NEWS
--Free testing of well waters for nitrates by Morrison Soil and Water will be next Monday through Friday (18th through 22nd) from 9am to 4pm in the Belle Prairie Conference room located in the Morrison County Government Center. Water samples can be brought in by using a clean ziploc bag or a plastic or glass container with one cup of water no later than 24 hours before testing. The process usually takes less than five minutes and results will be given to the landowners directly during the visit. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends having wells checks for nitrates annually. Masks are required when attending the event next week and if you are sick, stay home and do not attend this event. The service is free of charge and for more info call 631-3551.
--Today is the deadline for the second half of property taxes due in Minnesota. Fees may be paid in person or postmarked by today to avoid any late charges. In Morrison County, for further information call the auditors office at 632-0132.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is proposing spending $13.3-million in response to this summer's drought. The grants would pay for water conservation initiatives and tree preservation efforts. The DNR is proposing $3-million for municipal, tribal, and other community water suppliers. The money would be used to find and repair leaking pipes, replace meters and hydrants as needed and install water-efficient equipment. The DNR says those strategies have proven to conserve millions of gallons of water in a year. The drought caused a high mortality rate for tree seedlings planted this year. The DNR is proposing $5.5-million to replant public and private forest lands. Another $4.5-million would be used for community shade tree grants to replace trees lost in the drought.
--The St. Cloud City Council announced that after the current St. Cloud City Hall moves to the former Tech High School building in the next couple of months, the site will be demolished and Bremer Bank will take over the space. The St. Cloud Planning Commission approved the project and related rezoning. The demolition and the construction of a new two-story building with a cafe or coffee shop at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Minnesota Highway 23 is expected to begin in spring 2022 with construction to take the entire summer.
--Four children were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening after the school bus they were riding in crashed with a pickup truck in northwestern Minnesota's Clay County. Sheriff Mark Empting said the crash happened at about 7:30am Thursday in rural Clay County. Empting said the preliminary investigation shows the driver of the pickup truck may have failed to yield, but the investigation is ongoing. The school bus was equipped with a camera, which will be used in the investigation.
--Another busy weekend of events including First Lutheran Church in Little Falls a pie, music and silent auction event tonight, a public square rosary rally Saturday at noon at St. James in Randall. St. Elizabeth's in Brennyville has Hog roast Saturday and bingo and raffle on Sunday, a benefit for the family of James Switters will be Saturday in Waite Park, Heartland Symphony Concerts will be Saturday night at High School in Little Falls and Sunday in Brainerd-free admission to the concerts this year, Little Falls Senior Center has a breakfast and 37th anniversary celebration Sunday morning-raffle at noon, a polka-style Memorial Mass is at 10:45am Sunday in Lastrup followed by a potluck at parish center. Details at fallsradio.com/communitycalendar.
--At the Little Falls Kiwanis Club meeting Thursday, Past President Steve Priola delivered to Jon Rademacher, city administrator of the City of LIttle Falls, the final payment for the Washington Park playground equipment. The Washington Park is located on 4th Street NW in Little Falls and is specially equiped for toddler aged children. This payment, in the amount of $7,744.50, is given with great gratitude from the Kiwanis Club to all who volunteered to assist with parking at the Little Falls Arts & Crafts festival and the Kiwanis Club Trivia Night, two of the primary fundraisers for the club.
--Residents in north St. Cloud are upset after a number of reports of what they call senseless vandalism that have happened. Police have received reports of smashed windshields and windows in cars, street signs vandalized with profanity, flags ripped and other property damaged or completely destroyed. Police are asking if you notice suspicious activity or destructive behavior to call local police.
--The Minnesota pheasant hunting season starts Saturday and continues through January 2nd. The DNR's latest count has pheasant numbers down 25% in the state compared the last year's numbers. The count could be because of the drought One good thing was the mild winter last year led to more pheasants in the area. The best locations to pheasant hunt in Minnesota are southwestern and western Minnesota. Stearns County near the Belgrade area is also a hot spot for pheasant hunting this year.
DEATH NOTICES
--Edwin “Ed” Koll, age 65 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, PM showers, high 47.
TONIGHT= clear and frost likley, low around 32.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, AM frost possible, high 57, low 35.
SUNDAY= AM frost possible, sunny skies, high 63, low 38.
MONDAY= sunny and warm, high near 70, low around 43.
SPORTS
HS SOC= The Little Falls Girls Soccer team opened with a playoff win Wednesday and continue in the playoffs tomorrow, girls 13-3-1.
HS FB= St. Cloud Cathedral at Little Falls for a Tackle Cancer game tonight at 7pm on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
HS FB= Pierz at Eden Valley Watkins tonight 7pm on 94ROCKS.
HS FB= Upsala/Swanville at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle, 7pm on Q92.
MLB= a questionable check swing call, gives the Dodgers a 2-1 win over the Giants to advance in the NLCS to take on Atlanta.
NHL= The Minnesota Wild open the NHL season tonight.
COL FB= Gophers host Nebraska Saturday 11am kickoff on KLTF.
NFL= Vikings at Carolina Sunday at noon.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1815= Napolean ordered to be exiled to St. Helena until death.
IN 1874= first Child Labor Laws issues, no 12 and under working.
IN 1878= Thomas Edison patents electric lighting system.
IN 1924= Statue of Liberty declared a national monument.
IN 1949= Reverend Billy Graham begins ministry on radio.
IN 1951= “I Love Lucy” airs first episode on CBS TV.
IN 1959= “The Untouchables” with Robert Stack debuts on TV.
IN 1971= Ricky Nelson booed at a Garden Party so wrote the song.
IN 1977= Debbie Boone hits #1 with “You Light Up My Life”.