Saturday, August 23, 2003
Business notes
Glen Cook, president and proprietor of the Brainerd McDonald's Restaurant franchises which he has owned since 1991, was recently appointed to the board of directors of Northern National Bank.
Credit scores can vary
Question: While I was refinancing my mortgage recently, my bank pulled credit scores from three sources. The scores were referred to as Beacon Score, Fair Isaac Model Score and Empirica Score. My Fair Isaac was 775 while my Empirica was 776. However, my Beacon was 608. Fortunately, this did not affect the rate I'm receiving for the refi, but I was surprised that there was such a discrepancy between Beacon and the other two. Is that unusual? Do they each have their own formula for determining your score?
Churches
Harbor Lighthouse, Nashville recording artists from Tomahawk, Wis., will perform two concerts in the area. An outdoor concert will be 7 p.m. Saturday at the Malmo Free Church. Another wi
Wisconsin priests sign letter urging Roman Catholic church to allow optional celibacy
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- More than 160 priests in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee have signed a letter arguing that married men should be allowed to enter the priesthood.
Clergy view
Several years ago, I served in a congregation where the Schneiderman family were members.
Bumping into references to God is easy to do in secular America
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans pledge allegiance to "one nation under God." U.S. currency says "In God We Trust." Congress opens each day's work with a prayer, including this recent exaltation: "Blessed is the nation whose God is Lord."
Breaking up
At the ripe age of 18, Jamin Cousins is summing up his first business venture.
'Touched by an Angel' actress becomes a spokeswoman for volunteer group
A little-known national interfaith network offering free services to older adults has been "touched by an angel."
Psalm 23, everyone's favorite, examined
America's most famous rabbi is Harold S. Kushner, thanks to the huge readership for his 1981 book "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," which is still in print.
Catholic lay workers finalize agreement restoring jobs
EDINBURG, Texas (AP) -- Four lay workers fired in a rare labor dispute involving the Roman Catholic Church finalized an agreement in state district court restoring their jobs and union benefits.
Billions in assets are at stake as the Episcopal Church faces a possible breakup
The 7,364 congregations of the Episcopal Church receive $2.14 billion in offerings a year: Their buildings and liquid assets are worth untold billions.
Utah city may name new street after pioneer Mormon gunman
BLUFFDALE, Utah (AP) -- City officials are considering naming a future street Porter Rockwell Boulevard after a controversial Mormon pioneer who was dubbed the "destroying angel."
Alabama pastors feel political heat on tax plan
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama clergy say they understand the moral and theological arguments made by Gov. Bob Riley in his push for tax reform, but many church leaders are wary of talking taxes from the pulpit.
Several Minnesota colleges receive high ranks in U.S. News report
Two of Minnesota's private liberal arts colleges were ranked in the top 25 in the nation, according to the 2004 version of U.S. News and World Report's best-colleges report.
Join the three-ring circus
Put that SpongeBob notebook back on the shelf. This season's trendiest school supplies, made by a small company in Minnesota, feature high-quality materials, innovative details and blank exteriors so students can create their own sense of style.
School lunches aren't what they used to be
RED WING (AP) -- At The Courtyard Cafe, the menu is bursting with options.
School lunches by the numbers
Details about the school lunch program in Minnesota. The National School Lunch Program offsets costs for school lunches prepared according to federally set dietary guidelines. The figures are from the 2001-02 school year, the most recent data available.
It pays to be leery of college aid pitches
As a parent of a high school student, Denise McQuighan gets lots of mail from companies trying to sell college-prep services ranging from SAT preparation courses to college application assistance.
Schools work to fit fitness into lesson plans
In the dead of winter this year, the children of McGregor embarked on a walk down the Mississippi River, covering 945 of the waterway's 2,552 miles -- without leaving their elementary school.
We're all human
There's no foolproof method for avoiding lapses altogether; we are all human, each with our own absent-minded routines, our engrossing hobbies or work. But psychologists say it does pay to be aware how flawed memory is, and how it usually goes wrong for ourselves, personally. Some people simply cannot hold more than a couple of thoughts in working memory at a time; others are prone to absent-minded routine; and still others are extremely tuned in -- usually.
