Friday, June 20, 2008
Out of the picture?
DETROIT - Even in northern Wisconsin, where midsize sport utility vehicles are as common as deer, people are starting to abandon them because of high gasoline prices.
SHORTS
AITKIN - The Dialogue with the Arts series will present Emmy-winning cartoonist Joel Seibel at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin.
Completely random slice of pop culture
This is going to sound kind of random, but "Swingtown" (9 p.m. Thursdays on CBS) is exactly the type of show I like to watch in the summer. Away from the glare of the fall spotlight, expectations are lower, and a lot of pleasant surprises have emerged in past summers.
Bishop covers old ground effectively
A few years ago, Chuck Klosterman wrote a great column in Spin magazine in which he picked the 10 most accurately rated bands of all time. His theory was that most musicians are either underrated or overrated, but every now and then, one is rated exactly right (Van Halen topped his list).
Best bets
THURSDAY-SUNDAY:
Oooohs 'Oz'
One-hundred-eight years ago, people couldn't get enough of L. Frank Baum's "Wizard of Oz" stories and characters. Central Lakes College Theatre director Dennis Lamberson hopes that's still true today - the Brainerd college will stage the musical 12 times starting Tuesday.
A WEEK OF ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Live music
Going bananas over salad
As gardens produce fresh leaf lettuce this time of year, my mouth waters for Banana Lettuce Tossed Salad.
POLICE BLOTTER
INVESTIGATION - A woman called police Wednesday from a residence at the 2000 block of South Sixth Street saying a person she knows threw water balloons at her. The officer advised her to limit her contact with the person if possible.
BIRTHS
Kevin and Tanya Pietz, Aitkin, a boy, Carter Richard, 10 pounds, 5.7 ounces, June 16, 2008. Grandparents are Greg and Cathie Pearson, Aitkin, and Martin and Connie Pietz, Rapid City, S.D.
Crow Wing court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
SENIOR CALENDAR
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
POLICE BLOTTER
ASSAULT - Arrested an 18-year-old man for third-degree assault for assaulting another 18-year-old man at 5:09 p.m. Tuesday at a residence at 11th Street South and Laurel Street. The suspect is being held in the Crow Wing County jail.
BIRTHS
Doug and Lisa (Boser) Kloss, Pierz, a boy, Caden Kenneth, 7 pounds, 13 ounces, June 18, 2008. Grandparents are Ken and Eileen Kloss, Pierz, and Alvin and Marilyn Boser, Pierz.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Shane M. Dorschner, 27, Pillager, and Sarah M. Thesing, 26, Brainerd.
CenterPoint Energy offers tips to prepare for higher energy costs
CenterPoint Energy estimates that, under current market conditions and assuming normal weather conditions, the average residential customer bill may increase 35 to 45 percent from last year. A customer who paid $1,000 could see an increase to $1,400 annually.
Outdoor spaces are in
NISSWA - John and Mary Jo Schmitt of rural Nisswa can think of nothing more enjoyable than entertaining family and friends in the summer at their home on Gladstone Lake.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Janie Lapka, a broker associate of Coldwell Banker Burnet based in St. Cloud, recently was awarded the Certified Residential Specialist Designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, a not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
'Hummmmmmmmmm'
The Brainerd chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is low on numbers and Judd Orff wants to help.
People urged to EAT for ag center
Get ready, it's time to EAT.
Foundation awards grants
LITTLE FALLS - The Initiative Foundation announced that it has awarded 26 community grants totaling $80,000.
BNSF employees to ride in passenger train
A vintage BNSF Railway locomotive and 13 passenger cars will pull into Brainerd early Thursday morning with a tour and rides scheduled for railroad employees and their families.
All aboard!
Emma and Jake Swanson with their grandparents, Tom and Gayle Raunio, boarded the Staples-bound BNSF special employee appreciation passenger train in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Boy hospitalized after being pulled from water
PILLAGER - A 2-year-old Pillager boy was airlifted to St. Cloud Hospital Wednesday night after being found submerged in about 18 inches of water, the Cass County Sheriff's Department reported.
Pine River's promoter dies
A prominent Pine River woman who spent most of her life promoting the city that she loved died Tuesday.
A chopper at the jammed junction
North AirCare landed on a blocked off part of eastbound Highway 210 Friday afternoon after a two-vehicle collision occurred. An 11-year-old girl was airlifted to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale while the three injured adults were transported by ambulance to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Just jammin'
The bass player for Diamond Rio performed for the crowd Thursday at Moondance Jammin Country Fest. Warm weather greeted the second annual country music festival at Moondance Ranch near Walker.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Boy, 2, found in area creek
A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized Wednesday after being submerged in a creek near his family's home in the Bigwater housing addition west of Pillager.
Economy tailspin isn't increasing crime here
Increased costs for gas and food coupled with a tight economy have apparently not resulted in more crimes, area law enforcement officials said.
Four injured in wreck at 210-371 junction
BAXTER - Four people were injured in a two-vehicle collision Thursday afternoon at Highway 371 and Highway 210 in Baxter.
Levy limits may mean a reduction in county employees
REMER - Declining revenue sources and state-imposed 3.9 percent property tax levy limits could mean Cass County will have to reduce staff by up to 16.3 positions or 7 percent by 2009, County Administrator Robert Yochum told the county board Tuesday.
Railroad makes it a special day for employees
The BNSF Railway Special headed west Thursday afternoon through Baxter. The special passenger train ride was an appreciation gesture by the railroad for BNSF employees and their families. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Overheard
"There is no excuse for delay."
Issues involving junkyard near Pine River discussed
REMER - Paul Fairbanks, Cass County planner and solid waste officer, reported Tuesday on progress toward resolving issues at a junkyard two miles north of Pine River.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 19 - 40 years ago (1968) - Final preparations for bringing Direct Distance Dialing service to Brainerd and Nisswa are now being made by Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Violations appear to be on the upswing
WALKER - Cass County Probation has seen a significant increase in probation violations this decade compared with the 1990s, according to the probation department's annual report to Cass County judges and the county board.
Overheard
"It's the same old rules: Don't give out information, don't hand out money and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
Trip to D.C. changes commissioner's mind
REMER - Cass County Board Chair Jeff Peterson said he was skeptical about whether the county should pay for one board member and County Engineer David Enblom to go to Washington, D.C., to lobby for federal highway funds.
LOCAL BRIEFS
A Region Five Development Commission public hearing on fiscal year 2009 work program and budget will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the Region Five Development Commission office, 403 Prairie Ave. N.E., Staples.
Carrying a torch for Special Olympics
Area law enforcement personnel ran east Wednesday on Highway 210 in Baxter marking the 20th anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 20 - 40 years ago (1968) - The parking lot program in downtown Brainerd is to be financed partly by the property owners themselves and partly by receipts from parking meters located in the lots.
Twyla M. Feierabend
BARROWS - Twyla May Feierabend, 47, a resident of Barrows, passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
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.
Lawrence Allen
BAXTER - Lawrence Allen, of Baxter, died at his home Tuesday, June 17, 2008. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Sharon M. Williams
Sharon Marlene Williams, 67, Brainerd, passed away after a long illness on Monday, June 16, 2008, at her home. She was born June 3, 1941, in Perham to Alvin and Myrtle (Watson) Williams. Sharon was raised in Perham and moved to Brainerd in 1958 and graduated from Washington High School. She was an active, lifetime member of the Eagles Club. She enjoyed family, friends and life.
Marc S. Harris
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Marc Stanley Harris, 52, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died at his home Monday, June 16, 2008. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter.
Albert Holtan Jr.
Albert "Bert" Nolan Holtan Jr., 72, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. A memorial service for Bert will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, 2008, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with the Rev. Michael Small officiating.
Marie Tougas
Marie Tougas, age 74, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, June 19, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.
Sharon M. Williams
Sharon M. Williams, 67, Brainerd, passed away after a long illness on Monday, June 16, 2008, at her home.
Kenneth E. Pietz
KELLOGG, Iowa - Kenneth E. Pietz, 62, of Kellogg, Iowa, and formerly of Brainerd, died June 13, 2008, at his home.
Estelle M. Severin
AITKIN - Estelle M. Severin, 81, of Aitkin, died Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at Aicota Health Care Center, Aitkin.
Joseph Straka
Joseph Straka, age 91, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at the VA Hospital in St. Cloud.
Joseph P. Straka
Joseph Paul Straka, age 91, resident of Brainerd, passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at St. Cloud Veterans Home. He was born on June 12, 1917, in Brainerd to Frank and Mary Straka.
Mark 'Morrie' Miller
LITTLE FALLS - Mark "Morrie" Miller, 75-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Thursday, June 19, 2008, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Minn. Arrangements are pending with the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls, Minn.
Amanda E. Amy
PINE RIVER - Amanda Elizabeth Amy, 92, Pine River, died peacefully Tuesday morning, June 17, 2008, at her home where she had been cared for by family and Heartland Hospice, Brainerd. Amanda was born March 4, 1916, in Sioux Falls, S.D., and adopted at 2 weeks by Thomas and Alice Tufteland.
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.
Paul Wilkins
STAPLES - Paul Wilkins, 59, of Staples, passed away June 17, 2008, at St. Cloud, Minn. Services for Paul will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Don Wagner officiating. A visitation will be held Thursday, June 19, 2008, from 4-7 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 20, 2008 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples, Minn.
Debra A. DeChaine
LINWOOD TOWNSHIP - Debra A. DeChaine, age 49, of Linwood Township, passed away June 18, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family and friends reciting the Our Father.
Luke Mrugala
CHUGIAK, Alaska - Luke Mrugala, 13, of Chugiak, Alaska, grandson of Homer and Yvonne Cronquist, Brainerd, great-grandson of Gertrude Hughes, Brainerd, passed away June 14, 2008, as the result of a motocross bike accident that occurred during a race in Homer, Alaska. Luke loved his dirt bike and racing and played hockey.
Albert Holtan
Albert Holtan, 72, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Open Forum
I would like to add my two cents worth to the wonderful coverage the Dispatch gave us Thursday about the sad plight we have about members.
VOX POP
Editor's note: In our continuing effort to provide tourist information for the visitors who spend their precious gas money to come visit our beautiful lakes area and try to catch what few fish Walleye-What's-His-Name hasn't already caught (and released) (and bragged about), the Vox Pop Department of Hospitality, in cooperation with the Vox Pop Department of Public Safety and the Vox Pop Department of Civil Obedience, wishes to inform visitors that the starting line for Brainerd International Raceway is not Sixth and Buffalo Hills Lane. BIR is a few miles farther north on Highway 371.
Domestic violence: Not just men
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama's recent call for responsible fatherhood is welcome, overdue - and misleadingly incomplete.
OUR OPINION: JOURNALISM
The untimely death of longtime NBC newsman Tim Russert last week evoked a tremendous outpouring of emotion from a variety of sources. Heartfelt tributes were heard from his media colleagues, from Washington, D.C.'s power brokers and from ordinary viewers who connected with the working class roots of the plain-spoken Russert.
Scalia's overheated rhetoric
Justice Antonin Scalia has been a controversial voice of fidelity to the text of the Constitution and a forceful advocate for conservatism throughout his 22 years on the U.S. Supreme Court. Yet last Thursday, his dissent in a key ruling in the war on terrorism showed him at his worst.
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.
Save Ironton's water tower
"Ironton ponders future of its old water tower."
McCain's foreign policy strains
The Bush administration has become legendary for infighting over foreign policy. But don't assume that the Republican bickering over how to deal with the world ends when President Bush steps down.
OTHER OPINION: KOREA
There is no reason for South Koreans to fear beef from the United States. Seoul banned it five years ago after U.S. officials confirmed a case of mad-cow disease in an American herd. But the health risk, never great, has long since faded; Americans have been consuming meat with no mad-cow-related problems, and the World Organization for Animal Health declared U.S. beef fit for consumption last September. This fulfilled Seoul's final condition for lifting the ban, and, in April, newly elected President Lee Myung-bak announced that it would indeed end.
OUR OPINION: METH LABS
When signs indicating the decay of society are all around us, it's appropriate to take note when significant progress is accomplished.
CHURCH NEWS
DULUTH - Twenty-seven Brainerd area high school students recently attended Discipleship Week at the College of St. Scholastica. The four-day retreat was sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Duluth and NET (National Evangelization Team) Ministries, a national organization based in St. Paul.
Message of rescue changing to one of a retreat center for pastors
After 33 years and more than 5,000 presentations, Dave and Barb Anderson's ministry is changing.
Brainerd Lakes Area Churches
Brainerd
St. Cloud slips by Bees
in amateur baseball
Nate Smolke, Grant Eller and Tim Martin each had two hits, but the St. Cloud Rosters defeated the Brainerd Bees 5-3 Wednesday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
They keep running to conquer cancer
"Can't Stop Won't Stop"
Staples smashes Verndale behind Riewer's pitching
STAPLES - Staples' starter Jordan Riewer struck out nine, walked three and allowed two hits for an 11-0 victory over Verndale Thursday.
Valesano to face the best
To play with and against the best is the aspiration of every athlete.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Blue Thunder quiet MoonDogs
MANKATO - Mitch Caster nailed a two-run homer leading to a four-run first inning and a 10-3 Brainerd Blue Thunder victory over the Mankato MoonDogs Thursday.
Nisswa erupts in third inning
PEQUOT LAKES - The Nisswa Legion team used a seven-run third inning keyed by a Matt Lambrect's two-run double to defeat Crosslake-Pequot Lakes 12-3 Wednesday.
Blue Thunder find hits but Beetles discover more power
ALEXANDRIA - The Brainerd Blue Thunder busted out of a nearly season long hitting slump with 12 hits and six runs but it was not enough to overcome four Alexandia Beetle home runs as the Thunder lost 11-6 Wednesday in Northwoods League action.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms in the
The sun's warm rays
Weather drawing by Jodyn Schindler in the Baxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly sunny in the morning...Then becoming partly cloudy.
State forecast for Minnesota
Tonight...Partly cloudy. Slight chance of thunderstorms west
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy with a slight chance of morning thunderstorms southwest...Then a chance of afternoon thunderstorms south and east. Highs in the lower to mid 80s.
State forecast for Iowa
Tonight...Partly cloudy. Scattered thunderstorms. Lows in the 50s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy. Chance of thunderstorms...Mainly in the afternoon except for the southwest. Highs from the upper 70s north...To the mid 80s south.
Wisconsin state forecast
Tonight...Partly cloudy far east...Otherwise mostly clear. Lows from the upper 30s far north...To the lower 50s far south.
Shooting hoops
Weather drawing by Josiah Imgrund in the Riverside first grade of Mrs. Gessell.
State forecast for N.D.
Rest of tonight...Partly cloudy northwest. Partly to mostly cloudy
State forecast for S.D.
Severe thunderstorm watch west until 8 pm mdt...
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Chance of thunderstorms. Highs 81 to 86.