Friday, August 3, 2007
Pedistrian struck, killed in Brainerd
Brainerd Police responded to a report of a pedistrian struck by a pick up truck at the intersection of College Drive and SW 6th Street at 7:15 a.m. today. The victim, who suffered serious injuries, was taken to St. Joseph's Medical center in Brainerd where she died of her injuries.
BEST BETS
Three days of Mills Free Stage action remain at the Crow Wing County Fair at the fairgrounds in Brainerd.
'Simpsons' movie feels purposeless
"The Simpsons Movie" - The universe of "The Simpsons" - outlandish, yellow and absent of normal human growth - has sketched with parodying perfection the struggle of family life, the exploitation of a neighbor's good will and the bizarre qualities of school bus drivers, to name just a few of its accomplishments. But "The Simpsons Movie" arrives long after the show's glory days. Not to sound too much like the Comic Book Guy, but the Fox sitcom, which once brilliantly satirized TV's conventions, has gradually settled into its own ruts - which usually entail Homer acting silly for silliness' sake. After 18 seasons on television, the much-anticipated big-screen debut of "The Simpsons" feels purposeless - as if creator Matt Groening finally thought: "Well, we might as well." After Homer pollutes Lake Springfield, the Environmental Protection Agency encases Springfield in a giant dome, and Homer must save the town and win back the support of Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. While "The Simpsons Movie" is - like the TV show has become - too much a caricature of itself, it still possesses good cheer, an aversion to self-seriousness and manic energy for stuffing the screen with layers of humor. In Homer's leap of Springfield Gorge late in the film, watch for a small artifact from a renown 1990 episode; it recalls both the show's bygone triumphs and stubborn resilience. PG-13 for irreverent humor. 87 min. Two and a half stars out of four.
Old Wadena Rendezvous scheduled Aug. 11-12
STAPLES - The 17th annual Old Wadena Rendezvous and Folklife Festival, featuring music and art, will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Old Wadena Historic Park on the Crow Wing River, seven miles northwest of Staples.
'High School Musical' 101
Get to know the lead characters.
'All-Pro Football,' 'The Bigs' give different spin to sports
Sports games may be perennial best-sellers - and cash cows for their publishers, especially EA Sports - but even their most die-hard fans will acknowledge that they're kind of predictable.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
Back to School
LITTLE FALLS - Forget "Grease." "High School Musical," the ridiculously popular 2006 Disney Channel movie, is the new word (or phrase).
A big step
Billy Hanson will be one step closer to his dream when he performs Thursday at WE Fest.
FAST PASTA
The phrase "no-cook sauce" holds great appeal on a weeknight - even if pasta must boil on the stove. In this recipe, using store-bought garlic croutons is a quick way to inject more flavor into the dish, but the croutons are easy to make with day-old bread you have on hand. If you're lucky, you'll have enough rigatoni left over for a cold pasta breakfast. Serve with a crisp green salad.
Pronto pups a fun treat for all ages
When my sons were little, I would frequently make them homemade pronto pups.
Brainerd School Board committees to meet Aug. 9
The Brainerd School Board will meet as a Committee of the Whole at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 9 at the Brainerd High School cafeteria.
Biting back
Crow Wing County Public Health at the county fair is attempting to make people more aware of the increased cases of tick-borne diseases reported here.
Countdown to the Championship
Sports editor Mike Bialka chats with three NHRA drivers about the first-year Powerade Countdown to the Championship, which is similar to NASCARs points system.
Traveling with the Blue Thunder
Sports copy editor Trevor Williams goes on a road trip with the Brainerd team.
Correction
Because of incorrect information provided the Dispatch, the Deerwood Lions Club vintage style show brief on Page 6A Wednesday listed the luncheon time as 1 p.m. Social hour is at 11:30 a.m. and the luncheon is planned for noon.
THE LOG DAYS OF SUMMER
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JENNIFER STOCKINGER | STAFF WRITER
This was Brainerd
40 years ago (1967) - A proposed long-range plan for Gregory Park which would include a swimming pool, warming house with public toilets, skating and hockey rink and a shuffleboard court in addition to the present tennis courts and playground was presented to the council.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
LAKES AREA SENIOR
County fair
Exhibit buildings will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Crow Wing County Fair
The Crow Wing County Fair got under way Tuesday. All exhibit buildings will be open daily from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Highway 371 crash victim identified
The victim of Wednesday's fatal crash on Highway 371 in Backus was identified at 21-year-old Latoya A. Burks of Walker.
BHS grad watched, in horror, the fate of bridge she used
Delinda (Blanck) Rood, a 1990 Brainerd High School graduate, and her husband, Marc, learned about the Interstate 35W bridge collapse after receiving calls from friends concerned about their safety shortly after it happened Wednesday night.
