NEWS
--On Tuesday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary with three trailers, construction tools and a skid steer being stolen. The incident occurred at a property northwest of Upsala between October 24th and December 19th. It is believed the suspect(s) gained entry to a shed on the property by breaking a window. Items stolen included a 2013 Black Goose Neck Trailer, 2011 and 2012 Black Interstate enclosed trailers and a 2010 White Bobcat skid steer with tracks. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to be on the lookout and to contact them at (320) 632-9233 with any information regarding this burglary. More information on the equipment stolen including VIN numbers and pictures are posted on the Little Falls Radio Facebook page.
--Nadean Inman will serve as Benton County auditor-treasurer until the next election. It's a post she has filled in the interim, since Karri Thorsten resigned this fall and took a job with Foley Public Schools. Benton County board members appointed Inman this week to serve out Thorsten's term. The term ends January, 2019. The election for the position takes place in November. Candidates must file to run for the auditor-treasurer position in Benton County between May 22nd and June 5th. The primary election will take place August 14th and the general election is November 6th.
--The Minnesota Department of Public safety says they are cautioning people to make safety job one after seeing an increase in fire fatalities in the state this year. Agency officials say there have been 56 fire deaths in the state in 2017, a 30 percent increase over last year’s 43 deaths. The all time high occurred in 1976 when 134 people died in fires in Minnesota. Public safety officials say the holidays are especially dangerous when it comes to fires. Last year, more than a quarter of all fire deaths came in November, December and January. Department of Public Safety says the three leading causes of residential fires are cooking, heating and open flames. Careless smoking is the number one cause of fatal fires.
--Two Brainerd motorists were injured in a two-vehicle crash Monday morning at the intersection of Highway 25 and Thiesse Road in Brainerd. 41-year old Ryan Gress of Brainerd was traveling east on County Road 117, also known as Thiesse Road, approaching the intersection at Highway 25, while a second vehicle driven by 51-year old Shannon Hill of Brainerd was traveling north on Highway 25. Gress' vehicle entered the intersection and hit Hill's vehicle broadside. Both drivers were injured. Hill was taken to the hospital for injuries.
--A 20-year old Minnesota woman has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting her boyfriend last summer as cameras rolled during a YouTube stunt meant to rocket the young man to viral fame. Monalisa Perez entered her plea last week in Norman County District Court to second degree manslaughter in the June 26th death of 22-year old Pedro Ruiz III in Halstad. The plea agreement calls for her to serve 180 days in jail and then 10 years on supervised probation. A sentencing date sometime in February is anticipated.
--The Minnesota Department of Agriculture recently established a Farm and Rural Helpline. The MDA created the helpline as a one-stop shop of sorts for farmers to access to get referrals for mental health services, financial counseling, legal help and other resources stressed farmers may be seeking. The helpline is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling toll-free (833) 600-2670.
--Royalton High School announced that Juniors Jenna Carlson and Nathan Popp are their High School ExCel Award winners. Carlson is the daughter of Dail and Shelly, participates in band, choir, speech, drama, volleyball, basketball and softball. She is on the student council, National Honor Society, knowledge bowl, Royal Pride (leadership club), We Day, YES, Tech Club, Spanish Club and holds at 4.0 GPA. She also works with environmental care issues at Crane Meadows. Popp is the son of Larry and Renee, participates in choir, contest choir, football, basketball and baseball. He also is involved in the FFA, National Honor Society, BPA, Spanish Club, Youth Energy Summit, Tech Club, Student Council, Class Vice President and is on the honor roll. Nathan also volunteers time with the Salvation Army bell ringing program and Morrison County Relay for Life. State Winners for ExCel will be recognized during the winter sports tournaments. Good luck to Jenna and Nathan from Royalton.
NATIONAL NEWS
--The U.S. House on Wednesday approved a massive Republican plan to overhaul the tax code, clearing the bill's final hurdle in Congress and sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law. The House vote comes after the Senate approved an identical measure early Wednesday morning. In a 51 to 48 vote, Democrats unanimously opposed the bill while all Republicans present supported it. The plan would permanently drop the corporate tax from 35 percent to 21 percent, while also rewriting the individual tax rules to lower rates and restructure deductions. The plan would cut taxes in 2018 for the vast majority of households, with by far the largest benefits going to the wealthy. Many of the tax breaks are set to expire at the end of 2025, leaving a large section of the middle class to pay more in taxes. But Republicans promise a future Congress will intervene to prevent that tax hike from happening. Congressional Republicans plan to go to the White House to celebrate the bill's passage Wednesday afternoon. Trump pushed Republicans to send him a tax overhaul by Christmas, and he touted the measure Wednesday. Trump may wait until January to sign it into law.
WEATHER NEWS
--Today at 10:28am is the Winter Solstice meaning that winter officially begins this morning and lasts until March 20th. This also means today is the shortest day of the year.
WEATHER
TODAY= light snow early, then cloudy, high near 20.
TONIGHT= clearing skies and cold, low near 0.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 21, clouds increase, low 5 above.
SATURDAY= cloudy, high near 16, clearing and cold late, low 0.
SUNDAY= sunny and cold, high 11, low around -10.
CHRISTMAS DAY= sunny and very cold, high -3, low around -20.
SPORTS
HS BBB= Pierz at Crosby-Ironton tonight 7:15pm on FM94
HS BBB= Albany at Little Falls Friday 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ
COL BB= Gophers host Oral Roberts tonight 6:30pm on KLTF.
A REMINDER THAT LITTLE FALLS RADIO WILL BE CLOSING FRIDAY AT NOON AND REMAINED CLOSED TO TUESDAY 8AM