NEWS
--Members of the Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Little Falls Fire Department along with emergency responders held a refresher course Monday at the fire hall. There was a large number of law enforcement and other vehicles there, but again Fire Chief Craig Seelen stated that the training is valuable for responding to serious incidents on a daily basis. The sheriff's office wanted to thank all who put the training together Monday afternoon at Little Falls Fire Hall.
--In an effort of celebrate outstanding customer service provided by employees of member businesses, the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce is requesting nominations for their Employee of the Month recognition program. If you have been on the receiving end of great customer service, nominate that individual for Employee of the Month. Nominating is easy; we just need a few sentences about your experience. Nomination forms are available on their website at www.littlefallmnchamber.com under the nominations link. You can find the listing of member businesses on the website. For more information or to submit a nomination contact the Chamber by calling (320) 632-5155 or email Deb at dboelz@littlefallsmnchamber.com.
--A Stearns County judge has sentenced a man for causing a serious crash in south St. Cloud last fall. The judge has sentenced 30-year-old Luke Graditi to 21 months in prison. Graditi gets credited for already having served about a third of the sentence in the county jail. Graditi went through a red light and caused a crash at County Road 75 and 33rd Street South in September of 2021. He pleaded guilty to one count of criminal vehicular operation causing substantial bodily harm in June. Two passengers in Graditi's SUV suffered serious injuries in the crash. The collision sent Graditi's SUV into the ditch where it came to rest along a tree line. Graditi then fled the scene on foot and was later apprehended by authorities.
--A man from northwestern Minnesota is charged with the solicitation of a child for sex in Stearns County. 56-year-old Darrin Watro of Vergas is charged with soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct, describing sexual conduct to a child through electronic communication, and distributing material that relates to sexual conduct to a child through electronic communication. Court records allege that an undercover officer was posing as a 15-year-old St. Cloud girl in an online chat room known for solicitation of minors. The officer first logged on in July and a sexual conversation initiated by Watro allegedly continued for weeks until his arrest on Friday. Members of the Central Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force and OtterTail County sheriff's deputies used a search warrant to seize electronics and other items from Watro's house. Records show he admitted to chatting with someone who said they were a 15-year-old St. Cloud girl, admitted sending pictures of his genitalia but denied he ever was planning to meet that person. However, the charging complaint indicates Watro told the girl that he was working on a job in Clearwater and asked if she could meet up during the week. The complaint also shows an Otter Tail County investigator had received tips through the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force regarding Watro sharing child pornography.
--A reminder from Little Falls Community Schools that today, Wednesday October 5th is an early release schools for all of the Little Falls public schools. School will be released 3 hours early today.
–Also a reminder that Swanville Schools will have early release days on Friday the 7th and Friday the 14th after the lunch period both of those days which were added to the recent school calendar.
--A level three sex offender has moved to rural Motley. 35-year old Joshua McMillen had previously engaged in sexual contact with a known teen-aged female. Contact included penetration. Coercion was used to gain compliance. McMillen now resides in the vicinity of Dogwood Lane in rural Motley. McMillen has served the sentence imposed on him by the court and is transitioning into the community. This notification is not intended to increase fear but rather raise awareness. Law enforcement believes that an informed public is a safer public. Questions, call Sergeant Dan Rocheleau at 632-9233.
--A Mississippi River crossing north of Sartell won't be accessible from the Stearns County side of the river starting today. County crews are starting the paving work for the project at Stearns County Roads 1, 2 and 17 west of the Rice Bridge. The project area will be barricaded off from the public to help crews finish the work faster than if it were done under traffic. Drivers are encouraged to avoid the area and find alternate routes. If the weather cooperates, the project should be completed by October 31st.
--The Upsala Fire Department and EMS will be hosting an open house and breakfast event on Sunday from 10:30am to 1pm at the Fire Hall in Upsala. A free will breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham and caramel rolls will be served. Also the Upsala EMS 5th Annual Gun Raffle will be held at noon at the fire hall. Many prizes, guns and gift cards on the raffle Sunday. All are welcome to take in the event.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
--Country Music legend Loretta Lynn as died at the age of 90. Lynn started her career at 15 in country music with a number of top hits including Coal Minor's Daughter in 1970 based on her early life.
DEATH NOTICES
--George William Lancaster, age 81 of Royalton.
--Peter Raymond Fussy, age 55 of Little Falls.
WEATHER
TODAY= AM sprinkles, mostly sunny, high 71.
TONIGHT= clouds increase, gusty winds, low near 40.
THURSDAY= cloudy, strong winds, temps steady in the mid 40s.
THURS NIGHT= frost likely overnight, winds die down, low 27.
FRIDAY= sunny and chilly, not as windy, high 48, low near 30.
SPORTS
TWINS= The White Sox beat the Twins 8-3 last night. The Twins wrap up the season today at Chicago against the White Sox. Major League Baseball announced that all the major league games (unless weather related) would start at the same time today 3:05pm central time. Twins and White Sox pregame at 2:30pm on Q92WYRQ to wrap up the 2022 regular season. Playoffs begin on Friday.
TODAY IN HISTORY
IN 1921= first World Series Radio Broadcast, Yankees beat Giants 3-0
IN 1924= Little Orphan Annie debuts in comic strips.
IN 1945= Meet the Press debuts on radio, moved to TV in 1947.
IN 1962= The Beatles release “Love Me Do” in England their first breakout hit in the UK, the song was recorded twice first with new drummer Ringo Starr playing tambourine, then Ringo plays drums.
IN 1969= Monty Python's Flying Circus debuts on BBC TV.
IN 1970= PBS officially became a network on television, the public broadcasting stations started in the 1940s before becoming network.