Saturday, April 27, 2002

Many investors giving up on 2002
NEW YORK -- The year isn't even half over, but many stock investors have the uneasy feeling that 2002 is destined to be another loser. Prospects of a third straight year of losses has left shareholders apathetic, prompting them to sell or stay out of the market altogether.

Owner of brokerage firm sentenced to more than eight years in prison
NEW YORK (AP) -- A man accused of operating one of the largest securities fraud schemes in history was sentenced Friday to eight years and four months in prison.

Performance matters when it comes to fund managers' paychecks
NEW YORK -- After two difficult years on Wall Street, investors aren't the only ones feeling less prosperous -- some mutual fund managers are also taking home less pay.

Biggest mistake in small business?
NEW YORK -- What's the biggest mistake you can make in your business? Not thinking ahead before you do something, whether it's buying equipment, dealing with an employee or even starting the whole enterprise itself.

STICKER SHOCK
BAXTER -- When customers suffer from sticker shock at the Memories for the Making store in Baxter it has nothing to do with the prices.

A detailed look at workers, jobs
Survey results gained in the 2001 labor force assessment of Crow Wing County provide a detailed look at area workers and job opportunities. The Minnesota Department of Economic Security analyzed the data.

Around the watercooler
TRAVEL TROUBLE: The travel and tourism industry, devastated by last September's terrorist attacks, accounted for a quarter of the 1.2 million job cuts announced in the United States between Sept. 11 and March 31.

Business notes
ONAMIA -- The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has sworn in band member Deron Dunkley as its commissioner of finance.

Vatican summit pushes real work to American bishops at June meeting
With strong condemnations and words of regret, America's top Roman Catholic leaders made it clear they understand action is desperately needed to stem the clergy sex abuse crisis.

Some Catholic officials, parents talking frankly to youths about abuse scandal
Meghan Smith and other young Roman Catholics sat quietly at first as their youth minister brought up the many sex abuse allegations lodged against priests. She'd never heard it talked about so openly, not even in her own family. But soon the youth group and the lay minister were in full discussion.

Monasteries offer solace to the stressed
COLLEGEVILLE -- At first, the quiet of a monastery cell is unnerving.

Michael W. Smith wins six Dove Awards
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Christian music industry showed renewed affection for one of its old favorites at the 33rd annual Dove Awards, giving Michael W. Smith six awards, including best artist.

Churches
Chaplain (Maj.) Thomas L. Solhjem, 75th Ranger Regiment, will speak during two church services at 8 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday, as well as during Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., at the Brainerd Assemblies of God Church.

St. Paul ELCA selects new bishop
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Rev. Peter Rogness was elected bishop of the St. Paul Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the annual St. Paul Synod assembly meeting at Concordia University on Sunday.

Clergy view
One of the best descriptions of pastoral ministry is from Karl Barth, a German theologian of the early 20th century, who wrote that we should preach the gospel with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. I recently found the intersection of three news stories and a gospel text that I think deserve our attention.

Winners of Dove Awards for gospel music
Major winners of Dove Awards for gospel music:

Brainerd educators earn award
PRIOR LAKE -- Brainerd Xi chapter members won a gold award for communication and responsibility at the Minnesota Alpha Delta Kappa's state convention at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake recently.

Former Brainerd resident earns education award
Janet (Hendrickson) Robb, of Roseville and formally of Brainerd, was recognized by the Minnesota Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development with the Friend to Education Award.

Unsettled teacher contracts spur labor actions in some districts in state
ANOKA -- John Belpedio, LeMoyne Corgard and Linda Anderson were relatively new to the classroom when a contract impasse sent teachers in the Anoka area to the picket lines for 13 days in 1981.

Star shines on silver screen and in old soldier's memory
DEAR ABBY: I have enjoyed reading about all the random acts of kindness in your column. I recall one from many years ago.

A real baby memory book
NEW YORK (AP) -- Forget the old traditions of collecting booties and a lock from baby's first haircut, a new baby memory book offers a more modern approach that highlights sleepless nights, streaming video, dirty diapers.

DEAR ABBY
DEAR ABBY: I am an 11-year-old Muslim girl who is a faithful reader of your column. It has helped me remember that I'm not the only one with problems. Here's mine:

Now is the time
How many times have you read the Child in Need segment of the newspaper and thought "that child is adorable I would really like to help her/him". Then you do nothing.

the Choirboys
Anthony Reed led the procession of boys as they entered the sanctuary before their concert Thursday night.

Sons just naturally frustrate their dads
QUESTION: Why does my son seem to unknowingly frustrate me on a regular basis?

Tools for women hit the nail on the head
Two years ago, a clutch of professional women in Denver were invited to a Pampered Chef home party where upscale kitchenware was being sold. As they were leaving together, they grumbled that the last thing they needed was another copper pan or veggie steamer.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Thursday 133, a year ago 129.

Lawmakers reach deal on six-year farm bill
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement on a farm bill that would boost agricultural spending by about 70 percent, marking a reversal of a 1996 law that was intended to wean farmers from government support.

Congress Comes Together on Farm Policy
WASHINGTON -- At a time when Congress is stalemated on a spate of issues, one measure is an eye-catching exception: a major rewrite of federal farm policy.

Minneapolis Fridy closing grain prices
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 255, a year ago 131.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle: 2,400. Last Friday: 97. Year Ago Friday: 2,284. Thursday actual: 619.

