Saturday High School Basket Ball Score

BOYS BASKETBALL
Grand Rapids 69, Pequot Lakes 58, OT

Friday Night High School Sports Scores

BOYS BASKETBALL

Aitkin 58, Pine City 27
Moorhead 49, Grand Rapids 43
White Bear Lake 84, Hastings 58

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Pequot Lakes 42, Crosby-Ironton 35
Wadena-Deer Creek 66, Park Rapids 33
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 76, Blackduck 36

Improving Job Prospects For Brainerd Area

The Executive Director of the Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corportation believes the job picture is improving locally.

Sheila Havercamp says the Brainerd area is trailing the metro area in the economic recovery.  But, there is reason for optimism.

Havercamp made her comments before a meeting of the Brainerd Area League of Women Voters Thursday.

Akeley Man Charged with Arson and Attempted Murder

A 22-year-old Akeley man has been charged with nine counts of attempted murder in connection with a house fire in Chickama Beach earlier this week.

Brandon Todd Sannan is accused of intentionally setting fire to the home of Timothy and Carla Voelkes.  Their home was a total loss from the blaze just after midnight January 8th.  Six minor grand children were in the house at the time.  All escaped unharmed.

Cass County Attorney Christophor Strandlie said Voelkes' daughter had recently ended a relationship with Sannan,  who was described as possessive, sending up to 100 test messages a day.  Strandlie said the young man sent another text message apologizing for his actions.

Sannan is being held on $1 million dollars bail.  He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Bemidji Man Killed from the Cold

(AP)  Bemidji police have determined that a local man died of hypothermia.

The body of 62-year-old Allen Skiple was found outside the Sanford Center earlier this week. 

Police Chief Mike Mastin said they found no evidence of of a crime.  He said there was no indication of injury. 

The body was found Tuesday outside the Sanford Convention and Sports complex.  Neighbors last saw the man Saturday.

Thursday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Pine River-Backus 56, Nevis 50
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 59, Royalton 30
Ogilvie 57, Onamia 54
Pierz 68, Maple Lake 37

Girls Basketball:
Cass Lake-Bena 66, Nevis 64
Henning 50, Pillager 27
Isle 92, Hinckley-Finlayson 15
McGregor 63, Wrenshall 34
Sebeka 63, Verndale 34
Staples-Motley 86, Holdingford 62
Upsala 77, West Central 44

Boys Hockey:
Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz 3, Sauk Rapids-Rice 2
Northern Lakes 3, Moose Lake Area 2
Park Rapids/M/N/WHA 8, Wadena-Deer Creek 1

Girls Hockey:
Detroit Lakes 9, LPGE/WDC 1
River Lakes 8, Brainerd/Little Falls 2

Wrestling:
Frazee 49, Walker-Hackensack-Akely 18
Frazee 51, Park Rapids 18
Park Rapids 41, Walker-Hackensack-Akely 38
Pelican Rapids 42, Wadena-Deer Creek 32

Brainerd Jaycees Postpone Fishing Extravaganza

The Brainerd Jaycees announced that its annual Ice Fishing Extravaganza, scheduled for January 21, has been postponed until February 11 on Hole-In-The-Day Bay on Gull Lake. Officials have determined that ice conditions are close, but not quite good enough for the original January 21 date. For more information visit http://www.icefishing.org/.

Body Found Near Bemidji's Convention Center

(AP)  The body of a man has been found in a ditch near Bemidji's new Sanford Center.

Police Chief Mike Mastin has yet to say if authorities know who he is.

The body was found in a drainage ditch outside the city's convention and sports complex Tuesday night.

An autopsy was planned for today.

Ice Heave on Lake Shore

A number of lake shore owners in the Brainerd Lakes Area have experienced some unexpected landscaping this winter.

Heather Baird, Shoreland Habitat Specialist for the DNR tells KLKS News, there has been a lot of "ice-push" this winter.

Baird says property owners should think about leaving the shoreline mound in place.  She says it is natures berm, and filters-out pollutants before they can enter the lake.

Dr King Tribute at CLC

In observance of Black History Month, the Central Lakes College Diversity Leadership Council on Tuesday, Feb. 7 will host a free, public presentation, “The Dream Alive,” as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.

The 90-minute presentation starts at 10 a.m. in the Brainerd campus gymnasium.

Joe Rogers, who served as the youngest lieutenant governor in the United States during his time in Colorado, presents the moving remembrance.

Rogers will speak to the relevance of Dr. King’s message to contemporary life -- and the relevance of the message to all people, not just African Americans.

Wadena Man Newest Millionaire

The extra ticket was just the ticket for a Wadena man. 

Mike Snyder purchased two tickets in the MN Millionaire Raffle.  He won. 

Snyder said he always bought just one ticket, figuring his chances were as good as anyone.  He also figured, one of the smaller prizes would be fine too.  His winning number was drawn on New Years Day.

The winning ticket was bought at the Holiday in Wadena.  The company will get a $5 thousand bonus for selling the ticket.

