NEWS
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council finalized their budget at approximately $3.6 million and the finalized levy was set $346,344 which included a 3% or $10,088 increase from this past year. The council approved the police body cameras plan with a $57,000 total cost (over 10 years with an annual cost of $5,700 to the city) but there is a possibility of up to three years could be covered by an outside entity. The council voted to move forward with the plan but is awaiting the County's direction as they are leading this combined effort. The implementation date of police body cameras are estimated at September or October 2022 before all equipment is purchased, arrived and up and running. The council also approved rezoning the property for Pierz Townhomes located just west of Park Avenue on the southeast corner of Pierz from low density residential to R2 greater density residential. The conditional use permit was approved for the project as presented Monday night. Also the preliminary Plat was approved. The preliminary plat was about 95% completed by the developer, and once this is completed with a finalized plat they would need council approval. If all goes as planned with this project, the construction time frame would begin in the spring with construction through the year and a planned opening date in 2023. A public hearing for this project for TIF financing has been set at 7:00pm on February 28th at Pierz City Hall. The council also approved a new liquor license at Pierz Ballroom and Lanes. The Minnesota Power Wholesale Power 2022-2029 electric services agreement was approved with new rates in 2022. Meanwhile, the internal Electric Rate study by the city was tabled until next meeting so the city can contact customers about expected upcoming rate changes. The council also approved a $100 donation to Habitat for Humanity of Morrison County. The next Pierz City Council meeting is December 27th.
--Congratulations to the latest $100 winner of Ho Ho Dough drawn Tuesday as Marne Czech of Royalton. Marne registered at Fleet Supply in Little Falls. The next list of qualifiers for the grand prize and where they registered are Janie Gangl at Thrive with Vision, Dale Ebnet at Rudolph Auto Solutions, Birdie Pederson at Design Electronics, Ann Marie Zimmermann at Falls Energy, Karen Boser at Touright Bicycle Shop, Michelle Parker at GoldSmith Jewelers, Kaylyn McKinley at Hartmann's Hardware, Gloria Priola at Wiczek's Floors and More, Allen Schraut at Pierz Foods, Dail Carlson at Brandl Motors, Janice Doschka at Hilmerson Sports Center, and Ezra Teague at Broadway Tire. Next Tuesday is the grand prize drawing of $500 cash and $500 Ho Ho Dough bucks from all the qualifiers including the last set of qualifiers drawn next Tuesday so get out to each of the participating sponsors and register this week for the grand prize drawing next Tuesday from the sponsors and Little Falls Radio.
--“A Schommer & Shynes Christmas Time!” Holiday Show with Jason Schommer and Michael Shynes” will be this Saturday at Great River Arts in Little Falls at 7pm. For one night only musician Michael Shynes and comedian Jason Schommer join forces in a festive night celebrating the magic of the season with special guest violinist David Gerald Sutton. Tickets are $20 and all seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (320) 632-0960 during business hours, or online at www.greatart.org. Tickets may be available at the door the night of the show.
--The Little Falls Community High School Food Drive continues through the 17th at the school. Drop off non perishable food items at Door 1 of the high school or online for monetary items.
--A reminder that recycling carts have been getting distributed to different residences in Little Falls in the past week. These new carts will be used beginning at the start of 2022 next month. Information is being mailed this month. The recycling carts have green lids to help differentiate from Little Falls residents garbage carts. Don't put your garbage in these carts as this will be for recycling only.
--The Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic is today 3:30pm-6:30pm at the Morrison County Government Center. This is for ages 5-11 to get the first dose of the vaccine, also to give initial doses to any 12 and older and boosters to those 18 and older. Parents must give consent to minors and also be with children under 15. You must register online today for appointment at https://my.primary.health/r/little-falls?registration_type=Ages+5-12%26+12%2B.
--A Cushing man was involved in a two-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a dump truck, Tuesday, near Glencoe. The Minnesota State Patrol states that five of the 16 children on the bus were transported to the Glencoe Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Neither of the drivers, 71-year-old, Gary Altricher of Cushing, and 63-year-old Mary Bielke of Glencoe were injured. Both vehicles were traveling south on Highway 22 near mile marker 109 in McLeod County, when the dump truck driven by Altricher rear-ended the school bus who was slowing down to stop for a kid pickup.
--A 20-year-old man was shot in St. Cloud and a suspect in the crime died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot following a police chase. St. Cloud police officers were sent to a parking lot in the 1000 block of Fifth Avenue South about 2:45pm Monday after receiving a call that a man had just been shot. Officers found a 20-year old St. Cloud man on the ground with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital in serious but stable condition. Officers at the scene determined the male suspect, who the victim knew, had driven away. Stearns County deputies pursued the suspect east on Interstate Highway 94 for several miles ending near Monticello after the vehicle's tires were deflated using road spikes. When officers approached the vehicle, they found the occupant was dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death of the driver is being investigated by the Wright County Sheriff's Office.
--Swanville High School announced their ExCEL Award Nominees: Juniors Lauren Miller and Lucas Miller. Lauren Miller, daughter of Renee and Jeff and is in volleyball, basketball, softball and trap, band, choir and the fall play, Student Council as junior class president and is consistently on the ‘A’ honor roll. Lucas Miller, son of Renee and Jeff, has participated in football, basketball, baseball, trap shooting and the fall play, Student Council as class representative and is also consistently on the ‘A’ honor roll at Swanville High School.
--Friday is the Dairy Bucket giveaway on KLTF Party Line at 10:05am.
DEATH NOTICE
--Rick D. Vinje, age 61 of Little Falls
WEATHER
FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3PM TODAY.
HIGH WIND WARNING TONIGHT 9PM TO 3PM THURSDAY.
TODAY= drizzle and fog likely, high 48, turning windy late day.
TONIGHT= rain, heavy at times, some thunder, changing to freezing rain and snow after 11pm, very strong winds 35-60 mph possible.
THURSDAY= snow early, up to 1 inch total, very windy, highs near 23 late morning then falling, wind gusts 35-50mph will die down late.
FRIDAY= snow showers possible, high near 20, low around -3