NEWS
--"Effective immediately, City Hall in Little Falls will be closed on Fridays until further notice. Office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Reminder to residents that utility bills may still be paid online or placed in the drop boxes located: in the parking lot at City Hall; Casey's on the West Side; Coborn's; and the Government Center lawn near Broadway and Second St.
--The Pierz City Council met on Monday night. At the meeting the council approved a building permit for a relocation of the loading dock at Pierz Foods. This will be an addition on the west side of Pierz Foods which they are hoping to start yet in the fall with the completion expected in spring. A $100 donation was approved from the city of Pierz to Habitat for Humanity. The 2021 golf course rates were set with a slight increase on membership and green fees. The city is running a special right now where if you purchase your membership now you will get 2020 rates. The city of Pierz is discussing opening up the COVID-19 Business Assistance Program that was offered in the spring to allow businesses to apply for a grant/loan program. Nothing was decided upon. The next step is for the Economic Development of Pierz to meet and talk about how the city wants to move forward amidst this latest round of shutdowns. At the meeting city administrator Bob Otremba updated the council that Minnesota Power is increasing the wholesale power cost beginning January 1st and more than likely the city of Pierz will need to raise rates as a result of the increased cost.
--The Little Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau want to remind those to take in the Little Falls Winter Wonderland Lights Tour through the month of December. Because of attractions unable to have their Christmas/Holiday events this year due to recent restrictions the CVB asked homes to take pictures of their Christmas light display and from the past few evenings many have done just that in the city. You can go thte littlefallsmn.com website and click on the winter wonderland lights tour link for a map for the homes that signed up for the December event. Take a drive around and enjoy the lights with your family in the comfort of your vehicle. Then go back to the website and vote on your favorite best decorated location in the city. The Convention and Visitors Bureau also has maps available online for outdoor exploration, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice skating and other events this winter and the local businesses that are doing special items for the holiday season in December. The lights event runs from December 1st through December 31st and is free.
--Tim Sumner yesterday on KLTF stated that the community Thanksgiving meal will start today for pickup at the Falls Ballroom. Lines will set up and you must come at the requested time you were given when you signed up. Sumner said they have 596 meals prepared and pickup for today and Thursday and also delivery at the set time also on Thursday for some shut-ins. Sumner did state that if there was a last minute cancellation a waiting list was established by Ron Kresha and he can be reached at 320-761-6133 if you wish to be put on it. Donations were through the roof and thanks to all who gave for the event. Again stop by at your set up time for the meals.
--The Morrison County Commissioners recently announced that there meetings will be going virtual for the time being to follow recent restrictions and safety guidelines. Meetings can still be viewed on the Morrison County website when the meeting is completed and posted.
--Due to restrictions, Santa Parade was Friday in LF was cancelled.
--A 29-year old man faces six felony charges and one misdemeanor charge following a daylong manhunt Thursday. Devan Dajon Wilson, who has no city of residence listed, is accused of assaulting an officer, driving while intoxicated, fleeing police, breaking into a dorm at St. John's Preparatory School and threatening a man. The trooper was conducting a field sobriety test on a man who was found sleeping and stalled on the highway. At that point, Wilson hit the trooper on the left side of the jaw "with a closed fist via a roundhouse style swing," which fractured the trooper's jaw in three places and required surgery, including the placement of two metal plates and four screws to help repair the damage. Wilson then drove away from the scene. A burglary was reported at the St. John's Preparatory School dorms at about 11am. Wilson came into his dorm while he was sleeping, threatened to shoot him and stole his clothes, cell phone and vehicle keys. At about 6:30pm officials found Wilson hiding underneath a blanket beneath a stairwell and arrested him. Officers also found a wrench with black markings on it. His appeared in court on Monday.
--Morrison County website reported 643 active cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday morning and 274 with Little Falls Zip Code, 145 in Pierz. There were 6,423 new cases Tuesday and 38 new deaths. Morrison County reported 27 confirmed and 9 probable cases yesterday.
--Waite Park police say alcohol may have been a factor in a motorcycle crash Monday night. At around 9:15pm a Stearns County Deputy saw a motorcycle make an unsafe lane change and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the motorcyclist sped off and began traveling down the wrong way of County Road 75. A short time later authorities received reports of a motorcycle crash near 58 Division Street West in Waite Park. Police say the driver, 31-year-old Justin Fischer of St. Joseph, lost control of the motorcycle when he attempted to cross the median to get into the eastbound lane and struck a street sign. Fischer was taken to St. Cloud Hospital and is in critical condition. The crash remains under investigation.
--The days after Thanksgiving will be a bit different this year as “Black Friday” the Day after Thanksgiving is being done with sales that already started this month. Also Small Business Saturday is this Saturday and you can do your part to help the smaller businesses.
WEATHER
TODAY= mostly cloudy, high 35, partly cloudy overnight, low 26.
THANKSGIVING= sunny skies, high near 40, clear night, low 23.
FRIDAY= sunny skies, cooler, high 34, temps rise overnight.
SATURDAY= fog early, then sunny, high 46, cloudy night, low 31.
SUNDAY= temps rise to 35 early then drop, flurries and wind in PM.
MONDAY= sunny and cold, high 28, low around 12.
SPORTS
COL FB= The University of Minnesota announced late yesterday that they have paused football activities at the college for now and the game Saturday between Gophers and Badgers has been cancelled this year due to recent cases of COVID-19 affecting both teams.
NFL= Three NFL games Thursday for Thanksgiving on KLTF.
NFL= Vikings host Carolina Sunday at noon.
The Staff and Management of Little Falls Radio want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. The offices are closed Thursday and Friday and therefore will also be no Newsletter on Thursday and Friday this week, it will return on Monday.