Saturday, March 7 Sports Scores

Girls High School Basketball:
Elk River 61, Bemidji 59.
Little Falls 78, Thief River Falls 71.
Aitkin 59, Hinckley-Finlayson 47.
Crosby-Ironton 55, Pequot Lakes 49.
New York Mills 48, Norman County West 44.
Lake Of The Woods 56, Cass Lake-Bena 43.


Exhibition Baseball:
Pittsburg 10, Minnesota 1.

NHL:
Los Angeles 4, Minnesota 3.

Mail Boxes Damaged, According to TCSO

The Todd County Sheriff's Office reports that three juvenile male occupants of a vehicle that was stopped for suspected drunken driving around 2:30 Saturday morning had been damaging mailboxes in the southern part of Todd County--likely on the east side of Highway 71. The juveniles admitted to damaging between 8 and 12 mailboxes. If you live in that area and have a damaged mailbox, the TCSO encourages you to call 800-794-5733 as soon as possible. The information will be forwarded to the Todd County Attorney's Office for review after the property owners have been identified.

Friday, March 6 Sports Scores

Boys High School Basketball:
Bemidji 75, Duluth Central 51.
Cook County 49, Cromwell 38.
Crosby-Ironton 66, Aitkin 45.
Grand Rapids 65, Moorhead 60 OT.
Hawley 89, Park Rapids 58.
Little Falls 65, Alexandria 60.
Northland 82, Blackduck 73.
Pierz 63, Maple Lake 43.
Royalton 68, Pillager 40.
St. Cloud Tech 77, Brainerd 52.
Staples-Motley 71, Pequot Lakes 57.
Wadena-Deer Creek 98, Sebeka 90 OT.
Grand Rapids 55, Cloquet 50.

Boys Hockey:
2A Section 5,
Championship:
Blaine 7, Centennial 1.
2A Section 1,
Championship:
Rochester Century 5, Lakeville North 3.

Exhibition Baseball:
Twins 3, Reds 0.

Mille Lacs Band To Create New Jobs

The Corporate Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has become a major investor in a wind turbine project that could creat up to 15 jobs in District II of the Mille Lacs Reservation, which includes areas near McGregor. The Corporate Commission's investment in Mariah Power, a manufacturer that provides low-cst, ultra-quiet vertical wind turbines for residential and commercial use, allows it to have a 3-year contract to assembe wind turbine parts at a facility locast in District II. About 7 employees will be needed for the McGregor facility's startup, with the possibility that more workers will be added in the future. The facility is expected to start production in May of 2009.

Klobuchar Announces Funding For Law Enforcement

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has announced that northeast Minnesota municipalities will receive over $500,000 dollars for law enforcement efforts as part of the recently passed American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Crow Wing County will receive over $24,000; The City of Brainerd, $45,000; Aitkin County over $13,000; and the City of Grand Rapids, just over $10,000. Klobuchar has worked to ensure the inclusdion of the Edward Byrne Justic Assistance Grants, as they are known, during consideration of the Stimulus Package put forth by the Obama administration.

Public Hearings Set By MnDot

The Minnesota Department of Transportation will hold a videoconference public hearing on Thursday, March 26, from 9:00am - Noon, at 16 locations statewide to solicit comments on the draft 2009-2028 Minnesota Statewide Transportation Plan, including the District 3 Office in Baxter. The office is located at 7694 Industrial Park Road in Baxter. For more information, call 218-828-5700.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Girls Basketball:
Sectional Play Offs
Foley 61, Pierz 55.
Osakis 45, Staples-Motley 44.
Aitkin 70, Rush City 39.
Pine River-Backus 52, Warroad 47.
Roseau 53, Walker-Hackensack-Akely 48.
Crosby-Ironton 85, Bagley 82.
Pequot Lakes 72, Park Rapids 35.
Wadena-Deer Creek 60, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 54,
Bertha-Hewitt 51, Verndale 33.
East Central 71, McGregor 37.
Northland 44, Isle 37.
Sebeka 62, Pillager 31.
Upsala 59, Royalton 36.
Cass Lake-Bena 74, LaPorte 48.

Boys Basketball:
Cass Lake-Bena 91, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 52.
Deer River 65, Aitkin 40.
Hill City 78, LaPorte 62.
McGregor 58, Onamia 46.
Nevis 61, Verndale 51.

Boys Hockey:
Section 6, Class 1A
Little Falls 3, Alexandria 2.

