Wednesday, March 30, 2005
SENIOR CLASS
From finding the perfect message to glue inside a recycled birthday card to baking more than 120 dozen doughnuts all the same size, senior citizens who participate in activities at the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center in Brainerd are dedicated.
Spinning the golden oldies
SPRINGDALE, Ohio -- The alarm rings and the dog barks. It's 6 a.m. Alice Hornbaker climbs out of her daybed and squeezes past a table covered with computer equipment.
Diamonds are these guys' old friends
Herbie Lewis was at his usual spot at second base, wearing the spotless white uniform of the home team. He was a little stiff in the morning chill, a little slow getting down on the warmup grounders.Then again, that's to be expected from someone at the extreme end of a trend. Lewis is 89, and he's senior man on a team for which gray hair is more the rule than the exception.
Life as an eternal cruise
Hate the idea of living out your life in an assisted-living facility? How about spending your golden years sailing the high seas and visiting exotic ports of call instead? If the idea sounds farfetched, check again.
Addresses for federal lawmakers
Sen. Mark Dayton
Missing Outing woman found
OUTING -- Annie Williams, the 71-year-old Outing woman reported missing Monday, was found and returned home.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department at 1:36 p.m. Monday responded to a modular home fire at Hustad Homes, 1600 Highway 18. Firefighters extinguished a fire involving a modular home's siding. The extent of the damage wasn't immediately known. No injuries were reported.
CRIME
The next court hearing for William Myears, the 26-year-old Brainerd man accused of the 2002 murder of 21-year-old Erika Dalquist, has been set for June 21.
ACCIDENT
AITKIN -- The driver of a grain truck was injured after it rolled about 6:30 a.m. Monday at Highways 169 and 210, six miles north of Aitkin, the State Patrol reported.
'Designing Your Dreams' offered at CLC
STAPLES -- A social worker and a mental health practitioner will conduct a one-day course called "Designing Your Dreams" 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 16 in Room E100 on the Staples campus of Central Lakes College.
Fishing career started early
He loves to fish, but don't call Rob Neumann a fishing elitist.
Gardening workshop offered in Staples
Growing vegetables and other horticulture crops in northern and central Minnesota can be a challenge because of the cool, short growing season and irregular weather pattern.
First space flight is Heritage annual meeting topic April 8
IRONTON -- The space age was launched Aug. 18, 1957, right here on the Cuyuna Range in a mission named "Operation Man High."
Props to the Patriots
Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves spent a few minutes with Pequot Lakes girls' basketball team members at the Target Center in Minneapolis after they finished second in the Class 2A state tournament. Garnett signed autographs, posed for pictures and reminded them to keep their heads up and be proud of their season.
13 to participate in Miss Pine River Pageant on Saturday
PINE RIVER -- Thirteen young women will vie for the title of Miss Pine River 2005 at the Miss Pine River Pageant 7 p.m. Saturday at Pine River-Backus High School.
Area briefs
AITKIN -- The 2005 Aitkin High School prom will be Saturday at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge. The theme is "A Red Carpet Romance" (Lights, Camera and Action!)
CLC recognizes faculty emeritus, others
Central Lakes College recognized 132 retired faculty spanning 53 years in addition to 39 employees with more than seven centuries of service.
Photo instructor scholarship fund grows at CLC
STAPLES -- A scholarship for Central Lakes College photographic imaging technology students has been renamed for the program instructor who originated it.
Honor society at CLC holds spring induction
Central Lakes College has inducted 18 more students into its chapter of the international two-year college honor society, Phi Theta Kappa.
CLC's Krause elected president of electric association
Norman Krause, director of Central Lakes Agricultural Center at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College, was elected president of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association.
AREA BRIEFS
Dr. Schraz Patel and Dr. Shawn Roberts from the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center will discuss the latest advancements, including the minimally-invasive approach. There will be time for questions and answers.
Overheard
"I can't believe it. I didn't fathom this happening."
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Sons of Norway are sponsoring the 10th annual Scandinavian Frokost brunch at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. There is limited seating. Cost is $8.50.
Teacher cuts might be forthcoming
CROSBY -- The first step in possible teacher cuts could come at the 7 p.m. Monday Crosby-Ironton School Board meeting at the Deerwood Auditorium.
First cut -- $827,500 -- advised
The first cut will be the deepest, but more are sure to follow.
Crash in west Brainerd
Brainerd firefighters worked to stabilize a van that had tipped on its side after colliding with another vehicle about 1 p.m. Monday at Northwest Third and Washington Streets in west Brainerd, near the Tyrol Hills shopping center. Firefighters removed one injured occupant from the vehicle. The number of people injured wasn't available, though one person was transported by North Ambulance to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, the Brainerd Police Department reported.
Meth problem to be addressed in Staples
STAPLES -- Methamphetamine will be the discussion topic 5-8 p.m. April 21 at the Staples Community Center.
Cookies and issues get a neighborly crunching
DEERWOOD -- Eight gallons of coffee and 20 dozen cookies were set up in the Deerwood Auditorium's kitchen Monday night, but those attending the Crosby-Ironton School Board's first open meeting since the Feb. 9 teachers' strike began were more interested in crunching salary numbers.
Gazelka bill would let students keep eligibility
ST. PAUL -- Legislation introduced recently by Rep. Paul Gazelka, R-Brainerd, would allow students participating in Minnesota State High School League activities in another district during a teachers' strike to maintain their eligibility after the strike.
Uninvited Easter guest
Of all the furry woodland creatures Alma Esser could have had crashing through her window Sunday, she probably would've preferred the Easter Bunny.
NEA head energizes teachers
IRONTON -- National Education Association President Reg Weaver energized an enthusiastic crowd of Crosby-Ironton School District teachers and their supporters Tuesday at Education Minnesota's family night and rally at Gary's Sports Bar and Grill.
This was Brainerd
MARCH 29 - 40 years ago (1965) - Burglars gained about $107 in cash in a break-in of the Northern Pacific depot here yesterday noon. The break-in was sometime between noon and 4 p.m. when the office was closed.
Overheard
"And you don't often see deer in nursing homes."
C-I STRIKE BRIEFS
CROSBY -- Crosby-Ironton School Board chair Scott Kile said Monday afternoon all of the school district's substitute teachers are now licensed, following an agreement reached last week when the teachers' union and school board representatives appeared in Cass County Court.
This was Brainerd
MARCH 30 - 40 years ago (1965) - The operator of the Gull Drive-In theater has not lost his humor during all the snow that has fallen on this area. A sign which appeared at the theater entrance read, "Free Snow - New Shipment on Hand."
Cass officials seek help finding Outing woman
OUTING -- The Cass County Sheriff's Department is looking for a 71-year-old Outing woman who walked away from her residence Sunday afternoon.
CORRECTION
The dates for two University of Minnesota Extension Service workshops were omitted in a local brief published recently. The introduction to shoreland revegetation workshop will run 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday at Salem Lutheran Church in Longville.
SCI modifies TIF proposal
Sand Cos. Inc. of Waite Park gave it another shot Monday and submitted a revised tax-increment financing proposal to the Little Falls City Council for the former Larson Motor Service property along First Street Northeast in Little Falls.
Hatch weighs in on temporary licenses for replacements
IRONTON -- Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch Tuesday told striking Crosby-Ironton teachers his office issued an opinion earlier that day stating the state Board of Teaching can't issue temporary licenses to replacement teachers on the basis of a district's hardship.
Brainerd teen knew Weise through Internet
A Brainerd teenager has started www.jeffweise.com, a Web site billed as a "memorial to the victims lost at Red Lake High School," that has begun to chronicle the March 21 shootings that ended with 10 people dead, the Star Tribune reported Tuesday in a story on its Web site.
Dubious milestone
Time marches on in the Crosby-Ironton teachers' strike that's either 50 days old or 33 days old depending on how you count the days.
Dealing with deployment
Singing songs and having children talk about their feelings were a few tips offered to parents to help children cope with having a family member deployed in Iraq.
Crow Wing Township supervisors voice concerns over proposed annexation
BARROWS -- Crow Wing Township supervisors are hoping to have a say into a petition from Lively Auto/Mills to annex 640 acres of land from the township into the city of Brainerd.
A chance to talk -- and listen
DEERWOOD -- For the first time since the Crosby-Ironton teachers' strike began nearly eight weeks ago, the C-I School Board held a special meeting Monday to listen to residents' comments, suggestions and questions about the strike.
All-day, everyday kindergarten likely will be offered next fall
Starting next fall, all-day, everyday kindergarten likely will be offered to every kindergartner in the Brainerd School District, but there will be a cost to parents at three of the eight elementary schools if they choose to enroll their children for the additional days.
Jerome M. Petron
ROYALTON -- Jerome M. Petron, age 89, of Royalton, Minn., passed away Sunday, March 27, 2005, at Assumption Home in Cold Spring, Minn.
Richard 'Dick' Horn
WALKER -- Richard "Dick" Arthur Horn, 67, of Walker, Minn., and Green Valley, Ariz., died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at his home in Green Valley, Ariz.
Kendall R. Anderson
CHENEY, Wash. -- Kendall Ray Anderson, 46, of Cheney, Wash., died March 24, 2005, at Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle.
Norma A. Johnson
AITKIN -- Norma A. Johnson, age 75, of Aitkin, died Thursday, March 24, 2005, at the Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
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.
John G. Ginter
LITTLE FALLS -- John G. Ginter, 57-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Saturday, March 26, 2005, at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. A Committal Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2005, at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
Sherrie A. Mauk
Sherrie A. (Simpson) Mauk, age 59, of Brainerd, died peacefully March 26, 2005. She was born April 7, 1945, to Dale P. and Genevieve L. Simpson.
Florence L. Mullenix
STAPLES -- Florence L. Mullenix, 88, of Staples, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2005, at the Lakewood Health Systems Care Center in Staples.
