Thursday, April 24, 2003

Six guessed right
Six readers correctly guessed that last week's guess the vehicle was a 1950 Nash Statesman.

Four Brainerd area Knowledge Bowl teams place at state
Four Brainerd lakes area Knowledge Bowl teams competed in the 2003 Knowledge Bowl State Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle: 750. Last Tuesday: 856. Year Ago Tuesday: 859. Monday actual: 296.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Tuesday 181, a year ago 28.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL. (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle: 400. Last Wednesday: 437. Year Ago Wednesday: 554. Tuesday actual: 724.

Cheesy garlic bread always tastes good
There are some foods I never tire of and cheesy garlic bread is one.

Crime
Brainerd police

Accidents
BACKUS -- One person was injured Tuesday when the vehicle she was riding in collided with a deer on Highway 371, three miles south of Backus.

Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 2:31 p.m. Wednesday to a residence in the 1000 block of South Seventh Street for what turned out to be a false alarm.

Talk to the news council
The Minnesota News Council is an independent organization that examines citizens complaints alleging inaccuracy, unfairness or unethical conduct by the media.

State recommends pregnant women, kids avoid large walleye
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- State health officials recommend that women who are pregnant, planning to be pregnant and young children avoid large walleye and northern pike due to fears of mercury contamination.

Weekend training prepares young soldiers for future
CAMP RIPLEY -- Recruits can see their future when Sgt. John Fure bends his tall frame down and puts his nose in front of theirs. Reflected in his sunglasses is the face of tomorrow's soldier.

Area briefs
CROSBY -- The Readers Theater of the Grand Rapids Players will present the program for the Cuyuna Range Women's Club annual spring luncheon at 1 p.m. May 3 at Cascade United Methodist Church with the church women catering the meal.

Riverwood Healthcare Center to celebrate 50 years of health care
AITKIN -- Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin will celebrate its 50th anniversary of providing health-care services at a celebration fund-raiser May 17 at the Aitkin County Growth building in downtown Aitkin.

Region 5 Council on Aging to meet May 7
STAPLES -- The Region 5 Council on Aging will meet at 9:30 a.m. May 7 at the Region 5 Office in Staples.

Vessel leaves Duluth
DULUTH (AP) -- The first vessel in three weeks left from the Duluth entry after U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers successfully cleared the ship canal.

Creamery celebrates 90th birthday
PERHAM (AP) -- Cooperative-owned creameries have become a rarity in Minnesota. But Perham Co-op Creamery is celebrating its 90th birthday.

Twenty-four on a tarp
Central Lakes College students in Kari Frisch's interpersonal communication class were asked to perform a task requiring all 24 to stand on a tarp and flip it over without leaving the tarp.

Grandparents' Day
Pillager kindergartners Adam Heisick and Dawn Swartz sang "Anywhere I Wander" during Grandparents' Day Thursday at Pillager Elementary School. The program was titled Hans Christian Andersen's "Stories in Song."

Teens get new Stomping Grounds
STAPLES -- They complained there was nowhere for teens to hang out in their community.

Bataan memorial
Bataan Death March survivor Walt Straka of Brainerd was among the veterans honored last month at the dedication of the Bataan Death March Memorial at Veterans Park in Los Cruces, N.M. He was accompanied by his daughter, Sarah Leschison. Straka was one of 38 survivors whose feet were used to make rubber castings that were pressed in wet cement to create footprints for the memorial.

Area briefs
LITTLE FALLS -- St. Francis Health and Recreation Center, Little Falls, will sponsor a Salad Luncheon and Style Show May 3 at St. Francis Center, Little Falls.

Northwest discontinues seasonal service to Ely
ELY (AP) -- Northwest Airlines has discontinued its seasonal service to the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Bakery may have to give up 'hemp bread'
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- So, this "hemp bread" in the bag with the many-stemmed leaf -- is it as filling as it looks, or does it give you the munchies? Is it OK to eat as long as you don't inhale?

Growing area development is theme of Saturday workshop
EAST GULL LAKE -- The Minnesota Lakes Association will sponsor a lake workshop and annual meeting 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 26 at Cragun's Resort in East Gull Lake.

Local briefs
Brainerd Mayor James Wallin proclaimed Friday Arbor Day in Brainerd.

