Saturday, November 22, 2003

CASKET CRAFTSMAN
John Adair worked with wood for 15 years creating custom-made furniture, but he began to burn out on the job.

Minnesota's jobs picture brightening
Economic experts continue to say the economy is turning around. The state recently reported the October employment numbers jumped by the highest amount in almost four years as the unemployment rate remained steady. The state's seasonally adjusted monthly employment increased by 8,500, the biggest jump since February 2000, well before the onset of the recent recession, The Department of Employment and Economic Development reported.

Business notes
AITKIN -- Aitkin dentist Bill Stein was inducted as a fellow of the International College of Dentists at its 74th annual convocation in San Francisco in October.

S-M graduate learns about another culture on mission trip to Africa
STAPLES -- Staples-Motley High School graduate Heidi Cunningham traveled to Uganda, Africa, last summer as a Habitat for Humanity International Global Village volunteer.

A time to remember
Thanksgiving season ought to be a great time for curing people of a certain disease of which I have read. The disease is called amnesia.

Churches
Elizabeth Wilcox, the daughter of Grant and Jan Wilcox, Brainerd, recently attended the Council of Synod LYO Presidents and Multicultural Representatives at Lutheridge

A time for Thanksgiving
In the United States, Thanksgiving Day is observed the fourth Thursday of November each year.

Child in need
How would you describe yourself? Would you say you're young, female, energetic, like to have fun and are "cool?" Right now, Kinship Partners could use 12 of you! We have 12 middle school and junior high girls on our waiting list who want YOU as a partner.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 104, a year ago 123.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle estimate: 850. Last Friday: 942. Year Ago Friday: 533. Thursday actual: 718.

Accident
CROSBY -- One person was hurt Thursday in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 6, north of Crosby.

School lunch menus
Brainerd

Court
WALKER -- Two Cass Lake residents were charged in Cass County District Court on felony charges in connection with the Aug. 15 death of Joseph Jake Vos.

Write your state legislators
Rep. Dale Walz, R-Brainerd, District 12A

Agendas
Meets 9 a.m. Tuesday Commissioners' Room Courthouse

Births
Anthony and Susan (Hawkins) Erholtz, Baxter, a boy, Matthew Anthony, 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Nov. 11, 2003. Grandparents are Dave and Kathy Erholtz, Duluth, and Jerome and Dorothy Hawkins, West St. Paul.

Crime
ASSAULT -- A 20-year-old man was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault Friday for allegedly pushing a 19-year-old woman at a parking lot in northeast Brainerd. The man is being housed at the Crow Wing County Jail.

Synthetic cholesterol may reverse heart disease
A synthetic form of "good cholesterol" has been shown to quickly shrink blockages clogging coronary arteries, offering for the first time the possibility of a drug that could actually rapidly reverse heart disease, researchers reported Tuesday.

Sedatives may increase risk of falls for senior citizens
Older women who regularly take Valium, Xanax or Librium may risk physical decline that can set them up for falls and a downward spiral to disability, hospitalization and death.

COMPETING DIETS - Good carb vs. bad carb
The heated conversation around America's water coolers these days is often about losing weight. Aside from the water in the cooler, there is little agreement about the best foods for dropping pounds.

Nurses blame crisis on TV's 'ER'
Policy-makers have spent years debating the causes of the nationwide shortage of registered nurses, a problem that has been repeatedly shown to harm patients.

Electronic patient files may reduce care errors
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Randy Cooper looks forward to the day he'll see his patients from home.

Housing brief
Kirk Sieckert, Baxter, recently left CharterWest Mortgage and Joined Optimum Mortgage Services.

Grand Home Tour will feature three other houses
Other homes in the Grand Home Tour include:

Grand home
BAXTER -- First impressions are of light and space.

Grand Home Tour slated Dec. 6
The Grand House Tour is a fund-raiser for the Heartland Symphony Orchestra. There will be two separate tours Dec. 6 with the first beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the second at noon.

