Friday, July 13, 2007
Mopeds down to one but not out
It's the vegan of motorbikes - lean, green and more than a little anemic. I'm talking about the moped, a humble, less-than-2-horsepower machine that cranks no more than 30 mph and weighs less than I do.
Thou shalt drive safely and soberly
PORTLAND, Ore. - The temptation is to make light of Pope Benedict XVI's "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road," which already have been called the "Ten Commandments of Driving" by the media and comedians worldwide.
'Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart' author to sign books
Marybeth Lorbiecki, author of "Paul Bunyan's Sweetheart," will sign copies of the book at 6:30 p.m. Friday at CatTale's Book Exchange in downtown Brainerd.
MUSIC SHORTS
Karl Robson will perform at noon Wednesday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd as part of the Summer Organ Series.
ART SHORTS
NISSWA - Eleven members of the Lakes Area Artists will present their 10th annual show and sale from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 19-21 at the Nisswa Community Center.
Weaver of good yarns
Fans of Will Weaver's work can thank Stanford University for the author's career. Not because it's a good school - although it very probably is - but because when Weaver spent four years earning his master's out in California, he became homesick for Minnesota.
Youth auditions planned in Pine River
PINE RIVER - Pine River-Backus Community Education will hold auditions for actors ages 7-11 for the one-act play "Hatched," written by PR-B High School student Marcia Stanton.
BEST BETS
Moondance Jam Sweet 16 continues for three more days at Moondance Ranch near Walker. Tickets are $80 for a single day and $150 for a festival pass.
Brainerd Dance Club to host cruise
The Brainerd Dance Club will host a Mississippi Belle River Boat Dance Cruise featuring dance classes from 1-3:30 p.m. July 21. For cruise details, call (218) 828-3503.
COMING NEXT WEEK
Area "Harry Potter" fans share their thoughts on the new film and the final novel.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
Sharing a love of food
Recipes are such a big enjoyment - and what makes writing my recipe column so much fun is that friends are always sharing their "tried and true" recipes with me. The topic of food is always part of the conversation.
Growing a rain garden
If you have driven down Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd and seen the landscaping in front of the Crow Wing County Judicial Center, you may have wondered what has happened.
BRIEFS
Daniel Dix of WoodSpirit Gardens in Backus will present a landscape design and water features class July 25 at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd.
Report: Good news, bad news for county's children
While there is some good news to report on the well-being of Crow Wing County's children - fewer teen pregnancies and fewer high school dropouts - the number of children living in poverty in the county continues to exceed the state average.
Crosslake reported in stable financial shape
CROSSLAKE - An audit report and accounting review found the city of Crosslake in stable financial health with good reserves.
Overheard
"I don't think Congress ought to be running the war. I think they ought to be funding the troops."
Fans rock!
Jeff Worley (left) and Jesse James Dupree of the band Jackyl opened Moondance Jam on Wednesday near Walker. The rock 'n' roll festival will continue through Saturday. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Fire destroys garage in northeast Brainerd
A northeast Brainerd garage was a total loss in a fire Thursday.
McConville files for post
Phillip McConville, a Brainerd father of three, filed Wednesday for Brainerd School Board.
Overheard
"Like all Americans, but especially those of us who call Texas home, we loved Lady Bird."
Brenna's classic car instinct on display
Buying classic cars is almost an intrinsic instinct for Bill Brenna. The 69-year-old Brainerd summer resident has bought 43 vehicles since 1957, 24 of which were brand new.
A garden - and log home - party
HACKENSACK - Union Congregational Church Women's Fellowship invites the public to tour four gardens and a log home during the 2007 Country Living Home and Garden Tour from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Pequot Lakes Bean Hole Days
Jeff Walden (left), co-chair of the annual Pequot Lakes Bean Hole Days, and Cory Bergquist guided a large pot of hot baked beans to a waiting rack Wednesday in Pequot Lakes. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist
Letters inform of account info theft
Brainerd area residents receiving a letter from Certegy Check Services Inc. would be wise not to throw it out.
This was Brainerd
JULY 12 - 100 years ago (1907) - Leon E. Lum is entertaining a party of friends at his cottage on Hubert this week. Mrs. Nelefie Benjamin is chaperoning the party among whom are Miss Winnie and Eloise Smith, Bess Burgoyne and Ella Mitchell.
Three more file
Two incumbents and one new candidate filed Thursday for the Brainerd School Board. They are current board members Reed Campbell and Ruth Gmeinder and newcomer Mark J. Olson.
