Thursday, June 14, 2001
Join the chase with Mustang Bullitt GT
Just for a moment, I felt like actor Steve McQueen.
Taking Liberty with Jeep works out fine
If Jeep "wrote the book" on four-wheel drive, as the brand's owners are fond of saying, it was the Cherokee, helped by its contemporaries, the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer and Ford Bronco II, that wrote the book on the compact SUV as a family vehicle.
Trucks sell well despite high gas prices
Car shoppers around the country may be grumbling about soaring gasoline prices , but their buying habits haven't changed much.
New York among 40 states considering bans on drivers using hand-held cell phones
ALBANY, N.Y. -- From New York to California, governments seem driven to distraction by motorists with cellular phones.
Buell Lightning will give motorcycle fanatics a serious jolt
The fellow on the Japanese hyperbike pulled up at a stoplight and cast a long, wondering glance at the bright yellow Buell X1 Lightning. It was the usual once over: Look under the bodywork at the throbbing V-twin, sweep across to the low bars, check out the sticky tires at both ends. An approving nod, and he was off.
Steadfast Skinner
Mike Skinner walked through the garage area with a smile on his face. For a driver plagued by so much uncertainty, he looked completely unaffected.
School board pushes for more funding on special education
The Brainerd School Board has been expressing its concern to members of Congress asking them to fulfill their promise to increase federal funding for special education.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Tuesday 173, a year ago 266.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle: 800.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Tuesday.
Crimes
A burglar at Twisted Roses was arrested early Sunday after trying to hide from police officers in the duct work of the building.
Woods has everyone diving for cover in Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. -- What is this, the Tiger U.S. Open? You would have to think so, the way his face is plastered all over the place.
Tiger begins quest for five majors in a row
TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Tiger Woods has won four straight majors, and there's nothing to suggest this week will be any different.
Dettbarn surges into Twilight tie
Dettbarn Construction made it a two-team race in the first half of the men's Twilight League at Pine Meadows June 7.
Be realistic when selecting club
For the majority of golfers, one of the quickest, and easiest, ways of improving your golf score is to do one thing -- select more club.
Push is under way to get more women playing golf in lakes area
At Izaty's Golf and Yacht club June 7-8, 15 area athletes competed at the Class A state golf tournament.
Around area courses
Zackary Lundbohm of Baxter shot a four-over par 76 highlighted by a hole in one on the par 3, 14th playing 135 yards using a wedge in the Brainerd Optimist Club's junior golf tournament at Pine Meadows Monday.
Bush urges new directions for NATO
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Making his NATO debut, President Bush urged the allies on Wednesday to "extend our hands and open our hearts" to former Soviet bloc nations that aspire to join their alliance.
GOP lawmaker ready to support Democrats on patients' rights
WASHINGTON -- Republican Rep. Charlie Norwood of Georgia has told colleagues he will support a Democrat-backed patients' bill of rights heading swiftly for Senate debate, The Associated Press has learned.
Audit finds Pentagon can't account for spare parts spending
WASHINGTON -- Despite repeated complaints that military readiness is being hurt by a shortage of spare parts, the Pentagon cannot document whether $1.1 billion Congress provided in response to such pleas actually went for spare parts, according to a new audit.
Vouchers defeated in Senate
WASHINGTON -- The price of President Bush's education plan is one of the few issues remaining after Senate Democrats defeated a Republican attempt to give poor students federal money to attend private or parochial schools.
Bush administration rejects California's ethanol waiver Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration announced Tuesday it has rejected California's request for a waiver from a clean-air rule, drawing an angry response from Gov. Gray Davis, who said the decision could raise gasoline prices.
At the Legislature
ST. PAUL (AP) - The House and Senate moved closer to a budget agreement Wednesday with the exchanging of several offers, but it was unclear if the progress would even carry into the next day.
Family-owned mill is a legacy, as well as a piece of the past
CALEDONIA (AP) -- Ivan Krugmire turns a metal wheel and -- slowly at first, then faster and faster -- the inside of the old flour mill comes alive with the noisy whirring of shafts, belts, pulleys and grinding stones.
CLC to offer rare degree in Golf Facilities Management
With 33 golf courses within 60 miles of Brainerd, a college degree program in Golf Facilities Management seemed logical.
Schoolchildren discover a different era by entering historical classroom
BENSON (AP) -- Second-grade students in Benson got a live dose of history recently when they traded their modern elementary classrooms for a day in a quiet, one-room country schoolhouse.
Senior citizens enjoy 'cruise' at annual conference
STAPLES -- "Cruising through Life" was the theme of the 20th annual Region 5 Area Agency on Aging Conference on June 6 at Staples Motley High School in Staples.
Schools dump dodge-ball for a new physical education
TUKWILA, Wash. -- Eleven-year-old Ladell Carroll sprints down the blue tumbling mat, bounces once on a springboard, then flips his bulky body over six of his classmates.
Home-schooled students learn all about science and nature
Home-schooled students participate in nature and animal science courses at the Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center.
Area briefs
STAPLES -- On the site of the Central Lakes Agricultural Center in Staples, a botanical garden/horticulture learning center is being established.
Aitkin teacher finally receives the Purple Heart he earned 32 years ago
AITKIN -- An Aitkin High School teacher, who was awarded the Purple Heart on Memorial Day for injuries he suffered during the Vietnam War, recently reunited with two surviving members of his six-men reconnaissance patrol team.
Veteran's son searches for father's missing war history
CROOKSTON (AP) -- A couple of years ago Robert Anderson was rummaging through some of his father's old things when he came across a couple of service patches and a combat service diary, published after the war, for the 75th Infantry Division.
Age without aches
WASHINGTON -- The weight goes on but the muscle comes off. The heart rate falls, bones get weak. Aging is one physical frustration after another.
CLC hires two computer instructors
Faculty positions in computer instruction at Central Lakes College in Brainerd have been filled with two instructors who have been serving students as adjunct faculty in computer science.
Destructive storm hits
Gary Thiesse had only one concern this morning: Finding a place for his family to live.
Emergency workers spring into action
When the tornado hit at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday in south of the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds, Dave Schuldheisz, county emergency management director, was off to coordinate efforts from behind the scenes.
Brainerd Medical Center forced to close down
Thursday normally is one of the busiest days of the week at Brainerd Medical Center. Most doctors are working and about 500 appointments are scheduled.
Some lakeshore lease lot owners undecided
Four out of 22 lakeshore lease lot owners are undecided about buying property they have been leasing from Crow Wing County.
Storm survivors shaken but safe
Storm survivors crawled though downed trees and power lines in the darkness Wednesday night. Their route was punctuated by lightning strikes.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-Orville Tengwall of Brainerd Honda and Ski-Doo and Wendell Fristedt, manager of Montgomery Ward recently donated bicycles which will be given to participants in a Bicycle Safety Program sponsored by Community Education and Brainerd Police with assistance from Crow Wing County Extension Service and the State Patrol.
Scenes of disaster
Shards of galvanized steel cluttered the entry to a steel building along Crow Wing County Road 45. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
Jail to house state prisoners
The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday approved an agreement with the state to house prisoners in county jail facilities.
House, some buildings damaged near LF
A house and some buildings near Little Falls were damaged Wednesday night following what was likely a twister, a Morrison County Sheriff's Department dispatcher said.
Host families sought
The Spanish Department at Central Lakes College in Brainerd is looking for a host family for Rocio Fernandez of Argentina.
After the storm
Troy Larson cut trees this morning at a damaged home south of Brainerd. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
Utility crews scramble to restore power
Whether it was a tornado or straight-line winds, the storm that swept through Brainerd on Wednesday night couldn't have chosen a worse path in the view of Brainerd Public Utilities.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 14 - 40 years ago (1961) - Walleyes to nine pounds, Northerns to 14, Bass bigger than 4 1/2 pounds and many panfish in the one and two-pound class highlighted the week just past in Paul Bunyan Vacationland.
Gearing for shutdown
With the first day of summer still a week away, state employees are considering options to shut down state parks.
Echo helps out Dispatch during power outage
PEQUOT LAKES -- Putting together a daily paper is challenging enough, but when a citywide power outage shut down the Brainerd Dispatch's newspaper plant today employees found themselves scattered far and wide as they worked on today's edition.
Habitat-building in Crosby a nail-pounding experience for Illinois youths
CROSBY -- Thirty-five youths from Oswego, Ill., quickly found out their Habitat for Humanity mission trip to Crosby is a nail-pounding, sweat-shedding experience.
Local briefs
The Fun Books For Kids organization will host a four-person golf scramble fund-raiser at 1 p.m. Friday at the Whitebirch Golf Course in Breezy Point.
County board backs Hwy. 371 visitor's center
The Crow Wing County Board approved a non-binding agreement Tuesday in regard to a proposed Highway 371 Rest Area-Visitor's Center in Fort Ripley Township.
