NEWS
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce our February Employee of the Month, Angie Metteer, Optometric Assistant and Front-End Coordinator at Little Falls Eye Care Center. Angie has worked there for a little over one year. Dr. Tom Baumgartner and Dr. Melissa Hinderschied say Angie has such a wealth of knowledge and experience, and is always eager to share this with our staff. She comes to work every morning with a great attitude and our patients frequently comment on what an exceptional job she does. Congratulations on being named the employee of the month and could not think of a better person to receive this honor.
--Today is Caucus Day in Minnesota. Many including Morrison County residents will have a chance to show their support for their preferred political candidates and issues. Caucuses are held by the parties themselves. The Secretary of State describes them as “the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates and set goals and values (called party platforms.” Anyone who is eligible in the next general election and lives in the precinct where their caucus will be held is able to attend. It is recommended residents attend the caucus of the political party with which they generally tend to agree. Typically, activities at a caucus include: choosing volunteers who will organize political activities in the precinct; discuss ideas and issues for the party to support; and choose delegates who will endorse candidates at future conventions. All county residents who wish to attend the DFL caucus will head to the Little Falls Community Middle School Commons. Those who wish to caucus for the Republican party have different locations, depending upon where in the county they live. Those locations include: The Little Falls Community High School Commons for those living in the cities of Little Falls (Wards 1, 2 and 3) and Royalton, and in the townships of Belle Prairie, Bellevue, Green Prairie, Little Falls, Pike Creek and Ripley. Meeting in the Pierz Senior Nutrition Center are residents of the cities of Buckman, Genola, Harding, Hillman, Lastrup and Pierz, as well as residents of the townships of Agram, Buckman, Buh, Granite, Hillman, Lakin, Leigh, Morrill, Mt. Morris, Pierz, Platte, Pulaski and Richardson. Meeting at the Scandia Valley Town Hall are residents of the cities of Motley and Randall and the residents of the townships of Cushing, Darling, Motley, Parker, Rosing and Scandia Valley. Residents who will meet in the Upsala High School cafeteria are those living in the cities of Bowlus, Elmdale, Flensburg, Sobieski, Swanville and Upsala and those residing in the townships of Culdrum, Elmdale, Swan River, Swanville and Two Rivers. All caucuses begin at 7:00pm.
--A two vehicle accident with injuries occurred at 11:46am Monday on Highway 10 near Staples in Todd County. 39-year-old Adam Parsons of Ham Lake was westbound on Highway 10 when a vehicle turned into the westbound and collided with the Parsons vehicle. Parsons was taken to a hospital with non life threatening injuries. The other driver reported at a 17 year old juvenile was reportedly injured and taken to a hospital by private vehicle from the scene.
--Authorities have released information on a two vehicle accident last Thursday in Baxter at Highway 210 and County Road 59. 60-year-old Darold Wodarz of Crosby was eastbound on 210 making a left turn and collided with a Jeep driven by 47-year-old Alacia Ehlenfeldt of Brainerd. The State Patrol stated that Ehlenfeldt was airlifted from the scene with life threatening injuries to St. Cloud Hospital. Wodarz refused to be hospitalized for his injuries at the site.
--One person is dead after a house fire early Monday morning. The fire call came in at around 4:30am at a home in the 100 block of 17th Avenue South in St. Cloud. Officers arrived to find smoke in the home, ran inside and carried out one resident who was in a wheelchair. A second resident had also left the house unharmed. Authorities were told their was still possibly one more adult inside on the second floor, however officers were not able to check the second floor due to the heavy smoke. Fire crews arrived and entered the home to find the person's body on the floor upstairs. They were pronounced dead. The fire was ultimately put out and no one else was hurt. The fire caused roughly $70,000 in damage. Both the fire and death are under investigation by the St. Cloud Police Department, the St. Cloud Fire Marshal’s Office, and the State Fire Marshall’s Office. The body was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification.
--A St. Cloud man was arrested early Monday in connection to reports of shots fired over the weekend. St. Cloud police were called to the 600 block of 5th Street South Saturday on a report of shots fired. A witness told police they saw a man fire a handgun several times in the air while driving down the street. Police checked the scene but were unable to find the suspects vehicle. On Sunday, officers were called to the 700 block of 9th Avenue South on a report of a possible shooting. Authorities say the suspect, who matched the description of the person in the previous shooting, had fired a handgun from inside the apartment, and was seen leaving the area in the same vehicle. Officers later learned the suspect's vehicle was reported stolen and identified the suspect as 37-year-old Evan Fasthorse. At around 2:30am Monday morning police learned Fasthorse was inside an apartment in the 2000 block of 27th Street Southeast in St. Cloud. A search warrant was issued and Fasthorse was arrested on scene.
--The Brainerd Police Department had previously been notified by the Minnesota Department of Corrections of a Level 3 Predatory Offender that will be residing in the Brainerd City Limits. 28-year old Tyler Jay was scheduled to be released Monday. A judicial determination was made Monday morning that Jay will not be released into the community at this time.
--Catholic Schools Week on KLTF Party Line continues today live at Mary of Lourdes Middle School at 10:05am on AM960 KLTF to see what students and staff are planning for the rest of the week. You can also stream the program at fallsradio.com.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Actor Howard Hesseman known for “Dr. Johnny Fever” on WKRP in Cincinnati has died over the weekend. He was 81 years old.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY TONIGHT THROUGH 12PM WED.
TODAY= falling temps, gusty winds, flurries at times through day.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, cold, low -14, wind chills near -30.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, 3 above, low around -23.
THURSDAY= sunny and cold, high 0, low around -16, flurries late.
SPORTS
PRO BOWL= Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been named as a replacement to the NFC Pro Bowl team Sunday replacing Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who opted not to take part his year. The game is Sunday at 2pm in Las Vegas live on AM960 KLTF.
LOCAL= barely any games tonight on schedule due to Caucus Day.