BAXTER — Parking and mowing questions for the Fourth of July celebration in Baxter were before the city council Tuesday.

Brainerd Community Action is expected to handle the event, but the city had questions about preparation, namely mowing along the parade route.

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Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office and Crow Wing County Social Services are investigating an incident that took place Thursday in which a 4-month-old suffered an injury to the head.

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BAXTER — Jack Pine Brewery, with a small taproom for tasting and limited retail, was approved Tuesday by the Baxter City Council.

The taproom, with no more than 12 seats, was approved as an accessory to the brewery with a conditional use permit. The nano-brewery is planned at 7942 College Road in Baxter’s Industrial Park. Sales are limited to beer brewed on site.

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BAXTER — Heartland Animal Rescue Team (HART) was vandalized early Tuesday morning with the words “Killers” and “U Kill” spray-painted on the building.

Baxter Police Chief Jim Exsted said someone broke into the HART building and did extensive property damage. Exsted said the suspect also released all the dogs that were in the impound area of the animal rescue shelter.

Fortunately, with the help of one of the impound dogs — a pit bull named “Angel” — all the dogs, but one were rescued and brought back to HART.

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A Little Falls grandmother who has taken issue with Little Falls regarding the city forcing her to take down political signs on her property will now take the city to court.

Robin Hensel filed a lawsuit Monday against the city in U.S. District Court of Minnesota maintaining the city violated her free speech, First Amendment rights.

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BAXTER — Reconsidering a previous decision, Baxter City Council members voted Tuesday to take another look at the Cypress Drive pedestrian bridge.

The council voted 4-1 to reconsider its previous action, putting a pause on bridge auction activity.

“I had no idea our live would be consumed by this bridge,” Mayor Darrel Olson said.

“I’m with you mayor on that,” replied Council member Jim Klein, who has been in favor of selling the bridge. “It blows my mind.”

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Brainerd attorney Lawrence W. Ulanowski, last year suspended from practicing law, is now facing disbarment.

The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility filed a petition for disciplinary action Monday with the Minnesota Supreme Court, seeking to end Ulanowski’s ability to practice law.

The supreme court will make a final decision. The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility reported the court’s final action may include dismissal of the petition seeking disbarment or discipline ranging from a reprimand to disbarment.

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The Minnesota Highway Safety Center will be offering a 55+ Driver Improvement Course on the following days: from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 30 (4 hour refresher), Pine River State Bank, 103 Mill St. S., Pine River; 8 a.m. to noon June 6 (4 hour refresher), Lutheran Church of the Cross, 5064 CR 13, Sportland Corner, Nisswa; 5:30-9:30 p.m. June 13 (4 hour refresher), Crosby-Ironton Senior High/Com. Ed., 711 Poplar St., Crosby; from 8 a.m. to noon June 13 (4 hour refresher), Pequot Lakes High School/Community Ed., 30805 Olson St., Pequot Lakes.

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Brainerd police

INFORMATION — A report at 1:27 a.m. Tuesday of a juvenile son who sneaked out of his bedroom window. The complainant didn’t want to sign him as a runaway and believes he will return home.

Crow Wing sheriff

ARRESTS — Zachary Erickson, 26, was arrested at 10:29 Monday for third-degree driving while impaired (DWI).

Crosby police

ARRESTS — Jennifer Lynn Jarvela, 35, was arrested May 8 for fifth-degree possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Eugene Kline, 48, Brainerd, was arrested May 9 for third-degree driving while intoxicated (DWI).

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This month I was asked by the Working Together Coalition to review the Sheriff’s Office involvement in alcohol compliance checks.

We are working with our ZAP partners and the Working Together Coalition to conduct checks within our three school districts. We believe that helping avoid law violations, such as selling alcohol to underage people, will help in avoiding the problems associated with underage drinking.

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Question: Not long ago, I read an article you wrote saying that drivers should have their headlights on all the time. I agree 100 percent. Why don’t they make it a law? (And not just parking lights, I mean actual headlights — I can’t stand seeing cars with just their parking lights on so I flash them). Anyway, making this a law would be easier on everybody.

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Here is a child from the Brainerd area who has been waiting for a Kinship mentor for a year and a half:

Derik is an 8-year-old who enjoys staying active. He loves fishing, bike riding and a wide range of outdoor sports. He also enjoys drawing, cooking, arts, crafts and model-building.

Derik would benefit from a male role model as he lives at home with his mom and two brothers. Derek’s older brother has a Kinship mentor and Derek sees the fun they have together.

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Did You Know?

• Fires started by children playing accounted for an average of 56,300 fires, with associated losses of 110 civilian deaths, 880 civilian injuries and $286 million in direct property damage per year between 2005 and 2009.

• Younger children are more likely to set fires in homes, while older children and teenagers are more likely to set fires outside.

• Lighters were the source in half of child-playing with fire in homes.

Prevention Tips

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CONCORD, N.C. – Kurt Busch was on his best behavior for the first 10 races of the season, but the emotional meltdowns that led to firings at Roush Fenway Racing and Penske Racing returned in the closing laps of last Saturday night’s race at the Darlington Raceway.

Busch was fined $50,000 Tuesday by NASCAR and placed on probation until July 25 after he sped through Ryan Newman’s pit stall at the end of the race and running into Newman’s car on pit road after the race.

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CONCORD, N.C. – Rick Hendrick never saw his first victory as a car owner in NASCAR. Instead of going to Martinsville, Va., to see his new team with driver Geoff Bodine, he and wife Linda went to church.

In 1984 there were no cell phones, so it wasn’t until after the Hendricks got home and heard from his mother Mary Hendrick that Bodine drove the No. 5 All-Star Racing Chevrolet to Victory Lane earlier in the day.

They celebrated by toilet-papering Bodine’s yard.

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Couple’s death ruled a murder-suicide in structure fire

The death of a Lake Edward Township couple — whose bodies were found April 30 in their residence during a structure fire — was ruled a murder-suicide, Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said Tuesday.

Dahl said preliminary reports from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner relating to the deaths of Kenneth Alan Ponsness, 56, and Kathleen Marie Ponsness, 57, ruled Kathleen’s death as a homicide and Kenneth’s death as a suicide.

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Couple’s death ruled a murder-suicide in structure fire

The death of a Lake Edward Township couple — whose bodies were found April 30 in their residence during a structure fire — was ruled a murder-suicide, Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl said Tuesday.

Dahl said preliminary reports from the Ramsey County Medical Examiner relating to the deaths of Kenneth Alan Ponsness, 56, and Kathleen Marie Ponsness, 57, ruled Kathleen’s death as a homicide and Kenneth’s death as a suicide.

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LITTLE FALLS — A 39-year-old Randall man was killed Monday after the motorcycle he was driving struck a deer causing him and the motorcycle to go down on the roadway where they were struck by two vehicles on Highway 10, west of Morrison County Road 13 near Little Falls in Morrison County, reported the Minnesota State Patrol.

The man killed was identified as Daniel J. Scepurek.

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The Cable TV Advisory Committee will meet at 4 p.m. today at the CTC offices.

Gifted and talented programs in the Brainerd School District will remain under the direction of a half-time gifted and talented coordinator as opposed to a full-time position despite some discussion to change it back to the old ways during the Brainerd School Board meeting Monday night.

Board member Jim Hunt motioned that the new position of the half-time gifted and talented coordinator should be reinstated back in to a full-time position.

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