Horner Says Rural Hospitals in Jeopardy

Independence party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner likes some of the health care policies of outgoing governor Tim Pawlenty, but not all.  

The former Republican told KLKS News, the initiative to reduce the costs of coordinating care for those suffering from chronic conditions was good.  However, in a debate with DFLer Mark Dayton and Republican Tom Emmer, Horner says Pawlenty and the legislature have gotten off track.  He says the state health care plan that affects the poorest Minnesotans has the potential to ruin rural hospitals.  He says the plan would require them to pick up the costs of treatment, and they can't afford it.

Horner and his two major party opponents appeared before the Minnesota Hospital Association conference at Madden's on Gull Lake.

Crosslake Days This Weekend

"Pirates of Crosslake" is the theme of the annual Crosslake Days through Sunday. 

Chamber Spokesperson Cindy Myogeto tells KLKS News, there activities for buccaneers young and old, including the bicycle rally out of the Corps of Engineers Campground Saturday morning from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. (there are 12 and 25 mile routes),  Classic Car Show and Chili Cook-Off.

Mike and Alexander Stone won the treasure hunt.   They discovered the booty after three clues behind the Pine and Peaks lodge.

The Crosslake Royalty is Bill and Debby Floerchinger.

Suicide Prevention Walk Saturday

The Out of the Darkness Community walk for suicide prevention will be held Saturday at the Brainerd High School Track.

The event is for surviving family and friends and for public information. 

Spokesperson Julie Kletscher tells KLKS News, the organization lends support for all age groups, including school children.  A program they are working to get back into the schools is called "More than Sad."  It teaches instructors how to look for the warning signs among their students, and for students to do the same things for their friends.

The walk begins at 10 a.m.  Donations will be taken at that time.  Donations can also be made on-line at "outofthedarkness.org."

Crosby's Women Expo Saturday

The Women's Expo and Arts and Crafts Fair will be held at the Hallett Community Center in Crosby Saturday. 

There will be variety of topics for women and their men to consider, including How to be a fire fighter.  Spokesperson Shirley Hale tells KLKS News, fire department are looking for female fire fighters.  She says The North Star Fire Fighters will demonstrate a water rescue, an auto extraction and the proper way to lift a fire hose.

Other topics include a silver sneakers yoga stretch and determining your fit age.

The event is free and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Public Access Work on No. Long and Round Lakes

The public water accesses at North Long Lake in Merrifield and Round Lake north of Brainerd will be closed temporarily for reconstruction for several weeks between Sept. 27 and Nov. 1.

The DNR says the projects at both sites include bituminous paving of the parking lots, improving storm water management and putting in new ramps.

There is an alternate public access for North Long Lake on the west end off of State Highway 371, which was recently improved and may not meet the needs of the largest boats. The alternate public access for Round Lake is at East Gull Hole-in-the-Day public access, which requires passage through the tunnel under Highway 371 to get to Round Lake. In addition, contractors indicated they may be able to open the North Long Lake access by Oct. 2.

New Leader in Leech Tourny

Pro Pat Byle of Colgate, Wis., and co-angler Peggy Severson of Fort Pierre, S.D., caught five walleyes weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces Thursday to vault Byle into the lead after day two of the FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Leech Lake.

Byle now has a two-day catch of 10 walleyes weighing 30-9 and a 2-pound, 1-ounce lead over second place going into the third day of competition. Anglers from 12 states and Canada are fishing for top awards of up to $40,000 in the Pro Division and up to $12,000 in the Co-angler Division.

Thursday High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0  Bertha-Hewitt def Henning
3-0  Melrose def Milaca
3-0  Nevis def Clearbrook-Gonvick
3-0  Pine River-Backus def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0  Sebeka def Pillager
3-0  Upsala def Osakis
3-0  Verndale def New York Mills
3-0  Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Blackduck
3-1  Alexandria def Little Falls
3-1  Bigfork def Northome/Kelliher
3-1  Detroit Lakes def Crosby-Ironton
3-1  Pequot Lakes def Staples-Motley
3-1  Pierz def Eden Valley-Watkins
3-1  Rush City def Onamia
3-2  Eagle Valley def Browerville
3-2  Hinckley-Finlayson def Aitkin
3-2  Sartell def Brainerd

Improvements for the Brainerd Airport

The Brainerd Airport is getting $7 million for improvements. 

The project will rehabilitate the airport’s terminal building to provide greater space for screened passengers and a baggage screening area, as well as construct a jet bridge for easier boarding access.

Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar says it is important the Brainerd Airport is modern and up to date.   He says, “Travelers shouldn’t have to be exposed to the elements when they board and deplane from their aircraft.”

Snow Jockeys Prepare for the Other Season

More than 100 snowplow operators are currently participating in an intensive training program to prepare for the worst road conditions a Minnesota winter has to offer. The training session began Sept. 20 and runs through Oct. 1 at the training facility at Camp Ripley near Little Falls, Minn.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s snowplow operator training program, known as SPOT, is a two-week session that highlights a variety of safety measures, plowing techniques and best practices. The session provides trainees with updates on new equipment, policies and procedures related to winter highway maintenance operations.

C.W. to Conduct Underage Compliance Checks

The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a grant to conduct alcohol compliance checks on all licensed retailers.

In a compliance check, a law enforcement officer works with an underage youth who attempts to purchase alcohol from a bar, restaurant, liquor store, grocery store or other licensed outlet. If the clerk/server asks for identification and refuses the sale, the outlet passes the compliance check. If the clerk/server completes the sale, the outlet has illegally sold alcohol and fails the check.

Sheriff Todd Dahl says, "Our main goal is to get people to check IDs. While most people do a great job in our area, we still have concerns and are simply stepping it up to curb underage drinking.”

In he next few months, officers will conduct the first round of compliance checks. A second round of checks will be conducted after the first of the year.

Sheriff Dahl says any establishment caught selling to an underage buyer will be referred to the City or County Attorney’s Office for criminal prosecution. In addition, the owner of the alcohol license will face civil prosecution. Along with the issuance of an alcohol license comes the responsibility to ensure that all sales are made legally and responsibly.

Penalties for establishments selling to someone under 21 can be charged with a gross misdemeanor offense, which carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $3000 fine.

BIR Champs Crowned This Weekend

The Bracket Drag Racing Series’ grand finale will be Saturday and Sunday at Brainerd International Raceway, when track champions will be determined.

It’s the fifth and final race in the series, where drivers in 14 classes have been battling for series points throughout the season. This weekend’s race will determine who has earned the most points in each class, and they will be crowned track champions for the 2010 season. More than 350 dragsters, cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles and Junior Dragsters are expected to compete.

Qualifying starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Elimination rounds start at 9 a.m. Sunday.

S.D. Angler Leading Leech Walleye Tourny

Kevin Merrill of Pierre, S.D., and co-angler Matt Hiller of Grand Rapids, Mich., landed five walleyes weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces Wednesday to lead day one of the FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Leech Lake.

The pair now holds a 2-pound, 4-ounce lead over their closest rivals in the championship featuring 40 pros and 40 co-anglers representing 12 states and Canada fishing for top awards of up to $40,000 in the Pro Division and $12,000 in the Co-angler Division.

Overall there were 140 fish weighing 260 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 38 boats Wednesday. The catch included 17 five-fish limits.

Anglers will take off from Walker City Park located on Minnesota Ave. in Walker at 7:30 each morning.

T0day’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Northern Lights Casino, host of the championship beginning at 4 p.m.

Area Football Rankings

Area high school football teams continue to wow their fans, as they garner some of the top spots in the state rankings.

Tops in the area is the football team from Pequot Lakes.  The Patriots are ranked third in the Class 3A polls.  The Pats are undefeated at 3-0.

