Thursday, October 22, 2009
Flexing it's 'must sell'
CORNWALL, N.Y. - Rosa Parks Brown, our Labrador, prefers subcompact cars. We think it's because subcompacts force humans to sit next to her. Parks, as we call her, loves humans, craves them. She hates being left alone in the rear compartments of large trucks, crossover utility vehicles or sedans.
A car that masters zigzags
WASHINGTON - To be young again, to thrill to the "me" of the moment - the Nissan 370Z is good for that. Like most sports cars, it makes no practical sense. It is what disappears when "me" becomes "we," unless "we" are rich and can afford toys.
Mercedes' beauty versus beast
This is no trivial matter.
FINE ARTS STUDENT OF THE WEEK
Kenzey Ostrowski
UPCOMING EVENTS
Live music
LOCAL BRIEFS
The Minnesota Crime Wave is coming to the Brainerd Public Library at 11 a.m. Oct. 31.
Art award winners
Diane Runberg received the People's Choice Award at the recent exhibition of artwork by lakes area artists at the Nisswa Community Center.
Mex in the mix, enchiladas on the stovetop
One day last week when it was cold and chilly outside, Gary was in the mood to get in the kitchen and cook up a new taste from one of my cookbooks.
POLICE BLOTTER
PROPERTY DAMAGE - Winifred Davis, 20000 block of Tullibee Drive, Tuesday reported her mailbox damaged.
Quality winter gear is needed for 2009 Coats for Kids
Good clean coats, boots and snow pants are needed for all ages but, especially for the elementary age group, for the annual Coats for Kids giveaway.
BIRTHS
Sean and Jennifer (Kapsner) Henry, Little Falls, a boy, Jacob Sean, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, Oct. 2, 2009. Grandparents are Pat and Sheila Henry, Little Falls, and Lee and Del Kapsner, Hillman.
FIRES
The Brainerd Fire Department responded at 1:43 p.m. Tuesday to the Laestadian Church, 1501 S. Eighth St., for what turned out to be a false alarm.
Nisswa teen placed third in state pageant
NISSWA - Bailey Wachholz, a ninth-grader at Brainerd High School South Campus, was named third runner-up in the Miss Minnesota High School Teen Pageant Oct. 17 in Hopkins.
POLICE BLOTTER
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE - Received a report of a suspicious vehicle at 11:15 p.m. Monday in the area of the 10000 block of Cherrywood Drive. An officer spoke with a woman in the area who was driving around and looking for her dog. The dog was later located in the neighborhood.
Activities Committee meeting agenda
Pillager Board of Education
TCC students to get extra support
Minnesota Reading Corps exceeded its recruitment goal for the 2009-2010 school year, and has enlisted and placed a record 555 AmeriCorps members in 161 pre-school sites and elementary schools across the state, including Tri-County Community Action in Brainerd.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Lakes Area Ecumenical Bereavement
CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
Go to Any Length
A hush to the flush?
Minnesota pheasant hunters, who in recent years have experienced some of the best hunting since the mid-1950s and early 1960s, are expected to harvest fewer birds this autumn.
PETS OF THE WEEK
Ivy is a 2-year-old spayed female yellow Lab mix. She weighs 48 pounds, is smart and eager to learn new things. Brainerd Dispatch/Heidi Lake
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Jim and Shirley Harker, Deerwood, wrote, "This is a picture of our 5-month-old great-grandson sitting in a jack-o'-lantern his father carved. His name is Brodie and he is the son of Ryan and Mollie Burke."
Fall's footsteps
Do you have a recent scenic picture that shows the beauty of the lakes area? Send it to photos@ brainerddispatch.com for possible publication in the Neighbors section. Be sure to include your name, where you are from, a brief description of the photo and when and where it was taken.
ORGANIZATIONS
Brainerd Jaycees
Be a friend, be a real man, be a mentor
In life, we are provided few situations in which we are rewarded just by walking into a room. Mentoring is one of those rare situations. Our experience has shown time and time again that your presence - just being you - has a powerful, lifelong, positive impact on a child. A child's life improves the moment you demonstrate a willingness to care.
