Increased Fire Danger for most of the State

(AP) Normal rain-fall in most areas of the State for the past month have been at less than half their norm of 3 inches, according to a Minnesota Fire Official. Residents are being warned that, accross much of the State, the fire danger has increased.

Small Game Season Opens Saturday

Upland game hunters this weekend will have a chance to chase autumn thunder also known and ruffed grouse. The small game season opens this weekend.

Brainerd Area Wildlife Supervisor Gary Drotts expects improved prospects. He tells KLKS News, for hunters looking for trails to walk, they have detailed maps at the DNR office located south of Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

Also opening this weekend is the archery season for white tail deer.

Taste of Pequot Lakes

The Trailside Park in Pequot Lakes will fill with the sights, sounds and aroma of "Taste of Pequot Lakes," Saturday. Chamber spokesperson Sue Galligan says over 80 crafters are expected for what looks to be a perfect day. She tells KLKS News, the "Taste" part of the event should be very good with several area restaurants offering samples from their menus.

Galligan says new this year will be music from local talent. Taste of Pequot runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Thursday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Barnum def McGregor
3-0 Brainerd def St. Cloud Tech
3-0 Cass Lake-Bena def Red Lake
3-0 Henning def Verndale
3-0 Nevis def Northland
3-0 Northome/Kelliher def Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig
3-0 Pierz def Eden Valley
3-0 Rocori def Little Falls
3-0 Royalton def Eagle Valley
3-0 Sebeka def Staples-Motley
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Detroit Lakes
3-1 Hill City def Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
3-1 Pine River-Backus def Aitkin
3-2 Browerville def Upsala
3-2 Pillager def Menahga

Pawlenty says It's Policy, not Politics

(AP) Defending a move to Blacklist the group known as ACORN--a community organizing group--Governor Tim Pawlenty says it's policy, not politics. The GOP Governor wants to stop the group from getting future State Grants or Federal Stimulus dollars being routed through Minnesota. A hidden-camera story recently alleged wrong-doing by some ACORN employees in other states.

Flu in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department Health reports more than 30 schools have a 5 percent absentee rate or higher because of flu like symptoms. While the swine flu is unlikely responsible for all cases, officials believe it is responsible for the upsurge.

Brainerd Pharmacist Mike Schwartzwald, of Guide Point Pharmacy, says a flu shot is the best way to avoid contracting the bug.

Schartzwald says the season flu shots are available now, the swine flu shot should be available in a month or so.

Hunting Seasons Open this Weekend

A number of seasons open for hunters this coming weekend. Crosslake DNR Conservation Officer Nikki Shoutz says there will be a special one day water fowl season for those under 15 Saturday, from a half hour before sunrise to 4 p.m. Shoutz tells KLKS News, it is important the young hunters know how to identify their target.

Also opening this weekend will be the small game season for ruffed grouce. shouts expects an improved season for the upland game hunters.

And the archery season for deer opens Saturday.

Kudos for Remer Elementary

Remer Elementary School has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private schools that are academically superior or have shown dramatic improvement in student achievement to high levels, especially among disadvantaged students.

Senator Amy Klobuchar congratulated the Remer school along with six other Minnesota schools today for receiving the prestigious award.

Klobuchar says, "As the daughter of a public school teacher, I know firsthand how important education is, and these schools serve as a shining example of Minnesota's commitment to quality education."

This spring, Klobuchar held a series of 27 public forums throughout the state to hear the views of educators, parents, students and concerned citizens about the No Child Left Behind law.

Pipeline Project Boosts Bemidji Economy

(AP) Despite the controversy surround the construction of the Albert Clipper oil pipeline through northern Minnesota, the project is moving forward. It has proved to be a boon to Bemidji, where there is a shortage of rental property. Some homeowners are renting rooms to the pipeline workers.

Bemidji Chamber of Commerce President Lori Paris says it has pumped up the local economy.

