NEWS
--Three organizations in Swanville have donated $15,000 to pay for a drone and its accessories to for the Morrison County Sheriff's Office. The Swanville Lions Club, American Legion and VFW donated the funds in honor of County Commissioner Duane Johnson who died unexpectedly last year. The drone will include the infrared camera which would be used for search and rescue missions helping the sheriff's office make is easier in finding or searching for a person.
--Three people were taken to the hospital after a two vehicle crash Monday morning. The incident happened around 8:30am on County Road 9, north of 363rd Street in Avon Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 33-year-old Toni Corcoran, of Avon, was heading south on County Road 9 when she hit an ice patch, lost control of her vehicle and began to fishtail. Authorities say her vehicle started sliding sideways across the center line into on coming traffic and hit but another vehicle going north. The driver of the second vehicle was 36-year-old Jonathan Carlson, of Avon. Carlson, Corcoran and her three-year-old passenger Conor Corcoran were all taken to St. Cloud Hospital. Conor was later airlifted to Gillette's Children's Hospital.
--A St. Joseph man is accused of beating a woman and threatening to kill her and two girls in the home last Wednesday. 36-year-old Jonathan Bayer is charged with nine criminal counts including six counts of domestic assault, terroristic threats and malicious punishment of a child. Stearns County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the home in St. Wendel Township on the evening of January 3rd. The two girls had called 911 and told dispatchers Bayer was beating on the woman and punching her in the face multiple times. Bayer is also accused of slapping one of the girls and punching her in the shoulder. Officers arrested Bayer at the scene. He's being held in the Stearns County Jail on four felony charges and five gross misdemeanor charges. He's due in court January 18th.
--The Brainerd Public Schools Board of Education has finalized the bond referendum language that voters will see on ballots this spring and the cost to taxpayers if voters approve each of those questions. The District will submit the Review and Comment document to MDE this week. You can see this document at www.blueprint181.org. The Blueprint 181 plan will be presented to voters as three ballot questions on April 10, 2018, with early voting beginning on February 23. Questions One and Two address necessary health, safety, and educational adequacy improvements at the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary School buildings. Question Two must be passed in order for ballot Question Three regarding a new performing arts center to pass. The tax impact for the owner of a district home valued at $156,200 (the median value in the district) would be $7 per month if all three ballot questions pass.
--Minnesota Republican State Senator Karin Housley will host a U.S. Senate Kickoff event Monday in Stillwater. Housley, who is in her second term in the State Senate from Washington County, was first elected in 2012 and stated she plans on seeking the Republican endorsement for the U.S. Senate seat up for special election later his November following the resigning of Al Franken and the appointment of Tina Smith to the senate position by Governor Mark Dayton.
--A 27-year-old Alexandria man was injured early Tuesday morning on 3rd Avenue in Alexandrian of Douglas County. Justin Aaberg made too wide of a turn, swerved back and struck a light pole. Aaberg was taken to Alexandria Hospital and treated for injuries.
--Governor Mark Dayton issued an executive order Tuesday mobilizing the Minnesota National Guard from Friday, January 26 through Monday, February 5th to protect both residents and visitors during the run up to Super Bowl LII at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on February 4th. High security has been a priority for the big game since the early 1990s to make sure all goes without any major issues.
--The Morrison County Historical Society (MCHS), in partnership with the Lindbergh House & Museum and Minnesota Military Museum, is taking part in a project to gather stories and present the history of the Vietnam War. Called Central Minnesota Remembers Vietnam, the project, which is being funded by a Legacy Grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center, involves several components, including workshops to assist veterans in sharing their stories, screenings of The Vietnam War, a documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, traveling trunks for school students, and an exhibit on the war and the home front. MCHS will be in charge of the home front exhibit at The Charles A. Weyerhauser Memorial Museum in Little Falls, MN. The Vietnam War ran from 1954 to 1975. Because the museum’s collection is short on items from this era, MCHS is inviting Central Minnesotans to loan artifacts and photos illustrating both the war and everyday life for the exhibit. Items need to be available for exhibit through 2018 and will be returned in early 2019. For more info, call the Morrison County Historical Society at 320-632-4007.
--A St. Cloud man was sentenced to a stay of imposition for third-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to court records. 58-year-old Michael Matthew McCaskey was sentenced on Monday for a sexual assault that happened in November 2016. He pleaded guilty to third-degree felony criminal sexual conduct in October 2017, according court records.
--Tree removal near Albany will slow and delay drivers in late January. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says crews will remove trees along Highway 238 between Railroad Avenue and Auer Avenue during the week of January 22. The segments will have single lane traffic and flag holders allowing one-way traffic. The project is the first part to reconstruct Highway 238 to add new utilities, improved drainage and pedestrian accessibility. For more information on the project visit the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
--The Minnesota State Fair announced that they have their first two acts for the Grandstand. Former One Direction Member Niall Horan on August 23rd and Grammy winning Sugarland on August 24th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gerald Bemboom age 75 of Ham Lake, formerly of Buckman
--Leonard Jelinski, age 83 of Wadena, formerly of Little Falls
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THURSDAY 12AM-6PM.
TODAY= cloudy, drizzle late day, high near 40.
TONIGHT= cloudy, drizzle and sleet after 8pm, changing to snow overnight, temps drop, winds pick up to 30mph, lows around 4.
THURSDAY= snow likely in AM 1-3 inches, cold and windy, high 7
FRIDAY= light snow possible, cold and windy, high 4, low -14.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gophers at Northwestern tonight 7:30pm on KLTF.