Tuesday, December 25, 2001
Correction/clarification
As the result of incorrect information supplied to The Dispatch, a senior dance was listed incorrectly in the What's Doing section of Sunday's newspaper. There will be no dance Friday in Deerwood.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to several calls this weekend, including a minor gasoline spill, false alarms and smoke reported at Brainerd High School.
Bush plan boosts energy production by weakening Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON -- In a boon for the energy industry and a setback for environmentalists, the Bush administration is expected to announce soon that it is weakening portions of the Clean Air Act, allowing coal-burning power plants to bypass some anti-pollution rules.
The dreaming worked Snow coats lakes area for Christmas
Lakes area residents no longer have to dream about a white Christmas and more snow is in the forecast.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-This Christmas Eve, as with the past 26 Christmas Eves, Celia Wallace will be working at St. Joseph's Hospital. "I feel lucky that I'm well enough to be able to work when I see these poor people in bed not feeling good and not going anywhere," Mrs. Wallace said.
Extra credit
The Deerwood Lakes Lions awarded three $500 scholarships for non-traditional students attending school for the
Snow job
Robert Lovelace, a salesman at Tanner Motors, was busy this morning cleaning snow off a row of minivans at the dealership after the Brainerd area received about five inches of snow on Saturday.
Somebody listened
FORT RIPLEY -- Kandee Denny's only Christmas wish this year was for her 3-year-old son, Zachary, to be able to hear once again.
Footwear new focus of airline security
BOSTON (AP) -- Airport security is being turned up yet another notch after authorities said a man with a one-way ticket walked onto an American Airlines jetliner with explosives in his shoes and tried to ignite them during the flight.
Anthrax vaccine plan stirs uneasy reaction
WASHINGTON -- A little over a week ago, District of Columbia Health Director Ivan Walks flew to Atlanta for a series of meetings with federal officials billed as "lessons learned in the anthrax attacks." His message was characteristically blunt: We don't need another Brentwood, referring to the confusion, resentment and racial tensions sparked by the government's early handling of the outbreak.
Cleanup underway after train carrying photography chemicals jumps tracks, hits home in Rochester, N.Y.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- It could take days for crews to clean up the thousands of gallons of chemicals that spilled and caught fire after a freight train derailed and hit a house in western New York, authorities said.
Showers in New England, Mid-Atlantic, Deep South; snow in Great Lakes
An area of low pressure was expected to bring scattered showers Monday to the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Deep South and Florida, and snow to the Great Lakes.
Unattended suitcase forces airport evacuation
LOS ANGELES -- The discovery of an unattended suitcase Sunday led to the partial evacuation of a terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, bringing a temporary halt to an otherwise smooth day for holiday travelers.
Three family members die after fire believed started in Christmas tree
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- An apartment fire that officials believe started in a family's Christmas tree killed a man and two children and left his wife and the couple's other child both in critical condition.
Guard troops called up for holidays; lives on hold again
McHENRY, Ill. -- Before the war on terrorism, 21-year-old Mike Hart was a manager at Sam's Club who was studying to be a firefighter and planning to take his sweetheart to Hawaii for a marriage proposal.
Vinny helps Jets eliminate others
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The New York Jets are closing in on a playoff spot thanks to a pair of one-point victories and short touchdown passes from Vinny Testaverde to Anthony Becht.
U.S. team announces final six players
The players selected for the 2002 U.S. men's Olympic Hockey team with position and most recent NHL team:
NFL summaries
At Tampa, Fla.
Manly E. Klinger
MASON CITY, Iowa -- Manly E. Klinger, 78, Mason City, Iowa, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at his daughter's home in Baxter.
John 'Jack' G. Hopping
John "Jack" G. Hopping, 82, Brainerd, died today, Dec. 24, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Ruth Agnes Schrock
MOTLEY -- Ruth Agnes Schrock, 81, Motley, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at the Greater Staples Hospital.
Catherine M. Janson
PIERZ -- Catherine Marie Janson, 85, Pierz, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at Pierz Villa.
Art J. Lenarz
LITTLE FALLS -- Art Joseph Lenarz, 60, Little Falls, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001.
Delores D. Nestrud
EAST BETHEL -- Delores D. Nestrud, 71, East Bethel and formerly of Aitkin, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at Grandview Christian Home in Cambridge.
Margurite (Francis) Norton
Margurite (Francis) Norton, 79, Hutchinson, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at Prairie Senior Cottages in Hutchinson.
Frederick Duell
MOTLEY -- Frederick Duell, 78, Motley, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at home.
Keegan Chad Ylinen
Keegan Chad Ylinen, infant son of Chad and Brooke Ylinen, Brainerd, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Santa Abraham delivers goods
WASHINGTON--Put whiskers and a red suit on him, and Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham would make a passable Santa Claus. What Abraham brought home from his recent trip to Moscow and his negotiations with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), plus what others have accomplished on Capitol Hill, are some of the best Christmas presents anyone could have hoped to find under the tree.
HELP US, SANTA!
NORTH POLE, N.Y. -- "Mommy lost her job after Sept. 11, 2001," 6-year-old Paris wrote to Santa Claus. "Daddy works two jobs now. Please help."
Open Forum
I find myself in the ridiculous position of wanting to defend God to the recent forum contributors who think that they can extinguish God's existence with pen and paper.
Open Forum guidelines
Letters are limited to 300 words.
