Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Little Falls Community Schools announced a community meeting will be held on Monday, November 10th at 5pm at the Middle School Commons. As part of the strategic planning work, the district has been exploring ways to rightsize operations and reduce costs while maintaining high-quality learning environments. After careful study, district leaders believe both Lindbergh Elementary and Little Falls Community High School can accommodate additional students, making it possible to close the middle school and save approximately $1 million annually. Lindbergh Elementary has space to welcome sixth graders with little or no renovation required. The High School can support grades 7–12 with the addition of classrooms on the second floor and essential mechanical upgrades. These updates will not only modernize the facility but also enhance student safety and security through improved supervision, controlled access, and updated systems. These facility improvements represent a significant investment in the next 30 years of education in Little Falls, providing long-term benefits, enhanced learning environments, and a stronger foundation for future generations. Closing the middle school could also allow the City of Little Falls to repurpose the building in ways that continue to benefit residents and taxpayers The district invites all parents, staff, and community members to attend a Community Meeting to learn more about the proposal, ask questions, and share feedback. Superintendent Greg Johnson will speak on this today at 8:30am on the KLTF Community Program.
The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported Sunday night around 10:33pm a one vehicle accident on Great River Road around 5 miles southeast of Bowlus in Two Rivers Township. 44-year-old Christopher Bechtold of Bowlus was traveling north, lost control and rolled off the roadway, becoming trapped in the vehicle. Bowlus Fire was called in an extricated Bechtold from the vehicle. He was then taken to St. Cloud Hospital for his injuries in the accident.
A Little Falls woman was one of two injured Monday around 6:09AM when two vehicles collided on southbound Highway 23 in Benton County. 41-year-old Margaret Fleishhacker of Little Falls was coming from 47th Avenue across Highway 23 and collided with 44-year-old Emily Miller of Foley. Both drivers were taken to the St. Cloud Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.
One person was injured around 8:52am Monday on Highway 23 near Paynseville in Stearns County. 69-year-old Myron Roos was northbound on 23 when he collided with a John Deere Tractor driven by a 73-year-old from Paynesville. Roos was treated at a local hospital for injuries. The tractor operator was not hurt.
Despite a quick response, the St. Cloud Fire Department was unable to save a home on the south side of the city Friday morning. Crews got the call just before noon for a garage fire in the 900 block of 10th Avenue South. By the time firefighters arrived, the garage was fully engulfed, and heavy smoke and flames had spread into the main part of the house. They entered the home through a second-story window using a ladder to ensure it was empty. Crews quickly brought the fire under control, but not before the home was deemed a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The Fergus Falls Police Department said on its Facebook page a teen reported missing Sunday, November 2nd, has been located and is safe. According to an alert from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Naveah Taylor Vogel, 15, went missing around 9:30pm Saturday. Again she has been located and has made contact with family as of Monday morning.
Today is Election Day. There some bigger Mayoral races in the Twin Cities Metro, some school elections statewide as around 70 schools have referendum votes today including Crosby-Ironton and Aitkin schools. Other states (not Minnesota) have Governor and other state races Tuesday. A larger number of races will be next year in 2026 for Election Day. For elections today around the state click here for state ballot finder.
One big race next year is for Minnesota Governor and Minnesota Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth announced a bid for governor on Sunday joining a crowded race for Republicans looking to beat Governor Tim Walz. Walz has announced his plan to run again next year. Demuth joins her colleague Rep. Kristin Robbins , of Maple Grove, and two former gubernatorial candidates, Scott Jensen and Kendall Qualls. Demuth said she’s the best candidate to take on Walz in 2026 because she’s the only one who has “sat across the table from him.” Demuth spent hours in the negotiating room with Walz in the 2025 session, vying for House Republicans’ priorities in the state’s two-year budget. The House landing in a tie after the 2024 elections offered a seat at the table to Republicans that was not afforded during the DFL trifecta.
A 45-year-old Brown County man is now charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his former girlfriend and another man early Sunday. The allegations are laid out in a criminal complaint filed against 45-year-old Randy Thomas Zimmerman, the former boyfriend of the female victim. Prosecutors say Brown County deputies were dispatched to a home in the community of Hanska shortly before 4:30 a.m. Sunday, after a 911 call from a child who said his mother's former boyfriend had broken into their home and shot her in the face. Responding deputies entered the home and found the child's mother and another man lying in an upstairs bedroom, dead from gunshot wounds to the head. On the floor, they found two spent shotgun shells. The boy told deputies that he woke to someone yelling profanities and saying, "I gave you a chance." He told law enforcement that he then heard a discharge from a firearm. The child said he opened his bedroom door into the hallway and saw Randy Thomas Zimmerman, who allegedly pointed a long gun at him and told the boy to go back to his room. The young witness complied, waiting a time before calling 911. Prosecutors say the boy's brother called law enforcement, saying he received a text message from Zimmerman saying he had shot both victims. Later that afternoon, sheriff's deputies in Louisa County, Iowa, were notified of a double homicide suspect from Minnesota driving east on Highway 92 in a black 2013 Toyota Camry. Deputies from multiple counties responded and intercepted the suspect vehicle and gave chase. Louisa County sheriff's officials say Zimmerman refused to pull over, taking off at speeds over 100 mph. They say the suspect fired a shot at pursuing squads but did not hit anything. A PIT maneuver eventually disabled Zimmerman's vehicle, and the suspect ran from his car and fled on foot. Deputies caught him and took the alleged shooter into custody. The shotgun believed used in the murders was found near the vehicle.
Death Notices: Diane M. Magdziarz, age 81 of Little Falls. Eugene "Geno" J. Hintze, age 75 of Osakis.
Weather: partly sunny skies today and less breezy, high 56, partly cloudy tonight low around 33. Mostly sunny skies on Wednesday, high 51, clear Wednesday night low around 29. Thursday becoming mostly cloudy, high near 50, low around 30. Friday partly sunny, windy and colder, high 42, low around 25 with snow developing after midnight. Snow likely Saturday high around 36, low around 22. Sunday AM flurries then partly cloudy and cold, high near 32, low around 18.
Sports: State Volleyball Tournament begins Wednesday for bigger schools, smaller schools on Thursday with area teams like Sauk Rapids-Rice, Albany, Sartell, Nevis, BBE and Big Lake in the quarter-finals. State Quarterfinal Football is Thursday, Friday and Saturday around the state. Locally teams Pierz vs. Dilworth Glyndon Felton 6pm Friday in Alexandria live on 94ROCKS KFML. Upsala-Swanville vs. Mahnomen-Waubun in Becker Friday 7pm on Q92 WYRQ. Other teams in action including Holdingford vs. Barnesville Friday 7pm in Brainerd. Annandale, Eden Valley-Watkins, Fergus Falls, Alexandria are also in State Quarterfinal play later this week. The winners move on to the semi-finals at U.S. Bank Stadium next week. Last night in the NFL Arizona beat Dallas 27-17.