NEWS
--An Alert from Pine Country Bank. They want Pine Country Bank customers to be aware that text messages are being sent stating that your debit card has been blocked. These messages are NOT generated by Pine Country Bank. DO NOT call the number referenced in the text, instead please contact Pine Country Bank at 320-584-5522 with any additional questions. As a reminder Pine County Bank will not request account information via phone or text.
--A Randall man suffered life threatening injuries in a crash Thursday afternoon. At 12:49pm 32-year old Juan Emilio Estrella-Diaz of Randall was eastbound on Highway 210 near County Road 18 in Cass County and made a left hand turn in front of a westbound vehicle driven by 47-year old Dennis Richter of Lake Park. The vehicles collided in the intersection. Richter suffered non life threatening injuries while Estrella-Diaz was taken to North Memorial Robbinsdale.
--A 26-year-old Lake Shore man missing for five days since not showing up for work Saturday morning was found dead Wednesday, inside a submerged vehicle in West Twin Lake near Pequot Lakes in Crow Wing County. The Minnesota State Patrol reported a 2006 Ford Fusion driven by Nicholas Engen of Blaine was southbound on Highway 371 in Pequot Lakes when it went into the right ditch and rolled into the lake. The road condition at the time of the crash was wet. Engen was not wearing a seat belt.
--It is Homecoming Friday for many area schools. Pierz Healy High School has homecoming with a pep rally today, game tonight at 7pm and a dance after the game for high school students at the school. Royalton has a parade at 5:30pm today that starts at the elementary school goes past Holy Trinity Catholic Church then to the high school, followed by a mini-carnival of food and fun leading up to the game tonight at 7pm. The dance in Royalton is tomorrow night middle school kids first then high school has a formal attire dance tomorrow night in Royalton. Little Falls Community High School has homecoming with a pep fest today at 10am, parade at 2pm the parade will begin at the Middle School go around the loop of the high school to 9th and past Lindbergh Elementary School then down 5th to the back side of St. Mary's Church and School then back up and around to the high school parking lot. The homecoming game then is at 7pm tonight in Little Falls with a homecoming dance to follow.
--Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule begins tomorrow October 1st to April 30 each year. Legislation passed in 2021 lengthened the period by four weeks. Under this state statute, eligible residential energy customers are protected from service disconnection during the Cold Weather Rule period if the disconnection would affect the customer’s primary heating source. Customers must set up and keep a monthly payment plan with their electric utility and power company to be protected. The Minnesota Cold Weather Rule does not prevent winter shut-off if customers don’t commit to a payment plan and don’t make the agreed-to payments on time. Any residential customer who receives a proposed shut-off notice during the winter should act promptly to set up a payment plan with electric provider.
--The 2022 Cost Of Voting Index gives Minnesota low marks for voter access. The index places Minnesota 24th in the nation in ease of voting, South Dakota ranks 37th, and North Dakota ranks 10th. Some Auditors in the state don't agree saying it is still very easy to vote in Minnesota. You can register on the day of the elections to vote. Or already have early voting options at city and county election sites.
--The Little Falls City Council meets 7:30pm Monday at City Hall.
--The Business Highway 371 will reopen, and the detour will lift between Greenwood Street/Crow Wing County Road 153 and Buffalo Hills Lane/Industrial Park Road in Brainerd by 5:00pm Saturday. The newly updated Business Highway 371/Buffalo Hills Lane/Industrial Park Road intersection will also reopen, however remain an all-way stop until the manufactured signal poles will arrive in late November. Motorists will continue to encounter periodic lane closures with flaggers between Barrows and Brainerd. Work will occur on good weather weekdays, sunrise to sunset through October. Final punch list items include removal of detour/traffic control devices, shouldering, permanent road striping and rumble strips. When complete, the $7.1 million project will provide a smoother road surface, updated drainage, and improved access and safety along 4 miles of Business Highway 371 from Brainerd to Barrows.
--Sunday, the Minnesota National Guard will honor 10 individuals by induction into the 2022 Court of Honor at the Little Falls-based Camp Ripley. Camp Ripley has hosted this event since 1933 with 159 initial inductees. In 1988, a modern approach began with biennial programs, and annual ceremonies starting in 2009. To date, 497 names have been etched into the granite monument at the Minnesota Military Museum. These inductees are honored for their heroism, outstanding professionalism, and service. Each inductee has been a Minnesota Army National Guard member or civilian employee of the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs. The Inductees for the 2022 Court of Honor will be, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Neal G. Loidolt, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dirk R. Kloss, Col. (Ret.) Kevin A. Olson, Lt.Col. (Ret.) John F. Ebert, Chief Warrant Officer 5 (Ret.) Peter T. Panos, Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Paul E. Herr, Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) John M. Lepowsky, Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) Bruce L. Stowe, Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) deceased Wayne R. Sulflow and Sgt. (Ret.) Diane M. Buszta. The event is Sunday at 1pm located at the General Vessey Recreation Center, 15000 County Hwy 115 Little Falls. If you plan on attend the event Sunday, you will need a proper photo identification (driver's license) to enter the military base of Camp Ripley.
--Another weekend of events for the first few days of October. 94ROCKS End of Summer Bash Saturday night at Silver Bullet in Genola, gates open at 6pm, show at 7pm with Trapt, Madame Mayhem and Cold Kingdom. Blessing of Animals Sunday at Washington Park Playground at noon in Little Falls, Little Falls Senior Center Breakfast on Sunday 8am-12pm, the Red Bull ceremony at the State Veterans Cemetery Sunday 9am, more at fallsradio.com.
DEATH NOTICE
--Nancy L. Christensen, age 81 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny skies, high 71, sprinkles overnight, low 50.
SATURDAY= partly sunny, few sprinkles, high 70, low 48.
SUNDAY= sunny and breezy, high 68, low near 47.
MONDAY= isolated showers, partly cloudy, high 67, low 45.
SPORTS
HS FB= Foley at Little Falls tonight 7pm homecoming AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Morris at Pierz tonight 7pm homecoming on 94ROCKS.
TWINS= White Sox hold off Twins yesterday 4-3 to take 1 game in the series. The Twins are at Detroit tonight, pregame at 5:30pm, Saturday 4:30pm and Sunday starts at 10:30am on Q92 WYRQ.
NFL= Vikings and New Orleans Sunday in London, kickoff at 8:30am.