Monday, December 9, 2002

Extra credit
Jim Esser, the son of Steve and Linda Esser of Baxter, was named a finalist in the World Association of Computing Machines programming contest. Esser, a student at the University of Minnesota, and two other students beat about 140 teams and won the North Central Regionals in the 27th IBM-sponsored International Collegiate Programming contest.

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to an oven fire at 1:07 p.m. Friday at 406 S.E. 11th St. in Brainerd and helped ventilate the home.

WANT MORE MONEY?
PEQUOT LAKES -- Wanted: Five ambitious people stuck in low-income jobs who want to earn more money in better-paying careers. Must be willing to work hard and prove to others that planning and initiative -- along with the help of a mentor -- benefits everyone in the community.

Baxter man dead following collision
BAXTER -- A 77-year-old Baxter man is dead following a single-vehicle accident Friday in south Baxter.

Local briefs
The Red Cross will sponsor three bloodmobile drives in the Brainerd lakes area.

This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 9 - 20 years ago (1982) - Led by 5-11 Senior forward Kitty Brown's 25 points and 14 rebounds Coach Roger Nibbe's Brainerd High School Warriorettes made it three straight wins on the road with a 50-45 triumph over Alexandria.

Big Chill competition
The Brainerd High School varsity Kixters placed second Saturday in the third annual Big Chill Just for Kix Dance Team competition at Brainerd High School.

Kickin' it
Brainerd High School Warrior Dance Team's Stephanie Paul (left), Amanda Gfroerer, Laura Rozinka and Tara Hegstad were among the Kixters competing in the Class AAA high-kick competition at the third annual Big Chill Just for Kix Dance Team competition Saturday in the Brainerd High School gym.

Howard J. Smith
MINNEAPOLIS -- Howard J. Smith, 88, Minneapolis, and Whitefish Lake area, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002.

Joseph Bachan
LITTLE FALLS -- Joseph Bachan, 71, Little Falls, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at home.

Leland W. Jensen
MERRIFIELD -- Leland W. Jensen, 73, Merrifield, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.

Elsie W. Wise
RANDALL -- Elsie W. Wise, 91, Randall, died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.

Robert Woodson
CROSSLAKE -- Robert Woodson, Crosslake, died today, Dec. 9, 2002, at home.

Betty Jane Smith
McGREGOR -- Betty Jane Smith, 81, McGregor, died Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002, in Palm Springs, Calif.

George A. Haveri
AURORA -- George A. Haveri, 89, Aurora, formerly of Aitkin, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, at the Skilled Nursing Facility of the White Community Hospital in Aurora.

LeRoy F. Barrett
BAXTER -- LeRoy F. Barrett, 77, Baxter, died Friday, Dec. 6, 2002, in Baxter.

Open Forum
The Bush administration appears desperate to destroy the arms inspection process, so eager it is for a war so they can get on with their program of redesigning the Middle East to suit their energy policy. The fact that all this is illegal, immoral, and outrageous to the world doesn't bother them one whit. Poll after poll shows Americans do not want war without UN support. For inspections to work, the US must:

Medical data
An administrative law judge ruled Monday that the state health department may be able to start collecting medical data on Minnesota residents.

State brief
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A woman was killed late Saturday night in St. Paul and a man was arrested in her slaying, police said Sunday.

Merger vote could be delayed, again in Spicer area; people fear process going too fast
SPICER (AP) -- The residents of New London, Spicer and New London Township could have more time to consider merging the small towns.

Mass-vaccination plan for smallpox attack prepared
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota public health officials plan to vaccinate the state's 4.9 million people in less than a week if smallpox breaks out anywhere in the world.

Counties, cities spend for state cash
ST. PAUL (AP) -- You have to spend taxpayer money to get taxpayer money.

Former U of M president has rebirth at university
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Ken Keller, who resigned as University of Minnesota president under duress in 1988, has a tip for the school's new president.

Red Wing considering advertising on squads
RED WING (AP) -- Squad cars splattered with NASCAR-style advertising could be coming to this small town on the state's eastern border.

Second benefit recoups stolen money in Browerville
BROWERVILLE (AP) -- The second benefit for Glenn and Annie Hummel raised $1,400 and helped make up for some of the money stolen at the first benefit for the two.

Three Minnesotans named Rhodes Scholars
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Two of them have run marathons. One has interned for the New York Times. One worked in a medical clinic in Ecuador.

BUDGET PAIN
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesotans watching their state government's financial meltdown can take consolation in the fact that they have a lot of company. Namely, the residents of nearly every other state.

Kittson Central boys skate past Wolverines
HalloCK-- Wadena-Deer Creek played two good periods of boys' hockey, then watched Kittson Central rally for three goals in the third period to win the game 4-1 Saturday.

Aslakson makes triumphant return
Greg Aslakson went from head coach of the Brainerd High School boys' hockey team to a state tournament trip as an assistant at Eden Prairie.

Scoreboard
GIRLS HOCKEY

Little Falls boys nip St. Louis Park in overtime
LITTLE FALLS -- Jonathan Schultz torched St. Louis Park for 22 points as the Little Falls Flyers rallied past St. Louis Park 75-73 in an overtime boys' basketball game Saturday.

Four area boxers capture titles
Nate Rubin, Justin Specht, Mike Moe and Blake Heron of Brainerd advanced to the regional tournament by winning championships at the Silver Gloves Tournament at White Bear Lake Saturday and Sunday.

Pickar becomes Warriors' career victory leader
COON RAPIDS -- Andy Pickar became the winningest wrestler in Brainerd Warriors history with three victories at the Coon Rapids Invitational Saturday.

Raider men win first game of season
WILLMAR -- Dakkarr Bellfield scored 21 points to help the Central Lakes College Raiders men's basketball team to its first win of the season, 69-59, over Riverland Saturday.

Goalie stands out in Warriors' loss
Entering the boys' hockey season the Brainerd Warriors were uncertain who would play in goal.

Hall of fame nominations still being accepted
The Selection Committee for the Brainerd High School Hall of Fame has set a Jan. 15 deadline for nominations.

Sports briefs
Coach Mike Mahlen and three Verndale Pirates have been honored by the state's Nine-Man football coaches.

Riverland women defeat Raiders, 93-70
WILLMAR -- Valorie Diedrich and Tara Storts combined for 46 points, but their efforts weren't enough, as the Central Lakes College Raiders women's basketball team was defeated by Riverland 93-70 Saturday afternoon.

Gymnasts second in first big test
The first big test of the season came Saturday for the Brainerd Warriors gymnastics team, which was competing in its third meet in five days, as it hosted the Brainerd quadrangular.

B-H/Verndale wins three individual wrestling titles
LONG PRAIRIE -- Three Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale wrestlers won championships Saturday at the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle tournament.

W-DC wins gymnastics meet
PELICAN RAPIDS -- Second-place finishes by Randi Trosen and Tina Fitcher helped the Wadena Deer-Creek Wolverines to victory at the Pelican Rapids gymnastics invitational Saturday.

Tempers flare after Packers win
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Even on a frigid December night at Lambeau Field, tempers were red hot.

Fowlkes' defense shuts down Garnett, Wolves
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In his first start of the season for the Los Angeles Clippers, Tremaine Fowlkes had the difficult assignment of guarding five-time All-Star Kevin Garnett.

Gaborik's hat trick helps Wild snap five-game winless streak
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -- Marian Gaborik only needed one good leg and a couple of great wrist shots to beat the Vancouver Canucks.

NFL summaries
Minnesota 10 3 9 0 -- 22

Unranked Nebraska husks No. 20 Gopher men
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska got something more important than a victory over Minnesota.

Gagliardi wins 400th game, Johnnies advance
McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) -- Kent Crowley rushed for 167 yards and coach John Gagliardi won his 400th game as St. John's (Minn.) beat Linfield 21-14 on Saturday in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.

No. 12 Minnesota women trample Harvard
BOSTON (AP) -- Lindsay Whalen scored 25 points while Kim Prince added 16 Sunday as No. 12 Minnesota beat Harvard 92-68.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny west. Partly cloudy east. Warmer. Highs in the upper 30s northeast to the lower 50s southwest.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s northeast to the lower 40s west.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly cloudy. Isolated snow showers far northwest. Highs 25 to 30 north and 30 to 35 south.

Snowball fight
Weather drawing by Cami Andersen in the Lowell School fourth-grade class of Mr. Meyer.

State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Partly sunny east. Mostly sunny west. Highs from the mid 30s east to mid 40s southwest.

Minnesota state forecast
Today...A few snow showers northeast...Otherwise partly sunny. Highs from the mid 20s northeast to the upper 30s southwest.

Brainerd Community Education to host winter vacation events
Brainerd Community Education will host several different activities for families and youths through the holiday season.