Sunday, December 28, 2003
Famous Dave's starting winter hiatus on Jan. 5
Famous Dave's in Crosslake will be in a seasonal status, closing Jan. 5 and then reopening in early April.
Business notes
Ed Burgstaler, son of Helen and Edwin Burgstaler, Aitkin, received the Mayo Clinic Individual Award for Excellence.
It's a party
PALISADE -- She's a blue-eyed, blond little girl with an infectious grin, making Vallery Ruth Slater the star attraction whenever she visits Our Family Homestead Kitchen in Palisade, the restaurant owned by her grandparents, Ruth and Dennis Lindman.
Child in need
Last week, 8-year-old Nathan told his mom, "I just can't wait anymore!" Three months isn't that long, but at his age it seems like forever. He isn't waiting for his birthday, a new bike, or a trip to Valleyfair.
Accidents
A female suffered a head injury Friday when she fell off the back of an all-terrain vehicle while riding on Gull Lake, about a mile northeast of Ernie's restaurant. She was not wearing a helmet.
Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees
Support
7 p.m. Thursdays in Pine River. For info, PO Box 633, Pine River, MN 56474 or call 587-5830.
Chemical dependency
7 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center (Open). Call Bill at 829-3801.
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 28 - 20 years ago (1983) - Sub-zero Christmas Eve Temperatures and a broken water sprinkler pipe combined to wreak havoc with the Pine River High School gymnasium floor and about half of the school's floor space this past weekend.
Remembering 2003 through photographs
A mallard soared in for a landing at a pond this past fall in Brainerd. (Dispatch File Photo by Nels Norquist)
Glare ice affects motorists Saturday
Glare ice was reported Saturday in the lakes area, on side roads and even typically well-traveled county roads, such as County State Aid Highway 11 near Breezy Point.
31 percent of Brainerd students live in poverty
One of the Brainerd School District's greatest diversity challenges involves the rich versus the poor, school officials report.
Local brief
The Dispatch Extra Access program will be shut down for repairs and software updates as of Monday morning.
Bittersweet wedding
BAXTER -- A box of pink tissues was placed beneath a chair Friday morning in anticipation of fresh tears by late afternoon.
Landlords say they don't discriminate
Jo Larsen of Brainerd understands the feelings college students have when they leave their homes and move out on their own ready to tackle the world.
BHS Hall of Fame event expands to two days
The Brainerd High School Distinguished Achievement Hall of Fame induction has been expanded to two days for 2004.
Remembering 2003
Children at the Pequot Lakes Fourth of July parade reached for candy tossed by a parade entrant. (Dispatch File Photo by Clint Wood)
Law enforcement: We treat everyone the same
The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department and the Brainerd Police Department are here to ensure a safe and secure environment for all people.
Kay Sharkey
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Katherine Carter Sharkey Schlosser, known to her friends and family as Kay Sharkey, passed away from Alzheimer's disease on Dec. 21, 2003, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Erwin H. Schroeder
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Erwin H. Schroeder, age 85, formerly of Crosslake, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, at Mariner Nursing Center in Arlington, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003, at the Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church in Crosslake, with the Rev. Steve Anderson to officiate.
Irvin Kirkeby
LITTLE FALLS -- Irvin Kirkeby, age 95, of Little Falls, Minn., formerly of Binford, N.D., passed away Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at St. Gabriel's Hospital.
Franklin D. 'Frank' DeShaw
ANAMOSA, Iowa -- Franklin D. "Frank" DeShaw, 58, a resident of Anamosa, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, in Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, of heart failure. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Marion by the Deacon Phil Saunders.
Muriel Schwanz
Muriel Schwanz, age 82 of Brainerd, died Dec. 24 at Woodland Good Samaritan Village. She touched the lives of all who knew her with her kindness and courage, with God at her side.
Michael D. Blaisdell
ELK RIVER -- Michael D. Blaisdell, age 21 of Elk River, Minn., and formerly of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, from injuries received in a four-wheeler accident in Parker Township, Morrison County, Minn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Little Falls.
Elizabeth 'Liz' Gelschus
CHANHASSEN -- Elizabeth A. "Liz" Gelschus, age 68, of Chanhassen, died suddenly on Dec. 24, 2003. Liz will be missed by everyone who knew and loved her. Her family was her life and she enjoyed her time with them, both at home and at her lake home in Merrifield.
Obituary policy
Obituaries are a paid service of The Brainerd Dispatch Advertising Department and also appear online. Obituary notices will be charged at $10 per column inch, exclusive of the first 4 inches, which will be printed at no charge.
Evelyn Cossette
ST. PAUL -- Evelyn Cossette, age 88, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at the Ramsey County Nursing Home in St. Paul.