Tuesday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Pequot Lakes 56, Crosby-Ironton 54
Brainerd 73, Sauk Rapids-Rice 64
Cass Lake-Bena 84, Pine River-Backus 47
Bigfork 79, Northland 41
Detroit Lakes 64, Staples-Motley 48
Little Falls 87, Mora 55
McGregor 62, Cromwell 56
Park Rapids Area 62, Wadena-Deer Creek 57
Pillager 60, Menahga 53
Red Lake 61, Nevis 50
Upsala 91,  Onamia 44

Girls Basketball:
Pine River-Backus 73, Cass Lake-Bena 33
Clearbrook-Gonvick 53, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley 40
Isle 76, Aitkin 62
Little Falls 62, Foley 53
Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 57, Royalton 48
Nevis 51, Menahga 50
Osakis 57, Browerville 34
Wadena-Deer Creek 46, Crosby-Ironton 39
Verndale 58, Swanville 53

Boys Hockey:
Moorhead 4, Brainerd/Pillager/Pierz 1
Little Falls 5, St. Cloud Tech 1
Thief River Falls 2, Park Rapids/Men/Nev/WHA 1

Girls Hockey:
Pequot Lakes 6, Morris/Benson Area 0
Brainerd/Little Falls 5, Fergus Falls 4
Park Rapids Area 8, LPGE/WDC 1

Akeley Man Held On Arson Charges

Cass County authorities say a 22-year old
Akeley man is under arrest in connection with a weekend house fire.

The sheriff's office was called early Sunday to the fire in the Chickamaw Beach area.  No one was hurt in the fire.

An investigation by the sheriff's office, Pine River Police and the State Fire Marshal's Office led to the man's arrest.

He remains in custody pending charges while the investigation continues. 

Rodrigues Final Steps

(AP) Linda Walker of Pequot Lakes says it is disheartening to hear the excuses from Alfonso Rodrigues Jr in connection with the death of Walker's daughter Dru Sjodin.

Rodrigues, of Crookston, was convicted and sentenced to death in connection with the 2003 murder of Sjodin, a student at North Dakota State University.

A federal judge in Fargo is urging lawyers on both sides of the death penalty case to narrow the issues and avoid "an endless parade" of hearings.

Defense attorneys have filed a habeas corpus motion, considered the last step in the appeals process.  Judge Ralph Erickson set a July 2nd date for prosecutors to file their response to the motion.  The defense claims Rodrigues was mentally disabled and his trial team ineffective.

Million Dollar Ticket Bought in Wadena

We will learn who the newest area millionaire is this afternoon.

A 1 p.m. news conference will reveal who bought the winning ticket in Wadena and won the Minnesota Millionaire Raffle on January first. 

The ticket was purchased at Holiday on Jefferson Street in Wadena. 

The other million dollar winner has not come forward yet.  That ticket was purchased in Steele County.

Bemidji Infant Hospitalized after Alleged Assault

(AP)  A Bemidji man is behind bars today accused of assaulting his 3-month old daughter.

The infant is listed in critical condition after being air lifted to a Fargo hospital Monday.  The girl's mother brought her to the emergency room.

Authorities say the 28-year-old father became an early suspect in the case.  He is in the Beltrami County jail pending charges.

Monday Night High School Scores

Boys Basketball:
Nevis 70, Laporte 31
Swanville 79, Sebeka 73

Girls Basketball:
McGregor 68, Cromwell 64
Nevis 71, Laporte 33
Northland 69, Cass Lake-Bena 52
Pequot Lakes 68, Sebeka 61

Gull Ice Still not Thick Enough for Extravaganza

It's less than two weeks to the annual Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake.  The mild weather has got event organizers on edge.

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl tells KLKS News, right now, the ice isn't thick enough.  He says says he doesn't know if he will be able to give a green or red light for the event.

The Sheriff measured the ice at 11 inches last week. He does not think it has added any depth since then.  16 inches is needed.

The event is a major fund raiser for Camp Confidence.

A Wolf Season at the End of the Year

Minnesota wildlife officials have begun to plan for a limited gray wolf hunting and trapping season in late 2012.

This action follows last month’s announcement that wolves will return to state management Jan. 27, following roughly 35 years of federal protection.

Area DNR Conservation Officer Nikki Shoutz tells KLKS News, this is great news. She says MN has the highest population of timber wolves in the lower 48, and more than three times higher than neighboring states.

The DNR hunting and trapping season will be designed to ensure the long-term survival of the species while also addressing conflicts between wolves and humans.

EPA to Help Improve Septics in Beltrami

(AP)  Residents of the Red Lake Reservation in Beltrami, MN would be the beneficiary of an Environmental Protection Agency grant to improve their wells and septic systems. 

The EPA has awarded $25 thousand to the band.  Faulty septics can lead to contamination of ground and well water.

Four Year Prospects for Community College Students

(AP)  Northern MN colleges and universities are forming an alliance to better serve area students.

The idea is more collaboration, and less competition among the schools. 

Two years schools such as Central Lakes College in Brainerd and Staples want to bring the opportunity for four-year degrees to their communities.  Community college students could go to centers established on campus to get information about bachelor's degrees and take some four-year classes.