Friday, July 6, 2007
Timbs duo to perform
STAPLES - Dawn and Gary Timbs will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Northern Pacific Park in Staples in the first Music in the Park concert of the summer.
'Ratatouille' sophisticated enough for adults
"Ratatouille" - This may be the first Pixar movie that is so advanced, so sophisticated, it doesnt feel like it was made for kids. On a fundamental level, sure, children will probably enjoy watching the adventures of a plucky Parisian rat as he leaves the colony to pursue his dream of becoming a gourmet chef. Theres some slapsticky physical comedy, and writer-director Brad Bird, the mastermind behind The Incredibles, keeps things going at a lively, engaging clip. But theres nothing silly or childlike about it. If you stop to think about it, the main character is experiencing an existential crisis: Stay with the family and sift through garbage, as his rodent ancestors have done for centuries, or risk loneliness, abject failure and worse - death - by chasing after a loftier goal? Heady stuff. Ratatouille is also visually wondrous in ways that are both lush and intricately detailed - in ways that seem to have been tailored more toward grown-up tastes and sensibilities. The plot may be a bit thin: The furry Remy (voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt) literally manipulates gangly garbage boy Linguini (Lou Romano), Cyrano de Bergerac-style, into whipping up his culinary concoctions in the kitchen of a once-revered restaurant. Blissfully, though, its free of gratuitous pop-culture references; Ratatouille is very much of our world but it never goes for the cheap, easy gag. Brian Dennehy, Peter OToole and Janeane Garofalo are among the strong vocal cast. G. 110 min. Three stars out of four.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
For week of July 5-11; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
ART SHORTS
CROSSLAKE - Paintings by members of the Crosslake Art Club are on display now through August at the Crosslake Community Center and Library, Crosslake City Hall and Breezy Point City Hall.
Could Harry die? It would make mythological sense
NEW YORK - Brace yourselves, Harry Potter fans. No matter how desperate you are for Harry to live, some experts in classic literature and mythology say that finishing off the young wizard would make sense - in a literary kind of way.
'Torch' author Strayed to speak at library
Cheryl Strayed is the author of Torch.
BEST BETS
FRIDAY-WEDNESDAY: theater
Seuss is on the loose at CLC Theatre
Seussical: The Musical" will go before the masses starting Thursday, but it has already won over one of the toughest critics in the Brainerd lakes area.
Preparing a diet-friendly fried fish dish
The satisfying crunch of deep-fried food is a rare indulgence for anyone trying to cut fat and calories.
If you don't make it sloppy, you're not making real sloppy joes
Real sloppy joe sandwiches should require a fork and knife.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Joshua J. Jares, 18, and Kelsie R. Moore, 16, both of Pillager.
D.J. makes the NBA
Staples-Motley High School graduate David Joerger has been hired by the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant coach.
CORRECTION
The Brainerd Dispatch incorrectly listed the dates for Isle Days as Saturday and Sunday as the result of incorrect information obtained from a Web site.
Teen identified in ATV fatality
REMER - The 16-year-old Minnetonka boy, who died in an all terrain vehicle crash about 11 p.m. Tuesday on a rural road near Thunder Lake, south of Remer, has been identified as Dalton H. Kleeberger, the Cass County Sheriff's Department reported.
BHS grads start business
Two Brainerd High School graduates plan to leave their distinctive mark in the community.
Are you ready?
Columnist Bill Marchel says its not too early for bowhunters to get ready for the deer season.
Teen dies in ATV crash
REMER - A 16-year-old Minnetonka boy died in an all terrain vehicle crash about 11 p.m. Tuesday on a rural road near Thunder Lake, south of Remer, the Cass County Sheriff's Department reported.
Firefighters respond to gas line cut
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a cut gas line at the 13000 block of Timberlane Drive in Baxter. The incident was reported at 9:26 a.m. Thursday.
Authorities seek public's help in case
The Brainerd Police Department is asking for the public's help in solving a case involving two vehicles that were stolen late Wednesday and early Thursday morning.
BIRTHS
Dale and Kimberly Wells, Staples, a girl, Kora Ann, 6 pounds, 8 ounces, June 22, 2007.
Something beautiful for everyone
DEERWOOD - There will be a little of everything and a lot of color at a self-guided garden tour on July 14 that will feature eight gardens in Crosby, Ironton, Deerwood and Aitkin.
HOUSING BRIEFS
BAXTER - Beth Hansen of Lake Country Builders was recently named an in-house interior designer at the company. Hansen, a Allied ASID interior designer who moved to the lakes area from the Twin Cities, has been with Lake Country Builders for seven years.
Hidden fragrances lend air of mystery
WASHINGTON - Most of us are aware of the lovely smells of such familiar flowers as lilacs, hyacinths and roses. But you can also bring fragrance to your garden using less obvious flowers and foliage.
What do you do to fix old terra-cotta tile blocks?
Q. The foundation of our house is made from old terra-cotta tile blocks. I'd like to resurface it. What's the best way to remove the old, cracked stuff in the joints?
This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1947) - Parking meters, 300 of them, recently installed in the Brainerd business district, went into use at 8 a.m. today.
AREA ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
Friday, July 6
This was Brainerd
40 years ago (1967) - Marv Johnson of the Highway Patrol here and Jim McComas of the Brainerd Police Department placed first in their respective classes at the pistol shoot here in conjunction with the Paul Bunyan Police Officers Association meeting.
Fun for kids at the Brainerd Fourth of July parade
Cody Shepherd cranked the siren while Brainerd Fire Chief Fred Underhill drove an antique fire engine Wednesday in the Brainerd Fourth of July Parade.
Crosslake Chautauqua to hold its first forum
CROSSLAKE - The Crosslake Chautauqua, a monthly forum to provide a wide range of educational experiences for area residents and visitors, will have its first forum July 11.
Mayor treated royally
In the 19 years Brainerd has been a Sister City to Leksand, Sweden, numerous Leksand residents have visited the lakes area on behalf of their city.
Patriots of all ages come out to cheer as the Crosby-Ironton parade rolls down the street
Sheena Savaloja of Kansas was given a hug by Deerwood clown "Tuti" Wednesday at the Crosby-Ironton Fourth of July parade.
Parade campers stake out spots
As he has for almost a decade, Ron Brusven staked out his spot for Brainerd's Fourth of July parade early.
Parade judging results announced
Results of judging of various Fourth of July parades were announced Thursday.
Lighting the sky with fire
Crowds of people lined the athletic field hills Wednesday night below Brainerd High School as fireworks began, ending the Fourth of July celebration in Brainerd.
PLCT's 'Lumberjacks' barks up the right tree
PEQUOT LAKES - There's no room for subtlety in "Lumberjacks in Love," but that's part of its charm. Pequot Lakes Community Theatre's summer musical features folks as broadly written as the northwoods where the story takes place, and the actors clearly have a blast playing their caricatures/characters.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
The steep rise in child poverty and growing number of uninsured children in Crow Wing County and across the state will be among the issues discussed at a "Kids Count Coffee" at 2 p.m. Thursday in Brainerd when officials from Children's Defense Fund Minnesota (CDF) outline findings from the 2007 Kids Count Data Book.
AREA ACTIVITIES CALENDAR
Friday, July 6
Cool spray offers relief from a hot day
With the temperature at parade time in Brainerd at 89 degrees Wednesday, a blast of cool water from the Nisswa Fire Department truck cooled Emily Jones.
Flags unfurled, bands play on as Pequot Lakes celebrates Fourth
The Pequot Lakes High School Band performed in Wednesday's Star and Stripes parade in Pequot Lakes.
BIG HOLE, BIG DETOUR
Motorists on Washington Street near the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd may want to consider alternate routes beginning Monday.
Barn burns north of Garrison
A barn, on Highway 18 north of Garrison, burned to the ground Thursday.
Father William McNiff
ONAMIA - Father William "Bill" McNiff, O.S.C., age 88, of Crosier Priorory in Onamia, Minn., passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 6, 2007, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Onamia, Minn. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. until the hour of service at the church on Friday. Interment will be Saturday morning in Crosier Cemetery, Onamia, Minn., and beginning with prayers at the church 9:30 a.m. followed by a procession to the cemetery.
James Blechinger
DEERWOOD - James Blechinger, age 66, of Deerwood, died Monday, July 2, 2007, at his home. A memorial open house for family and friends will be Sunday, July 8, at 2 p.m., at the Deerwood American Legion, Post No. 557.
Margaret M. Boyle
LITTLE FALLS - Margaret Mary (Young) Boyle, 87, a resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Friday June 29, 2007, at her home in Little Falls, Minn.
Joan Gard
PINE RIVER - Joan Gard, age 68, of Pine River, passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River.
Margaret M. Boyle
LITTLE FALLS - Margaret Mary (Young) Boyle, 87, a resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Friday, June 29, 2007, at her home in Little Falls, Minn.
Kenneth E. Aberle
BLAINE - Kenneth Eugene Aberle, age 80, of Blaine, Minn., passed away July 4, 2007.
Father William McNiff
ONAMIA - Father William "Bill" McNiff, OSC, age 88, of Crosier Priory in Onamia, Minn., passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at Mille Lacs Health Systems Long Term Care in Onamia, Minn.
Joan Gard
PINE RIVER - Joan Gard, age 68, of Pine River, passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River. She was born June 8, 1939, in Armstrong, Iowa, to Ellis and Hazel Adamson.
Katheleen D. Hedin
ST. CLOUD - Katheleen D. Hedin, 53-year-old resident of St. Cloud, Minn., formerly of Swanville, Minn., passed away Tuesday, July 3, 2007, at her residence.
Melvin A. Lemke
Melvin A. Lemke, 87
Open Forum: Bush thinks it's OK to break the law for GOP
It certainly doesnt come as any surprise to me that President Bush would come to the conclusion that its OK to break the law whenever it benefits the Republican Party. His commuting of the sentence for Scooter Libby, who is convicted of perjury, seems to go hand in hand with ignoring the truth in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and all the other instances where the truth has been distorted and manipulated by this administration.
Open Forum: Keep religion and government separate
Open Forums have encouraged and promoted involvement of religion in our government, schools, etc. In debating this view, it's argued that our government's founding fathers were religious.
Miss Brainerd has no connection here
My congratulations to the Miss Brainerd Lakes scholarship program for another wonderful pageant. However, I would like to know how Brainerd lakes can be represented by someone who doesn't go to school here, doesn't work here, didn't grow up here and doesn't have connections to our community? I think the way it works was her parents have a house on Gull Lake. That may meet pageant rules but if this community is going to support a pageant, they expect it to be truly representative. I won't be buying your raffle tickets or going to your program anymore.
Miss America rules prevail in pageant
I have heard several comments and concerns of who is eligible to run for Miss Brainerd Lakes. I realize several pageants in the area have different criteria than does our pageant and I would like to set the record straight.
Disappointing term
The Supreme Court last week concluded its first full term with President Bushs two nominees in place, and the outcome was simultaneously unsurprising and disappointing. The 2006-07 term was unsurprising because Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. emerged as the reliably conservative justices that we expected them to be. There was little doubt that Justice Alitos replacing Sandra Day OConnor would shift the court measurably to the right.
Libby commutation was wrong
In commuting I. Lewis Libbys prison sentence this week, President Bush took the advice of, among others, William Otis, a former federal prosecutor who wrote on the Posts Op-Ed page last month that
He humbled himself
In Philippians 2:6-10 Paul with wisdom inspired by the Holy Spirit tells us that the depth of sharing oneself with another is humility. Jesus shared Himself with us by becoming man for the forgiveness of sins in order that He may share Himself with us and we may share ourselves with Him.
CHURCH NEWS
MALMO - The Kings Countrymen will perform at an outdoor concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Malmo Free Church.
'A time now for new blood and new ideas'
After Sunday, Mass at Brainerd Area Catholic Churches won't seem the same.
Scoreboard
Area events
Nadeau helps Outstate All-Stars upset Metro
When the Aitkin Gobblers football team lost to Greenway 28-25 Oct. 24 in the Section 7, Class 3-A quarterfinals, Nick Nadeau thought he had played his last high school football game.
Blue Thunder rally falls short
MANKATO -Adam Symons tried to ignite a ninth-inning rally Thursday.
Mankato gives Thunder sixth-straight loss
MANKATO - Xavier Scruggs created his own fireworks with a solo home run to left field, but it wasn't enough as the Brainerd Blue Thunder lost for the sixth-straight time Wednesday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Xavier Scruggs slugs for Blue Thunder
As a freshman at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Xavier Scruggs deposited the second pitch of his collegiate career into the outfield seats.
Sprint Cars to highlight event
Saturday's 15th annual Kouba Memorial race at North Central Speedway in Barrows will feature fireworks and sprint cars along with a packed schedule of Pure Stock, Street Stock, Midwest Modified, and Super Stock.
Specter of the past: Wild look back
In the midst of this hot summer, hockey can be farthest from the mind of even the most diehard fan.
Nisswa splits with Princeton
PRINCETON - Jake Stunek hit an RBI double to ignite a five-run seventh inning to lead the Nisswa Legion baseball team in a come-from-behind victory over Princeton in the second game of a doubleheader Monday.
Burlea, Scruggs named all-stars
Pitcher Mihai Burlea and third baseman Xavier Scruggs will represent the Brainerd Blue Thunder in the Northwoods League All-Star Game 7:05 p.m. Wednesday in Mankato.
Veteran BHS coach resigns
One of Brainerd High School's longest-tenured female head coaches has decided it's somebody else's time.
Israelson to resume first round Friday
The good news: Bill Israelson, head PGA professional at The Vintage at Staples, is tied with two-time defending champion Allen Doyle in the first round of the U.S. Senior Open Championship.
Royalton tops Aitkin
ROYALTON - Royalton launched three home runs en rout to a 13-6 Legion baseball victory over Aitkin Thursday.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s to lower 90s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s...Turning cooler near the great lakes. Tonight...Decreasing clouds. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms early in the evening. Lows in the lower 50s far north to the lower 60s south. Friday...Partly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 80s but cooler along the great lakes.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Slight chance of a thunderstorm northeast. Highs in the lower to mid 80s but cooler along the great lakes.
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
State forecast for North Dakota
.Today...Sunny. Highs from the upper 80s east to the upper 90s west.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny with isolated morning thunderstorms south central and a isolated shower northeast. A slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms southwest. Highs from the mid 80s northeast to the mid 90s southwest.
Summer swingset
Weather drawing by Valerie Larson of Jan Wilcoxs kindergarten class at Lowell school.
Fourth of July parade
Weather drawing by Eli Sundquist of Mrs. Bolts first-grade class at Lowell school.
The Nation's Weather
A heat wave was expected to continue gripping the West on Friday, while the cold front that has brought wet weather to the Northeast was forecast to move offshore, bringing clear skies and dry conditions to the region.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Mostly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms northeast.
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 83 northeast to 94 southwest.
State forecast for North Dakota
.Today...Mostly sunny. Highs 80 to 90.