NEWS
--Royalton School Superintendent Dr. Kristine Wehrkamp spoke on KLTF yesterday and said that they are very pleased right now that the first four months in class has gone as well as they have as they return to some normalcy. Werkhamp mentioned that they will follow the new CDC guidelines of shortening quarantine days to 5 instead of 10 which she feels helps in the long run for those out of the classrooms. She stresses that if you are ill, staff, student, parents, community member please do not come to the events or attend class until well again and if you have COVID like symptoms you should be tested. She mentioned that their Senior Programs/Breakfasts at 9am on the 3rd Wednesday of the month has been a huge success, all (seniors and non-seniors) are welcome to come and listen to items happening in the city and school district of Royalton. For more information on that you can reach out to Tony Neumann at the school 584-4000. Dr. Wehrkamp again thanks the community for continuing to support Royalton Public Schools in past years, this present year and for many years to come.
--Good news for Minnesotans who need to take a driver's test as the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is in the process of opening all of the remaining exam stations that were closed due to the pandemic. Driver and Vehicle Services are reopening 51 exam stations this month, which means all 93 stations across the state will be open by January 31st. The Foley exam station reopened on Tuesday and will be open on the first Tuesday of every month. The station in Long Prairie will reopen on January 21st and be open on the first, third, and fifth Friday of the month. Stations in Sauk Centre and Little Falls will open on January 26th. Sauk Centre will be open on Wednesdays and Little Falls on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The station in Paynesville will be open on Thursdays starting January 27th and the Brainerd exam station will be open Monday through Friday starting January 31st. Appointments can be made within two weeks of an exam station opening.
--A Brainerd woman was injured when she rolled her vehicle Thursday morning. At 9:27am Thursday 35-year old Christina Helmin of Brainerd was travelling southbound on Highway 169 in Kathio Township of Mille Lacs County when she lost control of the vehicle and it rolled. Helmin was taken to Onamia hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Helmin was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the accident and the roads were considered snowy and icy at the time of the incident.
--Congratulations Elizabeth Ahlin and Lawrence (Hudson) Filippi who are the 2021-22 ExCEL winners from Little Falls Community High School. Elizabeth is the daughter of Craig Ahlin and Deb Yliniemi-Ahlin of Little Falls. Lawrence is the son of Larry and Tammy Filippi of Little Falls. ExCEL stands for - Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership – it is a unique recognition program sponsored by the MSHSL designed exclusively for Minnesota high school juniors who are active in school activities, who show Leadership qualities, and who are model citizens.
--Two people matched all the numbers Wednesday night to split the over 632-million dollar Powerball jackpot. One was in Green Bay, Wisconsin while the other was reportedly from California.
--It's the last days to walk the trails at Lindbergh State Park, Lindbergh Historic Site and Weyerhauser Museum in southwest portion of Little Falls. Daylight hours today and tomorrow.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
--Sister Julien Dierkes of the Franciscan Sisters stated Thursday that they received a total of 171 units of blood a bit shy of their goal set at 200 during the 3 day blood drive at First United Church. The sisters wanted to thank everyone who came in to donate and also expressed their gratitude towards First United Church for allowing the use of their space again. There will be another blood drive February 28th 1:00-700pm, March 1st from 12-6pm and then on March 2nd from 8:30am-2:30pm. Anyone who wishes can sign up already at redcrossblood.org or call Sister Julien at 320-632-0663.
--The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are requiring students to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus. According to school officials, both campuses will be holding a testing event for students during the first week of classes, which start on Monday. Testing events will occur January 10-12 at St. Benedict's from 8:30am-4pm and January 13-14 at St. John's from 8:30am-1:30pm. Students are strongly encouraged to provide a negative test prior to the first day of classes. Students are asked to find their own test and submit their results online. CSB/SJU will also require booster shots for all eligible students and employees by March 1st. If individuals reach booster shot eligibility after March 1st, they have one month to comply with the booster shot requirement. Both campuses say masks will also be required indoors and on transportation for all students, employees and visitors for the spring semester. Exceptions include when seated and actively eating or drinking, in residence hall private rooms, in private offices or outdoors. School officials say they will continue to maintain its current 10-day isolation and quarantine guidelines until the CDC releases updated guidance for colleges and universities.
--The Little Falls School Board will meet Monday at 5pm at the middle school media center. They discuss 2022-2023 budget assumptions and enrollment projections for the year. They will also give the latest COVID-19 update for the school district.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON TODAY.
TODAY= increasing clouds, snow after 5pm, high 6 above.
TONIGHT= snow showers, gusty winds after 10pm, low near 0.
SATURDAY= partly sunny and windy, high near 30, low around -10.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, high 2 above, low -19, cold wind chills.
MONDAY= sunny and cold, high 5 above, low around -17.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings host Chicago Sunday at noon. There are many games this weekend (not Vikings/Bears) but many with playoff spots to be decided as still 5 teams vying for last 2 playoffs in AFC, and two teams trying for the last playoff spot in the NFC. The Playoffs start next Saturday.
COL HK= St. Cloud State Men's Hockey Coach Brett Larson has been named as an Assistant Coach for the 2022 Olympic Men's Hockey Team that will compete starting February 3rd in Beijing, China.
COL HK= Gophers at Michigan State tonight 5:30pm AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1608= fire destroyed Jamestown, Virginia leaving no remaining settlers from the first settlement in the 13 Colonies.
IN 1830= first railroad station opens in Baltimore.
IN 1896= first Fannie Farmer cookbook is published.
IN 1927= The Harlem Globetrotters play first game vs. Hinckley Ill.
IN 1929= Tarzan “Lord of the Apes” debuts in comic books.