NEWS
--A reminder from local Fire Chiefs to please remember when you fall back Sunday at 2am as Central Standard Time returns. Besides when you turn the clocks back 1 hour before bed on Saturday night or before 2am on Sunday morning, make sure to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly. In the past few weeks there have multiple home, shed, barn, camper and truck fires. Having batteries replaced in homes with smoke detectors save lives by giving many time to get out of the house. Remember again to Fall Back one hour by Sunday at 2am.
--A Brainerd man was injured in a two-vehicle accident at 2:39pm Thursday afternoon on Highway 64 north of Motley in Cass County. 85-year-old Jimmie DeLoach was on 64 and swerved into the other lane and struck 62-year-old Patrick Dudley of Wisconsin. DeLoach was taken to Staples Hospital for his injuries. Dudley was not hurt.
--St. Joseph man has pleaded guilty to driving a jet ski while under the influence of alcohol and seriously hurting two boys on a tube he was pulling. The incident happened in July when 43-year-old Ryan Willis was pulling the boys on a tube and they hit a dock on Watab Lake. According to the charges, one of the boys was airlifted to Children's Hospital with an apparent skull fracture, a large cut on his head, and a bruised lung. Records show the other boy had concussion symptoms and body pain. He was brought to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment. Court records show Willis had a preliminary blood alcohol level of .148 approximately two hours after the crash. On Wednesday, Willis pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular operation, causing substantial bodily harm with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more. Willis will be sentenced on January 16th.
--Tuesday is election day across the nation. Some states have major elections for Mayor, City and State races, some special elections and school board elections. Minnesota has a very limited number of election and according to Secretary of State Website no federal races or state elected races will be voted on Tuesday. There are some Minnesota County and City Races but not a lot locally. Any local races you might have to check with your city or township official. Next year will be a big election year in 2024 with races for President, U.S. Senate, U.S House and State House and Senate races up for bids once again.
--A Brainerd man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in 2020 in Brainerd is set to be released from Crow Wing County Jail and sent to a sober house after violating probation in September. 29-year-old Billie Ray Clark faced three counts of felony criminal sexual assault, pleaded guilty to one charge and the other two charges were dropped in August 2022. Clark was sentenced to serve 60 days in Crow Wing County Jail, be on supervised probation for 10 years, complete a sex offender program and to remain law-abiding with no same or similar offenses, among other conditions. He was also fined $210. Back on September 5th, Community Corrections informed the court Clark failed to complete sex offender treatment, had possessed or used pornographic or sexually explicit material, failed to disclose all internet-capable devices and have monitoring on those devices, and he failed to comply with contacting probation as directed. After discussion in court this week the judge ordered Clark be placed in a group home to help facilitate his treatment as he failed to comply with the court ordered treatment due to unstable living conditions and unreliable transportation. Clark is to report to a sober home instead of a group home and must comply to all rules of the judge as per his probation or he will face jail time for future violations.
--Saturday is the firearms deer hunting opener in the state of Minnesota has thousands of deer hunters will be out early on Saturday morning. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reminds hunters to put safety first, remember to check items before heading out, when a deer is shot remember property lines and not to trespass on other people's property. Watch for others, teach children or those on their first hunt the importance of being safe to all other hunters around them and themselves. Lets make this a safe and of course very successful deer hunt for all involved.
--Coborn's Incorporated is getting out of the convenience store business in central Minnesota. A company spokesman says Coborn's currently operates 14 Holiday Station store franchises in central Minnesota. They have agreed to sell those to Holiday. Coborn's will focus its operations on its grocery stores, liquor stores, pharmacies, and on-campus fuel stations that are not franchised. Holiday will continue to accept and redeem MORE Fuel Rewards at these locations. Any other potential changes within the locations will be based on Holiday’s playbook for their convenience/fuel centers.
--A total of 164 units of blood were received doing these three days of the Blood Drive. THANKS to everyone who responded to this much needed cause. The next time the American Red Cross will be in Little Falls is January 9, 10, and 11, 2024. Anyone who wishes can sign up on line by going to redcrossblood.org anytime now.
--Plenty of events this weekend, bazaars at Zion Lutheran Church and Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls Saturday also at St. Joseph's Church in Morrill. Wadena has an author's event at their new public library Saturday at 10am, Jason Schommer performing his comedy show in St. Michael Saturday night, beef stew supper Saturday in Buckman, quilt bingo Sunday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, a breakfast/brunch for Vocations and Seminarian Scholarships Sunday at St. Mary's in Little Falls and a cash bingo Sunday at Holy Trinity in Royalton. Details on events can be found at fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday 7:30pm at City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES
--Susan Urbanska, age 74 of Brainerd formerly of Foley.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM fog, partly cloudy skies, high 43.
TONIGHT= fog overnight, mostly cloudy, low 22.
SATURDAY= becoming partly sunny, high 45, low 32.
SUNDAY= rain develops, high 49, rain heavy overnight, low 41.
MONDAY= rain in AM, then cloudy and cooler, temps drop into 30s.
SPORTS
HS FB= Area football teams like Holdingford, Foley, Brainerd, Parkers Prairie, New York Mills, Alexandria, Rocori, Becker and more are in football section playoffs today. Upsala-Swanville has Belgrade Brooten Elrosa today at 10am from Fargo live on Q92 WYRQ.
HS CC= Good luck to Malin Youngberg of Little Falls, Wyatt Betsinger and Nathan Tax of Pierz and others competing Saturday at the State Cross Country Meet at the University of Minnesota this year.
COL FB= Illinois at the Gophers Saturday at 2:30pm.
NFL= Vikings are at Atlanta on Sunday at noon.
REMEMBER TO FALL BACK, TURN BACK CLOCKS SUNDAY.