Friday, October 15, 2004

Lincoln Towncar's year stumps many readers
Geri Simon, Staples, owns one of the best looking cars of the 1970s, one of the best looking Lincolns ever and one of the most attractive of all post-World War II American cars as reported in the ClassicLincolns.com Web site.

Bus, semi collide
A Brainerd school bus and TCBX semitrailer collided shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday on Highway 371 south of Brainerd. The bus had no children in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Both drivers were taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd to be treated for injuries.

Wallin delves into character roles
It doesn't matter what acting role Brainerd High School senior Trent Wallin undertakes, he likes them all.

Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music

Grammer's EP will tide fans over
Webster's Dictionary defines verdant as "green with vegetation." Oregon-based songstress Tracy Grammer's new seven-track EP, "The Verdant Mile," is the aural equivalent: a soundscape to match what Grammer calls "a mythical place I go to reconcile with the rivers I cannot turn, the birds that won't come and my reluctant angels."

Entertainment Shorts
After a three-year absence, the Geritol Frolics return to the stage with shows at 7 p.m. Nov. 11-13 and 18-20 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 21 in the Franklin Junior High School auditorium in Brainerd.

Returning to his roots
LITTLE FALLS - Through his prolific output of portraits, landscapes and still lifes, Charles Kapsner has established himself as one of the hardest-working full-time artists in Minnesota. This summer, he decided to stop and smell the roses.

'Up the Down Staircase' to be staged in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS "Up the Down Staircase" will be staged by the Little Falls Community High School Drama Department at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the high school auditorium.

Author Kenney to be featured at Brainerd Public Library
Dave Kenney, author of the award-winning Northern Lights: The Stories of Minnesotas Past and the just-released Minnesota Goes to War: The Home Front during World War II, will be featured at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Brainerd Public Library. Kenney will hold a discussion, slide show and book signing.

Burritos make quick breakfast for kids
Making sure the kids have a healthy breakfast before flying out the door on their way to school is no easy task.

SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
MONDAY B Pop tart, yogurt or string cheese, fruit or juice, milk. L Mini corn dogs, wedge potatoes, green beans, fresh pear, milk.

ACCIDENTS
BAXTER - Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday on Highway 371 at Wise Road.

CRIME
THEFT -- Jesse Bleichner, 400 block of South Seventh Street, Tuesday reported the theft of about $925 in tools and stereo equipment from his vehicle.

Courts
WALKER -- A Redby motorist who struck and seriously injured a 7-year-old girl who was near her Boy River Township driveway June 27 pleaded guilty to felony failure to notify police of a personal injury accident.

ACCIDENT
The drivers of two vehicles involved in a two-vehicle injury accident Tuesday on Highway 25 near Pierz have been identified as Kevin Atkinson, 27, Little Falls, and Romelle Kurtz, 65, Pierz.

BIRTH
Eric and Tracey Malone, Baxter, adopted a girl, Kennedy Marie, Sept. 24, 2004. She was born Aug. 25, 2004, and weighed 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Grandparents are Joyce Brown, Brainerd, and Richard and Mary Jane Malone, Deer Creek. Great-grandparents are Erma Weinhandl, Brainerd, Barbara Malone, Wadena, and Ann Dudeck, Long Prairie.

Fire
BAXTER -- About 2:48 a.m. the Brainerd Fire Department responded to a report of a smoke smell at Taco Bell in Baxter. The smoke smell was probably produced by the furnace turning on, the fire department reported. About 8:36 a.m. firefighters responded to the Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport to investigate a smell of gas. The gas smell was unfounded.

Crime
Brainerd Police Chief John Bolduc and Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan reminded residents that the theft of campaign signs is considered misdemeanor theft and is punishable by a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail.

Accidents
BAXTER -- Two people injured in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday on Highway 371 at Wise Road in Baxter have been identified as Stephanie Nieman, 18, Brainerd, and David Hermerding, 42, Brainerd.

Meeting set to discuss geothermal technology
The Brainerd Area Environmental Learning Network will sponsor a meeting on geothermal technology 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in Baxter.

Building permits
Residential

The simple life
SEBEKA -- Driving down a gravel road in Sebeka, a traveler hears birds singing in the surrounding woods and sees a blue heron perched along a small, winding river.

1941, 1951 and now, unit ready
Imagine, if you will, it's Jan. 23, 1951, a cold winter day in downtown Brainerd.

Don't be afraid
Jeff Larson's yard, decorated with several Halloween theme inflatable decorations, was spooky looking Thursday night in northeast Brainerd. He said his display isn't complete. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood

Alleged passer of phony $100 bills arrested
The man wanted for passing counterfeit $100 bills in Crow Wing County was arrested Tuesday in Mora after trying to pass a fake bill.

Ride of honor
When the soldiers deploying to Iraq board the bus following the send-off ceremony in Wadena, they will have a heartfelt escort to the gates of Camp Ripley.

Area counties eligible for disaster aid for frost damage
Five area counties, Crow Wing, Cass, Aitkin, Todd and Wadena, are among those listed as eligible for federal disaster assistance as the result of damage and loss caused by frost this growing season, Gov. Tim Pawlenty's office reported.

Mississippi Headwaters group meets Wednesday
The Mississippi Headwaters Users and Landowners Association will meet 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Brainerd Public Library's large meeting room.

Community meth forum Tuesday in Baxter
The meth program is sponsored by area law enforcement agencies, the Brainerd Rotary and the Brainerd School District.

Pine River man wins $27,000 in lottery
ROSEVILLE -- Larry Pitcher, Pine River, claimed a $27,000 prize at the Minnesota State Lottery in Roseville from the Oct. 8 Northstar Cash drawing. The third line of Pitcher's quick-pick ticket matched the winning numbers -- 3-20-22-27-31.

Overheard
"I pray for the 194th. I have all the sympathy in the world for them. I pray to God they can get home."

Olson representatives to get election results
Win or lose, Brainerd City Council member Bob Olson would like to get a decent night's sleep on election night.

Area briefs
CROSSLAKE -- Capt. John Huber, a Crosslake resident and commander of the Crow Wing Squadron of the Minnesota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol, recently graduated from the 12th annual Commander's Workshop at Breezy Point.

Candidate forums set for Baxter, Brainerd, Crow Wing County
A candidate forum for candidates running for city council and mayor in Baxter and Brainerd and for the Crow Wing County Board is set 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

Missing hunter found as search begins
PINE RIVER -- A search for a missing hunter near Pine River was called off after the hunter came out of the woods just as law enforcement officials were getting ready to enter the woods to search for him.

Brainerd EDA, council to meet Monday
The Brainerd Economic Development Authority will meet in a joint session with the Brainerd City Council 7:30 p.m. Monday at Brainerd City Hall.

Future development
Two men walked on a paved trail Thursday at Stonebridge near Ashmun Road. Stonebridge, a housing development by Pequot Lakes-based Heidmann Co. nestled between Gilbert Lake and the Mississippi River, will have three acres of water with fountains, waterfalls and a lake for swimming. Brainerd Dispatch/Clint Wood

Legislative debates scheduled next week
Candidates in four legislative districts will participate in televised debates on Lakeland Public Television next week.

Fortunately, no children aboard bus
The mangled front end of a Reichert's school bus was the end result of a collision with a semi-truck about 7 a.m. Thursday on Highway 371, just south of the junction with Business Highway 371. No children were on the bus at the time of the accident. The drivers of the bus and semi-truck were injured and transported to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. The drivers' names and information on their conditions was unavailable Thursday night. Brained Dispatch/Clint Wood

Dispatch home delivery prices rise starting Sunday
Beginning Sunday, the price of the Brainerd Dispatch will increase by between 10 and 20 cents per week for home delivery and mail customers. The increase varies depending on where subscribers live within the Dispatch delivery area. Subscribers using the EZ Pay System will not see the increase until Nov. 15.

Meth forum to seek innovative solutions
A Tuesday night forum on methamphetamine is expected to build on previous efforts and look at innovative ways to battle the drug.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1984) - John Arnold, partner and president of Madden's on Gull Lake, was caught off guard when he was chosen 1984 Minnesota Resorter of the year at the Minnesota Resort Association's annual meeting.

This was Brainerd
40 years ago (1964) - Winter resort fashions will be the feature of a special showing Nov. 17 at the Sheraton-Ritz Hotel to salute the opening of Breezy Point's first winter operation.

No letters on political topics will run after Oct. 29.
No letters on political topics will run after Oct. 29. The deadline for those letters to arrive at the Dispatch is Oct. 27. Letters that exceed the established word limits (50 words for endorsement letters and 300 words for all other letters) or letters filled with information that might be difficult to verify in a timely manner run the risk of not being included on the Commentary page that last week or October.

Workshop set for nonprofit organizations
Grab your pens, notebooks and fellow board members and get ready to learn how to make the nonprofit board you sit on more effective.

Courthouse construction continues
Box culverts lined Laurel Street Wednesday as construction continued on the county government complex. The culverts will be used to run utilities under the street to connect to the center.

World Angel Day to support shelter
Area businesses will join together Sunday for a fund-raising event to benefit the Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota in Brainerd.

