News

The Morrison County Dairy Princess Coronation and Banquet is Saturday at 7:30pm at the Falls Ballroom. This year senior candidates that will vie for Princess Kay of the Milky Way are Breanna Houdek, daughter of Lisa and Jamie Houdek of Little Falls. Kayla Virnig, daughter of Kevin and Rose Virnig of Pierz. Cheyenne Keehr, daughter of Emmy and Joe Keehr of Pierz and Daizy Dickmann, daughter of Josh and Linda Dickmann of Pierz. Junior candidates that will also be Dairy Princesses but have to wait until next year to be eligible for Princess Kay are Lydia Kokett, daughter of John and Lori Kokett of Little Falls who attends Upsala Schools. Addison Marshik, daughter of Kevin and Amanda Marshik of Hillman who attends Pierz Healy High School and Joslynn Wyatt, daughter of Amanda and Josh Wyatt of Hillman. Tickets are available at the door Saturday for $20 to help the Morrison County Dairy Association, with full dinner and coronation.  

Xcel Energy is now confirming that some mineral oil has leaked into the Mississippi River from its nuclear power plant in Monticello. On Tuesday, Xcel said about 200 gallons of mineral oil had seeped from the cooling equipment at the plant. While Xcel originally reported that personnel had isolated the leak and that the oil had not reached the river, the company on Wednesday confirmed that a small amount had. According to Xcel, “There’s always a possibility that a small amount of mineral oil seeped past the containment system. Our teams are regularly inspecting the Mississippi River and did not observe any mineral oil on the river until today (Wednesday), when we observed a small amount of mineral oil appearing as a sheen near the shoreline. We are implementing the appropriate cleanup actions where the sheen is present to clean up the small amounts of mineral oil. We are continuing to monitor and are working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.” The nuclear plant has been shut down for maintenance since February 20th. In 2022, hundreds of thousands of gallons of tritium-tainted water spilled from a broken pipe at the plant. Xcel has since worked to pump out the contaminated water and build an underground containment wall. State agencies say the contaminated water does not pose a risk to human health or the environment. The Monticello plant provides power to more than 500,000 homes in the region.

A St. Cloud man accused of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a homeless woman is now charged with similar crimes after another woman said he assaulted her in 2015. Fifty-five-year-old Marquell Goree is charged with 1st-degree criminal sexual conduct and 4th-degree criminal sexual conduct. According to the new charges, a woman met with St. Cloud Police on February 23rd to report that she had met Goree at the Salvation Army in September 2015 and struck up a friendship. Records show Goree eventually moved out and got a house in north St. Cloud. The victim said she went to visit Goree at his house in October. She said that while she was there, Goree took her phone and broke it. She said she missed her bus back to the shelter and, as a result, would miss curfew and lose her place at the shelter. The woman said Goree's demeanor changed once she was stuck at his house. She told police Goree sexually assaulted her over the course of five days, continually made derogatory comments toward her, made her sleep on the floor, and wouldn't let her use the bathroom or shower unless she kept the door open. Records show the victim later learned she became pregnant from the sexual assault. Goree faces similar charges after allegedly luring a woman from Lincoln Center to his home under the guise of a housekeeping job. He is accused of holding her against her will and sexually assaulting her at his house last December.

Little Falls Community High School is proud to announce the 15th Annual Day of Caring. On Wednesday, May 6, 2026 our students, staff, and dedicated community volunteers will head outdoors to help those in need. The goal is to provide essential spring cleanup services for seniors, disabled citizens, and homebound individuals within our community. Whether it’s raking leaves, picking up sticks, or tidying up gardens, we are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work. High School Principal Tim Bjorge stated that the students will be calling residents who signed up last year at the end of the month. The Deadline to sign up for this year Day of Caring is April 10th. Questions you can contact Becky Abbott at 320-616-2215.

Weekend events include Jason Schommer Comedy show Friday night at Great River Arts, Polish Echo's Pork Chop Dinner Sunday 9am-1pm at Holy Family Belle Prairie free will offering, proceeds go to help Our Lady of Lourdes kitchen repairs. St. Stephen Catholic Church breakfast to the Poor Clares Monastery in Sauk Rapids free will offering from 8am-12pm Sunday, St. Michael's Christian Mother's and Women Quilt Bingo Sunday at 1pm in Buckman, St. Stanislaus Church of Bowlus Ham Bingo Sunday 1:30pm Sunday at the church proceeds go to repairs the Baptismal font at the church. Morrison County Skywarn Spotter Training 2-4pm on Sunday at St. Mary's Church in Upsala. Empty Bowls Fundraiser in Sunday 11:45am-2pm at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls, all you can eat soup and bread, tickets will be sold at the door. Details on these and more events are fallsradio.com and on community calendar. 

Weather: High Wind Warning in effect until 10am Friday. Mostly cloudy and very windy Friday with wind gusts during the day of 20-40mph gusts then sunny in afternoon, high 33. Winds die down by evening low around 17 and partly cloudy. Saturday increasing clouds, high near 40. Saturday night light snow in evening then heavier snow overnight 1-2 inches low around 22. Snow likely Sunday before 1pm then clearing late day, another 1-2 inches possible high 29, clearing Sunday night low 4 above wind chills near -15 below zero. Sunny and cold Monday high 18 low around -1 below zero. Tuesday sunny and high of 25. Heaviest snow this weekend will be in the southern third of the state south of the Twin Cities where over a foot of snow could fall by late in the day Sunday. 

Sports The Pierz vs. Pequot Lakes Section 7AA Finals boys basketball game Friday at 6pm has been moved to Crosby-Ironton High School. Due to a smaller venue only 1,700 fans will be allowed and the tickets are first come first served at the school for Friday's game. Hear the Pierz game live on 94ROCKS KFML and fallsradio.com. Upsala in the Section 5A Championship Friday 7:45pm at St. Cloud State University against Nevis, Staples-Motley in the Section 8AA Championship at Concordia College of Moorhead Friday night against Perham. Albany vs. Melrose and many other boys basketball championships games Friday night where winners go on to the state tournament. Get all the results on the Saturday Morning Sports Wrap Saturdays at 9:05am on AM960 KLTF and fallsradio.com. Listen to Wild Hockey Saturday at 4:45pm vs. New York Rangers and Sunday at 6:15pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs this weekend live on Q92 WYRQ and fallsradio.com.

A High Wind Warning goes into effect tonight at Midnight to 10am on Friday morning. Winds gusting from 30-60mph overnight from the Northwest could cause downed trees, power lines with...

Township Results from Tuesday March 10th, received at Little Falls Ripley: Glenn Pugh Supervisor, Heather Brill Clerk. Buckman Alan Stangl Supervisor, Nancy Lanners Clerk. Swan River: Paul Fussy Supervisor, Sabrina...

Heavy wet snow started after midnight this morning, dropping 1-3+ inches of snow. Snow causing poor visibility in spots if heading out this morning before 8am expect delays. More snow...

Little Falls Radio was informed of this message sent out by the Fisch House Bar and Grill in Lastrup early Sunday morning. "We had a fire at the bar tonight,...