Friday, July 10, 2009
The end of a road and a long journey
WASHINGTON - Dear readers:
Musical comedy sure to make you laugh
PEQUOT LAKES - Pequot Lakes Community Theater is staging a musical comedy called "A Don't Hug Me County Fair" that began Wednesday and runs through Tuesday, with the exception of Sunday, that takes us back to Bunyan Bay, Minn.
Lakes Area Artists' Show
Sharon Peterson was awarded "Peoples' Choice" award in June at a Lakes Area Artists' Show at the Nisswa Community Center.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Live music
BRIEFLY
Aaron Brown is the next author in the Brown Bag Lunch Summer Speakers' Series set from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at the Brainerd Public Library.
Best bets
Check out the Gear Daddies this Saturday as part of an outdoor concert at Moonlite Bay in Crosslake. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the event with the opening band, Justin Bell and the Lazy Susan Band, taking the stage at 6 p.m. followed by the Gear Daddies. General admission tickets are $20. VIP tickets are $100.
Fire up the grill and escape the hot kitchen!
In the summer I'm always looking for grilling recipes where we spend less time in a hot kitchen and have a lot less mess to clean up. Pineapple Chicken Kabobs is a new recipe I tried at the beginning of summer and have made them a couple of times since. The marinade does a terrific job of making the chicken and vegetables tasty and tender. I'm making these kabobs for dinner tonight along with fresh cooked corn on the cob and creamy cucumbers - a tasty fresh meal!!
Dissolutions
Ahmann, Kelly S. and Ronald W.
Minneapolis man dead following head-on collision
WALKER - The victim in Tuesday's fatal crash on Highway 371 north of Walker has been identified as Roy Lovelace, 49, Minneapolis, the State Patrol reported.
Marriage licenses
Kenneth C. Rooney, 40, and Brooke N. Snow, 28, both of Pillager.
POLICE BLOTTER
Brainerd police
Police blotter
ARREST - Received a report at 8:46 p.m. Wednesday of a possible drunken driver leaving the Al-Anon Club, 217 S. Eighth St. Officers located the suspect vehicle on the 500 block of B Street and arrested the 44-year-old driver for fourth-degree DWI and for having no vehicle insurance.
Senior calendar
Weekly schedule
Housing briefs
CROSSLAKE - Sue Coulter of Edina Realty, Crosslake, recently received the distinguished sales award.
Ask the master gardener: Tips for a shade garden
Shady areas in your yard can be places of beauty and color.
Century Farms in the area
Crow Wing County
Wenzel ready for the third act of his professional life
After 29 years as DFL state representative and about 7 1/2 years as a Republican presidential appointee, Steve Wenzel of Little Falls is ready to start the third act of his professional life. And this latest act doesn't foretell a run for elective office.
Lindners know Race for Cure is a big day for survivors
Mary Lindner was always faithful about getting her annual mammogram and the test always came out clear, until 1997.
Sliding into fair fun
Elle Becker grinned with excitement after a ride down the giant slide Wednesday on the opening day of the Aitkin County Fair. The fair will continue through Saturday at the Aitkin County Fairgrounds. Brainerd Dispatch/Sara Gardner
Gull Point quiet on the Fourth
EAST GULL LAKE - The Cass County Sheriff's Department effort to curb trespassing and underage consumption along Gull Point on Gull Lake during the Fourth of July proved a success, Chief Deputy Tom Burch said in a news release.
This was Brainerd
JULY 9 - 60 years ago (1949) - A Brainerd man was in critical condition at St. Joseph's Hospital after his left arm was torn off in an automobile accident on Highway 18 east of Brainerd. He was traveling into Brainerd when he was side-swiped by an east-bound car.
Experts hope cigarette taxes will help curb smoking
Smoke 'em if you can afford 'em.
Mother facing charges in the death of baby
The mother of a 9-month-old girl who died Jan. 21 at a residence near Onamia now faces criminal charges. Charges have already been filed against the girl's father.
Street closings planned for downtown project
On Sunday night, Front Street and Seventh Street will be closed for the downtown Brainerd reconstruction project to allow a Monday morning final paving of the last layer of asphalt, project contractor Tom's Backhoe Service recently reported.
Overheard
They pretty much dominated us at home. That's not supposed to happen.
Local briefs
Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, recently announced the availability of the Minnesota Military Reservist Economic Injury Loan Program. This program is designed to help small businesses that have an essential employee or employees deployed in the military reserve for 180 days or longer, and as a result, are likely to sustain economic harm.
This was Brainerd
100 years ago (1909): R. B. Dear and party came to Brainerd yesterday from his cottage on the north shore of Serpent Lake. They drove in his big Pierce Arrow and made the trip in one hour and twenty minutes, bought supplies and returned in time for dinner.
Overheard
I tell people I'm here (in Rosemount) because this is where the work was, but my heart is up there (on the farm) and someday I'll be where my heart belongs.
Corrections
Because of incorrect information provided the Dispatch, the Best of Parade winner in the Fourth of July Parade on Page 2A Monday should have said Southwest Minnesota Christian High School drum line, not Southeast.
Keeping the families down on the farm
LITTLE FALLS - They each have a different story to tell, but they all have a common thread - 100 years of family living on the farm.
Helping Team Pine Square
Luccas Harrington twirled Thursday in his dress for a customer at Pine Square in south Brainerd.
Coming Sunday
Nailing the job interview: Human resource experts provide tips on how to stand out from the crowd.
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.
Joel B. Adkins
PINE RIVER - Joel B. Adkins, 50, of Pine River, passed away Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at his home.
Gloria J. Eriksen
Gloria Jean Eriksen, 68, of Brainerd, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village. In accordance with Gloria's wishes, her family plans a private celebration of her life.
Donald Kozitka
STAPLES - Donald Kozitka, age 78, of Staples, passed away early Thursday morning, July 9, 2009, at the Lakewood Care Center. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples.
Debra K. Rhymers
CROSSLAKE - Debra Kay Rhymers, 53, of Crosslake, died at her home Wednesday, July 8, 2009. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Crosslake.
Michael Hester
NISSWA - Michael Hester, 54, of Nisswa, died at his home Thursday, July 9, 2009. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Dale Scharfencamp
NEW ULM - Dale Scharfencamp, 75, of New Ulm, went to his heavenly home on, Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at The New Ulm Medical Center, after a long and courageous battle with emphysema. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm with Monsignor John A. Richter celebrating the Mass.
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.
Kimberly Blaisdell
PIERZ - Kimberly Blaisdell, 27-year-old resident of Pierz, passed away July 5, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, July 10, at 10:30 a,.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Brennyville, Minn. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. on Thursday at the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church in Brennyville, Minn.
Gary Leader
BEMIDJI - Gary Leader, age 69, of Bemidji, Minn., died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at the North Country Regional Hospital, Bemidji, Minn.
Candice L. Sniatynsky
AITKIN - Candice Lynne Sniatynsky, 38, of Aitkin, died Sunday, July 5, 2009, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. Visitation will be one hour prior to the 2 p.m. Monday, July 13, 2009, memorial service at Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.
Dell S. Howard
Dell S. Howard, 89-year-old resident of the Brainerd lakes area, passed away July 7, 2009. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 10 at the Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa, Minn., with Pastor Bruce Hannem officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 9 with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. at the Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd, Minn., and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
In a league of her own
WASHINGTON - When you're up to your waders in barracuda, blame the media.
VOX POP
I think it's time to go back to the drawing board on the College Drive improvements. The unemployed and underemployed folks in the local area can't afford the cost. Trying to promote the area and its low wage rates to prospective employers will do little to increase per capita income. Crow Wing County is a state leader in that area too. Local leaders need to learn to live within their means just like the local residents are.
Nuclear power, taxes needed
The Senate is debating the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Act which proposes to reduce green house gas emissions. Sixty percent of those GHGs are emitted by petroleum based transportation fuels and coal-fueled electric power plants. Nowhere in Waxman-Markey's 1,400 pages is there an effective substitute for those fuels.
Open Forum: What's been going on at city hall?
People are talking. Some say they have seen a group of people taking pictures out of the building. Others are saying that a group of suspicious looking people were seen in the building wandering around and pounding on walls. Here are the facts:
Our opinion: Arenas
The Brainerd City Council seems bound and determined to get out of the business of managing Brainerd Area Civic Center arenas. We hope the council is correct in its estimation that the Brainerd Amateur Hockey Association has the resources to do a better job managing the arena than the city is currently doing.
Building is a start for All Saints
It's been more than a year since All Saints Catholic Church moved to its current, but not exactly permanent, location off Carlson Lake Road.
Church news
LAKE SHORE - Simple Grace, the full-time ministry of the Jim and Kathy Hitch family, from rural Martell, Neb., will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday at Living Savior Lutheran Church, 8327 Interlachen Rd., Lake Shore, located one-half mile southwest of Bar Harbor on County Road 77.
Pike hasn't reached his peak yet
Karson Pike is a long way from where he grew up, but plays with a coach's composure in his new home.
Brainerd sweeps Sartell
The Brainerd 15-year-old VFW team swept Sartell 6-2 and 4-2 Wednesday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Richert Jr. wins Kouba Memorial race
The Upper Midwest Sprint Car Series was part of the July 4 show at North Central Speedway.
Little Falls splits with Milaca
The Little Falls junior Olympic softball team rebounded from an 11-5 first game loss to defeat Milaca 13-7 in the second game.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Brainerd splits with St. Cloud
The Brainerd VFW baseball team split with St. Cloud Thursday dropping the first game 5-1 and claiming the second 7-4.
Tharaldson team to beat in 30th go-round
Thirty years strong.
Ninth-inning woes doom Lunkers
ALEXANDRIA - Trevor Edwards' single in the bottom of the ninth drove in two unearned runs for the Alexandria Beetles and they upended the Lunkers 5-4 Thursday.
3-run eighth lifts Beetles
ALEXANDRIA - A three-run eighth inning lifted the Alexandria Beetles to an 8-5 victory over the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers Wednesday at Knute Nelson Park.
Little Falls clinches regular-season title
LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls Legion team clinched the Subdistrict title with a 13-3 victory in Game One of a doubleheader with Nisswa.
Nisswa sweeps Park Rapids in regular-season finale
NISSWA - Tate Rusk went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs as Nisswa easily handled Park Rapids 10-0 in the first half of Thursday's doubleheader before requiring a sacrifice fly by Rusk in extra innings to complete the sweep with a 5-4 win in the nightcap.
A dolphin on Gull Lake?
Weather drawing by Lillee Hardee in the Baxter third grade of Mrs. Surma.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms south
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly cloudy. Except mostly cloudy with scattered to
State forecast for Iowa
Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for northwest iowa until
State forecast for S.D.
Severe thunderstorm watch for southeast south dakota through 10 am cdt...
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly cloudy. A slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
State forecast for Wisconsin
Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms west...Mainly in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy.
Fine weather for butterflies
Weather drawing by Shaylee Stroot in the St. Francis first grade of Mrs. Smith.
State forecast for Minnesota
Severe thunderstorm watch far southwest until 10 am...
State forecast for S.D.
Flash flood watch far southeast this morning...
State forecast for Wisconsin
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms south...With a chance further north. Highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s.