NEWS
--The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Morrison County Government Center announced they will be moving their office to the west side of the building beginning in April. The DMV also installed a kiosk in front of their office to help increase efficiency and improve customer service. The DMV will be changing locations to the west side of the Government Center in the former public health wing, in April where the new space will give customers the option to park in the west side parking lot and enter a DMV designated door. There will also be a “lobby style” waiting area for people to wait in. The DMV will also be making another computer change this year going to MNDRIVE, a database that will contain all driver and vehicle services information in one system, a feature the existing system does not have. Residents may also see a fee increase to driver’s license and motor vehicle transactions, which would come from new legislation not yet determined.
--There will be a Donuts and Discussion on Thursday at the Little Falls Senior Center on the recent vote on building a Little Falls Community Recreation Facility on near the high school. The discussion will be in two sessions first from 8:30-10:30am and the 2nd from 1:30-3:30pm in the afternoon the center on 7th Street NE in Little Falls. Questions like who would use the space; how can it serve you; and what should be inside and outside of it will be talked about at the discussion which all residents are invited to bring their input to.
--Two people are hurt in a two vehicle crash in Wright County Sunday morning. The incident happened around 9:30am along I-94 at 120th Street in Monticello Township. The Minnesota State Patrol says 20-year-old Brittany Ferguson of Isanti, and 40-year-old Robyn McQuillian of St. Cloud were traveling east on I-94 near 120th St. Authorities say Ferguson rear ended McQuillian's vehicle which had merged into the left lane. Ferguson suffered non-life threatening injuries. McQuillian was not hurt, however one of her passengers, 45-year-old Brodie McQuillian of St. Cloud, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--The Minnesota State Fair voted this weekend to add metal detectors at the fairgrounds in 2020. The fair wants to continue to stress safety and with recent events at large venues of violence the detectors are just that a safety precaution. They want to stress the fairgrounds will continue with their kinder, gentler approach to the public but again with the sign of the times, they need to make sure the fairgrounds are a safer environment for all who attend the Great Minnesota Get Together which is planned for August 27th through September 7th in 2020. The fair has announced that the Doobie Brothers will reunite for their opening night concert at the Grandstand.
--The St. Francis Music Center will present an Honors Concert on Sunday at 1pm at Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. All of the students performing have dedicated hundreds of hours to practice on their instrument. The audience will be inspired and entertained; everyone is welcome! Performers include Peter Knopik, Collin Kray, Sarah Leisenheimer, Nicholas Mettler, Daylan Mick, Gloria Miller, Vera Miller, Lorraine Mrosla, Emily Oberton, Maddy Ploof, Aliya Pritchard, Chanin Quillo, Celia Rustad and Sam Zimmerman. This concert is free and open to the public.
--A reminder from Sacred Heart Church in Flensburg that the soup and sandwich event scheduled for last Saturday has been moved to Saturday, February 1st after the 4:30pm Mass in Flensburg.
--8th District Congressman Pete Stauber launched his reelection campaign yesterday which included a stop in Brainerd. Congressman Stauber will be the guest today at 9:05am on Up Front on KLTF.
--The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Legislative Update on Thursday, January 30th from noon to 1:30pm in the Council Chambers at Little Falls City Hall. Senate Majority Leader Senator Paul Gazelka and Representative Ron Kresha will be on hand to preview the 2020 Legislative Session and hear from constituents on items of interest or concern for this legislative session. For more information or if you have questions call Deb Boelz at 632-5155.
--A seven-year-old boy was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash between an SUV and a semi Monday. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash at the intersection of Highway 15 and County Road 29 in Sauk Rapids at 11:40am. The driver of the semi, 32-year-old Yussuf Mohamud of St. Cloud, was northbound on Highway 15 when he reportedly ran a red light and hit an SUV traveling along County Road 29, driven by 37-year old Molly McCann of Sartell. McCann, along with five-year old passenger Ethan McCann, were taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Seven-year old Colin McCann was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Mohamud was unhurt.
--The Census Bureau is searching for thousands of part-time workers in Minnesota to knock on doors this spring. Statewide, the Census Bureau is 60 percent of the way toward its goal of nearly 39,000 applicants. Reports say roughly 8,000 more temporary workers will be hired to help count everyone living in the state. Wages range from $16 in some rural counties to $22 in most Twin Cities metropolitan counties to $27.50 in Hennepin County. Most Minnesotans will get their first invitations by mail in mid-March to answer census questions. The 2020 Census is getting a lot of attention because of recent population drops could mean losing legislative seats in the Minnesota House and Senate and the possibility of losing one of the U.S. House seats by redistricting after the recent elections.
--A young man was injured when he fell from a cliff at Interstate Park in Taylor Falls. Chisago County authorities say that 19-year-old Luke Lawrence Zajac had fallen from the cliff and was found unresponsive. Firefighters worked the extreme terrain around 5:30pm Sunday down over 30 feet and found Zajac where he was given emergency aid and pulled out of the cliff area and airlifted to an area trauma center. He was listed Monday in good condition.
DEATH NOTICES
--Jeanette “Jean” Dennis, age 88 of Little Falls.
--Marvin “Bud” Pettey, age 93 of Hillman.
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, windy by afternoon, high 21.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, temps rising overnight.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy skies, high 33, snow after midnight, low 30.
THURSDAY= snow, freezing mix possible, high 35, low 28.
SPORTS
HS BHK= St. Cloud Cathedral at Little Falls tonight 7pm on Q92.
HS BBB= Little Falls at St. Cloud Apollo tonight 7:15pm on FM94.
NFL= Vikings fullback C.J. Ham has been named to represent the NFC as a replacement fullback on the team this Sunday in Orlando for the Pro Bowl. Hear the game Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.