NEWS
--Erik Sogge from the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery stated Tuesday afternoon “As you are likely aware, there will not be a public wreath event at the State Veterans Cemetery this year. There will be individual wreaths on every headstone, which will be placed internally by our staff. Unfortunately, we are unable to have public volunteers assist in this process. We are hoping to have them placed by December 20th, pending on-time delivery and cooperation from mother nature. Our primary concern is ensuring that the general public knows that there will not be a public event hosted at the cemetery. Additionally, the non-profit group that typically purchases the wreaths was unable to do so this year. For that reason, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs determined that we would purchase the wreaths to ensure that our Veterans and their loved ones were honored. This required a significant financial commitment to purchase the 6,500 wreaths for our State Veterans Cemeteries in Duluth, Little Falls and Preston, which is why our agency created an online donation page to assist with our efforts. John Thomas of Wreathsforthefallen.org stated last week they will NOT be a wreath laying ceremony at the State Cemeteries this year. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affair this week released this statement “More than 10,300 Veterans and spouses are interred among the three State Veterans Cemeteries. During the winter holidays, in particular, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs works to create a special environment where meaningful, one-of-a-kind memories can be shared. This environment is enhanced by beautiful, fragrant memorial wreaths that are placed on all headstones”. MDVA wants to continue this important tradition but needs funding assistance from the community to bring the effort to fruition. MDVA is seeking help to fund wreaths that will honor Minnesota’s fallen heroes. The fundraising goal is $100,000 for 6,500 decorated wreaths. More details are available at MinnesotaVeteran.org/Wreath. Minnesotans are invited to visit one of the State Veterans Cemeteries and enjoy the sea of wreaths that should be fully placed by December 20th. Wreaths typically remain until the end of January. For more information on the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls on Highway 115 call Erik at 320-616-2527.
--Two years after three Minnesota National Guard members died in a crash, senators and representatives have proposed a bill to rename Minnesota post offices in their honor. On December 5th, 2019, Guardsmen Charles Nord, James Rogers Jr., and Kort Plantenberg were killed when their UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Marty due to an engine failure during a routine maintenance test flight. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith along with Representatives Tom Emmer and Michelle Fischbach have introduced a bill in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives to rename post offices in the hometowns of the three Guard members to preserve their memory for years to come. The proposed changes include renaming the Avon Post Office after Plantenberg, the Perham Post Office after Nord, and the Winsted Post Office after Rogers. Back in May, the legacy of the three men was honored near the crash site as the Minnesota Army National Guard Fallen Soldiers Memorial was officially dedicated in Kimball.
--The Little Falls Carnegie Library stated that the holiday concert scheduled Tuesday at the library had to be postponed. Local musician Paul Jensen has rescheduled his concert 4-6pm next Tuesday at the library from 4-6pm and that event will be free of charge.
--On Monday, Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen presented Patrol Seargant Joel Gross with the MSA (Minnesota Sheriff’s Association) Supervisor of The Year Award. Sgt. Gross has 30 years of service in law enforcement and is well deserving of the award. The Award ceremony took place at the 136th Annual MSA Winter Sheriff Conference, held at the Arrowwood Resort, Alexandria
--Waite Park has been hit with another round of vehicle theft, theft from vehicle and stolen catalytic converters. Recently blank checks were stolen from vehicles and then written out and used. A vehicle was taken from Park Meadows Drive. It is a tan Ford Acura. Catalytic converters were stolen off vehicles in the 200 block of 2nd street south in Waite Park. Other theft from vehicles include firearms, a backpack and a license plate stolen off a vehicle. If you do plan to leave a firearm in your vehicle please make sure it is well hidden and the vehicle is locked. It is also important to know the serial number of that firearm in case it is stolen. If you notice suspicious activity around vehicles do not hesitate to contact your local law enforcement or if a crime in progress call 911. The St. Cloud police department also reported three Salvation Army kettles have been stolen in the previous week outside of stores. Again if you notice someone taking the kettles contact 911 to investigate.
--Fire crews responded to a business fire in Waite Park Monday. The incident happened around noon at 63 3rd Street Northeast. Authorities say the fire was found in a storage room inside Quality Appliance Center. Fire crews from St. Cloud and St. Joseph were called in for mutual aid. No one was hurt and the fire was extinguished. Authorities believe a space heater located next to some cardboard inside the storage room was the cause of the fire. There is no damage estimate at this time.
--Zion Lutheran Church is hosting Chick for Bricks dinner tonight at the Church in northeast Little Falls. A $10 donation is perferred.
DEATH NOTICES
--Donald J. “Pete” Murphy, age 86 of Pierz formerly of Ramey.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy skies, some afternoon sun, high 35.
TONIGHT= mostly cloudy, flurries possible, low 17.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy skies, high near 30, low around 12.
SATURDAY= sunny and breezy, high 27, rising temps overnight.
SUNDAY= sunny skies and warmer, high 39, low around 26.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings host Pittsburgh tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Pine City tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS GBB= Little Falls at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 7:15pm tonight, hear the action live on 94ROCKS KFML and fallsradio.com.
HS BBB= Princeton at Little Falls Friday at 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL BB= Michigan State hands Gophers first loss 75-67 last night.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1851= The first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) opens.
IN 1854= Lord Tennyson published “Charge of the Light Brigade”.
IN 1907= first Christmas Seals are sold in United States.
IN 1965= the first airing of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on TV.
IN 1979= Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen died in New York at age 84.
IN 1992= The Royal Family announced that Prince Charles and Princess Diana had separated after 11 years of marriage.