Friday, April 13, 2007
2008 Ford F-250 can pull its weight
BAKER, W.Va. - This is truck country, a place where people routinely haul heavy loads and pull big rigs. They are paid relatively little for their labors. The median household income in Hardy County, in which Baker is a tiny unincorporated community, was $31,846 in 2000, according to the Census Bureau. Now, local officials say, it's barely scratching $33,000, compared with a current national median income of $46,326.
THEATER SHORTS
Central Lakes College will host performances by Mexican dancers and the Mixed Blood Theatre April 24 on the Brainerd campus.
Catch 'Drive' before it takes off
There are three sure things in this world: death, taxes and the cancellation of anything with Tim Minear's name on it.
BEST BETS
Crossing Arts Alliance's annual juried exhibit, "Picturing 2007," is now on display during school hours at the Central Lakes College Gallery. The exhibit will run through April 28. Admission is free.
Boston uncommon
Some people become concerned about the world at large once they have children. Catie Curtis, being a folk singer, has always had an eye on the big picture, but becoming a mother has changed her craft in a more subtle way.
COMING NEXT WEEK
Central Lakes College's wacky children's play "Peter and the Pirates" isn't the "Peter Pan" you remember.
MUSIC SHORTS
AITKIN - The four choirs of Aitkin Middle School will present their annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Aitkin High School auditorium. Kelly Blake and Bryan Johnson will direct.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
Senior Patel has a nose for news
Brainerd High School senior Tirth Patel has been interested in national news since fourth grade, when he lived in India.
Salli reading slated at CLC
Brainerd writer and teacher Donna Salli will read from her poetry at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Dryden Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
ART SHORTS
The new Q Gallery at Brainerd's Franklin Arts Center will open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with an exhibit of contemporary art.
Golden Acrobats to perform
The Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats will perform a Lakes Area Concert Association show at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Educational Services Building, in Brainerd.
These potatoes make the meal
One evening after work, I stopped at the grocery store and brought home a roasted rotisserie chicken for dinner. I already had Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes in the fridge, so all I had to do was make a vegetable and lettuce salad, and dinner was ready.
Crow Wing court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
Transportation committee to meet Tuesday
The Brainerd Transportation Advisory Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Brainerd City Hall.
BIRTHS
Robert Clemons and Ruth Virnig, Hillman, a boy, Guy Philip, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, April 1, 2007.
Housing Briefs
The Lakes Area Real Estate Investment Group will meet from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday in the small meeting room at the Brainerd Public Library.
Rug huggers
You admired hip designer Nanette Lepore's peacock-patterned dresses, but they were so three years ago. Now you can resurrect the pattern for your floor.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
LAKES AREA SENIOR
SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
Brainerd
A TASTE OF HOME
Cornish game hen, cooked in an oven with a brick wrapped in foil on top to help the meat stay moist, and grilled asparagus spears and zucchini were two of several dishes prepared Thursday at the Taste of Home Cooking School at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd.
LF police squad cars vandalized
LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls Police Department reported that tires were slashed on two police squad cars around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Specializing in twisters
It may feel like mid-winter, but the calendar is inching toward the kind of turbulent weather that rarely involves a shovel.
Tab mania
Faye Brown (left), pop-tab drive co-chair; Dennis Rhode, McDonald's store manager; Judy Whiteman, Worthy Matron; Gary Whiteman, Worthy Patron; and Glenn Brown, co-chair of the pop-tab drive, donated pop tabs Thursday at the McDonald's in west Brainerd. The Order of the Eastern Star Alpha Chapter No. 23 collected an estimated 412,000 tabs.
Prep work
Don Samborski (left) and Joe Blaeser from J&J's Quality Insulating & J.B. Drywall worked on their display booth Thursday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center. The Mid-Minnesota Builders Association Home Show will open Friday and run through Sunday. Doors open at 10 a.m. each day.
COMING SUNDAY IN SPORTS
Brainerd ultimate fighter Brock Larson will wrestle one round against each of three amateurs when CFX V comes to the Brainerd Area Civic Center on April 21.
