Monday, December 20, 2004
EXTRA CREDIT
Andrea Marie Fontaine, Brainerd, has received a bachelor of arts degree from Kansas State University.
The puppies help Santa
It was two weeks before Christmas when all the houses were lit up and the stores were full of people. You could also see people cutting down trees, or buying trees, and people in their basement getting out decorations.
The best Christmas present
Once there was a girl named Kimberly. She's the kind of girl that loved Christmas. She liked the stories about Baby Jesus. She liked the presents people gave her, she liked to give people presents and she liked to watch the Christmas programs that were held in church. When Christmas came, she got all excited.
Stories of Christmas
The Stories of Christmas have been a Brainerd Dispatch favorite since their beginning in 1998.
The first Christmas
Every Christmas he wondered if there really was a Santa Claus. Ryan's family did not celebrate Christmas. Whenever they did holiday crafts at school, he would get pretty sad but Christmas crafts were the worst. By Christmas break the whole school would be decorated.
A very hairy holiday
Christmas is coming as certainly as I hear Muzak sleigh bells and see red Salvation Army buckets near the double doors at the local grocery store.
Winter will come and go!
Winter will come
Re-wrapped
Enlightenment comes in odd shapes and sizes, and I've never found that to be more true than when my grandmother was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal form of cancer.
A Christmas alphabet
A is for a baby in a manger.
Looks can be deceiving
My daughter and I went to the Brainerd mall a couple of weeks before Christmas. It was quiet, a handful of people in sight, including a man wearing old tattered gray clothing sitting on one of the benches provided. He looked as if he had seen better days. (Obviously poor, perhaps homeless.)
The best gift of all
I remember a Christmas
My Christmas story
I have a story to tell, a story about me. Who am I? I am Ashley, I am 14 years old and I love Christmas! Last Christmas Eve I spent with my dad and stepmom and Christmas Day I spent with my mom and stepdad. I have two sisters, three stepbrothers, two stepsisters and one half sister. A very big family!
The Christmas tree lot
I'd finally reached it; the last Christmas tree lot in town. The others had sold out long ago, leaving only heaps of needles behind as any trace of their mighty faux forests. Even here there were only a few trees left, the runts of the litter. That's what I get for forgetting to buy one earlier.
SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS
Aitkin Rippleside Elem.
Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to what turned out to be a false alarm 11:13 a.m. Sunday at the YMCA, 602 Oak St.
Band man comes out smelling roses
PEQUOT LAKES -- Apparently going to band camp pays off.
Youthful cast tells old, old story
Youthful cast tells old, old story
Overheard
"I feel bad for him. But I feel good for us."
This was Brainerd
60 years ago (1944) - Winter came to town in Brainerd this morning bringing the coldest weather registered here since a year ago. Temperatures tumbled to 17 degrees below zero with light snow flurries.
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.
Edward B. Marks
Edward B. Marks, age 56, of Brainerd, died Sunday, Dec. 19, at his home in rural Brainerd. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Dorothy L. Thoe
Dorothy L. Thoe, age 83, lifetime Brainerd area resident, died on Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at her home from cancer. She was born in International Falls to Conrad and Hilda (Johnson) Wicklander. Dorothy was baptized in Fargo, N.D., and confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd. She married Jacob Thoe on Sept. 19, 1942, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Pearl E. Wille
FOLEY -- Memorial services will be at a later date for Pearl E. Wille, age 87, of Foley and formerly of Brainerd who passed away Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Burial of cremated remains will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd at a later date.
Robert J. 'Robbie' Tougas
ST. MATHIAS -- Robert Joseph "Robbie" Tougas, age 44, resident of St. Mathias, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2004, at his home. Robert was born in Little Falls on Jan. 14, 1960, to Stephen and Helen (Olson) Tougas.
Gary Krause
Gary Krause, age 52, of Brainerd, died Friday evening in Mesa, Ariz. Funeral arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Baxter.
Agnes C. Agre
Memorial services for Agnes C. Agre will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at the Granite Falls Lutheran Church in Granite Falls, Minn., with Pastor Bob Knutson officiating. Interment will be in the spring in Hillcrest Cemetery at Granite Falls.
Open Forum
I am writing in response to the article in Friday's paper (Dec. 10) on the religion page regarding NBC and CBS's refusing to show the United Church of Christ 30-second ad on television.
B-H/V wins at Eagle Valley
EAGLE BEND -- The Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders wrestling team won five individual titles and the team championship in Saturday's Bronco Invitational at Eagle Valley High School.
New look, same problems for CLC
The Central Lakes College women's basketball team added four new players within the last two weeks, giving it more height, better athleticism and an optimistic outlook to an 0-6 start.
Ely grazes Crosby-Ironton/Aitkin
CROSBY -- Brandon Laffin had two goals and an assist and Pat Brophy had a goal and assist as the Crosby-Ironton/Aitkin Grizzlies lost to Ely 6-5 in non-conference boys' hockey Saturday.
S-M's Wilson wins title; Warrior team takes sixth
CASS LAKE -- Staples-Motley's Cory Wilson was the only area individual champion in the 31-team Big Bear wrestling tournament that ended Saturday at Cass Lake-Bena High School.
Cardinals miss Smith in loss
PELICAN RAPIDS -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals played without leading scorer Joe Smith in Saturday's 58-39 non-conference boys' basketball loss to Pelican Rapids.
Pequot Lakes remains unbeaten
PEQUOT LAKES -- Teresa Parker scored 17 points, Chelsa Schwegel 14 and Flecia Foster 12 as the unbeaten and fifth-ranked Pequot Lakes Patriots defeated the Pierz Pioneers 62-44 on the final day of the Patriots' girls' basketball tournament Saturday.
Scoreboard
Area events
Warrior, Flyer teams fare well
BEMIDJI -- Brainerd's No. 1 girls' team, Rebecca Mueller of Brainerd and Tim Waslund of Little Falls won titles in Saturday's Bemidji Nordic skiing relay meet.
BHS' dual meet win streak ends at 50
"Fifty-and-one ain't bad."
Power player
Coming out of Minneapolis, freshman point guard Walter Power had to change his game.
Ho, ho, ho
Weather drawing by Hannah McKeag of Mrs. Smith's first grade class at St. Francis school.
State forecast for Iowa
Today...A chance of light freezing rain and sleet north in the
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter weather advisory late tonight and tuesday morning northwest...
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter weather advisories today into this evening for south
State forecast for N.D.
High wind warning west and central for today and tonight...
State forecast for S.D.
High wind warning northwest today...
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER