Some lakes ice free for fishing opener
Kabetogama Lake is expected to be ice-free for the Saturday walleye season opener.
Mike Williams, of Voyageurs National Park, said he hopes to get the buoys in Kabetogama today.
Crane Lake is also free of ice, according to Williams.
The deep Namakan and Rainy lakes are still socked in by ice and are not expected to clear of ice in the middle of the lake for the fishing opener, Williams said.
However, he noted, Black Bay on Rainy Lake is open and Williams expects it to be busy with anglers this weekend.

Changes in fishing rules, correction

Rising gas prices are straining budgets in Borderland, while analysts are split on how high the prices will climb.
Both Koochiching County and International Falls, as well as businesses that depend on travel, are affected by the rising prices. The area’s Conventions and Visitors Bureau is also concerned about the rising gas prices affecting tourism in the area.
The national average price of a gallon of regular gas was $3.61 Tuesday, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Many restaurants, hotels and laundromats are posting welcome signs to the boilermakers and contractors involved in a Boise Inc. temporary shutdown that started Sunday and runs through May 22.
Many businesses are posting signs to let workers know about special and extended hours to accommodate their stay.
The annual shutdown is the only time the company temporarily suspends operations to refit boilers and repair other equipment essential to operations. The 17-day shutdown affects the integrated paper mills on both sides of the border.

In sports, the emotional highs and lows always seem to run very close together. Thursday’s Falls High Broncos baseball game in Marble against the Greenway Raiders proved just that.
The Broncos and Raiders played seven scoreless innings in a pitchers duel setting up extra innings.
Willie Corrin hit a bunt single with one down in the top of the eighth inning for the Broncos.
With the speedy Corrin on first base, Jacob Casareto hit a ground ball to the Raiders shortstop who made a fielding error putting runners on first and second for Kyle Potter.