NEWS
--Little Falls City Administrator Jon Radermacher announced on KLTF Tuesday at the City has received CARES Act funding of $673,000 to be used for COVID related expenses so the city council will utilize the funds for safety equipment like hand sanitizer, masks and other items that were not budgeted for but need to be safe for city employees and visitors. What is remaining is then use for economic impact for businesses and non-profits that were shut down and reopened can be given grants to give back to those businesses on their impact from the funds to help small business in the community that also goes for the loan/grant programs that ended in July which could also become a whole grant program but that is still being finalized. Radermacher said that back in January they had community centers, different arts grants and food spaces were being asked for to the city which not put on the back burner due to the safety of COVID-19 restrictions and regulations. He said City Crews will continue to work on a number of projects including the work on the west side water tower. He wanted thank the staff and all park and recreation workers that battled the heavy rains in late June and then again in parts of July to keep the parks, playgrounds and other parts of the city flourishing as many are using the facilities of the city more with less bigger events and wanting to get out during the nice weather. Jon said if you have questions call 616-5500, City Hall is open to the public but they have limitations on the number in the buildings and masks are required.
--A judge has extended changes in Minnesota's absentee ballot rules to the November general election. Ramsey County Judge Sara Grewing approved the agreement Monday. The agreement allows Minnesota voters to submit their mail-in or absentee ballots in the November 3rd general election without witness signatures. Election officials also will count ballots that arrive within seven days of the election, as long as they are postmarked by November 3rd.
Last month DFL Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon approved similar election rules for the Aug. 11 primary. The rule changes were prompted by a lawsuit sparked by the health risks of in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic. Republican lawmakers have criticized the changes.
--One person was taken to the hospital after a two-vehicle crash in rural Stearns County. The Minnesota State Patrol says the crash happened Monday at 3:30pm in Oak Township near Freeport. Both vehicles were eastbound on I-94 when a car driven by 37-year-old Jamison Hamre of Hoffman, Minn. crashed into the back of a car driven by 69-year-old Pauline Connick of Buffalo. Connick was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Hamre was hurt but was not taken to the hospital.
--Latest COVID-19 numbers in Minnesota from the Department of Health are 606 new cases and 4 new deaths linked to COVID-19. Morrison County had no new cases and actually had one case removed from the list reasons are specific but state they are usually done from the positive test person resides in another county or state, a duplicated case from another county or the reports were not reverified and found to be not a positive case of COVID-19, so on Tuesdsay Morrison County back to 82 positive cases.
--The Little Falls Community High School Class of 1980 has decided to postpone the 40 Anniversary High School Reunion his year due the recent restrictions and rescheduled for September 18th, 2021.
--The Minnesota State High School League has decided how to handle the upcoming fall sports season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MSHSL voted to move high-risk sports (football, volleyball) to the spring, while creating a 'fourth season' during the summer for sports normally played in the spring (softball, baseball, etc). A spring football season will be shortened to run from mid-March to mid-May to allow multi-sport athletes to participate in their spring sports during the aforementioned 'fourth season,' which would end in July. The league also considered a shortened, six-game/twelve-week football season with wiggle room built in for rescheduling. Ultimately, the league decided to move the season to the spring. Despite concern from coaches, board members and players about a move to spring hurting club programs, the volleyball season was ultimately moved to March. "Low risk" sports (tennis, cross country running, swimming/diving) will still be played in the fall. Those sports will begin on August 17th as scheduled. The league's task force recommended that all seasons be reduced 20 percent in length, eliminating 30 percent of competitions to limit the amount of travel for teams. Other restrictions include a limit of two events per week, only three teams allowed at cross-country events and two teams allowed at swim/diving meets. Based on guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health, no spectators will be allowed at any indoor sporting events held at 'learning centers.' The league will allow soccer to be played in the fall, based on the fact that it features minimal contact and is played outdoors, but the season will be shortened. The vote was 18-0. All matches will be scheduled against local teams, with no scrimmages allowed. The MSHSL also suggested that schools who are participating in distance learning based on COVID-19 numbers in their districts would have only virtual participation in activities, while hybrid learning districts could make that decision individually.
--The 2020 Minnesota Governor's Pheasant Hunting Opener has been postponed. The city of Fairmont in Martin County was set to host the 10th annual governor's opener October 9-10. The city with a population of 10,666 will now host the event on October 8-9, 2021. Governor Tim Walz announced the postponement is a precaution to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Joseph and Nicole Gordon of Avon, a boy born August 4th.
WEATHER
TODAY= partly sunny, chance of thunderstorms, high 72.
TONIGHT= isolated storms early, then clearing skies, low 57.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy, high 77, clear night, low near 60.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer, high 82, strong storms overnight.
SPORTS
TWINS= Twins win their 5th in a row with a 7-3 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Twins are at Pittsburgh tonight to start the second half of a home and home series, 5:30pm pregame on Q92 WYRQ.
REGION 8C= The Region 8C Tournament begins Saturday morning at 11am in Pierz with Randall vs. Buckman, then Pierz Brewers vs. Upsala, Nisswa vs. St. Stephen and the final game Avon vs. Ft. Ripley. All games live Saturday then four more games on Sunday also starting at 11am from Pierz on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com.
NHL= Vancouver beat Wild 4-1 last night, tied series at 1-1.