Illness strikes LF wedding party
A reminder to wash hands often to prevent illness is coming from the state health department in the wake of an illness that affected a Little Falls wedding party.

Local briefs
North Ambulance Medical Transportation Services, which provides service to more than 50 communities in Minnesota and western Wisc

Alaska man crushed to death
LAWLER -- A 63-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, man died Tuesday after being crushed under a vehicle at a residence north of Lawler, in eastern Aitkin County.

Garrison group putting 'Faith In Action'
GARRISON -- A Faith In Action chapter has been established in the Garrison area.

Deer harvest hits record for second straight year
Deer hunters in Crow Wing and Cass County will set a harvest record for the second straight year, the DNR said today.

Back home
The Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions at noon today. Find out if the Vikings can end their losing streak in Sports Monday.

This was Brainerd
NOVEMBER 21 - 40 years ago (1963) - Advertisement: Woolworth's Pre-Christmas toy sale. Tonka: Jeep $1.53, Tractor $1.77, Bulldozer $ 2.23. Wooden pull toys $ .79 each.

Resting places
A new Brainerd area business owner is used to getting mixed reactions for his hand-crafted wood products as people are either curious or want to avoid the subject. Look for the story in Sunday's Business section.

Local brief
Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point, will work as a team leader in an effort to preserve the oral histories of American wartime veterans in a veterans history project.

Sculptor can't wait to turn giant pieces of redwood into art
It all starts with a piece of wood -- the trunk of a tree, the base of a stump, a twisted branch.

Health care costs focus of town meeting
Brainerd area doctors, pharmacists and health care consumers received a briefing of a GOP state House proposal for health care cost containment at a town hall meeting Thursday.

ATV bill divides two area lawmakers
Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, wants to repeal portions of last session's all-terrain vehicle bill that was co-authored by Sen. Carrie Ruud, R-Breezy Point.

Morrison County vision event set Dec. 3
Morrison County, with the assistance of the Initiative Foundation and the Region 5 Development Commission, continues the process to update its comprehensive land use plan.

Retired justice viewed as role model
Her personal heroes include 19th century women's rights activists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Lighting up against smoking
Gwen Leifermann, Brainerd, helped light 84 luminaries Thursday night outside Brainerd City Hall. The Great American Smokeout day, a nationwide program promoted by the American Cancer Society, encourages people to quit smoking.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1983) - The first major snowstorm of the season slashed through Minnesota causing hazardous driving. Some schools closed early as snow and high winds whipped through the Brainerd area.

Loren E. Bohlke
NISSWA -- Loren E. Bohlke, 87, of Nisswa, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd.

Esther J. Foss
WADENA -- Esther Josephine Nelson was born to her parents Otto and Gertie (Anderson) Nelson on Dec. 14, 1915, in Brainerd, Minn. She passed away on Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, at the Fair Oaks Lodge in Wadena. Esther was a resident of Humphrey Manor for many years.

Obit Policy
Obituaries are a paid service of The Brainerd Dispatch Advertising Department and also appear online. Obituary notices will be charged at $10 per column inch, exclusive of the first 4 inches, which will be printed at no charge. An additional fee of $10 w

Sidonia Hagstrom
Sidonia Hagstrom, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.

Jerome E. Bednar
SOUTH LONG LAKE -- Jerome E. Bednar, age 75, of South Long Lake, rural Brainerd, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003.

David J. Hoplin
BACKUS -- David J. Hoplin, age 63, of Backus passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at his home. Born March 3, 1940, in Pine River to Nils and Alice (Glover) Hoplin.

Margaret E. Whitney
PEQUOT LAKES --Margaret E. Whitney, 95, went to her heavenly hom

Ronald O. Bethke
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS -- Ronald Owen Bethke, 64, formerly of Little Falls, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003, at his Inver Grove Heights home. Survivors include his daughter, Wendy (Eric) Wallace of Motley; his son, Jeff Bethke of Robbinsdale; and three granddaughters. His parents preceded him in death. At his request, no services will be held. Arrangements entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.

