Saturday, July 12, 2008

Pine River car dealer buys wind power
PINE RIVER - A Pine River auto dealership is getting power from wind blowing across southwestern Minnesota.

BUSINESS NOTES
BACKUS - Rick and Kathy Adams, Backus, were named as one of 12 finalists in the national 2008 PPG Hot Wheels Spectraflame Paint Your Ride Contest.

A LOOK BACK AT A PINE RIVER LANDMARK
PINE RIVER - Silbaugh's started 61 years ago in the basement of the Masonic Lodge here.

BIZ BUZZ: Johnson going back into the retirement field
An area entrepreneur is ready to start a new business based on past experience.

BIRTHS
James and Jodi Gerlich, Lake Shore, twins, a girl, Nora Marie, 4 pounds, 6 ounces, a boy, Daniel Thomas, 5 pounds, 6 ounces, July 1, 2008.

2 hurt in vehicle accident near Onamia
ONAMIA - Two St. Paul residents were hurt Friday after the vehicle they were in left the roadway and rolled near Morrison County roads 272 and 51 in Richardson Township near Onamia, the Morrison County Sheriff's Department reported.

WHAT'S DOING
BACKUS - Larry Kostka's annual pig roast will be 4:30 p.m. until gone on July 19 at the Backus American Legion. Cost is $6 a plate.

BIRTHS
John and Tracine Nedoroscik, Browerville, a girl, Millicent Jean, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, July 5, 2008.

Firefighters respond to 3 calls
The Brainerd Fire Department had two back-to-back calls Friday night and one Saturday morning that it responded to.

COURTS
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:

BUILDING PERMITS
Commercial

2 juveniles linked to 2 crimes
CROSSLAKE - Two 17-year-old males were taken into custody Thursday for two separate crimes, reported the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department.

Deerwood man killed in vehicle accident near Aitkin
AITKIN - A 78-year-old Deerwood man was killed after the van he was driving went off Highway 210 at 8:13 p.m. Friday, four miles west of Aitkin, the State Patrol reported.

Region 5 gets AgStar grant for finishing energy audit
Region Five Development Commission received $5,000 in grant funding from AgStar Financial, toward the completion of a regional energy audit in efforts to access the region's alternative energy assets, to provide a summary of the economical and environmental trade-offs of utilizing identified resources and to identify projects that can be started as a result of the study information.

POLICE BLOTTER
THEFT -Mark Rudningen of the Crow Wing County Park Department reported Thursday a theft of a $200 stamped aluminum handicapped access sign to the boat ramp at South Long Lake Community Park.

Crow Wing court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:

AGENDAS
Brainerd School Board

POLICE BLOTTER
INVESTIGATION - David Fleischacker, 500 block of Southeast 18th Street, reported at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday someone threw a burning bag of dog feces onto his steps. At 12:31 a.m. Thursday, Matthew Cronan, reported three kids lying in the street at Southeast 13th and Oak streets, running out of the way when vehicles approached.

False alarm at hospital
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a call at 1:35 p.m. Friday at St. Joseph's Medical Center for what turned out to be a false alarm.

Time for a garden party
HACKENSACK - Four gardens and a home built entirely of Cass County lumber will be featured in this year's Hackensack Union Congregational Church home and garden tour from noon to 5 p.m. July 20 in the Backus area.

HOUSING BRIEFS
The Brainerd Northside Neighborhood Association monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Congregational Church in Brainerd in Meeting Room No. 1 on the second floor. Attendees are asked to use the entrance by the parking lot.

Play therapy helps children work through problems
Many adults would say that play is a waste of time, but it is actually a necessary part of emotional, mental, and physical development for children. Play allows children to use their imagination and fantasy to create new ideas for themselves. At around 18 months, children have the ability to take a symbol outside of themselves and let it represent them. For example, children are able to play with their toes and say "this little piggy went to the market."

Are you willing to give Mitch a little attention?
Do you remember what it was like being picked on in school?

Get me to the track on time
Two engines revved upon Brainerd International Raceway's racetrack Friday afternoon at the Bad Boyz car show. As expected, both drivers were wearing helmets, but in this unique event, a wedding veil peeked out beneath one.

Overheard
"It feels good - not that it didn't feel good to serve in Iraq. It really feels good to be helping out at home,"

Do you have the Brainerd lakes area's dirtiest job?
Have you and your co-workers ever wished Mike Rowe from the Discovery Channel series "Dirty Jobs" would stop by your workplace and do a segment about your job?

Budweiser Clydesdales to appear in August
The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area Aug. 6-10, including one at Mills Field in conjunction with the Brainerd Blue Thunder Baseball game.

Superintendent's secretary ready for last board meeting
She's been a calm and steady behind-the-scenes presence in the Brainerd School District for the past 29 years.

LOCAL BRIEFS
Central Lakes College has scheduled EZ enrollment days to accommodate anyone interested in attending the college in Brainerd or Staples.

MPCA seeks comments on cleanup at BN tie plant
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is starting its five-year review of the Brainerd/Baxter Burlington Northern Railroad Tie Plant Superfund site cleanup. Community input in this review will be used in two areas: observations of the site over time and ways the cleanup may have helped the area.

Storm leaves trail of downed trees
One minute Brian Pahl was watching television in his Lake Margaret home on Friday and the next he was knocked to the floor with a hole punched in his roof and debris striking him in the head.

Overheard
"I love to work."

This was Brainerd
JULY 13 - 30 years ago (1978) - Five hundred balloons were cleared in downtown Brainerd this morning as part of the anniversary celebration. Each balloon carries a certificate that can be redeemed at downtown business places.

Correction
Due to incorrect information provided to the Dispatch, the time for live music at the Eagles Club was listed incorrectly on Page 4E Thursday.

Ball seeks seat on county board
Although he'd recently mulled over the idea of running for county board, former Crow Wing County Sheriff Frank Ball said it was an early Friday morning bike ride on the Dewing Highway that clinched the decision for him.

Heavy weather
It could have been worse.

General store era comes to a close
PINE RIVER - After more than 60 years in Pine River, Silbaugh's Department Store is closing.

This was Brainerd
JULY 11 - 40 years ago (1968) - Central Minnesota's first heavy storm of July last night was apparently centered on Brainerd where 1.35 inches of rain fell.

Program linking students and jobs considered a success; schools added
Bridges Career Academies and Workplace Connection has affected more than 1,000 students in the first year and added 17 school districts in Year Two.

MOONDANCE JAM: RETRO STYLE
WALKER - When you go to Moondance Jam, you can't take the music home with you, but you can take the next best thing. Retro Image Bags, one of many vendors hawking souvenirs on the Moondance Ranch grounds, sells handmade purses featuring images of musicians and pop culture figures.

Correction
Stephen Hurlbert's last name was spelled incorrectly in a Page 1A story on Wednesday.

A walk amid the debris
Crow Wing County Deputy Sheriff Eric Stangler walked along Ojibwa Road in Nisswa Friday night after a severe thunderstorm moved through the lakes area. Fallen trees and power lines blocked the road and left the residents without electricity. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Project seeks to hear problems of young adults
What barriers keep some younger adults from community participation?

Moose bestow highest honor on Brainerd member
Donald Hardy, Brainerd, a member of Brainerd Lodge No. 1246, Loyal Order of Moose, was one of 146 members of the fraternity summoned to receive the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the fraternity, the Pilgrim Degree of Merit. The ceremony was in May at the House of God at Mooseheart, Ill.

Twisted dock reflects wind's fury
An aluminum dock owned by Tom Holbrook on North Long Lake was twisted by high winds Friday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Moondance Jam escapes brunt of storm
Within a short time after Friday's storm came rolling into the Brainerd lakes area, there were 2,700 residences from Breezy Point to Fort Ripley that lost power, Char Kinzar of Crow Wing Power said Saturday morning.

LOCAL BRIEFS
A workshop on "Memory loss: Cognition, personality changes and the family" is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 6 at the Brainerd Public Library conference room.

Ruby L. Austin
Ruby Loretta Austin, age 85, resident of Brainerd, died Friday, July 11, 2008, at Carefree Living in Brainerd. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.

John Rhoda
RAYMOND - John Rhoda, age 70, of rural Raymond, died on Saturday, July 5, 2008, at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. Memorial services were at Kerkhoven Lutheran Church in Kerkhoven.

Natalie E. Zimmerman
LITTLE FALLS - Natalie Elissa Zimmerman, infant daughter of Tomas and Amanda (Mayer) Zimmerman of Little Falls, Minn., passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2008. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.