William 'Duke' Stevenson
William "Duke" Stevenson, 106, died Oct. 10, 2004. Duke was born Nov. 20, 1897, in Arkansas. He grew up in St. Louis, Mo., with his grandparents and sister. Besides working on the railroads with his grandpa, one of his fondest memories as a teen was working with his uncle, the famed John Muir.

Charlotte Melton-Palmer
HEMET, Calif. -- Charlotte Melton-Palmer passed away on Oct. 9, 2004, in Hemet, Calif. She was born on May 9, 1921, in Kent, Wash.

Edward H. Seavey
CROSBY -- Edward Harry Seavey, age 88, of Crosby, died on Oct. 12, 2004, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. He was born on Jan. 21, 1916, in Crosby to Harry and Sadie (Ecklund) Seavey. He was employed with M.A. Hanna Mining as a foreman with 40 years of service. He was a member of the Crosby-Ironton Presbyterian Church, the Cuyuna Range Masonic Lodge No. 276, Evergreen Chapter of the Eastern Star, York Rite, Brainerd, AAD Shrine, Duluth, Aadzuhman Shrine Club, Brainerd.

Lorraine L. Gode
Lorraine L. Gode, 81, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Mary Gaffke
LITTLE FALLS Mary Gaffke, age 92, of St. Ottos Care Center, Little Falls, died Oct. 13, 2004. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at St. James Catholic Church in Randall with Father Leo Moenkedick officiating.

Lorraine L. Gode
Lorraine L. Gode, 81, Brainerd, died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Candy L. Buchas
PINE RIVER -- Candy L. Buchas, age 45, went to be with her Lord unexpectedly on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, at her rural Pine River home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, at the Church of the Nazarene in Backus. The Rev. Phil Cox will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church. Shelly Bundy, Kathy Cox, Cherrel Sawyer and Rene Sawyer will provide music for the service. Mark Beckler, Pat Bundy, Bill Sawyer, Roger Sawyer, Jeff Widman and Bart Willim will serve as Candy's casket bearers.

Gordon Lee
STAPLES -- Gordon Lee, age 76, of Staples, died Sunday evening, Oct. 10, 2004, at the Staples Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in the Brenny Funeral Home Chapel in Staples. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples. Relatives will receive friends on Saturday after 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

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.

Alice Kliber
LITTLE FALLS Alice Kliber, 87-year-old resident of Little Falls, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at St. Ottos Care Center in Little Falls.

Laura Maine
PEQUOT LAKES -- Laura Maine, age 90, of Pequot Lakes, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at her home. She was born Oct. 23, 1913, in Albert Lea, Minn., to John and Bertina Nelson.

OUR OPINION: TRAINS
A lthough it's been years since Brainerd's heyday as a railroad town, there are still plenty of residents whose parents or grandparents were among those who worked for the railroad.

What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail

VOX POP
As a citizen of Brainerd, I am happy that the paper mill will open again, providing good jobs for our town. Our northeast mall is nicely redeveloped. I would like a hardware store in the old County Market. I am looking forward to the trains coming up First Avenue Northeast again.

Open Forum
A standing question among political activists has been "Where have all the moderate republicans gone?" Answer: "To the Democratic Party." Elmer L. Anderson, 30th governor of the state of Minnesota, is the latest defection, citing among his reasons:

Open Forum: U.S. founded on Christian principles
I agree with a recent letter writer that the Constitution established the United States as a secular, not a sectarian nation. However, arguing that the United States was not founded on Christian principles is patently false, as is the assertion that "The Enlightenment" was the remedy, rather than the cause, of some of the worst religious persecution in history.

Revenge is not so sweet
In his popular book, "None of These Diseases," Dr. S.I. McMillan titles one of his chapters, "The High Cost of Getting Even."

Churches
Central Lakes College instructor Michael Hobbs will be the featured speaker at this Sunday's forum at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Brainerd. Hobbs' topic will be "Globalization," the facts and myths of this policy. The forum begins at 11 a.m., after the 10 a.m. church service.

Romance Without Regret'
For the last five years Jason Evert has traveled the world teaching teenagers the importance of virginity.

Tough luck
The Willmar Cardinals have led in the second half of every game this season.

Huether, Hagmeier lone bright spots
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- As they've done all season, Kayla Huether and Fanny Hagmeier led the Brainerd Warriors tennis team.

Flyers outlast Warriors in five games
LITTLE FALLS -- The Little Falls Flyers outlasted the Brainerd Warriors 25-14, 25-20, 23-25, 12-25, 15-12 in a Central Lakes Conference volleyball match that lasted nearly two hours Thursday.

