Saturday, May 26, 2001
Wall Street's two-month rally could face spoilers ahead
NEW YORK -- Stocks have been advancing gradually for the past two months on a combination of interest rate cuts and some economic reports that suggest the business climate is improving.
New quilt shop adds to the area's business fabric
Colorful fabrics, clothing examples and cloth bolts joined the line of businesses near the intersection of Fourth Street Northwest and Washington Street just weeks ago.
Keith Emerson is ready to launch new career
Facing the start of a new career, Keith Emerson said he is excited about the changes.
Economy continues to slow
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy limped along in the first three months of the year at a pace much slower than the government previously thought. The biggest drag on growth came from companies struggling to get rid of their unsold goods.
Is a savings bond a good graduation gift?
Q. One of my nephews is graduating from college this year. I'd like to give him a gift of money that will teach him something about finances, so I was thinking about buying a savings bond. Is this a good graduation gift?
At layoff time, some firms sprun the personal touch
WASHINGTON -- To Aaron Stromas, the moment came as an awakening.
Can anything stop the proliferation of solicitations?
NEW YORK -- There are few American businesses more aggressive than the credit-card industry, though you might think they wouldn't have to seek out customers for what they're selling, which is money.
Business notes
BAY LAKE -- Jack Ruttger, AAA Minnesota-Iowa board member and owner of Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge, was honored for 32 years of service at the AAA Minnesota/Iowa annual meeting April 27.
Silent teen listens with keen ears
NEW YORK (AP) -- There is a teen-ager who listens. Really. He even understands the difference between hearing people speak and listening to what they are saying.
Three area Christian bands to compete at contest
A regional Christian rock music tournament that began last September will conclude Saturday with three lakes area bands competing.
Churches
Trinity Light, the evening contemporary worship at Trinity Lutheran Church, will be held at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday throughout the summer. There will be no supper served before the service and the worship will conclude by 6:15 p.m. The regular worship time of 6 p.m. will resume in September.
California bishop asked to resign after taking part in lesbian ordination
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California's ranking Lutheran bishop says the church has asked him to resign for participating in last month's ordination of a lesbian in defiance of church law.
Aging congregations force new roles on clergy
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Pastor Don Knudson knew the role of the clergy was changing when he found himself unprepared to protect his dying mother's dignity from the best intentions of her doctors.
Building a sense of spirit through working wood
DULUTH (AP) -- When science student Heather Schmidt enrolled in a class called "Craftsmanship and the Human Spirit" at the College of St. Scholastica this spring, she never realized it would change the way she looked at her life.
Take time this weekend to remember who you are
We're on the verge of another Memorial Day weekend and that got me recalling all the things people will be remembering. I know there will be many who take part in the traditional parades and rituals involved with remembering past and present members of the military.
Memorial Day celebration planned at Crosslake church
CROSSLAKE -- Crosslake Lutheran Church will host a community observance of Memorial Day at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Outdoor Worship Center on Daggett Pine Road in Crosslake, across from the Crosslake Community Center.
Child's intellectual growth is based on fertile good start
QUESTION: We have a 1-year-old daughter and want to raise her right. I've heard that parents can increase the mental abilities of their children if they stimulate them properly during the early years. Is this accurate, and if so, how can I accomplish this with my baby?
List of graduates from Central Lakes College
The following Central Lakes College students graduated with degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded recently in ceremonies at Brainerd and Staples:
Officials: K-12 funding plan won't ease need for cutbacks
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Officials say the budget compromise changing how Minnesota pays for K-12 education won't provide enough money in the short term to block widespread budget and staffing cuts in many school districts next year.
Gray wolves workshop, online class set for teachers
A new online curriculum called Gray Wolves, Gray Matter that focuses on the wolf and its natural and social systems will soon be available.
Recognition Night at Brainerd High School
Scholarships presented
Brainerd High School Honor graduates
Justin Backlund
Kitchen creations improved by liberal dash of spirits
DEAR ABBY: I read the letter today about the lady who warned about drinking and cooking at the same time, because she fell asleep and almost burned the house down.
More and more children raised in single-parent homes
Recently the census numbers were released and it showed that the "Traditional American Family" is changing.
Creating a place to rest close to home
Two area men fought on opposite sides of the globe and decades later found a binding interest in serving veterans at home by establishing a veterans cemetery.
Levi's buys back 1880s jeans on eBay auction for $46,000
SAN FRANCISCO -- One of the world's oldest pairs of Levi's jeans -- made in the 1880s and sold for around a dollar -- was reacquired by Levi Strauss & Co. for $46,532.
Tracking kids
LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- Is there no hope for a sequel to "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"?
VFW posts planting offspring of Ike's tree as living monuments
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Thousands of saplings raised from the seeds of a green ash that still grows outside Dwight D. Eisenhower's boyhood home will be planted across the country on Memorial Day as living monuments to the nation's war veterans.
Visitors prepare grave sites in honor of Memorial Day
Last week visitors came in quiet preparation of loved-ones' gravesites.
