Prep Football from Friday

Braham 54, Crosby-Ironton 42
Breckenridge 48, Wadena-Deer Creek 7
Browerville 43, Royalton 25
Crookston 40, Pequot Lakes 15
Little Falls 42, Fergus Falls 7
Ottertail Central 42, Pillager 13
Pine City 38, Aitkin 7
Pine River-Backus 21, Lake of the Woods 16
Staples-Motley 52, West Central 3
Underwood 32, Verndale 0

Prep Volleyball from Friday

Pillager def. Pine River-Backus 3-1

Oct Click/Ticket

The 2010 October Safe & Sober — Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization runs October 8 - 28, and will include around 400 participating Minnesota law enforcement agencies, including agencies in the Crow Wing County area.

For this program, the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) encourages deputies, officers and troopers to conduct nighttime enforcement of seat belt and child seat laws. Each year, more than 60 percent of motorists killed during nighttime hours are not belted. Agencies with grants are required to work 50 percent of their hours between 7 p.m. – 5 a.m.

Brainerd Police Chief Corky McQuiston says the primary seat belt law helped Minnesota reach record-high daytime belt compliance rate of 90 percent, and resulted in fewer unbelted deaths over all. He says Officers will be out in full force working with troopers and deputies to make sure that everyone is appropriately restrained while in a motor vehicle.

Muddy Trails

Following recent rains and flooding in some areas, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is urging hunters to check road and trail conditions before venturing out this fall. Many state forest roads and trails are likely wet and some may be temporarily closed.

The DNR also reminds hunters to use caution when traveling on state forest roads and trails to ensure that motor vehicle use does not violate state law by causing erosion or rutting.

“Use good judgment,” said Paul Maurer, Northeast regional manager for the DNR’s Division of Parks and Trails. “If it’s wet, don’t drive there.”

For latest trail conditions, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/trailconditions/index.html.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0  Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa def Pierz
3-0  Bertha-Hewitt def Menahga
3-0  Clearbrook-Gonvick def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0  Cook County def McGregor
3-0  Crosby-Ironton def Park Rapids
3-0  Detroit Lakes def Pequot Lakes
3-0  Frazee def Staples-Motley
3-0  Nevis def Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
3-0  Rush City def Isle
3-0  Sebeka def Verndale
3-0  Upsala def Eagle Valley
3-1  Osakis def Royalton
3-1  Pine River-Backus def Blackduck
3-2  Brainerd def Willmar
3-2  East Central def Onamia

Hecker Must Answer More Questions

(AP)  And still, Denny Hecker needs to explain what he has done with his money.  This time, the fallen auto mogul will answer to a judge what he and his girl friend did with $150 thousand dollars from a cashed-out life insurance policy.  The money was supposed to be used to pay creditors in his huge bankruptcy case.

Hecker owned two dealerships in Baxter that have since been sold.   He also owned a mansion on the Whitefish Chain.

Oberstar Faces Tougher Election

(AP)  Eighth District Congressman Jim Oberstar appears to be facing a tougher opponent than he has seen in recent years. 

Republican Chip Cravaack is reaching out to blue-collar Democrats and Independents in the heavily Democratic district.  Cravaack has hustled-up more money than many of Oberstar's previous opponents.

Oberstar is still considered the favorite.

Zebra Mussels Invade Gull Lake

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources biologists have confirmed a report that zebra mussels are now in Gull Lake in The Brainerd Lakes Area.

It marks the second time in four months that zebra mussels have been discovered in a popular Minnesota lake. In July, the DNR found zebra mussels in Lake Minnetonka.

A Brainerd area dock removal service discovered the zebra mussels attached to a boat lift pulled from the lake and reported its findings to the DNR. The DNR surveyed additional docks and boat lifts recently removed from the lake and found zebra mussels attached to several boat lifts and to some aquatic vegetation.

Gull Lake will now be designated as infested waters, which prohibits the transport of water and requires draining of all water including bait containers, and also prohibits harvest of bait.

It is not known how widespread zebra mussels are in the lake. The young age of the zebra mussels suggest a reproducing population has likely been in the lake for a least a year.

Bear Success Unchanged

The bear hunting season has been a disappointment so far this year, according to DNR Area Wildlife Manager Gary Drotts. 

