NEWS
--Ron Kresha stated that the donations received already has led them to begin the process of taking meal orders on Monday. The Little Falls Ministerial Association and local community groups and donors want every family to have the opportunity to celebrate Easter this year with joy and a family meal. Beginning Monday meal orders will be accepted. Please call Ron at (320) 761-6133 to reserve your meal or to volunteer. Donations accepted by the Little Falls Ministerial Association, 18892 205th Ave, Little Falls, MN 56345. Please contact Pastor Jason Swedeen (320) 632-2100 to make a donation or with questions. Pickup of meals will be on April 3rd and you will receive a time when you sign up with your information and Sunday April 4th will be used for delivery of meals and for pickup if need be for Sunday.
--The Morrison County Dairy Princess Coronation is Saturday night at 8pm at the Falls Ballroom. Doors open at 7:30 and tickets are $15 at the door. Good luck to this year's candidates- Alexis Woitalla, Shelby Krebs, Theresa Karst, Kloe Kapsner, Valerie Gall, Victoria Wagner and Jazmine Dickman. Good luck to the all the candidates for 2021.
--The Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 124 Minnesota farms as 2021 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by Minnesota State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Governor Tim Walz. Since the program began in 1976, nearly 11,000 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms. This year in Crow Wing County, Eisel Family Farm started in 1908 at Fort Ripley in Morrison County the Schwientek Farm in 1920 in Little Falls, Boser Dairy Farm in 1919 in Pierz. Stearns County had six farms Robert and Loreli Yurczyk of Avon in 1920, Sogge's Bearhollow Farm in 1894 in Eden Valley, Donnay Farm in 1920 in Kimball, Sundermann Farm in 1893 in Melrose, Robert and Carol Heitke Farm in 1921 in Paynesville and Urban nd Mary Kay Warnert in 1914 in St. Joseph. Todd County is Ivory Acres in Osakis started 1916 and Miller Farm in West Union in 1920. Information on all Century Farms will be available at the Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2021 Minnesota State Fair. The 2021 Minnesota State Fair runs August 26 to Labor Day, September 6.
--Numbers in Morrison County up some on Thursday to 198 active cases with 84 cases in Pierz Zip Code, Little Falls Zip Code also on the increase to 56 cases, Hillman 22 and Royalton 15. The State Numbers were up to 1,857 cases with much of the emphasis on the new variant being found in Minnesota. Morrison County did see a bigger increase in numbers of 37 new cases on Thursday's report.
--A Sauk Centre man has pleaded guilty to sexually molesting two young girls in 2018. 39-year-old Elliot Hill pleaded guilty to two counts of 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13. Hill pleaded guilty Monday through a Norgaard plea where the defendant doesn't remember the crimes but does not dispute them. Court records show Hill told investigators he was an alcoholic and drank every night. He said he did not remember what he would do when he was drunk because he would blackout. The girls were abused at Hill's Sauk Centre home at various times in 2018. As part of the plea agreement, another charge involving a third victim will be dismissed. Hill will be sentenced on June 24th.
--Many fish fries tonight include Smelt and Fish Fry take out only at St. Mary's Church in Upsala and Pierz Lions Fish Fry at Frosty's.
--The Greater Minnesota 2-Cylander Club announced yesterday that they have had to cancel this years Field Days and Swap Meet event at the Fairgrounds for May due to just too many restrictions to have an event which brings in a large number of visitors. The hope is to still have the large 3 day Pioneer Days event in Albany later this year in September which brings in thousands over the 3 day events.
--Governor Tim Walz is scheduled to announce today that all Minnesotans 16 and over will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting on March 30th. The Governor stated that more vaccine would also be made available but a timeline was not included in the release.
--On March 24th the Benton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a man found in possession of several grams of methamphetamine. As the deputy was monitoring traffic in Mayhew Lake Township he noted that a 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup passing through the intersection was displaying expired license tabs. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Ryan Michael Stahovich, age 39 of Foley. During the traffic stop, Stahovich admitted knowing that his tabs were expired and that his driver’s license was revoked. Stahovich was asked to provide proof of insurance and he did provide the name of an insurance company and a policy number which was found to be fake. Stahovich was placed under arrest and the arresting deputy found Stahovich was carrying a significant amount of cash and a small baggie containing a substance believed to be several grams of methamphetamine.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Actress Jessica Walter has died at age 80. Emmy winner for her role on Arrested Development, was in Play Misty for Me and she was also the voice of Mallory Archer (the mother character) on TV's Archer.
DEATH NOTICES
--Arlene Marie “Mrozek” Beniek, age 79 of Bowlus.
--Cindy Ann Meyer, age 41 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, high 48, rain after midnight tonight, low 38.
SATURDAY= rain likely in morning, clearing by night, high 46, low 27.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 54, partly cloudy night, low near 40.
MONDAY= partly sunny and windy, warm, high 67, low around 45.
SPORTS
WRE= Little Falls Flyer Gabe Nagel finished 32-1 his senior year losing a tough 3-2 match and finished state runner up yesterday at the state tournament after a quarter-final pin and semi-final decision win. Today is Class AA wrestlers at state including Trevor Radunz of Pierz and four wrestlers from Foley at 2pm. Tomorow morning Royalton-Upsala vs. Kimball Area in state Class A team semi-finals at 9am and individuals will wrestle at 2pm, hear it live on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BHK= Little Falls advanced to state with a 2-1 double-overtime win over Fergus Falls last night. Little Falls another section title. The State Boys Hockey Tournament begins next Tuesday and Wednesday.
HS GBB= Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa eliminated Swanville in playoffs.
HS BBB= Upsala vs. Nevis tonight from Wadena for the section championship to go to the state tournament, 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
TWINS= Twins last spring training game Sunday noon on Q92.
GHK= The State Girls Hockey Tournament begins today.