NEWS
--The Little Falls City Council met on Monday night. The city of Little Falls is going to apply for a highly competitive Minnesota DNR grant for $300,000 towards a splash pad and restrooms. In order to apply, a location of the splash pad had to be included in the grant so the council approved the location of a potential future splash pad at the Emily Twitchell Playground area on the north end of Little Falls. Public works director Greg Kimman discussed at the meeting some of the positives of this location for a splash pad would significantly reduce the time between water pumped by the city and used by the residents in that area. The city also included in their designs a holding pond area so as to reuse water initially utilized by the splash pad for irrigation in the park area. The state of Minnesota requires at least a unisex bathroom at splash pads while plans for the Little Falls location would include separate boys and girls restroom areas. The overall cost of the project is now $800,000 (change from previous estimates due to inflation). The city has budgeted $100,000 the past three years and again this year for a total of $400,000 with the hopes of getting rewarded the $300,000 grant. A future cost of employees estimated at $100,000 would fund the remainder of the project.
--An electrical problem with a clothes dryer is likely the cause of a fire Monday at a house on the 1300 block of Pine Street in Brainerd. The Brainerd Fire Department responded to the fire at 12:07pm. Fire crews arrived they found the fire to be mostly out as the Brainerd Police Department arrived on the scene first and used an extinguisher to control the fire. There was minor damage to the area of the house where the dryer was located and the fire appears to have started in the electrical system of the dryer. There were no injuries.
--A 19-year-old from Long Prairie is charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct after police say he inappropriately touched three young girls. A woman called the police Sunday morning to report the three teens had been sexually assaulted by someone she identified as Jacob Jared Weaver. According to the criminal complaint, police took a statement from one of the girls, who is 14 years old. She said she and a 17-year-old girl shared a bed when Weaver sat down and wouldn’t get up when asked to leave. The girls said he touched them over their clothing, and the 14-year-old said she repeatedly told him to stop. The girls both say they fell asleep, and when they woke up, they were partially undressed, and Weaver was in bed with just his boxers on. The 14-year-old said Weaver also sent her messages on social media describing sexually explicit things he wanted to do to her. The third victim, now 13, said she was in an upstairs bedroom and heard the other girl repeatedly telling Weaver to get off the bed. She said he has inappropriately touched her approximately ten times since October last year. Weaver told police in a sworn statement he was drunk and knew how old the girls were but said he only touched the 17-year-old once over her clothing. Weaver remains jail and court records show bail has not been set.
--Avon’s outdoor rinks are closed for the season, partly due to vandalism. The decision was made on Monday. Avon Police are looking for information on who may have caused garbage to be strewn all over the ice rink warming house. The vandalism took place sometime over the weekend. Warming weather and rain have also led to poor and dangerous ice conditions. If anyone has information about the damage, or noticing something suspicious in that area, they’re asked to call the Avon Police Department at 320-356-7575.
--Get info on Pierz Freedom Fest and Ladies' Night at fallsradio.com.
--An East Gull Lake couple died from an accident with a North Carolina sheriff's deputy who was involved with a pursuit chase. Around 2:06pm Friday, the accident on Highway 210 in Harnett County happened when the couple attempted to cross the highway and was struck by the sheriff's car causing both vehicles to leave the roadway. The passenger, 64-year-old Patricia Finch died at the scene. The driver, 65-year-old Brian Finch died on route to a local hospital. The sheriff's deputy, not named in the report, was taken to a hospital in Lillington, North Carolina with serious injuries.
--A reminder from local fire departments that this Sunday, March 12th at 2am is Daylight Saving Time. Remember to turn the clocks ahead one hour this weekend but also this is a good time to remember to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly. Fire officials also ask families and senior living sites to review their plans on escape in time of fire.
--A man responsible for protecting doctors and nurses on duty saved a life of his own recently. CentraCare says Security Officer Josh Dalbec was working last month when a bicyclist rushed into St. Cloud Hospital and told staff that somebody had collapsed at a nearby bus stop. Dalbec raced to the scene and found the person unresponsive with no pulse, and they weren’t breathing. He started doing CPR, and it worked. The individual was stabilized and taken to the hospital for treatment. The patient was later discharged and is alive. Officials say there would have been a different outcome if Dalbec didn’t act so quickly. He was recently presented with the Lifesaving Award.
--The 25th Anniversary of Share Sunday will be held on March 19th at Mary of Lourdes Middle School Gym. LaVerne Bzdok and her late husband George started this as a way to show off the talent in Morrison County and help the Morrison County Food Shelf. Now the show is in George's memory and also all proceeds go to the food shelf, Boys and Girls Club and Oasis Central Minnesota all here locally to continue to give back to the community. Raffle tickets were being sold for $35 but only a handful remain for their $1,000 prize. Winners will be announced at the event and also on KLTF Polka World Today on Sunday morning. The talent show starts at 1:30pm at the Middle School and there is no cost to the attend the show. Questions on the event or tickets call LaVerne at 320-237-4855.
DEATH NOTICE
--Chauncey H. Myers, age 87 of Hillman.
WEATHER
TODAY= light snow showers, 1-2 inches, high 33.
TONIGHT= light snow early, then cloudy, low 26.
THURSDAY= snow in afternoon 2-3 inches, high 32, low 23.
THURS NITE/FRI= snow early morn, then partial sun, high 31.
SPORTS
HS BB= tough night for area teams, Rocori elimination Little Falls in boys basketball 65-48, Moose Lake Willow River eliminated Pierz in boys basketball 88-61, Pillager in that same section beat Staples-Motley. In girls playoffs, Sauk Centre eliminated Holdingford 66-50 to advance to championship against Albany. Barnum tipped Upsala in a close one 44-42 to advance to the section finals against BBE. Boys teams like Royalton, Holdingford and Foley open playoffs tonight. Swanville and Upsala boys are in action on Thursday night this week.
TWINS= Listen to Twins Baseball through the spring training in Florida and also when the season starts March 30th on Q92 WYRQ.