NEWS
--The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding those going out this New Years Weekend that extra law enforcement will be out on Minnesota roadways watching for impaired drivers. Their speed enforcement campaign will also continue this weekend. Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the State Patrol stated yesterday on Little Falls Radio that drivers need to drive for conditions, also weekends get busy and more are expected with New Years Eve and New Years Day on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Please use caution, make sure you plan ahead if heading out, have a designated driver if planning on drinking Saturday and be safe. Grabow said there has been some close encounters with slow plows and with more snow in the forecast next week remember to watch for the plow and slow down around them. Schools are out so watch for kids this weekend and Monday as a holiday is on Monday and most schools to no resume until Tuesday next week then watch for the school buses out again next week. The Minnesota State Patrol just want to put safety first on the roadways this weekend and wishes everyone a Happy New Year.
--Sunday is New Years Day. Just like Christmas last week, with the holiday on a Sunday, the Federal Observance of New Years Day will be on Monday. This means like last Monday, all government offices are likely to be closed including city halls, government center, courthouses, post offices and banks will be closed Monday for the holiday. There is no regular mail delivery on Monday. Many offices like last Monday may be closed on Monday January 2nd for New Years Day so you might want to check ahead. However, unlike last week, some businesses that closed on December 26th and other entities may actually be open this coming Monday so again this is one of the those to check ahead or expect some closures on Monday. The offices of Little Falls Radio will be closed Monday January 2nd and wishes all a very Happy New Years as we look ahead to 2023 on Sunday.
--A man who was found guilty after a shootout at a St. Cloud gas station has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. A Stearns county jury found, 33-year old Justin Hudak of St. Cloud, guilty of aiding and abetting 2nd degree assault with a dangerous weapon and drive-by shooting in August 2021. He gets credit for having already served more than a year in the county jail. A second man, 23-year old Davontae Dixon, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of shooting a gun within city limits in May. St. Cloud Police were called to the 1000 block of 9th Avenue South on August 12, 2021. Officers arrived at the scene and found evidence of shots fired but no victims were found in the area. A short time later, a 21-year old St. Cloud man arrived at the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds which appeared to be non-life-threatening. Then, a 16-year old boy from Sauk Rapids arrived at the hospital, also with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Police learned of an argument that broke out inside Go For It Gas prior to the shooting. Police say after the argument, Hudak and the teenager got in his car and left the parking lot. Upon leaving, court records allege shots were fired from Hudak's vehicle toward the other group still in the parking lot and hitting the 21-year old victim. Records also show Dixon then ran after Hudak's car and fired gunshots at it, striking the 16-year-old passenger. Hudak and Dixon were found and arrested. Police say they recovered two handguns. Dixon was sentenced on June 29th and is probation for two years.
--New Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Purva Watten will join the KLTF Community Program Tuesday at 8:30am to talk about joined the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
--A Morrison County couple continues to ask for the public's help in finding a beloved horse that was stolen off their property. A 20-year old gelding was believed to be taken off their property on December 7th. Neil and Katie Gerads have offered a $1,000 reward for the return of the missing horse. They also have a message for whoever took their horse. "If anybody had him or has him and just wants to bring him back, set him in here, no questions and nothing asked. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is investigating. If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact the or law enforcement.
--Minnesota FFA chapters are enjoying unprecedented growth. Over the past three years, officials say there have been more than 20 new chapters added statewide, with a dozen new chapters in the works next year. Val Aarsvold is the Executive Director of the Minnesota FFA Foundation. She says many schools are rediscovering the value of vocational classes. Our programs are uniquely positioned to help students in any career path that they choose. So some of them will go into the workforce right out of high school, while others are going into some career and technical training that might require a two-year degree. And our classes still allow the student who wants to go on and receive a four-year degree to be properly set up for that. Officials say more school districts are adding classes in food and natural resources, but are finding challenges in hiring properly trained teachers. For more information on starting an agriculture, food, and natural resources class in your school district, or help finding funding or teachers, find the Minnesota FFA Foundation website here. Area schools like Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton and others have major growth in their FFA programs and continued success to them in 2023.
--The St. Francis Convent begins their peace vigil at 6pm tonight and going to 6pm Saturday then a Peace Prayers Service at 7pm Saturday at the convent chapel. For more details go to fslf.org.
SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--One of the greatest soccer players of all time, Pele died on Thursday at the age of 82. Pele was a big part of starting to put soccer on the map in the United States and the world in the 50s.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, highs steady in the teens.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy, fog overnight, low around 10.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, breezy in PM hours, high 32, low 15.
NEW YEARS DAY= partly sunny, high 28, clear night, low 14.
MONDAY= snow by afternoon 1-2 inches, high 27, low near 23.
TUESDAY= snow likely, some rain and sleet too, high 31, low 18.
SPORTS
GOPHERS= defense gets a pick six for 70 yards to give the Gophers the win 28-20 over Syracuse to win the Pinstripe Bowl in New York. The game marked the end of Tanner Morgan's career at quarterback for the Gopher football team. Gophers finish season 9-4.
COL FB= With New Years Day on a Sunday, the bigger College Bowl games are on Saturday and Monday this weekend across the nation.
NFL= Vikings at Green Bay Sunday at 3:25pm on AM960 KLTF part of a triple header of games Miami at New England at noon, Vikings and Packers at 3:25 and Pittsburgh and Baltimore at 7:20pm.
A reminder that the offices of Little Falls Radio will be closed on Monday January 2nd there will be no newsletter on Monday but will return on Tuesday. Happy New Year.