BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Jason and Judy Hudalla of Little Falls, a boy born March 11th

DEATH NOTICES
--Sister Mary Ellen Dinndorf, age 86 of St. Francis Covent.
--Helen T. Fussy, age 81 of Bowlus.

WEATHER
TODAY= mainly cloudy, periodic rain showers, patchy fog, high 50.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, rain showers and fog, low 33.
TUESDAY= becoming partly cloudy, high 45.
WEDNESDAY= mostly sunny skies, high 50, low around 30.

SPORTS

BBB= Little Falls beat Bemidji 65-43 to advance to the section finals Thursday at 5 at SCSU against St. Cloud Apollo with winner heading to the state tournament. Foley advanced with a win Saturday over St. Cloud Cathedral 59-56. Pierz and Upsala both lost their playoff matches on Saturday.

COL BB= Gophers upset Michigan State 72-67 in OT Friday to advance to the semis then destroyed Purdue 69-42 Saturday to go to the Big 10 finals for the first time in team history, but Ohio State was too much as they beat the Gophers 90-61 Sunday. The Gophers did get a NCAA bid Sunday night and will open the tournament Friday in the West Bracket against Xavier. Hear the game live on FM94 KFML.

COL HK= North Dakota beat Minnesota 6-0 Friday while MSU Mankato stunned St. Cloud State 5-4 in overtime. Gophers win 4-2 while Huskies win 3-2 on Saturday to force game 3’s on Sunday where St. Cloud State advanced with a 3-2 overtime win to the Final Five this week. North Dakota ended Gophers season with a 4-1 win.

BHK= Breck and Edina are 2010 Boys State Hockey Champs.

GBB= State Girls Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday.

 “Hot Hits” Wednesday, lunches, happy hour & more at WS Bar






Friday- March 12th, 2010

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME SUNDAY AT 2AM REMEMBER TO SPRING AHEAD ONE HOUR. 

NEWS

--The drawings of the new art work at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery project will go on display next week at the Great River Arts Association Center gallery in Little Falls. The artist, Charles Kapsner of Little Falls, has bee hired to create 5 paintings on canvases covering the history of all branches of the military. The finished paintings will be displayed inside the committal building at the State Veteran’s Cemetery north of Little Falls. The working drawings for the project will be on display on March 21st from 1 to 4 at the GRAA.

--Sheriff Michel Wetzel says that their investigation into the evacuation of Swanville Schools earlier this week is still being investigated. Wetzel says the schools followed procedure after a potential bomb threat on Tuesday from writings on a bathroom wall. A search of the school turned up nothing and students were only evacuated for a short time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 632-9233.

--A Lindstrom resident and former U.S. Navy pilot is putting his hat in the ring for the Republican endorsement for U.S. Congress in the 8th District. 51-year-old Chip Cravaack announced this week he is vying for the seat currently held by DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar. Cravaack expressed his distain for issues like President Obama’s health care reform bill and feels the U.S. is heading in the wrong direction and needs to stop heading into a socialistic regime.

--A bill that would establish two casinos at Minnesota race tracks will likely surface again soon at the legislature. The Racino Bill was withdrawn earlier this week in the Senate after it was clear it would not get enough votes in committee. But supporters say Racino would resurface later in session as a key part of perhaps education, jobs or rural development bills.

--There is still no fix to the problems surrounding the Green Acres program in Minnesota and how it will affect property taxes for farmers. A number of farmers and county officials testified at a hearing at the capitol yesterday saying that the recent changes in the Green Acres law and changes to valuations and real estate values are converging to drive property taxes sky high. Some counties say property taxes have already jumped more than 40% in some cases.

--Fire did extensive damage to a home in Cold Spring Wednesday night. Fire crews were called to the Town’s Edge Mobile Home Park around 6pm and found a mobile home engulfed in flames. No one was at home at the time of the fire. Authorities believe the fire started in a back bedroom but the official cause is under investigation. The mobile home was a total loss and no one was hurt.

--A U.S. postal service employee in southern Minnesota was indicted for allegedly stealing and cashing more than $41,000 in money orders. 60-year-old Linda Johnson of Lewisville is accused of issuing 80 money orders for her personal use between August and December of 2008. The indictment also alleges that Johnson deceived the postal service by making false entries in the office books to cover up the loss. She could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

--A 50-year-old Crosby man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court of abusive sexual contact after acknowledging that he had sexual contact with his great-nieces that are under the age of 12 back in 2006. No sentencing date has been set, though reports state the judge could sentence Fabian Fransisco Spears to life in prison.

--The Kiwanis Fish Fry is tonight from 4 to 7pm at the VFW enjoy, fish, hush puppies and so much more tonight starting at 4.

MORE NEWS

--Morrison County Communications Supervisor Jeff Jelinski received the Communications Unit Leader Type III Certificate which is awarded by the Statewide Radio Board of Minnesota. Jelinski is one of four individuals recognized with this honor in the State of Minnesota. A number of requirements exist prior to being eligible to complete this certification.  One in particular is a Type III incident event. In April of last year an emergency training scenario took place at Camp Ripley.  The scenario included a plane skidding off of a runway and various hazards as a result. During an all hazards emergency such as the training exercise at Camp Ripley, Jelinski will lead the communication among those responding.  This often includes emergency medical, fire and law enforcement services.   

--The Little Falls School Board will hold a listening session this Tuesday night at 6:30 at the Performing Arts Center at Lindbergh Elementary to discuss the elementary schools reconfiguration.

--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night at 7:30 at City Hall. Loren Boyum will take the oath of office for Councilmember in Ward 1 after being selected by the council last week to fill the position left vacant following the sudden death of Mike Doucette. Boyum will fill the seat until the November elections. Council also has on their agenda the reestablishing of a Restaurant Sales Tax.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Joseph and Kari Torbert of Little Falls, a girl born March 9th

--David and Christy Kuhl of Swanville, a boy born March 9th

--Anthony and Theresa Johnson of Little Falls, a girl born March 8th

DEATH NOTICES

--Ruby Nuehring, age 89 of Little Falls.

WEATHER

TODAY= dense fog, rain likely, high of 42.

TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, rain and fog, low around 35.

SATURDAY= rain or patchy drizzle, mostly cloudy, high near 45.

SUNDAY= mostly cloudy, 30% chance of rain, high 45, low 35.

MONDAY= 20% chance of rain, partly cloudy, high 45, low 35.

SPORTS

GOPHER BB= Gophers advanced 76-55 over Penn State in the Big 10 Tournament. Gophers taken on Michigan State in round 2 tonight the game is scheduled around 8pm, hear it live on FM94 KFML.

GOPHER HK= WCHA playoffs begin tonight, Gophers vs. North Dakota in game 1 of the best of 3 with games 2 and 3 over weekend.

BBB= Pierz and Upsala both won last night to move on boys basketball playoffs. Pierz vs. New London Spicer at St. John’s on FM94 and Upsala has Sebeka on Q92. Both games Saturday at 6pm

BBB= Royalton and Swanville were eliminated in playoffs last night.

BBB= Little Falls vs. Bemidji Saturday 11:45am at SCSU on KLTF.

VIKINGS= LaDainian Tomlinson met yesterday with the Vikings as becoming a possible member of the team. The former MVP San Diego Charger running back was released from his team in February. Tomlinson says he is fine with taking a backup role behind All-Pro Adrian Peterson. Tomlinson will meet with the Jets today. The Vikings have made no announcement if a contract was offered to the former league MVP and mainly told him what his roll will be with the team.

“Ramblin’ Roads” tonight, “Hot Hits” Saturday at West Side Bar

Thursday- March 11th, 2010

NEWS

--Township elections were held Tuesday night around the area, here are in alphabetical order by Township the winners from Tuesday:

Agram: Supervisor: Dave Meyer, Clerk: Don Tschida

Belle Prairie= Supervisor: Paul Nieman Jr., Clerk: Ginny Tembreull

Buh= Supervisor: Gilly Maus; Clerk: Heidi Pryzbilla

Culdrum: Supervisor: Robert Doucette, Clerk: Jeannie Carlson

Elmdale= Supervisor: Duane Harren, Clerk: Neil Frieler

Darling= Supervisor: Roland Mammenga, Clerk: Mary Mammenga

Green Prairie= Supervisor: Butch Fietek, Clerk: Lois Petershick

Lakin= Supervisor: Dave Barkley, Clerk: Jerry Struffert

Leigh= Mark Brummer (3yr), Dan Meyer (2yr) Wendy Tretter (clerk)

Little Falls= Supervisor: John Theis, Clerk: Lynn Young

Parker= Supervisor: Dan Thelquist, Clerk: Veronica Strom

Pike Creek= Supervisor: Roman Witucki; Clerk: Darlene Kroll

Platte= Supervisor: Shelly Boser, Clerk: Judy Boser

Ripley= Supervisor: Jim Cole, Clerk: Tom Heying

Swanville= Supervisor: John Fruechte, Clerk: Dan Primus

Two Rivers= Supervisor: Rich Zabinski, Clerk: Kathy Bechtold

If your township is not on this list then it was not received at the radio station as of this morning, thanks to all to phone in results.

--Unemployment figures jumped heavily in portions of central Minnesota in January. Morrison County saw a jump from 9.4 to 12.2%, Crow Wing, Cass and Mille Lacs saw their unemployment rise at least 1-percentage point into January while Todd and Wadena saw minimal gains in unemployment. The State’s Average dropped in January to near 8% and areas in southwestern and northwestern Minnesota saw the largest drops in unemployment while the central and northeastern part of the state saw their unemployment rate rise.

--Democrats are expected to bring the $1-billion dollar bonding bill up for a vote as soon as today after refusing Tuesday to put in more money to expand the State Sex Offender Treatment Facility in Moose Lake. Republicans asked for 60-million to be put in to be closer to what the governor wanted but instead Democrats opted to leave only 47-million stating that the governor is highly unlikely to veto the whole bill. The Governor has asked for the bill to be trimmed to around $725-million, however the bill still stands around $1-billion dollars and is expected to pass the legislature but then it will be up to the governor to line item or veto the entire bill.

--The families of three Americans detained in Iran for seven months say their loved ones have been allowed to call home for the first time. Onamia native, Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal were hiking in Iraq’s Northern Kurdistan Region in July when they accidently crossed the border into Iran. Bauer’s mother, Cindy Hickey of Pine City, says her son sounded strong and determined and the three reported being well. The families say Bauer and Fattal are being held in the same prison cell in Tehran while Shourd is alone in her cell but is able to meet with the other two daily. The families called the phone conversations “a tremendous relief”.

--It’s just what they didn’t need in the Minnesota Rivers and lowlands, as the National Weather Service reports record rainfalls are expected in portions of South Dakota, southern and western Minnesota through Friday. Areas could see over an inch of precipitation and this will affect the valleys surrounding the Minnesota, Crow and Blue Earth Rivers. The governor has asked President Obama for Federal Disaster Assistance for spring flooding.

MORE NEWS

--A missing Wadena man with dementia has been found safe. 76-year-old David Delano Paulson was last seen at his home Monday night. Paulson was found in rural Wadena County yesterday afternoon. The man suffers from dementia and diabetes.

--An 8th-grader from Albertville has spelled his way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. It took 19 rounds before Jed Rothstein emerged as the state’s top speller. The winning word was xanthochromia. The national competition takes place June 2nd through 4th in Washington D.C.

NATIONAL NEWS

--The latest trouble for Toyota includes a recall of its Tundra pickup now to all 50 states. Late last year, the Japanese automaker recalled models in 20 cold-weather states including Minnesota, due to frame corrosion from road salt. Now Toyota says it needs to fix all of its 2000 to 2003 Tundra pickups.

--Procter & Gamble is recalling two flavors of its Pringles chips because they may be tainted with Salmonella. The Cincinnati-based company is offering replacement coupons or refunds for the Cheeseburger and "Taco Night" versions of the snack. The company has had no reports of illness.

--Actor Corey Haim is dead. The 38-year-old was found unresponsive Wednesday morning in Burbank. Initial reports are calling the death accidental. Toxicology reports on Haim are still pending. Haim starred in the movie “The Lost Boys” and also movies with Corey Feldman.

DEATH NOTICES

--Evelyn A. Rudnitski, age 90 of Pierz formerly of Gilman.

--Paul F. Gerads, age 87 of Albany.

--Ernest J. Brausen, age 85 of Pierz.

--James “Jamie” Clear, age 35 of Brooklyn Park.

--Bernard F. Thell, age 90 of Upsala.

WEATHER

TODAY= dense fog early, rain likely, high near 40.

TONIGHT= rain likely, areas of fog, breezy, low 35.

FRIDAY= rain or drizzle early then mostly cloudy, high 45.

SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, a few showers, high 45, low 35.

SUNDAY= partly sunny, high near 50.

SPORTS

BBB= Paynesville at Pierz tonight 7pm playoffs on FM94 KFML.

BBB= Sebeka at Upsala tonight 7pm playoffs on Q92 WYRQ

BBB= Little Falls vs. Bemidji from SCSU Saturday 11:45am on KLTF.

COL BB= Gophers open Big 10 Tournament tonight with Penn State at 6:30 if they win they would play #1 seed Michigan State Friday.

TODAY IN HISTORY

IN 1302= according to Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet were married.

IN 1901= U.S. Steel was formed by industrialist J.P. Morgan.

IN 1930= “The Flatheads Gang” stole over $104,000 in the first recorded armored-car robbery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

IN 1964= Gene Roddenberry pitched “Star Trek” to MGM Studios.

IN 1969= Levi-Strauss started selling bell-bottom jeans.

IN 1989= “Cops” debuted on Fox TV.

“Hot Hits” tonight, “Ramblin’ Roads” Friday at the West Side Bar

Wednesday- March 10th, 2010

NEWS

--The Little Falls City Council Monday night selected the person to fill the vacancy for the First Ward council seat.  After interviews they selected Loren Boyum, to fill the seat previously held by Mike Doucette, who passed away suddenly in January.  Only three of the original five applicants were interviews. Becky Olson withdrew her name due to personal reasons and Mike Piotrowski stepped aside due to what he called a possible conflict of interest. Council members called all three candidates, Boyum, Jeff Stumpf and Herman Johannes exceptional, but on a 5-2 vote, Council selected Boyum to fill the vacancy. He will be sworn in at next Monday’s meeting.

--Swanville schools were evacuated for a short time Tuesday after some writing was reported on a bathroom wall.  School officials wouldn’t elaborate on what was written on the wall, but said they notified the sheriff’s office and a search of the building turned up nothing and everyone was sent back to class. 

--Two men were arrested in Foley after a routine traffic stop ended with drugs being found in the car.  54-year old Michael Bies of St. Cloud and 35-year old Jason Hawley of Waite Park were taken to the Benton county jail on drug charges and are being held on $30,000 bail. After the traffic stop, the officer said the men were acting suspiciously and it was found that neither had insurance and after the vehicle was towed, felony amounts of meth were found inside.

--General Motors was slated to close 30 G-M dealerships in Minnesota this fall but have since changed its mind. Scott Lambert with the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association says 20 stores have been reinstated and a majority of them are in out state Minnesota. Lambert says this good news means several hundred jobs will be saved in Minnesota.

--Defense attorneys are asking for mercy at the sentencing for Minnesota businessman Tom Petters, saying he’s suffering from a tumor on his pituitary gland. In a court filing Monday, they say it’s not growing but his long-term prognosis is bleak, with the risk of blindness and paralysis. In a separate filing Monday, prosecutors asked for a life sentence for Petters, who was convicted of orchestrating a $3.5 billion Ponzi scheme.  U.S. District Judge Richard Kyle has scheduled sentencing for April 8th.

--The Crow Wing County Board voted unanimously Tuesday to combine the offices of county treasurer and auditor. The county treasurer's office would be abolished and a new office of auditor/treasurer created.  Many counties in the state have done the same thing in recent years, and with the county facing budget cuts from the state, the board said the potential cost savings was the compelling reason to make the change.  Morrison County made the change last year and the combined office of Auditor/Treasurer will be on the ballot this fall.

--Ex-Auto mogul Denny Hecker and a former senior officer have been indicted on eight additional counts of wire fraud. A Federal Grand Jury also charged Hecker with 10 counts of bankruptcy fraud. Hecker and 54-year-old Steven Leach are accused of orchestrating a scheme to defraud lenders and others out of millions of dollars. They were already indicted on 5 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy charges. Hecker also faces money laundering charges.

--Though the state saw a drop in unemployment in January, counties like Morrison, Stearns and Benton saw a rise of 2 to 4% in areas.

--Get booths now for HGL show by calling 320-632-2992.

MORE NEWS

--Local township elections will be on Thursday’s newsletter.

--Entrees are being sought for the 11th annual Kinship Soup and Chili Cookoff for Kids later this month. If interested in entering a soup or chili please contact Aaron at 632-8806 before this Friday. The cookoff is scheduled for March 30th from 5 to 7pm at the Falls Ballroom.

--Governor Tim Pawlenty has sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting an expedited major disaster declaration for the state of Minnesota due to the strong potential for severe spring flooding.  The Governor is requesting direct federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property. 

--The Cass County Attorney's Office released disturbing new details Monday surrounding the Leech Lake Reservation shooting that has one Cass Lake man recovering and another behind bars. According to the Cass County Attorney's Office the 31-year-old shooting victim, Amos Laduke, was running away from the shooter while carrying his 5-year-old child when the incident happened last Thursday. The shooter, 22-year-old William Morris, was arraigned in Cass County Court Monday where he was charged with one count of Attempted Murder in the First Degree and two counts of Attempted Intentional Murder in the Second Degree. Cass County Attorney Christopher Strandlie says Laduke was ultimately shot three times in the back on the reservation. He was then airlifted to an area hospital. The child was not injured in the shooting while Laduke was treated for serious but not life threatening injuries. Morris is being held in the Cass County Jail. Bail is set at $500,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 22nd.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Jason and Linda Smebak of Little Falls, a girl on March 8th.

DEATH NOTICES

--Kenneth Seppelt, age 73 of Isanti formerly Buckman.

WEATHER

TODAY= rain, areas of fog, high near 40.

TONIGHT= rain, areas of fog, freezing drizzle late, low 32.

THURSDAY= rain in the morning, cloudy, high of 42.

FRIDAY= mostly cloudy, few showers and breezy, high near 40.

SPORTS

TWINS= Twins pitcher Joe Nathan may be gone for the season. Initial reports from an MRI stated severe ligament damage that may require surgery. Pitching Coach Rick Anderson said they will sit Nathan for 2 weeks and he will work with weights to see if it will repair itself on its own. If not the possibility of being put on the disabled list for an undisclosed period of time could happen. The same injury occurred recently to Francisco Liriano and Pat Neshek both ended up missing long periods of time. Nathan is the all time save leader for the Minnesota Twins.

BBB= Little Falls routed Sauk Rapids last night and will play Bemidji in the 2nd round of the playoffs Saturday around noon on KLTF. Royalton and Swanville won Monday and will play in 2nd round action Thursday as will Upsala and Pierz. Catch Upsala action live on Q92 and Pierz vs. Paynesville Thursday at 7pm on FM94 KFML.

“Hot Hits” tonight and Thursday “Ramblin’ Roads” Friday at WS Bar

Tuesday- March 9th, 2010

NEWS

--District 12 Democrats held their endorsing convention over the weekend for the state legislative races. Political newcomer, 22-year-old Taylor Stevenson won on the first ballot for the DFL candidate for Senate in District 12 currently held by Senator Paul Koering. Stevenson won nearly 80% of the votes to defeat former Crow Wing County Commissioner Terry Sluss. Stevenson, a Dartmouth College Senior and Baxter resident, was nominated by a Ben Surma, a Little Falls High School student. Stevenson plans on graduating June 13th with degrees in philosophy and government and an minor in German studies. The convention also re-nominated Representative Al Doty for House District 12B and Representative John Ward in District 12A.

--Senator Paul Koering has authored two bills of interest to hunters and anglers. If passed; the first bill would allow muzzle loaders to use scopes on their muzzle loading rifles. The 2nd bill prohibits efforts by the DNR to stock South Long Lake in Crow Wing County with muskellunge. Many anglers are opposed to the DNR stocking the lake because of the fear that the muskies will deplete the bass and panfish populations in South Long Lake.

--Police are keeping close watch over the 47-year-old man accused in the fatal shooting at a sports bar in Chisholm Saturday night. Authorities say 40-year-old Edward Walberg died and two other men from Chisholm are in the hospital. The shooter was heavily armed but a patron was still able to subdue him after striking him in the head with a chair. Authorities say the incident was the result of a dispute between the suspect and his former wife. More than 100 people were in the restaurant at the time of the shooting.

--After standing idle for nearly a year, the Hibbing Taconite Plant will resume production the first week of April. More than 500 steel workers will be back on the job. Hibbing’s mayor says it’s not just the miners that will be benefiting but everyone associated with the mining industry in the state and nationwide.

--A man killed in a house fire Saturday in St. Cloud has been identified as 42-year-old Timothy Haukos. The fire is believed to have started in the room where Haukos was found and right now is being call a tragic accident. Two others in the home were treated for smoke inhalation and another 3 were not hurt.

--A 25-year-old Ottertail woman is dead after her SUV was struck by a charter bus Friday night near Detroit Lakes. The State Patrol says Tabitha Janssen was struck when she crossed Highway 10 over the center lane and into the path of the oncoming bus. Janssen died at the scene. Nobody on the bus was injured.

--State Senator Tarryl Clark has proposed that a charter commission be created to reshape county government in the St. Cloud area. The bill would create a 21 member commission to frame a charter for Stearns, Benton and Sherburne counties. Charter commissions are likely in bigger cities, like St. Cloud but only Ramsey County has one. All other counties are governed as outlined in state statues. The bills comes a year after the three same counties were put in a bill by Clark to be renamed the Lake Wobegon County, but that was met with opposition from county official and many residents.

--The Morrison County Commissioners meet today at 9am at the government center with many agenda items. Mostly reports from county agencies including planning and zoning and public health.

--Help families of deployed soldiers by donating to the Thanks for Our Freedom Fund at area banks or LF Radio. Call 632-2992 for info.

MORE NEWS

--A St. Paul man has been charged with burglarizing a Sauk Rapids drug store. 39-year-old Jason Mussehl was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary and reports say that he is a suspect in about a dozen other similar burglaries in and around the Twin Cities area. Mussehl will be sentenced in May for a burglary in Scott County last year. Police say that Mussehl attempted to steal an ATM from the Sauk Rapids Walgreens but fled the scene when the alarm went off. He remains jailed in Benton County on $250,000 bail.

--Spring weight restrictions began today for frost zones in central and north-central Minnesota. However, Governor Tim Pawlenty yesterday signed an emergency executive order lifting the seasonal weight limits for certain motor carriers and drivers operating in Minnesota.  Currently, many vehicles used to transport heating fuel exceed the weight permitted under seasonal load restrictions even when empty and businesses and homeowners may be at risk of running out of necessary heating fuels if it cannot be delivered in a timely and efficient manner. 

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

--“The Hurt Locker” took best picture at Sunday’s Academy Awards. The movie’s director Evelyn Bigelow was named best director becoming the first woman to win that honor. Best actor to Jeff Bridges for “Crazy Heart” and best Actress to Sandra Bullock for “The Blind Side”. James Cameron’s “Avatar” won 3 awards. Minnesota native Pete Docter won 3 awards for his movie “Up” from Disney including best animated picture and best musical score.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Corey and Marie Huben of Pierz, a boy born March 6th.

WEATHER

TODAY= areas of fog with mist and rain, high around 40.

TONIGHT= cloudy, rain likely, low 35.

WEDNESDAY= rain likely, precip over an inch in areas, high 40.

THURSDAY= rain, mixing with wet snow early, high near 40.

SPORTS

BBB= Sauk Rapids at Little Falls playoff action at 7 tonight on Q92

BBB= Upsala and Pierz open boys basketball playoffs on Thursday.

BHK= the State Boys Hockey Tournament begins tomorrow at 11am.

TWINS= catch Twins baseball today at noon also on Q92 WYRQ

TODAY IN HISTORY

IN 1855= a train passed over first railway suspension bridge at Niagara Falls, New York.

IN 1887= first telescopic fishing rod was patented by Everett Horton

IN 1954= Edward R. Murrow devoted time on his CBS TV show “See It Now” to criticize Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anti-communism campaign. The show proved to be McCarty’s demise.

IN 1959= the Barbie Doll was first sold in stores.

IN 1964= the first Ford Mustang was produced.

IN 1976= the first female cadets were accepted at West Point.

IN 1981= Dan Rather took the anchor seat for CBS Evening News.

IN 1985= “Gone with the Wind” debuted on home video for $90.

IN 1996= comedian George Burns died at age 100.

“Hot Hits” Wed and Thurs, check out happy hour at West Side Bar

Monday- March 8th, 2010

NEWS

--A preliminary hearing is set for April 13th in North Dakota for 27-year-old Nicholas Caspers. Caspers is accused in the death of former Pierz resident Paul Varner. A criminal complaint stated that after an autopsy was done on Varner that Caspers “willfully caused the death” after an altercation between the two occurred at Varner’s residence in Wishek on February 28th. Casper’s legal council maintains that Caspers acted in self-defense and that Varner initially attacked him. If convicted Caspers could face life in prison.

--One person is dead and 2 others injured from a fire Saturday morning in St. Cloud. Authorities say six people were the home on 7th Avenue South around 6am when the fire started. Officials say 2 people were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The victim’s name has not been released until relatives have been notified.

--A change in state law could mean a change in the way you pay your property taxes in Morrison County. Auditor Russ Nygren says starting this year, if your property tax is $250 or less, you will have to pay the entire balance on May 15th rather than being able to split it up in two payments, with the second one in October. The old law was $50 or less. Nygren says about 8,000 of the 29,000 tax parcels will be affected and if missed, you could pay a penalty.

--Another sign of spring, the state’s legal truck spring weight restrictions go into effect today. The restrictions began in the southern part of the state and Twin Cities metro area frost zone this morning at midnight. Restrictions for the central, north central and north frost zones take effect tonight (Tuesday) at midnight.

--The search continues for 82-year old Peter Ackermann, who has been missing for more than 7-months, and a reward for helping to find him has been extended now until September. Cass county authorities say the reward has doubled in size to $20,000.  His car was found abandoned back on July 25th, one day after he was reported missing. He did some errands in Motley and Staples on the 24th and that is the last anyone knows of his whereabouts. Months of extensive air and ground searches have turned up nothing.  If foul play was involved, the family is hoping someone with any information will step forward and either help find him or bring closure for his family and friends.

--The man who robbed the First National Bank of Deerwood in Garrison two years ago was finally sentenced yesterday.  40-year old Richard Kyle of Coon Rapids was sentenced to 11-years in prison, for the robbery back in Sept. of 2007.  He was not arrested until a year later, and then entered a guilty plea in January of last year.

--A shooting at the Leech Lake Reservation sent one man to the hospital.  Authorities say the shooting was reported just before 4pm Thursday when 31-year old Amos LaDuke was shot by 22-year-old Williams Morris following an argument. LaDuke remains in a Duluth hospital with serious injuries. Morris was arrested and faces 2nd-degree attempted murder charges in Cass County.

--The Little Falls School Board meets tonight at 6pm at Lindbergh Elementary. One major agenda item is a recommendation for reconfiguring of the elementary schools. Last week, 30 people attended a public input meeting on the reconfiguration. Administrators met with a consultant last week following the public input meeting and will give their recommendation to the school board tonight. The meeting is in the Performing Arts Center.

MORE NEWS

--An Avon man was killed Friday afternoon when a flat-bed semi trailer he was working on fell on top of him. Authorities say 29-year-old Jesse Himsl was working at a business in Motley when the jack broke and the trailer fell onto his chest. He was pronounced dead by the time authorities arrived on the scene.

--Governor Pawlenty and Democrats have reached an agreement on extending the General Assistance Medical Care program for very low-income Minnesotans. The program will be extended for another 16 months. But Democrats say the program used to get $500-million dollars from the state will now only get $164-million. Lawmakers say people who can get health coverage elsewhere will be taken off GAMC but about 78,000 very-low-income Minnesotans will still be covered. Some say hospitals, especially small rural ones, could bet put at risk of closing because of the state money they will lose.

--A bus driver for special meds children in Anoka has been fired after he drove drunk with one child and a student assistant on board. Investigators say the 51-year-old Andover man was arrested Wednesday at a stop along his bus route. They say he failed a field sobriety test and was later fired. Nobody on the bus was injured.

--Police have arrested a man they considered a “person of interest” in the deaths of two people whose bodies were found following a house fire in Moorhead last month. 38-year-old Tracy Zornes of Naytahwaush was taken into custody last week for outstanding felony probation violations. Authorities have not said if they believe the two in the house were dead before the fire. The investigation continues.

--Longtime WCCO TV reporter Darcy Pohland died last Thursday night. The 48-year-old journalist was found by a personal care attendant at her home in Minneapolis. The cause of death is not known. Pohland has been part of the WCCO family since 1986.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

--Paul Krutchen and Michelle Stewart of Little Falls, a boy on 3-4

DEATH NOTICES

--Richard Arlen Benge, age 78 of Motley.

--Lesley Taylor, age 83 of Randall.

WEATHER

TODAY= dense fog and freezing drizzle early, then clouds, high 43.

TONIGHT= freezing rain, slippery through overnight, low 30.

TUESDAY= freezing drizzle, rain and fog, high 43, low 32.

WEDNESDAY= rain likely, some freezing drizzle early, high 40, low 30

SPORTS

WRE= State Wrestling wrapped up Saturday with Clint Poster and Sean Huls of Pierz both finishing 3rd, also 3rd place finishes for Jacob Bowland and Brandon Seppelt of Foley. Marshall Ash of Milaca was a state champ at 215 in Class AA. Team Champions were Apple Valley, Jackson County Central and Simley. Foley was Class AA runner-up.

GBB= New London Spicer ousted Pierz Saturday 43-22 in playoffs.

BBB= playoffs for Royalton and Swanville begin tonight, Little Falls on Tuesday and Upsala and Pierz on Thursday.

NFL= Brett Favre says he hasn’t made a decision yet in his football future with the Vikings. Running-back Chester Taylor signed a 4-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Friday.

 “Hot Hits” Wednesday, great lunches and happy hour at WS Bar