NEWS
--Authorities are asking Morrison County residents to watch for signs of mail tampering. Early Monday morning, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of mailboxes being tampered with on 350th Avenue in Morrill Township, southeast of Ramey, near the Benton County line. Officers responded to the area and noticed several mailboxes with the lids left open. Officials say it appears the suspect was driving along 350th Avenue and checking all mailboxes along the route for anything valuable that may have been left behind. The Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to be on alert for any unusual activity occurring around mailboxes, regardless of where you live. Anyone who has information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 320-632-9233.
--Little Falls Mayor Greg Zylka spoke on KLTF Monday and stressed shopping local and helping the businesses dealing with stressful times due to recent restrictions and changes from COVID-19. Mayor Zylka stated they continue to work with Economic Development Authority to help out bars, restaurants, fitness centers and other small businesses. They hope with federal and state funding that have been voted in recently that more grants and funding will continue to go to the businesses struggling. Zylka said the community can do their part to help by shopping the dozens of local stores in Little Falls (and for that matter in any local community in Morrison County and beyond) this week to help them have a happy holiday and a Merry Christmas season this year. A full list of businesses in Little Falls part of the Shop Local-Shop Little Falls Campaign by the EDA and City of Little Falls in on the city of Little Falls website right on the home page. If you have questions and need assistance from the city of Little Falls the office is 616-5500 or call Mayor Zylka at 232-9336.
--Icy roads are to blame for a crash in St. Wendel Township Sunday morning. The Stearns Sheriff's office says 19-year-old Cody Gangl of Kimball, was heading north on County Road 2, near Apache Lane in St. Wendel Township, when he hit a patch of ice, lost control of his truck, spun out into the ditch and struck a power pole. Gangl was treated at the scene for some facial injuries caused by the airbag. Stearns Electric was called in to ensure the powerline would not be a hazard and the truck was removed.
--Two people were hurt Sunday morning traveling Interstate 94 in Sauk Centre. Just after 9:30am Ignacio Morente of Melrose was on the interstate when the 33 year old hit a frosty patch on the road causing the driver to overcorrect and roll the vehicle. Morente and his passenger, 19-year-old Romeo Calahu-Hernandez of Melrose were both taken to Sauk Centre Hospital and treated for injuries deemed non-serious by the Minnesota State Patrol.
--The State Patrol has released information of a SUV vs. Van accident with a number of people injured on Highway 169 in Kathio Township of Mille Lacs County. A suburban was turning from Highway 169 to Ojibwe Drive and did not yield for a van, the first vehicle broadsided the van on the driver's side around 8:15pm last Thursday night. 31-year-old Andrew Olivarez of Garrison was the SUV driver and was not injured. The van's driver 28-year-old Amy Cross of St. Cloud was treated at the scene but not hospitalized. There were 8 other people in the van and five of the eight needed to taken to the hospital ranging in age from 14 to 66. All of the injuries reported by the state patrol were deemed non life threatening in the accident.
--Winter Storm Watch goes into effect Wednesday morning for area.
--Today is the last of the Free Grocery Giveaways at Living Hope Church north of Little Falls on Haven Road. The giveaway from Farmers to Families provides free perishable food boxes without any appointment needed. Come in from the north side of the church and leave on the south between 2-4pm today. Living Hope thanks all who volunteered and helped in the grocery giveaways in the past weeks.
--Morrison County website Monday showed 192 active cases of COVID-19, 159 hospitalized cases in the county since testing started, 2,841 total cases. Active cases by zip code, Little Falls 82, Pierz 33, Royalton 18 and Cushing at 14 cases, all others under 10. The State website reported 1,998 new cases Monday and 22 new deaths. Morrison County reported 8 new cases on Monday's report.
--A reminder from both the Little Falls Community Schools and Pierz Public Schools that there will be no school (in class or distance learning) on Wednesday, December 23rd to begin the winter break. That is a change from the original calendar earlier this year.
--St. Stanislaus Church in Sobieski continues to have their cash/gun raffle with the drawing at 6pm December 31st on their parish facebook page. For a $5 the grand prize is $1,000, 3 prizes of $500 and 3 guns donated by parishioners along with many other prizes, a hand stiched quilt and others from community members. If you want to purchase a ticket, check out the order form in the parish bulletin or call the parish office 632-6930 or Rose Hubner at 632-5824.
--Congratulations to the KLTF Dairy Recipe Contest winners getting the three $50 in Dairy Products in a dairy bucket from the Morrison County ADA and Little Falls Radio. The winners were Mary Frie, Mitzi Dubbin and Lori Thoma. Also the ADA had a number of stores and businesses that gave away a $50 dairy bucket and the stores should have contacted you on how to pick up those items from that particular store that worked with the ADA on this promotion. Thank you to all you mailed, faxed or emailed recipes to the radio station to make it another successful Dairy Contest this year.
DEATH NOTICES
--Rodney “Rod” O. Bollin, age 50 of Grey Eagle.
--Dennis John Prozinski, age 92 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
WINTER STORM WATCH 10AM WED TO 6AM THURS.
TODAY= cloudy skies, high 37, wintry mix overnight, low 26.
WEDNESDAY= snow likely 2-4 inches, blustery and very cold as temps drops from the teens early to -11, wind chills -35 at night.
CHRISTMAS EVE= sunny and very cold, high -3, low around -11.
CHRISTMAS DAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high 19, low near 5.
SPORTS
LFCHS= Congratulations to Little Falls High School Senior Kerstin Knopik has signed a national letter of intent committing to play volleyball at Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Kerstin is the daughter of Lance and Dawn Knopik of Little Falls.
COL FB= The Gopher Football Team announced Sunday they have declined an offer to play in a bowl game. The team said that the safety of the team was top priority and declined all offers.
Tune in to the Christmas Eve Masses on Q92 WYRQ this Thursday at 3pm from St. Mary's and 10pm from Our Lady of Lourdes, the Masses will also be streamed at fallsradio.com.