Pets of the Week
Nyah is a young female shepherd/rottweiler mix.
Joking putdowns are no laughing matter to husband
DEAR ABBY: I have been married 21 years. I have a 17-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. For the past year, my family life has been a living hell.
Pet owners should consider collar with snap connection
Dear Heloise: I recently read your excellent advice in today's Dallas Morning News that pet owners should constantly check their pets' collars for tightness, especially for a growing pet. Here's another recommendation: Consider using a collar with a snap connection.
Manure makes abundant source of renewable energy
PRINCETON (AP) -- A central Minnesota dairy farm produces energy by tapping the power of its own natural gas.
Farmers worry about disease of milk cows
WASHINGTON -- Could an obscure disease afflicting milk cows be making people sick? Scientists are not sure, but the dairy industry wants the government to eradicate the cattle illness.
Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department responded at 9:53 a.m. Thursday to a gas line break off Birchdale Road in Unorganized Territory.
Court
WALKER -- Joseph Jay Christofferson, 22, Park Rapids, was sentenced recently in Cass County Court to seven concurrent six-month jail sentences.
CORRECTION
The time that the Little Falls School Board will meet to canvas referendum results was listed incorrectly Friday. The board will meet at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Dr. S.G. Knight Elementary School.
School lunch menus
MONDAY -- NO SCHOOL. Memorial Day.
Marriage licenses
Ryan L. Hart, 23, Baxter, and Angela S. Mudford, 24, Brainerd.
Marriage licenses
Todd L. Pietila, 36, and Aimee J. Lafond, 28, both of Baxter.
Agendas
Monday -- Memorial Day, county offices closed.
Dissolutions
Ailts, Holly J. and Leroy M.
Correction
The date for the vegetarian food sampling at the Brainerd Seventh-day Adventist School was listed incorrectly on Page 3B Friday. The event will take place June 3.
Scotland's McKay leads Koch
CORNING, N.Y. (AP) -- Carin Koch could only shake her head in dismay, even though she was just one shot off the second-round lead at the LPGA Corning Classic.
Thorpe leads Gilder by one after two rounds; Big Three fade
PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) -- If Jim Thorpe is going to win the Senior PGA Championship, he's going to do it stress free.
Jeff Julian: A shoe-in from Vermont
POTOMAC, Md. (AP) -- A fan took off his shoes and threw them at the ceiling of a corporate tent to help a golfer from Vermont.
Warriors have one of those days
PERHAM --It was a year filled with promise and high expectations as five seniors and one junior began the Brainerd Warrior boys' golf season in early March.
State leaders agree on budget deal
ST. PAUL -- Legislative leaders and the Ventura administration reached a budget deal Friday that would provide significant property tax cuts for homes, cabins, apartments and businesses and change the way education is funded.
Despite Senate upheaval, negotiators try to finish tax plan
WASHINGTON -- The hours are dwindling for the House and Senate to strike a deal with President Bush on details of the $1.35 trillion, 11-year tax cut in time for the Memorial Day recess.
Greenspan signals slowdown will trigger more interest rate cuts
WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, in a sober assessment of economic prospects, says the worst of the slowdown that has plagued the country for nearly a year may not be over.
Democratic senator says tax cuts will hurt education
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's insistence on a major tax cut will cost the country a meaningful education plan, a Democratic senator said Saturday in his party's weekly radio address.
Ventura offers plan to break stalemate
ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jesse Ventura tweaked his budget plan Friday in an attempt to break a stalemate that legislative leaders have been unable to resolve on their own.
Moderates could benefit from senator's departure from GOP
WASHINGTON -- Sen. James Jeffords' departure from the Republican Party raises questions about whether other moderates will try to strengthen their hand during negotiations over President Bush's agenda.
Congress passes tax cuts
WASHINGTON -- Congress on Saturday presented Americans broad tax relief and handed President Bush his biggest victory. About 95 million refund checks of up to $300 for singles and $600 for married couples will be mailed out this year and tax rates will drop over the next decade.
Estimates of state tax reductions
Rough estimates of Minnesota property tax reduction on residential homesteads:
Jeffords says Bush's education budget will cost him second term
WASHINGTON -- Shedding light on his momentous decision to bolt the Republican Party, Sen. James Jeffords said he told President Bush that the administration's proposal for school spending would make Bush a "one-term president" and jeopardize GOP senators seeking re-election.
Health
Blood Pressure Clinics
Citizens' petition seeks FDA warning on heart drug
BETHESDA, Md. -- A federal advisory committee recommended that the Food and Drug Administration give physicians more information about a study of the heart drug Cardura, but the divided panel could not agree on changing the drug's label.
Twin Cities nurses set to strike June 1 as contract talks stall
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Contract talks between nurses and 12 Twin Cities hospitals broke off Friday night, as about 7,700 nurses moved closer to a June 1 strike.
Second case of salmonella confirmed at Bayport school
BAYPORT (AP) -- Lab tests confirmed a second case of salmonella at a Bayport school Friday.
Resources for walking groups listed
Choosing well-fitting walking shoes can be confusing, not to mention expensive. To help you know what to look for, the American Council on Exercise has assembled a guide.
Support groups
Crisis Line-Referral Ser.
Chemical dependency
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.
FDA warns of contamination in Mexican cantaloupe
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat Viva brand cantaloupe imported from Mexico, saying the fruit has been associated with an outbreak of salmonella poisoning.
Bath and kitchen markets at full boil
Downturn? What downturn?
Watch for iron-hungry plants
New leaves on rhododendrons or azaleas sometimes unfurl bright yellow rather than green. The yellow is made all the more striking in contrast with the leaf veins, which remain green. Although many find this variegation attractive, it is the symptom of a problem that can kill a plant.
Home sweet investment
CHICAGO -- Slowdown? What slowdown?
Kitchen trends
A new trend in kitchen design today is double sinks. Not just a typical side-by-side double sink, but two full-sized sinks located in different areas of the kitchen.
Tip of the week
If you've bought light bulbs lately, you probably noticed plain old incandescent bulbs are in the minority.
There's a trick to hauling long lumber in pickup truck
Here's an old carpenter's trick for carrying long lumber in a pickup truck:
Toilet's water ports must be clogged
Q. Ron asks: Regarding my toilet -- about half the water leaves the bowl after it fills from a flush. The flapper and valve don't leak. No water on floor or in basement. Why?
Cleaning your grill and cooking tips
Morris' son Ricky has delighted the family with his talent for barbecuing. His wife and kids had been able to keep his mastery of the grill a secret until recently when he was asked to help cook at a large family gathering.
Hydrangeas: big, beautiful and kaleidoscopic
POUND RIDGE, N.Y. (AP) -- Some hydrangeas beguile us with color changes that keep us guessing. Others awe us by climbing 60 feet and more to consort with squirrels and orioles in the trees.
A chair for the Old Man and the Sea
Now Hemingway fans can share fish stories while perched on replicas of a mahogany chair from the author's fishing boat. Papa Hemingway used the chair while chasing down and fighting marlin off Cuba on board the Pilar, a 38-foot Wheeler Playmate painted "pirate black."
Don't get steamed
What to do when one spouse is at the sink and the mirror fogs up from the steam from the other's shower?
Cities encourage home construction
Homeowners interested in new construction do not have to look beyond Brainerd or Baxter city limits for opportunities.
Luxurious linen-care products are practical
Smith & Hawken linen-care products are so luxurious that they'd be branded decadent if they weren't ultimately so practical.
Book a beauty treatment at your own spa
NEW YORK -- You're ready for a day at the spa. Exfoliation, a facial mask and a bikini wax are all part of the plan.
Craftsmanship of Biedermeier furniture traced
Biedermeier furniture, that golden blend of burled wood and inlays on simple shapes, sometimes ebonized or accented with fine veneering, was politically correct in its day -- after the Council of Vienna in 1815 until 1848.
Pick a peck of colorful peppers
WASHINGTON -- In times past, gardeners who wanted to grow some of the bright, colorful bell peppers now commonplace in the supermarket had to have patience and source for seeds.
This was Brainerd
MAY 27 - 80 years ago (1921) - Prices of some of the necessaries of life are slowly getting back to normal. Butter is now down to 27 and 28 cents and eggs are selling at 20 to 23 cents. But why should chickens still cost 30 to 35 cents a pound?
Aid sought for area counties
The Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include additional Minnesota counties in the Presidential Disaster Declaration granted May 16.
Post office observes Memorial Day
The Brainerd Post Office will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day.
Area cities to mark Memorial Day
Brainerd's Memorial Day celebration begins at 8:30 a.m. Monday with a ceremony at the Laurel Street bridge, followed
It's a busy time of year for man in charge of cemeteries
Forgive Ed Ebinger for scowling at the rain clouds of the past few days.
Local briefs
The SHARE! High School Exchange program still needs host families in the Brainerd lakes area to host high school exchange students who will arrive mid-August from 30 countries for homestays and to attend area schools during the 2001-2002 school year.
Moving on merger
In a setting that looked like a night class on city government, Brainerd and Baxter city councils met Thursday and moved forward with a merger study.
Foster parents like the Brancatos recognized
George and Joyce Brancato contacted Crow Wing County Social Services back in 1983 to inquire about becoming adult foster care parents.
Open house set
An open house and dedication at Camp Knutson near Crosslake will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday outside the Angela dining hall.
Racing action
The Indy 500 was scheduled to be run today. Look for race details Tuesday.
Local briefs
Hanspeter Borgwarth of Nisswa recently received the Meritorious Service Award from the trustees of Rotary International Foundation. He has joined a select group or Rotarians, world-wide, who have distinguished themselves for their efforts in promoting goodwill and understanding.
YMCA breaks ground
Armed with shovels and hard hats, children ruled the crowd at the Brainerd Family YMCA groundbreaking ceremony Thursday.
WWII still vivid for Brainerd man
Jim Alderman doesn't need a map to follow major invasions and campaigns during World War II in Europe. He was there. Often just two miles behind the front lines.
Airport commission to meet Wednesday
The Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the airport conference room to discuss the leasing of terminal space to Enterprise Leasing Co.
Worker injured in construction mishap in Long Prairie
LONG PRAIRIE -- A construction worker suffered injuries Thursday after a 100-foot tower-like structure used in the construction of the city of Long Prairie's new water tower collapsed, said Long Prairie Police Chief Steven T. Neet.
Correction/clarification
The Dispatch incorrectly listed the name of Al Jacobson in a story on a disabled student at Central Lakes College on Page 6N of Wednesday's Neighbors section. Also, Wendy Jacobson is his daughter-in-law.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981) - The Brainerd Warriors claimed the South Sub-Region 8AA Boys' Track and Field Championship at Don Adamson Field, the Warriors piled up 99 points to outdistance Cold Spring Rocori which had 92.
Brainerd School Board seeks people for task force
The Brainerd School District is looking for people like you.
Another Little Falls School District referendum fails
LITTLE FALLS -- The results came in late and the news was not good, Little Falls School Board chair Susan Prosapio said this morning about the Little Falls School District referendum.
Firefighters brace for another smoky summer in the West
RENO, Nev. -- Firefighters in the West are bracing for the worst this summer as sweltering temperatures create ripe conditions for a repeat performance of last year's devastating wildfires.
Annual scramble to find lifeguards is under way
PORTLAND, Maine -- It used to be the coolest, hippest summer job. Getting paid while getting a tan. Endless summers. Healthy, fit hunks and babes, a la "Baywatch."
California governor orders more warning for blackouts
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California's power grid officials and utilities will be required to let the public know up to two days in advance if rolling blackouts are likely to hit.
After half century, family learns fate of missing flier
WASHINGTON -- Fifty years after losing her father to war on the Korean peninsula, Pat Dunton can finally do more than just imagine his fate. She can bury him.
He says execution won't be postponed again
WASHINGTON -- Timothy McVeigh's execution will not be postponed again because of a missing-documents problem, Attorney General John Ashcroft said, maintaining that all materials have been turned over to McVeigh's lawyers and they have had ample time to review them.
Congress removes obstacles to WWII memorial
WASHINGTON -- It took twice as long to win approval for the memorial than to win the war, but with a final strike by Congress the government is moving ahead with a memorial to World War II veterans on the National Mall.
Border deaths the result of economics vs. enforcement
YUMA, Ariz. -- Fourteen immigrants who died in the Arizona desert this week after illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexican border are just the latest victims of a trek that promises prosperity but often ends in tragedy.
Blind American scales Mount Everest
KATMANDU, Nepal -- Two Americans who reached the peak of Mount Everest on Friday set records, becoming the first blind climber and the oldest man to step onto the roof of the world.
Use of seat belts soars
WASHINGTON -- Seat belt usage increased last year in states that began allowing police to pull over motorists who aren't buckled up, government statistics released Friday said.
In radio address, Bush asks nation to value troops' sacrifice
WASHINGTON -- President Bush urged Americans on Saturday to take a moment this Memorial Day weekend to "appreciate the price that was paid for our own lives" by those who serve in the nation's armed forces.
Economy grew at 1.3 percent rate
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy grew far more slowly in the first three months of this year than the government previously estimated, reflecting a steeper drop in business investment in computers and other equipment and weaker consumer spending.
GM, Nissan to ease away from Firestone
DETROIT -- In another blow to Bridgestone/Firestone, General Motors Corp., the world's biggest automaker, plans to stop using Firestone tires on certain models this summer and will instead go with the Bridgestone brand.
Wood and Nomo pitch one-hitters
Kerry Wood is back on target.
Opening Fridays to colleges is foul play by NCAA
Each fall, the beat of the football weekend begins Friday nights. Dimly lit high school fields glow in places like Big Spring, Texas. For two hours or so, 17-year-olds become as important as city council members in burgs like Mechanicsburg, Pa. But now, the high schools have to share their night with colleges. And it's not right.
Lakers humble Spurs
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- San Antonio's spirit is shattered, its confidence shot full of holes by a Los Angeles team that's making a joke out what was supposed to be a playoff series for the ages.
Iverson struggles as Sixers fall
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson limped noticeably, clutched his tailbone, grimaced and played through the pain. He's not sure if he'll do it again.
For baseball purists only History and adventure in a box
On Saturday, May 18, 1912, an 18-year-old Philadelphian named William Charles Leinhauser played cente
Scoreboard
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Lakers' numbers border on Magic
LOS ANGELES -- Clip the morning paper. Engrave the souvenir cup. Freeze the moment.
Spurs losing confidence
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- If the situation isn't bleak enough, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich wonders whether his players have lost their belief that they can beat the Los Angeles Lakers.
Maybe baseball can learn a lesson
The Texas Rangers' idiocy in purchasing Alex Rodriguez for $252 million has accidentally done baseball a favor.
Showdown becomes letdown
LOS ANGELES -- It figures this series would be such a letdown.
Shout of 'Jesus Christ!' disqualifies player in state tourney
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) -- Frustrated high school tennis players in Tennessee can yell "Jesus!" or "Christ!" without censure. What they can't do is scream "Jesus Christ!"
Rita Mae Boog
CROSSLAKE -- Rita Mae Boog, 68, Crosslake, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Evelyn F. Mennenga
ST. CLOUD -- Evelyn Francis Mennenga, 87, Crosslake, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Margaret Bentley
NISSWA -- Margaret Bentley, 86, Nisswa, died Friday, May 25, 2001, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Village in Pine River.
Mildred 'Millie' M. Gaugler
FARGO, N.D. -- Mildred "Millie" M. Gaugler, 83, Fargo, N.D., died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at Rosewood Nursing Home in Fargo.
Bernice C. (Slominski) Backstrom
PINE RIVER -- Bernice C. (Slominski) Backstrom, 89, Pine River, formerly of Minneapolis, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001.
Margaret Bentley
NISSWA -- Margaret Bentley, 86, Nisswa, died today, May 25, 2001, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Village in Pine River.
Daniel August Schultz
LITTLE FALLS -- Daniel August Schultz, 59, Little Falls, died Friday, May 25, 2001, at St. Otto's Health Care Center in Little Falls.
Marcella C. Heald
Marcella C. Heald, 87, Pequot Lakes, died today, May 25, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
John Huff
HACKENSACK -- John Huff, 86, Hackensack, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at his home.
Clarence W. Abrahamson Jr.
LITTLE FALLS -- Clarence W. Abrahamson Jr., 73, Little Falls, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Richard Joseph Sargent
PARK RAPIDS -- Richard Joseph Sargent, 61, Park Rapids, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids of cancer.
Willard Nelson
LITTLE FALLS -- Willard Nelson, 79, Little Falls, died Thursday, May 24, 2001, at the Veterans Medical Center in St. Cloud.
Marcella Clemenca (Hoff) Heald
PEQUOT LAKES -- Marcella Clemenca (Hoff) Heald, 87, Pequot Lakes, died Friday, May 25, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Bernard 'Bennie' L. Thrun
Bernard "Bennie" L. Thrun, 92, Brainerd, died Wednesday, May 23, 2001, at Bethany Good Samaritan Home in Brainerd.
Donald George Anderson
WINONA -- Donald George Anderson, 87, Winona, died Wednesday, May 2, 2001, at Lake Winona Manor in Winona.
The emergence of Latinos
LOS ANGELES--They are janitors and dishwashers, chambermaids and bellhops, but in their other life, they are part of an army out to remake American politics. Last Saturday morning, more than 100 of them were gathered in a union headquarters not far from city hall, rhythmically clapping their hands and chanting ever faster the initials O-L-A-W.
A Mideast road map toward peace
This editorial appeared in Friday's Los Angeles Times:
Open Forum
May 28 is Memorial Day. A special day to honor our veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, the press and the sanctity of the home.
Open Forum
Congressman Bill Luther should be applauded for his leadership on the telecommunications issue. When he voted against the Tauzin-Dingell bill, he demonstrated that he stands with consumers on this issue -- and against the monopoly! As the article from May 11, 2001 quotes the Congressman, "the Tauzin-Dingell bill will hurt local telecommunications companies and will leave consumers with fewer choices." He is absolutely right. Why should we reward the telephone monopolies when they continue to thwart competition, leave consumers out in the cold and re-monopolize themselves?
The whining generation
When I was growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, patriotism wasn't something I was forced to learn. It came naturally. From the experience of my father and his brothers who served in World War II, to my mother's memory of what life was like on the home front, I was taught by example what it meant to love my country.
Sen. Jeffords' decision
The following editorial appeared in today's Washington Post:
The news council's role
The Minnesota News Council is an independent organization that examines citizens complaints alleging inaccuracy, unfairness or unethical conduct by the media.
Busted Brainerd
Youthful indiscretions can be excused, but only up to a point.
A real pearl - Dispatch Editorial
Hollywood outdid itself with the premiere party Monday for its latest blockbuster, "Pearl Harbor."
Samson finally succeeds on Mille Lacs
GARRISON -- Nobody understands the vagaries of tournament fishing better than Bruce Samson.
Q & A
What is a Forest Stewardship Plan?
Recent outings: Birding at its best
Next to my love of spring ephemeral flowers is spring birding, which is at its best at this time of year. In addition to my informal search for birds on a daily basis, I've joined in on two local events that have been fun, as well as fruitful.
Boundary Waters trip shows why it's fun to leave the boat behind
Minnesota fishing comes in all packages. While some anglers like fishing from high-tech boats on big waters, everyone at some time should take a wilderness canoe fishing trip.
