Hansen says Bachman Good Source for Jokes

Minnesota comedian Scott Hansen says Michelle Bachman has been a source of good material for his act.  The Congresswoman from the 6th District is a Tea Party favorite who is a candidate for the Republican nomination for President.  He says he capitalizes on her mistakes. 

Hansen is appearing at the Pine Peaks Comedy Club in Crosslake this weekend.

Kinship Celebrates Silver Anniversary

Kinship Partners will be celebrating 25 years of serving the Brainerd Lakes Area on Sunday. 
Jean Kraft of the Pequot office of Kinship tells KLKS News, over the years, the mentors have gotten as much out of the partnerships as the kids.

Kraft says there are 50 area kids on the waiting list now. 

The celebration will be held at the Westgate Mall in Baxter from 2-4 p.m. Sunday.

Franken Backs Bridge Repair

Minnesota Senator Al Franken says bridges in the Brainerd Lakes Area in need of repair would benefit from President Obama's jobs bill. 

Minnesota's junior Senator says more than one thousand state bridges are structurally deficient, and rebuilding those bridges would put thousands of Minnesotans back to work.


Franken released a study that said 17 bridges located in Crow Wing, Cass and Aitkin counties are structurally deficient.  The study says that, on average, 65 hundred cars cross those bridges daily. 

Senator Franken says Minnesota has so many men and women in construction who are on the bench, and so many projects in need of their skills, they should get them back to work rebuilding roads and bridges across the state that are in need of repair.

Motley Man Jailed in Shooting

A 32-year old Motley man is being held in the Morrison County Jail after an investigation in which police say he shot a 45-year old Ornono man September 11th, in Motley.

The Motley Police Department received a call September 16th reporting the shooting. The information indicated that 32-year old Randy James Shequen of Motley had shot 45-year old Anthony Raymond Kmetz of Orono, after the two men had argued at Shequen’s Motley home. Kmetz was able to escape and returned to the Twin Cities area where he sought medical help several days later for gunshot wounds.
On Wednesday, the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Motley Police Department, and Little Falls Police Department executed a search warrant at Shequen’s residence in Motley. Evidence of the shooting was recovered.

The Baxter Police Department arrested Shequen at his job.

Shequen was taken to the Morrison County Jail where authorities says he admitted to firing multiple shots at Kmetz, while Kmetz was trying to flee the residence.

The case has been turned over to the Morrison County Attorney’s Office for formal charges.

Thursday High School Scores

Volleyball:

3-0  Henning def Verndale
3-0  Little Falls def St. Cloud Cathedral
3-0  Menahga def Pillager
3-0  Nevis def Clearbrook-Gonvick
3-0  Osakis def Royalton
3-0  Pequot Lakes def Staples-Motley
3-0  Pine River Backus def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0  Upsala def Swanville
3-0  Wadena-Deer Creek def Park Rapids
3-0  Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Blackuck
3-1  Aitkin def Hinckley Finlayson
3-1  Detroit Lakes def Crosby-Ironton
3-1  Long Prairie-Grey Eagle def New London-Spicer
3-1  Pierz def Eden Valley-Watkins
3-2  Brainerd def St. Cloud Tech
3-2  Rush City def Onamia

Level 3 Predatory Offender To Move Into Brainerd

The Brainerd Police Department has been notified by state authorities  that  level 3 Predatory Offender,  24-year old Joshua Matthew McMillen will be released from prison on September 30th.  McMillen intends to be living at the 200 block of 4th Avenue NE in Brainerd.

A community notification meeting about McMillen will held on Wednesday, September 28th at 6:00pm at the Brainerd Police Department.  The meeting is open to the public. 

This offender has a history of sexual contact with children, male and female, between the ages of nine and 14.  The offender was known to the victims. 

For more information, call the Brainerd Police Department at 218-829-2805.

Highway Dangers for Pedestrians

A couple of high profile cases show the dangers of walking along a freeway. 

State Patrol Sergent Curt Mowers tells KLKS News, pedestrians have to be extremely careful if they find themselves in a precarious spot. He says any foot traffic should be as far away from the line of traffic as possible.

Sergent Mowers says pedestrian safety is not insured on the other side of the white line.  He also encourages anyone who has to pull off the road, to pull as far off the road surface as possible.

Nevis School Phone System Gets and "F"

(AP)  The phones were ringing off the hook at the Nevis School District Tuesday. 

It seems tardy calls went out to the parents of 520 students, or the entire student body.  Calls were supposed to go out to only two families.  The automated system went berserk. 

Worried parents jammed the phone lines.  When the mistake was discovered, a second call went out, but that didn't stop hundreds of calls and visits by concerned moms and dads.

By Wednesday, the system had been fixed, with an apology or 520.

MN Congressional Delegation Welcomes Return of Hikers

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Congressman Chip Cravaack are relieved that two U.S. hikers have been released from prison in Iran.  Shane Bauer, a former Minnesotan and his friend Josh Fattal, had been jailed on espionage charges for two years.

Senator Klobuchar said she is relieved the two men have survived this nightmare and are returning home to their families. She went on to say that Iran’s initial arrest of the three young hikers and continued detention and conviction of Shane and Josh was unwarranted.

Senator Franken is thrilled that they are being reunited with their families, who have suffered so much over the last two years.

Klobuchar and Franken advocated for the hikers’ release since they were detained in July of 2009. Both Senators have met with and spoke repeatedly to the Swiss ambassadors to both the U.S. and Iran. Klobuchar and Franken also introduced a resolution calling for the Iranian government to release the hikers.

Minnesota 8th District Congressman Chip Cravaack said he admired Shane's courage and bravery demonstrated throughout his detainment in Iran.  He says he is pleased he is reunited with his friends and loved ones who waited so long for his safe return.

Bauer's grew up in Onamia.  His mother lives in Pine City.

Lane Closure East of Staples

MnDOT crews have closed the eastbound driving lane of Highway 10, just east of Staples, due to emergency culvert repairs.

The lane will remain closed until further notice.

Motorists are asked to slow down and use caution when driving through the area.

GOP Stops at CLC

Minnesota State Senate Republicans will continue state-wide higher education visits with a stop at the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd Thursday.  Joining them will be Brainerd State Senator Paul Gazelka.

The legislators say they will meet with administrators, faculty, and students to discuss solutions and listen to ideas to encourage the long-term health and effectiveness of Minnesota’s higher education system.

The majority lawmakers will meet with CLC President Larry Lundblad at 1:45 pm on the Brainerd campus.

Tuesday High School Scores

Volleyball:

3-0  Little Falls def Princeton
3-0  Long Prairie-Grey Eagle def Browerville
3-0  Menahga def Laporte
3-0  Mora def Milaca
3-0  Pelican Rapids def Staples-Motley
3-0  Swanville def Royalton
3-0  Wadena-Deer Creek def Perham
3-0  Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Clearbrook-Gonvick
3-1  Bemidji def Nevis
3-1  Upsala def Osakis
3-2  Alexandria def Brainerd
3-2  Carlton def McGregor
3-2  Monticello def Pierz
3-2  Ogilvie def Aitkin
3-2  Sebeka def Pequot Lakes

Region 5 Wins an Award

The Region Five Development Commission, based in Staples, recently received a 2011 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation for its Coordinated Government Service Delivery initiative.

Region Five has convened county administrator meetings since 2007. The initiative coordinates government services by gathering County Administrator each quarter to discuss ways in which they can collaborate to better serve their constituents.

The award has provided regional development organizations throughout the nation a showcase for promoting economic development for rural and small communities.

Camp Ripley Snow Plow Classes

When the wind begins to blow and the leaves begin to fall, there is no secret that snow will soon replace those falling leaves. 

To be ready for the change of seasons, MnDOT has a two week training program for snowplow operators at Camp Ripley. 

More than 110 plow jockeys are participating in the program, learning safety, technique and best practices. 

The classes end September 30th. More than 1000 have gone through the program

Monday Night High School Scores

Volleyball:

3-0  Eden Valley-Watkins def Royalton
3-1  Crookston def Park Rapids

Oberstar Scholarship

(AP)  Former MN Congressman Jim Oberstar distinguished himself in transportation while in Washington.  He was known for gaining road projects for his home state.  Now, he is being honored with a scholarship in his named, which will be awarded to one student a year in the field of public policy or urban planning.

Oberstar heads a national advisory panel on safety in rural transportation at the Humphrey School in Minneapolis.

Oberstar was unseated by newcomer Chip Cravaack.