Deciding right way to wear diamond is left to the woman
For centuries women have worn diamond rings on their left hands -- on the ring finger or "wedding finger" -- as a symbol of love and fidelity. So why are we beginning to see diamond clusters on the right hand, especially on the ring finger?
The Baby Group
NISSWA -- Eight Brainerd lakes area babies took their first steps together nearly 19 years ago and they took their first steps down the aisle for their Brainerd High School graduation this spring.
Pets of the Week
Nana is an 1-year-old, orange, female Staffordshire terrier.
Fall fashion and makeup walk down retro road
Fashion and beauty are like teenage lovers. They can't take their eyes off each other; every waking moment is spent in contemplation and wonder; they might even start thinking alike. In short, they're inseparable.
How could he forget? Just count
Being a parent means being always on edge, always vigilant. That's why so many were dumbfounded to hear reports recently that a University of California, Irvine professor had driven to work and forgotten to take his 10-month-old son out of the car. The boy later died of heat exposure, as have at least three other young children left unattended in cars in the West this summer.
Food farms share their produce
DULUTH (AP) -- Rob Stenseng of Duluth doesn't want his children to grow up thinking food is something that comes shrink-wrapped from the supermarket. He wants them to appreciate that people working the land are the true providers.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 290, a year ago 240.
Changing the dairy case one carton at a time
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- On average, a Minnesota family owned dairy farm closes every day. Last month the Minnesota Department of Agriculture counted 6,282 dairy farms within the state; a decade ago there were more than 10,000.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 450. Last Thursday: 375. Year Ago Thursday: 331. Wednesday actual: 483.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle estimate: 400. Last Friday: 465. Year Ago Friday: 264. Thursday actual: 482.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLI(AP) -- Wheat receipts Thursday 197, a year ago 458.
County fair results
BYLINE3:Novice heifer calf, first place Becky Caughey, Fort Ripley; winter calf, Dec. 1 - Feb. 28, first place Becky Caughey,
Agendas
Meets 9 a.m. Tuesday
Agendas
Meets 5 p.m. Thursday
County fair results
ceramic, baked, first place Ciara Pritschet, Brainerd, second place Natasha Gallett, Pequot Lakes, third place Kim Narveson, Pequot Lakes;
Agenda
Meets 7:30 p.m. Monday
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a fire at 5:11 p.m. Thursday at Jaycees Park on Pine Street. A wood pile, tree and picnic table were started on fire by youths, the fire department reported. There were no injuries.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Thursday.
Wie misses cut in Canadian event
BRIMLEY, Mich. (AP) -- There was a bald eagle soaring over the golf course. Michelle Wie could have used an eagle or two of her own -- and some more birdies, too.
Golf scoreboard
Firestone Country Club
Rally for a Cure to go golfing
Pine Meadows Golf Club is an official site for the 2003 Rally for a Cure initiative and this year marks the third time the club has pledged its support and teed off against breast cancer.
A different Firestone this year
AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- David Toms remembers the first time he saw Firestone, the green grass so perfectly manicured he was afraid to take a divot.
Australian turning U.S. Amateur upside down
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) -- The kid from Down Under is turning the U.S. Amateur upside down.
Mallon leads Wachovia
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- Meg Mallon had a simple explanation for her strong play in the Wachovia Classic.
Cancer's lost generation
Cancer in adolescents and young adults is different from cancer in other age groups.
Topical cream makes pain relief easier to stomach
Weekend warriors often need a way to combat the pain, swelling and inflammation that comes with overdoing it, but common pain relievers can cause stomach irritation and ulcers.
Support groups
Victims of clergy abuse
Chemical dependency and AA groups
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.
Obese children face emotional harm as well as physical risks
Obese children face well-known risks to their physical health, but they're also in danger of developing serious social and emotional problems. Two new studies have found that they're more likely to be teased and to have smaller social networks than their non-overweight peers.
Study finds link between stressed kids and fatty foods
Stressed kids are more likely to go for high-fat foods and snacks than their placid peers, regardless of whether they respond to anxiety by eating more or less than usual.
Historic Brainerd home gets a new do
Once the home of a Brainerd mayor, white Corinthian columns now mark a north Brainerd home that is the Fine Line Salon and Spa.
Problems occasionally arise with tomatoes
Tomatoes are as close as any vegetable gets to growing like a weed, yet problems occasionally arise.
Housing brief
Several Brainerd lakes area and state-wide environmental organizations have combined efforts to recognize homeowners and contractors who developed or redeveloped lakeshore properties in an ecologically sustainable manner.
Try this method to clean a marred fiberglass shower pan
Q. Michelle asks: I have recently purchased a 10-year-old house with a large plastic shower pan in one of the bathrooms. It has brown stains on it that I have tried to remove with bleach and several commercial products I used full strength. Nothing works. Any suggestions?
Quintet microsystem is a horn of plenty
Honk if you've heard a horn speaker.
Floors more exotic than oak
White oak makes durable and affordable flooring as well as sturdy furniture, which is why there is a heck of a lot of oak in people's homes. It has become so widely used, in fact, that some fans of hardwood have gone far afield looking for something new and different.
Organizing photos is as easy as saying cheese
Between old photos, new photos and digital photos, does your storage space runneth over? Lifescape Solutions has a suggestion for photo care: Picasa, an easy-to-use computer program that helps users arrange, retrieve, display and share digital pictures.
Confessions of a yard man
Although I'm 50 plus, the number that really bugs me is 74.
Hole in One drywall repair kit is a good fix
Even those with plenty of experience in repairing holes in drywall can have problems with the hole created by the doorknob.
Modified image
LONG PRAIRIE -- Don't doubt it -- Long Prairie is still a typical small town in central Minnesota.
Once the center of city life, downtowns are a changing place
Cities across the lakes area and the nation are re-evaluating downtown. Once the center of city life, downtowns in many cities have struggled to redefine themselves and have changed dramatically.
This was Brainerd
AUGUST 24 - 30 years ago (1973) - Shoppers in Brainerd are benefiting from an effort by the city council to assist with the parking situation in downtown Brainerd. The council in July ordered free parking on all streets each Saturday through Sep. 15.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1983) - The class of 1938 celebrated its 45th anniversary last month at the Brainerd America Legion Club. Oren Steinfeldt, class president emceed the event.
Downtown Brainerd called a thriving destination shopping area
They may not have impulse shoppers, but downtown Brainerd has growing businesses and perhaps a healthy skepticism about revitalization.
War's repercussions demonstrated
The Wheels of Justice Tour, a bus tour traveling around the county to challenge Americans about the repercussions of war and occupation, rolled into Brainerd Friday to give area residents firsthand eyewitness accounts from Iraq and Palestine.
Pillager woman celebrates big birthday in the Big Apple -- in the dark
PILLAGER -- It was a milestone Brenda Smith was dreading -- her 30th birthday.
Could Baxter create a downtown area like Maple Grove did?
BAXTER -- At a springtime Saturday community meeting in Baxter a resident raised her hand and suggested creating a downtown for the city.
College offers Death Investigation Symposium
The criminal justice program at Central Lakes College in Brainerd will feature a host of experts for its inaugural Death Investigation Symposium on Sept. 24-26.
Local briefs
The city of Brainerd will begin the 2003 Oak Street reconstruction project Monday.
Wilhelmina 'Willie' Waln
STAPLES -- Wilhelmina "Willie" Waln, 84, of Staples, born Aug. 2, 1919, passed away Aug. 21, 2003.
Medallions helping to jog memories about forgotten war U.S. fought in Korea
The Korean War often is called the forgotten war.
Parking solutions key for downtown
The perception regarding parking spaces may be as big an obstacle as actually finding one in downtown Brainerd.
