NEWS
--Over the past weekend the Brainerd Jaycees received word of a social media post going around that the Ice Fishing Extravaganza was canceled this year, due to ice conditions. This is not true and on Monday the Jaycees called out to radio stations, including Little Falls Radio, and responded on social media that "cancellation" post was FAKE. Right now the event is scheduled on February 4th on Hole in the Day Baxter and no official announcement has been issued regarding the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. They are planning on digging holes on February 2nd and asking for those who want to come and help to reach out to them on their website or Facebook. The hope is the colder temperatures in the past days are helping to build more ice for the event. If there a change the Jaycees will send out the information to local media and Little Falls Radio.
--A Foley woman was hurt in a crash near Hutchinson. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 5:45am Sunday. Twenty-four-year-old Cindy Cirrigan was driving south on Highway 15 when she lost control of her vehicle and went into the ditch. She was taken to Glencoe Regional Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Sartell police are looking for the person responsible for blowing up a mailbox. The say the incident happened Sunday night in the 500 block of 13th Avenue North. No one was hurt. It is believed to be an isolated incident. They are asking for any residents in that area who have video surveillance or ring type camera footage to contact them.
--Minnesotans can start voting already this Friday in our state's Presidential Primary. Absentee voting starts Friday for the March 5th Primary. The only item on the ballot will be the candidates running for United States President. Those voting will need to choose between one of three ballots. The chair of each major political party submits a list of candidate names on January 2nd. From that, the voter actually chooses to vote by party. This year the ballots show the races for the Republican, Democrat, and Legal Marijuana Now parties. There are five candidates listed on the Republican party ballot, there are 11 candidates on the Democratic party ballot and five candidates on the Legal Marijuana Now party. Also voters need to keep in mind that between now and when you vote candidates that have dropped out of the race will still be on the ballot. Residents can vote by absentee ballot in person at your local county offices. On Presidential Primary election day on March 5th you will be able to go to your normal polling place. One big change this year in Minnesota is that people who have been convicted of a felony can now legally vote as long as they are not incarcerated when they vote. Later this year Minnesota will have another State Primary on August 13th for state and other contested races. The General Election is on November 5th.
--Check your cupboards. Due to possible salmonella contamination, Quaker Oats is expanding its recall for certain products, including some very popular cereals and snack bars. Quaker’s chewy granola bars and granola cereals, the Quaker oatmeal squares, Cap’n Crunch cereals and cereal bars, instant oatmeal and Munchies snack mix are all under recall. That is in addition to the chewy bars, big chewy bars, Dipps and Mini Dipps variety packs, other granola snack bars, and granola cereals recalled last month. Consumers should check their pantries for products and dispose of them or contact Quaker Consumer Relations at 1-800-492-9322.
--There is NO BINGO today at the Pierz Senior Center due to cold.
--The National Weather Service in Duluth MN had issued a Flood Watch for the Mississippi River at Fort Ripley affecting southwestern Crow Wing and northwestern Morrison Counties. A suspected ice jam downstream on the Mississippi River near Fort Ripley is increasing water levels upstream and may lead to lowland flooding along the Mississippi River near Fort Ripley. Due to the nature of ice jam flooding, fluctuations in waters levels of 1 to 3 feet are possible. Residents and those with interests near the river should monitor rising water levels and be prepared for possible flood warnings. Report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and to the National Weather Service in Duluth when you can do so safely. On Monday night the water levels had eased a bit to remove the watch area for now. Flooding can be reported to the National Weather Service at 1-800-685-8612.
--A reminder that the Veterans Resource Fair is on Thursday from 5-8pm at the Morrison County Government Center lower level boardroom. This is free for all to learn what is available for Veterans and their families from around the county services and other organizations. Questions on the event call Kris at Veterans Service Office at 320-632-0290.
--Sister Julien announced that on Thursday they received 30 units of Blood so in the three days we received 160 units and our goal was for 170. Thanks so much for the many Donors who responded and came in to give blood and help save lives as well as the 15 who came in and were deferred. Their next Blood Drive will be March 18, March 19 and March 20th and anyone who wishes can sign up by going on line to do that. Appointments call 320-632-0663 or you can go online to the website redcrossblood.org for blood drive information.
--The 27th Annual Knights of Columbus Buffalo Feed and Raffle is scheduled for January 27th from 4-8pm for the feed and 8:15pm for the large raffle. Tickets available from KC members or at area Pierz businesses. The feed is $10 on the 27th for the meal at the Pierz Ballroom to come and enjoy. Sponsors by Pierz Knights of Columbus.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 3 above, wind chills near -20.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around -6 wind chills near -20.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy skies, high 8 above, low around -3.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, colder, high near 0, low near -11.
SPORTS
NFL= Buffalo beat Pittsburgh Monday 31-17 and Tampa Bay defeated Philadelphia 32-9 to move on in the NFL playoffs. This weekend it will be Houston at Baltimore Saturday 3:30pm then Green Bay at San Francisco at 7pm Saturday. Sunday at 2pm is Tampa Bay at Detroit followed at 5:30pm with Kansas City at Buffalo on KLTF.
TWINS= The Twins agreed to terms with six of their seven-arbitration-eligible players all but utility man Nick Gordon on Thursday, ahead of Major League Baseball’s arbitration deadline. That group includes Kyle Farmer, Willi Castro, Ryan Jeffers, Alex Kirilloff and pitchers Caleb Thielbar and Jorge Alcala. The Twins tendered all of their contracts in November. Listen to the “Inside Twins Hot Stove” program Wednesday 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Upsala at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.