NEWS
--Kevin Jordan from Little Falls Community Schools announced Wednesday that due to the bad weather expected Friday and Saturday, they have decided to postpone the Championship reunion of the state basketball teams this Friday to a future date to be determined. They have also decided to postpone the FAB Hall of Fame Celebration on Saturday to February 7th when there will be a boys/girls basketball double header and a hockey game scheduled at home that night. Though the special events of Friday and Saturday have been changed many of the games are still on as planned. The Friday night Little Falls boys hockey game was switched to tonight.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported over 300 accidents on Wednesday morning due to the 3-5 inches of snow. Those included an Avon woman injured on Interstate 94 at St. Joseph, Heidi Jenkins was treated at a local hospital, a 62-year-old St. Cloud woman injured in a two-vehicle accident at Highway 15 and 29 in Sartell, Mary Cherne was treated at the hospital, a 62-year-old from Little Falls was injured as passenger in a two-vehicle accident at Highway 10 and 33 in Sauk Rapids, Michael Melin had non-life threatening injuries, the other drivers in that accident were not hurt. A Pine River man was injured in Cass County, an Eagle Bend woman injured in Todd County on Wednesday. Luckilly of the over 300 accidents reported none were fatal and four had serious injuries, all reported from 6am-12pm. The Morrison County Law Enforcement stated a number of spin outs and accidents on Wednesday but there were no report of any injuries. More heavy snow in the forecast on Friday into Saturday with a Winter Storm Watch going into effect at 9am on Friday.
--A Sauk Centre man has been formally charged in a standoff with police Sunday. Stearns County prosecutors have charged 27-year-old Ryan Kellen with two felony counts of domestic assault and five felony counts of 1st-degree assault use of deadly force against a peace officer. The incident began early Sunday morning when police were dispatched to a home in the 600 block of Pine Street South in Sauk Centre. The caller said she had been assaulted by Kellen. Ultimately the woman got ready and left for work. Once out of the house the victim called police. Officers responded and Kellen reportedly told officers he would shoot them and if anyone came toward the house. Around noon Kellen released the child to law enforcement but refused to surrender. The St. Cloud Police SWAT vehicle was brought to the scene and was parked behind the home with five officers stationed inside. About 30 minutes later officers heard a window break and a single gunshot as Kellen continued to make comments he was only coming out in a body bag and wanted to talk to the victim. Kellen ultimately agreed to surrender and was taken into custody. Police found a spent .45-caliber round in the alley and damage from the gunshot on the SWAT vehicle. Inside the home, they found a .45-caliber handgun. Kellen said he did not remember many of his comments because he was drunk. He told police he pointed the gun at the window so officers could see he was armed but said the gun went off unintentionally. Kellen is due in court on January 22nd.
--The 23rd Annual Pierz Knights of Columbus Buffalo Feed and Raffle will be on Saturday, January 25th at the Pierz Ballroom with over $13,000 prizes. The buffalo feed is 4-8pm for $7 and the final drawing is at 8:15pm. Tickets are available at many Pierz businesses or any Pierz Knights of Columbus member.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council approved a $5,000 donation to the Pierz Lions Club for improvements at the Pierz Park shelters. The council also approved a donation of $3,025 towards the Pierz School District. The council approved their fee schedule and a contract with Morrison County Animal Humane Society. A City Council/ Park Board meeting was set on February 4th at 6:00pm at Pierz City Hall. The next Pierz City Council meeting will be on Monday, January 27th.
--The 47th Annual Pro Life Commemorative Dinner will be on Sunday, January 26th at the Falls Ballroom. Social at noon, dinner at 12:50 and speakers to follow. There will be a speaker on human trafficking, also a table to donate items for pregnant mothers along with other items on display for the Pro Life movement. The dinner tickets are $13 in advance or $14 at the door of the event. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Sue at 630-7045. They would like a head count for the dinner and also have free tickets for high school aged students donated by their members. Videos of the event can also be made for those by contacting John at 632-6752.
--Authorities say a 12-year-old boy from Hastings has died of injuries suffered in a skiing accident. Administrators at Tegan Johnson's middle school say he sustained ``non-survivable injuries''in the accident Sunday. Tegan was pronounced dead at Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul Tuesday. The boy was a seventh-grader at Hastings Middle School. Reports say counselors and psychologists have been made available at the school to help students deal with the loss of their classmate.
--A woman faces assault charges after she allegedly attacked an emergency room nurse at St. Cloud Hospital Friday. 19-year-old Rehab Kuek of Remer, MN is charged with a felony count of 4th-degree assault on hospital emergency personnel. According to the charges, police responded to the hospital Friday on an assault complaint. The nurse said Kuek was being treated in a secure area for being under the influence of a hazardous substance when the nurse opened a door and Kuek rushed at her. Kuek is accused of grabbing the nurse's hair, pulling it out and scratching her neck. A witness account supported the victim's version of the incident. It's unclear what substance Kuek was treated for.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9AM TODAY
WINTER STORM WATCH GOES INTO EFFECT 9AM FRIDAY.
TODAY= sunny and cold, high near 0.
TONIGHT= temps rising overnight with increasing clouds.
FRIDAY= snow starts in morning, heavy at times 4-8 inches, high 24.
SATURDAY= snow ends before noon, gusty winds, temps dropping.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, high 2 above, low around -11.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Pine City at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1493= Columbus returned to Spain after reaching new world.
IN 1919= Congress gets 75% of the vote to enforce Prohibition in the United States, stopping the sale of alcohol in all public places. The law officially began on January 16, 1920.
IN 1939= “Superman” comic book went on sale for first time.
IN 1973= Bonanza aired for the final time on NBC after 440 shows.