Local officials and bicycle enthusiasts celebrated the progress that's been made on a bicycle trail between Brainerd and Bemidji. When it's completed, the Paul Bunyan Trail will be 110-miles long. A spokesman for the group, Brett Feldman, says the trail is just a couple of years away from completion. The progress was marked by the 4th Annual Paul Bunyan Trail Ride on Thursday, with about 25 riders taking to the Trail. Officials hope to have an 11.5-mile segment of the Trail from Bemidji to Guthrie paved this Fall.

A farm accident in Todd County has claimed the life of a 65-year-old Clarissa man. The Sheriff says the man was found pinned between a cattle gate and round bailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene just before 7pm Thursday. His name is being withheld until the family has been informed.

Backus is gearing up for its annual Corn Fest Saturday. An excited Mike Martin tells KLKS News, the corn is the most fantastic he has ever tasted, and so is the wild rice hot dish. In addition to good eats, there will be a flea market, dancing, talent show and gospel singers. The highlights are a parade at 11 am and fireworks at dusk.

Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl says his deputies are pumped up for this weekend of the BIR Nationals. He tells KLKS News, its their last summer hurrah with the drag races, and they will have the entire staff on this weekend. In addition to extra deputies and state troopers on duty, they will be running a safe and sober effort on the highways.

The Minnesota State Patrol is bracing for the 100-thousand spectators who usually show for the big drag races this weekend at Brainerd International Raceway. Sergent Curt Mowers says Sunday is usually their biggest day, but they can be surprised. He says extra troopers will be on duty for the event including two on motorcycles. Sergent Mowers says "We Fest" is getting out around noon Sunday at Detroit Lakes, making for a tricky situation. He says they are expecting some delays where Highway 371 merges with Highway 10 at Little Falls.

The Brainerd Blue Thunder celebrated the end of the home season with a crack of the bat and a huge roar from the fans. 1875 fans showed up for "Pack the Park Night" at Mills Field, by far the largest crowd ever to see the team play. The team responded with an equally big win over the St. Cloud River Bats 16 to 3.

Aitkin County features more people over 65 than any other in the Brainerd Lakes Area, according to the Census Bureau. The agency says a quarter of its population was over 65 as of July 1st, 2007. Wadena County was next at 21 percent, Cass - 19 percent, Crow Wing - 18 percent, Todd and Mille Lacs - 16 percent and Morrison at 15 percent. The oldest county in the state is Traverse in west central Minnesota at 28 percent. The state average is 12 percent. The median age in Crow Wing County was 39. Crow Wing showed the largest population in the area at 61,648.

The Budweiser Clydesdales will be at Deerwood Summerfest from 10am-1pm this Saturday, and will be harnessing up around 9;30am near the Legion. Organizer Linda Doyma told K-Lakes News that there are many events slated for this Friday and Saturday, including 120 vendors, food, games, fireworks, music, and more. The Community Band will be playing on Friday at 5pm at the American Legion, and there will be a Street Dance on Saturday night at Coach's Corner. For more information, call 218-546-6047.

Kate Karlson of Nisswa and Lola Villwock of Brainerd both won pairs of tickets to the Renaissance Festival, and Alden Jennison of Deerwood won a certificate for two for dinner and show at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. On-air drawings were held on Tuesday afternoon from registrations taken at the Crow Wing County Fair last week.

Brad Anderson of Crosslake found the treasure chest at 10:30 this morning behind the Mastercraft Tire at C&C Boatworks. Crosslake Days run now through Sunday

48-year-old Kathrine K. Tram of Mora paid a $2,500 fine for killing a bald eagle in Kanabec County. Crosslake DNR Conservation Officer Nikki Shoutz tells KLKS News, they are working together with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect bald eagles and their eggs from being killed, sold or otherwise harmed. Fortunately, she says, these kinds of acts very seldom happen.

The number of schools schools not making the grade has grown, according to the Minnesota Department of Education. A number of Brainerd Lakes Area schools were included. Out of the over 19-hundred Minnesota schools, 937 failed to meet adequate yearly progress. Included were two Brainerd middle schools, and one elementary, Pequot Lakes Middle School and High school, Pine River Elementary and High School, Staples Elementary and High School, Wadena High School and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley High School and Middle School. Some were repeats from last year.

U.S. District Judge Michael J. Davis is not expected to make a decision until next month regarding whether or not Jammie Thomas of Brainerd should get a new trial. Attorneys for both sides argued before the judge yesterday. Judge Davis said he may have made a "manifest error of law" by possibly giving the jury that convicted Thomas incorrect information, saying that making copyrighted recordings avaiblable on the internet was enough for a conviction, but has since found a 1993 Federal Appeals Court decision stating that proof that downloading by a third party of the materials made available was a required.