Bernice K. Hanson
STAPLES - Bernice K. Hanson, age 84, of Staples, passed away at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples early Thursday morning, July 10, 2008. Arrangements are pending and entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Bertha Bjornoos
ST. CLOUD - Bertha Bjornoos, 86-year-old resident of St. Cloud, Minn., formerly of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at her home in St. Cloud, Minn. A funeral service for Bertha Bjornoos will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2008, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Little Falls, Minn. A visitation will be held from 4-7p.m. Sunday at Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn., and from 10-11 a.m. on Monday at the church.

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.

Bernice K. Hanson
STAPLES - Bernice K. Hanson, age 84, of Staples, passed away at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples early Thursday morning, July 10, 2008. Funeral Mass will be Monday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples with Father Scott Wittkop officiating.

Mary Larson
PEQUOT LAKES - Mary Larson, age 50, of Pequot Lakes, passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at her home. She was born Oct. 31, 1957, in Brainerd to Melvin and Sally Johnson.

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.

Thomas A. Cosgrove
Thomas Allen Cosgrove, age 57, died Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at his home in Garrison Township. He was born in Elgin, Ill., to Phillip and Lois Cosgrove on April 8, 1951. He came to Minnesota to vacation and met his loving wife of 31 years. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served in the Navy on the USS Biddel.

Michael M. Knoll
EATON, Ohio - Michael M. Knoll, 85, Eaton, Ohio (formerly of Brainerd), passed away May 8, 2008, at Hospice of Dayton following an extended illness. He was born in Hastings, Minn., to the late Peter and Ann (Tandeski) Knoll.

Elvie Koranda
WAHKON - Elvie Koranda, 86-year-old resident of Wahkon, Minn., passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2008, at the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Onamia, Minn., with a visitation one hour prior to service. Burial will be in the Onamia Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Onamia.

Bertha Bjornoos
ST. CLOUD - Bertha Bjornoos, 86-year-old resident of St. Cloud, Minn., formerly of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at her home in St. Cloud, Minn. Funeral arrangements are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.

Melina 'Marie' Roden
Melina "Marie" Roden, 42, of Brainerd, died June 2, 2008, at her home. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd. Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.

James D. Way
AITKIN - James Daniel Way, 80, of Aitkin, died Sunday, July 6, 2008, at Oakridge Homes, Aitkin.

Oil and gas are worth the price
From commentators and columnists, from politicians and the public, we hear the same question. Why are oil and gas prices so high?

OUR OPINION: ADMINISTRATOR
When the Crow Wing County Board's hired Tim Houle as its new county administrator last month it was dealing with, to some extent, a known commodity.

VOX POP
How come the Minnesota Department of Transportation can't get the lights timed better on 371 and 210 through town? It's not rocket science. It doesn't make sense that the lights are not timed better to get a free flowing traffic, especially on the weekends when traffic is backed up all the way through the intersections.

Working toward bipartisanship
WASHINGTON - Just shy of eight years after they squared off in the Florida recount battle, James A. Baker III and Warren Christopher have joined forces to clean up one of the ugly legacies of Vietnam - the misguided piece of legislation called the War Powers Act.

Open Forum
With over 100 different floats and displays in this year's Independence Day parade there are probably only a few that really stuck out. There is one however that should have received standing ovations, but not many people knew what it was. T

Open Forum
If we open the reserves we are doing what Albert Camus described as "prolonging the absurd reasoning."

OUR OPINION: BALLOTS
Crow Wing County's election judges will receive much-needed help from a newly formed absentee ballot board as they face the prospect of a massive voter turnout for November's general election.

100th birthday
Lucille Potvin, lifelong resident of Brainerd, will celebrate her 100th birthday with an open house from 2-4 p.m. July 15 at Good Samaritan Society-Woodland in Brainerd. No gifts please. She was born July 15, 1908, in Crow Wing County.

Johnson-Bergson
Janelle Johnson and David Bergson were married March 29, 2008, at The Great Hall in Duluth with Chaplain Craig Carlson officiating.

Kleinschmidt-Heldt
Andrea Kleinschmidt and Jeremy Heldt announce their engagement. Parents are William and Jan Kleinschmidt, Brainerd, and Robert and Jill Heldt, Brainerd. A Sept. 20 wedding is planned at The Legacy.

25th anniversary
Bob and Roxanne Koering, Fort Ripley, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. They were married on July 9, 1983, in St. Mathias.

Bierma-Endreson
Melissa Bierma and Ben Endreson were married Aug. 19, 2007, at Two Rivers Winery in Grand Junction, Colo., with Pastor Ben Garate officiating.

50th anniversary
Kirk Patrick and Shirley Smith, Nisswa, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 1-5 p.m. July 19 at the home of P.J. Smith, north on Hwy. 371. Follow signs from Ojibwa Park Road. The event is hosted by their children. No gifts please. They were married July 19, 1958, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

35th anniversary
Kevin and Mary Jo Gruber, Baxter, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They were married July 14, 1973, in Pierz.

Legel-Shaw
Kara Legel and Peter Charles Shaw announce their engagement. Parents are Robert and Kathi Legel, Geneva, Ill., and Liz and Charles Shaw, Brainerd. An Aug. 29 wedding is planned at Bethlehem Lutheran.

Addison-Sanford
Veronica Addison and Sgt. Daryl Sanford were married June 21, 2008, at the Cross of Christ Church in Welch with Pastor Bob Albing officiating.

25th anniversary
Michael and Kimberly (Daniels) Crozier, formerly of Brainerd, will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on July 16. Help them celebrate with a card shower to 2453 Rusty Spur Ct., Rapid City, SD 57703. They were married July 16, 1983, in Brainerd.

50th anniversary
Mark and Shirley Muesing will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from noon to 3 p.m. July 19 at Christ Lutheran Church, 13815 Cherrywood Dr., Baxter. Take Hwy. 210 west to Inglewood north. The event will be hosted by their children, spouses and grandchildren. No gifts please. They were married July 20, 1958, in Minneapolis.

Bateman-Husfeldt
Amanda Bateman and Ryan Husfeldt announce their engagement. Parents are Mark and Natalie Bateman, Merrifield, and Daryl and Shar Husfeldt, Gaylord. An Aug. 2 wedding is planned at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa with the reception to follow at The Lodge in Baxter.

Carneiro-Anderson
Aline Lins Anderson and David Anderson were married April 16, 2008, at The Ivy Room with Nila Patrick officiating.

CHURCH NEWS
DEERWOOD - Clearwater Forest, a Presbyterian camp on Clearwater Lake near Deerwood is hosting Friends of Clearwater Day 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Brainerd Lakes Area Churches
Brainerd

Scoreboard
Area events

All-Stars in action
Myles Marcil threw a pitch during the Baxter Pony League All-Star Game Thursday night at Forestview Middle School. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Region's best teams converge on Brainerd
A field loaded with former state champions will vie for six bids to the World Softball League Championship Tournaments this weekend in Brainerd.

Express roll over Blue Thunder 8-2
EAU CLAIRE, Wis.. - Nick DeBiasse went deep for the Brainerd Blue Thunder, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the high-scoring Express Friday in Northwoods League baseball.

Scoreboard
Area events

Thunder take pair from Rochester
Coming into Thursday's doubleheader against Rochester, the Brainerd Blue Thunder need a win to halt a 1-5 skid to start the second half of the season.

A Golden Gopher afternoon
EAST GULL LAKE - Nobody felt worse than Tim Brewster.

Staples secures win
WADENA - Devin Becker pitched and hit the Staples Legion baseball team to a 12-9 victory over Wadena Wednesday.

CORRECTION
It was incorrectly reported in the July 10 Blue Thunder game that Peter Burg earned the save for the Rochester Honkers. The story should have read Adian Kummet earned the save. The Dispatch regrets the error.

State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Thunderstorms likely east early this morning.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Becoming partly cloudy. A chance of lingering showers and thunderstorms south and far east. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Cooler near lake superior.

Brainerd area forecasts
Saturday night...Breezy. Partly cloudy. Lows 48 to 53. West winds 15 to 25 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph late.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly or mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Highs in the 80s. Cooler near lake superior and along lake michigan.

State forecast for S.D.
High wind warning northwest and west central plains today...

It's getting hot
Weather drawing by Renae Ford of Mr. Meyer's fourth-grade class at Lowell school.

Fishing is fun
Weather drawing by Annika Christiansen in the Riverside second grade of Mrs. Gramer.

State forecast for N.D.
High wind warning south and west of the missouri river through

State forecast for S.D.
Wind advisory north mid morning until early evening...

State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy.

State forecast for N.D.
A wind advisory is in effect today statewide...

State forecast for Minnesota
Severe thunderstorm watch far northwest until 7 am...

State forecast for Minnesota
Wind advisory west noon saturday to 7 pm cdt saturday...