NEWS --A message from Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka: To All of Our Little Falls Residents and Businesses: In these challenging times, the City wants to support the health of our citizens and our businesses. One way to do that is by connecting you to resources available from trusted sources. Below are links to a variety of resources, from health services to small business loans to children’s activities. We have tested all links to ensure they are valid and come from sources that are committed to accuracy and maintaining up-to-date information. Please let us know if you are aware of other resources that would help our neighbors. Our community is strong and we are at our best when we work together to support one another. Be safe and healthy. The city's website has created a number of references to resources in the community for those who need them. Questions can be directed to Jon Radermacher 320-616-5500 or jonr@cityoflittlefalls.com; and questions on local, state and federal loan programs contact Carol Anderson, with Community Development of Morrison County, 320-632-5466 or mcdc@fallsnet.com. There are links also on the website to Small Business Administration's guide to the CARES Act. Small Business Administration Funding Programs Website Link and Navigating Minnesota Unemployment Self Employment and Contract Worker Applications.
--Morrison County Sheriff’s Office wants everyone to know that National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is this week. 911 Dispatchers are the first, first responders in assisting the public with every type of call ranging from a medical crisis to car accidents and every type of call in between. They have to take control of situations which may be chaotic, stressful and sometimes heart-wrenching. 911 Dispatchers are the voice that is always heard, but seldom seen. Morrison County Sheriff’s Office is grateful to have extraordinary 911 Dispatchers that are truly dedicated to the agency and community that they serve, each day and during this especially challenging time. Morrison County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank each of our 911 Dispatchers for their service to our agency and community.
--An Albany Area Schools math teacher and junior varsity basketball coach was arrested Friday afternoon and booked in the Stearns County Jail for suspected criminal sexual conduct. 31-year-old Daniel Sinclair Fragodt of St. Joseph faces a potential charge of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The school district received a complaint against Fragodt on March 25th. Superintendent Greg Johnson stated "We conducted an initial investigation and turned the matter over to the Albany Police Department on March 26." Johnson could not comment on whether the incident involved a minor, a student or a staff member. Fragodt was placed on administrative and has had no contact with with anyone in the school district since March 26th.
--All Great River Regional Library locations, including Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Upsala and Swanville are closed until Monday, May 4 to align with the Minnesota Governor's #StayHomeMN order. Items due during the closure have extended due dates until May 23. Items should not accrue fines at this time, but if some items do accrue fines, library staff will be happy to remove them when libraries reopen. Items on hold have been extended to May 23. You may still place items on request via their online catalog. Please do not return items to book drops during this closure as the book deposits outside the building or connected to them are locked up at this time. Please do not donate materials during this closure. More information can be found at the griver.org website for our area libraries.
--Governor Tim Walz signed Executive Order 20-35 Monday extending the peacetime emergency in Minnesota for 30 days. Governor Walz declared a peacetime emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13th. On March 15th, Minnesota detected the first confirmed cases caused by “community spread”—infections not epidemiologically linked to overseas travel. By March 17th, all 50 states had reported a confirmed case of COVID-19. On March 21st, the Minnesota Department of Health announced the first confirmed fatality due to COVID-19 in Minnesota. Since the Governor declared a peacetime emergency, Minnesota has taken strong steps to respond to and provide relief for COVID-19: closure of schools and implementation of a distance learning period; enhanced protections for veterans in our veterans homes; activation of the National Guard to assist in relief efforts; measures to preserve personal protective equipment; temporary closure of bars, restaurants, and other places of public accommodation; efforts to provide economic relief and stability to those impacted by the pandemic; regulatory changes allowing our state agencies and licensing boards to ensure fast relief to Minnesotans; and an order directing Minnesotans to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus. Today’s extension of the peacetime emergency is necessary for many of these measures to continue. This extension of the peacetime emergency is effective Monday, April 13th to Wednesday, May 13th, 2020.
--The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is encouraging any Minnesotan who is behind on their electricity or natural gas bills to contact their utility to ensure their service remains connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Minnesota electricity and gas utilities are providing extra flexibility to customers who are struggling to stay current on their bills during the COVID-19 pandemic, including arranging payment agreements. However, in the majority of areas, customers must contact their utility and arrange a payment plan to ensure that their service will not be disconnected. Policies vary by utility. Xcel, Minnesota Power, CenterPoint, and Otter Tail Power Company are among those utilities who have suspended disconnections for non-payment. Most other utilities are offering to extend additional flexibility, including payment arrangements to customers who make contact to them to talk about the payment options.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT --Nathan and Aimee Klooster of Little Falls, had a boy April 12th
DEATH NOTICES --Mesk, Edward “Ekto” James Nadeau Jr., age 40 of Onamia.
SPORTS NFL= former Vikings quarterback Tavarius Jackson reportedly died in a car accident Sunday night in Albama. Jackson was drafted by the Vikings in 2006 and won a Super Bowl ring in 2014 as the backup quarterback for Russell Wilson on the Seattle Seahawks. He was 36. TWINS= Listen to the 1987 World Series and relive the first world championship in Twins baseball. Game 1 Wednesday 6pm on Q92.