NEWS
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their January Employee of the Month is Sheila Pelzer at CHI St. Gabriel’s Health. Sheila Pelzer has been a Registered Nurse (RN) for the past 35 years. Congratulations Sheila Pelzer, Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce January employee of the month.
--Brainerd native and entertainer Steve Hall died last week at the age of 64 of natural causes. Hall was the voice behind the puppet “Shotgun Red” that started on the Ralph Emery show with his famous puppet. Hall was a staple for years performing with Kenny and Diana Jansen for their Nashville Country Christmas, which turned out to be Hall's last performance last Wednesday night in Little Falls.
--The former superintendent of the Rocori School District has pleaded guilty to four counts of indecent exposure under a plea deal. Scott Staska agreed to complete 80 hours of community work service within 60 days and undergo a psychosexual evaluation. Staska entered his plea Friday in Stearns County court. The plea agreement dismisses the remaining 15 counts of indecent exposure. Staska was accused of exposing himself at stores in St. Cloud and Waite Park between May 2017 and April 2018. Staska pleaded not guilty to all 19 counts in May. The incidents happened at several Kwik Trip stores in Waite Park and St. Cloud, a former SuperAmerica in Waite Park and two stores at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, according to court documents. The judge ordered Staska to return for sentencing January 31st. He resigned from his role as Rocori superintendent in early April. He had been superintendent at Rocori since 2002.
--A 20-year old man has been charged in Cass County District Court in the death of a 3-month old child. Presley Arron Sleyster is charged with one count of second-degree murder, which accuses him of unintentionally causing the death of an infant he was caring for on December 5th. On December 5th, Cass County deputies were called to the rural Staples home where Sleyster resides on a report of an infant who had suffered a seizure and was having difficulty breathing. A deputy confirmed the child was having trouble breathing and the 3-month-old was taken to the hospital, a doctor declared the child was brain dead and medical records indicated the child showed signs of head trauma typically found in cases of child abuse. An autopsy found a bruise behind the right ear of the child and a skull fracture on the right side of the child's head. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the child's death a homicide from blunt force homicidal violence. Sleyster appeared in court Monday morning and conditions of release were set at $1 million bail or bond without conditions, or $500,000 bail or bond with conditions.
--The search for an armed Brainerd man that had a standoff with deputies last week has come to an end. Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze said authorities received a tip that 38-year old Anthony Kalland was back at the County Road 16 home where the standoff took place last Thursday. He was arrested shortly before 10:00pm Sunday. When deputies arrived, Kalland was inside the home and refused to cooperate with deputies throughout the afternoon and as it got dark outside he was able to sneak through the outer perimeter line. Authorities searched the home and found a stolen vehicle, drug paraphernalia and ammunition. However, no guns were found in the home. Kalland has three outstanding felony warrants and is being held in the Meeker County Jail.
--After nearly 10 days off many schools such as Little Falls, Pierz and others are back in session today (there are a few that return Thursday), just remember to watch for school buses out again on a frigid morning and then later this afternoon and please play it safe.
--Now that the New Years is here, new laws take effect in Minnesota and nationwide. A new federal ruling requires hospitals to post prices online for medical procedures. The Minnesota plan is a new state law that goes into effect July 1st, 2019. It will require health care providers to publicly post the prices of their top 25 most frequent procedures in their reception area and on their website. Minimum wage will increase in 20 states, including Minnesota. Minnesota's minimum wage will increase to adjust to inflation. Large-employers (an annual gross revenue of at least $500,000) must pay workers $9.86 (21 cents more). Workers for small-employers will see a 17-cent hike at $8.04. A new law is intended to keep children safe from identity theft. The law allows credit reporting agencies to freeze credit reports of those under the age of 16. It gives credit reporting agencies 30 days to act after someone requests a freeze or lift. Another new law is if a peace officer, firefighter, corrections officer or some medical personnel on active duty is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and has not been previously diagnosed with it, it will be presumed to be job-related. The law relates to workers' compensation. There are other new state laws that can be seen at the Minnesota State Legislature website under 2019 new laws.
--A 19-year-old Big Lake man was killed after losing control of his vehicle and sliding into oncoming traffic west of Zimmerman Saturday. The crash happened around 6:40pm in Orrock Township. Noah Johnson was heading west on 263rd when his car started to spin, ending up in the eastbound lane. He was hit by a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Tamra Korbel. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Korbel was airlifted to North Memorial Hospital as was her 12 year old passenger, 12-year-old Davianna Keller with serious injuries.
--A fire did extensive damage at Bud's Small Engine Repair shop late Friday afternoon in Ironton. They were in the process of grinding some metal, sent a few sparks flying onto fuel cans, which erupted into flames and quickly got out of control. There were no injuries.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Senator Elizabeth Warren on Massachusetts announced that she will seek the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020.
DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond Borash, age 96 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers possible early, cloudy, high 18.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, not as cold, low 13.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 35, clear night, low 23.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 38, partly cloudy night, low 26.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BBB= Alexandria at Little Falls Thursday 7pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS GBB= Pierz at Holdingford Thursday 7pm on FM94 KFML
COL FB= Ohio State wins the Rose Bowl yesterday, Iowa, Kentucky, LSU and Texas also won Bowl Games on New Years Day.