Newsletter: Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

NEWS
--As we get closer and closer to the holiday the chances of us having a white Christmas continue to dwindle. The Climate Prediction Center has updated its two-week forecast and they are calling for highs to be well above normal in the Upper Midwest between now and Christmas Day. The Weather Channel is calling for highs in the 40s Thursday through Saturday of this week with a chance of rain/snow mix on Friday night. Next week temps in the 30s Monday through Wednesday and then 40s Thursday through Sunday the 24th. There is a chance of precipitation next Friday into Saturday but again with daytime temps above freezing any snow is likely to melt. If you want snow next week it will be south of Minnesota in some states including Missouri, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming will have snow system while the southeast will deal with severe thunderstorms and warmer weather expected in the northwest and eastern United States.

--A Paynesville woman is charged with five felonies and a misdemeanor after a domestic situation led to a struggle with police officers. Twenty-eight-year-old Danielle Storkamp is charged with two counts of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assaulting a peace officer, one count of felony threats of violence, and one count of misdemeanor domestic assault. According to the criminal complaint filed in Stearns County District Court, an argument broke out between Storkamp and a male victim that led to the man being locked outside without proper winter clothing. The man showed the officers videos of Storkamp allegedly coming at him with a "hammer stapler" and told them Storkamp came at him with a knife and threatened to kill him. Court records show Storkamp locked herself in the house and would not let officers in. Officers ultimately made entry and began to arrest Storkamp. Officers say Storkamp was combative, spit in an officer's face, and kicked the officer's face, jaw, and chest. According to the charges officers used a spit hood, helmet, and stair chair to get Storkamp out of the house.

--Hunters, don’t put away your rifle just yet. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is holding a late-season chronic wasting disease management hunt in eight CWD zones. Deer can be taken between Friday, December 15th and Sunday, December 17th. Participants can use any unfilled archery, firearms, muzzleloader or landowner licenses. Bonus permits and early antlerless tags may also be used. The tools of the trade must match the season the tag was bought for. Hunting licenses are available in permit areas 342, 605, 643, 645, 646, 647, 648, and 649. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources added DPA 342 to the hunt after a deer harvested there this fall tested positive for CWD. The zones are in southeastern Minnesota. The DNR has established CWD management hunts to assess potential disease spread and to help slow the spread of the CWD by reducing the number of deer. You can get all the information on the special hunts at the Minnesota DNR website.

--Join Bill Messerschmitt for a Pipe Organ Concert on Sunday afternoon at 3pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls. The event is a free will offering for the church and St. Francis Music Center, all are welcome to come and hear the pipe organ concert.

--Congratulations to Phyllis Hoheisel who registered at Pierz Foods and won $100 in Ho Ho Dough to spend back at the area businesses. This is the final week of registering for Ho Ho Dough at the area sponsors for the grand prize drawing next Tuesday of 500 dollars cash and 500 ho ho dough bucks to spent at the sponsors.

--We are learning more details about a fatal crash in Wright County on Wednesday that involved some area residents. Officials say that Todd County Commissioners Randy Neumann of Osakis and Barb Becker of Browerville, along with Todd County Auditor-Treasurer Denise Gaida of Browerville, were uninjured in that crash. They were one of four vehicles involved in a fatal crash along I-94. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash killed a Sauk Rapids man who ran into the other three vehicles. The incident remains under investigation as authorities are working on why the man was traveling the wrong way and drove into the two other vehicles.

--A new law that goes into effect in Minnesota on January 1st is the Extreme Risk Protection Order commonly known as the Red Flag Law. Either individuals who are family members or guardians, Chiefs of Police, Sheriff, and County Attorneys will be able to file a petition with the courts if there is a reason to believe there is a person who poses a risk to others or themselves. Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck says after the petition is filed it is evaluated by the courts and it is the courts that can issue an order to make someone ineligible to have guns for a period of six to 12 months. Heck says there would be a hearing before any decision is made, and the person who has the order against them can appeal that decision. Heck says the new law will mean some changes for his department along with all law enforcement agencies. We are charged with serving these papers. So, we'll be involved in serving any process that happens in the lead-up to any court hearing. We also, along with police departments, could be involved in enforcing these orders. Heck says based on what they've learned from other states, they expect the order to be used sparingly and he's not expecting a high volume of activity.

--The Swanville Athletic Boosters were recognized with Commitment to Community Award from Crow Wing Power recently. In a triumph for community-driven initiatives, Swanville Athletic Boosters (SAB) has been honored with the Crow Wing Power’s Commitment to Community Award for their transformative work over the past decade. Their inception a decade ago was a response to the financial crisis of Swanville School District, which faced closure. Through extensive fundraising, including raffles, SAB financed the construction of the Jennie-O Turkey Store Field, sports complex, a facility boasting two softball fields, a practice football field, and a running track. Remarkably, this accomplishment was realized without utilizing any taxpayer funds thanks in part to land generously donated by Jennie-O Turkey Store. The Crow Wing Power’s Commitment to Community Award emphasizes their unwavering dedication, leadership, and commitment to the betterment of Swanville.

--The Little Falls Police Department is hiring, check out the video they posted on the police department Facebook page for more details.

WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, warmer, high 36.
TONIGHT= fog overnight, low around 23.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy and mild, high 45, low near 32.
FRIDAY= rain in afternoon, snow at night, high 41, low near 30.

Remember to get your Dairy Recipes in by this Friday as we are getting down to the final qualifiers for the Dairy Recipe Contest the bucket winners will be drawn next Thursday with the Morrison County ADA on KLTF Party Line.