Saturday, April 4, 2009
Biz Buzz: So you want to be an author?
A new event in the Brainerd lakes area offers tips and directions from writers who have made that daunting journey from idea to publication. The first Minnesota Authors' Weekend is planned for next Friday and Saturday at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa.
Taste treats in one spot
A new restaurant, a doughnut shop and a cake business are all opening in Brainerd this summer at the same address.
Nayquonabe named
to '40 Under Forty' list
ONAMIA - Joe Nayquonabe, 27, interim corporate vice president of marketing for Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, was named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's 2009 "40 Under Forty" list.
Business notes
Business news
Wausau Paper announces
hiring freeze, cost cuts
Wausau Paper announced a series of plans intended to improve financial performance, conserve cash and increase financial flexibility.
Senior calendar
Lakes Area Senior Activity Center
Police blotter
Baxter police
Police blotter
ARREST - A resident on Daggett Hall Road reported Thursday that his neighbor's dog came into his yard and chased his chickens again. The dog's owner was arrested on an unrelated warrant and issued a warning about the dog ordinance.
Girl hospitalized after falling in water
A 6-year-old girl was transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd after falling into water Wednesday afternoon near Southwest Sixth Street, the Brainerd Police Department reported.
Agendas
City council, county board, school board meeting agendas
Local housing briefs
Betsy Hollister recently was recognized for outstanding achievement for top sales as an individual agent for 2008 in the Brainerd office of Edina Realty.
Drawing a crowd
Mid-Minnesota Builders Association Home Show
Ask a master gardener
Spring is an ideal time to check your roses for winter damage and prune them to improve the beauty and health of your plant. To avoid accidentally pruning live wood, wait until the buds start to swell and grow.
Coming up (healthy) roses?
Ignore tulips bowed down after heavy spring snows. They usually will right themselves. Snow actually insulates and protects.
Kinship Partners Child in Need
The task of writing about a child waiting for a mentor at Kinship Partners is rotated among the six staff members each week. Today is my turn.
What's doing
AITKIN - The Lakes and Woods Garden Club of Aitkin will meet 7 p.m. Monday at Mille Lacs Electric. The program will be a presentation by Wild and Free. Annual plant sale and garden boutique will be May 16.
Volunteers of the month
Volunteers of the month
Volunteer activities
Volunteer opportunities
Rotary plans 'Taste of Tuscany' fundraiser
The "Taste of Tuscany" annual Rotary Wine Tour will be 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Red Roof Inn.
The dollar store dog
JENKINS - When the last of Roxanne Soukup's five children graduated from Pequot Lakes High School a couple years ago and headed to college she started to experience a severe case of empty nest syndrome.
Craver pardon denied
Karle Ames Craver will not be granted a reprieve from his criminal past in Brainerd.
Snowfall is above average
March's 9.5 inches of snow helped contribute to an above average snowfall season this past winter with a season total of 51 inches compared to the 10-year-average of 40.06 inches.
This was Brainerd
80 years ago (1929): Recently, miscreants abused the privilege extended to the public of visiting and climbing the fire tower on Ahrens Hill. Because of obscene language and other damage done to the tower it will be padlocked unless a forestry official is present.
Brainerd airport receives $1 million stimulus grant
The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport will receive $1 million in federal economic recovery funding, Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., announced Thursday.
Flood evacuees to return home Friday
The 30 long-term care patients evacuated from a Moorhead senior living facility to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd last week are expected to return home Friday.
Three injured in collision on bridge
Three people were injured Thursday afternoon after a minivan heading east in the westbound lanes of Washington Street collided head-on with a sport-utility vehicle, the State Patrol reported.
Overheard
"We trust him."
Fort Ripley woman guilty of not paying federal taxes
A 50-year-old Fort Ripley woman pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court for not paying $486,193 in federal employment taxes on the wages of employees of her adult foster care business, the U.S. attorney's office in Minneapolis reported.
Home valuations drop in some areas of Crow Wing County
For the first time in decades, Crow Wing County assessors have lowered the estimated market values for residential property - not for pockets but for entire taxing districts.
Status check on major issues at the Legislature
ST. PAUL(AP) - After nearly 13 weeks, the legislative session of 2009 remains mainly unresolved.
March DWI sweep
nets 196 arrests
ST. PAUL (AP) - The state police say anti-DWI campaigns in March resulted in nearly 200 arrests, with about a third of them around St. Patrick's Day.
A little pie in the face
Forestview Middle School fifth-grader Nick McCullough smiled as he smashed a pie into Forestview assistant principal Dave Frank's face Friday during the lunch hour. About 40 Forestview staffers received pies in the face Friday, part of a food drive competition, sponsored by the Builders Club, that raised money and food donations for the Salvation Army Food Shelf. Students raised more than $1,000 and donated two pickup loads of food to the food shelf.
This was Brainerd
40 years ago (1969): Mrs. Meryl Steece of Brainerd recently received an invitation from President Nixon at the White House to attend the annual meeting of the President's Committee for Employment of Handicapped Veterans to be held in Washington, DC.
Fast food
Robins descended on ornamental berries in the Wendy's parking lot last week in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Peers help autistic students
When Brainerd High School teacher Beth Bastian was reassigned last summer to teach a social skills class for autistic students, she soon realized that a critical component was missing from the curriculum.
Holy Week portrayal
Steve Mau practiced his role during a dress rehearsal Thursday of the play "The Centurion" put on by the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter. Performances will be 7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday at the church. "The Centurion" tells the story of a Roman military official sent to oversee the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He questions the key participants and discovers the truth behind the event. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Create a lake or watershed meeting set April 25
The Northland Arboretum will host a meeting April 25 on how citizens can create a lake or watershed association.
'I Have Autism'
Philip Yeh, a junior at Brainerd High School, wrote the following in his social skills class last year to describe autism to his peers and offered to share it with Dispatch readers to help people better understand what it's like for him to live with autism:
Hecker employees caught up in firm's problems
Denny Hecker's financial woes were in the spotlight again this week.
Booster groups to foster sports fundraising
Fundraising for Brainerd High School athletics and activities will no longer revolve around peddling cookie dough door-to-door or other similar efforts.
Local briefs
BAXTER - A $2.9 million safety and pavement improvement project will begin on April 13 in the Deerwood area.
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.
Owen K. Bjerkness
Owen Kenneth Bjerkness, age 55, resident of Brainerd, died Friday, April 3, 2009, at his home.
LeEdda A. (Burbeck) Johnson
McGREGOR - LeEdda Ann (Burbeck) Johnson, 67, of McGregor, and formerly of Richfield, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at her home.
Billy Wolvert
RICHFIELD - Billy Wolvert, age 67, resident of Richfield, formerly of Brainerd, died Friday, April 3, 2009, at Fairview Hospital in Edina.
Lucille Borkenhagen
BAXTER - Lucille Borkenhagen, age 88, resident of Baxter, died Friday, April 3, 2009, at her home.
Arthur J. Latvala
TAMARACK - Arthur J. Latvala, 87, of Tamarack, died Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at Golden Horizons in Aitkin.
Harriette J. Richards
Harriette J. (Stahnke) Richards, 77, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on March 23, 2009, after a brief hospital stay. She was born on Jan. 24, 1932, in St. Paul to Arthur and Margaret (Payne) Stahnke.
Vivian E. Johnson
LITTLE FALLS - Vivian E. Johnson, a 78-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Friday, April 3, 2009, at Central Minnesota Senior Care in Little Falls. Arrangements are pending with Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Wilbur Pounds
SEATTLE - Wilbur Pounds, age 65, passed away at the Northwest Hospital in Seattle on Thursday, April 2, 2009. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.
