Cravaack Lobbies to Keep Duluth Air Wing Active

An amendment offered by 8th District Congressman Chip Cravaack seeks to keep the Duluth 148th Fighter Wing's 24-hour alert mission on-going.  The amendment, which states the importance of the mission post 9-11, was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act.

Cravaack wants to direct the Secretary of Defense to maintain the nation's existing eighteen Aerospace Control Alert sites active until the Secretary of Defense submits a cost-benefit analysis.

Cravaack fears removal of Duluth’s 24-hour alert mission would leave the northern border between Madison, WI and Portland, OR more vulnerable to attack, as well as concern for the impact such a decision would have on the Duluth community.

Cass Lake Man Sustains Gun Shots

A 19-year-old Cass Lake man was shot in the back Thursday night.  Cass County authorities say the incident happened  around 7 p.m.

Officers from the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Leech Lake Tribal Police responded to the incident.

The victim was identified as Earl Jordan Norton III. Norton sustained 2 gunshot wounds to the back and was transported to Bemidji. His injuries were not considered life threatening.

Sheriff Tom Burch reports the investigation is continuing.

Cass Co Sheriff Looking for Missing Walker Man

Cass County authorities are seeking help from the public in the search forTimothy Joseph Stone.

Stone has been missing since May 4, 2012. He is described as a Native American male, 6-1, 165 lbs, brown eyes, black hair. Stone was last seen in the Stoney Point area near Walker, Minnesota.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information to call 1-800-450-2677.

Bemidji Man Dies in Work Accident

(AP)  A 49-year-old Bemidji man was killed when the boom lift he was operating can in contact with a power line Thursday.

Police, firefighters and ambulance workers were called to Acme Tools in Bemidji about 11 a.m.

The man was taken to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

His name has not yet been released.

Red Lake Man Released After Fatal Accident

A Red Lake man will be released from jail on time already served.

Twenty-one-year-old Kyle Mitchell Lee Hardy pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a fatal crash on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in August of 2009.  Hardy was driving a pickup truck after drinking liquor at a party when he missed a turn in the road and two juveniles riding in the back were through out.  A teenaged girl was killed.

Hardy is also sentenced to three years supervised release.  He was indicted in June of 2011 and pleaded guilty five months later.

HART Building Vandalized

(AP)  A Brainerd woman has been jailed and facing charges of burglary and property damage after the Heartland Animal Rescue Team building in Baxter was vandalized Tuesday morning.

The Shelter was struck around 1 a.m. Tuesday morning, and its dogs momentarily freed.  A spray-painted message was left on the structure, "Killers and U Kill."

All but one dog was rounded up.

The 24-year-old woman was arrested at a Brainerd house.  A dog impounded at HART was found in the house.

Long Prairie Chamber Director Jailed

The Director of the Long Prairie Chamber of Commerce has been taken into custody by the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office following an investigation into the mis-use of  funds. 

According to a spokesman at the Sheriff's Office, 33 year old Kimberley Burkett was jailed after an investigation, in which bank records were checked,  discovering alleged mis-use of chamber funds from mid 2011 to April of this year.  The investigation is on-going.

Little Falls Woman Claims Violation of Speech Rights

(AP)  A Little Falls woman says the city is infringing on her freedom of expression.

Robin Hensel has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court claiming Little Falls violated her constitution right to free speech last fall by ordering her to remove signs in her yard in support of the Occupy Wall Street and peace movements.

The City administrator says they received more than a dozen complaints that Hensel had too many signs in violation of city ordinances. 

Hensel says the city is harassing her for expressing an unpopular opinion on her own property.

More Burning Restrictions Lifted

Burning restrictions are being  lifted today in several counties in northern Minnesota due to the green-up of fire fuels, which eases wildfire conditions, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Burning will now be permitted in several more northern MN counties including Beltrami and Cass.. 

Next Monday, burning restrictions will be lifted in Lake and Cook counties.

This will remove the spring seasonal open burning restrictions throughout the state. However, special burning restrictions continue in portions of Pine County because of large amounts of fuel from the blowdown storm in July 2011.

Although the DNR is lifting seasonal state burning restrictions, other local restrictions may apply.

Nisswa Area Couple Died In Murder-Suicide

NISSWA, Minn. (AP) — Authorities say the Nisswa area couple whose bodies were found in their burning home last month died in a murder-suicide.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said Tuesday that the death of 57-year-old Kathleen Ponsness was ruled a homicide and the death of 56-year-old Kenneth Ponsness a suicide. That's according to preliminary reports from the Ramsey County medical examiner.
Dahl would not say how the couple died or how the fire started. He says the investigation continues and final results from the medical examiner could take four to six weeks
Firefighters were called to the burning house on April 30 and found the couple's bodies. Both the one-story house and unattached garage were on fire.

Bumper to Bumper in Pine River

The detour on Highway 371 in Pine River is in effect beginning today.

During the detour, southbound traffic will use Cass County Road 2, to Cass County Road 14, Mill Street and Cass County Road 1.

Northbound traffic will be routed onto Ridge Avenue, First Street and Jefferson Avenue through mid-June while crews reconstruct Highway 371.

Design Electric will be removing the signal system at the intersection of Highway 371 and Highway 84/ Barclay Avenue in Pine River on Wednesday, May 16.

All work is scheduled to be complete by mid-June, weather permitting.

Cravaack Wants the Coast Guard Off Mille Lacs

MN 8th District Congressman Chip Cravaack wants to remove federal regulation on Mille Lacs Lake.  

 Currently, the U.S. Coast Guard requires all fishing guides to spend time and money to obtain a federal boating license on the popular MN walleye Lake. Cravaack says the license and associated costs put fishing guides on the hook for over $2,000.

The freshman Republican proposed the Mille Lacs Lake Freedom to Fish Act at Nitti's Hunters Point Resort that would place the Lake under Minnesota control. Rep. Cravaack. says the DNR already patrols Mille Lacs Lake and says the Coast Guard’s authority over the lake is an expensive intrusion.

Park Rapids to Host the 2013 Gov's Fishing Opener

Next year’s annual Governor’s Fishing Opener, May 10-11, 2013, will be held in the Park Rapids Lakes Area.  

Park Rapids area is home to Itasca State Park, the Heartland Trail, Lake Country Scenic Byway, and the Chippewa National Forest. 

The 2013 Governor’s Fishing Opener will be hosted locally by the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Dennis Mackedanz will chair the committee of volunteers to plan the event. Mackendaz says, "Our excellent local fishing, recreational activities, attractions and points of interest are a perfect fit for the 2013 Governor’s Fishing Opener.”

The Governor’s Fishing Opener has been a tradition in Minnesota since 1948. The event was designed to promote the development of Minnesota’s recreation industry, and in recent years, it has served as a kick-off celebration for the summer tourism season. Travel and tourism generate $11.3 billion in leisure and hospitality gross sales in Minnesota annually.