NEWS --Today is Columbus Day. A federal holiday meaning many government agencies, city halls, some banks, financial institutions, businesses are closed today. U.S. Post Offices are closed today and there is no regular mail delivery. In previous years the holiday has lost its luster and therefore many agencies use this day now as a floating holiday to take the day after Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve off later this year. This is one of those days you should call ahead to make sure what is open before heading out on Columbus Day.
--Due to Pierz City Hall being closed today, the Pierz City Council will hold their council meeting tomorrow night at 7pm at City Hall.
--Back on Friday, the Little Falls Community High School Homecoming King and Queen were crowned; King Austin Norton and Homecoming Queen Rachel Loukinen during the pep fest on Friday.
--Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says two men broke into Holdingford High School and stole over $3,000. Authorities say the men broke into the school on Wednesday just after 2am through the roof. The two went into the front office and broke into the principals office where they took a bag with $20 to $30 in it and a bank bag with over $3000 in it. The first male suspect is described as being average height and weight, wearing a white and gray jacket with a hood, white tennis shoes and black gloves. The second male is described as short and skinny, dark striped hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and gray shoes. The suspects are believed to know the school well as they knew where the cameras are. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at 320-251-4240.
--Motorist will find all lanes of the new four-lane Highway 371, and all connections to local roads providing their most direct routes to local destinations, open after crews removed the lane restrictions on Highway 371 at Cullen Brook, located just north of Nisswa and south of Pequot Lakes, at noon on Friday. The opening of all lanes of Highway 371 at Cullen Brook marks the end of major construction on the new four lane Highway 371 project in Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Jenkins. Major construction on the Highway 371 four lane expansion project began in winter 2016 after receiving funding from the competitive Corridors of Commerce program.
--A Cold Spring woman accused of purposely contaminating chicken while working at Gold’n Plump has pleaded guilty. 36-year-old Faye Slye pleaded guilty to two felony counts of criminal damage to property for purposely contaminating chicken at the Cold Spring plant in 2016. Court records show a worker alerted authorities to chicken that had a dirt or grit-like substance on it. A second, similar incident happened the next day. Authorities collected Slye’s plastic sleeves and found a substance they say is consistent with the contaminated chicken. Investigators say Slye admitted it was sand the first night and dirt the second night. Slye could serve up to 90 days in jail and be forced to pay thousands of dollars in restitution. A judge will determine the jail time and restitution at a sentencing hearing scheduled for a later date.
--Crosby Police Lieutenant Kevin Randolph was selected as the 2017 Investigator of the Year by the Minnesota Sex Crimes Investigator's Association. Randolph was presented the award for his 15 years of law enforcement, forensics investigative tools and bringing his cases to favorable outcomes throughout his years of service.
--A reminder from the Morrison County Board of Commissioners there will be a public input meeting tonight at 7:00pm at the county boardroom to get input on the design concept of the Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail in Little Falls.
--The Minnesota State Patrol says a Becker woman died as a result of her injuries she suffered in a crash east of Milaca. 88-year old Mary Imholte of Becker died at St. Cloud Hospital. She was a passenger in a car involved in a four vehicle collision. The State Patrol says 31-year old Beth Foote of Milaca was going east on Highway 23 when she lost control and crossed the center line and struck a westbound vehicle driven by 61-year old Marsha Schrader of Annandale. Foote drove herself to the Princeton Hospital. Shrader was taken to St. Cloud Hospital. A passenger in Shrader’s vehicle, 66-year old Mavis Flowers of Annandale was also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The four other people involved in the crash were not hurt. The crash happened at about 3:30pm on Monday on Highway 23 east of Milaca in Mille Lacs County.
--The Stearns County Sheriffs Office received a report of a missing 2 year old boy. A drone along with 2 Bloodhounds and handlers were also dispatched. The State Patrol, Chain of lakes Fire, Richmond Fire and Rescue and St. Martin Rescue also assisted in the search. The 2 year old boy was safely located 3 hours after the search began.
--A St. Cloud man was sentenced Thursday after having been convicted of a felony following an incident in which his grandson mistook his sawed-off shotgun for a toy, accidentally hitting another child in the leg. 46-year old Kevin Lee Sund was convicted of felony possession of a dangerous weapon by someone convicted of a previous felony crime of violence. The complaint charging Sund indicates that his grandson took the shotgun out of a duffel bag that Sund had brought to the residence, pointed it at the floor and pulled the trigger. Sund and his grandson left the residence and someone else brought the injured child to the hospital. Sund didn't contact police, and police were unable to find him so a warrant was issued for his arrest. Sund was sentenced to serve three years and four months in prison.
DEATH NOTICES --Gloria Lust, age 75 of Little Falls. --Arthur “Art” Wolch, age 94 of Rice formerly of Little Falls.
WEATHER FREEZE WARNING EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. TODAY= partly sunny, high 52. TONIGHT= clear night, cold, low 29 heavy frost likely. TUESDAY= frost early, then sunny, high 53, clear night low 30. WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high 58, clear night low 35.
SPORTS NFL= Vikings at Chicago tonight, 6:45pm pregame on KLTF. The Vikings announced they have signed running back Steven Ridley to help with the loss of Dalvin Cook. Sam Bradford expected to start. COL FB= Purdue beat Gophers 31-17 outscoring Minnesota 17-0 in the 4th Quarter after a 97 minute weather delay on Saturday. HS FB= Flyers win homecoming 22-14 over Foley. Pierz rolls over Howard Lake Waverly 52-7 to go to 6-0. Royalton wins over Browerville 35-12, Royals are now 5-1. Kimball beat USA 31-16.