Open Forum guidelines
The Dispatch encourages readers to sound off in the Open Forum.
Open Forum
You wonder why Level 3 sex offenders are back into our neighborhoods? Liberal courts.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words.
Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA
TAKING INVENTORY OF '03 OUTDOORS
2003 was an eventful year for Minnesota sportsmen. For the first time in more than 40 years we had a prairie chicken hunt and firearms deer hunters harvested a record number of deer. Locally, turkey hunting became a reality in Crow Wing County for the first time.
Keep quiet and catch more fish
There are reasons why some anglers consistently catch more fish. Keeping your lips tight and noise to a minimum are two keys to keeping your lines tight.
North Country calendar
Jan. 3 -- Lake trout fishing opens inside BWCAW
40th anniversary
Bob and Priscilla Madsen, Fort Ripley, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with their family. They were married Dec. 28, 1963, in Reno, Nev.
Oberfoell-LaShomb
Beth Oberfoell and Kyle LaShomb announce their engagement. Parents are Don and Marilyn Oberfoell, Mountain Iron, and Dave and Marilyn LaShomb, Brainerd, and Kathy and Bruce Martin, Pillager. A May 1, 2004, wedding is planned in Plymouth.
Heinlen-Stark
Nikki Heinlen and Brian Stark were married Dec. 6, 2003, at Church of the Cross in Nisswa with Pastor Christian Meier officiating.
Much obliged
The Crow Wing County Child Protection Team would like to thank the entire Crow Wing County community once again for the incredible overwhelming response to the 10th Annual Radiothon to End Child Abuse held Dec. 4 and 5, 2003 on WJJY/106.7 FM, Cool 101.5 FM and B93.3 FM radio stations. With your support a record smashing $74,682 was raised for Crow Wing, Cass and Aitkin counties and Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota.
Five generations
Five generations recently gathered were Aftyn Arnold, daughter; Amanda Arnold, mother; Brad Arnold, grandfather; Helen Arnold, great-grandmother; and Pearl Burnard, great-great-grandmother.
Norlin-Sisco
Anna Norlin and Jeremy Sisco announce their engagement. Parents are Steve and Diane Norlin, Pine River, and Scott and Jane Sisco, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. A Jan. 19, 2004, wedding is planned in Riu Playacar, Mexico.
Howard-Larson
Kari Lee Howard and Brock Orville Larson announce their engagement. Parents are Roger and Linda Howard, Aitkin, and David and Candice Larson, Brainerd. A wedding is planned Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Aitkin.
Balk-Lauwagie
Shannon Balk and Rob Lauwagie were married Nov. 1, 2003, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brainerd with the Rev. Vern Broughton officiating.
Warriors hosting holiday tourneys
High school teams are taking full advantage of the Christmas lull, traveling to tournaments and getting in a few games before the grind of the regular season starts again.
Patriots' Foster thrives on basketball
Flecia Foster embodies everything good with basketball.
MAT CHAMP
Winning your first state championship may be easier than winning a second.
The top local sports stories
In his career, Pickar qualified for state five times, winning two titles and finishing second once. He is now redshirting in his freshman season at North Dakota State University.
Wolverine learns it takes more than 3-pointers
Michael Grieme has shed his "good shooter from the outside" label to become a complete basketball player.
Flyers soar to title game
LITTLE FALLS -- Tony Parker scored a game-high 16 points and Jordan Horejsi added 11 as the Little Falls Flyers boys' basketball team cruised to a 64-37 win over the Buffalo Mustangs in the Little Falls holiday tournament Friday.
Scoreboard
BOYS BASKETBALL
Flyers glide into title game
LITTLE FALLS -- Little Falls' Sarah Kallis scored a game-high 14 points as the Flyers defeated the Buffalo Mustangs 47-41 in the first Little Falls holiday girls' basketball tournament Friday.
State forecast for South Dakota
Winter storm warning black hills and northwest today and tonight...
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter storm watch extreme northwest tonight and sunday...
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Mostly cloudy. A chance of drizzle or rain mainly west. Highs in the 40s.
State forecast for Iowa
his afternoon...Mostly cloudy...Partly sunny west. A chance of
Free fall
Weather drawing by Erica Swenson in the Baxter School third-grade class of Mrs. Brenny.
State forecast for North Dakota
Winter storm warning today through sunday west...
What's doing
A pre-New Year's Eve luncheon for women of all ages with the name Lois will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Carlsona Beach, three miles west of Malmo on Highway 18. New members and guests are welcome. Bring a white elephant gift to participate in a game. Call Lois Johnson at (320) 684-2000 or Lois Neuman at 927-1354 or 927-6804 to make reservations.