Tuesday, June 24, 2008
EXTRA CREDIT
Sarah Walker, Pine River, was named to the dean's list at Anderson University, Anderson, Ind.
POLICE BLOTTER
CRASHES - No injuries were reported in a two-vehicle collision at 2:54 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Drive and McKay Road.
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Rally for the Rangers community picnic will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Crosby Eye Clinic lawn, 1 Third Ave. N.E., Crosby. The picnic will benefit Crosby-Ironton schools. Cost is $5 for lunch and $3 for a root beer float.
Pillager boy who fell in creek last week dies
Blair Hafften, the 2-year-old Pillager boy hospitalized last week after being submerged in a creek near his home, died Sunday at a Twin Cities hospital.
From the archives: Gordon Wheeler's legal trouble
$5M lawsuit dismissed against Morrison County, three county officials - 02/29/08
Weekend accidents kill three
Two vehicle crashes claimed the lives of three people - a 13-year-old boy in one, a mother and son in the other - Sunday in Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties, the State Patrol reported.
Teen gets early start at being a lake monitor
FORT RIPLEY - Typical teenager?
3 die in crashes
Two vehicle crashes claimed the lives of three people - a 13-year-old boy in one, a mother and son in the other - Sunday in Aitkin and Mille Lacs counties, the State Patrol reported.
Overheard
"I was always a lawbreaker and a kind of outlaw rebel."
BETTER TIMES
Minnesota farmers in 2007 saw their best profits in more than 30 years, but thanks to an extended drought central Minnesota farmers missed out on much of that success.
Morrison County prosecutor: 'It's been the worst day of my career'
Five Morrison County commissioners sat at a rounded table in the board's meeting room this morning- held hostage by a lone gunman who minutes later would be shot to death by law enforcement.
Gunman dead following shooting at Morrison County courthouse
A lone gunman was injured in a shooting this morning in the Morrison County Board room of the Morrison County Government Center, according to the Morrison County Sheriff's Department.
Festival has something for all
LITTLE FALLS - It was a perfect day for a Dam Festival in Little Falls on Saturday.
Pillager boy who fell in creek dies
Blair Hafften, the 2-year-old Pillager boy hospitalized last week after being submerged in a creek near his home, died Sunday at a Twin Cities hospital.
Overheard
"They worked for a cause bigger than themselves, worked to help people that most didn't even know."
This was Brainerd
JUNE 24 - 30 years ago (1978) - Final plans have been completed for the Johnny Inkslinger Celebration. The day's activities will begin with a 100-unit parade which will start at 1 p.m.
Little Falls Dam Festival is a crowd-pleaser
One of the popular floats at the Little Falls Dam Festival parade Saturday afternoon was the Lindbergh Lions train float. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Last of abuse charges against Palisade couple are dropped
AITKIN (AP) - The last remaining abuse charges against a former Palisade couple have been dropped, leading the defendants with more than $100,000 in lawyers bills they say could have been avoided if authorities had just done a better job of checking out allegations leveled by their daughter.
This was Brainerd
June 23 - 40 years ago (1968) - Brainerd's city council now seems to be moving in the right direction on providing more off-street parking for the downtown Brainerd.
Board is urged to call new levy referendum
CROSBY - A Crosby surgeon told Crosby-Ironton School Board members Monday that the board needs to consider asking voters again to pass an operating levy referendum.
Journal of missing television anchor mailed to newspaper
MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) - The personal journal of a missing television anchorwoman was mailed to the local newspaper from an unknown source and authorities are looking into the incident.
Ruth E. Smith
PINE RIVER - Ruth E. Smith, age 80, of Pine River, passed away late Saturday night at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Richard Rollins
MOTLEY - Richard Rollins, age 85, of Motley, passed away at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples on Friday, June 20.
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.
Vivian A. Warren
The visitation time listed in Sunday's paper for Vivian Warren was incorrect. The correct time of the visitation will be on Friday, June 27, from 5-8 p.m. with a Women of the Moose service at 7 p.m. at the Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Brainerd and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter.
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.
Blair Hafften
PILLAGER - Blair Allen James Hafften, 2, of Pillager, died Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services for Blair will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 26, 2008, at the Heritage Assembly of God Church in Baxter with the Rev. Mark Boone officiating. Friends are welcome to gather Wednesday evening from 5-7 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Interment will follow services at Baxter City Cemetery.
Marlys L. Sorg
PINE RIVER - Marlys Lillian (Wynn) Sorg, age 77, of Pine River, died of cancer Saturday, June 21, at the Good Samaritan Home in Pine River.
Bessie L. Engebretson
HILL CITY - Bessie L. Engebretson, 81, of Hill City, died Monday, June 23, 2008, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village, Brainerd.
John Remer
ISLE - John Remer, 13-year-old resident of Isle, Minn., passed away on June 22, 2008, in Isle, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wahkon, Minn. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel of Onamia.
Marc S. Harris
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Marc Stanley Harris, 52, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died at his home Monday, June 16, 2008. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, June 27, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Gabriel Waweru officiating.
Selma F. Herron
Selma F. Herron, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Saturday, June 21, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. She was born March 30, 1930, in Luxemburg, Minn., to Conrad and Magdelina Lemm.
Ruth E. 'Polly' Smith
Ruth E. "Polly" Smith, 80, of Brainerd, died Saturday, June 21, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd after a courageous battle with cancer. Polly was born July 6, 1927, in Brainerd, Minn., the daughter of Jefferson and Margaret (Carner) Hines. Services for Polly are scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with the Rev. Mark Whittemore officiating. Friends are welcome to gather one hour prior to services.
Eugene R. Olson
CROSBY - Eugene Roger Olson, age 78, of Crosby, Minn., died on June 20, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Selma F. Herron
Selma F. Herron, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Saturday, June 21, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Studying domestic dust-ups
WASHINGTON - The only thing more tedious than doing housework is reading about housework.
Open Forum
Monday, June 16, 2008, I attended the House K-12 Education Finance Committee Public Hearing held in Brainerd. As the hearing was called to order, it was stated that the intent of the hearing was to hear testimony H.F. 4178 (The New Minnesota Miracle), and that this was an official hearing of the Minnesota House of Representatives.
VOX POP
We are wondering why the city of Brainerd funds the cleanup for the north and northeast parts of town with tax dollars? The rest of Brainerd is excluded from this cleanup. We would like our part of town included also. This cleanup money comes from city funds and we think the entire city would benefit from a city-wide cleanup.
Open Forum
Michelle Bachman, Minnesota's Republican U.S. representative from the Twin Cities area, has picked up the banner for her party's attempt at creating an issue out of a non-issue. She is on television encouraging the U.S. House to pass legislation which would allow Big Oil to drill in the ANWR wilderness as well as increase offshore drilling.
Write your senators and representative
Sen. Norm Coleman
OUR OPINION: PROPERTY TAXES
In far too many Minnesota school districts educational programs and teaching staffs are being gutted. Almost 100 school districts conducted operating levy referendums last year, with many failing because residents couldn't stand an increased burden on their property taxes.
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.
Can voters trust Obama?
WASHINGTON - We are barely at the beginning of the long period in which most Americans will give their first serious scrutiny to the presidential candidates and decide whether Barack Obama or John McCain will get their vote.
Hoffman, Aitkin sweep Bagley
AITKIN - Chris Hoffman's two-run single keyed a four-run third inning as the Aitkin River Hawks defeated the Bagley Thundercats 5-2 in the first game of an Itasca League amateur baseball doubleheader Sunday
Freeport edges Eller, Bees
Grant Eller went 4-for-6 with two RBIs as the Brainerd Bees lost to Freeport 6-5 in 11 innings in amateur baseball Sunday.
Olson hopes puck dreams come true
Drew Olson delivered sizzling slap shots and crunching body checks against opponents in a three-year varsity career for the Brainerd Warriors hockey team.
Festival includes volleyball
Bob Holmes, The One-man Volleyball Team, entertained the crowd Saturday at the Little Falls Dam Festival. Bob takes on full teams of players and has won more than 16,400 games and lost fewer than 400 games since 1985. The Dam Festival gave him three more wins and one loss. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Area residents run at Grandma's
DULUTH - Several Brainerd lakes area residents were among the record 9,888 people who registered for Saturday's Grandma's Marathon.
Crash kills NHRA's Scott Kalitta
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) - Scott Kalitta died Saturday when his Funny Car burst into flames and crashed at the end of the track during the final round of qualifying for the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
LOCAL SPORTS SHORTS
Brainerd's Hannah McAllister placed sixth in the women's division of the William A. Irvin 5-kilometer run Saturday in Duluth.
Schumacher wins race, honors Kalitta
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (AP) - A day after Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta was killed in a qualifying accident, five-time world champion Tony Schumacher raced to his first Top Fuel win in 12 tries at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals.
Scoreboard
Area events
Stoltman first, Ruttger second in River Rat run
LITTLE FALLS - Jonathan Stoltman of Little Falls was first and Thomas Ruttger of Brainerd was runner-up in the River Rat 5-kilometer run Saturday.
Nisswa blanks Crosslake-Pequot Lakes
NISSWA - Nick Rardin stuck out 10 in seven innings and allowed just four hits as he shut out Crosslake-Pequot Lakes and led the Nisswa Legion team to a 5-0 victory Monday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Brainerd sophomores split
The Brainerd sophomore VFW baseball team split a doubleheader with the St. Cloud Blue on Monday.
Hines wins in Midwest Modified
BARROWS - Luke Hines overtook Ryan Kriese on lap 11 of the 20-lap feature and held off the rest of the challengers on his way to a podium finish in the Midwest Modified class on a rainy night at North Central Speedway on Saturday.
Lightning sweep Huntersville
The Lakes Area Lightning swept a Lake and Pine League doubleheader from Huntersville on Sunday.
Columbus drafts Brainerd's Drew Olson in 4th round
Brainerd High School defenseman Drew Olson was selected in the fourth round by the Columbus Blue Jackets in Saturday's NHL Entry Draft.
Larson whiffs 14 in Braves' win
PIERZ - Christian Larson struck out 14 and limited Pierz to two hits as the Brainerd Braves beat the Bulldogs 4-1 in Victory League amateur baseball Sunday.
Pettersen, Gedman lead Thunder
Adam Pettersen and Michael Gedman each had two hits as the Brainerd Blue Thunder beat the Duluth Huskies 6-5 in 10 innings Sunday in Northwoods League baseball at Mills Field.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Highs in the 70s. Cooler near the great lakes.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly sunny. Becoming breezy southwest and central. A
Get a kick out of summer
Weather drawing by Nickolas Berens in the Baxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy southeast early...Then becoming mostly sunny. Sunny to partly cloudy elsewhere. A chance of afternoon thunderstorms west. A few may be severe. Breezy west half. Highs mid 80s to lower 90s.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A good chance of thunderstorms
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly cloudy early...Then becoming partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms north. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms south in the afternoon. Highs from the mid 70s far north...To the mid 80s far southwest. Cooler along the great lakes.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 75 to 85.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy east to mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms central and west. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
Rain and sun
Weather drawing by Monica Holbrook of Mr. Perry's eighth-grade class at Forestview school.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and