St. Pat's Patrols Up Today

Extra DWI patrols will be on the roads on St. Patrick’s Day today, the second deadliest holiday for alcohol-related traffic deaths during the last three years.

Brainerd Area State Patrol Sergent Curt Mowers says the potential amount of trouble on St. Patrick's Day corresponds to the day of the week on which it falls.  He says it is important to plan ahead if drinking is involved, because he says, "Once you start drinkin' you stop thinkin'."

Sergent Mowers tells KLKS News, the total number of traffic fatalities are down so far this year to 41 from 52.

Population Growth in the Brainerd Lakes Area

(AP)  The population of suburban counties ringing Minneapolis-St. Paul and the corridor of counties from St. Cloud to Rochester showed the biggest population growth from the latest census data. 

However counties around the Brainerd Lakes area also experienced growth between 2000 and 2010.

Crow Wing County saw the number of residents grow by 7,401 or 13 percent.  Mille County experienced even steeper growth of 17 percent by adding 3,767.  Aitkin County grew by 6 percent, Morrison and Cass Counties by 5 percent, Todd county by 2 percent and Wadena by 1 percent.

Dream Season for Pequot Lakes Ends

The Pequot Lakes girls basketball team played the number one ranked Braham Bombers tough in the quarter finals of the the State Basketball Tournament at Williams Arena Wednesday night.  However, the Bombers won on three point shots, and the ability to draw fouls and then convert at the free throw line.

The final score was Braham 77, Pequot Lakes 66.  The Patriots finish the season with just two loses.

Other tournament scores;
Class 4A
Hopkins 79, Buffalo 62
White Bear Lake 43, Maple Grove 40
Eden Prairie 55, Rochest Mayo 28
Lakeville North 64, Anoka 40
Class 3 A
Hill-Murray 72, Red Wing 52
Alexandria 55, Grand Rapids 32
Benilde-St. Margaret's 52, Marshall 47
DeLasalle 47, Rogers 23
Class 2A
Sauk Centre 58, Caledonia 43
Braham 77, Pequot Lakes 66
Providence Academy 43, St. Peter 33

Patriots Face Braham Tonight

Patriot pride is at a fevered pitch as the Pequot Lakes Girls Basketball team prepares for the first game of the State Tournament tonight in the Twins Cities.

The girls, with one loss on the season, will be going up against top ranked Braham in Class 2A. 

KLKS sports announcer Steve Heslop says the Patriots have a good chance in this one.  He says Braham faced two quality teams like Pequot during the regular season and lost.

The tip-off is at 6 p.m. tonight from Williams Arena. The pre-game show will be just before that on KLKS and online at KLKS.com

Ice Conditions Begin to Change

The Minnesota DNR is alerting ice anglers to changing ice conditions.

Conservation Officer Nikki Shouts says lakes will begin to open along the shoreline first, and then will become honeycombed. She tells KLKS News, anglers could be surprised between the time they get on the ice, and the time they get off.

Shouts says, catching a sunfish is not worth risking a life.

Cravaack Wants More Cuts

Republican Congressman Chip Cravaack has taken a strident position against Democrats over $6 billion in house approved budget cuts.

The freshman 8th District Congressman says house Republicans have drawn a line in the sand on spending and keeping government open. Cravaack says the silence from the democratic controlled Senate and White House over the cuts has been deafening.

However, Democrats have already said they have no opposition to the cuts, because they are not seen as political.

Armed Robbery in Brainerd Sunday

Brainerd police are looking for two men who robbed another man at gunpoint Sunday afternoon. 

Police say an adult man was walking on Willow Street shortly after 2 p.m., when an older red Toyota four-door pulled along side.  One of the two men, described as in their 20's, pointed a gun at the pedestrian and demanded money.  After he surrendered an undetermined amount of cash, the pair drove off. 

Anyone who may have witnessed the crime in the area of South 9th and Willow Streets is asked to call Brainerd Police.

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Class 2A Section 6
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 49, Minnewaska 44
New London-Spicer 64, Melrose 60

Class 2A Section 8
Perham 65, Pequot Lakes 48
Thief River Falls 69, Bagley 50

Class 1A Section 5
McGregor 45, Barnum 42
Upsala 69, Sebeka 67

Class 1A Section 8
Fosston 59, Cass Lake-Bena 45
Warren-Alvardo-Oslo 53, Northern Freeze 42

Ward Sees Metro Rural Split

State Representative John Ward says there is a divide and conquer mentality at the state capitol.   He tells KLKS News, smaller cities will battling larger cities for the dwindling local government aid dollars.

