NEWS
--The Little Falls City Council met Monday night. At the meeting the council approved the hiring of Craig Seelen as the new Little Falls Fire Chief. He will replace the retiring Little Falls Fire Chief Mike Nieman near the end of the month. The council approved advertising a full time position with the Little Falls Police Department. The council approved amending the bonding request for Highway 27 (Memorial Bridge). Originally the city had a request to the legislature for bonding money of around $6 million for the feasability study on the realignment of the Highway 27 bridge. This project was not included in the Governor's original bonding proposal but members of the Governor's staff recommended other avenues to help with the costs since this is for planning purposes. The request was amended Monday night and reduced to $3 million dollars to examine options for moving the tracks and what the city's financial options are.
--Chuck Zwilling spoke on Little Falls Radio Tuesday about Ice Fest this weekend on Green Prairie Fish Lake north of Little Falls. Zwilling reported about 18 inches on the lake is just right to start the constructing of breaking the world record ice carousel which is currently from a group in Quebec who will be on hand for Chuck and his crew and the past winners from Finland also are on hand. The events run from 10am-6pm both days with skating, skiing, snowshoeing, hockey, bicycles and more on the ice. There will be food and a raffle where donations are given to the Flyer Pride Pack backpack program to feed needy children. Chuck had a couple of reminders, one that the lake is coned off in areas and no motorized vehicles will be in that area during the cutting and this weekend and you asked to please keep away from the coned off areas this week. Second, there will many vehicles around the lake this weekend and spectators and visitors and others are asked to park at the Main Gate Bar and Grill across from the Camp Ripley main gate and take the shuttle bus too and from the lakeshore area. All are invited to come and enjoy the 3rd Annual I.C.E Fest this weekend, for a full schedule of events go the MN Ice fest website or their facebook page.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard announces his office has started a Minnesota Law Enforcement Explorer Association (MLEEA) post. The MLEEA exists to promote public service and professional policing among young men and women. Various educational topics are taught by deputies, correctional officers, and dispatch advisers who work with the explorers on a regular basis. The advisers train the explorers, who range from 14-20 years old, in topics such as patrol functions, first aid, crime scene processing and more. The goal of the MLEEA is to teach the core values of teamwork, dedication, quality and service. Sheriff Goddard states, “I’m very excited about the explorer program starting in my office. This is something that I envisioned early on in my term as offering a positive mentoring program for those who are interested in pursuing a law enforcement career. This offers the explorers a chance to see what the various divisions within the Sheriff’s Office entail and it is proving to be a great opportunity to showcase the many talents of the staff across various disciplines. The explorer program will be involved in many different community events throughout the year and will also have an opportunity to compete against other explorer posts throughout the state of Minnesota.” If you’re interested in learning more about the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office post, please contact Sergeant Brad Thesing or Deputy Aaron Cronquist at (218) 829-4749.
--Join the 5th and 6th Graders of Pioneer Elementary School for Abracadabra Aladdin today at 9:45am and tomorrow night at 7pm at the Pierz High School PAC (Performing Arts Center). Both of the shows are free of charge and fueled with a lot of fun.
--The Clear Lake Post office has closed temporarily after a car accidentally ran into the building. A news release says the incident happened on Monday at 8698 Main Avenue in Clear Lake. Retail and PO Box services have been moved to the Clearwater Post Office at 625 Smith Street. All the mail that was in the building at the time of the damage will be made available at the Clearwater Post Office as soon as possible. At this time it is not known when services will resume at the Clear Lake facility.
--A woman said her boyfriend assaulted her after she forgot her credit card at a local business Saturday. St. Cloud Police responded to the area near the Skatin' Place to find a woman who was bleeding from the mouth, had swollen lips and a chipped tooth. Three children were with her at the time. The victim told officers they went to the bowling alley with 33-year-old Reese Hooper of South Haven. The group left but had to turn around when she realized she forgot her credit card. Court records allege Hooper began punching the woman in the face with a closed fist. He is also accused of swerving all over the road as he assaulted her. Hooper also allegedly punched her body and threatened to kill her. The children told police Hooper was yelling at the woman and punching her while "jerking the vehicle" as he punched her and at times almost went into the snowbank. Hooper fled the scene when they approached the area near the Skatin' Place. He is charged with felony 3rd-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm and two assault charges. The children were not hurt.
--A Champlin man faces a felony drug charge after authorities say a large amount of marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms were found in his vehicle. A Minnesota State Patrol trooper Saturday stopped behind a stalled vehicle on westbound I-94 in Sauk Centre. The trooper said she identified the driver as 28-year-old Matthew Henningsgaard. The trooper said a search of the car turned up eight packages of marijuana gummies weighing 500 milligrams each, a zip-lock bag containing 26 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, nine vape pens and 856 grams of leaf marijuana. He was charged with a control substance crime.
LUNAR NEWS
--The first of four Super Moons is expected this weekend in the sky, this is when the moon is closest to the Earth to look larger.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Mike and Ashley Gottwalt of Royalton, a boy born February 3rd.
DEATH NOTICE
--Gladys Statema, age 93 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 26, partly cloudy night, low 6 above.
THURSDAY= increasing clouds, PM snow showers, high 23, low 9.
FRIDAY= snow early, then PM sunshine, high 24, low around 18.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Wisconsin tonight 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF