NEWS
--Highway 27 in Little Falls is now open! Late yesterday afternoon west side was open to through traffic. Knife River Construction still has minor jobs along the side streets for the next day or two, but Highway 27 is now open throughout Little Falls. The stoplight at Lindbergh Drive is still blinking red as of this morning. The project started in April and is now completed. MNDOT wanted to thank the public for their patience during this massive road construction project this year. Keep in mind there are still closures on some city streets on the west side of Little Falls as connection of the roads to the new Highway 27 still has to be completed in the coming days.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen spoke on KLTF Thursday and spoke about Halloween safety next week. Check candy and make sure masks and wigs do not cover the kids eyes when trick or treating. Sheriff Larsen added that winter driving will be a factor in the coming weeks so remember to slow down on slippery roads and if you would strike the ditch, use a cell phone to call for assistance. Don't leave the vehicle if the weather conditions are poor. He spoke about the ALICE training, officers and deputies in schools to talk with students, helping with ongoing investigations and communicating with each other on social media, email or over the phone. He said one thing to remember if you put a comment on Facebook about suspicious activity that the sheriff's office does not monitor Facebook page 24 hours a day so it is better to call in your information to their office at 632-9233. The Sheriff reminds residents in the county that there is a prescription take back event Saturday from 10am-2pm at the Wal-Mart for you to drop off and dispose of your unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Questions on this, call 632-9233.
--A flood watch remains in effect for the Mississippi River at Fort Ripley through tomorrow morning. The river was near flood stage Wednesday night and expected to crest just over the 10 foot stage by Saturday. Minor flooding in the area is expected.
--MnDOT has been holding their annual training session at Camp Ripley this week resulting in a large number of snowplows around the Little Falls area recently. Rick Shomione is the Maintenance Training Coordinator and says drivers work on a variety of things in a controlled environment. During the two-week training, drivers go through classroom instruction, drive on several obstacle courses and hit the highway with an instructor. They start out just driving on the base and once they become more skilled and proficient in operating the truck, then they go out on the highway. MnDOT has been training at Camp Ripley for the past 16 years to ensure all drivers are comfortable behind the wheel before they hit the highways during whiteout conditions.
--A busy weekend of events include EEI comedy fundraiser tonight at Falls Ballroom, dinner theater tonight, Saturday and Sunday (must buy tickets ahead of time) at Great River Arts, Trunk or Treat events tonight in St. Cloud and Little Falls, a free pumpkin event outside the boys and girls club Saturday morning, authors talk at area libraries on Saturday, lutefisk meal in Milaca Saturday, 4-H Awards night Saturday at Morrison County Fairgrounds, Chicken and Beef dinner at Sacred Heart Church in Staples Sunday (mass time is at 10:30) then bingo, raffle and more 11-1:30 at Sacred Heart School, bingo Sunday at St. Mary's in Upsala and also at St. Rita's in Hillman, a breakfast of Slovenian crepes Sunday at St. Stephen Parish Hall. Get full details at fallsradio.com click on the community calendar.
--Team Surma won the 6th annual Kiwanis trivia night last night finishing with nearly a perfect score. The Team then donated back their cash prize winnings of $300 back to the Kiwanis Club for their playground project. The event raised well over $3,000 last night.
--Father Ben from the Tri-Parish wants to let the parishioners know that the Our Lady of Lourdes elevator is operational again and will be working for Mass this weekend.
--A St. Cloud man suspected of killing a woman in his basement was found incompetent to stand trial Thursday morning, according to court records. 39-year old Daniel Walter Kenning is facing one count of first degree murder and one count of second degree murder. Kenning walked into the St. Cloud Police Department on September 29th, 2018 and told officers he had killed someone.Officers found the body of 45-year old Jennifer Lee Moy of Blaine in Kenning's home. He was found competent in December, but a new evaluation was ordered in September. The evaluation report was set to include an opinion on whether Kenning lacked "sufficient ability" to consult with his lawyer and a diagnosis of his mental condition, according to court records. --On Wednesday the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force executed a search warrant in the 300 block of 24th Avenue North in St. Cloud. The address is divided into two separate units and Investigators had a warrant for both units. The search warrant was the result of an investigation where Investigators learned that controlled substances were being sold from and stored at both units. During the search, several people were located along with tenants from both units, including an infant less than a year old. Investigators searched the residence and located approximately 115 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of THC products, a small amount of cocaine, various prescription pills, and a loaded 9mm hand gun. After the search warrant was complete, the following people were taken to Stearns County jail and booked in on the following charges. 33-year old Matthew Ryan Langland from Sauk Rapids on 5th degree possession of controlled substance. 28-year old Jeremy Jerome Gallati of St. Cloud on 1st degree possession of controlled substance, child endangerment, and ineligible person in possession of firearm. 19-year old Destanee Ann Pec of St. Cloud, on 1st degree possession of controlled substance and child endangerment. 45-year old Cheryl Ann Heath of St. Cloud, on 1st and 2nd degree possession of controlled substance. 40-year old Myron Ward Eastman of St. Cloud on 1st and 5th degree possession of controlled substance. 24-year old Anthony Blake Swope of St. Cloud, on felony domestic assault no contact order violation. The Task Force placed the infant that was located on scene with Stearns County Human Services.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 52, clear night low 37.
SATURDAY= sunny and pleasant, high 57, sprinkle/flurry late, low 29.
SUNDAY= cloudy skies, scattered flurries, high 39, low near 20.
MONDAY= sunny and chilly, high 36, snow showers late, low 28.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings defeat Washington last night 19-9, now 6-2 on year.
HS VB= Little Falls at Pequot Lakes tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS FB= Royalton at Moose Lake/Willow River Saturday 2pm Q92.
HS FB= Minnewaska at Pierz Saturday 7pm on FM94 KFML.
COL FB= Gophers host Maryland Saturday 2:30pm on AM960 KLTF
WS= Game 3 of World Series tonight, Washington leads Houston 2-0