NEWS --Little Falls Police assisted firefighters Sunday around 5:15pm with a chimney fire at 928 Lindbergh Drive South. The fire was contained to the chimney. Some smoke damage to the home. No injuries.
--31-year old Rhiannon Knutson of St. Cloud has been named the 2017 Armed Force's Insurance National Guard Military Spouse of the Year and contender for the overall Military Spouse of the Year. The award, which is sponsored by Military Spouse Magazine, recognizes military spouses and allows them to network and share their stories and experiences with other military spouses. One spouse is selected from each branch of the military. Then those finalists go on to contend for Military Spouse of the Year. Knutson is the first Minnesotan to be named National Guard Military Spouse of the Year. Knutson and her husband have four children and live in St. Cloud. Her husband is currently deployed in Afghanistan and is set to return later this year.
--Aitkin County stated a McGregor man has died from injuries sustained in an all terrain vehicle accident Friday on Big Sandy Lake. Around noon, authorities were called to the Sandy River Flowage which leads into the lake for an ATV rider through the ice. The ATV was found in about 8 feet of water with 59-year old Kevin Futhey still in the cab. Futhey was taken to North Memorial Medical Center in the Twin Cities where he died Friday night.
--Four fire departments were called to a fire that completely destroyed a barn in rural Stearns County on Sunday. Shortly after 2:00pm, a barn that had renovated into a shed was fully engulfed on Stearns County Road 174. Albany, Freeport, St. Martin and Avon Fire Departments battled the blaze. Firefighters were on scene for approximately two and a half hours. The building was a total loss, as well as a pickup truck, a skid loader, motorcycle and lawnmower. The cause is unknown and under investigation at this time.
--Two people were hurt in an ATV accident Saturday in Douglas County. Around 5:35pm, 28-year-old Aaron Salo and his passenger 53-year-old Diane Danner both of Nelson, were on their ATV near Nelson when they rolled over into an embankment. Neither were wearing helmets. Salo was airlifted to St. Cloud with critical injuries. Danner was taken to the Alexandria Hospital for her injuries.
--One person is dead and two others seriously hurt in an accident Saturday in Itasca County. 40-year-old Michael Washburn of Hill City was on Highway 169 around 5:20am when he veered off the shoulder of the road and struck an approach rolling it over. Washburn was taken to an area hospital and pronounced dead. Two others, 39-year old Toma Cuellar of LaPrairie and 48-year-old Bradley Doree of Hill City were both taken to hospitals in Duluth with serious injuries. Alcohol was detected at the scene of the accident.
--One person was injured in a car/semi truck accident Monday morning in Wright County. Just after 6:30am, 51-year old Christian Ferrell of Austin merged into the right lane on Interstate 94 coming from the ramp in Monticello, which caused 19-year-old Paige Dobberstein of Rogers to stop fast, spin the tires causing her vehicle to collide with the semi. Paige and 22-year old Megan Dobberstein were treated for non-life threatening injuries. Ferrell was not hurt.
--Donkey Basketball will be Thursday 6:30pm at the Swanville School Come and see students taken on faculty and Swanville community members at the events tickets $7 in advance at Swanville Schools.
--Join Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher on KLTF Up Front today at 9:05am. Jon will discuss the recent developments on the garbage pickup in Little Falls, cans vs. bags and field questions on the garbage discussion. The program is also on fallsradio.com.
--The Morrison County Sheriff ‘s Office reports that on Monday just after midnight their office received a report of a one vehicle accident with possible injuries on 60th Avenue in Elmdale Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 37-year old Terry Runge of Eagle Bend was traveling north on 60th Avenue when his pickup left the roadway, hit an approach and struck a telephone pole. Runge was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries.
--Ottertail County confirmed Sunday that a 6-year old taken from Perham has been found safe. Claire Cooney has been found in Tellico Plains, about 60 miles southwest of Knoxville, Tennessee. Her father, Brian Cooney of Perham, said his estranged wife, Miranda Cooney, and her partner did not have parental rights to the child and needed permission to see the girl. The girl was found with Miranda and is in the works of being brought back to Perham. Brian Cooney stated he had not seen his 6 year girl in about a month and had to hire private investigators to help in the search.
--A St. Cloud man is being held at the Sherburne County Jail after allegedly stabbing a 20-year old man in the chest Sunday evening. Officers were conducting a routine traffic stop Sunday night when a 20-year old man approached the officer requesting medical attention. The man was not involved in the traffic stop. Officers said the victim told the officer he was stabbed. The victim who identified his relative 21-year old Issa Ibrahim as the alleged assailant. The man was taken by ambulance to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Ibrahim is being held on second-degree assault charges.
--A semi driver from Las Vegas was hurt Sunday night when his vehicle spun out on an icy patch on Interstate 94 in Stearns County. Just before 9:30pm, 32-year-old Charles Matthewson was in St. Joseph on I-94 when he left the roadway, rolled down the embankment and ended up on the bank of the Sauk River. Matthewson was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of injuries.
--The St. Cloud VA has a new director. Stephen Black will take over the position in St. Cloud starting April 2nd. Black has over 18 years in health care experience and most recently worked as associate medical director of the Durham Virginia Health Care System. He takes over for Barry Bahl who retired last year.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Peter and Erica Strom of Little Falls, boy on March 11th
DEATH NOTICE --Benjamin W. Sendey, age 29 of Des Moines, formerly of Little Falls
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high near 30 TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 10. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 32, cloudy night low 12. THURSDAY= rain/sleet/snow, gusty winds, high 44, low 29.
SPORTS NCAA= The NCAA Tournament begins tonight with 2 games to move to the round of 64 that begins on Thursday.