Taste test
Amy DeSanto sampled her miso, Japanese soup, during a Pine River-Backus Community Education class on Japanese cooking in Pine River Tuesday night. The class, taught by B.J. Allen, featured several different dishes cooked with traditional ingredients.

SUPER DECISION
SUNDAY -- Defining the issues. Views from national experts, opponents and proponents, as well as Wal-Mart. Reaction from Hibbing residents regarding their supercenter.

Activist draws low-key crowd
There were no noisy Wal-Mart cheers or smiling, blue-vested greeters at Wednes-day's community forum on Wal-Mart at Brainerd High School, but criticism of the discount retailer's proposed supercenter in Baxter was low-key.

License plates may indicate driving offense
Buyer beware.

County works on ordinace for parks
Crow Wing County could soon have a park ordinance in place.

Raceway work nearly complete
An Anderson Brothers Construction Co. employee used a paver to pack down an asphalt mix with taconite tailings on the last 620 feet of the quarter-mile Brainerd International Raceway dragstrip Wednesday. This is the first dragstrip with taconite tailings used as an asphalt substrate instead of the commonly used rock aggregate.

Local briefs
A regional program that helps displaced homemakers find new careers needs silent auction items for a May 12 fund-raiser at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

Norman speaks tonight at BHS
A free community forum featuring Al Norman, former columnist and book reviewer for Newsweek and Sprawlbusters Newsletter and author of "Slam Dunking Wal-Mart: How You Can Stop Superstore Sprawl in Your Hometown," published in 1999, will be 7 p.m. today in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

County administrator, superintendent help Baxter in administrator search
BAXTER -- Baxter City Council members Wednesday received advice about how to search for a Baxter city administrator.

Rotary garage sale
Elizabeth Olson of Brainerd was among those checking out the clothing tables at the 13thannual Brainerd Rotary Club garage sale this morning at the Brainerd National Guard Armory. The sale ends at 5 p.m. today.

First half of real estate taxes due May 15
Crow Wing County property tax statements have been mailed and several were returned because of address changes, said Laureen Borden, Crow Wing County treasurer.

CORRECTION/ CLARIFICATION
In Sunday's story regarding the size of other area projects, the square footage for Mill's Fleet Farm, including its recent expansion, should have read 270,530 square feet for the main building, according to the Crow Wing County assessor's office.

Crews warming up to begin Highway 210 reconstruction
BAXTER -- Extended daylight and warmer days signal the arrival of Minnesota's other season -- construction -- and this year that means the major Highway 210 reconstruction project in Brainerd and Baxter.

Correction
Because of incorrect information provided The Dispatch, Jacob Clark was omitted from the 4.0 Washington Middle School honor roll corrected version that ran in Tuesday's edition.

This was Brainerd
APRIL 23 - 20 years ago (1983) - The new addition at St. Joseph's Hospital isn't the only thing new there. St. Joseph's Hospital will now officially be called St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Supercenter critic has say
Al Norman said he was an accidental activist and a reluctant convert to the battle against superstores.

Pine River joins the list of cities wanting Paul
PINE RIVER -- The city of Pine River has two active sawmills and remains a logging community.

Pierz Marine part of POW rescue
PIERZ -- Sgt. Mike Tschida always knew he wanted to join the military. What he probably didn't count on was being a hero in one of the most publicized events of the war on Iraq.

Death becomes them
"The Shadow Box," based on the novel "On Death and Dying," opens Thursday at Central Lakes College. Look for a feature about the production in Thursday's Tempo.

This was Brainerd
APRIL 24 - 80 years ago (1923) - Brainerd is to have a new fireproof hotel of the most modern kind. The structure is to be built on the corner of Laurel and 7th streets. There will be 85 rooms and 100 beds.

Last laugh
BAXTER -- Lakes area airwaves will be a little less jolly without Hugh Phillips' "delightful giggle."

Families may soon be missing child-care assistance
Families in Crow Wing County who currently receive child-care assistance may soon be on their own.

Quilting for a cause
Area quilters will sell their works at an upcoming silent auction to benefit world hunger. Look for the story in Friday's Religion section.

