NEWS
--The Mississippi Valley Cattlemen's Association hosted its annual meeting last Saturday at the Pierz Ballroom. Dar Giess of Darlynn Cattle Co. was named the recipient of the 2020 Family of the Year award by Darv Keehr, who is association president, and Greg Holtz an association member. The ranch relocated to Pierz in 1996. Addison Hillman of Brainerd was named the 2020 Mississippi Valley Cattlemen's Association beef princess, succeeding the 2019 Mississippi Valley Cattlemen's Association beef princess Shelby Krebs. The beef princess helps promote the beef industry in the next year to the surrounding communities.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council reviewed and approved the 2020 budget and final levy at $324,884.75. The rescheduled Pierz City Council/Park Board Workshop will be Monday, March 2nd at 6:00pm at the Pierz Fire Hall. At this joint meeting there will be a discussion of the potential of expanding the Pierz Golf Course from 9 to 18 holes. Pat Zimmerman updated the council on the progress of moving the Pierz Food Shelf to the old library building. A contractor and an electrician offered to donate their time and with the potential donations from civic organizations this project may not cost the city of Pierz anything. The Pierz Fire Relief Association increased their retirement benefit from $2,300 to $2,500 per year of service. In order to receive retirement benefits for Pierz Fire, firefighters must serve at least 20 years and reach 50 years of age. Also, a home permit for Ken Funk was approved at the address of 311 Karst Street. The next Pierz City Council meeting is at 7:00pm on Monday, March 9th.
--A judge heard arguments Tuesday on whether St. Cloud State violated a permanent injunction in the Title IX case against the university. Not long after student athletes filed a lawsuit in April 2016 claiming the university violated federal Title IX gender discrimination rules by cutting various sports teams, a judge ordered a permanent injunction reinstating the women's tennis team, and later the Nordic ski team, while the lawsuit unfolded. In August 2019, Judge John Tunheim found St. Cloud State in violation of Title IX, a federal law that protects people from discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs that get federal aid. One civil contempt motion claims the university has failed to comply with the permanent injunction by allowing the Nordic skiing and tennis teams to "falter," despite the injunction to "keep the status quo" for those teams, the teams have been "decimated" for reasons such as a lack of recruiting and facilities. In December, the university announced the ending of their football team and both men's and women's golf which reportedly is also part of the what the judge is ruling over Title IX.
--Firefighters from several departments were called Tuesday morning to a fire that originated in or near the Raapers Eatery and Ale building in Alexandria. Officials say the fire was reported around 4:30am. About 120 firefighters from multiple departments are working to put out the fire. City officials say the fire has destroyed at least four businessa and two other buildings that housed apartment that left 20 people homeless. No injuries are reported. The American Red Cross is assisting the residents. The buildings were staple of the Alexandria downtown district. The cause in still unknown.
--Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka will give an update on the current legislative session at 9:30am this morning on Up Front on AM960 KLTF and streamed online through fallsradio.com.
--Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced a state funding proposal of $250,000 to enhance farm safety measures across the state. “Too many Minnesota families have lost loved ones to preventable farming accidents,” said Governor Walz. “That’s why I’m proposing new funding for safety measures like tractor rollover protection and grain bin safety equipment. We need to make sure all Minnesota farmers have access to these resources so they can work safely and prevent future tragedies.” The Governor and Lt. Governor’s proposal includes three complementary approaches to address farm safety. Specifically, the funds will: Relaunch the Tractor Rollover Protection Grant Program, the program reimburses farmers who retrofit eligible tractors with rollover protective structures. Create a cost-share or reimbursement program for farmers who wish to invest in grain bin safety equipment. Conduct a farm safety outreach campaign highlighting tractor safety and grain bin safety and promoting the availability of this funding. Thousands of farmers, family members, and farm workers are injured, and hundreds die in farming accidents every year in the United States.
--Authorities say a fire at an Andover home killed a man and sent two teenage boys to the hospital. The Anoka County Sheriff's Office says the blaze broke out near an attached garage about 3:30am Tuesday and spread to the rest of the house. Reports say the man who died was 36 years old. A 39-year-old woman was in the home and was able to leave safely. The 13-year-old and 16-year-old boys were suffering from smoke inhalation and taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. Their conditions are not known. Authorities haven't said how the fire started but don't believe it to be suspicious.
--The body of a 28-year-old man was found lying in the snow Saturday in Crosby. The body was found in an area north of the intersection of Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street Northeast in Crosby. The body was taken for an autopsy. Crosby police reported the death does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
RELIGION NEWS --Today is Ash Wednesday the official start of the Lenten Season. This leads to the six weeks of penitence, fasting and prayer over the next 40 days leading to the Holy Week that endsw with the crucifixion on Good Friday and ressurection of the Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Many masses and services today with the placing of ashes on the forehead as a symbol of the start of the Lenten season.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Jeffrey Winter and Candace Welinski of Little Falls, a girl born 2-21.
DEATH NOTICE
--Marian Smieja, age 84 of Sartell formerly of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, colder, high near 20.
TONIGHT= clear skies, lows around 5 above.
THURSDAY= clouds increase, flurries possible, high 20, low 3.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy skies, high 26, flurries late, low around 13.
SPORTS
TWINS= Another Twins spring game today at noon on Q92 WYRQ.
GOPH= Gopher basketball tonight vs. Maryland 7:30pm on AM960.
WRE= State Wrestling Coverage begins tomorrow at 9am on Q92.