NEWS
--Around 500 attended the 20th annual soup and chili cook off for Kinship of Morrison County Tuesday night. The judges selected their top three in both the soup and chili categories. For the judges choice on chili 3rd place was awarded to Lake Beauty Bible Camp “Five Alarm Chili”; 2nd place went to Falls Ballroom “Ballroom Chili”; and the judges top chili selection was the Fort Bar and Grill “Pork Green Chili”. The judges top three soup choices were 3rd place to Jordies Trail Side Cafe “Cheesy Vegetable Medley”; 2nd place to Lake Beauty Bible Camp “Chicken Fajita Soup”; and 1st place to the Perkins “Bob's Cheesy Potato Soup”. The people's choice award for chili was Perkins “Nummy's White Chicken Chili”. The peoples choice award for soup went to Lake Beauty Bible Camp “Chicken Fajita Soup”. Jordies Trail Side Cafe with the “Happy Birthday Theme” was named the best theme. The people's choice winners receive a traveling trophy and the judges selections got cash prizes. Several of the cash prizes were donated back to Kinship. All funds raised Tuesday night benefit Kinship of Morrison County.
--The Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Vern Capelle, Superintendent of the Upsala Area Schools, a 2019 Administrator of Excellence. Capelle received this award in recognition of his leadership, concern for students, and active involvement in professional and community affairs. He was honored at a statewide recognition ceremony during the MASA/MASE Spring Conference, March 7th-8th in Brooklyn Park.
--More flooding issues in central Minnesota has prompted flood warnings for the Mississippi River at Fort Ripley, St. Cloud, Brainerd and other communities. The Sauk and Long Prairie Rivers are also in flood warnings this week.
--A 5-year old Brainerd boy suffered an injury Sunday around 9:20am when the inner tube he was riding, pulled by an all-terrain vehicle, struck a tree. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office reported the boy's father, 39-year old Matthew D. Krebsbach of Brainerd, was pulling his son when the incident happened on the 10000 block of Leisure Lane. The boy, 5-year old Jack A. Krebsbach, was airlifted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis with unknown injuries.
--At 2:13am Saturday authorities responded to a building fire at 5526 Prairie Grass Drive of Brockway Township in Stearns County. 34 year old Beth Johnson of Sartell, awoke to a light coming from the deck area of their split-level home. Beth realized the wooden deck adjoined to the house was on fire. She woke her husband, 35-year old Joshua Johnson of Sartell, and their children and they were able to safely evacuate the home. Stearns County deputies arrived on scene shortly after the emergency call was made and noticed the fire was spreading. The fire spread to the siding of the home and continued to the roof. Responding fire fighters were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to other areas of the home. Unfortunately, the damage to the home is considered a total loss. It is believed the fire started from cigarette butts left on the deck.
--An accident in Motley Monday sent to to the hospital when a vehicle was slowing for a school bus. 63-year-old Douglas Maros of Staples began to break for the yellow flashing lights on Highway 210 east of Motley when he was struck from behind by 32-year-old Sheena Ziegler of Staples. Both drivers sustained injuries and was treated at the Staples Hospital. The school bus was not struck by a vehicle.
--District 9B State Representative Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, announced that he is planning to introduce legislation that would establish the Minnesota Research and Development Authority Act. “The Minnesota Research and Development Authority Act will help spark the state’s economic development and support our local businesses,” said Kresha. “In working with both public and private entities to promote research and development, and developing a comprehensive research and development strategy for the state, we can make great strides in economic development and competitiveness of our state.” The bill creates the Minnesota Research and Development Authority, a group that would maximize the economic growth of the state by creating a strategic research and development enhancement and investment program to retain jobs in key sectors of the state’s economy.
--On Saturday the Benton County Sheriff’s Office found and arrested 3 juvenile males and 2 juvenile females who had broken into a building in Bend in the River Park near Rice. Around 6:45pm Saturday a witness at Bend in the River Park in Watab Township reported seeing several juveniles smash a window on a locked building in the park and then enter the building. Deputies learned that the 5 juveniles had arrived at the park together to take some photographs. While they were near the locked building, one of the male juveniles broke a window on the building and all 5 of the juveniles entered the building. According to one of the juveniles, they entered the building to take photographs of themselves inside the building. At the conclusion of the investigation, the juveniles were released to the custody of their parents. Police reports regarding this incident will be forwarded to the County Attorney’s Office seeking burglary and trespassing charges on all 5 suspects. This incident appears to be another in an ongoing trend among area teens that involves trespassing into empty or abandoned buildings to document their presence inside the building and then share their acts on social media. While these acts of trespass and burglary are illegal, they can also be quite dangerous as these unoccupied buildings may house unknown hazards.
--The Baxter Restaurant “Olive Garden” announced they will be closing effective March 31st. The restaurant opened in 2012.
--The Royalton Drama Club will be performing a musical this April with grades 6th through 12th at the middle/high school. They will perform “Disney’s High School Musical” on April 13th at 7pm, April 14th at 5pm and April 15th at 7pm. The dinner theatre will be held April 13. Tickets will be available at the Royalton schools.
DEATH NOTICES
--Grace I. Riddle, age 87 of Little Falls.
--Norma Nickerson, age 93 of Brainerd, formerly of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= few showers early, then cloudy, high 55.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 30.
THURSDAY= partly sunny, high 44, low around 23.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 42, cooler night low 14.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins Hot Stove final show tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
LOCAL= check out the spring sports schedule at fallsradio.com.