NEWS
--Last night the Little Falls School Board on the recommendation of Superintendent Stephen Jones to transition to Distance Learning across the district all students Pre-K through 12th grade as the number of positive. COVID cases continues to rise at an alarming rate in Morrison County, Little Falls Community Schools has made the decision to transition to a Distance Learning Plan across the district effective Monday, October 26. The District is aware that any Learning Plan transition is potentially disruptive to students and families. However, the continuing increase in COVID numbers in Morrison County is driving the necessity to transition to Distance Learning at Little Falls Community Schools. This will effect all aspects of the school district, child care, food services, athletics, activities as the school will go to the full distance learning effective next Monday.
--The Minnesota State Patrol reported that Monday at 7:13am a fatal accident on Highway 10 south of Little Falls near 83rd Street in Bellevue Township of Morrison County occurred. A midsize crossover SUV was traveling west on highway 10 when it crossed the center median colliding with 4 other vehicles. The crash resulted in two fatalities and life threatening injuries to others involved where a Lifelink helicopter was called in to help remove accident victims from the scene. The accident in the eastbound lane closed Highway 10 for several hours and backed up traffic for miles in length. The State Patrol has not released any names involved in the accidents as of this morning as the investigation is still ongoing. More details to come.
--The Morrison County Website shows a much larger number of COVID-19 cases in the county since testing began. It shows Monday that there have been 617 cases and 251 active cases in the past 14 days of COVID-19 in Morrison County. 28 of the total cases required hospitalization. Of the active cases 134 are Little Falls zip codes, Bowlus reports 23 cases, Pierz 17, Motley 15, Hillman 14, Royalton 13, Swanville 11 and Randall 10. The Minnesota Department of Health Numbers Monday were 1,632 new cases and 5 deaths. It was reported that Morrison County had 31 new cases, Stearns 113, Todd County 30, Benton 16, Crow Wing 11 and Mille Lacs 6.
--Little Falls Township sent out a reminder to it's residents that placing campaign, garage sale signs, political signs and other unauthorized objects in state highway rights of way is not allowed under state law. In addition, political signs may not be placed on private property outside of the right of way limits without landowner consent. Highway rights of way include the driving lanes, inside and outside shoulders, ditches and sight corners at intersections. With a few exceptions, Township roads are generally 66 feet in width across or 33 feet from the centerline of the road to the outer edge of the right-of-way. Little Falls Township officials will remove any unlawfully placed signs and impound them at the Town Hall or another local site. Violation of the law is a misdemeanor. Political campaign signs are treated in the same way as any other signs or objects wrongly placed on state highway property by businesses, churches, private citizens, charitable groups or other organizations. For information contact your local Township offiical.
--Upsala Area Schools held Homecoming Sunday afternoon and crowned Carter Johnson King and Emma Kremers Queen. Swanville Schools crowned their royalty Sunday night, King Hayden Chuba and Queen Sydney VanRisseghem. The homecoming game for the USA Patriots is Friday afternoon at 2pm against BBE in Upsala.
--Nearly 700 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s St. Paul-based 34th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade are returning home this week after a year deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. The ECAB faced significant rocket attacks at Camp Taji, Iraq. On March 11 and 14, 2020, dozens of rockets impacted Camp Taji leaving two U.S. and one Coalition service member killed in action. Spc. Juan Mendez Covarrubias, signal support systems specialist assigned to the 1st Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, serving under the 34th ECAB, was among them. The ECAB’s mission to assist Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against Daesh by providing attack and lift capabilities to partner forces continued. Due to the success of the Iraqi Security Forces against Daesh, many bases, including Camp Taji, were returned to the Government of Iraq as the need for Coalition support lessened. Additionally Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve called on the 34th ECAB to lead and complete the closing of Camp Taji and return it to the Government of Iraa. This is historic as the 34th ECAB opened Taji in late 2014 as the Operation Inherent Resolve mission developed. The Brigade took on a tremendous job and was completed by34th Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Assault Helicopter Battalion and the 834th Aviation Support Battalion.
--Aitkin County and the Minnesota State Patrol is investigating an accident where a vehicle struck a deer at 10pm Sunday night on Highway 169 at Hill City. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled. A 14 year old was injured and taken to the hospital in Grand Rapids. The 14 year old was the only occupant in the vehicle and is believed to be the driver. The State Patrol is investigating the accident.
--Authorities are investigating two reports of gunfire in St. Cloud. Officers with the St. Cloud Police Department were called to the 1500 block of 2nd Street North on Monday just after 6:30 a.m. on a report of gunshots. About 10 minutes later, officers were alerted to additional shots fired near the 1500 block of 10th Avenue South, about 1.5 miles from the site of the initial call. Officers observed a house and vehicle at each location with damage consistent with gunfire. Both homes were occupied at the time of each shooting, but no one was injured. Authorities say the two cases appear to be related and do not appear to be random. The case remains active.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Dexter and Amanda Landowski of Hillman, a boy on Oct. 16th.
DEATH NOTICES
--Alexander Jerome “Butch” Smude, age 92 of Pine Center.
WEATHER
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT 10AM TO 10PM
TODAY= snow likely, heavy during midday, 3-5 inches, high 32.
TONIGHT= snow in evening, then cloudy, low 31 and rising.
WEDNESDAY= mostly cloudy, high near 40 by 10am then temps dropping during afternoon, high 35, snow late night, low 26.
THURSDAY= rain/snow mix possible, high 32, low near 20.
SPORTS
COL FB= College Game Day at the University of Minnesota Saturday morning for ESPN, Gophers host Michigan Saturday 6:30pm at TCF Bank Stadium with pregame at 4:30pm Saturday on AM960 KLTF.