Thursday, August 25, 2005
Do automakers grasp why 'employee discounts' worked?
Success begets success, except in the nation's automobile industry.
1932 mystery Buick fakes out all guessers
In 1932, Buick made 26 styles of cars, including a seven-passenger limousine, a seven-passenger Sport Phaeton and a five-passenger, 126-inch wheelbase Victoria Traveler Coupe. Every car had an eight-cylinder engine also.
Karl Shiflett, Special C to headline festival
Karl Shiflett and the Big Country Show of Groesbeck, Texas, will be one one of two headliners at this weekend's Lakes Bluegrass Festival. Since forming in 1993, this acoustic, traditional bluegrass group has established itself as one of the genre's top live bands.
BEST BETS
The first seven days of the Minnesota State Fair at the St. Paul fairgrounds feature 3 Doors Down and Staind (Thursday), Motley Crue (Friday), Sawyer Brown (Saturday), the Gear Daddies (Sunday), Ryan Cabrera (Monday), James Taylor (Tuesday) and Martina McBride (Wednesday). Check out www.mnstatefair.org for times and ticket prices.
ENTERTAINMENT SHORTS
AITKIN -- "Resonate," a collaborative series of drawings by Erin Holscher and poems by Amber Anderson, will be on display through Sept. 3 at The Beanery in Aitkin.
BOOK SHORTS
On Sept. 1, Brainerd resident Wendy Rosnau will release "Perfect Assassin," the third book in her Spy Games series published by Harlequin/Silhouette.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
ENTERTAINMENT SHORTS
Emma Palm, Randie Swanson and Alex Kuhn, dancers with Brainerd's Music General, recently attended "Slide," Michael Minery's classic tap event July 18-23 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in New York City's Times Square.
ENTERTAINMENT SHORTS
WADENA -- Auditions for the Madhatters Community Theatre's dinner theater production of "Ole and Lena's Wedding" will be 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at the Wadena Memorial Auditorium.
'Virgin' has not-so-surprising amount of heart
"The 40 Year Old Virgin" has a lot of heart, but not -- to use a tired film critic phrase -- "a surprising amount of heart." It is, after all, written and directed by Judd Apatow, who brought us the painfully funny TV series "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared."
Bluegrass: The next generation
When she was younger, Ashley Weise often felt like she was the only kid at the bluegrass festivals her parents dragged her to.
Heartland Symphony Orchestra schedule announced
The Heartland Symphony Orchestra has announced the schedule for its 29th season of live orchestral concerts in the Brainerd lakes area.
COMING NEXT WEEK
It's never too early to preview the fall TV season (especially since it starts Monday with "Prison Break"). The Dispatch and the Associated Press make their early picks for what to watch.
Turn cucumbers into tasty batch of refrigerator pickles
I recently got a bag of fresh cucumbers from my brother-in-law's garden and a recipe for the best refrigerator pickles from my mother, so over the weekend I made Mom's pickles.
BIRTHS
Joshua and Heather (Swift) Wiegand, Motley, a girl, Shauna Lee, 7 pounds, 11 ounces, Aug. 23, 2005. Grandparents are Les and Terri Swift, Pillager, and Jon and Elaine Wiegand, Leader.
ACCIDENT UPDATE
Jeffery Volkl, the 9-year-old Pillager boy who was hit by a truck while he was riding his bike Monday, remained in critical condition Wednesday at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, a hospital spokeswoman said.
BIRTHS
Luke and Carrie (Wippler) Bollig, Cushing, a boy, Devyn Louis, 7 pounds, 13 ounces, Aug. 19, 2005. Grandparents are Joe and Kathy Wippler, Randall, and Pete and Vicky Bollig, Cushing. Great-grandparents are Roseann Fenske, Randall, Catherine Rausch, Long Prairie, and Virginia Wippler, Little Falls.
ACCIDENT
PILLAGER -- A 9-year-old Pillager boy was in critical condition after he collided with a pickup Monday while he was riding his bicycle.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the BPU Service Center, 8027 Highland Scenic Road in Baxter.
BIRTHS
Michael and Theresa (Jennings) Upshur, Baxter, a girl, Faith Leilani, 5 pounds, 14 ounces, Aug. 9, 2005. Grandparents are Lorraine Upshur, Yeadon, Pa., Michael R. Webb, Jackson, Miss., and Antonia and Fulton Jennings, Philadelphia.