Helen E. (Anderson) Storm
NISSWA -- Helen Evangeline (Anderson) Storm, 88, Nisswa, formerly of Mankato and Richfield, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at Excelsior Nursing Home.

Elmira 'Myra' B. Lamont
Elmira "Myra" B. Lamont, 93, Brainerd, died Monday, April 21, 2003, at Fair Oaks Manor in Wadena.

Warren L. Savor
Warren L. Savor, 73, Brainerd, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Margaret I. Swanson
Margaret I. Swanson, 90, Brainerd, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at Brainerd Medical Center.

Effie I. Tolles
PILLAGER -- Effie I. Tolles, 91, Pillager, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at Greater Staples Care Center.

Earl P. Froelich
PIERZ -- Earl P. Froelich, 66, Pierz, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at home.

John F. Hamdorf
AITKIN -- John F. Hamdorf, 79, Aitkin, died Sunday, April 20, 2003, at St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.

Elmira B. Lamont
Elmira B. Lamont, 93, Brainerd, died Monday, April 21, 2003, at Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena.

Manley G. Erickson
WADENA -- Manley G. Erickson, 77, Wadena, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena.

Frieda N. (Anderson) Eklund
NISSWA -- Frieda N. (Anderson) Eklund, 92, Nisswa, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at home.

William A. Chadwick II
BAXTER -- William A. Chadwick II, 54, Baxter, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at St. Cloud Hospital.

Terry L. Hanson
Terry LeRoy Hanson, 61, Brainerd, died Monday, April 21, 2003, at home.

William Chadwick
BAXTER -- William Chadwick, 54, Baxter, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at St. Cloud Hospital.

Roman Rudolph
LITTLE FALLS -- Roman Rudolph, 77, Little Falls, died today, April 24, 2003, at home.

Open Forum
According to The Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board's reports, election year 2002, the Minnesota Indian Political Action Committee (PAC), donated $721,000 to legislative political parties of their choice. By a "way-out yonder" figure that 'choice' consisted of Democratic-Farmer Labor candidates. (Many of whom failed to be elected!)

Tax crackdown
In tough economic times every tax dollar counts. That's why the Minnesota Department of Human Services is trying to crack down on those people who give money away to relatives so they can qualify for Medical Assistance, a poverty program.

Voice your opinions in the Open Forum
The Dispatch encourages readers to sound off in the Open Forum.

Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.

Check-offs
A proposal to allow Minnesota taxpayers to check off a box on their income tax return and make an extra payment for social spending strikes us as a bad idea.

Open Forum
The following letters were written by Brainerd High School students:

Committee deadlocks on Lindner ethics complaint
ST. PAUL -- An ethics complaint against Rep. Arlon Lindner died Thursday following a 2-2 tie vote in the House Ethics Committee that followed party lines.

Northwest to cut management pay and benefits by up to 15 percent
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Northwest Airlines plans to cut the salaries and benefits of its 3,000 management employees by 5 to 15 percent to help the company return to profitability.

Handgun bill now moves to state Senate
ST. PAUL -- Gun rights supporters moved one big step closer Wednesday to requiring state sheriffs to give handgun permits to most law-abiding adults who seek them.

Minnesota homeowners insurance cost soared in 2002
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Homeowners insurance rates rose more in Minnesota in 2002 than the national average, putting the state near the top in the rates people pay to insure their homes.

Kids Count survey: Fewer Minnesota children in poverty, pregnant
Minnesota children are doing better overall than a decade ago, with fewer teenage mothers and youths involved in serious crimes, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the Children's Defense Fund.

C-I's Robinson sets two records in high jump
MILACA -- Crosby-Ironton's Parker Robinson broke a school and meet record with a high jump of 6 feet, 7 inches, at the Pierz Pioneer Invitational Tuesday.

Southpaw is off to a good start
Baseball players who hit or throw left-handed have an advantage.

Bonsante going against Ayala
Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante gets his big shot Friday.

Pillager wins first game of season
VERNDALE -- Travis Dixon and Luke Gaalswyk each had two hits to lead the Pillager Huskies to their first victory of the season with a 6-5 win over the Verndale Pirates in Park Region Conference baseball Tuesday.

