NEWS
--Due to the weather Royalton Schools are an e-learning day today for students. Foley is a distance learning day today.
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Greg Johnson stated yesterday on KLTF that they are planning to postpone their focus group meeting. If the meeting is postponed than the next one would be March 16th at the High School. Johnson stated he would send out more information if and when it is postponed and when the official make up date will be. Johnson said he has a focus group in place with community members, faculty, students and business owners that were picked from others in the school district who would be a good fit to the group for future ideas in the school district. Johnson said if you have questions please don't hesitate to call him at the Little Falls Community High School at 320-632-2001.
--A Little Falls woman was killed, Monday, when she was a passenger involved in a two-vehicle crash in eastern North Dakota. The North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) reported that 26-year-old Stephanie Cluever of Little Falls sustained fatal injuries in a collision between a car and a semi truck and trailer, about five miles southeast of Thompson, North Dakota. The North Dakota Highway Patrol was alerted to the accident at 11:23am Monday. It occurred in the 400 block of 11th Street Northeast in Grand Forks County. At the time of the incident roads were snow covered with blowing snow. Cluever was the lone passenger in a 2011 Chevy Cruze, driven by a 21-year old Julio Huertas of Waite Park. According to the report, they were northbound on 11th Street Northeast, while a 2012 Kenworth semi truck and trailer driven by 28-year old Ross Radermacher of Amenia, North Dakota, was southbound. The Huertas vehicle crossed the centerline and struck the Kenworth at an angle. Both vehicles came to rest in the ditch. Stephanie Cluever of Little Falls was pronounced deceased at the scene. Julio Huertas was transported to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks with non-life threatening injuries. Huertas has been charged with driving under revocation and other charges are pending. Radermacher and his passenger, 39-year old Curtis Mann of Durbin, North Dakota, were not injured. All four individuals were wearing their seat belts. The crash remains under investigation.
--A St. Cloud teen was hurt in a crash in Cass County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened just before 11am Monday on Highway 64 north of Motley. Troopers say 17-year-old Maggie Cynor of St. Cloud was heading south when she lost control of her vehicle and it went into the ditch striking a tree. She was taken to Lakewood Health in Staples with non-life-threatening injuries. Her passenger, 18-year-old Tyler Ford of Bemidji, was not hurt.
--Erika Powers, the new director (since November) of Great River Arts in Little Falls also spoke on KLTF yesterday. Powers said they are partnering with Little Falls Theater on a movie night weather permitting Thursday at 5:30pm at the Arts Center. No cost just walk in there will be time to donate to the marquis at the theater and the art center to purchase movie posters from the theater that they had from the past and will bring to the movie event on Thursday. If you have questions on upcoming items there call Erika at 320-632-0960.
--The Little Falls Senior Center announced they will not be selling doughnuts this Thursday due to the bad weather expected.
--A winter agronomy meeting initially scheduled Friday in Royalton has been postponed to a later date. The date expected to be held in mid to late March. Questions call Soil and Water 320-631-3552.
--Listen for weather information on LF Radio and fallsradio.com.
--A Winter Storm Warning starts at 6pm tonight until 12pm Thursday Most of the State of Minnesota will see snow and the southern half could be over 20 inches by Thursday afternoon. The Little Falls saw about ½ inch last night to an inch spots where 3-4 inches fell St. Cloud south. The storm warning still calls for 5-10 inches of snow tonight into Thursday afternoon a bit less than forecast yesterday but still plenty of snow. St. Cloud south is still expected to have blizzard conditions with strong wings and 8-15 inches of new snow. With the heavy snow expected many airports in the state are already announcing waivers on flights, delays or cancellations are expected Wednesday and Thursday across the state. Travel advisories have been posted and law enforcement agencies area warning of no unnecessary travel be advised tonight through Thursday morning in the southern two-thirds of the state. Snowplows will be running almost 24/7 in many parts of the state to work on snowpack. Please put caution first if heading out the next days. Many schools St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Sartell are closed or have an e learning plan in place for today and also for Thursday. Also many churches St. Cloud south to the Twin Cities Metro have canceled Ash Wednesday services due to the dangerous weather conditions today, tonight and Thursday.
--Governor Tim Walz has issued an executive order to have members of the Minnesota National Guard be on alert and help with stranded motorists. Governor Walz has asked Major General Shawn Manke to put equipment and personnel in place to deal with any emergency issues that would arise in the days ahead due to the winter storm.
--A 74 year old Aitkin woman was found dead inside a house fire on Monday. The remains of Jacqueline Willprecht was found inside the burning home. The fire reported at 6:38pm at a residence in Nordland Township of Aitkin County. Authorities arrived and found the woman dead inside the home. The sheriff's office said the State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire but for now foul play is not suspected and there is no threat to the public.
ASH WEDNESDAY
--Today is Ash Wednesday in the Catholic and Christian Faiths, the beginning of Lent the beginning of the days of Lent leading to Palm Sunday and Easter. Many will participate in Masses where ashes are being placed on the heads of the parish. Many fast today and avoid eating meat or other fatty foods on Ash Wednesday.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6PM
WINTER STORM WARNING 6PM TONIGHT TO 12PM THURS.
TODAY= cloudy, light snow at times, heavy snow after 5pm, high 14
TONIGHT= heavy snow tonight, 5-10 inches by morning, low 3.
THURSDAY= snow early, windy, high 7, lows dropping to -16.
FRIDAY= sunny and cold, high 5 above, low -3 and rising late.
SPORTS
TWINS= Another Twins Hot Stove tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
BHK= Little Falls wins 4-2 last night in playoff hockey and moves on to the semi-finals Saturday at 7pm vs. Cambridge/Isanti on Q92.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1732= George Washington according to the Gregorian Calendar which we still use is born in Virginia. Our 1st U.S. President.
IN 1879= the first Federal Holiday is established by President Rutherford B. Hayes being Washington's Birthday on February 22nd.