NEWS
--Chuck Zwilling was on Little Falls Radio Monday and talked up the 3rd Annual Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Fest on January 11th and 12th on Green Prairie Fish Lake. Once again the major focus will be on construction a world record ice carousel with demo cuts throughout the weekend. Zwilling said the man who beat them two years from Finland was asked to help another country get the world record last winter weeks after Chuck's family broke the record and they will try and get the record back in January. Also there will donations taken to help the Flyer Pride Pack Weekend Food Backpack Program at Little Falls Community Schools to help no kid go hungry, last year thousands of dollars was raised for the program. Events this year include Striders in the Snow from Tourright Bicycle Shoppe, GMSA Speedskating, Figure Skating, Curling from Dakota Curling Club, Igloo Building, Nordic Skiing from Flyer Nordic Ski team, dog sledding from the Grove Trotters Kennel, Santa with sleigh rides, open skating under the lights on the lake, an ice diving demo, footprint project and the Minnesota Fishing Museum is setting up a chance to go ice fishing with a celebrity. Chuck wanted to thank all the sponsors for making it possible to make this event bigger and better every year. Full details are available at www.MNIceFest.com.
--Two men died after breathing in fumes in a silo in rural Millerville of Douglas County near Alexandria on Saturday. 49-year-old Steven Boesl died at the scene of the accident Saturday while trying to save his brother and nephew. On Sunday, authorities say Curt Boesl, 47, passed away at the hospital. Curt Boesl's 11-year-old son is at Children's Hospital and last listed in serious condition. Douglas County dispatchers received a 911 call of two people "down and unresponsive in a silo." A short time later, 911 dispatchers were told that a third person was down and unresponsive in the silo. Deputies learned that Curt Boesl and his son were working on top of the silo and were apparently overcome by fumes. Authorities say another son was outside the silo, observed what happened, and called 911. Steven Boesl arrived on scene and entered the top of the silo to help Curt Boesl and his son. Steven Boesl was then apparently overcome by fumes and died at the scene. The Midwest Medical Examiners Office is investigating the exact cause of death.
--The 2019 St. Nick Night Prize winners from Pierz were announced last week. They are St. Nick Stamp Card winners of $300 Stacy Happke, $100 Katie Hoheisel, $50 winners were Horst Hanneken, Jacob Kirsling, Nikki Kothenbeutel and Gerald Kritzeck. Coloring Contest winners were Addison Hasselstrom, Harvi Rose Spychalla, Cameryn Egan, Henry Schutz, Blake Klein and Kayden Hasselstrom for Pre K and under. Kindergarten-2nd Grade were Jaylah Olesch, Travis Young, Jake Jurek, Calvin Kimman, Hannah Kushcel and Rylan Wolthuizen. 3rd-6th Grade is Brooke Litke, Tyler Kimman, Isaac Hoheisel, Tyler Thesing, Brecken Gruber and Gracie Wagner. Light up the Town random draw winners were Payton Nash-Demo, Chad Thesing and Larry and Gayle Ficek. Thanks to all that shopped Pierz throughout this holiday season.
--Join Q92 WYRQ for Christmas Eve masses later today. Mass from St. Mary's begins at 4pm with music from various children's players will start around 3:30pm live on Q92. Then later tonight the Mass from Our Lady of Lourdes beginning at 10pm with the music to begin at 9:30pm also live on Q92 WYRQ and both at fallsradio.com.
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM LITTLE FALLS RADIO.
--At 9:42pm Friday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a one-vehicle crash on Dove Road, south of Flensburg in Culdrum Township. 33-year old Richard Schneider from Little Falls was traveling south on Dove Road. Schneider lost control of the vehicle, went off the roadway and struck a power pole. Schneider and his passenger, 51-year old Gayl Tschida from Little Falls were transported to St. Gabriel’s Hospital by ambulance with unknown injuries. This case is still under investigation.
--A U.S. Postal Service carrier was hurt and an Albany man arrested after a crash authorities say was alcohol-related. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office responded to a crash on County Road 154 just before 5:30pm Friday. The crash scene was just northeast of Albany and involved a U.S. Postal Service delivery driver who was stopped to deliver mail. Responding deputies found 60-year old Alice Theisen of Albany suffering from minor injuries after her SUV had been rear-ended by a pickup. The driver of that pickup fled the scene. Officers later found the truck and arrested the driver, 31-year old Jonathon Boundy. Boundy was booked into the Stearns County Jail on suspicion of DWI, criminal vehicular operation and leaving the scene of an injury crash. Theisen was taken to the Melrose Hospital.
--Over a hundred people gathered at Minnesota Truck Headquarters to celebrate the hoisting of an exceptionally large American flag Friday afternoon. The 60-by-30-foot flag, located along Highway 23 in St. Cloud, sits atop a 150-foot flagpole making it largest flagpole in Minnesota. Toward the end of the ceremony, the flag was lowered to half-staff in honor of James Rogers Jr., Charles Nord, and Kort Plantenberg, three National Guardsmen killed earlier this month in a Black Hawk helicopter crash near Kimball. The flag was not an advertising gimmick according to their general manager but to celebrate our military, our veterans and our first responders.
--Tomorrow is Christmas Day and Charlie's Pizza in Little Falls will be open with free food and celebration from 11:30-2:30pm also Jordie's Trailside Cafe in Bowlus will be open 11-1pm for a warm Christmas meal for a free will offering. All are welcome to both of the events.
DEATH NOTICES
--Evelyn Hoemann, age 102 of Onamia
--Carol Werkman, age 83 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= fog early, then cloudy and mild, high 37.
TONIGHT= freezing drizzle or flurries late night, low 31.
CHRISTMAS DAY= drizzle and fog early, high 35, freezing precip changing to sleet and snow toward Thursday morning, low 33.
THURSDAY= freezing drizzle, rain changing to snow with highs around 36 by noon, falling to 19 by midnight.
SPORTS
NFL= Vikings unable to stop Green Bay in the second half and the Packers win 23-10 last night on Monday night football. Packers win the NFC North Division. Vikings will be the 6-seed in the playoffs.
HS= The Little Falls Boys Hockey team host their Holiday Tournament Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Exchange Arena in Little Falls. The girls hockey team will be at Edina, Pierz Boys Basketball team will be at Aitkin later this week. Royalton boys are at the Crusader Classic in St. Cloud starting Thursday. Check out the local sports schedule for area teams at fallsradio.com click on sports.