Vanja A. Burbank
CROSBY -- Vanja A. Burbank, 66, of Crosby, died on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, at the Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

Jerome E. Bednar
Jerome Edward Bednar, age 75, of Brainerd, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003.

Loren E. Bohlke
NISSWA -- Loren E. Bohlke, 87, Nisswa, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd.

Obituary policy
Obituaries are a paid service of The Brainerd Dispatch Advertising Department and also appear online. Obituary notices will be charged at $10 per column inch, exclusive of the first 4 inches, which will be printed at no charge. An additional fee of $10 w

Patricia D. Miers
PIERZ -- The Jerome G. Miers family will celebrate the life of Patricia Dorothy Miers with family and friends at a memorial service at Willow Creek Community Church in the Chapel on Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, at 3 p.m. with a dinner celebration following in the lower level.

Norbert P. Becker
PIERZ -- Norbert P. Becker, age 73, a resident of Pierz, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at his residence.

Wilhelmina 'Minnie' Ullmann
PIERZ -- Wilhelmina "Minnie" Ullmann, 91-year-old resident of Pierz, Minn., died Nov. 20, 2003, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn.

Wilbur L. Meacham
HAVASU CITY, Ariz. -- Wilbur Louis Meacham, 78, of Emily, died on Nov. 16, 2003, at his residence in Havasu City, Ariz. He was born on April 8, 1925, in Osseo, Minn., to Emerson and Mayme (Rhodes) Meacham. He was a resident of Ou

Maude (Zelma) Martin
Maude (Zelma) Martin, 88, of Brainerd, went to be with her Lord, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

Burton F. Dahlquist
GARRISON -- Burton F. Dahlquist, age 66, of Garrison, died on Friday, Nov. 21, 2002, at the Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.

Michael W. Kramer
Michael Wayne Kramer, age 55, of Brainerd, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Aw-Gwah-Ching State Hospital in Walker. Michael was born on Oct. 25, 1948, in Brainerd to Lloyd M. and Pauline (Phillips) Kramer. He graduated from the Minneapolis School of Art in 1970.

Sidonia Hagstrom
Sidonia Hagstrom, age 78, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd. She was born March 25, 1925, in Lake Lillian, Minn., to Ott

Lawrence J. Reed
PINE RIVER -- Lawrence J. Reed, age 79, of Pine River, died Nov. 20, 2003, at Woodwinds Hospital, Woodbury, Minn.

Lois Kruger
MERRIFIELD -- Lois Kruger, age 72, of Merrifield, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, at her home.

Senior center has plenty to offer
Lakes Area Senior Activity Center. Do the citizens of the Brainerd Lakes area know what this great non-profit organization has to offer? Our current membership is 1,100 and we feel that many more area seniors could enjoy and benefit from membership, costing only $10 per year. Area residents who are 50 and older are welcome to join us.

Open Forum
Recent attempts at discrediting President Bush have blasted him on the economy. Facts speak otherwise. NASDAQ peaked a year before Bush took office and had already lost half of it's value by Bush's inauguration. The Dow Jones industrials had peaked in1999 and was headed down long before Bush inherited a dismal economy.

Celebrity politics
Any Minnesotan who meets the specified qualifications may run for the U.S. Senate.....but comedian Al Franken?

New chief - Dispatch Editorial
It's a familiar story in the Brainerd lakes area. A young woman moves away from the small town where she grew up. She pursues her education, works at an exciting job in Minneapolis, but eventually decides to move back to her hometown and re-establish her roots.

Open Forum
Last week's Open Forum article did have one accurate sentence; "The record of the Staples-Motley runners is truly extraordinary by any measure." Instead of defaming Mr. Mattila it would behoove you to ask what it is that sets them apart from other teams instead of drawing unfair conclusions.