Last day to race
Elizabeth Jordan (left), Cleveland, Ohio; Sarah Grom, Geneva, Ill.; Allison Jordan, Cleveland; and Kathryn Jordan, Cleveland, participated in the last day of the weekly summer turtle races in Nisswa last week. The girls were visiting Richard and Linda Hieger, Sarah's grandparents, at Pelican Lake.
Deep Portage schedules fall programs
HACKENSACK -- Deep Portage will offer a variety of programs, including candle making, wall climbing and a chance to sight in your rifle, during Saturday programs beginning Sept. 17.
School days
Staples-Motley - Opens: Sept. 6 for elementary and middle school students, as well as ninth-graders and new students at the high school. Students in 10th through 12th grades will start school Sept. 7.
AREA BRIEFS
WALKER -- The Cass County Senior Transportation Program seeks more volunteer drivers to take seniors to medical appointments.
Remer Depot restored
The railroad ticket seller's window was retained in one wall of the restored depot visitor center area. Also, historic records and photos are available for viewing in the depot master's office. Original wainscot and moldings were retained and freshly painted in the building. There is ample comfortable seating for people to relax and read information available about area events and accommodations.
Byway establishes Foundation Fund
It was December 2004, and the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association board of directors took a big step toward adding a measure of financial stability to the organization.
AREA BRIEFS
Central Lakes College has scheduled a welding class for eight Tuesday and Thursday evenings Sept. 27-Oct. 20 on the Brainerd campus.
New college year
Central Lakes College students began the fall term Monday on the Brainerd and Staples campuses and in several communities connected by interactive TV and the Internet. In advance of the opening week new students toured the Brainerd campus, where Heidi Thielen provided an overview of services offered by the Academic Center for Enrichment.
Robert Erickson to make fourth bike tour for scholarships
Clad in lime green biking gear emblazoned with "Minnesota State Colleges and Universities," Robert O. Erickson will embark on a 2,300-mile state bicycle tour to raise money and public support for part-time students.
Rwandan gorillas, orphans and abuses are topics of program at CLC
Georgianne Nienaber will present the first 50-minute Cultural Thursday program of the new academic year at noon Sept. 1 in Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
A little white dog leaves his beloved lake and family
On Saturday, my family said goodbye to a special family member.
School days: Most, but not all, area schools start Sept. 6
Opens: Sept. 6 for elementary and junior high students and high school sophomores only. Other high school students start school Sept. 7.
Board to wait on request for another first grade teacher
PEQUOT LAKES -- The first-grade teachers at Eagle View Elementary School in Pequot Lakes believe their class sizes are too large this fall and wrote a letter to the school board asking that the board hire an additional teacher to bring classes down to a manageable level.
Hotel parking to be discussed Wednesday
CROSSLAKE -- Parking needs for a proposed hotel and restaurant in the Town Square development are expected to come before the Crosslake City Council Wednesday.
Point of view
What does this overlook? Find out in Friday's Dispatch.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Pam Landers of Nisswa was one of eight Minnesotans Gov. Tim Pawlenty named to the Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund Advisory Task Force.
This was Brainerd
AUGUST 24 - 100 years ago (1905) - A gay hay rack party went to White Sand Lake last evening. All reporting a jolly time, even though one young lady lost her shoes...nevertheless her heart is safe.
CORRECTION
A Page 5N brief Wednesday containing back-to-school information on Staples-Motley schools should have listed new administrators, including Superintendent Mark Schmitz; district administrative assistant Jennelle Shriver; interim business manager John Moore; assistant to the interim business manager Cheryl Hahn; and a new assistant to the principal who has yet to be named.
Little Falls, Longville and Staples airports receive federal grants, Oberstar announces
Three area airports were among several that recently were awarded grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Rep. Jim Oberstar's office announced this week.
Overheard
"We are only a little over three months from coming home. The soldiers are very tired right now. However, their morale is high and they are doing well.... We will continue to do our mission and will not let down our guard until we are back at home with all of you."
Boom! Lights out
Lynn Germann, water plant operator and dispatcher, was one of the first to know his night routine was going to have an unanticipated interruption.
Commissioners table discussion on smoke-free regulations
Discussion on whether Crow Wing County should be smoke-free was tabled Tuesday by the county board until Sept. 27.
St. Cloud to Chicago jet service set to start in May
Jet service from the St. Cloud Regional Airport to Chicago is scheduled to begin in May. The new service will provide four daily flights to Chicago Midway Airport.
Commissioners allow engineer to seek two railway crossings in Baxter
Two crossings may be better than one.
Point of view
Where is this flying? Find out in Thursday's Dispatch.
