Thursday, February 1, 2007
2007 Chrysler Pacifica Touring has family appeal
WASHINGTON - It has been four years. In the interim, nomenclature has been simplified, definition enhanced, and the Chrysler Pacifica, which went on sale in the United States in the spring of 2003, officially has been declared a family wagon.
Off-roading with the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
WASHINGTON - I once traveled the Continental Divide Trail from Durango, Colo., to Chama, N.M. It was a challenging off-road trip in a Land Rover Range Rover. But this week's test vehicle, the 2007 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, would have handled the journey just as well at a substantially lower equipment cost.
MUSIC SHORTS
Violinist Lise Holte will perform with the Chamber Orchestra.
Freshman finds his voice
Brian Ashburn may only be a freshman at South Campus in Brainerd, but he plays with the big dogs when it comes to his debating skills.
Claire from 'Heroes' ...
Television characters aren't real people, but you wouldn't know it by the way these folks jump off the screen. They are TV's 10 best characters of the moment.
COMING NEXT WEEK
Bluegrass ambassador Ricky Skaggs, who released "Instrumentals" with his band last year, is looking forward to the Grammys and a pair of shows at Grand Casino Mille Lacs.
ART SHORTS
AITKIN - "Abstracts in Glass, Paint & Wood," featuring the work of four area artists, will be on display Friday-March 10 at the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin.
Axtman shows off studio skills
If this music thing doesn't work out, perhaps Keith Axtman can land an advertising gig for Dell computers or Adobe Audition 2.0. That's what he used to record his debut album, "Big Dreams," and rarely has a self-produced, on-the-cheap CD sounded so good.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
Instructor's ceramics featured
Mic Stowell, a Central Lakes College art instructor, has installed 15 of his latest sculptures in the CLC Gallery on the Brainerd campus. The exhibit can be viewed through Feb. 15.
Two guest choreographers visit Music General Studios
Guest jazz instructor Jen Silvas taught Music General students Dec. 26-30 in the Brainerd studios. Silvas, from Los Angeles, teaches technique and choreography around the world. She currently lives in Italy, where she is teaching and performing.
One-woman show slated at CLC
Central Lakes College Theatre will begin its spring Cultural Arts Series with Lauren Nickisch's one-woman show, "Hephzibeth, Woman of Iron," at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-10 in the Dryden Theatre on the Brainerd campus.
Homemade bread rises to occasion
I am a huge fan of homemade fresh bread, so I bought a new bread machine over the weekend.
BIRTHS
Jedidiah LaValle and Kimberly Marshall, Pierz, a girl, Lillyana Marie LaValle, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, Jan. 10, 2007. Grandparents are Kelly Marshall (Liz Christenson), Brainerd, and Angel Mann, Pillager.
CRIMES
BURGLARIES - James Milne, Emily, Monday reported his cabin broken into.
Brainerd 6A boys reign
Brainerd's 6A boys' basketball team won the A Division of the Rogers tournament, beating Anoka, Brooklyn Park/Park Center and Rogers. Team members include, front: Jacob Blong (left), Ian Haug, Marcus Comstock. Back: Matt Sharockman, Tony Sauer, Luke Patron, Jack Sauer, Tate Geraets. Not pictured: Dax Van Steenwyk.
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Do you have a treasured photo? Send us your favorite family photographs, including a brief description of the photo and when it was taken, for possible publication in the Neighbors section. Submit your recent photos to: kathi.nagorski@brainerddispatch.com
Wal-Mart Supercenter in Little Falls
The construction of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Little Falls is coming along. The 207,203 square-foot superstore, being built along Highway 10 near the Highway 27 exit north of the Country Inn and Suites, will include groceries, a liquor store, an auto center, a gas station, a garden center and a photo center. Brainerd Dispatch/Jennifer Stockinger
LOCAL BRIEFS
UPM Blandin Paper will sponsor four $5,000 scholarships for the 2007-2008 school years.
PETS OF THE WEEK
Cirrus is a 2-year-old male Australian Cattle Dog mix. He's a medium-sized, lovable dog with a cute face. Cirrus will be neutered as soon as he gets adopted.
Locals advance in free-throw competition
Boys and girls ages 10-14 participated in the Knights of Columbus annual free-throw contest Sunday at Crosby-Ironton High School.
Technology & ballet
ITTLE FALLS - Students in a fitness through music class at the Little Falls Community High School were introduced Friday to modern ballet dancing.
When it comes to goals, be SMART
Fitness, wellness and weight loss for most of us are difficult. Yes, we want to make these life changes, but we just can't.
A check in the mail, a dog in our hearts
In the middle of January, I was faced with the hard task of finally putting my little Trixie to sleep. She had been my special little girl for 15 years. She was full of cancer and it had to be done. I was miserable to live with for the following two months.
Mild winter springs surprises on bird watchers
The sighting of the first robin once was a harbinger of spring, a sure sign that winter was in the rearview mirror.
Gull in its glory
Chuck Nelson captured this photo taken at the end of Gull Point on Gull Lake looking southwest.
Initiative Foundation announces grant recipients
to area
agencies
LITTLE FALLS - The Initiative Foundation has awarded 18 community grants totaling $131,300.
Peer tutor idea is a winner
When Garrett Wedan transferred from Pequot Lakes to Franklin Junior High School in Brainerd at the start of his ninth-grade year, he and the other new students were introduced to the school by other ninth-graders, who served as peer mediators.
A new Dispatch feature
Starting Tuesday, the Brainerd Dispatch will introduce a new way for readers to interact with community leaders and other topical experts and ask the questions they've been wanting to ask but haven't had the opportunity.
Here's your chance to ask Walseth
It's your turn to ask the questions.
Passenger in critical condition following crash
BREEZY POINT - One of four people injured in a single-vehicle rollover Monday night on Crow Wing County Road 4 south of Breezy Point was in critical condition Tuesday at a Twin Cities hospital.
Overheard
"There's never been a project like it in the United States."
Overheard
"Money is like water, it'll find a way."
BHS debate team is able to point to improvement
The Brainerd High School Debate Team's young crew this season realized many successes, said Lincoln-Douglas Debate Coach Dave Pritschet.
LOCAL BRIEFS
LEADER - A 29-year-old Brooklyn Center man was injured Tuesday after the car he was a passenger in struck a tree on Highway 64, about a mile north of Leader in Cass County, the State Patrol reported.
Ryan wins respect of peers
Sitting in his third-floor office at the Crow Wing County Judicial Center, Don Ryan is surrounded by mementos of the things important to him.
This was Brainerd
JANUARY 31 - 100 years ago (1907) - The railroad boys would not do a thing to the author of that touching poem, "The Beautiful Snow," if they could get hold of him these days, oh, no.
This was Brainerd
FEBRUARY 1 - 60 years ago (1947) - Conditions equaling those existing at the Riverside grade school were pointed out during a survey of the Garfield grade school. Petitions signed by residents of the school areas urging the erecting of new schools are now before the Brainerd Board of Education.
School starting date sparks renewed debate
ST. PAUL (AP) - The clash over the school calendar is back at the state Capitol.
Deer kill ranks 2nd in history
Minnesota hunters killed nearly 270,000 deer in 2006, the second-highest harvest in the state.
Virus shuts down high school wrestling
Wrestling's less appealing characteristics, from weight loss to skin disorders to bleeding, are the impressions many outsiders may have of the sport.
Aitkin County to get ATV trail
A new 85-mile off-highway vehicle trail was approved Tuesday by Aitkin County and the DNR.
Cold or not, work goes on
Carpenter Brad Zohlmann sawed a board while working Tuesday in single digit temperatures on a new house in Baxter. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Beverly J. Geer
DEERWOOD - Beverly Jane Geer, 82, of Deerwood, died Jan. 28, 2007, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. She was born on Jan. 11, 1925, in Minneapolis to Emil and Eva (Cowell) Duemke.
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.
Robert 'Bob' Manske
LITTLE FALLS - Robert "Bob" Manske, age 82, of Little Falls, Minn., passed away on Jan. 29, 2007, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Dorothy G. Stokke
BAXTER - Dorothy G. Stokke, age 83, of Baxter, passed away late Tuesday night, Jan. 30, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Cora M. Eckstrom
LITTLE FALLS - Cora M. Eckstrom, 92-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., formerly of Upsala, Minn., passed away Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at Community Covenant Church in Upsala. Burial will be in the church cemetery in Upsala. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Patricia A. Christensen
Patricia A. Christensen, age 70, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
David A. Starkka
STAPLES - David A. Starkka, age 53, of Staples, former longtime resident of Brainerd, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at the Staples Care Center. He has gone to be with his Lord. David was born in Brainerd July 21, 1953, to Ralph and Marlys Starkka. He took many post-secondary classes.
Noel F. Holden
BACKUS - Noel Florence (Van Blaricom) Holden, age 70, of Backus, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Aug. 25, 1936, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to Lewis and Martha (Rice) Van Blaricom.
Jean K. Whitcraft
Jean Kain Whitcraft, 85, Brainerd, formerly of Coon Rapids, Minn., and San Juan, Texas, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
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.
LeRoy A. Yonke
LeRoy A. Yonke, age 73, resident of Brainerd, went home to the Lord Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007. LeRoy was born in Upsala, Minn., Aug. 1, 1933, to Alvin and Eleanor (Doty) Yonke. He had been a 30-year South Long Lake resident. In 1979 he moved to the Kingwood Nursing Home in Brainerd where he lived until it closed.
Open Forum
My son, Sgt. Peter Isackson is on his second tour in Iraq. I would give everything I have to have him here safe and sound. He is soon to be a father and his wife, Heather, is active army in Germany.
Open Forum
A letter in the Friday, January 26, 2007, Open Forum of the Brainerd Dispatch asked the question "Isn't it time we elect candidates that are prepared to address the more demanding issues facing our nation, state, and local government?
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
OUR OPINION: HISTORY
Minnesota communities are proud of their long tradition of tourism but the Walker/Leech Lake area appears to have bragging rights it can hold over neighboring tourism towns. It appears that prehistoric Asian visitors may have made the Walker area a tourist destination close to 15,000 years ago.
VOX POP
I thought our politicians were the greediest people in the state. Not anymore. Teachers just hit No. 1 on the greedy guts list. They are not satisfied with all the other perks they receive with their job. Now they want us to pay their taxes. A greedy gut is never satisfied. It always wants more. It is time to do some radical surgery on this problem or, like any other cancer, it will just keep growing.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Brainerd Nordic teams finish second
WAUBUN - While not a member of the North Star Conference, the Brainerd Warriors boys' and girls' Nordic ski teams placed second in the conference meet Tuesday.
BHS finds shooting touch
Four days removed from one of its worst shooting performances of the season, a disheartening home-court loss to the St. Cloud Tech Tigers, the Brainerd Warriors boys' basketball team was looking for redemption.
Shepherd, Snider lift Brainerd in win
Hats and a pair of shoes went flying over the glass and onto the ice to commemorate Bronson Shepherd's hat trick.
Stadem stands out on, off ski course
Hans Stadem plays violin for the Brainerd High School Chamber Orchestra.
Warrior girls ski to first, boys second
ALEXANDRIA - Despite four of its top five skiers falling, the Warrior girls' Alpine ski team won the Alexandria Invitational at Andes Tower Hills Tuesday.
'It's gotta be the shoes'
When it comes to outfitting little Johnny and little Susie for sports, there's not much a parent can buy for $15.
Scoreboard
Area events
Swimming
Brainerd YMCA Dolphins
LOCAL SHORTS
Jimmy Dean's fifth-place time of 24:22 led the Brainerd Warrior boys' junior varsity Nordic skiing team Tuesday at the North Star Conference meet in Waubun.
LOCAL SHORTS
Due to the suspension of high school wrestling in Minnesota until Feb. 7 because of a herpes gladiatorum, Brainerd's junior high and elementary wrestling tournaments that were scheduled Saturday and Sunday have been postponed.
Cards shock Pequot
PEQUOT LAKES - Caleb Nurnberger's 26 points and Matt Edin's 20 points led the Staples-Motley Cardinals to an upset victory over Class 2A's fourth-ranked Pequot Lakes Patriots in Mid-State Conference boys' basketball Tuesday.
Flyers tumble in New London
NEW LONDON - Brianna Sanoski placed second on the uneven bars, floor exercise and in the all-around in the Little Falls Flyers 139.825-130.75 loss to New London-Spicer Tuesday.
Pierz defeats Mora 47-43
MORA - Kristin Sczublewski registered 20 points, four steals and four assists and Gabrielle Boser scored 15 points to lead the Pierz Pioneers past the Mora Mustangs 47-43 in a non-conference girls' basketball game Tuesday.
Warriors outscore Sabres
SARTELL - Elle Adams had two goals and Carolyn Sneep had a goal and an assist for the Brainerd Warriors in a 5-1 Central Lakes Conference girls' hockey victory over the Sartell Sabres Tuesday.
Freiday sweeps Brainerd to victory
WILLMAR - Maggie Freiday swept all four disciplines for a winning all-around score of 36.75 to lead the Brainerd Warriors to a 140.9-132.55 Central Lakes Conference victory over Willmar Tuesday.
Ice racing winners compete
Andrew Juaire, Tim Johnson, Troy Jordan, Larry Juaire, Brian White and Greg Tomberlin won Hardwater Ice Racing Association events Sunday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Area bowlers make top five in state tourney
The of Brainerd/Baxter doubles team of Nicole Sorem and Molly Kautz and the Jack's House No. 3 team moved into the top five in the Minnesota State USBC's Women's Championships last weekend at Paul Bunyan Bowl and Jack's House.
High school wrestling suspended statewide
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - High school wrestling was suspended Tuesday across the state due to a widespread outbreak of a skin infection.
Brainerd girl ranked No. 1 by USTA
Mikinzee Salo of Brainerd received a No. 1 ranking in the Northern Section of the United States Tennis Association after participating in 10 Challenger 1 Tournaments in 2006.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Becoming cloudy with snow likely in the afternoon. Highs
State forecast for N.D.
Winter weather advisory statewide today and tonight...
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy with a chance of light snow in the morning.
State forecast for S.D.
Winter weather advisory for the north and northwest through this evening...
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs 10 to 20.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Becoming partly cloudy. A chance for morning flurries south...And a chance for light snow northwest. Highs from the low teens northwest to the low 20s south.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy and breezy with a slight chance of light snow. Highs in the mid to upper teens north...With low to mid 20s south.
It's lonely at the top
Weather drawing by Katie Schrock in the Eagle View Elementary third grade of Mrs. Schmidt.
Think warm sun
Weather drawing by Payton Edevold in the Eagle View third garde of Mrs. Schmidt.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Wind chill advisory late tonight through friday morning southwest...
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy this morning...Then becoming mostly cloudy. A chance for light snow in the afternoon west. Highs from the mid teens north to the low 20s south.
State forecast for Iowa
Wind chill advisory from 2 am to 11 am cst friday for far