NEWS
--According to Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber, Pierz Schools were notified Thursday that a student at Healy High School had tested positive for Covid. That student had not been in school since Monday. The school will continue to communicate with all families whose children were indirectly involved based on proximity and also hope they do not experience illness. Staff are doing remarkable work in facing this challenge while providing a quality school experience for hundreds and hundreds of children each day. Weber says they are thankful the schools have accomplished what we have so far this school year and have put forth extraordinary effort, many long days and nights to give children in school and at home simultaneously a quality education. Then on top of that we add the layer of the medical side of things that this pandemic mandates. As always we are thankful for the understanding and support of our parents and community. No changes on learning plans as of now.
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher stated Thursday on KLTF on CARES funding and the city has committed over $400,000 of that to the economic impact to businesses, non profits and community, half loan and half grant program which was converted to all grants and those you originally signed up for the half/half program will be contacted and told that there is no payback. If you have signed up for your businesses that has to have a physcial operations/business/store in the city of Little Falls for a $5,000 grant from the funding. If you are outside the city limits you can contact the county or communiy development before October 12th to get signed up for this. Radermacher said that the city crews have been busy and will continue into October (weather being a factor of course) on street projects, which are much smaller in scale than the Highway 27 project from last year. Radermacher said that the in City Hall voting places for Ward 2 will be open for general election voting November 3rd from 7am to 8pm and you will need to wear a mask due to state mask mandate to enter City Hall to vote and live on the northeast section of Little Falls north of Highway 27. Ward 1 votes at the Intiative Foundation and Ward 3 at Bethel Lutheran Church. Radermacher said if you have questions on items in the city of Little Falls contact his office at 616-5500. He also stated that time the City Council Meetings are still being done remotely for many due the council chamber not having the adequate ventilation that the state requests and those meeting are available on the City of Little Falls website along with a lot of information on COVID-19 city issues.
--22-year-old, Jesse Scott Bartkowicz of Swanville has been charged in Morrison County District Court with felonies for criminal vehicular operation while under the influence and while under the influence of an alcohol concentration higher than .08. The charges stem from a September 13th incident, when an officer responded to an ATV accident and the victim complained of severe leg pain and identified Bartkowicz as the driver. After the victim was getting medical treatment, the officer went to locate Bartkowicz, who was allegedly found on the steps of a residence and reportedly admitted to driving the ATV while drinking. A portable breath test showed a blood alcohol level at a result of .14. The victim reportedly suffered fractures to his ankle requiring surgery. If convicted, Bartkowicz could face up to three years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
--The fundraiser for the Nordic Ski team called Brewskis for New Skis scheduled for Saturday will not happen this weekend due to COVID.
--The Little Falls Police Department has received multiple reports of thefts from motor vehicles. Please remove any valuables from your vehicles and lock the doors when parked. If you keep keys in your vehicle, please check to make sure you have not been a victim. Residents should report any suspicious activity by calling Little Falls Police at (320) 616-5570.
--The Minnesota Department of Health reported 995 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday with 3 new deaths. There were 6 new cases of COVID in Morrison County Thursday making 222 total cases with the 1 confirmed death. In the weekly report of the 222 total cases, 176 are no longer in isolation in Morrison County. The weekly report also stated in Morrison that the numbers have gone down that in the week of September 9th through 16th there was an average of 8-11 new cases daily compared to 4-8 cases in the last week of September 17th through the 23rd. The key is those numbers to stay lower meaning that schools can stay in class learning at current time.
--A Paynesville woman is charged with 2nd-degree intentional murder and manslaughter in the death of her disabled child in June. Court records show the child had chronic respiratory failure and severe developmental delay from the loss of oxygen at birth. According to the charges filed in Stearns County District Court, 35-year-old Elise Nelson was alone with her daughter over four days between June 18th and June 21st while her husband was on a fishing trip and her other child was staying at a family friend's house. She is accused of silencing the alarm on a pulse oximeter device and manipulating the machine's settings multiple times before ultimately shutting it off. Nelson is accused of depriving the child of proper medical care during this time. An autopsy later determined Nelson deprived the child of care resulting in death and the manner of death was homicide. Nelson told police she had performed CPR on the child for an hour but officers noted her story was inconsistent with a person exerting herself for 60 minutes while performing CPR. Nelson is being held on $500,000 bail without conditions or $350,000 with conditions.
--Due to COVID-19, The Heartland Symphony Orchestra announced they will not be performing shows in Little Falls and Brainerd in October instead they are planning a virtual concert that will be able to be seen on the Heartland Symphony Orchestra facebook page.
WEATHER
TODAY= fog early, sunny early, PM shower possible, high 75.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, shower early, low 55.
SATURDAY= mostly cloudy, high near 70, PM showers possible.
SUNDAY= partly sunny, showers late day, windy, high 63, low 48.
MONDAY= partly sunny and cooler, high 57, possible PM showers.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins start the final weekend of the regular season with a 1 game lead in the AL Cetnral as they host the Cincinnati Reds starting tonight, pregame at 6:30pm, Saturday at 5:30pm and Sunday at 1pm with Inside Twins game starts at 2:10 Sunday. Listen to the action live on Q92 WYRQ. American League Playoffs begin on Tuesday with all 8 American League teams in action next week.
VIKINGS= Vikings (0-2) host Tennessee (2-0) Sunday at noon, again there will be no fans in the stands at U.S. Bank Stadium.
WNBA= Lloyd of Seattle scores 20 points as the Storm beat the Lynx last night 89-79 to take a 2-0 playoff lead. Game 3 is Sunday where the Lynx need to win to avoid being swept in the best of 5 series.