Tuesday, April 29, 2008
EXTRA CREDIT
Andrew Bramer, Verndale, and Justin Huether, Baxter, were student leaders at the inaugural Bemidji State University Building Bonds and Breaking Barriers Through Adventure Day April 4 at the Gillett Recreation Center at Bemidji State University.
Man injured in crash that killed two still in critical condition
CAMP RIPLEY - A 34-year-old Devils Lake man injured in a single-vehicle crash in which two other people died Friday near Camp Ripley remained in critical condition Sunday at St. Cloud Hospital.
Police blotter
The Brainerd Jaycees on Saturday reported the theft of 40 traffic cones on Crow Wing County Road 127.<
POLICE BLOTTER
One can only guess the Nisswa man didn't want to go home because after safely delivered there by taxi he jumped behind the wheel of his own vehicle.
This was Brainerd
April 28 - 100 years ago (1908) - Joe Friedsam has sold 80 acres of land in Section 15, Township 45, Range 30, to J.A. Reid of Minneapolis. The consideration was for $15 per acre.
Angler falls from canoe and drowns in Fawn Lake
A 20-year-old Rice man drowned after the canoe he and another man were in overturned Saturday on Fawn Lake near Crosslake, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department.
Nixed projects get OK for grant submission
"You have streets in Brainerd that need repair. I hear it every day, 'When will you fix our streets?'"
This was Brainerd
APRIL 29 - 40 years ago (1968) - Welcome to Brainerd banners were erected throughout the downtown business area. The project is sponsored by the Brainerd Downtown Businessmen's Council.
Koering's amendment fails in Senate
Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, pointed to the influence of the state's teachers' union as he recounted Friday's defeat of his amendment to quash school boards' abilities to levy the cost of teacher retiree benefits onto local property taxes.
Overheard
It's just great to know that other people notice how hard I've worked and what I've put into my sports."
Local briefs
The AARP Safe Driving Program, formerly known as 55 ALIVE, announced its class schedule for May and June in Cass and Crow Wing counties.
Athletic programs to continue
CROSBY - Crosby-Ironton High School fans have something to cheer about.
Snow comes, goes, but another wet weekend in store
Friday and Saturday's winter storm brought almost a foot of snow to parts of the Brainerd area, and more precipitation could be in store for this coming weekend.
Board looks into appeal in case of terminated teacher
CROSBY - After meeting in a closed session Monday, the Crosby-Ironton School Board passed a resolution to have its attorney move forward with an appeal regarding a former Crosby-Ironton Spanish teacher.
Hard run for health
The miles slipped by with one foot fall after the other as Kari Wentzel made it to the finish line of her first half-marathon.
CLEARING THE AIR
They're easy to spot - huddled on the sidewalk outside of bars, restaurants and businesses.
This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1949): All bus travel in and out of Brainerd by Northland Greyhound Bus Lines came to a halt at 10:43 last night when the last bus left for Aitkin. Mrs. Signa Sjodin, local depot manager, said an eight-state labor strike would shut down the usual 14 bus trips per day here.
KinderCare program out
CROSBY - There will be no KinderCare program in the Crosby-Ironton School District next school year.
Overheard
"We are going from the worst lease situation in Major League Baseball to one of the best."
Region Five to assist in all-hazards plan
Crow Wing County has contracted with the Region Five Development Commission to assist in the completion of an all-hazards mitigation plan for the county.
CLC trims 10 positions
Central Lakes College has cut 10 full- and part-time positions as part of its effort to trim 10.7 percent, or $1.255 million, to the college's base appropriation from the state for each year of the next biennium.
Obedience pays for Cash
PEQUOT LAKES - Jim and Peggy Wills have had many fine Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers - or tollers for short - over the past 11 years.
Overheard
"It's a worst-case scenario and there's still a lot of unknowns."
Dondelinger buying Hyundai dealership from Denny Hecker
Dondelinger Chevrolet-Cadillac has added Hyundai to its list of vehicle models for sale.
Illustrating how to illustrate
Author and illustrator Gary Harbo explained his illustrations to Baxter Elementary School fourth-graders Monday in the media center. Harbo spent Monday showing students at the school how to illustrate and publish a book.
FOUR TO TWO
And then there were two.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Central Minnesota faith-based and community-based organizations can strengthen their internal operations in the fight against poverty and other critical issues, thanks to $75,000 in grants and training available through a new partnership between the Initiative Foundation and the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.
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.
Gayle Stanwood
PEQUOT LAKES - Gayle Stanwood, age 91, of Pequot Lakes, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Thomas C. Bisek
DEERWOOD - Thomas C. Bisek, age 82, lost his battle with cancer on April 26, 2008, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.1
Gayle Stanwood
PEQUOT LAKES - Gayle Stanwood, age 91, of Pequot Lakes, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. Funeral services for Gayle will be Thursday, May 1, at noon at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes with the Rev. Frank Milo officiating. Friends may visit on Wednesday, April 30, from 5-8 p.m. at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.
Lenora S. Lager
CROSBY - Lenora Sofie Lager, age 96, of Crosby, died April 24, 2008, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.
Taletta A. Kasper
Taletta Ann Kasper, age 39, resident of Brainerd, died Sunday, April 27, 2008. Taletta was born in Brainerd Dec. 8, 1968, to Wallace and Judy (Wolvert) Doesken.
Julie A. Silver
AITKIN - Julie Ann Silver, 54, of Aitkin, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Riverwood Health Care Center, Aitkin.
Elizabeth Washburn
AITKIN - Elizabeth Washburn, 93, of Aitkin, died Monday, April 28, 2008, at Riverwood Health Care Center, Aitkin. Funeral arrangements are pending with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home, Aitkin.
Jacqueline Larson
PALISADE - Jacqueline Larson, 71, of Palisade, and formerly of Fridley, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at her residence.
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.
Jessica L. Foged
LITTLE FALLS - Jessica Lee Foged, 25, of Little Falls, died Friday, April 25, 2008.
Gerben DeVries
Gerben DeVries, age 72, of Brainerd, died Monday, April 28, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.
Gloria M. Huddleston
AITKIN - Gloria M. Huddleston, 85, of Aitkin, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Aicota Health Care Center, Aitkin.
Charles Boevers
BAXTER - Charles Boevers, age 72, of Baxter, died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Memorial services will be Wednesday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at Park United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rory Swenson officiating. Friends may visit on Tuesday, April 29, from 5-7 p.m. at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Interment will be private at Baxter City Cemetery.
Sandy Hamilton
PEQUOT LAKES - Sandy (Mathison) Hamilton, 53, of Pequot Lakes, died Saturday, April 25, 2009, surrounded by her family.
Alice A. Kleven
Alice A. Kleven, 88, Brainerd, passed away Friday, April 25, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Robert Jorgensen
AITKIN - Robert Jorgensen, 85, of Aitkin, died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Minnesota Veterans Home in Silver Bay.
Lewis Wilczek
LITTLE FALLS - Graveside service for Lewis Wilczek will be held Tuesday, April 29, at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Little Falls, Minn., at 4 p.m. Friends of Lewis may gather at 4 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
Delilia 'Dollie' Devick
Delilia "Dollie" Devick, age 72, of Brainerd, formerly of Robbinsdale, died peacefully at home surrounded by family. She was born July 6, 1935, to Leo and Blanche Noltensmeier in Woonsocket, S.D. Dollie married Don April 14, 1955. Dollie was the church secretary at St. Mathias Church for 16 years. She belonged to the Confraternity of Christian Women (CCW) and Fort Ripley Mother's Club.
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.
Gerald H. Jasmer
LITTLE FALLS - Gerald H. Jasmer, 65-year-old resident of rural Little Falls, Minn., formerly of Verndale, Minn., passed away Saturday, April 26, 2008, at his home.
Myrtle Edquist
AITKIN - Myrtle Edquist, 91, of Aitkin, died Friday, April 25, 2008, at Aicota Health Care Center, Aitkin.
Julie Silver
AITKIN - Julie Silver of Aitkin died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Riverwood Health Care Center, Aitkin.
Taletta Kasper
Taletta Kasper, age 39, resident of Brainerd, died Sunday, April 27, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
VOX POP
Perhaps I'm naive, but I assumed that when the referendum failed, the school board would focus on bare necessities and basic services rather than new programs or initiatives. Yet we continue to have some board members pushing for all-day, everyday kindergarten, a luxury that has not been needed to produce the fine kids we have in the past. Some have asked why that program is even being offered at all anymore given the budget situation. Perhaps the board's time would be better spent reviewing that program's worth in comparison to other pressing district needs.
Correction/clarification
The Brainerd Dispatch incorrectly spelled Open Forum writer N.H. Olsen's name in Sunday's letter to the editor. Also, one of his sentences should have referred to "attacks on lower and middle class brothers and sisters" rather than "lower end middle class brothers and sisters."
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Guest column: Electric grid demands balance
A recent editorial in the Star Tribune suggested that nuclear power is not a suitable replacement for environmentally troubled coal fueled power plants ("Don't be fooled by nuclear power PR" 4/21).
McCain grasps need for change
TUPELO, Miss. - While the eyes of the political world were focused on Pennsylvania last week, I played hooky for a day at the invitation of the Lee County Library and bumped into a story as revealing in its way as the latest round in the struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Among other things, it explains why John McCain found it useful to spend last week touring poverty-stricken areas in the South, where Republicans rarely go.
Washington, D.C.
addresses listed
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
A seasoned command
President Bush has done his successor a great favor by nominating Gen. David Petraeus as the new chief of U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno to replace him as the top commander in Iraq. The two generals worked in close cooperation last year to carry out the "surge" of U.S. forces in Iraq; their counterinsurgency tactics prevented an Iraqi civil war and reduced violence by up to 75 percent. By teaming them again, and giving Petraeus overall responsibility for the region as head of U.S. Central Command, Bush has improved the odds that the next administration will be able to sustain the gains in Iraq while gradually drawing down forces.
Open Forum
Recently candidate Obama said as soon as he's elected, he'd be willing to dialogue face to face with the next Cuban dictator regarding U.S. trade restrictions with Cuba. With no free elections, no freedom of the press and plenty of political prisoners, why should we reward communist Cuba's bad behavior?
Open Forum: Does America believe in rule of law?
This is a defining moment for America. The way we (our government) respond to the revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture will define for us and for the world the kind of people we truly are.
Politicians and their pandering
Just when you thought there was no one left to pander to, the three candidates for Leader of the Free World found an untapped demographic: the professional-wrestling audience.
Vox Pop
Todd Holman could be correct in his assertion that assessments would not exceed the value of a lot in Baxter.
What do you think?
The Brainerd Dispatch welcomes letters on recent articles and current issues. Letters should include the writer's full name, city and a phone number (for verification only). Letters are limited to 300 words. Only one letter per person per week.
Open Forum
Independent School District 181 touts that "Regardless of who we are or where we live, all students should have an equal opportunity for learning." And, it has been scientifically-proven that all-day kindergarten provides lasting results in academic and social benefits for students.
Cardinals, Hasselberg win again
PARK RAPIDS - Cydney Hasselberg and the Staples-Motley Cardinals continued on their roll as the senior shot 80 to win individual honors and power her team to first place at the Park Rapids Invite Monday.
Baron lifts Huskies
PILLAGER - Shawn Baron's two-run single pushed the Pillager Huskies to a 3-2 non-conference baseball victory over Ogilivie Monday.
'Play Golf' doesn't get much play, but area courses do
Since the inception of "Play Golf Minnesota Week" the courses in the Brainerd lakes area have faced a conundrum.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Warrior All-Sports Banquet award winners
Most valuable players
Peterson, Lindaman claim firsts
LITCHFIELD - Jordan Peterson and Mike Lindaman claimed top honors in the No. 1 and No. 2 singles divisions guiding the Staples-Motley Cardinals to fourth at the Litchfield Tournament Monday.
Patriots pound out victory
PEQUOT LAKES - Ben Kepner smacked a home run and Kurtis Moody went 2-for-2 with three RBIs as the Pequot Lakes Patriots dismantled the Browerville Tigers 17-7 in five innings of non-conference play Monday.
RUN FOR THE LAKES RESULTS
NISSWA - This weekend was tough for Brainerd area residents as beautiful weather gave way to snow.
Scoreboard
Area events
Aitkin stays perfect with win over PL
PEQUOT LAKES - Kristy Hoge collected two doubles and four other players recorded two hits for the Aitkin Gobblers in Monday's 17-7 win over Pequot Lakes.
Welshons, Gobblers prevail
SANDSTONE - Melissa Welshons carded a 48 to earn medalist honors and the Aitkin Gobblers girls' golf team shot 220 to defeat East Central Monday in Great River Conference action.
Van Houten named drag racing manager at BIR
Bob Van Houten was named drag racing manager at Brainerd International Raceway, effective this week.
