NEWS
--At 4:10pm Friday the Morrison County Sheriff's Office received a report of a two-vehicle accident with injuries on 243rd Street, east of Harding in Pulaski Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 18-year old Tanner Young of Pierz was traveling east on 243rd Street as 46-year old Sean Krych of Hillman was traveling west on 243rd Street. The vehicle driven by Young was making a left turn into a private driveway and struck the vehicle driven by Krych. Tanner Young was transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance to St. Gabriel’s Hospital with a possible head injury. Sean Krych was uninjured.
--The Morrison County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management wants everyone to know that November 9-13th is Winter Hazard Awareness Week. Winter is the signature season in Minnesota. It's normally a long season of cold temperatures and snow and ice that can last from November through April. In order to ensure a safe and enjoyable winter, it is critical to be informed and aware of the potential risks and hazards associated with winter weather and how to avoid them. The Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website is featuring daily topics including winter weather overview, outdoor winter safety, winter fire safety, indoor winter safety and winter driving. For more information about winter weather preparedness and safety please visit the HSEM Winter Weather Safety website through the Department of Public Safety website at dps.mn.gov and their weather link.
--State Department of Health numbers Monday show 3,930 new cases of COVID-19 and 19 new deaths. There were 25 new cases of the virus in Morrison County Monday. The county website on Monday reported 1,154 positive cases, 64 hospitalized, 334 active cases of the virus. Little Falls zip code dropped under 100 cases down to 98 on the website Monday, Pierz is now up to 80 cases, Royalton has moved up to 48 cases, Motley at 30, Bowlus up to 18 cases, Hillman was at 14 and Swanville at 12 cases on Monday's report.
--Two people were hurt, one seriously, in a crash on Highway 10 and Highway 23 in St. Cloud. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Minnesota State Patrol says a car was merging from westbound Highway 10 onto eastbound Highway 23 down the ramp and into the left lane. Authorities say a second car was going west on Highway 10 in the right lane and then moved into the left lane. The state patrol says the front left part of the first car collided with the back right part of the second. The first car crossed the median and both Highway 10 eastbound lanes. The second car spun out in the median, hit the guardrail and bridge support, and came to a stop in the left westbound lane of Highway 10. The driver of the second car, 22-year-old Isaiah Xaysongkham of Sauk Rapids, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The driver of the first car, 36-year-old Kurt Kloss of St. Cloud, was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. His three-year-old passenger was not hurt. Authorities say there are no charges at this time and the crash remains under investigation.
--The University of Minnesota Extension announced that the Morrison County Farm Family of the Year is Robert and Colleen Doucette of Little Falls. For many years, Robert and Colleen owned and operated “The End of the Line Turkey Farm.” However, due to severe health issues, including undergoing a back surgery, the couple retired from farming in May. Congratulations to the Doucettes for their honor.
--The City of Little Falls will be having a leaf and brush pickup this Saturday, November 14th. This will happen rain, shine or even snow this Saturday. Please have your leaves in untied bags on the boulevard of your street or avenue (not in your alley) by 6:00am Saturday. The hauler will be leaving the bags at the curb so please leave a rock to set on the bags so the wind will not take them. Pine needles are not included in this pickup. Bags with pine needles will be left at the residence. The city will also be having a brush pickup. Brush should be tied together in a manageable size. The brush should be no larger than one inch diameter or four feet in length. Brush not prepared properly will be left at the residence. For your convenience, the Morrison County Highway Department on West River Road is also open for composting. If you have any questions on the leaf and brush pickup, call City Hall at (320) 616-5500.
--Living Hope Church north of Little Falls announced another opportunity has popped up to have another grocery giveaway this week as the USDA announced the Farmers to Families Food Box Program as part of Coronavirus Assistance developed to help farmers, ranchers, and consumers in response to the impact of the pandemic. Living Hope Church will be a distribution site for this, once again. Boxes will include perishable food. The event will be Thursday, November 12th from 2-4pm at the church north of Little Falls on Haven Road. No appointments necessary, please do not show up until about 1:45 as volunteers need to be in place to make this a safe distribution event of the free groceries.
--Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced a significant expansion in COVID-19 testing access, with the addition of more than a dozen new testing locations opening across the state over the next two weeks. All of the new testing sites will continue to offer free, “no barrier” COVID-19 testing. Testing will be free and available to anyone who wants to be tested whether they have symptoms or not, and it will not require insurance.
--Royalton Public Schools was notified Friday of a confirmed case of COVID-19, affecting the Elementary School Community. This confirmed case had an exposure date of November 3rd. They have worked with MDH to identify those people that were in close contact with the cases and have communicated with those affected directly by phone. The risk of exposure for other individuals in the Elementary School Community present on November 3rd poses no greater risk of contracting the virus in the general community.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Michael and Hannah VanHeel of Swanville, boy on November 5th
--Brian and Krista LaVergne of Little Falls, boy on November 5th
DEATH NOTICE
--Rita Sahr, age 90 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= increasing clouds, snow after 5pm, high 34.
TONIGHT= snow likely (2-4 inches), clearing late, low 22.
WEDNESDAY= sunny skies, high near 40, low near 25.
THURSDAY= snow showers develop, high near 32, low 18.
SPORTS
HS VB= Little Falls at Foley tonight at 7pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers vs. Iowa Friday at 6pm on AM960 KLTF.