Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Township Results from Tuesday March 10th, received at Little Falls
Ripley: Glenn Pugh Supervisor, Heather Brill Clerk. Buckman Alan Stangl Supervisor, Nancy Lanners Clerk. Swan River: Paul Fussy Supervisor, Sabrina Hanfler Clerk. Parker: Ron Wimmer Supervisor, Michelle Pietz elected clerk. Bellevue: Douglas Rekstad Supervisor, Patricia Kasella Clerk. Lakin: Duane Britz Supervisor, Jill Monson Clerk. Belle Prairie: Frances "Babe" Brisk Supervisor, Keith Kruschke Clerk. Leigh: Jane Hafvenstein Clerk, Kent Ojanen elected Supervisor. Culdrum: Thomas Evans Supervisor, Sarah Posterick Treasurer/Clerk. Agram: Tom Leidenfrost Supervisor, Don Tschida Clerk. Darling: Mike Vetsch Supervisor, Tabitha Maher Clerk. Platte: Ricky Hebler 3 year supervisor, Tyler Boser 1 year supervisor, Dara Krych Clerk. Green Prairie: Mike Schuett Supervisor, Lois Peterschick Clerk. Granite: Roxanne Welle Clerk, Terry Hargrave Supervisor. Swanville Keith Evans won open seat for Supervisor, Sherri Welinski Clerk. If you have results send them to news@fallsradio.com.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported many spinouts and accidents around Little Falls on Tuesday after 2-5 inches of snow fell from in southern Todd County, Randall to Little Falls in Morrison County. The State Patrol reported an accident south of Little Falls at Iris Road on Highway 10 and another on Highway 371 just north of the 10 and 371 corridor but there were no reports if any injuries occurred in the accidents. More rain/snow mix was forecast for Tuesday night, Thursday afternoon and the weekend in the area. For the latest road condition report go to 511mn.org.
Officials say roughly 200 gallons of oil leaked from cooling equipment at an Xcel Energy nuclear plant in Monticello. Xcel Energy says the discharge was found Tuesday at the Xcel Energy Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant after operators recognized low oil levels in one of the motors while officials were testing equipment. The oil made its way to the discharge canal, but plant personnel said no oil reached the Mississippi River. Xcel Energy says it has set up oil spill containment and absorbent booms as a preventive measure. In a statement, Xcel Energy said the plant, which provides energy to more than 500,000 homes, had been shut down for maintenance since Feb. 20. As part of the maintenance work, operators were testing the equipment Tuesday when the problem with the oil levels was noticed. The equipment has been isolated, and officials with the federal, state and local governments have been notified.
The murder trial of a Watkins man accused of killing his co-worker is on indefinite hold after another mental competency exam determined he lacks the ability to understand the proceedings. It's the second time the court has ruled 40-year-old David Delong is incompetent to face the charges. Delong is charged with 1st-degree premeditated murder and 2nd-degree intentional murder in the bludgeoning death of co-worker Amber Czech. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office was called to Advanced Process Technologies in Cokato on the morning of November 11th. Authorities say Czech was found at her workstation with significant head trauma. Deputies and Cokato Ambulance paramedics tried life-saving measures, but Czech was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities arrested Delong at the business. The sheriff’s office says Delong assaulted the victim with a sledgehammer, resulting in fatal injuries. According to the charges, Delong allegedly told authorities that he didn't like Czech, had been planning to kill her for some time, and confessed to her murder. Another review hearing is scheduled for April.
One man is dead after an early morning fire at a home near Wadena on Monday. The Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office reports that just before 4 a.m., firefighters from Bluffton, Wadena, Sebeka, and New York Mills responded to the scene on the 37000 block of County Highway 75, which is northwest of Wadena City Limits.The man was located inside the residence. The cause of death under investigation, but authorities say at this time no foul play is suspected. The residence is considered a total loss, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.
St. Cloud, Waite Park and Sartell police are asking apartment renters and facilities with entry ways that are usually left unlocked to watch for thieves taking packages from apartment complexed both in St. Cloud and Waite Park and also from an office entry way and other establishments in an around the area. Since February 16th there has been an uptick in theft and in most cases packaged left unattended after delivery drivers drop them off in an entry way or lobby area of a building or apartment house. If you are expecting a package please be prepare to get that item without leaving it too long unattended. Surveillance cameras at some places are being checked to see if they can locate any of the suspects in that cases.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has pitched a plan to transform Minnesota's Human Service Systems, reimagining how the state's Medicaid is administered by streamlining administrative functions and strengthening program integrity. Tuesday, Walz described the current system as a "Frankenstein monster that you keep putting bolts on." The proposed changes would modernize systems in hopes of promoting transparency and preventing future fraudsters from taking advantage of Minnesota programs. These are the proposed changes: Eliminate the use of Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) in Medicaid programs and transition to a single statewide Administrative Service Organization (ASO). Currently, 45% of Medicaid spending and nearly 80% of basic care services are administered through eight separate MCOs. The new, statewide ASO would be responsible for administrative duties such as claims processing, financial transactions and provider services. This would give all Medicaid-eligible Minnesotans access to the same provider networks, rates, and billing rules. Switch Medicaid eligibility oversight responsibility for health care and long-term services to the state. Currently, the responsibility falls on counties. By streamlining eligibility processes, DHS hopes to ease workforce burdens at the local level and improve the state's oversight. The state would assume eligibility processing for manual determinations and special MA programs by July 2028. The state would pilot assuming some MnChoices eligibility assessments in the short-term, while working with counties and tribes on a long-term strategy. Reform waiver case management for people with disabilities and older adults Waiver case management ensures an eligible person receives the type of support they need. The proposal provides short and long-term solutions to improve waiver case management. The use of contracted case management would be phased out by 2031. Dedicate funding to studies that will analyze how human services programs are administered across Minnesota and provide future recommendations for best practices. The state is seeking proposals from independent consulting firms on ways to improve. But some lawmakers oppose the proposal, including Senator John A. Hoffman (DFL–Champlin), chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over Minnesota’s human services system.
St. Francis of Assisi Church south of Upsala on Highway 238 is getting prepared again for Journey with Jesus to Calvary, the performance shows Christ in his final week from riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion and Resurrection on Easter Sunday. The programs will be Wednesday March 25th at 7pm, Friday and Saturday the 27th and 28th at 7:30pm and Sunday March 29th at 1pm. The Cost is Free for all.
Death Notices: Joelle C. Fuhrman, age 86 of Pierz.
Weather: Winter Weather Advisory until 10am. Cloudy morning, icy areas, then becoming sunny, high near 40. Clear skies tonight colder, low 19. Thursday clouds increase, rain and snow after 1pm, high 44, all snow by Thursday night 1-2 inches low around 25. Friday becoming sunny and windy, high 35, low near 20. Saturday clouds increase snow in afternoon, high 35, heavy snow Saturday night possible 6+ inches or more low 18. Snow on Sunday breezy, high near 27, low around 3 above. Monday sunny high near 22.
Sports: Pierz vs. Esko at UMD in Duluth tonight 7:30pm for Section 7AA boys basketball semi-finals on 94ROCKS KFML and online at fallsradio.com winner moves on to Friday night in Duluth. Other boys games tonight Pequot Lakes vs. Mora 5:30pm in Duluth, Osakis vs. Staples-Motley, Upsala vs. Braham, Nevis vs. Sebeka, Albany vs. St. Cloud Cathedral and Melrose vs. Annandale in boys hoops. The State Girls Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday with teams like Willmar, Sauk Centre, Perham, New London Spicer all competing in quarter-finals, some teams like Braham and others in Class A play Thursday. Wild shut out Utah last night 5-0 in NHL. Lakers beat the Wolves late last night 120-106 in the NBA. Gopher basketball team opens Big 10 Tournament tonight against Rutgers.