Thursday, April 11, 2002

Ungainly trucks a quick route to Winston Cup
A lot of NASCAR fans drive pickup trucks to the races. So it's no surprise that trucks are getting some of the drivers to the same events.

Ford Focus ZX5 leads hatchback comeback
Hatchbacks continue to make a comeback in this country. Just look at the new 2002 Ford Focus ZX5.

State college professors ratify contract
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Members of a union representing Minnesota State Colleges and Universities faculty have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a contract that includes controversial health benefits that have hung up other state union agreements.

DEAR ABBY
DEAR READERS: I received a mountain of mail responding to "Karen in Virginia," whose twin sister resented her selecting a wedding date near her own:

DEAR ABBY
DEAR ABBY: My brother was one of the New York City firefighters who were missing in the World Trade Center disaster. For two months my family agonized about his whereabouts and what happened to him. One night my mom told me about the "pennies from heaven" letters in your column, and I began wishing that Mom could find a penny with my brother's birth year on it -- or some other sign that he was at peace.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle: 900.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Wednesday 189, a year ago 297.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle: 450.

Here's a tip to store frozen casseroles
Storing unbaked frozen casseroles for quick and easy meals is a real convenience, but I don't have that many casserole dishes that I don't need for other uses.

Heart-healthy tips for eating out offered
Following are heart-healthy tips for eating out from the American Heart Association:

Make the best of strawberry time
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- Don't waste a second of strawberry time. Keep these points in mind as you choose, store and eat your rosy fruit.

Add great taste to barbecued pork with Asian-flavored sauce
This recipe for barbecued pork uses pork tenderloin glazed with an Asian-flavored sauce. It will be ready in under half an hour, plus five minutes' resting time.

Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Tuesday.

Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Wednesday.

Local brief
The Brainerd Street Department will begin street cleaning operations in the central business district Wednesday.

Norman surprised to be back at Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Greg Norman could have sent his regrets to Augusta National Golf Club. No one would have blamed him.

Prep golfers pick colleges
The number of area high school golfers who are playing in college will increase by at least two next year.

Snead recovering from stroke symptoms
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Sam Snead participated in his 62nd straight Masters on Thursday, hitting a ceremonial first tee shot that flew right into the gallery and broke a spectator's glasses.

Duval eyes elusive green jacket
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- David Duval might not win his first Masters. Chances are, though, he'll be in contention on Sunday.

Traditionally, Masters creates mixed emotions
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- And so, for the 66th time, the sports world gathers Thursday to ponder a question more enduring than an oak, more colorful than an azalea, more compelling than a long amen.

Study: Too much weight gain during pregnancy may increase postmenopausal breast cancer risk
SAN FRANCISCO -- Putting on excessive weight during pregnancy appears to increase women's chances of having breast cancer after they go through menopause, according to a new study.

French drug shows promise preventing lung cancer in life-long smokers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A pill long used around the world to treat dry mouth may help protect against lung cancer in lifelong smokers, a study found.

Study questions effectiveness of St. John's wort for depression
St. John's wort, the widely used herbal remedy, appears ineffective for treating patients with moderate depression, according to federal researchers who conducted a comprehensive study of the product.

Researchers say a pill may someday replace sweaty workouts for the health conscious
WASHINGTON -- Pop a pill, get in shape.

Overcommitted suburb in New Jersey squeezes in one collective night off to make time for family -- no sports, no homework, nowhere to go
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (AP) -- They act like kids, lugging L.L. Bean backpacks to their car pool while debating the best colors for orthodontic retainers and whether to peek at their report cards.

U.N. conference to grapple with problems of elderly population boom
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- The predictions are almost cataclysmic: In 50 years, if trends continue, one of every three people will be older than 60. Those 2 billion seniors would outnumber the world's youths.

Midwife opens out-of-home birth center in Moorhead
MOORHEAD (AP) -- After 20 years of helping mothers give birth in their homes, a midwife has opened Minnesota's first out-of-hospital birth center.

Earth Day founder to speak in St. Cloud
Gaylord Nelson, former Wisconsin governor and senator and founder of Earth Day, will be the featured speaker during a Lakes and Rivers Celebration in St. Cloud.

Two win scholarships at CLC open house
STAPLES -- Bud Bovee, a machine tool technology student at Central Lakes College, showed open house guests how a milling machine works. He had programmed the unit to cut bronze dice that were among the free gifts dispensed to some of the more than 400 guests at Sunday's event.

Crosby-Ironton Senior Citizens Club to meet Saturday with police chief
CROSBY -- The Crosby-Ironton Senior Citizens Club will hold its monthly meeting and potluck at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Cuyuna Range Community Center.

Couple talks about their amazing adventure
They were forced to hand over all of their money and credit cards, rarely slept or ate and couldn't tell anyone where they were or what they were doing as they traveled by boat, plane, foot or whatever means possible throughout several countries while being chased by their competition.

A season of warming skies, resilience and starting over
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sept. 11 taught that you can't look up at a flawless blue sky and think everything is OK with the world.

Study: Childhood cancer survivors are often in dark as adults
CHICAGO (AP) -- Survivors of childhood cancer often do not know enough about their diagnosis and treatment to help prevent related health problems as adults, a University of Minnesota study suggests.

CLC students plan Earth Day events
On Monday, April 22, students at the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College will host a free, public Earth Day observance.

Wise Road zoning disputed
A proposed zoning change to allow business expansion on Wise Road is facing residential opposition.

County receives federal funds for 2001 flood damage
A year ago this week, the Brainerd lakes area struggled with Mother Nature's flooding.

Merrifield growth spurs lively discussion
MERRIFIELD -- People squeezed into the Lake Edward Town Hall Tuesday night as nearly 80 attended a marathon township meeting.

Court
The following recently were sentenced in Crow Wing District Court for misdemeanor underage consumption.

Tab on four county highway projects for this year hits $900,000
Four Crow Wing County highway projects are slated to move forward this year.

This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1942) - Probably harder hit by the fall of Bataan than any other city of its size, Brainerd today became a listening post for word, any news at all, of the fate of the men in the Bataan action.

15-year-old's death investigated
The Crow Wing County Coroner's Office reported today a 15-year-old rural Brainerd boy died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Horses in the mist
Horses, owned by Connie St. Sauver, were reflected in a pool of water along Lower Roy Lake Road in Nisswa this morning. Warm rain fell overnight, melting snow and creating fog. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department Tuesday responded to what turned out to be a false alarm at the YMCA, 602 Oak St.

BHS grad has shot at winning $100,000 in computer contest
A 22-year-old Brainerd High School graduate has a shot to win $100,000 in a national computer programming contest.

Board reviews Herlofsky's work
Motivating others to work toward a common goal is one thing Crow Wing County Administrator Peter Herlofsky Jr. will work on this year.

A special moment for Samuelson
ST. PAUL -- As Senate president, Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, is no stranger to presiding at public events, but Tuesday's Bataan plaque commemoration on the state Capitol grounds was personal.

Bataan day at state Capitol
ST. PAUL -- Sixty years after an ill-fated battle against a superior Japanese force ended in defeat, Bataan Death March survivor Ken Porwoll still keenly remembers the desperate feeling of being alone and forgotten.

Court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:

Samuelson named to conference committee
Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, said Wednesday he would keep a close eye on funding for the Northstar Corridor after he was appointed to the conference committee debating the capital investment or bonding bill.

This was Brainerd
40 years ago (1962) - Winter returned to Brainerd this weekend with cool temperatures and a 2-inch snowfall. The total snowfall for the season has now reached 47 3/4 inches.

Man sentenced
WALKER -- A southern Cass County man will serve 71 months prison for first-degree controlled substance crime (manufacturing methamphetamines).

Accidents
LITTLE FALLS -- A Silver Bay man was hurt in a single-vehicle accident Tuesday on Highway 371, north of Little Falls.

As good as new
Furniture restoration not only adds to a quality piece's value, it links family legacies in wood. Look for the story in Friday's Housing section.

Juvenile's death investigated
The death of a 15-year-old male at a rural Brainerd residence is being investigated by the Crow Wing Sheriff's Department.

Crimes
Brainerd police

Boy, 14, arrested in rape, murder of psychologist, 52
BANDON, Ore. (AP) -- A 14-year-old boy was arrested on charges of murdering and sexually assaulting a 52-year-old psychologist whose body was found on a beach.

Rare white thoroughbred foal born
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Barry Ezrine was thrilled when Patchen Beauty, a popular racehorse at Kentucky tracks, went into labor last week to deliver her first foal.

Study: 10,000 people report they lost $18 million to Internet fraud
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- Online scams cost nearly 10,000 Americans a total of $18 million last year, a report says.

Calls mount for Cardinal Law to resign over pedophile priests scandal
BOSTON -- Calls for the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law, the senior prelate in the American Catholic Church and an ally of Pope John Paul II, are mounting amid evidence that he knowingly protected suspected pedophile priests and repeatedly allowed them access to children.

Washington briefs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats are criticizing a House bill headed for passage that largely contains President Bush's pension reform plan, saying it would not prevent workers from losing their retirement savings in another Enron-style collapse.

New Jersey police officer found dead after allegedly killing five neighbors, wounding boss
DOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- A police officer wanted in a shooting rampage that killed five people was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday about 15 miles away, authorities said.

FDA rules nicotine-spiked lollipops illegal
TUCKER, Ga. (AP) -- When customers came to pharmacist Jon Carr desperate for a way to quit smoking, he gave them lollipops spiked with nicotine -- a way to satisfy their cravings without the toxins of a cigarette.

Attorney, three others charged with helping jailed Egyptian sheik spread terror
NEW YORK -- A defense attorney with a reputation as a zealous advocate has become a defendant herself, accused of crossing the line by conspiring to help an imprisoned client relay messages to his radical Islamic followers.

Bush will ask Congress to OK treaty eliminating 'dirty dozen' chemicals
WASHINGTON -- President Bush plans to ask Congress to support a global treaty phasing out a dozen highly toxic chemicals but without a provision allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to add more pollutants to the elimination list, administration officials say.

Bush presses for U.S. prohibition on human cloning
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is pressing the Senate to approve legislation that would outlaw the cloning of human beings for use in research and treatment of diseases.

Despite U.S. opposition, world's first permanent war crimes tribunal to come into force on July 1
UNITED NATIONS -- Despite vehement U.S. opposition, the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal will come into force on July 1, after receiving more than the 60 needed ratifications Thursday from U.S. allies and nations around the globe.

Court overturns concealed weapons ban
CINCINNATI -- A state appeals court on Wednesday declared Ohio's ban on concealed weapons unconstitutional -- delighting gun-rights advocates who are pushing hard to give citizens in all 50 states the right to carry hidden firearms.

Newspaper execs urged to think past bottom line
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Newspapers could face extinction if executives do not stop focusing on profits at the expense of journalism's core public service mission, a top newspaper editor said Wednesday.

Parked jetliner rolls into LA street
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A parked jetliner waiting for maintenance began rolling and smashed through an airport fence Wednesday, coming to a stop with its nose blocking a side street.

CDC study puts economic loss from smoking at $7 a pack
ATLANTA (AP) -- Each pack of cigarettes sold in the United States costs the nation $7 in medical care and lost productivity, the government said Thursday.

Spacewalkers tackle tough job
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Astronauts clamped a giant girder to the international space station on Thursday, then a pair of spacewalkers went out to permanently bolt it into place.

Priest in rape trial jailed after allegedly socking photographer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A Roman Catholic priest on trial for rape and lewd conduct is now facing assault charges for allegedly striking a photographer in the face outside the courtroom.

U.S. soldier in Germany convicted of murdering her two children by drowning them in bathtub
MANNHEIM, Germany (AP) -- A U.S. soldier accused of drowning two children in a bathtub was convicted of murder Thursday after a court-martial in which prosecutors said she committed the "evil act" to hurt a husband she suspected of being unfaithful.

Watchdog group: INS destroyed Elian Gonzalez case document
MIAMI (AP) -- An Immigration and Naturalization Service attorney's e-mail memo could have bolstered Elian Gonzalez's request for asylum during his stay in Miami, but the then-head of the INS ordered it destroyed, a watchdog group says.

FBI has put its internal security in greater risk, Congress told
WASHINGTON -- Top FBI officials may have done "substantial" damage to the bureau's internal security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks by rushing to lift restrictions on secret intelligence information that was once tightly guarded, officials told members of Congress on Tuesday.

Failure to itemize deductions could cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion
WASHINGTON -- Taxpayers are cheating themselves out of nearly $1 billion in overpaid income taxes simply because they fail to claim itemized deductions.

Analysis
WASHINGTON -- Israel's continued defiance of President Bush's demand for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and towns is eroding support for Prime Minister Ariel Sharon inside the White House, administration sources said Wednesday.

Tigers don't change their (losing) stripes
Who said Detroit hasn't changed? Right now, 2002 seems a lot like 1952.

Bonds, Burrell do it again They win with walkoff hits
Barry Bonds and Pat Burrell are making an early habit of these game-ending hits.

Ludwina Silbernick
LITTLE FALLS -- Ludwina Silbernick, 97, Little Falls, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.

Cody A. Wakefield-Nelson
BARROWS -- Cody A. Wakefield-Nelson, 3, died Monday, April 8, 2002, at Minneapolis Children's Medical Center.

Ludwina Silbernick
LITTLE FALLS -- Ludwina Silbernick, 97, Little Falls, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.

Clarence W. Borash
ROYALTON -- Clarence W. Borash, 83, Royalton, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls.

Ronald C. Reek
DEERWOOD -- Ronald Charles Reek, 87, Deerwood, died today, April 11, 2002, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.

Clarence W. Borash
ROYALTON -- Clarence W. Borash, 83, Royalton, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at St. Gabriel's Hospital.

Ann D. Karcher
PIERZ -- Ann D. Karcher, 85, Pierz, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at Pierz Villa.

Arnold L. Bauer
LITTLE FALLS -- Arnold L. Bauer, 68, Little Falls, formerly of Buckman, died Monday, April 8, 2002, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.

Irene M. Evans
DULUTH -- Irene M. Evans, 51, Duluth, died Monday, April 8, 2002, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth.

Jacob Karpinski
LITTLE FALLS -- Jacob Karpinski, 74, Little Falls, died Tuesday, April 9, 2002, at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud.

It's not just Enron anymore
This editorial appeared in Tuesday's Los Angeles Times:

Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. To call

Open Forum
As a business owner in Brainerd for over 30 years, I feel it is important to address the economic impact that the closing of Potlatch is going to ha

A world full of compromises
WASHINGTON -- President Bush, who loves to deal in moral absolutes, has encountered in the Middle East a challenge that defies both dogma and deadlines. He is learning a painful lesson about the limits of a rhetorical approach to intractable problems.

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

OTHER OPINIONS
The Clinton administration made a mistake when it failed, until it was too late, to involve Arab nations in trying to bring peace to the Middle East.

Civility in America
BALTIMORE -- P.M. Forni has spent the past seven years considering the importance of civility and good manners to contemporary life.

Elected judges
Stringer has a long and distinguished resume which includes private legal practice, a stint as Gov. Arne Carlson's chief of staff, and a career at Pillsbury where he rose to executive vice president, general counsel and chief administrative officer.

Open Forum
On Wednesday, April 3, 2002, this newspaper ran an e-mail that I had addressed to its editorial board. This letter was a response to the rejection of a letter candidate of mine regarding faith. Mike O'Rourke of the newspaper indicated to me that my "faith" letter was rejected as it was a repeat of previous issues.

Duluth businessman to produce Ragnar dolls
DULUTH (AP) -- Joe Juranitch wants the world to know there is more to Ragnar the Viking than the ax-wielding warrior in animal skins that incites the crowd at Minnesota Vikings games.

Minnesota farmers forced to plan without federal farm bill
ST. PETER (AP) -- It was about 8:45 p.m. Friday before Fred Miller decided to call it a day -- only because it was getting cold in his farm shop.

Brother-cousin team shows young people are interested in farming
PENNOCK (AP) -- Ever since 23-year-old Jeremy Pierce was about 14, he knew he was going to follow in his dad's footsteps and be a farmer.

Moose Lake fire warden serves state for 60 years
MOOSE LAKE -- When Eldon Kittel was 21 his uncle gave him a fire-permit booklet. Sixty years later Kittel still has it.

Not enough health clubs have defibrillators
WASHINGTON -- With research showing a slightly higher risk that a heart may give out during exercise, doctors are urging health clubs to buy portable defibrillators.

Stock car show has visitors racing in from long distances
Jean Mass, a North Central Speedway representative, said the speedway's 13th annual stock car show at Dondelinger last Friday and Saturday attracted visitors from as far away as Bemidji and Anoka.

Indictment in Akeley Hubbard County woman cited in 1992 deaths of two daughters
AKELEY (AP) -- The mother of two children who died under unusual circumstances 10 years ago was indicted on first-degree murder in her daughters' deaths.

Transportation chief talks about traffic congestion
ST. PAUL -- Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg leads an agency that will spend $1 billion on projects this summer, but he says far more is needed to keep congestion from growing, and he hopes the Legislature agrees.

Extension for sexual abuse claims stopped
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A proposal that would have given Minnesotans more time to file claims of childhood sexual abuse was stopped abruptly Tuesday when the House narrowly voted to table the issue.

Wet trails in five state forests closed temporarily to ATVs
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Trails for all-terrain vehicles in at least five state forests were closed by the Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday to prevent rutting and other environmental damage on wet soil.

Hmong buying homes at brisk pace
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Hmong home ownership is on the rise in Minnesota, with more than half of Hmong heads of household owning their homes in 2000, up from just one in eight in 1990, according to Census 2000.

State briefs
ST. PAUL -- Even if Gov. Jesse Ventura moves out, the governor's official residence would stay open for public events under a Senate bill.

Demonstrators rally in Twin Cities
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- About 200 people turned out Tuesday outside the Federal Building here to show support for Palestinians in their battle with Israeli soldiers.

Five men charged with lesser crimes in hockey celebration melee
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Five men accused of rioting after the Minnesota Gophers' NCAA hockey championship win were charged Tuesday with misdemeanors.

Man indicted in slaying of Minnesota woman
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A man has been indicted for capital murder and for committing a hate crime on the basis of sexual orientation in the 1996 slayings of two young female hikers in Virginia, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Legislative leaders resort to theatrics
ST. PAUL -- Unable to reach a session-ending deal at the bargaining table, legislative leaders resorted to political theater Wednesday, exchanging mock ransom notes and accusing each other of obstructing progress on key legislation.

Another veto overriden
ST. PAUL (AP) --For the ninth time, the Legislature has overridden a veto by Gov. Jesse Ventura.

Furor over book on youth, sexuality helps turn it into a hit
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The furor over a provocative new book on youth and sexuality has helped turn it into a hit.

Police chief, mayor meet with student editor at 'U'
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The mayor and police chief met the top editor of the University of Minnesota student newspaper Wednesday to discuss allegations police used unreasonable force against student journalists covering a riot of hockey fans after the school's team won the national championship.

Frustrated legislators talk of ending session
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The 2002 regular session may end Thursday -- whether legislators have completed their work or not.

'Minnesota is still the place for me to be'
When Staples High School graduate Dick Bremer ascends from the depths of the Metrodome to the Fox Sports Net television booth before the Twins' home opener Friday night he may get a little misty eyed.

Captains lead Warrior girls
The Brainerd Warriors girls' track and field team has more depth than it has had in years.

C-I boys, girls win outdoor track opener
AITKIN -- Pierz's Mark Poepping was the top individual performer, winning the 200-meter dash and long jump, at the Aitkin Invitational track and field meet Tuesday.

Scoreboard
COLLEGE BASEBALL

Scoreboard
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

Warriors warm to task, beat Tech
Only in Minnesota would a baseball team consider opening the season with a strip of snow inside the outfield fence, grass as brown as infield dirt and temperatures in the 40s.

Local sports shorts
The Brainerd High School Athletic Department, Brainerd Boosters Club and Cub Foods invited the public to the annual Warrior all-sports banquet April 29 in the Brainerd High School gymnasium.

Warrior softball team opens with victory
ST. CLOUD -- Laura Clemens pitched a 2-hitter as the Brainerd Warriors pummeled the St. Cloud Tech Tigers 12-2 in a season-opening Central Lakes Conference softball game Tuesday.

Trio wins two events apiece
STAPLES -- Erin Cusac of Pine River-Backus, Adam Barnett of Staples-Motley and Jeff Pace of Pillager each won two individual events at the Staples-Motley Rainmaker track and field meet Tuesday.

Flyers fall to Tech in tennis
LITTLE FALLS -- Matt Peterschick earned the only win for the Little Falls Flyers boys' tennis team as they fell to the St. Cloud Tigers 6-1 in a Central Lakes Conference meet Tuesday.

Sebeka outscores Verndale in baseball
SEBEKA -- The Verndale Pirates lost their opening game of the baseball season 14-2 to the Sebeka Trojans Tuesday.

Helmet and all, BHS vaulter improves
A helmet didn't stop Jorgen Hartje from soaring to new heights.

Baker is happy for the Gophers
When the University of Minnesota men's hockey team won the 1979 NCAA championship, fans met the team at the airport and had a modest celebration.

Gophers cut three sports
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- University of Minnesota officials on Thursday recommended cutting three sports and merging the men's and women's athletics departments because of financial problems.

Vikings claim Bromell, Bates
EDEN PRAIRIE. (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings signed on lineman Lorenzo Bromell to a five-year deal Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Vikings claimed wide receiver D'Wayne Bates -- this time for good -- off waivers from the Chicago Bears.

Preseason softball rankings
Class 3A

Wild rally to gain tie and ruin Dallas playoff hopes
DALLAS (AP) -- Down three goals midway through their third-to-last game of the season, the Minnesota Wild could've eased up. They'd never overcome such a deficit in their two-year history and it was hard to imagine them doing it now against a team fighting to make the playoffs.

Finley stymies Twins
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Chuck Finley came back. So now all the Cleveland Indians are missing are some fans.

Thome snaps out of slump to lead Indians
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Nine games into the season, Jim Thome finally joined his teammates in all the fun.

Coaches urge university to wait on program cuts
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- University of Minnesota coaches implored school officials on Tuesday to delay a reorganization of university athletics that could mean elimination of some programs.

Kings claim 9th straight victory
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- It's fitting that the ever-smiling Peja Stojakovic is pleased with the Sacramento Kings' impressive play -- and that the glowering Chris Webber is not.

Boone to transfer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Sophomore guard Adam Boone, a former Mr. Basketball in Minnesota, will transfer from North Carolina after the spring semester.

Pillager Play
Pillager High School students will stage "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" by Celeste Ra

'Panic Room' holds top box-office spot for second weekend
LOS ANGELES -- Jodie Foster beat Ashley Judd in a battle of female thrillers.

C-I High School Concert Choir earns superior ratings
CROSBY -- The Crosby-Ironton High School Concert Choir, directed by Wayne Ellingsen, participated in the Sub-section 24 Large Group Vocal Music Contest last Friday at New York Mills.

Leno wonders why his battle with Letterman has gotten nasty
NEW YORK -- Jay Leno says he doesn't understand why things are so "nasty" between him and David Letterman.

Celebrities list their favorite books
GARDINER, Maine (AP) -- California Gov. Gray Davis' favorite book is "A Man for All Seasons," actor-comedian Lily Tomlin likes "The Shipping News," and film star Mira Sorvino was fascinated by "A Brief History of Time."

New books include novel in verse, a poet's memoirs
Some of Brad Leithauser's readers probably prefer his novels, while others would lean toward his volumes of poetry. His latest book -- a novel in verse -- should appeal to readers in both categories.

Best Bets
A prominent music reviewer once wrote that Phil Keaggy "is perhaps one of the most admired guitarists in music today," a ringing endorsement that area pop music fans can judge for themselves this weekend.

Read an original poem, and win prizes
A local literary group will celebrate National Poetry Month with an old-fashioned "poetry slam" at a downtown coffee bar.

Fine Arts Student of the Week
Briana Lester got a rough start in life, but knowing it has inspired her to "excel in whatever I do," she said this week.

Former Concordia choir singers now an a cappella quartet
The Lakes Area Concert Association turns to an a cappella quartet for the closing act of its 2001-2002 performing arts season.

Tempo tidbits
The annual Brainerd High School Fine Arts Banquet will be Monday in the high school cafeteria, starting at 6 p.m. with a student art show. Hundreds of

Contact
To submit items for publication in Tempo, contact Tempo Correspondent Terry Mikelson by:

'Spring Exhibition' in Brainerd to draw artists from across Minnesota
Artists from across the state will gather in Brainerd later this month to exhibit their latest creations and acknowledge one another's accomplishments.

Isle High School students to stage musical 'Grease'
ISLE -- Isle High School will perform the musical "Grease" at 7:30 p.m. May 3 and 4 and 2 p.m. May 5 at the Isle School Auditorium.

Poet laureate to read at CLC
Maxine Kaiser Russell, poet laureate of the League of Minnesota Poets, will head a slate of poetry readers scheduled April 26 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

Haus turns to music for her causes
LITTLE FALLS -- Rena Haus is one of those folk singers who never saw a social cause she couldn't support.

Musician to play bagpipes, Celtic instruments in Crosby
CROSBY -- John Michael Hughes, piper, will play the bagpipes and other Celtic instruments at a free concert at 7 p.m. Friday at Crosby-Ironton Presbyterian Church.

Entertainment Guide
Live music

Farnam crowned Miss Pine River
PINE RIVER -- Jacqui Farnam, a junior, was crowned Miss Pine River 2002 Saturday at Pine River-Backus High School.

Book blends original children's story with striking nature photography
In September 1977, I left my secure downtown Minneapolis corporate job to "be a writer." As I told people why I was leaving, the first question folks asked was invariably, "Are you going to write a book?" A few people even assumed the answer to the first question was "yes" and skipped right to, "What is it going to be about?"

Area briefs
After nearly a 29-year absence, VFW Auxiliary Unit 2701 became a reality Saturday. Department of Minnesota and 6th District Auxiliary officers came to Walker to install Auxiliary Unit 2701's officers.

Spring is here
Weather drawing by Kaylianna Mathison of Mrs. Brenny's third grade class at Baxter school.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms southeast...Mainly this morning. A chance of light showers northeast. Mostly cloudy northwest. Highs from the middle 40s northeast to near 60 southeast.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly cloudy this morning with areas of fog. Scattere

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly cloudy skies. Showers and thunderstorms likely in the northeast...And scattered across the west and south. Highs from the 50s north...To the 60s south and lower 70s southeast.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Rain or snow showers likely north. Rain likely central. Partly to mostly cloudy south with a chance of showers or thunderstorms. Highs from 40 north to 70 far south.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Occasional showers or thunderstorms north and west. Highs in the 40s north to the 60s south.

State forecast for North Dakota
Dense fog advisory for western and central north dakota this morning...

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Rain and snow likely north. Rain likely south and east. A few embedded thunderstorms south central and southeast. Highs from the mid 30s northwest to near 60 southeast.

Wisconsin state forecast
Flood watch today portions of northwest wisconsin...

Iowa state forecast
Today...Periods of showers and thunderstorms northwest two thirds. A chance of thunderstorms this afternoon southeast. Highs in the upper 50s west to upper 70s southeast.

Thinking spring
Weather drawing by Kelsey Alguire of Mrs. Brenny's third grade class at Baxter school.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Isolated showers north this morning. Windy in the west and central. Highs in the 60s to mid 70s.

What's doing
There will be an informal meeting about community supported agriculture at 7:30 p.m. today at the Brainerd Public Library meeting room.

Names and faces
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Oprah Winfrey missed the South African launch of O, The Oprah Magazine, reportedly because she was concerned about traveling.

What's doing
There will be a spaghetti supper benefit from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at the Pine River American Legion for Brittany R

Names and faces
LONDON (AP) -- Halle Berry suffered an inflamed eye in an accident on the set of the latest James Bond film, the producers said Wednesday.

Suicide bomber blows up Israeli bus, killing at at least 8; offensive continues
JENIN, West Bank -- A Palestinian suicide bomber killed eight Israelis in an attack on a crowded bus Wednesday, as Israel's security Cabinet decided to press ahead with a West Bank military offensive despite growing U.S. pressure to pull back troops.

Mixed signals
JENIN REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank -- Israel pulled out of two dozen small towns and villages in the West Bank on Thursday, but took over other Palestinian areas, sending mixed signals ahead of a truce mission by Secretary of State Colin Powell.