Saturday, December 11, 2004
Totally for moms
When the Totally Kidz business owners first looked at the Front Street store space in Brainerd, they never envisioned being able to use it all.
Midwest Family Eye Center moving to Excelsior Road
Midwest Family Eye Center is behind recent activity along Excelsior Road across from Super One in Baxter.
Business Notes
Kurt Muesing transferred and Jerry Beckmann joined the American National Bank of Minnesota Brainerd branch on South Sixth Street.
Aitkin store to sell cookies and things
Cookies 'N Things, a new store in downtown Aitkin, is expected to open in March.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 7:57 a.m. Thursday on a report of flames at TCBX Inc., 1748 13th Ave. S.E. The flames were form a controlled burn and firefighters were canceled en route. Firefighters were called at 9:24 a.m. Thursday to a fire alarm at Riverside Elementary School, 220 Third St. N.W. The alarm was set off by a cleaning crew, and firefighters were canceled en route.
DISSOLUTIONS
Bath, Carrie L. and Jerome E.
False alarm
The Brainerd Fire Department was called at 11:30 p.m. Thursday to the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center Building No. 20 for what turned out to be a false alarm.
SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
Brainerd
Delivery truck rolls over
Anthony Cotton, 32, Minneapolis, was driving a 2002 freight liner delivery truck when it rolled. Cotton was transferred to Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia where he was treated and later released.
Public meeting
The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District Personnel Committee will meet 1 p.m. Monday in the Ag Service Center at 512 C St. N.E. in Brainerd.
AGENDAS
Meets 7 p.m. Monday
Accident
WALKER Three people were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on collision about 8:40 a.m. Thursday on Highway 200 at Onigum Road, east of Walker, the State Patrol reported.
Baxter police
THEFT -- The Baxter Public Works Department reported Thursday that an $8,500 snowplow was stolen from the city maintenance garage.
Court
Frederick Jon Runquist, 54, Laporte, was sentenced for gross misdemeanor DWI to time served, plus 48 hours jail and the balance of 30 days on electronic home monitoring, fined $1,000 or equivalent community service work and placed on four years supervised probation.
Assisting the elderly
If you are 55 or older, feel alone in your own home or want to be in a place with a more social atmosphere, an assisted living facility may be for you.
Home Stretch classes set in Brainerd
Home Stretch, a first-time homebuyer education workshop, will be offered 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 3, 10 and 24 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
Building projects
Residential
Faye is a fourth-grader who is looking for a match through Kinship Partners
Kinship Partners has a young girl in fourth grade, Faye, who describes herself as "quiet, active, shy, happy and friendly" and is just waiting and waiting for someone to have fun with.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1984) - The Crow Wing County Board Tuesday approved nearly $150,000 in tentative costs from the 1985 proposed department budgets.
Local briefs
The Brainerd Fire Department, in an effort to create a safe holiday season for the Brainerd lakes area, is hanging a wreath in front of the fire hall on Laurel Street that will display the number of fires that resulted in dollar loss.
Local briefs
DEERWOOD -- The annual Christmas Concert presented by the Aitkin-Crosby-Ironton Community Band is scheduled 2 p.m. Saturday at the Deerwood Auditorium.
Mailing deadline nears for stateside packages to area troops currently at Fort Dix, N.J.
This week presents the last opportunity to send mail to the troops at Fort Dix, N.J.
Bobcat catches fire
A Brainerd firefighter tossed a hay bale Friday that was in a building on Greenwood Street where a Bobcat caught fire.
Revised policy would limit use of school buses
If your children want to go to a slumber party or play at a friend's house after school, they won't be able to get there on a Brainerd school bus.
Agency to ring in new year by moving, hiring another employee
The new year will bring a new budget and new projects to the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District, but perhaps the most anticipated change has nothing to do with money or workload.
How to cut $3 million
Teachers or textbooks? Athletics or reduced classroom sizes?
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 12 - 100 years ago (1904) - Shop early tomorrow. As an inducement to secure your presence we make an offer which should induce you to come early. From 9 until 12 o'clock tomorrow morning we will offer you the choice of any of our ladies' wool golf gloves selling regularly at 50 for only 39. H.F. Michael Co.
Opening statements made in Moon murder trial
Opening statements were conducted Thursday in the murder trial of James Moon Jr., 36, Brainerd. Moon is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the shooting death of his brother, 35-year-old Billie Joe Moon, in February 2002.
Said one swan to the other, 'Maybe it's time to head south'
Brainerd Dispatch/Nels Norquist Dozens of swans gathered Monday on Gull Lake.
Bigfoot for kids
Even before Delores LaFollette finished her first children's book, "Bigfoot's Christmas," the Brainerd woman knew exactly where she wanted to debut her book -- Harrison Elementary School.
Cass County judge injured in accident
The 68-year-old Federal Dam man who was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Thursday worked as a Cass County district judge.
Overheard
"If I can add another plate or another inch or more to the vehicle I'm riding in that gives me protection, it's better. So I think that's a prudent thing to do, if the soldier has the capability. ... In my opinion, it's not being done in mass numbers or mass quantities."
LOCAL BRIEFS
* Peggy Sterling, 13404 Timberlane Drive, Baxter. (From Highway 210, take Knollwood Drive south one block.)
COMING THURSDAY IN NEIGHBORS
A Pillager teenager is ranked fourth nationwide for her prize-winning French Lop rabbits.
Board member: SWCD's job is to educate the public
Decisions on how the Crow Wing County Soil and Water Conservation District operate are made by a five-member elected board, which includes Bob Becker, Bob Albrecht, Leonard Koering, Alvin Jacobson and George Heglund.
Arthur E. Wetzel
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Arthur Edward Wetzel, age 83, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Brainerd and Pekin, Ill., passed away Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, at his home in Sarasota. He was born Sept. 20, 1921, in Pekin, Ill., to Edward and Lillie (Pfeiffer) Wetzel. He married Romona Hannig on May 20, 1942.
Iris Bellefeuille
LITTLE FALLS -- Iris Bellefeuille, 83-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, Dec. 11, at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Belle Prairie, Minn., with the Rev. Bill Vouk. Burial was in the parish cemetery. Friends called from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
James F. Rose
AITKIN -- James F. Rose, 76, of Aitkin, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at Cuyuna Regional Health Care Center in Crosby. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home, Aitkin, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.
John R. Tuthill
DEERWOOD -- John R. Tuthill, age 63, of Deerwood, died Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at his home. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.
Hartlin Weierke
OUTING -- Hartlin Weierke, age 84, of Outing, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at his home. Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.
Harold B. Bergstrazer
Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
George E. Medley
LITTLE FALLS -- George E. Medley, age 77, a resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at St. Cloud VA Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn.
Gerald 'Jerry' K. Baier
EMILY -- Gerald 'Jerry' K. Baier, of Emily, Minn., formerly of Crystal, Minn., passed away at home at the age of 75, on Dec. 8, 2004.
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.
Wayne Plante
TRIMONT -- Wayne Plante, age 41, a resident of Trimont, Minn., formerly of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004, at the St. James Hospital in St. James, Minn.
Lavern J. Wise
Lavern J. Wise, age 79, died Dec. 8, 2004. He was born in Rollingstone, Minn., on Feb. 1, 1925, the third child of Julius and Margaret Wise. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Merchant Marines out of Sausalito, Calif., and in the Pacific campaign in Okinawa, Philippines and Japan.
Gladys E. Swanson
Gladys E. Swanson, 95, of 1816 Oak St., Brainerd, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.
Howard 'Hod' Wittmayer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Howard "Hod" Wittmayer passed away at the age of 94 on Dec. 5, 2004, at Westchester Care Center in Tempe, Ariz. Hod was born in Scotland, S.D., on Sept. 8, 1910, to Ida Mae and Christian Wittmayer.
Victor F. Hoffman
PIERZ -- Victor F. Hoffman, 82, Pierz, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Alpha L. Oberg
CROSBY -- Alpha L. Oberg, 100, Crosby, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2004, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center, Crosby. She was born May 28, 1904, in Whalen, Minn., to Martin and Betsy (Rustad) Torgrud. She was a member of Immanual Lutheran Church, Crosby, and its Miriam Circle, C-I, Deerwood, Bay Lake Senior Citizen Club.
Open Forum:
There's been a lot of talk in the press lately about how one activist organization, the Parents Television Council, is trying to dictate television standards for the rest of the country by encouraging its members to file complaints with the FCC. It seems that the press believes that the hundreds of thousands of complaints filed by outraged citizens over the rampant raunch on television somehow don't count simply because the complainant belongs to an organized group.
It's reasonable to believe God's word
I was in Minnesota during the elections and as a citizen felt obligated and privileged to participate in the democratic election process. Voters enter the pooling booth in freedom and privacy, but with the understanding the majority will of the voters is to be accepted and respected. Election results can be devastatingly disappointing.
Open Forum
Lately, as some of you may be aware, the United Church of Christ (UCC), the denomination with which Brainerd's First Congregational Church is affiliated, has been in the news.
OUR OPINION: FAN BEHAVIOR
When prosecutors finished studying tapes of the NBA brawl at the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game last month they came down with charges against five Pacers players and seven fans.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
Learning some new tricks
I spent last weekend at the 12th annual St. Paul Ice Fishing and Winter Sports Show. It was my first show and it won't be my last.
Fish and Wildlife Service joins agency to look at controlling Canada thistle
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is hoping to add an innovative weapon to its arsenal used to battle Canada thistle, an invasive weed and long-time thorn in the side of federal land managers.
The thrill of the hunt is just that
PINE RIVER -- This fall I went deer hunting for the first time. I've hunted gamebirds since I was 12, but until now had stayed away from big-game hunting.
At 96, Backus man is still hunting
For those reasons and others, even ardent hunters often hang up their guns in their 70s. Fewer still are hunting in their 80s. And only a relative handful of hunters are in the field at age 90 and beyond.
WHAT'S A FEW YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO DEER HUNTING?
The 2004 hunting season nears an end, but the hunting career of Pershing Lundberg goes on.
NORTH COUNTRY CALENDAR
Dec. 31 --
OUTDOOR NOTES
No positives were found in Chronic Wasting Disease tests of 682 lymph node samples taken from deer harvested during the 2004 firearms season, the DNR said.
Donald and Deloris Lange
Donald and Deloris Lange, Baxter, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with cake and coffee at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 19 at Trinity Lutheran Church. They also will have brunch with their family. An open house will be planned at a later date. They were married Dec. 19, 1954, in Brainerd.
JASON AND ERYN PRZYMUS
Eryn Risnes and Jason Przymus were married Aug. 28, 2004, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Crosby with Pastor Paul Mattson officiating.
April Hulett and Kirk Johnson
April Hulett and Kirk Johnson announce their engagement. Parents are Lowell and Bonnie Hulett, Leader, and Kent and Karen Johnson, New Hope. A May 7 wedding is planned in New Hope.
Krista Savor and Brian Bernander
Krista Savor and Brian Bernander announce their engagement. Parents are Dean and Patricia Savor, Brainerd, and Paul and Nancy Bernander, Madison, Wis. A May 21 wedding is planned at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd.
Bob Lundeby
Bob Lundeby, Brainerd, will celebrate his 80th birthday with an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Green Lantern. The event is hosted by his family. No gifts, please. He was born Dec. 19, 1924, in Brainerd.
Betsy Hoheisel and Robert Wall
Betsy Hoheisel and Robert Wall announce their engagement. Parents are Marty and Debbie Hoheisel, Hillman, and Herb and Joni Wall, Onamia. An April 9 wedding is planned.
Carrie Sandberg and Matthew Leiner
Carrie Sandberg and Matthew Leiner announce their engagement. Parents are Ben and Mary Sandberg, Brainerd, and Don Leiner and Sandra Brakstad, St. Cloud. A May 26 wedding is planned at Superior Shores on the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Swede "Fred" and Jean "Carol" Holz
Swede "Fred" and Jean "Carol" Holz, Ocean Park, Wash., formerly of Brainerd, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a three-week European tour. They were married June 26, 1954, in Scappoose, Ore.
Karen L. Shanks and Jon L. Livingston
Karen L. Shanks and Jon L. Livingston announce their engagement. Parents are Shirlee Shanks, Brainerd, and the late Robert Shanks, and William J. Livingston, rural Brainerd, and Marlys D. Livingston, Richfield. An Aug. 20 wedding is planned at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter with a reception at the American Legion in Brainerd.
JIM AND AMY DEBLOCK
Amy Tibbetts and Jim Deblock were married Aug. 20, 2004, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Crosby with Father Francis Paquette officiating.
Controversial commercial
With all the sex, profanity and graphic scenes on television today, some viewers think TV networks are becoming more lenient with what they air.
The best kept secret
One day I stopped at a small cafe for lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food and the price.
CHURCHES
The children of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Brainerd, directed by Heidi Hahn, will present a Christmas program titled "Star of Wonder" during the 10 a.m. church service Sunday. A turkey potluck dinner will follow the service.
Flyers pin their wrestling fortunes on sophomore
In the season's first wrestling meet Jason Brill of Little Falls registered a technical fall against Bemidji's Denver Collins.
Sheley shoots Pats to victory
PEQUOT LAKES -- Tucker Sheley scored 18 points to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots boys' basketball team to a 63-57 win over the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves Thursday.
Sports shorts
The Brainerd Warriors defeated St. Cloud Apollo 4-2 in junior varsity boys' hockey Thursday.
Warrior bowlers compete at state
Eighteen teams battled Dec. 4 in the state high school bowling tournament at Maple Lanes in Fridley.
B-H/V runs over Road Crew
BERTHA -- Ethan Kern, Aaron and Sam Moenkedick, Jasper Oyster and Colin Cotros all picked up pins as the Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders wrestling team beat the Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew 53-25 Thursday.
Ridgewater defeats Raider women
WILLMAR -- Courtney Stach and Andrea Almsted each scored 14 points and Jillian Maki added 10 for the Central Lakes College Raiders in a 66-51 loss to Ridgewater in women's college basketball Friday.
Pirates steal OT win
The Crookston Pirates girls' hockey team tried to get a puck past Brainerd Warriors goalie Amie Meyer.
Sports shorts
Koumei Dojo of Brainerd took home 12 first-place medals, six seconds and one third at the Greater Midwestern Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Dec. 4.
Repeat quest begins
In the last year the words "state championship" and "Pierz Pioneers" have been synonymous.
A taste for the race
Maybe it was fate. Or perhaps it was predestination. For whatever reason, Jane Dullum was born for her job.
Flyers roar past Prairie Center
LONG PRAIRIE -- Joey Cotton scored two goals and assisted on three others as the Little Falls Flyers boys' hockey team downed Prairie Center 11-1 Thursday.
Brainerd edges Sauk Rapids
SAUK RAPIDS -- Maggie Freiday took second place in the all-around and teammate Lauren Deyo took third to help the Brainerd Warriors gymnastics team past the Sauk Rapids Storm 134.775 to 133.4 in a Central Lakes Conference meet Thursday.
COMING MONDAY IN SPORTS
Champions in the Paul Bunyan Wrestling Invitational were crowned Saturday night at Brainerd High School.
Overheard
"The X-Games will just keep getting bigger and bigger. As long as I have my cell phone and laptop I can do this job anywhere."
Little Falls falls to EGF's rally
BRAINERD -- Jaci LaPorte and Shelby Atkinson scored for the Little Falls Flyers in a 3-2 non-conference girls' hockey loss to East Grand Forks Friday.
ALPINE SKIING
BIWABIK -- Patrick Majka finished sixth and Adrianne McAlpin eighth as Brainerd Warriors Alpine skiing teams opened the season Thursday in the Hibbing Invitational at Giants Ridge.
Fraser's overtime goal lifts Patriots
BREEZY POINT -- Matt Fraser scored on a breakaway with 14.2 seconds left in overtime to help Pequot Lakes slip past Chisholm 5-4 Friday in non-conference boys' hockey.
Raider men edge Ridgewater
WILLMAR -- The Central Lakes College Raiders outscored Ridgewater 45-22 in the second half of a 72-69 triumph in men's college basketball Friday.
Cardinals return to win column against PR-B
PINE RIVER -- Joe Smith scored 14 points, Zach Martin 13 and Chris Jansson 12 to lead the Staples-Motley Cardinals to a 79-36 Mid-State Conference boys' basketball victory over Pine River-Backus on Friday.
AREA GIRLS' BASKETBALL
PIERZ -- Mel Waytashek and Kayla Meyer both had 20 points to lead the Pierz Pioneers to a 64-31 Central Minnesota Conference girls' basketball victory over Kimball Friday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Parker stays calm as Pequot hopes to storm state again
"That is such a relief to get it out of the way. I'm glad I decided to sign early."
Pirates win third straight
VERNDALE -- Chelsa Beaver recorded a double-double, scoring a career high 10 points and grabbing 15 rebounds to help the Verndale Pirates girls' basketball team to its third straight win in a 46-38 victory over the Sebeka Trojans Thursday.
Flyer gymnasts send Cardinals tumbling
LITTLE FALLS -- Danielle Atkinson won all four events, including a 9.5 on the uneven parallel bars, to win the all-around (36.9) and lead the Little Falls Flyers to a 133.0 to 122.2 Central Lakes Conference gymnastics victory over Willmar Friday.
Brainerd ties Eagles
ST. CLOUD -- Goals by Ryan Peltoma and Zach Lundbohm brought the Brainerd Warriors boys' hockey team back from a 2-0 third period deficit to earn a tie against the St. Cloud Apollo Eagles in a Central Lakes Conference game Thursday.
Busy Warrior
In an age of increasing specialization it's one thing to be a multisport athlete.
Abrahamson, Ebert post wins
HILL CITY -- Kylie Abrahamson of Brainerd and Dan Ebert of Lakeshore raced to victories at the WSA MN North Snocross Series opener last weekend at Park X.
Wasland resurrects Flyers
KIMBALL -- Little Falls' Tim Wasland was the individual winner at the St. Cloud Tech Invitational Thursday, finishing with a winning time of 6:09. The Little Falls boys placed third while the girls finished ninth.
WARRIOR BOYS' BASKETBALL
It was better late than never for the Willmar Cardinals, who defeated the Brainerd Warriors 67-46 in Central Lakes Conference boys' basketball Friday.
Mehr leads Warriors in season-opening win
COLD SPRING -- The Brainerd Warriors men's swimming and diving team picked up a 104-74 win in its season opening Central Lakes Conference matchup Thursday over the Rocori Spartans.
COMING MONDAY IN SPORTS
An NFC matchup Sunday pits the Seattle Seahawks against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. Both teams, which lost last week, need a win.
Another brick in the firewall
It's a sad state of affairs when the primary selling point of a new set of online software is "we won't get hacked like everybody else." But that's the way of the Windows world today.
Desktop or laptop? That is the holiday question
When I wrote my first holiday column on buying a PC some 19 years ago, the marketplace was pretty confusing.
Christmas trains blend railroad nostalgia with holiday experience
LEBANON, Ohio -- A piercing whistle cuts through the chilly air, and strings of Christmas lights burst into color. Impatient, wriggling children suddenly become still, gazing wide-eyed as parents and grandparents direct their attention to the suddenly moving landscape outside the windows.
Favorite Vacation Photo
Eileen Holland submitted this as one of her favorite vacation photos because Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, S.D., is a vacation destination for so many people in the United States and beyond its borders.
Minnesota festivals and events
Check out the MEMBERS ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXHIBIT each Monday through Saturday, through Dec. 31 at the MacRostie Art Center in Grand Rapids. Featured will be handcrafted items including soap, jewelry, pottery, wearable art and paintings created by organization members. Admission is free. To learn more, call 326-2697 or 1-800-472-6366.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...Cloudy. Areas of drizzle in the morning. Scattered light
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Occasional light rain and snow mixed east central to south
Wisconsin state forecast
Dense fog advisory in effect until 8 am far southeast...
One happy snowman
Weather drawing by Kylie Andres in the Lowell School fourth-grade class of Mr. Meyer.
Rain showers, snow forecast in the East, mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest
Rain showers were expected to change to snow Saturday in parts of the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest. The nation's central states will likely stay dry, but under partly cloudy skies.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 20s northeast
First Widespread Cold Outbreak of the Season Expected Early Next Week
STATE COLLEGE, PA December 9, 2004 AccuWeather.com Winter Storm Center meteorologists expect the first widespread cold outbreak will occur early next week for a large portion of the U.S. east of the Rockies. In addition, the cold air moving over the relatively warm water of the Great Lakes will cause significant snow to fall down wind of the lakes during this time.
State forecast for Minnesota
...Winter storm watch northwest this evening through sunday
State forecast for North Dakota
...Winter storm watch eastern third tonight and sunday...
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy west. Cloudy and windy in the east this morning with a chance of light snow or flurries. Decreasing clouds late in the east. Highs from near 30 northeast to around 50 southwest.
Let's celebrate the season
Weather drawing by Kaitlyn Bible of Mrs. Larson's fifth grade class at Harrison school.
The Weather Elsewhere
Saturday
State forecast for Iowa
.Today...Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s to upper 40s.
State forecast for South Dakota
High wind warning tonight northwest...
ORGANIZATIONS
Brainerd Jaycees
WHAT'S DOING
Moose activities
MUCH OBLIGED
Thank you to LSS Youth Services Group, Congregational United Church of Christ, YRP and FCSS, for the wonderful spaghetti benefit dinner. Thank you also to all of the great volunteers.