Prep Scores from Friday

Girls' Basketball:
Crosby-Ironton 43, Aitkin 23
Isle 73, Royalton 50
Pequot Lakes 69, Wadena-Deer Creek 56
Staples-Motley 84, Nevis 60
Underwood 48, Verndale 21

Boys' Basketball:
Brainerd 58, Sartell 48
Cass Lake-Bena 100, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 64
Crosby-Ironton 72, Staples-Motley 35
Little Falls 74, Sauk Rapids-Rice 52
Menahga 65, Verndale 48
New York Mills 69, Pillager 53
Pequot Lakes 74, Pine River-Backus 46
Sebeka 75, Bertha-Hewitt 48
St. Cloud Apollo 68, Willmar 55
St. Cloud Cathedral 71, Melrose 69, 2OT
St. Cloud Tech 50, Rocori 35
Thief River Falls 79, Roseau 42
Upsala 88, Onamia 49

DNR Wants Input on Area Lakes

The DNR is looking for comments on how it manages eight Brainerd area lakes. 

In Crow Wing County, the lakes are Big Rabbit, East Rabbit,  Ossawinnamakee, Section Six Pit Lake and Manuel Pit Lake.

Marc Bacigalupi, Brainerd area fisheries manager, says management plans describe the past, present and desired future conditions of the waters.  The plans also identify planned management activities in the next five to 20 years.

Those wishing to offer a comment have until March 15th.

Potential Rift in LGA

It appears there may be a growing rift developing between metro and greater Minnesota lawmakers in the allotment of state funds to local units of government. 

Earlier this week, Republican State Representative Larry Howes of Walker told KLKS News, the small cities in his district are far more responsible in spending Local Government Aid dollars that the metro.  State Senator John Carlson of Bemidji, a fellow Republican, agrees.  He says unlike smaller cities, the metropolitan areas of a larger tax base and their levy limits are lower.

Carlson says he was disappointed the governor vetoed the Republican budget bill passed earlier this session, because it would have frozen LGA at current levels.

Local Government Aid has been used as a tool to hold down property taxes.

Frozen Fore This Weekend

The 6th annual Frozen Fore golf tournament will be held on Gull Lake this weekend. 

Hundreds of fun seekers will be playing golf with tennis balls all around the lake.  Organizer Nikki Shoutz tells KLKS News, it is the world largest golf and snowmobile event.  The main event begins Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at the nine locations around the big lake.  No skills are required.  Shuttle buses will be availabe for those who do not have snowmobiles.

There will be a 4 on 4 Pond Hockey Tourney at Hole-in-the-Day Bay, also on Saturday.
The event begins with a tent dance tonight on Hole-In-the-Day Bay

The Gull Lake Frozen Fore is a charitable event, benefiting Confidence Learning Center and the Blue Line Club.

Brainerd Doctors Deliver Baby in Car

Mother nature wouldn't wait for a Randall woman and her car became a delivery room.

Debbie Peterson says she was up all night with pains Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.  The expectant mom didn't think she was having contractions.  But, at 4 a.m. her water broke. 

Her husband at the wheel, they couple began the 30 minute drive to a Brainered hospital.  About a block away the baby began to emerge.  Doctors finished the delivery in her car in the parking lot.

Peterson says she was scared, but there were no complications for her or baby Gavin.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Browerville 47, Eagle Valley 27
Menahga 65, Park Rapids 43
Upsala 72, Pillager 33
Wadena-Deer Creek 69, Frazee 47

Girls Basketball:
Isle 63, Aitkin 43
Little Falls 63, Brainered 56
McGregor 80, East Central 62
Nevis 65, Cass Lake-Bena 36
Onamia 49, Pine City 45
Pillager 58, Royalton 40
Pine River-Backus 65, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 32
Sebeka 80, Upsala 65
Wadena-Deer Creek 60, Park Rapids 18

Park Rapids Teacher Faces Felony Charges

(AP)  A Park Rapids teacher faces felony charges for bringing a hunting rifle onto school grounds last year. 

Scott Eishens was an industrial education instructor for 12 years, until he resigned in December. He is scheduled to appear in Hubbard County District Court on February 28th.

The 38-year-old Eishens says the gun belonged to his son, and he did not know it was in the bed of his pickup truck.

Moose Pemits Down

(AP)  It appears likely the DNR will cut the number of moose hunting permits in half for the fall season. 

Wildlife Manager Tom Rusch in tower says it is unclear why population numbers are dropping.  But, the decline have prompted consideration of cutting the number of permits from 212 last year to a little more than 100 this year.  Some have speculated that climate change may be the cause of the declines.

More Trouble For Denny's S/O

(AP)  An now Denny Hecker's girlfriend is on the inside looking out. 

Christi Rowan was arrested yesterday for violating conditions of her release on fraud charges.  She was nabbed at the Sherburne county jail where Hecker is being housed. 

Prosecutor Nicole Engisch says Rowan violated her plea agreement by withdrawing $9 thousand from Hecker's bank account, and cashing dividend checks from Hecker's account.  She faces up to six months in Federal Prison when she's sentenced tomorrow after pleading guilty earlier to bank and bankruptcy fraud.

Hecker has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy and bankruptcy fraud.

The pair would often frequent a luxurious lake home on the Whitefish chain prior to the crumbling of his auto empire.

