NEWS
--At 12:40am on Thursday, April 15th the Little Falls Fire Department was dispatched to the Country Inn and Suites at 209 16th Street NE on a report of a smoke alarm activation. The Police Department arrived and found smoke in a guest room. They determined the smoke was coming from the microwave oven. They unplugged the microwave and opened the window to begin ventilating the smoke. The Fire Department arrived a short time later and assisted with
ventilating the remaining smoke from the hallway. There was no damage to the room. The Fire Department was assisted at the scene by Little Falls Police. Authorities were on scene for about 4 ½ hours.
--Former Brooklyn Center police officer Kim Potter made her first court appearance Thursday afternoon, charged with second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of motorist Daunte Wright on April 11. Appearing via Zoom from the office of her attorney Earl Gray, the 48-year-old Potter said few words, acknowledging the judge's questions with the occasional yes and only appearing on camera for fleeting seconds. During the appearance, which took less than five minutes, Judge Paul Scoggin set the date for Potter's next hearing for May 17 at 1:30 p.m., in front of Judge Regina Chu. He confirmed that Potter's bail has been set at $100,000, and noted that she must remain law-abiding, promise to make all future court appearances, and refrain from possessing or transporting any firearms.
--All testimony is complete for the murder trial of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd, and the jury will hear closing arguments and begin deliberating on Monday. Chauvin is charged with second-degree and third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter in the May 25, 2020 death of George Floyd. Chauvin told Judge Peter Cahill Thursday morning that he has decided to invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to take the stand. Nelson rested his case before the jury as soon as they entered the courtroom Thursday. The judge and attorneys will work to finalize the instructions that will be given to the jury on Monday to help guide them toward a fair verdict.
--The main road through Grey Eagle will be closed for up to six weeks while the town replaces the sanitary sewer lines. Highway 287 will be closed from Todd County Road 98 on the west end to Maple Street on the east end starting April 26th. The closure will require a seven-mile detour via County Road 98 to County Road 2 to Highway 28 and ultimately onto South Maple Street. Local access will remain open, but you're encouraged to consider side. Many other road constructions projects began this week in the St. Cloud, Maple Grove, east of Foley and across central and south central Minnesota. More large projects begin next week including a large Highway 10 project through the Elk River area with road closures and lane shifts. For the latest road work info go to the website mndot.org.
--There will be a silent auction and meal to help raise funds for the family of Jeanine Greyblood of Little Falls on Saturday from 2-8pm at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls. Greyblood was killed by her husband back in February and leaves behind 5 children ranging in age from less than 2 years old to 21 years of age. The Silent Auction opens at 3pm and runs until 8pm. Also there will be turkey sliders, chips and baked beans as part of a meal provided and a bake sale from 3-8pm. A full cash bar with partial proceeds going to the Greyblood family will also be provided on Saturday. Details are availble on the fallsradio.com website and then click on community calendar.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the Community Middle School Media Center. They board will vote on salary recommendations and participation fees of Community Services. Food Service prices for next year, approval of the May retiree reception and awards presentation and budget adjustments for the next school year all to be discussed and voted on Monday.
--The Benson Police Department in requesting the public to help locate Cienna Pittman, age 14 who was last seen getting into a vehicle at her residence on April 13th around 4pm. No information on who was driving or the type of vehicle. Cienna was last seen wearing a black North Face jacket, under armour long sleeve shirt, black leggings, she has tattoos on her left arm, wrist and shoulder, piercings in her nose, belly button and ears. It is possible that she may be heading to the Twins Cities Metro Area. Anyone who knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact your local law enforcement.
--The Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota will be holding their Virtual Spring Concert on Friday, April 23rd, 2021, beginning at 7pm. Entitled, “Our Flight Begins As Song,” the event will have recorded parts of previous concerts and live performances done in Brainerd and will be presented on YouTube through a hybrid-streaming format. To view “Our Flight Begins As Song,” please visit the Legacy Chorale Utube page or legacychorale.org and click on events.
DEATH NOTICES
--Mercedes Mary Clare Schultz, age 81 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny skies, high 54.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low around 30.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 50, low around 28.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 57, rain/snow late night, low 30
MONDAY= rain/snow early then cloudy and windy, high 38, low 25.
SPORTS
TWINS= Max Kepler comes through with a walk off hit in the bottom of the 9th to give the Twins a 4-3 win over Boston on Thursday to take 1 of the 4 game series. The Twins (6-7) travel to the west coast and open a series tonight at Anaheim with the LA Angels. Pregame at 8pm tonight, 7:30pm on Saturday and 2pm Inside Twins on Sunday on Q92 WYRQ.
MSHSL= The Minnesota State High School League board is asking state health officials to allow spring sports athletes to compete outdoors without wearing masks. The recommendation by the league's sports medicine advisory committee applies only to actual competition. Athletes would be required to wear masks during breaks such as before and after races and while sitting in the dugout or standing on the sidelines.
VL= The Victory League game of the Week on Sunday will be Foley at Sobieski at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
WELLE= there will be a special exhibition game on Saturday between Opole and St. Wendel in memory of Aaron Welle. During the game Welle (who played for St. Wendel) who played for the Saints will have his jersey retired #13. Welle was killed in an industrial accident earlier this year and was from Holdingford. No admisison will be charged but T-shirts will be sold on a first come first serve basis. All are welcome to come and watch the game as they remember one of their own players on Saturday afternoon at 1:30pm in St. Wendel.