NEWS
--The Little Falls Police Department are asking the public to please lock your doors of vehicles after reports of theft and items taken from mainly unlocked cars recently so again please lock up your items.
--The deadline is fast approaching for the Minnesota Sheriff's Association Scholarship program. Applications are available in the sheriff's office or online at www.mnsheriffs.org Applications MUST be received at the sheriff's office by Friday, November 19, 2021 at 4:30pm. Applications are available online, on their facebook page by clicking on the link or by calling the sheriff's office 320-632-9233.
--Sister Julien Dierkes wants to thank all you gave blood last week where in the three days they were able to receive around 200 units of blood to help with the great need. There will be another blood drive scheduled January 3rd, 4th and 5th with more details to be released by the end of this month. You can make appointments already by going to redcrossblood.org or call at 320-632-0663.
--The Morrison County Commissioners will hold a shorter meeting Tuesday morning at 9am at the government center. They will hear from the auditor/treasurer and get the latest on the search for the next Morrison County Administrator.
--A Duluth man charged with fatally shooting a St. Cloud State University professor has been sentenced. A Stearns County Judge has sentenced 45-year-old Jason Beckman to just over 32-years in prison. He pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder with intent without pre-meditation earlier this month. Beckman gets credit for 132 days already served. Beckman reportedly stole a car after getting lost in Waite Park, thought someone was chasing him and then after knocking on the door of Ed Ward shot and killed him. He was arrested after being spotted later at St. Cloud State University.
--Minnesota had a record number of job openings in the second quarter of this year. Employers in Minnesota reported more than 205,000 vacancies, according to the figures released Friday by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. This is an 84 percent increase compared to the second quarter of last year, and a 40 percent increase from the second quarter in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The seven-county Twin Cities metro area had just over 119,500 vacancies, while Greater Minnesota had 86,000 openings. Health Care and Social Assistance had the most job vacancies at nearly 40,000 openings. Accommodation and Food Services had more than 35,000 openings. Thirty-two percent of the vacancies are for part-time employment, which is defined as fewer than 35 hours a week. Eleven percent are for temporary or seasonal work. Thirty-two percent require some level of post-secondary education or training beyond a high school diploma. Fifty percent require one or more years of experience. Fifty-six percent of the vacancies offer health insurance.
--In a series of tweets shared Saturday morning, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan announced she's been diagnosed with COVID-19. Flanagan, who is fully vaccinated, says she tested positive for the virus after caring for her 8-year-old daughter Siobhan, who came back positive for COVID last week. "When I began to feel cold-like symptoms myself, I took a rapid test that came back positive on Friday. A mail-in PCR test confirmed the results. I'll be continuing to stay home to recover and make sure I don't get anyone else sick," she said in one of the tweets. Flanagan says she's feeling under the weather, but her family is doing well.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce anounced that the November Employee of the Month is Amy Scholl who has worked for the Franciscan Sisters for the past 39 years and currently is the Director of Human Resources. Congratulations to Amy Scholl the November Employee of the Month by the LF Chamber.
--Poet and author, Heidi Barr, will be presenting a self-discovery workshop and book signing at the Little Falls Carnegie Library on Tuesday, November 16 from 6-7pm. Barr’s workshop “Cultivating Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life” will be an in-person event. The public is invited to spend an hour with 12 Tiny Things author and wellness coach Heidi Barr to uncover the tiny, intentional practices that will help you navigate the rest of the year (and holiday season) feeling rooted so that you can rise into whatever is coming next. Books and bullet journals will be available for purchase. For adults registration is requested by call 320-632-9676. This free program supported by Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
THANKSGIVING NEWS
--Media outlets reported that Thanksgiving 2021 could be the most expensive meal in the history of the holiday. Citing economists and experts, the pandemic and inflation are driving up food prices across the board ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Also the depleted work force is also being called a reason that stores need to up prices to keep stores going with a lack of employees. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported last Friday that food prices have increased 3.7% in 2021 and that will mean paying a lot more for the items you need for your Thanksgiving meal.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, cool and breezy, high near 40.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cold temps, low 20.
TUESDAY= sunny and chilly, high 38, low around 20.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, less windy, high 42, low near 25.
THURS/FRIDAY= warmer temps later this week with highs near 50.
SPORTS
HS FB= Upsala/Swanville beat KMS 40-16 Saturday and will play BBE on Friday at 12:30 in Fargo. Royalton beat Paynesville 32-22 Saturday and will play Eden Valley-Watkins at St. John's Friday night at 7pm. Pierz beat Morris Area 29-6 to advance to the section finals Friday against New London-Spicer scheduled for 7pm at neutral site. Other teams like Browerville, Foley and Sauk Rapids-Rice were defeated.
HS VB= Upsala was eliminated on Friday night by Bertha-Hewitt.
HS CC= Congratulations to Wyatt Baum of Little Falls, Ethan Kowalczk and Nathan Tax of Pierz advancing for the Boys State Cross County Meet Saturday and Erin Borash advancing to her 3rd State Cross County Meet from Royalton for the girls also this Saturday. The State Tournament is at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
COL FB= Gophers win 41-14 over Northwestern, the Gophers are bowl eligible at 6-2 on the season. Host Illinois on Saturday.
NFL= Cooper juggles in the winning TD last night as the Dallas Cowboys without Dak Prescott beat the Vikings 20-16 on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings (3-4) have Baltimore this Sunday.
MLB= Atlanta won 2-0 on Friday, then Atlanta battled back to win Saturday 3-2 over Houston to take a 3-1 series lead in the World Series. Houston survived with a 9-5 win Sunday night to take the series back to Houston Tuesday night for game 6. Braves up 3-2.