NEWS
--John Thomas of WreathsfortheFallen.org informed Little Falls Radio that they will be putting wreaths on the graves at the State Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, December 17th at 11am sharp. This year has been one of the busiest since they started the project and they appreciate all the donations to the organization. If you plan on attending or helping you are asked to be at the cemetery by 9:30am on the 17th of December. If you need handicap parking please have the parking sticker for handicap on your front window and they will direct to the handicap parking area. If you need further information either call 218-829-6622 or go to wreathsforthefallen.org today.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office in continuing to keep the public informed as posted information on human trafficking and what the signs are and what to look for, how strangers and lure those with pretty words and suggestions. Also they have info on sexting which if you send explicit material, photos, video, texts can also become forms to illegal activity especially with minors and can lead to other issues including cyberbullying or again sex trafficking. Know the signs, information is posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page.
--Stearns County is using thermal imaging in squad cars. Stearns County Sheriff Steve Soyka says they've added this technology within the last two years and recently used this to find and arrest a burglary suspect in the Albany area. Soyka explains there was a burglary in progress a couple of weeks ago to a pole shed north of Albany. He says the home owner has motion detected lights and saw someone actively try to break into the shed at 3am. A Stearns County deputy was nearby and located the suspect hiding in the woods using the thermal imaging technology. Soyka indicates the deputy probably wouldn't have been able to find this person without the technology. He says the suspect had the stolen property on them. The thermal imaging device is attached to the top of the squad car. The officer can manipulate the infrared imaging to look around and the images come up on their computer screen. Soyka says these have been added to squad cars who work on night shifts and can especially be effective during the winter months because the device identifies heat sources. He says this can also be helpful when approaching a crime scene at night or locating a missing person on a frozen lake. Soyka says this technology is attached to the vehicle and cannot be used in pursuit on foot or on a vehicle chase. He says this is just another tool for officers to detect criminal activity or lost persons.
--St. Cloud now officially has a new police chief after Monday's council meeting. Jeff Oxton was sworn in as the city's top cop during the St. Cloud City Council meeting. He takes over for Blair Anderson who held the job for the past 10 years. Oxton has been a member of the St. Cloud Police Department for 27 years. Also, last night Commander Brett Mushatt will be sworn in as the Assistant Police Chief replacing Oxton. He has been a member of the St. Cloud PD since 2002. Mayor Dave Kleis made the formal promotions of both at the meeting scheduled for last night in St. Cloud.
--The National Average price of gasoline has fallen below its year-ago level, dropping for the fourth straight week to its lowest level since January. In Minnesota, gas prices fell 12.5 cents in the last week averaging $3.21. The national average fell 15.8 cents to $3.36. The national average price of diesel has fallen 13.6 cents and stands at $5.06 with some stations under the 5 buck mark. Many stations around central Minnesota have been below the 3-buck mark already and the lowest reported in Minnesota at $2.67 a gallon last Friday.
--The Pierz Area Commercial Club invites all to Pierz Wednesday for their 15th Annual St. Nick Night Celebration. The festivities will be at St. Joseph's Church in Pierz with pictures with Santa, trolley rides, popcorn and hot chocolate, coloring contest, crafts to be made in the church basement, Christmas carolers and many more items to take in on Wednesday from 4-7:30pm in Pierz. Many of the businesses will be open for those to stop in and enjoy. Also kids and adults can check out the items at Holy Trinity School and gifts for Mom and Dad to be bought for a few bucks by Father Pierz where the kids can gift wrap their gifts for Mom and Dad personally along with their St. Nick raffle to be draw by Father Pierz at the school at 6:30pm Wednesday.
--Actors Repertory Theatre is presenting a Live Radio Play performance of It's a Wonderful Life December 7th-10th at the Center for the Arts in Brainerd. The shows are at 7pm each night and tickets can be purchased at Art4Mn.org. $16 adults, $11 kids, $13 seniors.
NATIONAL NEWS
--The U.S. Homeland Security Department said Monday, it will delay enforcement of rules requiring Americans to get new identification cards in order to board airplanes or enter a federal building, by another two years to May 2025. Congress in 2005 approved federal standards for issuing identification cards but enforcement has been repeatedly pushed back. DHS in April 2021 had pushed back the "REAL ID" enforcement deadline until May 2023. The new delay is in part "to address the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to obtain a REAL ID driver's license or identification card," The law sets minimum security standards for license issuance and production but again will now not take effect until 2025.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--One of the original cast members of the PBS children's show Sesame Street, Bob McGrath died on Sunday at age of 90. McGrath was a staple as Bob on the show from 1969 until 2017.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Darin Becker and Jennifer Orth had a baby girl, born December 3rd.
DEATH NOTICES
--Eric J. Betlock, age 73 of Little Falls.
--Jeanette Albaugh, age 85 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= snow showers early, then sun, high 23.
TONIGHT= snow after midnight, low around 7.
WEDNESDAY= snow in morning, 1 inch total, colder, high 14, low 2.
THURSDAY= sunny, a bit warmer, high 27, steady temps at night.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls at Alexandria tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS BBB= Swanville at Pierz tonight at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 343AD= Nicholas of Myra died. The feast day of St. Nicholas where many across the world still leave their shoes or stockings out for trinkets of candy, coins or items to be filled with. Nicholas was known for helping others with leaving items in shoes and stockings. St. Nicholas is one of the forms taken later to be Santa Claus along with some other figures of European storytelling and history.