Local news briefs

Vacationland Figure Skating Club and Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association are sponsoring a spaghetti dinner from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Brainerd Moose Lodge. Dinner includes spaghetti with meat sauce, salad, garlic bread and milk. Tickets are $5.50 for adults, children 12 and under are $3.50 and children under age 3 are free.

The dinner is a fundraiser for the Gold Medal Arena to maintain the facility and finish some details. For more information, call Paul at 825-8071 or Linda at 746-3130.

Salvation Army served households

With the help of businesses, organizations, the media and individuals in the community, The Salvation Army was able to serve 469 households, 1,377 individuals and 644 children with food baskets, angel tree gifts of clothing and used toys during the Christmas season.

Man plea bargains in wife's slaying

BARABOO, Wis. (AP) -- A Minnesota man who told investigators he shot his wife during a dispute over a financial matter has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

The couple argued over who should pay for a time-share condominium in Lake Delton near Wisconsin Dells, a criminal complaint said.

William D. Wooten, 45, an Army career master sergeant, pleaded guilty Friday to a reduced charge following plea bargaining.

Wooten was arrested Sept. 2 outside the Peppertree Resort where his wife, Linda S. Freeman-Wooten, 45, of Eagan, had been shot with a .357 Magnum in a parking lot.

He told Sauk County investigators he and his wife wed in 1994.