Staples Lady Wins KLKS Contest!!!

Winner of KLKS's "Plunge Into Fun" contest was picked Friday afternoon. Blenda held a drawing on her show and drew the name of Charlotte Stearns of Staples. Charlotte tells KLKS that she has never been to Mexico and will probably invite her sister to accompany her to the Mexican Riviera early in 2009. Congratulations to Charlotte and K-LAKES thanks all who participated in this late Fall promotion, making it a huge success.

Great River Strings Concerts Slated for this Weekend

Under the direction of Richard Aulie, Great River Strings and Ripple River Strings are presenting "Bach to the Future" this weekend. Aulie tells K-Lakes' News that the concerts focus on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and those who were inspired by him. In addition to the concerts, there will be two artists at the concerts who will be painting/sketching during the concert, with the artwork to be auctioned off at the end of the events during social time with complimentary refreshments. Concerts are Saturday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin, and Sunday, November 16th at 2:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia. Admission is $5. for adults, $3. for students and seniors--with a $15. per family maximum. For more information, go to www.aitkin.com/greatriver

Keith Anderson Dies Unexpectedly

The former owner of the Country Echo of Pequot Lakes and Pine River Journal has died. Keith Anderson died at the age of 81, while undergoing heart surgery at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. His former Editor, Lou Hoglund, remembered him as a man of great vision. He told KLKS News, Anderson took a sleepy newspaper in a sleepy town and was successful in making it a regional paper that served a community of lakes in northern Crow Wing County. Hoglund described Anderson as level-headed with good judgement who could take unpopular positions in his editorial writings.
Services will be 11 a.m. Monday, at St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes. Visitation will be Sunday, 5 to 7 p.m. at Kline Funeral Home in Peqout Lakes, and one hour prior to services at the church.

Denny Hecker Sues Chrysler Financial

One of Minnesota's largest auto dealers is suing the financial arm of Chrysler LLC. Denny Hecker is alleging that Chrysler Financial acted in bad faith when it froze Hecker's credit lines. The lawsuit says the move left Hecker and his companies unable to finance the purchase of new vehicles from several manufacturers. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in federal court in Minneapolis. It comes after long negotiations between Hecker and attorneys for Chrysler Financial, which has financed Hecker's operations for almost two decades. It alleges that not only has Chrysler Financial's conduct frustrated Hecker's day to day operations, it may have wrecked Hecker's attempt to sell his rental business. Amber Gowen, a spokesperson for Chrysler Financial, declined comment because the case is in litigation. The Denny Hecker Automotive Group has 18 dealerships in Minnesota plus three in California. Information from the Star Tribune and the Associated Press.

Pequot Lakes Community Theatre Presents "Bye, Bye, Birdie"

Friday night is the opening night of "Bye, Bye, Birdie" presented by Pequot Lakes Community Theatre in conjunction with Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts (GLAPA). Director Michael Sanders told KLKS News that the lead character of Conrad Birdie is loosely based on Elvis Presley and events in his life surrounding his induction into the Army. Rest assured, Michael says that the show has a happy ending, as does any musical. Showtimes/dates are this weekend and next: Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2. For more information or reservations, call Pequot Lakes Community Education at 568-9200, or go on-line to www.glapa.info

EZ Enrollment Upcoming at CLC

EZ Enrollment Days, the streamlined new-student registration process at the Central Lakes College in Brainerd will be Nov. 20, Dec. 4, Dec. 18, and Jan. 8. EZ Enrollment at Staples will start at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 9.
The process allows prospective student the best selection of classes. It includes everything needed to complete the admissions process. When the session is complete, the student will be enrolled at Central Lakes College with a class schedule in hand.
For information, contact the Admissions Office at (218) 855-8037. In order to complete the admissions process, a $20 application fee is payable at EZ Enrollment Day.

Deer Hunting Success Down

The fire arms deer hunting opener around Minnesota was about the same as around the Brainerd lakes area, slow. The DNR says the harvest was down about 15 percent from last year. Big-Game Coordinator Lou Cornicelli says the strong winds and cool temperatures resulted in less deer movement in the woods, and less time in the woods for chilled hunters. The DNR official says their strategy has been to reduce the size of the herd, and that has apparently worked.

Sprinkler Systems for Fire Prone Cook County

A federal grant will help Cook County homeowners install sprinkler systems designed to protect their houses from forest fires. Congressman Jim Oberstar says it is a $3 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
Oberstar says, "These systems pour water on the houses and make them less susceptible to flames and airborne embers in a forest fire." In the Ham Lake Fire, over 100 homes were spared serious damage because they were equipped with these systems.
The FEMA grants will help homeowners and long term cabin lease holders install the sprinkler systems which they will own and maintain.
Homes and businesses in Cook County are at risk from wildfires.

5-Year Old Left On Bus

Police are investigating why a 5-year old Kindergarten student was left on his bus and not dropped off at a Baxter School.
Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted says the boy was found unharmed in the bus at the Cass County home of the bus driver. Exsted says the boy had been on the bus for about two hours. The 44-year old bus driver from rural Pillager, was arrested later on probable cause of Gross Misdemeanor DWI. At 10:20am this morning, police received a call from a parent of the 5-year old, who said their son had been picked up by the bus but had not been dropped off at the Family of Christ Lutheran School. The parent also notified Reichert Bus Service, which handles the route and school staffers. The bus company says that the bus driver has been terminated.

Toys For Kids Underway

The 2008 Toys For Kids program of the Heartland Detachment, Marine Corps League will be conducted from November 21 to December 12. This community service program has served the communities in southern Crow Wing County since 1981. Its purpose to assist families in need to provide Christmas toys and gifts for their children under the age of 15 years old. Nearly 100 local businesses and organizations will serve as collection points for toys or cash donations this year. Scheduled events, supporting this effort, include the "Holly Ball" at Grand View Lodge on December 5 and the Green Lantern Family Christmas Party on December 6. The Toys For Kids program is coordinated with and is supported by the Brainerd Salvation Army. Applications for the program may be made at the Salvation Army Office until November 26. Distribution of gifts to families will be on December 18 at the Brainerd National Guard Armory in conjunction with the Salvation Army Christmas Food Distribution. Cash donations may be mailed at any time to Toys For Kids, PO Box 2811, Baxter MN 56425.

More Deer Baiting Fines

Dozens of hunters have been fined, or had their guns confiscated for baiting deer, including some from around the Brainerd Lakes Area during the opener. 11 were tagged in the Hibbing area. The practice has been illegal since 1991. Game officials say baiting concentrates deer in a small area which can lead to the spread of disease. A second violation in three years can result in a permanent loss of hunting privileges.

Give Snow Plows Lots of Distance

It is winter weather awareness week. Tom Wyrk, MN DOT Brainerd Area Maintenance Supervisor, says we got our first taste of dangerous winter driving Tuesday with only one-one hundredth of an inch of precipitation. He tells KLKS News, drivers must give the plow trucks lots of room because they operate at slow speed. He says they only travel around 20 mph so that the sand, salt and chemicals don't bounce into the ditch where they do little good. Wyrk says they continue to test the most effective chemicals for melting the ice on roads, but he says rock salt continues to be the most effective with the least impact on the environment.

Post Election Equipment Review To Be Held

Deborah A. Erickson, Crow Wing County Auditor, announced today that pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 206.89, there will be a Post Election Equipment Review of the voting systems used in the November 4 State General Election, for the offices of President, US Senator & U.S. Representative in the precincts of the City of Bainerd, Ward 1 and Perry Lake Township. The review will be administered by the County Auditor and will start at 10:00am on Wednesday, November 12 in Meeting Room 1, Lower Level, Land & Services Building, 322 Laurel Street in Brainerd. The review is open to the public. Any question should be directed to the Crow Wing County Auditor's Office at 218-824-1045.

A Crosby Man Dies in Hunting Accident

Tragedy has marked the opening of the deer hunting season in the Brainerd Lakes Area. A 25-year-old Crosby man died Sunday in an accident in the 50 Lakes Area of Crow Wing County. Sheriff Todd Dahl believes Christopher Stirewalt accidentally shot himself in the shoulder.
A couple driving in the area discovered him on the ground about 3 p.m.
A Brainerd man in his 50's shot himself in the foot while hunting the Chippewa Forest around 5 p.m. Saturday. And a Juvenile was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd after he fell out of a tree stand about 11:30 Sunday south of Hackensack.

Don't Trash That Yard Sign

Now that the elections are over, you may be tempted to toss that yard sign or campaign button. But one collector says you might want to keep them. The market is hot for campaign memorabilia, especially from historic elections like Tuesday's that saw Barack Obama elected the nation's first African-American president. Collector Tood Kosvich says items from elections that had something special happen in them "hold value much more." Kosovich, as assistant Morrison County Attorney, has items from each presidential campaing dating back to 1896. He has about 800 buttons as well as posters, postcards and other items. Campaign memorabilia from that other president in Illinois is highly prized. Kosovich says Abraham Lincoln "is really out of anyone's price range."