NEWS
--The Little Falls City Council Monday night decided to move forward with garbage carts with wheels instead of bag collection or a hybrid system of both. Residents will have a choice of 32 and 64 gallon cart sizes depending on which suits them more. A 32 gallon cart can hold approximately 1 ½ current bags worth of garbage and a 64 gallon cart can hold up to 3 bags worth of trash. The cost for a 32-gallon cart is $11 per month but after other fees it totals $13.17 per month. A 64-gallon cart is $14.50 per month but 17.01 per month after those same fees. Details on routes and other information are still being worked out and will be shared with the public once finalized.
--The Pierz School Board announced there will be a special election for construction bonds on May 22nd. The special election will be 12:00-8:00pm at the polling places of the Pierz, Lastrup, Harding and Buckman city halls. Absentee ballots will begin 40 days before the election and those will be available at the school district office. The board is asking to approve an $18.45 million bond authority to provide a number of projects to include building a larger gym connecting the two schools (Pioneer Elementary and Pierz Healy High School), convert the current Pioneer Elementary Gym into two levels of classrooms for 4th-6th grades, rather than add new construction onto that wing. Also included is renovation and expansion of the current Pioneer parking lot to accommodate the current needs for events in both schools. Additions to the band room of the high school and building auditorium seating to the north of the current stage for more capacity for upcoming events. If voters approve the one question ballot there will be a tax increase of around $21 per month for a $150,000 property. On Little Falls Radio Tuesday Superintendent George Weber stated there is an Ag to School Tax Credit being worked on at the Capitol which will help bring in more funding to support the school bond referendum. Any questions on the bond referendum vote on Monday, May 22nd in Pierz contact Superintendent George Weber at 468-6458.
--Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner has announced that he will retire, effective April 17th. Sanner, who has been with the sheriff's office for 32 years and has been sheriff for the last 14 years, notified the county board this week and publicly announced his decision Tuesday. In his retirement notice, he recommended Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold be named as his replacement. The county board will pick the person who will serve the remainder of Sanner's term. His position is up for election in November 2018.
--Criminal charges are expected Wednesday against a St. Cloud man who is accused of shooting another man Monday night in Waite Park. The 36-year-old victim was shot in the upper body and was taken to the hospital in critical condition. His condition was later upgraded to stable, and Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud said he is likely to survive. The suspect identified in the shooting is 54-year old Herbert Owen Campbell of St. Cloud. Campbell is in Stearns County Jail, awaiting charges and a first court appearance. The area around the scene is secure and there is no ongoing public safety concern. Police have not commented on a motive. Anyone who has information is asked to contact Waite Park Police Department at 251-3281.
--Kinship Soup and Chili Cookoff for kids is scheduled for next Tuesday at 5pm at the Falls Ballroom. The fundraiser is to help the mentoring program for Kinship of Morrison County.
--Anglers hoping to keep a walleye or two from Mille Lacs Lake this summer will have to wait at least another year. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday catch and release only regulations will be in place for walleye caught between Saturday, May 13th and Monday, September 4th. It is the a repeat of last summer's ban on keeping walleye, the latest step in the effort to revive the struggling Mille Lacs walleye population. In addition to the season long catch and release policy, the DNR is also implementing a complete 21-day walleye fishing closure from Friday, July 7th to July 27th. During that time anglers can fish for all other species, but only with artificial bait and lures. An exception is in place for fishermen targeting northern pike and walleye who are not in possession of walleye gear. Those anglers can possess live sucker minnows longer than 8 inches. Minnesota's 2017 walleye allocation is 44,800 pounds, but state officials and Ojibwe tribal leadership agreed that the 2017 walleye season will remain open through 12:01am on September 5th, as long as state harvest doesn’t exceed a conservation cap of 55,800.
--The Minnesota Department of Transportation has released its list of projects scheduled for 2017. Foley motorists will encounter a detour as crews resurface Highway 25. The $12,700,000 project stretches from Highway 95 on the south end up to just south of Genola. However, only the southern most section between Foley and Highway 95 will require a detour. Two projects installing median cable barriers along Highway 10 in St. Cloud and I-94 in St. Cloud won’t impact traffic. The Mississippi River bridge replacement project in Clearwater will open to traffic at the end of the season, and the old bridge will be torn down in 2018. No traffic impacts are expected as part of that $17,400,000 project. A detour will be in place on Highway 238 between Albany and Upsala while that highway is resurfaced. Work also continues on Highway 371 from Nisswa to Jenkins as crews work to expand 371 to a four-lane divided highway. No detours are planned for that $49,900,000 project.
--The Catholic Community School’s corporate board announced the selection of Kevin Powers Tuesday. Powers was the Principal for the past four years at St. Margaret of Scotland School in Chicago. Earlier this month, community interviews with Powers and the other finalists helped the CCS corporate board members make the final decision. Powers will start, July 1st.
DEATH NOTICES
--Peter “Pete” A. Smude, age 69 of Pillager.
--Lorraine M. LeNore, age 74 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, breezy, high near 40.
TONIGHT= snow showers/freezing drizzle late, low 30.
THURSDAY= freezing precipitation to all rain, high 42.
THURS NITE= rain turning to a mix in late evening, low 32.
FRIDAY= rain likely, heavy in morning, then clearing, high 44.
SPORTS
WBC= Team USA and Puerto Rico will vie for the World Baseball Classic title tonight. This would be Team USA's first title in the world baseball championships since the tournament began in 2006.
LOCAL= check out the spring schedules for area teams and the spring broadcast schedule for Little Falls Radio at fallsradio.com.