Calling all cancer survivors
The 15th annual Relay for Life, sponsored by the Crow Wing County American Cancer Society, is July 27 at Adamson Field at Brainerd High School.
Another crown for Mackenzie Ross
Mackenzie Ross may have relinquished her crown as Miss Brainerd Lakes less than two weeks ago, but she didn't remain crownless for long.
Comp plan points to growth
CROSSLAKE - Determining how many people will be living in Crosslake in 2025 depends on which projection table is used.
This was Brainerd
JULY 13 - 40 years ago (1967) - Final returns of the 1967 Heart Fund Campaign in Crow Wing county total $3,541 according to Mrs. Gus Frey, county chairman.
Moondance Jam's 'Silver Lining'
One of the most fascinating things about Soul Asylum is how normal its career trajectory has been.
Attacks on goats linked to cougars on Crow Wing County farm
Evidence of a cougar was discovered south of Brainerd in recent days.
Gray matters
Her career is just starting to take off, but Ali Gray has already done something few other performers can claim - she has been booked at both WE Fest, Minnesota's biggest country music event, and Moondance Jam, the state's biggest classic rock event.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Mary M. Anderson, owner of the Yogastudio in Plymouth, will be a guest instructor Saturday at the Brainerd Family YMCA.
LIFE'S RELAY
Dick Lyscio and Peter Eigner may have few things in common, besides their shared enthusiasm for sports.
Brainerd soldier injured in Iraq
An Army sergeant from Brainerd recently was injured in Iraq after a mortar shell exploded near him.
Roseann Ekman
Roseann Ekman, age 73, resident of Brainerd, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at her home. She was born March 7, 1934, in Ladysmith, Wis., to Albert and Anna (Mann) Sonczella.
Virginia M. Austin
PEQUOT LAKES - Virginia M. Austin, age 85, of Pequot Lakes, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 14, at 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Good Samaritan Village Chapel, Brainerd. Visitation will be one hour prior to the services. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.
Florence A. Harrington
CROSBY - Florence A. Harrington, age 78, of Crosby, died on July 10, 2007, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. She was born on Aug. 19, 1928, in Duluth to Leon A. and Mabel (Gordon) Mattsen. She was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood and a member of its choir for 60-plus years. She was a Crosby-Ironton High School graduate, class of 1946.
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.
Eugene B. Vnuk
LITTLE FALLS - Eugene B. Vnuk, 73-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Funeral services for Eugene will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2007, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls with Father Mark Innocenti officiating.
Margaret Cunningham
CROSSLAKE - Margaret Susan Cunningham, age 78, of Crosslake, died Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake with the Rev. Father Mike Patullo officiating.
Phyllis Newman
PINE RIVER - Phyllis Newman, age 97, of Pine River, passed away July 11, 2007, at St. Cloud Hospital. She was born in Chicago on April 8, 1910.
Fred Oberstar
SEATTLE - Fred Oberstar, age 84, of Seattle, died on July 4, 2007, at the Swedish Hospital in Seattle. He was born on July 17, 1922, in Racine, Wis., to Fred and Angeline (Muster) Oberstar.
Robert 'Bob' Hendricks
Robert "Bob" Hendricks, 76, passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2007, at his home in Brainerd. Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 16, 2007, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew's Catholic Church. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 15, 2007, from 4-6 p.m. at the Halvorson-Johnson Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.
Ann T. Whalen
Ann T. Whalen, 74, of Brainerd, passed away on Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at her residence. She was born on April 22, 1933, in Manitowoc, Wis., to Norman and Elizabeth (Fox) Torrison. She was a school teacher until her retirement.
Gerald E. Grant
FORT RIPLEY - Gerald E. Grant, age 79, of Fort Ripley, passed away in Duluth on Tuesday, July 10, 2007. The funeral service is planned for Saturday, July 14, at noon at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will be a later date at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.
Elizabeth Seaton
PINE RIVER - Elizabeth K. "Betty" Seaton, 94, passed away Monday, July 2, 2007, at the Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Village in Pine River.
Carmon M. Gregerson
BLAINE - Carmon Martin Gregerson, 82, Blaine, Minn., passed away July 9, 2007, peacefully at home.
Open Forum
Some guy wrote in the other day and took a shot a President George W. Bush because he commuted Scooter Libby's sentence. This preposterous sentence was the result of a long and expensive investigation into a crime that was never committed. W. hasn't done too many things right (We still have the Departments of Education and Housing and Redevelopment, Social Security, illegal aliens by the millions, ethanol plants, AARP and the ACLU.) but commuting Libby's sentence was absolutely the correct action.
Open Forum
July Fourth is our country's special day. Freedom should be cherished every day. A time to thank all the women and men in our armed services for keeping us free.
VOX POP
Who is in charge of editing the content published in the paper? I found numerous typographical errors in all areas of the weekend paper. After reading a Vox Pop comment in the paper, it seems this is an ongoing issue. If you're not taking the time to correct typographical errors, how can we be sure you are reporting the news accurately?
God is always there
for us
I am thankful that God is a miraculous God! Not only does He do the miraculous, but also He does some very unique miracles.
CHURCH NOTES
Gerry Boe posed with his classic car as he prepared for Classic Car Sunday at Crosslake Lutheran.
Blazing their own trail
For the next two weeks, people who frequent the Paul Bunyan Trail could be greeted by an interesting sight.
Two days, two sweeps for Brainerd
LONGVILLE - Joel Martin and Kevin Peterson each pitched complete-game victories to lead the Brainerd freshmen VFW baseball team to a 5-3, 19-5 sweep over Longville Thursday.
The sun also rises
During college, I had a wide variety of different experiences with classmates. Some became my friends for life. Some remained forever strangers. And some I just lost touch with after graduating.
Vintage girls, Forsberg and Beyer head to state
STAPLES - The Vintage at Staples girls' golf team along with Nick Forsberg of the Vintage and Drake Beyer of Deacon's Lodge advanced to the MGA State junior golf championship with qualifying scores Thursday at the Vintage.
Scoreboard
Area events
Memorial Park batting cage to open
The automated batting cage recently installed at Memorial Park in Brainerd will open on Monday.
Thunder look for second-half spark
The Northwoods League All-Star break may not have come at a better time for the Brainerd Blue Thunder, who enter the three-day layoff having won one of their last 11 games.
Granite City gets best of Bees
ST. CLOUD - Brady Prince was 2-for-4 with an RBI, Blake Eller hit a two-run double and Darren Goltz hit a two-run single, but it wasn't enough as the Brainerd Bees fell to Granite City 11-6 Tuesday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Brainerd scores 50 runs in Menahga doubleheader
MENAHGA - Rob Veith was 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and Brandon Shaw and Travis Whirley each scored five runs as the Brainerd VFW sophomore team blasted Menahga 27-3 in game one and did the same in game two with a 23-4 victory Tuesday.
Royalton rolls over Aitkin Legion
AITKIN - Royalton's Shawn Lanners struck out 11 for a 12-2 complete-game victory over the Aitkin American Legion baseball team Thursday.
Bell ties for 8th, Carlson falls to 21st
Robert Bell was the model of consistency Tuesday and Wednesday at the 81st Minnesota Junior Boys' Championship at The Preserve at Grand View Lodge in Pequot Lakes
Romanian anchors Thunder rotation
Romanian sensation Mihai Burlea has anchored the Brainerd Blue Thunder pitching staff with a 3-1 record and 2.06 ERA, which earned him a spot in Wednesday's Northwoods League All-Star Game.
Curt Carlson chips in round of 81
Curt Carlson, East Gull Lake, chipped onto the 16th green Wednesday during the final round of the 81st Minnesota Junior Boys' Championship. Carlson finished tied for 21st with a 159. Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist
Flowers on the hill
Weather drawing by Jaelyn Kappes of Mrs. Larson's second-grade class at Lowell school.
Let's play ball
Weather drawing by Joel Popp of Mrs. Meyer's third-grade class at Riverside school.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly sunny west and most sunny east. Highs from the
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly cloudy. Widely scattered thunderstorms during the
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Chance of showers and thunderstorms north
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly sunny. Slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms southwest. Highs in the 80 east...90 to 95 west and central. Tonight...Partly cloudy east...To mostly clear elsewhere. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the black hills...And far east. Lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Becoming partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of mainly afternoon showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs mid 60s to near 70 north to the mid to upper 70s south. Tonight...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of evening showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows mid to upper 40s north to mid 50s to around 60 southeast corner. Friday...Partly cloudy. Highs in the 70s.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms north.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Scattered thunderstorms through the day...Mainly
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Sunny. Highs 75 northeast to 86 northwest.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of afternoon thunderstorms far north. Highs in the lower to mid 70s. Cooler near lake michigan. Tonight...Showers and thunderstorms north and east central with a chance south and west. Lows in the lower to mid 50s north to lower 60s south.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly sunny east...Partly cloudy west. Highs in the lower 70s northeast to mid 80s far southwest.