Gobbler netters pick up win over W-DC
WADENA -- The Aitkin Gobblers swept all three doubles matches in a 4-3 victory over the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines in boys' tennis Tuesday.

Schmolke smokes 1600 field
Ashley Schmolke had never run 1600 meters in a competitive race.

Scoreboard
COLLEGE BASEBALL

CLC, Ridgewater make it exciting
Drama came in an ample supply in Tuesday's doubleheader between the Central Lakes College Raiders and Ridgewater Warriors softball teams.

Scoreboard
COLLEGE BASEBALL

Aitkin girls finish second
MOOSE LAKE -- The Aitkin Gobblers girls' golf team finished second in a Great River Conference meet Tuesday with a score of 241.

Raiders sweep Northland
Jon Reis and Pete Marjamaa pitched complete game victories for the Central Lakes College Raiders against Northland Wednesday at Mills Field in Brainerd.

Anderson wins lead way
Successful hurdlers are often tall and lean.

Patriots take two from Detroit Lakes
PEQUOT LAKES -- The Pequot Lakes Patriots scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Detroit Lakes Lakers 3-2 in game one of a double header Tuesday.

Cardinals upend Warriors in tennis
ALEXANDRIA -- Paul Tuchscherer and Matt Steiger won singles matches as the Brainerd Warriors lost to the Alexandria Cardinals 5-2 in Central Lakes Conference play Tuesday.

Local sports shorts
The Brainerd Warriors junior varsity baseball team split a doubleheader Monday.

WOLVES GET EVEN WITH LA
MINNEAPOLIS-- The Minnesota Timberwolves went to their small-ball lineup and used solid defense to make the three-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers and their two superstars seem even smaller.

Lakers happy to be home
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- This, apparently, won't be the impenetrable postseason of two years ago, or even that of last year, when the Sacramento Kings provided the Lakers with their only real, prolonged fight.

Lakers didn't feel the urgency on this night
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Los Angeles Lakers have not taken the easy route all season, so why start now?

Minnesota fans have something to cheer about
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota sports fan Joe Baer is balancing on the horns of a dilemma, and he couldn't be happier.

WILD STRUGGLE BACK FROM 3-1 SERIES DEFICIT
DENVER (AP) -- Andrew Brunette threw his stick in the air, skated to the sideboards and was mobbed by his Minnesota Wild teammates.

Minnesota and Kansas City rained out
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Royals' surprising season was interrupted by bad weather again. It doesn't seem to bother them.

You can't win 'em all
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Joe Randa bailed out the Kansas City Royals' pitchers.

Wolves not worried about Wild, just rooting for them
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Timberwolves played seven wretched seasons before they made the playoffs.

Rule forces cancellations of prep ballgames
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Willmar softball coach Guy Nelsen didn't realize the trouble he was causing when he took his team to Disney World in Florida for two games and four scrimmages late last month.

Rickert withdraws from classes at Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rick Rickert has withdrawn from classes at Minnesota and says he doesn't see a scenario in which he'll be back as a Golden Gopher.

The surprises continue
ST. PAUL -- A night after losing to the Colorado Avalanche to fall behind 3-1 in their first-round playoff series, Minnesota general manager Doug Risebrough and coach Jacques Lemaire gathered their players for a little pep talk.

Former Viking Ted Brown investigated in Mille Lacs
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Former Minnesota Vikings running back Ted Brown is being investigated by Mille Lacs County authorities after two sexual assaults were reported during the team's Arctic Blast fund-raiser, Brown's attorney said.

Entertainment Guide
For week of April 24-30; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.

Art on exhibit at Brainerd library, city hall
Irene Donahue's paintings are on display in the Brainerd Public Library through July 3. Now retired, the Motley resident took up painting in her 30s when she took her first classes in St. Charles, Ill.

Dinner concert to be held in Staples
STAPLES -- The Staples Area Men's Chorus will return its annual dinner concert to T Maxwell's Restaurant in Staples at 6 p.m. May 4.

Pillager sixth-graders stage play
PILLAGER -- A sixth-grade reading class at Pillager Elementary School gave two performances of "The Case of the Punjabi Ruby" by Frank Willment April 10 and 11.

