NEWS
--The National Remembrance Ceremony is scheduled for this Saturday at 11:00am at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. WreathsForTheFallen.org has expanded this year, with the addition of the new Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, Minnesota. Since 2012 this annual event has been conducted at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery honoring all the branches of our Armed Forces during a brief ceremony follow by the placing of several thousand wreaths on the many markers of our fallen Service-members. Many volunteers from Camp Ripley, the Minnesota Patriot Guard, Minnesota Civil Air Patrol, VFW’s, American Legions, and many other civic organizations along with hundreds of families and community members will take part in the placing the wreaths on each grave sites. Everyone is invited to come and assist in the wreath distribution. It is suggested everyone plan to arrive before 10:00am Plans are to have hot coffee, hot cider and other refreshments for all attending this event. The ceremony starts at 11:00am sharp. Wreath placement begins at about 11:20am. Due to the limited parking at the cemetery carpooling is recommended.
--The Interstate 94 corridor from Detroit, Mich., to the Minnesota/North Dakota border is one of 55 routes the Federal Highway Administration has designated nationally to promote alternative fuels and help drivers find vehicle charging stations nationwide. Spanning 35 states and covering 85,000 miles, this new network was created under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. The alternative fuel corridors designation will be used to promote electric, hydrogen, propane and natural gas vehicles by encouraging development of fueling and charging stations along these routes. Working in a partnership with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, MnDOT submitted an application to designate I-94 as a ‘Zero Emissions Corridor,’ a type of alternative fuel corridor, to promote electric vehicle charging infrastructure. For a complete list of alternative fuel corridors, visit the FHWA website.
--A 50-year-old from Staples was injured Monday afternoon just after 3:00pm on Highway 10 near Staples. John M. Bible went off the highway and struck the ditch. He was taken an area hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--A 43-year-old from Brainerd was killed Monday in a head-on collision in Aitkin County near Malmo. Jeremy Padgette was eastbound on Highway 18 when he collided with a westbound vehicle driven by 22-year-old Shawn Phillipp of Aitkin. Padgette was pronounced dead at the scene. Phillipp had no apparent injuries.
--Three occupants of the home at 1109 11th Street North in Sauk Rapids escaped injury Monday night after a fire broke out in the attic. Fire crews were called about 9:15pm after the occupants could not put out a fire in the attic using a fire extinguisher. Within about an hour the bulk of the fire was extinguished, with crews continuing to put out hot spots.
--A 17-year-old Brainerd girl was injured around 7:50pm Sunday when the Dodge Ram she was driving crashed, colliding with trees off Highway 371 in Baxter. The Minnesota State Patrol said Korbyn F. Dambrogio was traveling south on Highway 371 when she lost control of the truck due to slippery conditions and it collided with trees in the right ditch where it came to a rest. Dambrogio was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd for non-life-threatening injuries where she was treated and then released.
--Around 10:40am Tuesday the Stearns County Emergency Communication Center received a 911 call reporting that a shed and tractor were on fire at the address of 34901 Co Rd 14 just west of Spring Hill. Stearns County Deputies along with Elrosa Fire Department, Lake Henry Fire Department, and Paynesville Ambulance responded. When Deputies arrived the shed was fully engulfed. Elrosa Fire and Lake Henry fire worked to extinguish the fire. One firefighter was treated for a laceration to the hand that occurred while at the fire. Cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The building including 4 tractors and numerous other farm implements are believed to be a total loss.
--A 20-year-old Brainerd man, accused of strangling a woman with a glass tabletop during an argument, now faces criminal charges. Desmond Marquis Luther was charged Friday in Crow Wing County District Court with felony domestic assault by strangulation, gross misdemeanor of placing a fictitious emergency 911 call and two misdemeanor charges of domestic assault and fifth-degree assault to attempt to cause bodily harm. Luther will appear for his Rule 8 hearing on December 19th.
--Authorities have identified an 18-year-old woman who was hit and killed by a train in Anoka Sunday morning. Danielle Rogers, of Champlin, died at the Northstar Commuter Rail station around 10:00am. Witnesses told investigators Rogers was attempting to catch the commuter rail when she crossed the tracks in front of an approaching freight train and lost her footing in the newly fallen snow. Police arrived to find Rogers suffering from serious injuries. Attempts to save her were unsuccessful.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Actor Alan Thicke of Growing Pains died Tuesday at age 69.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY TONIGHT THROUGH THURS MORN
TODAY= sunny and cold, high 5 above, wind chills -15 to -25.
TONIGHT= clear and very cold, low -15, wind chills as low as -35.
THURSDAY= sunny and cold, high +2, low -4 snow develops late.
FRIDAY= snow likely 3-7 inches by nighttime, high of 10 above.
SPORTS
NFL= The Vikings host Indianapolis on Sunday, then they are at Green Bay and host Chicago to finish out the season with a chance still to make the playoffs. Because of that the Vikings announced that if all goes as planned in practice the next 2 weeks, Adrian Peterson could be taken off the IR on December 20th prior to their game at Green Bay on December 24th to play the last 2 games of the season. The Vikings also learned they will be in London in 2017 against the Cleveland Browns. The date of the game has yet to be set.
COL FB= The Gophers will take on Washington State on December 27th at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego in AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1843= Charles Dickens publishes “A Christmas Carol”, 6000 copies were sold before Christmas of that year bringing Tiny Tim, Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Marley, Ghosts and the Crachett's all to life in print.
IN 1969= The Jackson Five performed for first time on television, Michael, Tito, Jermaine, Jackie and Marlon appeared on Ed Sullivan.