North Country calendar
26 -- Bass season open statewide
Listening and counting
TWO HARBORS (AP) -- The sound begins as a single muffled whump somewhere off in the woods. You feel it as much as you hear it.
The state's top tree farm
CROSSLAKE -- In an hour's walk through Eagleview Farms you can see dozens of different birds, trees and wildflowers, maybe a deer. The scent of clover fills the air and lakes with undeveloped shorelines leads to thoughts of what Minnesota looked like in pre-settlement days.
Early-season bassin' techniques
Early-season bass fishing is like trying to get a boy to come to supper when he's outside having a good time playing with friends. You can call him but he might not come.
Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA - Gull Lake and Round Lake are producing walleyes in 5 to 22 feet of water. Look to the shallower depths during lowlight periods of the day.
Engagement announced
Heather Wirth and Micah Toftness announce their engagement. Parents are Allen and Carla Wirth, East Bethel, and Bruce and Bonnie Toftness, Pequot Lakes. An Aug. 4 wedding is planned at Ham Lake Baptist Church.
Engagement announced
Jennifer Stinson and Stephen Piepgras announce their engagement. Parents are Jane and Maurice Stinson, Burlington, Ontario, and Richard and Judy Piepgras, Brainerd. An Aug. 25 wedding is planned at Piney Ridge Lodge.
Wedding planned
Jenny Gross and Greg Sautter announce their engagement. Parents are Bob and Judy Gross, Singapore, formerly of Brainerd, and Charles and Betty Smith, Portland, Ore., and Fred and Maralee Sautter, Portland. A July 28 wedding is planned at St. Francis Church in Brainerd.
80th birthday
Louise Anderson will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 2-4 p.m. June 10 at the Cuyuna Range Community Center in Crosby, Highway 6 and Second Street Northeast. No gifts please.
Wedding planned
Thomas P. Siekas and Ashley M. Ludwig announce their engagement. Parents are David and Sharon Siekas, Baxter, and Timothy and Mari Ludwig, Brainerd. A June 23 wedding is planned at Brainerd Assemblies of God.
Engagement announced
Jessica Ann Leino and Jason Allen Jones announce their engagement. Parents are Richard and Eileen Leino, Deerwood, and Terry and Judie Brait, Aitkin, and the late Noel Jones. An Aug. 25 wedding is planned at Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood.
Wedding planned
Jessica Garding and Eric Loney announce their engagement. Parents are Debbie Garding, Brainerd, Vernon Garding, and Corey and Julienne Loney, Brainerd. A June 30 wedding is planned at St. Thomas of the Pines at Madden's Resort.
97th birthday
Stanley Splettstoeszer, Crosby, will celebrate his 97th birthday Wednesday. He was born May 30, 1904, in Waconia.
50th anniversary
Roy and Donna Disterhaupt, Brainerd, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with friends and family at the home of Dorothy and Stan Lound. They were married May 21, 1951, in O'Neill, Neb.
Wedding planned
Maulina A. Spicer and Charles C. Goerges announce their engagement. Parents are Stan and Maureen Spicer, Ramsey, and Karlo and Sue Goerges, Pequot Lakes. A June 9 wedding is planned in St. Paul.
Engagement announced
Cheryl Neumann and Ryan Taylor announce their engagement. Parents are Tate and Arlean Neumann, Pequot Lakes, and Elwood and Beth Taylor, Thunderbay, Ontario. An Aug. 18 wedding is planned at Grand Superior Lodge in Two Harbors.
40th anniversary
Elroy and Karen Raddatz, Brainerd, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at Light of the Cross Lutheran Church in Garrison with a dance at 7:30 p.m. at the Garrison VFW. The event is hosted by their family. No gifts please.
Teepe-Green
Wendy Teepe and Derek Green were married Nov. 10, 2000, at the Wedding Pavilion at Walt Disney World Resort.
Engagement announced
Colleen Strong and Rick Peterson announce their engagement. Parents are Pauline Frasl, Brainerd, and Tom Strong, Brainerd, and Mary and Rudy Peterson, Brainerd. A Sept. 1 wedding is planned at Crow Wing State Park.
Penske's return to Indy 500 is all business
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Roger Penske would prefer a trip to Victory Lane instead of a stroll down memory lane.
Rain washes out qualifying, delays Earnhardt Jr.'s return
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- When rain washed out qualifying for the Carquest 300, several young drivers worried they wouldn't make the race.
Lazier looks for respect
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- To many race fans, Buddy Lazier is little more than a footnote in history.
Unser, Andretti seek redemption, validation
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Once, Michael Andretti and Al Unser Jr. were the young princes of auto racing, drivers whose names conjured visions of glorious victories and numbing defeats on auto racing's grandest stage.
Baby boomers head for northern Minnesota lakes
DULUTH (AP) -- Empty housing is hard to find throughout Minnesota, except for a few counties in northern Minnesota.