Donna Mae Jenkins
Donna Mae Jenkins, age 76, resident of Brainerd, died Tuesday, March 29, 2005, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
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.
Florence L. Mullenix
STAPLES -- Florence L. Mullenix, 88, Staples, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2005. She was born Oct. 26, 1916, in Pequot Lakes, Minn., to Fingar and Alena (Pederson) Brenno.
Eva Gerving
GARRISON -- Eva Gerving, age 89, of Garrison, died on Sunday, March 27, 2005, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. She was born on Aug. 8, 1915, in Glenullin, N.D., to Joseph and Anna (Gerger) Fure. She married Matthew Gerving on Aug. 10, 1937, in Glenullin, N.D. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church.
Mabel A. Nygaard
Mabel A. Nygaard, age 87, passed away on Monday, March 28, 2005, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Mabel was born on Dec. 19, 1917, in Little Falls to Charles and Minnie (Bergman) Anderson.
John V. Weishalla
John is survived by his father, John Weishalla Sr.; brother, Ronald (Brenda), Willmar; three sisters, Mary (Vern) Olson, Grafton, N.D., Julie (John) Hoemberg, Staples, and Gloria (James) Adamek, Long Prairie; a son, John (Karla) Weishalla, Wadena; and a daughter, Jackie (Britt) Hamann, of Staples; three grandchildren, Kaija, Dominic and Kole. He was preceded in death by his mother.
Boyd 'Bud' M. Reynolds
PEQUOT LAKES -- Boyd "Bud" M. Reynolds, age 77, passed away on Saturday, March 26, 2005, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31, 2005, at Willim-St. Onge Family Funeral Home in Pequot Lakes.
Helen I. Peterson
Helen I. Peterson, age 82, of Brainerd, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2005, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Memorial services will be Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m. at the Woodland Chapel. Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
James J. Eychaner
MERRIFIELD -- James J. Eychaner, age 66, of Merrifield, passed away March 26, 2005.
Leslie 'Clark' Kaufman
ANDOVER -- Leslie "Clark" Kaufman, age 71, of Andover, formerly of Brainerd. Preceded in death by father and mother. He was a retired 30-year employee of Honeywell.
GUEST COLUMN: Koeps respond to Vox Pop criticism
It was predictable to see the colorful (bright yellow) display of ranting from some Vox Pop folk March 24.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Open Forum
In the film "To Kill A Mockingbird" there is an unforgettable scene when Atticus explains to the courtroom why Mayella Ewell has falsely accused Tom Robinson of raping her. Tom Robinson reminds her of something she wishes to put behind her.
VOX POP
The solution is simple to the Koeps' complaints. Get some earplugs and get on with your lives. My husband's snores could drown out a freight train. I wear earplugs, end of story.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Open Forum
Like a school of sharks, in a frenzy brought on by blood in the water, the Republicans lunged at the chance for political gain recently. It was almost too shameful to watch as they used that poor woman in Florida. How dare they attempt to force government into the most private moments of our lives?
Forums as wild as the races
For readers out there without computers, I thought I would inform you of the discussion in the forums@brainerddispatch.com. from March 1 through March 22 about NASCAR (3 web pages or 20 sheets of threads on a bulletin board).
Upcoming sporting events in the Brainerd lakes area:
Tuesday
Scoreboard
Baseball
Wadena boxers win three titles
Three Wadena Class A boxers won championships in Saturday's Region 4 Golden Gloves Boxoff at the Wadena Armory.
Sports shorts
Andrew Mehr has been named the most valuable member of the Brainerd Warrior boys' swimming and diving team.
Upcoming sporting events in the Brainerd lakes area:
Wednesday
After the madness
One ink-stained wretch's recollections as the madness of March draws to a close:
Sports shorts
Jim Dahl, Eagles Landing Golf Club owner and designer, said the course near Fort Ripley could be open for play this Saturday.
Scoreboard
Baseball
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Breezy and mild. Chance of showers northwest. Highs in the upper 50s northeast and 60s to low 70s in most other areas. Highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s near lake michigan.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Showers and isolated thunderstorms east and south. A
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy and warm. Highs in the 70s.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of isolated thunderstorms possible west. Highs 45 to 55.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy and breezy. Chance of light rain
Look out below
Weather drawing by Kelsey Hart of Mrs. Thompson's second grade class at Eagle View school in Pequot Lakes.
I like spring
Weather drawing by Sydney Stock of Mrs. Zauhar's kindergarten class at Whittier school.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Rain ending east by early afternoon...Then scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms west in the afternoon. Partly cloudy west...Cloudy east. Highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers northwest in the afternoon.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy. Becoming windy west. A chance of showers west and central...Then a chance of showers or isolated thunderstorms central and east in the afternoon. Highs from the mid 50s west...To the lower 70s far southeast.
Wisconsin state forecast
Flood watch tonight portions of southwest and west central wisconsin...