[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Thursday, March 24th 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Little Falls City Council met on Monday night. The council approved renaming Jaycees Park as now “Lindbergh Lions Park” on the west side of Little Falls. The two ballfields inside the park will now be known as Jaycees Field and the other as Kiwanis Field. The council voted against participating in the parking lot project the county has been working on across from the Morrison County Government Center next to the library. The Little Falls City Council also voted down Live Better Live Longer’s request for Bump-outs and Parklets but will discuss the issue again at a future meeting. The next council meeting in Little Falls is on Monday, April 4th at City Hall.
–Pierz Healy Middle School was named as an awardee in the Elementary and Middle School Category in Syngenta Grow More Vegetables seed grant program, selected from applicants nationwide.
Pierz will be awarded garden grant packages supporting their efforts to educate local communities on the benefits of fresh vegetable production and consumption. Pierz students and 14 community members contributed to the success of the school garden. Coordinators of the garden program utilized the garden as a hands-on tool to educate students about science and the environment. Multiple classes in the school addressed different aspects of the garden, from designing its layout to making and testing scientific hypotheses. The grant program is a community example of The Good Growth Plan, a plan composed of six commitments Syngenta has made to address the global food security challenge with specific and measurable targets that focus on boosting resource efficiency, rejuvenating ecosystems and strengthening rural communities. The program supports hands-on educational opportunities to enhance healthy eating programs in communities, along with reinforcing and support programming of The Good Growth Plan. Visit vegetables.syngenta-us.com for information about the program.
–The case against a woman charged with first-degree arson in connection with a 2014 Brainerd house fire is under advisement pending a judge’s review. 32-year old Tami Jo Pendegayosh of Garrison and of Brainerd, is accused of burning down a house she rented on July 20th, 2014 on the 1100 block of Norwood Street in Brainerd. Pendegayosh was charged September 30th, 2014 with two counts of first-degree arson of a dwelling in Crow Wing County District Court. Both felonies carry a maximum 20-year sentence and/or a $20,000 fine. Pendegayosh’s last court hearing was March 9th, and Judge David Ten Eyck is taking the case under advisement. On October 21st, 2015 Pendegayosh pleaded guilty to one count of felony first-degree arson and entered an Alford Plea a day later. With an Alford plea, a defendant doesn’t admit guilt but admits the prosecution could likely prove the charge.
–Last week, Bishop Donald Kettler, bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud, and his brother bishops of Minnesota visited legislators at the state capitol to advocate for policies that protect human dignity and promote the common good. Bishop Kettler met with several elected officials from the diocese, including Senator Paul Gazelka. The Bishop is asking to support several important initiatives that seek to advance life and dignity in Minnesota. An important step in the right direction would be to add two simple words to the already existing K-12 education tax credit “tuition and” Making this change would allow all parents, regardless of their economic status, to send their children to a school that best suits the child’s need.
–A woman charged with murdering her father arrived in St. Cloud on Wednesday. The Sheriff’s Office sent armed officers to Louisville, Kentucky, where she had been in jail since her arrest on January 5th. Lisa Kearney refused to waive extradition. The extradition process was completed earlier this week. She was booked on Wednesday and will make her initial appearance on second-degree murder charges this morning at Stearns County District Court in St. Cloud.
–A jury trial has been scheduled for a Brainerd man who faces six felony counts in a criminal case that began with a dog killing chickens and ended in a short stand-off between the suspect and authorities. The jury trial for 63-year old Larry Walter Prahm has been scheduled for 9:00am on July 18th in Crow Wing County District Court. On February 16th, Prahm plead not guilty to all six felony counts and to two gross misdemeanor counts. Prahm was charged September 9th, 2015 with two counts of serious felony first-degree assault with use of a deadly weapon against a peace officer and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon; four counts of making terroristic threats, obstructing the legal process, fourth-degree assault of a peace officer demonstrating bodily harm or throwing bodily fluids or feces and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle; two gross misdemeanors counts of fourth-degree assault of physically assaulting a peace officer and obstructing the legal process. Prahm posted conditional bail on October 21st, 2015. His bail was set at $500,000 with conditions or $1 million without conditions.
–There are three finalists for airport manager of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. The three finalists Matt Barresi of Gaylord Michigan, Anthony Dudas of Williston North Dakota and Steve Wright of Greenfield Wisconsin will be in Brained for interviews with the Airport Commission on April 1st. Jeff Wig, who had been airport manager since January of 2013, tendered his resignation as manager in December of 2015. His last day was February 14th. He took a position as vice president working in the area of economic and business development for the Initiative Foundation. Bob O’Brien has served as interim manager during the search for a permanent manager.
–The annual Little Falls Farmer’s Market meeting will be at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 30th at the Little Falls VFW.
RELIGION NEWS
–Today in the Chrisitan/Catholic is known as Maundy or Holy Thursday, considered the day of the Last Supper that Jesus held with his Disciples before he would be later arrested in the garden, brought before Pilate and leading to Good Friday of the day of his crucifixion.
DEATH NOTICES
–Audreen R. Nagel, age 92 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny, less windy, high 42.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low around 25.
FRIDAY= partly sunny early, rain in afternoon, high 46.
FRIDAY NIGHT= rain likely changing to snow late, low 29.
SATURDAY= snow showers early, breezy, high 39, low 22.
EASTER SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 45, low 27.
SPORTS
NCAA= the Sweet Sixteen begins tonight in Men’s Basketball.
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