NEWS
--The next Coffee with a Cop event is scheduled for Thursday this week from 8:30-10am at the Little Falls Senior Center. Sheriff Shawn Larsen stated Friday on KLTF that there is a still a drug problem in the county including fentanyl and now the drug laced with heroin. The purpose of the meeting is to educate and community with the public on drug abuse, prevention like drug dissolving agents that the sheriff's office hands out for free, numbers to call when you feel that someone you know may be dealing with drug abuse and how the community together can work on getting arrests and the drugs off the streets. The event is sponsors by the sheriff's office, Little Falls Police and Stand Up for U Coalition from the High School and all are welcome to come to the event.
--A “Meet and Greet” has been coordinated to allow the community to meet candidates for Little Falls School Board and Morrison County commissioner seats. It will take place at the commons at the Little Falls Middle School, Saturday, October 8th from 12-4pm. All candidates for Little Falls School Board and Morrison County commissioner seats have been invited. There will be no candidate debate or formal question and answer session. This meet and greet was coordinated to provide a centralized location for community members to meet, talk with, ask questions, and get to know the candidates prior to the election, November 8th. It is open to everyone.
--At 10:45pm Thursday a driver with alcohol in his system was traveling the wrong way on Highway 10 and hit a State Patrol squad car. 22-year old Trevor Reiter of Sauk Rapids was heading westbound in the eastbound lanes of Highway 10 in Rice of Benton County, when Reiter crashed into the State Patrol Squad car with both the emergency lights and siren activated as the patrolman was responding to the wrong way vehicle. Both Reiter and the Minnesota State Patrol driver identified in the report only as a 30-year old male were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries.
--The former owner of the Press Bar and Parlor in St. Cloud has been sentenced for intentionally setting fire to the place as part of a scheme to obtain insurance money. A federal judge Friday, sentenced 43-year-old Andrew Welsh to just under six years in prison and was fined $3-million. He pleaded guilty to one count of arson in May. According to court documents, on February 17, 2020, Welsh used gasoline to set a fire in his office located in the basement of the Press Bar. The fire eventually spread and resulted in the total destruction of the building as well as other losses. On February 24, 2020, Welsh got a Public Insurance Adjuster to assist with insurance claims related to the fire at Press Bar. On February 26, 2020, Welsh, through the Public Insurance Adjuster, claimed that he was entitled to payment from the insurance company in the amount of just over $1.4 million for property damage and other losses related to the fire. Welsh admitted that in submitting the insurance claim, he falsely stated that “said the loss did not originate by any act, design, or procurement on the part of your insured,” when, as Welsh knew, his arson of the Press Bar caused the loss for which he sought compensation.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their October Employee of the Month is Janelle Hansen at CareerForce. Congratulations to Janelle Hanson.
--Help out the Pierz American Legion Auxiliary today with their pillow cleaning fundraiser from 7am-3pm at the Red Rooster in Genola.
--Another reminder that the clean up day in Genola is tomorrow, Tuesday at 7am. Items for cleanup must be on the curb by 7am.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Development of Morrison County and Rural MN CEP sends congratulations and thanks to the local manufacturers who call Morrison County home during Minnesota Manufacturer’s Month (MMM) celebrated in October. Formerly Minnesota Manufacturers Week, the designation has been expanded to a full month. MMM is designed to showcase Minnesota’s diverse manufacturing industry and to increase legislative and public awareness of the importance in providing high- wage, high-skill jobs for our communities. During the statewide event, businesses open their doors for tours during Minnesota Manufacturing Week. The public is invited to tour Wabash, 700 Paul Larson Drive on Wednesday, October 26th from 10am-12pm and Lakeshirts, 609 13th Avenue NE from 10am-12pm and then 12:45pm-2pm. These Little Falls facilities are housed in facilities that once produced boats by the thousand Larson and Crestliner. Attendees are to wear closed-toed shoes. Morrison County is home to many manufacturers employing hundreds of people.
--A driver and passenger from Ironton were injured Friday in a two-vehicle accident in Crow Wing County. At 2:34pm, 41-year-old Naurine Brown was on Highway 210 at Crow Wing County Road 142 when the vehicle left the road, overcorrected and struck the ditch. Both Naurine Brown and 45-year-old Michael Brown of Ironton were treated at an area hospital with non life threatening injuries.
--The lack of rain this fall is resulting in more widespread dry conditions across the state of Minnesota. This week's update from the U.S. Drought Monitor says 54 percent of the state is now abnormally dry, up from 42 percent last week. The moderate drought area is now at 22 percent, up from 16 percent a week ago. The severe drought area has stayed the same at four percent. Luckily Morrison County has not been effected much by the lack of rainfalls as Little Falls has received nearly 3 inches of this month and St. Cloud reported nearly 2.5 inches of rain. However the Twin Cities Metro Area has had .23 inches of rain and some of western Minnesota has seen no significant rainfall since the end of August. The forecast only gives a few isolated shower chances through the 10th of October.
--The Morrison County Commissioners have their next scheduled meeting on Tuesday morning at 9am in the boardroom.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Justin and Karissa Gross of Little Falls, a baby girl born Sept 28th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Allen D. Kirschbaum, age 79 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, high 74, cloudy skies overnight, low 50.
TUESDAY= cloudy, spotty showers, high near 70, low near 50.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and windy, high 68, temps drop to 40 late.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins shut out Detroit 7-0 on Friday. Tigers hold off Twins Saturday 3-2. Detroit wins the series Sunday 5-2 over Twins. The Twins (77-82) open series at Chicago tonight for final regular season series. Pregame at 6:30pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Purdue knocks off the Gophers Saturday 20-10 handing Minnesota their first loss at 4-1. Gophers off until October 15th.
NFL= Vikings survive a wild game with New Orleans Sunday in London winning thanks to 5 field goals and a missed one 28-25.