NEWS --The weathers models continue to change for the first winter storm of the fall of 2016 and now a WINTER STORM WARNING has been issued for Friday from 6am to 9pm with heavy snow, strong gusty winds and very poor visibility. As of early this morning, the weather models show the heaviest snow heading through Morrison, Meeker, Stearns, Todd, and Mille Lacs County with some areas 7-14 inches of snow possible by late Friday night. With the 12-14 in the west central Minnesota counties and 7-11 in east central Minnesota counties. The storm is still forecast to be done by late Friday night and calmer but much colder conditions for Saturday and Sunday withs 20s for highs.
--The Little Falls Fire Department responded to a chemical reaction at Central Minnesota Renewables (former ethanol plant north of Little Falls) on Tuesday night. Around 5:25pm authorities responded to the incident. There was a chemical reaction inside one of the buildings. Protocol was correctly followed by those on site as everyone evacuated and there were no injuries. The Little Falls Fire Department received aid from the Chemical Assessment Team (CAT) from the St. Cloud Fire Department. There was no leakage from the chemical reaction as it was completely contained inside the one building. Again, there was no leakage to the storm sewer so there is no reason for area residents to be alarmed. Authorities including 23 Little Falls firefighters were on the scene for around 5 hours.
--Tim Sumner called Wednesday to let the public know since he was on the radio over 50 have called to volunteer for the Thanksgiving meal next Thursday at the High School in Little Falls. They still 20-30 more if possible- please call Tim at 632-2540. He wants to thank all who have called in the last couple of days to volunteer for next week.
--A water main break has closed a St. Cloud street for a few days while repairs are made.The damaged water main has caused the intersection of 25th Avenue and Veterans Drive to close until Friday. Detours are posted.
--The Tom Decker Memorial Garden is almost finished in Cold Spring. Crews began working on the garden this month. When completed it will feature two flag poles and a memorial plaque. Flowers and shrubs will be added in the spring. Many area businesses donated money or supplies to help fund the project. A ceremony honoring Decker will be held in the coming weeks. The city is expected to release more information on the ceremony this week. Officer Tom Decker was shot and killed in Cold Spring in 2012. Decker's murder remains unsolved.
--Closing the loop on the first year of its fish hatchery pilot project, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Department of Natural Resource and Environment announced Tuesday it has stocked more than 45,000 walleye into lakes in Morrison, Aitkin, Pine, and Crow Wing counties. The fish, which ranged from 3 inches to 6.5 inches in length, were hatched by the Mille Lacs Band this spring from walleye eggs and milt taken from fish that had been speared by members of the Mille Lacs and Fond du Lac Bands this spring. The Mille Lacs Band DNRE staff hatched the eggs into fry in its on-reservation hatchery, and then placed the fry into private rearing ponds to grow. Once the fish reached at least three inches in length they were recaptured for permanent stocking into area lakes, including Sullivan, Pine, Big Pine, Platte and Nammachers Lake.
--The Santa Parade is next Friday (November 25th) at 6pm starting on Lindbergh Drive South on the west side of Little Falls then turning east onto Highway 27 and down to Bank Square and then left to the fire hall. If you are interested in having a float in the Parade with a Christmas theme but excluding Santa Claus (only last float can have Santa Claus on it) please call David Paul at 630-5216 to sign up.
--Some schools in Central Minnesota went on lockdown on yesterday due to what's been described as a vague threat. Milaca Public Schools and Princeton Public Schools were among the districts that went on a soft lockdown and had students remain in the building for the rest of the day. On their website and on social media, Milaca school officials say they were informed by the local police department of a risk of violence somewhere in Northern Minnesota. Princeton school officials informed parents of the threat, saying it was a vague threat that someone made anonymously stating they would hurt students and staff at a school in Northern Minnesota. The Princeton Police Department responded to the school as a precaution. The schools say today will be a regularly scheduled school day. The St. Cloud, Sartell and Sauk Rapids School Districts did not go on a lockdown.
--A Minnesota police officer has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after prosecutors determined he acted unreasonably when he shot and killed 32-year old Philando Castile whose girlfriend streamed the gruesome aftermath of the fatal shooting live on Facebook. St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez shot Castile during a July 6th traffic stop in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights. Squad car video captured the entire incident, including audio and subsequent conversations Yanez had with other officers. That video has not been released to the public as it is evidence in Yanez’s prosecution. Yanez could face a up to 10 years in prison.
NATIONAL NEWS --AAA is reporting that travel for the holiday will be the biggest in 9 years. AAA forecasts 48.7 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home which is nearly a 2% increase over last year and the largest increase since 2007. Gas prices remains one the big reason.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS --Elaina Crowley of Little Falls, girl on November 4th --Chris and Amanda Szczodroski, girl on November 14th
DEATH NOTICES --Jeanne Kronbeck, age 82 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= cloudy, drizzle early, rain by afternoon, high 48. TONIGHT= rain changing to snow overnight- low 34. WINTER STORM WARNING STARTS 6AM FRIDAY FRIDAY= rain/snow mix to all snow, gusty winds- temps drop to 28 FRIDAY NIGHT= snow, blustery, blowing and drifting, low 24. SNOW TOTALS COULD BE FROM 6 TO 12 INCHES IN AREAS SATURDAY= sunny and cold, high 27, low around 10 SUNDAY= sunny and cold, not as windy, high 29, low 18.
SPORTS STATE= state swimming and diving continues today and Friday and state football semi-finals begin today at U.S. Bank Stadium.