NEWS
--Today is Veteran's Day. A federal holiday meaning that many federal, state, county and city offices are likely closed today. There is no regular mail delivery today, banks, libraries and other businesses or financial institutions may be closed today so call ahead. There will be the ceremony at Bank Square in Little Falls at 11:11am to mark the Armistice ending World War I that started Armistice Day in America later in the 1950s changed to Veteran's Day on today November 11th. Please take time to Thank our Veteran's today. Due to the recent restrictions in place this year, many events like at schools and VA medical centers are virtual this year and not being held for the general public and come and view. Some assisted living facilities and nursing homes where Veterans live are holding smaller events inside with family members having to watch outside on the other side of windows to view the items inside for their Veteran's today. Some are businesses may have special items or discounts for Vets today.
--Governor Tim Walz Tuesday announced he is enacting new dial-back measures aimed at social gatherings as COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations continue to break records across Minnesota. The new restrictions being put in place include: Social gatherings Limit of 10 people for indoor and outdoor gathering, three households or less, including the host, effective this Friday at 10pm. Receptions including weddings and funerals, Phased approach to attendance limit 50-person limit on November 27th then 25 person limit on December 11th with no events after the wedding or funeral to take place and no events period after 10pm. No change to the actual wedding, funeral or similar planned ceremony - only the connected reception or celebration Bars and restaurants, 50% capacity, no more than 150 people total, Counter closed for seating and service, unless counter-only service establishment, Patrons must be seated at tables, No bar games that require standing, no service after 10pm through 4am and this also goes into effect Friday at 10pm. Retail stores have no longer any capacity limitation as of Tuesday, according to DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. No new limitations are being placed on gyms or sports at this time. Walz acknowledged that the new restrictions are painful, and said he is as frustrated as everyone else. "We should have broke the back of this thing months ago”. Walz said that his administration is proposing $10 million in additional funding in relief grants for small businesses that will suffer. On Sunday, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported 5,924 new cases across the state, by far the highest single-day total yet and the fifth new single-day high in a row causing these restrictions yesterday.
--Minnesota Department of Health numbers for Tuesday show 4,906 new cases with 23 confirmed deaths linked to the virus. Morrison County showed 24 new cases confirmed and 1 more probable case of the COVID-19 virus on Tuesdays report. Morrison County website reported 1,191 cases of COVID since testing began, 67 of those needed hospitalization and 340 active cases in the county. Little Falls was at 94, Pierz 88, Royalton 48, Motley 26, Bowlus and Hillman both at 18, Swanville 11 and Randall at 9 cases on Tuesdays' report.
--On this Veteran's Day a reminder from Morrison County Veterans Service Office Kathy Marshik for all deployed or coming out from deployment Veterans to check in to her office for recent benefit packages. Former and current Military can check with her office on recent papers and benefits to help today's Veterans. Give her office a call Thursday when they reopen at 632-0290.
--Swanville Schools will be closed for students on today November 11th. Students do not need to be online today. All staff need to report by 9:30. The football game tomorrow evening at 6pm for the USA Patriots will still be on as scheduled.
--Shortly before 8:00pm Sunday Brainerd Police responded to a report that a male with a gun had just shot the wall inside O'Neary's bar located in the 300 block of South 7th Street. Responding officers learned that the suspect had fled the bar on foot. Police learned there was a disturbance involving the suspect and another patron in the bar. At one point, the suspect pointed a handgun at the other patron and attempted to shoot him, however the gun did not go off. Witnesses and surveillance video indicated the suspect later manipulated the gun, then pointed it at the wall and shot it with the gun then firing. Persons in the bar were familiar with the suspect and he was subsequently identified as 34-year old William John Michael Novicky of Brainerd. Baxter Police Officers located Novicky outside his residence in SW Brainerd and he was taken into custody without incident. Novicky is currently in the Crow Wing County Jail awaiting arraignment while this matter is under review with the Crow Wing County Attorney's Office. A firearm was located in the vicinity of O'Neary's Bar and is believed to be the gun involved. Anyone with information on this incident should contact Brainerd Poice.
--Three people were taken to the hospital after the pickup they were riding in rolled into the ditch. The Minnesota State Patrol says it happened at about 7:45am. Monday morning in Stearns County, vehicle on Interstate 94 near Sauk Centre driven by forty-six-year-old Charity Hauglie of Ostego lost control of the pickup and it rolled. Hauglie and her two passengers, nine-year-old Aspen Paulson and nine-year-old Paisleigh Paulson of Otsego, were all taken to Sauk Centre Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
--Back on Friday the Stearns County Communications Center received the report of a grass fire in the area of Jenny Lane in St. Wendel Twp. Deputies with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call with many other agencies learned that Brent Simon, 37, of St. Joseph had burned some brush on the evening of November 5. He put the fire out at approximately 10:30 p.m. that night. The following morning, Simon checked the fire remnants and noticed a little smoke coming from the brush pile. He put additional water on the pile and left for work. While at work, around 12:30 p.m., he received a phone call from a neighbor that the brush pile in his back yard had started the swamp/wetland area on fire. As a result of the fire a large portion of the swamp land behind the Jenny Lane address was burned.
--Little Falls Schools reminding parents to please continue to call the school if student ill or tested positive for COVID-19 for their reports.
DEATH NOTICES
--JoAnn E. Shelley, age 91 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= sunny skies, high 38.
TONIGHT= snow showers after midnight, 1 inch possible, low 22.
THURSDAY= AM snow, then partly sunny, high near 30, low near 10.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, high 35, snow after midnight, low 20.
SPORTS
HS FB= The Little Falls Flyer football game at Princeton Thursday has been moved up to a 5pm start now on Q92 WYRQ.