NEWS
--As construction winds down for the winter season ahead, a major road project in Little Falls has ended for the year as 4th Street SE in Little Falls is reopen. More work on 4th street SE south of the spot that started this year heading toward the airport. When that is completed work is scheduled to start on 4th Street Northeast as part of the multi-phase project in the city of Little Falls.
--The Minnesota DNR wants to help you work off that turkey and trimmings by offering free admission to Minnesota state parks. On Friday, November 25th, Minnesotans are encouraged to get out with friends and family and explore one of Minnesota's 75 state parks, which includes Charles A. Lindbergh State Park in Little Falls. It is one of four "Free Park Days" where the DNR waives the vehicle permit fee to enter the park and recreation areas. The DNR attributes an American Psychological Association study that links spending time in nature with improved attention, lower stress, reduced risk of psychiatric disorders, and even increased empathy and cooperation traits. Most park offices and visitor centers will be lightly staffed the day after Thanksgiving, so you're encouraged to check the DNR website for visitor alerts, download the GeoPDF Maps app which does not require the internet to display the user's location, and check out the signs near the park entrances.
--A Brainerd man was injured when his vehicle went off the road Wednesday afternoon. At 2:26pm 24-year old Dylan Crandall was westbound on Highway 210 near County Road 21 in Todd County, when his vehicle entered the south ditch. Crandall was treated for non life threatening injuries at Staples Hospital. According to the State Patrol report, alcohol was a factor.
--Minnesota added 17,400 jobs last month. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says that is up 0.6 percent from September. This is the 13th consecutive month of job gains in the state. Our unemployment rate did tick up one tenth of a point from September but is still very low at 2.1 percent. That compares to the national unemployment rate of 3.7 percent. Minnesota's labor force participation rate inched down one-tenth of a point to 68 percent.
--A detour on Highway 23 between Foley and Milaca will last a little longer. Project officials had hoped to reopen the highway at the start of the week. But, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says due to this week's snow, crews are unable to put down the road markings. MnDOT says for driver safety, they will keep the road closed and the detour in place until the striping can be installed. MnDOT is hoping to get the striping in place before the Thanksgiving Holiday, but it is possible that the detour could remain in place until sometime after the holiday weekend. Highway 23 is closed just east of 13th Avenue in Foley to the Rum River Bridge in Milaca. The detour is via Benton County Road 4 and Mille Lacs County Road 12. For more information, visit the Highway 23 Project website.
--Upsala Area Schools are hosting their yearly book fair to help with numerous school projects, trips and events. This book fair is one the oldest in Morrison County to run. Hours started Thursday and continue Saturday 1:30-3:30pm, Sunday from 1-3pm, Monday 3:30-7:30pm and Tuesday 3:30pm-5pm in the Common Area at Upsala Schools. Also the Upsala Area Schools announced they are having a winter clothing drive for coats, hats, scarves, boots, mittens etc. items can be dropped off at the school office.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--A weekend of many items, benefits for Jim Marshik Saturday in Little Falls, benefit for Gina Keehr Virnig Saturday in Pierz. Breakfast Sunday at St. Joseph's Church in Morrill, holiday bake sale at Bowlus American Legion Sunday, bingos some turkey, cash or quilt at area churches are a plenty including Sobieski, Swanville, St. Mathias, Brainerd, Duelm, Belle Prairie and in Pierz. Check with the local church bulletins for times and locations. Details on many of these events are at fallsradio.com and community calendar.
--A new fire risk tool is being unveiled statewide to help fire departments work more efficiently. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division has unveiled the Fire Risk Analysis Tool to map where fires happen and what caused them. Cross Lake Fire Chief Chip Lohmiller says the tool helps pinpoint high-risk areas. The historical fire data can help a department make decisions on staffing levels, fire station locations, and how to target fire prevention efforts. Officials say smoking-related deaths are the number one cause of fire deaths statewide. This new tool can identify where people are smoking and what age groups are affected. In addition, the data can be used to: Identify high-risk populations and communities to focus resources; Adjust staffing levels based on the numbers and types of fires; Identify neighborhoods that would benefit from fire prevention efforts; Measure and track fire prevention programs. The State Fire Marshal Division started developing the software in 2017 after a record 68 people died in fires.
--Minnesota Nurses will vote to strike at the end of the month. The Minnesota Nurses Association announced Thursday that the vote to strike would take place on November 30th. More than 15,000 nurses in the Twin Cities and Twin Ports have been working without a contract for more than two months, following a three-day strike in September. That strike is considered the largest private-sector nurses' strike in American history. Nurses are bargaining for a new contract at 15 hospitals. Officials say nurses in the Twin Cities have been without a contract since May 30th, Twin Ports nurses' contract expired June 30th. If the union votes to strike, it could happen as soon as mid-December at 15 hospitals in the Twins Cities and Duluth.
--Thanks to all who gave to Give to the Max Day Thursday in Minnesota the final total at midnight for the 24 hour period of giving was just over 34-million dollars. You can still give at givemn.org.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy skies, strong winds, high 15.
TONIGHT= cloudy and blustery, blowing snow overnight, low 7.
SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, windy, temp steady near 10, low -1.
SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, not as windy, high 27, low 11.
MONDAY= sunny skies, high around 25, clouds at night, low 13.
SPORTS
COL FB= Gophers (7-3) host Iowa (6-4) Saturday at 3pm for the famous pig Floyd of Rosedale. Gophers wrap up regular season next Saturday at Madison against Wisconsin for trying to keep the axe.
NFL= Vikings (8-1) host Dallas (6-3) Sunday at 3:25pm on KLTF. Then the Vikings play four days later as part of a Thanksgiving Triple Header which starts with Buffalo at Detroit then New York Giants at Dallas followed by New England at Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, November 24th coverage at 11:30am on KLTF, Vikings at 7:20pm.
NFL= Tennessee beat Green Bay last night 27-17 in football.
HS FB= Simley defeated Rocori 17-16 in high school football last night to advance to state finals December 2nd and 3rd this year.