Prep Scores from Friday

Girls' Basketball
--Championships--

4A-Section 7  Anoka 77, Cambridge-Isanti 66, OT
3A-Section 8  Alexandria 46, Fergus Falls 40
2A-Section 6  Sauk Centre 78, Staples-Motley 58
1A-Section 5  Sebeka 78, Barnum 70, OT

***2a-Section 6  Pequot Lakes vs. East Grand Forks ppd. 'til 3PM Sat., 3/12***

Thursday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Class 4A Section 8
St. Michael-Albertville 74, Brainerd 50
Class 2A Sectiion 6
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 69, Staples-Motley 44
Pierz 62, Albany 60
Class 2A Section 8
Hawley 66, Crosby-Ironton 50
Pelican Rapids 74, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton 59
Pequot Lakes 65, Wadena-Deer Creek 41
Perham 77, Frazee 28
Class 1A Section 5
Bertha-Hewitt 52, Nevis 37
Browerville 67, Menahga 51
East Central 66, Royalton 40
Isle 60, Hill City 52
McGregor 56, Onamia 34
Sebeka 81, Pine River-Backus 45
Class 1A Section 8
Cass Lake-Bena 87, Clearbrook-Gonvick 64

Mille Lacs Fishing Remains the Same

Anglers who fish Lake Mille Lacs will have some consistency from last year.  Fishermen will be able to keep up to four walleyes less than 18 inches, which may include one trophy more than 28 inches. Anglers must release all walleyes from 18 to 28 inches.

The season will open Saturday, May 14, with a regulation that will allow anglers

Starting July 15, if angler harvest is low enough to allow it, anglers may be allowed to keep walleyes up to 20 inches with one trophy more than 28 inches in the four fish limit. All walleyes from 20 to 28 inches would then need to be released.
“The walleye regulation is the same as last year and should provide anglers with ample opportunities to harvest some fish, very similar to last season,” said Dirk Peterson, DNR Fisheries chief. “The angling this winter has been pretty decent; anglers harvested nearly 24,000 pounds of walleye, which suggests a similarly decent bite for the open water season.”

For northern pike, the regulation will be a protected slot from 27 to 40 inches, with one trophy more than 40 inches allowed in the standard three fish possession limit. This regulation is a change from the 24- to 36-inch slot limit that has been in effect since 2002.

Wednesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Class 2A Section 7
Braham 64, Hinckley-Finlayson 32
Deer River 71, Proctor 59
Duluth Marshall 69, Greenway 59
Esko 77, Pine City 52
International Falls 75, Two Harbors 47
Moose Lake/Willow River 67, Aitkin 48
Mora 51, Rush City 42.
Virginia 67, Eveleth-Gilbert 39

Pequot Fans Ready for Sectional Final

The Pequot Lakes girls basketball team travels to Bemidji State University Friday to take on East Grand Forks for right to advance to the state tournament.

The tip-off the Section 8 2A matchup is at 7p.m. 
Admission to the game is Adults $7, Students $4.

A chartered fan bus leaves Pequot Lakes High School from Door #3 at 4:30. Cost is $15.  Adults and students grades 7-12 may board the bus. Students must have a signed parent permission slip.  Contact the High School office to sign up-568-9210

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
2A Section 8 Play-in
Frazee 72, Park Rapids 61

Girls Basketball:
2A Section 6 Semifinal
Staples-Motley 54, Benson 42
2A Section 8 Semifinal
East Grand Forks 48, Crookston 38
Pequot Lakes 73, Hawley 48

Abortion Back at the State Capitol

Both houses of the Minnesota Legislature will be considering legislation which would ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation.

State Representative Larry Howes, a Republican from Walker, supports the effort calling it a step in the right direction. 

If it gains legislative approval, Governor Dayton, who is pro-choice would likely veto it.  Howes tells KLKS News, it is unlikely enough DFLers would cross over to override a veto.

On another topic, streamlining state government as a budget cutting tool appears to be catching steam.  Representative Howes says his caucus believes over $1 billion can be cut from Health and Social Services without affecting programs.  Minnesota is facing a $5 billion revenue shortfall for the coming biennium.

Oberstar Gets His Name on a Ship

(AP)  Another honor has come former Congressman Jim Oberstar's way.  The Interlake Steamship Company is naming an ore carrier after him.

An 805 foot ship built in 1959 will be dubbed the Honorable James L. Oberstar after the Minnesota Democrat.

Company President Mark Barker says they wanted to honor the former Chairman of the House Transportation Committee who made the Great Lakes a Priority.

Oberstar lost a bid for his 19th consecutive term in November when he was defeated by Republican Chip Cravaack.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 63, Minnewaska 50
Class 2A Section 8
Crookston 78, Frazee 52
Class 1A Section 5 Play In
Menahga 83, Pillager 53
Onamia 64, Northland 51
Pine River-Backus 51, Swanville 41
Royalton 59, Ogilvie 47
Class 1A Section 8
Laporte 77, Win-E-Mac 39
Northome/Kelliher 83, Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig 33

A Slippery Morning

It was a bumper car kind of morning around the Brainerd Lakes Area as the result of the 2 inches of snow that fell Sunday night and Monday morning. 

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl tells KLKS News, the switchboard was lit-up with calls from the number of accidents.  He says the intersections were especially tricky.

Dahl says while there were a lot of morning accidents, there weren't any reports of serious injuries.

Human Services Can Save Money

Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson says her department can become more efficient and therefore save taxpayer money as the state battles with a $5.1 billion revenue shortfall.

The department controls 30% of the state budget.  Of that, 80 percent is allocated to the health care of the elderly, disabled and vulnerable children. 

Commissioner Jesson tells KLKS News, they can save money by improving the way they purchase health care procedures, and demanding a lower price.

Jesson just completed a tour of the Brainerd department facilities and said she is confident in the effectiveness of department employees here. 

$13 Million for MN Taxpayers

The Internal Revenue Service has something for about 14 thousand Minnesotans who did not file a tax return in 2007, nearly $13.8 million.

IRS Spokesperson Sue Hales tells KLKS News, that comes to $604 on average.  She says even though some may not have to file an income tax return, there could be a big benefit if they do.

Hales says to collect this money, a 2007 tax return must be filed with the IRS no later than Monday, April 18, 2011.

Chief Bemidji to Get a Make-Over

(AP)  Chief Bemidji may get a face lift, in fact the re-do would involve the whole body.

The Bemidji City Council tonight will consider a request to make a more realistic statue of the Ojibwe leader who died in 1904.  The life-size or larger image would be made of stone, bronze or other permanent material.  It would replace the folk-art statue currently on display.

The project would cost around $116 thousand.  No public money has yet been requested.