Fields of old
There's no little house but there are remnants of prairie in Crow Wing County. And the story is told Sunday in North Country.
Correction/clarification
The Brainerd Dispatch inadvertently omitted names from the Mississippi Horizons second semester honor roll that was published Thursday as the result of misinformation supplied to The Dispatch.
Vandalism delays flight
A Mesaba airplane at the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport was vandalized overnight, it was learned this morning.
Merrifield man killed in two-car accident in Nisswa
NISSWA -- A 41-year-old Merrifield man is dead following a two-vehicle collision Thursday on Highway 371, near Hazelwood Drive, in Nisswa.
Pawlenty talks of improving Indian health
WALKER -- Gov. Tim Pawlenty welcomed a national gathering of state and tribal leaders to the Leech Lake Reservation with a renewed commitment to narrowing the gap in health and economic disparities between American Indians and other racial groups.
Courthouse has its own monument, but not any controversy
The controversy surrounding a Ten Commandments monument in Montgomery, Ala., hasn't surfaced in Cass or Crow Wing counties.
Dorothy M. Giles
LITTLE FALLS -- Dorothy M. Giles, age 89, a resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Donald 'Donnie' Portner
HENDERSON, Nev. -- Donald "Donnie" Portner, Henderson, Nev., formerly of Pine River, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at his residence. Funeral arrangements are pending with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.
James R. Mason
MERRIFIELD -- James Richard Mason, age 41, resident of Merrifield, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003. James was born on Nov. 28, 1961, in St. Paul to Richard and Bethine (Davis) Mason.
Craig Whittrock
Craig Whittrock, age 50, St. Cloud, Minn., died Thursday, August 21, 2003, at his home.
Florence M. Valaitis
CROSBY -- Florence M. Valaitis, 90 of Crosby and formerly of Aitkin, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, in the Cuyuna Regional Care Center, Crosby. Funeral arrangements are pending with McGregor Funeral Home, McGregor.
Jacqueline J. Mass
Jacqueline J. Mass, 59-year-old resident of Randall, Minn., formerly of Brainerd, Minn., died Friday, Aug. 22 at Fairview Riverside Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn.
LaVerne W. Schuety
LaVerne W. Schuety, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Roland 'Pete' Tulenchik
Roland "Pete" Tulenchik died Saturday, August 23, 2003, at his residence.
Obit Policy
Obituaries are a paid service of The Brainerd Dispatch Advertising Department and also appear online.
Lester 'Les' J. Newcomb
LITTLE FALLS -- Lester "Les" J. Newcomb, age 57 of Little Falls, Minn., died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at his home in Darling Township, Morrison County, Minn. Funeral services will be held Monday, Aug. 25, 2003, at 1
Laura Hartwig
SWANVILLE -- Laura Hartwig, 84-year-old resident of Swanville, Minn., died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Arrangements are pending with the Shelley-Gibson Funeral Chapel in Swanville, Minn.
Justiliano F. Garcia
Justiliano F. Garcia, age 61, of Crosby, died on Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.
Gladys E. Sykes
Gladys E. Sykes, age 73, of Brainerd, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.
Donald 'Donnie' F. Portner
Donald "Donnie" F. Portner, 62, of Henderson, N.V., and Pine River died Thursday, August 21, 2003, at his residence in Henderson. He was born September 8, 1940, in Jenkins to Armin J. and Carolyne F. (Schmidt) Portner.
Gladys E. Sykes
Gladys E. Sykes, age 73, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.
Ruth M. Foote
MISSION -- Ruth M. Foote, age 84 of Mission Township, died on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003, at Evergreen Assisted Living in Reno, Nev.
James Mason
MERRIFIELD -- James Mason, age 41, resident of Merrifield, died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003.
Laura T. Hartwig
SWANVILLE -- Laura T. Hartwig, 84-year-old resident of Swanville, Minn., died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Funeral service will be held Monday, Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Swan
Spare us - Dispatch Editorial
Anyone can get a bad idea. The best remedy for the affliction is to reconsider the idea and then step away from it quickly before any action is taken.
Voice your opinion on these pages
The Dispatch encourages readers to sound off in the Open Forum.
Terrorism in Iraq
Tuesday's suicide bombing that claimed the life of 23 people at the United Nations compound in Baghdad, Iraq, may prove to be a tactical error by whatever party is eventually found to be responsible.
California recall Q & A
It's time for another installment of "Recall Q&A," in which we answer the most commonly asked questions about California's gubernatorial grudge match:
Open Forum
I address this letter to the leadership of the professing Christian churches in the surrounding community. There appears to me to be an ever increasing level of confusion within the church today. To what do you attribute this confusion? Has God changed the rules? Has the salt lost its saltiness? Do we teach the "good news" as written or change the interpretation to reflect the times? To whom are we accountable?
Open Forum
On Saturday, August 16, the Christ Community Church was the home to a 50s and 60s party and silent auction.
Fighting Bearcats continue training
The 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment (Fighting Bearcats) who have soldiers from all over the state of Minnesota to include Aitkin, Brainerd, Crookston, Detroit Lakes, Moorhead, Thief River Falls and many other communities, are at Fort Polk, Louisiana, participating in a Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRE).
VoxPop
Thank you Brainerd City Council members for banning the 2 a.m. bar closing. We needed that about as much as we need all the meth labs in our area. Our police officers do a great job and do not need to baby-sit adults an extra hour every day of the week.
Leech Lake could get pike, walleye special regulations
The DNR is proposing that Leech Lake have a protected slot limit of 17 to 21 inches for walleye and a protected slot limit of 24 to 36 inches for northern pike for the 2004 season.
Early opening day should mean more ducks for Minnesota hunters
The DNR's decision to open the 2003 duck season on Sept. 27 should be good news to duck hunters. The date is one day earlier than last year's opener and a week before the traditional opening date of the Saturday nearest Oct. 1.
Orinenteering on the run
WASHINGTON (AP) -- All Miki Snell needs in the woods is a map and a sense of direction. And she always has the sense of direction.
Learn why big fish love yellow perch
PWT pro John Campbell usually hunts walleyes and muskies. But he also likes a fish those bigger species munch on.
Prairie in Crow Wing County?
Minnesota prairie is usually associated with the western and southern parts of the state, where glaciers left the northernmost tall grass prairie that once covered all of the Great Plains.
Study shows spinning wing decoys lead to bigger duck harvest
Hunters who use spinning wing decoys kill more ducks than those who don't, a recent study shows.
Fishing report
A live bait rig tipped with a nightcrawler or chub seems to be producing the majority of walleyes on Gull Lake and Whitefish Lake this week. The evening hours have been most productive in 12 to 28 feet of water.
Outdoor notes
Crow Wing State Park will host a muzzleloader hunt Dec. 5-7 to reduce the deer population and prevent overgrazing on park property, surrounding agricultural fields and private property. Park Manager Paul Roth said 40 hunters will be selected to hunt 1,200 acres of park land. Hunters can take deer of either sex and buy additional intensive harvest permits. Application deadline is Sept. 4.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance for earthlings
"Those strange beings who landed in the New Jersey farmlands tonight are the vanguard of an invading army from Mars. This is the end now. The smoke's spreading faster, people are trying to run away from it, but it's no use. They're falling like flies."
North Country calendar
Aug. 25 -- Lac qui Parle goose hunt applications accepted
Wedding reception planned
Wayne "Woody" and Judy Wooden, Brainerd, will celebrate their wedding with a reception from 4-8 p.m. Friday at their house.
Rockwell-Wallin
Valarie Rockwell and Brian Wallin were married May 3, 2003, at Pequot Lakes Baptist Church with Jim Rockwell and H. Mark Whittemore officiating.
Richard and Irene Jensen
Richard and Irene Jensen, Brainerd, will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at St. Francis Church. They were married Aug. 30, 1943.
Marloe and Jeanette Svoboda
Marloe and Jeanette Svoboda, Garrison, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their family and friends. They were married Aug. 28, 1953, in Minneapolis.
Four generations
Four generations recently gathered during a first trip to meet great-grandparents were Elizabeth Katherine Burns, daughter; Renea Anne Burns, mother; Katherine Anne Wagner, grandmother; and Sylvia Dahl, great-grandmother.
Five generations
Five generations recently gathered were Cole Becker, son; Brenda Becker, mother; Jim Peterson, grandfather; Marge Peterson, great-grandmother; and Emma Kletschka, great-great-grandmother.
Stacie Collins and Dan Bednarek
Stacie Collins and Dan Bednarek announce their engagement. Parents are Dewayne and Charlotte Collins, Brainerd, and Gary and Linda Bednarek, Amiret. A Sept. 27 wedding is planned at Zion Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Jerry and Maryann Riewer
Jerry and Maryann Riewer, Staples, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. They were married Aug. 24, 1963, in Bluffton.
Natasha S. Jantz and Neil A. Carlson
Natasha S. Jantz and Neil A. Carlson announce their engagement. Parents are Wendy Johnson, Menahga, and Merlin and Jill Carlson, Pequot Lakes. A Sept. 16 wedding is planned at the Little Chapel of Flowers in Las Vegas.
Scheckter fastest in Nazareth
NAZARETH, Pa. (AP) -- Tomas Scheckter was in a much better position than a year ago at Nazareth Speedway.
Racing lineups and results
After Friday's qualifying; race Saturday
Gordon wins pole at Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) -- Jeff Gordon doesn't pay attention to what Winston Cup points leader Matt Kenseth is doing.
Auto racing schedule and standings
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule and standings, with winners in parentheses:
Servia takes provisional pole at Montreal
MONTREAL (AP) -- A red flag and heavy traffic left championship contenders Paul Tracy and Bruno Junqueira frustrated and disappointed after provisional qualifying for the Montreal Molson Indy.
Top-tier acts missing from upgraded State Fair grandstand
FALCON HEIGHTS (AP) -- The grandstand got a $6 million makeover for this year's Minnesota State Fair, but some say the musical lineup isn't worthy of the new surroundings.
Lawmaker criticizes state's financial loss on light rail model
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A state lawmaker has criticized the Metropolitan Council for spending more than $600,000 on a model of its Hiawatha light-rail cars and then selling it back to the Canadian manufacturer 10 months later for $60,000.
Pawlenty defends governor's residence spending
ST. PAUL -- While Gov. Tim Pawlenty demanded that budget-setting lawmakers focus on government necessities rather than niceties, state money paid for a top-shelf gas grill, silver polishing and other things to spruce up the governor's official residence.
Barkley: Minnesota lobbying made him liability in California
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Dean Barkley says he quit as campaign manager for California gubernatorial candidate Arianna Huffington because his lobbying work in Minnesota was hurting her ability to raise cash.
DFLers consider recall petition for Pawlenty
FALCON HEIGHTS (AP) -- Minnesota DFL leaders say they're considering a California-style effort to remove Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty by recall petition -- just the latest in the summer-long political food fight between the parties.
Information in Andreotti probe kept sealed
ST. PAUL (AP) -- An investigative file detailing complaints against Maj. Gen. Eugene Andreotti will remain sealed for the moment, a Ramsey County judge decided Friday.
Marines investigate lance corporal's decision to shoot himself
MINNEAPOLIS -- Marine Corps officials on Friday were scheduling a medical appointment to see if Lance Cpl. Adam Welter was fit to travel.
Texas nuclear plant leak prompts Prairie Island check
RED WING (AP) -- Federal authorities responding to a leaky nuclear reactor in Texas have ordered inspections at 58 similar power plants across the country, including Xcel Energy's Prairie Island generating station.
Inscribed Fort Snelling gravestones sold to Brownton couple
MINNEAPOLIS -- The names of Americans who risked their lives for their country are inscribed in stone at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Some of those names can also be found in rocks bound for the back yard landscape project of a Brownton couple, and that's a problem.