The disturbing spread of meth labs
This editorial was published Tuesday in The Free Press of Mankato.

Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.

Early buck makes opening day memorable for father and son
Like everyone else who walked into the woods that frigid morning two weeks ago, my son and I had high hopes for the deer season. There were good numbers of deer and we had an extra management tag. Over the years, however, I've learned you cannot count on DNR reports and assessments. A buck can come out of nowhere and make your season great, or you might not see a deer.

Potlatch land lease program will continue to grow in lakes area
Two years ago this month Potlatch Corp., which owns 360,000 acres in Minnesota, began leasing its lands to private parties. Leaseholders have exclusive year-round access to the lands, though others still can get on the land with permissi

Outdoor notes
The DNR's Heritage Enhancement Fund, which includes revenues from a portion of the sales tax from state lottery sales, has contributed $476,000 to help fund the following projects:

A SEASON COMING IN FOR A LANDING
A lone mallard landed on an area pond last week. Minnesota's duck season closes Tuesday, Nov. 25, and by all reports it was a mixed bag. A good wild rice crop brought more ducks to the area than in recent seasons and some hunters had good shooting. But actual harvest numbers won't be available until next spring. (Dispatch Photo by Nels Norquist)

No-waste holiday: A great gift for Mother Nature
Gobble, gobble, gobble.

CWD testing could just be thin disguise for more DNR bureaucracy
What is the motivation behind testing our wild deer herd for CWD? It's generated by an assumption that an infected elk near Aitkin could have passed the disease to wild deer. But after killing a large number of deer around Aitkin not a single case of CWD was found.

Engagement announced - Sarah Penfield and Darren Larson
Sarah Penfield and Darren Larson announce their engagement. Parents are Roland and Carol Penfield, Staples, and Robert and Angela Larson, Parkers Prairie. A Feb. 28, 2004, wedding is planned at Faith Lutheran Church in Staples.

50th anniversary - Keith and Marge Smith
Keith and Marge Smith will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with their children on the Minnesota Zephyr. They were married Nov. 28, 1953, in Brainerd.

Maurer-Thomas
Joni Maurer and Quincy Thomas were married Oct. 4, 2003, at First Baptist Church in Baxter with Pastor David Grotzke officiating.

Hartness-Horak
Kelly Hartness and Timothy Horak were married Sept. 6, 2003, at an outdoor ceremony on Gull Lake.

Dorr-Hedquist
Erin Dorr and Doug Hedquist were married Oct. 18, 2003, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa with Pastor Kurt Weid officiating.

Engagement announced - Powell-Lockwood
Natasha Roseann Powell and Dustin Scott Lockwood announce their engagement. Parents are Howard and Dawn Powell, Backus, and Kevin and Lila Lockwood, Baxter. A May 22, 2004, wedding is planned in Nisswa.

102nd birthday - Emma Kletschka
Emma Kletschka, Lake Hubert, recently celebrated her 102nd birthday with an open house at her son Dr. Harold Kletschka's home in Golden Valley. She was born Nov. 3, 1901.

Wedding planned - Carrie Kavanaugh and David Cowell
Carrie Kavanaugh and David Cowell announce their engagement. Parents are Tim and Connie Kavanaugh, Elk River, and Tom and Sandy Cowell, Brainerd. A Dec. 13 wedding is planned at First Lutheran Church.

Pflepsen-Christensen
Amy Pflepsen and Derick Christensen were married July 19, 2003, at their home in Pequot Lakes with Edward Koehler officiating.

McGuire-Mueller
Cynthia McGuire and Chad Mueller were married June 21, 2003, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Jamestown, N.D., with Pastor Don Crippen officiating.

Brainerd Daily Dispatch All-Area Volleyball Team
The Brainerd Daily Dispatch All-Area Volleyball Team:

Brainerd senior is believed to be the first Warrior cross country runner to sign with a Division I school.
Brainerd Warriors cross country runner Justin Grunewald's senior season has read like a checklist.

