NEWS
--Deb Boelz of the Little Falls Area Chamber Commerce announced Thursday that 2021 Large Business of the Year is Thielen Meats of Little Falls, Small Business of the Year is the Falls Ballroom and the Volunteer of the Year is State Representative Ron Kresha. Thielen Meats has continues to be a place to be for many coming in, going out and those right here at home for meat made fresh and locally. They also have supported many groups putting on fundraisers last year due to the pandemic in a place to show off their wears. Falls Ballroom, owners Will and Tiffany have been a major part of the community with helping events of all kinds and also willing to help out in raising funds for the causes we need in Little Falls and beyond. Ron Kresha not only serves the area in the state legislature but in the past 6 months has played the major role in getting out Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals to those who had no other way to get a meal for the holiday or not able to get out to the community meals this year and also the Small Business Falls Ballroom was the site for the pickup of the meals during Thanksgiving week. Congrulations to the award winners. Deb did mention that due to timing and spacing the video of the event will likely be a bit later than they planned and when all details are available they will release the video on their website and the local cable access TV Channel. This year's annual meeting and banquet has to be virtual and not in person due the recent restrictions for indoor gatherings as per state guidelines.
--17 students from Little Falls Community High School participated in the 2021 District 5 DECA Conference last week (Jan 25-29). Over 400 students from central and northern Minnesota participated in this year's virtual conference. Top qualifiers from Little Falls: Caleb Matros- 1st Place- Principles of Finance, Nicholas Popp and Brock Lutzke- 2nd Place- Sports & Entertainment Marketing Team, Nicholas Popp and Brock Lutzke- 3rd Place- Integrated Marketing Campaign- Event, Maddie Dahlberg- 3rd Place- Personal Financial Literacy, Julia Vetsch- 3rd Place- Start-Up Business Plan, Hayden Johnson and Ethan Poser- 4th Place- Sports and Entertainment Marketing Team, Ellie Smieja and Ana Steadman- 5th Place- Buying and Merchandising Team, Gabe Nagel- 5th Place Section A- Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Riley Czech- 5th Place Section B- Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Jackson Grant- 6th Place- Personal Financial Literacy. Great job to all and best of luck as they move on to the next level.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen Thursday spoke on KLTF and reminds motorists with the cold and windy conditions to be prepared in case of a stall or going to the ditch and become stranded have a plan in place, a charged cell phone, winter survival kit, blankets and other items until help can arrive. Sheriff Larsen stated that with the recent uptick in theft in the Morrison County including the thefts from Hilmerson RV and also reports from northeastern Morrison County the help from the other agencies and the public is key in getting an arrest, so please continue to call in in suspicious activity at 320-632-9233 and Larsen said also if possible to get a license number, make and model vehicle or a description of an suspicious individual that is very helpful in the apprehension. Larsen reminds those that ice is never 100% so please be cautious on lake ice and let's make the rest of the winter as safe as possible. He also reminds motorists that with the Super Bowl football game Sunday to plan ahead and to never Drink and Drive. He also thanks all first responders and emergency personnel for all their help and service.
--The Minnesota State Patrol says a man driving the wrong way down Interstate 94 was killed in a crash. It happened just after midnight Thursday morning near Albany. A car driven by 60-year-old Thomas Leaf from Grove City was going west in the eastbound lanes as a semi was going east in the right lane. While traveling west in the left lane the car went over the line and struck the semi. An SUV also going east, but in the left lane, then struck the car. Leaf was killed in the crash. The driver of the SUV 17-year-old Derek Ritter of Avon was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--St. Cloud Police have made two arrests in the shooting incident that left a man wounded Wednesday. Investigators identified two suspects in the case and spotted their vehicle just before midnight. Officers made a felony traffic stop in the 200 block of 31st Avenue North and arrested three people inside. Police identified 21-year-old Daysean Lee of St. Cloud as the triggerman and 26-year-old Zachary Arignamath of St. Cloud as his accomplice. A 17-year-old boy from California was arrested after police discovered he had a handgun on him. The shooting happened around 6:30pm in the area of 25th Avenue and 1st Street South. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. Lee and Arignamath were booked into the county jail on charges related to the shooting. The teenager is being sent to a juvenile detention center on the weapons violation.
--Minnesota Department of Health Thursday reported 1,410 new cases and 17 new deaths of COVID-19. Morrison County reported yesterday 4 new cases and another 2 probable cases on the report. The county website reported 28 active cases (up 2) on Thursday.
NATIONAL NEWS
–The Department of Health and The Centers for Disease Control is asking those this weekend having large gatherings and functions for the Super Bowl football game to please make them safe, follow outdoor and indoor guidelines, wear a mask and when you can please social distance so that we make this a fun event for the Super Bowl game and not a Super Spreader of COVID-19.
DEATH NOTICE
--Vivian M. Husnik, age 92 of Pierz formerly of Lino Lakes
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO TUESDAY
TODAY= cloudy skies, high 7 above, clear night low around -10
SATURDAY= sunny and cold, high -4, low -21, wind chills of -35.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, high -5, low -22, wind chills of -30.
MONDAY= sunny and cold, high -3, low -17, wind chills near -30.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Foley at Pierz tonight at 7:15pm on FM94 KFML.
COL HK= Gophers vs. Wisconsin Saturday 6:30pm on KLTF.
NFL= the talking is almost over and the game is about here as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the defending NFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55 in Tampa Bay Sunday with kickoff scheduled for around 5:35pm, hear the action live on AM960 KLTF.
NHL= Wild have 5 players or coaches testing positive for COVID-19 therefore all practices and games postponed until February 9th.
MSHSL= the State High School League announced that state tournaments for winter sports will happen but there will be changes as quarter finals and semi-finals of tournament held different weeks.