NEWS
--Authorities have released the name of the Sartell man killed after he was hit by a car on Highway 10 in Benton County Tuesday. He has been identified as 33-year old Eric Wochnick. The Minnesota State Patrol says at around 6:30am Wochnick was driving west on Highway 10 when he crashed into some trees on the right side of the road. Wochnick got out of the vehicle and attempted to cross the highway on foot. As he was crossing, he was hit by an eastbound vehicle in the left lane, causing a chain reaction crash. The state patrol says he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver's of the other vehicles and one passenger involved were not hurt.
--The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association has announced the awardees of their scholarship program for 2020. The association awards scholarships each year to individuals planning to become Minnesota Peace Officers. The applicants apply through their local sheriff’s offices. This year, the scholarship committee chose 21 awardees. The Minnesota Sheriff’s Association Scholarship Program is promoted by the 87 Sheriff’s of Minnesota. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce McKayla Geise of Little Falls is one of the scholarship winners this year. Mille Lacs County reported Jordan Ramler of Milaca, Stearns County reported Boe Garthus of Avon, Crow Wing County reported Jennifer Strack of Brainerd and also Cole Thoma of Brainerd were all named scholarship winners. The members of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association offer their congratulations to each of the scholarship awardees. The qualifications and academic excellence shown by these recipients reflect the dedication and pride of the young people in the State of Minnesota who will enter the difficult but rewarding profession of law enforcement and public service. For additional information about the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, please visit: www.mnsheriffs.org
--Little Falls Police in the previous days has responded to a burglary report on 8th Street Northwest in one of the trailer lots, the reporting party named the possible suspect in the case from Tuesday morning just after 3am, Monday they responded to an assualt call on 14th Street Southeast, also on Monday they assisted the Sheriff's office after locating a burning pickup on Iris Road, when police arrived the fire was out and the vehicle was being put on a flatbed, the police officer helped to put out any hot spots around the vehicle, according to the police report they were uanble to identify who owned the vehicle as nobody was present when they arrived on the scene. Police also received more calls of suspcious activity and fraud in the area.
--A passenger was injured when a pickup truck left Highway 71 at Highway 210 near Hewitt in Todd County around 11:30 Tuesday morning. 70-year-old Steven Peters of Dover was traveling north when the vehicle went into the ditch. Peters was not hurt. His passenger, 68-year-old Ann Peters of Dover sustained non life threatening injuries from the accident and treated in Wadena.
--Morrison County Website Wednesday showed 85 active cases of COVID-19 with 166 hospitlized from 2,901 total cases since testing began. Little Falls at 30 cases, Pierz 15, Swanville up to 13 all other cases were under 10 cases for their zip code in the county. The State Report Wednesday had 2,019 new cases and 66 new deaths linked to the virus. Two more deaths reported in Morrison County of one person in their 70s and another in their 90s. Morrison County reported 17 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday.
--Rep. Ron Kresha on Up Front now Tuesday 9:05am on KLTF.
--Today ends the year 2020, and tomorrow is New Years Day the start of 2021, a reminder that businesses today may be closing early for New Years Eve and many others are closed Friday for the holiday. There will be no regular mail delivery on Friday for New Years Day.
--Even though many bars and restaurants are either closed or take out only tonight, the Minnesota State Patrol stated they will be out in force watching for impaired drivers on this New Years Eve. So please if enjoy the night with adult beverages, Don't Drink and Drive.
--The Franciscan Sisters are holding their 24 hours of prayer for peace which started last night at 6pm and continues until 6pm tonight, this year they has that you do your 1 hour of the prayer vigil at home for safety reasons as the public is not invited at this time to the convent and their Prayer Service tonight at 6pm will be available on the FSLF.org (Franciscan Sisters website) click on U-tube page.
--St. Stanislaus Church of Sobieski has their cash/gun raffle drawing tonight at 6pm live streamed on their church's Facebook page.
--Tomorrow is the first of the 10 days of the Candle-less Hike and Scavenger Hunt event. You can walk the trails from Lindbergh State Park, The Morrison County Historical Society and the Charles A Lindbergh Historic Site during daylight hours January 1 through the 10th. The buildings will NOT be open but you can walk the trails outside between the three sites. There is also a scavenger hunt being put together at Lindbergh State Park. If you want to park at the park itself you will need a state parking permit/pass otherwise parking is free of charge at the other sites for walking January 1 through 10th.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday night at 7:30pm some via Zoom others in council chambers, reorganizational meeting of 2021. Little Falls School Board have their reorganization meeting at 5pm Monday at the Middle School Media Center.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--The famous Ball Drop in Time Square in New York City will have no spectators for the first time since 1907 tonight. Tonight's drop will be a virtual event only online or recorded for Network TV.
--”Gilligan's Island” actress Dawn Wells who was Mary Ann has died from COVID-19 complications at age 82.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM flurries, becoming sunny, high 22.
TONIGHT= fog likely overnight, clouds increase, low 13.
NEW YEARS DAY= partly cloudy skies, high 25, low 10.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high 28, low around 7 above.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, warmer, high 32, low around 17.
MONDAY= clouds increase, high 34, low around 20.
SPORTS
COL BB= Gophers vs. Wisconsin today at 3pm on AM960 KLTF
NFL= Vikings wrap up regular season at Detroit Sunday at noon. Dalvin Cook is ruled out due to the recent death of his father.
COL FB= Gopher running back Mohamed Ibrahim first named Third Team All American by the Associated Press then announced he will return for the 2021 season for the Gopher football team.
The Staff and Management at Little Falls Radio wish you and yours a very Happy New Year and all the Best in 2021. The offices of LF Radio are closed Friday so there will be no newsletter delivered on New Years Day, back on Monday.