Tuesday, April 1, 2003

Extra credit
The following students from St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School were named to the "A" honor roll: Fifth-grader Jonathon Hammer; sixth-grader

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Monday estimate: 350. Last Monday: 372. Year Ago Monday: 247. Friday actual: 177.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLI(AP) -- Wheat receipts Monday 177, a year ago 274.

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to three grass fires Sunday.

How to reach your state legislators
Rep. Dale Walz, R-Brainerd, District 12A

Births
St. Joseph's Medical Center

Local briefs
Eight teams with 10 riders each pedaled a total of 1,567.23 miles in a five-hour period on March 22 at the Westgate Mall, raising $7,200 for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare and its Brainerd satellite clinic.

Military support takes the relaxation out of Helsene's retirement
Retirement hasn't been a time to relax for Larry Helsene.

Painting paper people
Kevin VanVickle painted the face of one of five chair sculptures from Marti Sauer's fifth-grade class at Riverside Elementary School Friday. With thehelp of Betty Salmon the students created the paper mache figures, which will be on display after they are painted. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

Call-ups leave Pequot woman with heavy load
PEQUOT LAKES -- First her husband was deployed.

This was Brainerd
MARCH 31 - 100 years ago (1903) - Horse thieves are now worth $200 each, the bounty having been raised to that figure from $50.

PROUD OF HIS OLD OUTFIT
OSSIPEE -- When Lewis Stoneking saw paratroopers from the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade parachuting into northern Iraq Wednesday, a part of him wanted to be making that jump with them.

Support Your Troops walk set
The Support Your Troops Walk the Track is set to help support military Family Readiness Groups in our area.

Lakeshore repair work may involve unsnarling red tape
With damage to lakeshore from ice heaves rampant in the lakes area, many property owners are anxious to restore their shorelines to their former appearance.

Surprise reunion
A Mora man was surprised by his family Saturday with the first reunion of all 12 of his grown children. Read more about this story in Wednesday's Neighbors section.

Staying in touch
The Dispatch's Home Front column helps central Minnesota readers stay in touch with their loved ones in the military. Watch for it Tuesday.

This was Brainerd
APRIL 1 - 40 years ago (1963) - A blizzard was moving into the Brainerd area at noon today. The patrol said at 11:30 that the blizzard had reached Fergus Falls where visibility was reported to be 25 feet and highways extremely slippery.

Aitkin trophy case spotlights area military members
AITKIN (AP) -- A trophy case at Aitkin High School has been turned into a display of several members of the armed forces who have connections to this north-central Minnesota city.

Ripley troops among N.D. Guard unit heading overseas
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- A North Dakota Army National Guard unit is heading to Kuwait to join the war with Iraq, including soldiers from Camp Ripley.

Elisabeth 'Betty' Robbins
Elisabeth "Betty" Robbins, 97, Brainerd, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

Daniel T. Grossnickle
PARK RAPIDS -- Daniel T. Grossnickle, 86, Park Rapids, formerly of Baxter, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at St. Joseph's Area Hospital in Park Rapids.

Elayne T. Guck
Memorial services for Elayne Theresa Guck, 69, Garfield, Ark., formerly of Brainerd, who died Wednesday, March 19, 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Ark., will be 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis Church in Brainerd.

Colleen Morley Scott
BELFAIR, Wash. -- Colleen Morley Scott, 64, Belfair, Wash., formerly of Brainerd, died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Helen K. Haugen
HENNING -- Helen Kathryne Haugen, 69, Henning, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena.

Paul R. Smith
PEQUOT LAKES -- Paul R. Smith, 86, Pequot Lakes, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Kenneth L. Fick
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Kenneth L. Fick, 77, West Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Pine River, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at the VA Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Emma M. Meyer
DEERWOOD -- Emma Marie Meyer, 97, Deerwood, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.

Neva J. Norman
MAPLEWOOD -- Neva J. Norman, 71, Maplewood, formerly of Brainerd, died Thursday, March 27, 2003, at her home.

Marvel Bacon
CROSSLAKE -- Marvel Bacon, 70, Crosslake, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Shirley Vaughn
PINE RIVER -- Shirley Vaughn, 64, Pine River, formerly of Minneapolis and Anoka, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at home.

Lucille 'Lucy' Hoge
AITKIN -- Lucille "Lucy" Hoge, 68, Aitkin, died today, April 1, 2003, at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.

Myron K. Olson
CROSBY -- Myron K. Olson, 46, Crosby, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at home.

Daniel T. Grossnickle
PARK RAPIDS -- Daniel T. Grossnickle, 86, Park Rapids, formerly of Baxter and Dilworth, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Park Rapids.

Peter G. Czech
SOBIESKI -- Peter G. Czech, 87, Sobieski, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.

Alfred C. Voss
Alfred C. Voss, 97, Brainerd, died today, April 1, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Darlene L. Becvar
Darlene Lois Becvar, 67, Staples, formerly of International Falls, died Monday, March 31, 2003, at Greater Staples Hospital.

Pardon our French
Should Little Falls quit flying the French flag alongside Old Glory?

Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.

Open Forum
Judging by your Open Forum, the local "Iraqi Quacki" are still, even in time of war, spouting their venom. They are pie-in-the-sky airheads who have absolutely no sense of reality and care nothing about the welfare of the troops and their loved ones at home, nor the damage they are causing. Even Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy have said it is time to shut up!

Open Forum
As a Navy veteran of the first Gulf War, I sit here in my safe home watching this war. I get angry at the protesters who say they don't want us to have war. Maybe they should go live there and see what it feels like to live under a dictator, where if you speak bad about the leader you and your family are hung or shot. Try not eating three meals a day.

Our editorial positions
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.

Jayhawk pride
The groans could be heard all over Crow Wing County Saturday night.

No joke
Today's news reports that Minnesota Republicans, Democrats and Independents all agree on legislation to revise the state's political calendar might strike some as an April Fools' Day trick.

With the military
First Class E-3 Joel D. MacDonald, son of Sherlynn and Jerome Kretzman, Baxter, and Brian MacDonald, St. Cloud, was recently promoted to Senior Airman. He is stationed at Tinkers Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla. He is currently serving in Oman.

Group proposes surcharge
Since Gov. Tim Pawlenty released his plan for tackling a $4.23 billion budget deficit without a state tax hike, the cries by some interest groups for tax increases have been fairly constant yet fairly vague.

Natural gas prices down in March
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The price of natural gas used during April will be nearly a third lower than March, but still much higher than last year at this time, according to the state's largest utilities.

Lawmakers, party leaders seek new political calendar
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Getting Minnesotans to vote earlier and more often is the goal of proposed revisions to the state's political calendar offered Monday by legislators and leaders from the Republican, Democratic and Independence parties.

Pond claims boy
WATKINS, Minn. (AP) -- A 2-year-old boy died after he was found in a decorative pond on his family's property.

Puckett denies forcing woman into bathroom
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Minnesota Twins star Kirby Puckett denied Monday that he dragged a woman into the men's room at a restaurant and grabbed her breast, insisting instead that he behaved like a gentleman.

Lawmakers grapple with prescription drug prices
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Low-income Minnesotans drowning in prescription drug bills may get some relief as the Legislature moves toward passage of a bill to give those without drug coverage a price break of about 20 percent.

House panel passes tobacco tax increase
ST. PAUL (AP) -- He insists it's not a tax increase, but anyone purchasing a package of cigarettes would pay an extra $1 to the state under a prominent House Republican's bill that passed its first committee on Monday.

Advisory issued on asbestos exposure
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Hundreds of current and former residents of northeast Minneapolis have received letters from state health officials warning that years ago the residents might have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos.

Nearly 200 teenagers rally in support of Target Market
ARDEN HILLS (AP) -- With duct tape over their mouths, nearly 200 teenagers gathered outside the annual Target Market conference Sunday to signify they would not be silenced in their efforts to save the anti-tobacco smoking group.

Minnesota farmers embrace biotech seeds
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota farmers will join the national trend of increased planting of genetically engineered corn and soybean seeds this year and will be among the Midwest states leading the way in the use of biotechnology, according to new government statistics.

To deal with big budget problem, there are many small ideas
ST. PAUL -- No dessert for prisoners! Deny the bureaucrats their cell phones! Cut consultants!

Abortion waiting period, information bill passes House
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The state House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill on Monday to require women seeking abortions to hear certain information and wait 24 hours first.

Role reversal ahead in budget debate
ST. PAUL -- The tables begin turning this week in the budget debate.

No. 25 Target Corp. tops Minnesota listings on Fortune 500
NEW YORK (AP) -- Target Corp. topped 18 Minnesota companies listed in the Fortune 500 rankings of the nation's largest companies.

Politicians criticize DNR's hiring of former Pawlenty aide
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A DFL lawmaker has criticized the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for hiring a former political director of Gov. Tim Pawlenty's campaign at a time the agency is cutting its budget and laying off employees.

Port of Duluth opens
DULUTH (AP) -- The Port of Duluth Superior has officially opened for the 2003-04 shipping season, and the first oceangoing saltie is expected to arrive in the Twin Ports in early April.

