Thursday, November 20, 2025
On 11-18-2025 at 2114 hours, the Little Falls Fire Department and Little Falls Police Department were dispatched to 1331 7th Ave SE on a report of a fire alarm. The Police Department arrived first and discovered smoke and flames visible from the apartment building that was under construction. Firefighters arrived shortly after and began fire suppression. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the unit of origin. There was smoke damage that extended beyond that unit. The Little Falls Fire Department was assisted by the Camp Ripley Fire Department, Little Falls Police, Morrison County Sheriff’s Department, Mayo Clinic Ambulance, and the MN State Fire Marshal’s Office. Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 0240 hours. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Little Falls Fire Department and the MN State Fire Marshal’s Office.
A car and an ambulance collided in Wright County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened Tuesday at about 6:20 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 25 and John Ause Memorial Drive in Buffalo. A car driven by a 17-year-old boy was going east on John Ause Memorial Drive when it collided with the ambulance, which was going north on Highway 25. The driver of the car was not hurt, but his 17-year-old male passenger was taken to Buffalo Hospital with unknown injuries. The paramedic driving the ambulance was not hurt. He's been identified as 35-year-old Jacob Drusch of Howard Lake. A passenger in the ambulance, 61-year-old Jill Henderson of Winsted, was taken to Buffalo Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Two other passengers in the ambulance, a 30-year-old man from Howard Lake and a 36-year-old man from Howard Lake, were not hurt.
St. Cloud State University has found its new President. The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees has named Gregory Tomso as the new President for St. Cloud State University (SCSU). Tomso joins SCSU from the University of West Florida. He served as the Academic Engagement and Student Affairs Vice President for West Florida, serving almost 15,000 students and 1,900 employees. Minnesota State Chancellor Scott Olson says Tomso has the vision, experience, and leadership skills to lead St. Cloud State into a bright future. Tomso will join SCSU on January 5th. Larry Dietz, who has been serving as interim President since July of last year, will continue to do so until Tomso takes over. Dietz was appointed interim President after Robbyn Wacker left when her contract expired.
A Minneapolis man was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 18, in Cass Lake after shooting a gas pump during a dispute. The 20-year-old man was not formally charged as of midday Wednesday, but a morning news release from the Cass County Sheriff's Office reported he faces pending charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, second degree assault and domestic assault. The Cass County Sheriff's Office received a report around 11 a.m. Tuesday of an individual shooting a gun in the parking lot of the Shell gas station in Cass Lake. After arriving on scene, deputies learned a family was driving from the Bemidji area to the Twin Cities when a dispute occurred, according to the news release. The driver stopped at the gas station, passengers exited the vehicle and "a weapon was fired at an adult male passenger," the release stated, and a gas pump was struck. There were minor injuries from the dispute. Leech Lake Tribal Police and the Itasca County Sheriff's Office assisted at the scene.
No ice yet on area lakes in central Minnesota but already ice issues in northwestern Minnesota Two juveniles were rescued Tuesday afternoon after falling through ice on Straight Lake while attempting to ice fish. According to the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, deputies made their way to the lake at 2:51 p.m. to help the 13 and 14-year-olds, who had fallen through the ice. The juveniles were floating inside an Otter Sled they had been sitting in while trying to move across the ice when they fell through, according to the sheriff’s office. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was the first to arrive with a boat and broke through the ice at the Straight Lake access to launch. This was the second report since Sunday of an ice issue as Sunday afternoon there was a report of two people falling into thin ice in Hubbard County. Again the ice is very soft at this time with temps during the day above average it will take some more time for lakes to freeze over in the weeks ahead and the ice as law enforcement will state is never 100% safe.
Minnesota anglers will have a new tool in their ice fishing arsenal this winter as the state Department of Natural Resources has approved the use of automatic hook-setting devices. The devices, commonly known by brand names like ‘jawjacker,’ can now legally be used by Minnesota fishermen after completing an 18-to-24-month approval process that included extensive public input and review at all levels of the DNR. The DNR said that multiple factors influenced the decision to allow the devices, including anglers asking for them. “We have neighboring states that do allow these devices. There’s no negative impacts to the fish populations. And, you know, there are commercially available devices. So, you know, those are some of the reasons that went into this.” However, anglers should be aware of important restrictions on the new devices. The hook-setting component cannot be motorized, though separately, motorized jigging devices that don’t set the hook remain legal. The devices also cannot automatically reel in fish or retrieve line. “These devices are essentially treated like a tip-up. So, you have to stay within 200 feet of the device while you’re using it, and you can’t leave the device unattended,” according to the DNR Fisheries regulators. Anglers with questions about whether specific devices comply with the new rules are encouraged to contact the DNR for clarification before heading out on the ice.
A reminder from the Morrison County Sheriff's Office "Our office would like the public to be aware of our nighttime firearms training that will take place tonight, Thursday, November 20th. The training will be held at the Eastern Morrison County Sportsmen Club. This is information only" from the sheriff's office.
Faith Lutheran Church in Little Falls is helping with Operation Christmas Child again this year, put items likes toys and gifts in a shoebox to be given to those in need for Christmas. For distribution times going through November 24th at the church or more information how it is done call 320-414-0533 or you can click here for church info.
There is a free Thanksgiving Meal today (November 20th) at the Lincoln Scandia Valley Town Hall put on the Scandia Valley Lions. It is from 11:30-1pm and free will offering to the Motley Food Shelf is encouraged.
Death Notices: Jane M. Long, age 85 of Sartell. Eugene "Gene" Pawlu, age 84 of Pierz. Carmen N. Hebler, age 101 of Freedhem.
Weather: today morning rain/mist/drizzle then afternoon sunshine, high 42, tonight clear skies colder temps low around 22. Friday sunny skies, high around 45, clear night low around 30. Saturday sunny skies, high 51, clear Saturday night low around 29. Sunday sunny skies, high around 50, clear Sunday night low 24. Monday sunny again with around 47, low around 28 Monday. Tuesday rain and snow high near 44 early then falling temps Tuesday night to 20 with snow possible. Wednesday cloudy, windy and cold, high 29.
Sports: Little Falls at Bemidji to open girls basketball season tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. Buffalo at Houston Thursday Night Football tonight at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF and streamed at fallsradio.com. Prep Bowl for high school championship games in football starts Friday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium. Gopher football team at Northwestern on Saturday and Vikings are at Green Bay on Sunday at noon.
Congratulations to Roy Oswald who registered at Swanville Produce the latest winner of an AM FM Radio from Ho Ho Dough from LF Radio. Check out the latest qualifiers online and the radio winner from last week at fallsradio.com on the Ho Ho Dough link. Get out to the businesses and keep registering for $500 Ho Ho Dough grand prize on December 15th from our sponsors and Little Falls Radio.