NEWS
--Little Falls Schools Superintendent Stephen Jones spoke on KLTF Monday to announce that tomorrow he will be sending out the first phase of a plan to get school back in session again in September. Jones said the Department of Education will not release their findings until July 27th and there are three plans (all, none or hybrid model for some students back in school) that would be in place. Jones said they got input from many, a survey showing most parents want their students back in school, and the first phase in only on academics and not on other items yet as too many questions remain in the next 8 weeks before school starts on September 8th. Before then there will be at least two updates in the weeks and next month ahead on other health related questions (Gym classes, playgrounds, busing, lunches, hybrid system, technology and many more pieces to discuss), but the first part tomorrow will be the academic phase and the start to getting the students back in school, with 8 weeks before it starts. If you have input, questions, concerns call Steve Jones at 632-2001.
--Following a year of uncertainty and cancellations Little Falls Radio was informed this past weekend by the Morrison County ADA that they have crowned the 2020 Morrison County Dairy Princesses. The earlier events in March was cancelled and then a rescheduled event was in the works but also cancelled. A ceremony was held in Bowlus back on June 27th where Alexis Woitalla, Theresa Karst, Mara St. Onge, Angeline Sakry and Emily Popp were coronated as the 2020 Dairy Princesses. Because of the restrictions of COVID-19 there are not a lot of events for the Dairy Princesses to do right now, but a virtual number of items are being put together on a Facebook page. Midwest Dairy that runs the Princess Day of the Milky Way event this year anonounced they still do not have a ceremony planned this year yet, they are having a virtual feedback day on July 15th for the Dairy event because Farmfest and other scheduled events this year have been cancelled and during that time they will discuss Princess Kay and are expected to announce how the coronation will be held by August 1st. The coronation is usually done the night before the Minnesota State Fair but the State Fair is cancelled this year.
--Authorities suspect a lightning strike caused a minor house fire in western Minnesota. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office got a 911 call reporting smoke in the home in Osakis around 7am Sunday. Everyone was able to get out of the house without injury. Firefighters found smoke and a small fire coming from the crawlspace under the house. Firefighters were able to put out the fire with little or no damage to the house, except for minor smoke damage. A preliminary investigation indicates the fire was caused by a lightning strike.
--A workshop that teaches homeowners and property owners about wood door and window restoration will be hosted at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls. Eric Cheever, at The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum in Little Falls on Saturday, August 22nd, 9am to noon, for an informative workshop covering the basics of wood door and window repair. Learn to identify and manage rotted wood and how to fix cracks and drafts. During this uncertain time, they might have to cancel or postpone some of our upcoming in-person classes. Staff are following guidelines from state health officials and will take all safety precautions during class. Registration for the class is available online through the Rethos website: rethos.org/classes or call 320-632-4007.
--The latest numbers from the Minnesota Department of Health Monday are 499 new cases of COVID-19 and 2 new deaths. There were three new cases in Morrison County now at 69 positive cases. Todd is at 404, Stearns 2,536, Benton 242 and Crow Wing at 115.
--Morrison County maintenance employees will be installing a centerline culvert on County Road 270 in the northeast part of the county. There will be a road closure with a detour in place. Crews will also be putting in a culvert on County Road 220 north of Swanville, flaggers will be present. A Public Works Contractor will continue spray patching various roads around the county through the end of this month. Please use caution around work crews and be aware that loose material may be present in driving lanes during some of the maintenance activities.
--Albany Pioneer Days announced they have decided to cancel the 2020 46th Annual Albany Pioneer Days Show due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. After working with our local county health officials, members reviewed several pages of guidelines that we would have to follow. It would be impossible for us to monitor all of these restrictions-from monitoring camping and the number of spectators, for practicing social distancing, and monitoring sanitation in all eating areas as well as other areas. Along with county guidelines, we also have to follow state guidelines regarding the number of people allowed at the event. These numbers can change within a week’s notice. Therefore, the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 show was made for member and public safety reasons. Mark your calendars for September 17, 18, 19, 2021 for our 47th annual show.
--Governor Walz as expected Monday extended his peacetime emergency for Minnesota through August 12th.
--The Richardson Lakes Area Lions Club announced they have had to cancel this year fishing derby on Platte Lake for 2020. The event will be rescheduled for 2021.
--St. James Church of Randall has informed Little Falls Radio that due to restrictions from the St. Cloud Diocese they are unable to serve ice cream after the 10:30am Mass on August 9th, so no ice cream.
--If you heard the Pierz Outdoor Warning Sirens Monday they were testing the sirens outside from 1-3pm Monday this was only a test.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Nick and Katie Wippler of Randall, had a baby girl on July 10th.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers and storms likely, clearing late day, high 73.
TONIGHT= clear skies, cooler temps, low 52.
WEDNESDAY= sunny and dry, high 81, clear night, low 59.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 85, low around 63.
SPORTS
VL= Sobieski at Randall Sunday at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
WILD= The Minnesota Wild announced that Dean Evason is not the new head coach of the team and removed interim from his title. The Wild also inked the Russian Phenom Kirill Kaprizov to a two year entry level deal and that means he can take part in the training camp going on now but he will be ineligible for the upcoming playoffs and bubble series with Vancouver that starts on August 2nd.
NFL= The Washington D.C. NFL football team made it official they are retiring the name “Redskins” and will announce their new team name and logo at the end of July before training camp begins.