Wednesday, March 9, 2005
BIRTHS
Patrick and Nicole Brau, Pierz, a girl, Samantha Ann, 9 pounds, 6 ounces, Feb. 11, 2005. Grandparents are Dennis and Sandy Krych, Pierz, and Larry and Judy Brau, Brainerd.
DISSOLUTIONS
Behnke, Andrea I. and Troy K.
Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a spill of about 10 gallons of oil about 7:30 a.m. Monday in the 1,000 block of Laurel Street. Firefighters cleaned up the spill and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was notified. The oil was believed to have spilled from a drum.
Talk to state lawmakers
Rep. Larry Howes.
AREA CRIME
THEFT -- Douglas Sherwood, Hillman, Saturday reported the theft of a trailer and two snowmobiles.
CLC intercultural communication classes enjoy Penumbra Theatre production
Forty Central Lakes College students recently enjoyed a trip to St. Paul to see a Penumbra Theatre Co. production that augments their study of intercultural communication.
Child car seat clinic planned March 24 in Deerwood
DEERWOOD -- The Crow Wing County Passenger Safety Coalition will sponsor a car seat clinic 3 to 6 p.m. March 24 at the Deerwood Fire Hall.
Area sophomores attend career day at CLC-Staples
STAPLES -- Sophomores from Pequot Lakes, Pierz, Swanville and Upsala high schools were among the 268 area students participating in Career Exploration Day last Friday at Central Lakes College in Staples.
Company wants to renegotiate lease for controversial tower
WALKER -- American Cellular Corp. has notified Cass County its firm wants to renegotiate a lease for a controversial communications tower in Upper Trelipe Township near Longville.
Plut scholarship fund reaches milestone at CLC
A scholarship fund established in honor of a popular retired Central Lakes College instructor has reached the $20,000 milestone after five years.
CLC honor society earns six regional awards
The Central Lakes College Upsilon Omega chapter of the international honor society of the two-year college, Phi Theta Kappa, recently received six honors at the 2005 Minn-Wi-Kota regional conference at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids.
Super Bowl of ice fishing
Don't blame Phil Morse, St. Clair Shores, Mich., and his son, Jeff Morse, Toledo, Ohio, if they weren't in the mood to call home on Feb. 26, the first day of the 2005 Ice Team North American Ice Fishing Championship on Lake Mary near Alexandria.
Cass County agrees to fund Initiative Foundation again
WALKER -- The Cass County Board voted last week to resume funding to the Initiative Foundation this year.
Farmers market seminar scheduled April 5
The conference will help farmers' market vendors and managers understand Minnesota's operational guidelines at farmers' markets, including the recent legislation referred as the "Pickle Bill," and empower farmers' market vendors to increase sales by learning how to create top-notch displays at their market stand, develop customer relations and price their product at profit.
Volunteer readers
Holly Leek, a Central Lakes College freshman from Pillager, read to youngsters at Staples Elementary School during the sixth annual Read Across America Day promoting the value of literature. The event originated to foster good reading habits in memory of the author of the Dr. Seuss children's books.
Area briefs
NISSWA -- The Nisswa Area Women of Today are seeking recipes for a community cookbook they are putting together as a fund-raiser.
This was Brainerd
30 years ago (1975) - Crosby-Ironton fans erupt with glee following last night's revenge victory over defending champion Wadena 61-49 giving the Rangers the District 24 basketball crown.
Council approves Hwy. 10 realignment through city
STAPLES -- Staples has given its stamp of approval to the realignment of Highway 10 through the city.
LF council still deadlocked on TIF
LITTLE FALLS -- No one spoke on the Little Falls City Council when Sand Companies requested members reconsider a previous deadlocked vote.
Meth proposals breeze through committee
Restrictions on cold medicines and new rules for cleaning up properties contaminated by methamphetamine labs breezed through a third House committee Monday.
Overheard
"Clearly, with the freshman class that came in this year you gained a number of pro-life votes. I think the culture of the Senate has changed on that issue to the right."
Contacts made, but no real talks
Two Crosby-Ironton School Board members and two leaders of the C-I teachers' union met at a Brainerd restaurant Sunday in an attempt to reopen communication between both sides as the teachers' strike enters its fourth week.
United Way donors recognized
BAXTER -- Crow Wing County United Way donors were recognized Tuesday during a Community Matters celebration at Forestview Middle School in Baxter.
County will pay Elks' relocation costs
The Elks Lodge will receive $100,000 from Crow Wing County toward relocation costs as the organization moves from Fourth Street South in Brainerd. Tuesday Crow Wing County Commissioners approved the expenditure, which will be deducted from a settlement or court-ordered remedy.
Ex-C-I board member frustrated with board
A former Crosby-Ironton School Board member said he worked to get both sides talking again by setting up the meeting Sunday between a couple of board members and union leaders.
Ten teachers to be hired
LITTLE FALLS -- For the first time in at least six years it wasn't a matter of what to cut, but how many positions the Little Falls School Board should add to its staff for the upcoming school year.
Mayor questions requests for information
A familiar accusation was made at the Brainerd City Council meeting Monday.
Democrats seek to add self-employed to MinnesotaCare
House Democrats rolled out a proposal Monday that would allow small businesses and self-employed people to buy into the state employee health plan and the MinnesotaCare program.
For health -- good; for business -- mixed views
ST. MATHIAS -- There was general agreement smoking and secondhand smoke is harmful to people's health, but participants at Crow Wing County's forum on a potential smoke-free ordinance split after that.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Kris Nelson, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary from Baxter, was in Washington, D.C., lobbying for issues affecting American war veterans.
Two-steppin' on ice
Robby Pike (left), Thomas Stattelman and Collin Stattelman practiced their two-step dance to John Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" Tuesday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center. They were rehearsing for the Vacationland Figure Skating Club's 30th annual ice show, Skate the Nation. Show times will be 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood
Nesheim home, feeling better
Brainerd City Council Member Lucy Nesheim is back home and resting after suffering a heart attack March 1.
Crow Wing, Cass join on jail
Cass and Crow Wing counties have officially agreed to collaborate on the new jail planned for Brainerd.
Fate of struggling golf course discussed
LITTLE FALLS -- Merits of leasing the Little Falls municipal golf course to Tradition Golf came up against pleas for more time to turn the course's financial numbers around within the city's management.
Needed or not?
The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday still had nagging questions about its human rights commission. Board Chairman Gary Walters questioned whether the county's human rights commission should be sending letters to state legislators in the county's name.
Binding arbitration: What it is and isn't
What is binding arbitration and is it the best route to a settlement of the nearly month-old Crosby-Ironton teachers' strike?
Striking back
DEERWOOD -- Several Minnesota lawmakers left the State Capitol and headed to the Cuyuna Range Tuesday night to rally with striking Crosby-Ironton teachers and hear how community members have been affected by the strike.
This was Brainerd
30 years ago (1975) - The Brainerd Jaycees have announced today that they will hold their first annual North American Snodeo on Sunday, March 16, at Island View Lodge.
Overheard
"Through our history some of our best ambassadors have been those with strong voices."
Correction
In a Page 1A story Tuesday, the Dispatch incorrectly listed the time of a hearing hosted by Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, chair of the Minnesota House Education, Policy and Reform Committee, as the result of incorrect information provided the Dispatch. The hearing was 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Deerwood Auditorium.
Minnie C. Neubauer
PINE RIVER -- Minnie C. Neubauer, age 86, died Friday, March 4, 2005, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River. Services are pending with the Willim-St. Onge Family Funeral Home in Pine River.
Edwin H. Carlson
RANDALL -- Edwin H. Carlson, age 88, of Parker Township, Morrison County, Minn., passed away Saturday, March 5, 2005, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 11, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville with the Rev. Arlie Sowada officiating.
Nancy R. Koland
Nancy R. Koland, 80, Brainerd, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 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 E. Kerr
AITKIN -- Laura E. Kerr, age 83, of Aitkin, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at the Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Nancy R. Koland
Nancy R. Koland, 80, of Brainerd, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. She was born Oct. 19, 1924, in Sandstone, Minn., to Lloyd and Edith (Yanke) Reed.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 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 Gunderson Sr.
DETROIT LAKES -- LeRoy "Gundy" Gunderson Sr., 76, of Detroit Lakes, Minn., died Friday, March 4, 2005, at the Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes. Funeral services were Tuesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Detroit Lakes. Interment was in Holy Rosary Cemetery in Detroit Lakes with military honors by John Bridges Post No. 15 American Legion Honor Guard.
Ervin 'Gus' Gustafson
Ervin "Gus" W. Gustafson, age 87, resident of Brainerd, died Tuesday, March 8, 2005, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Merle H. Gallant Sr.
Merle Henry Gallant Sr., 86, Brainerd, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, March 6, 2005, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. Merle was born in Brainerd on June 3, 1918, to Edward and Elsie (Korupp) Gallant.
Richard B. Beeson
NISSWA -- Richard B. Beeson, age 80, died Monday, March 7, 2005, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Services are pending with the Willim-St. Onge Family Funeral Home in Pequot Lakes.
Max E. Barthel
BAXTER -- Max E. Barthel, age 62, resident of Baxter, died Monday, March 7, 2005, at St. Cloud Hospital. Max was born on June 2, 1942, in Sidney, Ohio, to Richard and Angie (Thurman) Sprinkle. He was a highly decorated Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Air Force.
Joseph Faust
PIERZ -- Joseph Faust, 39-year-old resident of Pierz, Minn., passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in Rochester, Minn. Arrangements are pending with the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz, Minn.
Ruby J. Beck
Ruby Jean Beck, age 82, resident of Brainerd, died Monday, March 7, 2005, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Merle H. Gallant Sr.
Merle H. Gallant Sr., 86, Brainerd, died Sunday, March 6, 2005, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.
Richard B. Beeson Sr.
NISSWA -- Richard "Dick" B. Beeson Sr., age 80, of Nisswa, completed his journey on this earth on March 7, 2005. Dick died peacefully amid his family at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn.
Richard 'Dick' B. Buck
NISSWA - Richard "Dick" Byron Buck, 91, of Nisswa, Minn., passed away Saturday, March 5, 2005, in Mesa, Ariz. Dick was born March 2, 1914, to Holger and Signe (Mosbaek) Buck in Askov, Minn. Dick married Else Thomsen on June 5, 1936. They had three children: Sandra, Heidi and Rollin. Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Else. In 1984, he married Phyllis Sorensen Morgensen of Anoka who also preceded him in death.
Verna M. Kramer
Verna M. Kramer, 65, Brainerd, passed away Monday, March 7, 2005, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Verna was born on Oct. 31, 1939, in Brainerd, Minn., to Clifford and Anne (Norman) Pickar.
Gladys M. Phillips
CROSBY -- Gladys Margaret Phillips, 94, Crosby, died on March 7, 2005, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center, Crosby. She was born on April 8, 1910, in Deerwood to Thomas and Marie (Downey) Ermatinger.
Delores M. Bennett
PILLAGER -- Delores Maybelle Bennett, age 69, of Pillager, Minn., formerly of Benson, died Saturday morning, March 5, 2005, at her home in Pillager, Minn.
Guest column: Racism must be confronted
In past weeks, much print has been devoted to a controversy involving the Dispatch, Paul Koering, and the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission. But no one as yet has cut to the heart of the matter, which is that racism exists in the lakes area both explicit racism, and implicit racism. Explicit racism is easy to recognize and unite against.
Open Forum
Critics of the prescription drug discount cards like John Kerry and the AARP have been strangely quiet lately. Between April 2004 and the election, 2.9 million cards were issued. As of Feb. 18, 2005, over 6 million discount cards were in use with an average savings/prescription of 20 percent (CSPAN Washington Journal, Feb. 18) Silence is caused by success of the program.
Correction / clarification
In a letter to the editor that was published in Sundays paper Lucille Schellin incorrectly described a benefit awarded to Crosby-Ironton teacher retirees. She had intended to refer to health insurance rather than life insurance.
Open Forum
A recent letter writer tells us that alleged global warming is "the greatest natural disaster since the last glacial period" and that the United States of America is notable for failing to sign the Kyoto Treaty.
GUEST COLUMN: Health care issues require objectivity
I'd like to respond to Dr. Jerome Poland's guest column, "Doctor disappointed with Durenberger," in the March 2 Dispatch. Dr. Poland was apparently responding to Sen. Durenberger's recent presentation at CLC regarding health care costs in Minnesota. I say "apparently" because I was there and I don't remember seeing Dr. Poland in attendance.
Vox Pop
Our governor wants to expand gambling in our state while cutting programs for the poor. Gambling is only a tax on the poor looking for "pie-in-the-sky" winnings. No one likes taxes but they are a fair way to pay for services we all need.
Sports shorts
Brainerd's Brady Prince reached the final eight of the National High School Racquetball tournament Friday and Saturday in St. Louis.
Palmer figures things out, qualifies for nationals
The first year in college is all about adjustments for students. For many students, college is the first time they've been on their own. The average student has to figure out when to study, when to eat, when to sleep and when to relax.
Scoreboard
Baseball
Flying high again
Until the 2004-05 school year the Little Falls community, and fans of Flyers athletics, haven't had much to cheer about in the 21st century.
Matson wins biathlon at Mt. Itasca
COLERAINE -- Derrek Matson, Baxter, skiing for the Nisswa NW Club, finished first in the 12.5-kilometer mass start youth division with nine misses in 50:07 in the North American Cup Biathlon races Saturday and Sunday at Mt. Itasca in Coleraine.
Sports shorts
The 16th annual North Central Speedway Car Show is scheduled March 25-26 at Westgate Mall.
Brainerd's Rubin wins section title
WADENA -- Brainerd's Nate Rubin decisioned Wadena's Patchrick Szathmary for the championship in the Southern section Region 4 Golden Gloves boxing tournament Saturday at the Wadena Armory.
Sertoma Sunrise Liftathon this week
Participants will include 100 boys and 48 girls in grades 8-12. There are 14 fund-raising teams with 10-11 lifters per team. The average projected lift range is 4,000 to 6,000 pounds per team.
Upcoming sporting events in the Brainerd lakes area:
TUESDAY
Hills alive with sound of snowmobiles
Lee Johnson, owner of Zorbaz in Crosslake and Lake Shore, and one of his regular customers, Wally Scheer, cooked up a hot racing event last year.
Scoreboard
Baseball
Upcoming sporting events in the Brainerd lakes area:
THURSDAY
Volleyball camps, clinics scheduled
Central Lakes College's Jane Peterson, two-time national Coach of the Year, has announced the 2005 summer schedule for Raiders Volleyball Camps and Clinics.
Brainerd keeps the streak alive
Since becoming a varsity adapted floor hockey program in 1995-96, the Brainerd Warriors have qualified for the state tournament every season.
Back at state
The Pequot Lakes Patriots are back in the Class 2A state girls' basketball tournament after a five-year absence.
U-14 girls take third
The Brainerd girls' U-14 hockey team finished third in the region tournament Feb. 25-27 at Detroit Lakes.
Raiders swept in opener
MINNEAPOLIS -- Northern Iowa swept the Central Lakes College Raiders 9-4 and 6-0 in a season-opening baseball doubleheader Monday at the Metrodome.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy with some lake effect snow showers near lake superior. Mostly sunny elsewhere. Highs from the mid teens far north to around 30 southwest.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs from the lower teens in the
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy. Highs from the lower 20s north to the lower 30s southwest.
Winter fishing fun
Weather drawing by Trelbie Sobiech of Mrs. Meyer's third grade class at Riverside school.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy east and increasing afternoon clouds west.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...A chance of light snow west and central...Possibly mixed
State forecast for N.D.
High wind watch is in effect for late tonight into thursday
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy to mostly cloudy. Light snow northeast this
State forecast for S.D.
High wind watch northwest and west central plains thursday...
State forecast for S.D.
Wind advisory northwest today...
Get ready for spring
Weather drawing by Mason Quick of Mrs. Surma's third grade class at Baxter school.