NEWS --The Little Falls Fire Department responded to a chimney fire on Saturday night. At 11:23pm 13-firefighters responded for three hours at the Scott Johnson residence of 19582 Grouse Road. Firefighters battled the elements and managed to contain the fire to the chimney. The residence did sustain some smoke damage. There were no injuries. The owner recently purchased the house and the plugged chimney was believed to be the cause. A reminder to homeowners to use a mirror to make sure chimneys are clean before use.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet this morning at 9am at the Little Falls City Hall due to renovations to the government center.
--Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza organizers are investigating possible cheating by the winners of this year's $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza last month. The investigation is to determine whether some of this year's competing anglers, including the winner of a new pickup truck, deceived contest organizers. Contest officials confirmed they are investigating whether three men from Ohio, a father, a son and another relative, legitimately caught the fish they say they did, earning first, third and 98th places among the 150 prize winners. The title to the new GMC pickup that Stephan Lyogky of Hartville, Ohio, won for catching a 3.10-pound northern pike during the three hour contest is being withheld pending the investigation outcome. The men have told a lawyer for the group they caught the fish according to contest rules and are willing to take lie detector tests. In the contest's 28 years, two other anglers were investigated for possible cheating.
--Two people were arrested Saturday night in Waite Park for allegedly hitting two women in the head with a gun. Officers were called to 501 7th Street South around 9:30 for a gun complaint. When officers arrived they found two women in the parking lot who had been pistol whipped and one of the victims was strangled during the assault. Both women were treated on the scene for non-life threatening injuries. Authorities arrested a 17-year old boy for two counts of second degree assault involving a handgun and 32-year-old Allen Elgrin of Waite Park was charged with being a felon in possession of a handgun. Both were being held at the Stearns County Jail.
--The Weyerhaeuser Museum/Morrison County Historical Society is hosting a logging tour on February 24th. Starting in the mid-1800s with the sale of trees by Chief Hole in the Day to Franklin Steele, the logging industry became a huge industry in Morrison County. When Pine Tree Lumber Company began its operations in Little Falls in 1890, the population boomed and the town blossomed. Learn more about the history of the logging industry in Morrison County on this tour at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum at 11am. To sign up for the tour call 320-632-4007 or online at the historical society website. You must reserve your spot by February 23rd.
--Tonight is precinct caucuses around Minnesota. The local DFL Party will meet at 6:30 registration and caucus at 7pm at Little Falls Community Middle School. The local Republican Party has their caucus at 7pm at four different sites depending on where you live. The four sites are Little Falls Community High School, Upsala High School, Pierz Senior Site and Scandia Valley Town Hall.
--Snowy conditions led to hundreds of accidents. The 2-6 inches of snow led to 365 crashes in central and northern Minnesota alone on Saturday. Of all of the accidents, one in Itasca County was serious.
--A St. Cloud man faces criminal charges after allegedly pulling a gun on bouncers at the Press Bar in St. Cloud. Police responded to an assault call just after 12:30am Friday after security removed a man from the bar, two women and another man began fighting with the bouncers. The man, 24-year old James Wilks, allegedly reached down by his ankle and pulled out a handgun. He continued yelling at staff as he walked away. Police saw Wilks and the women walking in the 600 block of West St. Germain when he allegedly threw the gun on the ground. Police arrested him at the scene and recovered the gun. Wilks now faces several counts of 2nd degree assault and a charge of being a felon in possession of a gun. The women, 22-year old Anastasia Accardo and 28-year old Sandi Aguilar, both of St. Cloud were cited for disorderly conduct and released at the scene.
--Waite Park police arrested 66-year old Melvin Odeen Davis Friday afternoon on suspicion of domestic assault. Davis has been charged with felony domestic assault by strangulation and misdemeanor domestic assault. The court put a restraining order in place Monday. Davis will return to court next Monday.
--Over two dozen people have applied to be the next superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice school district. Interim Superintendent Bruce Watkins says 28 people are hoping to be the next superintendent at Sauk Rapids-Rice. Twenty of them already have experience as a superintendent. The school board will be reviewing all of the applications this week and should name their three or four finalists by the end of next week.
--Senator Paul Gazelka is asking local residents and registrars to provide feedback about their experiences with DVS’s new vehicle registration system at www.MNLARSmess.com. The Senate Transportation Committee will use the feedback to push back on the state IT and Public Safety departments responsible for rolling out the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System.
DEATH NOTICE --Jeanie S. Rudolph, age 57 of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= increasing clouds, snow after 5pm, high 12. TONIGHT= snow likely, 1-2 inches by morning, low -2. WEDNESDAY= becoming mostly sunny, high 10, low -6. THURSDAY= partly sunny, breezy, high 12, low -4.
SPORTS COL BB= Nebraska at Gophers tonight 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF. OLY= the 2018 Winter Olympics begin Thursday in South Korea, though events start Thursday, the opening ceremonies is Friday.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1869= Harper's Weekly publishes first picture of Uncle Sam in a magazine, with the Red White Blue persona and chin whiskers. IN 1921= “The Kid” with Charlie Chaplin released in theaters. IN 1935= Monopoly goes on sale for 1st time from Parker Brothers. IN 1943= Frank Sinatra becomes host of Your Hit Parade on radio. IN 1978= Muriel Humphrey, wife of Hubert H. Humphrey who died in January, replaces her husband in the U.S. Senate. IN 1981= “Brady Brides” debut on NBC having Marcia and Jan of the Brady Bunch now brides- the show was canceled after 10 episodes.