Teacher Killed in Crash

Melissa Wooden, age 30, of Little Falls was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the junction of Highway 371 and Crow Wing County road #48, early Friday morning. Her vehicle was struck by a Suburban and then struck a semaphore, after Wooden failed to yield for a red light, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. The deaf artist and high school American Sign Language teacher was on her way to school when the accident occured. Driver of the other vehicle was identified as 47-year old Kip L. Dixon of Brainerd. His injuries were described as non-life threatening, according to the State Patrol

Shooting Outside of Government Center in Elk River

(AP) Two Deputies shot a man dead after he displayed a handgun outside the Sherburne County Government Center. The man was on his way to a court hearing when the Deputies made contact with him in the parking lot of the Government Center. A confrontation ensued. The man was taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids where he was pronounced dead after arriving. The man's identity will be released following an autopsy. The two Deputies have been placed on administrative leave.

Thursday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Bertha-Hewitt def Staples-Motley
3-0 Deer River def Hill City
3-0 East Central def Isle
3-0 Park Rapids def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0 Sebeka def New York Mills
3-0 Upsala def Royalton
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Pine River-Backus
3-0 Willmar def Little Falls
3-1 Brainerd def St. Cloud Apollo
3-1 Hinckley Finlayson def Aitkin
3-1 Two Harbors def McGregor
3-1 Verndale def Pillager
3-1 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Pequot Lakes
3-2 Bemidji def Grand Rapids
3-2 Osakis def Browerville

Swine Flu Vaccine is on its Way--But--

(AP) The first 28,000 doses of Swine Flu vaccine slated for Minnesota will soon be received, but they've already been ear-marked for Health Care Workers. When more doses are to be received is unknown, according to Minnesota officials.

Restorative Project Saves 100 K

The Lakes Area Restorative Justice Program for youthful offenders has saved the court system a lot of money, according to Director Stephanie Haider. She puts the savings at over $100 thousand, in court and professional expenses.

The program deals with first time offenders, and holds them accountable through the voluntary participation of the offender, the victim and a facilitator.

Haider says they will be holding a fundraising event at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. today. She says they are always looking for volunteer facilitators.

October Begins Rainy and Cool

Looks like October is going to start out just the opposite of September. K-Lakes Meteorologist Tony Schumacher says the first two weeks of the month look to be cloudy, unsettled and cool, with frequent storms moving through the middle of the country. He does look for something a little more comfortable for the second half of the month, with a stretches of sunshine and quieter weather.

Lake Quality Conference in Walker

Several key state legislators are expected to attend the north central region's second annual Healthy Lakes Legislative Forum on Friday in Walker. Local lake and water experts will talk to lawmakers about invasive species, shoreland management, septic compliance and land conservation.

Sen. Mary Olson, Bemidji, will moderate the event and says the forum is an important opportunity for lawmakers to learn about local efforts to protect the state’s waters.

The forum will be held at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker beginning at 1:15 p.m. The entire event is open to the public and admission is free.

Princeton Schools were Cancelled for Today

(AP) Princeton High School Superintendent Rick Lahn cancelled schools in the north-eastern Minnesota town today, as a suspicious package was found outside of the high school this morning by a custodian. Lahn said that police told him that the package contained explosive material. All schools were closed as a precaution--but will be re-opened tomorrow.

Circovirus Kills Goose Island Sea Gulls

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has determined what killed two thousand sea gulls on Goose Island in Big Pelican Lake last summer. Non Game Specialist Pam Perry tells KLKS News, biologists have determined it was circovirus, with secondary infections.

Perry says it is a virus akin to the flu for birds. Although, she says the virus has also been found in pigs. She says she does not know how the gulls contracted the virus, or if it is cyclical. So far, it has not been found in other area lakes.

Perry says the virus is not known to threaten humans. She says it is passed from one bird to the other, so it does not appear to be anything unique to Goose Island in Breezy Point.

In addition to the gulls, a few great blue herons and cormorants were lost to the virus.