Dennis W. Johnson
GARRISON - Dennis W. Johnson, age 78, of Garrison, formerly of Minneapolis, died Friday, March 27, 2009, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Harland Rowland
HASTINGS - Harland Rowland, beloved husband, father and grandfather, great-grandpa, brother, age 83, of Hastings, Minn., died peacefully April 1, 2009, to journey to his heavenly home. Preceded in death by parents, Herman and Christine Rowland; sisters, Carol Tautges, Marlys Starkka.
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.
Wilmer 'Willy' Longerbone
PINE RIVER - Wilmer "Willy" Longerbone, age 92, of Pine River, passed away Friday, April 3, 2009. He was born March 27, 1917, in Argyle, Minn., to Una and Adelia (LaFerrier) Longerbone.
LaVon Davidge
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - LaVon Davidge passed away Feb. 27, 2009, in Scottsdale, Ariz. She was born Dec. 9, 1909, in Denver and raised in Minneapolis. She lived at Woodland Good Samaritan Village apartments for many years prior to moving west. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold. She is survived by two daughters, Jerie Weason, of Palm Desert, Calif., and Joann Coler, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration of her life will be held in Arizona on April 11.
Bobby J. Willis
STAPLES - Bobby J. Willis, age 41, of Staples, passed away at his home on Sunday, March 29, 2009. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples with a visitation one hour prior to the service.
Arthur Van Risseghem
LITTLE FALLS - Arthur G. Van Risseghem, 77-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at his home in Little Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 6, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls with Father Nicholas Landsberger officiating. Burial will take place at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, April 5, and 10-11 a.m. Monday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls. Christian Mothers will pray the rosary at 4:30 p.m. and parish prayers will be prayed at 7 p.m. Sunday. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
Obama flexes his muscle
WASHINGTON -Last week's edition of the Economist, the shrewd British journal, had a lead editorial expressing serious misgivings about Barack Obama. "His performance has been weaker than those who endorsed his candidacy, including this newspaper, had hoped," it said.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Open Forum: Providing laughs for our enemies
Some have told me that I'm too overly concerned about what is happening in this country as far as our government is concerned and the increasing war against Christians.
What do you think?
Exchange ideas in our online forums
Other opinion: Newspapers
It's an article of faith among newspaper journalists that our work is the foundation upon which television and radio news programs are built. After all, broadcasters don't spend nearly as much on reporting as their print competitors do. So you can imagine the tut-tutting in newsrooms recently when a memo surfaced from Ellen McDonnell, National Public Radio's director of morning programming, announcing that the company was canceling all of its newspaper subscriptions to save money. And why not? Almost all of those papers make their stories available online for free.
Vox Pop
In answer to the Tuesday comment about the state employees, each contract we lose health insurance benefits, take on more responsibilities as people retire or leave and are not replaced. Our raises are not over 3 percent. Someone should check the facts.
Our opinion: Football
Dreams die hard for athletes. Perhaps dreams of gridiron glory don't ever die completely.
Ticks and the opener - are you ready?
This snow will soon be history and hopefully we won't see it again until the eve of the rifle deer season in November.
Outdoors notes
An orienteering program is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. April 18 at Deep Portage Learning Center near Hackensack.
Klein 80th birthday
Richard "Chub" Klein, Brainerd, will celebrate his 80th birthday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25 at the Brainerd American Legion, 708 Front St. The event will be hosted by his children. He was born April 30, 1929, in Jamestown, N.D. No gift please. Bring your memories to share. For more information, call Cheryl at 828-3743 or Angie at 825-1804.
Hancock 90th birthday
Vi Hancock recently celebrated her 90th birthday with 18 years of service with the Baxter Lions.
McCracking-Houle engagement
Kassandra (Lease) McCracking and Benjamin Houle announce their engagement. Parents are Owen and Susan Lease, Baxter, and Kathy and Larry Erickson, Livermore, Iowa, and Ron and Dar Houle, Brainerd. A June 6 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Miller-Bouvier engagement
Chris Miller and Marine Bouvier announce their engagement. Parents are Judy Miller, Fifty Lakes, and the late Don Miller, and Brigitt and Pascal Bouvier, France. A July wedding is planned in Chicago.
Stoltman-Nelson engagement
Beth Stoltman and Brent Nelson announce their engagement. Parents are Richard and Cincy Stoltman, Brainerd, and Richard and Jean Novak, Hibbing, and Michael and Sue Nelson, Hibbing. A June 13 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Johnson 80th birthday
Charles R. Johnson will celebrate his 80th birthday with his family on Sunday.
Droogsma-Loayza Ulloa wedding
Rachel Droogsma and Miguel Loayza Ulloa were married Dec. 20, 2008, at Apple Jack's Orchard in Rockford with Herb Bloomquist officiating.
Anderson-Beste wedding
Rachel M. Anderson and Ryan Beste were married Feb. 14, 2009, at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D., with Pastor Chuck Olmstead of Hope Lutheran Church officiating.
Wgeishofski-Szymanski engagement
Ashley Ann Wgeishofski and Arthur Szymanski announce their engagement. Parents are Paul and Tonya Wgeishofski, Pequot Lakes, and Dave and Sue Szymanski, Pequot Lakes. An Aug. 1 wedding is planned at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes.
Brainerd lakes area churches
Brainerd
Church news
In HIS Name will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at South Long Lake Presbyterian Church, eight miles south of Brainerd, on County Road 25 and Old Church Road.
Clergy view: Palm Sunday and the lowly way of the King of Glory
Palm Sunday is identified with Jesus' trip into Jerusalem, riding on a colt of an ass (John 12:14, 15).
Holy Week services
NISSWA - Holy week services will begin Sunday at Christ Community Church, 24646 Hazelwood Dr., Nisswa, with Palm Sunday services at 9 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Theme will be "Have a Jesus Attitude."
Ring, Moenkedick to play in All-Star game
Colby Ring of Brainerd and Matt Moenkedick of Verndale will be among 86 players who will participate in the 36th annual Minnesota High School All-Star Football Game.
By the numbers
Statistics, standings
Region 4 tournament at Wadena this weekend
The Region 4 Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament is scheduled Friday and Saturday at the Wadena National Guard Armory with bouts beginning at 7:30 p.m. both days.
Honorable mention
Area boy's basketball honorable mention
A monster snowmobile jump
Monster Energy's Paul Thacker achieved his dream March 26 by jumping a snowmobile more than 300 feet through the air and landing safely at Minnesota's Brainerd International Raceway.
Return of the big man
Dan Kornbaum is not flashy.
Scoreboard
Area events
Local sports shorts
Senior Ben Gervais and junior Kyle Crocker were voted most valuable players of the Brainerd Warriors boys' basketball team at its banquet Thursday.
Local sports shorts
Garry Grewe of Pequot Lakes will be an assistant coach for the Gold team in the Minnesota High School All-Star Basketball Series this weekend.
Scoreboard
Area events
The talented 12
Four area teams landed two players on this year's Brainerd Dispatch All-Area Boys' basketball team.
State forecast for N.D.
Flood warnings continue for north central and eastern North Dakota...
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm watch for southwest wisconsin from late saturday night through early monday morning...
State forecast for Iowa
Blizzard warning in effect tonight through sunday for northwest and north central iowa...
State forecast for N.D.
Flood warnings for north central and eastern north dakota today...
State forecast for S.D.
Blizzard warning south central today and tonight...
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm watch for southwest wisconsin from late saturday night through late sunday night...
State forecast for Minnesota
Blizzard warning in effect for far southern minnesota from
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter storm watch south for saturday night through sunday...
Easter bunny has hot red car
Easter bunny has hot red car
State forecast for Iowa
...Winter storm watch for much of northern iowa saturday night and sunday...
Just what we don't need
Weather drawing by Lauren Dockendorf in theBaxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
State forecast for S.D.
Winter storm warning and advisories today through saturday night west... Blizzard warning and winter storm warning part of central tonight through saturday night...