Higher Property Taxes Coming to Lakes Area

Brainerd Lakes Area homeowners will be receiving their estimated property taxes around Thanksgiving. Many will be hard put to find anything for which to be thankful.

Crow Wing Auditor-Treasurer Loreen Borden tells KLKS News, when estimated property taxes come through next week, homeowners may see a lower estimated property value, but a higher tax, the result of the loss of the Homestead Tax Credit.

Borden says the tax credit has been replaced with the Homestead Market Value Exclusion, which she says is a complicated formula that will not replace the savings homeowners realized from the Homestead Tax Credit.

The exclusion allows a portion of each home’s market value to be excluded from its value for property tax calculations.
The Homestead Credit was scrapped last summer as the Governor and Republican legislative leaders moved to end the State government shutdown and save about $500-million from the state budget.

Bruce Billington Receives National Recognition

Project New Hope founder Bruce Billington has been selected as one of Outdoor Life magazine’s 2011 list of 25 important people in hunting, fishing, and conservation.

Project New Hope is anonprofit organization supporting veterans and their families, began in the fall of 2007 when Billington, an avid outdoorsman from Crosslake,viewed the value of weekend camps for veterans and their families. Considering the peaceful natural setting, he thought that such an experience might help veterans working to integrate back into normal family life and routines. His idea was quickly picked up and has been spreading across the United States and into Canada.

Billington said, “I am humbled by this honor and I accept it on behalf of every volunteer in the Project New Hope family that has worked tirelessly over the last 4 years, making Project New Hope what it is today,” said Project New Hope founder, Bruce Billington. “I’m honored to be in such great company and want to thank Outdoor Life for recognizing what we do.”

Flyers Ranked High in Hockey

The Little Falls Flyers are ranked in the top 10 of preseason high school hockey poll.

Little Falls was picked at number 10 in class A.  Top ranked in the division is St. Thomas Academy.

Longville Man Plans Longest Jump

(AP)  A Longville man plans to set a world record for the longest snowmobile jump on New Year's Eve.

Levi LaVallee will attempt the death defying leap next to Robbie Maddison who will, at the same time, jump a 300-foot water gap on a motorcycle.  The attempt will happen at a San Diego theme park, that is if they are both healthy.

LaValley, who grew up in Longville, had planned a similar feat last New Year's Eve, but was banged-up two weeks prior in a serious crash.

Improved Deer Hunting Results

After a disappointing start to the deer hunting season, the results improved toward the second weekend.

After a windy opener, the harvest numbers were down 19 percent.  However, more favorable conditions along with a Friday Veterans day combined to bring the harvest numbers to within 7 percent of the 2001 success rate. 

The MN DNR had been expecting the harvest to be similar to last year, or a little higher.

Man Faces Prison for Fatal Crash

(AP)  A 21-year-old man is pleading guilty to manslaughter chargers stemming from a auto accident on the Red Lake Reservation two years ago.

An indictment accused Kyle Hardy of driving after drinking at a party at Redby in August 2009.

After the party, two boys and a girl climbed into the bed of the pickup.  Police say Hardy lost control of the vehicle while rounding a corner.  All three were ejected from the pack of the truck.  The girl died of her injuries.

Hardy could get up to eight years in prison.

Area Schools at MN High School Football Tournament

Class 3A Quaterfinals Saturday, November 12th at St. Cloud State University
Providence Academy 28, Perham 19

Class 2A Quaterfinals Friday, Novemember 11th at St. Cloud State University:
Moose Lake/Willow River 26, Pierz 20