NEWS
--A 29-year old Pierz woman suffered an injury in a two vehicle crash Saturday morning around 8:50am, at the intersection of Crow Wing County highways 3 and 36 in Crosslake. 29-year old Michelle Lease of Pierz was traveling west on County Highway 36, when she ran the stop sign at the intersection with County Highway 3, hitting a vehicle driven by 51-year old Michael Flemmer of Crosslake. Flemmer was traveling north on County Highway 3. Lease had to be extricated from the vehicle and then was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Flemmer and two juvenile passengers in Lease's vehicle were uninjured.
--A 28-year-old woman was injured Monday morning, Jan. 14, after losing control of the SUV she was driving on Highway 169 in Onamia. The Minnesota State Patrol reported Leah M. Cheney of Ogilvie was driving a 2003 GMC Envoy north on Highway 169 when she lost control on the icy roads, rolling the vehicle just north of Main Street in Onamia. Cheney was transported to Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia for non-life-threatening injuries reported at 9:03am.
--A St. Cloud woman was hurt in a crash out in western Minnesota. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened just before 10:30 a.m. Monday on Highway 7 near Montevideo. A car was going east on Highway 7 when the driver lost control, crossed into the westbound lane, and rolled into the ditch. Passenger 53-year-old Cara Gare of St. Cloud was taken to Montevideo hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The driver 39-year-old Abdirisaq Ahmed of Willmar was taken to Willmar Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--The Region Five Development Commission invites Region Five residents to a meeting to discuss regional transit coordination needs. The region consists of Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties. The commission was awarded a Regional Transportation Coordinating Council grant and was designated as the council's implementing agency for the five-county region. The council's purpose is to improve mobility for the "transportation disadvantaged" older adults, the disabled, those with low incomes, and/or military veterans, as well as all residents within the region. Visit regionfive.org to register for the event, which is scheduled to start February 5th at 6pm at the Pine River-Backus High School cafeteria. For more information, or to secure transportation to the event, contact Tad Erickson at 218-894-3233, extension 7.
--The mayor of Rockville has been censured by the town's city council after they claim he went beyond his authority in an incident with Gold Cross Ambulance. According to the resolution for censure passed by the council on December 3rd, Mayor Duane Willenbring has on "numerous occasions" inserted himself into the day-to-day running of the city, which is -- according to the censure -- beyond his purview as mayor. The trigger for the censure was an incident in early winter at the fire hall. The resolution of censure states Willenbring was "performing unauthorized maintenance" at the fire hall when he behaved unprofessionally toward Gold Cross Paramedics. As a result, Gold Cross stopped staging an ambulance in the fire hall. At their meeting last week, Willenbring hinted at "possible litigation" against the city in the future, however, when asked to clarify what he meant, he declined, referring to attorney-client privilege. As a result of the censure, Willenbring is heavily restricted in his authority as mayor and his dealings with the fire department.
--The new mayor of Rice has submitted his letter of resignation following his arrest last week on suspicion of DUI. City Clerk Julie Fandel says the council will look to approve Erik Bonde's resignation during tonight's special city council meeting. The 46-year-old is facing DUI and open bottle charges after police say he was waiting to take kids in a school bus. There were no kids on the bus when arrested.
--Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are invited to apply for the 2019 Century Farm Program. Produced by the Minnesota State Fair in conjunction with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation, the Century Farm Program was created to promote agriculture and honor historic family farms in the state. More than 10,500 Minnesota farms have been honored since the program began in 1976. Family farms are recognized as a Century Farm when three requirements are met. The farm must be: 1) at least 100 years old according to authentic land records; 2) in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required); and 3) at least 50 acres and currently be involved in agricultural production. A commemorative certificate will be awarded to qualifying families, along with an outdoor sign signifying Century Farm status.
--Minnesota may soon require drivers to use hands-free cellphones, and some lawmakers want to impose bigger fines for drivers who text, and treat distracted drivers more like drunken drivers when they cause serious accidents. Leaders of the Senate and House transportation committees have authored hands-free bills, and have planned hearings this month and hopes for floor votes as early as next month. Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka and Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman said they expect the legislation to pass. If the bill passes and is approved by Governor Walz, then it is likely that tougher penalties for violators would be made but that would need more committee approvals.
--A woman formerly of St. Cloud has pleaded guilty to felony drug possession stemming from sales of methamphetamine and theft and stolen property charges. 36-year-old Melissa Ziwicki of Foley pleaded guilty to the drug charges after a March 2018 bust that uncovered methamphetamine and other drugs inside her north St. Cloud rental house. A second renter, 25-year-old Alicia Allen previously pleaded guilty. A third suspect had charges dropped for a lack of evidence.
--The Royalton High School has announced their Triple A winners are Jenna Carlson and Nathan Popp. The Triple A award recognizes high school seniors who have excelled in Academics, Arts and Athletics.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Michael DeWitt and Stephanie Meister of Little Falls, girl on Jan. 11th
DEATH NOTICES
--Mary Kuebelbeck, age 76 of Little Falls formerly of Harding.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny and cold, high 11, clouds increase late, low 0.
THURSDAY= partly sunny, high 15, clearing and cold night, low -6.
FRIDAY= sunny early, flurries late day, high 6, low around -15.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gophers at Illinois tonight 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF