Prep Scores from Friday

Girls' Hockey:
Bemidji 10, Holy Angels 0

Boys' Hockey:
Brainerd/Pierz/Pillager 7, Monticello/Annandale/Maple Lake 5

Girls' Basketball:
Alexandria 57, Brainerd 48
Foley 72, Milaca 47
Henning 60, Verndale 55, OT
Isle 65, Mora 51
Pierz 72, Sauk Rapids-Rice 63
Pine River-Backus 93, Cass Lake-Bena 28
Royalton 47, Swanville 33
Sartell 69, St. Cloud Tech 62
Sebeka 79, Pillager 49
St. Cloud Apollo 37, Rocori 29
St. Cloud Cathedral 42, Melrose 38

Boys' Basketball:
Aitkin 46, Hinckley-Finlayson 40
Cass Lake-Bena 70, Pine River-Backus 62
Detroit Lakes 63, Crosby-Ironton 40
Grand Rapids 54, St. Cloud Cathedral 51
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 53, Morris Area/Chokia-Alberta 39
Northland 44, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 28
Pequot Lakes 70, Waden-Deer Creek 25
St. Michael-Albertville 44, Sartell 43
Staples-Motley 68, Park Rapids 33
Verndale 70, Parkers Prairie 61

Grand Casino Makes Donation

Grand Casino Mille Lacs has awarded Riverwood Foundation $1,000 as part of their 12 Days of Giving Program. This is a fun promotion where guests can earn points to select from thousands of holiday gifts. Grand Casino didn’t stop there. They wanted to celebrate the holiday season by giving back, which is why they have given $1,000 daily for 12 days to 12 worthy organizations.


Grand Casino chose the organizations based on their service to children, families or the environment. On December 8th Grand Casino Mille Lacs honored Riverwood Foundation with a $1,000 donation. Riverwood Healthcare Center provides quality healthcare and services to residents of Aitkin County and surrounding communities.

Oberstar Will Not Be a Lobbyist

Outgoing Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar says he will not become a lobbyist when he leaves office in January.  Oberstar was unseated after 36 years in office by political newcomer Chip Cravaack. 

The Chairman of the powerful Transportation Committee says his predecessor John Blatnick refused to become a lobbyist, and he will follow the same path.

Oberstar says the advice he would give his successor is to stay true to the principles advocated in the campaign.

Oberstar says he will maintain his connection to the Brainerd area, and promises to be here the first Sunday in June for the Ride With Jim on the Paul Bunyan Trail.  Although, he wants to rename it "The Terry McGaughey Memorial Ride" in honor of the man who worked hard to see the trail through to completion.

Oberstar also promises to spend a lot more time his grandchildren

Parade of Lights Postponed

A dangerous weather system has prompted the organizers of Saturday's Pine River Parade of Lights to postpone the event for one week. 

Chamber Executive Director John Wetrosky tells KLKS News, strong winds and dangerous wind chills prompted the decision.

Wetrosky says strong winds alone would stop the fireworks display.  He says they chose this weekend for the event, so they could postpone for another week should the need arise.

Remer Couple Busted on Drug Charge

A couple from the Remer area have been arrested on a drug charge.

The Cass County Sheriff's office says 38-year-old Jason Townley and his 35-year-old wife Beth were arrested Thursday.  They are being held on second degree sale of controlled substances, and are being held in the Cass County Jail.

The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force and Leech Lake Tribal Police assisted in the search.

Older Driver Week

This is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week.

One of the more emotional events facing families, is telling an elderly family member it's time to stop driving. 

State Patrol Sergent Curt Mowers tells KLKS News, too often, the family does not know if or when they should take away the keys.  He says there are warning signs, such as missing stop signs and lights, right of way violations, improper left turns and lane changes.  Damage to vehicles and garages are another sign.

Mowers says the number of fatal accidents jumps after the age of 60.

For more information go to dps.state.mn.us/dvs.

Farm Accident Claims Long Prairie Woman

A Long Prairie woman was killed in a farm accident Thursday. 

The Todd County Sheriff's office says 31-year-old Deanna Smith was moving cattle with her husband when she was attacked by a yearling bull .

Efforts to revive the woman failed. 

Thursday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Royalton 56, Onamia 55
Sebeka 90, Upsala 78
Pine River-Backus vs Laporte canceled

Girls Basketball:
Isle 79, Pine City 49
McGregor 67, Albrook 53
Pequot Lakes 84, Deer River 38
Perham 70, Crosby-Ironton 59
Pine River-Backus 79, Laporte 26
Rush City 47, Aitkin 41
Staples-Motley 83, Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 46
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 83, Red Lake 26

Boys Hockey:
Little Falls 3, Sartell 1
St. Cloud Tech 4, Brainerd/Pierz/Pillager 1

Girls Hockey:
Crosby-Ironton/Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus 6, Fergus Falls 1

Wrestling:
Aitkin 75, Rush City/Braham 6
Little Falls 60, Sartell-St. Stephens 20
Wadena-Deer Creek 45, Perham 25
Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus 47, Deer River 27
Pequot lakes/Pine River-Backus 48, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis 30
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley/Nevis 40, Deer River 31.

Morrison Co. Cracks Down on Predatory Offenders

Morrison County has 109 predatory offenders.  Sheriff Michel Wetzel has completed predatory an offender registry for all of them.

Wetzel says each adult offender who has been sentenced to prison after 1991 is assigned a risk level based upon assessments conducted by the Department of Corrections according to their likelihood to re-offend. Level I offenders are considered least likely to re-offend, while Level III offenders are considered most likely.