Ward does not accept Republican claims that local government will not be forced to raise property taxes or cut essential services as a result of less state help.

The Brainerd DFL-er says his city has the highest unemployment rate in the state, and cannot afford to lose even one job.

Muskies Kept out of Two Brainerd Lakes

The Minnesota DNR will stock Muskies in Roosevelt Lake in northern Crow Wing County and the Sauk River chain of lakes in Stearns County southwest of St. Cloud this fall in response to growing angler interest.

Fisheries Management Chief Dirk Peterson calls the move a positive step consistent with the long-range management plan for muskie and northern pike.

However, muskies will not be stocked this fall in three other lakes the DNR was considering. Upper and Lower South Long lakes near Brainerd will not be considered further for muskie management. Stocking in Lake Tetonka west of Waterville has been put on hold indefinitely pending resolution of local issues.

Tim Goeman, northeast regional fisheries supervisor says Minnesota's top preditor fish were suitable for the two Brainerd lakes, however, there are public access issues that raise public safety concerns.  He also says their combined 2,100 surface acres also would not meet muskellunge fishing demand in the Brainerd area, so the DNR will continue to look for a larger, yet-to-be-identified lake for future consideration.

Muskie anglers are the fastest-growing segment of Minnesota’s fishing population. About 14 percent of Minnesota's licensed anglers target muskie.

More Road Restrictions

Spring truck weight restrictions on state highways will begin March 18 for Minnesota's north and north-central frost zones. The north-central zone is Brainerd and north.

Spring weight restrictions for the south, southeast and Twin Cities Metro area frost zones began March 14; restrictions for the central frost zone begin March 16.  The Central frost zone is Brainerd and south.

Mn/DOT limits truck weights to prevent damage to roads weakened during the spring thaw.

Baxter P.D. Recognized

The Baxter Police Department has won a $3 thousand federal grant from the Department of Public Safety. 

The local cops were recognized March 10th in Oakdale for extraordinary commitment in reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries as part of the "Toward Zero Deaths" challenge.  The Baxter men in blue were applauded for effective community outreach.

Baxter P.D. was one of 21 winning agencies from across the state winning a total of $45 thousand.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Class 1A Section 8
Cass Lake-Bena 47, Red Lake County 46
Fosston 56, Northome/Kelliher 43

Area Flood Forecast

KLKS Meteorologist Tony Schumacher says there is chance of flooding coming to the Brainerd Lakes Area as soon as this weekend. 

The National Weather service says there is 2 to 5 inches of water locked in the existing snow cover.  As that melts, it will create a moderate chance of flooding in flood prone areas.

Schumacher says the level of smaller streams will fluctuate with ice jams.  And, he says the flood situation could heighten with the potential of up to an inch of rain Saturday night into Sunday.

BB Fever at P.L.

Pequot Lakes is flying high with basketball fever. 

The boys advanced in sectional play with a 70-65 win over Pelican Rapids Saturday night.  The Patriots will play Perham Tuesday night at neutral site Park Rapids.

The Lady Patriots advanced to state with a 64-43 win over East Grand Forks Saturday afternoon at Bemidji State University.  The team will take on Braham, top ranked in Class 2A.  The Patriots, with just one loss on the season, go into the tourney ranked 7th. 

The girls will be playing at Williams Arena on the University of Minnesota campus Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. 

A send-off will be held at the Pequot Lakes Gym at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday and the public is invited. 

A fan bus leaves school at 2 p.m.  Sign-up runs until 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the High School office.

The game will be carried live on KLKS FM 104.3

St. Pat's Fun in C.L.

Route 66 through Crosslake was teaming with St. Patrick's day revelers Saturday, despite the the cold.  The wind chill index was at 5 below when the 37th annual parade kick-off at 2 p.m.


Parade judges determined that the Whitefish Properties float was the best commercial display.  Moonlight bay Family Restaurant and The Celtic Cottage got honorable mention.

The Crosslake Community School was first place in the youth division, second place went to the Pequot Lakes Youth Hockey Association and Plunge for the Puck.

$100 Chamber Bucks were awarded.

Spring Load Restrictions

Spring truck weight restrictions on state highways will begin Wednesday for Minnesota's central frost zone. The Central frost zone includes Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs and southern Crow Wing County. 

Spring weight restrictions for the south, southeast and Twin Cities Metro area frost zones began today.

Mn/DOT limits truck weights to prevent damage to roads weakened during the spring thaw.

Ending dates for spring load restrictions are established by monitoring roadway strength as weather conditions change. All changes are made with a minimal three-day notice.