NEWS
--On Saturday, the Minnesota National Guard will celebrate the upcoming announcement of Norway joining the State Partnership Program (SPP) at a ceremony in St Paul. “The Minnesota National Guard and Norway have shared a 50-year relationship through the Norwegian Reciprocal Exchange, which predates the State Partnership Program by 20 years,” said Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard’s Adjutant General. “Partnering
with Norway through the State Partnership Program provides another avenue to broaden and further deepen this long-standing relationship. This program delivers additional means to work
together to deter aggression and assist in both of our nation's national security.” Also Saturday, the Minnesota National Guard will celebrate the 50th-anniversary of the Norwegian Reciprocal Exchange at a ceremony in St Paul to recognize the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two nations. This started from Norwegian Home Guard and Camp Ripley north of Little Falls on a reported handshake in 1973. In 1973, Norwegian Home Guard’s Army Maj. Gen. Herluf Nygaard invited the Chief of the National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. Francis S. Greenlief, to visit their Home Guard. The exchange began with a ‘handshake’ agreement between the military leaders. In 1974, roughly 40 Minnesota National Guard members and Norwegian Home Guard Youth aged 18 to 20 participated in the exchange, with female service members participating for the first time in 1979. A large ceremony begins in St. Paul with other ceremonies planned on their visit. As for many years members of the Home Guard has been at the KLTF studio to discuss their visit and they will be on KLTF Party Line scheduled for February 14th at 10:05am or the 15th if something comes up. All can listen in on AM960 KLTF or online at fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls High School DECA competed at the District 5 DECA Conference in St. Cloud on February 1. Over 580 high school students from across northern and central Minnesota competed in a variety of business related events. Congrats to our DECA state qualifiers who will compete at the state DECA Conference in Minneapolis in March for a chance to go to the International Conference in April in Orlando, Florida. State Events qualifiers are Ana Steadman in Employment Interview, Ashley Hagen in Employment Interview, Landon White in Employment Interview, Henry Moore in Sales Demo Role Plays: 3rd place- Sarah Wolbeck in Personal Financial Literacy 4th place- Tori Gottwalt and Ashley Hagen in Hospitality TDM Finalist- Kennedy Gwost in Principles of Business Admin and Finalist- Will Jorgensen in Principles of Finance Prepared Events: 3rd Place- Sarah Wolbeck in Financial Consulting 3rd Place- Jayden Spillum and Ben Knopik in Franchise Business Plan 3rd Place- Paige Zehr and Kaitlyn Tabatt in Innovation Plan Finalist- Connor Grant, Hudson Filippi and Aliza Kresha in Innovation Plan Finalist- Henry Moore, Will Joregensen and Grant Stich in innovation Plan Top 25 Test Scores went to Hudson Filippi and Ashley Hagen. Great job for the DECA students.
--A teenager was hurt in a crash on Interstate 94 in Stearns County. The Minnesota State Patrol says a semi and a car were both going east when they collided near Avon. The car went into the median and rolled coming to a rest on the driver's side. The driver of the car, 17-year-old Amanda Gielen of Avon, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The semi driver, 26-year-old Ryan Schulte of Melrose, was not hurt.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30 at City Hall.
--One person was taken to the hospital after a crash involving a semi Thursday morning. The incident happened just after 10am at the intersection of Highway 15 and 18th Street North in Sauk Rapids. The Minnesota State Patrol says a semi, driven by 41-year-old Jesse Evers of Sleepy Eye, was heading north on Highway 15, when it collided with another vehicle in the intersection that was heading west on 18th Street North. Evers was not hurt. A passenger in the other vehicle, 69-year-old Verla Benjamin of Sauk Rapids, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with reportedly non serious injuries.
--After working for several hours Thursday St. Cloud city crews have repaired a water main break. The repairs were at Cooper Avenue and 30th Street South. Residents and business owners in that area are advised to run water from all faucets for optimal water quality. It is common after a disruption in service to see color in the water. Starting with cold water, run your faucets for at least a few minutes. You will want to keep an eye on it to make sure the water turns clear. Follow it up by repeating the process with hot water to flush out your hot water tanks.
--A 23-year-old Sauk Centre man has pleaded guilty to a criminal sexual conduct charge after grooming a 14-year-old girl on a social media app for sex and explicit photos. Court records show Zachary Sureth convinced the girl to send pictures and videos of herself in sexually explicit poses and then met up with her to have intercourse. The crimes came to light when the girl's mother discovered sexually explicit messages on the girl's phone. The child was brought to the Child Advocacy Center for a forensic interview where she admitted to meeting Sureth for sex on three separate occasions. Sureth pleaded guilty to 3rd degree criminal sexual conduct. Sentencing is June 2nd.
--Events this weekend include a breakfast at the Little Falls Senior Center on Sunday from 8am-12pm. Buckman Area Lions have their breakfast Sunday from 8am-12pm at the Buckman Parish Hall. You can also bring old prescription glasses to turn in to recycle if you no longer need them, proceeds go back to the local community. Sunday is the final day to sign up for the United Way of Morrison County Sweetheart dinner call today 632-5102 to sign up for the steak and lobster dinner to be picked up on February 13th. Check out more events by going to fallsradio.com and community calendar.
--You can listen to the Party Line programs at Holy Trinity and also at Mary of Lourdes Schools from earlier this week on the homepage by clicking on the link at fallsradio.com to hear the broadcasts.
GROUND HOG NEWS
--It is official that Phil the Ground Hog did see his shadow yesterday morning and by the law of the Ground Hog, 6 more weeks of winter.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= partly sunny, cold, high 2 above, wind chills -30 early.
TONIGHT= temps rising, windy overnight, low near 0.
SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, not as windy, high 28, low 24.
SUNDAY= sunny and breezy, high 30, low around 19.
MONDAY= rain, sleet and snow possible, high 34, low 28.
SPORTS
HS GBB= Swanville at Little Falls Saturday 2:30pm Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= NFC/AFC Pro Bowl show will be Sunday 2pm on AM960 KLTF
WRAP= Get the rundown on the week that was in high school sports Saturday morning 8:30am on the Sports Wrap on AM960 KLTF.