NEWS
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation has come out with the list of highway construction projects for 2022. In central Minnesota, the continuation of adding lanes to Interstate 94 between Hasty and Monticello will be taking place from April to August and will be the final year of construction on that project. Nine miles of Highway 23 from Paynesville to Richmond will become four lanes as part of the Corridors of Commerce project funding. The "North Gap" project will take two years to complete. Highway 23 east of St. Cloud will also be resurfaced. A 12 1/2-mile stretch between Foley and Milaca also includes improved turn lanes and access. Fourteen miles of Highway 27 will be reconstructed in the Osakis area from I-94 to Highway 71. That project includes replacing four bridges. Highway 10 work is planned in Wadena. Brainerd will have many projects in 2022 including work on Highway 25, Highway 371 from Barrow to Brainerd and work on the Gull Lake Dam off of Highway 371 in 2022. In Morrison County it was reported that highway 10 work at County Road 14 and Highway 115 is planned in Randall. For more on these projects and the full list of projects this year in the state of Minnesota for road construction go to the Mn Dot website.
--While extreme cold temperatures over the New Year's weekend contributed to building ice on area lakes, two area sheriffs urge caution and planning for those heading out onto the ice. The winter season started with warnings from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources about uneven ice conditions due to December rain, snow and fluctuating temperatures. Though ice thickness has likely improved in the face of 28 below zero temperatures last weekend, the insulation qualities of recent snowfalls and the weight of that snow have created other complications. "We've gotten some good ice," Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch said Tuesday. "But with the amount of snow we've gotten, we're hearing about a lot of flooding, a lot of slush appearing on the lakes, which creates more issues for people. We have a fairly good amount of ice depth, but now we're concerned about the amount of snowfall and flooding." Cass County and the DNR responded to two vehicles going through the ice New Years weekend both on the north end of the Gull Lake. Crow Wing County said they had a report of a vehicle near the shore of Lake Mille Lacs but the vehicle was able to get off the ice without going too far into the water. Just another reminder that lake ice, even in January is very unpredictable in spots.
--Royalton and Upsala High Schools have announced their ExCEL award winners. Royalton award winners are Connor Carlson and Mya Yourczek. Connor Carlson is a standout three sport athlete, played in the band and is on the 'A' Honor Roll. Mya Yourczek, is also a standout athlete in sports, is on the 'A' Honor Roll, Student Council, and spends considerable time coaching youth in sports. Upsala Area Schools have also announced their ExCEL award winners are Aliah Warga and Nicholas Kulla. The ExCEL award is designed for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, show leadership qualities and are model citizens. Congratulations and Great Job to all of the school's award winners.
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones has posted his latest information on the school district, recapping in the video the fall session and what is next as the school moves forward through 2022. The video is up at the School's U-tube page. The information Jones mentioned was all stated during the interview done on AM960 KLTF last week and on last Thursday's newsletter.
--The Brainerd Fire Department battled a house fire Monday night in southeast Brainerd. Fire Chief Tim Holmes said the came in at 7:52pm and smoke was pouring out the front and sides of the home when crews arrived at the home on the 700 block of Southeast 19th Street. One person and a dog were inside the home when the fire started. Authorities said the home was owned by Julie Meszaros. The fire department stated the home had extensive damage and smoke damage and the official cause of the fire is still under investigation.
--Governor Tim Walz has ordered all United States and Minnesota flags to be flown at half-staff at all state buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, in honor and remembrance of Firefighter Timothy Kath. Firefighter Kath died on December 31, 2021, due to a medical condition obtained during line of duty service. Firefighter Kath dedicated 16 and a half years of service to the Tintah Fire Department. He is survived by his wife and their children. At the direction of the Governor, Minnesota flies its flags at half-staff following the death of Minnesota first responders fallen in the line of duty. Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are also encouraged to join in lowering their flags.
--The Sartell-St. Stephen school district has named an interim high school principal. The district announced Tim Wege will take over as principal for the remainder of the school year. His first day is next Tuesday. Wege previously served as the Albany High School principal for 19 years before retiring last year. Wege was named the 2013 High School Principal of the Year from the Central Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals. The district is conducting a formal search for a permanent high school principal.
--Clyde Bellecourt, the longtime Native American activist in the state of Minnesota as died at the age of 85.
WEATHER
TODAY= flurries or sprinkles possible, cloudy, high 32.
TONIGHT= temps steady around 26, light snow or freezing mix late.
THURSDAY= becoming sunny, falling temps into single digits at night.
FRIDAY= snow likely 1-3 inches during day, high 21, low near 0.
SPORTS
DANCE= Congratulations to Abby Hershey of Little Falls Community High School's Lindy Dance Team on being selected for All State AA Kick Team. Abby will perform March 5th at Two Rivers High School with other high school teams all state nominees. Good Luck to Abby.
NFL= Wild Card weekend is set this weekend Las Vegas at Cincinnati followed by New England at Buffalo on Saturday, Sunday it is San Francisco at Dallas, Philadelphia at Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh at Kansas City wrapping up with a Monday night game between Arizona at the Los Angeles Rams. Green Bay and Tennessee get first round byes this weekend. All the playoff games can be heard on KLTF.
COL BB= Gophers at Michigan State tonight 5:30pm on KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1896= first X-Ray Machine used in a U.S. Hospital, Davidson, NC.
IN 1946= NFL Champion Cleveland Rams allowed to move to L.A.
IN 1969= Joe Namath guaranteed victory as the underdog New York Jets beat the favorite Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III 16-7.
IN 1971= All in the Family premiered on CBS TV meet the Bunkers.
IN 1981= “Dynasty” with Linda Evans and Joan Collins debut on ABC.
IN 1995= the murder trial of O.J. Simpson begins in Los Angeles.