NEWS
--Tim Sumner announced on Friday that the Little Falls Area Ministerial Association in partnership with The River of Hope Ministry and the Royal Café will be offering a Christmas meal to those who find the Christmas season a difficult one. Anyone who will be alone or is finding the season to be stressful due to loss of a loved one, loss of a job, the need for housing, or most any other reason, is invited to join us for a Christmas meal on Friday December 22nd. Serving from 4:30 until about 7. There is a limited number of meals available as only 200 meals will be made so you need to reserve a spot at the Royal Cafe, pick up time or delivery time on Friday and when 200 meals are accounted for that is all that can be done. You MUST reserve your spot by calling Tim Sumner at 320-632-2540. Also, they are asking for volunteers to help make this event a success. Please call Tim at 320-632-2540 to offer your support. This is a free event to all of our guests, but they will be accepting donations from the community to pay it forward with a view towards Easter.
--Morrison County Veterans Service Officer Kris VonBerge is informing Veterans that there will be a Military Veteran Resource Fair for all Military Branches which will include benefits, VA Health Care, Claims Representatives and other items on January 18th 2024 from 5-8pm at a change in venue than reported earlier it will now be at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls. The cost is free and snacks will be provided. For more information call 320-632-0290. The event is for Military Veterans from all branches. The following will be present to answer questions, updates, and changes in military benefits. State Military Cemetery representatives (burial benefits), Veterans Claim Representatives (PACT ACT Information and More), Yellow Ribbon Network of Morrison County, Family Assistance, and the local Veteran County Service Officer and more and one on one questions can be answered during the event January 14th and again the event is now to be held at Morrison County Government Center.
--The Little Falls School Board meets today at 5pm at the middle school media center. Agenda items include a student representative update and discussion on Minnesota Career Fields. Superintendent Greg Johnson will discuss grade-level banding in the Elementary schools, truth and taxation presentation and public comments will begin at 6pm with the tax levy to be voted on after that period. Approve the calendar for 2024 for school board meetings and schedules. Take action on the Freshwater Agreement and also the EMLF Early Retirement Incentive.
--The Great River Regional Library is starting “Perched on Reading,” the 2024 Winter Reading Challenge begins Monday, January 2, 2024, and runs through Tuesday, February 28. This challenge provides fun incentives for readers to settle into cozy winter reading habits. It is designed primarily for teens and adults and is open to anyone in the 6th grade or older. Each of the 32 branch libraries in the GRRL system will have prize drawings for participants. All book lovers need to do is register for the program at a branch library, online at griver.beanstack.org, or on the Beanstack Tracker app. Great River Regional Library (GRRL) provides library services at 32 public libraries and one to-go system in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. Call your local library for details and information on the reading program and other items happening in 2024.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says it needs the public’s help in finding an Eden Valley woman missing since July 27th. Kaitlyn Hohman is white, 5’2″, weighs about 125 pounds, and has blue eyes. She commonly wears a wig, which could affect her hair color. The sheriff’s office says in a release that she may be in the Twin Cities, with Bloomington the likeliest location. Officials fear for her safety and are taking tips by phone or the Stearns County Sheriff’s website by replying to the link. The number is 320-251-4240.
--A woman formerly of St. Cloud has been sentenced for causing the fatal drug overdose of her 2-year-old child. Stearns County Court documents show 25-year-old Jamacy Johnson of St. Paul has been given a stayed sentence of four years in prison. Johnson gets credit for having served 169 days in jail. Johnson previously pleaded guilty to 2nd-degree manslaughter culpable negligence. St. Cloud Police were called to St. Cloud Hospital in April 2022 for a child who had suffered cardiac arrest, brain damage and was unresponsive.
Court records show Johnson and her boyfriend brought the toddler to the hospital the night before and told a nurse the child had eaten a Benadryl tablet. Court records show initial tests did not show any traces of Benadryl. The couple left the following morning saying they would return but never did. Police used a search warrant at the couples apartment and found two pills containing fentanyl in the desk where a child would have access to them. The toddler died two days after being admitted to the hospital. An autopsy of the child showed that fentanyl toxicity in the child's system at the time of death.
--Two 18-year-old men were arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening two women with handguns in Brainerd. Marshall David Planting, 18, of Pine River, was charged with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, felony threats of violence with reckless disregard for risk, and misdemeanor reckless use of a dangerous weapon. Jordan Michael Gulstad, 18, of Brainerd, was charged with felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and felony threats of violence with reckless disregard for risk.
According to court documents, about 3am law enforcement responded to Eighth Avenue Northeast in Brainerd for a report of a male threatening to shoot two women. Both Planting and Gulstad are in Crow Wing County Jail and they made their initial appearance Friday in Crow Wing County District Court.
--Tomorrow is the Grand Prize drawing for the Ho Ho Dough promotion with a qualifier winning $1,000 in cash and Ho Ho Bucks.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Michael Olson and Sarah Bednar of Brainerd of girl born 12-13.
DEATH NOTICES
--David Blonigen, age 66 of Sebeka formerly of Upsala.
--Sister Carolyn Law, age 71 of St. Francis Convent, Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly sunny and colder, windy, high 22, low around 12.
TUESDAY= partly sunny skies, high near 32, low near 25.
WEDNESDAY= mostly sunny skies, high 36, low near 30.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings blow a 17-3 lead going into the 4th then a 24-17 lead with seconds left in regulation and end up losing Saturday at Cincinnati to the Bengals 27-24 in overtime. Vikings 7-7 and will take on first place Detroit on Christmas Eve Sunday at noon on KLTF.