NEWS
–Fire destroyed a small utility trailer
and an old camper Monday east of Brainerd. The Brainerd Fire Department
was called just after 8:00am to the fires on the 11000 block of Burgwald
Road, south of Paul Bunyan Land off Highway 18. There were 15
firefighters on scene for about an hour extinguishing the two fires. The
trailers were in separate locations on the property and were fully
engulfed when firefighters arrived. Holmes said a passerby called in the
fire. The home on the property was untouched. The sheriff’s office is
investigating the fire as a “potential arson.”
–The Minnesota State Patrol is
investigating a car versus squad car crash that happened in Cold Spring
on Friday night. The incident took place at the intersection of County
Road 2 and 11th Street around 9:40pm. The Stearns County Sheriff’s
Office says a marked squad car activated its emergency lights and was
attempting a U-turn turning around with his lights on to make a traffic
stop when a car pulled out in front of it and hit the driver’s side
front tire. The driver of the car, 24-year old Tyler Klein of Cold
Spring, and the driver of the squad car, Sergeant Steven Noetzel were
not hurt.
–An 88-year old woman was injured in a
two-vehicle crash last week on Highway 371, south of Pequot Lakes. The
Minnesota State Patrol reported Kimberly A. Adams, 48, Pequot Lakes, was
driving north on Highway 371 when it skidded into another vehicle
driven by Jacqueline A. Seils, 88, Pequot Lakes. Adams was not injured.
Seils was transported to Brainerd for non-life-threatening injuries.
–The Brainerd Police Department, along
with other law enforcement agencies, continue to investigate the
disappearance of a 44-year-old Brainerd man. Theodore Erickson was last
seen November 2nd and has not had contact with friends or family since.
Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston stated in an email release
Erickson has a warrant out for his arrest and it is unknown at this time
if the Brainerd man is actively avoiding law enforcement contact. The
warrant is for second-degree assault. Erickson has health concerns and
does not have any of his medications. Authorities are concerned for his
welfare. Erickson is believed to have some connection to the areas of
northern Crow Wing County, southern Cass County and Aitkin County.
Erickson is described as 6 feet tall and 240 pounds with reddish-brown
graying hair and hazel/blue eyes. He walks with a limp and has a scar on
his throat from a tracheotomy. Authorities are asking people to check
their properties in case Erickson might have sought shelter. Anyone who
may have seen the Brainerd man or knows of his whereabouts is asked to
call the Brainerd Police Dept. at (218) 829-2805 or 911.
–About one fifth of the respondents in
a recent survey said they had experienced or witnessed sexual
harassment in the Minnesota House. The anonymous survey was conducted in
October and completed by about 230 House members and staff. That
equates to about half of House members and about three-fourths of staff.
The findings come a year after two lawmakers resigned amid sexual
harassment allegations. The House Task Force on Workplace Safety and
Respect is expected to discuss the findings Friday. House members went
through a refresher course last year on harassment and bias, and more
training is scheduled for next month when the 2019 legislature begins
with their session on January 8th.
–An air quality alert has been issued
until 6pm Thursday for portions of central and south central Minnesota
including Stearns County and areas south of Little Falls. The alert was
issued by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The agency says fine
particles levels have risen into the “orange” category. That means the
air is unhealthy for people with conditions like asthma and heart
disease, children and the elderly. The cause is stagnant weather, which
the MPCA says should clear up tomorrow night.
–The Morrison County Holiday Gift
Giving Program wants to remind all that took tags from the trees from
the area churches, businesses and organizations to please return with
the item on them or to give monetary donations to the program prior to
next Monday. Any tags not returned would have to be reimbursed
personally for the distribution on Saturday, December 22nd. For more
information please contact Judy at 630-8497. Also a reminder that the
Morrison County Gift Giving Program is only the tree with tags, other
boxes and groups that may be in town are not affiliated with the local
gift giving program so please make sure to return the tags from those
trees.
–Winter truck load increases will
begin Friday for unrestricted highways in the central frost zone,
according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The frost zones
can be found on the MnDOT load limits map. Winter load increases have
already begun in the north and north-central zones. Vehicles will be
allowed to operate up to 10 percent over the standard legal maximum
loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period.
However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and
not exceed registered gross weight tolerances. Drivers should check with
local agencies before increasing any weights on city, county and
township routes. The sign erected on the roadway governs the load limit
in effect. A winter weight increase permit is required to take advantage
of the 10 percent weight increase on interstate highways only; a permit
is not required for state trunk highways. For questions about over
legal weight/size “heavy haul” trucking, call MnDOT’s Freight and
Commercial Vehicle Operations – Oversize/Weight Permits, 651-296-6000.
DEATH NOTICES
–Leonard Sanoski, age 71 of Cushing.
WEATHER
TODAY= fog early, then mostly cloudy, high 28.
TONIGHT= fog early then light snow and freezing drizzle late, low 22
THURSDAY= freezing drizzle and snow early, then clearing, high 33
THURS NIGHT= clearing out, low 19. Sunny on Friday high 36.
SPORTS
NFL= The Minnesota Vikings announced the
firing of John DeFilippo Tuesday morning, just hours after the Vikings’
loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. Kevin Stefanski
has been elevated to Interim Offensive Coordinator and will handle
play-calling duties. DeFilippo joined the Vikings after two seasons as
quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, including the 2017
season in which the Eagles won the Super Bowl. The Vikings will host
Miami on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium at noon.
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.