Winning Ticket Sold In Crow Wing County

ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — No Mega Millions tickets sold in Minnesota won the grand prize, but four tickets sold here are worth $250,000 each. The tickets were sold in Crow Wing, Hennepin, Nobles and Ramsey Counties.
Even without a major winner here, lottery fever still paid off for the state. The frenzy generated $5.2 million, which will be divided among four beneficiaries. The Minnesota State Lottery says $2.9 million will go to the state's general fund, which supports state services such as education and transportation. Another $1.7 million goes to the Environment and Natural Resources trust fund. The fund helps maintain state parks and build state trails. Two other funds, the Game and Fish Fund and Natural Resources Fund, will each get about $301,000.

NBC to Replace CNN on KLKS

Beginning Sunday, NBC will replace CNN for national and international news on KLKS.

The decision to make the change was made by Dial Global, supplier of programming to KLKS.

KLKS will continue to provide two minutes of world news at the top of the hour, and one minute at the bottom of the hour during drive times.

Two Gazelka Bills Pass

Two bills authored by State Senator Paul Gazelka of Brainerd have passed off the Senate floor. One would change the length of time a person needs to have established residency in Minnesota before they are eligible to begin collecting public assistance welfare from the state.

The bill would change the residency requirement to receive Minnesota Family Investment Program and General Assistance from 30 days to 60 days.

The other bill dubbed the Freedom to Hunt and Fish Act of 2012 would make provisions for hunters and fishermen to be able to buy their licenses in the event of a government shutdown.

Carlson Supports Schools Payment

State Senator John Carlson of Bemidji has voted with the Republican majority to return $430 million dollars that the state owes Minnesota schools.  The money would come from state reserves.

The Bemidji Republican tells KLKS news, that would return Minnesota to the 70/30 split that existed at the start of 2011. 

Senator Carlson says the state reserve is fully funded for the first time in a few years.

Baxter Pool Reopens Following Disinfecting

(AP)  Another water park in Minnesota has been hit with a waterborne disease, this time in Baxter.

The Lodge at Brainerd has been found to have the intestinal disease cryptosporidiosis.  The pool was closed Monday, and reopened today.

The MN State Health Department worked with the facility and highly chlorinated the water park. 

The Edgewater Resort and Water Park in Duluth was also lined to the parasitic disease recently.  That facility has also be cleared for reopening.

Shoreline Restrictions to Keep In Mind

With an early spring, people are getting a jump lake activities.  The MN Department of Natural Resources says there are some things to keep in mind.

Public Information Officer Cheri Zeppelin says lake levels are low, but consideration must be given to the high water mark.  ATVs and other machines must be kept out of the exposed shoreline.

Zeppelin also tells KLKS News, check the regulations first before installing a new dock or boat lift.  Some large docks are not allowed, and boat lifts cannot have a permanent canopy.  Restrictions can be found on the DNR website.

Summer Hours at Co Landfill

The Crow Wing County Landfill Site will begin summer hours starting the first weekend in April and operate 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday.

The County Landfill takes household garbage but many residents do not realize the landfill will accept other items such as fiberglass boats, mattresses, furniture, and mobile homes. The County Landfill also has a demolition landfill to dispose of demolition materials. Residents are also encouraged to use the free compost site to dispose of material from gardens, leaves, lawn clippings or branches.

Certain items are banned from the actual landfill; however, there are specified drop-off locations at the County Landfill Site to dispose of these items for a small fee. Appliances or white goods such as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, hot water heaters, microwaves; Electronics such as computers and their components, TV's
VCR/DVD's, stereos and telephones; Tires with or without rims; Scrap Metals such as lawn mowers, grills, metal piping.  These items are then recycled.

C.W. Co To Remove Old Deer Stands

Crow Wing County will be tearing down all portable or free-standing deer hunting stands on county managed land.  The stands are supposed to be removeed no later than one day following the close of the big game hunting season.

Land Services Supervisor Kirk Titus says they will begin removing the stands on May 1st.  He says the laws are designed to minimize damage to trees and promote public safety and equitable public use of public land.

DNR Begins Training Officers of the Thin Green Line

Nine conservation officer candidates will begin training today as part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Conservation Officer Academy.

It's the first Conservation Officer Academy since 2008, and the 13th class since academy training began at Camp Ripley in 1994. Currently, 20 of DNR's 155 conservation officer field stations are vacant.

