NEWS
--Minnesota Department of Health Friday results 1,721 new cases, 13 new deaths. Morrison County 32 new cases, no new deaths. Morrison County Website 698 total cases, 246 active cases, 34 of total cases required hospitalization, 132 for Little Falls active cases, Pierz 22, Bowlus and Hillman 17, Motley 15, Royalton 13, Swanville 11 on Friday's report. Saturday showed 2,268 new cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota with 14 new deaths which included the 9th death in Morrison County linked to the virus. Morrison County had 17 new cases on Saturday's report. Sunday there were 1,684 new cases of COVID-19 and 21 new deaths. Morrison County reported 15 new cases on Sunday's numbers making 712 total cases since testing began with 9 confirmed deaths. The numbers still show that the highest age demographic for contracting the virus is between the ages of 20 to 24 with over 16,600 cases (4,000 more than any other age group), however of the 2,349 deaths linked to the virus less than 100 of those are under the age of 60.
--Today begins distance learning for Little Falls Community Schools Pre K through 12th grade for the 3 public elementary schools, community middle school and high school. We were informed that Mary of Lourdes of Schools will have classes during this time but without busing and students will have to be dropped off or picked up to class. There is no timeline according to Superintendent Stephen Jones on how long distance learning will continue to take place but he stated that weekly updates will be given to the school district.
--Authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a nine-year-old boy to the hospital Saturday. The St. Cloud Police Department says shortly before 8:30pm officers responded to a report of a person who had been shot at an apartment complex in the 1600 block of 16th Street Southeast. When officers arrived, they found the boy with a single gunshot wound in the entryway. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities say the victim lives in the building and had been unloading items from a vehicle when he was hit by the gunshot. Police say the shot came from an unknown location. The shooting remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the police.
--Royalton Public Schools was notified of two confirmed cases of COVID-19, affecting the Middle and High Schools. These confirmed cases had an exposure date of October 13th and 14th. We have worked with MDH to identify those people that were in close contact with the cases and have communicated with those affected directly by phone. The risk of exposure for other individuals in the MS/HS present on October 13th or 14th poses no greater risk of contracting the virus in the general community. We are confident that all close contacts have been identified and communicated with.
--35 Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s 177th Cyber Protection Team (CPT) will mobilize to Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, as part of a larger task force aligned under the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade (Cyber) to conduct cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command and the Cyber National Mission Force. The 177th Cyber Protection The unit conducts threat-focused, intelligence-driven defensive cyber operations in response to ongoing or imminent threats as directed. Minnesota is one of only three states to have a full Cyber Protection Team, other units are split between several states. This will be the unit’s first federal mobilization. Their deployment ceremony was held on Sunday.
--Morrison County Public Health is reminding those that a free COVID-19 testing event is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12-6pm at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls due to the rapid increase of positive cases and the issue is that there are many others who may not have symptoms but may still have the virus. This free testing will help determine who has COVID-19 in the county. They ask you make an appointment from the flyers sent out on the website www.primarybio.com/r/littlefalls or call 1-855-612-0677 but you can walk-in they will be welcome but expect a bit of a delay as they will take the appointments first. Public Health said that this is not the full swab of the nose, this is a little more comfortable, a shallow swab, in and out in 10-15 minutes, you do not need to quarantine after taking this test unless you are alrady sick or have symptoms known to you. Only information needed in a contact number when the test is completed to let you know the results. Again this is open to anyone who wishes to be tested for COVID-19.
--Sheriff Scott Goddard is requesting assistance from the public in locating 30-year old Robert Joseph Hamann of Brainerd. He was last seen at a residence near Brainerd on October 17. Mr. Hamann is known to drive a 1999 Chevrolet Lumina with Minnesota registration 134RER. The car has black duct tape on the front end. Sheriff Goddard states, “my office was informed by Hamann’s wife that he has not been seen since October 17. We are concerned for his welfare at this time and I’m asking anyone who may know of his whereabouts to contact my office or their local law enforcement.
--Authorities have charged a man believed to be involved in two shooting incidents in St. Cloud earlier this week. 18-year-old Jeremiah Torke is charged with two counts of committing a drive-by shooting for the incidents Monday morning. Torke is currently awaiting sentencing on 1st-degree assault in Kandyohi County where he shot another man in the stomach during an altercation.
--Upsala Area Schools announced that their Dollars for Scholars Walk-A-Thon this past Friday was postponed from the snow storm and rescheduled for this Friday October 30th at 3pm in Upsala.
--Congratulations to Nathan Kolbo and Amanda Waletski crowned King and Queen at homecoming coronation last night in Royalton.
DEATH NOTICES
--Frieda M. Kedrowski, age 102 of Little Falls formerly Swanville.
--Louis E. Blais, age 72 of Long Prairie.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, chilly, high 25.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cold temps, low around 8.
TUESDAY= sunny in AM, cloudy in PM few flurries, high 30, low 26.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and warmer, high 42, low around 25.
SPORTS
LF= due to Little Falls Community Schools going distace learning today, all activities and games have been cancelled this week.
HS FB= Pierz wins Friday 36-12 over Sauk Centre now 3-0, USA Patriots and Foley win Friday, Royalton lost Friday, Little Falls lost to Cathedral after the game moved to Saturday 7-0 in St. Cloud. Long Prairie Grey Eagle and Holdingford both lost on Saturday also.
COL FB= Michigan beat Gophers 49-24 Saturday for little brown jug.
NFL= Green Bay and Detroit both won on Sunday out of the NFC North. Vikings were off. Bears at Rams tonight 6:30pm on KLTF.