NEWS
--Authorities released more information on a death they are investigating after a man was found dead near a path inside of Heritage Park Tuesday in St. Cloud. Police were called to the park just before 8am Tuesday on a report of a man found dead on the ground. Police say the man matched the description of an individual police dealt with the previous afternoon in the same area. According to police, officers were sent to a parking lot in the 200 block of 33rd Avenue South Monday afternoon, regarding a suspicious man possibly using drugs in a vehicle. Authorities arrived and talked to the man, who gave police a false name. Officers tried to arrest the man, but he fled the scene on foot and headed into a wooded area along the south side of Heritage Park. Authorities set up a perimeter and used a drone to search for the suspect, but were unable to locate him and called off the search. Due to the St. Cloud police department's previous interaction with the suspect, the BCA has been asked to take over the investigation.
--The city of Cold Spring has formally approved the site of the new fire station. During Tuesday's city council meeting, the council approved a purchase agreement with Cold Spring, formally known as Cold Spring Granite, for a piece of land located off of Main Street. The land purchase is for $250,000, plus the city will abate the remaining $32,953.76 of assessments still owed on the property. City Administrator Kris Dockendorf says even with the purchase agreement, there is no time line for when the facility will be built. Dockendorf says a committee is currently working to finalize what amenities are needed, design and layout and total cost to build the fire station, all of which will need council approval. The city has been working for some time to solve their space issues within city hall, which houses the fire and police departments, administrative offices, council chambers and library.
--Rivers have been receding in the previous days with drier conditions and still daytime temps in the 40s and 50s and nighttime temps for the most part below freezing. However, more rain is forecast for the weekend and the northern part of the state could deal with yet more snow that could start the high waters moving downward during the days ahead and could again lead to some flooding concerns in the next week or so. Many parts of the state as of today still have flood advisories and flood warnings in effect and some roads in the state still remain barricaded due to the high water concerns.
--Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is giving anyone who are interested in learning about birds and want to know what species can be found around Little Falls during the spring migration at a morning walk along the Platte River Trail. The event is sponsored by the Friends of Crane Meadows NWR and is free and open to the public. The walk begins at 8am on Saturday, May 13th at the Sedge Meadow Classroom near the Refuge Maintenance Shop and will be about 2 hours long. Wear your walking shoes and bring your binoculars. All birding levels are welcome, no experience is necessary, and binoculars are available to borrow. The Sedge Meadow Classroom is located at 19502 Iris Rd, Little Falls, MN 56345. For more information call the Refuge Office at 320-632-1575 or visit the Crane Meadows website at fws.gov/refuge/crane-meadows.
--Little Falls Community Schools and Rural Minnesota CEP are putting on a job fair Wednesday, May 10th in the Exchange Arena Parking Lot by the high school. The event is 9:30am-2:30pm. If you need more information on the event call 320-232-2000.
--Little Falls Community School announced their Survey for Strategic Planning has been posted on the school's website and facebook page. The strategic plan is a road map that is a key component for successful school districts. The Little Falls School Board has chosen to engage in the strategic planning process to identify priorities and focus areas for the next 3 to 5 years, in order to ensure success for Little Falls Community Schools. Superintendent Greg Johnson said that the first key question they are looking to address through this process is: How will we ensure that Little Falls School District is best preparing our students for their future in an ever-changing world?
We value your input and appreciate you taking time to provide your input on behalf of Little Falls Public Schools. All School District residents can take the survey. The survey will close on May 2nd.
--Adult use of recreational marijuana is one step closer to becoming legal in Minnesota after the House passed it Tuesday. The Senate is expected to do the same on Friday, but those advocating for local governments hope a final version addresses the needs of municipal leaders, especially in rural areas. The revenue sharing could be a boon for local governments and rural communities to gather more resources for dispensary compliance checks, however some feel it could get messy for those types of businesses, city councils, and town boards, however, to figure out where a licensed seller could set up shop. Some of the smaller communities; our school might be close to Main Street downtown which is really the one central hub for where things might be. And if the adult-use cannabis retailer is maybe the first in line after the school, how that could be maybe not desired. Some cities introduced moratoriums on new cannabis businesses and mandates on where they can and can’t be located after hemp-derived THC gummies became legal in Minnesota last summer. Cities likely already have zoning requirements for liquor stores or adult bookshops, so she says creating a regulation for a marijuana seller shouldn’t be that different. The House and Senate versions of the bills would have to be merged before they’re sent to Governor Tim Walz’s desk. Walz says he would sign the bill. If it became law, it would go into effect on July 1st.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Michael Dewitt and Stephanie Meister of Little Falls, boy on 4-25.
DEATH NOTICES
--Patrick “Pat” Trutwin, age 57 of Holdingford.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy, scattered showers, high 63.
TONIGHT= showers at times, breezy, low around 45.
FRIDAY= showers at times, cloudy and breezy, high 51, low 40.
SATURDAY= showers possible, cloudy, breezy, high 49, low 32.
SUNDAY= snow showers early, then rain and windy, high 46, low 31.
SPORTS
TWINS= Yankees score early on the Twins yesterday and win 12-6 to avoid the sweep in the series. Twins open a four game series with Kansas City at Target Field tonight, pregame at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS SB= Little Falls at Pierz today in a double-header of softball, first game begins at 4pm on AM960 KLTF with second game to follow. Also the 5pm news on KLTF will be in between the 2 games.