Three Minnesota Soldiers Killed in Iraq

(AP) According to family members, the three U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq on Thursday were from Minnesota. 20-year old James Wertish of Olivia, 22-year old Daniel Drevnick of Woodbury, and 27-year old Carlos Wilcox of Cottage Grove are said to have been killed on a base outside of Basra.

Keeping an Eye Out for Baby Loons

The baby loons have all hatched and are out on the water, according to Pam Perry, Non Game Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

She says the chicks are getting bigger, and a little more out on their own. She is encouraging boaters to be on the look-out.

Perry says the state bird is in Minnesota from ice-out to ice-up, and is a favorite of northwoods residents.

Aitkin Heritage Riverboat Days

Fun is in abundance at the annual Riverboat Heritage Days in Aitkin through this weekend. Aitkin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sue Marxen tells KLKS News, one of the many highlights is the Riverboat race at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The Grand Parade will be at 5:00pm Saturday. Marxen says spectators will see 100 units roll by.

Mardi Gras Up North in Longville

Longville will feel a little like New Orleans Saturday. The Mardi Gras Up North Festival, in the center of town, begins at 10:00am. There will be 3 performances by Iznette Productions and the Ever Lovin' Sisters Theatre Company with tickets at $5.00.

Anne Brochar of the Longville Arts Alliance there will be cajun food from the local eateries.

Also featured will be the Cabin Fever Dance Band starting at 6:30pm. Arts and crafts will be available throughout the day.

Downtown Brainerd Construction Nearly Complete

The downtown Brainerd reconstruction project is just about done.

Final paving of Asphalt is complete with striping scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting.

Sunday evening Front Street and the north block of 7th Street will be closed for Monday striping. Tuesday Laurel Street and the south block of 7th Street will be closed.

Plantings are complete with the exception of the larger trees.

Kudos for St. Joe's

St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd received an Outstanding Patient Experience Award from the independent health care ratings organization Health Grades.

Only 10 Minnesota hospitals were recognized. Winners ranked in the top 15 percent on a federal patient satisfaction survey called the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey.

Lunkers Nip the Huskies

With temperatures in the 50's, the Brainerd Lunkers of the Northwoods League sparked a late rally in the last two innings to freeze the Duluth Huskies, 5-2 in Game One at Wade Stadium.

In addition to beating Duluth for the fifth consecutive time this year, the Lunkers improve to 24-22 overall and 8-5 in the second half. They remain in second place in the North Division. They return to Wade Stadium tonight to meet the Huskies at 7:05 PM.

Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office Reports Lost Child Found

A two year old Crow Wing County boy is safe and sound after he was found south of Gull Lake Dam Rd. off State Highway 371 Thursday. The 2-year-old male had been missing about 30-minutes in the heavily-wooded area surrounding his family's home around 9 a.m. yesterday. The Sheriff's office says it appeared that the child walked out of his home without the family's knowledge. A search of the area was conducted, and the child was eventually located several-hundred yards from his home by David LeDoux, an employee of Crow Wing Cabinets, who was helping with the search. The child was found lying in a grassy area, crying. The child was examined at the scene by North Ambulance Medical Personnel, and returned to his parents.

Train Strikes Man in Staples

A 30-year-old Indiana man was airlifted to the St. Cloud hospital after being struck by a train in Staples just before midnight Wednesday. Staples police say Craig Michael Allen was listed in critical condition with extensive injuries.

Allen apparently fell to the ground at the 7th Street Rail Road Crossing as the train approached. The crew sounded the horn and activated an emergency stopping device, but were unable stop the train in time.

He was transported to the Staples Hospital before being airlifted to St. Cloud.

Police say alcohol appears to played a role in the incident.

Walters Skates to D.C.

What do you do once you have biked from New Orleans to Brainerd, spent nine days on a water tower and gone shore to shore on Mille Lacs Lake? Why you roller blade to Washington D.C. Kinship Partner's Gary Walters and his son Jackson will strap on the in-line skates for the 1400 miles to the nation's capitol. He figures it will take 21 days.

Walters will leave August 12th and, if everything goes according to plan, arrive in on the Capitol steps September 9th. The journey is intended to raise money and awareness for Kinship Partners and other youth mentoring programs.

The former Crow Wing County Commissioner said he got the idea for this year's stunt during a deep thought moment in church, "If a short, fat guy like me can do this, anybody can be a mentor."

Kinship Partners Executive Director David Downing said "Our mission is not in a recession." He says there is a backlog of at least 90 kids who have signed up for adult mentors.

To follow Walter's progress, log on to the Kinship Partners website: www.kinshippartners.org.

Little Falls Fishermen Drown in Stormy Weather

(AP) Stormy weather got the best of two Little Falls men fishing on Blackduck Lake north of Bemidji Tuesday. The bodies of 23-year-old Adam Joseph Bobick and 33-year-old Shawn Allen Rasmdell were recovered Wednesday.

The pair were on board a boat that capsized in rough weather. Two other fishermen were rescued, and a dog that was with them was able to swim to shore.

Hecker's New Auto Business

(AP) Crippled auto dealer Denny Hecker is back in the car business, sort of. In a statement before bankruptcy court, Hecker says he has taken a $100,000 loan to establish an auto dealer consulting firm.

Hecker filed for bankruptcy in June, listing $18.5 million in assets and $767 million in liabilities.

Lunkers Split With Rochester

The Brainerd Lunkers of the Northwoods League ignited for 17 hits and 12 runs in six innings of work to down the Rochester Honkers in Game Two, 12-4 to earn the series split at Mills Field Wednesday night.

Starter Brian Garman allowed ten hits and four runs in his complete game performance. He walked just three and struck out 11 Honker hitters on the night. He picked up his second victory and lowered his ERA to 3.68.

The Honkers pounded out nine runs in the first three innings to take Game One of the doubleheader against the Lunkers at Mills Field, 10-1

The Lunkers improve to 23-22 overall and 7-5 in the second half. They currently sit in third place, 1.5 games behind the Honkers for the North Division lead. The Lunkers hit the road for their next four games before the All-Star break next week. Tonight, they square off against the Duluth Huskies at Wade Stadium. First pitch is 7:05 PM.

Tuesday Tornado in Spicer

(AP) According to the National Weather Service, a tornado touched down in the West-Central town of Spicer late Tuesday afternoon. It also went through the town of Swift Falls, The National Weather Service says that law enforcement reported a tornado on the ground around 4:40 yesterday afternoon in Spicer. There were no immediate reports of injury.

Franken Sends Out His Ears

(AP) Senator Al Franken's staff is out on a listening tour, starting today. His staffers are holding listening sessions at city halls and other public buildings in Northfield, Rochester, and in Twin Cities' suburbs including Rogers, Eagan and Lakeville. Franken says he wants to know how to represent the people of Minnesota.

Todd County Sheriff's Office Reports Damage

Sometime in the overnight last Friday to Saturday, the Todd County Sheriff's Office reports that between eight and ten road signs that were recently installed on several Villard Township roads were driven against and pushed over. The estimate of the damage is not yet known. The incident is under investigation.