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Barrett Petfood Innovations is preparing for a major expansion in Little Falls, a project that could bring dozens of new jobs, grow the city’s tax base and require a new wastewater pretreatment plant built on the company’s site.The project, discussed Monday, May 4, during a Little Falls City Council work...
Camp Ripley’s footprint on Morrison County remains hard to overstate.It is the county’s largest employer. It pumps nearly $138 million into the regional economy. And even with Minnesota winters working against it, the post was again one of the busiest National Guard training bases in the country in 2025, Col...
Nine years ago, Rose Albrecht and Sheri Hayes started a small Christmas effort called Santa’s Angels, providing toys and food baskets to those in need for the holiday season at the Trinity Chapel Church of God in Little Falls. What started as a single holiday event changed and evolved over...
For those who love Minnesota’s fishing heritage, April 17 will offer a chance to sit in a room filled with some of the names, stories and traditions that have helped shape it.The Minnesota Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame will host its annual banquet that evening at LeBlanc’s Rice Creek...
Little Falls Community High School Aviation Class Takes Behind-The-Scenes Tour at MSP Airport
Apr 9 2026Students in the Little Falls Community High School Aviation Class recently had the opportunity to step into the world of commercial aviation during an exclusive behind the scenes tour of Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The visit included hands-on exposure to several aviation careers, state of the art technology,...
From a classroom at Little Falls Community High School, two educators on Tuesday, March 24 gave state lawmakers a closer look at a program that is helping students picture futures in the driver’s seat of a semi or in the cockpit of an aircraft.Appearing remotely before the Minnesota House Education...
In the heart of downtown Royalton stands a red brick corner building that has served the needs of people in the community for nearly a century. Built on the land where George Newman of Minneapolis once erected the first store in the village in the spring of 1879, the corner...
Nearing the end of the 10-year franchise licensing and store rental agreements, Kevin and Jodi Olson, owners of Papa Murphy's in Little Falls, are hoping to find someone who will take over the beloved franchise. Well into their mid-60s, it is time to scale back on work duties due to...
Region Five Development Commission (R5DC) will relocate its official headquarters to the Sourcewell building, located at 202 12th Street NE in Staples, Minnesota, effective April 1, 2026.R5DC is a regional development organization serving Central Minnesota and has been a longtime regional partner of Sourcewell. While the two organizations frequently collaborate...
Every quilt tells a story. The materials and designs reflect the time and place it came from, as well as the personality of its maker. The natural wear and tear over the years shows how a quilt was used and loved. Most of the world and technology has changed dramatically...
The Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce invites all Chamber and community members to participate in a Legislative Dialog. We have invited Representative Ron Kresha (10A), Representative Isaac Schultz (10B), Representative Mike Wiener (05B), and Senator Nathan Wesenberg. This important discussion will take place on from 10 a.m. -noon on...
Sometimes the best community projects do more than solve one problem.A proposal approved March 9 by the Little Falls School Board would not only create space for four or five new homes but also give Little Falls students a chance to learn the building trades in the most hands-on way...
Camp Ripley looks to another busy season of military training.“Camp Ripley in 2024 was the third busiest training center across the nation,” said Col. Troy Fink, garrison commander at Camp Ripley, in an update to the Crow Wing County Board on Tuesday, March 17. “In 2025, we were the second...
Crews dug nearly 30 feet down to the Mississippi River’s edge last fall as part of a riverbank stabilization project at the Morrison County Historical Society — and today that work is about 80% to 85% complete.City council members received the update March 2 during a Little Falls City Council...
A century of stories in stone
Mar 14 2026Over one’s lifetime, a person will typically call many places their home and have many different places to sleep. Once that lifetime has ended, however, most hope to have their remains stay put in an eternal resting place, whether that be in a casket underground or in an urn in...
The Syrup Ranch: A sweet adventure
Mar 14 2026As the temperatures begin to warm up after a long winter, Mike Skroch, owner of The Syrup Ranch in Bowlus, starts preparing for another maple syrup season. That includes walking around the woods and checking the tubes that run about eight miles and the roughly 3,000 taps in the trees...
Housing development plans for Upsala
Mar 14 2026As finding affordable housing in Minnesota remains an issue for many people, Upsala is being considered for housing development. In its very early stages, Shawn Tenney with Tenney Construction told the council, March 2, that a better understanding of the financial aspect of building the housing needs to be reached...
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is introducing the Biofertilizer Innovation and Efficiency Pilot Program, an initiative designed to help farmers improve nitrogen management and adopt innovative technologies that protect water quality and enhance soil health.Applications for the 2026 growing season opened March 2 and will close on May 1...
A tension fabric building may be the answer to the Little Falls School District’s challenge of having enough gym space to meet the needs of its programs, sports and activities.Different from the community recreation center proposed in 2022, several teachers, district educators and members of the public traveled to Le...
Crews dug nearly 30 feet down to the Mississippi River’s edge last fall as part of a riverbank stabilization project at the Morrison County Historical Society — and today that work is about 80% to 85% complete.City council members received the update March 2 during a Little Falls City Council...
Just Another Commuter Headed to Little Falls
Mar 7 2026Most of my mornings start the same way. I check my commute with Alexa.“Alexa, how is my commute today?”There’s usually a short pause.“Jeff, your commute looks good today. It will take you about 33 minutes,” Alexa answers most days.About 10 minutes later, I climb into my trusty car in Sauk...
The future of the Rosenmeier House may now include a familiar name in local historic preservation.During a recent Little Falls City Council meeting, Julia Mueller, executive director of Friends of Linden Hill, told council members the organization is ready to explore bringing the Rosenmeier House under the same type of...
Work along Highway 10 will pick up in the coming months as the Minnesota Department of Transportation prepares for a series of road projects in the Royalton and Little Falls areas.Motorists along Highway 10 between Royalton and Little Falls — and from Royalton to the Halfway Crossing west of Rice...
St. Gabriel’s Health named to Becker’s five-star patient recommendation listSt. Gabriel’s Health of Little Falls has been named to Becker’s Healthcare’s list of Minnesota hospitals receiving five stars for patient recommendations.The rankings are based on 2024 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey data reported by the...