JANUARY 3 20 years ago (1993) Crow Wing County's unemployment rate jumped from 5.0 percent in October to 6.7 percent in November, a bit higher than the normal seasonal surge. Cass County was at 10.3 percent, Todd at 7.0 percent and Wadena at 8.

JANUARY 1 20 years ago (1993) (Photos) William Schmidt of Redwood Falls landed this 17-4 northern. Gene Witt of Brainerd hauled in a 17-4 northern. Gene Grell of Nisswa used a sucker minnow to catch this 18-2 northern on Nisswa Lake.

DECEMBER 31 20 years ago (1992) The owners of two dogs were issued warnings for allowing their dogs to run free after their dogs chased and killed a deer on the Mississippi River south of the Potlatch dam.

DECEMBER 30 20 years ago (1992) Bruce Backberg is thankful to be alive after surviving several minutes of terror when a gunman shot up a Bemidji bar where he was playing as drummer for the Lonesome Road Band.

DECEMBER 28 20 years ago (1992) Margit Rinke made Warrior history late in the third period against Thief River Falls when she became Brainerd's all-time leading basketball scorer.

DECEMBER 27 20 years ago (1992) Mary and Nathan Tuomi have more to celebrate Friday than the coming of the new year. They will be celebrating the birth of their daughter, Emmy Lee, who was Crow Wing County's New Year's Baby of 1992.

20 years ago (1992) The Brainerd Fire Department was called to numerous fires over the Christmas holiday, forcing fire fighters to battle not only fires but frigid weather.

DECEMBER 25 20 years ago (1992) Indianapolis Colts punter Rohn Stark, a native of Pine River, has been selected to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the fourth time. Stark is second in the AFC with a 45.3-yard punting average.

DECEMBER 24 20 years ago (1992) On Christmas Eve there's still hope for people who'd like to put presents under a tree but can't afford a tree. Mike Gebhard at the East Brainerd Mall is giving free trees to people who don't have the money to buy one.

DECEMBER 23 20 years ago (1992) Brainerd Community College basketball players Matt Pecarich and Andrae Bellfield were chosen to the all-tournament team in last week's Northern Conference Classic at Vermillion.