NEWS
--The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is investigating a use of force incident that happened near Genola. Morrison County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call at approximately 4:15pm Wednesday about a domestic assault involving a knife at a residence in Genola. By the time deputies arrived the subject had left the scene in a vehicle. Deputies located the subject, whose vehicle had become stuck in a field, approximately six miles west of Genola. Following a brief standoff, a sheriff’s deputy fired a bean bag round, striking the subject. Deputies provided medical aid at the scene and the subject was taken to St. Gabriel’s Hospital in Little Falls, then St. Cloud Hospital and the subject is currently being treated for serious injuries at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis. No deputies were injured during the incident. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the reported domestic assault. The BCA is investigating the use of force incident at the request of the sheriff’s office.
--A staple to the downtown Little Falls areas has announced they will closing. Pete and Joys Bakery announced this week that due to many circumstances beyond their control they will have to close their doors. Their final day of operation will be on Saturday June 1st. Pete and Joy want to thank everyone for their continuous support through the many years in the downtown Little Falls area.
--Little Falls is a finalist for a grant through the Minnesota Timberwolves to get a new basketball court at Lindbergh Elementary. Lindbergh is competing against 2 other communities in the "Central Region" and the only way to win is if the school gets more votes than the other communities. You can vote once per day on each of your devices (computer, phone and tablet) and even on different browsers through today. Please vote and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to vote to. It's a close race so every vote counts! To vote go to nba.com/timberwolves/ourcourts.
--Jake Thomas Patterson, the 21-year-old Gordon man who confessed to abducting Jayme Closs and killing her parents, will appear in Barron County Circuit Court for sentencing today. He faces a mandatory life term. In entering his guilty pleas, Patterson was not asked to recount his actions or motivations. But both he and Jayme provided details to law enforcement in the days after she escaped and he was arrested. Patterson told investigators that he was driving to a job he held for two days when he saw Jayme getting on a school bus along U.S. Highway 8. He did not know her or her family, but he immediately "knew that was the girl he was going to take,” according to a criminal complaint. The sentencing is scheduled to begin at 1:30 before Barron County Circuit Judge James Babler. Members of Jayme’s family are expected to deliver victim-impact statements, and Patterson himself may address the court.
--Another big thing this weekend is graduation for area schools. Congratulations to the graduates of Royalton, Pierz and Long Prairie-Grey Eagle high schools graduating at 7pm tonight, Swanville also graduates tonight at 8pm. Upsala will graduate at 1:30pm on Saturday and Little Falls Community High School graduates Sunday at 2pm at the Flyer Gym. Staples-Motley and Foley graduate next week.
--Little Falls High School Senior Nikita Lutoshkin who recently signed a Celebratory Signing Form to participate in Track and Field at Hamline University. Nikita is the son of Olga and Russell Archer.
--Memorial Day is on Monday. A federal and national holiday meaning that all federal, state, county and city offices are closed and many other businesses, schools and offices are closed on Monday.
--Memorial Day is also a day we remember all the fallen heroes you have died fighting for our country in the armed forces. There are many services and programs scheduled for Sunday and Monday to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. The Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery will hold their program Sunday at 1:30 with music then the program at 2pm with parade of flags, music, guest speakers and more at the cemetery north of Little Falls. Monday there are many programs and services, Camp Ripley Chapel at 8:30 and you must have an ID to center Camp Ripley. Mass at St. Joseph's in Pierz at 9:30, Dr. S.G. Knight in Randall at 9:30, Cushing Baptist Church at 10am, Oakland Cemetery in Little Falls at 10:3, Upsala has their program at 10am at the school gym and many more. Listen to Little Falls Radio for more details Sunday and Monday.
--Memorial Day also means a lot of traffic on roadways. The Minnesota State Patrol and local enforcement will have extra enforcement out this weekend watching for impaired drivers, seatbelt and child seat violations and distracted driving. They will also be watching for speeding on roadways, waterways and in work zones. Many construction projects will either stop or slow down a bit over the weekend but detours and lane closures will remain in place. Remember to slow down in work zones.
--With Memorial Day on Monday, the Pierz City Council will meet on Wednesday night at 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES
--Stephen Stumpf, age 51 of Royalton.
--Ronald “Ron” Lovelace, age 82 of Browerville.
--Roger “Julio” Hoheisel, age 68 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers and possible T-storms, high 64.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, low around 50.
SATURDAY= partly cloudy, high 67, clear night, low 44.
SUNDAY= sunny and mild, high 73, low around 48.
MEMORIAL DAY= storms likely, some strong in PM, high 65, low 45.
TUESDAY= isolated showers early, then cloudy and windy, high 58.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins hit 8 homers in a sweep over the Angels 16-7 on Thursday. Twins open series with White Sox tonight at Target Field, pregame at 6:30pm tonight, 12:30pm Saturday, Inside Twins at noon on Sunday and then host Milwaukee on Memorial Day at 5:30pm with the pregame all live on Q92 WYRQ.
VL= St. Stephen at St. Mathias Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
SB= Little Falls routed Fergus Falls 13-1 to survive on in the playoffs and will play on Monday on AM960 KLTF.
SB= Pierz lost in 10 but then won in 9 to stay alive in the playoffs and will play Albany Tuesday at 5pm on FM94 KFML. Upsala also advanced to Tuesday's action.
BAB= Pierz baseball opens playoffs Monday on FM94 KFML.
DUE TO MEMORIAL DAY ON MONDAY THE OFFICES OF LITTLE FALLS RADIO WILL BE CLOSED. THERE WILL ALSO BE NO NEWSLETTER ON MONDAY FOR MEMORIAL DAY.