News

Area law enforcement reported a number of car/deer accidents into the last weekend. A Long Prairie woman was hurt when her minivan struck a deer on Friday morning. The crash happened northeast of Osakis just after 8:30am. The Minnesota State Patrol says 49-year-old Rita Haben was westbound on Highway 27 when she struck the animal. Haben was taken to the hospital in Long Prairie to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger in the van, 22-year-old Rachel Haben of Long Prairie, was not hurt in the collision. Both women were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash. It was also reported on the recent Little Falls Police Report of car/deer accidents without injuries, and two car/deer accidents reported in Otter Tail County over the past days but again no serious injuries on the reports. 

The Minnesota firearms deer hunting season ended in some parts of the state sunset on Sunday and continues for parts of northern Minnesota through November 23rd. The DNR in a statement Friday said they are a bit concerned on violations this year as some have been on the rise. Some common violations include deer bating, shooting from the road, tag violations, and trespass which they get every year but this year there has been more violations of taking deer carcasses and reporting hunter harassment cases. The numbers of deer taken has been up this year including as of Friday around 115,000 deer taken and from that list a heavy amount over deer up 28% from last year in central Minnesota with over 5,000 deer in the St. Cloud region, over 3,700 as of Friday in Morrison and Mille Lacs County and a large number taken from the Wadena and Perham areas, also 61% of deer taken are adult males. Deer carcass disposal is a bigger problem this year. The DNR has seen many instances where this has taken place along roadsides. It is illegal and it makes deer hunters look bad, there are ways to dispose of them properly include some landfills, transfer stations, some municipal curbside pickups, you could bury them 4-6 feet deep or let it naturally decompose on your own property. Questions contact your local conservation office or law enforcement to notify of deer on the roads.

One person sustained minor injuries on Friday while traveling on Interstate 94 in Douglas County when their vehicle was struck by a bullet. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says that at around 11:45 a.m., their office and the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of a vehicle being struck by a bullet between County Road 2 SE and Clifford Lake Road. The vehicle was heading eastbound on the interstate when a bullet entered the driver’s side rear door. One occupant of the vehicle sustained a minor injury from the bullet entering the passenger compartment. No other details were released in regards to the incident. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating any individuals that may have been hunting or shooting on the north side of the interstate between 11:00 and 11:45 a.m. on November 14. Their office and the Department of Natural Resources are continuing to investigate the incident.

A man lost control of his tractor and collided with a passing train Thursday afternoon northwest of Henning. According to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office, they received a report of a 67-year-old Henning man on his tractor who was traveling east on 290th Street and approaching the CP Railroad. The man saw the train approaching from the south but was unable to stop the tractor, which collided with the train at the railroad crossing. The driver of the tractor suffered minor injuries, while the train crew was uninjured. The tractor was totaled and the train sustained minor damages. Several neighbors responded to the scene to assist with clearing the machinery off the railroad tracks, according to the Sheriff’s Office. No names have been released in this incident.

A 65 year old from Inver Grove Heights had life threatening injuries when her vehicle around 8:15pm last night left Highway 18 in Oak Lawn Township of Crow Wing County and struck several trees. Cynthia Schlussler was taken to St. Cloud Hospital with serious life threatening injuries. There were no others involved in that accident. 

The Little Falls Community High School Madrigal Dinner will be on December 7th at 5:30pm at the Middle School Commons. This is the 21st year of the program with a full dinner and complete musical style show. Tickets can only be sold until November 25th for $30 by contacting or stopping into the high school to purchase the show, contact 616-2200 for more information. 

The Little Falls City Council meets tonight 7:30pm at the city hall council chambers. 

The Indoor Marching Band Concert is tonight and Tuesday night at 7pm at Charles D. Martin Auditorium in Little Falls High School. Tickets at the door which opens at 6:30pm both nights. 

Thanksgiving News: It was reported that your Thanksgiving Dinner will cost you a lot more this year than in years past. A national survey shows that the average cost for serving 10 people this year at Thanksgiving is up around 18% from last year and will have an average cost $80-$95. However it is not the turkey, as turkey prices are about the same from 2024 (averaging less than 1% increase from 2024 but up 8% since 2022) the increase in on fruits, vegetables and almost a 28% increase from last year on potatoes, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie ingredients. There are still some stores around the nation showing lowers prices for your items but you will have to some looking if you need to do a meal on a budget this year.

Death Notices: Laura (Mae) Powell, age 98 of Cushing. Adeline E. Strandberg, age 87 of Swanville. Robert Salber, age 90 of Browerville. 

Weather: partly sunny today high 41, increasing clouds tonight low around 28 slight chance of a rain or snow shower overnight, heavier south of Twin Cities.Tuesday flurries early then partly sunny, high 43, clearing at night low around 20. Wednesday mainly sunny high 41, cloudy at night low around 32. Thursday rain showers likely high around 46, clouds early then clearing Thursday night low around 26. Friday partly sunny and colder, high 37, low around 23. 

Sports: Goodhue beat Holdingford 24-7 Friday in state semi-finals ending the Huskers season at 12-1. Goodhue will face Jackson County Central who shut out Eden Valley Watkins 38-0 in the championship. Breckinridge and Annandale advanced while Mahnomen-Waubun and Dilworth Glyndon Felton were eliminated in the semi-finals of football. The Prep Bowl begins Friday morning at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Little Falls Lindy Dancers took 2nd place in the Brainerd invite in Varsity Kick and Jazz and 1st place in the JV Jazz competition they host their invite on Saturday in Little Falls. Oregon beat the Gophers 42-13 on Friday night in college football. The Chicago Bears hit a field goal as time expired Sunday to beat the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium 19-17, the Vikings were down 16-3 going into the 4th quarter and took the lead late after two touchdowns but lose in the end. Bears go to 7-3 and in 1st place of the NFC North Vikings fall to 4-6. Vikings take on Green Bay Sunday who held off the Giants 27-20 to go to 6-3-1. Last night Philadelphia beat Detroit 16-9, as the Lions fall to 6-4. Tonight on Monday Night Football is Dallas and Las Vegas Raiders at 6pm on KLTF.

Superintendent of Little Falls Community Schools Greg Johnson spoke on KLTF Thursday morning he mentioned the people at the meeting and what was discussed. There is a feedback type survey available online...

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