NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Sunday at approximately 5:48pm, their office received a report of a motor vehicle accident on 385th Street, west of Highway 10, approximately one mile south of Motley. According to the Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Lucille Umang of Clarissa was traveling east on 385th Street when she suffered a possible medical emergency. Umang’s vehicle went in the ditch, hit an address sign, mailbox and a street sign before coming to a stop. Umang was transported to Staples Hospital with unknown injuries.
--Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc spoke on KLTF yesterday on items in the county. He mentioned a Farmers and Families event March 5th at Camp Ripley for information contact Ruth at Health and Human Services for information. A second event is a Land Services event March 27th on upcoming zoning program changes, wetland, septic and other changes, questions call Land Services, there will also be training on IT services of internet computers March 6th and 7th at the government center. Questions on any can be reached to LeBlanc at the government center. LeBlanc mentioned with only 5-6 light snow events this year the public works department brushed the county and work around timber in northwest portion of the county and brush away debris off of county right of ways along the county roads. Bidding has started on the larger 2024 county projects. The county will work with the city of Little Falls on the 4th Street Northeast project later this year along with other county projects in 2024. LeBlanc discussed vacation home rentals is a topic of interest this year and need to make sure those are compliant with state laws, if you have a rental call the government center for information. The Veterans Service Office is reminding Veterans there are some items and changes they can discuss with you if yo have questions call them at 320-632-0290. LeBlanc also mentioned that March 5th is the Presidential Primary in Minnesota, early voting is being done now at the county offices before primary day on March 5th in Minnesota. If you have questions he number is 320-632-0296.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation is releasing details on projects in central Minnesota ahead of the upcoming road construction season. One of the most extensive and expensive projects is year two of the Highway 10 and Highway 23 reconstruction project in St. Cloud. Starting in April, crews will begin work to improve the westbound lanes of Highway 10 and the eastbound lanes of Highway 23, including the new eastbound bridge on Highway 23. In the meantime, MnDOT wants drivers to understand that those lanes will mean a rough ride until lane shifts take place when construction restarts. As part of the project this summer, crews will be building a new bridge at 4th Street Southeast that will connect to the frontage road on the east side of Highway 10 while providing a safer crossing for pedestrians and bikers. New interchanges will also be built in 2024 and a noise wall will be constructed on the south side of Highway 23 east of 14th Avenue Southeast. The $43.7-million will require the entire construction season to complete and is scheduled to be done in late fall.
--Next week is National FFA Week and a reminder that the Royalton FFA will host a breakfast on Sunday (February 18th) from 8am-12pm at the Royalton High School with a silent auction at ending at 11am. Come and enjoy the breakfast and help out the Royalton FFA.
--Lieutenant Colonel Chris Ward of Camp Ripley have an update yesterday on KLTF on the Norwegian Exchange. The Norwegians at 10am yesterday had their closing flag lowering ceremony before departing to the Twin Cities. Ward said during the past 2 weeks they did a lot of tactic training on the ranges that would not have been open if their was a large snow pack in previous years. Helicopters and large military vehicles got to be used by the soldiers for their training. One event that was changed due to the non wintry weather was the biathlon does for the youth soldiers at the Camp due to no snow, it was moved to a running event instead of skiing with the shooting part still in place for the soldiers. This was the 51st year of the NOREX Norwegian Exchange Program and they look forward to next year and the 52nd exchange between the two countries.
--Two people were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning Sunday on the 1600 block of 110th Avenue in Mille Lacs County.
The Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for a possible overdose, reported at 8:06pm in Princeton Township, west of Princeton. According to the report, a female resident called 911 and reported a possible overdose. When deputies responded to the residence, Marcos Larson, 27, of Princeton, was located deceased in an upstairs bedroom. Larson was found with a black Labrador retriever which was going in and out of consciousness. Deputies checked the rest of the house and located Kyle May, 20, of Princeton, deceased along with a deceased cat. The 911 caller, Hope Lockrem, 19, of Princeton, was transported to M Health Fairview in Princeton to be treated for carbon monoxide exposure. She was later transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center. The sheriff’s office said it appears the occupants of this house were using a gas-powered generator to power some space heaters in addition to propane heaters to heat the house. There was no power or running water in the house at the time of this incident.
--Four people were hurt, one seriously, in a crash near Princeton on Saturday. The Minnesota State Patrol says 56-year-old Timothy Ruettimann of Mora was taken to North Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries when the SUV he was driving collided with another car. The state patrol says Ruettimann's car was going North on County Road 7 at about 1:30pm when it collided in the intersection of Highway 95 with an SUV driven by 42-year-old Angela Hutera of St. Cloud that was going East. Hutera and two children in her car, were all treated with non serious injuries.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kevin M. Kjorsvik, age 51 of Little Falls.
--Marcel Bellefeuille, age 76 of Little Falls.
--Karel L. Fleck, age 60 of Rice.
--Carol Skiba, age 60 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 33, flurries at night, low near 29.
WEDNESDAY= flurries, light snow, high 34, clearing late, low 17.
THURSDAY= sunny and cooler, high 25, low around 9 above.
SPORTS
HS BHK= St. Cloud Cathedral at Little Falls tonight from the Exchange Arena, puck drop at 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.