Friday, November 26, 2004

Truck did duty in the orange groves
Larry Roscoe of Brainerd spent 48 hours on the Internet searching for last week's Guess the Vehicle.

'05s Cadillac dreams involved more than cars
WASHINGTON -- Whether he was falling into or out of love, the late Ray Charles had a penchant for falling into Detroit's cars when he sang the blues.

Mustang keeps the faith
As a thought experiment, try to imagine that there never was a car named Mustang before -- that it wasn't an automotive icon four decades in the making, Bullitt's bullet, Carroll Shelby's Eleanor, Bill Clinton's chick magnet, or the scene of a million prom-night battles with temptation lost.

Emmy winner at ESPN started at area tech school
STAPLES -- Eric Nelson doesn't aspire to be a talking head on ESPN's "SportsCenter." He is happy as the show's graphics guru.

Tutor commended for his work with physics students
Four Central Lakes College students know the value of a good tutor. Because of one, each is mastering a challenging CLC science course -- physics.

CLC plans career education exploration events on both campuses
Central Lakes College will host two career education exploration events within a week -- one in Brainerd and the other on the Staples campus.

Engineering Day gives glimpse of future
Central Lakes College alumnus Adam Kuiken of Aitkin presented information about his engineering degree and employment in the aerospace industry at the fourth Engineering Day Friday at CLC in Brainerd.

The week's top movies
1. "National Treasure," Disney, $35,142,554.

Entertainment shorts
Rhythm of the Rails will perform the third annual Old Tyme Radio Show 7 p.m. Saturday in the Franklin Junior High School auditorium.

Friday-Tuesday: Art Bank on the arts
The "Salute to the Arts" exhibit will be on display through Tuesday at Lakewood Bank in Baxter.

Entertainment shorts
CROSBY -- The Crosby-Ironton Seventh-Grade Choir, Eighth-Grade Choir, Ninth-Grade Choir, Girls' Triple Trio, Boys' Quartet, Chamber Singers and A Cappella Choir will present their annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 at Mayberry Auditorium, Crosby-Ironton High School, Crosby.

Saturday: Comedy Louie, Louie
Louie Anderson regales Rail patrons with his famous comedy act for the second time this year. He'll no doubt stuff your stockings with plenty of family-themed humor for the holidays.

Friday-Sunday: Art House of art
Works by more than 35 regional artists will be on display Friday through Sunday at the Ripple River Gallery south of Deerwood as part of its annual Holiday Open House. Featured work includes pottery, prints, stained glass, jewelry, clothing and kinetic sculptures. Refreshments and prize drawings will be offered. Admission is free; non-perishable food items will be collected.

Friday: Movies 'Kranky' Christmas
Holiday blockbuster fans get to open their presents early: Oliver Stone's historic war epic "Alexander" and the Tim Allen-Jamie Lee Curtis goofball comedy "Christmas with the Kranks" open Friday at Movies 10 at Westgate in Baxter.

Saturday: Music Coffee and tunes
Kristi Morris' crisp vocal stylings and Jeff Kellogg's work on the African drums meet when this Walker duo hits the stage. They plan to traverse the musical map at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Common Grounds in Longville as part of the Saturday Cafe concert series. Admission is free, coffee extra.

Thanks for the good stuff
The Pilgrims and Indians knew what they were doing when they came up with this one. While other holidays celebrate specific things -- loved ones on Valentine's Day, freedom on the Fourth of July -- Thanksgiving is all-encompassing, even if it does put an emphasis on cranberries and the Detroit Lions.

Upcoming arts and entertainment events
BRAINERD

Violin player picked up instrument at early age
If it was up to Heather Mastel-Lipson of Ironton, she would have been playing the violin at age 5.

The week's top albums
1. "Encore," Eminem. Shady.

Food bites
When rolling out cookies, use confectioners' sugar instead of flour to dust the work surface and rolling pin. There will be no telltale traces of white powder on the cookies after baking.

There's nothing better than celebrating Thanksgiving with family and good food
Wonderful meals and celebrations like Thanksgiving are planned in advance because they're more than just a big meal; they're traditions and a means of tying loved ones together.

COURT
Wanda Lee Jones, 38, Walker, was sentenced for gross misdemeanor driving after cancellation to 90 days electronic home monitoring, fined $1,000, ordered to pay $360 probation fee and placed on three years supervised probation.

CORRECTION
As the result of incorrect information provided the Dispatch, the wrong photograph was printed with the obituary for Lucille Zabrowski on Page 4A Wednesday.

BIRTHS
Emily Klimek and Richard Rowe, Eagle Bend, a boy, Caden Richard, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, Nov. 13, 2004.

CRIME
ASSAULT -- A 15-year-old boy was arrested for second-degree assault Saturday after his mother reported he was out of control. The 15-year-old was transported to Central Minnesota Juvenile Center.

Housing briefs
BREEZY POINT -- Breezy Point Real Estate is opening an office in the former Pine River State Bank building.

Brainerd building permits
Thomas Doran, 200 block of Eighth Avenue Northeast, accessory $16,096.

Baxter building permits
Norman Ramsdell, 14,000 block of Lynndale Lane, detached garage, $23,000.

Indian heritage celebrated at mansions
LITTLE FALLS -- Two stones sit on a log on the front porch of the Richard "Drew" Musser home in Little Falls. The stones symbolize directional signage the American Indians used.

It's all downhill from here
Skiing and snowboarding require baseline fitness and training of muscles we don't typically employ. This is especially true for those of us who were downhill hellcats in our reckless youth but now ski just a few days a year and spend much of our time hunched in front of computer screens, muttering. Clicking directly into ski boots and heading down the hill with no preparation is a recipe for an orthpedist's favorite entree.

Emily students learn about the outdoors
REMER -- Remer School recently invited Emily Charter School students to participate in School Forest Day, a day of learning about the outdoors.

Byway association members share fund-raising ideas in New York
Last Thursday and Friday, two representatives of the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway Association were in Alexandria Bay, N.Y., to lend their fund-raising ideas to an idea-gathering consortium of byway groups from across the nation whose focus was on strategies to help ensure organizational sustainability.

Aitkin to welcome winter with annual fish house parade
AITKIN -- Aitkin will regale the coming of Minnesota's longest season -- winter -- by hosting the annual World Famous Fish House Parade at 1 p.m. Friday.

Hound helps him hear
Adam Spindler, a Central Lakes College robotics student from Baxter, is enjoying a new set of "ears" to help the deaf student. His new friend is Tizzy, a Brittany spaniel rescued from an animal shelter.

Increased rent a concern for Cass County's Family Safety Network
WALKER -- The Cass County Board recently toured the Family Safety Network office at Ah-Gwah-Ching and that agency's safe house in the Walker area.

Holiday hours set for Cass canister site
HACKENSACK -- The Walker-Hackensack canister site will be closed Saturdays, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, and open instead those weeks on Fridays, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31, with shorter hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dunking for Kinship
Craig and Desi Dunmire hosted an Apple Pie Festival for Kinship Partners on Saturday at Ernie's on Gull with a dunk tank and children's games and prizes.

All around the town
PINE RIVER -- Pine River may have only about 950 residents, but unlike many cities its size the community has its own public transit system.

Celebrity Reader
Celebrity Reader Donna Hite read to Kristen Pratt's kindergarten class at Emily Charter School, including students Samantha Radke, Jolie Eckert, Meliah Schaumburg, Holden Johnson and MaKayla Martz.

Area briefs
ONAMIA -- A regional essay contest called "See Mille Lacs in 2020" is giving residents a simple way to get involved in shaping the Mille Lacs Lake area's future by submitting short essays about how they envision the area in 2020.

Outpouring of thanks
If you thought you were stressed out Thursday as you prepared Thanksgiving dinner, imagine cooking turkey, stuffing and all the fixings for about 325 people.

