NEWS
--Morrison County Veteran Service Office Kathy Marshik is preparing the Bank Square Plaza building, formerly the bank that was at the corner of Bank Square in Little Falls into a “Love” Wellness event on February 12th from 10am to 3pm. Make a heart/craft for their contest and win one of four $50 prizes, patriotic crafts will be given to our soldiers and their families from the event. There will be kids fun, arts and crafts, hunting, fishing, nutrition, mental health, addiction, beauty, elderly, disability resources all available at the event. This is Free and Fun Community Event so all are welcome and share the “Love” on February 12th in Little Falls. If you would like to help volunteer at the event or want to be part of it call Kathy at 632-0291.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s department is reporting a burglary of a storage shed when someone cut the lock and then replaced it with another lock to not bring attention to it. Items taken were an antique cash register, a 65-inch Sony flat screen TV, and a metal took chest with a wooden top containing numerous tools. The Stearns County Sheriff’s department is also reporting a theft of snowmobile take from a recreational dealership. It's a 2019 black Polaris RMK snowmobile. Also since December, The St. Cloud Police department is reporting an uptick of stolen vehicles in the city. A 2007 Toyota Camry was taken from the 2500 block of Division Street West. A 2010 red Hyundai Elantra with two Apple decals on the back of the window was taken from the 300 block of 32nd Avenue North and those were the most recent. If you have information on any unsolved crimes in the St. Cloud help by calling Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301.
--A Sauk Rapids man faces felony tax crimes for allegedly filing false or fraudulent individual income tax returns. The Minnesota Department of Revenue says the Ramsey County Attorney's Office has recently charged John McPherson with four counts of filing false returns for the tax years 2015 through 2018. The revenue department says McPherson overstated his income so he could claim the maximum refund from the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and the state Working Family Credit. In 2015, McPherson allegedly overstated his income by $10,000 more than he earned and in 2016 through 2018 allegedly claimed income from employers who had not hired him. The charges state by inflating the figures, he received a refund he wasn't entitled to. The charges state McPherson owes more than $14,000 back to the government and could face up to a $10,000 fine, prison time or both for each count.
--The trial for former Minneapolis police officers Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane has been postponed after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. Attorneys gathered in the courtroom Wednesday morning before Judge Paul Magnuson adjourned the trial until Monday. Kueng and Thao appeared yesterday morning but Thomas Lane was not, suggesting he is the defendant who is infected with the virus. A news release from the U.S. District Court says the defendant who tested positive for COVID will be retested prior to the trial resuming. All other trial participants who have been in close proximity to the COVID-positive individual, including their legal team, will be also need to be tested before the trial resumes. Kueng, Tao and Lane are charged with violating George Floyd's civil rights on the day he was murdered in May 2020. Kueng and Tao face an additional charge for not stepping in to help Floyd while fellow officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes. Chauvin was convicted of murder in a state trial.
--The Little Falls City Council meets Monday at 7:30pm at City Hall.
--Marnita VanHoecke of Pine Grove Zoo spoke on KLTF Wednesday. She mentioned that the zoo is planning to reopen for spring hours starting April 14th that is Thursday through Sunday then open 7 days a week May 1 through Labor Day Monday. This year the zoo will have special events throughout the year including a fundraiser in August with local musician Michael Shynes, their Boo Fest which brought in around 2,700 people last October will be back later this fall. Their biggest money maker the past 12 years has been Pine Grove Zoo Gone Wild and that is February 18th at Falls Ballroom. Tickets are $49 and also include one free admission to the Pine Grove (a $10 value) with your purchase. The evening is filled with music and entertainment from Deuces Wild the Dueling Piano Show, snacks and beverages at the Falls Ballroom and the introduction of the new animal coming to Pine Grove Zoo this year. For tickets or for information on the Zoo contact Marnita at 320-616-5595 there is also ticket information on their web site and through Eventbrite.
--Pioneer Elementary School in Pierz, reported there might have been miscommunication on their upcoming conferences. Pioneer Elementary conferences will be Tuesday and Wednesday, February 15th and 16th. Kindergarten through 4th grade will have a date/time assigned while 5th and 6th grade will be walk in as usual.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has revealed the 17 nominees being considered for induction in 2022. They include Beck, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush, DEVO, Duran Duran, Eminem, The Eurythmics, Judas Priest, Fela Kuti, MC5, New York Dolls, Dolly Parton, Rage Against the Machine, Lionel Richie, Carly Simon, a Tribe Called Quest and Dionne Warwick. The final inductees will be announced in May.
DEATH NOTICES
--Marilyn Joyce Winter, age 79 of Bowlus.
WEATHER
WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 9AM.
TODAY= sunny and cold, high near 0, wind chills in AM near -25.
TONIGHT= increasing clouds, snow after 3am, low -13 then rising.
FRIDAY= snow early, ½ inch, then PM sun, temps rise to 11 then fall.
SATURDAY= snow and sleet possible then windy, high 28, low 2
SUNDAY= sunny, breezy and colder, high 10, low around -10.
SPORTS
HS BHK= River Lakes at Little Falls tonight 7:15 on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Foley at Pierz tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
NFL= Vikings reportedly have offered the head coaching job to Rams Offensive Coordinator Kevin O'Connell. O'Connell still working with the Rams as they are in Super Bowl 56, February 13th vs. Cincinnati.
LF= Little Falls Community High School is proud to announce that Little Falls High School Senior Louis Sobiech has committed to play football at Moorhead State University in Moorhead with his signing on Wednesday. Louis is the son of Scott and Amber Sobiech.
OLY= A Minnesotan will be carrying the United States flag in the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympic Games. For the first time in Olympic history, an American curler will carry the flag of the United States of America in the Opening Ceremony. Five-time Olympian John Shuster has been elected by fellow Team USA athletes to lead the team into the Olympics. The ceremony is tomorrow 5:30am.