Saturday, December 6, 2008

Skincare center changes name
BAXER - The Physician's Laser and Skincare Center in the Grizzly Center on Highway 371 North in Baxter now has a new name, Soulstis Med Spa by Lakewood Health System.

Remembering Pearl Harbor
Gordy Schulke, a longtime Baxter resident, recalled his World War II service in the U.S. Navy. He enlisted after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

Planning commission to meet Wednesday
The Brainerd Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at city hall.

Fueling feathered furnaces
So far this fall, the feathered creatures that dwell in our fields and forests have been spared the bitter cold and deep snow. But we all know that can change in an instant.

POLICE BLOTTER
It's always a good thing to know what your significant other is up to. And if something fishy comes along, you may want to communicate with that person before calling the local authorities.

AREA CRIME
PUBLIC ASSIST - Received a report from a woman Wednesday who said that between 1-4 p.m. on Monday her dogs scratched her windows and tore the plastic off the windows.

Brainerd School Board
SECTION A - General

December plant tips
- The Norfolk Island pine is a popular houseplant that can work as a tabletop Christmas tree. The branches and needles are not very strong so only small ornaments can be used. The plant likes a sunny spot, warm temperatures, high humidity and to be kept uniformly moist.

Wallpaper can pack a punch at a low cost
Interior designer Mallory Mathison sees it all the time: Clients hear the word "wallpaper" and cringe, fearing it will make their home look dated and boring.

Lighting the way in winter
During the long dark spells of winter, your home's lighting takes on added importance. And when it comes to creative choices, there are many possibilities.

Self-guided - and selfless
A remodeled farm house and an arts and crafts home will be among five homes featured in the third annual Holiday Tour of Homes on Sunday in Pierz.

LOCAL HOUSING BRIEFS
Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity recently received a $15,000 donation from the Greater Lakes Area Realtors Foundation.

Picking the perfect tree
Dear Master Gardener:

This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1948) - Brainerd and vicinity was caught in a rain, sleet and light snow storm which swept into the state Sunday. Temperatures remained with a low of 18 degrees.

Kayla Huntley
Hometown: Brainerd

Connie Jo Bolei
Family: Husband Dave, son Shawn Balis and 8 grandchildren.

WHAT'S DOING
The December Breast Cancer Support Group will meet Friday at the home of Claire Steen at 29 Kingwood St. in Brainerd. All breast cancer survivors are invited to the noon Christmas luncheon. An RSVP would be appreciated by Wednesday. E-mail pbhassett@brainerd.net or call and leave a message at 829-1683.

AARP seeking tax aide volunteers
The Brainerd lakes area AARP Tax-Aide program is looking for volunteers to help the elderly and low- to middle-income individuals prepare their 2008 tax returns.

9-year-old Adam would like a male mentro
Is there anything you would change about yourself? How many times have you contemplated this question? What responses automatically come to mind? Is it your height, your weight, how much money you make or items you desire to have? More often than not we think of a physical attribute or a personal possession we desire when asked this question.

Volunteer opportunities
AMERICAN RED CROSS Tom Bickford 821-3598

SENIOR CALENDAR
Lakes Area Senior Activity Center

Officials working on budget adjustments
WALKER - With Minnesota facing a projected $426 million deficit in 2008-09 and anticipating a $4.847 billion shortfall in 2010-11, Cass County officials began Thursday afternoon to brace for a likely loss of state aids to local governments.

The day long ago that meant boys had to go to war
They were young men - some of them just boys - on that long ago Sunday when Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. They all went on to fight in World War II and later returned home to their civilian lives.

Roads could benefit from stimuls money
WALKER - When Congress passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the stimulus package), Cass County Chief Financial Officer Larry Wolfe said Thursday, this included the first full funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes to counties.

Lakes area firms making layoffs
The Brainerd lakes area is not immune to the nationwide recession.

Nisswa woman dies in Gull Lake area crash
A 41-year-old Nisswa woman died Thursday when the vehicle she was driving left the roadway, hit a tree and rolled, reported the State Patrol.

Fire damages Pelican Lake cabin
Fire heavily damaged a cabin Thursday on the shores of Pelican Lake in Mission Township.

Questions raised about Cass property values
WALKER - Most of the people who went to the Cass County truth-in-taxation public hearing Thursday night came to question why property values used to calculate property taxes have not yet decreased rather than to question the county's proposed 2009 budget.

Two Backus residents arrested
BACKUS - Two Backus residents were arrested Thursday for possession of methamphetamines and have been charged with fifth-degree controlled substance crimes, the Cass County Sheriff's Department reported.

Singing for a cause
Brainerd High School's Windfall performed Thursday during the 15th annual Lakes Area Radiothon to End Child Abuse being broadcast live from the Westgate Mall.

COMING MONDAY IN SPORTS
The NFC North Division-leading Minnesota Vikings play the winless Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.

Local officials brace themselves - deficit
A budget deficit of $5.27 billion over the next 2-1/2 years looms over the state of Minnesota.

League to discuss school finance reform
The League of Women Voters Brainerd Lakes Area will meet at noon Thursday at the Brainerd Public Library.

COMING MONDAY IN EVERYDAY PEOPLE
A rural Brainerd teenager is using her artistic talents to create her own home-based business.

$5,270,000,000 deficit
ST. PAUL- Digging out of Minnesota's $5.27 billion deficit begins before sunrise on Friday.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1988) - The Brainerd Warrior girls' basketball team improved to 3-1 by defeating Detroit Lakes 44-41 in action Saturday. Jim Gogolin is the coach.

Reaction emphasizes differing approaches - deficit
In a philosophical debate that may mirror potential conflicts during the next Legislature, Brainerd area lawmakers discussed what should be on or off the proverbial table when they grapple with the two-year budget deficit of $5.27 billion that was announced Thursday.

Other people came first with Mary Brenny
The matriarch of Brenny Funeral Homes, who was known for her strong religious beliefs and for putting others before herself, died Thursday.

Klobuchar tours area renewable energy firms
BAXTER - Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., listened to Brainerd lakes area entrepreneurs discuss their renewable energy businesses and shared her own tale of unsuccessful attempts to burn garbage over a Bunsen burner in a seventh-grade science project.

Cass County sets holiday hours for offices
WALKER - All Cass County government offices except the sheriff's department will close for business at 3 p.m. Christmas eve and New Year's eve

Overheard
This is so serioius it scares me.

Placement costs are under budget
WALKER - Cass County Health, Human and Veterans Services expenditures through October ran almost 7 percent under budget projections, partly due to the fact out-of-home child placement costs are running 25 percent under budget.

STATE BRIEFS
DULUTH - Two friends have purchased the light tower next to Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge for $31,000.

Battling flames north of Merrifield
A Nisswa firefighter battled a fire that engulfed a house on Crow Wing County Road 127 north of Merrifield Friday. The fire was reported by a passing motorist at 1:01 p.m. The rambler home was owned by Adam Herron. No injuries were reported and the house was a total loss. About 25 firefighters from the Nisswa, Crosslake and Mission Township fire departments responded to the scene.

District facility needs detailed
From roof replacements to parking lots to air handling units - the Brainerd School Board's Facilities Committee Thursday got a glimpse of what the building needs are in its schools.

Correction
The entertainment calendar on Page 2E Thursday listed the wrong time for the Heartland Symphony Orchestra's concert on Dec. 14 in Little Falls. The concert begins at 2 p.m.

Woman dies in Gull Lake area crash
A 41-year-old Nisswa woman died Thursday night when the vehicle she was driving left the roadway, hit a tree and rolled, according to the State Patrol.

Two hurt near casino
ONAMIA - A two-vehicle accident that occurred at 10:27 a.m. Friday on U.S. 169 north of Mille Lacs Grand Casino, resulted in a vehicle that caught fire and sent both drivers to hospitals, the State Patrol reported.

KSTP makes layoffs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -Employees at KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities say up to 18 staffers are being eliminated at the station.

BHS dance team gets a kick out first meet
The Brainerd Warrior dance team took its first invitational by storm, winning the high kick competition Thursday at a Central Lakes Conference meet in Alexandria.

Crystal M. Wilcox
AITKIN - Crystal Marie Wilcox, 23, of Aitkin, died Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, in Pine County as a result of a car accident. She was born Nov. 12, 1985, in Aitkin to Bruce Wilcox and Marcia Hills. She was a 2004 graduate of Brainerd High School and then attended Mankato State University. She was a manager at The Junction south of Aitkin and was involved with CAM's Ride, a bike rally for autism.

Dale Westerlund
Dale Kenneth Westerlund, age 86, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Thomas Skalsky
PINE RIVER - Thomas Herman Skalsky, 71, of Pine River, passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008. He was born July 12, 1937, in Jackson, Minn., to Herman and Josephine (Stewart) Skalsky.

Laura Starkey
NISSWA - Laura Marie "Laurie" Starkey, age 68, of Nisswa, formerly of Burnsville, Minn., went home to be with our Lord on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, from complications due to lung cancer.

Charles E. Nieman
LITTLE FALLS - Charles Edward Nieman, a lifelong resident of Little Falls, was born July 26, 1930, to William and Lena (Zarns) Nieman in Round Prairie, Minn.

Joseph A. Smith Sr.
MINNEAPOLIS - Joseph Albert Smith Sr., 91, passed away on Nov. 26, 2008.

Paul Grey
RANDALL - Paul Grey, 80-year-old resident of Randall, Minn., died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at his home in Randall.

Patricia Funk
BREEZY POINT - Patricia Funk, age 77, of Breezy Point, passed away Wednesday evening at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Lila M. Westman
CROSBY - Lila M. Westman, age 76, of Crosby died Thursday Dec. 4, 2008, at her home.

Julia Evanson
NISSWA - Julia Evanson, age 41, of Nisswa, passed away Thursday night, Dec. 4, 2008, as a result of an automobile accident. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Salem Lutheran Church. Friends are welcome to gather from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter, also for one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday. Interment will be in the Bay Lake Township Cemetery.

Elgyn 'Al' Gabel
FRIDLEY - Elgyn "Al" Gabel, 83, of Fridley, formerly of Roseville, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

Elgyn 'Al' Gabel
MINNEAPOLIS - Elgyn "Al" Gabel, age 82, formerly of Roseville, passed away on Dec. 2, 2008. Preceded in death by wife, Delores; son, Alan; and brother, Jack.

Mary Brenny
LITTLE FALLS - Mary J. Brenny, age 86, of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at the Diamond Willows Home in Little Falls after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family.

Kenneth Christensen
Kenneth E. Christensen, age 87, resident of Brainerd, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, in Brainerd.

Laura Starkey
NISSWA - Laura M. Starkey, age 68, resident of Nisswa, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Patricia Funk
BREEZY POINT - Patricia Funk, age 77, of Breezy Point, Minn. Devoted wife, beloved mother, granny and great-granny, passed away peacefully, Dec. 3, 2008.

Doris Gilgenbach
Doris Ann Gilgenbach, age 65, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at the St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Doris was born on July 14, 1943, in Harding, Minn., to Rudolph and Gertrude (Voss) Bescheinen. She attended school in Brainerd. Doris married Matt Gilgenbach in June 1983 in Brainerd. She had worked for Honeywell and also had a karaoke business in the Brainerd area for the past 14 years.

Rita Barber
BURTRUM - Rita J. Barber, age 46, of Burtrum, formerly of Motley, passed away at her home on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. A memorial service is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples with Pastor Jim Johnson officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Della Shanks
Della Shanks, age 83, resident of Brainerd, died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.

Holdovers may need to be challenged
WASHINGTON - In the two most crucial areas facing his presidency, national security and economic policy, Barack Obama has opted for continuity, not change. That is reassuring to many in the short term, but it entails long-term risks.

OTHER OPINION: ABUSE
Vulnerable: If you look this word up in a thesaurus it means helpless, powerless, in a weak position.

VOX POP
The Baxter City Council has proven how adept they are at that when the economy is going down in flames, they know how to raise taxes. I'm suggesting they double every tax and fee in Baxter this year, and next year when the economy is even worse triple 'em, because you obviously have no skill at cutting back spending. So go for the gold. And of course, the Baxter citizens re-elected these people. That's scary.

Open Forum:
Amazingly, our three federal representatives, Coleman, Klobuchar, and Oberstar, all eventually fell into line on the $700 billion bailout. ($2,300 per person. If your children or grandparents dont have the $2,300, youll have to come up with their share also. This automatically means higher taxes - no choice.)

OTHER OPINION: LEGISLATURE
Knowing the Minnesota Legislature is more prone to taking baby steps than enacting sweeping reforms in any given session, we suggest a simple change in the wake of a Times news report about legislators' compensation: Replace their daily per diems with reimbursement for actual expenses - receipts provided, of course.

Open Forum: Marriage is a no-compromise issue
Studying U.S. history tells us that the Bible provided inspiration for our founders who wrote the U.S. Constitution. Even Ben Franklin used Bible references in his writings. The Holy Bible also condemns homosexual behavior, married or not.

