NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz announced Wednesday the next phase of COVID-19 prevention in Minnesota. On June 1st- restaurants and bars can open only if they have outdoor seating and seating must follow the social distancing guidelines. They are allowing cities and counties to get creative on ways to help the businesses open up with outdoor benches and tables. Even the state is urging Mn Dot to help by using right of ways for seating but NO indoor seating will be allowed even after the June 1st date and only 50 people can be using the outdoor seating at one establishment if they follow the CDC guidelines. Hair Salons and barber shops may open on June 1st with 25% of their fire code number for the number of people that can be in the building at one time. Patrons and workers are required to wear masks and appointments only, no walk ins. Campgrounds may be allowed to open June 1st but must follow the CDC guidelines and those guidelines will be on the DNR website. There will be another phase in the coming days or weeks where they will upgrade the number for gatherings but as of yesterday's briefing they ask that gatherings, church services and other functions remain at 10 people or less at this time as the peak of COVID-19 hasn't been reached in Minnesota.
--There are now 31 positive cases of COVID-19 in Morrison County according to the Minnesota Department of Health website. Morrison County Public Health reported that one of the most recent cases was a child under the age of 10. Todd County has seen a large increases in positive cases to 110, Cass at 11 while Mille Lacs is at 15, Crow Wing at 38, Benton 148 and Stearns is now at 1,831 confirmed cases and 11 deaths linked to COVID-19.
--Benton County announced that with a heavy heart Wednesday thaty have decided to cancel the Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids this year that was scheduled for August 4th through the 9th. However they reported that the 4H and FFA events will be rescheduled for later this year at the fairgounds but all other events for the fair will not take place this year. This comes one day after Sherburne County announced they have cancelled their county fair this year which was scheduled for June 23rd-28th. There is no word yet on the Morrison County Fair which is scheduled this year August 13th through the 15th.
--The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is sponsoring a virtual Memorial Day program in partnership with Twin Cities PBS-TPT. The ongoing coronavirus pandemic prohibits the live events traditionally held at the three State Veterans Cemeteries located in Little Falls, Preston and Duluth. TPT has created a 30-minute Memorial Day program entitled “Always Remember: A Minnesota Tributeto Veterans We’ve Lost,” that will be broadcast across the state on TPT’s Minnesota Channel at 7:30pm . The program will include remarks from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Commissioner Herke, personal stories from both Gold Star mothers and Veterans about those we have lost and honor on Memorial Day, as well as music and a rifle salute traditionally included in a live event. Because there is no event locally AM960 KLTF will be taking parts from previous State Veteran's Cemetery programs north of Little Falls that wer recorded from 2009-2019 and creating a two hour special of speakers, music and other items from those programs and that can be heard Memorial Day Monday at 8:30am on AM960 KLTF. Little Falls Radio has also received notices that some of the cemetery events and gatherings on Monday have been cancelled or will be held privately at memorials, markers and cemeteries with a few members from the Veteran's Organization to remember Memorial Day 2020.
--The Little Falls Community High School Senior Activities Award Winners were announced virtually last night. Here are a list of the winners: Flyer Swimming Memorial Award-Chloe Swanson; MSHSL AAA Award-Camilla Johnson and Cormac Shanoff; Vern and Bunny Zehren Award-Kaleese Kuchinski-Helgeson and Ryan Buckalew; US Marines Scholastic Excellence Award-Rachel Josephson and Alex Gwost; John Phillip Sousa Award-Camilla Johnson; Louis Armstrong Jazz Award-Joey Blair; US Marines Semper Fidelis Musical Excellence Award-Sierra Kicker, Logan Luedtke, and Alison Solem; National School Choral Award-Madelyn VanRisseghem and Kylie Pohlman; Fred Waring Director's Award-Margaret Bodine; Fine Arts Student of the Year Award-Emily Liddell; US Marines Distinguished Athlete Award-Sadie Sue Houdek and Nolan Bjorge; Pine Country Bank/FAB Three Sport Athlete Award-Camilla Johnson, Adrienne Kresha, Kaleese Kuchinski-Helgeson, Kali Schirmers, Claire Zack, Nolan Bjorge, Cormac Shanoff and Thomas Zupko; Female Athlete Award-Kali Schirmers; Male Athlete Award-Cormac Shanoff. Congratulations to each of the winners last night.
--Upsala Area Schools announced they as like other schools will have a drive-up style Graduation for the Class of 2020. The drive-up style program will be Saturday at 1:30pm in front of the Upsala Area Schools building. Students (with parents in one vehicle only) may drive up and receive their diploma.
--On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 the Morrison County Department of Public Works will be conducting a bridge replacement on County Road 34 (93rd Street) just west of Gotvald’s Corner that will require a detour of traffic. County Road 34 (93rd Street) will be closed between County Road 33 (Sage Road) and County Road 10 (355th Avenue). Traffic will be detoured while the project is being conducted. The project is estimated to take approximately two weeks. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights and follow the detour and all traffic control devices through the construction area.
--Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morrison County Historical Society announced that rather than holding the sale at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum, which is currently closed their fundraiser plant sale will be hosted outside the homes of two board members. Camille Warzecha and Pat Quinn have served on the MCHS board for years. The plant sale will take place over two days, Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. On Friday, Pat and Camille, each at their respective homes, will be available to sell plants from 10am-7pm on Friday and from 9am-1pm. Proceeds from the plant sale will benefit the Morrison County Historical Society’s mission of preserving and sharing county history. For further information, call the Weyerhaeuser Museum at 320-632-4007 and leave a message.
DEATH NOTICES
--Layne Paul Diebel, infant of Bryan and Lori Diebel, Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high 72, clouds increase tonight, low 57.
FRIDAY= showers likely by afternoon, few T-storms, high 70, low 53.
SATURDAY= showers & t-storms early and late, hazy sun, high 80.
SAT NITE= storms likely, some could be strong, low near 60.
SUNDAY= storms in morning, humid afternoon, high 76, low 51.
MEMORIAL DAY= a storm early, then sunny and cooler, high near 70.
Listen to Pierz and Little Falls Graduations on AM960 KLTF.