Open Forum

I'm curious to know if the Brainerd Lakes Area at large is aware that the Minnesota Twins will not be shown in your area this season. Victory Sports, which is now the broadcast station for the Twins and Gophers, can't seem to understand that major rate increases across the board...may not be a good idea.

You'll only see less than 20 scattered games on TV...regardless of your provider until an agreement can be made.

Please contact your provider whether it's: Charter, The Dish or Direct TV.

Don't forget Victory Sports....they are the greedy ones in the picture!

Remember Twins fans, this year their motto is: every fan counts! Make them prove it!

Mike Schmidt

Brainerd

Heartfelt thanks

While our community is blessed with excellent teachers and principals, we would like to publicly thank an individual principal who truly gets his students involved in caring and sharing. Last December, I had the privilege of observing grades K through 5 at the Lincoln school as they carried non perishable items that the students had collected for the food shelf to the Salvation Army. In my visits at Lincoln school and talking with Mr. Jeff DeVaney, he became aware of the many items my wife and I take to Mazatlan Mexico each year for an orphanage, as well as a school there and items we send with a friend we have met over the years from Teotihuacan to take with him to a school we had visited when we were there a couple of years ago.

This year, instead of the students exchanging gifts at Lincoln, those who could, brought a huge assortment of items that could be used in schools that do not have the resources to buy these items.

Because of their generous contribution of two large full boxes of pencils, pens, tablets, round as well as pointed scissors, folders, glue, felt tip markers and more items than need to be listed, we were able to take them with us on our last trip to Mazatlan earlier this year. Perhaps unless you have never had anything, it is hard to describe the looks on the young children's faces when we brought these items to them.

For all of the students, teachers and especially Principal DeVaney, at Lincoln school, we are conveying the heartfelt thanks that we received when we delivered these items. As well as those items we sent with Mr. Pedro Campros to take to a school just across from his home in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

James and Minna Wallin

Brainerd

Grad Blast help

Brainerd High School Grad Blast 2004 Planning Committee wants to encourage parents of all Brainerd students, as well as all other interested people, to join us in working on this year's Grad Blast, which will be held Thursday May 27. This is the 19th annual chemical-free after graduation all night party! Over the years, the response from the seniors, parents and community has been very positive. If you are willing to chair or co-chair a committee join us at the planning meeting on Wednesday, April 14, at 5:30-6:30 p.m. in Room A-160 at the high school. If you are willing to volunteer, either for advance work or for a shift on the night of May 27, please call Sherri DeLaHunt, at 963-2699 or email at: delahunt@brainerd.net. If you wish to make a donation, financial or otherwise, to Grad Blast 2004, we would be most appreciative. Thanks in advance for your help and your continued support!

Sherri DeLaHunt

Grad Blast 2004 Overall Chair

A pal of Cal's

Congratulations on your choosing to publish Cal Thomas' editorials. He does an excellent job of analyzing situations.

Evelyn Adams

Staples