NEWS --Though the weather has not been a factor this November, yesterday began Winter Hazard Awareness Week in Minnesota. Each year the National Weather Service and the Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management promote winter safety and individual preparedness for all citizens wherever they are: in their homes, on the road, at work, and at play. Unfortunately, many people each year suffer needlessly because they are unaware of the potential dangers of the winter season. Each day has a different theme for winter hazards. Monday was winter storms, today outdoor winter safety, tomorrow winter fire safety, Thursday is indoor winter safety and Friday is winter driving. The National Weather Service has tips and information on each of the days this week which may be coming at the right time as rain is in the forecast Thursday and Friday changing to snow Friday night into Saturday. For more information on this topic log onto weather.gov.
--A 64-year-old Litchfield man died Saturday in Randall on Highway 10. The accident happened around 12:25pm when Richard Larson was driving on Highway 10 went into the ditch, struck a road sign then up an embankment, through a barbed wire fence and into some small trees. Larson was pronounced dead at the scene.
--An Alexandria man is dead after he was run over by a combine in a cornfield in western Minnesota. Douglas County Sheriff's authorities identify the victim as 62-year-old Ewald Wussow. Authorities say Wussow's brother was backing up the combine Friday night and did not know Wussow was in the field near the combine. First responders responded, but Ewald Wussow was dead. An autopsy is planned, but authorities say the death appears accidental.
--Two people are hurt after their vehicle hit a deer near Cold Spring. The incident happened just before 7:00pm Friday along Highway 23. The state patrol says 46-year-old James Ramsey, of Eden Valley, was traveling west on Highway 23 when he hit a large deer. Ramsey was not hurt. His passengers 37-year-old Angela Ramsey, and 14-year-old Cierra Ramsey, both of Eden Valley had non serious injuries.
--Three people are hurt after a fire and an explosion Thursday at an Eden Valley cabinet maker. The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office says fire and rescue crews were dispatched to Schlangen’s Custom Cabinets around 2:20pm on a fire call. After emergency crews arrived an explosion occurred in a dust collector outside the building. Sheriff’s officials say 46-year-old Duane “Butch” Stang of St. Cloud was airlifted to the Hennepin County Medical Center for non-life threatening burn injuries. Two other employees, 57-year-old James Thielen of Richmond and 39-year-old Scott Thielen of Eden Valley received minor injuries and were treated at Paynesville Hospital. Authorities say the fire and explosion appear to be the result of a piece of machinery causing an ember to be pulled into the venting system which caused the fire and subsequent blast.
--A St. Cloud man was hurt in a two vehicle crash in Mille Lacs County. 64-year-old Zachary Haaf was a passenger in one of the two vehicles. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The driver of his vehicle, 47-year-old Bret Iverson of St. Cloud was not hurt. The driver of the other vehicle, 42-year-old Daniel Gross of Foreston was not hurt either. The accident happened on Highway 23 near Milaca around 7:00pm Sunday night.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen states that a private party is offering a reward up to $10,000 for information that leads to the identification of the person who shot and killed 41-year old Terrance Brisk. Brisk was shot and killed a week ago Monday afternoon in wooded property northwest of the intersection of Hawthorne and Jewel Road in Belle Prarie Township east of Little Falls. The Sheriff's Office continues to actively investigate this case and is looking for the public's assistance. Contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233 with any information.
--One person was killed in a broadside collision Monday morning at the intersection of Minnesota Highway 15 and 18th Street North in Sauk Rapids. The collision occurred shortly after 11:00am. A vehicle driven by 84-year old Myron Handeland of Royalton, was heading north on Highway 15 as that vehicle collided at the intersection with a second vehicle traveling west. The driver of the second vehicle, 88-year-old Robert Aurelius of Sauk Rapids was killed. Handeland was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--Members of the Garrison Fire Department responded to a grease fire at the Garrison Burger King Friday night around 6:30pm. The fire was already put out when authorities arrived due to fast thinking employees. The venting systems had worked enough to clear most of the building of smoke. Firefighters reset the alarms and checked the building for hot spots. Damage to the restaurant was minimal.
--Kinship of Morrison County has their Veterans Program starting at 6:00pm at the Alliance Church near the old Crestliner building. The program will have three Veterans telling their stories, along with some refreshments. RSVP is asked for by calling 632-8806 but the event is free of charge. Also you are encouraged to bring any military items from your family that you want to show off.
--Tim Sumner was on KLTF Monday and asked for about 80 volunteers for the annunal Community Thanksgiving Meal at the Little Falls Community High School next Thursday (November 24th) from 11am-1pm. To volunteer please call Tim Sumner at 632-2540.
--A reminder that state law requires that all political signs be removed from lawns 10 days after the general election, so all signs must be removed by Friday or they will be removed and homeowner fined.
DEATH NOTICES --Jerald “Jerry” Gross, age 82 of Motley.
WEATHER TODAY= skies become sunny through day, breezy, high 58. TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 40. WEDNESDAY= sunny and breezy, high 54, cloudy night low 36. THURSDAY= rain develops- heavy by late day and night, high 49.
SPORTS HS FB= Pierz vs. St. Croix Lutheran Saturday at 4:30pm at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in State Semi-Finals- hear it live on FM94. Other central Minnesota teams in action include Browerville-Eagle Valley vs. Rushford Peterson Saturday at 9am, Rocori takes on Winona Friday at 4:30pm and Eden Valley Watkins takes on Maple River Thursday at 2pm all at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. SWIM= good luck to Little Falls's Alice Foote advancing to the State Swim Meet later this week. Foley also advance swimmers to state. MNF= Giants hold off Bengals last night 21-20 in NFL action.