Four Warrior boys win indoor track events
ST. CLOUD -- Josh Anderson, Justin Grunewald, Jason Roberts and Justin Olejnicak won individual titles for the Brainerd Warrior boys' team in the Central Lakes Conference indoor track and field meet Saturday at St. Cloud State University.

Pickar finishes in top 10 in national wrestling tournament
CLEVELAND -- Andy Pickar of Brainerd finished one victory away from All-American status at 152 pounds in the National High School Wrestling Championships over the weekend.

Furda, Radtke repeat in Liftathon
Luke Furda and Jessica Radtke were the top boys' and girls' lifters in the 13th annual Sertoma Sunrise Warrior Liftathon at the Brainerd High School weight room.

Scoreboard
college softball

Scoreboard
college softball

Local sports shorts
Katie Perpich has been named the most valuable member of the 2002-2003 Brainerd Warriors gymnastics team.

Beamon leads C-I girls
COLLEGEVILLE -- Kim Beamon of Crosby-Ironton won the 1600- and 3200-meter runs in the St. John's University indoor meet Saturday.

Gophers' run ends in Sweet Sixteen with loss to Texas
STANFORD, Calif. -- How quickly Jamie Carey felt at home again in Maples Pavilion -- even in a Texas uniform. The Stanford fans still cheered her name, and they still wore her number.

Wolves drop third straight
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Mavericks strengthened their hold on first place in the West, while the Timberwolves let another chance for home-court advantage slip away.

ONE DOWN and 161 to GO
DETROIT (AP) -- Dustan Mohr hit a two-run homer and Brad Radke had a strong outing as the Minnesota Twins beat the Tigers 3-1 Monday and spoiled Alan Trammell's managerial debut.

Wade's dazzling performance leads Marquette past Kentucky
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Dwyane Wade sailed high above a defense that had carried Kentucky all season, slamming the ball through the hoop repeatedly in a stunning upset few people expected.

For openers, Radke leads Twins
DETROIT (AP) -- Minnesota pitcher Brad Radke, who has started five straight seasons, moved past Bert Blyleven for the most opening-day starts with his seventh overall.

Minnesota skates past Ferris State, into Frozen Four
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- In the first half of the season, the Gophers' offense was slower to start than your father's Olds on a cold Minnesota morning. But that's not the case anymore -- and just in time.

Gophers looking to next year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- If one good thing came out of Sunday night's loss to Texas in the Sweet Sixteen, Minnesota coach Pam Borton said the Golden Gophers proved they can play with any team in the country.

Gopher men want to keep on playing
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota men's basketball team talked all season how much it didn't want to be playing in the National Invitation Tournament.

Tigers hope to be like Twins some day
DETROIT -- When the Detroit Tigers grow up, they want to be just like the Minnesota Twins.

Twins end spring training with 4-0 victory
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Torii Hunter, Doug Mientkiewicz and Denny Hocking homered as the Minnesota Twins beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 Saturday in the final spring training game for both teams.

Wild fight past Calgary
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota Wild are fine-tuning their special teams just in time for the playoffs.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy to cloudy. A chance of rain or sprinkles northeast. Highs in the mid 50s northeast to the lower 70s southwest.

Spring rain
Weather drawing by Shaye Blessing of Jan Wilcox's kindergarten class at Lowell school.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Mostly cloudy...But partial clearing southwest this afternoon. A chance of light rain northwest this morning. A chance of light rain east...Possibly preceded by some light snow northeast. Highs in the lower 40s northeast to mid 60s southwest.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly cloudy north...Mostly sunny south. A slight chance of afternoon showers far northwest. Highs from the lower 60s northeast to the lower 80s southcentral.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Cloudy skies east becoming partly cloudy. Partly cloudy west. Windy east. Highs from the 60s northeast to near 80 southcentral.

Wisconsin state forecast
Dense fog advisory this morning northeast and east central...

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Scattered morning rain showers northeast...Otherwise partly sunny. Windy west and central. Highs from near 70 far southwest to near 50 far northeast.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Increasing clouds. Rain and snow becoming likely north and central. A chance of light rain south. Highs in the 30s northeast to the upper 40s to low 50s southwest.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny and much warmer. Highs in the lower 70s northeast to lower 80s south.

State forecast for North Dakota
Winter weather advisory northwest and north central tonight and wednesday...

Minnesota state forecast
Winter storm watch north tonight and wednesday...

I love basketball
Weather drawing by Derek Knoll of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.

What's doing
The VFW Loyalty Day Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the VFW Post No. 1647 in Brainerd. All interested parties are welcome to attend.