NEWS
--Back on Tuesday Little Falls Police responded to Bridgeway Estates, room 303 for a scam report. The complainant reported he received a call from a male with a foreign accent indicating he was with the IRS. The complainant reported the subject who claimed to be with the IRS said they owed a large amount of money. The scammer wanted the complainant to go to Walmart and purchase gift cards. The complainant eventually disconnected the phone from the wall and did not provide any personal information. Little Falls Police received other calls in the past week on possible scams too that have been called in or emailed to others either asking for information or asking to purchase something to receive money or other items. Police are reminding all residents, especially the elderly in assisted living facilities, that scammers can be very sneaky to attempt to get as much information as they can from you. Please use caution. If you receive these calls asking for anything or for any type of your personal information, hang up immediately.
--Six more people have died from flu-related deaths, state health officials said Thursday. According to the latest Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) flu activity report, 42 people have now died from flu-related illnesses this season, including one pediatric death. The median age of those who've died is 74.5 years old. The number of hospitalizations dropped slightly from the previous week, with 182 reported in the latest period. More than 1,600 Minnesotans have been hospitalized with flu-related illnesses this season. MDH also noted another slight increase in school outbreaks, with 87 reported last week compared to 78 the week prior. That brings the total for this season to 620 outbreak reports.
--Lots of events this weekend including the Third Annual Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Fest on Green Prairie Fish Lake. Events run from 10am-6pm both Saturday and Sunday with ice skating, biking, skiing, ice fishing and more plus attempting to break the world ice carousel record, a raffle for great prizes with all donations going to the Flyer Pride Pack backpack program for hungry children. Due to many in attendance, those attending are asked to take the shuttle bus from the Main Gate Bar located across from Camp Ripley.
--Other events include a soup supper fundraiser at St. Francis Convent Saturday from 4:30-7pm, a candlelight ski event at Crane Meadows Wildlife Refuge starting at 5:30pm, Little Falls Lindy Dance show and fundraiser will be at the Little Falls Community High School on Saturday with doors opening at 10:30am, the 9th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for Oasis Central Minnesota will be Sunday starting at 11:30am at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls with bowls created by the Little Falls Community High School Art Club, St. Ann's Mission Circle quilt bingo Sunday at 1pm at Sobieski Community Center, a free gospel and bluegrass concert featuring the Kingery Family will be Sunday at 5:45pm at the Pierz Healy High School PAC. The opening act is the Fellowship Bible Church praise team. Guests who bring an item for the Pierz Food Shelf will be eligible for door prizes. Plus tonight is the rescheduled Hall of Fame induction ceremony put by the Flyer Athletic Boosters at the Little Falls Community High School during the boys and girls basketball double header. Details on many events can be viewed at fallsradio.com click on community calendar.
--The Rolling Stones "No Filter" tour is making a 15 city run in 2020, stopping at U.S. Bank Stadium on May 16th. Other dates include stops in Nashville, Dallas and Atlanta. Tickets on sale February 14th.
--The Little Falls School Board meets Monday at 5pm at the Middle School media center. They will hear on intern experiences in elementary education, the weightlifting program, playground updates and updates for Lindbergh Elementary and DECA/Career and technical education in the school district. The board will also take action on a fee increase for School Readiness and select two board members to serve on the Sourcewell Represenative Assembly.
--Two pedestrians have been killed in separate crashes in Minnesota. Minneapolis police say a man believed to be in his 50's was crossing a four-lane avenue about 3am Wednesday when a driver struck him at an intersection. The driver, in his 20's, remained on the scene and was cooperating with investigators. The pedestrian died at Hennepin County Medical Center. Also a crash in northern Minnesota Tuesday night killed a 45-year old Squaw Lake man who was standing near a stalled vehicle along Highway 46. The State Patrol says Tommy John Schultz died at the scene after he was struck by a pickup truck in Itasca County.
--Minnesota House Democrats want to spend as much as $500 million of the state's projected $1.3 billion budget surplus on a one time bump in spending on early childhood education and child care. Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler held a news conference Thursday to roll out their agenda for the 2020 session, which opens Tuesday. Other House Democratic priorities for the session will include gun safety, affordable insulin, paid family and medical leave, and climate change. In the Republican led Senate, Majority Leader Paul Gazelka wants to use the surplus to fully exempt Social Security from state income taxes.
--The Pierz City Council holds their next regular meeting on Monday night at 7pm at the Pierz City Hall.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Actor Kirk Douglas died Wednesday at age 103. Douglas appeared in Spartacus and many tough guy roles. Father of Michael Douglas.
DEATH NOTICE
--Rita A. Trettel, age 86 of Bowlus/Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= light snow ending, cloudy, high 17.
TONIGHT= clearing skies and cold temps, low -5, wind chills -17.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 19, temps steady overnight with snow
SUNDAY= snow likely, around 1 inch, high 21, low around 4 above.
MONDAY= sunny start, PM clouds move in, high 26, low around 14.
SPORTS
HS BB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Pierz in a boys/girls double-header, girls start at 5:45pm with boys to follow, both are on FM94 KFML.
HS WRE= Pierz at Royalton/Upsala tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BB= Sauk Rapids at Little Falls in a boys/girls double header on Saturday night with girls to play at 5:45pm and the boys to follow around 7:30pm Saturday on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
COL HK= Michigan State at Gophers tonight 6:30pm on AM960.
COL BBB= Gophers at Penn State Saturday 2:30pm on AM960.
NBA= the Minnesota Timberwolves have traded Andrew Wiggins and top 2021 draft picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for point guard D'Angelo Russell. This came one day after the Timberwolves graded Robert Covington in a three team deal.