NEWS
--In the past couple weeks the Morrison County Sheriff's Office has received reports of thefts off vehicles. The suspect(s) are cutting the catalytic converters off vehicles that are being parked outside. A catalytic converter is a critical component of a vehicle’s exhaust and emission system. The converters contain valuable copper and other expensive metals, making them valuable for thieves to try and sell to recyclers. According to the Sheriff’s Office, these incidents are happening throughout the county and are being reported at businesses as well as residences. Several other law enforcement agencies are seeing a spike in catalytic converter thefts. If you park your vehicle outside please be vigilant and try to keep your vehicles in well-lit areas. If you have information regarding these thefts you are asked to call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at 632-9233.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday. At the meeting the council approved the plans and specs for the 2020 street improvements. The streets involved will be Kamnic Street from Park Avenue to 3rd Avenue, 1st Avenue SE from Main Street to Kamnic Street, and on Memorial Drive. Work will include mill and place, some spot curb gutter replacement and work on pedestrian ramps. The city of Pierz is hoping to get this out to bids by May 1st, with an estimation of two months of work to complete. A goal is to have the work completed by Oktoberfest on that last weekend in August. The council approved purchasing 5 used golf carts and will be selling off four used carts from their current fleet. Three building permit applications were approved. Permits were approved for a backyard chain link fence to a residence on Vincent Street, a new home construction project to Thomas Shutta at 308 Karst Street, and a shed for Horizon Health. The Pierz City Council meets again at 7:00pm on Monday, March 23rd.
--St. Otto’s Care Center in Little Falls announced Tuesday that they are taking necessary precautions to protect residents from influenza and the recent coronavirus issues. Currently, there are no current concerns regarding the virus at St. Otto’s Care Center. The priority at St. Otto’s Care Center’s is to keep residents free from the virus. To do so, effective until further notice, St. Otto’s Care Center will be restricting visitors to immediate family or friends who need to visit for critical or sensitive reasons. Every visitor to St. Otto’s will be required screening prior to visiting any resident. This is not only for St. Otto's but most if not all care facilities, assisted living residences and others to make sure the elderly, who can be more prone to viruses and illnesses that can become serious or even deadly at times to them.
--The search for a new Sartell city administrator has ended. During Monday's city council meeting, the council approved an employment agreement with Anna Gruber for the position. Gruber is currently the Manager of Community Solutions at Sourcewell, the company the city is currently contracting with for their Planning and Community Development services. She also serves on the Sartell Economic Development Commission and has previously served on the Planning Commission. Before joining Sourcewell, Gruber spent five years working as the city administrator in Pierz. If the offer is approved, she will replace Mary Degiovanni who plans to retire this summer.
--There will be a three day blood drive at the St. Francis Convent in Little Falls with hours today from 1-7pm, Thursday 12-6pm and Friday from 8:30am-2:30pm. Call for appointments at 632-0663. There is also a Red Cross blood drive on Thursday at noon at the Randall VFW. Details are at fallsradio.com.
--Taco Challenge for LF Dance Team Thursday 5-7:30pm at ballroom.
--Tuesday there were 21 Townships in Morrison County that held elections for supervisor, clerk or both. According to Morrison County's website Townships that scheduled elections Tuesday include Agram, Belle Prairie, Bellevue, Buckman, Buh, Culdrum, Cushing, Darling, Granite, Green Prairie, Lakin, Leigh, Little Falls, Motley, Parker, Pike Creek, Platte, Ripley, Swan River, Swanville and Two Rivers. Those that were received last night or earlier today to Little Falls Radio will be read throughout the day on the radio. A complete list of Township elections received will be on tomorrow's newsletter.
--The Brainerd Police Department has been notified of a Level 3 Predatory Offender moving into the Evergreen River Landing area. Terrance Lee Lindmark is not new to the community and resided in Brainerd in the past so no new community notification meeting will be held. He has a history of sexual contact with a known male child and female toddler. Further information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Corrections Public Registrant website.
--The St. Cloud Area School District has suspended all district-sponsored out of state travel due to the coronavirus. The measure impacts all staff and students until further notice. The district also says staff or students who have traveled in the past 14 days to one of the CDC designated high-risk countries of China, South Korea, Iran or Italy should not report to work or school pending a 14-day self quarantine per CDC recommendations. Employees should notify HR of their status, and students should notify their school principal for further instructions. All operational departments have been instructed to ensure high-level cleaning and disinfection of all buildings on a daily basis. At this time, staff and students at St. Cloud Area School District are reporting to work and school as usual.
--Fire crews were called to an apartment fire in Belgrade over the weekend. The call came in late Sunday morning in the 500 block of Pleasant Avenue. The caller told authorities flames were seen coming from a bathroom vent and everyone was able to get out safely. Firefighters on scene were able to quickly extinguish the fire. The renter was not home, but three children were inside when the fire started. The apartment had extensive heat and smoke damage. Three other apartments in the building also had minor smoke and water damage. It's believed the fire started due to an electrical issue in a bedroom closet. It remains under investigation.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Devin and Crystal Okerman of Little Falls, boy on March 8th
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 43, rain late night tonight, low 32.
THURSDAY= rain/sleet/snow early then cloudy, high 38, low 16.
FRIDAY= cloudy and very windy, colder, high 26, low around 12.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Pierz vs. Virginia tonight from Duluth at 5:45pm if Pierz would win they would play Friday in Duluth in the section finals for a chance to advacne to the State Tournament next week. Hear the game live on FM94 KFML and streamed at fallsradio.com.
HS GBB= quarter-finals for the State Girls Basketball Tournament begin today at the University of Minnesota. Finals are Saturday.
BIG 10= The Big 10 Men's Basketball Tournament begins today with the first game being Northwestern vs. Minnesota at 5pm. Coverage begins at 4:30pm on AM960 KLTF. The 5pm news will be at 4:15.