NEWS
--A Motley teenager died in a snowmobile crash in Wadena County Saturday afternoon. The Wadena County Sheriff's Office says they received a call on the crash around 1:30pm. 18-year old Paul Peterson of Motley was snowmobiling near Staples with his family, when reportedly Peterson took off before the rest of the riders and was found crashed, by his father, less than a minute later. It appeared the Peterson snagged a tree with his snowmobile ski and was ejected from the machine. The sheriff's office says it was his first time riding a snowmobile and he was wearing a helmet at the time.
--The Little Falls City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council accepted the resignation of Wastewater Maintenance Technician - Kenneth Wimmer. The council accepted the Little Falls Supervisors Labor Agreement. The council also approved a comprehensive plan. This comprehensive plan from the planning commission and other members from the City of Little Falls took four years to come up with and get to this point. The council approved a grant application for an Environmental Assistance Grant to the MPCA. A public hearing for the final assessment roll on the Trunk Highway 27 project was set April 6th at Little Falls City Hall. The Little Falls City Council meets next on Monday, March 16th at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--The owner of the Press Bar has been formally charged with intentionally setting fire to the downtown saloon in the early morning hours of February 17th. Authorities believe he did so to collect the $1.3-million in insurance money on what had become a failing business. Forty-year-old Andrew Welsh is charged with 1st-degree arson of a building using a flammable material and 1st-degree arson of a dwelling for damage to the apartment units above Cowboy Jacks. Welsh and his wife had divorced last fall and were to put the bar up for sale by January 20th, 2020. Records show despite meeting with realtors, the bar was never listed. Following the fire, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives was called in to investigate. They determined Welsh was the last one to leave the bar before closing up and the fire originated on the top of his desk in the basement office. A specially trained dog indicated the presence of an accelerant on the desk. ATF Forensic Science Laboratory testing confirmed the findings. Court records show the ATF experts systematically ruled out all other accidental causes including appliance failure and determined the fire was intentionally lit. Search warrants were then served at a home in Sauk Rapids where Welsh had apparently been staying after his divorce. Authorities say they found nearly $2,000 in cash inside his SUV and a bottle of Ronsonol lighter fuel on the floor of his truck. According to multiple employees, business at the Press Bar had been declining, specifically to the point where Welsh was reducing staff and had stopped selling tap beer. Welsh is being held on $200,000 bail with conditions or $1.2-million bail without conditions. His next court date has not yet been set.
--More than 30 students from schools in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties will take the stage on Wednesday, March 25th at Sourcewell in Staples for the 2020 Regional Spelling Bee. Students arrive at 1 p.m. and the Bee beee-gins at 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
--During the monthly tests of the county siren systems today at 1pm (which are done on the first Wednesday of the month), the new Benton Beach Siren near Rice will be tested for the first time. The siren was created to let campers know of severe weather is near.
--Because of a high level of concern for the health of patients, staff, and community, CHI St. Gabriel’s Hospital is limiting visitor access during the remainder of flu season which is now through at least April 1st. Visitors restrictions include, No visitors under the age of 16 are allowed in the hospitals unless they are a patient or parent of a patient. Any visitors with fever, cough, or diarrhea should stay home. Any visitor with signs of influenza will be asked to leave for the protection of patients and staff.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard announced Tuesday that it was 51-year-old Robert Joseph Hutchins of Merrifield that was struck and killed Saturday night around 6:40pm in Mission Township. A single vehicle was traveling northbound on County Road 3 when it struck the Hutchins who appeared to be in the lane of traffic. The victim was dressed all in black. The driver of the vehicle identified in the release as 59-year-old Marlin Jay Sunderman of Edina immediately stopped and is cooperating with law enforcement.
--Former Vice-President Joe Biden captured Minnesota's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, just a day after Amy Klobuchar ended her campaign and threw her support to the former vice president. Biden – 38% Sanders – 30% Warren – 16% Bloomberg - 8% Klobuchar – 5%. Biden had done little in Minnesota before Super Tuesday but clearly benefited from Klobuchar's backing and that of fellow moderate Pete Buttegieg, who ended his campaign Sunday.
--A man faces an assault with a deadly weapon charge after allegedly pulling a knife on a bar bouncer early Sunday. According to the charging complaint, the security manager at the Red Carpet in downtown St. Cloud saw 21-year-old Abullahi Aden Ibrahim in the upstairs of the bar and went to remove him because of his past behavior. The manager and another bouncer escorted Ibrahim out. Records show when they got to the front door, Ibrahim kept asking why he had to leave and ultimately pulled a four-inch blade on the security staff and began taunting them to come outside. One of the bouncers then pushed the door into Ibrahim, causing him to fall and drop the knife. One of the workers then tackled Ibrahim and grabbed the knife. Police arrived and took Ibrahim into custody. According to the latest court filing, Ibrahim was already out on bail on felony 1st-degree assault and aggravated robbery charges stemming from an incident where he is accused of stabbing someone in the chest.
DEATH NOTICES
--Joseph M. Horning, age 51 of Onamia.
--Robert V. Isder, age 77 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, not as windy, high 37.
TONIGHT= rain/snow showers before midnight, low 29.
THURSDAY= partly sunny, gusty winds develop with rain and snow showers possible by mid-afternoon, high 35 with temps dropping.
THURS NITE= clearing skies, gusty winds, colder, low 13.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy skies, winds die down, high 38, low 26.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Royalton vs. Albany tonight at 6pm on FM94 KFML.
COL BB= Gophers vs. Indiana tonight 5:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS BBB= Little Falls boys basketball eliminated last night in Bemidji.
HS BHK= The Minnesota State Boys Hockey Tournament begins today in St. Paul with Class A action today and AA action tomorrow.