NEWS
--Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka spoke on KLTF Thursday first wanted to give a shout out to the students for his Procolmation for the Seniors to appreciate them during this trying year with COVID-19 restrictions. Mayor Zylka stated after the Governor's announcement Wednesday night that he is glad to see small business able to move forward, with restrictions, but opening up on Monday for small retail and the hopes that bars and restaurants opening on June 1. Mayor Zylka says the next steps will be to see what local government aid will be coming from the state level, also working closely with Congressman Pete Stauber and Senator Paul Gazelka and State Representative Ron Kresha and how to help small businesses, flood efforts if need be in the city and keeping Little Falls moving forward. If you have questions for the city of Little Falls call Jon Radermacher at 616-5500 or Carol Anderson with Community Development at 632-5466 or contact Mayor Greg Zylka directly at 232-9336.
--A reminder to motorists to expect a number of vehicles going in and out of the south loop off of 5th Avenue into Little Falls Community High School between 2-7pm today. High School Seniors are being allowed to drive up and pick up cap and gowns, grad bash items, awards and scholarship items, yearbooks and more from the School in a drive up ceremony this afternoon. Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka made the proclomation for the Senior appreciation today through May 24th which will be graduation at the high school student parking lot at 2pm and heard live on AM960 KLTF.
--The Morrison County Area Foundation and The United Way of Morrison County have started an emergency relief fund to help out those with job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation has already raised just over $8,000 plus their regular grant dollars were added to the fund and have given to the Food Shelves, Lutheran Social Services Meals and Wheels and Oasis Central Minnesota for their housing and food fund. The funds were from State and Federal grants that started when restrictions were put in place earlier this year due to the COVID-19 efforts. If you are interested in helping with the fund or if you have a need for food, jobs and items related to the Foundation, reach out to Jon Smieja through his email at jsmieja@gmail.com.
--Bishop Donald Kettler of the St. Cloud Diocese announced that Churches are starting to reopen but only to 10 people or less and therefore stated he is for now continuing to drop the obligation to attend Mass and take part in the Eucharist until further notice and is asking Catholics to continue to find alternative ways to watch or listen to Masses like Sunday morning at 9am on AM960 KLTF or the TV Mass from St. Cloud. He hopes sooner than later Masses can resume when larger gatherings can take place again. The Bishop is asking that all masses, parish events and perpetual adoration remain postponed at this time until further notice when more restrictions are lifted. Smaller weddings, services and other items that can be done with 10 people can be done with the guidelines the CDC provided.
--Waite Park fire crews responded to a fire call at city hall Thursday morning. Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud says just before 7am on-duty officers noticed a haze of smoke and a smell like burnt wire or rubber inside the police department area of the building. Until the exact source of the smoke is known and repairs are made City Hall employees Thursday were working at alternate locations. Police Officers will be working from their squad cars.
--The Pierz Healy High School Graduation Commencement Ceremony will be at 7:00pm on Friday, May 22nd in the north parking lot of Pierz Healy High School and will be broadcast live on AM960 KLTF and streamed online through fallsradio.com. As the school district follows the social distance guidelines, attendance is limited to one vehicle per graduate and only the graduates will exit the car in smaller groups when they get awarded their diplomas. Little Falls Community High School will have a similar graduation ceremony at 2:00pm on Sunday, May 24th also broadcast on AM960 KLTF and streamed fallsradio.com.
--Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-57, authorizing and directing the Commissioner of Education to provide a safe and effective summer learning environment for Minnesota’s students. Minnesota’s public school districts and charter schools will have the option to offer summer learning through a hybrid model of distance learning and in-school learning, or to continue distance learning. Executive Order 20-57 will offer schools the flexibility for some in-person instruction if they are in compliance with Department of Health (MDH) guidelines on masking, social distancing, personal hygiene, screening, and cleaning, and adhere to MDH’s guidance for summer programs. The public health guidance will help schools keep their students, their families, and school staff safe and healthy while offering meaningful learning opportunities. This model will give schools an opportunity to better support the students who have been struggling with distance learning, especially traditionally underserved students. These public health guidelines will also apply to summer programing outside of a school setting.
--Great River Regional Library reminds those that the libraries remain closed to indoor traffic at this time but pickup outside is being done for those who call and reserve books also the book drop off is open during library hours for you to drop off books. Any questions contact the libraries in Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Swanville and Upsala or there is a toll free number for information at 1-833-GET-GRRL.
--The Little Falls School Board will meet Monday at 5pm at the Middle School Media Center. The board is expected to dissolve their cooperative sponsorship for girls swimming and their cooperative sponsorship for dance, vote on a resoluation for membership to the Minnesota State High School League and take action on the termination and non renewal of a teacher's contract.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night at 7:30 at city hall.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENTS
--Nathan and Nicole Przybilla, boy on May 13th
--Joe and Stephanie Wimmer, boy on May 13th
DEATH NOTICES
--Nora W. Besemann, age 98 of Swanville.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 68.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy skies, low 48.
SATURDAY= rain likely, heavier late day into night, high 64, low 46.
SUNDAY= rain early, then sunny and breezy, high 64, low 41.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer, high 74, low around 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Game 2 of the 1991 World Series can be heard on Sunday starting at noon on Q92 WYRQ and online at fallsradio.com.