He tells KLKS News, he expected a bigger harvest based on the number of homeowner complaints about the bruins.   He says they were receiving about 2-5 complaints a day in August, as bears foraged for food because their traditional sources were scarce.

Drotts says the bear harvest is about the same as last year.

Restorative Project Fundraiser Thursday

The Lakes Area Restorative Project will hold a fall fundraiser Thursday at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd. 

Director Stephanie Haider says their mission is to bring youthful offenders together with their victims outside of an over-worked court system.  She says on recent success was a mediated session between adolescences and Pequot Lakes business owners over an issue of graffiti.

Haider says the fundraiser at the Arb begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow.  A $20 donation is requested.  Training for new facilitators will be held October 22nd-24th.

Dahl Urges Autumn Safety

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl is reminding fall sports enthusiasts that the water is getting cold. 

The county's top cop is reminding anglers and duck hunters to tell others where they are going, and when they will return,  have a plan in place should equipment fail, if your boat overturns, stay with the craft and wear a life vest.

Dahl says no one intends intends to fall in the lakes and rivers this time of year.  He says it only takes a few seconds for shock to set in, and a person to go under.

Brainerd Area Candidate Conversations

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber is sharing its “Candid Conversations with Candidates,” on local cable TV. 

This campaign, sponsored by Crow Wing Power, includes 10-minute interviews with individual candidates airing on local access television stations, 3-minute YouTube interviews airing on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber channel, and an online Voters Guide.

The television interviews will air Wednesdays and Saturdays on CTC and Charter Communications channels 8 and 15. Interviews will air at:
· 9 a.m. with Brainerd candidates.
· 11:10 a.m. with Breezy Point candidates.
· 11:40 a.m. with Cass County candidates.
· 12:10 p.m. with Baxter candidates.
· 12:40 with Crosby candidates.
· 1:20 p.m. with Crosslake candidates.
· 2:10 p.m. with Nisswa candidates.
· 2:20 p.m. with Crow Wing candidates.
· 3:40 p.m. with Pequot Lakes candidates.
The interviews with Crosslake candidates will air daily at 5 p.m. on Crosslake Communications Channel 12.

Candidates for state and federal offices were not asked to participate in this process.

Dist 12 Senate Debate at CLC

The Social Sciences Division at Central Lakes College is sponsoring a Candidate Forum for State Senate District 12 on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 1-1:50 p.m.

The forum will be on the Brainerd campus in Room E354, a lecture hall. Confirmed participants are candidates Paul Gazelka, Steven Park, and Taylor Stevenson.

Community Connect Comes to CLC

Central Lakes College in Brainerd will offer a seminar for disadvantaged families on Saturday, Oct. 30.  It is called Crow Wing Community Connect, sponsored by the Crow Wing County Coalition to End Poverty.

The event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is being held to provide a one-stop shop for individuals and families in the Crow Wing County area to apply for various types of benefits, receive information on opportunities for them, and apply for social service assistance.

Similar events have been held throughout Minnesota, including in Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties,  according to Natasha Leyk, AmeriCorps VISTA. Aitkin County has held an Operation Community Connect for four years, with around 100 families attending and 40 area services at the event.   She says they would like to serve 300 households at the first event.

Free workshops include Nutritious Meal Demonstration, Women’s Health 101, Bridge to Benefits (benefit eligibility), Basics of Financial Literacy, Family Law Panel, and Job Searching.

Other free services available at the event will be haircuts, energy assistance, gas and food cards, veteran assistance, benefit screening for housing and employment, and public health. Lunch is included.

Tuesday High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0  Blackduck/Cass Lake-Bena def Red Lake
3-0  Brainerd def Sauk Rapids-Rice
3-0  Cromwell def McGregor
3-0  Foley def Milaca
3-0  Greenway def Northland
3-0  Nevis def Laporte
3-0  Pine City def Isle
3-0  Upsala def Browerville
3-0  Wadena-Deer Creek def Bertha-Hewitt
3-1  Sebeka def Pine River-Backus
3-1  St. Cloud Tech def Little Falls
3-1  Verndale def New York Mills
3-2  Braham def Onamia
3-2  Cass Lake-Bena def Indus
3-2  Eagle Valley def Royalton

Flu Shot Clinic Thursday

The Crow Wing County Health Department is urging everyone six month or older to get their flu shots now.

