Friday, February 6, 2026

The Little Falls School Board will meet Monday 5pm at the District Office north of Little Falls on Riverwood Drive. The board will discuss retirement incentives, Flyer Pride Cards, receive the district audit, approve election judge information for the upcoming referendum vote, absentee ballot information and times for each judge to be at locations. The board will approve the sale of Dr. S G Knight Elementary in a purchase agreement for the building. Approval of lane changes and also the 2026-2027 district calendar are all on the agenda Monday night at the meeting. 

The Little Falls Police Department in the past week has had to deal with parking and other ordinance violations reminding those to follow city ordinances. They handled traffic stops, suspicious activity and scam calls. The department reminds those they are adding a scam aware app to the police department social media devices for those to get information on the recent scams around the area at this time. Questions call 320-616-5570.

The Minnesota State Patrol and Department of Public Safety on Thursday held their awards for trooper of the year, most DWI arrests and other awards at Mendota Heights at a ceremony. During the ceremony many troopers and residents were given life saving awards for their efforts in heroic events from the past year, including the church and school shooting in Minneapolis, pulling two from a fiery crash in Blaine, help saving a man from a grain bin from Hutchinson, finding a woman in subzero temperatures in Itasca County and other life saving events that many were part of in the past year. Well deserved honors to all who received them.

Two Central Minnesota economic development professionals were recognized for their outstanding contributions at the Economic Development Association of Minnesota’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards banquet. Leslie Dingman, Business Development Director at the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, received the Economic Developer of the Year award, while Brian Fleming, Executive Director of the Sherburne County Economic Development Authority, was named Emerging Professional of the Year. Dingman was honored for her visionary leadership and commitment to inclusive economic growth across the Greater St. Cloud region. Among her notable achievements, Dingman played a key role in attracting Niron Mainetics to Sartell, where the company is constructing a cleantech manufacturing facility expected to create more than 175 jobs in its first phase. Beyond major industrial recruitment, Dingman champions inclusive growth through initiatives like Thrive Minnesota and Launch Minnesota, which expand resources for aspiring entrepreneurs and underserved communities. Her mentorship-driven programs have helped numerous business owners launch and grow sustainable ventures. Fleming was recognized for his forward-thinking leadership during his first year running the Sherburne County Economic Development Authority. His accomplishments include spearheading the updated Region 7W Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which aligned Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties toward shared growth objectives. He also led a countywide housing study, established a local housing trust fund, and hosted a housing study action forum. Fleming’s innovative projects include creating the first-of-its-kind Interactive Child Care Map and a successful grant initiative addressing food access. Through his efforts, River Station Gas & Convenience Store will soon offer fresh produce and essentials to a multicultural neighborhood in a designated food desert in Sherburne County. He also helped launch a homeowner rehabilitation loan program and partnered with the Initiative Foundation and Wright County Economic Development Partnership to bring the Enterprise Academy, which supports underserved entrepreneurs, to Sherburne and Wright counties. The Economic Development Association of Minnesota is a statewide organization of public, private, and nonprofit professionals specializing in economic development strategies and best practices across Minnesota.

Weekend events include Zoo Gone Wild Friday at 6:30pm at Falls Ballroom for Pine Grove Zoo. Royalton FFA Alumni Breakfast 8-12pm on Sunday at Royalton High School. Quilt Bingo at Sobieski Community Center put on by the Sobieski quilters Sunday at 1pm. Details on events at fallsradio.com. 

Death Notices- Helen Van Slooten, age 102 of Redwood Falls.

Weather: morning clouds this morning, temps in the 30s early then temps falling to 17 by 5pm with gusty winds of 15-30mph. Tonight clearing and cold, low near 0 wind chills around -10. Saturday sunny skies, high 22, cloudy Saturday night few flurries, low 13. Sunday partly sunny, high 35, low around 23. Monday sunny and mild high near 40, low around 27. Tuesday cloudy skies, high 36, snow showers Tuesday night low 17. 

Sports: Girls Basketball Little Falls at Pequot Lakes tonight at 5:30pm on Q92 WYRQ. Wrestling Pierz at Royalton vs. Royalton/Upsala at 6pm tonight on 94ROCKS KFML. Boys Hockey Morris/Benson at Little Falls at 5pm on Saturday on Q92 WYRQ all local sports streamed at fallsradio.com. In local sports last night Roseau ended Brainerd-Little Falls Girls Hockey season with a 5-2 win in opening playoff game. Detroit Lakes shut out Little Falls 3-0 in boys hockey. Pierz wrestlers beat Foley 43-15 in a dual meet. Get the latest high school sports updates on the Sports Wrap Saturday 9:05am on AM960 KLTF. Also Alex runs down state sports and more on Minnesota Sports Saturday at 1pm Saturday on KLTF. Super Bowl is Sunday at 5:30pm on AM960 KLTF between Seattle and New England to finish up the NFL season.