--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher spoke on KLTF yesterday morning as stated the plows were ready for the recent snow and that kind of puts an end on the road work in the city but they now look ahead to 2022. The largest project will be the 4th Street Southeast project which will have full reconstruction and infrastructure and other projects by petition next year in Little Falls. They will also need to do some touch up in the spring on 3rd Street and 11th Street projects that were done in the past weeks. Radermacher said the budget went very well with a surplus at the end of the year after final calculations. They held their big budget last night to set the final levy in Little Falls with his expected to have a 5.8% increase next year which will effect property taxes depending on the valuation of the home to the valuation of what taxes will be at end of year. Radermacher said discussions continue about building a recreational facility, a child care facility working with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Congressman Pete Stauber for approvel to ask the ballot questions to be on the ballot next November, wording will be worked out before then. Our Town 56345 is meeting tonight to try and strat up items they started back in 2019 pre-pandemic on helping the Zip Code areas with work and items they want to bring into the area. Also in voting Radermacher said that the three Wards will be redistricted by November next year with more population in District 2 and reworking the areas, the number of council members 6-city council, 1-council at large and Mayor will remain but where you will need to vote may change before the next election. Also the talk on moving the railroad or having Highway 27 go over the tracks in Little Falls is still in the works but a ways off. Radermacher said MN Dot informed him with larger projects already set up through 2027, the chages could be another eight to ten years before anything gets finalized. If you have questions for City Administrator Jon Radermacher call him at City Hall at 616-5500, also all council meets are on their youtube page. Later in the day Rademacher confirmed that the new carts for the recycling program will start to be delivered today and continue likely through the weekend. Carts will go to all residential single family or two unit properties. An informational letter with the 2022 recycling calendar and information about single stream will be sent out later this month. Single Stream collection will begin January 5th.
--A 14-year-old is in custody for allegedly posting threats on social media directed at the Sauk Rapids-Rice middle school. The threats were made on Saturday. Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise says they are continuing to investigate the incident, but the student claims sole responsibility for the creation of the threatening post. The district is planning to send out additional information to parents and staff by 2pm Monday. Police believe this is an isolated threat at the secondary level. For the safety of all students and staff at Sauk Rapids schools, doors will remain locked all day and police will continue their presence at all sites.
--Rose Surma of Oasis Central Minnesota spoke on KLTF yesterday that they are doing gift wrapping of presents again this year at the Morrison County Government Center from 9am-3:30pm now through December 23rd. The proceeds are going to help the homeless that Oasis Central Minnesota helps during these times. They ask for a $4 minimum donation to be given for the gift wrapping and you can call for information or let them know you are coming at 320-632-9140.
--Listen in for the next Ho Ho Dough qualifiers today on LF Radio.
--Governor Tim Walz has ordered flags to be at half staff at all state and federal buildings through sunset Thursday to remember former Senator Robert Dole who passed away Sunday at age 98.
--Wright County authorities have arrested a Maple Lake man after a domestic disturbance that also forced a soft lockdown of Kimball High School Friday. Deputies were called to the area of Highway 55 and Nevens Avenue Northwest in Southside Township at approximately 11:30am. The caller told authorities that 43-year-old Joseph Anderson had left the scene and had threatened to go to Kimball High School. Authorities were told Anderson was suicidal and possibly armed. The Stearns County Sheriff's Office worked with Kimball school administrators to secure the school until Anderson was located. Officers found Anderson near County Road 3 and Highway 55 at approximately 12:50pm He was arrested without incident and was booked into the Wright County Jail on suspicion of domestic assault. The school was notified and the soft lockdown was lifted.
--The snowfall Saturday into Sunday led to many crashes across the state of Minnesota Saturday and Sunday. The Minnesota State Patrol says troopers responded to 318 crashes, 121 spinouts, and four jackknifed semis between 5pm Saturday into 5pm Sunday alone.
--Santa Claus will be the at the Little Falls Carnegie Library this afternoon from 4-6pm. Children can come and see Santa and he will read to them. There will be decorating of cookies, and a musician in the library playing holiday music. There is a limit of how many can attend so if you can call the library to register today at 632-9676. The entire Santa Day event today is free of charge at the library.
--Zion Lutheran Church of Little Falls will have a Chicks for Bricks chicken dinner fundraiser Thursday 5-7 at the church. Proceeds go to help the fellowship hall debt reduction. There is a $10 suggestedd donation at the event for the meal, all are welcome to come.
TODAY IN HISTORY
--Today marks the 80th annivesary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor Hawaii that entered the United States into World War II. The surprise attack by the Japanese in the early morning hours of a Sunday ended with 188 military aircraft destroyed, 2,403 Americans were killed, 1,178 others were wounded. For the next nearly 4 years of the War many more deaths and wounded as America helped in the fight against Nazi Germany, the Axis Powers and Japan ending in 1945.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy skies, high 19, partly cloudy night, low 4 above.
WEDNESDAY= partly sunny, high 26, rising temps at night.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy, high 37, snow overnight, low 26.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins greats pitcher Jim Kaat and outfielder Tony Olivia were selected by the National Hall of Fame legends committee to be inducted next year into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
HS BHK= Alexandria at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on Q92 WYRQ.
HS GBB= Pequot Lakes at Little Falls tonight 7:15pm on 94ROCKS.
COL BB= The Gopher men (7-0) open up conference play with Michigan State (7-2) Wednesday at 8pm at Williams Arena. Pregame begins at 7:30pm on AM960 KLTF fallsradio.com.
NFL= it sounds like the Vikings will be short handed with major players like Erik Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook probably not playing Thursday night when the Vikings host the Pittsburgh Steelers. The coverage begins at 7pm on AM960 KLTF.