swenson of Parkers Prairie said was near a tractor beside the shed operating the grain bin vacuum and had noticed the vacuum slowed down and appeared to be blocked. Swenson went to check on Ost in the shed and found him submerged up to his chest in the corn. Ost was taken to the hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
--The Upstage Players present Bingo Spells Murder Friday and Saturday night dinner theater at St. Mary's Church in Upsala (tickets had to be prepurchased already for those shows). There is also a dessert show at 2pm Sunday at St. Mary's Church for $10 and that one is tickets are sold only at the door to come and enjoy the show Sunday afternoon in Upsala. Details at fallsradio.com and click on the community calendar for information on the event.
--Monday is the Federal Holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A reminder that many offices, schools, banks and post offices are likely to be closed on Monday so plan ahead for this this weekend.
--A 14-year-old girl is in custody after authorities in northeastern Minnesota say she attacked a fellow student with a weapon Tuesday morning. It happened around 9am at Barnum High School. The Carlton County Sheriff's Office says squads were dispatched to the school on reports a student had assaulted a classmate with a knife. School officials placed the building on lockdown to keep students and staff safe. When deputies arrived they found school staff had gained control of both the alleged suspect and the victim, and the weapon — a box cutter — was handed over to law enforcement. The 14-year-old female suspect was arrested and taken to the Arrowhead Juvenile Center in Duluth on pending second-degree assault charges while the victim, a 16-year-old boy, was taken to a local hospital to be treated for a laceration to his chest. Sheriff Kelly Lake said in a news release that the boy is expected to make a full recovery. Carlton County officials call the assault an isolated incident and say there is no continuing danger to either students or the Barnum community.
--A central Minnesota man has been put on probation after admitting that he repeatedly shook and inflicted severe brain injuries to his baby girl at the family's home. Andrew D. Erickson, 28, of Garrison, was sentenced Monday in Crow Wing County District Court to five years' probation after pleading guilty to first-degree assault in connection with his violent actions toward daughter Gracie Erickson on July 4th weekend in 2022, when she was 3½ months old. Judge Erik Askegaard's sentence followed the terms of the plea agreement between the defense and the prosecution, and it came under what is known as a stay of imposition. That means the conviction will be reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor in five years if he successfully complies with the terms of his sentence and probation. Those terms include: pay restitution of $50,000, have no contact with his daughter, stay away from illicit drugs and alcohol, and receiving counseling from a licensed therapist.
--The Convent reported 70 units of blood Tuesday which was their goal for the day. The final day is today 8:30am-2:30pm and there were some openings stills. Call 320-632-0663 for appointment.
DEATH NOTICES
--Sister Trudy Schommer OSF, age 86 of St. Francis Convent.
--Ronald T. Neeser, age 58 of Mankato formerly of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high 15 early then falling to around 7.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, low near 0, wind chills near -10.
FRIDAY= snow showers, turning windy, high 16, low near -2.
SATURDAY= snow and wind, colder, high 5, low near -13.
SUNDAY= gradual clearing, cold and windy, high -5, low near -20.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Moose Lake Willow River at Pierz tonight 715 94ROCKS.
HS GBB= Little Falls at Pierz Friday at 5:30pm on 94ROCKS then
HS BBB= Little Falls at Pierz Friday at 7:30pm on 94ROCKS.
COL FB= Nick Saban announced he is retiring as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team after 17 seasons. Saban won 6 National Titles while there and lost to this year's Champion Michigan in the Rose Bowl back on January 1st. Saban, 72 has been approached by NFL teams recently but no word if that is his plans.
NFL= Wild Card playoffs start Saturday at 3pm on AM960 KLTF.