NEWS
--Governor Tim Walz Monday activated the Minnesota National Guard to serve as skilled-nursing “rapid response teams” to support healthcare facilities experiencing severe staffing shortages. Over the next seven days, 400 citizen-Soldiers and Airmen will train as certified nursing assistants and temporary nursing aides to support this activation. The Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota National Guard medical staff will provide the training. One of the Minnesota National Guard’s pillars is people as they are our most valuable resource and they acknowledge that we share this resource with employers, and we know these activations can disrupt their businesses and organizations. We appreciate the employers of our citizen-Soldiers and Airmen, as we could not conduct our federal, state, and community missions without their support from Army Major General Shawn Manke. “We thank our military families for their service, too, as we know they have to adjust their lives when activations occur,” said Manke. Since mid-October, more than 70 service members have supported COVID-19 community-based testing at locations in Stillwater, Crookston, Hutchinson, Inver Grove Heights, Wadena, and Hibbing. Since the beginning of November, nearly 50 Guard members have supported transition care units at sites in Shakopee, Brainerd, and St. Paul. For more information, contact the Minnesota National Guard public affairs office at 651-282-4410 or mn.ng.web@mail.mil.
--Morrison, Todd, and Wadena Counties with the collaboration of health care systems in the area are conducting a community health survey for any person who is a resident of the three counties and 18 years of age or older. This helps local entities like schools and health groups in the development of the community health needs assessment. The community health needs assessment helps the counties set goals and strategies around important community topics such as mental illness, chemical dependency, and obesity. It helps bring our community together to tackle these tough issues in a more collaborative manner. This process has helped them increase access to services and support. It helped develop the Morrison County Fit trail giving our community the ability to be physically active in a free, fun way. The survey takes less than five minutes to take and there is a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card. Details can be found on Pierz Schools facebook page for further details.
--Meghann Boser of the United Way of Morrison County announced they are now accepting applications from non-profit organizations for 2022 allocation funding. Each year, Morrison County United Way accepts applications for funding from non-profit agencies focusing on education, income, health or basic needs. In order to apply, an agency must be incorporated, operational, providing services for which they are applying, not-for-profit and IRS tax-exempt. Additional conditions for funding are included in the application and agreement. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, applications will be accepted digitally this year or at a drop-off point in the entryway of Door F at the Franciscan Sister’s building located at 116 Eighth Ave. SE, Little Falls. Applications are due by Monday, December 20th at noon. PDF applications can be emailed to mcuw68@gmail.com. Applications can be found on Morrison County United Way’s website: or by emailing Meghann Boser at Morrison County United at mcuw68@gmail.com.
--Another IMC concert tonight 7pm at Little Falls Community High School auditorium, final one tonight, tickets sold at the door.
--Morrison County Commissioners meet today at 9am at Gov. center.
--The Thanksgiving travel season is expected to see a heavy spike in the coming days compared to the stay at home orders last year. Roads and airports expected to be congested for days ahead and wintry weather in some parts of the nation is likely to play a factor for thoses coming and going into the Minnesota airports. The Department of Traffic Safety is reminding motorists to slow down, don't drink and drive and drive defensively with extra law enforcement out and about over Thanksgiving and the weekend in previous years (2020 the exception) the drinking and driving arrests the night before Thanksgiving have been up from 2015-2019 the numbers were 40% more on that night that many others in the year and in 2018 and 2019 that was more than Labor Day weekend and also New Years Eve which are usually the big time party events.
--Authorities are investigating after a camper was destroyed in a fire Sunday night. The St. Cloud Fire Department says the incident started at about 10:20pm at 1402 3rd Street North. The fire department responded to a report of a camper on fire in the driveway. By the time crews arrived the camper was fully engulfed. They put out the fire with no damage reported to any nearby buildings. No one was hurt during the incident. The damage loss is estimated at about $3,000.
--St. Cloud, Waite Park, Sartell and Sauk Rapids police are reported a number of vehicle thefts, break ins and burgarlies in the past weeks. They are reminding homeowners to leave all buildings locked up when not at home. Vehicles should be locked up and all valuables should be out of sight. If you noticed suspicious in your area no matter the town or area, call your local police or sheriff's office to investigate and if a burglary is in process please call 911.
--Robert Bly, one of the most prominent American poets of the last half century and author of the best-selling men’s movement classic “Iron John,” has died. He was 95. His daughter, Mary Bly, said her father died Sunday at his home in Minneapolis after suffering from dementia for 14 years.
DEATH NOTICES
--Thomas A. Nienaber, age 77 of Burtrum.
--Dorine Lehn, age 91 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly cloudy, turning breezy, high 46.
TONIGHT= cloudy skies, low around 30.
WEDNESDAY= temps rise to 36 early then fall, blustery with flurries.
THANKSGIVING= sunny and chilly, high 19, low 7 above.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, high 29, low around 14.
SPORTS
HS BHK= Little Falls vs. Orono Friday at 3:15pm from St. Paul then Little Falls vs. Monticello 5:45pm Saturday from St. Paul both games will be heard live on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1899= first use of Jukebox reported at a San Francisco saloon.
IN 1936= first issue of Life Magazine hits newstands.
IN 1938= Bob Hope and Shirley Ross sing Thanks for the Memory, the song would be a staple for Bob Hope through his whole career.
IN 1970= the Partridge Family hit #1 with “I Think I Love You” the song climbs after the TV Show debuts in September of 1970.
IN 1979= Pink Floyd released “The Wall”.