NEWS --On Thursday the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced their large and small business of the year and volunteer of the year. Large Business of the Year went to Minnesota Power. The power company started in 1923 and covers a 26,000 square mile territory with over 145,000 customers. Small Business of the Year went to Westside Liquor, owners Bob and Linda Feuling opened the store in 1986 in Little Falls, 31 years later they own 7 stores across central Minnesota. Volunteer of the Year was awared to Angie Petersen of Cushing. Petersen is involved in many organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Morrison County Area Foundation, Holy Family Parish of Belle Prairie, Junior Achievement and many others beside working her day job as a realtor at Century 21 New Horizons Realty in Little Falls.
--The Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatality motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Benton County Road 2 and Benton County Road 78 in Graham Township near Rice around 9:00am Saturday. A vehicle driven by 69-year old David Carl Wiborg of Mound was heading northbound on County Road 78 when it failed to yield the right of way at County Road 2 and proceeded into the intersection against a stop sign striking the driver’s side of a westbound vehicle driven by 50-year old Dana Marie Backstrom of Foley. Backstrom died at the scene. Wiborg was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with serious injuries. This is the third fatal accident in the last 24 days in Benton County.
--A Brooklyn Center semi-driver is dead after his tractor-trailor went off interstate 94 near Sauk Centre Saturday just before 8am and struck a tree. 61-year-old James Peifer lost control and left the roadway. The state patrol is investigating to see if the driver had a medical condition at that time. He was dead at the scene when the Minnesota State Patrol arrived. No others were involved in accident.
--At the recent Mississippi Valley Cattleman's Association annual meeting; Kendra Kathrein, daughter of Clint and Roxane Kathrein was named the 2017 Beef Princess. Kendra is a senior at Little Falls Community High School and will promote the beef industry throughout the coming year.
--A 16-year-old was injured Saturday evening on Highway 15 near Kimball. 47-year-old Christopher Olson of South Haven was on County Road 135 entered the intersection to enter Highway 15 and collided with 16-year-old Kayley Rhodes of Kimball. Rhodes was treated at the hospital for non-serious injuries. Olson was not hurt.
--The Little Falls School Board will meet at 2pm today at the science lecture hall at the High School to open bids for construction work for the schools over the months ahead.
--The Pierz School Board will hold their next meeting Wednesday night at 6pm at the district office at Pierz Healy High High School.
--The Pierz Art club will host an empty bowls soup supper fundraiser for the Pierz Food Shelf and Pioneer Packs Programs. The event is Wednesday 4-7pm at high school cafeteria for $10 for the homemade bowl of soup, bread and beverage and you get to keep the bowl.
--On Wednesday, KLTF's Steve Van Slooten will turn 70 and in honor of our Up Front and Party Line co-host there will be cake and coffee open house for Steve from 8-10am. All are invited to come and enjoy some time with Steve. AM960 KLTF will also be doing a number of giveaways of cookbooks and other items during the morning show and on Party Line on Wednesday.
--Shortly before 6:00pm Sunday the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a one vehicle roll over on County Road 11 near 357th Street, approximately 2 miles south of Freeport. Deputies located the crashed vehicle in a field approximately one hundred yards away from the roadway. The vehicle was smoking heavily and flames were coming from the bottom of the vehicle. The vehicle was badly damaged and the driver was trapped inside. A fire extinguisher was used on the vehicle but was unsuccessful in eliminating all the flames. Several nearby neighbors and a Freeport Firefighter arrived at the location and assisted. The Sheriffs Office Deputy, with the assistance of the others on scene pulled the driver out of the driver’s window before the car became engulfed. The driver, 23-year old Brent Geislinger had been southbound on County Road 11 when he veered off the road to the west and struck a driveway approach. The car went airborne for a short distance and continued southbound into the ditch and finally an open field. Geislinger sustained injuries as a result from the crash and was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. The crash remains under investigation.
--Police in Detroit Lakes say a 56-year-old woman has died after she was struck by a freight train. Authorities were called about a pedestrian Lynn Alexander was hit by a train Saturday night. Paramedics found Alexander dead on the railroad tracks. She was struck about 9:00pm at the Washington Avenue crossing in Detroit Lakes. Train traffic in the area was halted until shortly after midnight while officers responded to the scene.
--As of Sunday, all passenger vehicles are prohibited from the ice of Mayhew Lake southeast of Rice in Benton County. The ice conditions on the lake have deteriorated to the point of making it unsafe for any cars, trucks, or vans to drive on the ice. ATVs and snowmobiles are still allowed at this time, however anyone venturing onto Mayhew Lake should use caution. The ice near the shore has deteriorated significantly and the main lake ice has become weak and honeycombed with the recent warm weather. Warmer than average conditions through late this week will continue to quickly erode the quality of all lake ice in the area not just for vehicles but even for foot traffic. Those who choose to venture onto the ice should use caution to avoid a life-threatening fall through the ice.
--The Minnesota House passed legislation Monday that would legalize the sale of liquor, beer, and wine in Minnesota on Sundays. This is the first time in state history that standalone legislation on this issue has been voted on or approved. Governor Mark Dayton previously stated he would sign this bill if it passes the Senate too.
DEATH NOTICE --DelRoy “Del” John Banach of Bozeman, MT formerly of Lastrup
WEATHER TODAY= thick fog early, PM sunshine, high 57. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, low around 35. WEDNESDAY= afternoon rain changing to snow late, high 52, low 28 THURSDAY= partly cloudy, morning flurries and colder, high 37.
SPORTS BHK= Fergus Falls at Little Falls playoffs tonight 7pm Q92 WYRQ COL BB= Gophers try and continue their winning streak with a record at 20-7 at Maryland Wednesday night 7pm on AM960 KLTF