NEWS
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced that “It has been bought to our attention that there are emails circulating with email addresses belonging to marketfinders.online, that are providing a ‘Visitors/Attendees’ list for the Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair, please ignore that message as it is a scam. We request you to not click on any links or open any attachments. The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is the organizer of the Little Falls Arts and Crafts fair, and we do not give out any information regarding attendees. A list of vendors can be found in the online directory on our website.” If you have any questions, please contact us at 320-632-5155. The Arts and Crafts Weekend is September 9th and 10th in Little Falls.
--To chlorinate or not to chlorinate. That is the question Brainerd Public Utilities officials are grappling with. In the weeks after a water boil advisory had residents buying bottled water and boiling their tap water before consuming it, BPU Commission members have to decide whether chlorination efforts will continue. The advisory came after total coliform bacteria was found in the city’s water. Brainerd has the largest unchlorinated drinking water system in the state, but BPU staffers are still chlorinating the water according to health department guidelines. Commissioners discussed the issue at their meeting Tuesday, Aug. 29, learning chlorination would have not only likely prevented the mishap but might also be needed to prevent further copper corrosion in the water and operate the city’s planned future reclamation efforts.
--The CEE-VI Drug and Gang Task Force in central Minnesota has recently encountered xylazine in the area. According to the DEA, xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat in our country, fentanyl, even deadlier. The DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 states. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 about 23 percent of fentanyl powder and seven percent of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine. The mixture places users at a higher risk of suffering fatal drug poisoning. Because xylanzine is not an opioid, naloxone does not reverse its effects. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis, the rotting of human tissue, that could actually lead to amputation.
--A federal jury has found a St. Cloud man guilty of illegally having multiple guns as a felon. Following a six-day trial, 38-year-old Roberto Williams was found guilty on two counts. A sentencing date will be set later. Williams tried to rob a man at gunpoint outside an apartment in St. Cloud in July 2020. Williams was arrested and identified by the victim. A gun was found in his vehicle's glove box.
In a separate incident on November 13, 2020 police were notified that a five-year-old child had been shot in the head and declared dead at St. Cloud Hospital. Williams and his fiance, the child's mother, told police they were shopping when they got the phone call that the child had been shot. Williams said they both immediately returned home and took the child to the hospital together. However, surveillance from a neighbor showed just the fiance taking the child to the hospital and Williams placing two backpacks in garbage bins outside the house. Police found two semi-automatic guns in those backpacks. One of them had the child's blood on it. A picture on William's cellphone also had a picture of one of the guns with the text 'my new toy.' Because Williams has multiple prior felony convictions he is prohibited from having a gun or ammunition.
--The Morrison County Government Center announced that the community is invited to attend a Patriot Day of Remembrance Ceremony on September 11th, 2023. The ceremony will take place at the Law Enforcement Memorial site, located on the southwest corner of the Government Center parking lot. The start time is promptly at 8am and the service will be brief. This ceremony is being held to remember and reflect on the events of September 11th. This event is open to everyone who wish to attend.
--The Minnesota Department of Public Safety announced that more State Patrol, county sheriff's deputies and city police officers will be out this weekend patrolling to keep us safe. The State Patrol will be seeking out drunk drivers, distracted drivers, suspicious activity and speeders. Over 400 extra law enforcement will be out this Labor Day holiday weekend. Though accident numbers have been down in recent years on the holiday weekend, numbers if accelerated this year in the past few months on Minnesota highways.
--Holy Trinity School Principal Michelle Litke spoke on KLTF yesterday morning and is excited for back to school next week. Students and parents will notice some brick work around the building which is to be completed in late fall. Just after school starts, they will be getting ready for their School Marathon on September 22nd, and the Steak and Wine Fundraiser event on October 14th. For questions, volunteer information or details on events call 320-468-6446.
--Tony Housey of Camp Ripley also spoke on KLTF yesterday and wants to invite everyone to their open house on September 17th with vehicles, exhibits, vendors and plenty of food and fun during the day at Camp Ripley from 10am-2pm. There is no admission to attend but you must have a valid driver's license to enter the military base. Following the Open House on September 17th the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum will have their dedication and ceremonial groundbreaking from 2-3pm that day where they are building their new facility at the intersection of Highways 371 and 115. This event is an RSVP to the public as they want a head count for the event and asked if you could call the museum by September 14th at 616-6050.
DEATH NOTICES
--Catherine “Cathy” Simonet, age 84 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, breezy, high 82.
TONIGHT= partly cloudy and breezy, humid, low 64.
FRIDAY= sunny and humid, high 87, storm overnight, low 66.
SATURDAY= hot and humid, high 93, low near 68.
SUNDAY= very hot and humid, high 99, low near 73.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins lose in extra inning 5-2 in 10 innings Wednesday to Cleveland as the Guardians take the series. The Twins have today off.
HS FB= Pierz at Little Falls tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Upsala/Swanville at Pine River/Backus tonight 7pm Q92.
COL FB= The Gopher football opens the regular season tonight as they host Nebraska in a Gold Out game in Minneapolis at 7pm. Fans are asked to wear gold tonight when coming to the college game.
LFCHS= a time change has been noted on the football game next Friday night for Little Falls on September 8th. The Game at East Grand Forks has been moved to a 6pm kickoff next week on KLTF.