NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools has confirmed their first COVID-19 case involving a staff member. The last day the affected staff member worked in the district was Thursday, May 7th. Lindbergh, Middle School, Lincoln, and Early Childhood will be closed to the public and staff on today, tomorrow, and Friday for deep cleaning. Dr. Knight and the High School will remain open on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Childcare at Lindbergh and Early Childhood is completely closed Wednesday-Friday, May 13-15. Parents of their childcare students were being notified yesterday. The Little Falls Community School District is coordinating efforts with the Minnesota Department of Health and following CDC guidelines. The affected employee had no connection whatsoever with the district's Food Program. They will continue as normal with preparing, packaging, and delivering food to their children. The district takes the safety of its students, families, staff, and communities very seriously. Their response to this situation is based on using extreme caution and recommended best practices to minimize any potential harm to students, staff, and families.
--Little Falls Community High School announced a “drive in-movie” style Graduation commencement ceremony on May 24th at 2pm. Students will drive up to receive their diploma in the west parking lot (student parking lot). The procedure according to Superintendent Stephen Jones will go as followed- a portable stage will be set up with a large movie type screen. Parking will be reserved for students and parents in one vehicle in the lot and one by one they will drive up- only the student will get out of the vehicle and receive their diploma on stage. No one will be closer than 6 feet due to social distancing. Only students and parents (some immediate family only if they are in the one vehicle). A professional photographer will take a picture of the graduate on stage, music will be provided by Little Falls artist Michael Shynes. There will be NO bathrooms and again this will be reserved parking for the student (one vehicle) in the parking to make sure the nearly 150 students can all be involved. Letters were sent out to each of the students and must be returned by Friday so they know if they are attending the graduation ceremony on May 24th. The ceremony will be aired on the Charter Cable 181, the Little Falls Schools U-tube page through Flyer Media Productions and also live on AM960 KLTF and streamed at fallsradio.com. Parents and students can listen in their cars to the radio during the presentation and also family, friends and the public who will not be able to attend will have the options to watch or listen to the graduation. Other notes is that NO ONE can walk to the graduation, drive in only (only family members in one vehicle) friends and others of the family are asked to watch or listen to the ceremony as you will not be allowed in the parking lot area as it is reserved for students with the one vehicle of family members. If you are ill or if you are experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19, you are not allowed to participate and asked not to come to the ceremony. If you have questions contact Little Falls High School Principal Tim Bjorge at 616-2201.
--The Minnesota House approved legislation Saturday that raises the age for residents to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. Lawmakers voted 89-41 in favor of the measure known as Tobacco 21. It became federal law last December, but promoters of the state bill say it is needed for compliance and enforcement. The bill now moves to the Senate, where a companion piece has been introduced by Republican Senator Carla Nelson of Rochester. The Governor said he would sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.
--Morrison County Public Health announced Tuesday morning of two more cases of COVID-19- making 16 positive tests of the virus. Those two are in their 40s and in isolation.
--Morrison County Maintenance Crews will continue crack sealing on CSAH 46. Please use caution around work crews and flashing lights. Public Works crews will continue blading and shaping gravel roads around the county this week. Morrison County would like to remind farmers that planting crops within road right of way is illegal. State law prohibits plowing, tilling and/or planting in the right of way. We want to prevent any situation where crops block motorists’ vision, create erosion concerns or other safety issues.
--Morrison County Public Health have reached capacity for the Thursday May 14th fresh produce delivery. Please continue to utilize your local food shelf. Motley Area Food Shelf is open every Thursday from 9am-12noon and the last Thursday of the month from 6pm-8pm. Morrison County Food Shelf is open Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-12pm and Thursday 6pm-8pm. Pierz Food Shelf is open Monday 9am-11am and 5pm-7pm. There are income guidelines for utilizing the food shelf.
--Governor Tim Walz today signed Executive Order 20-52, allowing students in critical care sectors to attend classes for needed in-person training or testing in order to graduate. Executive Order 20-52 will fill workforce shortages by accelerating entry into critical sectors for up to 1,000 students that will serve Minnesota’s most vulnerable populations. At Pine Technical and Community College, there are more than 30 students in the Certified Nursing Assistant program who will be able to quickly begin caring for patients at long-term care facilities after taking a final in-person exam to earn their degree. The higher education institutions opening instruction to students must have plans in place for proper hygiene and distancing standards before beginning on-site programming. All other instruction will continue through distance learning. This Executive Order is effective immediately upon approval by the Minnesota Executive Council.
--Another round of flyovers are scheduled for Minnesota. The Minnesota National Guard and another set of flights are scheduled for today May 13th from Aitken, Albert Lea, Alexandria, Baudette, Bemidji, Big Fork, Blue Earth, Burnsville, Cloquet, Cook, Crosby, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, Edina, Ely, Fergus Falls, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Hermantown, Hibbing, International Falls, Jackson, Luverne, Mankato, Marshall, Moorhead, New Prague, New Ulm, Northfield, Redwood Falls, Rochester, Roseau, Shakopee, Silver Bay, Thief River Falls, Two Harbors, Virginia, and Worthington in Minnesota with more flyovers scheduled in Wisconsin and the Upper part of Michigan. Flyovers are set to fly near local medical facilities in each community weather permitting.
DEATH NOTICES
--Bernadine “Bernie” M. Grell, age 92 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= showers at times, steadier in afternoon, high 55.
TONIGHT= showers in evening, breezy, low 47.
THURSDAY= partly cloudy and warmer, high 68, low 46.
FRIDAY= cloudy skies, high 67, showers late night, low 41.
SPORTS
TWINS= listen to Game 1 of the 1991 World Series between the Twins and the Atlanta Braves tonight at 6pm on Q92 WYRQ.