COMING SUNDAY IN SPORTS
Sports editor Mike Bialka chats with three NHRA drivers about the first-year Powerade Countdown to the Championship, which is similar to NASCAR's points system.
Girlfriend's call for ride was lucky for Luke Zauhar
At a minimum, Luke Zauhar may want to consider buying his girlfriend flowers.
Poor visibility blamed in fatal accident
Poor visibility was cited as a factor in an accident Thursday morning in which a 76-year-old pedestrian was killed after being struck by a pickup, police said
Brainerd drinking water gets OK
Brainerd's drinking water has been ruled clear of a toxic chemical found this past spring in the city's wastewater.
Online program to benefit home-schooling families
As more parents are deciding to home-school their children, a consortium of area school districts is developing an online program to reach out and assist these home-schooling families, which also will keep their state aid funding back in those districts.
Oberstar secures Cass County hospital designation
The House of Representatives Wednesday approved a comprehensive health care bill bringing emergency medical care closer to the residents of northern Cass County.
Photographer describes chaos
Brainerd native and Minneapolis resident John Pedersen, who was photographing Wednesday's I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis for the Brainerd Dispatch, was taken aback by what he witnessed following the collapse.
HOT TIME AT THE FAIR
Many fair goodies come on a stick, but one of the most popular this year is not something with calories.
COMING SUNDAY IN NORTH COUNTRY
A calm day on Mille Lacs means doom for walleye fishing. But when the bass bite is hot and the fightingest freshwater fish is on your line, why worry about walleyes?
This was Brainerd
Brainerd water has been declared safe to drink. The new samples have shown no trace of bacterial contamination.
Ag Day at the fair
Lizzy McFarland, Brainerd, petted a goat Thursday in the Livestock Arena at the Crow Wing County Fair. Thursday was Ag Day at the fair and featured many agriculture-related demonstrations and activities.
Man waving fake gun from vehicle ticketed for disorderly conduct
A 19-year-old Brainerd man was given a citation for disorderly conduct after he was waving a fake handgun at people from his vehicle.
Pedestrian Verdelle Goble, 76, fatally struck on College Drive
Verdelle Goble was described Thursday as a kind, gentle woman, always smiling and ready to give a hug.
Water level to be drawn down at Pillager Dam
The water level in Lake Placid was to be drawn down beginning Wednesday by Minnesota Power as a safety precaution during ongoing repairs on the Pillager Dam. It will last 1-3 days.
Farmer Brown'
Magnus Nelson, Brainerd, read to Gunnar Wicklund, Alison Bachman and Maren Rahto on Thursday in the Livestock Arena at the Crow Wing County Fair. Nelson, a 2003 Brainerd High School graduate who recieved a degree from the University of Minnesota in Ag Education, played "Farmer Brown."
Tick-tock
While many people may visit the Crow Wing County Fair to see the barnyard animals, the four-legged critters they need to be most aware of won't likely be there.
Man arrested after fatal crash
BACKUS - A Walker man was arrested Wednesday after the sports utility vehicle he was driving near Backus left Highway 371 and collided with a stand of pine trees, killing his passenger.
Dorothy Bender
Dorothy Bender, age 79, of Brainerd, and formerly of Aitkin, died on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at the Bethany Good Samaritan Center in Brainerd. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Aitkin with Pastor David Becker officiating. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday at the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin with a prayer service at 6 p.m.
Wayne A. Ankhauser
LITTLE FALLS - Wayne A. Ankhauser, 77-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn. Arrangements for Wayne are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
William J. Hoop' Smith
William J. "Hoop" Smith, 91, Brainerd, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
William Smith
William "Hoop" Smith, 91, Brainerd, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Ernest A. Wozniak
Ernest A. "Ernie" Wozniak, age 87, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Brainerd with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Monday at the church.
Robert Erickson
ST. CLOUD - Robert Erickson, 64, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. Arrangements are pending at this time with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Bob Erickson
Bob Erickson, 64, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. Funeral services are scheduled for noon on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with the Rev. Father Gabriel Waweru officiating. A visitation will begin Saturday morning at 10 a.m. until the start of the service.
Francis Crosgrove
CARLOS - Francis Crosgrove, 70, of Carlos, Minn., died July 25, 2007, in Bismarck, N.D.
Fredric C. Madsen
MERRIFIELD - Fredric C. Madsen, Merrifield, 94, passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. He was born May 20, 1913, in Chicago to Christian and Emma (Hoffman) Madsen.
Ernest A. Wozniak
Ernest "Ernie" A. Wozniak, age 87, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Bernard Westre
LITTLE FALLS - Bernard Westre, 81-year-old resident of Little Falls, passed away Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls. Funeral arrangements for Bernard Westre are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls.
