NEWS
--A very busy weekend of events. Albany Pioneer Days and Threshing Show continues today and runs through Sunday with Garden Tractor Pull tonight, Wild West Show, music and events all weekend long in Albany. Ella Pusc's 6th Annual Alzheimer fundraiser meat bingo is tonight at the Canteen near Camp Ripley. The Run for Fun challenge Saturday morning starts at 7:30am registration, race at 8:52am at Lincoln Elementary in Little Falls. St. Mary's DCCW Catholic Women's Conference is Saturday in Alexandria. Man vs. Beast Rodeo is Saturday and Sunday at 4pm at the Morrison County Fairgrounds with mutton busting both days at 3:15pm. Tickets at the gate for the rodeo both days. St. Michaels' Church in Buckman has their church bazaar Sunday with Polka Mass, food, bingo and fun all afternoon in Buckman. Father Jimmy Joseph will be celebrating 25 years as a Priest at Mass Sunday at St. James in Randall with time to congratulate Father Jimmy after Mass in their fellowship area. Holy Family Bulldog Lake has their fall service on Sunday morning 10am in Bulldog Lake. Also there are Homecoming coronations Sunday in Upsala at 4pm and Swanville at 7pm for the USA Homecoming Game next Friday the 23rd. Details on many events at fallsradio.com.
--A man was killed in a head-on crash with a semi. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened on Highway 29 north of Alexandria at about 2:15pm Wednesday. A car driven by 29-year-old Ryan Halvorson of Alexandria was going south when it struck a northbound semi driven by 65-year-old Steven Ballou of Pennington. Halvorson died in the crash. He was not wearing his seat belt. According to the report from the state patrol Ballou was not hurt.
--Minnesota lost 3,100 jobs last month. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development says the state's unemployment rate ticked up one-tenth of a point to 1.9 percent in August. Our labor force participation rate went down two-tenths of a point to 68.2 percent. In Minnesota, average hourly wages for all private sector workers rose 24 cents to $34.62 in August.
--A reminder from local sheriff's offices that the Minnesota Sheriff's Association will begin accepting applications for twenty $2,000 scholarships on September 23, 2022 for students currently enrolled in one of the following three categories: Mandated POST Skills Program. In their second year of a two-year law enforcement program or in their third or fourth year of a four-year college criminal justice program. You may find the application on the Minnesota Sheriff's Office Association website to contact your local sheriff's office.
--The Climate Prediction Center has released its Winter Outlook for the months of December, January and February. They are saying that Minnesota should prepare for a colder than normal winter.
The normal highs at the beginning of December are mainly in the 30s and this year they stating that temperatures could be a good 5-10 colder on average in December and the same is expected in January with a bit warmer look for February. Though the below normal temperatures are forecast for December and January so is below average precipitation for both months with average precipitation expected in February of 2023.
--The Little Falls School Board meets 5pm Monday at the Middle School Media Center. The board will set their Truth and Taxation Meeting for December 19th. Certify the maximum Property Tax levy to be discussed at the meeting in December. Approve the sale of surplus equipment and get a draft of the preschool handbooks for the year.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--The Benton County Sheriff's Office stated that every day new scams emerge. The one thing they all have is common is a person trying to get your money or your personal information. The sheriff's office recently had a victim report receiving a call from someone claiming to be from a local police department stating they had evidence the victim had committed a crime and demanding payment in gift cards in lieu of arrest. You should automatically be suspicious of anyone who demands money from you unexpectedly, especially if they want payment in gift cards. Legitimate agencies or businesses will not accept gift cards as payment. If you receive a call, text, email that you are not sure of and you did not make any contact first to the place or item in question, delete it, hang up and never open them.
--Xcel Energy will move forward with plans to replace the Sherco Power Plant in Becker. Thursday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved the final plans necessary to replace the Sherco Power Plant with Sherco Solar, which will become the largest-ever solar project in Minnesota History. Officials at Xcel Energy say the construction of the solar farm will create about 900 construction jobs when the project begins in the summer of 2023. Xcel Energy claims they have transitioned other coal power plants in Minnesota without laying off employees and they expect that trend to continue. The first phase of the solar project is expected to be complete in 2024 and the second phase in 2025.
--Though Autumn does not begin until 8:03pm next Thursday night on September 22nd the DNR Fall Color Map is up and some of the state is already starting to see the change. The colder temps last weekend where far northwestern saw temps in the 30s are already reporting over 25% of the leaves are changing. Even parts around the Twin Cities Metro and south of there are 10-25% changed. Central Minnesota still remains under 10% but over the next few weeks the colors will be changing in the area. The full map can be found by going to the Minnesota DNR website and fall colors.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marie Joyce Mester, age 81 of Royalton.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain showers possible, cloudy, high 73.
TONIGHT= showers possible, cloudy, low 57.
SATURDAY= showers and T-storms likely late day, high 76, low 53.
SUNDAY= cloudy, spotty AM shower, high 70, low near 50.
MONDAY= sunny and warmer, high near 80, low near 55.
SPORTS
HS FB= Princeton at Little Falls tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Montevideo at Pierz tonight 7pm on 94ROCKS. At Halftime Hall of Fame celebration for 2004 and 2005 wrestlers and 2004 football teams that won state titles will be put into the school's hall of fame.
TWINS= Twins hold off Royals 3-2 last night to get the 3 game sweep. Twins open a large series tonight at Cleveland against the Guardians. Pregame tonight at 5:30pm, Saturday is a double-header, first game at 11:30am then second game at 5:30pm, Sunday the pregame is at 12pm with Inside Twins at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ. Twins wrap up series Monday morning at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers host Colorado Saturday at 2:30pm.
NFL= Vikings are off until Monday night when they take on the Philadelphia Eagles, pregame at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
WRAP= Saturday Morning Sports Wrap tomorrow 8:30 on KLTF.