NEWS
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher stated yesterday on Little Falls Radio that they did put forward two federal appropritations requests one on the Highway 27 Memorial Bridge project which would move the bridge over the river away from the railroad tracks, and a new larger child care center. This came after meeting with 8th District Congressman Pete Stauber who showed his support for both projects in Little Falls. Radermacher stated that the bridge request was not moved forward by the federal government. The child care request was allowed to move forward and begin the next phase. Jon stated that the next step is send another request on the bridge process through Senator Paul Gazelka and Represtentative Ron Kresha through the bonding bills and might come back depeneding if there is excess funds or looked at it again next year. On the child care facility moves into the Federal request for bonding bill monies and should know when their large bonding bill is approved if they are included to begin building of a facility in Little Falls in the near future. Radermacher said that a large number of public hearings are scheduled for May 17th on the Barrett Pet Foods building near the fairgrounds in building another facility on freeze dried foods and the apartment complex that they working on building on the northeast side of Little Falls. Radermacher said they are working on their website and also on the recycling proposal on getting a better approach for recycling in Little Falls but futher details are still being put together on those projects. The leaf pickup will be held starting at 6am on Saturday, May 8th this is rain or shine, if you put out bags, do not tie them, put a rock to hold down the bags as the bags will not be picked up and left behind with the rock to hold it down. They are continuing to work with local businesses and help again with outside seating for those in the summer months even with facilities allowing customers back in, nicer weather can help on all ends with outdoor seating as with the indoor dining. They are waiting to hear if more of the Cares Funding State and Federal will be released again later this year to help with keeping local businesses open and striving and there will be a large number of street projects this summer including a large 3rd Street project please remember to slow down in those work zones. Questions for Jon call City Hall at 616-5500.
--A St. Cloud man has pleaded guilty after an incident in the Waite Park Menard's store parking lot last July. Twenty-one-year-old Seth Wozniak has pleaded guilty to 1st degree aiding and abetting aggravated robbery. He and two others are accused of approaching a woman's car in the parking lot, assaulting her, and then robbing her of her money, cell phone, and car keys. Wozniak was caught by police inside the woman's car in the Menard's lot. A woman identified as 27-year-old Jeraka Jenkins then was told to get out of an SUV and "beat up" the victim. Instead, Jenkins allegedly grabbed a wad of money that had fallen from the victim's pocket. Police later stopped the SUV with Jenkins behind the wheel. Police say they found a handgun matching the description of the one used in the robbery inside a backpack in the SUV. Wozniak will be sentenced in August. Jenkins has a court hearing scheduled in May.
--Morrison County Veterans Service Officer Kathy Marshik stated that this month is Month of the Military Child and today through Friday children of Military members receiver a free ice cream cone certificate and register for prizes at her office inside the Morrison County Government Center. They do need the parent/guardian to show proof of military service. Any questions call Kathy at 632-0290.
--The City of Bowlus will be hosting a clean up day on Saturday starting at 7am until 11am on Main Street north of the City Park. Items accepted include appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators (ammonia filled fridges will not be accepted), televisions, computers, tires and household refused will be accepted during the event for those residents living in the city limits of Bowlus. If you have questions contact Jude at 380-1106 or Joe at 733-3140.
--The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guidelines Tuesday on the wearing of masks outdoors, saying fully vaccinated Americans don't need to cover their faces anymore unless they are in a big crowd of strangers. And those who are unvaccinated can go outside without masks in some cases, too. The change comes as more than half of U.S. adults have gotten at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, and more than a third have been fully vaccinated. The CDC, which has been cautious in its guidance during the crisis, essentially endorsed what many Americans have already been doing over the past several weeks. The CDC says that fully vaccinated or not, people do not have to wear masks outdoors when they walk, bike or run alone or with members of their household. They can also go maskless in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated people. But from there, the CDC has differing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Unvaccinated people — defined by the CDC as those who have yet to receive both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson formula — should wear masks at outdoor gatherings that include other unvaccinated people. They also should keep using masks at outdoor restaurants.
--The federal REAL ID enforcement has been pushed back again. The deadline was previously Oct. 1, 2021, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is extending the deadline to May 1, 2023, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning May 3, 2023, you will not be able to use your standard driver’s license or ID to board a domestic flight or enter federal facilities. Instead, you will need a valid passport or passport card, enhanced driver’s license or ID card or another federally accepted form of identification.
--Morrison County Website reported 131 active cases on Tuesday continuing to see numbers drop in the county. Little Falls numbers went up 2 to 66 while Pierz and Royalton are both now at 21 cases.
NATIONAL NEWS
--President Joe Biden is set to sign an executive order to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour for federal contractors, providing a pay bump to hundreds of thousands of workers.
DEATH NOTICES
--Gayla J. (Schultz) Kroll, age 50 of Brainerd formerly of Little Falls.
--Lorraine Burns, age 90 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= some AM fog, then sunny skies, high 64.
TONIGHT= clear skies, low around 40.
THURSDAY= sunny and breezy, high 58, partly cloudy night, low 33.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 67, low around 45.
SPORTS
TWINS= Indians score 4 runs in the late innings to beat the Twins Tuesday 7-4. Twins wrap up series at Cleveland today with pregame starting at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ.