NEWS
--Little Falls Community High School has homecoming Friday, starting with coronation at 10:30am in the school gym. Guests are asked to park in the 5th Avenue loop and use door 17 to enter. There will be a parade at 2pm around the high school, middle school, Lindbergh Elementary down to the back of St. Mary's Church and back to the high school. The Tailgate Party put on by Little Falls Radio and many participating sponsors starts at 5pm at the Middle School Parking Lot with all proceeds going to Flyer Athletics. Then the game between Little Falls and Foley begins at 7pm at the football field which can be heard live on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
--A 34-year old Palisades man was sentenced to 17-and-a-half years in prison for killing his infant daughter last November when he threw her 12 feet into the air and across a kitchen. John Peterson was convicted in Aitkin County for second degree murder in her death.
--The roller coaster of temperatures has brought a string of illness into the area and the Department of Health said Tuesday that flu season is here and already on the rise. Vaccinations are available from a number of health care providers and facilities. Flu symptoms usually begin with headache, sore throat, cough and body aches, followed with a high fever. If you have the symptoms they you are already contagious to others around you. Good hygiene is important to help ease the symptoms and if you believe you are experiencing these symptoms see you local doctor. If you have contracted the flu, you are asked to stay away from work or school for up to 7 days. The flu is extremely dangerous for the elderly, those with lung problems, and the very young, infants and toddlers especially.
--A 52-year-old Coon Rapids man faces drug charges after 145 grams of methamphetamine was seized after a property damage crash near Nisswa. Crow Wing County deputies stated they responded to an accident last week on Edna Lake Road and found the vehicle rolled over. Gregory Backlund was walking around and indicated he hit a traffic barrel and lost control. The officer reportedly found a substance that tested positive for meth and a pipe on Backlund, who then told the officer there was more in the vehicle. More pipes, drugs and paraphernalia was found in the vehicle and Backlund was arrested on drug possession and driving under the influence.
--A 23-year-old Pine River woman was injured Monday morning just after 11am on Highways 371 and 210 in Baxter. Police stated that Jonathon Nieman of Pine River and Heidi Schmitz of Brainerd collided in the intersection. Both were not injured. Nieman's passenger, 23-year-old Karen Nieman was taken to the Brainerd hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Baxter police stated that while at the scene of the accident, another one occurred on Golf Course Drive just over a block away. By the time authorities arrived there, one vehicle was on its side and the driver had been taken by private vehicle to the hospital for unknown injuries.
--The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and First Lutheran Church are conducting the annual Blessing of the Animals event at noon on Sunday at the Washington Playground (across from the old Episcopal Church) in northeast Little Falls. All are welcome to bring their animals, that must be on a leash, in cage or placed in some sort of a shelter, to be blessed by Pastor Jake. There will be music, refreshments and a treat for the animals at the event on Sunday. The blessing is based on the works of St. Francis and his love of animals.
--The Morrison County Board of Commissioners will be holding a Public Input Meeting to take comments on authorizing the design concept of the Camp Ripley Veterans State Trail on County State Aid Highway 52 from Lindbergh State Park to Mill Park in Little Falls. The meeting will be held in the County Board Room at the Morrison County Government Center on Monday night at 7:00pm. All interested parties are encouraged to attend.
--Two people sustained injuries in an accident on Highway 23 west of Richmond around 8:15am Wednesday. Two teenagers ages 16 and 13 were treated at the scene but not hospitalized. The other driver and passenger involved in the accident were not hurt.
--Some scary moments Tuesday night in Sartell, turned out to be a false alarm. Police started to receive 911 calls from residents who thought they had heard gunshots. By about 9:30pm police were able to confirm that the sounds they were hearing were actually coming from a vehicle driving around the area with some sort of modified exhaust that was intentionally backfiring. The driver of the vehicle was later found. The incident is being forwarded on to the county attorney’s office for possible charges.
--A 35-year-old was injured Monday when his vehicle rolled several times off a Crow Wing County road. Russell Hopkins of Backus was on County Road 4 when he swerved to miss a deer and rolled. Hopkins was treated for injuries at the Brainerd hospital.
--Minnesota communities, schools and their partners in Greater Minnesota are invited to apply for funding for projects that enhance local transportation goals, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. A total of $7.5 million is available through the Transportation Alternatives solicitation, a competitive grant program for Greater Minnesota communities, schools and regional agencies to fund pedestrian and bicycle facilities, historic preservation, Safe Routes to School and more programs. To apply, applicants must submit a letter of intent describing the key components of their project. A regional representative will contact applicants to help review the project proposal and the steps necessary for delivering a federally funded project. Local communities and regional agencies will then submit a full grant application.
DEATH NOTICES
--LaDonna Scholl, age 61 of Pierz.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, chance of showers, high 58.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, low 41.
FRIDAY= partial sun early, afternoon showers likely, high 57, low 48.
SATURDAY= morning clouds and sprinkles, then PM sun, high 63.
SAT NITE= clear skies, cooler, low 36.
SUNDAY= sunny skies, high 61, clear night low near 40.
SPORTS
WNBA= for the 4th time in 7 years the Minnesota Lynx are WNBA Champions. The Lynx beat LA Sparks 85-76 last night to win the championship 3 games to 2. All 5 starters for the Lynx were in double digits led by Maya Moore with 18 points. Fowles 17, Whalen 17, Augustus 14 and Brunson 13. The Lynx again are WNBA Champs.
MLB= Arizona outslugged Colorado 11-8 to win NL Wild Card game.
NFL= New England vs. Tampa Bay tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF