Another Delay in Petters' Trial

(AP) Tom Petters' fraud trial has been delayed for a second time. A Judge has postponed Monday's jury selection until Wednesday. The Minnesota businessman, who says he's innocent, is charged with running a $3.65 billion Ponzi Scheme.

Shooting Kills Kelliher Man

(AP) A woman has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Kelliher man. 27-year-old Matthew David Albert was shot in the head Tuesday. He was taken to a Twin Cities hospital, but died Thursday.

The Beltrami County Sheriff's Office arrested a 25-year-old woman who lead them to the gun used in the shooting.

Monster Buck Taken at Camp Ripley

(AP) This is why hunters get buck fever. A South Haven man bagged what appears to be a state record 32 point buck. 29-year-old Scott O'Konek found his mark in a special archery hunt at Camp Ripley. Understandably, O'Konek says he was shaking after scoring the monster.

The buck might have the largest non-typical rack taken by bow and arrow in Minnesota. A conclusive score will follow in two months.

The animal was estimated at 5 years of age, and field-dressed at 192 pounds.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted def Pierz
3-0 Sebeka def Bertha Hewitt
3-0 Staples-Motley def Frazee
3-0 Verndale def Menahga
3-1 East Grand Forks def Park Rapids
3-1 Pillager def Henning

Football:
Sartell 28, Brainerd 0
Sauk Rapids-Rice 14, Little Falls 6

Hecker Loses a Legal Move

(AP) Minnesota Auto mogul Denny Hecker has received a set-back in his attempt to delay several lawsuits against him. He had been looking for a six month delay while a grand jury decides whether or not to indict him on criminal charges. His lawyer said the civil cases could jeopardise his Fifth Amendment rights when the criminal case moves forward.

Bankruptcy Judge Robert Kressel did not buy the argument. He said there may or may not be an indictment. In any event, Hecker would maintain his right to claim the Fifth Amendment at any time of the proceedings.

Hecker filed for bankruptcy protection in June following the collapse of his auto dealership empire.

Lakewood Limits Visitors

Due to an increase in flu cases, Lakewood Health System of Staples will be limiting visitors at all Lakewood Health System locations; including all clinics, the hospital, care center and assisted living locations. Patients and caregivers are asked to leave family members and friends at home when visiting. If visitation to Lakewood Health System is necessary, all school-aged children will be required to wear a mask and all other visitors must complete a brief wellness evaluation.

Dr. Peter Henry, Emergency Room Director at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd tells KLKS News, they are not limiting visitors at this time, but asks vistors to exercise good judgement.

Dr. Henry says they have seen a recent surge in absenteeism at area schools, and expects the peak in the next few weeks. He says it is important to remember that the swine flu has mostly resulted in mild to moderate symptoms.

Wednesday High School Scores

Football:
Badger/Greenbush-Middle River 34, Cass Lake-Bena 6
Barnsville 55, Pine River-Backus 0
Crookston 28, Park Rapids 8
Crosby-Ironton 40, Aitkin 14
Pequot Lakes 28, Thief River Falls 6. Patriots win conference, #1 seed in sections
Staples-Motley 34, Breckenridge 27.
Wadena-Deer Creek 12, West Central 6

Upper and Lower Twin Lakes in Hubbard and Wadena Designated as "Infested"

(AP) State Officials are designating Upper and Lower Twin Lakes in Hubbard and Wadena Counties as "infested waters". That's due to the discovery of the exotic Faucet Snail, which hosts a parasite linked to waterfowl deaths. The designation is prompting stricter rules for anglers on those lakes.

Still No Swine Flu Vaccine for Brainerd

There has been an increase in activity at the Emergency Room at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd of people complaining of flu-like symptoms. Emergency Room Director Dr. Peter Henry says there have been other illnesses responsible for the spike, but the H1N1 virus appears to be the primary culprit.

Dr, Henry does not expect a vaccine to be available for the general public for another several weeks. He says when it arrives, it will be safe to use.

Dr. Henry says he is getting reports of increased absenteeism at area schools.

Body Shops Busy with Deer Hits

The DNR has been able to reduce the deer herd to a more manageable level around the Brainerd Lakes Area. However, the body shops have been doing a brisk business with vehicles unable to avoid a collision during the last 10 days. Mike Kurre, of the Division of Fish and Wildlife says it has been hard on the pocketbooks of people paying the deductible portion of the repair bill.

Kurre says there is likely to be less thinning of the herd this hunting season as most areas shift to lottery zones this year. There are still a couple of managed areas, where permits can be purchased to harvest an anterless deer.

Lunkers Hire Assistant GM

The Brainerd Lunkers baseball team has hired Dustin Anaas as the new Assistant General Manager. This will be Anaas third season in the Northwoods League.

Anaas says the Lunkers are one of the rising franchises in the Northwoods League.

The Lunkers are members of the Northwoods League, a summer venue for promising collegiate players. 135 players were drafted into professional baseball in 2009.

Baxter Road Improvements

The Brainerd/Baxter Business Council is looking for public comment on transportation and infrastructure improvements October 27th at 7:30 p.m. at Baxter City Hall.

MNDOT is looking at improvements on Elder Drive including a left turn lane at Inglewood, street lighting at Elder and Inglewood. Also, a Mill and Overlay project is being considered on Highway 371 from Excelsior to Nisswa, including upgrading the accesses and street lighting at Design Road and Clearwater Road.

The City of Baxter is considering Fairview and Elder Drive extensions, Inglewood/Knollwood intersection improvements, upgraded highway 210 access/railroad crossing, Cypress Drive Extension among others

Register online for this event by visiting www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or by calling (218) 829-2838.

Carbon Monoxide Claims Longville Cabin Owners

(AP) The Cass County Sheriff says a couple from Hutchinson died in their cabin near Longville from carbon monoxide poisoning. The bodies of 58-year-old Lee Schwarze and his 55-year-old wife Nancy were discovered by relatives Saturday afternoon.

Their 22-year-old son Michael was flown to Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition.

The sheriff says a poorly ventilated gas heater is the likely cause.

Brainerd Dims Lights to Save Money

(AP) The city of Brainerd is continuing to look for ways to trim the budget. The council has approved a plan that would shut off 27 streetlights. Final action is expected on November 2nd. Main thoroughfares and areas around schools and churches will continue to be lit.

Tuesday High School Scores

Football:
Browervill 29, Osakis 19
Cromwell 36, Hill City 0
McGregor 19, Northland 8
Northhome/Kelliher 12, Nevis 7
Pierz 42, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 26
Pillager 36, New York Mills 34, OT
Verndale 40, Chokio-Alberta/Herman-Norcross 14

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Fergus Falls def Little Falls
3-0 Park Rapids def Staples-Motley
3-0 Rocori def Brainerd
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Frazee
3-2 Crosby-Ironton def Pequot Lakes
3-2 Pine River-Backus def Walker Hackensack-Akeley

Brainerd Considers Shutting Off Some Lights--

(AP) Brainerd is considering turning off some City lights to save energy and money. A conceptual plan has been approved by the City Council that would shut off 27 streelights. Final action on the plan by the Council is scheduled for November 2nd. Areas that would continue to be lit include spaces around schools and churches--as well as main thoroughfares.

Askegaard Replaces Judge Leitner in Crow Wing County

Erik J. Askegaard of Brainerd has been appointed to the Ninth District Crow Wing County court bench by Governor Tim Pawlenty. He will replace Judge John R. Leitner who retired the end of May.

Askegaard is an attorney and president of the Askegaard and Robinson law firm in Brainerd. He was an associate attorney with the Jeffries, Olson and Flom law firm in Moorhead from 1987 to 1991, and a law clerk to North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Herbert L. Meschke in Bismarck from 1986 to 1987. Askegaard earned his degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1986, and his bachelor of science business administration degree cum laude from the University of North Dakota in 1982.

Askegaard is a certified civil trial specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association.

He is a member of the Minnesota Association for Justice, Minnesota State Bar Association, where he is treasurer of the Outstate Practice Section, and has been a lecturer at numerous continuing legal education seminars.

Askegaard has served as a volunteer coach for Brainerd High School Mock Trial Competitions, basketball coach with the Brainerd Youth Athletic Association and the YMCA, a foreign exchange student host, and a member of the Sunrise Sertoma Club.

Askegaard, 49, was born in Fargo, North Dakota, grew up in Detroit Lakes and lives in Brainerd with his wife, Joan, and their three sons, Garth, 17, Gunnar, 15, and Gus, 13.

Funeral Services for Walker War Hero

Funeral services will be held at Camp Ripley today for a Walker man who died in Afghanistan earlier this month. Spc. George W. Cauley died three days after his vehicle was hit with a homemade bomb October 10th.

Cauley is a 2003 graduate from Northland High School in Remember.

The funeral for the 24-year-old will be held at Camp Ripley Memorial Chapel in Little Falls. He will be buried with full military honors at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Governor Pawlenty has ordered flags to be flown at half staff.

Fewer Whitetails

Many Minnesota hunters may be able to sleep undisturbed in their deer stand this season. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says the overall population of whitetail deer has declined. Winter kill eliminated about 20 percent of their numbers in parts of northeastern Minnesota.

The populations is even lower in the southwest, where only young hunters can apply for an anterless permit.

In many areas of the state (including the Brainerd Lakes Area) the DNR had been working to lower the population to a more manageable level. However, that is not the case in the Twin Cities area where the herd remains a problem.

Monday Night High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Fosston def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0 Nevis def Sebeka
3-0 Northland def Bigfork
3-1 Wadena-Deer Creek def Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton
3-2 McGregor def Isle
3-2 Pillager def Pequot Lakes
3-2 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Staples Motley

Crow Wing County Tax Rate Low By Comparison

Crow Wing County ranks 84th lowest out of 87 counties in the state on the county portion of property taxes according to 2009 data recently released by the Metropolitan Inter-County Assocation. The county portion considers taxes levied by the county, not by schools, towns, cities or other special taxing districts. The County-only portion of property taxes on a $200,000 home in Crow Wing county was $570.02, compared to a statewide average of $992.25.
In addition, Crow Wing County ranked 78th lowest out of 87 counties on the percent change in the county's levy from 2008 to 2009. Crow Wing County's levy went up 2.98%compared to a statewide average increase of 5.5%.
According to County Board Chair, Rosemary Franzen, "The county is trying to do what it can to hold down county taxes during these tough economic times."

Rural Longville Couple found Dead

(AP) A poorly ventilated gas heater may be to blame for the deaths of a rural Longville couple, according to Cass County authorities. Relatives of Lee and Nancy Schwarze found the couple dead in their cabin on Saturday. Their 22-year-old son was found unconscious, and was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis--his condition has not been released.