Chain-saw event looks to branch out in 2010
Chips flew from masterpiece carvings. Sparks jumped as metal sculptures took shape. Smoke curled up from a blacksmith's fire. Jazz bands and folk groups set the musical score for artists inspired at ArtisTREE Fields late last month.
This was Brainerd
OCTOBER 22 - 60 years ago (1949) - Fred Thiesse of the Thiesse Dairy has renewed his voluntary donation of a tank training area for Headquarters Company of the 194th Tank Battalion. He has provided ten acres of rough terrain on his farm on South 13th Street for a second year.
Angel Food distribution schedule changed
Because of an overwhelming response to Angel Food Ministries' discounted food boxes (featured in the Oct. 2 Dispatch) distribution times have changed.
Hospitals: Don't visit if you're sick
Unlike some Twin Cities hospitals, both St. Joseph's Medical Center and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center are not restricting visitors because of the flu but advise people to not visit patients if they are sick and don't bring children into these hospital settings if it isn't necessary.
March markers point to sacrifices of area people
The ordeals of the Bataan Death March and the valor of its survivors were more than just history lessons for Stewart C. Mills Jr. A few of those former POWs who were lucky enough to return home became classmates with him at Brainerd Junior College.
County fears delay in getting H1N1 flu vaccine
The H1N1 virus has arrived but it's unclear how long Brainerd lakes area residents will have to wait for the H1N1 flu vaccine.
Getting a little kick out of the rain
Umbrellas sprouted from the hands of soccer fans Tuesday at the Section 8AA girls soccer semifinal in Baxter when the day's dreary drizzle turned into drencher of a rain shower. The Brainerd Warriors won 2-0. So while the rain made the fans miserable the action on the field made the Warriors' fans happy. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Overheard
We want to provide a cocoon around that infant, for anyone spending time with that infant, to get them vaccinated to protect that baby.
Carbon monoxide poisoning cited in couple's death
LONGVILLE - A husband and wife who were found dead Saturday afternoon in their cabin near Longville died from acute carbon monoxide poisoning, Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said Tuesday.
Baxter cracks down on underage drinking
BAXTER - Baxter is cracking down on people hosting parties or events where underage drinking is taking place.
Transit enhancement applications sought
BAXTER - The Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership is accepting applications for qualifying transportation enhancement projects to be implemented during State Fiscal Year 2014 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014) in a 12-county area, which includes Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties.
LOCAL BRIEFS
Roger Vogt of Palisade has been named a state committee member to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency by President Barack Obama. He was recommended for the post by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who made the announcement Tuesday.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1989) - Writing hot checks hoping to win big at pull-tabs is a temptation too strong for some to resist, but authorities say it's happening too often, resulting in felony convictions for offenders and losses for bars and charities.
City in the dark on which streetlights will be shut off
Though the conceptual plan to shut off a few streetlights in north Brainerd has been approved, it is not yet known which streetlights will go dark.
Foundation selects 23 VISTAs to fight poverty
The Initiative Foundation announced the selection of 23 Volunteer in Service to America members to work with local nonprofit agencies to fight poverty in central Minnesota, including four projects in the Brainerd area.
SALUTE FOR A FALLEN SOLDIER
Gov.Tim Pawlenty (with his hand over his heart) and Mrs. Pawlenty paid their respects Tuesday at the funeral for Spc. George Cauley of Walker at Camp Ripley. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
LOCAL BRIEFS
BAXTER - Highway 169 will open to traffic Thursday, two miles south of Aitkin, reports the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
A familiar name for Resorter of Year
Chris Ruttger, who has continued the family resort tradition in Deerwood, was named 2009 Minnesota Resorter of the Year.
Morrison issues crime alert in its search for man wanted on DWI warrant
On Tuesday, the Morrison County Sheriff's Department took the unusual step of issuing a statewide crime alert through the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for a man wanted on a warrant for felony first-degree DWI.
