NEWS
--Chi St. Gabriel's Health stated Wednesday that as of now masks are no longer required but still encouraged to enter their health care facilities. The new guidelines from St. Gabriel's Hospital are as follows: Masking for patients and visitors is encouraged but no longer required when in registration areas, waiting rooms or during outpatient procedures. Visitors to inpatient hospital units will continue to be expected to mask. Immunocompromised patients or patients with respiratory symptoms are encouraged to wear masks throughout the hospital. Visitors, as before, will be expected to stay away from the hospital if they have any respiratory symptoms. Again, masks are encouraged but not required in the lobbies or first floor area of the health facilities in Little Falls.
--There will be a Thank You Veterans Appreciation Dinner a the Falls Ballroom open to all Veterans and especially those that served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam but again all Veterans can come for free dinner at the Falls Ballroom on Thursday, November 10th social at 4:30pm, dinner at 5:30pm with a short program to follow. There is a $20 donation for Veterans guests (max of 2) and reservations are required by this Sunday by calling Kris at 320-266-7627 or Pam at 320-632-3827. Spread the word for this event to give back to our Veterans with a free appreciation dinner on November 10th at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls.
--Law enforcement officers rescued a girl from a north Brainerd house back on Thursday, October 27th, after the house caught on fire. The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 4:17am to the 500 block of North Seventh Street for a report of a structure fire. Five people were home at the time of the fire. A girl was treated for smoke inhalation after being rescued from a second story window. A Baxter police officer, two Brainerd police officers and a Crow Wing County deputy remembered seeing a ladder down the block on their way to the house and went back to commandeer it when they heard someone was trapped inside. Brainerd Fire Chief Tim Holmes praised the officials’ resourcefulness. “They did a fantastic job,” he said. “We always talk about the importance of working together, and that was just a good example of them doing what they needed to do to potentially save that girl from any more smoke inhalation. The girl was treated at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd, and there were no other injuries reported. While the structural integrity of the house is intact, there was damage on multiple levels inside. The fire appears to have started in the basement and moved up from there. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the official cause of the fire.
--Good news for drivers who have been detouring around the Highway 23 North Gap project this summer, the road is reopening to traffic by the end of the day today, Thursday, November 3rd. The detour between Paynesville and Richmond will be removed and traffic will be returned to Highway 23 through the winter. The road will be two-lane head-to-head traffic until next spring when the final year of construction takes place. The detour will return next spring and continue until November 2023. The work in 2023 will focus on replacing two box culverts and completing a majority of the eastbound alignment. The North Gap project expands nine miles of Highway 23 to four lanes and improves sightlines and reconfigured access points for some county roads along the corridor. The cost of the project is just under $42-million.
--Seventy-one Minnesota companies and organizations will attend the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon fall conference today in Eagan to share best practices in supporting military veterans, service members, and their families. “These companies or organizations have dedicated members who work to formalize best practices, resources, recognition, and support to ensure members of our military community continue to thrive,” said Heather Bergeron, director of the Minnesota National Guard’s Family Programs. “The Minnesota National Guard is so grateful for the willingness and generosity of
these networks.” “As a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization, we are recognized as a group that is committed to making the lives of our service members and their families better,” said Joe Fowler, president of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council. “We owe our service members support when they need it, whether that’s through job placement, volunteering, or outreach.” The conference theme is Uniting Communities. Through its community and corporate partnerships, the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, also known as BTYR, program’s network provides veterans, service members, and their families in all military branches a wide range of support, including deployment readiness, family assistance and resources, youth programs, educational and career opportunities, and more. Twice a year, in the fall and spring, Minnesota BTYR companies and organizations meet to connect and discuss ways to enhance their support of the state’s military community. They also take turns hosting the conference. There are 86 Minnesota Beyond the Yellow Ribbon companies and organizations throughout the state.
SPACE NEWS
--Two total lunar eclipses in a year doesn't happen very often, especially only a few months a part. The first total lunar eclipses this year was back on May 15th into 16th. Now there will be a second total lunar eclipse in the sky in the morning hours on Tuesday, November 8th. The lunar eclipse will occur around 3:10am central time and last until 6:49am with the peak time of the eclipse from 4:30-5:30am.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Jacob and Sarah Rauch of Little Falls, a baby girl born November 1st.
DEATH NOTICE
--Alcuin “Bumpy” Faust, age 85 of Pierz
WEATHER
TODAY= morning sun, rain showers by late afternoon, high 66.
TONIGHT= rain likely, wet snow toward morning, low 32.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, much colder, high 42, flurries at night, low 27.
SATURDAY= light snow early, then sunny, high 46, low around 23.
SUNDAY= sunny skies and windy, high 48, low around 31.
SPORTS
WS= Houston evens up the World Series with Philadelphia with a no hitter pitched by the Houston starter and relievers last night to even the World Series at 2 games each, with a 5-0 win, game 5 is tonight.
HS FB= Upsala Swanville will be at Fargo tomorrow at 12:30pm in section championship vs. KMS live on Q92 WYRQ fallsradio.com.
HS FB= Royalton vs. Eden Valley Watkins Friday night 7pm at St. John's University in section title game also live on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers at Nebraska Saturday 11am.
NFL= Vikings at Washington Commanders Sunday at noon.