Saturday, March 3, 2001

Web site adds humor to task of financial planning
MINNEAPOLIS -- Suzi Pritchett makes no bones about it. She hates financial planning.

T2T web set allows teachers to match up with jobs
Cheryl Irr needed to find a new job. Her husband's company was transferring the family from Cincinnati to Severna Park, Md., and she wanted a teaching position to begin as soon as they arrived in town.

FLASH! Line between conventional media, tabloids becoming harder to define
It's no big news when the National Enquirer splashes celebrity scandal across its cover. But when the tabloid scoops the mainstream media on national stories twice within several weeks, editors and reporters snap to envious attention.

All charged up about reusable batteries
Like many of you, I go through an astonishing number of batteries.

Apple's Powerbook G4 is the real deal
Sex and power.

ATM of song aims to put digital music in everyone's pocket
BOSTON (AP) -- Mark Hardie envisions a world in the not-so-distant future where machines in every shopping mall and convenience store will dispense music as easily and quickly as automatic tellers spit out cash.

Room to spread out
Gary Otterstad can sit at his desk in a renovated downtown office building and see Brainerd City Hall out one window and the Crow Wing County Courthouse out another.

Market's bet on Greenspan didn't pay off
NEW YORK -- As Wall Street found out this past week, Alan Greenspan isn't at its beck and call.

UPI is hiring -- and how!
Universal Pensions Inc. will have immediate needs to fill 60 new jobs in Brainerd and the company is projecting another 40 new hires before year's end.

Holy Cross College bans 'cult-like' church
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) -- The College of the Holy Cross has banned an international church from meeting, organizing and recruiting members on campus, calling it cult-like in its recruitment tactics.

Lakes area Quakers share commitment to world peace
Our vision of a Quaker may not match that of the real Quakers we likely cross paths with on the sidewalk or at the grocery store.

New Bible series shows what Southern Baptist battle is all about
The part-way schism in America's biggest Protestant denomination, the 15.7 million-member Southern Baptist Convention, is heating up again.

Methodist article advocates independence for Hawaii
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A magazine of the United Methodist Church, President Bush's denomination, features an article advocating "decolonization and total independence" for the state of Hawaii.

Churches
LITTLE FALLS -- A weekend retreat titled "Sitting Down to Pray" will be offered March 9-11 at the St. Francis Retreat Center in L

Experiment with faith-based prisons being eyed for federal penitentiaries
WINFIELD, Kan. -- Inmate Lincoln Williams crouches forward and clasps his hands nervously as he sits in the middle of a circle of prisoners at the Winfield Correctional Facility.

Is Esther, the biblical book underlying Purim, a comedy?
Jews are noted for humor, but was the biblical book of Esther written as a comedy?

All work or all play makes children unprepared for life
QUESTION: Can you give us a guideline for how much work children should be given to do?

Report finds bias in schools' special education programs
WASHINGTON -- Black children are almost three times more

Frank sex talks earn teacher respect
Deborah Roffman has been teaching human sexuality since the early 1970s, when many of us thought sex was a right, not a lesson plan.

Schools close following bomb threat
Several school districts in southwestern Minnesota canceled classes Friday after a bomb threat was called in to authorities.

More time sought for children in kindergarten
WASHINGTON -- Reid Lyon is adamant.

Caught in the middle
The following are warning signs that signal trouble for an aging parent:

Generous donors give family more time with grandpa
DEAR ABBY: My grandfather is an amazing man. He served his country during World War II. He postponed his dreams to give his five children a better life. He and my grandmother sacrificed and saved so that their children would have the chance to go to college and emerge debt-free. He is the kindest and gentlest person I have ever known.

Adult day care is an option for some seniors with Alzheimer's
Placing the elderly into assisted living or nursing home facilities -- depending on their needs -- is just one of the ways to help aging parents who are no longer able to cope by themselves.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Thursday 361, a year ago 243.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle: 400.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 550.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 185, a year ago 178.

Court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:

School lunch menus
BRAINERD - MONDAY -- B-Poptart, cheese slice or yogurt, juice. L-Taco salad or taco, soft pretzel, corn, pears.

Fires
PILLAGER -- A Pillager home, which included a home hair salon, was destroyed by fire at 8:40 p.m. Wednesday.

Much obliged
The children and staff at Kinship Partners wish to send our thanks to the Sunrise Sertomas for providing a wonderful activity for 22 of our kids. The evening of Saturday, Feb. 24 ushered in one of the worst storms of the season. But before it arrived in force, the Sunrise Sertomas hosted an afternoon of bowling and pizza at Paul Bunyan Bowl. Our kids' teams were led by Burt Knandel, Angela and Mick Roby, Jim Hunt, Ray and Sue Kieffer, Erik Askegaard and Scott Parsons. Everyone had a great time, and I saw lots of scores over 100! Thank you, Sunrise Sertomas!

Crime
BURGLARY -- Stanley Gonsior, Garrison, reported his fish house on Mille Lacs Lake was broken into and a generator worth $650 was taken.

Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to two false smoke alarms Friday.

Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees

Woods leads by a stroke in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Tiger Woods, finally making a bogey in this tournament, shot a 4-under-par 68 Saturday and leads by one stroke entering the final round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

Woods leads by shot
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Every golfer should experience Tiger Woods' "slump."

Ventura tempers campaign spending pledge
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura's idea of running a cash-free campaign extends only to money he doesn't solicit himself, he said Thursday.

Capitol notebook
Happenings Friday at the Minnesota Capitol:

Revised budget proposal released
ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jesse Ventura on Friday proposed a slower phase in of income and vehicle license tab cuts and some reductions in his spending proposals to shave nearly $600 million off his budget through 2003.

Bill would give immunity to employers who provide references
ST. PAUL -- Lawmakers tackle the tough question of whether employers should get stronger legal protections when they give job references and information on current or former employees.

Bush uses radio address, trip to push tax-cut plan
WASHINGTON -- President Bush returns to the road this week to ask audiences in states with Democratic senators to "send a message in favor of tax relief" to every member of Congress.

U.S. to Israel: With the Palestinians, it's the economy
WASHINGTON -- It's nothing new for Israel to hear accusations that its siege of the Palestinian economy is a hindrance to peace.

Walz reads to students
State Rep. Dale Walz, R-Brainerd, read to Diane Belair's kindergarten class Friday in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday and as part of "I Love to Read" month at Harrison Elementary School.

Status of major issues in Legislature
Status of some of the major issues in the 2001 Legislature as of Friday:

Republicans move quickly on tax cuts, angering Democrats
WASHINGTON -- Putting aside pledges to work together, House Republicans and Democrats are preparing for a partisan fight next week over a $1 trillion first installment of President Bush's tax cut plan.

House approves bankruptcy bill
WASHINGTON -- The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a major bankruptcy reform bill that seeks to squeeze more payments out of people with delinquent credit card accounts and other kinds of debt.

Greenspan says tax cut preferable to higher spending
WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who lent crucial support to the President Bush's tax cut program in January, on Friday repeated his belief that cutting taxes is a preferred use for the ballooning federal surpluses.

With the military
1LT Michael P. Stachour, son of D.P. and Sherry Stachour, Nisswa, recently completed Army Ranger training at Fort Benning, Ga. LT Stachour is presently serving with the 1/509 Airborne at Fort Polk, La.

Lawmaker: No vote on state-run casinos
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A state lawmaker says he wants to hear public opinion on state-run casinos at hearings this summer, effectively killing proposed legislation for this session.

Democrats raise racial issues against GOP, administration
WASHINGTON -- The residue of last year's presidential election, racial politics are flaring in Congress as Democrats attack the Bush administration and Republican lawmakers over issues ranging from ballot reform to obscure House subcommittees.

Legislative briefs
ST. PAUL -- Five students from the PEAKS Charter School in Pillager met with Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, to discuss the recent controversy regarding management issues at their school.

Ventura to lead 12-day trade mission to China
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura plans to lead a 12-day trade mission to China in November, a trip aides describe as his most ambitious to date.

Ventura suggests eliminating university's General College
ST. PAUL -- Reopening an old, often emotional debate, Gov. Jesse Ventura suggested Thursday that the University of Minnesota could cut costs by eliminating General College, its gateway for underprepared students.

Support groups
Crisis Line-Referral Ser.

Chemical dependency groups and AA groups
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.

Health care and medical services
Blood Pressure Clinics

Spread of animal disease has the world watching
Two weeks ago in rural England, a handful of pigs at an abattoir took to sneezing, and were found to have mouth blisters. Today that seemingly insignificant set of swine sniffles has governments worldwide coping with fears of global spread of the viral foot-and-mouth disease.

Asthmatics have higher risk of heart disease, study says
SAN ANTONIO -- Asthma sufferers appear to be unusually prone to heart disease, a study found, offering new clues about the hazards of lingering inflammation.

Heart surgery's burning question Do laser holes really cure chest pain?
CHICAGO -- The surgeon took aim at his patient's naked beating heart with a bent plastic nozzle. The thing looked like something borrowed from a water faucet.

Preventive medicine for e-mail viruses
On the morning that my last column -- dealing with Internet privacy invaders -- appeared in print, I was already having second thoughts about spreading Internet paranoia when I logged onto our network and opened my e-mail.

Wall studs may not be easy to find
Wall studs -- the vertical members that make up the wall skeleton -- constitute serious construction. Studs are important. They hold up the roof, hold windows and doors in place, retain insulation and act as a base for interior and exterior wall coverings such as plaster, stucco, siding and masonry. But studs have another important function.

Housing briefs
Positive Realty of Brainerd bought a van, painted it with the company's home sale yard marker and is making it available free of charge to people who are moving their belongings when a home is purchased through the company.

TOUGH TIMES? Not here!
Nationwide there have been reports of the national economic slowdown affecting home sales, but that trend seems to have had little effect on the juggernaut of real estate transactions in the lakes area.

Will insects or people rule yard when pesticides are banned?
What will homeowners do when the nation's top two chemical pesticides disappear from store shelves, as required in rulings handed down in 2000 by the Environmental Protection Agency?

Home builders aren't seeing any kind of a recession
NEW YORK (AP) -- Has the housing market lost its role as an economic weather vane? Or has it kept its deft touch as an indicator?

Keep it simple to be in style
"Simplicity" is the new mantra in the decor domain. It means plain, as in

Brash color and sprawling vines -- go for it!
WASHINGTON -- Make a big splash in your garden this year. Plant the biggest and boldest of flowers.

A little bit of planning improves the vegetable garden
Gather on the kitchen table some clean white paper, a sharpened pencil, a ruler, and notes and plans of gardens past. Then map out this year's vegetable garden.

Helpful gardening books listed
Gardening books preview your horticultural treasures:

Verndale heroics earn Carnegie medal for Richfield man Hines
VERNDALE -- On Dec. 7, 1999, Norman Hines risked his life by pulling Vicki Pankratz from the path of an oncoming freight train after her motorized chair got stuck on the railroad tracks in Verndale.

Aeration system installed in Platte Lake
Due to low oxygen levels that could harm fish, an aeration system has been installed in Platte Lake, located in southeastern Crow Wing County. Warning signs have been placed around the lake and the Platte Lake Property Owners Association asks everyone to stay off the ice.

Many Minnesotans can't pay big energy bills, seek public assistance
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- High gas prices this winter have squeezed Minnesotans' wallets, as utilities report a surge in what delinquent customers owe, and the number of people seeking government help is up 27 percent.

Local briefs
STAPLES -- The Fibromyalgia Support Group sponsored by the Lakewood Health System, Staples, will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the lower level classrooms of the hospital. There is no charge.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981) - March 6 will be known in Brainerd as "C. Elmer Anderson Day," the City Council President Milli Michaelis said, their wishes are "to acknowledge his dedicated and outstanding service to this community." C. Elmer Anderson is Brainerd mayor and former governor of Minnesota.

Gun show held in school prompts complaints
WELLS (AP) -- A popular gun show held in a local school has drawn fire from residents who are circulating a petition in the hopes of getting rid of the annual event.

Holding down the fort
Whittier School students (right) teamed up to keep one side of a huge snow fort from crumbling on the school's playground Thursday. (Dispatch Photos by Clint Wood)

Brainerd School District receives two grants
The Brainerd School District received two grants recently.

Fishing fest proceeds enable Jaycees to donate $200,000
The Brainerd Jaycees will donate more than $200,000 to area charities this year from the proceeds of the 11th annual Brainerd Jaycees $100,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza, which was Jan. 20 on Gull Lake.

4-year-old spends day stranded on bus
MAYNARD (AP) -- A 4-year-old Maynard girl suffered frostbite on one of her ears after she apparently spent eight hours unnoticed on a school bus in subzero temperatures.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-Saying that further delay would be "unfair" a Brainerd School Board Committee cut short its search for a new School Superintendent yesterday with an unanimous recommendation that the job be offered to Bob Gross, Assistant Superintendent.

Correction
The "If you go" box accompanying a story on a Brainerd High School choirs concert in Thursday's Tempo section listed the incorrect concert date. The concert will be 7:30 p.m. Monday at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Middle School in Brainerd.

People are key to safe, clean water
Money and technology may not be the key factors in keeping lakes healthy. An area initiative is depending on people power.

Public's help is sought in Anthony search
PINE RIVER -- The investigation continues into the disappearance of Rachel Anthony, with a $10,000 reward now being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Local briefs
The warming houses at the Brainerd ice skating rinks will be closed for the season starting Monday, according to Brainerd Parks and Recreation.

Agendas
The Baxter EDA will meet at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at Baxter City Hall, 50 Memorywood Drive N., Baxter, Minn.

Man arraigned in Staples shooting
LONG PRAIRIE -- Plowing snow was more than a Staples man bargained for early Wednesday morning.

Lawmakers take aim at airlines
WASHINGTON -- A $917 ticket to fly between Washington, D.C., and Charleston, S.C.? An outraged senator said he had to pay it. Late flights and high fares? A House member says it's the source of constant constituent frustration.

Calls come in, but woman still missing
PINE RIVER -- Authorities continue to follow-up on leads the public offers into the disappearance of Rachel Anthony.

Man arrested after stabbing
A 21-year-old Brainerd man was arrested following a stabbing Friday night in the Brainerd downtown area.

Sunken logs legislation unveiled by Tony Kinkel
A bill that would toughen the standards by which sunken logs could be recovered from Minnesota waters was introduced Thursday in the Legislature.

FBI to increase polygraphing in wake of spy charges
WASHINGTON -- The FBI is stepping up the use of lie-detector tests for employees in response to the arrest of Robert Philip Hanssen, a 25-year veteran agent charged with spying for Moscow while working in highly sensitive counterintelligence jobs.

Old weapons research leads to problems in pricey neighborhood
WASHINGTON -- The government has spent millions of dollars investigating and cleaning up the remains of a World War I-era chemical weapons research plant in one of the capital's most exclusive neighborhoods. The job is far from complete.

Scientists prepare to enter compartment of historic submarine
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Scientists plan to begin removing black sediment from the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley next week in their quest to find the crew's remains.

NASA kills $1.3 billion space plane project
WASHINGTON -- After investing five years and $1 billion, NASA Thursday killed the experimental space plane program that was the centerpiece of the agency's effort to develop a new generation of vehicles for traveling into orbit.

Enviromental positions of Whitman-led EPA alarm some industries
WASHINGTON -- With Environmental Protection Agency administrator Christine Todd Whitman taking the lead, the Bush administration last week began staking out positions on key environmental issues that have alarmed some industry officials.

Washington declared disaster area as quake damage piles up
SEATTLE -- The scene left little doubt western Washington would secure an emergency disaster declaration: Cracked buildings, crushed cars and crumbled roads dominate the landscape rocked by an earthquake.

Soft landing remains possible
NEW YORK (AP) -- What you can say for sure about the consumer's state of mind is that it falls somewhere among the big Cs -- confused, cautious, lacking confidence or suffering from a lost sense of control.

Clinton aides say they opposed Rich pardon but Barak's call may have been key
WASHINGTON -- Three of former President Clinton's aides rejected allegations that money had anything to do with his last-minute pardon of financier Marc Rich but agreed that appeals from outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak may have clinched the deal over their objections.

Travelers from Britain face tougher airport inspection
WASHINGTON -- Government inspectors have stepped up their scrutiny of travelers arriving from Britain -- and even disinfecting the boots and shoes of some passengers -- in an effort to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from reaching the United States.

Osprey investigation reaches into Pentagon's top ranks
WASHINGTON -- The Defense Department's inspector general has seized data from the computers of two Marine generals as an investigation into an alleged coverup of problems with the troubled V-22 Osprey aircraft is reaching into the top ranks at the Pentagon.

Hospital: Boy had good night but condition still critical
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) -- A 2-year-old boy remained in critical condition Friday at a Minnesota hospital three days after his father found him lying in his pajamas in a snowbank in subzero cold outside their farm home, authorities said.

Going to the dogs -- and birds
WARREN (AP) -- Jason Mischel is hoping that the life jacket, diaper and pigs' ears for Rover will become as successful as the foldaway shower perch for Polly.

Washington faces quake aftermath on top of budget woes
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Lawmakers already grappling with major financial headaches, including a budget shortfall in the hundreds of millions, now have a larger problem: finding funds to repair damage from last week's 6.8-magnitude earthquake.

Closed-end funds getting more attention since Fed lowered rates
NEW YORK -- The mutual fund industry has identified some recent bargains that many investors know little about but might want to keep in mind: closed-end funds.

Grand Forks says it's ready; Devils Lake may have to raise levee
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- City engineers here say they expect flooding this spring, and they are ready for it. In Devils Lake, officials are talking about raising the levee that protects that city.

New York Times raises newsstand price for Sunday newspaper
NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Times is raising the newsstand price for its Sunday editions.

NBA players may represent U.S. at Goodwill Games
A team comprised of NBA players might represent the United States at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, in early September.

Salary cap cutdown day arrives
A familiar name or a good career is no defense against salary-cap deadlines.

New Jersey nearing full strength as playoffs approach
The New Jersey Devils are nearly back at full strength, and that could spell trouble for the rest of the NHL.

All's well with Rodriguez, Jeter
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) -- Case closed: Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter have spoken by phone and smoothed out any misunderstandings.

Oilers slide by Wild 3-1
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- The Edmonton Oilers saved their best hockey for the second half of the season.

Lasorda responds to Sheffield's stance
BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers kept quiet about the Gary Sheffield situation for nearly a week. An annoyed Tom Lasorda put an end to the silence.

Flutie glad to be free
BOSTON (AP) -- Doug Flutie stood in a landmark of the American Revolution on Friday night and said he felt liberated by the Buffalo Bills decision to release him this week.

Reds record split-squad victory over Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Deion Sanders' return to his hometown was a forgettable one.

Philadelphia defeats Washington
Not long ago, it looked like the Timberwolves and Nuggets would be battling for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff berth. Now, Denver seems to have played itself out of contention.

$100 million man
Ironman quarterback Brett Favre is now the NFL's first $100 million man.

1Puckett still contributing to Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Five years ago this spring, Kirby Puckett woke up one Florida morning and couldn't see out of his right eye.

Crum retires, and an era ends at Louisville
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- After months of speculation and weeks of sniping, Denny Crum is retiring from basketball. And the Louisville coach insists he's leaving on his own terms.

Vivian M. Bauch
UPSALA -- Vivian Marie Bauch, 1-month-old daughter of Robert and Krista (Gallus) Bauch, Upsala, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

C.A. 'Bun' Fortier
BEMIDJI -- Clarence Alexander "Bun" Fortier, 84, Bemidji, died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2001, in Bemidji.

Elsie F. LaCourse
Elsie F. LaCourse, 86, Brainerd, died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Ann Kandel
LITTLE FALLS -- Ann Kandel, 86, formerly of Little Falls, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at her residence in Forest Lake.

Ina A. Elo
LAWLER -- Ina A. Elo, 87, Lawler, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Nopeming Nursing Home in Nopeming.

Ruth S. Larson
McGREGOR -- Ruth S. Larson, 98, McGregor, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at the Riverwood Extended Care Center in Aitkin.

Virginia J. Paulson
Virginia J. Paulson, 52, Brainerd, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Vivian M. Bauch
UPSALA -- Vivian Marie Bauch, 1-month-old daughter of Robert and Krista Bauch, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at the St. Cloud Hospital.

Ina A. Elo
McGREGOR -- Ina A. Elo, 87, McGregor, died today, March 2, 2001, at Nopeming Nursing Home in Duluth.

Ann Swiderski
SILVER BAY -- Ann Swiderski, 76, of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay, died Saturday, March 3, 2001.

Pastor Harvey Swenson
BACKUS -- Pastor Harvey Swenson, 96, Backus, died today, March 2, 2001, at his home.

Francis R. Cook
AITKIN -- Francis R. Cook, 48, Aitkin, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at his home in Aitkin.

Pastor Harvey Swenson
BACKUS -- Pastor Harvey Swenson, 96, Backus, died Friday, March 2, 2001, at his son's home.

Robert V. Luhta
HIBBING -- Robert Victor Luhta, 69, Hibbing, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at his home.

Robert V. Luhta
HIBBING -- Robert Victor Luhta, 69, Hibbing, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at his home.

Virginia J. Paulson
Virginia J. Paulson, 52, Brainerd, died Thursday, March 1, 2001, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.

Andre R. Lutz
PINE RIVER -- Andre Robert Lutz, 78, Pine River, died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001, from lung cancer.

The sex education debate
They invited me to speak to parents at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen and Notre Dame Preparatory School.

Society should pay mothers for raising children
Ann Crittenden has a bold new idea about motherhood. It's the first new idea in decades, and she makes a terrific case for it.

Mixing family and politics
Sociologists refer to connectedness as social capital -- that component of relationships that is created between people in families, labor markets and other important institutions that makes it possible to achieve goals.

OTHER OPINIONS
Provided By The Associated Press

Life preservers - Dispatch Editorial
Life preservers save lives. The statement is as simple and obvious as it is true.

Take your pick of the worst scandal
Several reasons come to mind to suggest the Clinton pardon scandals are hysterically overblown:

How to reach state legislators
Area legislators and how to contact them.

What difference does it make?
With the arrest last week of FBI agent Robert P. Hanssen came a litany now familiar in Washington: intriguing accounts of Russian spycraft; expressions of outrage at alleged treachery; and somber statements about severe damage to the national security of the United States.

Open forum
Parents and grandparents who smoke should not downplay the harm their smoking can do to children. Smoke, even second-hand smoke, contains dangerous chemicals.

Parents need helping hand
Parenting isn't easy.

A broken Iraq policy
The following editorial appeared in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times:

Cardinals now commonplace at central Minnesota bird feeders
Hungry birds that come to winter feeders for seeds and suet can provide a lot of entertainment, especially when they're birds we seldom see. Late winter, as birds begin to migrate north while others move south to find food, is one of the best times to see different birds.

Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA

Venus takes leave of evening sky; vernal equinox is March 20
Venus remains high and bright in the evening sky early in March. However, the planet ends its reign as the evening star this month, sinking lower each evening and being lost from view by month's end.

Good riddance to February, it's time to think spring
Enough already! I'm glad February is gone, gone, gone. I agree with the cartoon character Garfield, who once proclaimed, "February is the Monday of months."

Hamel man wins "Ultimate Ice-Fishing House" contest
Craig Freeman, Hamel, is the grand-prize winner in Windsor Canadian's Fifth Annual "Ultimate Ice-Fishing House" contest.

The snowballing popularity of snowmobiles
ALLENSTOWN, N.H. -- They are noisy, smelly and seemingly able to rattle the marrow right out of your bones. Hardly selling points for a consumer product.

Outdoor notes
Thanksgiving isn't the only time for turkey leftovers.

Ducks to arrive soon; it's time to clean out their houses
Although it's still cold outside, now is the time to prepare for the arrival of ducks later this spring.

Last-chance crappies And last chance to remove the fish house
The green flashes between the surface and bottom are baitfish, possibly small perch. Larger fish like crappies usually appear as red blips.

North Country calendar
March

Wedding planned
Stacey Lea Woodhouse and Matthew James Stephenson announce their engagement. Parents are Gene and Rachel Woo

RICK WROBEL AND HEIDI TWEED-WROBEL Tweed-Wrobel
Heidi Tweed and Rick Wrobel were married Sept. 30, 2000, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes with the Rev. David Stevens officiating.

Wedding planned
Aimee C. Kintop-Grembowski and Chad E. Lincowski announce their engagement. Parents are Timothy and Cristy Kintop, Brainerd, and Roger and LuAnn Grembowski, Brooklyn Park, and Richard and Melodie Lincowski, Park Rapids. A March 10 wedding is planned at Brainerd Church of the Nazarene.

50th anniversary
Bernie and Leona Selinger, Brainerd, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Texas. They will also celebrate with their family at a later date. They were married Jan. 27, 1951, in Bowlus.

Engagement announced
Melissa Thesing and Jason Beyer announce their engagement. Parents are Lisa Thesing, Brainerd, and Charles Thesing, Brainerd, and Mike and Corriene Beyer, Brainerd. A June 23 wedding is planned at St. Francis Church in Brainerd.

DAVID AND SHERRI GOEDKER Kinch-Goedker
Sherri (Skogland) Kinch and David Goedker were married Feb. 14, 2001, in a private ceremony at the bride's home in Baxter, officiated by Dwight Johnson.

Engagement announced
Rachel Engisch and James Norwood announce their engagement. Parents are Rudy and Brenda Engisch, Brainerd, and Betty Bottorff, Brainerd, and Jack and Cheryl Norwood, Baxter. A July 7 wedding is planned at Brainerd Assemblies of God.

BRIAN AND KATHY HILL Wendlandt-Hill
Kathy Wendlandt and Brian Hill were married Nov. 11, 2000, at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis with Rod Wilmoth officiating.

Engagement announced
Tanya Trautmiller and Chad Reed announce their engagement. Parents are Robert Trautmiller, New London, and Lyle and Debra Nelson, Sunburg, and Jeff and Sally Reed, New London. A June 23 wedding is planned at Hope Presbyterian Church in New London.

50th anniversary
C.J. "Bud" and L.A. Johnson, Pine River, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today. They were married March 2, 1951, in Duluth.

56th anniversary
Gilbert and Betty (Enemark) Rider will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary from 2-5 p.m. March 11 at Cascade United Methodist Church in Deerwood. The event will be hosted by their children and grandchildren. No gifts please.

NASCAR Las Vegas 400 qualifying
After Friday qualifying; race Sunday

Stewart in for a busy weekend
Tony Stewart isn't going to get much rest this weekend in Las Vegas.

Jarrett gives Yates third Vegas pole
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) -- It was business as usual Friday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a Robert Yates Racing car taking the pole and the Ford teams still whining about an aerodynamic disadvantage.

Northwest mechanics vote on strike authorization
MINNEAPOLIS -- Northwest Airlines mechanics, cleaners and custodians are being asked to demonstrate their solidarity Friday when they cast ballots to authorize their union to strike.

Houston County farmer sentenced
ST. Paul (AP) -- A Houston County man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for violating the Clean Water Act by dumping manure into the Duck River without a permit.

Minnesota gained more than it lost in 2000 mergers and acquisitions
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota companies gained far more than was lost through mergers and acquisitions last year, according to research published Friday by CityBusiness.

B-H-V advances four
BYLINE3: ST. PAUL -- The Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale wrestling squad earned a trip to the state tournament as a team. The Raiders earned a second trip to the state tournament as well.

Pierz boys roll to victory
PIERZ -- The Pierz Pioneers snuck by the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars Thursday 66-62 in a Central Minnesota Conference boys' basketball game.

Owatonna sets national record in state mat meet
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Owatonna defeated Centennial 33-22 Thursday evening to set a national record with 43 victories and advance to the Class AAA semifinals of the state high school wrestling tournament.

Brincefield brothers make their mark for WD-C
BYLINE3: ST. PAUL -- Spectators at the Class AA individual state wrestling tournament were not seeing double, a misprint or the same wrestler in two different weight classes advancing to the semifinals Thursday morning.

Local sports shorts
Brainerd's Chris Bjorklund and the Cal Poly men's basketball team will have its game against Utah State televised on ESPN 6 p.m. Saturday.

Local sports shorts
The Laker Lions snowmobile races scheduled for March 3 have been rescheduled for March 10.

Brincefield twins, Bresnahan reach Class AA individual state wrestling finals
ST. PAUL -- The Brincefield boys doubled Wadena-Deer Creek wrestling coach Dennis Kaatz' pleasure in the Class AA individual state wrestling tournament Friday.

Goeman advances to 50 free final
MINNEAPOLIS -- Ty Goeman clocked the fastest time of any 50-yard freestyle swimmer in a Class AA section meet a few weeks ago.

Pickar, Marohn advance to state 3A semifinals
ST. PAUL -- For Brainerd's two wrestlers in the semifinal round of the Class 3A individual state wrestling tournament, it was all a matter of believing in themselves.

Toe injury bothering Kennedy in state diving
ST. PAUL -- Rotator cuff injuries are usually considered the afflictions of athletes who use their shoulders repetitively.

Rothsay eliminates Pirates in girls' 6A subsection play
ROTHSAY -- The Verndale Pirates girls' basketball team came up just short to the Rothsay Tigers Thursday night 50-46 in the West Subsection 6A opening round.

Brainerd's Marohn, Pickar reach Class 3A wrestling finals
ST. PAUL -- Success has caused Brainerd wrestlers Jesse Marohn and Andy Pickar to re-evaluate their goals at the Class 3A individual state wrestling tournament.

Pine River-Backus downs C-I in 7AA girls' section action
GRAND RAPIDS -- The second-seeded Pine River-Backus Tigers clawed the seventh-seeded Crosby-Ironton Rangers to claim a 63-36 victory in the first round of Section 7AA girls' basketball Thursday.

Rach, Luberts advance to Class A individual state finals
ST. PAUL -- Reggie Rach is right back where he was a year ago.

Raiders get even with Adrian
ST. PAUL --When the Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders were nipped by St. James in the quarterfinals of the Class A state wrestling tournament last winter they won seven of the 13 individual matches.

Wadena-Deer Creek dumps Cardinals in 8AA first round
WADENA -- The third-seeded Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines defeated the sixth-seeded Staples-Motley Cardinals 60-48 Thursday in the opening round of Section 8AA girls basketball.

PR-B trips Aitkin
PINE RIVER -- The Aitkin Gobblers and Pine River-Backus Tigers boys' basketball teams have both endured rollercoster seasons.

Area events Saturday
Boys Basketball

CLC women trounce Wisconsin team in region semifinals
FERGUS FALLS -- The Central Lakes College Raiders women's basketball team dominated Mid-State Technical College of Wisconsin 90-61 in the region 13B semifinals Friday.

W-DC hammers Park Rapids in state wrestling Class AA consolation semifinals
ST. PAUL -- After losing in the quarterfinals of the state tournament a wrestling team has two options: come out with little emotion and be eliminated in the consolation semifinals or regroup and be determined to take home some hardware.

B-H/V defeats defending champion in Class A wrestling semifinals
ST. PAUL --As a heavyweight wrestler, Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale senior Justin Messer is like a closer in the bullpen. When a dual meet is on the line he's the wrestler who will determine whether his team wins or loses.

Warriors overcome in overtime by Sartell
With identical conference records, the Brainerd Warriors and Sartell Sabres boys' basketball teams battled at the Brainerd High School Friday to stay out of an infamous position -- second place in the Central Lakes Conference.

Scoreboard
Boys Basketball

C-I defeats Deer River in non-conference action
DEER RIVER -- The Crosby-Ironton Rangers boys' basketball team finished the regular season by crushing the Deer River Warriors 75-38 in non-conference action Friday.

Wolverines fall in thriller
ST. PAUL -- Few more spurring scenarios exist in team state tournament wrestling than a dual meet decided by the final match.

Minnesota details football player, student phone misuse
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- University of Minnesota officials said Friday they have finished their investigation of improper use of a long-distance telephone access code by at least 16 football players and seven women students.

Bloomington Kennedy's senior trio advances to finals
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Bloomington Kennedy's senior trio of Jafari Vanier, Jamell Tidwell and Marcus LeVesseur feel like state titles belong to them.

Flames rally to tie Wild
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) -- The Calgary Flames are relieved they have seen the last of the Minnesota Wild.

North Dakota downs Bemidji 5-1
BEMIDJI (AP) -- Travis Roche had a hat trick and an assist as North Dakota beat Bemidji State 5-1 Friday night.

Mankato edges by Colorado
MANKATO (AP) -- B.J. Abel shot one in the net with 37 seconds left in the game to lift Minnesota, Mankato over Colorado College 3-2 Friday night.

Garnett warned about comments urging Smith to return home
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett got an explanation of the NBA's tampering policy for his comments urging former teammate Joe Smith to come home.

Twins capitalize on Bosox errors
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Hitting shouldn't be a problem for the Boston Red Sox. Fielding was a catastrophe in their spring training opener Thursday night.

Huskies slam Gophers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- St. Cloud State beat Minnesota 6-1 Friday night, ending the Gophers' hopes of tying North Dakota for first place in the WCHA.

Vikings release Randle, Burrough
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings kept their casualties to a minimum while meeting the NFL's salary cap deadline Thursday, but there could be more to come.

Twins sign Koskie to one-year deal
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins signed third baseman Corey Koskie to a one-year deal worth about $300,000.

Denver pounds Duluth
DENVER (AP) -- Connor James scored two goals and Adam Berkhoel had 29 saves as the University of Denver defeated Minnesota-Duluth 8-2 Friday night.

Minnesota gets playoff-caliber victory over Denver
DENVER (AP) -- The message in the Denver Nuggets locker room was simple, yet ominous.

Web snoops are watching us all
If you've ever bought a book or CD from Amazon.com, try this little experiment: point your Web browser to www.seti.org.

Minnesota state forecast
Dense fog advisory parts of the west this morning...

Iowa state f orecast
Dense fog advisory far southwest until 1000 am...

State forecast for north dakota
Dense fog advisory this morning eastern third...

State forecast for south dakota
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs around 30 northeast to the mid 40s southwest.

Seasons to change
Weather drawing by Summer Reyna in the Lowell School first-grade class of Sharon Jendro.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly sunny. Highs in the 30s...To the 40s southwest.

Fun with snow
Weather drawing by Michael Shanks of Mrs. Ahlers' third grade class at Lincoln school.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Areas of morning fog...Otherwise partly or mostly cloudy. Highs in the 30s to lower 40s.

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny and mild. Highs in the 30s east to the mid 40s west.

Worldwide Weather
Temperatures and weather conditions during the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. EST today.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s to lower 40s.

The Weather Elsewhere
Temperatures indicate Friday's high and overnight low to 8 a.m. Eastern Time.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 30s.

State forecast for south dakota
Today...Areas of morning fog east...Some dense into mid morning. Partly cloudy. Highs 25 to 35 east...And 35 to 45 west.

More than a shovelful
It takes a long time to remove a foot of snow, which the Brainerd lakes area received last weekend.

The Weather Elsewhere
Friday

Cool hat
Jordan Kuhn reacted after Megan Alexander placed a huge snow clump on her head during noon recess Friday at Baxter Elementary School.

Regional Weather
HighLowPR

What's doing
ST. CLOUD -- Michelle Hyatt, Emily, will be representing Crow Wing County in the Mrs. Minnesota International pageant on

Names and faces
NEW YORK -- The tabloids and other celebrity gossipmongers predicted it would be his most crucial moment in the spotlight, and in many ways it was.

Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

Agendas
1. Call to order

Woman struggles with news that friend may be suicidal
DEAR ABBY: I recently discovered that a mentally disabled woman who attends our church has become suicidal. She's a warm, friendly, bright individual whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. I have even been a visitor in her home.

What's doing
North-South: Mark Anderson and Clayton Haglin, 78; Ann Whalen and Phyllis DeRosier, 72; and Ray and Gladys Norrgard, 59.5. East-West: Marcella Jensen and Joyce Roemer, 64; Al and Carol Kline, 50.5; and Marion Benest and Chris Leininger, 50.5.

Europe takes drastic measures to curb foot-and-mouth virus
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Disinfected shoes. Saunas for travelers. Confiscated sandwiches.

Blast, fire destroy Thai prime minister's jet minutes before he was to board
BANGKOK, Thailand -- An explosion and fire gutted a jetliner minutes before Thailand's prime minister was to board on Saturday, killing a crew member and injuring seven. Officials said a bombing could not be ruled out.

Ecuadoran kidnap victims, including four Americans, free
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) -- Forced to walk for 141 days through dense jungle in Ecuador, seven foreign oil workers -- including four Americans -- were recovering in a hotel Friday after their release for a reported $13 million ransom.