[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=”0″ padding_right=”0″ 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: Tuesday, December 1st 2015[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has selected Kathy White from the City of Little Falls -City Hall- as the December Employee of the Month. Kathy has worked for the City of Little Falls for over 13 years. Congratulations Kathy White.
–A Princeton woman was injured Sunday morning around 8:00am, in a one-vehicle accident on Highway 95 in Mille Lacs County. 53-year-old Kim Lawson was taken to the Princeton Hospital with what the state patrol said was non-life threatening injuries.
–On Sunday around 10:45am Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Theisen was completing a traffic stop in the northbound lane of Hwy 15 north of Beaver Lake in the city of St Augusta. As Deputy Theisen returned to his patrol and began to close his door a northbound 2013 Chrysler 4dr struck the rear edge of the squad’s door with the passenger side mirror. The driver of the Chrysler was 80-year old Shirley Zipoy of Kimball. No injuries were reported. Drivers are reminded if you see flashing lights ahead, whether they are emergency vehicles, tow trucks or snow plows, you are required to slow down and whenever possible move one lane away as passing.
–Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl gave more information on the arrest of 3 individuals from Brainerd in connection with an ongoing drug investigation involving the sale and distribution of large amounts of marijuana in the Brainerd and Baxter area. Two search warrants at residences located on the 700 and 800 block of Fir Street in Brainerd were executed Wednesday morning. As a result of the search warrants, several pounds of packaged marijuana were seized from both residences along with $25,000 cash and 12 guns. Also seized was a 2008 Lexus which is believed to have been used in the sale and distribution marijuana. The total weight of the marijuana seized was approximately 37 pounds with an estimated street value of over $210,000. The following individuals are currently being held in the Crow Wing County Jail on felony drug charges: 29-year old Matthew Olson, 25-year-old Blair Bottenfield and 25-year-old Bailey Bottenfield all from Brainerd.
–Stearns County and several jail and sheriff’s office employees will ask a federal court judge today to dismiss a lawsuit based on the 2012 death of an inmate who was subdued with a stun gun. 22-year-old Jerome Deon Ladette Harrell turned himself in to the jail because he had outstanding warrants for failing to have proof of motor vehicle insurance. The warrants indicated that he owed $300 in fines to Hennepin County. Harrell exhibited bizarre behavior in jail, including howling and screaming, banging his head against his cell door and splashing water on himself and in his cell. Officers decided to remove him from his cell for a medical evaluation, and one officer used a stun gun to subdue Harrell. He went into cardiac arrest and died. The lawsuit alleges wrongful death, civil rights violations, failure to provide adequate medical attention and treatment, and failure to train jail officers. The lawsuit asks for punitive damages of more than $10 million. Harrell’s cause of death was listed as undetermined. Attorneys representing the county and its officers contend that they acted reasonably given Harrell’s erratic behavior and that the suit should be dismissed. The lawsuit contends that the use of the stun gun on a person in a state of excited delirium along with a delay in providing medical care led to Harrell’s death and makes the county and its officers negligent.
–Crow Wing County will be hosting its annual public hearing on the budget, property tax levy and capital expenditures at 6:00pm tonight at the county board room in the courthouse.
–The Minnesota Department of Transportation is ready to make highways safe for the traveling public. Across the state, MnDOT maintenance crews are ensuring plows and other equipment are in good working order. MnDOT works year-round on training staff, making sure sand and supplies are adequate and improving its technology, but the agency is also asking that the traveling public be prepared for winter driving. MnDOT urges motorists to use the 511 traveler information system website and phone app to plan their travel. The system provides road and winter driving conditions for the entire state and links to National Weather Service information. The system is available at 511mn.org or by dialing 511. Motorists can also download the free 511 app on their smartphones and other mobile devices. For safe winter driving, MnDOT asks motorists to take responsibility to: Avoid distractions; stay off cell phones and mobile devices. Don’t crowd the plow. Stay back at least five car lengths, and preferably 10, from the snow plow. Obey the law by turning on headlights and wearing seat belts. Turn off cruise control. Make sure vehicles are in good operating condition for winter driving to make this a safe weekend and a safe winter traveling season for all.
–Seeing a large cat like a cougar walking in the woods in Minnesota may be a more common sight over the next two decades. New research from the University of Minnesota suggests these large cats are increasing in population and spreading across the Midwest. Researchers at the University of Minnesota say we’re more likely to see cougars in the northern part of the state where they can survive and thrive in remote locations. Even with an increasing population across the Midwest, experts say there is no need to be afraid. But if you do happen to spot one, U of M researchers want to know.
–The Minnesota State Fair has announced that the same act will perform two concerts next year at the Grandstand. The Dixie Chicks will perform on Saturday August 27th and Sunday August 28th with tickets for the first show already sold out, tickets for the second show go on sale December 11th. They also announced that Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas will perform at the grandstand on August 31st.
–Little Falls Community High School announced that they will have Parent/Teacher Conferences next Monday, December 7th from 3:45 – 6:45 pm in the High School Commons. This will be the only Parent/Teacher Conference scheduled for Quarter 2.
DEATH NOTICES
–Dorothy Porten, age 83 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT THRU TONIGHT.
TODAY= snow, freezing drizzle at times, high 34- another 1-2 inches
TONIGHT= snow ending, another possible inch, low 29.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 34, clear skies at night, low 15.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 37, clear night low 18.
SPORTS
NBA= Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant offically announced this past weekend that this will be his last season in the NBA.
HS BBB= Little Falls at Albany tonight 7:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS GBB= Sauk Rapids-Rice at Little Falls tonight 7:30pm on FM94.
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