Friday, January 9, 2009
Fuel-sipping compact doesn't cut it in snow
CORNWALL, N.Y. - Style points count for little here in the snow. The only vehicles that matter are those with four-wheel drive or, at least, all-wheel drive - a system that automatically transfers drive power from slipping to gripping wheels.
Passat CC: Some bang, but not enough for the bucks
The taxonomy of cars was once straightforward: Sedans had four doors and a trunk; coupes had two doors and little back seats; roadsters had two doors, two seats and fabric tops.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
FINE ARTS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Brian Ashburn
Ringing in the new year with new recipes
The new year came very quietly at our house, and I took some time to ponder my expectations for the next year. Even though I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions, I resolved to take life one day at a time and to live life to the best of my ability. I will try to laugh when I'd rather cry, to reach out my hand for someone in need, to overlook the faults I see in others and to promote peace and love to family and friends.
Candidates sought for Crow Wing County Dairy Princess
The 2009 Crow Wing County Dairy Princess banquet, coronation, and dance are scheduled for March 14.
POLICE BLOTTER
THEFT - Police arrested a 20-year-old male Wednesday for shoplifting $10.50 worth of merchandise at Mills Fleet Farm.
COURTS
WALKER - The following appeared recently in Cass County District Court:
Cass court
WALKER - Lisa Jeanine Hoemke, 43, Benedict, was sentenced recently in Cass County District Court for felony theft by swindle to 60 days jail, ordered to pay $207 fees and was placed on five years supervised probation.
POLICE BLOTTER
ARREST - An 18-year-old Crosslake man was arrested Tuesday by Crosslake police for making terroristic threats.
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
803 Kingwood St., Brainerd.
New year, new perspective
Our revels now are ended. It's time to clean up.
Prime NORTH GMAC helps needy children
NISSWA - Agents from Prime NORTH GMAC Real Estate in Nisswa collected toys for needy children for Christmas For Kids, a local nonprofit organization.
Tips for fighting winter's chill
It's a tough economic climate for cold weather. The household bills that accompany winter temperatures can be as harsh as the winds outside, dealing a blistering blow to already exhausted budgets.
LOCAL BRIEFS
AITKIN - The Northern Lights Wine Club will present The Wines of Chile and Argentina at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Beanery Internet Cafe in downtown Aitkin.
Correction
The Brainerd Dispatch incorrectly listed the year-to-date snowfall amount reported by the DNR in Brainerd for 2008 in a Page 1A story in Tuesday's paper. The correct figure is 28.25 inches. The Dispatch incorrectly reported the total as 29.95 inches.
Overheard
If nothing is done this recession could linger for years.
This was Brainerd
JANUARY 9 - 60 years ago (1949) - The Crow Wing chapter of the American Red Cross yesterday elected Mrs. J.A. Thabes Sr., honorary chairman of the chapter for life. Mrs. Thabes served as chairman for 30 years.
Digital TV conversion fast approaching
The government reports at midnight on Feb. 17, all full-power U.S. TV stations will stop analog broadcasts and switch to 100 percent digital because of a Congressional mandate. The switch is expected to provide clearer images and free airwaves for use by emergency responders.
LOCAL BRIEFS
ST. PAUL - The Minnesota House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee on Wednesday altered the way House members are paid for housing but Rep. Larry Howes said he's not certain it will save money.
Project gets go-ahead
WALKER - Cass County Engineer David Enblom obtained county board approval Tuesday to begin eminent domain condemnation proceedings against one property along County State Aid Highway 35 for a road construction easement.
Poverty to be the focus of meeting Tuesday
The Crow Wing County Coalition to End Poverty is hosting a special community meeting to address increasing poverty in the region.
BLADC seeks public's help
The Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp. is seeking the public's help in finding a project that could benefit from potential federal grant funds available that would assist targeted neighborhoods in Crow Wing County.
Correction
A quote in the Overheard in Thursday's Dispatch should have been attributed to the current President Bush. It incorrectly was attributed to former President Clinton.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Joe Ayers, executive director of Tri-County Community Action, will discuss poverty in the lakes area at noon Thursday at the Brainerd Public Library.
Camp Olson counselor enters plea in criminal sexual conduct case
WALKER - A former camp counselor at Camp Olson near Longville has pleaded guilty to one count of felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Warrior dance team to compete Thursday
ST. CLOUD - The Brainerd High School dance team will compete in the Central Lakes Conference jazz division Thursday at Apollo High School in St. Cloud.
New Years' baby loses clothes, baby items in water damage incident
Life isn't necessarily always so easy, even when you're lucky enough to be the first baby born in Crow Wing County in 2009.
This was Brainerd
JANUARY 8 - 40 years ago (1969) - Though the snow is deep and the temperature cold, hardy Brainerd area residents still find ways to enjoy the outdoors. A group of youngsters enjoy a sleigh ride in the Whipple Lake area.
How to handle 'retired' TV sets
The digital TV conversion deadline is fast approaching and while that doesn't necessarily mean out with the old, there are options to recycle those old sets.
Overheard
Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country.
Value put on offenders work
WALKER - Ninety-nine offenders worked on Cass County sentence to serve crews during 2008, completing an equivalent of $88,743 worth of market value work, according to Mary Tennis, jail program coordinator.
Recession puts pressure on rental housing here
A single father of two children thought he was doing pretty well raising his family in Brainerd.
Red Cross needs to raise $10k by Jan. 21
They were granted a slight reprieve, but the Brainerd office of the American Red Cross still needs to raise $10,000 by Jan. 21 in order to keep its doors open.
Officials take steps to prevent property fraud
WALKER - Did you know scammers could forge your signature, then take out a mortgage against your property or transfer the deed to your home, land or business property without your knowledge for their own financial gain?
Gull Lake area to be pilot for project on uniform standards
NISSWA - For years, people who live on lakes overlapping more than one county or city have wondered why the zoning rules on their side of the lake have to be different from those on the other side of the lake.
Phyllis Pundt
Phyllis June (Smith) Pundt, 83, recently a resident of Bethany Good Samaritan nursing home in Brainerd found her eternal rest Tuesday morning, Jan. 6, 2009. She was born on June 2, 1925, near Verndale, Minn., to Vincent and Selma Smith.
Kevin Anderson
NEW GERMANY - Kevin Anthony Anderson, 43-year-old resident of New Germany, Minn., passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, at his home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, Minn. Friends may call from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral chapel.
Adeline Johnson
RANDALL - Adeline Johnson, 93, of Randall, Minn., died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Randall.
Elenora Bible
BIGFORK - Elenora C. Bible, age 89, resident of Bigfork, formerly of Brainerd, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, in Bigfork.
Alice Ziske
AITKIN - Alice L. Ziske, age 89, of Aitkin, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Laura Carlson
ARDEN HILLS - Laura L. Carlson, 94-year-old resident of Arden Hills, Minn., formerly of Randall, Minn., passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at the Presbyterian Home in Arden Hills, Minn. Funeral services for Laura L. Carlson will be held Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Randall. Friends may call from 1-2 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Randall. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
Christopher Warden
TROY, Ala. - Christopher "Chris" T. Warden, an assistant professor at the Hall School of Journalism and Communication at Troy University, recently passed away on Jan. 4, 2009, from a lifelong battle against hemophilia.
Vada Berhow
ONAMIA - Vada Berhow, 72-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., died on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at the Holy Cross Center in Onamia, Minn., with Pastor Joe Boeringa officiating.
Dorothy Maas
Dorothy Maas, age 76, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.
Margaret Stumpf
LITTLE FALLS - Margaret Stumpf, 76-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., formerly of Park Rapids, Minn., passed away Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at 6:20 p.m. at the Lake Hills Elderly Care Facility in Cushing, Minn. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Gerald Sofferahn
AITKIN - Gerald F. Sofferahn, age, 68, of Aitkin, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Lynn Boyd
Lynn "Lenny" Boyd, 66, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Southern Nevada Veteran's Cemetery.
Evelyn Messerli
PINE RIVER - Evelyn Messerli, age 100, of Pine River, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. The oldest of three children, she was born Nov. 12, 1908, in Chicago to Rudolph and Emma Messerli. Evelyn lived most of her life in Chicago, moving to Pequot Lakes to be near her brother, Rudi, after her sister, Rosa, passed away. She lived in Sibley Terrace for seven years until moving to Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in 2000.
Corey McKenney
PIERZ - Corey Edward McKenney, age 7, resident of Pierz, died at St. Cloud Hospital Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. Corey was born in Brainerd April 25, 2001, to Margo Curren and Russell McKenney.
Renaldo Ray
Renaldo Christopher Ray, 3 pounds, 1.5 ounces, and 16.75 inches long, was stillborn on Jan. 7, 2009 at United Hospital, St. Paul, Minn.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Adeline Johnson
RANDALL - Adeline Johnson, 93, of Randall, passed away at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Randall with Father Leo Moenkedick officiating.
Robert Fairley
Robert "Bob" Christian Fairley passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at the age of 91. He was the oldest of five children, born Oct. 31, 1917, in Pine River, Minn., to Sylvester and Minnie (Skow) Fairley.
Connie Bement
Connie Bement, 50, of Brainerd, died at her home Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009. Services for Connie will be 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services.
Colleen Colbenson
ONAMIA - Colleen Colbenson, 76-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., died on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, at the Mille Lacs hospital in Onamia, Minn. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009, at Living Water Assembly of God near Isle, Minn., with Pastor Joe Boeringa officiating. Burial will be the Onamia Veterans Cemetery in Onamia, Minn. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel.
Selma Ose
Selma Lillian "Sally" Ose, 97, of Brainerd, died on Jan. 6, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. She was born on Aug. 5, 1911, in Morristown, N.D., to Franklin A. and Lena (Mueller) Sander.
OUR OPINION: SENATE RACE
So, it looks like Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., will be Minnesota's only senator for the next several weeks or months.
VOX POP
Could snowmobilers show a little consideration and stop throwing snow back onto our driveways? And maybe give us a little time to shovel our driveways before they pack it down so hard we have to break it with an iron bar.
What do you think?
The Brainerd Dispatch welcomes letters on recent articles and current issues. Letters should include the writer's full name, city and a phone number (for verification only). Letters are limited to 300 words. Only one letter per person per week.
Open Forum
I feel that I must respond to a recent news brief in the Brainerd Dispatch. On Dec.31, you ran a short brief titled Group sues to reinstate firearms ban. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is suing the Bush administration over a new policy that would allow people to carry concealed, loaded firearms in most national parks and wildlife refuges. The group's president, Paul Helmke said We should not be making it easier for dangerous people to carry firearms in our Parks.
What do you think?
On our Web site, www.brainerddispatch.com, readers may participate in forums at brainerd.dispatch.com/forums.
Open Forum
There seems to be nothing more nonsensical than the Viking officials whining for public assistance for a new stadium in today's tough times. Their latest ploy is to say, Look how many jobs they would create to build it.
Brainerd lakes area churches
Brainerd
'God is on the Loose... and requires a response'
This is the theme for 2009 for South Long Lake Presbyterian Church of Brainerd. Living a day (much less a year) is like bowling without pins or archery with a target. You just have no direction.
CHURCH NEWS
BAXTER - Gayle Mortensen was installed as the director of parish music on Dec. 28 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Baxter by Rev. Kevin Robson.
Grief support group started
Husband and wife pastors Kristin and Tony Oltmann saw a need in the community and now they're trying to fill it.
Warrior boys win, girls wind up in 2nd place
MONT DU LAC, Wis. - Powered by four top-10 finishers in each race, the Brainerd Warrior boys claimed a first-place finish and the girls a runner-up finish in the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Invite on Thursday.
Smith helps Brainerd remain unbeaten
ALEXANDRIA - Sam Smith won all for individual events and took honors in the all-around competition as the Brainerd Warriors gymnastics team defeated Alexandria 144.925-115.8 in a Central Lakes Conference meet Thursday.
Bemidji defeats Brainerd
BEMIDJI - The Brainerd Warriors' Kyle Crocker led all scorers with 22 points in a 72-63 non-conference loss to the Bemidji Lumberjacks on Thursday.
Diver turned swimmer takes off
Jake Larson's decision to dive off starting blocks rather than a board may have caused Brainerd Warriors diving coach Owen Trout a little angst.
LOCAL SPORTS SHORTS
The Golden Lakes Boxing Club will present a card at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the former Reed's Building on Highway 371 North in Baxter.
Morris-Benson defeats Pequot Lakes 6-3
BREEZY POINT - Emily Erickson scored two goals for Pequot Lakes in a 6-3 loss to Morris-Benson on Thursday.
Brainerd team to open May 28
The new Brainerd franchise in the Northwoods League will open its first season May 28 against the St. Cloud River Bats at 7:05 p.m. at Mills Field.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Raiders end jinx
The Central Lakes College women's basketball team has not had success against Itasca the last few years. The Vikings had pretty much dominated CLC on their way to winning three straight Northern Division championships.
Wilford celebrates award with big game
Quentin Wilford was named Northern Division men's basketball player of the week Tuesday by the Minnesota College Athletic Conference.
Wangberg leads Tigers to win
BLACKDUCK - Katie Wangberg scored 18 points to lead the Pine River-Backus Tigers past Blackduck 52-45 on Thursday.
Little Falls remains unbeaten in the CLC
SARTELL - Frank Wilczek, Dillon Kifer, Bryant Bue and Brandon Hiemenz won by fall as the Little Falls Flyers defeated Sartell 55-24 in Central Lakes Conference action Thursday. Little Falls, which won four matches by forfeit, improved to 3-0 in the CLC.
Ruen, Brainerd fly past Sabres
Mike Ruen can fly.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Apollo hands Flyers first loss
ST. CLOUD - Seventh-grader Rachelle LeBlanc had two second-place finishes and two thirds for the Little Falls Flyers as they lost their first meet of the season, 129.075-128.375 to the St. Cloud Apollo Eagles in Central Lakes Conference action Thursday.
Fergus Falls nips Brainerd 36-33
FERGUS FALLS - The Fergus Falls Otters won the last three matches in a 36-33 victory over the Brainerd Warrior in a Central Lakes Conference meet Thursday.
Ness hat trick leads Wolverines
DETROIT LAKES - Trevor Ness had a hat trick for the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines in a 5-3 Mid-State Conference win over the Detroit Lakes Lakers on Thursday.
Big second half lifts Pequot
PEQUOT LAKES - Michael Goerges racked up 18 points for the Pequot Lakes Patriots in a 72-62 non-conference win over the Detroit Lakes Lakers Thursday.
LOCAL SPORTS SHORTS
Central Lakes College guard Quentin Wilford has been named the Northern Division Player of the Week ending Jan. 3.
Snowman and friend
Weather drawing by Hannah McKeog in the St. Francis fifth grade of Mrs. Olson.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Winter storm watch portions of northwest from 6 pm tonight
State forecast for N.D.
Winter storm warning northwest and most of central and winter
State forecast for S.D.
Winter weather advisory northeast through noon...
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Becoming mostly cloudy statewide. A chance of snow north with snow likely north central. Snow may be mixed with rain or freezing rain northwest and north central. A slight chance of snow southeast in the late afternoon. Highs from around 10 northeast...To the lower 50s southwest.
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory portions west central from 6 am cst today until 9 pm cst friday...
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter weather advisory for much of central and southern
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cold. Partly cloudy with highs from 15 to 30.
State forecast for N.D.
A winter storm warning and winter weather advisory are in
Snowboarding fun
Weather drawing by Camden Cooper in the Baxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
State forecast for Iowa
Winter weather advisory in effect until 6 pm this evening for
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory west through south today into tonight...