Judge Reduces $2-Million Dollar Verdict Against Brainerd Woman

(AP) A federal judge has drastically reduced a nearly 2-million dollar verdict against a Brainerd woman found guilty last year of sharing 24 songs over the internet. U.S. District Judge Michael Davis reduced the penalty against Jammie Thomas-Rasset to $2,250 per song, or about $54,000. He says he would have like to reduce it further but was limited in doing so.

Brainerd Ice Fishing Extravaganza

Highway 371 between BIR and Hole in the Day Bay on Gull Lake will be a very busy stretch Saturday, as thousands of anglers venture out on the ice for the annual Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza.

State Patrol Sergent Curt Mowers is asking motorists to slow down, and be alert for lane closures. Highway 371 traffic will be single lane at Gull Lake to allow for a shuttle bus - vehicle drop off site. Contest participants and spectators are encouraged to use the shuttle service, which is provided from BIR north of Baxter.

Motorists not involved with the contest are encouraged to use an alternate route before noon and after 3 p.m.

Brainerd Area Fisheries Supervisor Tim Brastrup is asking participants to bring a plastic bag with them, and fill it with water for their catch while waiting in line to register for prizes. Brastrup says the fishing contest has little impact on the health of the fishery on Gull Lake.

The El Nino Storm Approaches Brainerd

The huge storm that's been soaking the west, is coming to a backyard near you. Meteorologist Tony Schumacher says it should begin late friday and continue into Sunay. It is predicted to combine snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Schumacher says a quarter inch of ice is a good bet. Even ice as thin as that can cause broken tree limbs, sporatic power outages and dangerous driving conditions.

Schumacher says if we get a half inch of ice, we would be in the grip of an ice storm that could cause serious power outages and travel problems.

Muskies Could be Coming to a Lake Near You

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is considering introducting Muskies into three area lakes; Upper and Lower South Long Lakes and Roosevelt Lake.

Brainerd Area Fisheries Supervisor Tim Brastrup tells KLKS News, the lakes meet the criteria for introducing the big game fish. And, he says the introduction would have no negative impact on the fishery.

Brastrup says notices will be placed at the public accesses on the affected lakes. He says the DNR will consider all public comment before making a final decision.

The Weekend Could Bring an Ice Storm

The mild January weather may be giving way to something a lot less agreeable. K-lakes Meteorologist Tony Schumaker says all the moisture in the west now is moving in our direction. It's expected to affect areas to the south of us today. But, by Saturday morning we could be looking at nasty conditions. A quarter inch of ice is a good possibility.

Schumacher says mixed precipitation is likely Saturday night. And, measurable snow is in the forecast for Sunday.

Wadena Avoids School Fine

The Wadena-Deer Creek school district has avoided a state imposed penalty by settling with its teachers before the deadline. The district and instructors came to a contract agreement prior to the Friday midnight deadline last week.

The result is, the teachers will see no increase in salary the first year of the agreement and a 1.7 percent increase the second.

By setteling, the school district avoids a $29 thousand dollar penalty by the state.

The Brainerd school district will receive a penalty of $25 per student, becuase they failed to meet last weeks deadline.

Tuesday Night High School Scores2

Wrestling:
Crookston 44, Park Rapids 30
Staples-Motley 51, Wadena-Deer Creek 13
Aitkin 42, Crosby-Ironton 28
Mille Lacs 42, Aitkin 25
Mille lacs 58, Crosby-Ironton 21
Thief River Falls/Goodridge 72, Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena/Indus 6
Little Falls 58, Alexandria 15
Little Falls 77, Sartell-St. Stephen 0

Boys Hockey:
Brainerd/Pierz/Pillager 3, Sartell 0
Park Rapids/Menahga/Nevis 6, Northern Lakes 4
Willmar 3, Little Falls 2

Girls Hockey:
Park Rapids Area 6, Babbitt-Embarrass 3

Boys Basketball:
Aitkin 48, East Central 33
Bemidji 68, Little Falls 66
Braham 72, Isle 68
Brainerd 76, Sauk Rapids-Rice 59
Crosby-Ironton 53, Esko 26
Grand Rapids 90, Cass Lake-Bena 49
Hill city 71, Lake Region Christian 47
Nevis 80, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 55
Osakis 49, Royalton 43
Pierz 46, Kimball 40
Upsala 95, Pillager 54
Wadena-Deer Creek 82, Frazee 33

