NEWS --The arctic cold blast is here as temperatures this morning of -12 to -16 in areas, and highs of 0 to 5 above are expected today. Wednesday and Thursday add in wind chills of 20-30 below zero. A reminder to make sure to bundle up as wind chills that low can bring frostbite to exposed skin in just minutes. Check your pets to make sure they are doing well in the very cold conditions. Though vehicles are not affected by wind chils the temps at 10-15 below will cause problems if your vehicles are not tuned up properly. Check your batteries and make sure the gas tank is near full. A reminder also from the DNR that even with the colder temperatures the ice on area lakes is still not safe. Many lakes and rivers have just started icing over and it is very thin in areas. At least 4 inches of thick ice is needed before walking on area lakes and over a foot is needed for many vehicles to venture out. It is best for now to stay off the ice.
--The Little Falls Fire Department responded to a car fire on Riverview Drive Friday 11:00am. 20 firefighters were on scene for about 30 minutes. The car received heavy damage. Then around 3:15am Saturday 14 firefighters responded for about 45 minutes to an overheated boiler at Minnesota Power and Lights. Besides the boiler there was no more damage. There were no injuries in either incident.
--St. Cloud police are investigating a Sunday night armed robbery of a northside convenience store. Police were called at 7:20pm to the SuperAmerica in the 1200 block of 32nd Avenue North. A man came into the store with a handgun and demanded money from the male clerk who was working the counter area alone. The suspect is described as a black man, at least 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 170-180 pounds. He was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, dark jeans and athletic shoes. He left the store on foot and headed north with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police set up a perimeter and checked the area with a K9 until 8:05pm but were not able to find the culprit. No customers were inside the store and no one was injured. Anyone with information please call the St. Cloud Police Department or Crimestoppers.
--One person was injured Friday afternoon on Highway 210 near Motley. The State Patrol said that 55-year-old Omar Koyate of Bellwood, Illinois was driving a semi-trailer when 64-year-old Benjamin Turner of Deer Creek tried to merge into the same lane and struck the side of the semi causing the semi to jackknife off the road. Neither driver was hurt. Turner's passenger, 56-year-old Tina L. Turner of Deer Creek was treated in Staples for her injuries.
--A 17-year-old was injured in a two-vehicle crash Friday around 1:30pm on Washington Street in Brainerd. 17-year-old Amanda Richardt of Brainerd was crosing 8th Avenue Northeast when her vehicle was broadsided by 86-year-old Palmer Drews of Brainerd. Drews was not injured. Richardt was taken to the Brainerd hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
–The Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and the Morrison County Historical Society are partnering once again this year to host a mile long candlelight hike and snowshoe on trails that connect Lindbergh Historic Site and the Morrison County Historical Society along the Mississippi River. The trails will be lit between 5 and 8pm on Saturday, December 31st for the New Yerars Eve hiking event, and both the Visitor Center at Lindbergh Historic Site and the Morrison County Historical Society will be open for free self guided tours of the museum exhibits and refreshments.
--The Mid Minnesota Women's Center has named its new executive director. Shannon Wussow, Brainerd, will begin her new duties January 3rd. Wussow, a graduate of Little Falls Community High School, has a master of science degree in Criminal Justice Studies from St. Cloud State University. Mid Minnesota Women's Center provides safety, advocacy and empowerment for abuse victims, and education about abuse for the community. Wussow will lead the staff of 22 and the management of two facilities—the shelter and child safety center, both located in Brainerd.
--In the past week the Morrison County Sheriff's Office responded to a number of suspicious activity calls, fire calls to Cushing for a shed fire and a skid loader fire on 70th Street in Little Falls. They assisted Little Falls Police with a possible burglary with weapons on 2nd Street in Little Falls. In all cases no reports of any injuries or damages.
--Three people were hurt about 9:50am Sunday when the minivan they were riding in was struck by a semi on eastbound Interstate 94, at Highway 4. The State Patrol says the semi was in the right lane and was merging into the left lane, to avoid hitting a car in front of him. During the merge, the semi hit the back of the minivan. The minivan was driven by 41-year-old Heidi Dusosky of Glenwood. She and her passengers, 19-year-old Gabrielle Dusosky of Glenwood and 21-year-old Robert Dusosky of Glenwood, were taken to area Hospitals for his injuries. The semi driver was not hurt.
--A Long Prairie man was hurt in a two vehicle crash. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 7:30pm Saturday night. Forty-one-year-old Douglas Johnson of Long Prairie was going south on Highway 71 when his car collided with a northbound vehicle. The other vehicle was driven by 24-year-old Angel De Jesus. Johnson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. De Jesus was not hurt. A passenger in Johnson’s vehicle was not hurt.
--Motorists who travel Highway 24 near the Mississippi River bridge in Clearwater should plan for delays while crews close the road up to four times each weekday beginning next Monday. The closures were originally scheduled to begin December 5th, but were postponed due to water rising above the work site’s temporary causeway. The closures will occur weekdays from sunrise to sunset. Each closure will last up to 15 minutes with flaggers holding traffic on both directions of Highway 24 near the bridge spanning the Mississippi River. No closures will occur during inclement weather.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Kyle St. Martin and Rachel Brady of Cushing, a girl born Dec. 9th.
DEATH NOTICE --Jon A. Tuholsky, age 57 of St. Cloud --Mary Ann Stein, age 92 of St. Cloud formerly of Pierz.
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, high 7 above, flurries tonight, low -2. WEDNESDAY= sunny, windy and cold, high 3 above, wind chills -25. WED NITE/THURS= cold, windy, low -11, high 0, wind chills -20.
SPORTS HS BHK= Little Falls at Prairie Center Tonight 7:15pm Q92 WYRQ HS BB= Girls and Boys basketball double header tonight as Little Falls at Sauk Rapids girls 6pm, boys to follow Tues on FM94 KFML