Wednesday, December 18, 2002
Proposed school calendar features long Christmas break
Next school year, students in the Brainerd School District may start and end school earlier than usual and get two weeks off for Christmas.
Adoptable pets
Peter, Paul and Mary are 4-month-old mixed breed dogs available for adoption at HART.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOL (AP) -- Wheat receipts Monday 185, a year ago 89.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Monday cattle estimate: 500. Last Monday: 715. Year Ago Monday: 549. Friday actual: 1,858.
Births
St. Joseph's Medical Center
Accidents
NISSWA -- Four people were injured in two separate accidents Saturday on Crow Wing County Road 13 in Nisswa, a half mile from Highway 371.
Accidents
PILLAGER -- Two passengers were injured Monday after the vehicle they were riding in collided with a school bus on Highway 210 at Cass County Road 1 in Pillager.
Fires
EMILY -- Fire destroyed a house in north Emily Sunday.
Courts
WALKER -- The following recently appeared in Cass County District Court:
Crimes
LITTLE FALLS -- A report of vandalism turned into the arrest of four Little Falls boys for burglary Thursday.
Cass to hold public hearings on proposed land use rule changes
WALKER -- The Cass County Board will hold public hearings on proposed amendments to the Land Use Ordinance at the Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 board meetings.
Cass board gets update on smallpox vaccines
WALKER -- Ane Rogers, Cass County children's health supervisor, told the board Tuesday voluntary smallpox vaccinations will be made available to health-care providers at St. Cloud beginning in January.
Two Cass County commissioners say goodbye
WALKER -- Closing the final Cass County Board meeting became emotional, sometimes teary-eyed, as retiring Commissioners Virgil Foster and John Stranne received recognition for their years of service on the board.
Doughnut sale success prompts CLC club donation to Angel Tree family
Central Lakes College law enforcement students, in the midst of raising $15,000 for a national conference trip to Florida in March, decided to brighten someone else's holiday.
S-M grad traveling to Africa with Habitat for Humanity
STAPLES -- Staples-Motley graduate Heidi Cunningham was chosen to participate in a Habitat for Humanity International mission to Uganda, Africa.
Boy River resident brings up economic development issues
WALKER -- Dennis Johnson, a Boy River resident who owns businesses in Longville and Hackensack, presented recommendations Tuesday to the Cass County Board on the future direction he would like to see economic development programs take.
Area briefs
AITKIN -- The Aitkin Chamber of Commerce will host lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday at the Forty Club.
Cass board, Howes share legislative concerns
WALKER -- State Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker, told the Cass County Board Tuesday the $4 billion state deficit realistically is $6 billion if you consider inflation.
CLC students enjoy exercise in hurling
The spirit of medieval warfare, nurtured by a Central Lakes College engineering physics class, has found its way to the athletic field on the Brainerd campus.
Vikings fan scores with art
FORT RIPLEY -- Lars Robertson has always been a Minnesota Vikings fan.
Cass approves levy increase
WALKER -- The Cass County Board Tuesday approved the 2003 levy at 5.02 percent over 2002, erasing earlier predicted deficits by eliminating four job positions and living with only $89,342 in unallocated funds rather than a preferred $150,000.
Autopsy cites CO poisoning
AITKIN -- An autopsy report listed carbon monoxide poisoning as the cause of the accidental death of Alizabeth Leathers, the 13-year-old Aitkin girl found unresponsive in an ice house early Sunday morning.
County rejects rezoning
A final plat and zoning change application was denied Tuesday by the Crow Wing County Board because of several concerns.
City conduit for $500,000 Missota loan
The city of Brainerd will act as a conduit for a $500,000 loan from the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development to Missota Paper Co.
Tower Awards presented
Three Brainerd City Council members attended their last council meeting Monday.
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 17 - 30 years ago (1972) - The needy in the Brainerd Community will be receiving the gaily wrapped Christmas presents collected by the Elks Lodge at its annual Christmas party.
Dalquist vigil set for Sunday
PILLAGER -- A vigil for Erika Dalquist, the 21-year-old Brainerd woman last seen in downtown Brainerd on Oct. 30, will be 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Lutheran Church in Pillager.
That's the ticket
A Fort Ripley boy designed the ticket stub artwork for a recent Minnesota Vikings game. Read more about this story in Wednesday's Neighbors.
Planners say growth is certain
An increase of 35,000 residents in Crow Wing County can't be viewed as good or bad, if you ask area planners. It's just inevitable.
Sled donated to kettle drive
A nearly new snowmobile was donated to the Brainerd Lakes Area Salvation Army Corps by a Pelican Lake area seasonal resident. The 2001 Arctic Cat Pantera, valued at more than $5,200, will be sold with all funds going directly to the Lakes Salvation Army Christmas kettle campaign.
Boomers spur senior growth
As the baby boom generation turns 65, there will be a greater demand in Crow Wing County for senior services, from more yoga and Internet classes to additional assisted living facilities.
County adopts budget
The Crow Wing County Board adopted the county's 2003 budget Tuesday.
Administrator gets raise
The Crow Wing County Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to give County Administrator Peter Herlofsky Jr. a 3 percent raise in salary.
Riverside Drive area residents to experience outage Thursday
Brainerd Public Utilities customers in the Riverside Drive area, including Beaver Dam Road and Dal-Mar Drive, will experience a power outage from about 5-7 a.m. Thursday while a house is moved, weather permitting.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1982) - Walt Koep was recently nominated "Best Super-market Manager of the Year" nationwide. Koep, manager of the Tyrol Hills Super Valu, was awarded and nominated by the Brainerd Shoppers Circle.
Last-minute gift
Still shopping for Christmas gifts? Why not give the gift of a book. Look for the story Thursday in Tempo.
Group wants the emphasis on planning
A surge in Crow Wing County's population isn't viewed as a negative for Coalition for Responsible Development members, as long as the growth is planned.
Hospitals preparing for future
By 2030, the baby boom generation will be senior citizens. As the largest segment of the population, they are expected to more than double the number of people 75 and older in Crow Wing County, creating an enormous need for increased health care services.
Kinkel heads Maryland college organization
Sen. Tony Kinkel, DFL-Park Rapids, has been named executive director of the Maryland Association of Community Colleges. A spokesperson for the association said he started work there in August of this year although the news release announcing his appointment was issued this week.
Vote is 5-2 with council members Scheeler, Olson opposed
The Brainerd City Council, by a 5-2 vote, adopted the city's 2003 budget Monday.
Council recognizes Marana's service
BAXTER -- Outgoing Baxter City Council member Mary Marana was recognized at the city council meeting Tuesday by her fellow council members.
Plan for Kohl's department store presented to Baxter
BAXTER -- A preliminary site plan for Kohl's department store was presented to the Baxter City Council Tuesday.
Final payment set for Cass building project
WALKER -- Building and Grounds Supervisor Tom Emery obtained county board approval to make final payment to the contractor who built the addition to the health, human and veterans services building.
WALSETH: 'We need to listen'
Requirements of the new "No Child Left Behind" law have school districts in the state skeptical about the success of the standards.
Aitkin girl's autopsy results expected today
AITKIN -- Autopsy results are expected today on Alizabeth Leathers, a 13-year-old Aitkin girl who was found dead in a fish house on an Aitkin County lake.
Growth has its price
JENKINS -- Jenkins is the don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-it small town wedged between the cities of Pequot Lakes and Pine River along the Highway 371 corridor.
Baxter budget and levy approved
BAXTER -- The Baxter City Council Tuesday approved the city's 2003 budget and tax levy.
Freezing rain ices lakes area
Icy and wet road conditions meant for a slippery drive into work for most Brainerd lakes area residents, particularly those living on Ojibwa Park Road north of Baxter.
Cass giving money to 210 project
WALKER -- The Cass County Board voted Tuesday to provide about $17,500 as the local match with federal funds to participate in a Minnesota Department of Transportation railroad-highway grade crossing safety improvement program along the Highway 210 corridor.
C-I vote strong for building bond
CROSBY -- A $20.525 million building bond was approved by a 2-to-1 margin Tuesday by Crosby-Ironton School District voters.
Bolz-Andolshek, Akerson elected to Pequot council
PEQUOT LAKES -- Voter turnout was low in the special city election in Pequot Lakes Tuesday with only 294 votes cast out of a city with more than 1,200 registered voters.
Byron K. Ciminski
LITTLE FALLS -- Byron Kent Ciminski, 52, Little Falls, died Saturday, Dec. 7, 2002, at home.
Elsie W. Wise
RANDALL -- Memorial services for Elsie Wilhelmina Wise, 91, Randall, who died Sunday, Dec. 8, 2002, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls, will be 2 p.m. Friday at Randall Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert Springer officiating. Burial will be in Randall City Cemetery.
Irene Kuschel
CROSBY -- Irene Kuschel, 84, Crosby, died today, Dec. 17, 2002, at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby.
Ruth Striemer
AITKIN -- Ruth Striemer, 100, Aitkin, died today, Dec. 18, 2002, at Riverwood Extended Care Center in Aitkin.
Patricia 'Patty' Smith
Patricia "Patty" Smith, 44, Brainerd, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Esther Zyvoloski
SOBIESKI -- Esther Zyvoloski, 87, Sobieski, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at home.
Walter Lord
Walter Lord, 94, Brainerd, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village.
Ida E. Squires
PIERZ -- Ida E. Squires, 67, Pierz, formerly of North Western, Mont., died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.
Leander Schmidtbauer
PINE RIVER -- Leander Schmidtbauer, 70, Pine River, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Thomas Salitros
LITTLE FALLS -- Thomas Salitros, 88, Little Falls, died Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.
Irene Cielinski
FOLEY -- Irene Cielinski, 85, Foley, died Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, at Country Manor Health Care and Retirement Center in Sartell.
Jack S. Nordling
PEQUOT LAKES -- Jack S. Nordling, 85, Pequot Lakes, died Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Alizabeth Leathers
AITKIN -- Alizabeth Leathers, 13, Aitkin, died Sunday, Dec. 15, 2002, at Elm Island Lake, Aitkin County.
Constance 'Connie' K. Mowers
LITTLE FALLS -- Constance "Connie" Kathleen Mowers, 82, Little Falls, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002, at home.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.
Growing pains
Ready. Set. Grow.
Open Forum
In response to a Dec. 13 Open Forum letter, please accept this clarification regarding the 2003 school district property tax and how it was communicated to the public prior to the building referendum in March 2002.
The Brainerd Dispatch's editorial opinions
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.
With the military
Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Kirstin L. Jenson and Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Kristin T. Nesse, recently graduated from the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Jenson has been assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Sea and is enroute to the Antarctic. Nesse has been assigned to Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon, New Smyrna, Fla. Both are 2002 graduates of Brainerd High School.
State briefs
Authorities say a woman was driving erratically as she tried to put on her makeup -- and it led to her arrest on a felony warrant.
Powerball jackpot could reach $160 million
ST. PAUL (AP) -- You might say the payoff in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing would make a nice stocking stuffer.
Primary leaves two in race for Leech Lake chairmanship
BEMIDJI (AP) -- A primary election among 26 candidates for tribal chairman of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe on Tuesday whittled the field to a pair of candidates who will meet in a special election.
If Ventura could meet one person, it would be Osama bin Laden
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Asked if there is anyone alive today he wants to meet, Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura offers just one name: Osama bin Laden.
Inaugural week will be 'modest,' Pawlenty says
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Opting for thrift over glitz, Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty outlined a series of inaugural week activities Monday that he says are sensitive to the times.
Pawlenty names heads for pollution control, administration
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty picked a 3M executive to run the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and he named the man who brought vehicle tab renewals to the Web to head his Department of Administration.
Icy roads prompt school closings
Icy roads prompted officials to call of classes in more than two dozen school districts in northern and northeastern Minnesota -- including Duluth and Brainerd -- because of icy roads Wednesday.
Pawlenty's PCA pick may have conflict of interest
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov.-elect Tim Pawlenty's choice to lead the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency may have to stay out of some of the most important issues facing the agency over the next two years, due to a conflict of interest.
Red Wing rejects more money for schools
RED WING(AP) -- Red Wing voters rejected a series of ballot measures that would have provided as much as $2.8 million annually to their financially ailing school district.
Lawsuit filed over Austin-Albert Lea Senate race
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Republicans sued Tuesday over the outcome of a southern Minnesota Senate race, where some ballots burned by an election judge were awarded anyway to the Democratic candidate.
Scoreboard
WRESTLING
Cardinals defeat Road Crew
PINE RIVER -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals wrestling team, behind pins from Cory Wilson and Shawn Dause, overcame the Pequot Lakes/Pine River-Backus Road Crew 39-29 in Mid-State Conference wrestling Tuesday.
Late goals down Blue Devils
WADENA -- Amanda McManigle scored the lone goal for Long Prairie-Grey Eagle-Wadena-Deer Creek in a 3-1 girls' hockey loss to the Thief River Falls Prowlers Tuesday.
Local shorts
Levi LaVallee of Longville raced a Polaris to a seventh-place finish in the Pro Stock final and 10th place in the Pro Open final at the inaugural Canadian Open Snocross at Winnipeg last weekend.
Scoreboard
BOYS HOCKEY
Little Falls finally wins close one
STAPLES -- Neither the Staples-Motley Cardinals nor the Little Falls Flyers are strangers to close games.
Warriors' heavyweight to the rescue
At one of the most crucial moments in Tuesday's wrestling meet against Rocori, one of the most unlikely Brainerd Warrior wrestlers stepped up and was the hero.
Wolverines blank Park Rapids
PARK RAPIDS -- The Wadena Deer-Creek Wolverines got short-handed goals from Lance Uselman and Brandon Currie in a 4-0 victory over the Park Rapids Panthers in boys' hockey Tuesday.
Ranger boys capture first win
PINE RIVER -- Doug Hamilton scored a career-high 25 points for Pine River-Backus but Tyler Scull scored 24 to lead the Crosby-Ironton Rangers past the Tigers 62-57 in Mid-State Conference boys' basketball Tuesday.
Storm blows past Brainerd girls by 4
SAUK RAPIDS -- The Brainerd Warrior girls' basketball team lost a heartbreaker as the Sauk Rapids Storm couldn't miss at the free throw line, downing the Warriors 50-46 and ending Brainerd's three-game win streak.
Patriots remain unbeaten in girls' basketball
PEQUOT LAKES -- Teresa Parker scored 28 points and Flecia Foster added 17 to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots to a 61-39 non-conference girls' basketball triumph over the Pillager Huskies Tuesday.
Willmar squeaks past Warrior girls
WILLMAR -- The Willmar Cardinals scored in the second period and held on for a 1-0 triumph over the Brainerd Warriors in Central Lakes Conference girls' hockey Tuesday.
Local sports shorts
The 2003 Brainerd Paul Bunyan Basketball Classic is scheduled Feb. 22-23.
Flyers, Cards will think they are seeing themselves
Before the holidays, six area boys' basketball teams will heat up their competitive energy and look to earn a victory rather than give one away.
DNR announces fishing limits
ST. PAUL (AP) -- New limits for crappie, sunfish, lake trout and catfish will take effect on the 2003 fishing opener in May, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday.
Twins release David Ortiz
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Twins released designated hitter David Ortiz to make room on the roster for shortstop Jose Morban, selected from the Texas organization in Monday's Rule 5 draft.
Park does it in overtime
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota Wild decided they'd taken enough punishment from the Edmonton Oilers.
Culpepper named NFC Offensive Player of the Week
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- Daunte Culpepper was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Minnesota Vikings to their first road victory in two years at New Orleans.
Going for 2 Tice's gamble pays off for Vikings
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- What did Mike Tice and his Minnesota Vikings have to lose?
Wolves chew up Lakers
MINNEAPOLIS -- Another day deeper into a season by all appearances crumbling, another defeat behind them, the Los Angeles Lakers pushed onward, no longer imposing their game upon others, but having it routinely thrust upon them.
Arizona stays on top, Minnesota back in rankings
Arizona held onto the top spot in the AP college basketball poll Monday, a day after narrowly beating Texas.
Extension changes mean more information is at hand
PINE RIVER -- The University of Minnesota Extension Service has always tried to bring educational services to rural areas through county extension offices.
Upcoming Extension programs listed
Cass County Extension Service will offer the following programs to the public in 2003:
Area briefs
Eleanor Burkett, Cass County regional Extension educator in natural resources and environment, recently received the Excellence in Natural Resource and Environmental Program-ming Award in St. Cloud.
Frost
Frost on Beaver Dam Road.
Byway can help fight against obesity -- really!
What, exactly, is the role of byways in combating obesity?
Iowa state forecast
Today...Cloudy. Areas of drizzle mainly west with freezing drizzle possible far northwest. A chance of light rain late this afternoon. Highs in the upper 30s northwest to around 50 southeast.
Minnesota state forecast
Winter storm watch northern minnesota for late tonight and wednesday...
Minnesota state forecast
Corrected national weather service twin cities/Chanhassen mn 508 am cst wed dec 18 2002
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm watch portions of the north tonight and wednesday...
Where's the snow?
Weather drawing by Mark Hukriede of Mr. Meyer's fourth grade class at Lowell school.
Iowa state forecast
Updated national weather service des moines ia 805 am cst wed dec 18 2002
State forecast for South Dakota
Winter storm watch northwest and northern black hills tonight through wednesday night...
State forecast for North Dakota
national weather service bismarck nd 415 am cst wed dec 18 2002
State forecast for North Dakota
Winter storm watch southwest...Central and eastern north dakota late tonight and wednesday...
State forecast for South Dakota
national weather service sioux falls sd 415 am cst wed dec 18 2002
Wisconsin state forecast
national weather service milwaukee/Sullivan wi 429 am cst wed dec 18 2002
What's doing
The American Legion Auxiliary will have their luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion Post 255. The menu includes chicken kiev with baked rice, salad, roll and dessert for just $4.50. To go orders are welcome. Please call the Post at 829-2249.
Blood drive scheduled
The American Red Cross has scheduled a blood drive for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 2 in the Thabes Room at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
EDA to meet Thursday
The Brainerd Economic Development Authority will meet at 8 a.m. Thursday at Brainerd City Hall.