He knows every step of the way
The Bataan Death March was nearly 70 years ago but the memories are still all too vivid for survivor Walt Straka.
Look out below
A lone maple leaf was arrested in its downward flight by skeletal branches Wednesday in Brainerd. Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Lakewood limiting visitors
Lakewood Health System in Staples announced Wednesday that it will be limiting visitors at all Lakewood Health System locations, including its clinics, hospital, care center and assisted living facilities, because of the high number of H1N1 cases.
Look for about an inch of snow
Rain will mix with snow Wednesday with an inch of snow possible by Wednesday night, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported late Tuesday afternoon.
Loren Thompson Park improvements planned
BAXTER - Loren Thompson Park is in line for improvements.
Growth forum set
By December, the Brainerd School Board is expected to reach a decision on how to deal with its elementary student enrollment growth projections. School administrators have presented the board with five options.
Overheard
He was an egotistical SOB.
Louise P. Smith
Louise P. Smith, 93, Brainerd, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at her home. She was born March 23, 1916, to John and Mary Putzker on the family homestead in the Trail Creek area of Park County, Mont., north of Yellowstone Park. She was the fourth of five children.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Gilbert Ponsness
LAKE SHORE - Gilbert Ponsness, 80, of Lake Shore, Minn., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital. Services for Gil are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter with Father George Zeck officiating.
James Schuette
James Schuette, 68, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Kenneth L. Hausauer
BEMIDJI - Kenneth L. Hausauer, 84, of Bemidji, died Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul.
Louise P. Smith
Louise P. Smith, 93, Brainerd, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, at her home. She was born March 23, 1916, to John and Mary Putzker on the family homestead in the Trail Creek area of Park County, Mont., north of Yellowstone Park. She was the fourth of five children.
Rose Taylor
BACKUS - Rose Taylor, age 80, of Backus, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. She was born July 9, 1929, in Omaha, Neb., to Max and Elvera Geihs. She married Billy Taylor on Dec. 28, 1946. They were married 51 years until his death on Nov. 11, 1997.
Robert L. Prickett
Robert L. Prickett, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at Good Samaritan Society-Woodland in Brainerd. Mr. Prickett was born in Pekin, Ill., June 8, 1931, to Merrill and Bertha (Odoms) Prickett.
Donald W. Abear
DEERWOOD - Donald William Abear, age 79, of Deerwood, died on Oct. 19, 2009, at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He was born on Dec. 24, 1929, in Trommald to Fred and Chleo (Terry) Abear. He was a WWII Army veteran. He was owner of Don's Construction, Deerwood. He was a retired member of Operating Engineers Local 49 and was a member of the Walter Scott Erickson American Legion Post 557, Deerwood.
Hazell S. Cox
McGREGOR - Hazell S. Cox, age 98, of McGregor, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Robert L. Prickett
Robert L. Prickett, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at Good Samaritan Society-Woodland in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Nisswa.
James M. Long
SARTELL - James M. Long, 46-year-old resident of Sartell, Minn., passed away Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at his home in Sartell, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on Friday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice, Minn., with Father Timothy Wenzel officiating.
LeRoy Tilbury
BACKUS - LeRoy Tilbury, age 101, of Backus, Minn., died Monday Oct. 19, 2009, at his home near Backus.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 cents a word, exclusive of the first 125 words, which are free. A $10 fee is charged for a half-column photograph. To place an obituary in the Dispatch, consult the funeral home handling arrangements.
Katherine M. Larson
CROSBY - Katherine Mary Larson was born on Feb. 7, 1918, in Riverton to John and Mary Radinovich. She passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby. She met Omar Larson in Crosby in 1938 and they were married on Sept. 20, 1943, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Crosby.
Ruth Kitchenhoff
EMILY - Ruth Allene Kitchenhoff, age 74, of Emily, died on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby. She was born on Nov. 15, 1934, in Petoskey, Mich., to Joseph and Myrtle (Royce) Pemberton.
