NEWS
--Again with the wind chill warning in effect through tomorrow, schools are closed in Morrison County today and for that matter most of the state, also state colleges, St. Francis Music Center classes, all GRRL libraries, and a number of businesses are closed today. Some churches will not have masses or services today and religion groups will not hold CCD, religion classes or other items tonight due to the cold. There have also been a few of these that stated they will be closed or canceled items on Thursday with air temps near -40 that morning. Call ahead to a place before you have to venture out to make sure they are open. All Social Security Offices in Minnesota, including St. Cloud are closed today and the U.S. Postal Service announced there will be no mail delivery or mail pickup today as the trucks will not be on the roads, that is not only in Minnesota but North and South Dakota and portions Wisconsin and Michigan due to the extreme cold conditions. Continue to listen to Little Falls Radio today and Thursday for the weather related announcements.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is reminding motorists with the very cold conditions to drive for the conditions, check your vehicles to make sure they have a full tank of gas, tires are not going flat, make sure all fluids are at the right amount before venturing out to avoid stalls. If you do get stranded make sure you cellular phone is charged up and tell someone where you are heading so that if you are stranded, others can retrace your steps in finding you.
--Over 30 students from across Region 5 will take the stage at Sourcewell on Tuesday, February 19th for the 2019 Regional Spelling Bee. The event is free and open to the public. The group of participating spellers is comprised of students in grades 3-8 who were a finalist or champion in their respective district. Local participants from Morrison County schools include from Little Falls School District 7th grader Janna Middendorf, 8th grader Ashley Hagen, and 8th grader Sylvia Erwin. From Pierz 5th graders Gavin Winzenburg and Davin Willis; Royalton 8th grader Carter Lampert; Swanville 8th grader Lauren Miller and Upsala 8th grader Andrew (Anders) Aleckson. From Pillager School District 6th grader Hunter Woidyla and 7th grader Brayden Rudrud. From Staples Motley 8th grader Keegan Harvey and 6th grader Estella Bock. The Regional Bee Champion earns a trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C., May 26-31, 2019.
--A 46-year-old from Onamia was convicted on check forgery of over $1,000 in Morrison County District Court. Tracy Harrington was sentenced to 60 days in jail and was allowed to serve part of the sentence on work release with Sentence to Serve in Morrison County. The charge stemmed from a 2017 incident, when Harrington paid for $1,337.30 of merchandise at a Little Falls store with a fake check. The bank where the account was supposedly held said no such account existed. Video surveillance at the store showed Harrington was the one who made the transaction. Harrington was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation and was fined $1,502.30, including $1,367.30 in restitution.
--State Senator Carrie Ruud of Breezy Point has introduced “Raven's Bill” to designate the Labrador retriever as the official Minnesota State Dog. The bill is named for the popular TV dog of Ron Schara from his “Minnesota Bound” television show. The idea for a state dog came from school kids who wanted to show the importance of the Labrador retriever in the service work and healing lessons it provides.
--The former attorney for Alfonso Rodriguez Jr. testified at a hearing in federal court on Monday that prior to Rodriguez's kidnapping and murder trial in 2006, he considered using mental deficiency as a defense, but decided against it based on the findings of an IQ test Rodriguez underwent. Rodriguez, 65, was convicted by a jury in 2006 of the 2003 kidnapping and murder of Dru Sjodin, a 22-year-old University of North Dakota student from Pequot Lakes. Rodriguez was sentenced to death, but attorneys have sought to have his conviction and sentence overturned based on a number of factors, one of which is a claim he is not mentally competent to be executed. The defense team felt that a defense predicated on mental deficiency would not be viable. Based on information that came out during Monday's hearing, Rodriguez began using alcohol on a regular basis when he was 11 and by the age of 13, he was drinking to the point of intoxication every weekend. The hearing that began Monday could last 10 days. Rodriguez has waived his right to be present during the proceedings and he did not attend Monday's hearing. On Tuesday conflicting reports surfaced of Rodriguez, some painting him as a broken man long before the 2003 incident while others show Rodriguez as having a normal upbringing and that the information is some of the reports had been falsified.
--A St. Cloud man was taken to the hospital after crashing his vehicle into a power pole Tuesday morning. The incident happened just after 10:30am at the intersection of County Road 2 and 421st Street in Brockway Township, near St. Stephen. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 18-year-old Mohamad Dahir was heading north on County Road 2 when he was unable to stop at the intersection, went off the road, swerved to miss some trees and struck a power pole knocking it over. Authorities says Dahir was trapped inside the vehicle due to live power lines surrounding the area. Stearns Electric was called in to assist. Dahir was able to leave the vehicle and was taken to St. Cloud hospital for minor injuries.
--Zion Lutheran Church in northeast Little Falls will host their annual Ground Hog Feed this Friday from 5-7pm, an $8 donation suggested.
NATIONAL NEWS
--President Donald J. Trump announced he will deliver his State of the Union Address next Tuesday- February 5th at 8pm central time.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marty Guck, age 89 of Brainerd.
--Arnold Beek, age 95 of Staples, formerly of Pillager.
--Esther LeBlanc, age 96 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AT NOON, WIND CHILLS -35 TO -60 IN AREAS.
TODAY= sunny and very cold, high -18, wind chills near -55.
TONIGHT= clear and very cold, low -35, wind chills near -50.
THURSDAY= clouds increase, snow likely by afternoon, high -6.
THURS NIGHT= snow likely, around 1 inch, low around -12.
FRIDAY= cloudy early, PM sun, warmer, high 17, low around 5 above.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Illinois tonight 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF.