CHELSEY'S HEROES POSTPONED

The holiday fund raiser for Chelsey's Heroes scheduled for Saturday, December 1st at Camp Knutson has been postponed. Spokeswoman Julie Peterson said she's concerned about the first winter storm of the season and decided to postpone the event until later. The Chelsey's Heroes fund raisers send care packages to military men and women serving overseas. Peterson said the event will be rescheduled.

WILLMAR MAN SHOT NEAR MILACA

28-year old George Francis Walley remains in serious condition at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale after he was shot by police officers near Milaca on Monday. Walley entered a Paynesville home, held up occupants, stole their vehicle and fled east through Waite Park and St. Cloud on Highway 23. State patrol officers gave chase, at times up to 100 miles per hour. Stearns County prosecutors have charged Walley with Frist Degree Burglary with a dangerous weapon and fleeing a police officer. Four state troopers and two Mille Lacs County Deputies have been placed on routine administrative leave in connection with the shooting.

COUNTY BUDGET SET NEXT MEETING

Crow Wing County Commissioners had agreed earlier this year on a 5% increase in the county levy. Commissioners told county staff on Tuesday, by a vote of 3-2 to work up a budget based on a 3% increase. Commissioner Doug Hauge voted against the request because he thinks the county needs at least a 5% increase. Hauge said Crow Wing is a growing county and that means county services and that means people to do the work. Hauge also said there are reserve fund balances that haven't been addressed and that a 3% increase would only postpone. The new commissioner said he would rather have a level county levy in the future rather than one that goes up and down with time. The board meets again on December 11th to set the budget for next year.

KINSHIP PARTNERS 100 MENTORS 100 DAYS

As of yesterday, 70 new people have signed up to become mentors to children in the Kinship Partners program. The current campaign is looking for 100 new mentors in 100 days and the organization has twelve day left. 10-year old Elizabeth Stiernagle enjoys spending time with her mentor Sue Hearst just doing stuff. She said being in the program has made it easier for her make friends in school. 14-year old Nick Seiverson said spending time with his mentor Dan Frank is like spending time with a dad. He said Frank has a shooting range in his back yard, he's gone up in a small plane with one of Frank's friends, and some of the time they just hang around the house and play board games. If you’d like to mentor a child, call Kinship Partners. In Pequot Lakes, the number is 568-4015, in Brainerd, 829-4606.

BRAINERD COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS CLOSING ONE SCHOOL, RE-USING ANOTHER

The Brainerd School Board Finance Commmittee voted on Thursday to recommend closing Whittier Elementary and re-using Lincoln Elementary for the Minnesota Learning Center site. The committee also approved the non-renewal of 57 teacher contracts, re-drawing the district's bus schedules, and closing open enrollment. The board has to reduce its budget by more than $5-Million by the end of June next year. Board member Reed Campbell said the actions were inevitable. Finance Committee Chair Bob Nystrom said the heat will be turned down next year at Whittier and it could be used again in 3-5 years. Nystrom said an up-tick in live births in the area in the last couple of years indicates more kids in the future. All 57 teachers will be told their contracts will not be renewed for school year 08/09 but Superintendent Jerry Walseth said some of them will probably be hired back depending upon their qualifications and position on the union seniority list. The final decision to close schools will be made the full board in December. Public hearings will be held on the closings in late December.

TRUMPETER SWANS STILL AROUND

Department of Natural Resources Small Non-Game Specialist Pam Perry said most birds are long-gone for the season, spending their time in the tropics. But not all have left. Perry said trumpeter swan family groups are still flying from lake to lake, looking for open water and food. Perry said its a rare opportunity for Lakes Area birders to catch a glimpse of the largest waterfowl in North America. Pam said we're in a big change time; some birds dependant on open water are still here but some begun to move toward milder climes. Perry said its all about finding food.

CLC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH 'RELEASED'

Central Lakes College President Larry Lundblad released Raiders women basketball coach Brad Amundson Wednesday. Lundblad did not announce the name of a replacement. The Raider women are 1-5 this season. Amundson has compiled a 15-41 win/loss record in his three years as coach. Lundblad told the Brainerd Dispatch that the change is based on a difference in philosophy and the administration is exploring a number of options. Assistant coach Nate Hanson was also released. Amundson said in an email message that he and Hanson need "to move on to bigger and better things." The Raiders scheduled game Thursday night with North Dakot State College of Science has been canceled and forfeited. Officials say they should have a coach by Saturday's game with Fergus Falls.

HOSPITAL WORKER'S DEATH INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The husband of a Willmar hospital worker at first told the Star Tribune that a filing machine fell on his wife and killed her. But later he said that wasn't the case. Minnesota Occuplational Safety and Health Administration Spokesman James Honerman said he would comment until the state's investigation is completed. 51-year old Susan Leukam was found alone and unresponsive in the hospital basement on the Friday after Thanksgiving. She died Monday at Hennepin County Medical Center. Her funeral will be Saturday morning in Belgrade.

SERTOMA WINTER WONDERLAND

Brainerd Noon Sertoma's outdoor Christmas light display continues into its second week. More than a thousand cars passed through the Northland Arboretum last weekend. Winter Wonderland project co-chairman Steve Mau said the more than 70 displays, some of them 30-40 feet tall is an incredible sight to see. One woman told him that she was happy she was blessed to live long enough to such beauty in Brainerd. Winter Wonderland is open from 6-9pm Wednesday through Sunday nights until New Year's Eve. The charge is $8 per car to drive through the displays. $3 discount tickets are available at a number of businesses.

SUPERINTENDENT'S LETTERS RECOMMEND WHITTIER, LINCOLN TO CLOSE

Brainerd elementary students from Harrison, Lincoln, Nisswa and Whittier schools took notes home with them Wednesday afternoon. Notes from Superintendent Jerry Walseth printed in the Brainerd Dispatch said he will recommend to the school board finance committee at Thursday's meeting that they close Whittier and Lincoln schools. The district has to reduce its budget by more than $5-Million by the end of June next year. The meeting Thursday morning starts at 11:30a at the Washington Administration Building on Oak Street. The finance committee will recommend action to the full school board which may decide what to do next month.

CHAMBER SUPPORTS THROUGH PEQUOT 371 ROUTE

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber has decided to support the through-town route for the Highway 371 expansion in Pequot Lakes. In an un-signed letter on Chamber letterhead, business officials said the timetable for building a bypass is uncertain, starting no earlier than 2015, may take up to ten years to finish, and may never be built. The Chamber letter predicts "stagnation of the community" if the bypass is built but a through-town route would result in business confidence and cause local businesses to improve existing structures. One survey quoted said 23-percent of Pequot Lakes businesses would expand if the highway remained where it was. The city council has approved resolutions supporting both routes. Officials said a council decision could be made next month.

TODD COUNTY BREAK-INS

The Todd County Sheriff's office reported a number of break-ins and burglaries that apparently happened Monday night and Tuesday morning. Sheriff Peter Mikkelson said an old 12-guage shotgun and some clothing was taken from a cabin on the north end of Lake Osakis Tuesday morning. Two cabins were broken into on Mound Lake earlier Tuesday, and someone broke into a home in Leslie Township but nothing was taken from any of those break-ins. And a rural Grey Eagle farmer reported he was missing five head of 450-pound cattle that he last saw north of Grey Eagle. If you know anything about the cattle or the break-ins, call the todd County Sheriff's Department.

STAPLES WOMAN MAY FACE DOMESTIC DISPUTE CHARGES

The Staples woman arrested after a five-hour police stand-off early Tuesday remains in the Wadena County Jail. A police negotiator convinced 30-year old Deborah Lee Weidt to put down her weapon and surrender around 6am. A Staples police officer had responded to a domestic dispute just after 1am and a man said he had been assaulted and that the woman in the apartment had a weapon. 30 people were evacuated from the apartment building. Wadena County Attorney's office may file charges.

CROW WING COUNTY PAY RAISES

Crow Wing County Commissioners voted 4-1 Tuesday to hand out raises to the county sheriff, attorney, auditor, recorder and treasurer. Raises ranged from $3-7,000, become effective next year and are part of a move to a new 'pay matrix', an effort to standardize future pay increases. Commissioner Paul Thiede voted against the raises. He said this was an opportunity for elected officials to demonstrate they were serious about this budget, "that they would be willing to hold the line on their salaries, but that didn't happen." County Human Resources Director Tamra Laska recommended that commissioner's salaries be raised by about $1,000 a year but the motion to approve that increase died for lack of a second. The commissioners also voted 3-2 in favor of a 3% increase in spending next year instead of the 5% earlier approved. Thiede said no matter what some are saying, a three percent increase in spending is not a budget cut. Commissioners will make the final decision on next year's budget at the December 11 board meeting.

PAWLENTY PESSIMISTIC ABOUT FORECAST

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said he "predicts bad news" in Friday's economic forecast and said he expects a hit to the state budget. The governor said the ailing housing market, credit crunch and high oil prices are making him pessimistic. The forecast combine spending projections and estimates tax revenue. Minnesota is six months into a two-year, $34.5-Billion budget.

SAUK RAPIDS MAN CONVICTED OF MURDER

Benton County Judge James Hoolihan convicted 24-year old Timothy James Peterson for shooting 45-year old Howard Hines nearly two years ago. Peterson admitted to shooting Hines several times while he was parking his car. The defendant had told investigators he had not planned the killing but acted in a split-second. The judge disagreed. Defense attorneys will now try to convince the judge that Peterson is mentally ill and didn't understand the nature of his crime. Benton County Attorney Robert Raupp told the St. Cloud Times he expects testimony on Peterson's mental state to continue through Thursday.

BRAINERD'S WHITTIER, LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS MAY CLOSE

Brainerd school district administrators held meetings at all four elementary schools on the short list for possible closing Tuesday afternoon. The school board has to trim $5-Million from the budget by the end of June next year. District officials announced at the last board meeting that Nisswa, Harrison, Whittier and Lincoln are on the list for possible closing but the Brainerd Dispatch reported this morning that Whittier and Lincoln are the two that will be closed. The official announcement will be made at the school board finance committee meeting tomorrow morning at 11:30am. Assistant Superintendent Steve Razidlo told the Dispatch that sealed letters will be sent home with students from the four affected schools on Wednesday, November 28th. Thursday morning's finance committee meeting will be at the Washington Administrative Building on Oak Street.

THANKFUL FOR SAFE THANKSGIVING

Only one Minnesota county - Washington - reported a highway fatality during the long Thanksgiving weekend between last Wednesday and Sunday. Department of Public Safety spokesman Dennis Smith said the weekend was one of the least deadly on record and a dramatic reduction. 32 motorists were killed in Minnesota over the last three Thanksgiving holidays making it the state's deadliest holiday travel period.

PINE RIVER CRASH VICTIM IDENTIFIED

Cass County authorities have identified the man who died Monday afternoon just after 5pm in a single vehicle crash . 44-year old Mark Humphrey's vehicle left Cass County 114 about six miles south of Pine River. The vehicle overturned several times. The investigation continues. An autopsy has been ordered.

MISSING DOG TAGS FOUND

People living close to the old WWII American bomber base near Papua, New Guinea recently found Brainerd WWII vet Alva Clark's dog tags, buried in the jungle along with almost a hundred other GI ID tags. Retired Northwest Airlines pilot Brian Moon spends his days searching for missing in action American soldiers and received a confederate's call about the dog tags along with tales of US plane crash sites and executed Japanese war prisoners. Clark's tags had a Brainerd address on them and Moon wondered if the soldier had gone to war and not returned but Alva's son Kent said Dad had come home after the war and continued on with his life. Alva Clark died in 1974. His wife Doris, whose name was also on the GI dog tag, died six years later. Moon said he's going to travel to New Guinea next June, to examine other remains and supposed evidence of missing American GIs and said he'll make sure Clark's dog tags are brought back to his son. Son Kent said his father was stationed at the base near Papua during the war attached to a transportation division. But Kent Clark said he has no idea why his dad's dog tags are still there. Clark said "Dad didn't like to talk about the war." Moon expects to get more answers, and the dog tags next June.

POLICE DEFUSE DOMESTIC DISPUTE

Staples Police chief Kyle Huber said a domestic dispute early Tuesday morning has resulted in the arrest of 30-year old Deborah Lee Weidt. Huber said one of his officers answered the domestic call just after 1am. A man told the officer he had been assaulted and that the woman in the apartment had a weapon. More Staples officers, the Wadena Hubbard Emergency Response Team and officers from Wadena County and Verndale surrounded the apartment building and 30 people were evacuated. A negotiator talked the into surrendering around 6am. Weidt is in the Wadena County Jail waiting charges by the county attorney's office.

WILLMAR HOSPITAL WORKER DIES

51-year old Susan Leukam of Belgrade died Monday from injuries she sustained when an automatic filing machine fell on her the day afer Thanksgiving. Co-workers at Rice Memorial Hospital found the medical records worker near the machine. She was revived and airlifted to Hennepin County where she died. Leukam's husband Don said she wasn't scheduled to work Friday but volunteered to cover other shifts while co-workers went Christmas shopping. Hospital CEO Lorry Massa said Occupational Safety officials are investigating.

PINE RIVER MAN DIES IN CRASH

A 44-year old Pine River man died Monday night when the vehicle he was driving left the roadway and overturned several times. The crash occurred just after 5:00pm on Cass County Road 114 roughly six miles south of Pine River. The victim's name is being withheld until his family can be notified. An autopsy has been ordered and the investigation continues.

RITCHIE INVESTIGATION INTENSIFIES

Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles said he now wants testimony under oath in the case of Minnesota's Secretary of State Mark Ritchie allegedly using a state mailing list to solicit campaign donations. Nobles said his decision came after Ritchie first said he didn't know how the campaign got the list. Last week, Ritchie admitted he gave the list of names to his campaign staff himself, and told them to send each a newsletter. Nobles said the investigation could stretch on for several weeks. The results of the investigation could be used to craft law for reform but probably wouldn't carry criminal penalties.

HIGHWAY DEATHS RISING

Fewer people had died on Minnesota highways in the first half of this year compared to last and Minnesota State Patrol Sergeant Curt Mowers said he earlier expected this to be a year of decreasing death on the roadway. That has changed. Mowers said as of Monday, November 26th, 446 people have died on Minnesota roadways during calendar year 2007. 2006 crashes claimed 415 people by this time last year. Mowers said the year began so well, many had their hopes up that this year would show a downward trend. So far this year, 48 motorcyclists have died in crashes so far as compared to 53 last year. 30 pedestrians have died in crashes this year compared to 32 last year at this time.

C-I CITIZENS TALK ABOUT SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS

About a hundred citizens who live in the Crosby Ironton School District offered their suggestions Monday night on how to cut the school's budget. The board has to trim the C-I budget by about $1-Million by the end of June of next year. The crowd was quickly divided into small groups for discussion. Superintendent Jamie Skevlund said the next step is to look at the ideas from last night's meeting, last week's staff meeting, and other public listening sessions and put them all together. He said he will recommend the board announce its budget cuts at the December 17th meeting.

STUDENTS WILL KNOW FIRST ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Students at the four smallest Brainerd elementary schools will get sealed notes to take home to their parents Tuesday afternoon. Inside the notes will be Superintendent Jerry Walseth's recommendations to close two of the schools. Walseth told the Brainerd Dispatch he doesn't want to say anymore about school closings until Thursday's school board finance committee meeting. Nisswa, Harrison, Whittier and Lincoln students will carry the notes home. Officials will also tell about a hundred other teachers and staff members about the suggested closings. Board member Bob Nystrom said he's received about 25 letters from Nisswa asking him not to close Nisswa Elementary.

FORMER OBERSTAR STAFFER DIES

The man who was Congressman Jim Oberstar's chief of staff until 1992 died Saturday. Tom Reagan was 81 and died after suffering a stroke the day before. Regan grew up in Crosby and worked in an iron mine while he was in high school. He was a WWII veteran and was a teacher in Aurora-Hoyt Lakes before he started working for Oberstar. Regan managed the congressman's first successful campaign for the US House in 1974. Oberstar said Reagan dedicated his life to public service and focused on serving Minnesotans instead of becoming a political insider.

STAY ON THE TRAILS, PLEASE

The snowfall has not been overly abundant yet but snowmobilers remain hopeful. Department of Natural Resources Trails and Waterways Manager Lowell Jaeger suggests that if you ride the grant-in-aide snowmobile trails, stay on the trail. Jaeger said land on either side of the trail many times is private land and if riders veer off and go exploring, that may irritate the landowner. The state has liability in cases of property damage but more importantly, the landowner may reconsider and not allow the trail on his property next year. Jaeger said snowmobiles clubs invest lots of money into grooming machines and spend a lot of time getting the trails in great shape and the best and safest place to ride is usually the trail itself.

BRAINERD FIRE DESTROYS OLD CHURCH

So far, State Fire Marshall Mark Germain believes the fire that destroyed the old Nazarene Church in Northeast Brainerd on Thanksgiving was not intentionally set. Germain told the Brainerd Dispatch he hasn't been able to determine the exact cause of the fire yet because the area he needs to investigate is not safe to be in. Germain said the fire started Thursday morning on Fourth Avenue Northeast, was put out, then reignited later that night. The old church had been remodeled into seven apartments and all residents got out of the building safely. The owner was taken to the hospital for evaluation. The building was a total loss.

BRAINERD ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING

Brainerd Police have arrested two men aged 20 and 22, suspected of kidnapping and robbing two other young men in South Brainerd. Officers said a 17-year old Aitkin man had escaped from the house around 10:30am this morning where he'd been assaulted, tied up and robbed. Police discovered a second victim who had been held at knife-point. Brainerd Police are looking for more suspects in the case and the investigation continues. Neither of the captured men required medical attention.

PB Trail Improvements

2008 should be a big year for the popular Paul Bunyan Trail, according to Lowell Jaeger, DNR Trails and Waterways Specialist. He tells KLKS, federal money ought to free-up for construction of the bridge over Excelsior Road in Baxter, a busy intersection. Jaeger says federal money comes with many requirements that can slow the project. He also expects the missing mile south of the bridge to be installed, as well, that will keep trail users off streets. Jaeger says he is doing a walk-through at the Crow Wing State Park today, the next link for the popular trail

SERTOMA WINTER WONDERLAND OPENS

Checking out Christmas lights has never been easier. Or warmer. Brainerd/Baxter Noon Sertoma's Winter Wonderland opens Thursday, Thanksgiving night at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter. Committee co-chair Steve Mau said looking at the 40-foot wide, 30-40 foot high displays against the woodsy backdrop of Northland Arboretum puts even the crankiest Scrooge in the Christmas mood. Drive through the Winter Wonderland from 6-9pm Wednesday through Sunday nights from Thanksgiving until New Years Eve. Cost will be between $5 and $8 per vehicle. Proceeds from the fundraiser go to the charities Sertoma supports, from hearing and vision to scholarships and disease research.

LITTLE FALLS HIRES CITY ADMINISTRATOR

The Little Falls city council has hired Garrison Hale to the position of city administrator. Hale had been the city adminstrator/treasurer for Chisholm. Little Falls will pay him just over $80, 000 a year and will review his performance in six months. He starts on December 17th.