We're really not that dumb
WASHINGTON -- As the war of words escalates between conservative gabmeisters and the White House, Americans might pause to wonder: Have we lost our minds?
A new model for news reporting
News reporting that holds accountable those with power and influence has been a vital part of American democratic life, especially in places with daily newspapers profitable enough, and with owners public-spirited enough, to maintain substantial reporting staffs. That journalism is now at risk, along with the advertising-supported economic foundations of newspapers.
That health reform cost study
It has been alleged that health insurers commissioned a report recently from PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of a last-ditch effort to kill health-care reform. A relentless public relations campaign has attacked the messengers - our association, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and PricewaterhouseCoopers - as a way of discrediting the findings that major provisions in the Senate Finance Committee proposal will have the unintended effect of increasing the cost of health-care coverage.
VOX POP
I haven't heard anything from the Brett Favre bashers lately. My relatives in Wisconsin sent me a bunch of jokes about over the hill and cash for clunkers. Well, I sent them a fake stuffed crow with a Vikings bib and several recipes on how to cook the crow. I haven't heard back from them yet. I'd like to know how the crow tastes. What a great football player this 40-year-old is. Go Vikings!
OTHER OPINION: HEALTH CARE
In the world according to Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid, D-Nev., setting Medicare payment levels for doctors has nothing to do with health reform. Really. Correcting the Medicare doctors' payment discrepancy is a budgetary problem - health insurance reform tackles a serious regulatory problem, Reid's office said in a statement. That's why we need to fix the Medicare doctors' payments first, outside of health reform.
OTHER OPINION: MEXICO
Mexican President Felipe Calderon says his decision to dissolve the state-run utility that supplied electricity to Mexico City and surrounding states was based on simple economics: The government spent more than $3 billion a year to subsidize the company, yet consumers put up with regular blackouts and many businesses had to spend millions on their own energy substations.
Over 50 and out of luck
WASHINGTON - I am a Republican who did not vote for President Obama, but I support his health-care initiative because I have just experienced first-hand our system's dysfunctional wrath - and it isn't pretty.
What do you think?
The Brainerd Dispatch welcomes letters on recent articles and current issues. Letters should include the writer's full name, city and a phone number (for verification only). Letters are limited to 300 words. Only one letter per person per week.
Verndale finishes perfect 8-0
VERNDALE - Amos Schmidt ripped up the field for 239 yards and four touchdowns as the Verndale Pirates rolled over Chokio-Alberta/Herman Norcross 40-14 Tuesday.
Dean runs away with CLC crown
WILLMAR - With a time of 16:58.1, James Dean won the Central Lakes Conference title and helped the Brainerd Warriors boys to third place Tuesday.
Nokken, Huskies win in OT
PILLAGER - Sean Nokken pounded it in from a yard out and converted the two-point conversion in overtime lifting the Pillager Huskies to a 36-34 overtime win Tuesday over New York Mills.
BHS football by the numbers
Week 8
Warriors make it six straight with 2-0 win
BAXTER - Tori Saxum's foot was responsible for the first goal of the Brainerd Warriors season.
Paying dues pays off for Mimmack
As a sophomore and junior Reid Mimmack was a backup quarterback.
LOCAL SHORTS
College of St. Scholastica women's soccer sophomore goalkeeper Erin Olejnicak of Brainerd has been named Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Players of the Week.
Concordia inducts Brainerd coach
MOORHEAD - Brainerd teacher and coach Kris (DeBoer) Smith was one of five individuals inducted into the Concordia College Athletics Department Hall of Fame Saturday.
Houle, Headlee qualify for state tournament
SARTELL - The Brainerd Warriors tennis team ended another dry spell Tuesday.
Barnesville shuts out PR-B
PINE RIVER - Barnesville lived up to its Class 1A fourth-place ranking as the Trojans dominated Pine River-Backus 55-0 in a Northern Plains Conference regular-season ending game Wednesday night.
