NEWS
--As Minnesota continues to make progress vaccinating Minnesotans and slowing the spread of COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz announced that starting today at noon Minnesotans can begin safely gathering with more friends and loved ones, supporting Minnesota’s small businesses, and visiting large venues. Nearly 1.2 million Minnesotans and more than 70 percent of seniors have gotten one of the vaccines. The adjustments include measures to: Make it easier to safely gather with family, Social gatherings: Up to 50 people outdoors or 15 people for indoor gatherings, both without household limits. Youth sports: Pod size increasing to 50 for outdoor activities. Religious services: Remove occupancy limit, but social distancing required. Bars and restaurants: Increasing allowable occupancy to 75%, up from 50%, with a limit of 250 people. The limits apply separately indoors and outdoors. Bar seating increases to parties of 4. Salons/barbers: Removing the occupancy limit, but social distancing required. Gyms/fitness centers/pools: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%. Outdoor classes can increase to 50 people. Entertainment venues: Increasing allowable occupancy to 50%, up from 25%, both indoors and outdoors, with a limit of 250. As summer nears, the state will adjust guidelines for large venues. All venues can open at 50% capacity up to 250 people. Venues with normal occupant capacity over 500 can add additional guests, effective April 1: Seated outdoor venues can add an additional 25% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people (this would also include like Target Field for Twins games). Non-seated outdoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 10,000 people. Seated indoor venues can add an additional 15% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 3,000 people. Non-seated indoor venues can add an additional 10% of their capacity over 500, with a limit of 1,500 people. As more Minnesotans are vaccinated, work from home will no longer be required but it will continue to be strongly recommended so employers should continue to accommodate employees who wish to work from home.
--The Minnesota State Veteran's Memorial Cemetery Association will be holding an important meeting Tuesday at 7pm at Little Falls American Legion Post 46. All veterans organizations and auxiliary members are encouraged to attend as the association and executive board will lay out plans for the cemetery to move forward following the COVID-19 pandemic last year. That is 7pm Tuesday night.
--Morrison County Administator Deb Gruber stated Friday on KLTF that the government remains open for business. The food distribution that is being done with local food shelves, public health and other entities can be found on their website at Morrison County and she said that the food shelves have be contacted Thursdays 3-4pm for signup and this only a monthly distribution by the groups involved. Vaccinations are also being done when the vaccine becomes available and as of Friday stated there were no clinics being planned at the moment but if more vaccine becomes available that could change and she will keep the public posted on this. If you have questions for the county administrator call Deb Gruber at 632-0295.
--Congratulations to Emily Sadlovsky who was recently chosen as the Central MN "BIg Sister of the Year" and last Thursday during the Pierz girls basketball game, it was announced she was chosen as the MN State High School "BIg Sister of the Year" by Big Brother Big Sisters.
--Little Falls School Board at 5pm, City Council tonight at 7:30pm.
--A Motley man suffered life threatening injuries in a crash Friday morning in Randall. At 9:32am 42-year old Joshua Solem of Motley was heading west on Highway 10 near 115 when he rearended a school bus that was being towed by a big-rig tow truck. Solem was taken by ambulance to St. Gabriels Hospital with reportedly life threatening injuries. The other driver, 34-year old Johnathan Vanhercke of Little Falls was not injured.
--The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of 213th Street and Highway 25, approximately six miles north of Pierz just after 1pm Friday in Platte Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 44-year-old Margot Vennes of Pierz was traveling south on Highway 25 and 46-year-old Heather Boyd of Brainerd was traveling west on 213th Street. Boyd failed to yield at the intersection and struck Vennes’s vehicle. Vennes was transported to Brainerd Hospital with unknown injuries. Boyd did not receive medical treatment according to the sheriff's report.
--The Sartell-St. Stephen school board has chosen who they want as the district's next superintendent. During Thursday's final round of interviews, the board has agreed to offer the position to Mounds View Assistant Superintendent Jeffery Ridlehoover. He was chosen from a pool of 18 candidates. He will replace Superintendent Jeff Schwiebert who plans to retire following this school year after working in the district for seven years.
--Morrison County reported 100 active cases for the first time in over a month Friday. Pierz Zip Code now at 36 COVID cases, Little Falls is at 22, Royalton at 15 and Hillman at 11 cases on Friday's report. Morrison County reported 16 new cases and one new death on Friday of a person in their 60s, 16 new cases Saturday, 17 on Sunday.
--Congratulations to the Surma Family that finished in a tie-breaker win to win the Kiwanis Virtual Trivia night last Thursday.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Samantha Szczodroski, mother of a baby girl on March 10th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Kathryn Pauline Bollig, age 79 of Cushing.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers with drizzle possible, high 36.
TONIGHT= snow showers early, half inch, low 28.
TUESDAY= cloudy and windy, high 40, low around 21.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 44, partly cloudy low 30.
SPORTS
SKI= Little Falls Boys Nordic Ski team finished 11th out of 16 teams with their top finish by Jackson Grant who finished 4th in the state which is a school record for the best time by any student at the state nordic ski meet. Ethan Yorek finished 30th just missing all state honors followed by Connor Grant who was 75th for the team.
WRE= Royalton/Upsala Wrestling won the Section 7A Championship Saturday over Aitkin and then beat Crookston to advance to the Final Four in Class A- State Semi's March 27th in St. Michael.
PLAYOFFS= busy week of high school playoff action for boys and girls basketball, boys and girls hockey and gymsnastics. Continue to check the broadcast schedule for Little Falls Radio at fallsradio.com.
COL HK= Gopher Hockey continues in Big 10 Tournament tonight with semi-final action vs. Michigan at 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF.