NEWS
--The Swanville School Board recently announced they have started the conducting of a search for a new superintendent due to retirement of Superintendent Gene Harthan at the end of this school year. The School Board contracted with the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) to provide guidance and assist the District with the search. An important part of the search process is gathering stakeholder input for the Board to consider as it moves forward in selecting the new superintendent, and you are now invited to provide your feedback on the search through taking a short survey. This survey is available for all stakeholders to fill out beginning now through March 28th. All responses to the survey are anonymous, and MSBA will summarize and provide an overview of the responses for presentation to the School Board. To complete the online version of the Swanville School District Superintendent Search Survey, click on this link: HTTP://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SuptSearchSwanville Hard copies of the survey are also available at the district office. The school board recently thanked Superintendent Harthan for his many years of service to the Swanville School District.
--A Rockford woman is dead after a crash in Monticello Township Monday morning. The Wright County Sheriff's Office says the crash happened just before 6am at the intersection of County Road 37 Northeast and Edmonson Avenue Northeast. Authorities say 59-year-old Debra Mursch was heading north on Edmonson Avenue, stopped at the intersection, then when trying to cross 37th Avenue, collided with an eastbound pickup. Monticello Fire and Rescue removed Mursch from her small pickup and pronounced her dead at the scene. The driver of the other truck, 25-year-old Jake Rand of Buffalo was not hurt. Authorities say the roads were snow-covered and there was heavy, blowing snow at the time of the crash.
--A 76-year-old man and a 74-year-old woman, both of Pequot Lakes, were injured Monday, March 14, after their van struck a truck on Highway 210 near Pillager. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash, reported at 2:21pm in Sylvan Township. One vehicle was westbound on the highway when a northbound van attempted to make a left turn from 37th Avenue Southwest onto the highway, striking the truck and flipping it on its side. The driver of the Chrysler, Christ Norman Schultz, and his passenger, Ardell Lamae Schultz, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. The driver of the Dodge, Scott Jerome Steinhauser, 40, of Brainerd, suffered no reported injuries. All of those involved in the crash wore seat belts, according to the state patrol, and the road was dry at the time.
--A 31-year-old Baxter man was injured Monday, March 14, after his vehicle rear-ended another on Highway 210 in Pillager. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash, reported at 2:47pm According to the report a rear-end accident happened when one vehicle had slowed for traffic at the intersection of Highway 210 and 37th Avenue Southwest due to a roadway incident ahead. The driver of the Malibu, Klopnik Daniel Benedict, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd. The driver of the Ford, Vincent Edward Reed, 44, of Pillager, suffered no reported injuries. Both drivers wore seat belts, according to the state patrol, and the road was dry at the time.
--Pierz Healy High School presents a night of comedy their spring production Thursday and Friday at 7pm at the PAC. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Light snacks and coffee will be served.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is planning a series of prescribed burns to be conducted during the spring season to help maintain the natural habitats for wildlife and reduce the chance of wildfires outside the refuge. The refuge averages around 200 acres of prescribed burning each year. Prescribed burns, fires that are carefully planned, are beneficial to native prairie and oak savanna plant communities at the refuge. The burns are conducted under a special set of guidelines for weather and safety called a "prescription." These prescriptions are planned to accomplish specific objectives for vegetation and wildlife management. Before a burn begins, temperature, relative humidity, fuel conditions, wind speed and wind direction are measured. Refuge staff takes into account smoke drift, nearby buildings, livestock and other safety factors when deciding whether to burn. Prescribed burns at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge are planned to be conducted in March, April and May, when weather and safety conditions are right.
--The Kiwanis Trivia Night is tomorrow night at 6:30pm at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. There is not cost to join in as they are partnering with the Tipsy Trivia and Trivia Stash with the Ballroom. There is opportunities to donate to the Kiwanis through the night for the chance to win prizes. The winner gets the traveling trophy from the Kiwanis to hold on too for the entire year. Anyone can participate also with St. Patrick's Day the Ballroom will have special food items and green beer to enjoy during the event. Monies raised goes to help improve playground equipment at Pine Tree Playground in Northeast Little Falls. That is 6:30-8:30pm Thursday.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Kyle and Samantha Bednar of Pierz, girl on March 14th
DEATH NOTICES
--Robert “Bob” Monnier, age 79 of Little Falls.
--John “Jack” Hubert Hales III, age 65 of Mille Lacs Lake.
WEATHER
TODAY= few sprinkles early, then cloudy skies, high 46.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low around 30.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy skies, cooler, high 38, clear night, low 28.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, winds pick up, high 41, low around 27.
SPORTS
OLY= The Flyer Olympic weightlifting team competed at the Minnesota Weightlifting state finals at Moorhead High School on Saturday. The JV lifters (boys and girls combined) earned 2nd place at the state finals as a team, behind Lakeville South. Of the JV Lifters Avery Selinski (9th grade) and Rylan Mikkelsen (9th grade) were State Champions. 10th grader Emma Goertz finished 3rd, 9th Grader Micah Laska, 3rd Place, 9th Grader Brody Lutzke, 2nd Place and 8th Grader Bode Kapsner, 2nd place. Varsity Tyler Olson is the state champion for the 3rd year in a row. Maizee Kathrein earned a 3rd place finish Avery Anderson earned a 2nd place finish and Lindy Welinski earned a 3rd place finish. Congratulations to the weightlifters at state.
BBB= Nevis beat Browerville last night in playoff action 79-53, Annandale beat Osakis, Albany downed Mora to move on to section finals. Esko and Pequot Lakes advance to their section finals.
GBB= State Girls Basketball Tournament begins today for Class AA to 4A at U of M for teams like Albany, Detroit Lakes, Becker, Pequot Lakes and Fergus Falls. Class A quarter-finals begin on Thursday