Tuesday, July 1, 2008
EXTRA CREDIT
The following students were named to the spring semester dean's list at the University of Minnesota: Amy Matteson, Soraya Hills, Jennifer Dens, Jarid Johnson, Johnathan Valesano, Brainerd; Ryan Browning, Baxter; Jacqueline Claypool, Crosslake; Elizabeth Eisler, Celina Dobson, East Gull Lake; Ashley Hillstrom, Nisswa.
BIRTH
Jason and Laura Melin, Deerwood, a boy, Alexander Jason, 5 pounds, 10 ounces, June 12, 2008. Grandparents are Larry and Jane Lockwood, and Tom and Val Melin. Great-grandparents are Dorothy Lockwood, Isabel Melin and Orvus and Aileen Benitt.
Correction
A Page 6A courts listing in Sunday's Dispatch incorrectly stated Kenneth Charles Stachowski, 45, Crosby, was sentenced recently in Crow Wing County District Court for gross misdemeanor DWI. The court listing should have stated Stachowski was sentenced for gross misdemeanor driving after license cancellation.
Cass court
WALKER - The following appeared recently in Cass County District Court:
No public transit on Independence Day
Brainerd and Crow Wing Public Transit (Dial-a-Ride) will not operate Friday in observance of Independence Day.
Crow Wing court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
POLICE BLOTTER
BURGLARIES - Sharon Klein, 200 block of Southwest Fourth Street, Sunday reported her apartment broken into.
BIRTHS
Joshua Fields and Sarah Heikkenen, Baxter, a boy, Benjamin David Fields, 8 pounds, 13 ounces, June 16, 2008. Grandparents are Tate and Holly Heikkenen, Brainerd, and Troy and Debbie Fields, Brainerd.
POLICE BLOTTER
ASSAULTS - A female, 600 block of James Street, Friday reported being assaulted outside a residence by a man who was arrested for second degree assault, kidnapping and violation of an order for protection.
Pillager teen injured in ATV crash
Elijah Ladue, 15, of Pillager, was injured when he was thrown from an all-terrain vehicle about 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Two arrested for burglaries in Wadena, Cass counties
PINE RIVER - Two people have been arrested following a string of burglaries in Wadena and Cass counties.
Overheard
"I feel like I could collapse right now."
CALENDAR OF FUN ON 4TH
BRAINERD/BAXTER
Survey of online service to help CLC meet demand
A survey of college students who use online services gives Central Lakes College good marks.
Red, white and Blues
They might as well be called the Blues Family. Our local Blues Brothers tribute band - a staple in the Brainerd and Nisswa parades for 15 years - is a collection of 15 friends and relatives who stumbled upon a great excuse to see each other every Fourth of July.
AREA MCA-II TESTING RESULTS
Here's a look at the MCA-II testing results for lakes area school districts released Monday by the Minnesota Department of Education:
Missing Nisswa woman returns to her home
A 71-year-old Nisswa woman who had been reported missing Saturday night when she didn't return to her Gull Lake home from the Twin Cities returned home late Sunday night.
Most Brainerd dist. students succeeded
Most Brainerd students fared well on the MCA-II tests, particularly Riverside Elementary's 95 third-graders, who all achieved proficiency in both reading and math.
Backyard fireworks gain power and popularity
For backyard patriots, the rockets available this Fourth of July are flashier, more creative and louder than ever before.
Woman reported missing
LAKE SHORE - A 71-year-old old woman was reported missing by family members Saturday after she failed to show up at her Gull Lake home, the Cass County Sheriff's Department reported.
Overheard
"It's like eating an elephant - you've got to eat it one bite at a time."
Arena panel breaks the ice
While Minnesota Hockey Camp skaters pushed through drills on the ice below, members of the newly formed arena oversight committee held their first meeting in an upstairs conference room Monday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center.
LF-based Guard unit builds outposts for new Iraq strategy
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Building outposts in dangerous neighborhoods in Iraq has been a Minnesota National Guard unit's mission for the past eight months.
BHS principal accepts post in Brazil
Erich Heise, Brainerd High School principal, is heading to Brazil.
FIREWORKS AND THE 4TH
NEW YORK - Shawn O'Dierno's rescued Doberman was a certified therapy dog who could help soothe patients and tolerated the sounds of dropped hospital equipment, loud arguments or crying visitors. But while Reid coped with the stress of a hospital room, he couldn't handle fireworks.
LOCAL BRIEFS
The following are the results of the MCA-II results for Crosby-Ironton seventh-, eighth-, 10th- and 11th-grades, which were inadvertently omitted in Monday's paper:
Fun and games during the Right Friends Picnic at the Confidence Learning Center
Lonnie MacFarlane of Aitkin worked his way under the limbo pole Monday during the Right Friends Picnic at the Confidence Learning Center. The picnic is part of the Fourth of July festivities in the Lakes Area. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Report cards in
School's out for summer, but the report cards are in.
This was Brainerd
JULY 1 - 80 years ago (1928) - A new firm under the management of Clifton Richards and Miles Hall has entered the confectionery business on the corner of Kingwood Street and Sixth Street opposite from the Standard Oil station.
Merry mascot
Shane Johnson may have a second physical look, but he only needs one personality.
On birthday, Rep. Howes gets party endorsement
It was the perfect birthday president for a veteran politician.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 30 - 80 years ago (1928) - Pike and pickerel fishing are good around Brainerd and many fine catches of bass are being made. Ike Miller, 12 years old, caught a northern pike in Big Pelican Lake weighing 20.5 pounds.
Emily Wyman crowned Miss Brainerd Lakes
An array of sparkling gowns, talents, personalities and ambitions lit up Tornstrom Auditorium Saturday night at the Miss Brainerd Lakes Scholarship Pageant.
Miss Brainerd Lakes pageant offers early start on festivities
Antje Anderson, one of the contestants participating in Saturday's Miss Brainerd Lakes Scholarship Program, performed a lyrical dance to Elisa's "Dancing" at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Hillar Pilli
BAXTER - Hillar Pilli, 80, of Baxter, died at his home, June 30, 2008. Services for Hillar will be noon Thursday, July 3, 2008, at the Lakewood Chapel in Minneapolis. Friends may gather one hour prior services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Diane K. Laucamp
TAMARACK - Diane K. Laucamp, age 60, of Tamarack, on Saturday, June 28, 2008, lost her battle with ovarian and peritoneal cancer after a three year courageous struggle at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.
Josephine Matten
Josephine Matten, 69, Brainerd, passed away on Saturday, June 28, 2008, at her home in Brainerd.
Randy G. Brittan
CROSSLAKE - Randy Gene Brittan, 52, of Crosslake, Minn., formerly of Maple Grove, Minn., went to be with Jesus on Saturday June 28, 2008, after a short battle with lung cancer.
Randy Brittan
CROSSLAKE - Randy Brittan, age 52, of Crosslake, died Saturday, June 28, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Marilyn Torkelson
BAXTER - Marilyn Torkelson, age 83, resident of Baxter, Minn., former longtime resident of Channahon, Ill., died Friday, June 27, 2008, in Brainerd. She was born Sept. 7, 1924, in Yorkville, Ill., to Barney and Anna (Fatland) Enger.
Harold O. Aker
AITKIN - Harold O. Aker, age 92, of Aitkin, formerly of Coon Rapids, Thief River Falls and Crookston, Minn., died Friday, June 27, 2008, at Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Lorena Kristofferson
Lorena Kristofferson, 93, lifelong resident of Brainerd/Baxter area, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008. Lorena was born on Feb. 17, 1915, in Brainerd, to Carl and Emilie (Roxberg) Fryklind.
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.
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.
Eleanor Chmielewski
LITTLE FALLS - Eleanor Chmielewski, age 85, of Little Falls, formerly of Harding, Minn., passed away Thursday, June 26, 2008, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn.
Virginia S. Briggs
TUCSON, Ariz. - Virginia S. Briggs, age 73, resident of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Nisswa, died Thursday, June 26, 2008, in Tucson.
Agnes Houn
PIERZ - Agnes Houn, 92-year-old resident of Pierz, Minn., died Sunday, June 29, at the Pierz Villa Nursing Home in Pierz, Minn.
Josephine Matten
Josephine Matten, 69, Brainerd, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2008, at her home in Brainerd. She was born in Kildeer, N.D., on April 18, 1939, to Martin and Susan Ann (Leiss) Bosch.
Erma C. Weinhandl
Erma C. (Pate) Weinhandl, age 91, of Brainerd, died on Sunday, June 29, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Open Forum
A delightful young lady from beautiful Pine River was excited to see some good news on the front page of the Dispatch for a change. It somewhat offset the June 22 headline that read: "Ex-aide says Bush must blame himself for mistrust." The ensuing article told of how an incompetent malcontent told a large panel of incompetent congresspersons that he had a book for sale and that stabbing President Bush in the back was what Bush deserved. Other than that, Scott McClellan had little or no knowledge that would advance the House Judiciary Committee's probe into the leak of CIA file clerk, Valerie Plame's identity. The headline led you to believe that late-breaking and shocking news was being provided when in fact the Plame flame had died out months ago.
'Dumbing down' speeches
WASHINGTON - People campaign for the presidency by talking their heads off. By the time the winner reaches the White House, the habit is so ingrained that it is impossible to shake.
Open Forum
GI benefits only appear to be the issue between Senators McCain and Webb. The real issue is their respective visions for the future of our military.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
VOX POP
Thursday I read the front page article about the Little Falls shooting. When I got to the continuation on Page 6 and read, "He ordered that the American Flag fly at half-staff for three days." I was shocked and offended.
AREA SHORTS
The first Brainerd Downhill Drags Soap Box Derby of the season took place Saturday at the Brainerd Area Civic Center parking lot.
Brainerd sweeps Sauk Rapids
Alex Rohde's solo home run helped the Brainerd VFW baseball team to defeat Sauk Rapids 6-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Monday.
Woodchucks chuck Thunder
About the last thing the Brainerd Blue Thunder wanted to do was open a crucial 10-game home stand with a losing effort.
Aitkin, Bemidji split pair
AITKIN - The Aitkin River Hawks and the Bemidji Blue Ox split an Itasca League amateur baseball doubleheader Sunday.
S-M takes two from Menahga
STAPLES - Staples-Motley swept a VFW baseball doubleheader from Menahga on Monday.
Lastrup finishes regular season with perfect slate
PIERZ - The Lastrup Lakers completed a perfect regular season with a 10-6 win over the Pierz Bulldogs Sunday.
Vaughn's homer helps loggers chop
down Brainerd
LA CROSSE, Wis. - Cory Vaughn smacked a three-run home run in the fifth inning to muscle the La Crosse Loggers to a 6-2 Northwoods League victory over the Brainerd Blue Thunder Sunday.
Germain powers Lightning sweep
SEBEKA - Mark Germain finished 3-for-3 with a double, home run and six RBIs to lead the Lakes Area Lightning to a 12-2 game one victory over Sebeka Sunday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Schaible helps Nisswa split
LITTLE FALLS - Kyle Schaible pitched a complete game as Nisswa defeated Little Falls 8-4 in the second game of a Legion baseball doubleheader Monday.
Former Warrior Valesano is Outstate defensive MVP
Mike Valesano had a performance worthy of an all-star.
Up, up and away
Chuck Lofgren got in a qualifying run before the rain fell Friday at Brainerd International Raceway during the Pleasureland RV Center Show and Go. The event ended Sunday. Barry Bergeron
Bronco, Pony all-star rosters announced
The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department will host its Midsummer Classics on Monday at Bane Park.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Slight chance of thunderstorms far north in
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s northeast to the middle
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Sunny...Then becoming partly cloudy. A slight chance of thunderstorms west. Breezy southeast. Highs in the upper 80s to mid 90s.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Sunny. Highs 85 to 95.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. A slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
Water sports
Weather drawing by Nick Berens of Ms. Hemstad's third-grade class at Baxter school.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Sunny. Highs 80 to 90.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Sunny. Highs mainly in the 80s.
I love July!
Weather drawing by Gabrielle Speliopoulos of Mrs. Gessell's first-grade class at Riverside school.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 75 to 80. Slightly cooler near the great lakes.