Morrison County law enforcement officers have been conducting annual verification checks on known offenders for the past 8 years. Sheriff Wetzel has decided to increase verification checks to twice a year for Level II and quarterly for Level III offenders.

Of the 109 verification checks completed, officers found only one offender to be noncompliant for having failed to register. That individual, Nathan Hoffman, currently has a felony warrant for his arrest issued.

MNDOT Increases Load Limits

Allowable winter load limits on highways in the central frost zone will increase up to 10 percent at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, Dec.11, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The central frost zone’s boundaries extend south from the southern limit of the north-central frost zone (Highway 10, Highway 210, Highway 18, Interstate 35, Highway 48 and the Wisconsin state line) to a line following and including Highway 12 from the South Dakota state line to the Hennepin County line.
 
Vehicles will be allowed to carry up to 10 percent more weight than the standard legal maximum loads on unrestricted highways during the winter load increase period. However, trucks must comply with current registration weight laws and not exceed registered gross weight limits.

Brainerd Calls for Shoveled Walks

The Brainerd Building Inspections Department is reminding property owners to shovel their sidewalks. 

Officials says sidewalks need to be shoveled full width, and down to the bare pavement.  All ice needs to be removed, and sprinkling sand or salt is recommended. 

Property owners who fail to act will get a notice asking them to clear the walks.  If the work has not been done by re-inspection, a citation with fine could be issued.  If city crews do the work, the property owner will be billed.

Snow from the walks should be piled on yards or boulevards, but not into streets or alleys.

Calls to Remove Wolf From Endangered List

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar says it is time to take the grey wolf off the endangered species list.  She says the numbers are high enough that the top predator is hurting farms, families, businesses and the hunting industry.

Brainerd DNR Non Game Specialist Pam Perry tells KLKS News, most biologists would say the wolf population has made good recovery, and the state should begin to control their numbers.

Some hunters in the north Brainerd Lakes area reported that when they saw wolves, they saw no deer. 

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Crosby-Ironton 69, Frazee 24
Isle 52, Hinckley-Finlayson 45
Little Falls 68, Pierz 65
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 52, Wadena-Deer Creek 37
Maple Lake 52, Royalton 38
McGregor 72, Hill City 47,
Nevis 55, Cass Lake-Bena 47
Northome/Kelliher 82, Walker-Hackensack-Akely 35
Onamia 58, St. John's Prep 56
Pine City 46, Aitkin 38
Pine River-Backus 60, Verndale 58
Sebeka 82, New York Mills 52
Upsala 48, Bertha-Hewitt 39

Girls Basketball:
Aitkin 55, Moose Lake/Willow River 44
Bertha-Hewitt 50, Verndale 42
Blackduck 71, Laporte 41
Brainerd 53, St. Cloud Tech 48
Crosby-Ironton 64, Park Rapids 30
Deer River 57, Northland 30
McGregor 41, Two Harbors 40
Nevis 69, Cass Lake-Bena 42
Osakis 43, Royalton 35
Pequot Lakes 69, Detroit Lakes 35
Sebeka 80, Menahga 42
Wadena-Deer Creek 47, Staples-Motley 34
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 71, Northome/Kellier 26

Boys Hockey:
Little Falls 21, Wadena-Deer Creek 0
Park Rapids/Menahga/Nevis 6, Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 4

Girls Hockey:
Brainerd/Little Falls 3, Moorhead 2
Thief River Falls 3, Park Rapids Area 1

Wrestling:
Aitkin 80, Cloquet/Esko/Barnum 0
Detroit Lakes 47, Crosby-Ironton 12
Staples-Motley 42, Crosby-Ironton 16
Staples-Motley 42, Detroit Lakes 25

Thin Ice Warnings

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is reminding snowmobilers and others to stay off lakes because the ice is not safe yet.

According to the DNR, there have already been several ice rescues involving snowmobiles. There have been several drownings involving those venturing out on ice.

“We’re telling snowmobilers and others to please stay off of lakes until there is at least five inches of new, clear ice,” said Lt. Dave Olsen, DNR Enforcement, Grand Rapids “Early season riders are often tempted to ride on lakes. But they are not yet safe for snowmobiles, ATVs, or even walking, in most cases.”

The DNR is also warning ice anglers, snowmobilers, skiers and other outdoor enthusiasts to use caution when going onto any lake covered or partially covered with ice, especially those that feature aeration systems.
 
Aeration systems are generally operated from the time lakes freeze until ice break-up in the spring. They help prevent winterkill of fish, but they also create areas of open water and thin ice, which are significant hazards.
 
Two types of signs are used to post aerated lakes; “Thin Ice” and Warning” signs.
 
Area lakes which are aerated include Platte in Crow Wing County, and Alexander and Shamineau in Morrison County.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Isle 50,  Cromwell 38
Northland 76, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig 34


Girls Basketball:
Upsala 70, Holdingford 51

Cushing Man Dies in Ice Accident

A 59-year-old Cushing man drown in Lake Alexander near Camp Ripley Saturday.  The Morrison County Sheriff's Office identifies him as Gary Deppa. 

The accident happened about 6 p.m. when his ATV cracked through the ice.  Deppa was riding near Soldier Island when the ice gave way.  The Sheriff says the rescue effort was hampered by darkness and the distance from shore. 

Deppa was pronounced dead at the scene.