Lawmakers Embrace Subsidies with New Farm Bill
WASHINGTON -- House and Senate negotiators Friday jettisoned a six-year attempt to wean farmers off government subsidies and approved a high-priced farm bill that will expand payments to producers of basic agricultural commodities by nearly $50 billion over the next decade.

Iowa Friday closing grain prices
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Prices paid to Iowa farmers at the close of business Friday for No. 2 yellow corn and No. 1 yellow soybeans. Prices compiled from country elevators by the Iowa Department of Agriculture. Corn prices generally steady to 1 cent lower; soybean prices generally 6 to 7 cents lower.

Farmers will plant more biotechnology seeds this year, despite unease
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Despite uncertainties over farm program benefits and markets, farmers have told the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they intend to plant more corn, slightly less soybean and wheat, and make greater use of biotechnology varieties of seeds this year.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 300. Last Thursday: 234. Year Ago Thursday: 477.

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

School lunch menus
BRAINERD/PILLAGER

Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

Correction/ clarification
The property owner of land to be leased by Minnesota Towers for a cellular communications tower was reported incorrectly on Page 6A Friday.

Media watchdog available
The Minnesota News Council is an independent organization that examines citizens complaints alleging inaccuracy, unfairness or unethical conduct by the media.

Agendas
Meets 5 p.m. Monday

Births
Michael and Kathryn Olander, Staples, a girl, Katelin Jo, 8 pounds, 6 ounces, March 22, 2002.

Little Falls man dies in rollover
LITTLE FALLS -- A 19-year-old Little Falls man died Friday in a one-vehicle rollover, the Morrison County Sheriff's Department said.

Births
Tony and Mary Beth Maras, Plymouth, a girl, Maia Isabelle, 8 pounds, 2 ounces, April 16, 2002. Grandparents are Ed and Barb Worms, Brainerd, and Dave and Connie Maras, Baxter.

Write to Washington
Sen. Paul Wellstone

Court
WALKER -- The following recently were sentenced in Cass County District Court:

Births
Richard and Lynda (Evans) Orton, Backus, a boy, Ethan Jay, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, April 3, 2002.

Fires
Deputy State Fire Marshal Mark Germain Thursday reported the April 13 fire that damaged Body by Bart was accidental.

Mahady leads Warriors to fifth place in Little Falls golf meet
LITTLE FALLS -- Charlie Mahady shot a 3-over-par 79 to lead the Brainerd Warriors to a fifth-place finish in the first Central Lakes Conference boys' golf meet of the season Thursday at Little Falls Country Club.

Golf
First Round

There it goes
Brainerd High School golfer Nikki Bender watched her ball travel down the third fairway at the Preserve Golf Course Thursday. Bender was playing the first day of the two-day Warrior/Patriots Invitational. On Friday, the golfers will play the Pines at Grand View Lodge. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

Patriots finish fifth
NISSWA -- Even without its top player, the Pequot Lakes Patriots girls' golf team showed its a team to watch out for.

Golf shorts
The spring kickoff luncheon for the Pine Meadows women's golf league has been changed to May 9 at Pine Meadows.

Pierz golf team finishes third
LONG PRAIRIE -- Chad Schirmers fired a seven-over-par 79 to lead the Pierz Pioneers boys' golf team to a third place finish at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Invitational Friday.

Pierz golfers capture 3rd
ROCKFORD -- Diane Stangl's 55 led the Pierz Pioneers to a third-place finish in a Central Minnesota Conference girls' golf meet Thursday.

Hasselberg's play reflects pressures
PEQUOT LAKES -- In less than ideal weather conditions, and more than golf on her mind, Staples-Motley's Mary Hasselberg managed to break into the top five in the first round of the Warrior/Patriot girls' golf invitational Thursday at Grand View Lodge's Preserve course.

Pierz boys golf into CMC lead
PIERZ -- Doug Virnig's 39 led the Pierz Pioneers boys' golf team to a Central Minnesota Conference victory Thursday. Dan Fischer shot a 42 and Nathan Meyer a 43 for Pierz.

Democrats says Bush threatening future of Social Security
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democrats are continuing to separate their support for President Bush in the war on terrorism from their strong opposition to his policies on such issues as Social Security.

Chemical dependency and AA groups
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.

HIV problem hits small S.D. college town
A South Dakota college basketball player who tested positive for HIV was arrested this week in a case that has led health officials to two other new infections and what they are calling "a web of sexual contacts" that numbers in the hundreds.

Government gives $3.5 million in grants to prepare for embryonic stem cell research
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The government Friday awarded its first grants to prepare for embryonic stem cell research since President Bush gave approval for limited federal funding.

Cancer from fries, bread?
The process of frying and baking starchy foods such as potatoes and bread causes the formation of potentially harmful amounts of a chemical listed as a probable carcinogen, the Swedish government said this week.

Who's responsible for her life?
SEALY, Texas -- Doctors worked furiously to save Sidney Ainsley Miller after her premature birth in 1990. Though she entered the world 17 weeks early, state-of-the-art neonatal care made it possible for her to survive, and there's a fair chance she'll have a normal life span.

Support groups
Crisis Line-Referral Ser.

Teen-age couple, mother at center of Michigan's latest assisted suicide case
LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- If prosecutors are right, Kathleen Holey did everything she could to help her son and daughter-in-law commit suicide: She drove them to an abandoned farmhouse, arranged pillows and blankets for their comfort and handed over a powerful narcotic.

Residents learn how to protect their land through conservation easements
HACKENSACK -- Your primary motivation should be to preserve natural resources, not get a tax benefit, said John Sumption, Cass County Soil and Water Conservation officer and Environmental Services deputy director.

Design K-15 could make a better first impression
Most people build vacation homes like Design K-15 with the front porch facing a lake or meadow view. This makes sense. But what will guests see as they come in from the road? A rear faade that is blank and featureless.

Tip of the week: Fluorescent lighting
If your fluorescent ceiling light is humming and flickering, and there are eight generations of dead insects on the upper side of the lens, read on.

Tri-County Leech Lake Watershed Project seeks resources grants
WALKER -- The Tri-County Leech Lake Watershed Project has applied for three Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources grants.

Try remote-control switching
We have a decorator lamp in our TV room. It is colorful and rests atop a tall floor speaker in a corner between the entertainment center and the wall.

Forget rules, decorate in your own personal style
Television decorating guru Lynette Jennings is a strong advocate of personal style. From her program on the Discovery Channel, "Lynette Jennings Design," to her own diverse two homes, she lives it.

Love for tulips has history
You think you like tulips. Yet your affections probably don't compare with those of the Dutch of 250 years ago, when "tulipomania" swept though Holland. Then, the best bulbs sold for more than their weight in gold.

McKnight Foundation gives affordable housing a $28 million boost in the Twin Cities market
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The McKnight Foundation awarded $28 million Thursday to add 5,000 affordable homes and apartments to the housing market in the Twin Cities area.

Spring turns buyers toward brighter colors
At the first sign of a tulip, consumers gravitate toward brighter colors and breezy patterns in the housewares department. The stores are ready for them.

Furniture designers focus on enjoying life at home
This season, furniture designers are using buzzwords like "comfort zone," "haven," "warm," "welcoming" and "retreat" as they focus on enjoying life at home.

Wet your plants
The drought upon much of the nation makes gardening a challenge this season, but here's a product to give your foliage a much-needed shower.

Housing briefs
LITTLE FALLS -- A Linden Hill History Tour is set 6:30 p.m. May 6 at the mansions in Little Falls.

Spring fertilizer application can help reduce stress on trees
Many trees are stressed because of low moisture, compacted soil and competition from grass and nearby trees and shrubs. Physical damage and nearby construction also cause stress on trees.

Hispanic homeownership up
MANASSAS PARK, Va. (AP) -- Cuban-Americans are more likely than Mexican-Americans to own their homes. Puerto Ricans tend to rent rather than buy.

Lawn disease diagnosis available
Perhaps your lawn hasn't taken on the green, healthy look yo

Home is a vacation retreat
With its rustic exterior and multiple outdoor recreation areas, this vacation retreat, Plan K-15, by the Homestore Plans and Publications Designers Network, is a welcoming sight. Its floor plan has 1,647 square feet of living space.

Oh, deer! There go the tulips
Q. How do you prevent deer from eating the tulip shoots as they come up? Last year, all my tulips were cut off evenly, before the actual flower appeared. I was told it was probably deer. I planted more this year. Is there anything I can do?

Containers broaden the range of fruits you can grow
At the French palace of Versailles, a whole wing -- the orangery -- was built as a winter home for potted oranges. But you don't need an orangery to grow tropical and subtropical fruits such as fig, guava, passion fruit, kumquat, lime, or even oranges. Just some pots.

Gardening in containers grows popular
Gardening in containers, whether large or small, has become popular because they offer versatility and a chance for the individual to be creative.

Unorganized Territory to have three precincts
Unorganized Territory will have three precincts instead of only two -- the former Davenport and Kennedy precincts.

Brainerd Fire Department Rescue team helps Pine River; they'll work together
Starting this month the Pine River Fire Department has a technical rescue team that rivals the largest team in the state.

An afternoon of poetry
Maxine Russell, "Poet Laureate of the League of Minnesota Poets," performed one of her poems during a program at Central Lakes College to benefit the Maxine Kaiser Russell Literary Scholarship Fund.

Corrections
As the result of incorrect information supplied to The Dispatch, the time of the memorial service in an obituary for John R. Ellingson was listed incorrectly on Page 5A Tuesday. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Crosslake Lutheran Church.

Area funeral director helps grieving families deal with miscarriages, babies' deaths
BAXTER -- When a mother loses a baby to miscarriage or stillbirth, nurses and doctors in the Brainerd lakes area have someone they can call.

At head of the class
Crow Wing County, with a growing retail center, may be at the head of the class when compared to surrounding counties in a workforce survey.

COMING MONDAY
A Nisswa barber has seen it all from his tiny shop along Highway 371.

Correction
In the Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport runway project story

This was Brainerd
APRIL 28 - 80 years ago (1922) - The general spirit of optimism and increase of business is reflected in Brainerd, one of the largest railway shop towns on the Northern Pacific Railway System, where on May 1 the whole shops will go on a six-day schedule.

At least two injured in two-vehicle accident
Brainerd firefighters extricated a woman from a Ford Festiva that was involved in a two-vehicle accident today at Dogwood Drive and College Road in the Baxter Industrial Park. The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. At least two people were injured in the accident. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

BRIDGEWORK
BAXTER -- Get ready to say good-bye to the Highway and Business Highway 371 intersection stop lights.

Communication tower to go up near Legionville
Residents who live near Legionville camp will be getting a neighborhood addition -- a 195-foot cellular communications tower.

This was Brainerd
APRIL 26 - 80 years ago (1922) - The Brainerd district of the 10,000 lakes of Minnesota is confident the season of 1922 will be one of the greatest in the history of lake resorts. Forty-five resorts tributary to Brainerd are affiliated with the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce.

Chernobyl residents remember disaster, but worry about jobs
SLAVUTYCH, Ukraine -- Hundreds of people, many of them still working at the Chernobyl power plant, braved a biting cold on Friday to lay flowers and light candles at a memorial service to loved ones who died in the world's worst accident 16 years ago.

First-quarter Internet sales better than expected for many e-tailers
NEW YORK -- The first quarter, usually a sleepy time in the retail business, turned out to be unusually busy for online merchants.

Alabama nuclear plant workers exposed to radioactive gas
ATHENS, Ala. (AP) -- Fifty-four workers were exposed to gas with low levels of radioactive contamination during an incident this week at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, officials said.

Bodyguard accused of helping Blake kill wife freed after actor posts $1 million bail
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Robert Blake doesn't have the option to post bail to get himself out from behind bars, but he paid $1 million to free his jailed bodyguard.

Bush and Abdullah try to renew peace effort amid tensions between their nations
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) -- President Bush and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah tried to breathe new life into Abdullah's Mideast peace initiative, a point of agreement in a relationship tarnished by disputes over terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian crisis itself.

Cardinals agree on zero tolerance for sex abusers, Philadelphia Cardinal Bevilacqua says
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- As America's Roman Catholic leaders met at the end of a week dominated by unprecedented discussions on sexual abuse by priests, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia insisted they have embraced a "zero tolerance" policy for clergymen who have molested children.

Prosecutors: Blake won't face death penalty if convicted in wife's death
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Actor Robert Blake won't face the death penalty if he is convicted of killing his wife, prosecutors said.

Dog stranded for weeks aboard abandoned fuel tanker rescued
HONOLULU -- A dog aboard an abandoned fuel tanker finally has some company after 24 days alone at sea.

One stowaway dead, two others found severely dehydrated on ship
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- One man was found dead Friday and two others were severely dehydrated after apparently stowing away in the rudder compartment of a cargo ship that arrived from Colombia after a 14-day voyage.

Engineer of freight train that crashed into Metrolink train says sun blinded him
PLACENTIA, Calif. -- The engineer of a freight train that crashed head-on into a Metrolink commuter train, killing two passengers and injuring hundreds of others on Tuesday, admitted to police that he failed to see a crucial signal before the collision because sunlight momentarily blinded him.

Lower sales, Pillsbury integration hurt General Mills earnings
MINNEAPOLIS -- General Mills meal helpers didn't help as many consumers as expected and its Pillsbury refrigerated dough failed to rise, causing the giant food company to slash its earnings outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter.

Families of couples killed in a DWI-collision to sue BIA
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Families of two Nebraska couples killed in a freeway collision with a drunken Bureau of Indian Affairs worker plan to sue the bureau for giving the worker a government vehicle, a lawyer said.

Dozens injured, some critically, in explosion in Manhattan building
NEW YORK (AP) -- Seconds before a building blast rocked a city block and injured 42 people, at least ten critically, Chad Dougatz said he heard an overwhelming rumble.

Shift in winds helps crews battle Colorado wildfire
BAILEY, Colo. (AP) -- A shift in winds helped firefighters battle a 2,500-acre wildfire, but officials feared the arrival of warmer temperatures could slow the fight.

Sour economy, tax cuts lead to record refunds
WASHINGTON -- Last year's big tax cut combined with the economic downturn to give Americans more tax refunds than ever. The refunds were larger than ever too.

Energy bill outrages environmentalists
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Motorists can rest assured that their gas-guzzling SUVs won't be threatened by new energy legislation moving through Congress. And there's good news there too for farmers and wind turbine operators.

Papers show former Boston priest tried to blackmail cardinal
BOSTON -- The latest round of documents released by the Roman Catholic archdiocese here shows that an accused pedophile priest shipped from Boston to California once tried to blackmail a cardinal here.

Justice Department rejects Arthur Andersen's settlement proposal
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department has rejected a proposal from accounting firm Arthur Andersen for settlement of a criminal obstruction charge stemming from the shredding of Enron Corp. documents, an Andersen attorney said Friday.

Long-distance companies are getting short shrift
As long-distance companies watch their calls and profits slip away to rivals such as cellular phone networks, the day may soon come when their business -- once considered a pillar of American enterprise -- simply ceases to exist.

Sen. Jesse Helms reported in stable condition after open-heart surgery
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) -- Sen. Jesse Helms was in stable condition after undergoing a five-hour operation to replace a worn-out pig valve installed in his heart 10 years ago.

Casino fight between biker gangs leaves four dead
LAUGHLIN, Nev. (AP) -- A gunfight erupted between rival motorcycle gangs at a crowded casino early Saturday, leaving four dead and at least 12 wounded as terrified gamblers ducked for cover.

SEC launches probe of Wall Street analysts
NEW YORK -- The Securities and Exchange Commission Thursday launched a "formal inquiry" into potential conflicts of interest facing Wall Street analysts, joining an investigation already underway by the office of New York's attorney general.

House approves splitting INS apart; Senate starts work on bill next week
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress has taken the first step toward disbanding the beleaguered Immigration and Naturalization Service and splitting the agency's responsibilities into two new Justice Department bureaus.

