NEWS
--Superintendent of Pierz Schools George Weber spoke on Little Falls Radio yesterday. Weber talked about the groundbreaking event Tuesday for Pierz's nearly 10-million dollar construction project from the referendum that passed back in April. Work on Pioneer Elementary includes more classrooms, science lab, and preschool room. The High School has work to be done on the kitchen/cafeteria will be next summer and a new band room which should start in November. Parking lot is also in the forecast for the school with hopes to have all the projects completed by the start of next school year.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall. Earlier this week, City Administrator Jon Radermacher spoke on the KLTF Up Front program about the ½ cent sales tax increase that Little Falls city voters will vote on the November ballot. Information and details about the vote have been posted on the city of Little Falls website. The ballot question on November 6th will read, “Shall the City of Little Falls, Minnesota be authorized to impose a sale and use tax of one-half of one percent to finance the acquisition and betterment of a new community center and recreation complex in the city?”. The tax, if voted in, would be implemented for 20 years or until it reaches $10-million dollars, whichever comes first. Further information can be directed to City Hall at 616-5500.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen reported that their office responded to a number of accidents on Thursday morning from slippery roads. Rain Wednesday changed to snow and caused roads to get slick and slushy. Sheriff Larsen reminds motorists to continue to drive for the conditions as more rain and snow is in the forecast before the end of the weekend. One of the accidents included three individuals from Sartell suffered injuries after their truck slid off a bridge deck on Highway 10 Thursday morning. Around 7:05am 34-year old Eric Demuth was traveling east on the bridge deck over County Road 52 near Little Falls in Pike Creek Township of Morrison County when the truck slid off the road to the south and rolled down a steep embankment. The driver Eric Demuth was not wearing a seat belt while his two passengers 12-year old Brooke Demuth and 11-year old Kamryn Demuth were wearing seatbelts. All three were take to St. Gabriels Hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
--The Minnesota Cold Weather rule takes effect Monday, and your energy providers wants to ensure that residential customers who need assistance paying their energy bills this winter can get the help they need. Under the rule, income-eligible customers are protected from service disconnection from Oct. 15 through the following April 15, if the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. Eligible customers must commit to a monthly payment not to exceed 10 percent of household income, and they must immediately contact the utility and set up a payment plan if they receive a disconnection notice. For more information on the cold weather rule contact your local community energy assistance programs.
--Another busy weekend of events including Charles Kapsner's Salon tonight at Great River Arts, Saturday the meatball supper at the St. John's in Grey Eagle, Royalton fire hall open house, Heartland Symphony concert in Little Falls Saturday and Brainerd Sunday, Swanville high school hosting free concert, bouja at Our Lady of Lourdes Sunday, bingo at Bulldog Lake Sunday, Pierz KC's breakfast Sunday in Buckman and more can be found at fallsradio.com.
--The Randall fire department along with CLC fire and EMS will be doing a prescribed training burn at the address of 116 West 4th Street in Randall on Sunday starting at 8:00am. Please be aware that there will be smoke and emergency equipment working in the area for most of the day. The public is encouraged to attend and watch. Authorities ask that they stay a safe distance from the burn site. They will have barriers in place marking the safe distance to view from. Any questions about this prescribed burn can be directed to Chief Scott Hughson with the Randall Fire Department.
--A jury Thursday found a St. Cloud man guilty of raping, threatening and choking a woman in November 2017. 32-year old Randy Scott Bennett, Jr. was found guilty Thursday of one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of felony terroristic threats and one count of domestic assault by strangulation.The jury found Bennett not guilty of a second count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The maximum sentence for first-degree criminal sexual conduct is 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine. The maximum sentence for felony-level terroristic threats is five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The maximum sentence for domestic assault by strangulation is three years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Bennett is scheduled to be sentenced December 3rd.
--The St. Cloud man arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of involvement in the 2015 Martin Marietta granite quarry fire is facing 18 felony level charges. 47-year old Raymond James Curtis is a former Martin Marietta employee who has been charged with starting the April 12th, 2015 fire. Total damage to vehicles, buildings and other property at the granite quarry was in excess of $2,624,000. Curtis is being held in Stearns County Jail. He faces two felony counts of arson in the first degree, 15 counts of felony arson in the second degree, and one count of felony unlawful disposal of hazardous waste.
--A St. Cloud man is in custody after several warrants were issued for his arrest in connection to drug-related crimes. 40-year old Michael Andre Brown was arrested at 4:15am Thursday. He faces one felony drug sale charge in the first degree and one felony witness tampering charge in the first degree. Brown is being held in Stearns County Jail on $200,000 bail.
--Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County presents their 9th Annual Bowl to Build event on Saturday, October 20th from noon to 4pm at the bowling alley in Little Falls. To get signed up and find out more contact Kevin Hoskins at 320-267-3288.
DEATH NOTICES
--Harvey Kliber, age 61 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 42, clouds increase tonight, low 31.
SATURDAY= cloudy, warmer, high 52, rain in afternoon, low 34.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, windy, temps fall from 37 down to 23.
MONDAY= mostly cloudy and breezy, high 39, low near 30.
SPORTS
HS FB= New London Spicer at Little Falls tonight 7pm on KLTF.
HS FB= Pierz at Paynesville Area tonight 7pm on FM94 KFML.
HS FB= Upsala-Swanville at Royalton tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers at Ohio State Saturday 10am on AM960 KLTF
NFL= Arizona at Vikings Sunday at noon.