Prep Hoops from Friday

Boys' Basketball:
Blackduck 70, Northland 59
Crosby-Ironton 49, Aitkin 42
Eagle Valley 56, Verndale 53
Fergus Falls 70, Brainerd 55
Little Falls 80, Willmar 63
Perham 65, Wadena-Deer Creek 34
Pine River-Backus 68, Pillager 56
Sartell 48, Sauk Rapids-Rice 38
Sebeka 93, Staples-Motley 57

Girls' Basketball:
Class 2A Section 6
Quarterfinal;
New London-Spicer 65, Albany 51
Sauk Centre 65, Pierz 31

Cravaack Backs Health Care Tweek

Minnesota Congressman Chip Cravaack supported a change in the health care reform law that would have required employers to file a form every time they had a business transactions of $600 or more.

The 8th District Congressman said that for some Minnesota companies, that would mean thousands of new forms to fill out each year and fines if honest mistakes were made.  He says it is a paperwork nightmare that has nothing to do with improving anyone’s health care.

The modification was supported by both Republicans and Democrats.

Perham BB Player Getting Better

(AP)  A Perham High School basketball player is on the mend.

Doctors at the University of Minnesota Medical Center says 17-year-old Zach Gabbard's heart has fully recovered, and is close to be discharged.

Gabbard collapsed during a game in Glyndon January 20th. 

A fundraiser for the Gabbard family will be held Sunday in New Hope.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Eagle Valley 59, Menahga 53
Hill City 66, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 49

Girls Basketball:
Class 2A Section 8
Crosby-Ironton 46, Perham 42
Pequot Lakes 73, Frazee 37
Thief River Falls 61, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 46
Wadena-Deer Creek 61, Pelican Rapids 39

Class 1A Section 5
Barnum 76, Royalton 42
East Central 49, Royalton 42
Isle 73, Cromwell 50
McGregor 62, Ogilvie 33
Pine River-Backus 37, Nevis 22
Sebeka 59, Pillager 39
Upsala 74, Menahga 48

Little Falls Man Collared On Drug Charge

A 58-year-old Little Falls man has been arrested for sale of prescription drugs.

The Morrison County Sheriff's Office and Central Minnesota Drug and Gang Task Force have taken Gene Heurung into custody. 

According to the complaint, Heurung began selling large numbers of Oxycodone last November from his home at 405 3rd Street NE, Little Falls.

When officers arrested Heurung in Little Falls, he was also found to be in possession of 24-Morphine pills.
Sheriff Michel Wetzel says Heurung was being prescribed large amounts of pain killers such as Oxycodone and selling them almost immediately after having the prescriptions filled.   He said, “This is a prime example of why we need to work cooperatively with local doctors to ensure that only those people who need and are taking these pain killers are getting them prescribed.”

Heurung is currently in custody in the Morrison County Jail pending formal charges.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Girls Basketball:
Section 2A First Round
Rush City 56, Aitkin 16

Conservation Corp: Help Wanted

The Conservation Corps has some warm weather jobs available for young people.

District Manager Anna Lepenga tells KLKS News, its a chance to get outside and earn a little money.

Lepenga says the young people will get a living stipend and an education award toward a student loan or tuition at an accredited school.

Most of the work will be in a 90 mile radius from Brainerd, but there is one project that will take the workers to South Dakota. 

The jobs will be filled in the next two weeks.  For more information go to conservationcorps.org

Body of McGregor Man Found

(AP)  The body of a McGregor man missing since January 18th has been found in the woods four miles south of town.

Someone checking maple trees for the upcoming syrup season found the body of 52-year-old Patrick Losh.  An autopsy indicated he died of hypothermia. 

Losh, who authorities said had a history of disappearing, was last seen walking near his home, five miles south of McGregor.  Foul play is not suspected.

MPCA Wants to Remove Brainerd Sites From Superfund Cleanup

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is proposing to remove three area sites from the state Superfund cleanup list.  The sites include the Former Brainerd Dump in Baxter, the Burlington Northern Car Shops in Brainerd, and the Westling Manufacturing Company in Princeton. 

Superfund sites are periodically removed from the list when they are cleaned up to the point where they no longer pose a threat to public health or the environment.  The MPCA is seeking public comments about this action through March 30.

