[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][title size=”1″ content_align=”left” style_type=”underline solid” sep_color=”#000000″ margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” class=”” id=””]Newsletter: Wednesday, January 27th 2016[/title][fusion_text]Wednesday, January 27th 2016
NEWS
–Citizens who want to express their views at public meetings don’t have a free speech right to do so if their actions disrupt government business, according to a ruling Monday by the Minnesota Court of Appeals. The ruling comes in the case of Robin Hensel, who was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for disrupting a Little Falls City Council meeting in 2013 when she refused to move her chair into a public-seating area at the request of authorities, forcing the meeting to start late. Hensel argued that her First Amendment rights were violated. But a three-judge appeals court panel disagreed, saying a state law that makes it a crime to disrupt a lawful meeting or assembly is constitutional. The judges found the statute protects the ability of officials to govern as well as the rights of citizens to participate in government. They also said citizens can express dissatisfaction with government in ways that don’t disrupt meetings. The decision notes that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the First Amendment doesn’t guarantee the right to communicate one’s views in any time, place or manner desired.
–The Sartell-St. Stephen school board will ask voters May 24th to decide whether to issue $105.8 million in bonds to pay for a new high school near Oak Ridge Elementary School and renovate other facilities. The money raised from the bond referendum would go to a new high school, as well as the elementary schools, middle school and current high school in Sartell. If approved, the bond sale would increase the property taxes on a $200,000 home by $359.87 per year over 25 years. A 40-acre farm worth $423,000 would see an increase of $523.09 per year over 25 years. The Minnesota Department of Education has to approve before the question can be put to a vote. The district has indicated previously that if the referendum is approved in May, the new high school could be open by summer of 2019. A reminder that the Little Falls School District also has a bond referendum vote in May. Their vote is Tuesday, May 10th.
–2016’s Joining Community Forces Events are just around the corner. Joining Community Forces is the new name for the revamped Yellow Ribbon Summits that have been held in the past. The Family Assistance Centers and Director of Military Outreach are holding these events to bring Yellow Ribbon Networks, service providers, resources, and concerned citizens together to learn, network, and brainstorm ways to help meet the needs of the Veterans, Service Members, and their families who live in our communities. Minnesota is home to many individuals, groups, and organizations who are dedicated to helping our military community and this is a great chance to interact with those who have the same passion and commitment for our nation’s Service Members. This year’s Joining Community Forces meetings will be held at 6 different locations throughout the state. Each meeting will be held during the work day, and lunch will be included. The closest location for a meeting in central Minnesota is Thursday March 3rd at St. Cloud State University.
–A 6-year-old boy was injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was operating rolled over at 3:17pm Sunday on the 26000 block of Round Lake Road in Deerwood. Deputies and Garrison firefighters responded to the crash that occurred on a private lake. Hudson Jeffrey Landon of Shorewood was taken by ambulance to Cuyuna Regional Medical Center for possible clavicle and spinal injuries. The hospital reported Monday the boy was treated and released.
–Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reports that on Monday morning the Sheriff’s Office received a theft report of a 4 place snowmobile trailer and two snowmobile sleds. The incident occurred in the yard of a resident who resides off of Nature road, near Ramey in Morrill Township. The trailer brand name is “Floe” and it has a red salt shield on the front. One of the snowmobiles stolen is a blue and yellow 2002 Polaris Edge 700, bearing the license number GD6787. The second snowmobile is described as a black 2007 Polaris 600 RMK, bearing the license number HQ5847. Sheriff Larsen encourages residents to be on the lookout and to contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at 632-9233 with any information regarding this theft.
–The city of Brainerd is looking at the issues related to annexing the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport into the city, partly to regulate utilities at the airport. The Brainerd City Council at their January 19th meeting approved a motion to notify airport partners of the city’s intent to open discussions on annexing the airport property into the city. The airport is jointly owned by Crow Wing County and the city of Brainerd and lies within Oak Lawn Township. A project to extend Brainerd Public Utilities’ water and sewer service to the airport this summer is referred to as the airport utility extension project. The airport partners referred to in the motion include Crow Wing County, Oak Lawn Township, BPU and city staff.
–Emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning that sent a sport utility vehicle to tip onto its side in the ditch off Highway 210, about 3.5 miles east of the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport. 60-year old John Fiedell of Ironton was heading west on 210 attempting to pass a second vehicle driven by 33-year old Nicholas Mausolf of Deerwood when Fiedell lost control of his vehicle and collided into the other vehicle. Fiedell’s vehicle then ran off the road and rolled. John Fiedell suffered non life threatening injuries while Mausolf had no apparent injuries.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
–Abe Vigoda, actor in “Barney Miller” and appeared in the Godfather Parts one and two, died Tuesday at the age of 94.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow and sleet possible, cloudy, high 35.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, low around 30.
THURSDAY= cloudy, breezy, temps falling through the 20s.
THURS NITE= partial clearing low around 20.
FRIDAY= rain, sleet and snow possible through day, high 36.
SPORTS
NFL= The Pro Bowl draft is tonight with teams selected by Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin to play on Sunday in Hawaii. Of those Vikings Adrian Peterson and Everson Griffin and possibly more after all 7 New England Patriots selected for the game announced Monday that they will not attend the Pro Bowl this Sunday. The Pro Bowl is Sunday at 6pm on AM960 KLTF. The Super Bowl between Carolina and Denver will be February 7th coverage at 1pm on KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1880= Thomas Edison patents the electric incandescent lamp.
IN 1918= Tarzan of the Apes- first Tarzan film premieres in theaters.
IN 1927= The Harlem Globetrotters play their first game.
IN 1948= tape recorders first go on sale in America.
IN 1970= movie ratings change to G, PG, R and X for U.S. Theaters.
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