NEWS
--The St. Francis Music Center, Little Falls, has several special scholarships that have been set up by families to recognize the talents and dedication of music students and to encourage them to continue their musical studies. Students are chosen for these awards based on teacher recommendation and participation in musical activities. The highest honor at the Music Center is the Sister Justina Bieganek Award given this year to Sarah Leisenheimer from Sartell. Sarah is the co-concertmaster of the St. Francis Concert Orchestra. A new scholarship this year is the LaVerne Bzdok Scholarship. This year’s recipient of the award is Vera Miller of Browerville. Also awarded were the Sister Judine Cassidy Scholarships to Loretta Mrosla and Lorraine Mrosla from Bowlus; Teagan Teague from Bowlus; Laurel Clemons-Virnig from Hillman; and Grace Throener from Swanville. Maddy Ploof from Cushing was awarded the Lyseng Family Scholarship. Congratulations to all the scholarship award winners from St. Francis Music Center.
--An Iowa man is hurt after the semi he was driving went into the ditch in Meeker County. The incident happened along Highway 4 in Cosmos Township. The Minnesota State Patrol says 29-year-old Joshua Hinckley, of Sioux Rapids, Iowa, was heading north when he went off the road and into the ditch. Authorities say the semi came to a rest on the passenger side. Hinckley was taken to Hutchinson Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--Authorities say an electrical short is believed to be the cause of a fire in Paynesville over the weekend. Fire crews were called to the Lake Koronis Assembly Grounds just after 6:00am Saturday for a building fire. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says 30-year-old Travis Schwegel, of Cold Spring, was ice fishing on Lake Koronis when he saw the northwest corner of the main lodge on fire. Firefighters were able to contain the fire before it spread to other areas of the building. It's believed the fire started from a possible electrical shortage from a large outdoor food cooler unit. Stearns County Sheriff's Office reported that no one was hurt.
--A fire damaged a building under construction Sunday morning.
The St. Cloud fire department responded to the call at 10:52am Sunday at 215-37th Ave. N. There were no injuries, and damages were estimated at $35,000. The cause is under investigation.
--This is the season to give the gift of life to others; roll-up your sleeve and donate a unit of blood. The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls announce the American Red Cross has scheduled a Bloodmobile at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls on Monday, January 6th 1-7pm, Tuesday, January 7th 12 noon-6pm and Wednesday, January 8th 8:30am to 2:30pm. Anyone who is at least 16 years of age (please bring a parental consent), weighs at least 110 pounds and is considered to be in good health may be eligible to donate blood. There is no upper age limit and the time commitment is minimal. Please bring your photo identification. To make an appointment to donate blood, contact Sister Julien Dirkes at (320)632-0663 or schedule your appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org.
--Join Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen when he will be the guest on Community Events on Monday, December 30th, then in January guests include Superintendent Stephen Jones of Little Falls Community Schools on January 8th and Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber on January 16th to give updates on the school year. Community Events is 8:45am weekdays on AM960 KLTF.
--Today will be another busy day at the stores as exchanges will be made on this day after Christmas. Also many big box and small market stores clearance out their Christmas items giving opportunities for many to get ready for next year or if they are having a later Christmas this weekend. Today is also Boxing Day in Great Britain and other countries, considered a day of sport for many to enjoy with family and friends. The concept dates back to early days when servants were given time the day after Christmas to enjoy with their families and play sports and other games put together by their employers of the rich commonwealth. The employers would give them small boxes of trinkets or items hence the term Boxing Day.
--A 49-year-old from Detroit Lakes was injured Tuesday afternoon around 3:45pm when their car left interstate 94 at Highway 237 in Oak Township of Stearns County. Lora Anne Buntje was taken to the Melrose Hospital for their injuries.
--A 24-Hour Year-End Prayer for Peace Vigil will be held on Monday, December at 6pm through Tuesday (New Years Eve) at 6pm. The 24-hour vigil of prayer is divided into one-hour segments; individuals are asked to sign up to pray during one specific hour. The idea is to have someone praying every hour during the vigil. Participants can pray in their homes, at their churches or are welcome at St. Francis Convent. To participate in the 24-hour vigil, call the Franciscan Life Center at (320)632-0668 and register your preferred hour of prayer. The 24-Hour Year-End Prayer for Peace Vigil concludes with a New Year’s Eve Prayer Service, to which all are invited. A closing New Year’s Eve Prayer Service for Peace will be held on Tuesday night at 7pm in Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. Participation in the prayer vigil is not a prerequisite to attending the prayer service.
For more information or to register for a prayer hour by December 28th please call (320)632-0668 or email franciscanlife@fslf.org.
DEATH NOTICES
--Melvin “Mel” Schmidtbauer, age 78 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= drizzle and fog early, temps dropping in PM down to 25.
TONIGHT= temps drop to 17, clearing skies overnight.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 26, snow after midnight, low 23.
SATURDAY= snow likely, 1-3 during day, another 2-4 into Sunday with temps staying steady around 30 degrees.
SUNDAY= snow, mixed with freezing rain at times, high 32 then dropping into the 20s with more snow, ending by late Sunday.
SPORTS
NFL= a busy weekend in the NFL Sunday with many games to decide the playoff pictures that starts the following week. Vikings host Chicago Sunday noon, Green Bay takes on Detroit (Packers could still be the #1 seed), Dallas vs. Washington, NY Giants vs. Eagles (Cowboys and Eagles vying for last NFC Playoff spot), San Francisco vs. Seattle for NFC West and possible top playoff spot also on Sunday night. AFC side Titans, Pittsburgh and Oakland fighting for last AFC spot, New England, Kansas City, Houston jocking for position as Baltimore has home field in the AFC playoffs. Hear the action of the NFL this Sunday and throughout the playoffs up to the Super Bowl in February on AM960 KLTF.
HS= High School Tournaments start up again today with boys hockey in Little Falls, girls hockey in Edina and many in basketball.