NEWS
--Due to the Winter Storm Warning still in effect today these schools are closed, Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Upsala, Swanville, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, Pillager, Staples-Motley, Holdingford, Albany, Central Lakes College Brainerd and Staples campus are all closed meaning the buildings area closed and buses are not running. However some schools will use E-Learning today so students and parents should check text messages or emails to make sure if their students should be on their devices for class today. Also with no in class learning today at these schools they have canceled all kids korner/day care services, community education items and all afterschool and evening activities and games are canceled tonight.
--John Poston (Republican) announces retirement from the MN House of Representatives. Poston will not run for Senate in November, 2022. Last fall, Poston announced that he would not be running for the House again; but was planning to run for the Minnesota Senate in District 9. The new district maps were announced last week. After prayer, discussion with my family, and council with my fellow Republican lawmakers, Poston made the decision to retire at the end of my House term. The new map for Senate District 5 includes portions of Becker, Cass, Hubbard, Todd, and Wadena counties. Paul Utke (Republican) resides in Park Rapids. He has been serving in the Minnesota Senate since 2017 and plans to run in November so Representative Poston announced he would not run for Senate.
--Little Falls Fire Chief Craig Seelen is once again requesting that residents with fire hydrants please keep them clear of snow. When responding to emergencies, the time saved by already having fire hydrants clear of any snow can make a large difference in outcomes when battling fires. Seelen thanks all for their cooperation on this.
--A snowmobiler was airlifted for medical care after colliding with a truck Sunday in Emily of Crow Wing County. Assistant Emily Police Chief Damien Stalker said the crash happened just after 4:00pm on Pinewood Drive, which is a narrow road. The two vehicles collided head-on after coming around a corner. The truck driver was not injured, and the extent of the snowmobiler’s injuries were not known as of Sunday evening, Stalker said. The Emily Fire Department and other first responders assisted at the scene.
--Authorities in St. Cloud are investigating a gas station car fire that happened early Sunday morning. The St. Cloud Fire Department says shortly before 4am they responded to a report of a car on fire at the Kwik Trip gas station at 1230 Highway 23 East. Authorities say they arrived to find a car that has driven through the tire filling station and a privacy fence fully engulfed in flames. The fire was put out and no occupants or owners have been located. The incident caused about $8,000 in damage and has been turned over to the St. Cloud Police Department for investigation.
--A Backus man and woman were arrested Wednesday after drugs and ammunition were found at their residence. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office seized 10 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 21 dosage units of Clonazepam, a drug WebMD notes is used to prevent and control seizures, from a residence in the city of Backus after an ongoing investigation into the sales and use of controlled substances. Investigators conducted a search warrant Feb. 16 and arrested 69-year-old Deb Maus and 32-year-old Jason Dailey. Formal charges relating to controlled substance possession are pending. Authorities also seized ammunition at the residence. If you notice something suspicious best to always call your local law enforcement.
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher spoke on KLTF yesterday and stated they will have their ordinance on the redistricting of the 3 Wards introduced tonight at the City Council Meeting (tonight due to the holiday yesterday) at 7:30pm. The Redistricting will be Ward 3 will be the entire west side and also areas south 1st Street Southeast and Broadway will be added to Ward 3 including Linden Hill and the area of the Golf Course. Ward 1 and 2 will be split at 4th Avenue Northeast, north will be Ward 2 and south of 4th Avenue Northeast will now be added to Ward 1 along with all parts of southeast Little Falls remaining Ward 1 and homes and areas east of Wal-Mart will also be Ward 1. This is to make the population of the city all close by the numbers to make the Wards equal in voting. The three polling places will still be the same at Bethel Lutheran in Ward 3, Initiative Foundation in Ward 1 and City Hall in Ward 2. Questions call Jon at City Hall at 320-616-5500. Radermacher stated the there will be a number of city road projects this year and they will be approved in a later meeting after the snow ends. Radermacher wants the public to know that Our Town 56345 is trying to make the priorities that were started in 2020 and kind of put on hold the past 2 years, they have created diagrams and posters with those items which are building on creative assets, hospitality, health and wellness, boosting the economy, supporting next generations and others items to get the zip code moving forward also work on the community center that is still in the works for Little Falls. Details on Our Town 56345 are available on their website and also through their facebook page. There next meeting on the projects and items will be in March.
--The Morrison County Commissioners are scheduled to meet today at 9am at the Government Center Boardroom. Agenda items include the county employee recognitions, health and human services report, sheriff, extension, auditor and public works reports also on agenda.
DEATH NOTICES
--Robert “Bob” Feuling, age 86 of Rice.
--Brian Wensmann, age 56 of Bowlus/Elmdale area.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6PM TONIGHT
TODAY= snow likely, another 4-6 inches, high 6, very cold winds.
TONIGHT= windy, blowing snow likely, clearing late, low -11.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, windy, high 4 above, low around -17.
THURSDAY= sunny and cold, not as windy, high 8 above, low -10.
SPORTS
HS= due to schools being closed today that means that most after school and evening activities were canceled. Games scheduled for tonight have been moved or canceled. The Flyer boys hockey playoff game with Sauk Rapids has been moved to tomorrow night at 7pm at Exchange Arena in Little Falls on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com. Also the Flyer boys basketball game moved to Monday, Pierz games have been moved to later this week or next week as many others.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1732= according to the current calendar in use today, George Washington born, later the 1st U.S. President in the country then in the year 1889 Washington's Birthday becomes a legal holiday, it would remain a National Holiday until 1986 when the third Monday of the month was then named President's Day as the federal holiday.