Blaze claims DFL activist
IRONTON -- Carol Bartels, 87, a former five-term mayor of Ironton and a mainstay in the Crow Wing County DFL Party, died Tuesday morning in a fire at her home.

Brunch with Santa, Gregory Park tree lighting set Dec. 5
Brunch with Santa will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

Overheard
"I'm thankful for being here rather than Iraq, where it could be more dangerous."

Local briefs
MOTLEY -- The U.S. Department of Education recently honored Motley Elementary School, one of eight schools in Minnesota, with its No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Award.

Light snow leaves area roads slick
The Thanksgiving holiday brought with it the first snowfall of the season.

Hunter missing in Cass
Cass County authorities are searching for an Osakis hunter who's been missing for more than two days in the woods near Remer.

Anderson stepping down from Aitkin school post
After 21 years as the Aitkin School District superintendent and working with more than 40 school board members, Ed Anderson, 56, has handed in his resignation.

This was Brainerd
NOVEMBER 25 - 40 years ago (1964) - Santa Claus will arrive at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Northern Pacific Depot. He will ride on a fire truck escorted by the Brainerd High School Band.

Chief field is narrowed
Two of the top three finalists for Brainerd fire chief, whose names were forwarded to a city council panel Wednesday, are current members of the Brainerd Fire Department.

Isaiah: What Thanksgiving is all about
BAXTER -- It may seem a little odd, but one of the things Nate and Jessica Macejkovic are most thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday is being able to hear their son cry. And today, on Thanksgiving, watching him eat his mashed potatoes.

Thanksgiving closings, community dinners
- Post offices are closed Thursday. Mail will be delivered Friday as scheduled.

There's snow stopping them
Kayla Farr (left) and Cara Lanz walked Thursday along the Paul Bunyan Trail as snow flurries fell. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Couple thankful their premature twins doing OK
Phil and Coni Trusty's newborn twins, born 16 weeks premature, are so tiny that they'll need to remain hospitalized until about their original due date, March 8.

This was Brainerd
30 years ago (1974) - The County board of commissioners approved applications for three snowmobile trails in Crow Wing County, all located in the Crosslake Area.

Calling all cars: Keep an eye out for SpongeBob SquarePants
SpongeBob SquarePants is missing.

COMING FRIDAY IN RELIGION
Adopting soldiers

COMING FRIDAY IN HOUSING
Christmas in mansions

Holiday traffic affected when gas line breaks near Wal-Mart store in Baxter
People rushing to get their last-minute Thanksgiving dinner shopping in or heading out of town for the holiday Wednesday met a roadblock in Baxter after a broken natural gas line closed off parts of Edgewood Drive and Highway 371 for more than three hours.

Students thankful for the college's dinner
CLC staff members and faculty and several business donated food and beverages for the college's first Thanksgiving dinner for students unable to be home for the holidays.

LOCAL BRIEFS
The Salvation Army Angel Trees will be in several locations throughout the Brainerd lakes area.

COMING FRIDAY
Giving thanks

CORRECTION
A Washington Post article on the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren super-sports car in Thursday's Auto section incorrectly stated the car's cost. The price is $452,000 -- $100,000 more than reported.

Delores A. Schleh
PIERZ -- Delores A. Schleh, age 83, formerly of St. Paul, died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2004, at Pierz Villa. Delores was born Feb. 23, 1920, in St. Paul to Otto and Emma (Wolter) Schleh. After completing school, she worked in the dietary department at Midway Hospital in St. Paul for many years. She had lived in Brainerd Manor for the past 10 years.

Vladimir (Lad) Bucek
Vladimir (Lad) Bucek, age 85, longtime resident of Brainerd, died Nov. 19, 2004. Proud life member of the Nisswa American Legion Post No. 627, and the Brainerd DAV. Preceded in death by loving wife, Jean; son, Dick; and granddaughter, Dawn Rios (Doniphan); great-grandchildren, Chad, Zach and Kaitlin; great-great-granddaughter, Breanna; many family and friends.

George A. Cook
PALISADE -- George Alan Cook, age 72, of Palisade, formerly of Minneapolis, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at his home.

William 'Bill' Johnson
DEERWOOD -- William "Bill" Johnson, age 85, of Deerwood, died on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004, at his home as a result of heart failure. He was born in Clear Lake, Wis., on Oct. 22, 1919, to Walter and Minnie (Asp) Johnson. At a young age the family moved to New Richmond, Wis., where Bill graduated from high school in 1936. He served his country during WWII as a flight engineer on a B-24 bomber, flying 50 missions. Bill was a decorated Army Air Corps serviceman receiving nine medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Betty on Nov. 3, 1945. He moved his family to Deerwood in 1965, where he was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a life member of the Masonic Temple, Shriners and Walter Scott Erickson American Legion Post No. 557, Deerwood.

Margaret A. Winzenburg
BUCKMAN Margaret A. Winzenburg, 68-year-old resident of Buckman, Minn., passed away Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at her home in Buckman, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Buckman. Burial will be in St. Michaels Parish Cemetery in Buckman, Minn. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday at the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Buckman.

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.

Lucille M. Zabrowski
STAPLES -- Lucille M. Zabrowski, age 91, formerly of Pine River, passed away and was reunited forever with her beloved husband, Ed, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at the Staples Care Center. Lucille Margaret Frank was born Dec. 19, 1912, in St. Paul to Nicholas and Margaret (Metz) Frank. She grew up and attended school in St. Paul, eventually completing business college and going to work as a typist. She was united in marriage to Edward Zabrowski 66 years ago, on Oct. 2, in St. Paul. She was a devoted wife and mother. Following retirement, she and Ed moved to the Pine River/Backus area where they made their home until failing health prompted them to move to Pillager to be near their daughter. Lucille was widowed in 2003 and lived with her daughter until recently.

Carol B. Bartels
IRONTON -- Carol Bernice Bartels, age 87, of Ironton, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, of extensive burns at her home. She was born on Dec. 18, 1916, in Morgan, Minn., to Charles and Edna (Ellies) Pickar. She was united in marriage Elmer E. Bartels on Nov. 19, 1936, in Glencoe, Minn. She graduated from Wabasso High School and attended St. Joseph's School of Nursing, St. Paul. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Crosby. She was active with the DFL party of Minnesota. She was a member of the Myrin-James American Legion Post No. 443, Ironton, Ironton Commercial Club, VFW Auxiliary, Brainerd, former mayor of Ironton, and a member of the Ironton Housing Authority.

Jim (James) A. Gravdahl
PEQUOT LAKES -- Jim (James) Arvid Gravdahl, age 50, resident of Pequot Lakes, died Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, in a car accident. Jim was born Jan. 13, 1954, in Brainerd, Minn., to Arvid and Lorraine (Nylander) Gravdahl. He graduated from the Pequot Lakes High School in 1972. Jim also attended Bemidji State University and Brainerd Community College. After college, Jim worked as a heavy equipment operator on the Iron Range for Kloster Madison based out of Minneapolis. In the winter of 1979, Jim worked in the Florida Keys as a crane operator building bridges. Jim married Tammy Roggenkamp on Dec. 18, 1980, at the Cass County Courthouse in Walker, Minn. After they were married, Jim and Tammy moved to the Gravdahl family farm west of Pequot Lakes where they farmed and raised dairy cows. In 1990, Jim started his excavating business, Gravdahl Excavating. Nine years later in 1999, Jim opened a demolition landfill west of Pequot Lakes and added Westside Demolition Landfill and Roll-off Services to his excavating business. In the spring of 2003, Jim and Tammy purchased Barker Bay Resort and Outpost on Lower Manitou Lake in Ontario, Canada. Jim, known to friends and family as Grubber, enjoyed cooking and liked to spend time fishing, snowmobiling and collecting old John Deere Tractors. Jim was a member of the Pequot Lakes Brush Pilots.

Bette J. Topp
NISSWA -- Bette J. Topp, 78, resident of Nisswa, died Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at the Heritage House of Pequot Lakes. Arrangements are with Nelson-Doran Funeral Home in Brainerd.

Brian L. Plopper
STAPLES -- Brian Lee Plopper, age 36, of Staples, died Monday morning, Nov. 22, 2004. Funeral services will be held on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the Staples Christian and Alliance Church. Relatives will receive friends on Saturday morning at the church starting at 10 a.m. Services have been entrusted to the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Severin B. Terhaar
PIERZ Severin B. Terhaar, age 87, of Pierz, Minn., died Nov. 22, 2004, at the Pierz Villa in Pierz. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Nov. 27, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Pierz with the Rev. Gerald Dalseth officiating. Interment was in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Shelley-Virnig Funeral Home in Pierz, Minn. Christian Mothers will pray a rosary at 4:30 p.m. Friday afternoon at the funeral chapel followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. and Knights of Columbus and Legion prayers at 8 p.m. Military rites will be conducted by Pierz American Legion Post No. 341.

Dorothy Campbell
Dorothy A. Potts O'Brien Campbell, age 87, resident of Brainerd, passed away and reunited with her loved ones on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004. Dorothy was born in Fridley, Minn., Sept. 10, 1917, to George E. and Hazel A. (McCready) Potts. Her younger years were spent in Fridley and Waseca living with her grandparents then aunt and uncle until her move to Brainerd at age 8 where she has resided even since.

There are many gifts for which thanks are due
Even though I may grumble when the alarm rings, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.

Tie one on for safety
Thanksgiving weekend is the first in a series of fall and winter holidays that brings friends and families together. In the weeks that follow people will get together for holiday parties, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day and eventually the Super Bowl on Feb. 6.

Assemblies of God members to help more than 30 families
Even if you don't have a friend or family member in the military, deployment ceremonies can be heart-wrenching.

Thanksgiving Day with God
Our heavenly Father, the Father of tender mercies, shares everything He has with us.

CHURCHES
Brainerd Assemblies of God will have Old Time Gospel Night at 7 p.m. Friday. It's special Christmas night. For more information or to participate in the music, contact Lowell Jaeger at 829-0674.

2004 Minnesota High School Football Tournament
CLASS 5A

Hiltner first-team all-state player
Brainerd Warriors offensive tackle Pete Hiltner was named to the Minnesota Associated Press All-State prep football first team Wednesday.

Competing for Triple Crown
On Oct. 20 the Central Minnesota Conference football championship was at stake.

Grunewald gains ground for Gophers
Justin Grunewald's first year at the University of Minnesota won't be one he'll forget anytime soon.

Scoreboard
Area events

Warrior relay finishes 11th
The Brainerd Warriors 200-yard medley relay didn't even earn All-Central Lakes Conference honors this season.

State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s to upper 40s.

State forecast for Minnesota
Winter storm watch tonight and saturday portions of central and

State forecast for S.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy. Chance of light rain. Chance of light snow northeast and far west. Highs from the mid 30s northeast... To around 50 extreme southeast.

Anyone for turkey gravy?
Weather drawing by Thomas Lourey in the Riverside third grade of Mrs. Meyer.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy...But becoming mostly cloudy west in the afternoon. A few flurries possible in west central wisconsin. Highs in the 30s.

State forecast for South Dakota
Winter weather advisory northcentral and northeast until 10 am cst..

Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory in effect this afternoon through tonight for portions of west central wisconsin...

State forecast for North Dakota
...Freezing rain advisory south central north dakota until 11 am cst

State forecast for N.D.
Winter weather advisory until 1000 am cst east.

One that got away
Weather drawing by Tori Johnson in the Riverside third grade of Mrs. Meyer.

Snow and rain in the Midwest; dry in the Desert Southwest
Snow and rain continued to fall over parts of the Midwest early Thursday, while the Southwest had clear skies.

State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Mostly cloudy west...Increasing clouds east. Areas of light

State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cloudy. A chance of light rain central and north this