Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Extra credit
Kathleen Hallbeck, the daughter of Jack and Elaine Hallbeck of Aitkin, was inducted into the Omicron Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at Mesa Community College. Hallbeck is majoring in psychology.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Monday 120, a year ago 137.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Monday estimate: 400. Last Monday: 424. Year Ago Monday: 414. Friday actual: 680.
Contact your state legislators
Area legislators and how to contact them.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to five calls in short order Sunday.
Births
Out-of-town
Crimes
Brainerd police
Push to extend water, sewer on Riverside Drive dries up in council
For now, the city of Brainerd won't be extending water and sewer on Riverside Drive.
Chilly surf
Sam Esser, 23, Brainerd, braved 33-degree water and 28-degree air temperatures while catching a wave on Lake Superior near Duluth with a 1,000-foot ore carrier in the background. Esser is a student at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 7 - 20 years ago (1983) - Hospitalization costs statewide for patients of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota rose 17.1 percent during 1982, but the hike in average daily charges for patients at St. Joseph's Hospital was considerably less according to the administration.
French flag to fly on in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS -- The French flag is still waving in Little Falls after the Little Falls City Council voted 6-2 Monday to keep it in Le Bourget Park.
Pawlenty to host first Governor's Deer Hunting Opener in lakes area
BREEZY POINT -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty will host the first Governor's Deer Hunting Opener in November in the Brainerd area.
Local briefs
As of April 17, the Social Security Office, 2215 S. Sixth St., Brainerd, will be closed to the public every Thursday and Friday.
Pawlenty to speak at Missota Paper
Gov. Tim Pawlenty will attend a celebration Thursday to officially welcome Missota Paper in Brainerd.
Panel to listen to insurance pitches
Insurance agents will have the chance to pitch their services to the Brainerd Personnel and Finance Committee.
Local briefs
Brainerd Mayor James Wallin has made the following proclamations:
Ericson vacation time discussed by council
How a retiring parks and recreation department head should be compensated for unused vacation time divided a Brainerd City Council vote Monday night.
Grandparents raising grandchildren
When 6-year-old Amanda Randall of Brainerd goes to sleep each night, there to kiss her and give her a nightly "tickle tuck" are her grandparents, Norma and Jim Randall, and her dad, Steve.
City may continue contract with Reichert Bus
Reichert Bus Service of Baxter has served the Brainerd School District for more than 50 years and may continue for another four years.
Status of Piehl land to be explored by city
The status of a purchase agreement between Roger and Harriet Piehl and the Brainerd Housing Redevelopment Authority for 70 acres is uncertain, and the city of Brainerd will be looking for answers.
Helping pets
A Pillager girl started a campaign to collect donated dog and cat food for families in need. Read more about this story in Wednesday's Neighbors.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 8 - 40 years ago (1963) - The Pequot Lakes School Board at its regular meeting adopted a resolution approving the plan for consolidation with the Nisswa District which was earlier approved by the State Department of Education.
Correction/clarification
An obituary for Alice J. Selen on Page 5A Sunday should have noted memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church or Bethany Good Samaritan Village.
Shirley D. Krueger
AITKIN -- Shirley D. Krueger, 78, Aitkin, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Ray Kline
BAXTER -- Raymond F. Kline, 82, Baxter, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Care Center in Brainerd.
Victor H. Bednark
HARDING -- Victor Herman Bednark, 81, Harding, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Sauk Rapids.
Florence A. Krivanek
UPSALA -- Florence A. Krivanek, 93, Upsala, formerly of St. Paul, died Friday, March 28, 2003, at Pine Villa in Melrose.
Richard L. Valentine
ONAMIA -- Richard Leroy Valentine, 71, Onamia, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at the Mille Lacs Hospital in Onamia.
John C. Putz
VERNDALE -- John C. Putz, 57, Verndale, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena.
Hazel L. Bullen
PLYMOUTH -- Hazel Leota Bullen, 79, Plymouth, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at the Sholom Home West in St. Louis Park.
Lois 'Nicky' Russell
WOODSTOCK, Ga. -- Lois "Nicky" Russell, 80, Woodstock, Ga., formerly of Brainerd, died Friday, March 28, 2003, in Woodstock.
Louise M. Koering
FORT RIPLEY -- Louise M. Koering, 66, Fort Ripley, died Monday, April 7, 2003, at her daughter's home in Brainerd.
Shirley Krueger
AITKIN -- Shirley Krueger, 78, Aitkin, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Riverwood Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Erwin Griep
PINE RIVER -- Erwin Griep, 83, Pine River, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Armund Botz
AITKIN -- Armund Botz, 80, Aitkin, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at home.
