NEWS
--Another Winter Storm Warning in central Minnesota for today as snow will continue to pile up to 5-8 inches by tonight. Then blowing and drifting with gusty winds and temps dropping to well below zero. A Wind Chill Advisory tonight as wind chills could be near -30. Due to the cold and snow the Candlelight Hike event scheduled for tonight at the Lindbergh Site and Historical Society has been postponed as now the event will be on Saturday from 5-8pm.
--At 8:48am Friday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a theft report of an Ice Castle Fish House. The incident occurred at Monahan’s Marine, located south of Little Falls on Highway 10. According to the Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 5:00am, a silver Ford F-150 Crew Cab truck, approximate year 2009-2014, hooked up to the fish house at Monahan’s Marine and drove it off the lot. The stolen fish house is a 2019 Ice Castle Outlaw Edition, 8 X 21 foot, tandem axle, gray with black diamond plating along the bottom. It has a Berkon frame with the number 1824580 stamped on it. The vehicle was on surveillance and the picture can be seen at the sheriff's office facebook page. Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen encourages residents to be on the lookout and to contact the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233 with any information regarding this theft.
--At 8:38pm on Thursday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a personal injury accident at the 24000 block of County Road 19 involving a pedestrian and a vehicle. Upon arrival, deputies found that a pickup with a plow had struck a pedestrian that was in the roadway. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time of the accident, road conditions and visibility were very poor. The victim was identified as 51-year old, Michael Paul Donnay of Merrifield who was transported to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. The driver of the pickup, 24 year old James Ronald Wood of Merrifield, was not injured.
--The Morrison County Commissioner meet today at 9am at the Little Falls City Hall council chamber to finish end of the year items. Sheriff Shawn Larsen, Public Health, Public Works, Auditor/Treasurer, social services and others will report to the board and discuss the past year or ask for items to be voted on before 2018 ends.
--The Pierz Area Commercial Club announced their 2018 St. Nick Night Prize Winners where all winners received Pierz Bucks. Stamp Card winners $300.00, Mark Hoheisel, $100.00, Karen Gruber $50 winners were Phyllis Hoheisel, Chanda Egge, Christy Sitzman and Carrie Gall. Coloring Contest winners Pre K & Under were Isaac Herold, Emma Corriveau, Laci Gustafson. Kindergarten to 2nd grade Hannah Kuschel, Nora Luberts, Brecken Gruber and the 3rd through 6th Grade Autumn Jones, Caden Kloss and Elizabeth Gross. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all who supported the St. Nick Night event in Pierz earlier this month.
--Events for New Years Eve include a Prayer for Peace Vigil at St. Francis Convent that started last night and goes through 6pm tonight with service at 7pm, Mary of Lourdes has a lock in tonight for grades 6 through 8 tonight, the Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra fundraiser concert and event starting at 5:30pm at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle High School, these are all weather permitting. Reminder to listen to Little Falls Radio today for weather related announcements.
--Today is New Years Eve, some business may either be closed today or have shorter hours this afternoon best to call ahead. Tomorrow is New Years Day, a national holiday so most businesses, city, county and state agencies will be closed for the holiday. There is no mail delivery on Tuesday. Again best to call ahead today before heading out to make sure the business in question is open.
--Brigadier General and Post Commander of Camp Ripley Lowell Ruse spoke on Little Falls Radio Friday and thanks the community for the support they give the Camp throughout the year. Kruse stated 2018 was very busy with many organizations like Mn Dot, State Patrol, Boy Scouts and others using the base. They will be welcoming the Norwegian Home Guard back in February 2019, will be working with Ft. Hood, Texas in 2019 and host their biennial open house in September during the unveiling of the final portrait at the Committal Hall at the State Cemetery of the U.S. Air Force done by local artist Charles Kapsner. Kruse stated they are working on bringing a large number of former and current Air Force members for the program. General Kruse also wants to thank the local Veterans Organizations, the American Legion, VFW and DAV for their work and dedication.
--Motorists on Highway 210 in Brainerd and Baxter should plan additional time for travel, and consider alternate routes, as the road is intermittently reduced to single lane at Cypress Drive in Baxter Wednesday. The lane closures are from 8:30am to 3pm. The non-rush hour lane closures are needed while crews install components for a new signal system at the Highway 210/Cypress Drive intersection, this is weather permitting.
--The Little Falls School Board holds their reorganizational meeting on Thursday at 5pm at the Middle School Media Center.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Ryan and Emily Virnig of Foley, girl on December 23rd
DEATH NOTICES
--Evelyn M. Pinckney, age 104 of Little Falls.
--Leon Leidenforst, age 90 of Pierz.
--Vincent M. Maciej, age 27 of New London formerly Little Falls.
--Joseph P. Kollar, age 79 of Onamia.
--Nadine Rose Wade, age 62 of Onamia.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WARNING TODAY UNTIL 6PM, POSSIBILITY OF 5-8 INCHES SNOW, THEN BLOWING AND COLD WINDS.
TODAY= snow likely, strong winds, blowing snow, dropping temps.
TONIGHT= snow ending, cold and windy, low -12, wind chills -30.
NEW YEARS DAY= sunny and cold, high 0, wind chills around -25.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 13, temps rise at night.
SPORTS
NFL= The Chicago Bears ended the Vikings playoff hopes Sunday with a 24-10 victory at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings finished the year at 8-7-1. Philadelphia shut out Washington 24-0 and advance as the 6 seed in the NFC playoffs which start this weekend. In the AFC, Baltimore and Indianapolis grabbed the last 2 playoff spots.
The offices of Little Falls Radio will be closed Tuesday for New Years Day and there will be no newsletter tomorrow.