NEWS
--The Little Falls Ministerial Association and local community groups and donors want every family to have the opportunity to celebrate Easter this year with joy and a family meal. The successful 2020 Holiday meals revealed the generosity of the Morrison County community members. In order to continue the community giving, a feed 1,000 initiative is planned for Saturday-Sunday (April 3rd- 4th), 2021. The group is asking for the community's help. Many people have asked to participate and donate to the effort. Meal orders will be accepted on Monday, March 29, 2021-April 2, 2021. But this week the group is asking for donations to reach the goal of $5,000 to fund the initiative. Donations accepted by the Little Falls Ministerial Association, 18892 205th Ave, Little Falls, MN 56345. Contact Pastor Jason Swedeen at 632-2100 with questions or to make a donation.
--The Wright County Sheriff's Office has released the names of the two people who died in an apparent murder-suicide. It is believed 47-year-old Christopher Powers of Rockford killed himself after fatally shooting his girlfriend 46-year-old Regina Hughes of Rockford. Deputies were called to the home in Rockford at about 8:30pm on Friday night after neighbors reported a vehicle running in the driveway for more than an hour.
--The Morrison County Public Works Department stated as weather permits, maintenance employees will be working on crack sealing this week on county road 218 west of Randall and on CSAH 26 east of Little Rock. Flaggers will be controlling traffic as one lane will be closed. Crews will be out sweeping streets as weather permits. Crews will be patching potholes in various parts of the county. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights.
--Family and friends of the Black Hawk helicopter pilot who died in a late 2019 crash near Kimball have launched a memorial scholarship in his name. Chief Warrant Officer 2 James A. Rogers Jr. died at the age of 28 on December 5th, 2019 along with two other members of the Minnesota National Guard. They were performing a maintenance test flight. The two others killed were Chief Warrant Officer 2 30-year old Charles P. Nord of Perham and Sgt. 28-year old Kort M. Plantenberg of Avon. Rogers' family have named a scholarship after him. In 2010, Rogers graduated from St. James High School in St. James, which is southwest of St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. He graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2019. The scholarship in Rogers' name is aimed for high school seniors at his alma mater. Rogers joined the Minnesota National Guard in June 2009 as a field artillery automated tactical data system specialist in New Ulm. He completed Black Hawk helicopter flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama in August 2014. He deployed to Kuwait from 2012-2013 and had completed another tour in 2019.
--Pierz Healy High School presents Little Shop of Horrors as their spring musical this Friday and Saturday night at 7pm and Sunday afternoon 2pm at the PAC inside Pierz Healy High School. Due to restrictions, tickets are only available from the performers only in the performance and they are only given a few tickets to give out for live audience members. Those unable to attend the show will be able to watch it for free on the Pierz School District utube page.
--The Royalton Lions Club will hold their Palm Sunday senior meal of roast beef and potatoes for seniors in the community to come and enjoy. Social at 11am, meal at noon at the Royalton American Legion. For info contact the Royalton Legion or Royalton Lions members.
--The Bureau of Criminal Apprehention and Minnesota Crime Alert Network is asking for the public's help in locating 17-year old John Patrick Grillo Jr. who was reported as a runaway back on January 6th. John was last reported in the St. Cloud area and surrounding communities and was possibly driving a Chrevrolet HHR or Pontiac Grand AM. Anyone who knows of the whereabouts of John Grillo Jr. are asked to contact your local law enforcement agency.
--Good news for anglers who like to fish for walleye on Mille Lacs Lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says early season anglers will be able to keep one fish between 21-23 inches or one over 28 inches. The one-walleye limit will be in place for two weeks in May starting with the opening weekend of May 15th and running through May 31st. Catch-and-release regulations will be throughout June. A two-week closure returns for the first two weeks in July to help reduce hooking mortality, before catch-and-release returns from July 16th through September 15th. The DNR is scheduling a return to a one-walleye limit for the late-season from September 16th through November 30th. However, the fall harvest will depend on how much of the state's allocation remains as September approaches. The state's 2021 harvest number of 87,800 pounds remains unchanged from last year.
--Fire crews responded to a large grass fire near Cold Spring over the weekend. The Stearns County sheriff's office says around 12:30am Sunday, they received a call of a fire on the south side of County Road 50 near 158th Avenue in Wakefield Township. The caller estimated the fire was about 200 by 50 feet in size. Fire crews arrive to put out the blaze. Both lanes of traffic on County Road 50 were shut down as heavy smoke was blowing across the roadway.
--Governor Tim Walz has ordered all Minnesota flags in the state to be flown at half staff through sunset Saturday in honor of the lives lost in the recent mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado.
--The Pierz Lions Fish Fry will be this Friday at Frosty's in Pierz. Doors open at 4:30pm, Take out orders are encouraged for the meal of fish, mac and cheese, potato salad, baked beans, cole slaw, chips, dessert and beverage or eat in Friday in Pierz. Text or call at 630-6490.
DEATH NOTICES
--Nora Poginy, age 77 of Pierz.
--Jacqueline “Jackie” M. Schmidtbauer, age 68 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain, mixed with snow early, then all rain, windy, high 40.
TONIGHT= rain early, then clearing skies, low 28.
THURSDAY= sunny skies, high 45, clear night, low around 30.
FRIDAY= partly sunny skies, high 48, rain after midnight, low 37.
SPORTS
PLAYOFFS= Little Falls Flyers advanced to the Section finals in boys hockey with a 3-1 win over Sartell, plays Fergus Falls Thursday night in Little Falls at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. Albany eliminated Pierz last night from girls basketball playoffs. Swanville defeated Hinckley-Finlayson 59-50 to advance to their Section Championship on Thursday against Belgrade Brooten Elrosa. State Wrestling Tournament begins Thursday for Gabe Nagel of Little Falls, Friday for Trevor Radunz of Pierz, Saturday for Royalton Upsala team and individuals all from St. Michael. State Girls Hockey begins Friday.
HS BBB= Barnum at Upsala boys playoffs tonight 7pm on Q92.