NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz last night addressed the new guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying that people who are fully vaccinated don't need to wear masks indoors. The Governor said he would be signing an executive order to remove the statewide mask mandate this morning. The CDC issued the new guidance on Thursday, with the caveat that masks will still need to be worn in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters. The new guidance will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues. It was reported that some cities will keep their indoor mandates and schools are asked to finish the year with the stay safe plan and announcement were sent out from Little Falls Community Schools Thursday that they will keep the masks mandated for students and staff until the school year ends by the end of this month.
--Father Ben Kociemba of the Tri Parish of Little Falls stated that Bishop Donald Kettler has announced beginning on Saturday/Sunday May 22nd and 23rd the churches will be able to bring back into Mass, holy water, alter server, passing the collection basket, bringing up the bread and wine, sign of peace and doing both bread and cup of wine at Communion. Then beginning on May 28th, the Bishop stated that all capacity limits will cease, also funeral lunches, wedding receptions, other indoor items that can include food like lunchs and breakfast fundraisers can be served again and church festivals for the summer months can resume in pre pandemic forms but until July 1st the masks will still be required in the church and all indoor events and masks do not have to be worn outside when the event are less than 500 otherwise masks will be required for the larger events until July 1st when the mask mandate in Minnesota is set to cease by Governor Walz. Father Ben also stated that for now they are going back into the hospital and assisted living facilities for Masses on a weekly basis but they are NOT open to the public at this time, he stated that should change also after either the May 28th or July 1st standards this year. More details will be in the church bulletins.
--A Waite Park man accused of holding up the Wells Fargo Bank in St. Cloud is now charged in federal court. Thirty-five-year-old Ray McNeary is charged in U.S. District Court with bank robbery. He's currently being held in the Sherburne County Jail. McNeary is accused of walking into the bank at 200 33rd Avenue South on May 6th and was upset over alleged fraud on his account. When an account wasn't found for McNeary, court records show he became more upset and 911 was called. After a nearly 9 hour standoff with authorities, the five hostages he had inside were eventually released including the last one who ran to the door so SWAT officials could apprehend McNeary without incident and he was taken into custody.
--Approximately 150 Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s 434th Chemical Company, based in Hastings and Red Wing, will deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield. While deployed, the Soldiers will provide Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) defense in the area of operations. The unit is trained to respond to multiple hazards in the event of a CBRN or weapons of mass destruction attack or threat. The unit’s deployment ceremony will be streamed live on the companys Facebook page at 10:00am Saturday, May 15. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person attendance is limited to close family members.
--First Lutheran Church in Little Falls announced they are resuming operations at their church and are again welcoming all to attend.
--The Little Falls Community High School held their scholarship night on Wednesday. In total 154 scholarships worth $279,950 were awarded. The largest portion of those funds were 40 different students each receiving a $4,000 Gordon Larson scholarship.
--Tomorrow in the Minnesota Walleye Fishing Opener as hundreds of thousands of anglers will venture out on the the thousands of Minnesota waterways. A reminder to following the license procedures and limits on are lakes set by the DNR and good luck anglers.
--The Minnesota House of Representative passed a legalizing marijuana bill 72-61 last night but expected to stall in Mn. Senate.
--Saturday is National Law Enforcement Memorial Day. President John F. Kennedy declared May 15th with the special designation back in 1962. A monument that recognizes the fallen officers with a pool and also there is an illuminated blue line at the memorial. There are many memorials of law enforcement officials in most of the counties around Minnesota including one on the southwest corner of the Morrison
County Government Center in Little Falls for those to view.
--The Recovery Community Network, the brain child of Major John Donovan of the U.S. Army (Retired), who worked in public relations for many years at Camp Ripley, has received a significant grant in the sum of $143,000 from the State of Minnesota, which will be used, at least in part, to fund a full time position to work with the Veteran community, as well as working with community agencies including Veterans Administration, St. Cloud Police Department, Central Minnesota Justice System, Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, and Veterans Services Officers to help inform the community of the important services that are provided through RCN, and are not limited to only Veterans. The organization is there to help anyone who needs assistance in their recovery journey regarding substance abuse. The Recovery Community Network was established in 2014. It is a grassroots Recovery Community Organization whose goal is to mobilize resources within and outside the recovery community to increase the prevalence of and access to recovery for those suffering from substance abuse disorders.
--Little Falls Community High School will hold their Prom on Saturday night. Tickets were to be done in advance, none at the door sold.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Ellen Degeneres stated she is retiring from talk show in 2022.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Grant and Libby Bell of Cold Spring, a baby boy born May 12th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Thomas Houdek, age 78 of Zimmerman formerly of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= scattered showers and T-storms, cloudy, high 61.
TONIGHT= scattered showers and T-storms, cloudy, low 46.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, high 64, PM showers possible.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, isolated PM t-storms, high 75, low 50.
MONDAY= sunny and warm, high near 80, low around 55.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins lose 4-2 Thursday and swept by the White Sox. Twins start series with Oakland pregame tonight 6:30, Saturday 2:30, Sunday noon Inside Twins on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= Upsala at Ft. Ripley Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.