Margie L. Bauer
Margie L. Bauer, 103, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at the Bethany Good Samaritan Village. Arrangements are entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Stephen R. Mayer
Stephen Ryan Mayer, age 25, of Brainerd, died on July 31, 2007. He was born in Brainerd on July 26, 1982, to Philip and Diane (Schemmel) Mayer.
Dorothy Bender
AITKIN - Dorothy Bender, age 79, of Aitkin, died on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at the Bethany Good Samaritan Center in Brainerd. Services are pending at the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.
OTHER OPINION: Guns
Fulfilling its duty to defend its laws, the District of Columbia has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision striking down the district's gun-control ordinance, which bans the registration of handguns acquired after 1975 and effectively prevents citizens from legally keeping guns in their homes.
Japan's Bush
When next they meet, President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have much to commiserate about.
Open Forum: Not quite what the Uniter had in mind
On the eve of his first term, George Bush proclaimed his role as a "Uniter." "I am a uniter, not a divider and, as the governor of Texas, that is how I have led. It is how I will lead in the White House. (Nov. 7, 2000)"
VOX POP
If you have a pet you don't want anymore, do the responsible thing and find it a new home. Please don't dump it out in the country. We don't have a cat ordinance out here, so we can't call animal control and have them come and get it. Your scared and hungry cat doesn't know how to take care of itself so it ends up on our doorstep begging to be taken in. Then we're the ones stuck trying to find it a new home or watch it starve to death. Not fair to us or your animal.
Constructing more affordable housing
The problem of homelessness in America is understandable. Just look at the gap between the numbers of poor families and affordable homes available.
Peace camp
planned at UCC
First Congregational United Church of Christ invites the public to its annual peace camp for adults and children Sunday through Thursday.
Our God reigns even in the face of tragedy
What were you doing at 6 p.m. Wednesday?
The church where the Bible is our textbook'
Riverside Union Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Scoreboard
FRIDAY
Little Falls wins district title
Logan Kalis pitched six-plus innings and Izaak Berglund went 2-for-3 as Little Falls defeated Cold Spring 5-1 to win the District 6 VFW baseball championship Wednesday at Adamson Field in Brainerd.
Errors help Blue Thunder croak Bullfrogs
Errors killed Green Bay once again Thursday as the Brainerd Blue Thunder took advantage of three Bullfrog miscues to score three unearned runs in a 5-3 win, sweeping the Southern Division leaders in the two-game series at Mills Field.
Sports Shorts
Cydney Hasselberg of Staples won the girls' division of the Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Association Players Cup 16-18 on Thursday at Highland National Golf Club in St. Paul.
On the road with the Thunder
The Brainerd Blue Thunder play 34 games on the road. Road trips can range from four games with stops in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and Duluth to a one-game trip they took to Alexandria on July 20.
Who's now the biggest loser?
If you've been watching ESPN's SportsCenter this summer you more than likely (and unfortunately) have come across the network's "Who's Now" segments.
Hoop' was one of Warrior greats
He was called "Hoop" for his proficiency at putting the ball in the basket in an era of jump balls at midcourt after each field goal, a larger basketball and running time.
Crosslake advances
PAYNESVILLE - The Crosslake American Legion team advanced to the winners' bracket in the District 6, Division II baseball tournament with two victories Thursday.
Jiggitts pitches Brainerd past Bullfrogs
Kris Jiggitts has put together a nice summer atop the mound for the Brainerd Blue Thunder, although his record may not quite show it.
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the 80s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny and pleasant. Highs in the 80s. Turning a bit cooler along the great lakes.
State forecast for North Dakota
.Tonight...Clear. Lows 45 northwest to around 60 southeast.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Tonight...Partly cloudy. Cooler. Chance of showers and
State forecast for North Dakota
.Today...Partly cloudy northwest...North central...Northeast...And
State forecast for South Dakota
Tonight...Fair to partly cloudy north. Mostly cloudy south with a chance of thunderstorms early...Then becoming partly cloudy late. Lows from the upper 50s north and west...To the mid 60s far southeast.
State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Sunny. Becoming partly cloudy west during the afternoon.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Thunderstorms likely west with a chance of thunderstorms central in the afternoon. Highs mostly in the 80s.
I like hula-hooping
Weather drawing by Niki Collette of Mrs. Lykins' kindergarten class at Nisswa school.
Ready for rain
Weather drawing by Jaelyn Kappes of Mrs. Larsons second-grade class at Lowell school.
Wisconsin state forecast
Tonight...A chance of thunderstorms north and west. Lows in the upper 50s far northwest to the mid 60s to low 70s elsewhere.