NEWS
--District 9B State Representative Ron Kresha announced on KLTF Tuesday that with the Little Falls Ministerial Association and four participating restaurants they will be providing free Christmas dinners to the community this year as to Let's Make This Christmas Memorable campaign. You will need to call 320-761-6133 as soon as possible to make sure that a meal can be provided for you. Then you will receive a time 3-5pm today at AT Black and White or 9am-1pm ro 10am-2pm on Christmas Eve at The Royal or at Perkins in Little Falls or after 10:30am until gone at Domino's in Little Falls to pick up your meal. The meal is pre-cooked but will need to be reheated at your residence and to be served (feeds 2 people). This is part to the many donations they had received earlier in November for the Thanksgiving meal which fed nearly 600 people. Donations for the free Christmas meal can also be provided by being mailed to the Little Falls Ministerial Association (LFAMA) 18892 205TH Avenue, Little Falls, MN 56345. Again call 320-761-6133 to get a meal ready for pick up.
--Morrison County Sheriff Shawn Larsen on behalf of his agency he wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. If your plans include traveling with winter weather in the forecast, use your headlights, drive at a distance if you have to make a sudden stop, have your cell phone in case you get stuck, have a safety survival kit with you and be prepared for the unexepected by animals across the roadway and of course NEVER drink and drive. Larsen stated to continue to call in suspicous activity such as the recent burglary in Elmdale and mailbox tampering in Morrill Township. The Sheriff's Office reminds you that they have a prescription drop off box inside the sheriff's office and also at the police department to drop off non used or expired prescription drugs in a safe way during their regular office hours. If you need asssistance this holiday season contact their office at 320-632-9233 and again Happy Holidays.
--Pierz Schools Superintendent George Weber stated Tuesday that the school has been approved to begin Hybrid Learning again for Grades 5-12 started January 11th. K-4 will return on January 4th the rest on Distance Learning for 1 week then hybrid on January 11th.
--The Minnesota Department of Health reported 1,714 new cases (lowest on day total in over 2 months) and 24 new deaths linked to the virus on Tuesday. Morrison County had 3 new cases on Tuesday. Morrison County website reported 157 active cases in the county, Little Falls zip code down to 64 cases, Pierz 27 and Royalton at 18.
--A house in Litchfield was destroyed in a fire Saturday, according to Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze. Authorities were called to the fire in the 26000 block of County Road 34 at 5:20pm Emergency responders from multiple departments arrived and found the house, owned by 78-year-old Sylvia Burress, partially engulfed in flames. The initial investigation revealed the fire started in the ceiling but still under investigation. The house was a total loss, no injuries reported.
--The Foley Fire Department will be spreading some holiday cheer with a tour through town tonight. The tour will begin at 6pm on the south side of Foley on Pine Street, and will shift to neighborhoods north of Main Street from 7-8pm. The parade will include fire trucks, candy canes handed out along the route and of course Santa Claus.
–The City of Little Falls announced that recycling in Little Falls will be picked up today and next week on Wednesday again due to the Christmas and New Years holidays and city offices being closed this Thursday and next Thursday due to the holidays.
--The National Weather Service has issued a BLIZZARD WARNING starting at 10am today and going to 6am Thursday morning. Snow with develop later this morning, could by a wintry mix to start before 10am then pick up in intensity through the late morning and afternoon, temperatures will start near 30 and drop to near or below zero by late evening. Winds will be extremely dangerous with some wind gusts between 40-55mph later this afternoon causing whiteout and blizzard conditions, blowing and drifting snow making near immposible and very dangerous driving and road conditions. Snow will accumulate 3-6 inches by late evening clearing overnight with bitterly cold conditions Thrusday with highs near 0, wind chills could range from 15-35 below zero through the morning hours tomorrow. --Tune in to Little Falls Radio for Christmas specials and non stop Christmas music starting today through the weekend. Including many classic Christmas classics from radio past and online at fallsradio.com.
NATIONAL NEWS
--Congress passed a $900 billion pandemic relief package Monday night that would finally deliver long-sought cash to businesses and individuals and resources to vaccinate a nation confronting a frightening surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Lawmakers tacked on a $1.4 trillion catchall spending bill and thousands of pages of other end-of-session business in a massive bundle of bipartisan legislation as Capitol Hill prepared to close the books on the year. The bill goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. The President Tuesday said it was not enough for Americans dealing with the virus and shut down businesses and asked for $2-$4,000 for them instead of in his words a lowly $600. If signed, the recent bill would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses, restaurants, and theaters and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.
DEATH NOTICES
--Steven P. DeZurik, age 53 of Brainerd.
WEATHER
BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 10AM TODAY TO 6AM THURS.
TODAY= snow develops, very gusty winds, temps drop to near 0.
TONIGHT= snow likely, 3-7 inches by midnight total, gusty winds still reaching 35-40mph early, temps drop to -10, wind chills near -35.
CHRISTMAS EVE= sunny and cold, high 1 above, wind chills –25.
THURS NIGHT= clear and very cold, low -17, winds will calm.
CHRISTMAS DAY= sunny and a bit warmer, high 20, low around 5.
SPORTS
--The Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks each had a league-high seven players selected to the 2021 Pro Bowl. Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers were designated as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. The Minnesota Vikings are represented by running back Dalvin Cook and rookie wide receiver Justin Jefferson. A different type of Pro Bowl this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, instead of a game the players will be celebrated on January 31st during two Pro Bowl-themed shows on a TV simulcast and then a virtual experience on the Madden 21 video game will be played.
NFL= Vikings at New Orleans Saints Christmas Day at 3:30pm.