HIGHWAY 10 STAPLES EXPANSION OPEN

The new four-lane highway through Staples was to open today. The Minnesota Department of Transportation said the highway expansion was built one block south of old Highway ten and replaced Main Street. Part of Highway ten will still be two-lane west of Staples until next year. Crews will remove the temporary roads and connections, complete landscaping and install a concrete boulevard in the spring.

NISSWA CHARTER SCHOOL?

About a hundred people met at Grand View Lodge last night to talk about ways to keep Nisswa Elementary school open. The Brainerd School Board has to cut nearly $6-Million dollars from its budget by next June and school officials say closing Nisswa Elementary would save $150,000 a year in transportation costs. Nisswa resident Mark Moran owns Reichert Bus Service and told the Brainerd Dispatch he doesn't believe the school district would save that much money. Grand View Lodge CEO Mark Ronnei said if the district does close the school, that's not necessarily the end. He said Nisswa needs a school and if it means joining the Pequot Lakes District or starting a charter school, so be it.

PEQUOT LAKES CLOSES OPEN ENROLLMENT

The Pequot Lakes School Board voted yesterday to close open enrollment. Superintendent Rick Linnell said he's received 18 calls since November 7th, the day voters in Crosby-Ironton and Brainerd School Districts said no to levy referendums. Linnell said more students at this time of the year may mean hiring more instructors and increasing average class size, things the board didn't want to do right now. Linnell said the board will probably look at re-authorizing open enrollment later next spring. And Linnell said the rumors that the Pequot Lakes School Board is considering a levy referendum of its own are not true

LIQUOR STORE 'TOO PINK'

The Brainerd City Council decided Monday that the color of a business in northeast Brainerd was too pink. Essers Warehouse Liquor and Northern Lakes Wine and Spirits, once known as Baxter's 'pink liquor store' joined forces last year. Essers owner Gary Bethke told the Brainerd Dispatch the pink color was used to rejuvenate business and it seemed to be working. The city's exterior design standards dictate that bright or garish colors can't make up more than five percent of a wall. The council said the building must be repainted right away.

MAPLEWOOD MAN SENTENCED FOR HUNTING DEATH

46-year old Steven John Ferguson was sentenced to a year in jail yesterday for the shooting death of 14-year old Brandon Lanie of Buffalo. A jury convicted the Maplewood man of second-degree manslaughter in October. The two had been hunting on land north of Lake Mille Lacs last November. Ferguson testified he fired twice at what he thought was a deer. District Judge John R. Solien also placed Ferguson on supervised probation for ten years, ordered he drink no alcohol, enter no liquor establishments and have no contact with Brandon's family. Ferguson has thirty days to report to the Ramsey County Jail.

NATURAL CAUSES KILLED HORSE

The Todd County Sheriff's Department has concluded its investigation into the death and alleged mutilation of a horse earlier this month. Officials decided the horse died of natural causes and was scavenged by predators. Eleven-year old Katie Symalla found her Palomino pony Savannah in a field on November third. At first, some believed the horse had been mistaken for a deer and shot but a veterinarian's examination ruled that out. And there was no evidence at the scene that someone had mutilated the animal. A woman from Worthington gave Katie an eight-month-old horse to replace Savannah.

PINE RIVER MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY

The 19-year old Pine River man accused of killing a 15-year old girl in Backus in August remains in custody in the Cass County Jail. Matthew Michael Martin pleaded not guilty to killing Molly Jean Rice earlier this month. A grand jury indicted him on five first degree murder charges as well as second-degree murder, burglary and criminal sexual conduct. Cass County Judge John P. Smith set his next hearing date for December 10th. Court documents charge Martin stabbed and shot Rice after a party near Pine Mountain Lake Road in Backus on August Fourth.

