NEWS --Congratulations to the Pierz Pioneer football team. Pierz defeated Jordan on Saturday 55-26 rushing for over 420 yards on the ground and scoring 7 touchdowns. Pierz will play Saturday at 1:00pm against St. Croix Lutheran Acadamy in the Class AAA Championship at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for 2nd title in 3 years. The game can be heard live on FM94 KFML and also can be streamed online at fallsradio.com to hear the action.
--The Little Falls School Board meets today at 5:00pm at the Middle School Media Center. The board will receive the 2016-2017 fiscal audit, approve policies and propose the 2018 meeting schedule.
--Recently, the city of Royalton received a Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Program grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Activity (DEED). The grant totals over $200,000 and will benefit the Royalton Industrial Park. Rep. Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, gave the following statement on the grant: “This is a great opportunity for one of our local cities to use these state resources to bolster our economic growth, and create more good-paying jobs. Congratulations to Mayor Andrea Lauer and the city of Royalton for receiving this grant; I can’t wait to see how this will benefit our area going forward.”
--Waite Park police are still looking for the person, or people, responsible for leaving some explosive devices inside a mobile home. Police Chief Dave Bentrud says they have not made any arrests so far. At about 2:00pm Wednesday Stearns County Sheriff's Deputies found the devices inside the home on Claremount Street in Bel Clare Estates. The deputies were serving an eviction notice at the home when a pipe bomb and blasting caps were found. As a precaution, residents around the home were evacuated and the school district was notified. About two hours later the Minneapolis bomb squad arrived and detonated the device. No one was hurt.
--The St. Cloud man accused of attempting to break into Centennial Sports Inc. in August was convicted of a felony Friday morning. 25-year old Joseph Edward McDermott, was arrested in August after police responded to a call from the owner of Centennial Sports in St. Cloud who heard someone attempting to break into a door in the rear of the building. Officers witnessed a man running from the scene. The man was apprehended and identified as McDermott. On Friday, McDermott was convicted on one count of possession of burglary or theft tools. He was sentenced to four years of probation plus community service work. If McDermott violates his probation, he will serve 14 days in the Stearns County Jail.
--Damages are estimated at $380,000 for an adult bookstore in St. Cloud after a possible arson fire set Thursday afternoon. No one was injured in the incident. 32-year old Cody Mann of Sauk Rapids could face charges for the incident later Friday.
--On Thursday, GiveMN celebrated their 9th annual Give to the Max Day, where a record breaking $20.6 million was raised for Minnesota nonprofits and schools. The new record surpassed last year’s Give to the Max Day’s record breaking year of $20.1 million. Donors from Minnesota’s 87 counties, all 50 states and more than 20 countries around the world came together to make Minnesota a better place.
--The IMC Concert for Little Falls Community High School is tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00pm in the Charles D. Martin Auditorium. Tickets are general admission at the event.
--Congratulations to Little Falls Flyer swimmer Alice Foote who finished 6th place in the 100 and 9th in the 50 freestyle Saturday at the State Swimming and Diving competition at the University of Minnesota. Little Falls also had Rachael Josephson and a relay team compete at state last Friday. Foote made it to Saturday's action.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl and Chief Deputy Denny Lasher of Crow Wing County announced Friday they plan to retire from the sheriff's office at the end of 2018. Between the two, they have put in nearly 60 years of service. Dahl is currently in his third term as Crow Wing County Sheriff and said the time is right to step aside at the end of his term next year. Dahl and Lasher have known each other since high school. Dahl started with the sheriff's office in 1986 while Lasher began his career in 1992. Dahl was elected sheriff in Crow Wing County for the first time in 2006.
--Dick Ross, who dedicated 42 years of his life to law enforcement, including 12 as the Crow Wing County sheriff, died Wednesday night at St. Cloud Hospital. The 78-year old started in law enforcement in 1960 in Crosby then went on to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office in 1962. A Celebration of Life for former sheriff Dick Ross will be held Tuesday north of Baxter.
--The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at LF City Hall.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS --County music legend and entertainer Mel Tillis died Sunday at 85. He had a long list of music hits and appeared in many movies. --Singer and actor of the Partridge Family TV Show, David Cassidy remains in a medically induced coma after severe organ failure over the weekend. Many feel the end is near for the former 70s icon.
DEATH NOTICES --Erma Pavlacky, age 93 of Staples --Ronald Schroeder, age 69 of Pierz --Sister Mary Amy Schreiner, age 97 of Little Falls. --Dennis Lucas, age 64 of Motley. --Curt W. McDougle, age 41 of Little Falls.
WEATHER TODAY= sunny skies, high 48. TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low 20 turning very blustery. TUESDAY= sunny, windy and cold, high 26, low near 10. WEDNESDAY= cloudy, few light snow showers, high 28, low 20. THANKSGIVING= mostly sunny, high near 35.
SPORTS NFL= Latavius Murray had two touchdowns as the Vikings defeated the Rams Sunday 24-7 to go to 8-2 on the season. A short week for the Vikings who are at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day at 11:30am. Hear the action of a triple header Thursday morning on AM960 KLTF. COL FB= Gophers get routed at Northwestern 39-0 on Saturday. The Gopher (5-6) wrap up regular season vs. Wisconsin Saturday 1:30pm. HS FB= Owatonna beat Brainerd 56-28 Saturday in state football semi-finals. St. Croix Lutheran beat Pequot Lakes 45-7 to advance. TROT= The Turkey Trot for Pierz Special Olympics is Thursday morning- registration 7:15am; kids run 8:15; and turkey trot at 8:30 starting the high school in Pierz. $20 cost goes to Special Olympics in Pierz. Start your turkey day with a fun run in Pierz.