Law enforcement officers gear up for Labor Day campaign
Area law enforcement agencies in Cass and Crow Wing counties are gearing up for the Labor Day Safe and Sober campaign, which runs through Sept. 5.
Overheard
"I think it's just the shot in the arm that the community needed, the students needed and teachers needed."
Summer stroll
Virginia Curtis pulled her son, Tyler, Wednesday in a wagon along Fifth Street Southwest in Brainerd as the moderate temperature continued to encourage people to enjoy the late summer weather.
Federal grant obtained for Randall clinic
RANDALL -- Consolidated Telecommunications Co. of Brainerd has been awarded a $300,000 grant to help St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls to finance equipment and construction of a physician's clinic in Randall.
Where budget stands
CROSSLAKE -- With budget decisions looming in September, Crosslake City Council reviewed the proposed 2006 budget and revisited talks on where tax dollars should be spent.
This was Brainerd
AUGUST 25 - 80 years ago (1925) - Rumors concerning the purchase of Gull Lake lakeshore and other lake property by William Wrigley, Jr. millionaire chewing gum king and other wealthy men of Chicago and Cincinnati are becoming more current and lead the public to believe that something really big "is in the wind."
No use waiting for the elevator
A workman walked up a stairway Wednesday at the Crow Wing County Judicial Center, which is under construction on Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd.
DNR weighs in on lakes
Controlling run-off into lakes and looking at the impact septic systems have on lake quality were concerns residents voiced Tuesday to the Crow Wing County Board and DNR Commissioner Gene Merriam.
New school, fresh start at C-I
CROSBY -- There's a new energy and excitement that can be felt permeating throughout the hallways and classrooms -- along with the smell of fresh paint -- at the new Crosby-Ironton High School.
Soldier injured in Iraq
Mary Sams' 3 a.m. Monday phone call from her soldier-husband was welcome even if Staff Sgt. Mike Sams didn't fill her in on all the details.
Baxter city officials begin 2006 budget discussions
BAXTER -- The city of Baxter kick-started its 2006 budget process Tuesday with an overview of the city's preliminary budget.
Rev. Richard Spencer
The Rev. Richard Spencer, age 62, resident of Brainerd, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. Funeral services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Merrifield Community Church of the Nazarene with the Rev. Larry Harshman officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be provided by Brainerd American Legion Post No. 255. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery in Pillager.
LaMoine J. Roseberg
MALMO -- LaMoine J. Roseberg, age 57, of the Malmo Community, died on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2005, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Memorial services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, at Opstead Baptist Church, north of Isle, on Highway 47. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 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.
Darlene Hanson
PEQUOT LAKES -- Darlene (Darrow) Hanson, 59, Pequot Lakes, passed away on Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at her home in Pequot Lakes.
Dorothy J. Felix
LITTLE FALLS -- Dorothy J. Felix, 81-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, 2005, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, Minn., with Father Mark Innocenti officiating. Burial will be at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls. Friends may call from 9-10 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, at Holy Family Catholic Church.
Lucille Lilley
GALVESTON, Texas -- Lucille Lilley, age 81, resident of Galveston, Texas, formerly of Nisswa, died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, in Galveston.
Sophie D. Trickey
Sophie D. Trickey, age 81, resident of Brainerd for the past nine months, formerly of Minneapolis the past 35 years.
Kris Buscho
PILLAGER -- Kris Buscho, of Pillager, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2005, at her home after a battle with cancer. Arrangements are pending and entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Home of Staples.
Darlene Hanson
PEQUOT LAKES -- Darlene (Darrow) Hanson, 59, Pequot Lakes, passed away on Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at her home in Pequot Lakes.
Randy Eveland
NEW YORK -- Randy Eveland, 56, of New York, and formerly of Backus, died at his home on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Derald P. Snow
CORALVILLE, Iowa -- Derald P. Snow, 74, of Coralville, Iowa, died Aug. 23, 2005, at his home. He was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Brainerd, Minn., George and Florence (Brown) Snow.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 34 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.
Open Forum
More critical for conservatives are upcoming court appointees. In the next 3 1/2 Bush years, our side hopes the president can "pack" the courts with enough young conservatives to last our children's lifetimes. Remember, President Eisenhower filled three Supreme Court vacancies with recess appointments.
Open Forum
To the uninformed letter writer from Crosby, there are heroes in this war. Every one of our troops in Iraq is a hero. To enlighten you, sitting in the dark, you can't rely on most newspapers to tell you all the good happening in Iraq. Dark events sell newspapers and it's all about the almighty dollar.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
VOX POP
I hope at the cost of a dead puppy and little children seeing the violence of the two dogs fighting, there will be some justice done there with severe, harsh penalties. What would ever possess a human being to think that this is acceptable in society? That is insane and sick.
GUEST COLUMN: A banner year for the Bunyan trail
Funding for the Paul Bunyan Trail hit an all-time high in 2005. The Paul Bunyan Trail received more than $7,195,000 in federal and state funding.
OUR OPINION: CAITLIN CROSS
Caitlin Cross, at the tender age of 15, has been a volunteer for more years than most volunteers who are in their 30s or 40s.
GUEST COLUMN: Time to put 'teeth' into dog bite laws
Recent dog attacks in the area have people asking how this can be allowed to happen. Some are assuming that it must be due to a "failure" on the part of law enforcement. However, Minnesota law does not give law enforcement much authority to deal with a "potentially dangerous dog" -- which is basically defined as a dog that has made unprovoked attacks against humans, but which has not yet caused "substantial bodily harm."
Pazdernik pays tribute to injured soldiers
For area soldiers stationed in Iraq, Capt. Mike Pazdernik said the last month has often felt more like one long day.
Scoreboard
Baseball
CLC's new coach to emphasize 'D'
A new era of women's athletics at Central Lakes College begins when the Raider women's soccer team takes the field 1 p.m. Saturday against the Rochester Yellowjackets at the Findorff Athletic Complex.
Ojibwe Forests ProRally Sports Car Race slated this weekend
The 20th annual Ojibwe Forests ProRally will again take place Friday and Saturday in the Paul Bunyan, White Earth and Two Inlets state forests.
Rangers take two; Aitkin splits
CROSBY -- For the first time in five years the Crosby-Ironton Rangers girls' tennis team is 3-0, thanks to a 4-3 victory over the Aitkin Gobblers and a 7-0 sweep of Hermantown Tuesday.
Upcoming sporting events
Wednesday
Three teams grab top honors at Breezy in Komen event
The team of Verna Miller, Marilyn Holland, Linda Schmid and Karlyn Gordon won the all women's team category Aug. 18 during the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation golf tournament at Breezy Point Resort.
Greenway edges Pequot Lakes
PEQUOT LAKES -- Kayla and Megan Lenz improved to 5-0 for the Pequot Lakes Patriots in a 4-3 girls' tennis loss to Greenway Wednesday.
Defense is the key for Raiders in volleyball
Last year's Central Lakes College volleyball team was one of the best offensive teams Jane Peterson has coached.
Anything can happen in NCS' final week
In racing, anything can happen.
SCOREBOARD
Baseball
What a drag
A grass dragger approached the finish line Saturday at the Grass Drags and Swap Meet at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.
Madden's is stepping up with a memorial classic
Bill Crumley was a man who knew how to get things done.
Upcoming sporting events
Thursday
Dettbarn crawls closer in men's league play
By defeating People's Security 30.5-13.5 Thursday during the men's golf league at the Legacy Courses at Cragun's, Dettbarn Construction pulled within 10 points of league leaders Tower Mortgage.
SPORTS SHORTS
Anthony "The Bullet" Bonsante of Crosby-Ironton will be part of a "Contender" rematch show 10 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
SPORTS SHORTS
The Lakes Country Triathlon is scheduled to start and finish Sunday at Whipple Lake in Baxter.
Fast Cop hosts 30 young drivers
Fast Cop Inc., hosted 30 young drivers from Minnesota during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Aug. 12 at Brainerd International Raceway.
Kicking the ball around
Weather drawing by Kelsey Boyd of Ms. Marks' third grade class at Baxter school.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly cloudy west...Partly cloudy east. A slight chance of
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms west. Highs in the 70s.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Isolated early morning thunderstorms central through northeast. A chance for late afternoon thunderstorms northwest...Some possibly severe. Breezy central and east. Highs from around 80 far east...To the mid 90s southwest.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms.
It's great to be outside
Weather drawing by Anna Greatens of Mr. Meyer's fourth grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy west to mostly cloudy east. Scattered thunderstorms central and east. Highs from 70 to 75 far west...To the mid 80s along the southern missouri river valley.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs in the 70s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly or mostly sunny. Patchy morning fog...Especially in the river valleys. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly cloudy. A chance of mainly afternoon thunderstorms.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Windy west with a slight chance of showers northwest. A
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms