NEWS
--Deb Boelz, President and CEO of the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce announced that she is retiring. She started on January 12, 2004. Boelz stated “Fresh eyes and new ideas will springboard the Chamber into future! It is an exciting time to be part of the Chamber as we work with Visit Little Falls to streamline our organizations into one. With the help of Fair Winds Consulting, the Boards of both organizations and the new CEO will shape the future for the community” Any questions for the Chamber can to directed to Tom Hoggarth, Chair of the Board of Directors, at 320-630-1759.
--A fire destroyed a home Saturday on the 1100 block of Gull Lake Dam Road in Cass County. According to Pillager Fire Chief Greg Ringler, fire crews found the home engulfed in flames when they arrived and eventually the fire destroyed the home. The Brainerd school system has stepped up to help Sterling Molby and his two children. Molby said he has received at least 150 calls each of the past two days from friends, family and those in the community who know of his dedication to helping others and want to do the same. There were no injuries the cause was undetermined at the time.
--The Dollar General Store in St. Joseph has been destroyed in a fire. St. Joseph Fire Department was called to the store just after 6:30pm Sunday. Upon arrival they found smoke and flames coming out of the building. They called in mutual aid from the area. The building is a complete loss. The cause of the fire and the damage estimate are still being determined. Authorities stated no one was injured.
--Area law enforcement agencies are asking parents and teachers to speak about the consequences for calling in to police about threats to schools that are false alarms. This comes after multiple reports of active shooters at schools in North and South Dakota on Thursday, all turned out to be false alarms, though each evoked a quick and strong response from law enforcement removed children from classes. At least seven school districts across the two states were sent into lockdown after authorities received word there may be an active shooter in the building. All reports turned out to be a hoax. Another 10 or more calls also turned out to be what the police say were a few people making very bad jokes or puns regarding school shootings. A statement from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension via social media on Friday stated that “Our Minnesota Fusion Center is tracking these reports and keeping local law enforcement apprised of the situation,” and working with North and South Dakota authorities. The BCA asked students and community members to continue to notify law enforcement and school officials of suspected threats to schools but also if you think this a thing to call in false alarms, you will be found out and could be charged with felony crimes.
--Three Sartell High School seniors have received a distinguished honor. Taylor Chaika, Riley Hengel and Zachary Hohenstern received designations in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship program. Merit Scholar designees are selected on a basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. Chaika is a semifinalist, and joins less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors as the highest scoring entrants in each state. Hengel and Hohenstern are Commended Students, making up two of roughly 34,000 students throughout the nation recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Chaika, along with over 16,000 semifinalists, will now look to advance to the Finalist level. Finalists will be announced in February.
--At 6:19pm Saturday the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office responded to a male that fell out of a deer stand and was injured, in the 11000 Block of Leisure Lane, Maple Grove Township. It was reported that a family member that was hunting on the same property as the male had talked to him by phone and knew he was injured but did not know where he was. Upon arrival, deputies and Zone 1 First Responders located the victim, 28-year-old Leroy Zollner, of Merrifield. Deputies learned that Zollner was bow hunting when he fell approximately 25-30 feet from his tree stand. The Garrison Fire Department assisted with removing Zollner from the woods. Zollner was airlifted to Centacare in St Cloud Hospital, with unknown injuries.
–A reminder from area schools that there is no school Thursday or Friday for K-12 schools in Minnesota. This is still considered by many as the MEA weekend because Education Minnesota still has their professionals conference at River Centre in St. Paul Thursday and Friday. However in past years many area schools have opted not to attend the conference and use the days as in service or to now what some schools just call fall break. Either way schools are off tomorrow and Friday and expect more students out and about during the day into their four day weekend around central Minnesota.
--On Thursday, the Minnesota National Guard is conducting a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new maintenance facility in New Ulm, which provides advantages to the Guard and the community. The new facility consists of 25,000 square feet for 10 service bays, an equipment wash bay, and a general storage bay, allowing units in southwest Minnesota the ability to train on more of their equipment. Staff will have an additional 6,400 square feet for classrooms and offices. The second phase of this project, scheduled for 2025, will be to build a new National Guard Readiness Center adjacent to the Field Maintenance Shop that will bring new capabilities to the New Ulm-based battalion. More classrooms, a larger drill floor, and handicap-accessible bathrooms will make training more assessable to the service members and a better community space in New Ulm.
--The fall meeting of the Morrison County Township Officers Association will be held tonight at 7:00pm at the Morrison County Government Center Board Room, lower level.
--A reminder that there is a retiree seminar for all retired Veterans and their spouses Thursday at the Camp Ripley old hangar. Questions contact Tony Wenzel at 320-749-2428.
DEATH NOTICE
--Laura Opatz, age 81 of Little Falls
WEATHER
TODAY= becoming sunny, a bit warmer, high 48.
TONIGHT= clear night, low around 30.
THURSDAY= sunny and warmer, high 55, clear night, low 37.
FRIDAY= sunny and warmer yet, high 62, low around 40.
SATURDAY= sunny, breezy and mild, high 66, low around 50.
SPORTS
With the shortened school week High School football games are tonight for area teams with the playoffs starting next Tuesday.
HS FB= Little Falls vs. Milaca tonight 7pm on AM960 KLTF.
HS FB= Upsala/Swanville at Kimball tonight 7pm on Q92 WYRQ
HS FB= Pierz at Royalton tonight 7pm on 94ROCKS KFML.
MLB= after two days of rain outs, the Yankees eliminated Cleveland in the playoffs Tuesday to advance on to take on Houston in ALCS.