Michaelson sparks Pequot Lakes
THIEF RIVER FALLS - Matt Michaelson rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots past the Thief River Falls Prowlers 28-6 in a Heart O'Lakes Conference North Division regular-season ending game Wednesday.
Lunkers add Anaas to front office staff
The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers announced Wednesday the hiring of Dustin Anaas as assistant general manager.
LOCAL BRIEFS
LAKE HUBERT - The Lake Hubert Community Grange Halloween party is scheduled from 3-6 p.m. Sunday.
Rangers perfect for first time since 1973
AITKIN - Not rain, nor sleet, nor snow, nor the Aitkin Gobblers could deny the Crosby-Ironton Rangers their first perfect regular season since 1973.
Area cross country results
PINE RIVER - Silas Lydeen and Kylie Beltz helped the Pequot Lakes Patriots sweep the Birch Bay Conference meet Tuesday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Brainerd blanked by Rocori
Seniors Hallsey Olson collected six digs and Alice Widmark four kills, during Tuesday's 3-0 Central Lakes Conference loss to the Rocori Spartans.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Pierz balanced in conference win
HOWARD LAKE - Brandon Meyer threw for 101 yards and a touchdown as the 10th-ranked Pierz Pioneers defeated Howard Lake-Waverly 42-26 Tuesday to close out the Central Minnesota Conference season at 6-1 and 7-1 overall.
Staples-Motley rallies to beat Breckenridge
STAPLES - The Staples-Motley Cardinals rallied from a 27-26 deficit to beat the Breckenridge Cowboys 34-27 in a Heart O'Lakes Conference South Division regular-season ending game Wednesday.
Area girls' tennis recap
HIBBING - Allie Carlson and Kaitlyn Davies are keeping the Aitkin Gobblers string of state qualifiers alive.
LOCAL SHORTS
The top-seeded Brainerd Warriors will play the No. 2 Elk River Elks for the Section 8-2A girls' soccer championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday at St. Cloud State University.
Area volleyball scores
CROSBY - Jana Anderson slammed 11 kills and eight ace serves in addition to 18 digs as Crosby-Ironton squeezed past Mid-State Conference rival Pequot Lakes 3-2 Tuesday.
Wadena-Deer Creek snaps 23-game slump
WADENA - Aaron Kern carried 32 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns as the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines broke a 23-game losing streak by defeating West Central 12-6 in a Heart O' Lakes Conference South Division regular-season ending game Wednesday.
Warriors can capture share of CLC title
This is how it should be - two teams playing their final game of the regular season with a championship at stake.
Flyers swim past Holdingford 99-75
LITTLE FALLS - Marissa Deml, Stephanie Stumpf and Megan Voss anchored the Little Falls Flyers in their 99-75 win over the Holdingford Huskers as they combined for six individual titles and two relay medals Tuesday.
State forecast for Wisconsin
Today...Cloudy. Rain most of the state...With scattered rain showers and isolated thunderstorms southeast. Snow may mix with the rain far northwest. Highs from around 40 far northwest...50s central...To the low to mid 60s far southeast.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Mostly sunny north...Becoming partly cloudy central...And
October showers
Weather drawing by Emily Kassulker in the Baxter third grade of Mrs. Surma.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Variable cloudiness. A slight chance of light rain far
State forecast for N.D.
.Today...Decreasing cloudiness. Intermittent light rain southeast.
State forecast for Wisconsin
Today...Cloudy. Periods of rain south. Isolated light snow showers near lake superior in the morning. Highs in the 40s most places...And around 50 far southeast.
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter weather advisory for far northeast minnesota today...
Look who's getting ready
Weather drawing by Amber Britton int he Baxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Becoming partly cloudy with rain and snow ending west. Cloudy with rain east. Breezy east. Highs in the 40s.
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Cloudy...Rain. Highs 40 to 55.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Clear to partly cloudy west and north. Mostly cloudy with rain likely far southeast by afternoon. Highs around 40 southeast to near 50 west.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cloudy. Rain and isolated thunderstorms. Highs 45 northwest