NEWS --Icy roads led to many accidents Monday in central Minnesota. A 16-year-old was injured around 4pm on Highway 371 in Crow Wing County. Jade Olson was southbound on 371 at Pioneer Trail when the vehicle left the road, struck a sign and rolled in the ditch. Olson was treated for injuries. Two people from Bemidji were injured around 5pm on Highway 10 at 50th Avenue in Morrison County. 25-year-old Danielle Sonnenberg was north on Highway 10 lost control on icy roads and rolled in the median. Sonnenberg and 28-year-old Larry Sonnenberg were treated for injuries. Four people were involved in an accident Monday night around 9:50pm on Interstate 94 at Monticello where one vehicle driven by 22-year-old Ariana Diop went off the road into the ditch. Another vehicle stopped to assist and that vehicle was struck by a third from behind. 52-year-old Eric McDaniels of Dickinson, North Dakota was taken to the hospital with injuries. There was no other information if any others involved were injured. The State Patrol released a statement urging motorists to refrain from using cell phones and other distractions during the next few days due to cold and icy conditions. The easiest distraction like playing with the radio, or cell phone grabbing can cause spin outs on icy roads. Also watch speeds, slow down and expect delays in spots where icy roads will be. MN Dot, County and City Crews are plowing and sanding roads but the winds will not help efforts. Please drive defensively and play it safe on our Minnesota wintry roadways.
--Douglas County Deputies were involved New Years Day in a snowmobile chase. Authorities responded around 1:50pm to a snowmobile traveling the ditches of County Roads 45 and 46 weaving on the shoulder. A service station stated the driver was intoxicated when he had stopped for some items. When deputies found the snowmobile the man fled at a high rate of speed onto Lake Latoka where it crashed through the thin ice. Patrol vehicles searched the area and found footprints leading deputies to a residence where they arrested 47-year-old Jere Dosdall of Alexandria. He faces charges of suspected driving while intoxicated and fleeing peace officers.
--The Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported Friday Chronic Wasting Disease has been identified in a farmed deer herd near Merrifield. The herd of 33 mule deer and 100 white-tailed deer is registered with the Board of Animal Health. Two, 2-year-old female deer were slaughtered on the farm and both tested positive for CWD. The deer showed no clinical signs of illness. People who hunt near the infected farm should prepare for CWD surveillance during the 2017 deer hunting season. CWD is a disease of deer and elk and is caused by an abnormally shaped protein which can damage brain and nerve tissue. There are no known treatments or vaccines and the disease is always fatal. There is no danger to other animal species and CWD is not known to affect humans, though consuming infected meat is not advised.
–The first baby born in 2017 at CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls was Patrick Henry Snorek born to Michael Snorek and Amber Dumonceaux of Bowlus on January 1st at 5:30am. The first baby of 2017 in Crow Wing County was born January 1st. Raelynn Christine Johnson was born to Shakyra Johnson Sunday afternoon around 2:35pm at the Essentia Health in Brainerd.
--The Franciscan Sisters are hosting a blood drive today 1-7, Thursday 1-7 and Friday 8-2. Call for appointments 632-0663.
--23-year old Lavonta Devon Lofton has been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery. Court records accuse him of robbing Knotty Pine liquor store on December 23rd, pulling a handgun from his waistband and ordering a store employee to give him money. After further investigation Lofton allegedly admitted to robbing a gas station earlier in December and another in late August. Lofton hadn't been charged as of Tuesday afternoon with the August 31st robbery. He made his first court appearance on the Knotty Pine robbery in Benton County District Court, where the judge set bail at $50,000. Lofton has yet to make a first appearance in Stearns County District Court on the gas station robbery charge.
--Minnesota Senator Michelle Fischbach of Paynseville was elected president of the Minnesota Senate on Tuesday, the opening day of the 2017 legislative session. She was elected to the post on a 34-31 vote in the Senate, which is now under Republican control. The president presides over floor sessions and refers bills to the appropriate committee for a hearing. Fischbach previously held the gavel in 2011-12 as the first woman to serve in the position. Fischbach, who won an eighth term in November, was first elected in 1996. She represents District 13, which includes much of Benton and Stearns counties. State Senator Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa who represents District 9 which is portions of Cass, Wadena, Crow Wing and Morrison Counties was elected Senate majority leader, while Representative Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, was chosen to remain as House speaker in the Minnesota House where District 9B Representative Ron Kresha was named House Majority Whip.
NATIONAL NEWS --U.S. Representative Paul Ryan was re-elected speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a Republican-led Congress began a new session. The Wisconsin congressman was elected on a vote of 239-189. Ryan was first elected speaker in October 2015.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Michael Snorek and Amber Dumonceaux of Bowlus, a boy on 1-1.
DEATH NOTICES --Lorna Wiens, age 72 of Staples --Joan R. Siers, age 78 of Little Falls.
WEATHER WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY TODAY= sunny and cold, high 0, wind chills near -25. TONIGHT= partly cloudy, cold, low -14, wind chills near -30. THURSDAY= sunny and cold, high -3, low around -17. FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 4 above, low around -11.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins Deep Cuts begins tonight talking Twins baseball in the winter off season. Show starts at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. GOPHER FB= Minnesota has fired football head coach Tracy Claeys. He had an 11-8 record as head coach after replacing Jerry Kill who was forced to retire due to health reasons. Claeys has a $500,000 buyout owed to him for the two years remaining on his contract. He was under scrutiny for a recent tweet related to a sexual assault investigation involving 10 suspended players.