Public Nurse Manager Gwen Anderson tells KLKS News, the bug has already been reported in some parts of the state.  She says it is important that people get the inoculation for themselves and for those around them.  She says those over 65 years remain susceptible to the flu.

Anderson says this year's vaccination covers three strains including last year's H1N1.

The Crow Wing County Health Department is holding a clinic at Forestview Middle School in Baxter on Thursday, from 3-6 p.m.

Both the Flu shots and FluMist will be offered.  The cost is $25.00 per vaccination and the health department will bill Medicare Part B, Medical Assistance, and MinnesotaCare. But, you must bring your card.

Whitefish-Tullibee Schedule Set

Recreational netting for whitefish-tullibee opens Friday, Oct. 8, on designated lakes that are less susceptible to sudden changes that impact water temperature, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
 
These lakes, known as Schedule II lakes, offer recreational netting on the following schedule:  Schedule II A lakes open Friday, Oct. 8, and close Sunday, Dec. 5;  Schedule II B lakes open Friday, Nov. 5, and close Sunday, Dec. 12 and Schedule II C lakes open Friday, Nov. 12, and close Sunday Dec. 12.
 
A complete list of all Schedule I and II lakes as well as detailed netting regulations are available online at www.mndnr.gov/fish/cisco or by calling the DNR Information Center at 651-296 6157 in the Twin Cities metro area or toll-free at 888-646-6367. 
 
A few area lakes are closed including;  Mille Lacs,  Lake East and West Fox Lakes,  Mitchell Lake, Nisswa Lake,  Osakis Lake, Roy Lake and Serpent Lake.

Monday High School Scores

Volleyball:
3-0  Deer River def Crosby-Ironton
3-0  Foley def Pierz
3-0  Mora def Milaca
3-0  Wadena-Deer Creek def Staples-Motley
3-1  Royalton def Isle

A Memorial Ride for McGaughey

Congressman Jim Oberstar and Brainerd Community Action are hosting a Memorial Bicycle Ride for Terry McGaughey on the Paul Bunyan Trail, Saturday October 16th.

The event will begin at noon with lunch at the trail head in Baxter.  The ride will begin at 1:30 p.m. and everyone is welcome to join in.  There will be a stop in Nisswa for a short program and another stop in Pequot Lakes where Oberstar will offer some comments. 

Oberstar says, "McGaughey was key in transforming the unused railroad bed into the longest paved bike trail in Minnesota. Terry had a clear vision and volunteered his efforts during the past 30 years to help make this recreational trail available for everyone to enjoy."

Nisswa FD Open House

The Nisswa Fire Department will be hosting our annual open house on Saturday October 9th from noon-2pm at the Nisswa fire hall, as a part of Fire Prevention Week. The Nisswa fire department will again have several demonstrations, along with North Ambulance and North Air Care, Nisswa Police, DNR and Northland fire protection.

The Nisswa Fire Department will also be dedicating a memorial donated by the Larry Fyle Family in Memory of Larry and all past Nisswa Fire Department members who have passed away over the years. We would like to invite all past Nisswa Firemen and their families and the families of firefighters that have passed way over the years to take part in this dedication.

Area Highway Construction

Motorists will encounter lane restrictions beginning today while crews perform safety improvements on several area roads.

Crews will be installing Rumble strips on Highway 27 from Little Falls to Onamia in Morrison and Mille Lacs Counties;  Highway 47 from the junction of Highway 23 at Ogilvie to the junction of Aitkin County Highway 2 at Malmo in Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Aitkin Counties; Highway 200 from the junction of Highway 84 to the junction of Highway 169 at Hill City in Cass and Aitkin Counties; Highway 169 from north of Elk River to north of Princeton in Sherburne and Mille Lacs Counties; Highway 169 from north of the junction with Highway 27 at Onamia to Garrison in Mille Lacs and Aitkin Counties; Highway 6 from the junction with Highway 18 to Outing in Crow Wing and Cass Counties and Highway 210 from Deerwood to Hassman in Crow Wing and Aitkin Counties.

Signing and pavement marking will be installed on Highway 84 from Pine River to the junction with Highway 200 in Cass County; Highway 200 from the junction of Highway 84 to the junction of Highway 169 at Hill City in Cass and Aitkin Counties.

Work is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 29, weather permitting.