NEWS --Chloe Holoman is headed to Washington D.C. at the end of May to represent central Minnesota at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Holoman, an 8th grader, from Royalton, outlasted 30 participants and spelled all of her words correctly through 10 rounds to earn the title of 2018 Lakes Bee Champion. The word to secure her win was “einkorn” – an ancient Mediterranean wheat used as fodder in prehistoric times but now rarely grown. The two time champion of Royalton’s spelling bee and two time participant of the Lakes Bee is the first student from Royalton to win the regional spelling bee. Holoman says she’s excited but knows she has a lot of studying ahead of her before she heads to the national bee. Her mom, Christina Holoman, says she helped her daughter prepare for Wednesday’s competition by quizzing her on words and looking up pronunciations. She says Chloe is an avid reader and has had a knack for writing and spelling from a very young age. Esme Pool, an 8th grader from Aitkin was runner-up while Nicholas Backstrom, an 8th grader from Brainerd finished third.
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher was on KLTF Party Line Wednesday and urged residents to help the garbage haulers by not placing garbage containers on top of snow banks or in front of vehicles to where the haulers can not see or make it difficult with the mechanical arms to pick up the garbage cans. The city understands that with 12-20 inches of snow recently it is difficult to find a space for the garbage can. If possible make an area in the snowbank itself or at the curbsite for the can to be picked up. Any questions on the garbage pickup in Little Falls, call Jon at City Hall 616-5500.
--The Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office reports that at 9:45am Tuesday a one vehicle accident with possible injuries occurred on 210th Ave, south of 93rd Street in Bellevue Township near Royalton. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 38-year old Dena Oscarson of Royalton was traveling south on 210th Ave. Oscarson lost control of her vehicle on the icy road, went into the ditch and rolled. Oscarson declined medical treatment at the scene for minor injuries.
--A St. Cloud man was charged with one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. 35-year old Robert Alan Vogel is charged with using force or coercion in the sexual assault of a 28-year old woman. The maximum sentence for third-degree criminal sexual conduct using force or coercion is 15 years in prison and $30,000.
--New regulations for catching and keeping northern pike will be the most significant change anglers will see when they open up the 2018 Minnesota Fishing Regulations Booklet being distributed throughout the state. The new fishing regulations have three distinct zones to address the different characteristics of pike populations in Minnesota. While not designed to manage for trophy pike, the new regulations are meant to restore pike populations for better harvest opportunities across the state for sizes that make good table fare, up to around 28 inches or so. The move toward new regulations was a response to anglers’ concerns about the over-abundance of hammer-handle pike in much of central to north central Minnesota; the low numbers of pike present in southern waters; and a desire to protect large pike in the northeastern part of the state. North-central: Limit of 10 northern pike, but not more than two pike longer than 26 inches; all from 22 to 26 inches must be released. Northeast: Two pike; anglers must release all from 30 to 40 inches- while only one over 40 allowed.
--Benton County lost its long-time Assessor Brian Koester when he died last week. The county board appointed an interim replacement Tuesday. Stephen Behrenbrinker is the new interim county assessor, a position that oversees property assessments. Koester worked for Benton County for nearly 21 years. He died at the age of 54 on February 26th. Koester's replacement will be be hired after the county hires a new human resources director. In the meantime, Behrenbrinker will work as interim assessor on a contract basis for $50 an hour. Behrenbrinker worked as the St. Cloud city assessor from 1985 to 2013. Since then he's been a contract assessor for St. Cloud and also worked as the interim assessor for the city of Willmar and Kanabec County. Benton County's next assessor will also head the Land Services Department. A search committee will work to fill that position after the new HR director starts.
--A 30-year-old St. Cloud man is accused of strangling a woman at a Waite Park motel, according to a criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court. Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed was charged Tuesday with felony domestic assault, fifth-degree felony possession of a controlled substance and a gross misdemeanor for interfering with a 911 call. According to the criminal complaint, officers were sent to Asteria Inn & Suites in Waite Park on Saturday for a report of a domestic assault in progress. The victim told police Ahmed had "strangled her which interfered with her breathing and that he punched her three times in the chest”. Officers saw Ahmed attempting to put a plastic bag in his pocket that officers believe to be khat. Though its use is widely accepted for use in certain African countries, the stimulant is considered a controlled substance in the United States. Ahmed's next court appearance for both cases is scheduled for March 30th.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --John and Alicia Czech of Flensburg, boy on March 6th
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high near 30. TONIGHT= fog overnight, clear and cold, low near 0. FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 31, snow after midnight, low 22. SATURDAY= snow early, then rain/snow mix, high 36, low 17. SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 40, low around 23.
SPORTS HS BBB= Royalton at Eden Valley Watkins boy basketball playoff action tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. HS BBB= Upsala, Swanville, Holdingford, Foley and others all begin or continue their basketball playoff action tonight.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1813= The Royal Philharmonic performed first concerto. IN 1946= helicopters were licensed for commercial use. IN 1959= Groucho, Harpo and Chico Marx appear on TV for the final time on “You Bet your Life” which Groucho was hosting at the time.