The Brainerd Warriors are number 9 in Class 5A.  The Pierz Pioneers are number 5 in Class 2A. Royalton is tied for 10th in Class 1A.  And, McGregor is ranked number 7 in nine man football.

Listen to Pequot Lakes football on KLKS and klks.com.  On Friday the Patriots will host Park Rapids Area at 7 p.m.

Rain Makes Forest Work Difficult

The heavy rain this summer has made the work of loggers difficult, according to Dean Makey, Brainerd DNR Forestry Specialist.  He says it has been it has been especially difficult for heavy machinery. 

More rain is in the forecast as fall begins.

Dry conditions are predicted for most of next week. 

The DNR is hosting a Forest Management Field Day Saturday in Nisswa.  Makey says private owners will get information on how to best manage their woodlots.  It will be held on the John Wallin property next to the Wallin Berry Farm off County Road 18 in Nisswa.

For more information call: (218) 833-8700.

Autumn Begins Soggy

The summer of 2010 has been a busy one, according to K-Lakes Meteorologist Tony Schumacher. 

Rainfall in the Brainerd-Breezy Point Area has been 6-8 inches above average, although some parts of the state were 10-14 inches over the norm.  The temperatures were a couple of degree above average, even though September has been a few degrees coolers than what you might expect.

Autumn, which begins at 10:09 p.m. tonight, will open with a big rain event.  Schumacher says we could get 2-3 inches of rain tonight through Friday morning.

A Flood Watch is in effect through the period.

Double your CLC Foundation donation

Double your CLC Foundation donation during Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge. Have your donation dollars doubled when you give to the Central Lakes College Foundation at GiveMN.org, during the Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge, Sept. 28 through Oct. 5.

The CLC Foundation in Brainerd and Staples was chosen as one of the youth-serving nonprofits in greater Minnesota to benefit from the Bremer Give-to-the-Kids Challenge. The first $6,000 the Foundation generates through online donations at GiveMN.org during the challenge will be matched (dollar for dollar) by The Otto Bremer Foundation.

“Your generous donation will help us fulfill our mission of providing scholarships to Central Lakes College students,” said Pam Thomsen, Director of Resource Development and CLC Foundation.

“Bremer will match dollar for dollar up to $6,000 in donations. That’s potentially $12,000 in unrestricted funds to the Foundation.

“Please go to http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Bremer-Kids-Challenge-Central-Lakes-College-Foundation to double your dollars to students through the CLC Foundation.

If you have any questions, please contact Thomsen at (218) 855-8129 or email pthomsen@clcmn.edu

Tuesday High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0  Bertha-Hewitt def Underwood
3-0  Blackduck def Northome/Kelliher
3-0  McGregor def Wrenshall
3-0  Northland def Nashwauk-Keewatin
3-0  Onamia def Isle
3-0  Osakis def Royalton
3-0  Pelican Rapids def Staples-Motley
3-0  Rocori def Little Falls
3-0  Wadena-Deer Creek def Perham
3-1  Menahga def Verndale
3-1  Monticello def Pierz
3-2  Ogilvie def Aitkin
3-2  Sebeka def Pequot Lakes
3-2  St. Cloud Tech def Brainerd

Monday High School Scores

Girls Volleyball:
3-0  Crookston def Park Rapids
3-0  Holdingford def Royalton
3-1  Grand Rapids def Bemidji
3-2  Northland def McGregor

Armed Robbery at the "Y" Store in Merrifield

The "Y" Store on County Road #3, just north of Merrifield, was robbed at gunpoint of an undislosed amount of cash Sunday evening just before 10:00pm.  Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl reports a lone male in his late teens or early 20's, and wearing a hooded sweatshirt and ski mask, fled the scene just before deputies arrived.  A search of the area failed to turn up the suspect.  Anyone with information regarding the robbery should contact the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office at 218-829-4749.