NEWS --The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced walleye regulations for Lake Mille Lacs when the open water fishing season gets underway May 12th. The DNR is implementing catch and release regulations and a night closure between 10:00pm and 6:00am from May 14th through the open water season, ending November 30th. The DNR says the spawning walleye population has improved so no mid season closure is planned. State officials and tribal members have not yet agreed on what the tribal harvest will be as discussions are ongoing. Bass season also opens May 12th but is catch and release until May 25th, then four bass are allowed per day with a protected slot of 17-21 inches. One bass over 21 inches is allowed. Lake Mille Lacs is exempt from the new statewide northern pike regulations. You can keep up to five fish outside of the protected slot of between 30-40 inches and one pike over 40 inches.
--St. Cloud police were called in to help break up a fight at a basketball game. On Friday at 9:45pm officers were sent to a large fight/disturbance at Halenbeck Hall in the 1000 Block of 4th Avenue South. The venue was being used for a Minnesota State High School League basketball game between Minneapolis North and Brooklyn Center High Schools. About 12 officers responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers were told the altercation happened immediately after the game had ended. Officers did receive information that both players and fans were involved in the altercation. No reports of any assaults, weapons, or injuries were made to responding officers. Officers did not report seeing any signs of injuries. Officers assisted in dispersing the crowd and escorting the teams and fans to their busses and cars. No arrests were made during the incident.
--Two people from the St. Cloud area are charged with felonies after a traffic stop turned up drugs Thursday. A State Trooper pulled a vehicle over for speeding near Melrose at 4:22pm. The trooper noticed the driver, 39-year old Chad Kampa of Sauk Rapids, appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The passenger gave the officer a false name but later admitted she was 29-year old Sara Smith of St. Cloud. Smith said she gave the false name because she was wanted on an outstanding warrant. Stearns County Court records show the trooper asked Kampa to exit the vehicle and noticed a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in the car door handle. A drug dog used walked the outside of the vehicle and alerted the officer that drugs were inside the car. A search of the vehicle turned up baggies containing 65 grams of meth and a small Tupperware container had another 2 grams of the drug inside. A search of Smith's purse also turned up a pipe used to smoke marijuana. Both suspects are charged with felony 1st degree aiding and abetting drug possession and petty misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charges. Smith is also is charged with giving a false name to police.
--Stearns County stated that several vehicles were vandalized in Marty during the town's St. Patrick's Day celebration on Saturday. Ten cars were vandalized with a black tar substance, white spray paint and yellow and white house paint. Several car windows were also smashed with a brick, rock and an old car stereo. All of the vandalized cars were parked on County Roads 8, 48 and 148. If you have any information on this incident you are asked to call the Stearns County Sheriff's Office at (320) 259-3705.
--Around 9:50pm on Monday the Minnesota State Patrol responded to an accident involving two vehicles in Morrison County. 32-year old Kristen Mrozek of Randall and 62-year old David Lange of Baxter were each traveling south on Highway 371 in Ripley Township when they collided with two draft horses in the roadway. David Lange and his passenger 62-year old Josephine Lange were each taken to CHI St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls while Kristen Mrozek was taken to St. Cloud Hospital. According to the report each individual suffered non life threatening injuries.
--On Monday, local renowned artist Charles Kapsner told Little Falls Radio that he is just about completed with the fourth portrait for the Committal Hall at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. The Marine Corps portrait will be unveiled at 2:30pm on Saturday, May 26th, the day before the State Cemetery's Memorial Day observance program on the 27th. There will be more details on the event as we get closer to the date. Kapsner also stated if all goes as planned, he will begin the final portrait for the cemetery project which will feature the U.S. Air Force later this year with the hopes of having that completed in the fall of 2019.
--A Nevis man was injured when a turkey flew out of a ditch and smashed through the windshield of a pickup in Wadena County in northwest Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. 38-year old Thomas Walls who was a passenger in the vehicle was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening at Tri-County Health Care in Wadena. 51-year old Scott Taylor of Menahga, was driving a pickup southbound on U.S. Highway 71 near Menahga when a turkey flew out of the west ditch and smashed through the windshield, striking Walls. He was taken by ambulance to Wadena for treatment of injuries sustained.
--FM94 KFML's Ladies Night Out Pierz Style is tomorrow. Stop into the participating sponsors in Pierz and Genola between 12-7pm then head to the Red Rooster for prize drawings at 7:30pm. Grand prize is $600 Pierz Foods/Pierz Floral gift card. It is a beach theme so dress up in your best beach outfit and you could win Chanhassen tickets from Little Falls Radio. Rules and details at fallsradio.com. Brochures at all the participating sponsors and also at Little Falls Radio main office open today from 8:00am-5:00pm.
WEATHER TODAY= flurries early, then cloudy, high 37. TONIGHT= clearing skies, low around 20. THURSDAY= mostly sunny, high 44, clear night, low 23. FRIDAY= rain in afternoon, changing to snow late, high 41.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins spring baseball today at 5pm on Q92 WYRQ. GOPHER HOCKEY= After 19 seasons with two national championships and 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Men's Hockey Coach Don Lucia announced yesterday he is stepping down. Lucia had one year remaining on his current contract. He had a record of 457-248-73 with the team. HS BBB= Boys Basketball state quarterfinals begin today, teams like Sauk Rapids-Rice, St. Cloud Cathedral and others included in action.
TODAY IN HISTORY IN 1939= Kate Smith released God Bless America on a record. It was sung live on November 10th, 1938 for the first time on radio.