NEWS
--Authorities have released the names of two suspects taken into custody after a shooting Wednesday in south St. Cloud. St. Cloud Police identified them as 26-year old Jerome Jones of Minneapolis and 27-year old JB Zimmer of Cokato. After booking Jones, officers learned he had previously changed his legal name to Poog Dableed Devildrugchristlord. Officers were called to the 1000 block of 15th Avenue South Wednesday just before 9:00am. They arrived to find a 42-year old woman who had been shot multiple times. She was taken to St. Cloud Hospital to be treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries. The suspects fled the scene before officers arrived. Devildrugchristlord was arrested for attempted murder. Zimmer was arrested for aiding attempted murder. Both are being held in Stearns County Jail, awaiting charges. Police say this was not a random incident, and the suspects are known to the victim. The victim remains in serious but stable condition in St. Cloud.
--A three-car crash on the Bridge of Hope in Sartell sent a woman to the hospital Thursday. The State Patrol responded to the crash around 5:15pm. A car driven by 24-year old Allisa Bontjes was southbound on Highway 15, crossing the bridge, when it merged from the left lane into the right, hitting a pickup driven by 38-year old Jason Mohs. The impact of the initial crash pushed the pickup into an SUV, driven by 51-year old Todd Griffin. Griffin was waiting at a red light just south of the bridge when his vehicle was hit. Bontjes was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The other drivers were not hurt.
--A healthy dose of early season snow has Minnesota snowmobilers chomping at the bit, getting out on the trails to stretch out riding time that is often too brief. While opportunity is a good thing, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says it brings with it a downside: Three snowmobilers have already died this year in crashes, continuing an upward trend of fatalities that the DNR wants to stop. Last winter 10 snowmobilers died in fatal crashes. The year before it was five, and in the winter of 2015-16 it was just three. The numbers are definitely heading in the wrong direction. Along with this winter's three fatal incidents, the DNR has recorded a number of close calls including sleds that have fallen through thin ice and one instance where a snowmobiler struck someone who was walking on the ice. DNR officials understand people are anxious to get out and ride some of Minnesota's 22,000 miles of trails, some of which have not yet been groomed. They just want riders to do it safely, and return home in one piece. Among the suggestions the DNR is offering to keep snowmobilers safe: Stay on marked trails. Leave the booze at home. Drinking and riding is one of two main factors in crashes, and plays a role in about 60 percent of those that are fatal. Watch the speed. Going too fast is the other main factor in crashes. Many serious and fatal crashes occur when a speeding snowmobiler loses control or strikes an object. Be careful on the ice. During the past two winters, every through-the-ice fatality but one has involved people who were riding a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle when they fell through. There must be at least 5 to 7 inches of new, clear ice to support the weight of a snowmobile and rider. Have fun and be safe.
--Congratulations to the Holiday Dairy Recipe Contest winners from the Morrison County ADA, Coborn's Marketplace and AM960 KLTF. Marilyn Bryniarski, Wendy Young and Carolyn Fruechte won the $50 in dairy products on Friday's KLTF Party Line program.
--After a one-year hiatus, Christmas at Charlie’s Pizza is back and everyone is invited. The employees of Charlie's Pizza will be open Christmas Day from 11:30am-2:30pm to serve free pizza, soup, ice cream, cake and other food. Coborn’s will donate funds for the soup, Little Falls Hardware Hank will donate several bicycles and a bunch of presents, and other donations will be offered for the event. Live music and other items too. All are welcome to come and enjoy on Christmas Day at Charlie's Pizza in Little Falls.
--An "thorough and complete" investigation of an alleged sexual assault last June involving at U of M wrestlers will result in no criminal charges. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman made that announcement Friday, saying the decision was made after six months of interviews, tests and fact-finding. He told reporters that a beefed-up Minneapolis Police Sex Crimes Unit worked the case, then handed it to a pair of veteran prosecutors who specialize in sexual assault cases. Their conclusion was that it would not make sense to move forward with prosecuting the two athletes arrested in connection with the alleged assault. The alleged incident dates back to June 15, 2019, when Minneapolis Police were notified of the alleged assault by their counterparts in St. Paul. The two wrestlers were arrested and held in jail over a weekend, but then released pending further investigation. --The Pierz City Council will meet tonight (Monday) at 7pm at Pierz City Hall. The City of Pierz also has these reminders that the Pierz City Hall will be closed both December 24th and 25th. Garbage and Recycling will be picked up on December 26th and then as usual on Wednesday, January 1st. The City of Pierz also has openings for Election Judges for 2020 for the Primary and General Elections. There will be a two hour training requirement and judges are paid for their time working the elections. Questions or to sign up for this contact Bob Otremba at Pierz City Hall at 468-6471.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Grant and Katie Stangl had a baby boy on December 18th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Edgar Frasl, age 76 of Fort Ripley.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy skies, high 34.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, freeze fog possible, low 26.
CHRISTMAS EVE= freeze fog early, then cloudy skies, high 32.
TUES NIGHT= cloudy skies, some freeze fog, temps steady near 30.
CHRISTMAS DAY= mostly cloudy, late day flurries, high 32, low 28.
SPORTS
NFL= Its the final Monday night game of the year tonight and it's the “Border Battle” as the Green Bay Packers invade U.S. Bank Stadium to take on the Minnesota Vikings with playoff implications on the line. Hear the action live at 6:30pm on AM960 KLTF. Vikings announced that Dalvin Cook has been ruled out for tonight's game.
NFL= San Francisco beat the LA Rams on Saturday 34-31 with a last second field goal. With he win the Rams are now eliminated from the playoffs and the Vikings clinched a playoff spot.
The offices of Little Falls Radio will be open from 8am-12pm on Tuesday and closed Wednesday for Christmas Day. There will be no newsletter on Wednesday.