NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones gave an update Wednesday on KLTF. The first few days of distance learning for 2,500 students has gone quite well. Questions arise and Jones said call the school and they will help you through if it is internet concerns or others. Jones said that numbers will still be assessed, if the numbers go down than more likely the school will reopen. Jones reiterated that NO cases of COVID-19 have originated from the school itself and cases have been minimal leading up to distance learning and he said that they will monitor if any other cases are reported in the coming days. Jones said for now it is a week to week process as the numbers in Morrison County and surrounding counties of Stearns, Benton, Crow Wing, Todd and others are the highest they have been since testing began for many of these areas. Jones said activities and athletics have been cancelled at this point and they will reevaluate by the end of this week or early next week. When students can return right now the answer is “Don't Know” and that it will continue to look at data and the numbers of COVID-19 and when it is deemed safe and numbers down enough schools will resume for the Little Falls Community School District. Questions can be directed to Steve Jones at 632-2001.
--Morrison County website Wednesday reported 802 cases, 38 of those hospitalized and 251 active cases of COVID-19. Little Falls went down to 131 active cases, Pierz 30, Royalton 25, Motley 17 and Hillman is at 14 cases. On the state level there were 1,916 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday in the state with 19 new deaths. Morrison County reported 23 new cases yesterday with no new deaths.
--The COVID-19 pandemic has made the CDC and Department of Health putting a rethink several events, activities and traditions and Halloween festivities are no exception. Health officials are advising against trick-or-treating this year for several reasons. The largest one is length of contact with someone handing out candy is short distance and that is a higher risk factor. Kids who do trick or treat should only go to familiar houses, family members or extended families who again have not been sick. Candy should all be wrapped and homeowners if you do this should wear a mask to answer the door. The CDC says low risk factors are a virtual costume party, carving a pumpkin, a scary movie night, having scavenger hunt around your home with just your immediate family members. Make sure your kids are involved in the decision process and remind them that this isn't going to be a forever change to Halloween. Recently the CDC also has sent out their recommendations for Thanksgiving and are also exploring Christmas details for later this year.
--Deer hunters can access a variety of online maps from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The DNR’s interactive deer permit area map shows area boundaries, and locations of public land. By clicking on “detail report” hunters will find harvest history, permit area designation, winter severity history and other information. By clicking “detail map” users can view and download a PDF map of the permit area. On a mobile device, the PDF maps can be used with the Avenza Maps app as a geospatial PDF (GeoPDF). Hunters can also find online maps of public land in Minnesota, including the state’s 1.3 million acres of land in wildlife management areas. One way to search for WMAs is using the WMA Finder on the DNR website. Additionally, the DNR is providing background maps for GPS units that depict WMA boundaries and parking areas.
--At 8:20pm Tuesday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call of a residence in Trommald that was on fire. The residence was located on the 18000 block of Elk Street. Crosby and Ironton Fire Departments were dispatched to the residence and extinguished the fire. Fire department personnel reported to Crow Wing County deputies on scene, that the fire appeared to be suspicious and was possibly arson. Several witnesses at the scene were treated for smoke inhalation. Deputies then began interviewing witnesses who provided information that the suspect and resident of the home had made statements about starting the house on fire. The suspect was not at the scene at the time of the fire, but was located at a residence in Deerwood a short time later. Based on information from witnesses and evidence at the scene, the suspect, a 34 year old female from Trommald, was arrested for 1st Degree Arson. She was transported to the Crow Wing County Jail where she is being held pending arraignment.
--Crow Wing County Sheriff Scott Goddard last night reported that the 30-year-old Brainerd man missing since last week has been found safe. Robert Joseph Hamann went missing October 17th and his wife was concerned of his well being. The sheriff's office reported that Hamann called the sheriff's office earlier this week and said he was fine. Goddard thanks all you have helped in looking for the man.
--President Donald J. Trump will be back in Minnesota on Friday to hold a rally in Rochester. Most political analysts still feel that Minnesota is up for grabs in next Tuesday's election. Minnesota has not voted Republican since 1972. Following the President's announcement the DFL Party announced a likliness that former Vice President Joe Biden or his running mate Senator Kamala Harris will also make an appearance in Minnesota but no specifics were given.
--Today is the final day if you wish to get a free COVID-19 test at Bethel Lutheran Church put on by state and county officials. Again today from 12-6pm all are welcome to come and get tested.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, temps stay steady around 32.
TONIGHT= snow likely, up to 1 inch, low 28.
FRIDAY= snow early, then sunny in PM hours, high 38, low 28.
SATURDAY= sunny and breezy, high 44, low around 25.
SUNDAY= sunny, colder and windy, high 33, low around 20.
SPORTS
NFL= Atlanta at Carolina tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
COL FB= Gophers vs. Maryland Friday kickoff at 6:30pm, pregame to start after 5pm news Friday on on AM960 KLTF.
COL FB= one Big 10 game is cancelled this weekend Wisconsin and Nebraska will not be played after COVID-19 reports surfaced.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1682= William Penn landed in what is now Pennsylvania.
IN 1904= first trucking service opens in the U.S. in Texas.
IN 1953= baseball's St. Louis Browns are bought out and moved to Baltimore and become the Orioles for the 1954 season.
IN 1982= the first three songs of the Thriller album are released, Thriller, The Girl is Mine with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson and Billie Jean. The album release about a month later became the top selling record of all time according to Billboard Magazine.
IN 1998= John Glenn returned to space, where he went in 1962.