NEWS
--A wintry mix of sleet, snow, drizzle and fog made for nearly 150 accidents on Minnesota roadways on Saturday. One person was injured around St. Augusta Saturday around 8pm when a firetruck with lights activated was struck on in the westbound lane of I-94. The other driver, a 50 year old from St. Cloud had non life threatening injuries. The firetruck driver and two passengers did not have any injuries. One person was injured around 7:30pm in Otter Tail County, a 53 year old from Sebeka was taken to the hospital for treatment. A couple from Monticello were both injured when their vehicle went off Highway 371 on slippery roads around 1:25pm Saturday near Pine River in Cass County. Both were taken to the Brainerd hospital. Around 9:30am, an accident near Albany in Stearns County send two from the Twin Cities area to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. The State Patrol reported two fatal accidents in Dodge and Dakota County on Saturday. The state patrol said that most of the accidents were drivers going to fast for wintry conditions.
--The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force is celebrating a two-and-a-half-year-long investigation they say is helping take a deadly drug off the streets. The task force began targeting fentanyl dealers in the central Minnesota area due to the alarming rise in overdoses. Police say 52 people have died from fentanyl use in St. Cloud during that time. Over the summer, investigators arrested three men for allegedly selling large amounts of pressed pills and powdered fentanyl out of a house on the 1400 block of Breckenridge Avenue North in St. Cloud. Police say they made multiple controlled buys starting in late 2023. The task force also learned who the suppliers of the Breckenridge Avenue group were, and they have been arrested and charged. Over that same time, local police have charged 61 people with fentanyl-related crimes, executed 14 search warrants, and recovered 16,000 pressed pills, over 160 grams of powder, nine guns and over $38,000 from drug sales.
--Excessive speed and possible drug use could have caused a rollover accident three miles north of St. Joseph. First responders were called around 11:45 on Thursday night to a single-vehicle crash on County Road 3 near North Ridge Lane. According to the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office, an 18-year-old was headed south when she lost control of her vehicle. The car rolled multiple times before coming to a stop in the west ditch along the roadway. Authorities reported that speed and the possible influence of controlled substances may have contributed to the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.
--Back on Sunday, December 8th, Morrison County Sgt. John DeCock was recognized by the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association as the 2024 Supervisor of the Year. Morrison County Deputy Brady Pundsack was also recognized for the 2024 Deputy of the Year Award. This was at the 139th Annual Sheriff’s Winter Conference Awards Banquet held at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen said “We are extremely proud of their achievements and are blessed to have them on our team”. Pictures from the event can be found on the sheriff's office Facebook page.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Tim Sumner informed Little Falls Radio that in the first two days they are about half filled up for the Community Christmas Meal on Friday from 4:30-7pm at Royal Cafe. You MUST reserve your spot to eat in, take out or delivery by calling Tim at 320-632-2540 today. He also needs a few volunteers on Friday to help serve, if you can please again call Tim Sumner at 320-632-2540.
--An east side St. Cloud bridge is fully open again after about a month of reduced lanes. University Bridge is back open after work has been completed. Crews had been installing railings on both the north and south sides of the bridge which resulted in a reduction to one lane at times. St. Cloud Public Services Director Tracy Hodel says the railings were refinished and should last around 20 years.
NATIONAL NEWS
--President-elect Donald J. Trump stated over the weekend that one of the first items on his new agenda for Congress is to do away with Daylight Saving Time. Some legislators had asked for Daylight Saving Time to end in previous years. President Trump said that he would keep it at Central Standard Time permanently if all approved.
DEATH NOTICES
--Karen Ann Johnson, age 90 of Little Falls formerly Brandon SD.
WEATHER
TODAY= fog and mist, high 33 early then falling, flurries with strong winds by later in the day, temps drop to 16 with cold winds at night.
TUESDAY= mostly cloudy, some flurries, high 21, low near 0.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and cold, high 10 above, low around -3.
SPORTS
NFL= Green Bay helps the Vikings clinch a playoff spot last night as the Packers keep their playoff hopes alive with a 30 to 13 win over Seattle. With the Seahawks losing the Vikings clinch a playoff spot before their Monday Night Football game tonight at home against the Chicago Bears at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF. Also Buffalo held off Detroit in a slug-fest Sunday 48-42 for Bills to go to 11-3 and Lions fall to 12-2 meaning if Vikings win out they could still win NFC North.
BHK= Little Falls beat Rock Ridge 4-1 on Friday then lost on Saturday to Hibbing/Chisholm 4-2. Another radio game Friday night.
HS GBB= Holdingford at Pierz Tuesday 7:15pm on 94ROCKS.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1773= The Boston Tea Party occurs in Boston Harbor.
IN 1897= first submarine with internal combustion launched.
IN 1971= Don McClean releases American Pie, the length of the song at over 8 minutes was put on two sides of a 45 record at first.
IN 1975= One Day at a Time debuts on CBS TV with Bonnie Franklin
Tomorrow is the Grand Prize Drawing of Ho Ho Dough. All the qualifiers and the ones drawn tomorrow morning will be put in the Grand Prize Drawing just before 8am for 500 dollars cash and 500 dollars in Ho Ho Dough Bucks to be spent for the holiday season. Listen in tomorrow morning on Little Falls Radio and fallsradio.com to see who the winner is.
More Dairy Recipes qualifiers this week on Party Line with the three dairy buckets drawn out on Friday's program.