KEEP NISSWA SCHOOL OPEN

About a hunderd Nisswa-area citizens met Monday night at Grand View Lodge to talk about why Nisswa Elementary should be kept open. Last Wednesday's Brainerd School Board meeting featured ways to trim next year's budget and one of them was to close Nisswa Elementary. Closing the school could save the district $150,000 in transportation costs every year plus the cost of operating the school, roughly $1.2-Million. "Keep Nisswa School Open" spokeswoman Amy Gitchell said the school has a modernized air system, updated playground equipment and room for more students and shouldn't be closed. Brainerd Superintendent Jerry Walseth will finalize his recommendations to the board a week from Thursday on November 29th. The Brainerd school board has to trim nearly $6-Million dollars from its budget by next June. The group will hold a second meeting at Grand View Lodge Tuesday night at 7:30pm. Gitchell said Nisswa residents have nine days to convince school officials to keep the elementary school open.

CUSHING MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDER

27-year old Erik Wojciechowski pleaded guilty in Morrison County District Court Thursday to killing his parents. The young man shot 64-year old Roger and 57-year old Jeanne Wojciechowski in their Cushing home last January. Morrison County prosecutors agreed to drop additional murder charges. The accused faces a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. Wojciechowski will remain in the Morrison County Jail until his sentencing on December 18th.

KLOBUCHAR TALKS TO FARMERS

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar spent part of her weekend attending farm organization conventions. The Minnesota Farm Bureau and the Minnesota Farmers Union met Saturday and Sunday. Klobuchar spoke in support of the new farm bill and said an important part of the next 5-year bill will be sending more tax money to small farmers instead of larger ones. She said the roots of the idea remain in the years of the Great Depression and making sure farmers are able to sustain their business in times of bad weather or low prices. Klobuchar said another important part of the bill pays land owners to plant vegetation for ethanol production, something besides corn. She said Minnesota could compete with oil producers someday. This year's farm bill may top $300-Billion and Klobuchar said she's heard the President may veto it because of excessive earmarked projects. The House farm bill has been approved with a price tag of $266-Billion.

GOVERNOR SIGNS MULTI-STATE EMISSIONS AGREEMENT

Governor Pawlenty and other Midwest governors and a Canadian official have signed an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emission and to strengthen the renewable energy industry. The governor said the agreement is a good balance between environmental and economic needs.
Provisions of the plan include better tracking of emissions and setting targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Other governors who signed were from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, and the Premier of Manitoba, Canada.

TODD COUNTY DRUG BUST

Todd County Sheriff's Deputies arrested two people from Morris, Minnesota early Thursday morning for first-degree drug sales and felony endangerment of a child. The two subjects, a 27-year old male and a 21-year old female, have been under investigation for the last three months, suspected of selling methamphetamine and cocaine in the Long Prairie area. The case has been referred to the Todd County Attorney's office for prosecution.

GOVERNOR'S CHRISTMAS TREE ON THE WAY

DNR foresters cut down a 50-foot balsam fir in the Chegwatana State Forest near Pine City on Thursday. The giant tree is headed for the governor's residence on Summit Avenue in St. Paul. Workers will put it up on the stand Monday morning and then decoration fun begins.

RED KETTLE DAY!

The Crow Wing County Salvation Army started its Red Kettle Campaign last Friday, November 16th. Nisswa Mayor Brian Lehman is the chairman of the volunteer drive. He said there will be friendly competition between service clubs again this year and requests of businesses and organizations to sponsor a bell-ringing day to themselves. This year's goal is $100,000. If you can spare an hour or two and want to start your own Christmas tradition, call Deb at 218-829-1120.

NO SPECIAL SESSION

Governor Pawlenty said Wednesday that there will be no special session to help cities balance their budgets. Leaders from Bemidji, Hutchinson, Owatonna, Ely, Moorhead and North Mankato are to meet Thursday morning at the capitol to ask for one anyway. City leaders would like lawmakers to grant them $70-Million of state money and think about property tax relief because so many school levy referendums passed this year. Governor Pawlenty said lawmakers couldn't agree to a session focused on a tax bill. Pawlenty said a recent budget forecast suggested there may not be any extra money in the state budget.