[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Tuesday, March 22nd 2016[/title][fusion_text]
NEWS
–The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources on Monday announced fishing regulations for Lake Mille Lacs that will limit walleye fishing to catch and release only and will require the use of artificial bait. The regulations, derived after a series of meetings involving an advisory committee, are designed to protect the fish needed to rebuild Mille Lacs’ walleye population. Minnesota’s walleye season opens May 14th. From May 14th to December 1st, anglers targeting walleye must use artificial bait and immediately release all walleye caught. Anglers targeting northern pike and muskellunge may use sucker minnows longer than 8 inches, but all other anglers may not possess any other live, dead, frozen or processed bait. Other regulation changes for the 2016 season on Mille Lacs include: For northern pike the limit is five fish with only one longer than 40 inches; all northerns 30-40 inches long must immediately be released. For bass the limit is four fish with only one longer than 21 inches. All fish 17-21 inches long must be immediately released. Last year on Mille Lacs, walleye anglers could use live bait and keep one walleye 19-21 inches long or longer than 28 inches. Walleye fishing closed in August when fishing pressure, the number of fish caught and the temperatures combined to push the state over its 28,600 pound limit. This year’s safe walleye harvest level established by the DNR and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission remains at 40,000 pounds, with 28,600 pounds allocated to state anglers and 11,400 pounds allocated to tribal anglers. Allowing fishing beyond those limits puts the walleye population at risk and a federal court decision requires that walleye fishing be suspended.
–Two people were hurt Sunday afternoon around 12:45 in a two vehicle accident on Highway 71 at Lakeridge Drive in Stearns County. 16-year-old Austin Carlson of Sauk Centre was heading north on 71 and turned on Lakeridge Drive when the vehicle was rear-ended by another driven by 63-year-old Linda Besse of Sauk Centre. Both drivers had non-life threatening injuries according to the State Patrol.
–Two people were injured Monday morning in a collision outside of Maple Lake. The Minnesota State Patrol reported a van driven by 61-year old Bettyjo Buettner Monticello and another vehicle driven by 57-year old Creig Lisle of Cocoran were westbound on Minnesota Highway 55 near 53rd Street Northwest. Buettner was stopped in traffic for cars waiting to turn into a convenient store when Lisle rear ended Buettner. Buettner’s vehicle then rolled into the ditch. Both Lisle and Buettner suffered non life threatening injuries.
–An accident in Itasca County Friday night killed one person and injured another. The State Patrol stated that around 11:30pm, 29-year-old Christopher Smith of Bemidji was on Highway 65, left the road and came to rest in the ditch. Smith and one of his passengers, 32-year-old Michael Vail of Cass Lake suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries in the accident and both were taken to a hospital in Grand Rapids. A second passenger 56-year-old Mark Wirtjes of Bovey was ejected from the vehicle, as he was not wearing a seatbelt. Bovey was pronounced dead at the scene.
–Firefighters were called to a mulch fire that was started by a cigarette on Saturday around 12:30pm on 33rd Avenue North. The release said missing brick mortar on the building allowed some smoke to enter, causing around $250 in a damage. A lit cigarette was consided the cause of the fire.
–The Morrison County Food Shelf Fundraiser is April 9th at Falls Ballroom. Tickets $40, for info contact 632-6729.
–Delegates endorsed candidates for state legislative races in St. Cloud districts last weekend. In Senate District 14, where incumbent Senator John Pederson is not seeking re-election, delegates at the DFL endorsing convention backed Dan Wolgamott, a real estate agent from St. Cloud. A retired businessman and attorney Jerry Relph won the republican endorsement in Senate District 14. District 14 covers St. Cloud, St. Augusta and Waite Park, and Haven and Minden townships. Zach Dorholt was endorsed to run for House in District 14B against incumbent republican Jim Knoblach. Dorholt is a mental health professional and small business owner. No candidate has yet been endorsed for House District 14A to run against incumbent republican Representative Tama Theis of St. Cloud.
–The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and local law enforcement is reminding ice anglers and other recreationists not to be fooled by any remaining ice on lakes and streams. Over the past week, public safety officials have reported more than a half-dozen ice emergencies across the state involving anglers and ATV riders breaking through thin or weak ice. According to the DNR, many lakes and streams in southern and central Minnesota are already ice-free, going from ice-covered to open water over the course of a day or two. As the sun gains strength with the onset of spring, ice conditions can change dramatically within a matter of hours even when the air temperature remains cold. While no ice-related fatalities have been reported yet during the 2015-2016 season, now is when people tend to let their guard down about ice safety. For additional information about ice safety, visit www.mndnr.gov/icesafety.
DEATH NOTICE
–Stanley Bettis, age 80 of Motley
–Deborah S. Ginder, age 63 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high near 50.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low 31.
WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, windy, few snow showers, high 36.
WED NITE= mostly cloudy, light snow possible, low 25.
THURSDAY= sunny, high near 40, low near 25.
SPORTS
HCK= Gophers beat Boston College 3-1 to win the NCAA Frozen Four Women’s Hockey Championship for the second straight year.
HCK= St. Cloud State got #1 seed in West Division of NCAA Hockey Tournament and will face Ferris State Saturday at 2pm in St. Paul. The other match is Denver vs. Boston University with the winners of the two game playing in regional final Easter Sunday 4pm in St. Paul.
WBB= South Dakota beat Minnesota 101-89 to end the Gopher women’s basketball season in round 2 of the WNIT Tournament.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1765= Britain established Stamp Tax on U.S. Colonies, some state this was the first steps into the American Revolution against British.
IN 1894= Montreal beat Ottawa for the first official Stanley Cup.
IN 1934= first Masters Golf Championships held in Augusta, GA.
IN 1960= first patents for considered working lasers is given.
IN 1963= Beatles released first UK single “Please Please Me”.
IN 1969= Tommy Roe hit #1 on charts with “Dizzy”.
A reminder to listen to the Good Friday Service from Grace Convenant Church in Little Falls- this Friday at noon on KLTF.
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