Enbridge Energy says some 3,000 employees will eventually be working on the $8 billion pipeline expansion.

Some native Americans and environmental groups have opposed the project fearing it would cause environmental damage.

Healthy Lakes Forum in Walker

Several key state legislators are expected to attend the north central region's second annual Healthy Lakes Legislative Forum October 2nd in Walker.

Coalitions of lake and watershed associations will give presentations to legislators on water resource protection and the initiatives citizen-led efforts are accomplishing for long term lake and stream conservation throughout the north central region. The four presentation topics include: invasive species; shoreland management; septic compliance and land conservation. Joining speakers from Aitkin, Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard and Itasca counties will be representatives on behalf of Leech Lake, Nokassippi and Pine River watershed organizations.

Sen. Mary Olson, a DFL-er from Bemidji, will moderate the event which was organized by area lake and watershed volunteers.

Tuesday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Grand Rapids def Princeton
3-0 LaPorte def Blackduck
3-0 Onamia def Aitkin
3-0 Park Rapids def Menahga
3-0 Rocori def Brainerd
3-0 Sebeka def Pequot Lakes
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Pelican Rapids
3-1 Bertha-Hewitt def Parkers Prairie
3-1 Fergus Falls def Little Falls
3-1 Pine River-Backus def Cass Lake Bena
3-1 Upsala def Royalton
3-2 Sartell def Pierz

Gov. Pawlenty wants some Federal Help

(AP) Governor Tim Pawlenty says farmers in six northern Minnesota counties have suffered serious losses due to heavy rain and flooding this year. Pawlenty wants those counties--including Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Roseau, and Koochiching--to be declared as Agricultural Disaster Areas.

A Bridge Repaired on Heartland Trail

A 1.5 mile section of the Heartland State Trail will be temporarily closed starting Friday, for bridge replacement work. Contractors will replace the existing railroad trestle across the Shallow River with a new steel bridge with a concrete deck.

The closure will be in effect for the portion of the trail that runs from Hubbard County Road 18 to 219th Avenue, just west of Nevis in Hubbard County.

The state trail, a popular snowmobile route in the winter, will reopen as soon as the bridge replacement is completed, probably by the end of December. No reroutes are planned for non-motorized state trail users, due to the lateness of the season, but bikers, hikers, and inline skaters can continue to use the other 47 miles of the Heartland State Trail, which extends from Park Rapids to Cass Lake.

Monday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Grand Rapids def Duluth Central
3-1 Browerville def Staples-Motley
3-1 Milaca def Pine City
3-2 Pine River-Backus def Crosby-Ironton

Out of Darkness Walk, Saturday

A walk to prevent suicide will be held Saturday, September 19th at the Brainerd High School track. Jeanine Lennberg is coordinating the event following the suicide of her husband in 2007 as he was battling cancer. She says there are a lot of misconceptions about thoughts of suicide, such as, "You can just snap out of it."
She says chemical imbalances need to be treated with proper therapies.

Registration for the "Out of the Darkness Community Walk" will be at 9 a.m., the walk begins at 10 a.m.

Securing the Cabin for Winter

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl has some tips for part-time residents who are closing the cabins for the season. He says it is important to ask neighbors to keep an eye on the place. A sturdy solid door with a good deadlock bolt is the best deterent. He says he does not like chain locks, claiming they are easily defeated.

Sheriff Dahl says some home owners believe if a burglar wants to break into a house nothing will stop them. The Sheriff says most burglars are looking for an easy target, and suggests home owners make sure their place isn't one of them.

Small Plane Crash in Park Rapids

Authorities are in Park Rapids today trying to figure out why a small plane crashed over the weekend.

University of North Dakota student Li Yang was flying solo in a Cessna 172 Saturday night. He had landed in Park Rapids. Something went wrong upon take-off. The small craft went down 150 yards beyond the runway.

Yang was treated and released in Park Rapids, and returned to the University campus.

An investigation is underway. The plane sustained considerable damage.