State Patrol Finds Alzheimer Patient

Minnesota State Patrol located an elderly Alzheimer patient, last night, who had walked away from an assisted care facility about three miles southeast of Park Rapids. The patient had been missing about three hours when located by troopers using the thermal imager unit on a State Patrol airplane. The patient was spotted about a half mile south of a residence in a wooded area. Troopers directed rescuers the air. The patient was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Lt. Matt Langer said, "The likelihood of the patient surviving the night because of low temperatures would have been slim." The State Patrol is routinely requested to search for missing persons and often uses the thermal imaging system on the airship.

Pillager Man Rides for Son's Tuition

A Pillager man has come up with a unique way to help pay for his son's college tuition. Joe Otto says his son Shane has been accepted at the University of Mass Technology in Arizona. The cost of a four year education there has been pegged at $84 thousand. Otto is in the construction trades, and is hard pressed to pay for it with family funds. So, he is willing to literally peddle for it.

Otto and his son will hop on bicycles October 9th, and ride to Arizona, hoping to raise money along the way.

Otto says there will be a website where people can follow their progress and pledge money. The website is shanesquest@blogspot.com. Otto figures it will take the pair two to four weeks to complete the trip averaging 75 to 100 miles a day.

Frankin Says the Public Option Is Not Dead

Despite a set back in the Senate Finance Committee, a public option to the Health Reform proposal it is not dead, according to Minnesota Senator Al Frankin. He tells KLKS News, he wants the public option, and need only look to Minnesota on how to do it right. The DFL-er says there are non profit insurance providers here. Minnesota policy holders see a 91 cent return in health care for every dollar they spend.

Frankin says the national average is 60 cents. He says if the country can manage efficiencies up to 80 cents, it will pay for the public option. He says the money is already in the system to cover the costs.

Good Bye to Mild September

September will go into the record books as one of the most pleasant in recent memory, according to K-Lakes Meteorologist Tony Schumacher. He says the month averaged about seven degrees above normal. Unfortunately, with all the sunshine, there was two and a half inch rain deficit.

Schumaker says the southern third should see relief from the lack of rain through this weekend. He says the rain maker may be hard pressed to make it this far north.

On-Line Bingo

(AP) A charitable gambling organization meeting in Brainerd today is pushing the idea of on-line bingo. Allied charities of Minnesota says electronic bingo would help their member organizations deal with taxes and rising costs.

Spokesman Dick Horn says going on-line would allow charitable bingo to move into the 21st century.

Tuesday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Browerville def Royalton
3-0 Cook County def McGregor
3-0 Nevis def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0 Pillager def Crosby-Ironton
3-0 Rush City def Isle
3-0 Sartell def Little Falls
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def New York Mills
3-1 Henning def Verndale
3-1 Pierz def Pequot Lakes
3-2 Fergus Falls def Brainerd
3-2 Menahga def Staples-Motley
3-2 Park Rapids def Pine River-Backus

"Native American Press/Ojibwe News" Publishes Last Edition

(AP) The founder of "The Native American Press/Ojibwe News", Bill Lawrence, says that the publication has published its last edition. Lawrence wrote in his last column that he "roiled the waters and made a lot of enemies", but also made a lot of friends. The publication had kept an eye on Minnesota's Tribal Governments for more than 20 years. Lawrence has cancer.

Jack Frost Comes Nipping

Frost and Freeze Warnings have been posted for the Brainerd Lakes Area after midnight tonight. The National Weather service has issued a Freeze Warning for northern Cass and Aitkin Counties. A Frost Advisory has been posted for the rest of the area.

K-Lakes Meteorologist says the polar jet stream had been hovering to the north of us, keeping the cold air in Canada, while we experienced one of the mildest Septembers in memory. He says light winds and dry air will create excellent conditions for radiational cooling.

Schumacher expects readings in the upper 20's and lower 30's tomorrow morning.

Dorthy Yund Dies at 84.

Breezy Point has lost one of its leading citizens. Dorothy Yund passed away Sunday at the age of 84.

Dorothy taught 6th grade for 23 years in the Pequot Lakes school system.

She is survived by her husband Bruce, her brother Gordon Lewis, a nephew and two nieces.