Luberts named to all-state team
Pierz Pioneer running back Craig Luberts was named to the Associated Press all-state first team while Verndale Pirates defensive lineman Jason Kneisl was named to the all-state second team.

Scoreboard
Women's college basketball

Creating the ultimate volleyball team
Almost every barley-breath, cheese-puff stained sports fan has dreams of being a pro team's general manager.

BHS tennis grads finding success in D-I
They grew up together and played tennis together.

Scoreboard
Women's college basketball

River Lakes edges Brainerd in girls' hockey
RICHMOND -- The Brainerd Warriors battled back from a 2-0 deficit before losing 3-2 to the River Lakes Stars in Central Lakes Conference girls' hockey Thursday.

2003 All-State Football Team
The 2003 Minnesota Associated Press All-State prep football team, as voted on by a statewide panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Local sports shorts
St. Cloud Apollo defeated Brainerd 204-153, 199-183 and 175-167 Saturday at Little Falls Bowling Center to end the Warriors' bid for a state tournament berth.

Limited laptop may be good to give away
Would you want a laptop that displays only two colors, gray and black? What about one that can't play MP3 music files or run the latest games?

Stick with MP3 on digital conversion
From time to time, I'm wrong. Usually, when I'm wrong in print, it involves an opinion, which is always open to argument and further refinement. But now and then, to my shame, I blow it on a fact.

SPAM'S NEW FRONTIERS
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Three years ago, Adam Kalsey set up a Web log to share his thoughts about online business and the digital revolution. Like countless other "bloggers," he lets his readers post comments on his entries.

Social sites clicking with investors
Plenty of people make friends online, but will their Internet hangouts make money?

SWAPPING INTELLIGENCE
LOS ANGELES -- The recording industry, it seems, doesn't hate absolutely everything about illicit music downloading.

Winter wonderland
Weather drawing by Destiny Mankowski in the RIverside School third-grade class of Mrs. Meyer

State forecast South Dakota
Winter storm warning east central late this afternoon through sunday...

State forecast for North Dakota
Snow advisory far southwest this afternoon and tonight...And far

State forecast for South Dakota
Winter weather advisory northwest today and tonight...

State forecast for north dakota
...Snow advisory far south central today...

State forecast for minnesota
...Winter storm warning tonight through sunday night northeast...

State forecast for iowa
...Winter storm watch tonight into sunday evening northwest third...

State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs from the 20s north to the

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs from the mid 30s northwest... To near 50 southeast.

Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm watch much of west central tonight through sunday night...

State forecast for Iowa
Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s northwest to near 50

Get ready for Thanksgiving
Weather drawing by Brandon Moe of Miss Kortan's third grade class at Lowell school.

Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR

Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees

Support groups
Victims of clergy abuse

Much obliged
Thank you to all our daycare parents for honoring us with their nomination for Childcare Providers of the Year. Thank you to Crow Wing County and the Licensed Childcare Association for giving us this great honor. Thank you to the Brainerd Jaycees, The Brainerd Daily Dispatch, and Brainerd Community Action.

What's doing
7 Table Mitchell Movement. North-South: Ann Whalen and Phyllis DeRosier, 100.5; Patrick Spradlin and Bruce Eastman, 98.5; and Barb Bretz and Mona Gorham, 96. East-West: Marcella Jensen and Joyce Roemer, 102.5; Pat Lande and Don Chilgren, 92; Dale and Helen Dickie, 85; and Kathy Buxton and Debbie Rottschafer, 85.

With the military
Army Reserve Pvt. Kelly J. Feia, daughter of Phyllis Feia, Little Falls, recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

What's doing
Alpha Chapter will meet at the Masonic Hall Monday. A Scandinavian dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the meeting at 7:30 p.m.. The Veterans Service Officer will be the speaker for the evening.

Chemical dependency
7 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center (Open). Call Bill at 829-3801.