NEWS --It is the 45th annual Little Falls Arts and Crafts fair this weekend in Little Falls, 8am-6pm Saturday and 9am-4pm Sunday. Over 600 vendors, new ones and some who have been with the event all 45 years will be there around Little Falls. Marketplace and Mancave on the west side of the river, many food vendors to take in and more. Take the shuttle buses as it will be easier to park at the fairgrounds and then head to the downtown and the west side of Little Falls Saturday and Sunday. The 12th West Little Falls Antiques and Collectibles Fair will be Saturday and Sunday during the same hours in LeBourget Park of Little Falls with many items to check out. The 43rd Annual Lone Eagle Auto Club Auto Show and Swap Meet is Sunday from 7:00am-4:00pm at the Fairgrounds with many classic cars. Expect crowds to flock into the city today and through the weekend. Please, play it safe if coming to Little Falls this weekend.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a couple stolen vehicles. The first vehicle is a red 1999 Pontiac Grand Am 4-door sedan. The car was stolen between 8:00am Saturday and 1:00pm Monday off of Highway 25 north of Pierz. Another vehicle stolen was a red 1996 Ford F250 Diesel pickup truck. The truck was stolen between 8:00pm Saturday and 7:30am Sunday off of Cable Road in Little Falls. Anyone with information on either incident or both is asked to contact the Morrison County Sheriff's Office (320) 632-9233.
--A woman in possession of drugs was arrested after giving a false name and the driver of the car she was in was cited for driving after revocation in Watab Township near Rice on Wednesday night around 10:45pm. The driver 55-year old Jason Wolf of Royalton was cited for driving after revocation and released at the scene. 26-year old Kendra Ann Englehart of Pierz was arrested on charges of 5th Degree Controlled Substance Crime, possession of a dangerous weapon, and giving a false name to a peace officer. Englehart also had an outstanding warrant for 5th degree controlled substance crime.
--The annual Bataan Memorial Death March on Saturday will honor Brainerd men who struggled through the infamous World War II after being pressed into federal service. They were sent to the Philippines where they were captured by Japanese soldiers and forced to march north along the Bataan Peninsula where many died. There is a run in their honor at 8:00am with registration at 7:00am. There will be a hot air balloon presentation that morning and other items before the official march at 9:00am at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.
--Around 200 people attended St. Cloud Technical and Community College Wednesday night, as Governor Mark Dayton made his 5th stop on his town hall tour on water quality. The Governor says, while farms have been a big focus of these town halls and current water quality legislation, it’s important to not forget the cities. The town hall also featured a real time online program where the crowd could give their own suggestions on how to improve the state’s water quality. Most comments centered around education and outreach. Governor Dayton has set the goal of improving Minnesota’s water quality by 25 percent by 2025.
--There are other events going on this weekend, like church festivals in Long Prairie and Onamia, a rummage sale at St. Paul's in Royalton, book sale at at the Carnegie Library today and tomorrow and much more to view at fallsradio.com then click on the community calendar.
--The Minnesota State Veterans' Cemetery will hold one more weekend of open tours of the facility and the committal hall where the military portraits of Charles Kapsner are displayed. Kapsner is currently working the U.S. Marine portrait and will give an update on that next week on KLTF Community Events on Wednesday. The portraits of the U.S. Army, Navy and Coast Guard are currently on display at the cemetery committal hall. The open houses are 1:00-4:00pm Saturday and Sunday to view and take in north of Little Falls.
--Scores on the ACT college entrance exam rose for Minnesota’s Class of 2017 and remain among America’s best. For the second year in a row, Minnesota’s graduating class led the 17 states where all high school seniors took the test. In results released Thursday, they posted an average composite score of 21.5, compared with 21.1 for 2016. Sixty-three percent met the college readiness benchmark for English, while 50 percent hit the reading benchmark, 48 percent met the math benchmark and 42 percent hit the science benchmark. Minnesota beat the national average score of 21.0, which returned to 2014-15 levels after dropping to 20.8 last year. Minnesota’s average scores are down because the state started requiring all juniors to take the ACT in 2015, not just the college-bound.
--An Albany woman was hit by a vehicle while she was crossing the street Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened shortly after 12:30pm at the intersection of 4th Street and Railroad Avenue in Albany. 65-year old Arnold Mager of Albany was driving west on Railroad Avenue when he struck 83-year old Marie Dobmeier of Albany as she was walking north across the street. Dobmeier was in the crosswalk when she was hit. She was taken to the St. Cloud Hospital to be treated for her injuries.
--Keep an eye out for a 5 foot long boa constrictor on the loose in Princeton. The snake named “Rocky” was last seen on Sunday. The snake escaped its tank and made its way outside after the door of the owner’s house was left open. Princeton Police Chief Todd Frederick says keeping a boa constrictor as a pet is against city ordinance. Mille Lacs County Animal Control says due to cooler weather, Rocky may not be doing well and could be dead.
--The Pierz City Council meets Monday 7pm at Pierz City Hall.
DEATH NOTICES --Roberta H. Barthel, age 90 of Little Falls. --Rita Boros, age 80 of rural Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 66, clear night low 44. SATURDAY= partly cloudy, high near 70, low around 55. SUNDAY= sunny and warmer, high 78, breezy, low near 60. MONDAY= sunny and warm, high near 80, low around 57.
SPORTS TWINS= Twins rally in the 9th to beat Kansas City 4-2 last night. The Twins continue series in Kansas City this weekend, pregame tonight 6:30pm, Saturday 5:30pm and Sunday 12:30pm catch all the games live on Q92 WYRQ. Twins then have Monday off. COL FB= Gophers at Oregon State Saturday 8pm on AM960 KLTF HS FB= Delano at Little Falls tonight 7pm kickoff on AM960 KLTF HS FB= Holdingford at Pierz tonight 7pm kickoff on FM94 KFML SAT= Saturday Morning Sports Wrap Saturday 9:05am on KLTF.