Minnesota woman, husband arrested in murder in northern Mexico
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico (AP) -- Cynthia Kiecker says she and her Mexican husband stood out as "kind of the hippies of Chihuahua," a conservative northern Mexico city where cowboy hats and boots are the norm.
St. Paul man killed in crash
A St. Paul man was killed while a Bemidji man is in critical condition after a two-vehicle crash Friday morning on Highway 10, one-tenth of a mile north of Highway 115 in Morrison County, the State Patrol reported.
Man charged in cabbie's death
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Dakota County man out of prison for less than two months has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis cabdriver in early August.
State Fair's resident livestock sleuth tracks cheaters
FALCON HEIGHTS (AP) -- Something ugly has cropped up at state fairs across the nation: cheating. So the Minnesota State Fair's resident watchdog on livestock-show cheating is watching more closely than ever.
Storm win three at national tournament
The Brainerd Storm finished with a 3-2 record at the ASA/USA national 16-under girls' slow-pitch softball tournament July 29-Aug. 3 in Cullman, Ala.
New rules Prep volleyball adopts rally scoring, other changes
The face of high school volleyball underwent reconstructive surgery as the Minnesota State High School League has adopted a number of new rules for the 2003 season.
Sport-aholics BHS' Arns and Staples-Motley's Honek are multi-sport stars
For the past four years, two athletes have dominated the area girls' high school sports landscape.
Area events Friday
CROSS COUNTRY
Area tennis
PERHAM -- The Pequot Lakes Patriots remained unbeaten in eight tennis meets by defeating New York Mills and Perham Thursday.
Area tennis
PERHAM -- The Pequot Lakes Patriots remained unbeaten in eight tennis meets by defeating New York Mills and Perham Thursday.
Area events Saturday
GIRLS SOCCER
Sports shorts
A meeting for Baxter soccer coaches is scheduled 6:15 p.m. Monday at the Baxter Parks and Recreation office.
As practices get heated, area teams take precautions
With heat indexes soaring into triple digits most of this week, precautions were being taken by area football coaches to ensure the safety of their players.
Pirates' treasure
Coaches strive to win every season but they particularly want to win when the end of their career is on the horizon. They like nothing more than to hand the reigns to their successor following a winning season.
Warriors finish third at Albany
ALBANY -- The Brainerd Warriors volleyball team opened its season Friday with a third-place finish in the Albany tournament.
Sports briefs
Scott Drew will replace disgraced former Baylor coach Dave Bliss, whose program collapsed under the death of a player, revelations of NCAA violations and player drug use and the coach's attempted cover-up.
Clemens shines on sunny day
It didn't matter who Becca Clemens played with, the outcome stayed the same.
Herbie was one of a kind
The hockey world was shocked last week when Herb Brooks was killed in a single-car accident north of the Twin Cities Aug. 11.
Sports short
Brainerd eighth-grade boys interested in playing football this fall may check out equipment Monday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Franklin lower gym locker room area.
Newcomers come through
MINNEAPOLIS -- The first of four crucial games between the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals was about as intense as a pennant race can get.
Gophers looking to build off '02 bowl game win
MINNEAPOLIS -- The schedule says Minnesota begins the 2003 campaign next weekend like just about everybody else, but the Gophers are adamant their season actually began back in December.
Sparks continue dominance of Lynx
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nikki Teasley scored 17 points and Los Angeles beat the Minnesota Lynx 88-65 Thursday night as the Sparks clinched a share of their fourth consecutive Western Conference championship.
Home games are a family reunion for Gophers tight end
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- There is playing in front of a home crowd, and then there is playing in front of a family reunion. When Matt Spaeth, a redshirt freshman for the Gophers football team, looks into the Metrodome stands this fall, he will see a scene from Christmas cards past.
Moss grabs 2 TDs in Vikes' win
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Greg Biekert enjoyed his return to Oakland a whole lot more than his former teammates did.
