Friday, June 13, 2008
It's not the greens, it's the greenbacks
WASHINGTON - U.S. auto executives are crunching numbers, trying to figure out which trucks to keep and which to junk. Their counterparts in Europe and Asia are reviewing product plans, looking at the possibility that North America might now be hospitable to micro-cars that have long been popular overseas.
Mercedes adds high-powered sedan
The 2008 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG shows why shoppers can't tell just by the size of a car whether it's a high-mileage vehicle or a gas guzzler.
Best bets
The Brown Bag Speakers Series will take a one-week break from books to focus on another type of writing. Minnesota songwriter Ann Reed (left) will perform and discuss her work at noon Monday at the Brainerd Public Library. Admission is free.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
Art matters to these grads
The arts have made an impact on at least two recent high school graduates from the area.
YOUR GUIDE TO THE SUMMERTIME BLUES ... and rock, country, reggae, folk, bluegrass and polka
Sure, summer's technically nine days away, but it's never too early to make your summer music festival plans.
SHORTS
Contrafair to feature 14 Minnesota bands
Completely random slice of pop culture
This is going to sound kind of random, but I sometimes wish I grew up in the 1960s. My parents, who actually did grow up in the '60s, caution me that the idealized parts of the era - the neighborliness, the sense of possibility, oldies music - were balanced out by not-so-great stuff like the Vietnam War.
Grandma's sloppy Joes 'Oh so good'
When my Grandmother passed away a number of years ago, I inherited her tried and true recipe box with notes on the recipe and how she rated each one. This week's recipe for Pleasing Sloppy Joes had a notation - "Oh so good!"
POLICE BLOTTER
INVESTIGATIONS - Received a report Wednesday of an intoxicated man on East River Road and Laurel Street. The man was unable to make it home without assistance and was transported to detox.
COURTS
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
BIRTHS
Matthew and Haley Gallaway, Crosslake, a girl, Kendall Lee, 5 pounds, 14 ounces, May 28, 2008. Grandparents are Jim and Diana Gallaway, Crosslake, Jim and Roberta Talley, Sartell, and Ross and Sue Baggenstoss, Avon.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
803 Kingwood St., Brainerd
POLICE BLOTTER
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY - Report Wednesday of a powerline falling on a van that had six people inside of it in Ideal Township.
Firefighters respond
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a call at 5:23 p.m. Thursday at the Brainerd High School to what turned out to be a false alarm.
Landscaping trends new and old on display in area
CROSSLAKE - From adding a waterfall to your backyard to enclosing your patio with a sitting wall, the landscaping possibilities are endless this summer.
Briefs
Travis Banks, Dan Kavanaugh, Matt Pelphrey and Tom Bosch of Weichert Realtors Tower Properties in Brainerd recently completed the Weichert Management Academy, a four-day educational session in Naples, Fla., covering aspects of the Weichert way of doing business.
PICNIC PICKING
Summer often conjures a picturesque image of Dad standing at the grill, spatula in hand. But this Father's Day, the kids could give Dad a day off from the grill, and give him a special, personal gift: a picnic.
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Central Lakes College Foundation received stock donations of nearly $10,000 to boost a scholarship fund named for a longtime Brainerd community leader.
Correction
In a June 11 Page 6A Crow Wing County Board story, an item about the Thirty Lakes Watershed District could have included information that the two resignations in the district were from the advisory board.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 12 - 80 years ago (1928) - The need of additional public tennis courts in the city has become so apparent that several Parent Teachers Associations are making plans to install courts on their respective school grounds.
Storm causes power outages
Thursday night's thunderstorms, packed with 70 mile per hour winds, knocked out power for about 3,000 Crow Wing Power customers in the Brainerd lakes area. As of noon Friday, about 1,500 remained without power.
Per diem augments commissioners' pay
In addition to an annual salary per year - $28,050 as of 2008 - Crow Wing County commissioners receive per diem payments.
Traffic signal begins operation north of PL
Motorists will encounter a new traffic signal system at the intersection of Highway 371 and Crow Wing County Highway 16 just north of Pequot Lakes.
Overheard
"It seems like we're having the hundred year flood every four years. It's absurd."
Overheard
"I guess the people spoke, loud and clear." -Marge Anderson, after losing in her bid to again become chief of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
Blue Thunder partners with Race for Cure
The Brainerd Blue Thunder baseball team will show its support for Komen Brainerd Lakes Race for the Cure by helping during the race, opening its gates to the public during its home game that night, and holding a silent auction.
Pierz hires police chief
PIERZ - The city of Pierz may soon have a new police chief.
Elaborate tea party advances women's education
EAST GULL LAKE - When the clock strikes one on the afternoon of June 21, there will be bite-sized tea sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, cookies and, of course, tea at Forestview Middle School in Baxter.
Chief of band is re-elected
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Chief Executive Melanie Benjamin was re-elected to a third four-year term Tuesday night, defeating former Chief Executive Marge Anderson 634-412. There were three blank ballots.
County alerting property owners of mistake on property tax refund form
Thirty-five Crow Wing County property owners whose parcels were affected by a miscalculation on line 1 of the Minnesota Property Tax Refund statement are being contacted.
LOCAL BRIEFS
NISSWA - A benefit is planned Saturday at the Nisswa American Legion for a Pequot Lakes boy who is suffering from a chronic health condition.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 13 - 60 years ago (1948) - The board of directors of the Brainerd Civic Association at a meeting last night decided that Brainerd needs a local recreation program and steps were considered for re-instituting one.
Michael Stearns
FARMINGTON - Michael Stearns, age 37, of Farmington and formerly of Northfield, passed away Monday, June 9, 2008, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis from complications of cancer.
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.
