NEWS
–A Winter Storm Warning goes into effect today at 3pm and lasts through noon Friday for central Minnesota including Morrison County. Snow will start later today and pickup in intensity tonight 1-3 tonight, 3-7 Thursday and 2-4 into Friday meaning some areas could see over a foot of snow by Friday afternoon. It is possible that the snow could change Thursday morning to a wintry mix causing hazardous driving conditions. Behind the first wave, then the temps drop Friday with very cold wind chills into the weekend, more snow by Sunday.
–Tonight is the Nashville Country Christmas with Kenny, Diana and Zack Janson along with Steve Hall and Shotgun Red at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. Dinner tickets for the event are sold out while show tickets can be purchased at the Falls Ballroom when the doors open at 5pm with the show to start at 6:45pm all proceeds go to Mary of Lourdes Schools.
–Two people were injured Christmas Eve night around 9:30pm on Highway 10 south of Motley in Scandia Valley Township. 28-year-old Christopher Obrien of Cushing was traveling south when another pickup came across the Highway and struck his. Obrien and the other driver, 21-year-old Dustin Huoturi of Browerville were both taken to the hospital and treated for injuries.
–The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office recently took a scam complaint in reference to an email that has been circulating in our county. The person sending the email is requesting people to purchase I-Tune cards and to send the pin number located on back of the card back to them. The person sending the email claims to be raising funds for a local ministers birthday. Like all scams, please do not give personal information over the phone, or in this case by email. Always determine if the request is legit before giving out any information.
–Crow Wing County authorities are investigating a burglary at a residence off of Highway 371 in the Unorganized Territory. Deputies stated the burglary occurred on December 14th and was drug related. Witnesses helped authorities with leads into the possible suspects in the case who were known to the victims. No words if arrests have been made and how many suspects were being sought in the case.
–DNR Foresty Officers have had to deal with six wildfires last week in a time of year when you would not think of wildfire dangers. The DNR Forestry of Little Falls stated that conditions due to the warmer than average and drier than average December caused a number of wildfires around railroad tracks and wooded areas from dry vegetation. A reminder to please when burning fields or any outdoor burning, a disregarded cigarette, a backfire from a vehicle can all lead to a quick wildfire that could burn acres until the next hard cold conditions and especially when the snow finally comes to ease the dangers. Any questions on wildfire conditions call 616-2450.
–Two people were hurt in a single-car crash near Zimmerman on Friday morning. The incident happened on 164th Street NW at 261 Avenue NW just after 5:15am. The Minnesota State Patrol says the car was going north on 164th Street NW. The car lost control, went through the intersection at 261st Avenue NW, and went into the ditch. Two of the passengers, 28-year-old Michael Brownson of St. Paul, and 18-year-old Kiley Casey of Big Lake, were taken to Princeton Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the car, 20-year-old Damian Porter of Blaine, and another passenger, 21-year-old Devin Murray of Wyoming, were not hurt.
–Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch has sent out a warning that no vehicles should be on the icy lakes in southern Cass County until the temperatures get cold enough again to build more ice. The ice is way too unstable and there is lots of open water and ridges with thin ice on many lakes causing hazardous conditions until the cold returns.
–A pedestrian was struck around 1:30am Sunday on Highway 23 east of St. Cloud and is in critical condition. The State Patrol said that 28-year-old Taban Tharek was walking in the right lane of Highway 23 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Steven Wood of Rice. Wood and his 2 passengers were not hurt. Tharek was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with critical/life threatening injuries.
–A Balaton couple was hurt Saturday when their vehicle got clipped by a semi-truck after spinning on ice on Highway 27 in Osakis. 56-year-old Melissa Udomah and her passenger Gregory Clater were taken to Alexandria Hospital with injuries. The semi-driver, 28-year-old Logan Meyer from Swanville was not hurt.
–Two people were hurt in a spinout accident Saturday morning around 11:30 on Highway 10 south of Staples. Carol Wendorf and Lucinda Goepferd, both in their 70s and both from Bertha, were injured and taken to the Staples Hospital for treatment.
NATIONAL NEWS
–Because a deal could not be reached between Congress and President Trump a partial government shutdown is in effect until at least Thursday when Congress will reconvene to try and reach an agreement before the New Year. Funding for numerous agencies from Homeland Security, Transportation, parks, law enforcement and tax collection will all be affected from the shutdown.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
–Scott and Malind Popp of Rice, boy on December 18th
–Ryan Johnson and Natasha Brausen of Little Falls, a girl on 12-21.
DEATH NOTICES
–Leslie A. Fox, age 50 of Little Falls.
–Dorene A. Banick, age 79 of Brainerd.
–Romelle Welle, age 88 of Lastrup.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING BEGINS AT 3PM TODAY.
TODAY= fog early, snow develops in afternoon, high 28.
TONIGHT= snow likely 2-4 inches, temps rise to 32.
THURSDAY= rain/snow mix early, then all snow temps dropping into the 20s by later afternoon, winds gusty over 30mph, 3-7 inches.
FRIDAY= snow ending by noon, 1-3 inches more meaning totals could be around a foot. Temps drop to 10 above by around 5pm.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings win 27-9 over Detroit Sunday with two touchdowns including a “Hail Mary” catch from Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings host Chicago to end the regular season and still need to win or have the Eagles lose to Washington Sunday to earn a playoff spot. The Vikings game Sunday was moved to a 3:25pm start time.
COL FB= Gophers vs. Georgia Tech today at 3pm on KLTF from the Quicklane Bowl in Detroit, Michigan. Game also at fallsradio.com.
TWINS= Twins Caravan coming to Horizon Health in Pierz Jan. 23rd.