This time, Twins' comeback attempt cut down by Royals
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jeremy Affeldt is stuck in the bullpen because of recurring finger blisters that limited his effectiveness as a starter, but he's been very valuable for the Kansas City Royals since his duties changed.
2003 Minnesota football
Some facts about the 2003 Minnesota Golden Gophers:
Biekert, Gannon face former teams
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Greg Biekert has prepared for his return to the Coliseum by warning the rest of the Minnesota Vikings about the horrors they'll face.
Software gives voice to your e-mail
One of e-mail's disadvantages is that it doesn't convey the emotions of the sender. Well, not anymore, thanks to Voxred International's Talking E-mail System for Dummies ($39.95).The software works with your e-mail program allowing you to send voice recordings via e-mail. Installation is simple.
Snappy technology sticking around
Call me an old fogy, but when the first cell phones with built-in digital cameras came out, I asked, "Why would anyone want one of those?" And so, I ignored them, figuring they'd be a flash in the pan.
Photo printer leads pack
Epson's Stylus Photo line of printers has kept ahead of the competition for the most part. And the Epson Stylus Photo 900 ($200) is on the edge of awesome. A solid mid-range photo printer, it uses six colors to create beautifully rendered images with tiny 4-picoliter ink droplets. But the 900's best trick is not its photo printing, which is detailed and color accurate. Its best trick is printing on printable CDs and DVDs, which have surfaces that will accept inkjet ink (don't try to print on regular CD surfaces). Getting cool, colorful printing on your CDs requires a minor adjustment or two to the printer. You'll have to raise the print head with a lever and place the CD in a tray that must be aligned. This is relatively easy and quick to do -- although it may not work for serious production efforts.
News by e-mail growing up
News-by-e-mail is getting a lot more sophisticated than having friends send stories to you. Last week, Google released a free news service, Google News Alerts. A simple form (www.google.com/newsalerts) lets you create a search query -- up to 50 per e-mail address -- and have links to related stories sent to that address, either once a day or as each article appears in Google's index.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Clear to partly cloudy. Slight chance of afternoon thundertorms west central plains to south central. Breezy or windy. Highs from near 90 northeast to about 105 west central plains.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Isolated showers or thunderstorms northwest. Highs from the upper 70s to mid 80s. Cooler near the great lakes.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly sunny. Scattered showers and thunderstorms north this morning. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms northeast this afternoon. Breezy west. Highs from around 80 northeast to the mid 90s southwest.
I will catch butterflies
Weather drawing by Jack Williams of Mrs. Lykins' kindergarten class at Nisswa school.
Storms in the East, West; dry conditions in the Plains
A cold front moving through the East brought strong thunderstorms to the Great Lakes and into the Mid-Atlantic Friday while widespread showers and thunderstorms developed across portions of the West.
State forecast for north dakota
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. Windy west and central. Highs 85 to 90.
Iowa state forecast
Saturday...Sunny. Highs 85 to 95 with a few locations near 100 far southwest.
State forecast for minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs mid 70s to mid 80s.
The Weather Elsewhere
Saturday
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s to mid 80s.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Sunny. Highs in the 80s.
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Mostly sunny or partly cloudy. Slight chance of afternoon thunderstorms far west. Becoming breezy west and central. Highs 80 to 85 east to the upper 90s southwest.
Best friends
Weather drawing by Jenna Murphy in the Riverside School third-grade class of Mrs. Meyer.
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Partly sunny west and central. Mostly cloudy east with scattered thunderstorms. Highs from the mid 80s northeast to near 100 south central.
What's doing
9 Table Mitchell Movement. North-South: Walt and Betty Moynagh, 126.5; Alma Bracewell
Senior activities
MONDAY
Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees
What's doing
The Crow Wing County DFL will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Brainerd Public Library in the large meeting room. All interested DFLers are invited and encouraged to attend. Mark your calendar for Sept.18, 7 p.m. at the Brainerd Public Library and Oct. 16, 7 p.m. at the Brainerd Public Library.