Experts predict strong summer of tourism in state
DULUTH (AP) -- Despite higher gas prices and continuing signs of a slowing economy, tourism in Minnesota will probably do just fine this summer, according to analysts.
State Court of Appeals affirms Kramer's murder conviction
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota Court of Appeals on Friday upheld Harold "Howey" Kramer Jr.'s conviction for killing his 3-year-old son, Kenny, even though it ruled his confession should not have been admitted at trial.
Listen for less noise at airport
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Count on more competition and less noise at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
State briefs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Representatives of about 7,700 registered nurses went back to the negotiating table with administrators for 12 Twin Cities hospitals Friday.
Experts in Austin, Moorhead doubt census figures
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Experts in Austin and Moorhead doubt the accuracy of the latest housing statistics from the U.S. Census.
It's hard to say what Ventura tax plan means for Minnesota schools
ST. PAUL -- Now that Gov. Jesse Ventura's grand plan for property tax reform appears on the brink of reality, Minnesota is in store for a major change in the way it collects taxes and funds its schools.
Raiders' Thiesse named second-team All-American
For the second year in a row, the Central Lakes College Raiders softball team finished seventh in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III tournament.
Lauer, Klang pace triathlon
Chris Lauer won the boys' competition and Morgan Klang paced the girls' division of the Brainerd High School Triathlon May 18.
Hasselberg is medalist, Cardinals win subsection title
FERGUS FALLS -- Mary Hasselberg was medalist and helped the Staples-Motley Cardinals to the team championship in Thursday's North Subsection 6A girls' golf tournament at Pebble Lake.
Tribute to the father of a sports family
When the Fort Ripley Rebels amateur baseball team hosts Avon Sunday afternoon and plays at St. Mathias Monday its No. 1 fan will not be at the ballpark for the first time in more than 30 years.
Bohn-Tuchscherer advance to section
ALEXANDRIA -- The Brainerd Warriors doubles team of Erik Bohn-Paul Tuchscherer finished second in the North Subsection 8AA individual tennis tournament Thursday.
Brainerd JV baseball teams wins pair
The Brainerd Warriors junior varsity baseball team swept a doubleheader on Thursday at Mills Field.
Weiss wins discus as Warriors boys take 3rd in subsection
DETROIT LAKES -- Brainerd's Mike Weiss won the discus with a toss of 138 feet in the North Subsection 8AA track and field meet Thursday.
Area events Saturday
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Three Cardinals advance in tennis
COLLEGEVILLE -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals had two individuals and two doubles teams compete in the Section 6A individual tennis tournament Thursday.
Brainerd Legion finds baseball coach
Shortly after a Dispatch story that the Brainerd American Legion Post was in danger of not fielding a baseball team for the first time in about 50 years, Ed Zirngible stepped to the fore.
Lisa Renneke misses trip to state with 87
MENAHGA -- Brainerd Warriors senior Lisa Renneke missed qualifying for the Class AA state girls' golf tournament by two strokes, carding an 87 in the Section 8AA tournament Thursday at Blueberry Pines.
Raiders' boys and girls track teams advance
MINNEWASKA -- Craig Weber and Amy Jackson of the Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders boys' and girls' track teams advanced to the Section 6A meet in two individual events.
Pierz, Pillager, Little Falls advance in area baseball
PIERZ -- The Pierz Pioneers broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and defeated the Milaca Wolves 7-0 in Subsection 18, Section 6AA quarterfinal baseball Thursday.
S-M boys, girls win Subsection 24 track titles
PEQUOT LAKES -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals boys' and girls' track and field teams won Subsection 24 championships Thursday with identical scores of 161 points.
S-M, Little Falls advance in softball
STAPLES -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals softball team defeated Pequot Lakes 4-0 Thursday to advance to the second round of the Section 8AA tournament.
Local sports shorts
FARGO, N.D. -- Brainerd High School graduate Ally Graham placed in the top seven in two events at the North Central Conference women's track and field meet May 11-12.
Brainerd Parks/Recreation
Results May 9
Warriors' softball season slips away
There are some-hard luck stories that just tear your heart out.
S-M boys runner-up, three area boys advance
FERGUS FALLS -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals boys' golf team was runner-up and Michael Grieme of Wadena-Deer Creek, Josh Dale of Pequot Lakes and Logan Sasse of Pine River-Backus finished in the top 10 of the North Subsection 6A boys' golf tournament Thursday at Pebble Lake.
Twins are good for baseball
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins are good for baseball.
Gophers edged
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- LSU reliever Brian Wilson fended off a Minnesota rally Friday night as the top-seeded Tigers hung on to beat Minnesota 10-9 in the opening round of NCAA regional play.
Moss makes his hoops debut with ValleyDawgs
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (AP) -- Randy Moss used some of the same high-flying moves from the football field to stand out on the hardwood.
Twins fall out of lead for first time this season
MINNEAPOLIS -- For the first time this season, the Minnesota Twins are a second-place team.
