Channel 14 to Lose KARE 11

The KARE 11 signal from the Twin Cities will be leaving free over-the-air TV in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

The NBC programming from the Gannett station has been carried on channel 14 out of Breezy Point since the spring of 1995.

The channel 14 license is owned by Lakes Broadcasting Group.
Company President Bob Bundgaard said, “The service that KARE has provided to the Lakes Area has been invaluable. This is business decision made by Gannett, and while we are disappointed to see them go, we understand they have to do what is best for their company.”

While the free over-the-air TV service will be missed, KARE 11 programming will still be found on subscription cable and satellite TV.

Brainerd Police Take Murder Suspect Into Custody

On Tuesday, Brainerd Police Officers arrested 30-year old Charles Antwane Sturkey, living on north 10th Street in Brainerd, at the request of the Chicago Police Department, on a warrant for 1st degree murder in Chicago.  Sturkey was taken into custody without incident and remains in the Crow Wing County jail awaiting extradition back to Chicago.  Anyone with additional information regarding Sturkey, is asked to call the Brainerd Police Department at 218-829-2805.

Nolan Runs in the 8th District

A former Congressman from Minnesota's 6th District, says he will run in Minnesota's 8th district.

Richard Nolan announced he will challenge Freshman Republican Congressman Chip Cravaack.

Nolan declared America is at a tipping point, and the middle class is under assault by the Republican Party, big corporations and powerful special interests.

Nolan formally entered the 8th District race Wednesday.

Nolan represented Minnesota’s old 6th District from 1975 to 1981. He said it became clear after three months of pre-campaign meetings with DFL party leaders and citizens throughout the 18 counties of the 8th that “people don’t feel like they matter anymore when decisions are being made in Washington.

Nolan, a resident of Crosby and a Brainerd High School graduate, is touring the district to promote his candidacy.

DNR Statements Cause Fishing Confusion

A mixed message is coming from the Department of Natural resources regarding fishing in the state during the government shut down.  According to a press release from the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce released about 1:30pm on Wednesday afternoon, it was quoted from a statement from Lt. Thomas Provost, DNR Law Enforcement Supervisor that "Zero enforcement of fishing licenses isn't quite accurate.  We will be monitoring fish limits as time and workload allow and if we have the need to check a license and the angler is not able to produce one due to the electronic licensing system being shut down, we will document the contact and then follow-up to ensure a license has been purchased after the fact.  For those individuals who want to fish and were unable to buy a license and were not checked during the shutdown, the idea is that they will also purchase a license after the fact when the state system is back up and running.  Similiar to an "honor system."

Then, later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Associated Press, quoting a statement from DNR Enforcement Chief, Jim Konrad, that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says that there is no way to get around the state's fishing license requirements during the shutdown period and Konrad made it clear that fishing on the honor system is not allowed.  Konrad said that some licensing agents and resorts have been issuing so-called "temporary licenses" on the condition that buyers promise to purchase a legal license when the shutdown ends.  Konrad says those unauthorized documents are not valid and he says anyone caught fishing without a valid license could be ticketed. 

The Crow Wing County Commissioners requested the DNR to clarify the rules concerning the  fishing license situation in Minnesota during the shutdown.

With two different viewpoints coming from the DNR, resort owners and potential fisher persons are still in a state of confusion.

ChumpCars at BIR

The ChumpCar World Series returns to Brainerd International Raceway for the second time this season Saturday for a single-day race, while the Modern Automotive Performance Forum Wars take place on the drag strip.
The ChumpCar World Series, featuring $500 "crap cans," will be on BIR's Competition Road Course, engaged in a 14-hour endurance race. Duct tape and bailing twine will be at a premium as teams of four drivers take turns driving their "heaps of screaming junk" around the 2.5-mile, 13-turn track while the rest of the team patiently waits in the pits, ready to do whatever is needed to keep the car running for the entire 14-hour endurance race.
 
Daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12. Racing starts at 9 a.m.

Sword Fight in Beltrami Co.

(AP)  A Beltrami man may have had visions of Camelot.  What he got was jail.

Deputies were called to a rural home near Bemidji early Tuesday on a weapons complaint.   The complaint was about a sword fight.  Apparently, a visiting man grabbed a sword after a night of drinking and attacked the home owner, who grabbed another long blade,.  The joust ensued.  Unfortunately, the homeowners 10-year-old son was struck in the arm and required hospitalization.

When the deputies arrived they found the would be knight riding away not on a white charger, but instead on a bicycle.  He was quickly grabbed and is now in the dungeon also known as the county jail.

C. W. Water Patrol Cruising Despite MN Shutdown

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl says it is business as usual for his department, despite the Minnesota government shutdown.

The Sheriff tells KLKS News, his department does get state money for the water patrol.  Dahl says the money may be delayed during the shutdown, but they should get reimbursed when government reopens.

Sheriff Dahl says Boat and Water deputies will be in full force for the next few months.

Hackensack Sweetheart Days

It's Sweetheart Days in Hackensack.  There were fun activities over the weekend and Monday, but the big day is Tuesday, according to Chamber Executive Director Jean Dawson.

There will be kids games, float plane rides and the big parade starts at 6 p.m.

Tonight is the scavenger hunt.  Dawson says because some things can't be carried in for verification, cameras are required.

Lower Hay Lake Fireworks Cancelled

The Lower Hay Lake fireworks show this weekend has been cancelled, a victim of the Minnesota government shutdown

Friends of Lower Hay Lake are unable to get a state permit for the July 16th display.

President Steve Curry says, "Because some people make travel plans to see the show, we have decided we must cancel the fireworks show now. If the state shutdown ends before the 16th, the show will still be cancelled."

Curry wants to reschedule the show for a later date this summer, but will only be able to do so when the Minnesota DNR offices reopen for business.

Morrison Co. Toddler Killed in Auto Accident

(AP)  A 2 year old Morrison county child died in an auto accident near Swanville Saturday evening. 

The Sheriff says Quintin Gene Pauly was a passenger in an SUV when it entered a ditch and rolled over about 8 p.m. 

The 31-year-old driver from Burtrum was arrested on suspicion of criminal vehicular operation.  He is being held in the Morrison County Jail in Little Falls.  He and a woman and child were taken to St. Cloud Hospital for non life threatening injuries.

Coal Train Derails Near Brainerd

(AP)  Burlington Northern is putting several coal cars back on the tracks east of Brainerd today. 

The railroad says 18 cars left the tracks east of the Brainerd Regional Airport Sunday afternoon.   The train was making its way to Superior Wisconsin.  The mishap has blocked a main track.

Each car can carry 116 tons of coal.

All Star Lunkers

The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers will have six players have in the Northwoods League All-Star Game, July 18 in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. The Lunkers had the most players selected of any team in the North Division.

Wade Wass, the Lunker catcher out of Meridian Community College, was selected as one of the three catchers on the All-Star team. He also leads the Lunkers with three home runs.

Dan Olinger, the Lunker third baseman, is a redshirt freshman out of the University of Minnesota.

Steven Brault rode a hot start to the season right into an All-Star berth. The Lunker outfielder from Regis University leads the team in batting with a .341 clip.
The Lunkers also had three pitchers selected to the team.