NEWS --A flood warning remains in effect for the Fort Ripley area through today. The Mississippi River is just above the 10 foot flood stage due to an ice jam which has kept waters high. With the 1 inch of rainfall and freezing rain on Sunday the waters have continued to remain high and are expected to be above flood stage and should recede of the next day or two with dry conditions. There are also flood warnings in effect for the Elk River in Sherburne County and the Minnesota River in south central Minnesota.
--A Little Falls man is jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail after being charged with setting his apartment on fire. 51-year-old Timothy Wayne Schmidt was arrested last week Monday, the same day police and firefighters were called to a fire at Schmidt's residence at 509 Fourth Street NW. A court complaint charging Schmidt with first-degree arson accuses him of starting two fires in the building where he lives, one in his bedroom and another in a room he used for storage. Investigators found a gas can and matches in one room and crumpled, burned and unburned newspaper in two rooms. In one room, investigators found two "distinct ignitable pour patterns" on the floor. Schmidt was arrested after a traffic stop last week Monday in Little Falls. Schmidt was in court Thursday morning.
--Dash-cam video of a drunk semi-truck driver stopped in Morrison County was released last week by the state patrol. The video shows the state patrol stopping 48-year-old Jonathon Czech of Isle driving a Wal-Mart semi on Highway 10 in Morrison County on July 16th. The driver after attempting to get out of the semi fell on the highway and was unable to get to his feet having the state trooper to close a portion of the highway while they attempted to get the man upright. The man had a blood alcohol level of .28 and was taken into custody and charged with drunk driving. He did not work for Wal-Mart but a carrier service that runs their distribution line by semi-truck.
--Fire destroyed a mobile home on Thursday morning. Brainerd firefighters arrived on the 14000 block of Loerch Road northeast of Brainerd and found the mobile home engulfed in flames and it could not be saved. Chad Aanerud was the only one in the home and escaped injury but stated he lost all belongings of his late grandfather. The cause of the fire was a wood stove.
--A Pillager woman was driven out of her home Wednesday after a dehumidifier started on fire, causing extensive smoke damage to the residence. Pillager Area Fire and Rescue was called at 8:51am to a house fire on the 900 block of West Second Street. The homeowner is Helen VanVickle. The woman's son, Brian VanVickle, said his mother called him to tell him there was a fire in the house and he told her to get out of the house and call 911. Fire Chief Randy Lee said the culprit of the fire was a dehumidifier that melted in the basement of the home. Lee said the woman unplugged it when she saw it smoking. Once inside the home they found a small pile on fire that started from the plastic of the dehumidifier. A total of 10 firefighters responded to the scene. Lee said Helen VanVickle, who had soot all over her face, was transported to the hospital to get checked out as a precaution.
--U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced Christmas Day that she will run again for the Senate in 2018. The Senator has been in office since elected in 2006. Many Democrats were hoping Klobuchar would run for Governor in 2018 but she said she has no plans for that.
--On Friday, Governor Mark Dayton appointed Timothy M. Churchwell as District Court Judge in Minnesota's Seventh Judicial District. Churchwell replaces David R. Battey and will be chambered in Alexandria. The Seventh District consists of Becker, Benton, Clay, Douglas, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Otter Tail, Stearns, Todd and Wadena Counties. Churchwell has many ties to Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties and is a member of the Swanville Lions Club.
--An Elgin, Texas girl reported missing last week was located in Kandiyohi County. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office notified Stearns County at about 9:30am Thursday that 17-year-old Natalie Klehr was located by deputies in Spicer. No other information will be made public on this private juvenile matter. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office thanked the media, members of the public and other agencies that assisted in finding this child.
--At least five people were involved in a head-on crash Wednesday night north of Pine River, the Minnesota State Patrol reported. According to a preliminary crash report, a 1993 Ford van collided with a 2005 Land Rover at 6:36pm north of Pine River at milepost 62 on Highway 371. At least one individual was airlifted from the scene and another was transported by ambulance. The state patrol listed five people involved in the crash but no further information was available Wednesday night. The road condition was wet at the time of the crash.
--Two people were injured Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle collision in Benton County. The report said the collision occurred shortly after 7:30am on Minnesota Highway 95, just east of Minnesota Highway 25. According to the State Patrol, there were a number of cars stopped behind a bus when 20-year-old Luke Rands of Rush City, rear-ended a Chevy SUV driven by 27-year-old Heather Dittel of Dellwood. The collision pushed Dittel's vehicle forward in to a van that was waiting for the bus. The van was driven by 23-year-old Michael Gustafson of Princeton. The State Patrol listed the condition of the road as icy. Dittel and Gustafson both suffered injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening.
--The Pierz City Council meets tonight 7pm at City Hall.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS --Singer George Michael orginially of Wham! died Christmas Day at the age of 53.
DEATH NOTICES --Melvin Stumpf, age 76 of Little Falls formerly of Royalton. --Marion Barnes, age 87 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= scattered flurries early, afternoon clearing, high 19. TONIGHT= temps rise into 20s overnight, cloudy skies. WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, high near 30, flurries late, low 24. THURSDAY= snow showers, blustery, high 25 early and falling.
SPORTS NFL= Aaron Rodgers throws 4 touchdowns and runs in another as the Green Bay Packers beat the Vikings 38-25 on Saturday. The loss eliminated the Vikings from the playoffs. Green Bay could still win the division as they take on Detroit Sunday. Dallas beat Detroit last night 41-21 meaning the winner Sunday wins the division. The Vikings wrap up the rough season at home against Chicago Sunday at noon.