NEWS
--Nearly three-dozen fishermen were rescued from an ice floe on Superior Bay Saturday Morning. According to the Duluth Fire Department, 36 fishermen and their equipment were stranded on the ice around 10:40am when strong northeast winds caused the ice to break away from Park Point. Saturday’s weather resulted in a seiche, which is when the wind is so strong it pushes water to one end of a large body of water, causing levels to rise. Since the ice on Superior Bay wasn’t locked in to the shore, it came loose and floated out into the bay. Emergency responders from several agencies first responded to the area near the Duluth Rowing Club. But the scope of rescue operations grew as officials realized there were groups of fisherman stranded between the rowing club and Sky Harbor Airport, DFD Acting Assistant Chief Mark Herman said. Rescuers paddle two DFD and one U.S. Coast Guard rapid deployment craft to the ice. With ropes fixed to each end of the inflatable boats rescuers pulled fishmen on crafts from the ice to shore. Rescuers also used a boat and ladder to bring 35 fishermen ashore. One fisherman reached shore on his own. None of the fishermen were injured.
--A 25-year old Sauk Rapids man is accused of throwing a woman into a wall when she couldn't find her phone or room key Friday. Joshua Matthew Popp faces two charges of felony domestic assault. Popp was arrested early Friday. Popp made his first court appearance on the two new charges Friday and his next hearing is Thursday.
--The St. Cloud Fire Department responded to a fire early Sunday morning that caused approximately $54,500 in damage. There were no injuries. Around 12:10am Sunday, all units responded to the fire at an eight-unit apartment building located at 1245 East St. Germain Street. The fire started in a kitchen, and the cause is under investigation. The resident of the apartment where the fire started was displaced, but all other residents were able to return.
--Five people were hurt in a two-car crash in Monticello on Saturday morning. The incident happened at an Interstate 94 ramp near mile marker 193 around 4:30am. The Minnesota State Patrol says one vehicle entered the interstate the wrong way when it struck another vehicle head on. 20-year-old Neenah Riedy of St. Cloud, was taken to North Memorial Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. 24-year-old Sai Jajimi and passengers 19-year-old Sindhu Bhandari, 18-year-old Amritha Suresh, and 24-year-old Shiuendran Tiruchapalli all of St. Cloud were taken to Monticello Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--A man’s body was recovered from a lake Thursday afternoon after McLeod County authorities received a report of a missing person. On Wednesday, at about 6:30pm the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a snowmobile possibly going into the Winsted Lake east of Winsted. At about 2:30pm Thursday, an adult male body was found in the lake and taken to the Midwest Medical Examiners Officer. Authorities say more information will be released once the body has been identified and the family has been notified.
--Three people were hurt Thursday night around 6:30pm on Highway 23 near New London in Kandiyohi County. 62-year-old Donna Bengston of Sartell was on 23 when 51-year-old Kathy Brunsdale of New London turned right onto the highway and struck the other vehicle. Both drivers and Bengston's passenger 71-year-old Julie Dearking of St. Cloud were treated for non-serious injuries.
--John Thomas of Wreathsforthefallen.org is reminding those their annual placing of the wreaths at the State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls on December 15th at 11am. If you wish to volunteer please be at the cemetery by 10am that day as the event will start at 11am sharp. Parking will be limited. The Wreathsforthefallen program has expanded to now include cemeteries in Preston, Duluth, and the one north of Little Falls. If you wish to help donate to the program either visit the website at WreathsfortheFallen.org or call the 24 hour phone line at (218) 833-2662.
--A second Kwik Trip in the past two weeks has been robbed, this time on the other side of St. Cloud, and police say it may be the same suspect. St. Cloud Police say around 1:05am Sunday they were called out to the Kwik Trip in the 3700 block of 23rd Street South. Officers found out that a suspect had entered the store, claimed he had a gun and demanded money from the clerk behind the counter. The suspect left the store heading east with an undisclosed amount of money. Police again set up a perimeter, however, could not find the suspect. The suspect was described as a black man, around 5'6", in his early 20's, wearing a black stocking cap with red and white stripes, a black hooded jacket and jeans. The investigation is active. Police say due to the similarities between this case and the robbery last week, the suspect may be the same man.
--Minnesota health officials are adding Alzheimer's disease as a qualifying condition to get medical marijuana. The state Health Department announced Monday that the new condition would take effect in August 2019. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says there is “some evidence'' that marijuana improves the mood, sleep and behavior of people with Alzheimer's. The department takes public input on what conditions might be added to qualify for the state's medical marijuana program. Alzheimer's was one of seven suggested additions. Among those that didn't make the cut: Panic disorder, psoriasis and traumatic brain injury.
--The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum, Charles Lindbergh House & Museum, and Lindbergh State Park are hosting their annual Candlelight Hike to help families and friends celebrate the new year. The Candlelight Hike will be held Monday, December 31, 2018, from 5-8pm. The Candlelight Hike is free and open to the public. Volunteers are needed for setting up and lighting the luminaries a couple of hours in advance of the event. Those interested in volunteering can call the Weyerhaeuser Museum at 320-632-4007.
--Bethel Lutheran Church in partnership with First Lutheran Church will host their Lutefisk and Swedish Meatball Supper tonight starting at 4:30pm at 901 West Broadway in Little Falls. Tickets are $18 at the door for the event tonight.
--Get details on the St. Nick Night event in Pierz on Wednesday and the Randall Holly Day event on Thursday at fallsradio.com.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy with flurries, high 25, flurries tonight, low 15.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy, afternoon show showers, high 23, low 8.
THURSDAY= sunny and colder, high 12, low around -3.
SPORTS
HS GHK= Moorhead at Brainerd/Little Falls tonight 5pm on Q92.
HS GBB= Royalton at Pierz tonight at 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Nebraska Wednesday 7:30pm on KLTF.