NEWS
--Little Falls Community Schools Superintendant Stephen Jones sent an update on construction projects through the school. Tri-City did its final seeding and groundwork on the area adjacent to the track so everything should now be finalized. The district has ordered protective mats that will arrive within the next week or two; if they are not used this year, they will be after this winter to continue to lengthen the life of the track. Overall, the track project came in a few thousand dollars under budget. More than 75 bids were received for the 21 various packages that were available during the Bid Opening for the Early Childhood Center and Middle School roof project on October 6th. The good news is that the sum total of the bids came in under budget. Even with adding in a few alternates (for example, including some additional roof work at the Middle School), the project is determined to be well under budget, even without figuring in contingency dollars. In addition, the school is very pleased to confirm that at least six businesses located within their district boundaries earned work through the bid packages. A number of the other successful bidding firms located in Central Minnesota have employees who live within their school district. The district intends to start the Early Childhood project yet this fall, at least getting the dirt work and footings ready to go as soon as possible. The plan is to work on the new construction during the fall and winter months, looking at a late-spring or early-summer completion time period. In all likelihood, roof work at the Middle School will not begin until springtime. Planning work continues at the High School. The final planning for the science department remodel is starting to take shape. Information has been gathered for reworking the sound and lighting in the Charles D. Martin Auditorium as well as creating a backstage entrance from the music department directly onto the stage. The new main security entrance to be located on the west side of the high school by the student parking lot is in the formative stages. This will be the only entrance into the high school once the school day begins, and it will be a fully secured entry. Also, an elevator will be installed which will allow accessibility to the gymnasium floor without having to exit the building. In addition, bleacher replacement, wrestling room, and lockerroom remodeling are in the initial draft stages. There is also extensive work that will occur with HVAC and roof replacement at the High School and some smaller projects. The school is anticipating that a number of bid packages related to work at the High School will be available during the first few months of 2017. Planning work at Lindbergh Elementary is likewise underway but is not as advanced as the High School planning work quite yet. TSP Architects plan to spend a portion of an upcoming day—perhaps Monday, October 17th at Dr. S.G. Knight to begin preliminary site plan development. Although in all likelihood work at Dr. Knight would not take place until the summer of 2018, the architects would like to begin creating the detailed plans that go into the amount of referendum-approved work. Planning for work yet this fall continues at the Belle Prairie Complex. As soon as the soccer season is completed, dirt moving may begin; depending upon the weather through October and November, there is hope that the bulk of the ground preparation and dirt moving can be done before the snow flies and ends the work season. The more that can get done this fall from the volunteers, the sooner field construction can occur in the spring.
--A St. Cloud man pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree attempted murder, admitting that he shot another man three times in late March. 18-year old Nathaniel Leon Smith admitted that he tried to kill 21-year old Antoine Dajuan Fair when he shot him outside a residence in north St. Cloud. Fair was hospitalized with bullets lodged in his brain and jaw. He also was shot in the back. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors will ask for a sentence of almost 11 years in prison. Smith initially told investigators that he acted in self-defense when he shot Fair. He admitted in his plea that he was waiving any claims of self-defense.
--St. Cloud police are investigating a report of an armed robbery late Monday in which two men took another man's backpack. One of the two men allegedly displayed a gun at about 9:45pm Monday near a third floor elevator in Coborn Plaza Apartments, on 355 Fifth Avenue South. The victim gave up his backpack; the two suspects left through an emergency exit near the Welcome Center and headed east. No one was injured. There is not an active threat to the community. One of the suspects was described as white, wearing a black sweatshirt and gray cap, and carrying a backpack to which the gun was strapped. The second was described as black, with dreadlocks, wearing a red jacket and possibly blue jeans. He left with the victim's red backpack. Anyone with information that could help in the investigation should call the St. Cloud Police Department at 251-1200. Authorities recommend locking doors and windows, leaving outdoor lights on overnight, refraining from letting strangers into apartment buildings or telling others when you'll be alone, traveling in groups, being aware of surroundings and watching out for friends.
--The Little Falls Chamber of Commerce is holding State Senate and State House of Representative Candidate Forums this morning at Little Falls City Hall in the Council Chambers. The State Senate will be their first Candidate Forum from 9:00-10:00am featuring incumbent Paul Gazelka and challenger Jason Weinerman. Their second Candidate Forum will be from 10:30-11:30am featuring the House of Representatives incumbent Ron Kresha and challenger Dustin Simmonds. On Friday another Candidate Forum will feature the Morrison County Commissioners in District 1 at 9:00am at the Randall Community Center.
BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT
--Daniel and Rebecca Hunt of Foley, girl on October 9th
DEATH NOTICES
--Larayne A. Niewohner, age 93 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= cloudy and windy, morning rain, high 45.
TONIGHT= clear skies, frost overnight, low 27.
THURSDAY= frost early, then partly cloudy, high 53, low 37.
FRIDAY= sunny early, clouds increase, windy, high near 60.
SPORTS
LYNX= Lynx tie series with LA Tuesday 79-60 win, even series 1-1. Game 3 of best of 5 Finals series is Friday night in Los Angeles.
VIKINGS= The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday that the team has signed free agent offensive lineman Jake Long to help fill in after a number of injuries to the lineman in previous weeks.