Monday, December 21, 2009
Firefighters respond
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a call at 9 p.m. Friday at Good Samaritan Society-Bethany, to what turned out to be a false alarm.
Of elves and Christmas trees
Anyone who says that elves only work at the North Pole hasn't been to Sue and Allen Schmidt's Love Lake Christmas Trees in Brainerd, where young helpers - "elves" - assist customers.
Living Nativity
Leah Anderson showed daughters Ella and Ara the sheep at the Lutheran Church of the Cross Living Nativity on Sunday at the Nisswa church. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Overheard
I think it would be fun to go anywhere to help people out.
Brainerd police look into 2 deaths
Brainerd police are investigating the deaths of two people Saturday in separate incidents.
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 21 - 60 years ago (1949) - An all-time record in the amount of Christmas mail handled has been reached at the Brainerd Post Office according to postmaster Joe Dunn. Tuesday was the heaviest day in history, with 66,709 pieces handled. The biggest day last year was 40,372 pieces.
A message of 'Hope'
BAXTER - When Den and Paula Lofstrom spoke about their work building hospitals in Tanzania at Paul Augustinack's confirmation class at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter, it caught the 13-year-old's attention.
Clarence J. Aune
Clarence Joseph Aune, 79, of Brainerd, Minn., died at his home Friday, Dec. 18, 2009.
Obituary policy
Obituary notices are charged at 40 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.
Mary K. Stang
ANDOVER - Mary K. Stang, age 61, of Andover, Minn., passed away Dec. 18, 2009, at Unity Hospital in Fridley, Minn.
Donald D. Olds
STAPLES - Donald D. Olds, age 68, of rural Staples, Minn., passed away Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at his home following a long struggle with Systemic Scleroderma.
Christa M. Larson
HACKENSACK - Christa Maria Larson, 71, Hackensack, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, Minn.
Raymond E. Trafas
LITTLE FALLS - Raymond E. Trafas, 99-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at the St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Minn.
Bruce H. Yund
BREEZY POINT - Bruce H. Yund, age 88, of Breezy Point, passed away Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village of Brainerd.
Gail J. Hegg
LITTLE FALLS - Gail J. Hegg, 66-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minn.
Lucinda K. Ringstrom
NISSWA - Lucinda Kay Ringstrom, 52, of Nisswa, died Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Mildred Garoutte
Mildred Garoutte, age 100, of Brainerd, Minn., died Dec. 18, 2009, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.
Inez 'Dolly' Headley
CUSHING - Inez "Dolly" Headley, age 86, of Cushing, passed away at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009.
OTHER OPINION: FISCAL MESS
In a Land of 10,000 Lakes - many surrounded by a healthy contingent of cabins - it's no wonder some waterfront property owners are upset with the phasing out of a cap that protected their property tax bills from reflecting the estimated full market value of the property.
Open Forum
Sami Rasouli spoke recently at the Brainerd Library. Born in Iraq, he left about 40 years ago, living in various places until opening Sinbad's restaurant in Minneapolis for 17 years. In 2005 he sold it to return to Iraq to help rebuild his birth country, and to work to establish peaceful relations between Iraqis and U.S. people. (I'm recalling all this from memory, so may be off a little on some details.)
What do you think?
On our Web site, www.brainerddispatch.com, readers may participate in forums at brainerddispatch.com/forums.
Dishing out shock on debt
WASHINGTON - The 34 names are familiar to anyone who has followed economic policy in Washington for the past generation, one-third of them former chairmen or members of key committees of Congress, seven of them former directors of the White House Office of Management and Budget, two of them former comptroller generals of the United States, seven of them former directors of the Congressional Budget Office and one of them - Paul Volcker - the former chairman of the Federal Reserve System and now an adviser to President Obama.
Raiders hold on for win
The Central Lakes College Raiders ended their non-division schedule Saturday with a tight 65-64 victory over Ridgewater in the CLC Winter Classic.
Ridgewater defeats CLC
The Central Lakes College Raiders shot 36 percent from the field, with Trisha Wippler leading the way with 17 points, in a 93-58 loss to Ridgewater on Saturday in the CLC Winter Classic.
Warriors fourth in holiday invite
The Brainerd Warriors hosted seven teams at Saturday's Brainerd Holiday Invite and came away with a fourth-place finish.
Area boys' basketball roundup
NORTHOME - Jordan Ackerman scored 17 points, Beau Howard 15 and Nathan Holm 12 as the Pine River-Backus Tigers won their first game of the season, 61-53, over Northome-Kelliher Saturday.
Padrnos, Wilczek, Zillmer, win titles
CASS LAKE - Brainerd's Aaron Padrnos, Frank Wilczek of Little Falls and Hayden Zillmer of Crosby-Ironton won individual titles in the 31-team Big Bear tournament Saturday.
15th-ranked Spuds handle Warriors
MOORHEAD - Michael Bitzer stopped all 30 shots he faced to lead Class 2A's 15th-ranked Moorhead Spuds past the Brainerd Warriors 6-0 in a Section 8-2A game Saturday.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Area boys' hockey scores
ST. CLOUD - Tyler McMorrow and Jordan Palusky scored for Class 1A's eighth-ranked St. Cloud Cathedral as the Crusaders beat the Little Falls Flyers 2-0 Saturday.
Cardinals win 3 titles, place 2nd
MAPLE RIVER - The Staples-Motley Cardinals won three individual titles and finished second at the Maple River tournament Saturday.
Area girls' basketball scores
NORTHOME - Autumn Ackerman had 11 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks for Pine River-Backus in a 56-21 Northwoods Conference victory Saturday over Kelliher-Northome.
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Partly cloudy north while mostly cloudy south. This
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Cloudy with snow likely north and east. A chance of snow elsewhere. Highs from the teens northeast...To around 30 southwest.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Cloudy...Snow west and central. Slight chance east. Highs
Ready to ride
Weather drawing by Levi McDonald of Mrs. Meyer's third-grade class at Harrison School.
State forecast for Iowa
Winter storm watch for far southwest iowa late tuesday night
State forecast for Wisconsin
Today...Mostly cloudy south...Becoming partly sunny north. Scattered light snow showers and flurries north central and northeast...Tapering off this afternoon. Highs from the lower 20s far north...To the upper 20s far southeast.