--Little Falls Fire Chief Craig Seelen reported they responded Monday to a frozen sprinkler line at the old Crestliner building. They also responded to some minor incidents over the past week but in all no fires were reported. Seelen also reminds everyone to please clear away hydrants around your home, as this saves time in case of a fire.
--The Foley Fire Department was called to a fire on Saturday. Around 2:00pm they were dispatched to a house fire in Lakin Township in Morrison County. Mutual aid assistance was provided by the Pierz and Milaca Fire Departments. They fought the fire in the extreme cold for nearly six hours. The house sustained significant damage but no injuries were reported.
--Fire crews responded to a car fire Sunday afternoon. The call came in just after 12pm in the 1700 block of Boxwood Circle in St. Cloud. Authorities say fire crews arrived to find a car on fire in an attached garage with smoke coming out of the garage. Fire crews were able to contain the fire to the car in the garage before it spread to the house.
The fire caused roughly $65,000 in damage. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
--After 100 searchers helped Saturday and Sunday to find 20-year-old George Musser of Stillwater, authorities have called off the search of a missing man after his body was found Sunday night. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Stillwater Police Department say 20-year-old George Musser was found deceased at 7:00pm Sunday in Baytown Township. Authorities say right now foul play is not suspected but the case remains under investigation. Stillwater police send a special thank you to all the volunteers who assisted in the search. They are asking everyone to respect the family's privacy during this difficult time.
--An 88-year-old from Menagha was hurt Monday at 2:16pm on Highway 71 in Wadena County. John Sawatzky was on 71 left the roadway, struck the ditch and then a stop sign, thus rolling his vehicle. He was taken to Park Rapids hospital for his injuries.
–A couple from Brainerd were injured Sunday at 10:11am in an accident on Highway 169 in Itasca County. 85-year-old Reino Kuoppala was on 169 when the vehicle lost control, entered the median and ended up on its side. The driver and passenger, 87-year-old Diane Kuoppla of Brainerd were both treated for their injuries. --Two people were injured Saturday around 5am on Highway 371 in Crow Wing County. 68-year-old Daniel Suedel of Hines spun out near Nisswa going into the median, causing the vehicle to tip over onto its roof in the middle of the southbound lane. Suedel and his passenger, 61-year-old Starr Suedel of Hines were taken to the hospital in Brainerd with reportedly non-life threatening injuries.
--The New Year begins on Sunday and there are new laws that start that day. Used car dealers will be required to a written notice that the car has a salvage title and will have to be signed by the purchaser before the sale of the vehicle. Insurance agents will be legally binding to show conflicts of interests or any reasonable bias against the company before the client has to sign with them, also health insurance companies must cover all pre-natal visits. For out of state teachers, the new law means that years of experience at other schools will allow them to claim these for pensions and retirement benefits. Also one more new law is that will set a deadline of the anniversary date of the initial registration for franchise renewals instead of 120 days after the end of the year. For more new laws go to the State of Minnesota website and click on new laws 2023 link.
--Next week on AM960 KLTF Community Program updates from the school superintendents from Little Falls Greg Johnson, Royalton Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp and Swanville schools Travis Hensch. Also and update on the City of Little Falls for 2023 with Administrator Jon Radermacher, programs at 8:30am next week on AM960 KLTF.
--Several local projects are getting funding from the Initiative Foundation in the first round of the Minnesota Main Street Revitalization grant. Four projects in Little Falls received funding. Community Development of Morrison County is getting $3,000 for replacement windows. First Avenue Advertising is getting a $12,232 grant for removing asbestos siding and installing new siding and windows. Little Falls Plumbing and Heating is getting $27,450 to replace its roofing. Purple Carrot Market is getting a $15,636 grant to install custom boilers and to prepare architectural and construction documents for a planned owner-member food cooperative. In Cold Spring, KHK Properties is getting a $199,950 grant for the new construction of a chiropractor’s office and additional office space that will be put up for lease. Money will be used for landscaping, street scraping and design and engineering. The Quarry Cinema will also be getting money to the tune of $46,364 to repair and renovate outdated and ineffective systems. RJS Enterprises is getting $60,000 to install plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical systems and other renovations for an ice cream shop set to open in 2023. Brainerd and Pine River also received money for this round. Long Prairie and St. Cloud are also in line to get funding for future projects. The grants are part of $3.9 million for 13 projects supported by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. DEED allocated $4.5 million to the Initiative Foundation for economic development opportunities around central Minnesota. DEED’s Minnesota Main Street Revitalization Program provides 30 percent matching grants and guaranteed loans for economic and redevelopment needs that have arisen since the March 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses must have or secure the remaining 70 percent of funding.
--A 21-year-old from Alexandria was injured Saturday night in a one vehicle accident in Carlos Township of Douglas County. Before 9pm, Austin Allen was injured when two vehicles collided at the intersection of Highway 29 and County Road 13. The other driver, 38-year-old Andrea Hanson of Alexandria, was not hurt.
--An Alexandria man was hurt in a crash near Melrose. The Minnesota State Patrol says just before 2pm Monday on westbound Interstate 94 near Melrose. Troopers say 75-year-old Arthur Hortenbach's vehicle went off the road and struck the cable median barrier. He was taken to Melrose hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
DEATH NOTICES
--Alphonse “Al” Weiss, age 80 of Little Falls
--Mark “Joey” Doroff, age 41 of St. Cloud formerly Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= light freezing drizzle possible, cloudy, high 34.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, few flurries, low around 20.
THURSDAY= temps dropping into 20s, light snow late in the day.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, cooler, high 23, low 17 then rising temps.
SPORTS
BHK= Little Falls at Northern Lakes tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings are at Green Bay Sunday 3:25pm on AM960 KLTF.