Cards 2nd in tourney
ST. CLOUD - Zach Israelson shot a career best 73 and Nick Forsberg added a 77 to place the Staples-Motley Cardinals in second at the St. Cloud Apollo Invite at the Territory Golf Club Monday.
Thrice as nice
They combined to stand out in seven sports and earn 26 letters between them.
Warriors Hall of Fame/Athletes of Year
Hall of Fame
AREA SHORTS
The batting cage at Memorial Park in Brainerd is open.
Working extra innings
Adamson Field at Brainerd High School was blanketed with snow at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Ruttger, Smith, Anderson athletes of year
"Meeting the Challenge," the theme of Monday night's Brainerd Warriors All-Sports Banquet, was something that Thomas Ruttger, Samantha Smith and Jared Anderson attained throughout their careers in their various athletic endeavors.
Dragovich, Aitkin win
SANDSTONE - Matt Dragovich carded a 43 to earn the medalist honors for the Aitkin Gobblers as they defeated East Central 183-192 in Great River Conference boys' golf Monday.
Anyone for a round of golf?
Saturday's golf opening party at Madden's Resort Pine Beach East Course in East Gull Lake was crashed by a blanket of snow. Michael Breidenbach of St. Paul still performed the tradition of playing bagpipes to open the festivities.
Pillager tops Swanville
PILLAGER - Jazmin Massie was 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases for the Pillager Huskies as they defeated the Swanville Bulldogs 9-4 in non-conference softball Monday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Foley downs Aitkin 6-1
AITKIN - Gabe Browning and Dan Catlin teamed to win at No. 2 doubles for the Aitkin Gobblers in a 6-1 loss to Foley Monday in non-conference boys' tennis.
Dally, Aitkin prevail
DEERWOOD - Sam Dally earned medalist honors scoring a 46 to lead the Aitkin Gobbers to a 197-217 win over the Pine River-Backus Tigers Monday at the Cuyuna Country Club.
BHS' Monda wins again
Brainerd's Tyler Monda shot a 2-over-par 74 to win the Apollo Invite Monday and land the Warrior boys' golf team in second at the Territory Golf Club in St. Cloud.
Brainerd High School award winners
Most valuable players
Aggressive Raiders hold off Mesabi
Snow lined the fences of the Findorf Athletic Complex during Monday's cold and windy North Division softball doubleheader.
Almost 400 compete in run
NISSWA - This weekend was tough for Brainerd area residents as beautiful weather gave way to snow.
Lunkers ink 4 more players to contracts
The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers of the Northwoods League signed four players to contracts for this summer according to team owner and general manager Joel Sutherland.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 58 to 67.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Cloudy with scattered rain showers far southeast early...Then becoming partly to mostly sunny. Partly to mostly sunny elsewhere. Highs from the mid to upper 40s near the great lakes...To the mid 60s far southwest.
State forecast for Iowa
Freeze warning in effect through mid morning for southeastern
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Occasional rain or snow showers central and south. A chance of rain or snow showers north. Snow accumulations mainly an inch or less. Highs in the upper 30s to mid 40s. Tonight...A chance of evening rain or snow showers portions east central and southeast otherwise becoming partly cloudy. Lows near 20 far north...To the mid 20s to near 30 south.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly cloudy south in the morning...Then becoming partly sunny. Partly to mostly sunny elsewhere. Highs from the upper 40s far north and southeast...To the mid 50s far west. Cooler near lake michigan.
State forecast for Iowa
.Freeze warning in effect late tonight for southeastern half of iowa...
Spring is colorful
Weather drawing by Elisabeth Buffetta of Mrs. Smith's first-grade class at St. Francis school.
Watch out!
Weather drawing by Joey Sauer of Mrs. Gessell's first-grade class at Riverside school.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Sunny west...Partly to mostly sunny east. Highs from the mid 50s northeast...To around 80 southwest.
State forecast for N.D.
Wind advisory southwest and portions of south central today...
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Highs in the middle 40s far northeast to
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly sunny west...Mostly sunny east. Patchy early morning fog northeast. Highs 40 to 45 far northeast...To the upper 60s southwest.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the middle 50s to lower 60s.
Back in their nests
Back in their nests
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny west. Partly cloudy with scattered snow
State forecast for S.D.
Wind advisory west unitl 9 pm cdt...
State forecast for N.D.
Monday...Partly cloudy. Highs upper 40s east to 65 west.