After major storm, no such thing as business as usual
When the storm winds blow, one of the first things they destroy is business as usual. Thursday morning in Brainerd, businesses that lost power in Wednesday night's storm were scrambling to find alternative ways of going on with their business, if they were able to open at all.
Aitkin airport to receive $150,000 grant
AITKIN -- Aitkin Municipal Airport was one of three in northeastern Minnesota that was recently awarded grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Survey: Violent crime plunged in 2000
WASHINGTON -- The violent crime rate plunged 15 percent last year, the largest one-year drop in the 27-year history of a leading government crime survey.
Company unveils business software that makes it easier to search office computers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- New software introduced Tuesday by AltaVista Co. will let employees scour corporate networks, e-mail accounts and personal computers by stitching together valuable information scattered on far-flung office systems.
Inspectors union says USDA not enforcing humane-slaughter law
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Slaughterhouses are butchering cattle and hogs while the animals are still conscious despite a federal law that requires livestock to be killed humanely, the union of federal meat inspectors said Wednesday.
Lyme Disease study halted
A study of a three-month antibiotic regimen for people suffering from pain, fatigue, trouble concentrating and other symptoms of Lyme disease has been halted because the patients didn't benefit, researchers reported Tuesday.
Teen pregnancy rate falls to record low
WASHINGTON -- Teen-agers appear to be getting the message that abstinence from sex or consistent use of birth control equals fewer babies.
Embassy bomber gets life without parole
NEW YORK -- A deeply divided jury on Tuesday spared the life of a 24-year-old terrorist convicted of killing 213 people in the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, sentencing him instead to life in prison without parole.
Census: Small but growing number of gays, lesbians living together
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Carolyn Conrad and K.P. Peterson made history last year when they became the first couple in America to join in a same-sex union legally recognized by their own state.
Power company officials have collected millions
The top executives and directors at many of the large power companies that California officials accuse of profiteering from the energy crisis have collected tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars through stock sales.
Judge orders coverage of birth control
A federal judge ruled Tuesday that a Seattle drugstore chain must include female contraceptives in its health insurance coverage, the first decision of its kind and one that could influence employer-provided benefits at other companies.
Ruling behind him, Martin is back on course
CONCORD, Ohio (AP) -- While everyone else spent the last two weeks arguing about him and his cart, Casey Martin finally relaxed -- and then he got mad.
Vols stop Southern Cal
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Tennessee right-hander Wyatt Allen went to the mound against Southern California with one thing in mind.
Lakers tired of stereotypes in this NBA Finals
PHILADELPHIA -- It's Philly vs. Los Angeles. It's scrapple vs. tofu. It's guts and heart vs. a cold, calculated winning machine.
Lakers one win away from NBA title
PHILADELPHIA -- Ron Harper and Brian Shaw are just the kind of players Phil Jackson loves -- veterans who have been through big games.
Games keep going Cubs' way
PHOENIX (AP) -- Two of the top power pitchers in the game squared off in Arizona, and neither was at his best.
Bradley R. Waage
MOTLEY -- Bradley R. Waage, 50, Motley, formerly of Anoka, died Monday, June 11, 2001, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Clifford Crowley
Clifford Crowley, 48, Pine River, died Sunday, June 10, at his residence.
Martha Zyvoloski
LITTLE FALLS -- Martha Zyvoloski, 105, Little Falls, died Monday, June 11, 2001, at St. Otto's Health Care Center in Little Falls.
Bush's growing pains
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A senator's defection. Public relations missteps. Foreign policy surprises. Five months in office, President Bush has suffered a series of setbacks knocking him off his confident stride.
Teen sex is not inevitable
The sex industry is a multi-billion dollar operation, if one includes pornography, much of cable TV (is that redundant?), pregnancy prevention devices (mislabeled ``birth control'') and virtually all contemporary magazines. It should then come as no surprise that the sex industry has a vested interest in recruiting new ``customers.'' Just as the tobacco companies must hook kids on cigarettes to survive, so must the sex industry need to hook teens on sex.
Sunday-morning savvy
It's deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness by now: When it comes to expressing himself, President George W. Bush is a Lone Star State Stiff. His verbal slip-ups are seized upon as evidence of a lack of intelligence. Whether the popular perception is rooted in truth no longer matters.
Open Forum
The House Omnibus Transportation Finance Bill that was passed on a straight party line vote by Republicans is a bad bill for rural Minnesota. It barely covers the inflationary cost for highways and transit and does not provide additional monies unless a constitutional amendment is passed.