Who will be selling out concert arenas 30 years from now?
Elton John and Billy Joel are currently the hottest ticket in North America, taking in more than $2 million in box office grosses in each city where they play.

Area playwright to speak at Brainerd library
"The Writing of 'Hephzebeth, Woman of Iron': Putting Together Family Stories" will be the focus of Lauren Nickisch's presentation at 7 p.m. May 1 at the Brainerd Public Library's First Thursdays Speaker Series.

Modern Blues Man, Part 1
Corey Stevens is the consummate hard-working axman. He always aims to play every song better than he's ever played it before, he tries to give every fan his money's worth, and ... he strives to have the most impeccable yard in his Los Angeles neighborhood.

Best bets
Area thespians of all ages show off their skills this weekend in a variety of plays. Central Lakes College presents "The Shadow Box," Pillager High School presents "Give My Regards to Broadway," Franklin Junior High School in Brainerd presents "Wonderland," Rippleside Elementary School in Aitkin presents "It's Saturday!" and The Madhatters, Inc. of Wadena present "The Wizard of Oz."

Klauck turns his black and white photos into drawings
Taking black and white photographs is one way Brainerd High School senior Josh Klauck can simplify the world.

Attention movie buffs
Attention Brainerd lakes area movie buffs:

Tempo tidbits
Russell Holsapple, a 1992 graduate of Pillager High School and a Twin Cities resident, has been accepted to the University of Southern California to study film and television scoring.

BHS bands to perform concert May 1
The Brainerd High School bands will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. May 1 at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Middle School, Brainerd.

CLC presents play about death, dying and finding inspiration in the darkest of hours
Nine area actors found themselves in an unusual position when they auditioned for "A Streetcar Named Desire" recently.

Next Week
Dispatch columnist John Hansen looks back at six years with Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen, as the popular prime time soap "Dawson's Creek" winds down its sixth and final season. Plus: Part Two of an interview with Corey Stevens.

Talkin' theater
With Patrick Spradlin, CLC Theatre director

Shoreland education classes scheduled in Crosslake
CROSSLAKE -- The University of Minnesota Extension Service will offer shoreland education classes in the Crosslake area in May.

Area briefs
Tickets for the Nisswa Women's Club's annual spring fashion show, "A Stroll in the Park," are on sale.

Emily students collect food, money for food shelf
EMILY -- Emily Charter School helped collect food and money for the Emily Food Shelf as part of the March Food Share project.

Scenic
A tree bud opened near Motley.

100th day
Mrs. Pratt's kindergarten class at Emily Charter School celebrated its 100th day of kindergarten complete with 100 helium balloons and activities throughout the day. Kindergartner Shelby Hodgman (left), and Kathy Allen, her daughter Hannah Allen and kindergarten daughter Rachel Allen participated in activities.

More young people wanting to join the military
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Brandon Morter recently turned 18. While he doesn't know much about the world yet, he does know he wants to become a U.S. Marine.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly cloudy west with increasing clouds east. Chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly west and central. Highs in the 60s.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Showers likely south. Chance of light rain northwest and northcentral. Mostly cloudy northeast. Highs from the 50s west and south to the mid 60s far northeast.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s to upper 60s. Cooler near the great lakes.

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Variable cloudiness with a chance of showers west and central. A possible afternoon thunderstorm in the west. Highs 65 to 75.

State forecast for Minnesota
today...Mostly sunny east. Partly cloudy and breezy west. Highs from the upper 50s northeast to around 70 southwest.

State forecast for Minnesota
today...Partly cloudy central and north. Mostly cloudy south with a chance of light rain. Highs in the upper 50s southwest...With mid 60s to around 70 elsewhere.

Enjoying spring
Weather drawing by Joshua Hammermeister of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny east...Otherwise mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Highs around 60 to 70.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny east. Increasing clouds west. A chance of thunderstorms far southwest by late afternoon. Highs in the middle 60s to lower 70s.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy or mostly cloudy. A chance of afternoon showers far southwest. Highs in the mid 50s to upper 60s. Cooler near the great lakes.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Light rain likely central and south...A chance of light rain north. Highs in the 50s to lower 60s.

Spring
Weather drawing by Megan Fleischhacker of Mrs. Larson's fifth grade class at Harrison school.