Drag-racing dragnet nets 172 in Miami
MIAMI (AP) -- Troopers stopped about 350 cars, many of them juiced-up Hondas, Mustangs and Toyotas, and arrested 172 people in a sting targeting drag racers.
Balloon message makes 4,500 mile trip
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The world seems a little smaller to a Woodbury boy after a helium-filled balloon he released found its way to a university student in the Czech Republic -- some 4,500 miles away.
Expulsions skyrocket in public schools
ST. PAUL (AP) -- State records show 358 students were expelled from Minnesota public schools last year, the highest number in more than a decade.
State briefs
GRAND RAPIDS (AP) -- A Grand Rapids girl has died of injuries suffered when the car she was riding in hit a tree, the Itasca County sheriff's department reported Monday.
Quints' mother says babies developing distinct personalities
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Five distinct personalities are beginning to emerge as the Christoffers quintuplets grow stronger and begin relating to the world inside and outside of their high-tech bassinets at Children's Hospital of Minneapolis.
Scoreboard
GIRLS HOCKEY
Gymnasts show resolve in face of adversity
It wasn't a day of giving for the Brainerd Warriors girls' gymnastics team Saturday at the Brainerd Invitational.
'Tis the season for prep tourneys
It's supposed to be the season to be jolly. That means it's also the season for high school holiday tournaments.
Anoka-Ramsey defeats Raider women
ANOKA -- After a terrific first half, the Central Lakes College women's basketball team was defeated by Anoka-Ramsey 74-53 Saturday.
Carter receives warm reception in possible finale at Metrodome
MINNEAPOLIS -- Though it ended rather ugly for his team, Cris Carter was still able to smile after what was likely his last game in the Metrodome with the Minnesota Vikings.
Rychart leads Gophers
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- He didn't look pretty, but Dusty Rychart got the job done.
Wolves hand Bulls another ugly loss
CHICAGO (AP) -- This was almost too easy for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wild become Roy's 499th victim
DENVER (AP) -- Patrick Roy isn't too happy that his 500th career victory might not be earned at home.
A merry mauling
MINNEAPOLIS -- With the playoffs starting in less than three weeks, Jacksonville is rolling. Unfortunately, it's a little late.
Potential Twins owner meets fans at Mall of America
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) -- Battered and bruised, some Minnesota Twins fans believe they've finally met the savior of their beloved franchise.
Sports briefs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota quarterback Todd Bouman injured his thumb on the Vikings' first series Sunday and left the game against Jacksonville.
Vikings stats
Jacksonville 10 6 7 10 --33
Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of light snow or flurries. Highs from mid teens to mid 20s.
Christmas tree
Weather drawing by Jasmine Hayes of Sharon Jendro's first grade class at Lowell school.
Wisconsin state forecast
Winter storm warning continued for the lake superior snowbelt today through christmas day...
state forecast for North Dakota
Today...Partly to mostly sunny west and central. Cloudy with a few morning flurries east. Highs 15 northeast to 29 southwest.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly cloudy west and north. Mostly cloudy southeast in the morning with flurries...Then becoming partly cloudy. Highs 15 to 25 east...And 25 to 35 in the west.
The Weather Elsewhere With Tomorrow's Temperature Forecast
Monday
Minnesota state forecast
today...Partly to mostly cloudy with some flurries. Highs in the teens.
Wicker ways
Dear Readers: This is a follow-up to a column where we asked for handy ways to use a wicker basket. Take a few minutes to read through these suggestions -- there are some really good hints:
Hairy Christmas!
SAVANNAH, Ga. -- On Christmas Day, Stephen Geevers will hand presents from under the tree to his two little ones, Chase and P.J., and watch them tear into the wrapping -- with their teeth.
Teen urges gifts of livestock for Afghanistan
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- Sixteen-year-old Trevor Baim doesn't want a DVD player or an Xbox or a MP3 player this Christmas. What he wants is decidedly more low tech.
Names and faces
NEW YORK (AP) -- Heralded for his steadfast response to a grief-torn city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani on Sunday was named Time magazine's Person of the Year.
Woman who passed up teaching offers advice
DEAR ABBY: I am 29 years old and have been reading your column since I was 10. Becoming a high school teacher was always my dream. I graduated from college with a degree, but not in secondary education. I needed to begin working full time to support myself, so I never considered going back to school to certify.
European airports tighten security, France calls urgent meeting
PARIS (AP) -- Airports around Europe tightened security Monday, some requiring passengers to send their shoes through X-ray machines, after a passenger allegedly tried to ignite explosives hidden in his sneakers on a flight from Paris to Miami.
Pope's appeal to give to terrorism victims nets $650,000
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope John Paul II's appeal to fast on Dec. 14 in the name of peace and to donate the skipped meal money for victims of terrorism and of war has brought in some $650,000 in donations, an official said Monday.
Major Afghan warlord Rashid Dostum is named deputy defense minister in new government
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghanistan's new leader quickly went to work trying to heal the country's deep divisions, naming a prominent warlord as deputy defense minister Monday in an effort to unite the country's often-feuding factions.
New Argentine president suspends debt payments
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Swept into office after Argentina's economic crisis boiled over into riots and looting, President Adolfo Rodriguez Saa suspended payment of its suffocating debt load and left the country veering toward the biggest default in history.
Japanese premier defends shooting of mystery ship
TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi defended the shooting of a suspected North Korean spy ship and said Monday that the incident underlined the need to bolster national security.