Snowmobilers and snowshoe enthusiasts have grumbled all winter about the dearth of snow this season. Well, here’s another reason why many of us have missed those blizzard-filled winters of yesteryear.
Challenging weather, such as this past week’s dumping of 7 inches of snow in Brainerd, often brings out random acts of kindness.

EFOFEST SHORT INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL!! Friday, March 2nd 6pm - 8pm, followed by awards ceremony $5. Saturday, March 3rd 1pm - 8pm | $15 or $10 for Students, Seniors or Crossing Arts Members. Sunday, March 4th 11am - 2pm, $5. OR Weekend Pass, March 2 - 4, $20 ($15 for Students, Seniors or Crossing Arts Members)!! At CLC, Chalberg Theatre, 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN. Tickets on sale at the CLC box office or online at www.clctickets.com.

Of course they will need to get there first, but of the numerous quality wrestlers in the Brainerd lakes area, who has the best shot for gold next weekend at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul?

Last year, Pierz's Clint Poster won his second state title and Crosby-Ironton's Hayden Zillmer picked up his third straight. Both young men have graduated so who is next?

BAXTER — Two Brainerd Dispatch newsroom employees scurried into the back of Lord of Life Lutheran Church Thursday — late for a funeral.
It was, perhaps, an unintentional tribute to Joe Melby, the longtime Dispatch printer, who had spent much of his newspaper career waiting for a layout dummy or a late photo or story in order to put Page1A to bed.
Melby, who died Saturday at the age of 82, at his Baxter home, worked in the Dispatch composing room longer than anyone here can really remember, retiring in 1993.