State tourney time
The calendar reads June and the Brainerd High School Warriors have qualified for the state baseball tournament once again.
A simple solution - Dispatch Editorial
There are probably only a handful of people who truly understand Minnesota's tax system. A few of them are even legislators.
Personal politics
WASHINGTON--In the 1960s, the radicals' slogan was, "The personal is political." Now, there is increasingly strong evidence that making politics personal really works.
Painting the president green
At the rate he is visiting national parks they'll soon all be stomped to dust by the mob of day-tripping courtiers, bodyguards and media hyenas who are part of the movable White House that accompanies George W. Bush everywhere he travels.
North Central Motor Speedway
Results through June 9
Peddleboats among CBIR attractions
The possibility of renting peddleboats at the Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway and Resort is just one of the many additions to the raceway this summer.
Strong's crew
Jack Strong (left) stood by his 1951 Studebaker four-door racer with Bob Sikes and his father, Orvan, at North Central Motor Speedway in this photograph taken in 1961.
'Lights on' brushed off by Ventura
ST. PAUL -- With the property tax changes he has long sought within reach, Gov. Jesse Ventura hinted Tuesday that he might veto a so-called "lights on" budget even if legislators decide it's the only way out of their deadlock.
State briefs
APPLE VALLEY (AP) -- Authorities briefly evacuated six homes Wednesday morning after lightning apparently struck a gas line and caused a few minor fires.
State workers could be idled at last minute
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The work status of state employees in a threatened government shutdown might not be determined until hours before noncritical state functions would be suspended July 1, a state official said.
Brainerd wins 1-0 over New Ulm at tourney
The Brainerd Warriors Baseball team beat New Ulm 1-0 today at Midway Stadium in St. Paul in the Class 3A State Tournament.
Mighty Gulls run into their Waterloo
WATERLOO, Iowa -- Waterloo rallied from a 5-0 deficit to force extra innings before stealing a 6-5, 14-inning marathon from Brainerd here Tuesday at Riverfront Stadium on Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier Night.
Kirkpatrick likes the outfield again
Dan Kirkpatrick was primarily a left fielder as he progressed through the various levels of the Brainerd baseball program.
Means carries 8-0 mark to state
To go unbeaten in any sport takes an equal dose of good fortune and ability.
State baseball tourney brings top teams together
Sometimes the polls are accurate.
Local sports briefs
SAUK RAPIDS -- The Little Falls American Legion fastpitch softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Sauk Rapids Tuesday.
Milton pitches Twins to 3-1 victory
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Eric Milton couldn't quite match Brad Radke but he did more than enough to help the Minnesota Twins win.
Radke's pitching, Minetkiewicz' hitting spark Twins
BYLINE3: MINNEAPOLIS -- Doug Mientkiewicz knows a thing or two about slumps, so he has a good idea how to get out of one.
Scoreboard
St. Cloud vs. Brainerd Mighty Gulls, Mills Field, 7:05 p.m.
Lowell School receives awards for best student art display at art fair
At the recent Student of the Month Awards Day, Lowell Elementary School was awarded a plaque and a $100 check for the best student art display at the annual Children's Art Fair held at Mississippi Horizons School this spring.
Heartland Symphony to hold annual meeting
The Heartland Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual membership meeting and election of new directors to the board Monday at The Fort Steakhouse, located on Highway 371 between Brainerd and Little Falls.
Auditions for 'Aladdin and His Magic Lamp' set June 25 in Crosby
CROSBY -- Crosby-Ironton Community Education announces auditions for Prairie Fire Children's Theatre's original musical production of the exotic classic, "Aladdin and His Magic Lamp."
Author and tree farmer to speak at Brainerd library
Robert Treuer, author, independent scholar and tree farmer, will speak from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the "brown bag lunch" in the Brainerd Public Library large meeting room.
American Celebration to offer week's worth of activities
Brainerd's weeklong July 4th celebration will be "bigger and better than ever" with additional events and an extra day at week's end, according to the principal organizer.
Piano recital
The following students of Sue Kavanaugh presented a piano recital recently in the Franklin Junior High School auditorium: Sarah Dens (front, left), Kassi Kavanaugh, Tiffany Klang (second row, left
Tempo tidbits
Brainerd alum Tom Schmid has been offered the leading role in a "Jekyll & Hyde" production at Westchester Broadway Theatre in Westchester, N.Y., but acceptance would mean leaving Broadway's "Annie Get Your Gun," the actor-singer said in an e-mail last week.
