NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Gregory Johnson stated the latest yesterday on their investigation into the threat made on a girls restroom last week. Johnson said they have identified the person of interest and are working with the student's family on the matter. The high school was closed Friday during their investigation and any events Friday through Sunday did not happen at the school. Johnson thanked all for their help in this matter and if you have any further questions call Johnson at the school at 320-632-2001.
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher spoke on KLTF Tuesday and announced that they approved their grant letter award from HUD for the 1.5-million dollar in funding to construct the child care center that they are working with the Little Falls School District. Radermacher said the school also have received their approval of the HUD money and the next step is to begin planning and design next between the school and city to help in constructing the facility which is already housed in Lincoln Elementary School. Radermacher said the city is still waiting on other items still such as the Sales Tax questions which would not be on a ballot until 2024, the work on City Hall, Police Department, Fire Department, Golf Course projects getting the planning and work bids ready to help on these projects for later this year. Road Work projects are hoping to start in the spring, they have over-budgeted snow removal this year and hoping that the weather helps in not overworking any more snow removal usage this year. Radermacher said that the city will break ground later this spring on the apartment complex project and getting that going. If you have questions for Jon call City Hall at 320-616-5500.
--A vehicle on fire ignited a garage Friday, resulting in the loss of both. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report at 10:11am Friday of a vehicle on fire inside a detached garage at a residence in Shell River Township near Menahga. Upon arrival of fire department personnel, the garage and vehicle were engulfed in flames. The blaze was quickly extinguished, but burned both beyond repair. A mechanical issue with the vehicle is what started the fire.
--A 50-year-old Menahga man suffered serious injuries as the result of a snowmobile crash Friday afternoon at 2:47pm near Sebeka. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the crash, which occurred on a snowmobile trail in Red Eye Township. Upon arrival, emergency personnel found the man lying on the ground next to his snowmobile. The full extent of the man’s injuries was unknown at the time of the Friday news release, but he was reported to have a broken leg and wrist. He was airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota. The man was wearing a helmet.
--A barn with livestock and goats was destroyed by fire Saturday in Wadena County near Nimrod. The fire around 7:15pm was spotted by passerbys with smoke and flames shooting out. Firefighters from three agencies put out the blaze. The building was a total loss. All of the livestock and goats inside were lost from the blaze. The fire is believed to be electrical in nature but still ruled undetermined.
--One person was hurt in a crash in Zimmerman Friday around 4:30pm on Highway 169 near Zimmerman in Sherburne County. The Minnesota State Patrol says one car was going south on Highway 169 as a second car was going east on Fremont Avenue when they collided in the intersection. The driver of the first car, 65-year-old Carlos Mayedo of St. Paul, was taken to Princeton Hospital with non serious injuries. The driver of the second car, 16-year-old Caden Galvan of Princeton was not hurt.
--Little Falls Police Chief Greg Schirmers released a statement that while headlines about rising crime rates focus on the Twin Cities, residents across Minnesota have great concern about safety in their local communities. The recent murder/suicide in Bloomington that claimed the lives of Dale and Dominick Dahmen of Buffalo are one of those items. Important to solving crimes and keeping communities such as the City of Little Falls safer is information about crimes and the people committing them that can help law enforcement make arrests and solve cases. To encourage members of the public in the City of Little Falls to come forward with such useful information Chief of Police Greg Schirmers is partnering with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to make that possible in a manner that is safe and proven to be effective. Committing to work with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota in their 2023 Law Enforcement Partnership Program, the Little Falls Police Department invites persons who want to, or may need to, remain anonymous to submit information about a crime, criminal, or fugitive that helps solve a case. Providing information in this safe method can also save precious hours of investigators’ time, while protecting this anonymous source from retribution or harm for being known to have helped law enforcement. In addition to staying anonymous, persons giving information leading to a felony arrest may be eligible to collect up to $1,000 in reward paid by Crime Stoppers. In 2022 Crime Stoppers shared tips received from the public with 207 law enforcement agencies across Minnesota that investigators would not otherwise have thanks to the benefit of anonymity. People with knowledge about a crime, criminal, or a fugitive can give information to Crime Stoppers of Minnesota by adding the free P3 Submit a Tip APP to their smartphone; calling Crime Stoppers toll free from anywhere in Minnesota (1-800-222-TIPS [8477]); or go to the website www.crimestoppersmn.org.
--Little Falls Community Schools invite all families with children going into preschool and kindergarten in the fall of 2023 to their registration night on Monday, February 20th from 5:30-7:15pm at the Middle School Commons area. Registration is required by contact the school at 616-6240. The night will be filled with games for the kids, a family meal is provided, live music and bus rides during the night of events Monday at the Little Falls Middle School.
--Last Thursday night, Minnesota lawmakers passed a bill designed to cut carbon emissions statewide while creating more clean-energy jobs. If the bill is signed by Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota utilities would be obligated to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 to step up the fight against climate change under a bill speeding through the Legislature. The bill was slated for a final vote on the Senate floor Thursday night after passing the House last week. The Governor stated this was part of his climate agenda.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and mild, high near 40.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, low around 20.
THURSDAY= snow early, sun and very windy in the afternoon with wind gusts near 40mph. Highs near 32 early then dropping late.
FRIDAY= sunny and colder, breezy, high near 20, low near 0.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS WRE= Royalton-Upsala at Pierz Thursday 7pm on 94ROCKS.
NFL= The Vikings have hired Brian Flores as their new Defensive Coordinator. Flores is the former Miami coach, with Steelers in 2022.