NEWS
--The Morrison County Health and Human Services are showing the documentary ANGST today at the government center garden level meeting rooms. ANGST discusses the conversation about mental health, helping our youth and their families understand that a certain amount of anxiety is healthy and when to recognize when its too much. Their program includes tips to recognize symptoms, and encourages when to reach out for help. Most importantly, it shows us that we are not alone, and that anxiety is 100% treatable. This is for middle school students and high school students, all parents, teachers, community members and others who want to learn more on this topic. After the documentary there will be discussion from a mental health panel. The event starts at 4:30pm with a dinner which is first come first serve until gone, along with resource booths, the documentary will start around 5pm and then the discussion at 6pm. There is no charge to attend. There will also be door prizes. Again come learn tonight at the government center in Little Falls.
--A South Haven man was taken to the hospital after an ATV crash Friday night The incident happened around 8:15pm at the Clearwater Forest Campground located at 13634 Clearwater Forest Circle in Fairhaven Township. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office says deputies arrived to find the driver, 41-year-old Nicholas Reis, with injuries to his head. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital by Mayo Ambulance for treatment of his injuries. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
--Waite Park Police continue to search for a missing boy. Romairo Octaviano Lucas-Gomez was last seen on July 3rd, 2022. The 17-year-old was last seen wearing black pants and a red shirt at his home in Waite Park. All of his belongings are missing, and all attempts to find him have been unsuccessful. Anyone with information is asked to call the Waite Park Police (320-251-3281) or contact Tri-County Crime Stoppers of Minnesota.
--Our Town 56345 is preparing for another chance to community members to come together, you can join representatives of Little Falls' nonprofit organizations and businesses to share and learn about their plans to meet the needs of the area residents and visitors, discover mutual interests and constituencies, and explore possible partnerships. Hone collaboration skills that will maximize the mission of your organization while building a stronger Little Falls. This 2-part workshop will occur Tuesday, June 6th and 13th at Great River Arts at 122 1st Street Southeast in Little Falls. In Workshop #1 attendees will learn about the plans of other organizations to carry out their mission and address issues facing their constituencies. It will be a chance to connect with leaders of other organizations, find common ground with them, and earn how your organization and priorities support the Six Strategic Priorities of the Our Town 56345 plan. In Workshop #2, you will learn specific techniques and skills to form strong, impactful partnerships that yield in maximum results in meeting your mission and serving the community. These workshops build on the findings of the Our Town 56345 project, identifying community priorities and developing skills to build a culture of collaboration within Little Falls. Questions? Please contact Vicki Chepulis, OurTown Executive Team Member at
vicki.fwac@arvig.net or call/text 701-200-1375.
--The Pierz Area Commercial Club is preparing for the 2023 Rock Roll and Stroll classic car show event. The first is June 1st from 5-8pm.
--The Minnesota Department of Health is sounding the alarm on xylazine, another potentially lethal drug that is mixed with fentanyl. Known on the street as Tranq, it stretches black market painkillers, producing a unique high. Xylazine is a muscle relaxer and sedative used in veterinary clinics on large animals like horses and cattle. Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force Commander Lucas Dingmann says it hasn’t become a critical problem in the region yet. It just starting to see some parts of the state so the Red Flags are being warned right now. When a new drug hits the streets it takes a while for legal and public health authorities to catch up. Until recently, no one has been looking for the symptoms of Tranq in victims. Officials now believe xylazine killed 34 people in the state last year. Itis stated that it's more of a tranquilizer and so what happens is commonly right now when we refer to overdoses and stuff with fentanyl, it’s an opioid which we then use Narcan to reverse the effects of the opioid. Narcan isn’t working with this type of drug. In the worst-case scenario, it can result in lesions that are removed through amputation or it ends up being deadly. Called the zombie drug, the flesh-eating abscesses attack the skin and vital organs like your kidneys. This area is still grappling with the deadly consequences of fentanyl. The drug dealers are realizing this is a bad thing but it’s a business to them and they’re making money off of it. The task force officers are stressing education among drug users, but also at school to keep young students away from what can be a matter of life and death. Xylazine is already a formidable threat.
--Three Central Minnesota businesses will get help training their workers in advanced, high-demand, hard-to-fill careers.
The 59 companies receiving Daul Training Grants include CentraCare in St. Cloud, Two Rivers Enterprises in Holdingford and Ultra Machining Company in Monticello. Statewide, 28 healthcare services, 26 advanced manufacturing companies, three agriculture and two information technology businesses will share $3.3 million. Officials say the money can provide up to $6,000 per person for education and advanced training. The funds should help 664 current and new workers across Minnesota. The grants can be used to cover the cost of a trainee’s tuition, fees and required materials for training in their programs. The grants are from Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
--Prince Harry and Megan Markle were involved in a car chase with paparazzi Wednesday that drew comparisons to the death of Princess Diana in 1997. This was in New York, NYPD have not released details.
DEATH NOTICES
--Hildur Hallburg, age 102 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers and T-storms possible during day, high 68.
TONIGHT= isolated shower early, smoke overnight, low 48.
FRIDAY= partly sunny, cooler, high near 60, low near 40.
SATURDAY= sunny skies, high near 70, low around 40.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, warmer, high 74, low around 50.
SPORTS
TWINS= Dodgers win in late inning rally 7-3 over Twins to take series. The Twins are off today, start a series with Angels on Friday.