NEWS
--Investigations into overdoses from fentanyl in St. Cloud have resulted in the arrest of two alleged drug users. The Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force has been investigating multiple overdoses and overdose deaths linked to pressed fentanyl pills, commonly called M-Box 30 pills. Based on those investigations, officials conducted a search of a home in the 100 block of 14th Avenue North on November 9th and arrested 28-year-old Rashawn McDonald of St. Cloud. He was charged with two counts of second-degree sale of a controlled substance and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. The next day, officials conducted another search of a home in the 800 block of 12th Avenue South and arrested 38-year-old Natasha Zins of St. Cloud on charges of felony possession of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm. During that investigation, officials also arrested 39-year-old Buddy Loehrer of St. Cloud for 5th-degree possession of a controlled substance, along with 22-year-old Coleton Loeher and 20-year-old Josalynn Mathison, both of St. Cloud, for felony 4th and 5th-degree possession of a controlled substance. Both Zins and McDonald were moved to the Stearns County Jail and are awaiting trial.
--Camp Ripley recently welcomed 25 educators from around the state to come and view the base and get a helicopter ride to see the experience first hand. The goal was to show educators what Camp Ripley can provide them as a service to their students and classes they teach. Educators stated the experience was important first to see the large facility, the uses and learn of many of them to use for current studies in education and hoping then for tours to be established with students for educational benefits in the future.
--The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded the 2023 Military Friendly Employer and Military Spouse Friendly Employer designation. Using public information and responses from a survey, the Military Friendly Advisory Council ranked businesses on factors including new hire retention, employee turnover, and advancement of veterans and military employees. More than a thousand businesses returned the survey, the winners will appear in the December issue of G.I.Jobs magazine and online at Military Friendly.com.
--Little Falls Attractions were on KLTF Party Line Tuesday and reminds the public of the Christmas Tours begin next Friday, November 25th through December 4th. Events will be a Linden Hill with an Old Fashioned Christmas at the Mansions, Rosenmeier House that is the home of Visit Little Falls visitors bureau that has the Nutcracker Suite, count the nutcrackers to win local gift cards, The Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame has Christmas Tree Lane and winter wonderland of trees, wreaths, baskets and fun for all ages. Santa will also be there on the weekends Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The Lindbergh House has Christmas on the Farm taking you back 100 years to Lindbergh Christmas's of the past with historical figures and more that is Friday-Sundays both weekends only. For more information the events go to littlefallsmn.com.
--The Scandia Valley Lions are hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner today from 11:30am-1pm at the Scandia Valley Town Hall in Cushing. This is a complete meal for a free will offering to Motley Food Shelf.
--Word of Life Church in Upsala will be hosting a free Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving day, November 24th from 11:30-1:30. All are welcome to come and enjoy a free Thanksgiving meal with others.
--Little Falls Community High School presents their IMC Concert this Monday and Tuesday at the high school auditorium.
--Morrison County Chaplaincy Program with the Morrison County Sheriff's Office will have their Chaplaincy Pizza Party on Sunday, November 27th at the Little Falls VFW from 11am-1pm. You can drop off coats for a coat drive, food shelf items and Love Offerings from the recent hurricanes at the event for Pizza and Pop. Donations to the Chaplaincy Program can be expected to continue to help Chaplain Gregg Valentine helping those in the county in time of crisis.
--Little Falls Community High School Choir is preparing for the annual Madrigal Dinner which will be at the Community Middle School Commons on Sunday, December 4th at 5:30pm. Meal and event will be $25 for adults and $21 for seniors or students and ticket request formed are available at the activities office at the high school but they need then in by November 23rd. For info call 320-616-2207.
--The Meeker County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help locating a historic church bell. Officials at the Swan Lake Cemetery in Dassel noticed the bell was missing on October 15th. The bell was housed in a small chapel in the cemetery, on the site of the original Swan Lake Lutheran Church. Officials say there is a tire track leading up to the chapel, so someone may have loaded the 1,000-pound bell into a truck or trailer. Anyone with information is asked to call the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
--The holidays are just around the corner, and the U.S. Postal Service is looking for volunteers to help fulfill children's wishes this season. USPS Operation Santa is now looking for people interested in adopting letters. Each year, kids across the country mail letters to the North Pole hoping to reach Santa. Those letters are then collected by the postal service and added to a list. Starting November 28th, registered letter adopters can go online to view the list and choose one or more to fulfill. Volunteers then follow the guidelines provided by USPS to respond to the letters by shopping for, wrapping, and mailing the gifts. Letter adopters are responsible for any postage or shipping costs associated with the process. Operation Santa has been spreading kindness, joy, and holiday spirit for 110 years. To register to adopt a letter or to learn more about the program, you can visit uspsoperationsanta.com.
--Pierz Healy High School presents “Once Upon a Mattress” tonight and Friday night at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm at the High School MAC. For more information and tickets contact the activities office.
--Pierz Healy High School also is hosting their 2022 Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day next week. Registration at 7:30am and the trot in the MAC parking lot of the high school starts at 8am. All proceeds go to help the Pierz Cross County Team. Details contact the high school.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers, blustery later in the day, high 23.
TONIGHT= cloudy and colder, snow showers, windy, low near 10.
FRIDAY= partly sunny at times, clouds, windy, high 14, low 7.
SATURDAY= snow showers at times, windy, high 16, low 2.
SUNDAY= mostly sunny skies, warmer, high 24, low around 11.
SPORTS
HS FB= The State Football Quarterfinals are later this week at U.S. Bank Stadium. Teams include Eden Valley-Watkins and Rocori from central Minnesota. The Prep Bowl is the day after Thanksgiving.
Get the latest on Ho Ho Dough going on now at participating businesses with Little Falls Radio. Details at fallsradio.com. The next $100 Ho Ho Dough bucks winner will be Tuesday.