The academy curriculum includes 12 weeks training in fish and wildlife laws, rules of evidence, patrol procedures, search and rescue, and fish and wildlife investigation.

Upon graduation, the new conservation officers spend 16 weeks in field training with a veteran conservation officer before being assigned their first station.

Conservation officers ensure the future of natural resources opportunities through responsible enforcement of wildlife laws, regulations and rules. A typical work station covers 650 square miles, so conservation officers usually work alone and cover extensive and often remote areas.

Among the candidates is Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Deputy Mitchell Lawler.

Cass County Man Sentenced to 45 years

A 28 year old Cass Lake man has pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder in Cass County District Court Monday.

The plea agreement calls for Ross Zangigabo Littlewolf to serve 45 years in prison. The sentence is an upward departure from the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines.

Judge John Smith ordered that a pre-sentence investigation be completed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections and that sentencing occur on April 30, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.

Cass County Attorney Christopher Strandlie said law enforcement responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence in Cass Lake on June 26, 2011. Upon arrival they discovered the body of 22-year-old Kandace Blaine Dunn who had been killed by a gunshot wound to her head.

An investigation revealed that Dunn had been sleeping in the residence, sharing a room with her two small children, one of whom is also the child of Littlewolf. Another adult couple was sleeping in a separate bedroom. They said they were awakened by a gunshot. Shortly after that they heard another gunshot, heard Dunn scream and then heard one more gunshot.

Littlewolf, who was known to them, subsequently entered their bedroom, aimed the gun at them, and threatened to kill both of them. He then told them to take care of the children and left the residence. Investigation revealed that entry was gained to the residence by Littlewolf shooting through a sliding glass door. Littlewolf was apprehended at a relative’s house approximately five hours later.

Aitkin Woman Faces Felony Tax Charges

The Minnesota Department of Revenue announced today that the Aitkin County Attorney’s Office recently charged Kristina Marie Backstrom, 53, of Aitkin, with four felony tax crimes.

Backstrom is charged with two counts of filing fraudulent returns for tax years 2005 and 2006, and two counts of failing to file income tax returns for 2007 and 2008. The complaint states that Backstrom falsified her 2005 and 2006 state income tax returns by overstating the amount of tax withheld by her employer, the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Brainerd Regional Treatment Facility. According to the complaint, Backstrom received thousands of dollars in tax refunds because she over-reported state tax withholding.

The complaint charges that Backstrom claimed $4,595 in state taxes withheld from her paychecks in 2005 when the actual amount withheld was $459.53. As a result, Backstrom got a $1,017 state tax refund. The next year, she claimed $6,127 in state taxes withheld from her paychecks. The actual amount of tax withheld was $1,626.82. The result was a $3,165 refund.
The complaint also says Backstrom didn’t file 2007 and 2008 state tax returns, even though she earned $78,809 and $82,301, respectively, in each of those years. Backstrom also got $70,408 in retirement benefits in 2008, though not all of that was taxable.
Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.

Howes Favors Back School Payments

State Representative Larry Howes of Walker says the legislature needs to pay the public schools some of the money owed them from previous budget cuts.   Both the State House and Senate are working to repay the $430 million from the rainy day fund. 

While Both the DFL leadership and Governor have opposed the move, as too soon following previous years budget deficits, Howes says the schools aren't complaining.

Representative Howes says they have more than enough money to help clean-up the books.

A Cello Returned to its Owner

(AP)  A Brainerd Lakes man has gotten his cello back. 

The $40 thousand instrument was stolen from the back of an SUV Scott Lykins was driving a couple of weeks ago in the Twin Cities.

Over the weekend, a KSTP-TV received a call that the cello was left in a park.  The TV station directed the police to the stolen item and Scott got his stringed instrument back. He said is looks pretty good, and is pretty much still in tune.

The cello bandit is still on the lose.

An Honor for Andy Thomas

The Nisswa Legion honored Andy Thomas with a Honorary Lifetime Membership certificate and pin. He also received a Life Member cap and pin, a Post 627 red, white, and blue cap, a 50 year pin, and a Post 627 sweatshirt. He received the sweatshirt form Post 627 Auxiliary. Andy is the only leaving charter member of Billie Brown Post 627 and served in WWII.

Andy will be 100 years old on August 4th, 2012. Post Commander Jim Starkey said "Andy has been a living legend at our post and is very popular - He is a big baseball fan and the Brainerd Lunkers honored him at a game last summer".