Getting hooked on fonts can be dangerous
When I was writing headlines for my college newspaper back in the age of metal type, I frequently ran into a sticky problem. Our small-town printer had a limited selection of typefaces, and he set our headlines by hand, character-by-character, using metal slugs stored in dusty wooden cases.
Cell phones the next frontier for video games
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In Japan, bored cell phone owners can while away their time downloading color pictures of animated sushi and guiding the characters on video adventures.
E-mail etiquette is telling
It's startling how quickly e-mail has become an essential means of business and personal communications.
Game review
What: "Dear America: Friend to Friend," Windows/Macintosh software for girls. Players devel
Internet baseball broadcasts getting a lot of static
Broadcasting baseball games on the Internet sounds good. Thanks to cyberspace, any radio broadcast can be picked up from anywhere.
Computer industry slowly responding to calls for better recycling
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- At Hewlett-Packard Co.'s recycling plant, a giant machine with brick-sized blades thunders away, crushing personal computers, servers and printers to bits.
Docs online
This site lets you stash files online with a free option of 20 megabytes. If you need more space, rates start at $25.95 a year for 50 megs of storage space. For users of Internet Explorer 5.0 or newer, the My Docs Online folder appears on the Windows desktop, which means that files can be dragged and dropped in and out of your account here just as with any other Windows folder.
Do you really need a database?
To beginners, spreadsheets and databases seem similar: Both are structured ways of storing and processing information. Both can compute, sort data and display results onscreen and on paper.
Holiday weekend opens with clouds and rain across East; West dry
A huge, spinning storm system stuck over the Midwest brought rain to the Appalachians, Northeast and northern Plains on Friday, the first big travel day of the Memorial Day weekend.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Cool with occasional showers and a few afternoon thunderstorms. Highs in the 50s.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Showers likely in the east along with a few thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy west with a chance of afternoon showers. Highs from the middle 50s to lower 60s.
Enjoy nature
Weather drawing by Jacob Lovejoy in the Lincoln School second-grade class of Mrs. Kobes.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Scattered showers west with numerous showers east. Isolated thunderstorms are possible. Highs from the middle 50s east to the upper 60s west.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers likely central and east. Isolated showers west. Highs in the upper 50s northeast to lower 70s southwest. Tonight...Partly cloudy west. A chance of showers east. Lows in the 40s to around 50.
State forecast for north dakota
today...Sunny west. Patchy early morning fog...Then mostly sunny central. Partly sunny east. Highs 65 east to 75 far west.
Worldwide Weather
Saturday
Iowa state forecast
Today...Showers likely central and east...A chance of showers west. A few thunderstorms possible. Highs in the middle 50s to middle 60s.
Regional Weather
HighLowPR
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Mostly sunny west and central. Partly to mostly cloudy east with a chance of afternoon showers far east. Highs from the lower 60s far east to the lower 70s west.
Wisconsin state forecast
Dense fog advisory east this morning...
Plant some flowers
Weather drawing by Ashley Philippi in the Riverside School third-grade class of Mrs. Meyer.
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny west and central. Mostly cloudy east. A chance of afternoon showers southeast. Highs from 65 east to 80 west.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...A period of morning rain far east...Then becoming partly sunny. Partly cloudy west. Highs from mid 60s east to near 80 southwest.
What's doing
The Brainerd American Legion will have a pancake breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion Club, 708 Front St. Cost: $4. For information call 829-2249.
What's doing
There will be an open house for Hope Aune, who graduated from Concordia College with a degree in business and Spanish, from 1-4 p.m. June 3 at the home of Clarence Aune, Hwy. 18 East, Brainerd. Aune will be moving to Mexico on June 9 to begin her career.
Much obliged
At the beginning of this month my grandfather spent the last nine days of his life at the Bethany Good Samaritan Home. He had been discharged from the hospital to this facility following a stroke that he had had five days earlier.
Names and faces
NEW YORK (AP) -- The father of supermodel Niki Taylor's 6-year-old twin sons is trying to help them understand the serious injuries their mother suffered in a car accident a month ago.
Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees
Rescue on Everest: Team forgoes summit to save climbers
An American-led group of climbers searching Mount Everest for proof that George Mallory's ill-fated expedition reached the summit in 1924 gave up their quest for the top to aid two other groups in trouble on the world's highest peak.
Search called off in wedding hall collapse; all accounted for
JERUSALEM -- Rescue crews called off the search Saturday for any more survivors of a wedding hall collapse that killed 24 people, convinced that all guests and workers had been accounted for.
Wedding turns tragic when banquet hall collapses
JERUSALEM -- Brick by brick, rescue workers dug for survivors Friday from a wedding that turned tragic when the top floor of a banquet hall collapsed into a pile of rubble, killing at least 23 people and injuring more than 300.
U.S. to discuss North Korea policy with Seoul, Tokyo
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration was to discuss North Korea on Saturday with East Asian allies, even as U.S. officials disagree over how to verify that Pyongyang complies with any missile control agreement.