NEWS
--A 13-year-old took first place and won a pickup on Saturday at the Brainerd Jaycee's Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Organizers say at about 1:53pm. 13-year-old Zac Padrnos of Hutchinson was fishing in about 50 feet of water when he felt a hit and he reeled in the fish of a lifetime. His winning fish was a 9.45-pound walleye. The next largest walleye was 5.67 lbs. Padrnos had his choice of taking either a Ford F150 or a GMC Canyon, he chose the Ford. Preliminary estimates indicate that nearly 12,000 people were in attendance for the tournament on Saturday. They came from across the country including New York, California, and Tennessee. A few contestants also flew in from Australia and France. There are two notable characteristics about this event – it is entirely run and organized by volunteers, and 100% of the proceeds are donated to charities. The Brainerd Jaycees invest nearly 25,000 volunteer hours in the year-long planning of the contest. The largest beneficiary is Confidence Learning Center, an outdoor education facility for individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities. The Brainerd Jaycees have donated over $4.3 million to more than 75 different charities since the first Extravaganza in 1991.
--A Pequot Lakes man was injured in a three-vehicle crash Saturday, in Nisswa. The Minnesota State Patrol reported the crash at 11:17am on Highway 371. A 2016 Dodge Durango, driven by 39-year-old Brandi Marie Thayer of Breezy Point, was southbound in the left lane on Highway 371 near Polks Road, just south of Nisswa. A 2015 Ford F150, driven by 70-year-old Hackensack man George Lawrence Volkert was southbound behind Thayer when a 2012 Chevrolet Captiva came up behind the truck too fast. Volkert was able to move onto the median, but his truck still had some damage to the rear bumper. The Captiva, driven by 92-year-old Robert Donald Zweigle, also struck the rear end of Thayer’s Durango. Zweigle was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd for non-life threatening injuries. His passenger, 73-year-old Susan Lou Zweigle of Pequot Lakes, was not injured, nor were Thayer’s two passengers — 41-year-old Bemidji woman Ashley Dannielle Johnson and 43-year-old Tower man Darin Andrew Smith. All parties were wearing their seat belts, according to the state patrol.
--Minnesota’s Veterans Homes will get some help thanks to a new donation. The VFW Charles McLaughlin Post 906 in Hutchinson has donated $80,000 to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
The donation was specifically directed to each of the state’s eight Veterans Homes, so each home will get $10,000. The donation was presented at the VFW Midwinter Conference on January 13th by Jerry Tews, from the Charles McLaughlin Post 906 VFW, Minnesota VFW Commander Dale Hoogeveen, and VFW Charitable Gambling Manager Doug Johnson. The state homes are in Bemidji, Luverne, Fergus Falls, Hastings and Minneapolis. Montevideo and Preston are expected to be completed this year and one more to be completed in 2024.
--This week is Catholic's School Week and today KLTF Party Line will be live at Mary of Lourdes Middle School on the west side of Little Falls at 10:05am to talk with students and staff on Catholic Schools Week. Yesterday Party Line was live at Holy Trinity School in Pierz. If you want to hear the program, it is available on the fallsradio.com website, last night the program was able to be on the homepage and there is a link right there to click on to and hear Monday's Show. The same is expected to be done today with the MOL program on KLTF.
--At 2:10pm on Saturday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office located a deceased male in Motley. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 33-year-old Jorge Sandoval Jr. of Motley was reported missing earlier in the day. After searching the area, Sandoval was located by officers deceased in a ditch north of the intersection of 1st Avenue North and Morrison Street East. Sandoval’s body was taken to Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy, where he was positively identified. There is no evidence of foul play or a safety concern to the public. This case remains an active investigation. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Motley Police Department and the Staples Police Department.
--Authorities in Princeton reportedly detained three people after a brief standoff Sunday night. Police were called to the home for a possible burglary in progress at about 9:15pm. They say they arrived to a man shouting he had a rifle and threatened to shoot the officers. Sheriff’s deputies from Isanti, Mille Lacs and Sherburne Counties all responded, as well as a SWAT team and the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, per police radio dispatches. At about 11:20pm, the man and two women came out of the house without further incident and were detained. This marks the second time this month police in that area engaged in a standoff. Four people were charged after two Mille Lacs County deputies went to serve papers at a house in Princeton Township on January 14th. The people inside refused to answer the door or come out, and one allegedly pointed a gun at them.
--The next Coffee with the Cop event will be on February 27th at the Pierz Senior Center at 8:30am. Come for free coffee and donuts. The program will address drugs, the recent dangers in the county with fentanyl and how you can help prevent and work together with this. Other items may also be discussed. The event is sponsored by the Morrison County Sheriff's Office, Pierz Police Department, Stand Up For U Coalition and The Pierz Great River Regional Library.
--The Pierz Senior Center announced bingo is canceled today.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Actress Cindy Williams best known as Shirley on the TV Series Laverne and Shirley and also in American Graffiti has died at the age 75 after a brief illness. The family said she died last Wednesday.
--Hockey great known as “The Golden Jet” Bobby Hull died on Monday, the hockey hall of famer and Stanley Cup champ was 84.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--William Kilman and Janell Keehr of Royalton, boy on January 27th.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, cold temps, high near 7.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, snow likely before midnight, low -6.
WEDNESDAY= becoming sunny, a bit warmer, high 15, low 0.
THURSDAY= temps rise to 12 fall to -2 with very strong winds.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Milaca at Pierz Thursday at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS.
HS GBB= Little Falls at St. Cloud Apollo Thursday 7:15 on Q92.
HS GBB= Swanville at Little Falls Saturday 2:30pm on Q92 WYRQ
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1928= 3M Company in Minnesota introduces scotch tape.
IN 1936= The Green Hornet debuts on radio.
IN 1949= These are My Children debut on NBC- first TV Soap.