Lopes, of Grammy-winning trio, dies in crash
ATLANTA -- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, the effervescent, sometimes volatile member of the Grammy-winning trio TLC, was killed in a car crash in Honduras, her record company said early Friday.

Former worker at Okla. storms lab arrested for fire that destroyed $1.8 million in equipment
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A man who worked at the National Severe Storms Laboratory was arrested for allegedly setting a fire last year that destroyed about $1.8 million in lab equipment, officials said Friday.

Economy sizzles in first quarter
WASHINGTON (AP)-- The economy, knocked down by last year's recession and terror attacks, rocketed back in the first quarter at an annual growth rate of 5.8 percent.

Bush calls anew for expanded trade powers
CRAWFORD, Texas () -- With the Senate set to debate trade legislation in earnest, President Bush asked lawmakers again Saturday to give him broader powers in negotiating trade pacts. He said it would lift the entire economy.

Lower tax receipts could double U.S. budget deficit
WASHINGTON -- Individual income tax receipts are running far below expectations this year, threatening to punch a $50 billion-plus hole in the current federal budget and undercut efforts to pay for the 10-year, $1.35 trillion tax cut.

U.S. to clamp down on California food stamp errors
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration on Friday scolded California for operating the most error-plagued food stamp program in the nation and disclosed that the state faces a likely penalty of tens of millions of dollars, the largest such sanction imposed in the history of the program.

Man accused of trying to smuggle opium in tablecloths
CHICAGO (AP) -- A man was arrested at O'Hare International Airport for allegedly smuggling opium-soaked tablecloths into the country from Thailand, authorities said.

Man executed for crime spree
LUCASVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- Alton Coleman, who was sentenced to death in three states for a 1984 crime spree, was executed by injection Friday.

Nearly 3,000 Hershey employees walk off job
HERSHEY, Pa. (AP) -- Nearly 3,000 Hershey Foods Corp. workers walked off the job Friday, saying they were upset with the company's contract offer that would increase their health care costs.

Opinions vary on what next president needs to lead NCAA
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA is searching for a new president, and there are varying opinions as to what qualities that person should have.

NCAA backs off from making major reforms
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA adopted new eligibility rules, although it stopped short of two moves that would have a far-reaching effect on college sports.

Lakers hold off Blazers
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers are at it again.

Havlat's goal sends Flyers packing
Martin Havlat didn't feel sorry for the high-priced, big-name Philadelphia Flyers.

Rockies fire manager
DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Rockies manager Buddy Bell was fired Friday with the team off to the worst start in club history.

Agassi, Sampras meet in semifinals match
HOUSTON (AP) -- Andre Agassi has played Pete Sampras 32 times in his career, and he can recall a few favorite matches.

Estes and Perez near-perfect; Rockies roll with new skipper; Johnson wins
Shawn Estes and Odalis Perez flirted with perfection, Randy Johnson remained unbeaten and the Colorado Rockies won with a new manager.

Capriati dropped from Fed Cup team
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jennifer Capriati wanted to get extra practice for the Fed Cup competition. Now, she'll be watching from the sidelines.

Transactions
FOOTBALL

Nets sneak out road win over Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal guaranteed he wouldn't have another awful performance. He was wrong.

Yankees still better than Mariners six months later
Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees picked up where they left off last October against the Seattle Mariners.

Martinez has that unbeatable look of old
Pedro Martinez has that unbeatable look of old and seems all the way back from the arm problems that cut short his 2001 season.

Leonard Lehmann
PERHAM -- Leonard Lehmann, 45, Perham, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at home.

Ralph Halverson
BACKUS -- Ralph Halverson, 68, Backus, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

David J. Ratka
MONTICELLO -- David J. Ratka, 26, Monticello, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at the Minneapolis Children's Hospital.

Marcella 'Marcy' Kulus
LITTLE FALLS -- Marcella "Marcy" Kulus, 74, Little Falls, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.

Ruby M. Koeder
PEQUOT LAKES -- Ruby M. Koeder, 82, Pequot Lakes, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River.

Coy Banks
FARGO, N.D. -- Coy Banks, 70, Fargo, N.D., died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at the VA Hospital in Fargo.

Wayland J. Waller
HILLMAN -- Wayland Jean Waller, 74, Hillman, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at Mille Lacs Home in Onamia.

Howard Dobbins
SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Howard Dobbins, 88, Sioux City, Iowa, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at his home.

Leonard W. Lehmann
PERHAM -- Leonard William Lehmann, 44, Perham, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at his home.

Rev. Clyde Norrgard
OTTUMWA, Iowa -- Rev. Clyde L. Norrgard, 75, Ottumwa, Iowa, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002, at the University Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

Glenn Witham
HACKENSACK -- Glenn Witham, 68, Hackensack, died Monday, April 22, 2002, at Sunrise Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Ralph Halverson
BACKUS -- Ralph Halverson, 68, Backus, died Thursday, April 25, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Reparations issue
Imagine getting sued for what your great-great grandfather did -- legally -- a century and a half ago. That is the predicament of Aetna Inc., which now faces a lawsuit demanding reparations because the company insured slaves in the 1850s.

The scandal - Dispatch Editorial
The Catholic church, America's largest single body of Christians, is clearly at a crossroads. How church officials and its estimated 48 million lay members go forward from this point will likely foretell the future of the church.

Pat Robertson's high horse
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who's spent a considerable number of years on television handicapping the sins of others and prophesying their destruction, owns a racehorse.

Vox Pop
I noticed that they are going to start selling bonds for the airport expansion. I thought our budget was very tight. I thought the state and federal government was having trouble finding money for essential programs.

The education gap
WASHINGTON -- Last week, Oregon newspapers carried an Associated Press report that more than 4,600 taxpayers had voluntarily donated almost $700,000 of their tax refunds from the state to a newly created fund for support of public schools.

A terrifying problem
When Father Seamus Walsh meets with non-Catholic friends these days they usually steer clear of conversation about the sex abuse scandal that's rocked the Catholic church. He knows they're being polite.

God v. us
After years of fruitless negotiations, God has been forced to take legal action against his most cherished creation: the human race. Apparently angered by countless negligent invocations of his name, the formerly all-caring Supreme Deity th

Open Forum
In serving America...age is just a number.

Vanity plate
The following editorial appeared in Thursday's Washington Post:

Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA - The ice is completely gone on all area lakes and the shallow channels and bays have started producing sunfish and crappies.

North Country calendar
April

Takasaki sets PWT record for one-day catch
Imagine catching five walleyes weighing between 8 and 12 pounds. That would make a pretty good career, wouldn't it?

Lesson is re-learned in a northern Minnesota stream
Whenever we become smug in our ability to catch fish it's inevitable we do something that puts us back in place. The best fishermen understand their quarry, know where fish will be at certain times and in what kind of mood. But they never think they know it all.

Cougar photographed along Minnesota River in Savage
SAVAGE (AP) -- A cougar seems to be roaming the Minnesota River valley near Savage.

Early-season crappie action is just around the corner
What do you do when the ice goes out and it's still too soon to fish for walleyes? Fish for spring crappies.

Help stop the spread of exotic species
"Exotic species" is an interesting combination of words. The word "exotic" has several meanings; foreign, striking and charmingly different, and of or relating to striptease. In today's column the definition of exotic will strictly pertain to the foreign aspect of species. Species, of course, refers to classifications of plants and animals.

Rare visitor to Minnesota stops in Crow Wing County
The cinnamon teal is one of three members of the teal family in North America. It normally inhabits the far western U.S. and seldom is seen east of Montana.

Walker angler jumps out to early lead
Baseball had Mr. October -- Reggie Jackson, a hall of fame slugger famous for hitting big home runs in World Series games.

Outdoor notes
Gunsmith Pat Laib will be featured at the Wild Acres Target Shoot May 4-5. Laib specializes in Remington, Perazzi, Browning and Winchester guns, though he fits and fixes all guns.

Surfers work to build boards
DULUTH (AP) -- Saw in hand, Greg Isaacson set to work on an oversized hunk of polyethylene this week.

Alma Whitney
Alma Whitney will celebrate her 100th birthday with an open house from 2-4 p.m. May 5 at the High Rise North Star Apartments community room. No gifts please.

Beverly Whirley and Travis Loeffler
Beverly Whirley and Travis Loeffler announce their engagement.

Gary and Wanda Beimert
Gary and Wanda Beimert, Brainerd, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary Monday.

Four generations
Four generations recently gathered were Karleen Shereck, daughter, Aitkin; Jennifer Johnson, mother, Aitkin; Marilyn Johnson, grandmother, Aitkin; and Neva Hockerman, great-grandmother, Janesville, Wis.

Britton-Jensen
Cassandra Britton and Donovan Jensen were married Feb. 16, 2002, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Brainerd with Pastor Bob Twiton officiating.

Edgar D. and Betty Ann Peck
Edgar D. and Betty Ann Peck recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They were married April 23, 1977, in Little Falls.

Shae Getty and Glenn Pifer
Shae Getty and Glenn Pifer announce their engagement.

Kent and Jean Johnson
Kent and Jean Johnson, Brainerd, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house from 1-5 p.m. May 5 at the home of their son, Kent Johnson, 1520 Highland Scenic Drive, Baxter. They were married May 10, 1942, in Yuma, Ariz.

Christina L. Heiling and Lucas J. Pehoski
Christina L. Heiling and Lucas J. Pehoski announce their engagement. Parents are Sharon and Gary Heiling, Lake Shore, and Julie and Anthony Pehoski, Mahtomedi. A June 1 wedding is planned at St. John's Lutheran Church in Chaska.

Ron Malinowski
Ron Malinowski will celebrate his retirement from Potlatch with a reception beginning at 3 p.m. and music at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Mathias Park. He worked for Potlatch for 36 years.

Jennifer Bronkala and Richard Broneak
Jennifer Bronkala and Richard Broneak announce their engagement. Parents are Patty Bronkala, Brainerd, and Dick and Louann Broneak, Brainerd. A June 29 wedding is planned at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Brainerd.

Clarence and Shirley Warner
Clarence and Shirley Warner will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Brainerd.

Traci Knutson and Brett McKay
Traci Knutson and Brett McKay announce their engagement. Parents are Pam and Jim Knutson, Baxter, and Mary and Richard McKay, Brainerd. A July 13 wedding is planned at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd.

Mike and Kathy Badger
Mike and Kathy Badger will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with a casual dinner and dance from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Eagles Club. No gifts please.

Jess and Freda Ackerson
Jess and Freda Ackerson recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home. They were married April 22, 1952, in Walker.

Glenn M. and Louise Pilgrim
Glenn M. and Louise Pilgrim, Pillager, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a dinner at the Elks Club in Brainerd. They were married April 26, 1952, in Edgar, Wis.

Newman leads youthful charge in California qualifying
FONTANA, Calif. (AP) -- Ryan Newman can almost taste his first Winston Cup victory.

Man goes on trial Monday in killings of five in Lino Lakes
ANOKA (AP) -- Defense attorneys plan to use a mental illness defense when Lawrence Dame goes on trial for murder Monday in the beating deaths of five of his relatives at their home in Lino Lakes two years ago.

Bill restricting ATV use ready for Ventura's signature
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A bill restricting all-terrain vehicle use in some state forests is on its way to Gov. Jesse Ventura's desk.

Former president Bush to visit state this weekend
BLOOMINGTON (AP) -- Former President George Bush will speak Saturday night at an event hosted by the Center for the American Experiment.

Senate OKs bill requiring Pledge of Allegiance be said at school
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Senate passed a bill 54-8 Thursday that would require the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week in public and charter schools.

Mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus on its way to Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The mosquito-transmitted West Nile Virus is expected to reach Minnesota this spring, veterinary officials said Friday.

Minnesota archbishop discusses sex abuse policies
ST. PAUL -- The archbishop just put in charge of a key committee on sex abuse declared his support Thursday for a zero-tolerance stance on sexually abusive priests and for giving lay people a greater role in church policy-making.

Haskins arbitration deadline extended
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The deadline for an arbitrator's decision in University of Minnesota's lawsuit to recover buyout money from former men's basketball coach Clem Haskins has been extended to May 10.

Administration plans end run on state workers contracts
ST. PAUL (AP) -- State government's chief of employee relations said he's ready to try an end run around the Legislature to preserve labor contracts with state workers that include insurance coverage for same-sex partners.

Sullivan taps Scheevel as running mate
ST. PAUL -- Republican gubernatorial hopeful Brian Sullivan on Friday tapped a southern Minnesota dairy farmer, state Sen. Kenric Scheevel, as his running mate.

Victory League North/East
Saturday's Game

No tiny accomplishment
Playing for the Brainerd Warriors was a family tradition for the six sons of Anton and Carol Veith.

Area events Saturday
Stock Car Racing

Primmer takes three firsts for PR-B in Pequot meet
PEQUOT LAKES -- Phil Primmer won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and Justin Schwegel won the long and triple jump to lead the Pine River-Backus Tigers to a runner-up finish at the Park Region Conference Invitational track and field meet Thursday.

Brainerd men enter TOUGHMAN event
Come on, admit it. You've watched it before.

Scoreboard
high school BASEBALL

Pioneers finish fourth
HOLDINGFORD -- Mark Poepping of Pierz finished with a first, second and third and the Pioneers finished fourth as a team followed by Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines at the Holdingford track and field invitational Friday.

Mighty Gulls to celebrate fifth year
While the Twins' existence in Minnesota is threatened by contraction, no such fate threatens the Brainerd Mighty Gulls.

Brincefield's bat leads to W-DC win
WADENA -- Thanks to Leland Brincefield's 3-for-4, two RBI performance, the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines beat the New York Mills Eagles 9-3 in non-conference baseball Friday.

Pierz edges Gobblers in softball
AITKIN -- Kahli Hoppe was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI for the Aitkin Gobblers, but it was the Pierz Pioneers coming out on top with an 11-9 non-conference softball victory Friday.

Local short
North Central Speedway's test/tune session today, and its season opener Saturday, were canceled because of damp conditions.

Brainerd baseball drops fourth straight
COLD SPRING -- Mike Zauhar finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI, but the Brainerd Warriors dropped their fourth straight Central Lakes Conference baseball game 5-3 to the Rocori Spartans Friday.

Junior hockey provides boost
Junior hockey has boosted the careers of at least two former Brainerd Warriors.

Local sports shorts
The Ageless Wonders over-55 softball season, for men and women, opens May 7.

Rush City defeats Aitkin
RUSH CITY -- The Aitkin Gobblers were defeated 14-4 by the Rush City Tigers in an error-filled Great River Conference softball game Thursday. Aitkin's Amber Buttler Hallie Ladd and Jaime Burman were 2-for-3 and Amy Lammers was 2-2 .

Brainerd falls to Sartell
SARTELL -- A shorthanded Brainerd Warriors tennis team lost to the Sartell Sabres 4-3 in Central Lakes Conference action Friday.

Pierz splits in baseball
HOWARD LAKE -- The Pierz Pioneers rapped 16 hits and capitalized on four Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted errors to defeat the Lakers 17-4 in the first game of a Central Minnesota Conference baseball doubleheader Thursday.

McCombs says front-office shake-up was a long time coming
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings' front-office shake-up was in the works for nearly a year, owner Red McCombs said, but was delayed by what he called the unexpected departure of Dennis Green.

Documents show Twins discussed contraction early in 2001
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Twins officials had discussions with the Timberwolves about the possibility of the Twins' elimination last spring, several months ahead of baseball's failed contraction decision.

At last! Twins finally able to conquer Devil Rays in Florida
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins overcame nine games of frustration in just one inning.

Want scoring? Mavs' options outnumber Timberwolves
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The math behind the Dallas Mavericks' 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves is simple.

Tigers nip Twins in extra inning
DETROIT (AP) -- Seth Greisinger felt like he was back home, even if the stadium didn't look familiar.

Surprise!
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- One of Mike Tice's first vows as coach of the Minnesota Vikings was to get Randy Moss the ball more often.

