NEWS
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office reported Wednesday morning at 10:28am a man trapped at a firewood processing facility off 233rd Street in Fort Ripley Township about 7 miles north of Little Falls. 39-year-old Hector Gonzalez Zelaya was found trapped in a firewood processing machine by co-workers. First responders attempted live saving measures but they were unsuccessful and he was declared dead. Sheriff Shawn Larsen wanted to express the gratitude to those who played a role at the scene. Despite the tragic outcome everyone's commitment and dedication as truly appreciated.
--A Sauk Rapids man was killed in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 in Albertville. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened at about 3pm Wednesday. Three vehicles were traveling west in the left lane when a fourth vehicle approached and struck them. The driver of that fourth vehicle, 43-year-old Benjamin Wittrock of Sauk Rapids, died in the crash. Troopers say he was not wearing his seat belt. Seventy-three-year-old Kristine Anderson of Minnetonka was driving one of the other vehicles. She suffered non-life-threatening injuries. No one else was hurt.
--One person was hurt in a three-vehicle crash near Clearwater Wednesday afternoon. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car driven by 44-year-old Trisha Born of Hutchinson, an SUV driven by 41-year-old Eric Gustafson of Waverly, and a second SUV driven by 20-year-old Gracie Ash of Milaca were all going east on Interstate 94 around 1:30pm when they collided. The state patrol says Born was taken to Monticello Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Gustafson and Ash were not hurt in the crash in the accident.
--The Minnesota State Patrol and the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s Department continue to reach out to the public for any information that can help them locate the vehicle that hit and killed Onamia physician Dr. Cathy Donovan. Authorities released a photograph two weeks ago of what they suspect might be the vehicle involved. They believe the vehicle was in the area of the fatal hit-and-run crash just before 5pm on Monday, November 13th, on Hwy. 169 south of Grand Casino Mille Lacs. The vehicle is a darker color, possibly blue or metallic gray, has full-width tail lights, and was traveling northbound on Hwy. 169 at the time of the crash. Mille Lacs County sheriff Kyle Burton said, “We still need your help to find the driver of this vehicle. If you know something about this, please say something.” “Our investigators are still looking for leads in this case. If you were in the area at the time of the crash, investigators would like to talk to you to see if you have information that may help. They also ask you to call if you know anyone who was traveling in that area during that time and now has damage to their vehicle,” anyone with information should contact the Mille Lacs County Sheriff’s office or the State Patrol, Sgt. Jason Brown, at 218-316-3026. Donovan was a well-known and respected doctor at the Mille Lacs Health System.
--The Minnesota State Patrol says a cougar was struck and killed by a vehicle early Wednesday morning in Minneapolis. The single vehicle crash early Wednesday morning on westbound Interstate 394 was at Theodore Wirth Parkway in Minneapolis where a cougar was hit by a vehicle and killed on impact. The cat was marked and the DNR confirmed with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that this was a wild cougar tagged in northwest Nebraska. The cougar was a two-year-old male. A cougar had been spotted in a nearby neighborhood in Minneapolis before being struck and killed.
--The St. Cloud Salvation Army is still assessing the damage after a fire started in its shelter earlier this week. Lieutenant Nate North says the water and smoke damage is much larger than they originally thought. There are parts of the facility that had to go down completely to the studs because they were not savable. But, there are certain parts we hope we can save and just be dried out. For the most part, though it is a lot of going down to the studs and replacing things. North says the shelter part of their facility is not usable right now. He says between 40 and 50 residents had to be moved to the Lincoln Center and the Place of Hope. He says with their Red Kettle Campaign underway right now that is the easiest and best way for you to help them recover and get back on their feet. North says, to make matters worse, the St. Cloud Salvation Army is $15,000 behind where they were last year at this time with their Red Kettle campaign. If you can't give to St. Cloud Salvation Army help out the red kettles of the bell ringers at your local stores in the area.
--Weekend events include the Carnegie Library Holiday used book sale today and Saturday at the Library for all to come and purchase books to help the library fund. Jason Schommer performing at Great River Arts Saturday night at 7pm, there is a soup luncheon put on at Holy Family Church of Belle Prairie Sunday from 11am-1:30pm with homemade soup, bread and dessert for a free will offering. St. Francis Convent Community Chorale will host their annual Christmas Concert called Christmas with the Stars Sunday at 2pm, the event is free for all to come and enjoy. Get details on events by going to the website fallsradio.com and click on community calendar.
--Next week Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher, Morrison County Administrator Matt LeBlanc and Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Greg Johnson will be the guests on the KLTF Community Focus program at 8:30am starting next Monday.
DEATH NOTICES
--Juliabelle Woitalla, age 87 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming cloudy, high 45 and turning breezy.
TONIGHT= rain changing to snow overnight, low near 28.
SATURDAY= snow in AM hours, up to 1 inch, very windy, high 30.
SAT NITE/SUNDAY= clearing night, low 13, sunny Sunday high 32.
MONDAY= partly sunny skies, high 34, low near 9 above.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Holdingford at Little Falls Friday 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS BBB= Royalton at Pierz Friday at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
COL FB= The Army Navy game is played on Saturday the only Division I football game this weekend, bowl games start next week.
NFL= Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders 3pm Sunday live on KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1940= most lopsided NFL game played as Chicago beat Washington in the league championship game 73-0.
IN 1941= United States declare war against Japan and Germany.
IN 1952= I Love Lucy first to have a major character announce they were pregnant and going to have a baby, Lucy later has Little Ricky.
IN 1980= following a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz, John Lennon is shot and killed in New York by Mark David Chapman.