William F. Rabine
AUSTIN -- William F. Rabine, 71, Austin, formerly of Elkton and Fifty Lakes, died Thursday, April 3, 2003 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Dorothy Jordan
Dorothy Jordan, 84, Brainerd, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Richard B. Halverson
DULUTH -- Richard Blair Halverson, 82, Duluth Heights, died Friday, April 4, 2003, of cancer at home.
Victor Bednarek
SAUK RAPIDS -- Victor Bednarek, 81, Sauk Rapids, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at the Good Shepherd Home in Sauk Rapids.
Ray Kline
BAXTER -- Ray Kline, 82, Baxter, died Saturday, April 5, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Care Center in Brainerd.
Erwin Griep
PINE RIVER -- Erwin Griep, 83, Pine River, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Louise Boyd Day
CROSBY -- Louise Boyd Day, native name, Baa bii was shii kwe, 54, Crosby, formerly of McGregor and Onamia, died Sunday, April 6, 2003, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.
Open Forum
There are fascist dictatorships and communist dictatorships.
Word limit for Open Forums is 300 words
The Dispatch encourages readers to sound off in the Open Forum.
Open Forum
You were recently deployed, and though I don't know your name, I watched as you said a tearful good-bye to your wife and the child clinging to your side.
Another first
A frightening image came to mind Saturday when Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced the Nisswa area will be the site of the first Governor's Deer Hunting Opener.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.
NBC's Bloom was Edina native
NEW YORK -- David Bloom was a rising star at NBC News, a weekend anchor on "Today" who traveled from the White House to become one of the most frequently-seen TV reporters on the Iraqi desert.
DNR supports use of hounds to hunt black bear
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, more than 30 years after the state outlawed the use of hounds in hunting black bear, is supporting a measure to reverse the ban.
Mall of America launches outdoor ads
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Faced with domestic terrorism fears and a slumping economy, the Mall of America is launching an aggressive outdoor advertising campaign to reel in Minnesota shoppers.
Senate DFL offers budget plan
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty cleared his schedule Tuesday to fly around the state, trying to promote his own budget plan and squash enthusiasm for a Senate DFL plan offered a day earlier.
Lindner not without support in his district
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Supporters of Rep. Arlon Lindner don't understand why people get so upset at his comments.
Railroad workers repair track after derailment
RED WING (AP) -- Canadian Pacific Railway workers labored Sunday to replace 1,500 feet of track damaged when a CPR train derailed downtown.
Critics of campaign subsidy cuts voice fears
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Critics of a plan to slash a state subsidy for politicians say it could increase the role of big money in political campaigns and fuel political corruption.
Spring storm
A spring snowstorm swept across far southern Minnesota on Monday, disrupting school schedules and making driving hazardous as winter refused to release its grip on the state.
Seven players return for new Pine River-Backus softball coach
Tena Bach begins her first year as head coach of the Pine River-Backus Tigers softball team.
Softball slingers
Erin Donnelly and Megan Arns were all-conference and all-section players for the Brainerd Warriors softball team as it played in the state tournament last season for the first time in six years. They will be the Warriors' top two pitchers this season. (Dispatch Photos by Clint Wood)
Scoreboard
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Boys' golf team hopes to get off to better start
Getting off to a quick start is critical for the Brainerd Warriors boys' golf team.
Returning letterwinners for Verndale baseball team are underclassmen
Coach Greg Johnson hopes experience means more than age as the Verndale Pirates baseball team returns eight letterwinners, none of whom are seniors.
Depth may rival 2000 national tournament team
The last time the Central Lakes College baseball team made it to the national tournament, Raiders coach Warren Mertens had a bevy of players at his disposal.
CLC names Peterson new athletic director
The Central Lakes College Raiders athletic department has undergone a facelift, combining the men's and women's athletic director positions into one, with Jane Peterson being named athletic director of the merged programs.
Jacobs, Andres pace Bataan memorial event
For the fifth consecutive year, Minnesota Army National Guard soldier Michael Jacobs won the 20-mile male individual light class in the sixth annual Bataan Memorial Death March near Brainerd Saturday.
S-M girls' track team returns many state participants
Optimism is running high as the Staples-Motley Cardinals girls' track and field team begins its season.
Flyer baseball team reloads
First-year Little Falls Flyers baseball coach Mark Dunlap will have his work cut out for him as he inherits a team that won only six games last year and will have to replace a bevy of players lost to graduation.
Local shorts
A men's team from the MS1 slow-pitch softball league has withdrawn, opening one spot in the Brainerd league.
Healthy Tuchscherer key for boys' tennis team
If it can remain healthy the Brainerd Warriors boys' tennis team could repeat last year's magical run.
Buresh back to defend state track title for Wadena-Deer Creek
Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverine Avery Buresh came out of nowhere to capture the 800-meter run state championship last year.
Conference girls' golf meets will increase to 18 holes
Central Lakes Conference girls' golf teams will play 18-hole meets for the first time this season.
They're off and running again
Eight participants from the Class 1A state boys' cross country meet begin the outdoor track and field season today.
Four golfers return for state defending champion Pequot Lakes girls' golf team
Two have graduated but four players return to the Class 1A state champion Pequot Lakes Patriots girls' golf team.
Gaalswyk, Pace return for Pillager track teams
Senior Mark Gaalswyk will lead the boys' team while Laura Pace will pace the girls' track and field team at Pillager.
Scoreboard
BOYS TENNIS
Aitkin track teams return 21
A combined 21 letterwinners return for Aitkin Gobblers head track and field coaches Steve Jacobson (boys) and Adam Carlson (girls).
Raiders set sights on trip to nationals
Although they won the Minnesota Community College Conference state championship last year, the Central Lakes College Raiders softball team realizes it could have done more.
Warriors must replace two long-time standouts
For the first time in four years Brainerd Warriors baseball coach Lowell Scearcy won't be able to write Joey Tautges or Mike Zauhar on his lineup card.
Softball team poised for another trip to state
If almost everything falls into place the Brainerd Warriors softball team could match the success it enjoyed last season.
Pierz girls' golf team looks for conference four-peat
For the past three years, the Pierz Pioneers girls golf team has run roughshod over the competition on its way to three consecutive Central Minnesota Conference titles.
Captains expected to lead Warrior girls' track team
Athletes are elected captains to lead teammates, serve as role models and serve as buffers between the coaching staff and team.
Boys' track team could contend for conference, section honors
If its results in two indoor meets provide any indication, the Brainerd Warriors boys' track and field team could contend for conference and section titles this season.
C-I track teams return three state participants
Three state athletes return for the Crosby-Ironton Rangers boys' and girls' track and field teams.
Baseball registration deadline April 18
The deadline for registering for the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's Mustang, Bronco and Pony baseball leagues is April 18.
Twins first home series disappoints
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Brad Radke had a bad case of "bat-itis."
Gaborik gets big shot of confidence
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Marian Gaborik got just what he wanted to go into the postseason -- a goal.
Blazing a trail
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves showed the Portland Trail Blazers some playoff intensity.
Sports briefs
ST. PAUL -- Brainerd's Jake Phillips scored seven points as the Green team lost to the Maroon 106-81 in the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Series Saturday at Concordia University.
Wild preparing for first playoff appearance
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The NHL playoffs, something the Minnesota Wild barely acknowledged throughout their first three seasons, are here.
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs from near 65 far southwest to the upper 50s northeast.
Iowa state forecast
Rest of today...Scattered flurries south ending by early afternoon...Then clearing. Mostly sunny elsewhere. Highs in the 30s to lower 40s.
Iowa state forecast
Winter storm warning much of western...Central and northern iowa this morning...
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s northwest to the upper 30s far south. Tonight...Mostly clear. Areas of fog south. Lows mainly in the 20s.
Springing into spring
Weather drawing by Alannah Dosh of Mrs. Larson's fifth grade class at Harrison school.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Light snow ending by afternoon south. Otherwise partly to mostly cloudy. Highs in the 30s to mid 40s.
Minnesota state forecast
Winter storm warnings and advisories far southern minnesota today...
State forecast for South Dakota
Winter storm warnings and advisories far south central and southeast this morning...
Easter's on its way
Weather drawing by Nicole Thoms in the Riverside School third-grade class of Mrs. Meyer.
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Scattered rain and snow showers in the west...Partly sunny elsewhere. Highs in the 40s.
Snowy spring storm sweeps through Minnesota, Nebraska before going East
A wintry spring storm that buried parts of Nebraska in a foot of wet, heavy snow moved East on Monday, and was expected to dump up to a half foot of snow on New York City.
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm warning far southwest today....
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Areas of fog far southeast this morning...Then mostly sunny and warmer. Highs around 40 southeast to the mid 60s west.
Pillager school budget committee to meet
The Pillager Budget Committee will meet 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Pillager school superintendent's office, 323 E. Second St. S. in Pillager, to review potential budget reductions.