Pool Table Disappears from Cushing Bar

The Morrison County Sheriff is looking for a pool table.  The eight foot table was stolen from the Elk Creek Saloon in Cushing sometime between Monday, February 21, and Wednesday morning, February 23rd.

The Sheriff says it would have taken several people to carry the pool table out of the building.

The pool table should be easy to identify with the word “Billiards” printed on it.

Cravaack Supports Budget Fix

Eighth District Congressman Chip Cravaack says the passage of a short-term bill to keep the government funded and running through mid-March is a step in the right direction.
The freshman Republican says the short term fix will save the taxpayers $4 billion compared to current spending levels. He says that while this is in no way a permanent solution, it is a step in the right direction. He is urging the Senate to follow suit.

Cravaack says he is disappointed the Democrat controlled Senate has not followed the Republican controlled house lead in even bigger cuts to what he calls a massively bloated budget.

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Crookston 67, Park Rapids 22
Deer River 81, Aitkin 54
Detroit Lakes 92, Wadena-Deer Creek 52
Eagle Valley 56, Royalton 50
Laporte 61, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig 45
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 57, Milaca 37
Nevis 55, Verndale 47
Northland 56, Floodwood 54
Pequot Lakies 56, Esko 42
Perham 65, Sebeka 60
Pierz 68, Eden Valley-Watkins 39
Pine River-Backus 49, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 40
Staples-Motley 81, Pillager 57
Upsala 79, Swanville 73

Girls Basketball:
Detroit Lakes 55, Little Falls 52
Pierz 52, Milrose 39
Lake of the Woods 55, Cass Lake-Bena 41
Mahnomen 62, Laporte 21

Rep Ward on MN Budget

State Representative John Ward of Brainerd says he is pleased Governor Dayton has pledged to restore some cuts to nursing homes, following the improved revenue forecast for the coming biennium.

The revenue picture may have improved by $1.2 billion, but still requires a $5 billion fix. 

Governor Dayton has proposed a mix of spending cuts and tax increases for the wealthiest Minnesotans.  Republicans have stated they want to balance the budget on cuts alone, fearing any tax increase would slow job growth.

Representative Ward tells KLKS News, some Republicans may be adjusting their position.

The state constitution requires a balanced budget.

March Begins

Whether or not March comes in or goes out like a lion or a lamb remains to be seen.  However, the first day is coming in like a lamb, but will leave like a lion. 

Mild temperatures greeted the first part of the day.  But a cold front blasting through the state will produce a decided growl with northwest winds howling and a wind chill advisory in effect from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Meteorologist Tony Schumacher says the first half of the month looks to be cold.  The second half of the ought to be more spring like.

Average March high temperatures warm from around 30 to the mid 40's by the end of the month.

Ice Tee Open Saturday

The ice in front of Moonlight Bay in Crosslake comes alive with golfers Saturday.  It's the 9th annual Ice Tee Open to benefit Camp Knutson.

Organizer Rob Larson tells KLKS News, it's a lot of fun for a good cause.  There will be two 9 hole courses designed by Golden Eagle.

The entry fee is $20 for adults, and $10 for those under 14. 

The proceeds will help special needs kids attend Camp Knutson this summer.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Area Drug Bust Puts Four in Prison

Four area men have been convicted in Federal Court for Distribution of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of Firearms.

48-year-old Karl James Petnz of rural Deerwood, 37-year-old Noel Gutierrez Manzanares and Randy Lee Motzko of Garrison, all pled guilty in Federal Court and will be sentenced at a later date.

41-year-old Robert Garcia of Garrison was recently found guilty of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in a Federal trial which concluded February 18th.

During the October operation, agents purchased and confiscated over 2 and a half pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of over $150,000.

The four face sentences from 10 to 40 years in Federal prison.

The drug bust was coordinated among several law enforcement agencies including the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division, MN BCA, ATF, DEA, MN State Patrol, North Central Drug Task Force, Brainerd Police Dept., Baxter Police Dept., and Breezy Point Police Dept.

Howes: Cuts Still Needed

State economists have adjusted the revenue shortfall for the coming biennium to $5 billion from $6.2 billion. That's a $1.2 billion improvement from last November's forecast.

State Representative Larry Howes suggests deep cuts are still needed, "The news is good, but it shouldn't distract us from continuing our efforts to help people get back to work and make Minnesota a better place to do business.  State revenue is expected to rise by around 9 percent, but that level of growth can't keep pace with the 29-percent rise in spending (to $39 billion) that's set to take place. That's why we have a shortfall to eliminate. "

The budget-setting process is expected to pick up with the updated information. The Constitution requires the legislature to balance the budget before the fiscal year ends in June.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Cass Lake-Bena 76, Northome/Kelliher 56
McGregor 80, Albrook 40
Mountain Iron-Buhl 58, Hill City 40

Girls Basketball:
Class 1A Section 5 Play In:
Cromwell 69, Hill City 33
Menahga 68, Verndale 50
Nevis 62, Browerville 38
Onamia 44, Northland 41
Pillager 65, Swanville 41
Class 2A Section 8 Play-In:
Frazee 53, Park Rapids 28

Snowmobiles Break Through Thin Ice

Alcohol and thin ice proved to be a dangerous concoction for three men who cracked through the ice in Maple Grove township over the weekend. The Crow Wing County Sheriff's office says the trio were on their snowmobiles just before 2:30 Saturday morning when they broke through the ice near the channel between Upper and Lower South Long Lake.

The snowmobiles had broken through the ice on the Upper South Long Lake side of Crow Wing County Road 23.

Two were able to get out of the water and walked to separate residences in the area.  Another was able to get out and use his cell phone to say he was OK. Crow Wing County Deputies, North Ambulance, First Responders and the Brainerd Fire Department responded to the scene.  All three were treated by North Ambulance at the scene and released.

The Sheriff says All had been consuming alcoholic beverages; however, no immediate arrests were made.

Level 3 Offender Meeting

There is going to be a community notification meeting for the release of a level 3 sex offender in Crow Wing County Thursday.
The meeting with the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department will be held at 6:00 p.m. at Timbermist Event Center in Merrifield.

In addition to the Sheriff, The Minnesota Department of Corrections will be giving a presentation.

26-year-old Brandon Keith Churchill is going to be released from the Department of Corrections to a residence on Birchem Circle in rural Brainerd on March 7th.

Authorities say a level three sex offender is at the highest risk to reoffend.

An Unremarkable February

Today we say goodbye to February. 

KLKS Meteorologist Tony Schumacher says February has been close to average.  He says temperatures were about two degrees below normal, and snowfall ranged from 5 to 6 inches, also below normal. 

In the southern half of the state it was another story, with snowfall amounts far above average, creating worries about the spring flood potential.

The first two weeks of March are expected to be cooler than average.

IRS Says Beware of False Emails

The IRS is warning taxpayers about an effort to steal personal and financial information through the internet by people claiming to be from the IRS. 

Spokeswoman Sue Hales tells KLKS News, emails claiming to be from the IRS suggesting a refund or an audit could result in identity theft.  She says the IRS would never ask for personal and financial information through an email.  Do not click on links, which could also infect computers with malware.

Hales says if such an email is received, the IRS wants them forwarded to phishing@irs.gov.

Pout Fest with Jay Leno

This Friday you will be able to see a segment of the recent Eel Pout Festival on Leech Lake in Walker.

The Polar Plunge will be featured on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Friday night. 

You can catch the show on free over-the-air KLKS TV 14.

Green Acres Moves Forward

Changes to the so-called Green Acres program continue to move through the Minnesota legislature.

State Representative Mike LeMieur of Little Falls says changes made in 2008 should be removed.  He wants to protect farmers from rising property taxes due to nearby development. 

Instead, the Republican lawmaker says the land should be taxed on its potential agricultural use. 

DNR Fishing Regs Ready Tuesday

New fishing regulations taking effect Tuesday will affect Big Sandy Lake in Aitkin County and several connected rivers and lakes.

The regulations are summarized on page four of the new booklet which will be available at Minnesota license agents and the DNR web site.

There will be a sunfish possession of five on Big Sandy and size restrictions on walleyes.

The new booklet does not list the special regulations of walleye on Red Lake and Mille Lacs Lakes, because they have not yet been established.  Those regulations will be announced later.