NEWS
--Around 9:20pm Sunday 24-Little Falls Firefighters responded to a house fire at 904 11th Street SW at the Joshua Daddion residence. The fire is believed to have started in the bathroom area. The fire was contained to the bathroom but there was heavy smoke damage throughout the house. No one was home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries. Also, the owners of the house totaled by fire on Friday in Little Falls were identified as Matt and Sarah Tervo.
--The Minnesota National Guard will host over 100 members of the Norwegian Home Guard as part of a reciprocal troop exchange at Camp Ripley February 8th- 22nd. The exchange, in its 46th consecutive year, reinforces the positive working relationships between allied services and highlights the strong lineage many Minnesotans share with the Scandinavian culture. The origin of the exchange began with a handshake between two veterans of the Second World War - Norwegian Major General Herluf Nygaard and Chief of National Guard, Major General Francis S. Greenlief, agreeing that a troop exchange would strengthen the bond between their two allied countries. This program which began in 1974 was the initiation of the longest allied exchange, of its kind to date, in the Department of Defense. 2019 marks the 46th anniversary of this Partners for Peace exchange program which has had over 9,000 Soldiers, Airmen and Home Guard personnel participate. Through the middle of February the exchange, at Camp Ripley, will introduce the Norwegian Soldiers to cooperative training experiences with American military and inter-agency partners focusing on domestic operations with law enforcement and homeland security. The exchange will introduce the Norwegian contingent to American cultural events throughout Minnesota. Members of the Norwegian Home Guard are scheduled to be guests on KLTF Party Line February 19th at 10am.
--The Minnesota State Patrol was kept very busy with accidents over the weekend including dozens from icy roads Sunday night. Sunday night around 8:20, 30-year old Neal Bodeman of Andover lost control on Highway 10 at Highway 15 near St. Cloud and hit the guard rail. The vehicle than started a chain reaction as vehicles in front were stopped for another crash. Bodeman's vehicle struck Randy Larsen of Sauk Rapids pickup truck that then struck an unoccupied squad car that had stopped for the other crash. Another vehicle turned onto 15 and struck the pickup truck in the rear. That driver, 32-year-old Diane Gerdes of Little Falls was treated for injuries. There were no other injuries. Around 7:45pm, three from Princeton were injured when their vehicle went off Highway 95 in Princeton Township, all three (including an 11 year old) were treated at an area hospital. Around 7:15pm Sunday, 45-year old Shelley Greenwaldt of Randall was Interstate 94 in St. Cloud when her vehicle spun out and hit another vehicle. One of her passengers, 25-year old Kelsey Greenwaldt was treated for injuries. The other passenger, Amanda Boone and the driver were not hurt nor was anyone in the 2nd vehicle and the third vehicle that was struck during the crash. Earlier that day around 4:30am, a Little Falls woman was injured in Benton County when her vehicle missed a curve near Rice and rolled over. 28-year old Victoria Fulda was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for her injuries. The State Patrol also reported injury accidents Saturday in Wright, Sherburne and south of Milaca in Mille Lacs County.
--Pioneer Elementary in Pierz present “Tied to the Tracks” Thursday morning at 9:45am and Friday at 7pm. Free of charge to view.
--New Pierz Football Coach Danny Saehr informed Little Falls Radio that there will be a retirement celebration for the former Pierz football coach Leo Pohlkamp this Saturday at 7pm at the Brickyard Bar in Pierz. All are welcome to attend.
--Morrison County Public Works stated that with more snow in the forecast this week, maintenance crews will be out removing snow from roadways. Please stay back and give room for plows to clear snow. Crews will continue trimming trees along various right of ways, and patching holes on various roads as the weather permits.
--Two St. Cloud men were arrested Friday on gun-related charges after they allegedly firing a gun near Electrolux. The St. Cloud Police say they were called on a gun complaint around 2:15pm to the manufacturer on the north side of town. Security saw two men walking, one with a gun, into a gas station. When police arrived, they had left the gas station and were walking down the street, one of the men attempted to hide something under a vehicle in the Electrolux lot after seeing officers in the area. Police identified the men as 20-year-old Derrick Wilkerson and 23-year-old Jorge Fernandez, both of St. Cloud. Both Wilkerson and Fernandez allegedly fired a pistol near the railroad tracks next to Electrolux. Wilkerson is facing charges of being a felon in possession of a gun and reckless discharge of a gun. Fernandez is facing charges of reckless discharge of a firearm.
--A fire took out a turkey barn in Stearns County this weekend. The incident happened around 4:11am on Sunday. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says they responded to a call about a building fire in Eden Lake Township from someone on a train passing through the area. At 14512 Lakewood Road, first responders found a 65 by 313 foot turkey barn on fire. The owners of the barn, 59-year old Steven Ries and 40-year-old Jamie Ries say the barn was empty. They had been expecting a delivery of new turkeys that morning. The barn is considered a complete loss, and the cause is under investigation.
--There have been more than 25 crashes so far this winter involving vehicles and state snowplows. With winter far from over, the Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging motorists to use extra caution during plowing and snow removal operations. Snow plow operators have a restricted view from the plow cab, so they must rely on mirrors to see to the rear and side of the truck. Their vision is also hampered by the snow clouds they create while they plow. Last year in Minnesota, there were 84 crashes involving vehicles and MnDOT snowplows. Minnesota law requires motorists to turn on their headlights when it’s snowing or at any other time when weather conditions impair visibility.
DEATH NOTICE
--Michael “Mike” G. Bertram, age 55 of Pierz
WEATHER
TODAY= snow by afternoon, 1-2 inches by midnight, high 10, low 0.
WEDNESDAY= clouds early, snow by PM hours 1-3 inches, high 20.
THURSDAY= snow ending, totals for 3 days could be 4-8 inches.
SPORTS
HS BB= Eden Valley Watkins at Pierz tonight 5:45pm in boys followed by girls with Holdingford at Pierz around 7:15pm, both games heard live on FM94 KFML and fallsradio.com.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Fergus Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