Area deer harvest numbers plummet
Call it a rebuilding season.

Of ice and open water - but where's the snow?
It's wild to think that just a few weeks ago we were out enjoying the wide-open waters around the area.

35th anniversary - Scott and Jewell (Jacobson) Hoffmann
Scott and Jewell (Jacobson) Hoffmann, East Gull Lake, will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. They were married Dec. 15, 1973.

Isaac and Sarah Jo Armstrong
Sarah Jo Mogensen and Isaac J. Armstrong were married April 12, 2008, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd with Pastor Darrel Pedersen officiating.

Mary and Luke Reynolds
Mary Nelson and Luke Reynolds were married Aug. 16, 2008, in Aurora, N.Y., with an outdoor wedding and reception.

Engagement announced - Kirsten Rinke and Matthew Tepley
Kirsten Rinke and Matthew Tepley announce their engagement. Parents are Randy and Sherry Rinke, Baxter, and Tom and Terri Tepley, Brainerd. A Jan. 31, 2009, wedding is planned at the Brainerd Armory.

80th birthday - Alyce Gibson
Alyce Gibson will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 13 at The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes in Baxter.

Amanda and Eric Peetz
Amanda Kordell and Eric Peetz were married June 28, 2008, at Crossroads Church in Lakeville with Pastor Bruce Ruggles officiating.

50th anniversary - Donna and Elmer Mogensen
Donna and Elmer Mogensen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends Oct. 25 in Orem, Utah. The event was hosted by their children. They were married Oct. 25, 1958, in Brainerd.

Engagement announced - Judy Sawyer and Brian Bakeberg
Judy Sawyer and Brian Bakeberg announced their engagement. Parents are Bruce and Kelly Sawyer, Pillager, and Ralph and Patty Bakeberg, Brainerd. A Sept. 12, 2009, wedding is planned in Brainerd.

Alyssa and Jacob Lee
Alyssa Altrichter and Jacob Lee were married Aug. 2, 2008, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Tony Wroblewski officiating.

Margaret and Adam Fladebo
Margaret Phillips and Adam Fladebo were married July 12, 2008, at the Mall of America.

50th anniversary - John and Shirley Hild
John and Shirley Hild this summer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and a parent at the Lost Lake Lodge in Lake Shore. They were married on Dec. 13, 1958.

Matt and Jenny Peterson
Jennifer Solstad and Matthew Peterson were married Aug. 2, 2008, at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter with Pastor Dan Werthman officiating.

CHURCH NEWS
"The Very Important Christmas Pageant" Sunday school program and potluck will be 5:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at Grace United Methodist Church of Pequot Lakes.

Church tries to keep up with need
DEERWOOD - It all started in a small closet in the back of Salem Lutheran Church in Deerwood.

'Q' is for quality and a CLC victory
Key: Quentin Wilford missed just one shot and finished with 29 points to lead CLC

AREA GIRLS' BASKETBALL
AITKIN - Emily Mehr had 10 points and 13 rebounds as the Aitkin Gobblers outscored Moose Lake-Willow River 65-39 in non-conference play Thursday.

B-H-V tramples Parkers Prairie
BERTHA - The Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders had four wrestlers score pins in their 45-23 win over the Parkers Prairie Panthers in Park Region wrestling Thursday.

Lighting edge past Lakers 5-4
BREEZY POINT - Collin Burke scored his second goal of the game with 33 seconds remaining to help the Northern Lakes Lightning to a 5-4 win over the Detroit Lakes Lakers on Thursday.

Flyers open with victory
BEMIDJI - Seventh-grader Rachelle LeBlanc won the floor exercise and the Little Falls Flyers went on to defeat the Bemidji Lumberjacks 124.225-123.600 on Friday.

Top teams slated for W-DC tourney
WADENA - The epicenter of northern Minnesota wrestling will be in the Wadena-Deer Creek High School gym beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

How area teams shape up
Coaches: Dan Stifter

LOCAL SPORTS SHORTS
The deadline to register for the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department's youth pond hockey program is Dec. 12.

Hirsch's goal does it as Flyers beat Virginia
VIRGINIA - Riley Hirsch's first period goal was all it took for the Little Falls Flyers to get past the Virginia Blue Devils Friday in a 1-0 non-conference season opener.

Warriors Wrestling
Co-head coaches: Mike Boran, 11th season, Jim Kath, fourth season

Cheering on the Warriors
Brainerd students enthusiastically cheered on the Warriors' boys' hockey team against the Crookston Pirates Friday night.

Warriors give coach a winning debut
The key: Reid Mimmack made 37 saves and Brainerd scored three times in the third period.

Lueck's 21 powers Pequot Lakes to win over Pierz
PIERZ - Emily Lueck scored 21 points and Katelyn Schmidt added 11 to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots past the Pierz Pioneers in non-confrence basketball Friday.

Warriors look for a good year on the mats
In 2007-08 the Brainerd Warriors wrestling team forged its best season since 2004-05 when it went 9-4 in dual meets and sent five individuals to state.

Balanced scoring leads BHS
SAUK RAPIDS - Emily Thesing scored 13 points, Emilee Branum registered 12 and Kylie Stanfield contributed 10 as the Brainerd Warriors defeated the Sauk Rapids Storm 67-34 Friday in Central Lakes Conference girls basketball.

McAllister places second
ST. CLOUD - Brainerd's Hannah McAllister finished second in the season-opening St. Cloud Tech Invite on Thursday at Riverside Park.

Flying Warriors win 10-2
LITTLE FALLS - Nicole Godbout's hat trick sparked the Brainerd/Little Falls Flying Warriors to a 10-2 non-conference victory over the Morris-Benson Storm on Thursday at Exchange Arena.

Baker leads Rangers
AITKIN - Sam Baker scored a career-high 22 points and Matthew Hudrlik added 15 points to lead the Crosby-Ironton Rangers to a 74-53 non-conference victory over the Aitkin Gobblers Friday.

Golden Rams buck Raiders
Becky Skiba scored seven points and Stephanie Neugebauer added six in the Central Lakes College Raiders' 65-34 women's basketball loss Friday to Anoka-Ramsey.

YMCA to offer high school intramurals
The Brainerd Family YMCA will offer intramural sports leagues for boys and girls in grades 9-12 beginning Jan. 5.

Hutchison, Engel lead Warriors to victory
ALEXANDRIA - The Brainerd Warriors finished 1-2 in the boys' and girls' races and won a dual meet against Lakes Area Alpine in their season-opening meet Friday at Andes Tower Hills.

Brainerd bowlers help team win state tourney
After finishing first and second in the Central Conference rankings, Kim Carper and Will Bassett joined forces with six other all-conference bowlers to win the state high school all-conference tournament Nov. 29 at Monticello.

Flyers pin Aitkin
LITTLE FALLS - The Little Falls Flyers had nine wrestlers score pins in a 51-25 non-conference wrestling win over the Aitkin Gobblers on Friday.

Brainerd opens with win
WILLMAR - Sam Smith won the uneven bars and floor exercise, as well as the all-around title, as the Brainerd Warriors opened the season Thursday with a 137.6-135.325 Central Lakes Conference victory over the Willmar Cardinals.

SCOREBOARD
Boys hockey

State forecast for North Dakota
.Today...Clear to partly cloudy central and east. Cloudy with a

State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Partly cloudy. Scattered flurries east this morning...And

The Nation's Weather
Lake-effect snow was expected in Michigan, Ohio and upstate New York on Friday. Some areas of Upper Michigan and New York's Syracuse area were to receive up to a foot of snow. Scattered flurries and snow showers were forecast for the northern Ohio Valley, parts of Pennsylvania and New York.

State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Mostly cloudy. Snow showers in the afternoon. Highs 15 to 25.

State forecast for Minnesota
.Today...Partly sunny. Blustery. Scattered flurries in the morning.

Is this in our future?
Weather drawing by Austin Drewer in the Garfield second grade of Olson-Morgan.

State forecast for south dakota
Today...Considerably cloudy west. Decreasing clouds east and becoming mostly sunny. Scattered flurries southeast early...And a chance of snow showers west. Windy east. Highs from 15 to 20 north central...Northeast and east central...To 35 to 40 southwest.

State forecast for North Dakota
.Today...Cloudy with light snow likely. Becoming breezy with areas

Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory ashland and iron counties tonight through saturday evening...

Let it snow
Weather drawing by Kalie Sjodin in the Lowell second grade of Mrs. Larson.

State forecast for Iowa
.Saturday...Partly cloudy. Scattered flurries east. Highs 20 to 30.