Monday, October 12, 2026

A reminder that today Monday, October 12th is Columbus Day. The holiday was established on the 400th anniversary of the voyage in 1492, started in 1892 with parades and pageantry. Now in recent years the holiday, though still observed as federal holiday on the second Monday in October has had name changes or other meanings including in Minnesota which will call the day Indigenous People Day by others and government officials, it is still a federal holiday meaning most banks, financial institutions, post offices, many federal offices and agencies are likely closed today for Columbus Day. There is no regular mail delivery on Monday. It was reported that 1 day delivery parcel service from the Post Office is running and all other parcel agencies are running normal package delivery hours Monday. However, many city, county and state offices announced that they will likely be open today, some many not be able to do all regular items with the federal offices closed be aware of that, as they use the Columbus Day holiday for a floating holiday after Thanksgiving or Christmas later in the year. Still best to check ahead before you venture today on Monday to see what is open or closed. 

Temperatures reached 90 degrees in many areas Saturday including Little Falls breaking a high temp record, St. Cloud, Rochester and the Twin Cities also broke records both Saturday and Sunday reaching again in the upper 80s and 90s on Sunday while Little Falls got to 82 missing a record by about 5 degrees. Northern Minnesota was in the 40s and 50s with rain, southern third of the state was in the 90s. Wind gusts near 40mph Saturday led to many wildfires, the largest at the Sherburne County Wildlife Refuge which closed some roadways and public access to the refuge through the night. Local fire departments were also called out to grass fire reports on Saturday. Because of that, the DNR issued open burning restrictions in many parts of the state Saturday afternoon through Sunday and even still today on Monday some open burning restrictions in central and southern Minnesota where temps will still be in the 70s to near 80 today. The DNR website reports that agency approved permits only will be issued for burning items today in Morrison, Stearns, Benton, Todd and Sherburne County  For details got to this site https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html.

The Foley Police Department says a 53-year-old man who had been missing for days has been found safe. Police had asked for the public’s help locating Steven Bairett, who was last seen on October 2nd near the 900 block of West Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis. Officers had raised concerns for his safety because he was without his medication. The department has since canceled the alert and thanked everyone who helped in the search. No other details have been released.

Minnesota voters appear eager to cast their ballots. The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office reports 127,682 ballots have been accepted in the first three weeks of early voting in the state. That number marks a 28% increase over the 99,252 ballots accepted in the first three weeks of the 2022 general election. According to the Secretary of State, 47,968 voters have cast their ballots early in person, while the remaining 79,714 voters returned their ballots by mail. So far, the state has distributed 468,860 absentee and mail ballots. For more information on early voting or absentee voting in your area contact the Secretary of State's office or your local county and city agencies. 

The Morrison County Commissioners signed numerous proclamations last week. Making October National Domestic Abuse Awareness Month. Whereas 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience some form of domestic abuse in their lives and 15.5 million children are exposed each year to domestic abuse in the home this month to make aware of the problems and work with Hands of Hope Resource Center to help in eliminating domestic abuse. They proclaimed last week October 4th through the 10th National 4H Week with the theme Beyond Ready. The Commissioners also announced this week starting today October 12th at National Manufacturing Week as part of Manufacturing Month in Little Falls, Morrison County and nationally to remember and celebrate the manufacturers who power many essential industries either locally, regionally, statewide and nationally through October and this coming week. The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce stated there would be tours Wednedsay at some manufactuers in Little Falls and also in Pierz, for details call the Chamber at 320-632-5155. To view the entire proclamations and pictures with those in attendance can be found here https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1441836934718391&set=pcb.1441839554718129.

The Hennepin County Attorney's Office has announced an 18-year-old is now charged with assault following a shooting last week during Eden Prairie High School homecoming football game. Adam Abdihakeem Adam, 18, is charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of second-degree riot. Authorities said one shot was fired and two people were struck and required medical attention. At a press conference, Eden Prairie Police Chief Matt Sackett said the arrest comes after working closely with regional partners, but police alone cannot prevent shootings. Law enforcement officers continue to ask people to come forward if they have any information on recent shootings in the Twin Cities metro area or any shootings statewide call authorities locally or if emergencies to call 911. 

Entertainment Death News: Legendary football coach Mike Ditka for Chicago Bears has died at age 86. Actress Eva Marie Saint who was in On the Waterfront and Hitchcock's North by Northwest has died at age 102. Singer Freddie Jackson has died at age 69, started in funk music in the 1970s then pop songs in the 80s. Soap Opera Actor Robert Kelker-Kelly has died at age 62 appeared in Another World, General Hospital and for a time was Bo Brady in the early 90s on Days of Our Lives. Actress Mary Louise Weller who appeared in a number of 70's movies including Animal House where she ends up with John Belushi at the end of the movie has died at 78. TV Evangelist James (Jim) Baker has died at age 86, with his wife Tammy Faye they hosted the PTL Club later was a convicted felon on fraud and sexual misconduct. 

Death Notices: James H. Hill, age 95 of Little Falls 

Weather: cloudy skies, rain showers possible, some rumbles of thunder, high near 71. Showers ending tonight, cooler, low 46. Tuesday cloudy and cooler, light rain possible, high 57, clearing Tuesday night low around 37. Wednesday sunny skies, high near 60, clear Wednesday night low near 40. Rain develops Thursday, cooler and breezy, high 53, rain Thursday night low 37. Partly sunny and strong winds on Friday, high near 50, clear and frosty Friday night low 28. Saturday sunny skies and windy, high 54, clear Saturday night low around 32.  Sunday sunny and breezy, warmer, high 64. 

Sports: Justin Jefferson returned to his home area of New Orleans and scored a touchdown as the Vikings down the New Orleans Saints 23-13 Sunday to go to 5-0 on the season, Vikings off this coming weekend with their bye week then take on Indianapolis October 25th. Also in the NFL Green Bay routs Chicago 31-7, Detroit wins 45-21 over Arizona, so Bears, Lions and Packer all 3-2. Baltimore won 30-23 in OT last night over Atlanta and San Francisco is 5-0 with 32-29 win over Seattle, Kansas City 4-0 had their bye week. Wild win 4-1 last night Kaprizov had 3 goals to beat Florida Saturday host Las Vegas tonight. College Football: Purdue routs Gophers 41-13 Saturday night, St John's Johnnies win 62-6 in football. Cleveland strikes out Chicago White Sox 21 times last night to win 2-0 and wins ALDS series 3-2 and move to take on Tampa Bay tonight in Game 1 of ALCS. Last night Milwaukee 2-1 over Dodgers to game 1 of NLCS. Atlanta and Golden State won in WNBA and move on the finals Game 1 Saturday. High School Football Friday: Albany 35-20 over Little Falls. Pierz 79-7 over St. Cloud Apollo. Upsala-Swanville 55-12 over Maple Lake, both Pierz & Upsala-Swanville is 6-0. Royalton beat Osakis 36-34, Melrose 38-27 over Holdingford. Foley 42-21 over Milaca. Perham 57-12 over Pillager, Staples-Motley 26-17 over Barnesville. Reminder that High School Football is on Wednesday this coming week for MEA Week and then again the following Wednesday this year to wrap up regular season. Little Falls Girls Soccer #2 seed in playoffs, highest seed ever, host Sauk Rapids-Rice Tuesday at 3:15pm, Little Falls boys soccer will open on the road Tuesday at St. Cloud Tech. On Saturday Little Falls Swimmers were 8th at Team True Sections in St. Cloud, Sartell was first. Pierz volleyball team went 3-1 in Perham officially finished 9th place. Little Falls Tennis in section individuals Saturday saw Myla Ballou advance to round 3 on October 19th. Monday Night Football tonight is Buffalo at Los Angeles Rams at 6pm on AM960 KLTF.