Reality is the highlight in tough military simulation game
Gamers, be warned. In Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, you'll find no well-placed health packs, no shield regenerators and no lightning cannon to mow down your foes.

Programs can help improve pages
Do you need to buy a program to build Web pages? For the past few weeks, we've looked at the various no-cost alternatives, including Netscape Communicator and freebie Web sites like Yahoo-Geocities that incorporate page-building tools.

Tech brief
In 1999, a group of St. Cloud business people, investors and employees began developing StCloudMN.com, a community-based resource on the Internet with community calendar events and business directory.

Customizing products online is getting a second chance
NEW YORK (AP) -- The idea is as old as online shopping: Let people input their own preferences and measurements at a Web site, and a factory will custom-make them everything from slacks to sneakers to breakfast cereal.

Searching for a winner of a search engine?
Silently but steadily, the World Wide Web grows.

Build holes your own way with SimGolf
It's not easy being a green. After spending hours crafting my ideal golfing paradise, one teed-off golfer is all it took to mess things up.

Firm unveils personal computer the size of a paperback book
NEW YORK (AP) -- A little-known San Francisco company on Tuesday unveiled a personal computer that crams processor, memory, battery and storage into a package the size of a paperback novel.

He's not recreating the Apple, but Wozniak's back
LOS GATOS, Calif. -- Behind the closed doors and darkened windows of what looks like a former furniture store, Steve Wozniak just might be proving F. Scott Fitzgerald wrong: Maybe there are second acts in American lives.

Sites to see
Compassionate Frog Dissection

Worldwide Weather
Saturday

Iowa state forecast
Flood watch in effect today and tonight east central and southeast...

Rain for parts of the East, Deep South, Plains; dry in northern Great Plains
Low pressure off of the coast of northern New England was bringing showers to parts of the East early Friday, while the Plains and West braced for unsettled weather.

The Weather Elsewhere
Saturday

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Breezy with rain south and east. Chance of snow northwest. Highs from the 30s northwest to near 50 far southeast.

April showers
Weather drawing by Kayla Blair of Mrs. Brenny's third grade class at Baxter school.

Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm warning north this afternoon and tonight...

State forecast for North Dakota
This afternoon...Partly to mostly cloudy. Windy southwest. Highs in the 40s.

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Cloudy with periods of rain and snow this morning...Possibly mixed with sleet at times. Rain or snow showers this afternoon. Highs from the upper 30s to mid 40s.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of rain south central and extreme southeast this afternoon. Highs in the mid 40s to mid 50s.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly or mostly sunny. A chance for showers late southwest. Highs from the mid 40s to the mid 50s.

Minnesota state forecast
Winter storm warning this afternoon and tonight small part of the east central...

Iowa state forecast
This afternoon...Partly sunny north. Cloudy south. A chance of late afternoon showers far west. Highs in the 50s.

Regional Forecast
HighLowPR

Hitting a bump
Weather drawing by Zak Knoblauch of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny north. Increasing clouds central and south. A chance of rain southwest late. Highs from the middle 40s northwest to middle 50s southeast.

What's doing
There will be a pancake breakfast for Adam Olson, who has been diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma, at 9 a.m. May 5 at the Eagle Valley Elementary School in Clarissa. Freewill offering and a silent auction will be held. Any questions, call Missy at 828-0334.

Much obliged
The AmeriCorps Pledge:

Names and faces
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dr. Robert Atkins, who promotes a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, said he is recovering from cardiac arrest caused by a heart infection.

Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees

What's doing
Mitchell Movement. North-South: Mark Anderson and Clayton Haglin, 85; Phyllis DeRosier and Ann Whalen, 76; and Ray and Gladys Norrgard, 70.5. East-West: Bill and Mary Jane Pearce, 64.5; Ann Richardson and Chris Leininger, 63.5; and Betty Carmon and Marv Falk, 63.

Bomb in mosque kills 12 women in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- A bomb exploded in the women's section of a Shiite Mosque in a Pakistani province wracked by religious violence, killing 12 female worshippers and wounding at least 13 other people, hospital officials said Friday.

German police: School gunman sought revenge
ERFURT, Germany -- The teen-ager who gunned down 16 teachers and classmates at his former school in a furious rampage that horrified Germany was seeking revenge for being expelled after forging a doctor's note, police said Saturday.

Honduran police say Lopes swerved off road to avoid truck
LA CEIBA, Honduras (AP) -- As friends back home mourned Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, whose squeaky rhymes helped make TLC the world's best-selling female pop group in history, authorities in Honduras investigated the automobile accident that killed her and prepared to send her body home.

German school massacre
ERFURT, Germany (AP) -- An expelled student dressed in black and carrying two guns opened fire in his former school Friday, killing 17 people before shooting himself as commandos closed in, police and witnesses said. It was one of the deadliest school shootings in recent history.

Palestinians kill four in attack on Israeli settlement
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Palestinian gunmen disguised as soldiers slipped into an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Saturday and went from house to house, shooting residents in their bedrooms and killing four people, including a 5-year-old girl, the army said.

French-fried Le Pen's success gives France the shock it needed
Right-wing nationalist Jean-Marie Le Pen's strong showing in the first round of election voting shocked many French, who took to the streets in protest. They should have taken to the polls.

Foreign briefs
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) -- Pilot error and stormy weather were the probable causes of the crash of a Los Angeles-bound jumbo jet that tried to take off on the wrong runway in Taiwan and slammed into construction debris, killing 83 people in October 2000, a government report said Friday.