A Reminder To Parents About Car Seats

(AP) - Saturday kicked off National Child Passenger Safety Week and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is reminding parents to make sure their children are in proper car seats. Preliminary DPS data from 2009 shows four children under 7 died in crashes this year, and none of them were properly restrained. Seven of the 10 children seriously injured were also not in safety restraints. DPS says that in Minnesota, 83 percent of child restraints are used incorrectly. Also, the state's new booster law says a child can't ride in a seat belt alone until he or she is 8 years old or 4-foo-9, Parents and caregivers are encouraged to visit www.buckleupkids.state.mn.us for details on how to properly secure a child in a vehicle.

Otter Tail Power Pulls out of Big Stone II

(AP) Otter Tail Power, the utility that had been leading an effort to build a $1.6 billion coal-fired power plant in South Dakota has pulled out of the project. The Minnesota-based company noted uncertainty about Federal legislation to regulate carbon emissions, and the economic down-turn. The plant would have served customers in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, and Montana.

Eagle Bend Child Killed in Farm Accident

A tragic farm accident claimed the life of a Todd County infant Tuesday. The Sheriff's office says a horse stepped on 9 month old Chrissie D. Miller of Eagle Bend. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

The infant was in a child seat, which in turn was in a hand pulled cart at the entrance of a barn, while the family was inside doing chores.

The horse was tied-up in the barn, but the rope was long enough for the animal to reach the child.

Thursday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball Scores:
3-0 Alexandria def Brainerd
3-0 Ogilvie def Aitkin
3-0 Park Rapids def Crosby-Ironton
3-0 Sauk Rapids-Rice def Little Falls
3-0 Sebeka def Menahga
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Staples-Motley
3-0 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Cass Lake-Bena
3-1 Bertha-Hewsitt def Verndale
3-1 Detroit Lakes def Pequot Lakes
3-1 Little Fork-Big Falls def Northland
3-1 Pierz def Kimball
3-2 Royalton def Browerville

Bomb Squad Called to Service

Hikers and bikers got a little more excitement than they bargained for, on a stretch of bike trail in Ironton Township yesterday.

The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a suspicious package located along a bike trail near the 20000 block of County Road 128 in Ironton Township, shortly before 2 p.m.

The package was partially buried alongside the trail, and was described as a plastic bag, inside of a cardboard box, with what appeared to be electronic or electrical components inside the plastic bag.

Deputies closed and secured that portion of the trail and called in the Crow Wing County/Brainerd Bomb Squad. Bomb squad technicians rendered the object safe, using a remotely controlled robot and disrupting equipment.

The package and components, which were determined to be non-explosive, were taken for further examination.

No foul play is suspected in this incident.

Today the Last Day to Apply for Antlerless Permit

Today is the last day to apply for an antlerless deer permit for the fall deer hunt. Area Wildlife Supervisor Gary Drotts tells KLKS News, there have been some changes from previous years. As a result hunters must apply for the lottery in permit areas 246, 247 and 249 in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Drotts says area 242 from Brainerd up to the Whitefish Chain has been changed from an intensive harvest area to managed. That means hunters can take up to two deer of either sex. He says they have had some success in reducing the deer population in that area.

Drotts says area 172 from Outting to Pine River, Backus will remain a managed zone.

Cowboys and Hobo Days Come to the Fairgrounds

The Crow Wing County fairgrounds will be echoing with the sounds of Classic Country, Folk, Bluegrass and Classic Rock n' Roll music this weekend.

Johnny Jay Huhta says those attending the 3rd annual Cowboys and Hobo Days Music Festival will be treated to tunes from some familiar artists, and some new.

Huhta says there will be food for those with a hankering for biscuits and gravy or tacos in a bag.

Admission for the three day event is $10 a day, or $20 for a three day pass.

A large portion of the proceeds will go to Fishing Has No Boundaries.

Wine Tasting at the Arb

The Northland Arboretum in Brainerd is getting ready for the 4th annual "Blind Wine Tasting Contest," Friday evening. It is a gala fund raising event for the preservation and development of green space, according to Arboretum Executive Director Dale Braddy.

Braddy says the winners of the contest will receive a case of reserve wine.

In addition to the contest, there will be ballroom dancing demonstrations downstairs, and a silent auction.