At least 60 cars will be on display for the 7th Annual Classic Car Show in Crosslake this weekend. The event is put on by the Crosslake Fire Department. Spokesman John Moengen tells KLKS News the event will be held at the Fire Hall on Route 66.
He says the event is free for spectators and five dollars for those showing cars. There will be seven different classes, including one for motorcycles. A pig roast will be offered from noon to 3 pm, and free fire truck rides for the kids.

Motorists should plan for heavy traffic this weekend on Brainerd Lakes Area highways, especially Highway 371, leading to Brainerd International Raceway. The 2008 NHRA Lucas Oil Powerade Nationals will be at BIR, August 7th through the 10th.
Over 100,000 visitors attend the event each year.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is suggesting motorists be patient, expect delays, and be prepared for sudden stops on Highway 371. Alternative routes should be used if possible.
In addition, motorists should be aware of increased traffic impacts on Highway 10 in central Minnesota, especially at Little Falls where Highway 10 and Highway 371 intersect, as visitors attend from WE Fest in Detroit Lakes Aug. 7-10.

A 25-year-old man picked the wrong time to text message. The Cass County Sheriff tried to pull him over for driving the wrong way on Highway 371 near Walker Sunday morning, when he sped away. Eventually, they got their man, who claimed he was text messaging, and that's why he drifted into the wrong lane. The arrest came two days after a new Minnesota law went into effect making it illegal to text, email or access the Internet while behind the wheel. However, he was arrested for drinking and driving.

One of the entertainers performing this weekend at the Old Wadena Music Festival is Elisa Korenne. A signer-songwriter, she is a transplant from New York to New York Mills.
She has added a Sesquicentennial flair to her music this year, having written a series of songs highlighting mostly unknown figures in Minnesota's history. Her two performances Saturday, August 10, include many of those songs.
Musicians over the two days will provide a mix of folk, blues, bluegrass and old time music in a family friendly setting. While the Crow Wing Muzzleloaders will be holding their annual Old Wadena Rendezvous, musicians and story tellers will be on the stage or on the grounds providing a mix of entertainment and history. The event is held north of Staples.

Officers working the DWI July Mobilization project in the Crow Wing County stopped over 283 vehicles and made at least six DWI arrests. Officers also reported four charges for driving after cancellation/revocation/suspension, and six drug related charges. The program included the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department, MN State Patrol, and the police departments of Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Deerwood, Crosby, Cuyuna and Breezy Point.
The State Patrol is urging motorists to report drivers they believe are impaired.

The Congress is into the August recess without an energy policy. The Republicans are calling for increased drilling to help ease the high cost of fuel. Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar tells KLKS News, the oil companies already have leases on 68-million acres of public lands to explore. Further, the 8th District DFL-er says it would take three to five years to build the drill rigs and have them operational. Oberstar says he is against drilling in the pristine Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He says he is for releasing crude oil from the National Strategic Reserve, which he says could affect the price of gasoline in a matter of days.

K-Lakes meteorologist Tony Schumacher says Early August tends to be one of the more foggy times of the year around the Brainerd Lakes Area. He says the humidity tends to be high with light winds, and that combined with lengthening nights, the air saturates and fog forms. Fog reduced visibility down to a quarter mile this morning in many local areas. The Advisory was allowed to lapse at 9 am.

Here is the lastest clue in the Crosslake Days, "Search for the Lost Treasure:"
"Sutler" tell me he's seen me treasure around. Look to the east of the ships for me treasure. Return to me homeport at the Chamber office; Me wench, Michele will pillage through for a handsome reward - Captain Northeast.
Lots of activities are planned for Crosslake this weekend.

The Crow Wing County Fair has concluded its latest run. Manager Dale Domrace tells KLKS News about 100 thousand attended the expo in the southeast corner of Brainerd. The weather cooperated with warm days and sunny skies. An informal poll at the KLKS log building at the Fair indicated the pig races behind the Administrative building was among the highlights for fair-goers, with the food a close second. The pig races were a big hit with families with kids.

The Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division seized $4000 worth of methamphetamine from Deerwood residence late last week. Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl tells KLKS News, that amounts to about 22 ounces of meth. Local law enforcement also grabbed several firearms in the raid. So far, criminal charges are pending against a Deerwood man and woman, and other individuals are being sought. The raid involved officers from Crow Wing County, Itasca County and the Minnesota BCA. Sheriff Dahl says he does not expect the meth problem to go away anytime soon.