Today in History
It's encouraging that Brainerd School District has cooperated with a group of citizens to install lights at the baseball field at Don Adamson Park. It's a credit to the school board, Sports Boosters, Moose Lodge, and the American Legion, VFW and Eagle's Club which worked together on the $72,000 venture.
COMING SUNDAY
How do tax preparers plan to celebrate when all of the tax returns are finally sent in to state and federal officials?
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Crow Wing County 4-H will host its annual Share the Fun event from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School at 817 Juniper St. in Brainerd.
Bridge rehabilitation project set to start
LITTLE FALLS - Motorists who travel Highway 10, north of Little Falls in Morrison County, should be alert for construction crews and lane closures beginning Monday as work begins on a $4.2 million bridge rehabilitation project.
Mille Lacs County deputy accused of stalking ex-girlfriend
MILACA (AP) - A Mille Lacs County sheriff's deputy has been accused of stalking and harassing his former girlfriend - who's now the county attorney.
COMING SUNDAY IN BUSINESS/MONEY
Lakes area entrepreneurs believe a patented invention has global implications. The idea was born right here.
Take warning: Keep watch for tornadoes
Watch or warning?
4 area teams eye state Knowledge Bowl
Four Knowledge Bowl teams from the Brainerd lakes area will compete in the 2007 Minnesota Service Cooperative Knowledge Bowl state competition Tuesday and Wednesday at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort in East Gull Lake.
Make the best of a sad situation
If it were a virus, it most surely would be considered a pandemic.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 12 - 30 years ago (1977) - Part of the battle plan against fires this season is state-trained "hot shot" fire fighting crews which finished up a program this week at Camp Ripley. Included in the 60 members are four women.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Where do the fish stocked in Minnesota's lakes come from? Join Unlimited Learning on Saturday for a look at the spring walleye run on the Pine River near Jenkins and a tour of the Brainerd fish hatchery. The free event is open to the public.
Overheard
"The No. 1 goal is the safety and security of our residents. If they are prepared it's going to make it a lot easier if something happens."
David L. Barhorst
CROSBY - David Leo Barhorst, age 60, of Crosby, died on April 8, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. He was born on Aug. 9, 1946, in Melrose to George and Mary (Weber) Barhorst.
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.
Richard 'Dick' York
PINE RIVER - Richard "Dick" York, age 87, of Pine River, passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center, Pine River.
Gail 'Maxine' Hartung
Gail "Maxine" Hartung died Monday, April 9, 2007, in Brainerd, Minn. Maxine was born on March 11, 1917, to Belle and Chester Gifford in Altoona, Iowa. She graduated from Des Moines East High School in 1934 and completed a two-year teaching certificate from Drake University in 1936, returning to Drake University to complete a bachelor of arts degree (1958) and master's in education in 1967.
Dorothy E. Kile
EMILY - Dorothy E. Kile, age 86, of Emily, died on April 11, 2007, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. A memorial service will be held in July. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.
Felicia A. Nelson
CROSSLAKE - Felicia Ann Nelson was born July 6, 1925, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Lewis and Florence (Notley) Fort. She moved with her family to Minneapolis where she graduated from Central High School in 1943.
Vida Brown
STAPLES - Vida Brown, 86, Staples, formerly of Nisswa, died Monday, April 11, 2007, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Coaches help kids grow as citizens
Why should taxpayers be excited about the opportunities our students have to participate in athletics as part of our educational system? Why should budget cuts in education not be acceptable to us? Because athletics can benefit the participants and the society they live in. Because teachers and coaches strive to prepare our kids to be productive citizens of tomorrow.
OUR OPINION: DUANE BLANCK
When the time came to let his bosses know he was retiring Duane Blanck went about the task in his usual low-key manner. The announcement the longtime Crow Wing County engineer was preparing to step down was tucked away as the last item in a two-page highway department staffing report.