CLC drops first game, rallies to victory
With only two North Division games remaining before the state tournament, the Central Lakes College volleyball team wanted to make sure they entered the postseason on a high note.

Warriors vs. Willmar 7 p.m. Friday at Adamson Field
Offense

Sports shorts
The annual Brainerd lakes area ski swap will be held 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 6 in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

Switching sidelines
Deryl Ramey compiled a 152-95-4 record in 24 seasons as a head football coach, spending 19 of those years with the Willmar Cardinals.

Tech swims past Flyers
ST. CLOUD -- Brittney Corrow won the 200-yard freestyle and the Flyers won the 400 freestyle relay in a 100-78 loss to the St. Cloud Tech Tigers in Central Lakes Conference swimming and diving Thursday.

Flyers lose shootout
COLLEGEVILLE -- The Little Falls Flyers lost a 3-1 heartbreaker to St. John's Prep that was decided in a shootout after there was no scoring in overtime in the Section 8, Class 1A girls' soccer playoffs Thursday.

Six advance to section
MORA -- Kali Welu of Pequot Lakes placed second and Emily Walz of Aitkin was third in singles at the South Subsection 7, Class 1A individual tournament Thursday.

Warrior individuals eliminated
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- All six Brainerd Warriors competing in the North Subsection 8, Class 2A individual tennis tournament were eliminated Thursday.

Richards, PR-B top C-I
PINE RIVER -- Erin Richards had 18 kills to help the Pine River-Backus Tigers defeat the Crosby-Ironton Rangers 25-16, 25-19, 30-32, 25-11 in Mid-State Conference volleyball Thursday. Chelsea Lundgren and Katie Sandberg combined for 21 C-I kills.

Flyers' decade- long drought over
ST. CLOUD -- Little Falls senior tennis player Jessica Tonder won twice at the South Subsection 8, Class 2A individual meet Wednesday to become the first Flyer singles player to advance to the Section 8 individual tournament in 10 years.

Cardinal boys, girls win Mid-State championships
PEQUOT LAKES -- Staples-Motley boys' and girls' cross country teams won championships Thursday in the Mid-State Conference cross country meet.

Upcoming sporting events
THURSDAY

Sports shorts
The Brainerd Warriors have been seeded second in the Section 8, Class 2A girls' soccer tournament and will host No. 7 Buffalo 11 a.m. Saturday at Baxter in the quarterfinals.

Block party
To the rest of the Minnesota Community College Conference volleyball teams: Central Lakes College middle hitter Shannon McCarthy is a complete player.

Little Falls blanks LRCS
BELL PRAIRIE -- Chris Thielen and Lucas Jorgensen each scored a pair of goals to lead the seventh-seeded Little Falls Flyers past the No. 10 Lake Region Christian Hornets 10-0 in Section 8, Class 1A boys' soccer playoff action Thursday.

WARRIOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Horn of plenty (of tackles)
Korey Horn plays linebacker like a hornet.

Upcoming sporting events in the Brainerd lakes area:
FRIDAY

BHS girls win first diving title of season
Making a splash usually dooms a diver but Thursday the Brainerd Warrior divers couldn't help themselves.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Occasional rain southeast...Especially this morning. A chance of light rain showers elsewhere. Highs in the 40s to low 50s.

State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly sunny and breezy west and central. Mostly cloudy and

State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Patchy dense fog with visibility less than

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Becoming windy west. Isolated to scattered showers west spreading east by afternoon. Highs from the upper 40s far east to the mid 60s west.

State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly cloudy. Windy northwest....Breezy remainder of

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Cloudy or mostly cloudy. A chance for morning showers west...And a slight chance for afternoon showers south. Highs from the mid 40s north to the mid 50s southeast.

It's raking time
Weather drawing by Courtney Ryan of Mr. Meyer's fourth grade class at Lowell school.

State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain showers southeast this

State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy...Windy and cool. Showers likely southwest this morning...Mixed with snow showers in the black hills. Isolated showers far east. Highs in the mid 40s north to the lower 50s south.

Fall is here
Weather drawing by Megan Goldberg of Mrs. Minerich's second grade class at Nisswa school.

State forecast for North Dakota
...Wind advisory today through early evening west and north

State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Cloudy with scattered drizzle early...A chance of light

SENIOR ACTIVITIES
803 Kingwood St., Brainerd

North Brainerd residents meeting set
The Northside Neighborhood Association annual meeting will be 7 p.m. Tuesday at Park United Methodist Church, 315 N. Sixth St. Nominations will be accepted for committee chairs and activities will be set for 2005. All north Brainerd residents are welcome.