NEWS
--Freezing rain early Sunday led to a number of accidents on Minnesota roadways. A bus driver was taken to the hospital after the bus he was driving went out of control and ended up on the railroad bed. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 6:30am Sunday on Highway 10 in Big Lake Township. 59-year-old Ronald Buckles of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin was heading west when the Motor Coach bus crossed the eastbound lanes and came to a rest on the railroad bed. Buckles was taken to CentraCare Hospital in Monticello with non-life-threatening injuries. A St. Cloud woman was hurt when the vehicle she was driving went into the ditch and rolled. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 6am Sunday on Highway 23 in Rockville. 47-year-old Courtney Schreifels was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The State Patrol says the roadway was ice covered at the time of the crash. There were dozens of spin outs and accidents on Sunday morning reported in Wright, Stearns, Sherburne and Mille Lacs County from icy conditions between 5-8am.
--An all-terrain vehicle was traveling north on Highway 371 when it hit a curb and rolled, leaving the driver with life-threatening injuries.
The crash was reported at 12:53pm Saturday near Landmark Drive north of Brainerd. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the driver, Jason Lee Fletcher, 42, Brainerd, was traveling north on the highway when the ATV entered a left turn lane north of Landmark Drive. The 2008 Polaris ATV struck a curb and rolled over. Road conditions were dry at the time. Fletcher was not wearing a helmet. Fletcher was transported to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale. The state patrol reported alcohol was involved.
--The Morrison County Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility will begin accepting household hazardous waste for the 2023 season starting on April 15th and will end on September 30th. The HHW Facility allows the County to prevent toxic materials from being improperly disposed of and instead, assures the materials are managed up-front in an environmentally sound manner. The HHW facility is located at the Morrison County Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) on Iris Road in Little Falls and will be open during the regular SWMF hours of operation, however, preferred drop off times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Only residential household hazardous waste may be dropped off at the facility. Business waste is not accepted. HHW items that may be brought to the site, free of charge, include latex and oil-based paint, stains and varnishes, driveway sealer, roof coatings, acids, pool chemicals, bases, poisons, household/garden pesticides, adhesives, automotive products (brake and transmission fluid, carburetor cleaner, etc.), used motor oil, solvents and flammable products (paint thinner, turpentine, etc.). Waste NOT accepted at the facility includes agricultural waste, business waste, compressed gas, unidentified wastes, ammunition, explosives and radioactive materials. Please watch for information regarding future Ag pesticide collections. If you have any additional questions about the disposal of Household Hazardous Waste, you should please call the Morrison County Solid Waste Office at 320-632-0121.
--Congratulations to Karter Schlegel of Pierz who competed this past weekend at the NYWA Wrestling Championships. Karter was the champion for his 80 pound weight class and also named a Wrestler of the Year award winner for his weight class.
--The roof at Browerville High School gym partially collapsed on Saturday. No one was in the gym at Browerville High School when it came down, but it was decided at an emergency school board meeting Sunday the rest of the roof needed to be torn down in a controlled collapse, according to the district’s Facebook page. Classrooms around the gym were not damaged, but they will be closed for safety reasons. School was in session Monday. Friday, areas of Minnesota saw several inches of heavy, wet snow. That was on top of heavy, wet snow that fell the week before. Last month, the roof at the Miller Hill Mall in Duluth partially collapsed under the weight of around a foot of snow that had recently fallen there.
--The Crow Wing County Dairy Banquet was held Saturday at the Pierz Ballroom. Allison and Kaylee Woitalla were crowed Junior Dairy Princesses. Ellie Hoffman was selected as dairy ambassador with assistant ambassadors being Amber Fleischhacker and Shelby Mulroy. The Congeniality Award went to Allison Woitalla. Goody’s Gourmet Treats of Brainerd was awarded the Butterknife Award, a business recognized for serving real dairy products. The Milk Pitcher award is given to someone who has been especially helpful in promoting the dairy industry and this year it went to Arica Caughey. The princesses and ambassadors will be making many appearances in the community over the next year promoting the dairy industry.
--President Biden was in Fridley Monday to highlight his ‘Investment in America’ agenda. Speaking at the Cummins Power Generation facility, which will begin manufacturing electrolyzers in America for the first time, Biden highlighted investments in manufacturing across the region, including the Sherco Power Plant in Becker. Biden claims that over 180 projects funded in Minnesota created over 185,500 jobs in Minnesota. This visit is part of a wider effort from many in the president’s cabinet crisscrossing the nation promoting the Biden-Harris Investing in America Agenda.
--Congratulations to the State Trophy winners at the Knight of Columbus Free Throw State Competition on Saturday in St. Cloud. Out of Region 7, Tyler Herman for Pierz was first place in the 9 year boys category. Ella Krohn of Aitkin was first place for 12 year old girls, Emily Ripplinger of Holdingford (who attends Upsala Schools) was third place in 11 year old girls, Leah Palm of Aitkin was second place in 10 year old girl and Veronica Millsop of Crosby-Ironton Schools and is from Deerwood finished tied for 2nd place for 14 year old girls at the state event. Again great job by all you competed.
--Due to the wintry forecast, there will be no bingo or cards this week at the Pierz Senior Center/Dining Site.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY 11AM TODAY TO 6AM THURS
TODAY= snow, sleet and freezing rain possible, gusty winds, high 32.
TONIGHT= sleet, freezing rain, gusty winds, snow late night, low 30.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely, totals 1-3 inches, temps dropping, windy.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, cold temps, windy, high 27, low near 8.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins pound the Marlins 11-1 on Monday to go to 4-0. The Twins continue their series in Miami today against the Marlins at 5pm on Q92 WYRQ. Home Opener is scheduled for Thursday however Twins are talking about moving the game to Friday so stay tuned.
NCAA= Connecticut beat San Diego State 76-59 to win NCAA title.
HOK= Gophers in Frozen Four in Hockey on Thursday.