Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Like Sharon, center may be your niche
Sharon had retired early so that she and her husband could move up to the lakes area, a lifelong dream. Once they were settled into their home, Sharon found that she had extra time on her hands. She began searching for volunteer opportunities in the community and the Lakes Area Senior Activity Center drew her interest.
Now she has time to paint
It wasn't until longtime northeast Brainerd resident Phyllis Frankum was close to retiring that she had time to pursue her passion in life.
Economic stimulus payment may lead to scams
In May, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will provide a one-time payment of $250 to more than 50 million individuals who receive Social Security and Supplement Security Income benefits, in addition to Veterans Affairs and Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries.
Senior profile: Jack Westin
"I fish for most anything, I go for trout, northern pike and walleye. One time I caught a 17-pound trout."
Happenings at Little Falls Senior Center
LITTLE FALLS - A pancake, sausage and egg breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 3 at the Little Falls Senior Center. Cost is $4.50 for adults, $2.50 for age 7-10 and free for age 6 and younger.
POLICE BLOTTER
THEFT - Karen Loveless on Monday reported her purse stolen from her vehicle while it was parked at Front and South Seventh streets.
BIRTHS
Matthew and Kyann Shamp, Pine River, a boy, Eli Michael, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, April 6, 2009. Grandparents are Michael and Melanie Shamp, Pine River, and Terry and Denny Aleckson, Pine River.
Police blotter
VANDALISM - James Kern on Sunday reported two bedrooms and the living room of an unoccupied residence on the 1000 block of M Street had been spray painted with graffiti.
ORGANIZATIONS
Brainerd Jaycees
NEIGHBORS IN ATHLETICS
The Brainerd Wild won the regular season of the inaugural BAHA Warrior Cup Mite/Squirt league with a 10-3 record.
A taste of the opener
It was like a shore lunch - with a kick.
Super lake steward
Richard Nelles isn't Superman, though he does live on Lois Lane on Washburn Lake and he belongs to an Alliance of other super heroes. But he is a hero for protecting water quality, an advocate for creatures and plants, and well respected for his exceptional efforts to protect water quality.
BRIGHT SPOT
In our 80-plus years, we have had many bright spots. One of the brightest was Owen Bjerkness, our son-in-law, best friend and a great neighbor.
Families outing
Do you have a recent scenic picture that shows the beauty of the lakes area? Send it to photos@brainerd dispatch.com for possible publication in the Neighbors section. Be sure to include your name, where you are from, a brief description of the photo and when and where it was taken.
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
Go to Any Length
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Do you have a treasured photo? Send us your favorite family photographs, including a brief description of the photo and when it was taken, for possible publication in the Neighbors section. Submit your recent photos to: kathi.nagorski@ brainerddispatch.com or drop them off at the Dispatch.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Lakes Area Ecumenical Bereavement
PETS OF THE WEEK
Rebel is a male, neutered, 11-month-old Labradoodle. He's outgoing, loving and friendly, but needs some training. Brainerd Dispatch/Heidi Lake
Brainerd City Council OKs projects for federal grants
Two projects in Brainerd deemed high priority will be submitted to the federal government for grants.
Overheard
"It's not going to be anything like what we have seen over the last few years."
'We're just going to keep plugging away'
Mallori Headley is an enthusiastic and adventuresome 3-year-old, usually decked out in pigtails, who loves to dance, play outdoors and ride her bike.
LOCAL BRIEFS
ONAMIA - In celebration of American Indian month, Grand Casino Mille Lacs will host the 12th annual powwow and arts and craft show. Both events will be May 3 at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events and Convention Center. Admission is free.
Local briefs
Cuts to local government aid in rural Minnesota will be the topic on the next edition of "Lakeland Currents" at 8 p.m. Thursday on Lakeland Public Television.
Aquaponics shows promise
On Earth Day, Jethro Hanson plans to harvest some of the green, leafy lettuce he's been growing - in his basement.
Downtown reconstruction project
Brainerd city officials and Brainerd Lakes Chamber members Monday participated in the groundbreaking for the downtown reconstruction project. The $2.5 million street, streetscape and utility project is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Downtown work begins
Heavy equipment Tuesday moved along Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd as the asphalt was milled to be recycled later as part of Brainerd's downtown reconstruction project. The $2.5 million street, streetscape and utility project is expected to be completed by the end of July. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Area jobless rate mostly unchanged
The March regional jobless rate matched the spring weather as it fluctuated ever so slightly in most area counties - increasing by the barest degree in three counties and decreasing in four others.
LOCAL BRIEFS
There will be more than 150 exhibitors at the spring arts and crafts festival from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 at the Brainerd High School, 702 S. Fifth St., Brainerd. Use north or south doors.
Downtown bikini oil wrestling event nixed
A bikini oil wrestling event planned at a downtown Brainerd bar had been nixed.
Shell fired at camp lands in Pillager yard
It was more than two weeks ago when a 102-pound artillery shell landed in Rich and Kathy Nelson's 80-acre property - located four miles south of Pillager on Cass County Road 1 - just missing their home.
Correction
The Brainerd Dispatch incorrectly listed the day of the Baxter City Council meeting in the agenda in Sunday's paper. The council meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday not 7 p.m. Monday. The council will meet in a closed session at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Officials trying to cut costs by reducing city's energy consumption
Brainerd is looking at cutting expenses by reducing the amount of energy it uses.
This was Brainerd
80 years ago (1929): For making too much "whoopee," drinking too much gin, and setting their marks at the heavyweight championship of the Fort Ripley dance hall Saturday night, two husky young men were fined $50 each and costs in municipal court today.
CORRECTION
A letter in Open Forum in Tuesday's edition incorrectly identified Jesse Nix as associate chair of the Crow Wing County DFL. He is secretary.
Federal funds sought for projects
BAXTER - Two proposed projects in Baxter - the Cypress Drive extension across Highway 210 and a vehicle bridge on Crow Wing County Road 48 over Highway 371 - will be submitted for federal grants.
This was Brainerd
APRIL 22 - 40 years ago (1969) - Brainerd School Board members held a lengthy debate before voting 3-2 to refuse readmission of a boy who withdrew from school after two truancies. A formal hearing for the boy and his father was held previously.
Justice details workings of judicial system
G. Barry Anderson has a seasoned view of Minnesota's judicial system.
Overheard
Today another young president has challenged another generation to give back to their nation.
Arnold C. Hansen
CROSBY - Arnold C. "Arnie" Hansen, age 80, of Crosby, died Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. He was born on Oct. 6, 1928, in Chicago to Engwald and Marie Hansen.
John M. Bosch
John Martin Bosch, age 62, resident of Brainerd, Minn., passed away suddenly of a heart attack, Sunday, April 19, 2009, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Joseph Gingery
ONAMIA - Joseph Gingery, 74-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at the Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 24, 2009, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia, Minn. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia, Minn. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Onamia.
Gertrude Huebner
LITTLE FALLS - Gertrude "Trudie" Huebner, 82-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. A memorial Mass for Trudie will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls, Minn. Visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn., and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Beatrice L. Haselkamp
LITTLE FALLS - Beatrice "Bea" L. Haselkamp, 84-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Facility in Little Falls, Minn.
Gerald W. Young
Gerald (Jerry) Wayne Young, 62, of Brainerd, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, April 20, 2009, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Care Center in Crosby, Minn.
Eula F. Jensen
Eula Fay Jensen, age 84, resident of Brainerd, died Saturday, April 18, 2009, at her home.
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.
Marjorie Boser
ONAMIA - Marjorie Boser, 84-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., passed away Monday, April 20, 2009, at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minn. A memorial Mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia, Minn. Friends may call from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel of Onamia.
Opal (Wenzel) Holman
CUSHING - Opal (Wenzel) Holman, 74-year-old resident of Cushing, Minn., formerly of Little Falls, passed away Sunday, April 19, at Lake Hills Elderly Care Home in Cushing. Funeral services for Opal (Wenzel) Holman will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls. Burial will be in Oak Valley Cemetery near Hewitt, Minn. Friends may call Friday after 9:30 a.m. at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Leona L. Kasella
LITTLE FALLS - Leona L. Kasella, 91-year-old resident of Little Falls, formerly of Royalton, Minn., died Monday, April 20, 2009, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Kraig W. Moe
McGREGOR - Kraig Wayne Moe, 32, of McGregor, passed away with his dog, Sandy, by his side Friday, April 17, 2009.
Gerald W. Young
Gerald W. Young, age 62, resident of Brainerd, died Monday, April 20, 2009, at the Cuyuna Care Center in Crosby.
Clara L. Baumgard
May 24, 1929 - April 20, 2009
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.
Leona L. Kasella
Leona L. Kasella, 91-year-old resident of Little Falls, formerly of Royalton, Minn., died Monday, April 20, 2009, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Beatrice Haselkamp
LITTLE FALLS - Beatrice "Bea" Haselkamp, 84-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living Facility in Little Falls, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2009, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls with Father Nicholas Landsberger officiating.
Mabel Noreen
Mabel Noreen, 96, Brainerd, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
What do you think?
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Open Forum: Vets nursing home backers rallied
Tuesday (April 14) a group went down to appear at the Legislature to lobby for the veterans nursing home that is being considered for the Brainerd State Hospital which has been pretty much closed and could be slated for destruction. Sen. Koering was very supportive and former Sen. Samuelson and many others have worked very hard and made a very good presentation. Reichert Bus Company provided the bus and Joe Klein drove.The VFW packed sandwiches and Mayor Wallin participated in the presentation. There are five other communities vying for funds for veterans nursing homes and clinics at this time. These other communities had visible support of their county commissioners. Some had raised $1 million to $2 million in private money from area organizations and had hired or received pro bono help from professional architects. We were well received but support from our county commissioners and our greater communities were mostly noticeable from their absence. The trip down was well worth the trip and was an educational experience.
Vox Pop
Why aren't teachers taking a wage freeze like the rest of state workers in these tough economic times? That would pay for the other post-employment benefit costs in short order. However, I don't expect to see that in my lifetime. The Brainerd School Board would never stand up to the Education Minnesota union.
Open Forum
In response to the Crosby resident whose Open Forum letter criticized the Tea Party protest, his letter missed the point. He lists a number of things that our taxes support which we all use in our daily lives.
Pierz ties for first
ANNANDALE - Brandon Meyer and Dustin Herold both shot 44s and Alan Gall carded a 45 as the Pierz Pioneers landed in a three-way tie for first Tuesday in a Central Minnesota Conference meet at Albion Ridges.
LOCAL SHORTS
The Brainerd Warriors junior varsity baseball team lost to Sartell 13-11 Monday.
CLC coach Sullivan resigns
Central Lakes College athletic director Jim Russell announced Monday that Raiders softball coach Bob Sullivan has resigned for personal reasons.
AREA BASEBALL
CROSBY - Staples-Motley Crosby-Ironton 11-1 and 20-5 in a Mid-State Conference doubleheader Tuesday.
Warriors run record to 7-0
Left-hander Nikki Anderson and right-hander Karlie Manton combined on a three-hit shutout as the Brainerd Warriors remained unbeaten with a 7-0 victory over the Sartell Sabres in Central Lakes Conference play Tuesday at Adamson Field.
AREA SOFTBALL
STAPLES - Rachael Hoemberg was 5-for-6 with a home run and double and Abby Edin pitched a no-hitter as Staples-Motley defeated Crosby-Ironton 11-0 and 20-0 in Mid-State Conference play Tuesday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Brainerd batters depleted Tigers
The St. Cloud Tech lineup that worried Brainerd Warriors coach Bruce Thompson didn't show up Tuesday, but his worries worsened.
AREA TRACK AND FIELD
LITTLE FALLS - Jackie Thelen and Manon Gamon-Deering were double winners for the second-place Little Falls girls' team, while Wesley Waytashek won twice for the second-place boys' team at Tuesday's Central Lakes Conference dual meet.
Pierz third in CMC
BROOTEN - Sam Herold fired a 50 to pace the Pierz Pioneers to a third-place tie during a Central Minnesota Conference match at Prairie View Golf Course Monday.
AREA BOYS' TENNIS
WADENA - Gabe Browning outlasted Taylor Garcia at No. 1 singles as the Aitkin Gobblers shuffled their lineup and still blanked the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines 7-0 in non-conference action Tuesday.
Local sports shorts
The skills clinic for the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's Mustang, Bronco and Pony baseball leagues is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Park.
Halverson cards 2-under-70 to take honors in CLC meet
SAUK RAPIDS - Brainerd's Sean Halverson shot a 2-under 70 at in a Central Lakes Conference meet Tuesday at Wapicada Golf Club to take medalist honors in a Central Lakes Conference meet.
Raiders, Itasca split after CLC drops first game 8-0
GRAND RAPIDS - The Central Lakes College Raiders softball team split a Northern Division doubleheader against Itasca on Tuesday, losing the first game 8-0 before storming back to a 12-3 win in the second game.
Cardinals capture second invite title
DEERWOOD - Cydney Hasselberg shot 81 and Julia Schock posted 84 to finish one and two individually and lead the Staples-Motley Cardinals to first place at the Crosby-Ironton Invite on The Lakes Course at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge.
Warriors win dual meets over Sartell
Kelsi Ring, Allison Reuer and Sam Smith each won two events as the Brainerd Warriors won a Central Lakes Conference dual meet against Sartell on Tuesday at Adamson Field.
Scoreboard
Area events
Brainerd blanks Willmar
WILLMAR - Morgan Salo's 6-7 (7-4), 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles was the closest the Willmar Cardinals came to stealing a point away from the Brainerd Warriors in BHS's 7-0 Central Lakes Conference victory Monday.
Johnson, PRB blank Blackduck
PINE RIVER - Michelle Dickson finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Erin Johnson went 2-4 with two RBIs as the Pine River-Backus Tigers knocked off Blackduck 10-0 Monday in Northwoods Conference action.
Pierz picks apart Jaguars
ELROSA - All nine Pierz batters collected hits as the Pioneers drilled the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars 11-2 in a Central Minnesota Conference contest Monday.
Tour is junior golfers' Cup of tee
The theme song to "Toys 'R' Us" commercials rings in my head every time I receive a press release for the 2009 Pepsi Lakes Junior Cup.
Hoppe leads BHS to 7th
FERGUS FALLS - Molly Hoppe's 93 paved the way for a seventh-place finish for the Brainerd Warriors at the Fergus Falls Invite Monday.
Brainerd has first defeat
SARTELL - The Sartell Sabres won a battle of Central Lakes Conference unbeatens Tuesday by defeating the Brainerd Warriors 7-1.
Gobblers split conference duals
DEERWOOD - The Aitkin Gobblers earned a split Tuesday in a pair of Great River Conference dual meets at Cuyuna Country Club.
Montano big in Aitkin victory
AITKIN - Senior captain Genarro Montano had one of his best career matches, according to Aitkin Gobblers head coach Joe Walz, leading Aitkin to a 6-1 victory over Hermantown Monday.
State forecast for N.D.
.Today...Partly to mostly sunny west. Partly to mostly cloudy east.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly sunny and warmer. Highs from 65 to 70 northeast to 80 to 85 west central.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs from the upper 40s north...To around 60 west and south.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Sunny west and partly sunny east. Windy and warmer with
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory in effect until 10 am for north central wisconsin...
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 60s northeast to near 80 far
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy east with isolated morning showers. Partly cloudy west. Highs from the 60s east to the 70s west.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s to upper 60s. Cooler
Spring green
Weather drawing by Andrew Castro in the Lowell kindergarten of Jan Wilcox.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy in the east...To mostly sunny conditions in
Kite-flying weather
Weather drawing by Chloe Gallant of Mrs. Holbrook's class at Lowell school.
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 50s northeast to the 60s