News

Two drug dealers have been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for distributing a lethal amount of fentanyl to a man on the Mille Lacs Reservation. Dimitric Timopkin Wilson was found guilty in a May trial of picking up fentanyl in Detroit, Michigan, and then using a network of lower-level dealers to sell the narcotics throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. That included Allen Lee Goodwin. In July 2023, prosecutors allege that Goodwin sold fentanyl he got from Wilson that was so deadly it led to the overdose of a man in mere minutes on the Mille Lacs Reservation. In October of that year, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper pulled Wilson over and found hundreds of grams of fentanyl and crack cocaine hidden in a secret compartment in his vehicle. He was then tied to the overdose death. Wilson was allowed out on pretrial release and got in trouble again, this time selling fentanyl to a police informant. Wilson had been previously found guilty in Michigan for selling heroin in 2008. In October 2025, he was sentenced to 261 months, or better than 21 years, in prison. Goodwin was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years with another four of supervised release.

Another state lawmaker is ending his career. State representative Tim O’Driscoll is the latest GOP lawmaker in central Minnesota to signal he’ll hang it up after the next legislative session. O’Driscoll is a veteran of the Minnesota House with a district that includes the cities of Holdingford, St. Stephen, Sauk Rapids, and Sartell. O’Driscoll also represents Brockway, Holding, and St. Wendel Townships. He has been in the house since 2010, part of a 25-year career in elected office. Before seeking a state seat, O’Driscoll was on the Sartell City Council and then mayor. He has risen through the ranks to co-chair the powerful Minnesota House Commerce Committee. O’Driscoll says he will continue to put his full energy into the job through the 2026 session. He stresses, “I remain committed to working on matters of important to Minnesotans.” He plans to focus primarily on fraud. Last month, state Senator Jeff Howe of Rockville announced he would also finish his legislative career in 2026.

Ice anglers are getting excited about the cold weather and the ice making that is taking place all over the upper Midwest. The DNR Thursday said good solid ice is forming across Central Minnesota lakes with 3 to 4 inches on many areas lakes. Those willing to go on the ice, please make sure to check the ice as they go and try familiar locations on lakes that typically freeze the fastest. The ice tends to be thinner in the middle of the lakes. This has been a quick transition from open water fishing to ice fishing with some anglers already fishing area lakes. Everyone shouldn't trust what someone else says about ice thickness. The DNR  suggests bringing your chisel and check the ice as you walk it.  Northern Minnesota lakes are seeing lots of ice fishing activity. Red Lake has over 6 inches of thickness with walkers and a few fish houses already. There has been reports of some fishing on the south end on Mille Lacs but the majority of Mille Lacs isn't frozen over yet. Leech Lake is capped and is expected to see plenty of activity there this weekend. Lake of the Woods is close to frozen over and could be within the next few days. The DNR asked to work with resorts when navigating the large bodies of water in the state on where the ice is thick to fish right now.

The DNR is also reminding those that animals are on the loose, in the past week a mountain lion was spotted near a school in Duluth. Bear sightings have been reported in north central Minnesota including the Fort Ripley area. Some wolves and coyote reports have also been called into the DNR to investigate. If you spot a larger animal in your area, don't approach it, most times they will move away when no food is spotted if this persist contact local law enforcement or your DNR conservation officer in the area. 

This weekend is the busiest of weekends for events, Little Falls Christmas Tours wrap up on Sunday at Fishing Museum, Linden Hill, Morrison County Historical Society and Meadow View Manor, Carousel of Crafts 9am-3pm Saturday at Little Falls Community Middle School come see Little Falls Radio's Melanie Lintner who will be there. Breakfast with Santa at 8am-11:30am Saturday at Upsala High School, Bird Feeder Event at Crane Meadows, bazaars at St. James in Randall, First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, Faith Lutheran Church in Little Falls, Horsin' Around Parade at 5pm Saturday in Harding. Bring your baby Jesus figurine of your Nativity scene to Our Lady of Lourdes Advent event Sunday night at 6:30pm for a blessing for the upcoming Christmas season. More events were on yesterday's news page get details at fallsradio.com and on the community calendar.

Death Notices: Helen L. Green, age 77 of Little Falls. Sister Lillian Kroll, age 103 of St. Francis Convent.

Weather: snow before noon, 1-3 inches of snow possible Friday, high near 28 with falling temps in the afternoon and evening, clearing skies Friday night low around 0. Sunny Saturday high 12 above, clear and very cold Saturday low around -13 wind chills near -25. Sunday sunny skies, high 6 above, clear Sunday night low around -6 early then rising into Monday. Monday cloudy afternoon snow likely, high near 20, more snow possible Monday night and possible heavy snow on Tuesday low around 8 above, high near 26.

Sports: Little Falls boys basketball vs. Grand Rapids from Zimmerman in their holiday tournament Friday at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. Royalton at Pierz boys basketball Friday at 7:15pm on 94ROCKS KFML. Numerous championship college football games on Saturday including the Big 10 Championship between #1 Ohio State and #2 Indiana. Sunday Washington at Minnesota Vikings with J J McCarthy back as quarterback for Minnesota at noon Sunday. NFL Games include Chicago vs. Green Bay at 3:25pm Sunday on AM960 KLTF and Sunday Night Football Houston vs. Kansas City at 7:20pm on AM960 KLTF. 

Remember to get your Dairy Recipes in to AM960 KLTF for a chance to a $100 plus bucket of dairy items from Morrison County ADA and AM960 KLTF. Send to KLTF 16405 Haven Road, Little Falls MN 56345 by December 15th. Drop off at the mailbox on the north side of the building or email them to melanie@fallsradio.com. Listen to Party Line each weekday for the dairy recipe qualifier who gets a pound of butter. This week's qualifiers are online at fallsradio.com on the home page link.

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