Girls Basketball:
Bertha-Hewitt 73, Sebeka 40
Crosby-Ironton 52, Wadena-Deer Creek 41
Menahga 64, Verndale 52
New York Mills 70, Pillager 51
Northome/Killiher 52, LaPorte 46
Pequot Lakes 83, Park Rapids 51
Pine River-Backus 68, Cass Lake-Bena 24
Royalton 37, Onamia 27
Staples-Motley 69, Detroit Lakes 60
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 43, Nevis 42

DFL-er Caucus at Brainerd High

The Crow Wing County DFL Party will hold its precinct caucuses February 2nd in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

DFL'ers will cast a gubernatorial preference ballot that will determine how Minnesota's delegates to the state convention in April are allocated among the gubernatorial candidates. They will also debate resolutions for the party platform, elect precinct chairs for the next two years, and select delegates for the upcoming county convention on Saturday, February 20, 2010.

The caucuses will begin at 7:00 p.m. Gubernatorial-preference balloting will conclude at 8 p.m. sharp. Ballots may only be cast in person; no absentee balloting is allowed.

Anyone who will be eligible to vote in Minnesota by November 2, 2010 may vote in the gubernatorial-preference ballot. Anyone age 16 or over may participate in caucus business.

New Casino for Red Lake

Red Lake is getting a new casino. The band of Ojibwe is opening a gaming hall, hotel and conference center on the northwestern Minnesota reservation.

The casino will feature 300 slot machines, four blackjack tables and two poker tables.

The project is funded with all Indian money. Instead of getting a bank loan, the Red Lake Band borrowed $31 million from the Shakopee Dakota Community which runs Mystic Lake Casino.

Grand Opening events are planned all week.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Hockey:
Northern Lakes Lightening 4, Morris/Benson 1

Boys Basketball:
Barnum 59, Northland 45
Cass Lake-Bena 76, Deer River 62
Perham 74, Park Rapids 24

Girls Basketball:
Barnum 84, Northland 41
Floodwood 68, McGregor 47
Isle 79, Wrenshall 22
Little Falls 65, Sauk Rapids-Rice 45

Grants available from Sertoma Winter Wonderland

The Brainerd Area Sertoma Club is accepting grant applications from area organizations for the proceeds from the 2009 Sertoma Winter Wonderland at the Northland Arboretum. The application deadline is March 31, 2010 with grant distribution in April.

The grant guidelines include five focus areas and applications must address one or more of the following areas: speech and hearing, environmental, public service, education and youth. Organizations applying for a grant may be for profit or nonprofit (nonprofit charitable organizations designated as a 501(c) 3 by the Internal Revenue Service.

For more information on grant applications, guidelines, and grant forms visit www.sertoma.brainerd.com. or www.sertomawinterwonderland.com. Grant applications can be mailed to Sertoma Winter Wonderland, Attention: C. Picek, PO Box 9, Brainerd, MN 56401 or emailed to Cathe at cathe@campconfidence.com.

2010 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE CALLS HOSTED BY BRAINERD LAKES CHAMBER

During the legislative session, the Brainerd Lakes Chamber is participating in a series of legislative conference calls featuring updates on business issues at the Capitol offered by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Join Brainerd Lakes Chamber staff and other business leaders at the Pequot Lakes Chamber Office, 31095 Government Drive, Pequot Lakes, or Brainerd Lakes Chamber Office, 124 North 6th Street, Brainerd, to participate in the call. The calls are only open to members of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber. Other Chambers across the state also participate in the series, so attendees hear questions and comments from business people across the state.
Call Format: 7:30-7:45 a.m.listen only format. At 7:45 a.m. all lines will be opened up to allow questions.
The calls begin on February 12 at the Pequot Lakes Chamber Office.
For a complete list of call-times and locations, contact the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Office.

There is no cost to participate in these calls, however registration is required. For more information go to www.explorebrainerdlakes.com or contact Lisa Paxton at lpaxton@explorebrainerdlakes.com or (218) 822-7111.

Dahl Warns of Earthquake Scammers

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl is reminding folks to be aware of scammers looking to profit from the Haiti earthquake. He tells KLKS News, it is important you know that money donated will actually get to the area of devastation.

Dahl says he has made several trips to Haiti with a Christian based organization. He is part of a building crew that travels to the Pignon mountains to establish schools, and drill for clean water. He expects a trip scheduled for February will be delayed as the focus turns to the capitol city of Port au Prince.