NEWS --At a recent Little Falls City Council meeting it was announced that the council has agreed to increase the garbage rates to cover cost of the increased garbage at the landfill. The increase was for tipping fees to the haulers. The 55 cent increase to all customers means that residents with the 32 gallon carts will pay an extra $1.08 a month and residents with a 64 gallon carts will pay an extra $1.25 a month. Residents with a 32 and a 64 gallon cart will pay an extra $1.44 a month and residents with two 64 gallon carts will pay an extra $1.61 a month. A rate increase for additional carts will also by increased from $7.50 to $7.86. If all goes as planned with the increases, this should be able to pay the haulers an increase of $23,520 in 2018. Any questions on the garbage collection in Little Falls can be directed to the city administrator at city hall by calling 616-5500.
--The Morrison County Commissioners voted earlier this month not to change their salaries for 2018 meaning they would keep the same salaries now for a third year in a row. The board approved the measure to keep salaries at $31,304 annually for 2018.
--Police officers used stun guns multiple times on a 17-year-old boy during a scuffle in St. Cloud's library. Reports say a probation officer spotted Noah James Johnson in the library on December 19th. According to court documents, police arrived but Johnson broke free from officers and ran. Officers used their stun guns multiple times on him before they could subdue him. Officers found a loaded handgun in Johnson's front pocket. He faces two felony counts for possessing a firearm when underage and after being adjudicated a delinquent. He's due in court today.
--The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 6:35am Christmas Day on Bonnie Road near County Highway 3, south of Merrifield. Before fire department arrival, Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office personnel responded and found the home fully engulfed in flames, with fire coming through the front door and windows. Firefighters from the Nisswa Fire Department provided mutual aid to extinguish the inferno. No one was home at the time of the fire, and the Christmas Day blaze did not result in any injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation with assistance from the State Fire Marshal's office.
--Three people escaped a vehicle after it broke through the ice Sunday on Little Detroit Lake in Becker County. The Becker County Sheriff’s Office said the occupants of a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban escaped by breaking and exiting the driver’s side window after the vehicle fell into ice covering approximately 11 feet of water. The Suburban was moving on a previously traveled area of the lake at the time it broke through the ice. The Sheriff’s Office, in a news release Monday, said ice conditions may change on lakes daily and caution should be used when going on ice. There were no serious injuries. It was also reported in Aitkin County of an ATV going through ice on an area lake. The ATV driver was able to reach shore without injury.
--A small fire that started behind a house Christmas morning around 10:20am at 119-16th Avenue North in St. Cloud is estimated to have caused $1,000 in damages. A small table behind the residence started on fire and caused damage to the house. Officials believe the cause of the fire was improperly discarded smoking materials.
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--The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident at the Power Lodge located on Hwy #371 north, Brainerd. The accident happened around 10:45 pm on Friday, December 22nd. Video surveillance shows that a grey/silver Dodge Ram pickup slid off of the highway and struck 7 ATV vehicles parked in the Power Lodge lot. Extensive damage was done to the ATV’s along with the suspect vehicle. Vehicle parts located at the scene indicate that the suspect vehicle is a 2003-2009 Dodge Ram pickup. The vehicle was being operated by a single male and left the scene southbound on Hwy #371. Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 218-829-4749.
--The Waite Park Police Department is warning residents of a phone scam that's been coming on strong lately. The police department says it has received a lot of calls from concerned residents saying someone called them and said "there are serious charges pending against you, if you don't call us back within 24 hours local police will be contacted and you will be arrested." Police say this is a scam designed to alarm and scare people into providing the caller with their personal information. People receiving one of the calls should not call the number back and never give out personal information over the phone. Police say it's very difficult to identify exactly who is responsible for these types of scams, and these scammers appear to be hitting the Waite Park area hard lately. Anyone with questions about the scam can contact the police department at 320-251-3281.
--Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson plans to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal government's repeal of "net neutrality" rules. Swanson said that she and other attorneys general would sue over the Federal Communications Commission's recent decision to roll back Obama-era rules that guaranteed equal access to the internet. Ben Wogsland, a spokesman for Swanson, said the lawsuit can't be filed until the rule change is published in the Federal Register.
--Governor Mark Dayton, during his state commission appointees, announced that William Faber of Cushing is being appointed to the Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources effective January 2nd of next year through December 31st of 2021.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS –Joe Kieffer and Navasha Klapotz of Little Falls, a boy born Dec. 15th --Nicholas Dixon & Amanda Eidenshink of Little Falls, a boy on 12-26.
DEATH NOTICES --Margaret Helmin, age 87 of Garrison Township --Lawrence “Larry” Popp, age 51 of Rice. --Ernest Pierzina, age 96 of Little Falls. --Darryl Dwayne Johnson, age 51 of Little Falls.
WEATHER WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL 9AM TODAY TODAY= sunny and cold, clouds increase late day, high near 0. TONIGHT= snow likely, temps rising overnight 2-3 inches of snow THURSDAY= snow likely 1-2 inches, high 10 above, clearing low -10. FRIDAY= sunny and cold, high near 0, clear night low -17.
SPORTS TOUR= holiday tournaments continue for girls hockey, start up today for boys hockey and some girls and boys basketball teams.