Thursday, April 2, 2009
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Brainerd High School South Campus music department will present two student recitals Tuesday in the band room. The recital is free and open to the public.
FINE ARTS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Jillian Anderson
'Funny, spunky & neat'
It's the "V-word" everybody will be talking about this weekend.
UPCOMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR
Live music
Dipping into a couple recipes
This is a delicious spinach dip - one of my favorites.
POLICE BLOTTER
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY - Mary Jo South, 700 block of West College Drive, reported at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday that someone driving a truck dropped off 35 pink flamingos at the entrance to the apartment building. A police officer picked the flamingos up and took them to the Brainerd Police Department.
The Strands of Aitkin to receive statewide DFL award at Humphrey Day Dinner in Minneapolis
Cordy and David Strand of Aitkin will receive the Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Distinguished Activism at Saturday's Humphrey Day Dinner in Minneapolis.
Volunteer leader attends training at Camp Knutson
Jane Erickson, Lutheran Social Service volunteer leader for Crow Wing County, attended an intensive two-day training session March 24-25 at Camp Knutson in Crosslake, according to a news release.
BIRTHS
Garrett and Tina Cekalla, Brainerd, a boy, Dylan Thomas, 6 pounds, 15 ounces, March 10, 2009. Grandparents are Christine and Jim Tatro and Marv Cekalla and Nancy Nicholson.
BIRTHS
Charles and Angel Klippenes, Staples, a boy, Azheni Joseph, 6 pounds, 8 ounces, March 24, 2009.
POLICE BLOTTER
CRASHES - No injuries were reported in a two-vehicle collision at 8:35 a.m. Wednesday on Forest Knolls and Clear Lake roads.
Cass court
WALKER - The following appeared recently in Cass County District Court:
Spring II YMCA swim lessons planned
The Brainerd Family YMCA next swim lesson session is coming soon. The lesson schedule is available at the YMCA and on the Web at brainerdlakesymca.org.
PETS OF THE WEEK
Sheba is a 3-year-old spayed border collie mix. She knows some commands and is house trained. Sheba is mellow and reserved, but loves to play outside. Brainerd Dispatch/Heidi Lake
Going with the flow - or lack thereof
ITASCA STATE PARK - The boy peered cautiously into the spout, as if at any moment, sweet, sugary sap would come shooting out of the towering maple tree.
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
Go to Any Length
LOCAL BRIEFS
NISSWA - Hopping into Nisswa is scheduled April 11.
Pillager youth wrestlers qualify for state
The Pillager community education youth wrestling team qualified for the Jaycees State tournament April 4 in Albany. The team: Tucker Peterson (front, left), Jacob Lewis, Ben Krall, Gabe Grimsley, Tommy Daniels, Brandon Krall, Colten Cain, CJ Orsburn (second row, left), Tyler Rooney, Braden Kramer, Christopher Rooney, Andy Schlosser, Eli Horn, John Nelson, Wyatt Kidrowski (back, left), Christopher Ringler, Doug Fillbrandt, Tommy Schlosser, Brodey Kropuenske, Kaleb Smith, Tucker Cain and Brady Anderson.
ORGANIZATIONS
Brainerd Jaycees
Volleyball champions
The Central Lakes Junior Olympic volleyball team took first place in the 14-U division at Central Lakes College in Brainerd on Saturday. Back row: Hanna Kangas (left), Jenna Lamb, Abigail Palmer, coach Sam Boyer. Front row: Nicole Traut (left), Courtney Ryan, Sabrina Aldin, Taylor Johnshoy. Not pictured: Emily Erickson.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Lakes Area Ecumenical Bereavement
Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?
Red Rolfe, Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing - they're all there on Scott Gomon's official American League baseball autographed by members of the New York Yankees in 1940.
Promoting awareness, prevention of child abuse
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention month and I thought it would be appropriate to spend some time talking about the different forms, preventions and coping skills association with this growing situation.
A homecoming
Do you have a recent scenic picture that shows the beauty of the lakes area? Send it to photos@brainerddispatch. com for possible publication in the Neighbors section. Be sure to include your name, where you are from, a brief description of the photo and when and where it was taken.
Brainerd area students participate in festival
PEQUOT LAKES - More than 200 students recently participated in the 28th annual Junior Music Festival at the Pequot Lakes Public School.
Verndale deaths linked to overdose
An overdose of prescription medication caused the deaths of two people found March 6 at a Verndale home, law enforcement officials announced.
Overheard
It's still a mathematical possibility but it's probably akin to you winning your NCAA bracket pool at this point.
Storm damage leaves 1,000 in the dark
Tuesday's and Wednesday's winter storm wreaked havoc on area power lines.
Districts reach out to autistic students
PINE RIVER - Galen Newbold, a Pine River-Backus fourth-grader, used to spend many mornings sitting in the narrow area behind filing cabinets in special education teacher Karen Ailie's classroom. It was a comfortable place, filled with beanbags to sit on, where autistic students like Galen could feel safe when they're feeling anxious and need to calm down.
Chalberg Theatre at CLC's Brainerd campus is potential bonding project
Renovation of the Chalberg Theatre to be used for classroom space would be the project identified by Central Lakes College's Brainerd campus if a bonding bill is approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Random acts of kindness - big or small - clearly affected the recipients of those acts.
With organ donation, it's like the deceased is still living
It's been little more than a year since Susan Schroer's brother, Michael Lex, died in a four-wheeling accident near his home by Big Pine Lake in Ottertail County.
Overheard
Please let me have my dirt bike. I won't eat my dirt bike.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Rural Minnesota CEP was awarded $2.5 million in stimulus funding from the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
The making of a snow person
Sue Schmidt, media secretary at Lowell Elementary School in Brainerd, took this photograph of students making a large snowball Wednesday before the bell rang for school to start. Schmidt said the students were having a blast in the fresh April Fools' Day snow.
Winter storm drops heavy snow, causes power outages
It was no April Fools' Day joke Wednesday morning when Brainerd area residents woke up and looked outside to see heavy snow coating the trees, bushes and landscape.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 1 - 60 years ago (1949) - A report on operations at the Brainerd-Crow Wing County Airport for its first month of scheduled air service showed 31 passengers leaving and 33 arriving.
The joke's on us
It looked as if Mother Nature was getting in on the April Fools' Day spirit a day early.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 2 - 80 years ago (1929) - Defective sidewalks throughout the city came under consideration at last night's city council meeting. Citizens were asked to alert their respective aldermen with complaints of walks needing repair.
Blood donors raise disaster funds for Red Cross
The North Star Chapter of the American Red Cross has faced a difficult year with more fires and local disasters than average years as well as major flooding in Minnesota.
Snow adds to Crow Wing River flooding
After more than a week fighting the flooding waters of the Crow Wing River, a foot of new snow on the ground Wednesday morning was not a welcome sign for residents along the river.
Pequot Lakes family to appear on 'Nightline' report on allergies Thursday
PEQUOT LAKES - A Pequot Lakes family is expected to appear on a segment about food allergies on "Nightline," which will air at 10:30 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
Robert L. Case Sr.
STAPLES - Robert L. (Bob) Case Sr., age 82, of Staples, passed away Monday morning, March 30, 2009, at Lakewood Health System in Staples. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2009, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples. Visitation will be Thursday night, April 2, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples from 5-7 p.m. with parish prayers at 6:30 p.m. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery at a later date.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Arthur VanRisseghem
LITTLE FALLS - Arthur G. VanRisseghem, age 77, of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at his residence. Arrangements are pending with Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
Loretta H. Bailey
LITTLE FALLS - Loretta H. Bailey, 97-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 4, 2009, at 1 p.m. at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Otto's Care Center.
Bobby Willis
STAPLES - Bobby Willis, age 41, of Staples, passed away March 28, 2009, at the Lakewood Health System in Staples. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples.
Donna Hasskamp
CROSBY - Donna Mary Denis Hasskamp, age 87, of Crosby, died on Monday, March 30, 2009, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.
Terri D. Tomlinson
Terri Denise Tomlinson, 48, passed away peacefully Monday, March 30, 2009, after a long and brave battle with cancer.
Terri Tomlinson
BAXTER - Terri Tomlinson, age 48, resident of Baxter, died Monday, March 30, 2009, at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis.
Orville J. Thurston Sr.
Orville John Thurston Sr., 76, of Brainerd, died Saturday, March 28, 2009, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Private family services were held.
John Hatheway
HACKENSACK - John Hatheway, age 97, of Hackensack, passed away Monday, March 30, 2009. He was born Aug. 22, 1911, to Jasper and Mary Hatheway. John and his wife, Grace, moved to Hackensack in 1942 from Clinton, Iowa.
Mark L. Norman Jr., M.D.
NAPLES, Fla. - Mark L. Norman Jr., M.D., age 84, passed away March 27, 2009, of complications after cardiac surgery in Naples, Fla. Preceded in death by his parents, Mark Sr. and Abigail; brother, William Norman, D.D.S., of St. Paul.
Christopher Nelson
PERRY LAKE TOWNSHIP - Christopher Alan Nelson, age 40, of Perry Lake Township, died at his home.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Donna Mae Germain
BAXTER - Donna Mae C. Germain, 77, of Baxter, died Sunday, March 29, 2009, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Services for Donna Mae will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2009, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. Friends are welcome to gather starting at 10 a.m. Interment will follow services at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Little Falls, Minn. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society.
Mark Norman Jr., M.D.
NAPLES, Fla. - Mark L. Norman Jr., M.D., age 84, passed away March 27, 2009, of complications after cardiac surgery in Naples, Fla. Preceded in death by his parents, Mark Sr. and Abigail; brother, William Norman, D.D.S., of St. Paul.
Open Forum
There are already people grousing about how Obama and the Democratic majority are spending too much and taxing too much. How soon they forget about George W. Bush's record budget deficits, plus the worst economic meltdown since 1929 - despite the lowest tax rate for the wealthy in recent history. In fact, President Obama's proposed top marginal tax rate of 39.6 percent is lower than the average top marginal tax rate of 52.38 percent under all Republican presidents (source: Daily Kos).
Correction/clarification
The Brainerd Dispatch incorrectly identified Open Forum writer Jesse Nix as an associate chair of the Crow Wing County DFL in Tuesday's Commentary section. He is secretary of the organization.
VOX POP
We are in Georgia for a couple of months and I have to commend people in the Brainerd area for not smoking. People here - young, old, male, female - smoke like there's no tomorrow. We have a lot of smokers in our area and I was one for 21 years.
What do you think?
On our Web site, www.brainerddispatch.com, readers may participate in forums at brainerddispatch.com/forums.
Help is needed for lakeside park
Our Friends of Nisswa Lake Park Committee has worked diligently over the last month or more to design a 3.7 acre lakeside park that meets the needs of our community. They have done a great job!
'TMI' results in crisis fatigue
What if everybody just took a timeout?
Open Forum
In the March 22 issue of the Brainerd Dispatch there was an article entitled Obama reaches out to Iran with video message. This article said that our president had a video message for the Iranian people.
Little time for rest in Little Falls
Little Falls Flyers fans you can now catch your breath.
Ten spots remain on Lumberjacks
Some have scoffed at the idea, others have delighted in knowing they'll get one more shot to play football.
Warriors have positions to fill
With three of their top four pitchers having graduated, and the possibility that catcher Nate Smolke may not be able to play defensively, the Brainerd Warriors baseball team enters the season with positions to fill.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
From Brainerd to the Frozen Four
Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl was a freshman on the 1983 Bemidji State University Beavers 31-0 Division III national championship men's hockey team.
Raiders stumble twice
ELKO - Ryan Pauly finished 5-for-5 with a walk in two Central Lakes College Raiders baseball losses to Dakota County Technical College Sunday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Pioneers' Jensen, Boser on Central Minnesota Conference first team
Kaari Jensen and Gabrielle Boser of the Pierz Pioneers were named to the All-Central Minnesota Conference girls' basketball first team.
Lunkers home opener tickets on sale Friday
The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers Home Opener tickets will go on sale Friday at the Brainerd Civic Center in conjunction with the Commerce & Industry Marketplace and the Spring Outdoor Expo.
Dolphins find success at U of M center
The Brainerd YMCA Dolphin swim team competed in the Midwest Region meet March 28-29 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
Baxter's Bertoch enjoys successful Snocross season
With spring just around the corner, the 2008-2009 ISOC snowmobile racing season is coming to a close.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cloudy southeast half. Becoming partly cloudy northwest.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Scattered flurries north. Partly cloudy south. Chilly with
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Cloudy with a chance of rain and snow south in the morning...With rain likely in the afternoon. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy. A slight chance of snow showers and flurries far northwest. Highs from the upper 30s far northwest...To the mid 40s elsewhere.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of light snow far west and northeast. Highs from near 30 far north to the lower to mid 40s far southeast.
State forecast for N.D.
Flood warnings north central and eastern north dakota through at
April 1 in Brainerd*
Weather drawing by Hunter Kralerog in the Lowell second grade of Mrs. Larson.
State forecast for S.D.
Winter storm watch west friday afternoon into saturday...
State forecast for N.D.
Flood warnings far south central through north central and into
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory for northwest wisconsin until 10 am cdt...
Time for April showers?
Weather drawing by Max Mathison in the Lowell first grade of Mrs. Bolt.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Breezy. Highs near 40 northwest to the upper
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter storm warnings far northeast this morning...