Sister power
Heads up! Class is in session, with Maripat Donovan's "Late Nite Catechism," a critically acclaimed one-woman national touring show that will take you back to your 1950s religious training experiences.
Tickets remain for 'Late Night Catechism'
Ticket sales for today's local performance of "Late Nite Catechism" -- a national touring stage production -- are lagging behind expectations, but organizers are hoping for a last-minute crush of sales at the gate.
Warnberg to perform Sunday in Little Falls Concert in the Park series
LITTLE FALLS -- Musician Charles Warnberg, a veteran of Little Falls community theater productions, will perform Sunday in the Concerts in the Park series.
Taste of Minnesota to feature diverse entertainment schedule
ST. PAUL -- One of Minnesota's largest free festivals will feature the most diversified entertainment lineups in its 19-year history, according to A Taste of Minnesota promoters.
Lakes Area Artists to show, sell works
BREEZY POINT -- The Lakes Area Artists' sixth annual exhibition and sale will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23, as well as 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Breezy Point City Hall.
Best music
Weekly charts for the nation's best-selling recorded music as they appear in this week's Billboard magazine.
Fourth of July events
5 p.m. -- Picnic for developmentally disabled adults, Camp Confidence.
Viking Games, Trade Fair slated in Crosby
CROSBY -- "The Crazy Viking" of Minnesota football fame is expanding his domain this weekend with the first Viking Games and Trade Fair at Yawkey Park in Crosby.
Judy Garland Festival on tap in Grand Rapids
Tourism events around Minnesota, as provided by the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For more information, visit http://www.exploreminnesota.com or call (800) 657-3700 or (651) 296-5029 in the Twin Cities area.
Sixth-graders lead art tour at Central Lakes College
Fourteen sixth-graders at Mississippi Horizons School in Brainerd served as docents to guide classmates on a tour of the more than $200,000 in public art displayed at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
Entertainment guide
Live music
Picasso meets Einstein in Steve Martin comedy to be staged at CLC
A chance encounter between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein in a Paris bistro provides the grist for the comedic drama that opens Central Lakes College's summer theater season next week.
More than 540 women view summer fashions at Nisswa Women's Club fund-raising event
EAST GULL LAKE -- The Nisswa Women's Club recently presented its 18th annual summer fashion show to more than 540 women at Madden's Town Hall.
Area briefs
HACKENSACK -- The fifth annual Sweetheart Canoe Derby will be Saturday and Sunday in Hackensack.
Camp lodge to benefit families with special needs
CROSSLAKE -- A new family lodge/retreat center began serving families Monday at Camp Knutson near Crosslake.
Sunny pals
Weather drawing by Briana Kruize of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for North Dakota...
Flash flood watch today for most of the eastern third...
Minnesota state forecast...
Flash flood watch northwest today...
The Weather Elsewhere
Wednesday
Iowa state forecast
This morning...Scattered showers and thunderstorms ending far north...Otherwise partly to mostly sunny... This afternoon...A chance of showers and thunderstorms...Except dry southeast third. Highs in the upper 70s northwest to mid 90s southeast.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Periods of showers and thunderstorms northwest...A chance northeast. Partly to mostly sunny and warm and humid elsewhere. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s far north...To lower 90s south.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Thunderstorms east ending this morning. Otherwise a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the 50s northwest to the 80s far southeast.
Names and faces
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Don't fit Eric Clapton for that gold watch yet.
Contract a good way to drive home responsibilities
DEAR ABBY: Please reprint your advice and driving contract for parents who have a teen-ager who wants to borrow the car. I would like to use it as a contract between my newly licensed daughter and us. Thank you. - KAREN EAGLESON, NEPEAN, ONTARIO, CANADA
Bush in Sweden to defend refection of Kyoto treaty
GOTEBORG, Sweden (AP) -- President Bush on Thursday parted ways with much of Europe over climate change, maintaining his opposition to a global warming treaty but pledging to seek "new channels of cooperation" on the issue.
Philippine president threatens rebels
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP) -- The Philippines' president promised a "long and bloody war" against Muslim rebels who claim to have beheaded an American hostage -- a claim questioned by the military.
Israel, Palestinians accept U.S. truce plan
JERUSALEM -- CIA chief George Tenet on Wednesday brought together senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials to begin implementing a U.S.-brokered truce the two sides have grudgingly accepted.