NEWS
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen is asking the public’s help in regard to a burglary at Elmdale Creamery. About 7:55am Monday the Sheriff’s Office received the report about the burglary at the creamery, located off of Highway 238 in the city of Elmdale. According to the Sheriff’s Office, sometime between 12:10pm Saturday and 7:30am Monday, the suspect(s) made entry inside the building through the back door. According to the initial investigation, cash from the register was reported stolen. This case is still under investigation. If anyone witnessed any suspicious activity at the creamery during over the past weekend during these time frames, or has information regarding this burglary, they asked to call the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 632-9233.
--Fire damaged a Stearns County home Monday and left the homeowner requiring temporary housing. The sheriff's office received a 911 call about a possible fire in a garage attic in St. Martin. The homeowner, Beth Schlangen, had been having electrical issues earlier and had a circuit breaker replaced to correct the issue. Authorities say Schlangen called the electrician when she noticed there was no power in the garage and some circuit breakers had been tripped. The electrician opened the garage attic access and found smoke in the attic. The home was evacuated and 911 was called. St. Martin Fire & Rescue responded and found the source of the fire. Firefighters opened the attic and kitchen to remove smoldering insulation and extinguish the fire. Fire and smoke damage is limited to the garage and kitchen area, but the home is considered temporarily unlivable.
--The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for applications to its Aquatic Invasive Species Advisory Committee. The committee helps guide the DNR's aquatic invasive species prevention program including research needs, funding strategies, and the direction of the program. Members serve three-year terms and meet eight times per year either in-person or online. The seats are not paid positions, but members are eligible for mileage reimbursement. The committee has three open seats on the 15-member board. Applications are being taken online and are due by January 22nd.
--Morrison County Website 244 actives cases, numbers keep going down with 104 in Little Falls, 43 in Pierz, 31 Royalton, 13 Cushing, Motley 12 and Hillman 10 active cases. The State Website 2,340 (lowest one day total in 6 weeks), 21 new deaths linked to the virus. Morrison County 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday's report.
--Pierz Public Schools got the official nod Monday to go back to hybrid learning starting this Thursday. Grades 7 through 12 of Pierz Healy High School will go back to the October hybrid model and half will go Thursday/Monday and other half Friday/Tuesday. 6th Graders will go all back to school Thursday and Friday. 5Th Graders will all go back to school Monday and Tuesday next week. No school on Wednesday, December 23rd for all students next week before the Christmas/New Years/Winter break. We acknowledge that this is just before the holiday break and some parents might choose to keep their children at home and the school district supports that decision. Learning methods may still change into 2021 and the school will be sending out more information on that in the coming days. If you have questions on the recent changes, you can call 468-6458.
--The Heartland Symphony Orchresta presents their 2020 Winter/Holiday Concert Saturday 2pm on the heartlandsymphony.com website showing many former concerts and virtual pieces this year.
--Governor Tim Walz is scheduled to announce the state's next steps in the battle against COVID-19 this afternoon. According to a spokesperson from the governor's office, Walz is expected to announce that indoor dining at bars and restaurants will remain on "pause" through the holiday season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor is also expected to lay out a strategy for in-person learning for elementary students. The pause on indoor dining across the state went into effect November 20th and was set to expire this Friday night. Some local business owners banded together and formed the ReOpen Minnesota Coalition. They have vowed to open their doors on Wednesday and Thursday regardless of the governor's mandates. Governor Walz called the seventh special session of 2020 this week to address the state's plan moving forward in regard to the pandemic. On Monday, the Minnesota legislature passed a new $216 million COVID-19 relief package, which includes direct aid to businesses affected by the lockdown and a 13-week extension on unemployment insurance for jobless workers. This afternoon, Governor Walz is scheduled to sign the relief package into law.
--Little Falls Community Schools announced their ExCel winners for the 2020-2021 school year. They are juniors Madelyn Ploof and Caleb Matros. Madelyn is the daughter of Tom and Kaia Ploof of Cushing. Caleb is the son of Tim and Amy Jo Matros of Little Falls.
--Upsala Area Schools is proud to announce that Luke Harren and Abby Klein are this year's ExCEL award winners. Abby is the daughter of Dan and Brenda Klein. She is involved in volleyball, basketball, softball, band, and pep band. Luke is the son of Mike and Kim Harren. He is involved in football, basketball, baseball, band, pep band, and choir. Regional winners will be announced in early February and will be recognized at a future state tournament event.
--Juniors Mackenzie Morris and Shane Lambrecht have been selected as this year’s Swanville High School ExCEL nominees. Mackenzie Morris, daughter of Kim and John Lindemann and Justin Morris, has participated in volleyball, basketball, softball and the fall play. She also is on Student Council, is a class representative and has been a part of homecoming and prom committees. Shane Lambrecht, son of Michael and Julie, has participated in football, basketball, baseball, trap shooting and the fall play. Shane is consistently on the ‘A’ honor roll at Swanville. He spends time volunteering as a youth baseball coach, a youth baseball ump, a flag football coach, Camp Ripley Memorial Day Program at the Veterans Cemetery and many hours with the Swanville Athletic Booster Club.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM sun, clouds increase during day, high 28.
TONIGHT= light snow after midnight, low around 23.
THURSDAY= AM flurries, then becoming sunny, high 30, low 26.
FRIDAY= cloudy skies, PM mixed precipitation possible then changing to snow by evening, high 35 early then dropping to 9 above at night.
SPORTS
TWINS= join Twins Hot Stove tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
COL FB= Gophers will face Wisconsin Saturday to finish the college football season for both teams. Pregame at 1pm, kickoff is scheduled for 3pm Saturday live on AM960 KLTF.
NFL= The Vikings (6-7) host the Chicago Bears (6-7) Sunday at noon for the home finale for the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Then the Vikings travel to New Orleans on Christmas Day at 3:30pm.