NEWS
--This past Friday, wreaths were placed on each of the gravesites at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery north of Little Falls. In recent years the organization Wreathsforthefallen.org had started an effort to place wreaths on each of the gravesites to honor our fallen veterans and their families. This year with the ongoing COVID situation, wreathsforthefallen.org made the decision that they would not safely be able to hold the wreath placing ceremony with their large number of volunteer helpers. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs though stepped in and helped continue this tradition of placing the wreaths on each of the gravesites at state veterans cemeteries statewide including the one north of Little Falls near Camp Ripley. Around 20 employees from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs and the state veterans cemetery placed just under 5,400 wreaths on each of the gravesites. The public is welcome to visit the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. The wreaths will remain on the graves until near the end of January.
--The jury has begun deliberating in the manslaughter trial of the suburban Minneapolis police officer who killed Daunte Wright after
she mistook her gun for her Taser. Kim Potter's case went to jury on Monday following closing arguments and instructions from the Judge.
--A man was hurt when the car he was driving struck a deer. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened on Saturday just before 6pm on Highway 71 in Todd County. Twenty-six-year-old Tyler Klimik of Bertha was going south on Highway 71 when he hit the deer on the snow and ice-covered road. Klimek was taken to Tri-County Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--A crash northwest of St. Stephen sent a teenager from Burtrum to the hospital Thursday night. The Stearns County Sheriff's office got a report about a crash with possible injuries in Brockway Township at approximately 11:00pm. Deputies responded to the scene in the 40000 block of 125th Avenue to find a pickup had rolled. The driver, 16-year-old Emmalee Hollermann, was taken to the hospital for evaluation and treatment. Her two passengers, 17-year-old Anthony Martin of St. Joseph and 16-year-old Aaron Gonzales of Sauk Centre were not hurt. The sheriff's Office says Hollermann was southbound on 125th Avenue when she hit a patch of ice, overcorrected, and rolled the truck an unknown number of times.
--One person was hurt in a semi rollover in Watkins Wednesday morning. The Meeker County Sheriff's Office says an overturned semi was at the intersection of County Road 2 and 395th Street shortly before 8:30am. Authorities say the driver of the semi, 62-year-old Byron Weigelt, was going south on County Road 2 and did not see the curve at 395th Street because of the fog. He was treated at the scene for minor injuries. The trailer contained around 6,000 gallons of milk that were lost in the crash according to authorities.
--The American Red Cross is in great need of blood donations. A blood drive will be held at First United Church, 1000 First Street SE, Little Falls on Monday, January 3rd from 1-7pm, Tuesday, January 4th from noon-6 pm and Wednesday, January 5th from 8:30am-2:30pm. They ask that you make an appointment online at www.redcrossblood.org or call Sister Julien Dirkes at (320)632-0663. Because of social distancing guidelines, walk-ins will not be accepted. If you are at least 16 years of age (with written parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are considered to be in good health, you may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring along a photo I.D. First-time donors are welcome—encourage a friend to donate.
--This Friday is Christmas Eve and a tradition for many years will continue on Little Falls Radio's Q92 WYRQ the broadcast of the the Christmas Eve Mass from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls with music starting shortly before 4pm, mass at 4pm sponsored by CHI St. Gabriel's Health including Little Falls Orthepedics and the Family Medical Center. Also the broacast of the 10pm (formerly Midnight) Mass from Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Little Falls with music starting shortly after 9:30pm, Mass at 10pm sponsored by Little Falls Machine. Both Masses heard live on Q92 and at fallsradio.com.
--Due to last week's schools closures the Swanville elementary concert will be today at 1:30pm and streamed on the schools facebook page. Mary of Lourdes Middle School has moved their concert to tonight at 6:30pm at the middle school on the west side of Little Falls. Previous concerts from schools like Little Falls, Pierz, Royalton, Upsala and more can be viewed through the schools website and social media pages to view an review again if you wish.
--Santa Claus is not done parading through towns just yet. Foley will have a Santa Fire Truck parade Wednesday starting at 5:30pm the event will last for about 3 hours with fire trucks and Santa going through the city and surrounding area of Foley bringing their blinking lights and holiday fun. The parade will begin on the southern outskirts of Foley and work north through the neighborhoods for kids and adults can come out and see Santa and the firetrucks ride by. Santa will also be in Sartell Wednesday night for parade through the city streets. Starting at 5:30pm on second street in Sartell playing music and waving to residents, the parade will go up and down the city streets of Sartell ending at the public safety facility.
WINTER NEWS
--Today is the considered the shortest day of the year as the Winter Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere at 9:59am central standard time. It is also the first day of summer in the southern Hemisphere south of the Equator at the same time today.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Ajay and Monica Johnson of Little Falls, a girl born December 19th.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON.
TODAY= snow likely before noon, 1-3 inches, windy, high 16.
TONIGHT= clearing skies, cold temps, low -4, wind chills -18.
WEDNESDAY= partly sunny, high 24, low around 8 above.
THURSDAY= flurries early, then sunny, high 32, low around 25.
SPORTS
NFL= Kirk Cousins tosses two touchdowns and the Vikings hold off the Bears 17-9 last night on Monday Night Football. The Vikings are now at 7-7 and currently hold the last spot in the NFC playoffs. The Raiders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 16-14 win over Cleveland last night. There are two NFL games tonight due to COVID the two games were moved from Sunday. More games Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with Vikings and Rams playing on Sunday at noon.
HS BHK= Little Falls at Brainerd tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BBB= Little Falls at St. Cloud Tech tonight 7pm on 94ROCKS.
COL FB= Gophers take on West Virginia in the Guanteed Rate Bowl (fomerly the Copper Bowl) Tuesday, December 28th, pregame at 7pm kickoff in Arizona is scheduled for 9:15pm that night on KLTF.
NHL= Dallas beat the Wild last night 7-4 in the NHL.