Friday, October 30, 2026
Saturday is Halloween. A reminder from law enforcement to watch for trick or treaters, pedestrians and kids are also reminded to please watch for vehicles out Saturday evening. If you plan on going to a Halloween party, plan ahead and don't drink and drive. Extra law enforcement officers, troopers and deputies are out this weekend watching for impaired and distracted drivers on the roadways. Also with Halloween on Saturday a reminder that Little Falls area businesses are doing trick or treating for elementary kids and younger TODAY from 3:30-5pm. Randall Business Group members also doing 3:30pm-5pm TODAY in Randall and Pierz Area Commercial Club is having Pierz area businesses doing Trick or Treating for the kids TODAY from 3-5:30pm in Pierz. There will be lots of kids, pedestrian and others out and about after 3pm today around Little Falls, Pierz, Randall, St. Cloud and many towns with business and citywide trick or treating today, instead of on Saturday. Please watch for others and put safety first.
Vice President JD Vance's office announced last night that his visit has been cancelled to St. Cloud for today. No explanation was given only that Vance who was scheduled to stop in St. Cloud to discuss the administration's "War on Fraud" announced his visit yesterday morning but last night it was reported that the visit was cancelled for the Vice President.
One person was hurt Thursday morning around 6:45am on Highway 55 in Paynesville of Stearns County. 21-year-old Joshua Severson of Paynesville was on Highway 55 when the vehicle collided at the intersection with a pickup truck driven by 42-year-old Bret Bergs of Hutchinson. This caused the Severson vehicle to roll over and collided with a stopped vehicle driven by a 25-year-old woman from Richmond. Severson was taken to the Paynesville Hospital for his injuries. The State Patrol stated no one was injured in the accident.
Three people were injured Thursday around 9:30am in Wadena County. 34-year-old Louis Schaefer of Cold Spring was traveling north on Highway 71 in a semi-truck and collided with a southbound vehicle driven by 57-year-old Joann Norris of Long Prairie. Schaefer was reportedly treated at the scene for injuries and refused to be hospitalized. Norris reportedly sustained serious injuries and was taken to St. Cloud while her passenger 37-year-old Eric Denny of Mahnomen had non life threatening injuries and treated at Wadena Hospital.
Little Falls Fire Chief Craig Seelen reminds those that Sunday at 2am Daylight Saving Time ends. Remember to turn your clocks back one hour before bed Saturday night or 2am Sunday night to Central Standard Time. Also this is a good time to check smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure the batteries are good and that they are working properly for the winter months ahead.
The Little Falls City Council has their next meeting Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall Council Chambers.
A reminder that your local Little Falls Subway at Lora B's Plaza location only is collecting Coats for Kids Saturday and Sunday. To thank you for your donation they will offer a 6 inch free sandwich. All coats will be cleaned and distributed to families in the area by Morrison County Social Services. Help keep the little ones warm this winter and drop off you coats for kids this weekend at Subway in Little Falls.
Sunday is November 1st and the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the November 2026 Employee of the Month is Jennifer Smude, from RP and Associates. “I have had my taxes done at RP and Associates for the last few years. Jennifer is the first person I see when dropping off and picking up my paperwork. She is always so nice, very friendly, and so easy to talk to. She also answers the phone in a very courteous manner and answers all of my questions. If she can’t answer them, she will get them answered and call me back promptly. These are some of the real reasons why she deserves to be the Employee of the Month.” Congratulations to Jennifer Smude the November Chamber Employee of the Month.
Entertainment News: Sir Patrick Stewart, Captain Jean Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Professor X in the X-Men movies and many years performing at the Guthrie Theater in the Twin Cities has died at age 86, Stewart had a career in entertainment for over 60 years. Actress Barbara Barrie died at age 95, she played the wife of Barney Miller on the TV series, her career spanned also over 60 years on the stage, movies and TV.
Death Notices: Jean "Jeanie" (Schlichting) Cottew, age 85 of Dayton formerly of Little Falls.
Weather: sunny skies today, high 51. Clouds increase tonight, low 35. Partly sunny skies Saturday, showers between 10am-2pm, high near 52, clearing Saturday night low 39. Sunday cloudy and breezy, warmer, high near 61, showers Sunday night low near 50. Rain and gusty winds Monday, high 58, rain and wind still Monday night low 48. Showers ending Tuesday, high 55, low around 41. Wednesday partly sunny, cooler, high near 50, low near 29. Thursday chance of showers, high 57, low around 38.
Sports: State Tennis: Little Falls Community High School tennis player Myla Ballou lost 6-2 6-2 to Olivia Regal of Stewartville then Myla Ballou lost 6-1 6-0 in consolation to a girl from Minneapolis Southwest ending your time at the Class AA State Girls Tennis Tournament on Thursday. State tournament for Tennis wraps up today, state Boys and Girls soccer wraps up next week. Cross Country: congratulations to Wyatt Bettsinger and Quinn Gruber of Pierz, Chloe Reedy of Royalton, Bryce Lewellyn, Rose Jarnot and Haddlie Dobis of Little Falls, Quinn Guthrie of Holdingford-Upsala, advancing to state tournament next week. Volleyball: Upsala won 3-1 over Mille Lacs, while Little Falls, Royalton, Foley and Swanville all lost last night in playoff action and are done for the season. NHL: New York Islanders beat Minnesota Wild 4-3 in overtime last night. Wild at Washington Sunday at 2:15pm on Q92 WYRQ. NBA: Timberwolves host LA Clippers tonight in a NBA Cup game, then travel to San Antonio Saturday night. NFL: Jordan Love had 3 touchdowns as Green Bay beats Carolina last night 27-19 on Thursday Night Football, Packers go to 5-3. Vikings at Detroit Sunday at noon, Sunday night is Washington vs. Philadelphia and Monday night is Chicago at Seattle in NFL on AM960 KLTF. WNBA: Atlanta wins 80-69 over Golden State to tie WNBA Finals at 3-3 the final Game 7 will be Saturday night. MLB: The Milwaukee Brewers will have their parade and celebration Friday for winning their first World Series in team history dating back to 1970. Football: High School Playoffs Saturday include Little Falls at Becker 1pm with Tony Romaine on AM960 KLTF. Esko at Pierz 2pm with JB Canyon on 94ROCKS KFML. Royalton at Holdingford 2pm. Ashby Brandon Evansville at Upsala-Swanville in Swanville at 2pm. Staples-Motley at Osakis 2pm, Mora at Foley, Bemidji at Brainerd and many others are in action Saturday in football playoffs trying to get to the section finals next week.