NEWS
--Today is the 9th Annual Day of Caring from Little Falls Community High School. Nearly 1000 volunteers with hundreds of students will be out this morning to work on scheduled tasks at area homes. This includes all around Little Falls, the city of Randall and near Sobieski and Flensburg. Please use extra caution traveling this morning between 8:30-12pm due to the volunteers walking to some of the houses in the area. They are wearing lavender/greyish T-shirts but with the rainy, windy and cooler weather today, if you are working with Day of Caring to dress appropriately. Thanks to all who are taking part, helping, volunteering and being home for the workers today for the 9th Annual Day of Caring from Little Falls High School.
--Congratulations to Simon Kroll of Pierz Healy High School who won a national championship at the National BPA Convention in Orlando, Florida this past weekend. Kroll took first place in the nation in the area of computer services and computer diagnostics.
--A Freeport woman died from injuries in an accident near St. Joseph Friday around 7:00pm on Norway Road in St. Wendel Township. 46-year old Jonathon Grace of St. Joseph was on Norway Road when he struck a southbound vehicle head-on driven by 54-year old Stacy Meyer of Freeport. Stearns County stated that Grace was treated for minor injuries. Meyer was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and died from her injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a garage fire in the 19000 block of East Shore Drive in Maine Prairie Township Saturday afternoon around 4:00pm. This is located on the east side of Pearl Lake. The caller, 80-year old Maureen Imholte of Kimball, reported the fire in their attached garage and her husband, 84-year old Ronald Imholte was in the garage trying to extinguish the fire. Upon deputies arrival, the attached garage was fully engulfed. Both Maureen and Ronald safely evacuated the home. Ronald sustained minor superficial burns. A neighbor reported hearing a boom shortly before noticing the flames and smoke. Ronald told deputies he was working on his lawnmower in the garage around the time of the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
--More details on a kayak capsizing in Sauk Rapids on Sunday. Stearns County received information around 11:40am about two kayakers who overturned on the Mississippi River near the Sauk Rapids Bridge. 23-year old Leo Johnsen of Sauk Rapids, and 23-year old Anna Rosburg of Cambridge, were kayaking on the Mississippi River. Two other kayakers witnessed Johnsen and Rosburg head into the rapids and capsize. Rosburg was able to get out of the rapids and was seen swimming towards shore. Johnsen was stuck in a hydraulic whirlpool and was pulled under the water surface at least three times. Johnsen was able to get out of the hydraulic whirlpool and the witness assisted Johnsen to shore. Johnsen was treated at the St. Cloud Hospital for minor injuries. A Stearns County Deputy located Rosburg walking in the area of 6th Avenue North who was treated for injuries at the scene but not hospitalized.
--A longtime St. Cloud business owner has died. 76-year-old Heinrich Wurdak, the former owner of Michael's Restaurant, died over the weekend after he was severely burned in a grass fire. The Todd County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened just after 3pm Sunday at 11107 Alexander Loop in Sauk Centre. He was taken to Sauk Centre Hospital where he later died. Wurdak owned Michael's for over 20 years before retiring in 2017.
--Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber is reminding those who attend functions like concerts and graduations at Pierz schools that with recent construction there is very limited parking around the school and many students and staff have been parking on Kamnic Street and surrounding roads so expected slow traffic at times. Construction will continue inside and outside the school through the summer and into the fall to connect the elementary and high school.
--A Statement from Majority Leader Paul Gazelka regarding negotiations from Tuesday. “Last night Senate Republicans made a sincere effort to move forward with budget negotiations. We asked Gov. Walz and House Democrats to recognize that Health and Human Services is the fastest growing and most expensive part of our budget, and to join us in an effort to bend the cost curve down in this area. Every dollar of permanent savings found could be allocated to Gov. Walz’s top priority, E-12 Education. “I am disappointed Governor Walz and Speaker Hortman have so far refused to drop even one cent of their massive four-year $12 billion tax increase agenda. They also refuse to offer any specific spending reductions to a budget that spends more than $50 billion a year when you consider all funds. Serious negotiations can continue when St. Paul Democrats realize we can’t keep taxing people out of independence and prosperity by promising them a public program to help them instead.”
--One person was hurt, another cited in a St. Cloud crash Sunday. The incident happened just before 1:30pm at the intersection of 25th Avenue North and 1st Street North. Authorities say 27-year old Toni Harms, of St. Cloud, was heading west on 1st Street when they failed to yield for a stop sign and hit another vehicle in the intersection. The crash caused the second vehicle to roll and land on the driver side trapping the driver, 78-year old Mary Fennell of St. Cloud, inside. Fire crews were called in to extricated Fennell from the vehicle. She was taken to St. Cloud hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Harms was not hurt and was issued a citation for failing to yield to the right of way.
--Enjoy a morning of birding at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday. Join Refuge staff, Friends members, and other birders as we walk the Platte River Trail in search of spring migrants. The walk will be lead by expert birders and last two to three hours. Dress for the weather and hiking. No experience is necessary. Bring your camera if you wish and binoculars if you have them. The refuge has some binoculars available for use as well. Meet at the Sedge Meadow Classroom at 8:00am on Saturday. There is no charge. Refreshments will be served afterward. For more information, call Refuge Complex Headquarters at (763) 389-3323.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain likely, windy and cool, high 44.
TONIGHT= rain, could change to wet snow late, low 33.
THURSDAY= rain and windy, high near 50, clearing late, low 28.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 61, low around 40.
SPORTS
TWINS= Jose Berrios shuts down the Blue Jays on Tuesday and Mitch Garver has 3 hits to lift Twins to a 3-0 win. The Twins go for the sweep of Jays tonight at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BAB= Pierz at Albany Friday at 7pm on FM94 KFML.
VL= Randall at Buckman Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.