Marlys O'Brien
PINE RIVER - Marlys O'Brien, age 70, of Pine River, passed away Tuesday, June 10, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Marie T. Kraklau
Marie Theresa Kraklau, age 94, Brainerd area resident since 1945, died Monday, June 9, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Marie was born on March 15, 1914, in Minneapolis to Michael and Katherine (Kirschbaum) Wally. She was a member of St. Mathias Catholic Church, Christian Mother's and C.C.W. of St. Mathias Church. She was united in marriage to Clifford Kraklau on Sept. 21, 1942, in Minneapolis.
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.
Rosina G. Searles
DEERWOOD - Rosina Gertrude Searles, age 91, of Deerwood, died Monday, June 9, 2008, at the Cuyuna Care Center in Crosby. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, June 20, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Deerwood with the Rev. Fr. Howard Eisel officiating. Interment will be at a later date.
Frieda J. Grunenwald
AITKIN - Frieda J. Grunenwald, age 92, of Aitkin, died Wednesday, June 11, 2008, at the Aitkin Health Services in Aitkin.
Doris M. LeBlanc
EMILY - Doris M. LeBlanc, age 79, of Emily, died on June 10, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. She was born on July 18, 1928, in Millersburg, Minn., to Charles and Evelyn (Pettersen) Clover.
Marlys C. O'Brien
Marlys Carol O'Brien entered this world Dec. 10, 1937. She lived on the west side of St. Paul and graduated from Humboldt. People were drawn to her sunny smile and enthusiastic outlook on life.
VOX POP
The community needs to stop whining about the school district and find something else to crusade about. How about all the overstaffed police officers we have on every corner of this town? Why don't we complain about all the money that is spent on their fancy cars or buildings? Come on, is our town that dangerous that we need so many of them everywhere you go? Why doesn't Marv (Begin) and his small posse chew on that one for a while?
Open Forum
Our beautiful township is being annexed to Pequot Lakes. Only the Jenkins Township supervisors and a few Jenkins Township citizens wanted to annex. The benefits to Jenkins Township with annexation are zilch.
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.
Stay in touch with U.S. senators, representatives
Sen. Norm Coleman
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.
Clinton, women take a big step
WASHINGTON - When Hillary Clinton announced for president in January of 2007, she did everything to downplay her gender short of dressing herself in men's clothes. In a taped video, with no audience and no family members, she presented herself first and foremost as a senator and experienced Washington hand, ready to fight for Democratic goals and unintimidated by threats from the GOP.
Open Forum
After listening to the rhetoric of several presidential candidates in regard to conversing face to face with such leaders as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, I did some research as to the success of world leaders who tried the same policy.
CHURCH NEWS
First Lutheran in Pillager is holding outdoor worship services each Wednesday evening during the summer at 7 p.m. at the park at County Road 1 and Hwy. 210 at for an informal, campfire style worship.
Brainerd Lakes Area Churches
Brainerd
There's nothing sour about this event
Records have been falling like acorns the last three years at the Sour Grapes Half and Half.
Crosslake rallies past Aitkin
CROSSLAKE - A wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Crosslake American Legion baseball team to knock off Aitkin 4-3 Tuesday.
After eight years, Holm still enjoys event
Entering the eighth year, Terry Holm still faces an endless list of preparations for the Baxter Inline Marathon.
Brainerd held to three hits in loss to Bemidji
Trevor Anderson struck out six, walked one and scattered three hits across seven innings to lead Bemidji past Brainerd in Legion baseball Thursday.
Brainerd freshmen lose pair to Pierz
The Pierz VFW baseball team scored a pair of one-run victories over Brainerd Thursday.
Flyers drop two against St. Cloud Tech
ST. CLOUD - The Little Falls Flyers lost to St. Cloud Tech 6-0 and 8-7 Tuesday during the St. Cloud Junior Olympic softball league.
Brainerd sophs split with Sauk Rapids
Reid Mimmack finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Joel Martin survived six walks and seven errors to pitch the Brainerd sophomore VFW baseball team to a 7-2 victory over Sauk Rapids Thursday.
Wittwer, Crosslake pound Pierz
PIERZ - Tyler Wittwer finished 3-for-3 with two home runs to lead the Crosslake American Legion baseball team over Pierz 9-1 Thursday.
LOCAL SPORTS SHORTS
Heavy rain forced the postponement of the Wednesday's Brainerd Blue Thunder vs. Thunder Bay Border Cats Northwoods League baseball game at Mills Field.
Scoreboard
Area events
Cardinals shine in classroom
The Staples-Motley Cardinals girls' golf team earned its fifth straight Academic State Championship with the highest average grade-point-average of any other Class 2A golf team in the state.
Blue Thunder salvage split
The Brainerd Blue Thunder have had little luck with the weather this season. Brainerd has only completed eight of its 12 scheduled games, and only four of those have been full-length games with no weather delays.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Wisconsin state forecast
Flash flood watch for much of western wisconsin this morning...
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. Numerous
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms west in the morning and statewide this afternoon. Becoming windy west. Highs in the 50s northwest to the 70s southeast.
School is out!
Weather drawing by Amanda Sabir of Mrs. Gramer's
second-grade class at Riverside school.
State forecast for Iowa
Flash flood watch for central iowa until 1 pm and for eastern
State forecast for Iowa
Flash flood watch for portions of southeast iowa through noon cdt
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy west while mostly cloudy east. Areas of
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms except north central. Highs from the lower 70s northwest to around 80 south.
The buzz
Weather drawing by Teya Lee Witthuhn of Ms. Hemstad's third-grade class at Baxter school.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Breezy. A chance of showers north this
State forecast for N.D.
Wind advisory today southwest and south central...
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy and becoming windy. A few afternoon thunderstorms mainly north. Highs near 70 north to around 80 south.