Dorothy had an active life outside of education. She owned a yarn shop in Pequot Lakes and a real estate office in Breezy Point, and wrote a weekly column for the Lake Country Echo newspaper.

She was also very active in both Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point civic affairs, serving on the Breezy Point Planning Commission for 20 years, started the Breezy Point library at city hall, and the Community Fest held in August.

Dorothy was recognized as Queen for a Day at the Bean Hole Days celebration and on the 4th of July parade in Pequot Lakes she was Citizen of the Year.

Services will be held at Crosslake Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating on Tuesday, October 6 at 2 p.m. with internment following at Breezy Point Cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.

Hugo Man Dies in Crosslake Accident

The Crosslake Police Department has identified the victim of a Sunday morning accident as 29-year-old Eric Yanka of Hugo, Minnesota. Authorities say he was a passenger in a car that left the road on County Road 103 Just before 1 a.m.

Two other men in the car were taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment.

Hubbard Co Man Dies in ATV Accident

(AP) An ATV accident has claimed the life of a 20-year-old Hubbard county man. Sheriff Frank Homer says Corey Benedix rolled his ATV on County Road 93 near Hendrickson Township, when he was thrown from the vehicle and onto the roadway.

The Sheriff says Benedix suffered severe head trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Monday Night High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Pierz def Buffalo
3-1 Holdingford def Royalton
3-1 Sebeka def Pine River-Backus
3-2 Pillager def Swanville

A Short Look at Fall Colors

We may be headed for a short season of fall colors. Len Nelson of Deblen Service Company of Pequot Lakes tells KLKS News, the cool dry summer has put stress on area trees. He says they have begun to shed their leaves even before they change colors.

Nelson says next week may be the peak for viewing. He is suggesting homeowners give their trees a good deep watering before winter sets in.

MPCA Waters Meeting in Brainered

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will hold a public meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 30th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Brainerd-MPCA Office 7678 College Rd.It is one of several gatherings around the state to discuss the nearly 400 impaired lakes and streams.

The new list brings the current total of impaired waters to 3,049 statewide on 1,205 lakes and 436 rivers.

Only a fraction of Minnesota's waters have been monitored and assessed so far for impairments. The MPCA has initiated or completed water monitoring in 21 percent of the state's 81 major watersheds. The state is on track to monitor all of the state's watersheds on a 10-year schedule.

Fundraiser for Achermann

Central Lakes College in Brainerd will hold a spaghetti fundraiser for Peter Achermann of Leader who mysteriously disappeared on July 24 about 4 miles north of Staples. The event will be held at the Bear's Den, October 24 in Leader, beginning at noon.

Achermann remains missing after exhaustive searching. He is described as a very healthy 82-year-old man with no dementia nor Alzheimer's.

CLC president Dr. Larry Lundblad, said Mr. Achermann's many friends and acquaintances at Central Lakes College are distressed by his disappearance. A number of students, faculty, and staff have been involved in the search.

The October 24th benefit will raise funds to cover continued search costs.

For information on the Benefit, go to www.helpfindpeter.com

Sharing the Road with Farm Vehicles

The Todd County Sheriff's office is reminding motorists to be the look-out for slow moving vehicles on area roads.

An S-10 Chevy truck rear-ended a horse drawn Amish hay wagon at the intersection of Todd County roads 14 and 11 around 5 pm Friday. There were no serious injuries in the mishap, although there was severe damage to the pick up truck.

The sheriff's office says it is harvest time, and slow moving farm vehicles will be sharing roads with regular traffic.

County Hires Land Commissioner

Crow Wing County has a new Land Services Supervisor. He is Kirk Titus, a member of Minnesota's forest management community.

Titus previous assignment was with Weyerhaeuser Company. He will be reporting to County Land Services Supervisor Mark Leidl.

Man Dies in Sunday Morning Accident

An early Sunday morning accident has taken the life of a 29-year-old man. He was a passenger in a car that crashed off county road 103 in Crosslake. Police say he was declared dead at the scene 12:45 a.m.

Two others in the vehicle were injured and taken to St. Joseph Medical Center in Brainerd.

Their names are being withheld until relatives have been notified.