Child Abuse Case Leads to Arrest

The mother of a 5 year old boy is in custody following a case of alleged child abuse. Wednesday evening officers responded to a northeast Brainerd residence when a citizen reported a child had come to their door injured and in distress.
The child apparently wandered to the neighbors home after he was assaulted and kicked out of his home. The child suffered bite wounds to his arms and face. The child was taken to St. Joesph's medical center were he was treated and released. Police placed 2 children protective custody.
The children's 25 year old mother was arrested. Charges of 3rd degree assault and malicious punishment of a child will be requested through the Crow Wing County Attorney's office. The case remains under investigation.

Senator Olson Calls the Governor Inflexible

State Senator Mary Olson of Bemidji says all options need to be on the table to fix the state's revenue shortfall for the coming two years, including tax increases. She calls the Governor's no new taxes pledge inflexible. She tells KLKS News, she is interested to see how the Governor can balance the budget honestly without raising taxes. She says some of the Governor's proposals have been unconstitutional, such as borrowing money to pay the interest on money already borrowed.

Senator Olson says the economy will turn around. She says Minnesota companies are good, the workforce is strong, and the population is educated.

A Pequot Man Arrested for Child Endangerment

(AP) A Pequot Lakes man has been arrested for leaving his 3-year-old son unattended in his car in a St. Cloud parking lot. Police say they were alerted to a toddler sleeping in a car seat Wednesday afternoon outside the St. Cloud Library. The doors were locked and the motor was not running.
The Pequot man was arrested and taken to the Stearns County jail on a Ramsey County warrant. His name has not been released.
His son was unhurt by the incident and is in the care of social services.

Area Fire Fighters Get Grant Money

The Ideal Township and Aitkin fire departments will share in more than $1 million in federal grants for new equipment and training. The Ideal firefighters will receive $31 thousand; Aitkin, $23 thousand. The Park Rapids Fire Department will receive $184 thousand. In all, 11 communities in northeastern Minnesota will benefit.

The funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security.

Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar said First responders in Minnesota told him this is an important program. They use these grants to buy everything from new fire trucks and breathing gear to provide additional training.

Wednesday, March 4 Sports Scores

Exhibition Baseball
Pittsburg 2, Minnesota 1

Big Ten Conference Action
Minnesota 51, Wisconsin 46

Northland Fire Departments Awarded Federal Grants

Eleven communities in Northeast Minnesota will receive more than $1 million for new equipment and training, according to an announcement from Congressman Jim Oberstar. The funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security's Aid for Firefighters Grant Program. Included are Aitkin Fire Department, $23,275; Ideal Fire Department, $31,350; Park Rapids Fire Department, $184,378; City of Milaca, #32,171. Since it was established in 2004, the AFG has awarded $2.75 billion to first responders nationwide.

Unemployment Numbers Up in the Lakes area

The tough economy continues to take a toll on jobs in the area. The Minnesota Department of Economic Security reports a big increase in joblessness in January compared to the year before.

In Crow Wing County the unemployment rate jumped from 7.8 percent in January of 2008 to 12.3 percent this past January. A total of 1615 more had applied for unemployment compensation from the year before.

All counties in the area are reporting double digit unemployment. Cass County saw an increase from 14.7 percent in January compared to 10.4 percent last year. Aitkin was up to 13.6 percent compared to 9.3. Morrison County jumped to 14.7 percent from 8.7. The highest in the area was Mille Lacs County at 15.4 percent from 10.2.

State-wide, the unemployment rate was as 7.6 percent during the first month of the year. Minnesota lost 74,900 jobs during the period, the largest loss since World War II.

The biggest loss came in construction jobs. The biggest gains came in health care and education.

First Robin?

There have been early reports of robins in the area. DNR Non Game Specialist Pam Perry says they may not have been migrants. She says a number of robins have stayed in the area this winter, and doesn't know why. Any that have made it this long, should survive into the warmer weather.

Perry says the warmer weather and southerly winds should bring golden eyes and mergansers back to area rivers soon.

Perry is asking taxpayers to remember the chickadee check-off while doing tax returns. The money goes for threatened non game species.

Intimidating Door to Door Sales

Nasty door to door sales pitches are keeping local law enforcement busy these days. The Todd County Sheriff says two sales people wouldn't take no for an answer in Long Prairie. The pair stayed in the home of an elderly couple for over three hours trying to sell an unwanted product. The Sheriff says they used intimidating tactics and at times were rude when nothing was purchased.

The Sheriff is asking folks to request credentials from sales people before buying. And, if the answer is no, and they won't leave, to call 911.

DNR Wants Lake Comment

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking comment on management plans for 13 lakes in Cass and Crow Wing counties.

The plans for review include Gull, Margaret, Upper Gull, and Marion Lakes in Cass County; and Allen, Clearwater, Hubert, Mayo, Round, Sebie, Shirt, and Upper South Long Lakes and Section 6 Mine Pit Lake in Crow Wing County.

Fisheries managers use the plans to craft goals and objectives for the fish populations and identify a course of action for the lake in the next 5 to 10 years.

They are available at the Brainerd Area Fisheries Office at 1601 Minnesota Drive,in Brainerd. The comment period runs through March 13, 2009.

Downloading Case Delayed

(AP) A Brainerd woman will have to wait a little longer to learn if she'll have to shell out big bucks to the record labels. Jammie Thomas had been ordered to pay the big guys $220 thousand for illegally downloading music. However, the judge in the case says he erred in his jury instructions. The case had been delayed once by the defense. This time the record companies say they need more time. The court contest will be held in Duluth, June 15th.

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Crookston 57, Park Rapids 48.
Moorhead 74, Brainerd 72.
Northome/Kelliher 66, LaPorte 55.
Pequot Lakes 57, Esko 56.
Pierz 73, Kimbal 45.
Rush City 64, Aitkin 43.
Staples-Motley 75, Wadena-Deer Creek 56.
Swanville 59, Verndale 37.
Upsala 76, Royalton 56.

Girls Basketball:
Brainerd 63, Moorhead 53.
Little Falls 43, Sauk Rapids-Rice 30.
Pillager 53, Nevis 50.
Verndale 64, Menahga 48.
LaPorte 57, Red Lake 46.

Ward Does Not Rule Out a Tax Hike

State Representative John Ward says he is grateful for the federal stimulus money. That help will reduce the two year revenue shortfall facing Minnesota to just over $4.5 billion dollars, according to state finance officials. Ward tells KLKS News, lawmakers will have to be careful in crafting the final budget, because strings are attached to the federal money. He says the DFL caucus will consider cuts, shifts, and new revenue. Ward says all options need to be on the table. He calls it a work in progress, and may not be put to bed until the session adjourns in mid May.

Bolduc Remains Brainerd's Police Chief

Brainerd's Police Chief was among the finalists to become the DNR Enforcement Chief. However, John Bolduc learned he was not chosen for the post. He says he's not too terribly disappointed, because he already has a good job. Captain Jim Konrad was selected to the post. He had been acting administrative manager in the DNR's enforcement division.

Garrison Man Gets House Arrest

A Garrison man has admitted that he assisted his wife's suicide in December of 2006. 67-year-old Gerald David Jones told the Crow Wing County District Court that he was piloting the boat when his wife, 61-year-old Nancy Lou Hesner, plunged into the cold waters Borden Lake attached to a 25 pound weight. The woman suffered physical ailments from an auto accident some 54 years earlier. Jones was sentenced to house arrest and 10 years probation.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Cass Lake-Bena 92, Northome/Kelliher 68.
McGregor 83, Albrook 74.
Moorhead 74, Brainerd 72.

Girls Basketball:
Ogilvie 59, Hill City 43.

Scammers Are Busy

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl says now that times are tough, scammers are out in force. He tells KLKS News, they prey on the elderly and vulnerable often times by phone. Sheriff Dahl says never give out social security numbers, credit card numbers or other sensitive financial information.

Making Work Pay Credit

Workers will see reduced income taxes on their pay checks from the President's stimulus package. St. Paul IRS Spokesperson Cathy Resch tells KLKS News, it is called the "Making Work Pay Credit." Resch says employers will make all the necessary adjustments.
A one time only payment of $250 will be made to those receiving social security benefits, state government retirees not receiving social security, veterans receiving benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs and those receiving social security insurance payments.

March Enters Wearing Fleece

It certainly wasn't the warmest start to March. Over-night lows were in the teens below zero. But, there were no storms. So, March began like a lamb, according to K-Lakes meteorologist Tony Schumacher.
Looking back, he says the temperature for February was about average.
Schumacher is expecting warming conditions through this weekend. But, he is also expecting a tournament snow storm before mid month.