Open Forum: Brainerd Oaks is an investment in the city
We have lived in Brainerd for more than 60 years and have seen many changes. Many residents have moved to the lakes, rural areas and Baxter. The homeownership rate in Brainerd has decreased to the point that Brainerd has similar homeownership rates to Minneapolis and St. Paul. Hopefully, owner-occupied neighborhoods like Brainerd Oaks will help to reverse this trend.
Let state legislators know what you think of their work
Rep. John Ward
VOX POP
Bob Olson needs to let the fire department professionals do their jobs. Mr. Olson continues to manipulate and threaten city employees who are doing their jobs. The fire department was being fiscally responsible by specifying a basic aerial truck that meets their needs and met the assigned budget.
Open Forum
I couldn't agree more with the writer from Crosslake who also read "In Their Own Words." As the mother and mother-in-law of Iraq veterans (both of whom await orders for redeployment), I could hardly get past the pictures. Our families are lucky - our soldiers made it home.
We need to remind ourselves and others about the promise of God
Our minds have the incredible capacity for many things.
Wycliffe Bible Translators missionaries in Brainerd
Wycliffe Bible Translators missionaries Sue and Peter Westrum will be at a Wycliffe Associates banquet at 7 p.m. April 20 at the Ramada Inn in Brainerd. Sue Westrum will share stories about her life-changing work of Bible translation. Peter Westrum will be available for visiting and answering questions as well.
Her book provides sort of a refresher lesson in faith
Writing a book has been one of Sarah Lindberg's goals for the last 10 years. Now it's a goal she has accomplished.
They knew him back then
One of the few Augusta National patrons that recognized Zach Johnson before last week's Masters began was able to steal a couple of minutes from the Iowa native.
Strong CLC recruiting class
Off the heels of one of its most successful basketball seasons in program history in which Central Lakes College came one game shy of a trip to the national tournament, what does head coach Jim Russell go and do? He nabs one of the best recruiting classes of his 10 years at the Raiders' helm.
Barnes soars past early opponents
Ryan Barnes has gotten a jump on a spring sports season that only Mother Nature knows when it will shift outdoors.
Warriors open season with a win
ST. CLOUD - After a rash of postponements and cancellations that knocked out its first two meets of the season, the Brainerd boys' tennis team finally got out on the court and faced an opponent.
Scoreboard
Area events
Don't listen to the Mole People'
Do you still think an outdoor baseball stadium for the Twins is a good idea?
Brainerd baseball deadline Friday
The deadline to register for the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's Mustang, Bronco and Pony youth baseball leagues is Friday.
LOCAL SHORTS
Songs will feature artists like the Kinks, Run DMC, Beyonce, Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Fergie, the Veronicas, Nick Lachey, Anastacia and Green Day.
Wisconsin state forecast
Snow and blowing snow advisory until noon for marinette and door counties...
State forecast for Iowa
.Tonight...Mostly clear. Patchy fog. Lows in the low 20s to low 30s.
Happiness is growing
Weather drawing by Claire Gunsbury of Mrs. Larson's second-grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for South Dakota
Tonight...Mostly cloudy southwest with areas of light rain and snow. Partly cloudy north and east...Except mostly clear early far northeast. Areas of fog east late. Lows in the 20s.
State forecast for N.D.
Dense fog advisory this morning for southwest and south central
Wisconsin state forecast
Tonight...Decreasing clouds. Scattered flurries east early this evening. Lows from around 20 northwest...To the upper 20s south. Friday...Partly sunny. Highs from the mid 40s south...To the lower 50s northwest.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of light snow and areas of fog in the morning. Slight chance of rain and snow west in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s northeast to mid 40s southwest.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows in the teens northeast to the upper
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Areas of light snow southeast this morning.
State forecast for North Dakota
.Tonight...Partly to mostly cloudy. Patchy fog developing south.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Isolated
Spring is finally here
Weather drawing by Stephanie A. Robbins of Ms. Hemstad's third-grade class at Baxter school.