NEWS
--Congratulations to the Pierz Pioneers who come back to beat Jackson County Central 20-14 on Saturday. Pierz scored with just over 1 minute in the 4th quarter to get the victory. Pierz advances to the Class AAA State Championship on Saturday, November 30th at 1pm against Dassel-Cokato. Hear the game live on FM94 KFML and fallsradio.com.
--The Little Falls Fire Department was called out at 8:28am Saturday to the Bernie Lashinski residence on 153rd Street in Belle Prairie Township. A shed was on fire when they arrived. Fire Chief Mike Nieman stated that all contents inside the shed and the structure itself was a total loss. The fire department was on scene for 3 hours and there were no injuries.
--Sartell police are searching for three separate drivers who drove through a school bus stop arm Friday morning. The incident happenned along Riverside Avenue South. In a video sent to Sartell police, a mother and her child were waiting on the side of the road, when the bus pulled up and stopped. The bus driver then honks the horn, which is done when the stop arm is out and the red lights are flashing, at which time three vehicles speed past. No one was hurt in the incident. Sartell police are trying to identify the violators. Penalties for offenders vary from a warning up to a $500 fine.
--Two people were injured Friday morning on Interstate 94 near Freeport in Stearns County. Just after 6:00am, 59-year old Melanie Hanson was eastbound on 94 when her vehicle struck the cable barrier in the median and rolled over. Hanson and 22-year old Samantha Jo Hartman of Verndale were both taken to St. Cloud Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries.
--According to data released Thursday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Minnesota held at 3.2% in October. The national seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October increased to 3.6%. Minnesota added 7,400 jobs in the month of October. Meanwhile, September’s employment growth was revised up to 1,600 jobs. The state’s labor force participation rate rose a tenth of a percent to 70.3% and the employment-to-population ratio increased to 68%, the highest it has been since 2008. Over the month, five industry sectors gained jobs. Leisure and hospitality gained the most (up 4,900) followed by trade, transportation and utilities (up 2,500), manufacturing (up 1,300), construction (up 800) and government (up 200). Sectors losing jobs over the month include information and financial activities, both down 1,000 jobs.
--A Sauk Rapids man pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon in connection with the killing of a 30-year old woman. 38-year old David Lee Williams, Jr. is facing two counts of second degree murder. Judge Michael Jesse entered a not guilty plea for both charges on his behalf Thursday. According to the complaint against Williams, officers responded around 2:55am on July 27th to a report of an unconscious woman in the 1200 block of First Avenue North. Officers found Williams next to a woman, identified as 30-year old Crystal Marie Bundy who was in bed and not breathing. Officers were unable to revive Bundy. Bundy had red and purple marks on her face, arms, hands and feet, according to the complaint. Bundy also had two black eyes and dried blood around her nose. A preliminary autopsy report listed cause of death as a homicide from blunt force injuries and strangulation. Williams' next court date is scheduled for January 16th.
--Father Ben of the Tri Parish and Bailey Wiczek of Catholic United Financial are inviting all to come and attend an End of Life Considerations from a Catholic Perspective on Thursday. The programs will be at 9:30am at St. Mary's Church basement in Little Falls and then at 6:30pm that night at Our Lady of Lourdes Church basement. There is no charge to attend but they ask if you could RSVP before the event date for a head count and if you would be attending the morning or evening event. This is open to all ages and of course if you not able to RSVP, please still show up on Thursday. To RSVP contact Bailey at 320-360-2309 and leave a message or text a message of RSVP for the event on Thursday.
--Tim Sumner informed Little Falls Radio Friday afternoon that he has received a steady stream of calls for volunteers for the Annual Community Thanksgiving Meal but is still in need of about 40-45 more and the sooner you call the better to set up places for each of the volunteers from 11am-1pm on November 28th at the Little Falls Community High School. Please call 632-2540 to volunteer.
--The Morrison County Commissioners meet Tuesday at 9:00am at the government center boardroom. Agenda items include the master plan for Belle Prairie Park, sheriff's report, extension report, construction update from public works, social services and auditor-treasurers reports will also be given at the meeting Tuesday morning.
--The IMC Concert for Little Falls Community Schools bands will be performed tonight and Tuesday night at 7pm at the high school.
DEATH NOTICES
--William “Bill” Thoms, age 78 of Little Falls.
--Gerald “Jerry” Wagner, age 84 of Pierz formerly of Lastrup.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain showers in afternoon, high 41.
TONIGHT= rain showers, could be wet snow late, low 34.
TUESDAY= cloudy skies, high near 40, low around 30.
WEDNESDAY= overcast skies, rain showers before noon, highs around 40 early then falling into the 20s by evening.
SPORTS
HS FB= ROCORI beat Winona 48-24 to advance to the Class 4A State Championship at the U.S. Bank Stadium on November 29th. BOLD beat Browerville-Eagle Valley 56-7 on Saturday in semi-finals. Dassel-Cokato beat Annandale 24-14 to advance in Class AAA.
HS SWIM= The 400 Freestyle Relay team of Little Falls broke their school record for the third time in a row, finishing in 13th and advance to the consolation finals on Saturday. The swimmers broke their school record again Saturday to finish 12th in the 400 Freestyle Relay. Foley's Brynn Greenwaldt finished 7th in 50 freestyle and 14th in the 100 freestyle for the Falcons.
COL FB= Iowa ends the Gopher's unbeaten season with a 23-19 win in Iowa City Saturday to keep Floyd of Rosedale. The Gophers (9-1) will take on Northwestern on the road Saturday which was announced yesterday as an 11am kickoff on AM960 KLTF.
VIKINGS= after a horrible first half, Vikings rallied to hold off the Denver Broncos 27-23 to win and go to 8-3 into their bye week.
TWINS= Twins officially sign Jake Odorizzi to a one year deal to stay in Minnesota, they also agreed to a 1 year deal to keep Nelson Cruz with the Bomba Squad in 2020. Find out more about the Twins deals in the offseason Wednesday at 6pm on Hot Stove on Q92 WYRQ.