Thursday, May 1, 2025
The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce has announced their May Employee of the Month as Elizabeth Rydeen: "What a surprise when members of Little Falls Area Chamber and Tourism arrived at my office door to present the May Employee of the Month award. I'm honored to be recognized in this special way. It's been a privilege to be with the Franciscan Sisters for 25 years and an honor to serve with them in their ministries, locally and around the world. Many thanks to the Chamber, to those who nominated me and to all the businesses that support the Employee of the Month program." Supervisor Tim Houle: "We are so thrilled for Liz to get recognized in this way. Liz's work has greatly contributed to advancing the sisters' ministries in the community and we are all the better for it. She does a fantastic job of inviting others to come along with the sisters to support these ministries. She knows that when we work together, we can achieve so much more together than any of us could achieve apart. She leads our development and communications efforts and so you all know us, in part, because of Liz's work and that of her team. We are blessed beyond belief to get to work with them all." Congratulations to Liz Rydeen the May Employee of the Month from the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.
A missing woman’s remains have been found not far from where she was last seen in St. Cloud nine years ago. On June 22nd, 2016, 22-year-old Shannah Marie Boiteau ran into the woods near Interstate 94 and County Road 74 and was never heard from again. At the time, police said the Chippewa Falls woman may have fled Wisconsin because of an arrest warrant for a probation violation. Her boyfriend was driving the car, and he told police they were on their way to California when they got into an argument, and she fled from the car. Police say Boiteau didn’t know anyone in the St. Cloud area and had no cell phone with her. She left behind a daughter who was just a year old. Over the years, police conducted several searches for the missing woman, but all came up empty. On Saturday, the SCPD was called by a property owner who found human skeletal remains in the 250th block of County Road 74. The area wasn’t far from where Boiteau was last seen. On Monday, the Midwest Medical Examiners’ Office identified the remains as hers. The case remains under investigation. The cause of death wasn’t released.
This week, more than 90 Airmen from the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing will deploy to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility and U.S. Central in support of Operations Spartan Shield and New Normal. “Our Airmen train and deploy with the expectation of meeting or exceeding the standards of their active-duty counterparts,” said Col. Brian Winter, commander of the 133rd Mission Support Group. “This deployment is comprised primarily of Airmen from the Mission Support Group in a wide variety of career fields, including logistics, personnel, services, civil engineering, security forces, contracting, and communications. I’m excited to see what they accomplish during this deployment and am confident they will represent our unit and the state of Minnesota extremely well.” The Airmen are mobilized as part of a normally scheduled deployment rotation. While deployed, the Airmen will work on base infrastructure, ensure the security of base personnel, and manage supply systems. They are expected to return in late summer of 2025. The 133rd's heritage can be traced through the 109th Observation Squadron, the first federally recognized National Guard aviation unit in the U.S., later becoming part of what is now known as
the Air National Guard. The 133rd Airlift Wing celebrated their 100th year in January 2021.
The Minnesota State Patrol, along with officers, deputies, and troopers from nearly 300 agencies, will be on the road looking for lead-footed drivers as we enter what they call the 100 deadliest days. Each year, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety says this stretch marks a dramatic increase in travel and, tragically, in traffic fatalities. In response, authorities will increase efforts not only to curb speeding but also to address impaired driving, distracted driving, and lack of seat belt use, which the OTS says are the four behaviors most commonly linked to deadly crashes. Statistics from the OTS say that during the summer of 2024 alone, Minnesota saw 151 traffic fatalities, including 44 speed-related deaths. From 2017 to 2024, the state recorded a total of 1,188 fatalities during the Memorial Day to Labor Day period. A typical speeding ticket for driving 10 miles per hour over the limit will cost more than $110 after court fees. For those caught driving 20 miles per hour over the limit, fines double. And anyone clocked at 100 miles per hour or more risks losing their license for six months.
The Darling Cemetery Spring clean up is on Saturday, May 17th at 9am. Address is 10815 190th Street, Little Falls. Bring yard tools. Will be held in rain or shine.
Weather- today showers likely with isolated thunderstorms, high near 60, breezy northeast winds, tonight showers still likely, low around 41. Friday cloudy start then partly cloudy and breezy, high 54, low around 34. Saturday sunny skies, not as windy, high 67, low around 48. Sunday sunny skies, high 74, low near 50.
Sports- The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced into the 2nd round of NBA playoffs last night beating Los Angeles 103-96 to win the series 4-1 last night in L.A. Anthony Edwards 27 and Julius Randle 23 to lead the Wolves to victory. The Wolves will now await winner of the Houston vs. Golden State series where the Warriors lead the series currently 3-2. Cleveland beats the Twins again last night this time 4-2. Twins (13-18) wrap up the series with Cleveland today, pregame at 11:30am on Q92 WYRQ. The Wild host Las Vegas in a do or die game tonight in St. Paul at 6:30pm in game 6 of the NHL playoffs. The Wild trail the series 3-2 and have to win tonight to force a game on Saturday in Las Vegas. High School Baseball Friday Little Falls at Pierz at 5pm on AM960 KLTF. Victory League Game of the Week Sunday at 1:30pm will be Randall at Upsala on AM960 KLTF.