NATIONAL NEWS
Since 1937- January 20th (unless on a Sunday or Dr. King Holiday) has been Inauguration Day for the President of the United States. Today President Joe Biden will take the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States and Vice-President Kamala Harris will take the oath becoming the first woman to be sworn in as the Vice President of the United States. Security will be tight following the developments recently at the U.S. Captiol and officials are discouraging any spectators this year for the event due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for safety of all involved. Outgoing President Donald J. Trump announced he would not attend the event making him the first outgoing U.S. President to refuse to attend since Andrew Johnson in 1869 however Woodrow Wilson did not attend the event in 1921 siting health reason and Richard Nixon as he resigned did not attend the swearing in for Gerald Ford but that was not done as a large event like on January 20th. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence is expected to be on hand for the event today.
--The Department of Education sent out information on students returning to school and guidelines to follow. Students with a close contact exposure to a positive case of COVID-19, can return to school/activities after 7 days IF: exposure to someone that is not in the same household, they test negative, the test is taken after day 5 of the first contact day and are symptom free. Minnesota has opened up at-home testing for everyone in MN. Each person must have an email address to order the kits. These tests are FREE. Please take advantage of these and have them on hand in case of exposure. If all 4 circumstances are not met, the return will be after day 10 or as determined by the school nurse. The links are learn.vaulthealth.com/state-of-minnesota or also the Minnesota Department of Health website.
--Pierz Healy High School announced Monday that their two Triple A Award nominees have advanced past the District level and move on to regions for a chance to qualify as a state recipient later this year. The 2020-21 District 19 Triple-A winners were announced and they are both Landon Schomer and Ellie Fischer who were chosen by the committee to represent District 19. They will now move on to the Region 5 competition on February 3rd. Congratulations to both.
--Father Ben Kociemba of the Tri Parish of Little Falls and the Haven of Mercy Area Catholic Community stated on KLTF Tuesday is encouraging all members of their respected parish to work on trying to return to Mass on the weekends in the churches when that is available and that is currently the case with safety protocols and more masses to choose from. He said that less than 1% of COVID-19 cases have orginated from inside Catholic Churches. Father stated the Bishop is considering allowing smaller gatherings inside the churches by February 1st with hopes of that expanding through the Lenten Season to get luncheons, fundraisers and other items back in the churches in the near future. Father Ben is waiting word from Bishop Kettler on safety precautions for Lent and Easter and will get that information out to the public when it is available. Father Ben continues to ask for prayers for those in need right now battling either the virus and winter depression which in Janaury and February can become a major issue or personal well-being. If you have questions about the Catholic Community of the six local parishes contact your local Church offices which are staffed at this time.
--The Morrison County Website continues to see the downward trend of the numbers of the virus meaning many more getting back to daily routines and staying well this winter. Only 94 active cases on the report Tuesday and 40 of those in Little Falls but again much lower. There were only 3 new cases on Tuesday's state report.
--A Sauk Centre woman was hurt in a two vehicle crash in Kandiyohi County Tuesday morning. The incident happened around 8:45am at the intersection of Highway 71 and County Road 40 west of New London. The Minnesota State Patrol says 20-year-old Trevor Schlangen, of Belgrade, was stopped at a stop sign heading east on County Road 40. The driver of the second vehicle, 51-year-old Saraann Carlson, was heading south on Highway 71 when both vehicles collided at the intersection. Carlson was taken to Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar with non-life threatening injuries. Schlangen was not hurt in the accident.
--Ben Saarion and Jon Kuznia were shocked when they teamed up to land through the ice on Lake Charley near Alexandria a 50-inch muskie. The fish grabbed hold of the transducer on the Vexilar sonar unit they were using to help catch sunfish last Saturday morning. Kuznia from Lakeville bought a place on Lake Ida in Douglas County two years ago where he spends almost all of his weekends. Ida is just northwest of Lake Charley, a much smaller body of water where Kuznia has a permanent ice house that he likes to fish out of.
--Swanville Schools announced Monday night that Scholarship night that was scheduled for Tuesday January 19th has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. A new date will be released soon.
DEATH NOTICES
--Delores M. Zyvoloski, age 91 of St. Cloud formerly Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny and mild, high 37 and breezy.
TONIGHT= cloudy and windy, low around 22.
THURSDAY= sunny and windy, high 26 early falling to teens.
FRIDAY= partly cloudy, colder high near 12 low around -6
SPORTS
TWINS= listen to Twins Hot Stove tonight 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.
TWINS= The Minnesota Twins announced Tuesday that Toby Gardenhire will manage Minnesota's new Triple-A baseball affiliate, the St. Paul Saints when the season starts later this spring. He's the son of former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.
COL BB= the Gopher game tonight with Nebraska was postponed due to a number of Cornhuskers testing positive for COVID-19. The Gophers return to action Saturday against Maryland, hear the action live Saturday at 12:30pm on AM960 KLTF.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1892= 1st basketball game played in the United States.
IN 1930= first radio broadcast of “The Lone Ranger” airs.
IN 1937= Inauguration moved from March 4th to January 20th, President Franklin Roosevelt sworn in for a 2nd term.
IN 1955= 1st Atomic Submarine The Nautilus is launched.
IN 1958= Elvis Presley received draft notice to the U.S. Army.
IN 1964= The Beatles “Meet the Beatles” album is released in the United States sparking the start of Beatlemania across the nation.
IN 1968= Peggy Fleming wins first U.S. Figure Skating championship.