NEWS
--Purva Wattan the new Little Falls Chamber of Commerce President spoke on KLTF Tuesday. Wattan attended North Dakota State and got her Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Wattan mentioned their will be a Legislative Update on January 27th at City Hall at 9am. Open to the public with State Senator Nathan Wesenberg and State Representatives Ron Kresha and Isaac Schultz. The Chamber is also seeking nominations for the Large Business, Small Business and Volunteer of the Year for this year. Nominations can be made through the chamber's website or contact Purva at 320-632-5155. Wattan also said they are working with businesses and city officials on items for the year and gearing up for Arts and Crafts in September. She said that she is very excited for the work ahead with the Chamber of Commerce this year.
--A Zimmerman man died Saturday evening in a snowmobile accident. The Sherburne County Sheriff says the snowmobile he was riding hit a driveway approach, became airborne and rolled when it landed. The crash happened at 5pm near the intersection of Fremont Avenue and 13th Street West in Zimmerman. Fifty-two-year-old David Stewart died in the crash. Stewart was not wearing a helmet and was pronounced dead at the scene.
--One person is dead and another is critically hurt after a snowmobile crash in Isanti County. The sheriff's office responded to the scene just before 1am Sunday morning. The caller reported a single snowmobile had crashed in the 2500 block of Paradise Trail Northwest. Sheriff's deputies arrived to find a man and a woman involved in the crash. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and life-saving measures were started on the woman until she was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital. The sheriff's office says the preliminary investigation indicates the two went out onto Lake Francis for a brief ride. When exiting the lake, the man hit a tree. The names of the victims haven't been released. The crash remains under investigation.
--An elderly man has died in a Douglas County house fire. The sheriff's office got a 911 call about a house fire near Miltona at about 9:30pm Sunday. Deputies and fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed. Fifty-two-year-old Charles DeMartelaere told authorities that he was in an outbuilding on the property when he noticed the flames coming from the house. He tried to rescue his father, 85-year-old Gene DeMartelaere, but was unable to get to him because of the smoke, heat, and flames. Mutual aid fire crews were called in to battle the blaze. The son was brought to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. The body of Gene DeMartelaere and a family dog were found on the main floor of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the sheriff's office says it does not appear to be suspicious.
--A Sebeka man faces criminal charges after a two-vehicle crash in Wadena County in which alcohol was believed to be a factor. The man was in a 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck when he rear-ended a 2004 Chevrolet Impala driven by Julie McCammitt of Minot, North Dakota, at about 6:30pm last Thursday in Wing River Township, according to the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office. The crash caused both vehicles to leave the roadway and enter the ditch. McCammitt was transported to Tri-County Health Care Hospital in Wadena by personal vehicle with non-life-threatening injuries. The man was evaluated by medical personnel on the scene and then arrested.
--Belle Prairie Park remains closed to visitors this week through Friday, January 6th please obey the barriers that are up.
--After swearing in once again Tuesday, Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen shared the following message yesterday: “Today I was sworn in by the Honorable Judge Wetzel, to be your Sheriff. I did so with my family by my side. We have an amazing staff and we will continue to offer the best services possible to the citizens of Morrison County. We will continue to serve with integrity and courage to keep Morrison County a safe place. Thank you Morrison County residents for giving me this opportunity to serve you as your Sheriff. May God bless you all!” That's from Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen.
--A man accused of breaking into a St. Cloud home and raiding the kitchen pantry has been found competent to face the charge. Thirty-two-year-old Phan Xiong is charged with 1st-degree burglary of an occupied dwelling. According to the charging complaint, a man called the police on a day last April to report a burglary. He said his wife woke him up shortly before 5:30am to alert him to a door slamming.
The man said he went to the kitchen where he found a shirtless man. The homeowner said the burglar then asked for a beer which the homeowner gave him. The suspect then left the house. Court records show a jacket was left behind with I.D. cards for Xiong in the pocket. The homeowner told police that food was eaten and car keys to a Volkswagen and a Honda were missing. Later that morning police responded to a complaint of someone tampering with a vehicle. Officers arrived to find Xiong rummaging through a vehicle and Volkswagen keys belonging to the burglary victim. A jury trial is scheduled to start on March 9th.
--UC-Botics of Upsala will be hosting their first annual FIRST Robotics Competition kick-off event at the Upsala Schools Auditorium on Saturday. Doors open at 9:30am and live stream begins at 11am of the new season’s challenge. This is free and open to the public.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Trenton and Alexandria Peterson of Sobieski, a girl born Jan 2nd.
DEATH NOTICES
--John Kennedy Jackson, age 61 of Forada, MN.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6PM TODAY
TODAY= snow likely, 1-3 inches during day, windy, high near 30.
TONIGHT= snow early, another ½ inch, then cloudy, low 7 above.
THURSDAY= becoming sunny, high 22, colder night low -4.
FRIDAY= sunny and colder, high 17, low around 0.
SPORTS
BHK= The game Little Falls at Bemidji was moved to Thursday night due to the weather last night, hear the action Thursday night now with pregame at 6:45pm on Q92 WYRQ.
GBB= Pierz at Foley Thursday night 7pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
NFL= the game between Buffalo and Cincinnati will not resume this week as the NFL Week 18 schedule still has to be played. The NFL is hoping that the game will not have to be made up as both teams are already in the playoffs. But if the #1 seed in the playoffs for the bye cannot be decided unless the game is played the possible date could be next Tuesday or Wednesday but only if necessary. The game was postponed after Bills player Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and remains today still in critical condition. After a delay for Hamlin to be taken to the hospital the announcement was to postpone the NFL game. Both sides agreed that this was the right thing to do.