State High School Rankings

Girls Basketball:
Class 2A
1.    Braham (23-2)
7.    Pequot Lakes (23-1)

Class 1A
1.    Goodhue (23-4)
5.    Upsala (22-0)

Boys Basketball:
Class 2A
1.    Plainview-Elgin-Millville (24-1)
4.    Pequot Lakes (18-4)
6.    Perham (20-1)

Class 1A
1.    Sebeka (22-0)

Boys Hockey:
Class 1A
1.    St. Thomas Academy
15.  Little Falls

Upsala Food Store Roof Cave-In

(AP)  The folks who live in Upsala will have to put on some miles to get their groceries. 

The snow that move through this past weekend collapsed the roof of Paul and Kathy's Supermarket Monday.  They say it will take about three weeks to repair. 

Owner Kathy Koetter says the roof was clear of snow prior to the latest round of winter white.

Products in the store may go to a bargain store or food shelf.

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Bagley 88, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 46
Cass Lake-Bena 85, Goodridge/Grygla-Gatazke 56
Crosby-Ironton 62, Pine River-Backus 60
East Central 63, Aitkin 44
East Grand Forks 78, Park Rapids 40
Hawley 67, Wadena-Deer Creek 49
Little Falls 53, Sartell 39
Nevis 73, Northome/Kellihber 55
New York Mills 74, Menahga 67
Pierz 77, Staples-Motley 60
Pillager 63, Verndale 62
Rocori 60, Brainerd 40
Sebeka 92, Henning 57
Upsala 90, Osakis 67

Girls Basketball:
Cherry 68, Hill City 45
Deer River 47, Northland 40
McGregor 66, Onamia 23
Northome/Kelliher 62, Cass Lake-Bena 23
Pequot Lakes 86, Sebeka 62 (Matty Lueck scores her 1000th point)
Pierz 62, Kimball 29
Pine River-Backus 51, Pillager 40
Upsala 80, Royalton 54
Wadena-Deer Creek 55, Bertha-Hewitt 42

Boys Hockey:
Brainerd/Pierz/Pillager 7, St. Cloud Tech 0
Sartell 6, North Lakes Lightening 0
St. Cloud Apollo 3, Little Falls 1

Flu Could Be Coming to a School Near You

It appears the flu season is gaining momentum in Minnesota. 

Kari Springer, Disease Prevention Coordinator for the Crow Wing County Health Department, says 32 schools have experienced outbreaks so far. 
She says no outbreaks have been reported in local schools yet, but that is expected to change soon. 

Springer tells KLKS News, they fear a severe outbreak because fewer people have been vaccinated this season.  She says both type A and B  flu have been reported.

Springer says they have plenty of vaccine and there is still time to get a flu shot.  It takes about two weeks to take full effect.

Howes Suggests a Metro-Rural Rift over LGA

State Representative Larry Howes of Walker is joining with fellow Republicans in opposing Governor Dayton's call for higher income taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans.  The Governor has suggested the hike as one way of dealing with a $6.2 billion revenue shortfall.

Democrats fear if the income tax doesn't go up for the wealthiest Minnesotans, then property taxes will go up for everyone, including those least able to afford it.

Representative Howes says there should be Local Government Aid for some cities, but not all.   He says the small cities in his district have been responsible in spending LGA, but Minneapolis, St. Paul and Rochester have not.

Howes says there could be a battle brewing between metro and greater Minnesota lawmakers over who will get the aid. 

Three Killed Near Little Falls Last Night

A mother and her two children were killed in a crash on icy Highway 27 about 7 p.m. last night in Morrison County.

31-year-old Melissa Lorenz of Flensburg and daughters 10-year-old Angela and 7-year-old Desiree were killed.   The Minnesota State Patrol says their vehicle crossed the center line and struck by a pickup truck on Highway 27 west of Little Falls.  A third pickup then collided with the two vehicles.

The three were taken to St. Gabriel Hospital in Little Falls where they were pronounced dead.

The State Patrol says the woman's seat belt was not buckled. However, the two girls were buckled-up.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
McGregor 83, Northland 45
Sebeka 71, Wadena-Deer Creek 67

Region 5 Looks at Doing More with Less

The Region Five Development Commission and Central Minnesota Initiative Foundation are about to study ways local government can spend less money while providing adequate services. Money from a HUD grant will be used to study population growth, loss of family farms, pressure on natural resources, access to public transportation choices and affordable housing in area counties.

Dan Frank of the Initiative Foundation tells KLKS News, a kick-off meeting will be held Wednesday at The Lodge in Baxter.

There will be four work teams of 25-30 people studying housing, transportation, land use and economic development in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.

Anyone wishing to participate should call 218 894-3233.

Cravaack Supports Huge Cuts

U.S. Congressman Chip Cravaack admits his support of $100 billion in cuts will be painful for families in northeastern Minnesota.

The 8th District Republican says, ”This is an historic day, both for the U.S. House of Representatives and for the country as a whole. Never before has this body even attempted what we accomplished this past week in considering and passing H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This legislation contains over $100 billion in spending cuts when compared to the President’s budget for this year. That is a massive number, only made to appear smaller when compared to our projected $1.6 trillion deficit this year and the more than $14 trillion we currently owe in total."