NEWS
--Around 6:32am Tuesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a business burglary at R&R Repair, located off Highway 25, approximately three miles north of Pierz. According to the Sheriff’s Office, sometime during the early morning hours on Tuesday the suspect(s) kicked in the front door to enter the business. Several items were reported stolen, including a laptop computer, wire feed welder and miscellaneous tools. If you have information regarding this burglary, please call the sheriff's office at 632-9233.
--The Little Falls City Council met Monday night. At the meeting the council approved the purchase of a new GPS and Controller. The council approved a motion to join a three year leadership development program with GIANT Worldwide. The council approved the hiring of 9 paid on call Little Falls firefighters. Two previous interim positions were approved to new position descriptions- Matt Streit was appointed Wastewater Superintendent and Dwayne Heinen was approved Water Superintendent. An intern agreement with Sourcewell for Mitchell Schirmers was passed. The council passed 2020 non union part time, seasonal, and temporary employees.
--The Superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District has announced his resignation. Aaron Sinclair handed in his resignation letter Monday during the school board meeting. Sinclair's last day on the job will be June 30th, 2020. Sinclair stated that he absolutely love being the Superintendent of the Sauk Rapids-Rice Public Schools and being part of this community. However, it has become clear that I am not able to be the father and husband I expect myself to be and provide the leadership the Sauk Rapids-Rice School District requires. My family is and always will be my priority. Sinclair's letter says he is proud of what has been accomplished in the past two years, including: Passing of the Pleasantview Elementary referendum by 71%, Implementing significant security upgrades, Addressing open enrollment and collaborating with the business community and local elected officials Sinclair took over as the district's Superintendent in July 2018. He was previously the Assistant Superintendent of the Brainerd School District. Before that Sinclair worked for the Little Falls School District and was the head football coach from 2008-2011.
--A 20-year old man is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in May. Branden Dennis Moulzolf made his initial appearance in Benton County Court Tuesday. Moulzolf is facing one felony count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and one gross misdemeanor count of fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint against him, Moulzolf used "force or coercion to accomplish the sexual contact" while a woman was in his Gilman residence. On May 21, a woman went to Moulzolf's residence. He touched her and forced her to touch him sexually, the woman told Moulzolf no "about 20 different times." Moulzolf held the woman down and masturbated on her. A sexual assault examination was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis. The maximum sentence for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is 10 years in prison and $20,000. The maximum sentence for fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct is one year in jail and $3,000. Moulzolf is scheduled to appear in court February 5th.
--A long standing tradition continues on Q92 WYRQ Christmas Eve with the 4pm Mass at St. Mary's in Little Falls and the 10pm Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls. Both masses can also be streamed online at fallsradio.com.
--Fewer people died of workplace injuries in Minnesota last year than in 2017, according to a U.S. Department of Labor report. Workplace injuries were the cause of 75 deaths in Minnesota in 2018, according to the department, down from 101 in 2017 and 92 in 2016. That comes out to roughly 2.7 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. Nationally, the ratio of deaths to workers remained steady in 2018 at 3.5 fatal injuries per every 100,000 full-time workers. A total of 5,250 fatal work injuries were recorded by the department in 2018, up 2% from 5,147 in 2017. Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting were the deadliest industries in the state in 2018, and accounted for 22 deaths recorded that year. That works out to approximately 23.2 deaths per 100,000 workers. Construction was the second deadliest at 14 fatal injuries. Retail trade counted only three, down from 14 in 2017. Transportation accidents resulted in 26 fatal work injuries in 2018, more than any other type of incident. Thirteen people, meanwhile, were fatally struck by moving objects or equipment. Twelve people fell to their deaths at work in 2018 and another dozen died from violence or intentional injury caused by persons or animals. In Minnesota, men accounted for 67 of the fatal work injuries that were recorded in 2018.
--Fifteen Democrats will be on Minnesota's Super Tuesday presidential primary ballot. The Democratic candidates will include Minnesota's senior senator, Amy Klobuchar. Also on the ballot will be leading names like former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana. Others include late entries and candidates who've struggled to gain attention in the crowded field. The long Democratic ballot announced Tuesday will contrast with the Minnesota GOP ballot, which will list only President Donald Trump, though party officials say they'll provide an opportunity for voters to write in other candidates.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Brianna Zyvoloski of Little Falls, boy on December 15th
DEATH NOTICES
--Serene M. Beierman, age 100 of Pierz.
--Mary “Betty” Suska, age 91 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy skies, cold, high near 9.
TONIGHT= temps drop to 2 above early, then rise overnight.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy, high 23, temps stay steady at night.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 30, clear night low 13.
SPORTS
PIERZ= Mathias Algarin of Pierz Healy High School is scheduled to sign his letter of intent to the University of Nebraska for track & field. The signing will take place Friday at Pierz Healy School.
PIERZ= Danny Saehr who has been the head baseball and football coach in Pierz has announced he is stepping down as the Pierz baseball coach. Saehr will remain Pierz football head coach.
NOV= The Little Falls Community High School announced that Rachel Josephson for Swimming and Diving and Gabe Hirsch for Boys Hockey are the November Athletes of the Month. Little Falls makes the announcement a month later to show what the athletes have completed in the month of November.
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.