For more information, call the Northland Arboretum at (218) 829-8770.

DWI Crackdown a Success

Crow Wing County is expected to be off the list of the thirteen deadliest Minnesota counties for alcohol related crashes when the next list comes out. The county has made the notorious list for the past several years.

In a effort to get intoxicated drivers off the road, Crow Wing County participated in Minnesota's Labor Day DWI Mobilization, which was in affect from August 21 through the Labor Day.

Although final figures are not in yet, the State Patrol in the Brainerd District alone arrested at least 21 persons for DWI during this project.

Also working this project were deputies from the Crow Wing County Sheriff's department and officers from the police departments of Brainerd, Baxter, Breezy Point, Cuyuna, Crosby, Crosslake, Deerwood, Emily, Nisswa and Pequot Lakes.

Brainerd Police Department's Deputy Chief Corky McQuiston said, from 2006-2008 in Crow Wing County alone, there were at least 15 serious injuries from alcohol-related crashes and at least one alcohol related death.

A Bump and Run in Todd County

According to the Todd County Sheriff's Office, around 5:30 this morning Galen Schultz of Bertha reported that his vehicle was struck by an on-coming vehicle on County Road 23, just north of State Highway 210. Minor damage was done to Schultz's pickup and boat. The driver of the second vehicle did not stop. No injuries were reported. The vehicle of the suspect is believed to be a full-sized pickup--possibly light-blue in color. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Todd County Sheriff's Office at 320-732-2157.

State Fair Shatters Attendance Records

(AP) The Minnesota State Fair for 2009 broke previous attendance records by nearly 28,000. During the 12 days of the Fair, about 1.8 million people attended. Notably, with weather was ideal during the complete run of the Fair.

Mr. Walters Gets to D.C.

Gary Walters has completed his roller blading Odyssey from Brainerd to Washington D.C. He literally rolled into town Monday night, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and to the Lincoln Memorial.

Walters says he didn't get quite the "chill" factor when he got there, because no one at the monuments knew who he was or what he had done.

Walters has raised $13 thousand so far for Kinship Partners. He is to meet with Congressman James Oberstar this afternoon, and Senator Amy Klobuchar tomorrow.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to Kinship may call the office.

Channel 14 Off the Air During Tower Work

Channel 14, Breezy Point, will be off the air during daylight hours for the next four days or so.

Channel 14 carries the KARE 11, NBC, signal out of Minneapolis.

Work on the KLKS tower requires channel 14 be shut down while workmen are are on the tower.

AT&T will be upgrading their wireless service during that time.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Some Area Students Will Not Hear President's Speech

President Obama is telling school children to stay in school. Reminding them, "If you quit on school, you're not just quitting on yourself, you are quitting on your country." However, many school children may not hear the message delivered live.

In a message on the Pequot Lakes School website, Administrators mentioned the "Push-back" by conservative talk show hosts and parents, who fear the talk amounts to liberal indoctrination by the President. As a result, the remarks may be viewed at a later date, but not live.

The web page message says the first day of school is not the time for this type of event. It goes on to say, the first day of school is challenging for teachers, students and administrators.

Superintendant Rick Linnell told KLKS News, the speech will be made available to students, who wish to see it, Wednesday.

Pine River schools will record the 11 a.m. address and play it back for the students at 11:30 in the Performance Gym for those who wish to view it.

The Pillager schools will not show the address to elementary students. But, will be shown to middle school and high school students. Parents or students who do not want their children to see the speech will be excused.

Longville Man Dies In Crash

A 72-year old Longville man died in a weekend accident after the vehicle he was in rolled over on Cass County Road 11, near the intersection with Highway 84. The Cass County Sheriff says Marvin Reynolds was a passenger in a pickup driven by his son, Michael J. Reynolds of Champlin.

The vehicle left the roadway and overturned, ejecting the elder Reynolds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His son, and another passenger in the pickup, 70-year-0old Elizabeth Reynolds were transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

The State Patrol is assisting in the investigation.

Missing Duluth Man Found Dead

(AP) A man from Duluth, who was several days over-due from a camping trip in northeastern Minnesota, has been found dead. According to authorities, the body of 51-year-old Daniel Erick Saari was found at a campsite along the Burntside Lake near Ely. Saari apparently died of natural causes--according to the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office--but an autopsy will be conducted.