NEWS --The case of Byron Smith who was convicted of murdering two people when they broke into his Little Falls home on Thanksgiving Day 2012 is moving to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Smith's lawyer Steven Meshbesher said Wednesday he will request a new trial on the argument that Smith did not receive a fair and public trial in 2014. Meshbesher filed the brief for appeal on Monday, saying the judge presiding over Smith's trial in 2014 violated Smith's Sixth Amendment right to a public trial when the judge closed the courtroom to all press and spectators. In 2014, Smith's lawyers filed an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court to overturn his conviction, but the court affirmed it two years later. Court documents show Meshbesher filed a writ of habeus corpus in May 2017. This past summer Smith was granted a certificate of appealability. Now that has been filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals Eighth Circuit, Meshbesher has requested a 40-minute oral argument to plead Smith's case to get a new trial. Smith was convicted in 2014 for fatally shooting 18-year old Haile Kifer and 17-year old Nicholas Brady when they broke into his home. He was convicted of four total counts: two of first-degree murder and two of second-degree murder. He is serving two life sentences.
--A 64-year old Waverly woman died Tuesday after the car she drove struck a semitrailer and an SUV, sending five people to the hospital at 5:03pm on Tuesday. The fatal crash occurred on Highway 25 at 133rd Street in Pierz Township. The semitrailer, driven by 56-year old Kevin Block of Pierz was northbound on Highway 25, while the SUV driven by 27-year old Adam Hanson of Little Falls was stopped in the southbound lane, waiting to turn left at 133rd Street. The car driven by Vonda Hyldahl of Waverly was traveling west on 133rd Street when she failed to stop. Hyldahl hit both the semitrailer and the SUV. Hyldahl was dead at the scene. The other two drivers Block and Hanson along with Hanson's passengers 24-year old Jasmine Morgan; 5-year old Audrey Hanson; and an infant less than a year old Jaelah Hanson were all taken to St. Gabriel's Hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries. Everyone was wearing their seatbelts.
--Today is “Black Friday” it was for many years considered the busiest shopping day of the year where many businesses get into the black for the year. In the past 5 years or so that has changed and now the Saturday before Christmas has become the largest shopping day of the year. But still many businesses are open bright and early and others open yesterday to get the early bird shoppers for the holiday season to help businesses get into the black. Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday where smaller/local businesses have many specials and deal to bring the shoppers into their small market stores with the monies mainly staying in the community with the local store owners.
--The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office has released the name of the hunter killed last week near McGrath in Pliny Township. Authorities say that 56-year-old Gregory J. Nase was apparently shot waiting for family members to come for a down deer when they attempted to shoot a running deer and struck Nase who died at the scene.
--Morrison County Chaplain Greg Valentine announced on KLTF Wednesday that their Chaplaincy Pizza Party is this Sunday at the Little Falls VFW from 11am to 1pm. All the pizza and soda who can have for a donation of a coat for the annual coat drive, food shelf item for the food shelves of Morrison County or a monetary donation to the Morrison County Chaplaincy Program.
--After 39 seasons, 6 as an assistant and 33 as head coach of the Pierz Pioneers football team, head coach Leo Pohlkamp submitted his resignation on Tuesday. Pohlkamp leaves as the 13th winningest coach in Minnesota State High School League history with 276 career wins and three state titles including last year. This past Saturday Pierz lost in in the state semi-finals to Rochester Lourdes. Little Falls Radio's Al Windsperger and James Hershey spoke with Leo Pohlkamp and you can hear the full interview on Saturday Morning's Sports Wrap starting just after 9am on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
--Bobbie Hauser of Little Falls was selected as one of 19 winners statewide of the Minnesota Sherriffs Association Scholarship Program for 2018. The association awards scholarships each year to individuals planning to become Minnesota Peace Officers. Bobbie Hauser was among the 19 recipients chosen this year. Congratulations to Bobbie Hauser of Little Falls.
--A tradition for many years in Aitkin continues today with the annual Fishhouse parade at 1pm where young and old alike ride fishhhouses down the street the day after Thanksgiving. Another tradition is the Little Falls Santa Parade beginning at 6pm on Lindbergh Drive South traveling east down Highway 27 (only the eastbound lane of 27 will be closed) to Bank Square and left to the fire hall. Some join in the fun tonight as we welcome Santa Claus back into Little Falls. The Little Falls Chamber will present the city of lights today and the attractions in Little Falls begin their Christmas tours and events with many lasting straight through December 2nd.
--The Morrison County Salvation Army is asking for bell ringers for the holiday season to ring bells at Coborn's and Wal-Mart to give locally to the area. To volunteer call Betsy at (320) 360-0332. Also the Holiday Gift Giving program continues for information on how to give to the local program contact Judy at 630-8497, they will also be doing a large fill the truck event on December 1st at the Wal-Mart parking lot listen to Little Falls Radio for more details on that event.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Brock Cichon and Katie Ripplinger of Holdingford, a boy born 11-20
DEATH NOTICE --Sheryl Marie Brummer, age 63 of Hillman --Julene H. Werner, age 80 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= rain showers at times, mild, high 46 then dropping late. TONIGHT= rain to snow after 8pm, low 29- possible ½ inch. SATURDAY= flurries possible, mostly cloudy, high 31, low 14. SUNDAY= partly sunny, cold and windy, high 20, low near 7. MONDAY= partly cloudy and cold, high 18, low near 0.
SPORTS HS FB= The 2018 Prep Bowl starts today with 4 games and another three games on Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. COL FB= Gophers wrap up the regular season at Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon, at 5-6 the Gophers would need to win tomorrow to become bowl eligible for another game. Pregame 1:30 on KLTF. NFL= Vikings host the Packers in their second straight Sunday night matchup, the game Sunday is at 7:20pm and live on AM960 KLTF. NFL= Chicago, Dallas and Saints win on Thanksgiving Day football.