NEWS
--Today is election day in the United States. Polls open in Minnesota at 7:00am and are open until 8:00pm to vote on two U.S. Senate Seats, Governor, all 8 U.S. House seats, all State Representative seats and some state senate seats, attorney general, secretary of state and state judge ships. In Morrison County auditor/treasurer along with other races. There are many city and school board races up for election and some schools have referendum votes such as Sartell-St. Stephen and Holdingford schools. City of Little Falls voters will decide on a ½ cent sales tax increase on their ballots. Following the polls closing around 8:00pm join Little Falls Radio for mid-term election coverage on AM960 KLTF, Q92 WYRQ and at fallsradio.com.
--Several hundred members of Minnesota's National Guard have landed in Kuwait. The 34th Red Bull Infantry Division is beginning a nine month deployment in the region. The more than 650 soldiers come from 228 communities throughout the upper Midwest including ten from Little Falls, seven from Brainerd, six from St. Cloud, five from Sartell, three from Fort Rilpey and Rice, two each from Royalton, Baxter, Albany, Becker, and Clearwater, one each from Pierz, Randall, Foley, Foreston, Kimball, Paynesville, St. Augusta, and Waite Park. Their deployment will last until late July. This is the first deployment for 57 percent of the soldiers.
--Around 8:50am Sunday the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a one vehicle accident with possible injuries on 370th Avenue, approximately one mile south of Hillman, in Leigh Township. According to the Sheriff’s Office, 48-year old Franklin Shingobe of Isle was traveling south on 370th Avenue in an SUV when his vehicle went off the road, hit a culvert and rolled, coming to a rest on its side. Shingobe was taken to Onamia Hospital and then transferred to St. Cloud Hospital by ambulance with unknown injuries. This case is still under investigation.
--One man is dead after an ATV rollover on Sunday afternoon. The incident happened near Long Prairie around 12:15pm. According to the Todd County Sheriff's Office, a man was driving the ATV on a hill when it rolled and landed on him. The name of the 63-year old victim has not yet been released.
--One man is hurt after a farm accident that took place Friday night. The incident happened near Albany around 5:30pm. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says 60-year old Dale Zimmer of Albany was operating a grinder/mixer when his pant leg got caught on the power take off shaft of the tractor. His adult daughter was present and immediately called 911. Rescue personnel were able to free Zimmer from the equipment. Zimmer was treated at St. Cloud Hospital.
--One man was hurt after a single-car crash near Meire Grove Saturday night in Stearns County. The incident happened on Highway 71 around 9:40pm. The Minnesota State Patrol says the car was going south on Highway 71 when it went off the road and hit a utility pole. The driver of the car, 81-year old Leland Erickson of Windom was taken to Sauk-Centre Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
--Fire crews responded to a shed fire in Meeker County Sunday morning. The incident happened just before 8:30am at the Richard Walls farm at 701 West Curran Street in Darwin. The shed stored six tractors, a combine, back hoe and other farm equipment. The fire occurred sometime Saturday night. The cause of the fire is unknown. Damage was estimated at $70,000.
--As per the Morrison County Trail Ordinance, the Morrison County Soo Line Trail will be closed through November 30th. It has been closed since November 1st. For information call Morrison County Public Works at (320) 632-0121.
--The Waseca Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a missing juvenile. 16-year old Madison Hjermstad did not return home from school on Friday afternoon. She was last seen leaving a home in Mankato in the early morning hours on Saturday. Authorities are concerned for her welfare. If you have information on Madison Hjermstad's whereabouts please contact Waseca Police.
--A driver and three passengers were injured, one seriously, in a two-vehicle crash Friday at the intersection of Highways 169 and 27 in Onamia. The Minnesota State Patrol responded to the crash at 4:10pm when one vehicle stopped at the stop sign and proceeded to cross Highway 169 when it was struck by another at the intersection. 79-year old Jack Olson of Crosslake was seriously injured and taken to a hospital in the Twin Cities Metro Area. His two passengers, 56-year old Kimberly A. Kaeder and 55-year old Wanda Jo Olson-Johnson both of Crosslake had non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia. The driver of the truck, 42-year old Michael T. Scofield of Princeton was not injured, but his passenger, 42-year old Susan D. Scofield of Princeton had non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Onamia hospital.
--A Foley man has been formally charged after admitting to police he punched 15B House of Representatives candidate Shane Mekeland in the face during a talk about politics. 53-year old Richard Donald Schmit of Foley is charged with one felony count of assault in the third degree and two misdemeanor counts of assault in the fifth degree. The complaint said a man, who was previously identified as Shane Mekeland, reported being assaulted the night of October 12th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Raymond “Ray” S. Dobis, age 89 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= rain changing to snow, very windy, temps dropping, snow could accumulate to around 1 inch by tonight.
TONIGHT= snow showers early, ½ inch more, low near 26.
WEDNESDAY= cloudy and windy, high near 30, low around 18.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy and cold, less windy, high 24, low 12.
SPORTS
HS FB= Pierz vs. Annandale in the state quarterfinals Saturday at 5pm at St. Cloud State University. Game tickets are available at the Pierz High School District Office for $11 adults, $7 students through Friday afternoon. You can hear all the action of the Pierz/Annandale match this Saturday on FM94 KFML and online at fallsradio.com.
HS FB= Congratulations to Reese Kapsner of the Pierz Pioneers for being selected to play in the MFCA Football Viking Showcase All-star game on December 15th at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
COL FB= Gophers Coach PJ Fleck fired defensive coordinator Robb Smith on Sunday after a 55-31 loss to Illinois. Joe Rossi takes over as the interim defensive coordinator for the remainder of the season. Gophers host Purdue Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm with the kickoff, pregame at 1:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
NFL= Vikings at Bears on 11-18 moved to 7:20pm game that night.