http://brainerddispatch.com/ The top 5 Brainerd Lakes Area headlines from brainerddispatch.com - Brainerd, MN, USA -For complete listings visit our web site. en-us Copyright Brainerd Dispatch Sat, 10 May 2008 01:00:00 CDT 60 http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510083.shtml BREEZY POINT - The state may want to consider changing the name of this season-opening event to the Lieutenant Governor's Fishing Opener. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510056.shtml PEQUOT LAKES - It was all about the lines. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510085.shtml BAXTER - Life has become a little crazy for Alisha Smith, a Baxter second-grade teacher who is now home on maternity leave with her two preschool-age daughters and 4-month-old twins. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510057.shtml EAST GULL LAKE - The East Gull Lake City Council Thursday decided against extending city sewer to the Sylvan Shores area after the majority of the standing-room-only crowd expressed opposition to the project. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510084.shtml First they saw the street lights, then the curb and finally the road disappear. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510081.shtml Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau held up a 19-inch walleye from her boat on Pelican Lake. Molnau caught the first fish in the competition with Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/new_20080510025.shtml Whittier Elementary first-graders Priscilla Doucette (left) and Sierra Smith and Smith's fourth-grade sister Caitlyn ate pizzas during the party. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/obi_20080510061.shtml LAKE HUBERT - John W. Turcotte, age 86, Lake Hubert, Minn., formerly of Mendota Heights and Minneapolis, died of prostate cancer May 5, 2008, at his home surrounded by his family. John, the only child of William V. Turcotte and Ella Mitchell, was born in Brainerd, Minn., Dec. 30, 1921. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/obi_20080510062.shtml DEERWOOD - James Francis Gross, 69, of Deerwood, formerly of St. Paul, passed away Thursday, May 8, 2008, of esophageal cancer at his home surrounded by family. He was born Feb. 15, 1939, in St. Paul to Conrad and Evelyn (Carr) Gross. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/obi_20080510063.shtml LITTLE FALLS - Reinhard Billmeyer, 77-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Friday, May 9, 2008, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, May 12, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic church in Pierz, Minn. Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, May 11, at Emblom-Brenny East Chapel and from 9:30 a.m. until the hour of service on Monday at the church in Pierz, Minn. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/obi_20080510064.shtml LITTLE FALLS - Richard T. Firle, 84, of Little Falls, formerly of Minneapolis, died Thursday, May 8, 2008, at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls. Interment with military honors by the Little Falls American Legion Post No. 46 and the VFW Post No. 1112 will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/obi_20080510065.shtml FIFTY LAKES - Janis Gail Jerentosky, 68, of Fifty Lakes, died at her home surrounded by family and friends on Feb. 20, 2008. Memorial services will be Saturday, May 17, 2008, at 10 a.m. at Crosslake Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Anderson officiating. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/fyi_20080510069.shtml The Brainerd Fire Department is investigating a fire early Saturday that started in a trash container alongside Easy Riders Bicycle and Sport Shop on Washington Street in Brainerd, causing smoke damage in the building. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/fyi_20080510054.shtml St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/fyi_20080510022.shtml NISSWA - The Nisswa Women's Club will hold its 2008 scholarship review at Central Lakes College in Brainerd on Thursday. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m., not at the usual noon starting time. The Nisswa Elementary School will be providing music for this meeting. Hostesses for the meeting are Suzanne Sundquist, chair; Jo Ann Loch, Rosie Whitman, Nancy Schwab and Jane Myhra. Inspirational: Colette Miller. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/opi_20080510080.shtml Is an active listener someone who turns and walks away while you are talking? I don't think so. Your homework is passed back to you marked "incomplete." http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/opi_20080510071.shtml Politicians simply can't help themselves. If their constituents are clearly up in arms about an issue the politicians are going to charge in to do something - even if it's wrong. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/opi_20080510072.shtml One of my favorite features on ESPN is entitled "Fact or Fiction." This segment features the commentator asking someone about the effects of a rule change, a player trade, etc. on a professional sport. The featured guest will then respond either Fact or Fiction and clarify his/her response. I am going to use that same format to clarify a change that will take place next year at Crosby-Ironton High School. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/opi_20080510074.shtml WASHINGTON - This year American consumers are expected to spend an average of $138.63 each on flowers, cards and gifts for Mother's Day, for a grand total of $15.8 billion. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510030.shtml As Central Lakes College Raiders fast-pitch softball coach Bob Sullivan said, "We did it the hard way." http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510031.shtml With the mound located just 40 feet from home plate if a fast-pitch softball team has a dominant pitcher its chances of success are considerable. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510032.shtml Snow, rain, wind, cold. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510033.shtml Poor weather hasn't dampened Kaari Jensen's optimism for postseason success. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510034.shtml Glen Abbott's successful track and field season may end sooner than expected. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510035.shtml GRAND RAPIDS - Gabe Wood pitched a two-hit shutout as the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks dealt the Brainerd Warriors their first loss of the season, 10-0 in six innings, in Class 3A baseball Friday. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/spo_20080510039.shtml LONG PRAIRIE - Molly Hoppe carded an 87 to finish sixth in the Presection 8-3A Invitational on Friday and led the Brainerd Warriors to an eighth-place finish. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/wea_20080510077.shtml Today...Rain spreading over most of the state...Except the far http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/wea_20080510076.shtml Winter weather advisory this morning for portions of the west http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/wea_20080510075.shtml Flood watch for portions of northwest...Central and east central http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/wea_20080510079.shtml Today...Increasing clouds. A chance of rain west...Mainly in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s...Cooler near the great lakes. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/wea_20080510078.shtml Winter weather advisory north central today... http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510011.shtml Kristina Solberg and Derek Olson announce their engagement. Parents are Joe and Julie Jedlicka and James Solberg, all of Brainerd, and Darrel and Kim Olson, Menahga. A July 26 wedding is planned at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510012.shtml Lisa Ebert and Levi Geinert announce their engagement. Parents are Russ and Joni Ebert, Lake Shore, and Marlys Morlock, Bismarck, N.D., and Mike Geinert, Bismarck, N.D. A June 21 wedding is planned at Gloria Dei Church in Pequot Lakes. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510013.shtml Stephanie Tabor and Brandon Timmins announce their engagement. Parents are Steven Tabor, St. Louis Park, and JoAnn Tabor and Richard Zimmel, Big Lake, and Leah and Kevin Juhnke, Big Lake. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510014.shtml Nichole Phillips and Joshua Hanske announce their engagement. Parents are Randy and Nancy Phillips, East Gull Lake, and Dr. Stephen and Lynn Hanske, Baxter. A July 26 wedding is planned at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510015.shtml Elisabeth Kraft and Jeremiah Dittmann announce their engagement. Parents are Jim and Jean Kraft, Breezy Point, and Steve and Claire Dittmann, Ettrick, Wis. A June 21 wedding is planned at BayView Event Center on Lake Minnetonka in Excelsior. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510016.shtml Leah Marie Bacon and Robby Allen Ahmann announce their engagement. Parents are Mark Bacon, Baxter, and Diane Wedan, Merrifield, and Ron Ahmann, Materie, La., and Connie Fultz, Wadena. A July 15 wedding is planned at the Crosslake Assembly of God Church with a reception at the Jenkins VFW. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/peo_20080510017.shtml Amy Tilbury and Mitchel Netterlund were married April 11, 2008, in Maui, Hawaii. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/bus_20080510001.shtml The mother of four small children, Carrie Chiodi of Breezy Point, uses her visits to Wild Hair salon in Pequot Lakes to get a few moments for herself. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/bus_20080510002.shtml Loading up the car for an outdoor movie theater experience won't be limited to special events this summer. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/bus_20080510005.shtml Carol Manley of Canine Tutor Dog Training on Pine Beach Road, recently completed training and certification testing for canine sports massage at Supreme Motion Inc. of Pine City. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/bus_20080510006.shtml The Sigma Delta chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association at Central Lakes College recently participated in national competition Kansas City, Mo., winning several categories. http://www.brainerddispatch.com/stories/051008/bus_20080510007.shtml The Minnesota Dental Association, through its foundation, awarded Central Lakes College a $990 grant for the dental assisting program on the Brainerd campus.