Deborah A. Erickson, Crow Wing County Auditor, reminds those residents of School Districts 1 & 181 who are not registered to vote or have changed residences since the last election, that Tuesday, October 12, 2009 at 5:00pm, is the last day to register in advance for the elections being held on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. If you have any questions related to voter registration, call 218-824-1045.

(AP) 18-year-old Emerald R. Foss of Bovey died after the car she was riding in collided with a school bus carrying the Ely High School football team. The crash happened on Highway 169 in Coleraine around 3:30 Friday afternoon. The 18-year-old driver and another 16-year old passenger were airlifted to Duluth hospitals and are listed in critical condition. The bus driver suffered a minor injury--none of the 23 players or 3 coaches on the bus were injured. Officials canceled last night's Homecoming Game and dance at Onamia High School.

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Bertha-Hewitt def Menahga
3-0 Braham def Isle
3-0 Browerville def Swanville
3-0 Clearbrook-Gonvick def Cass Lake-Bena
3-0 East Central def Aitkin
3-0 Floodwood def McGregor
3-0 Little Falls def Apollo
3-0 Pillager def New York Mills
3-0 Pine River-Backus def Blackduck
3-0 Sebeka def Verndale
3-0 Wadena-Deer Creek def Pequot Lakes
3-1 Crosby-Ironton def Staples Motley
3-1 Maple Lake def Pierz
3-1 Nevis def Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
3-1 Osakis def Royalton
3-1 Park Rapids def Detroit Lakes
3-1 Willmar def Brainerd

(AP) According to a Mayo Spokesperson, Shelly Plutowski, as of January 1st, 2010, Mayo will no longer handle MedicAid patients from Montana and Nebraska. She said that's due to low reimbursement rates. Plutowski added that the health system should be changed to something that rewards providers for keeping patients the healthiest. About 50 patients will be affected by canceling contracts with those two states. The Spokesperson added that it's more appropriate for patients in those states to be seen in their own regions.

(AP) A Park Rapids man has pleaded guilty to securing a $640 thousand mortgage under false pretenses.

Real estate agent Eric Moen is accused of conspiring with Kevin Winkelman of the twin cities man of falsifying a mortgage loan to defraud Greenpoint Mortgage.

(AP) The estranged wife of former auto mogul Denny Hecker does not believe his claim of poverty. Tamitha Hecker is asking the court to award her $7,500 a month in spousal support. She says anyone who can spend $23 thousand on a Hawaiian vacation, and $250 thousand on a defense lawyer, can pay her support.

Hecker filed for bankruptcy after his auto empire collapsed. He is the object of a Federal Grand Jury investigation.

(AP) Governor Tim Pawlenty will headline a Republican "Leadership for Iowa" event coming up on November 7th in Des Moines. His speech will be given in the state that has the first Presidential caucuses. Pawlenty, who has not ruled out a Presidential bid in 2012, has already formed a fundraising committee.

Girls Volleyball:
3-0 Braham def Aitkin
3-0 Littlefork-Big Falls def Hill City
3-0 Sauk Center def Milaca
3-0 Verndale def New York Mills
3-0 Walker-Hackensack-Akeley def Northome/Kelliher
3-1 Little Falls def St. Cloud Tech
3-2 Eagle Valley def Royalton
3-2 Pine River Backus def Pillager
3-2 Sauk Rapids-Rice def Brainerd
3-2 Wadena-Deer Creek def Bertha-Hewitt

(AP) According to Kevin Murphy, Deputy State Commissioner, the four bank failures this year in Minnesota are the most in one calendar year since 1990. He told that to State Legislators, today. For State-regulated banks and credit unions in Minnesota, one in five are on watch lists for being failure risks.

The League of Women Voters is hosting Brainerd School Board Candidate Forum Monday, October 19. It will be held in the Brainerd High School Little Theater at 6:30 p.m. There will be two separate panels answering questions presented by the audience. The first panel of four includes candidates who are running for the one two year term. At 7:15, the second panel will begin their presentation. This consists of 6 candidates who are running for the full four year term.

This forum will be televised on the local cable station live on Monday evening, and repeated several times at various intervals until the November 3 election.

High profile crooks would do well to stay away from Crow Wing County. The Sheriff's Tactical Response Team recently won the 4th Annual Central Minnesota SWAT Competition in Ottertail County the end of September.

Crow Wing County defeated defending the champion Red River Valley SWAT team by 105 points.

Six SWAT teams competed in seven events over the two day competition. Crow Wing County placed in the top three positions on all events, and first in over half. The events included Shoot and Move, Team Scramble, Bunker Event, Fitness Challenge, Sniper Event, Hostage Rescue and Tactical Medic Challenge.

This is the second time in three years that the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office has won the competition.

Members of the Tactical Response Team consist of deputies from the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, and police officers from the Brainerd, Baxter, Nisswa, Breezy Point and Crosby Police Departments.

Girls Volley Ball:
3-0 Browerville def Sebeka
3-0 Deer River def Crosby-Ironton
3-0 Hill City def Cotton
3-0 Milaca def Princeton
3-0 Pierz def Brainerd
3-2 Holy Family Catholic def Montgomery-Lonsdale