Friday, December 28, 2007
Looks like a toy, but Smart fortwo is for real
The parking lot attendant took one look at the diminutive Smart fortwo car I was driving and congratulated me on having a "nice roller skate."
Scene stealers: Here's what the buzz was about in our arts community
The Brainerd lakes area is a middle-of-the-road arts and entertainment community. You'll find more things to do than in a really small town, but fewer things to do than in a metropolis.
TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2007
In 2007, film distributors continued to assume folks in towns smaller than New York and Los Angeles are morons.
DANCE SHORTS
ST. PAUL - Thirty-eight Music General dancers attended the Jump Dance Convention Dec. 8-9 at St. Paul's River Centre. The dancers took classes from instructors Gil Stromming (New York, tap), Dee Caspary (Los Angeles, jazz), Mike Minery (New York, tap), Mandy Moore (Los Angeles, lyrical/jazz), Kim McSwain (Dallas, jazz), Dan Karaty (New York, hip-hop), Nick Lazzarini (Los Angeles, jazz) and Danny Tidwell (New York, ballet).
Best bets
The Great River Arts Center in Little Falls will switch exhibits for the new year. Bela Petheo's "Themes and Variations" will run through Saturday, and "Parallel Paths: 3 Destinations," featuring Shirley Linborg-Hove, Barb Esse and Bill Gossman, will open on Wednesday. Admission is free to both.
ART SHORTS
LITTLE FALLS - "Parallel Paths: 3 Destinations" will be on display from Wednesday-Feb. 28 at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls. The show will feature original artwork by three professional artists.
MUSIC SHORTS
PEQUOT LAKES - The George Maurer Group, led by pianist and composer George Maurer, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Pequot Lakes High School auditorium.
Upcoming arts and entertainment events
Live music
BOOK SHORTS
Three book clubs have been scheduled in coordination with the Brainerd Public Library, which stocks copies of the featured books.
TAKING THE CHILL OUT - and then some
Pastry chef Elizabeth Falkner developed this recipe for hot chocolate to be a cross between that favorite winter drink and chocolate sauce. She says it also has enough body to take on a shot of brandy or whiskey for an adult take on this drink.
SCHOOL MENUS
Brainerd
YMCA Teen Scene for fifth-and
sixth-graders is Friday night
The Brainerd Family YMCA will conduct Teen Scene from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 28) for young people in grades 5 and 6.
ACCIDENTS
WALKER - Four people were injured in a two-vehicle, head-on collision about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 34, three miles west of Walker, the State Patrol reported.
SENIOR ACTIVITIES
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
BIRTHS
Cotie Carner and Dawn Jillson, Brainerd, a boy, Erek William Carner, 1 pound, 11 ounces, Dec. 4, 2007.
Two hurt in snowmobile crash near Merrifield
MERRIFIELD - Two people were injured about 5 p.m. Tuesday after being thrown from a snowmobile on a lake in Center Township near Merrifield, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department reported.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Timothy J. Terwilliger, 47, and Peggy L. Morton, 45, both of Pillager.
Crosslake City Council
to meet in special session
CROSSLAKE - The Crosslake City Council will meet 9 a.m. Dec. 27 in a special meeting at city hall for the purpose of considering Park Dedication Fees for Subdivision 2007-005 for applicant Leo Fraser, for the Doris Fraser Revocable Trust, discuss equipment needs for maintenance of skating rinks, review/approve Cuyuna Range Fire Service Mutual Aid Agreement and approve bills for payment.
Crow Wing court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
Crackling with ideas
For fireplace facelift ideas, check out "Fire Spaces: Design Inspirations for Fireplaces and Stoves," by Tina Skinner (Schiffer Publishing, 2003, $34.95).
Weathering the rise in heating costs
Ready or not, home heating fuel prices are on the rise.
PUTTING THE FIRE BACK IN FIREPLACES
WASHINGTON - Designers often say a fireplace is the focal point of a room. But if yours leaves you cold, take heart. Giving it a facelift can be easier and cheaper than you think.
Fireplace makeovers
Under $300
LOCAL BRIEFS
CROSSLAKE - Teri Jo Flynn of RE/MAX Lakes Area Realty in Crosslake recently became a certified Minnesota Association of Realtors Code of Ethics instructor for the association's Professional Standards Committee.
Hitting a bump
Samantha Gard of Pine River tumbled after hitting a bump with her sled on the Brainerd High School sliding hill Thursday. The mild weather and ample snow cover made conditions for sledding favorable. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Correction
In a Page 1 story Tuesday about Elna Daigle's found wedding ring, it should have said she and her husband, Stephen, have been married 59 years, not 69 years.
Kettle power
Thanks to a last-minute check, the Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign exceeded its goal.
Overheard
"We breathed a collective sigh of relief."
After initial silence, board votes itself a raise of just below 3.9 percent
The Crow Wing County Board gave itself a raise.
Are you smarter? (The answers)
So, are you smarter than a Brainerd fifth-grader?
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 28 - 40 years ago (1967) - Between Dec. 6 and Dec. 23 a total of 240 different volunteers spent 794 hours in gift wrapping 10,676 individually selected gifts for the 1,283 residents at the Brainerd State Hospital.
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 27 - 80 years ago (1927) - Playing "heads up" basketball for the 32 minutes of play, Brainerd High School lost to Bemidji by the score of 18 to 15 in a game teeming with clever basketball on the local floor.
Smarter than 5th-graders? Good luck
As you're enjoying your Christmas vacation this week, we thought it would be a great time to offer this challenge to our readers:
Board awards Brenny contract for medical examiner transport services
Feeling squeezed for time as the year draws to a close, the Crow Wing County Board Thursday made its decision on the contract for medical examiner transport services.
Ray R. Greene
LITTLE FALLS - Ray R. Greene, 90-year-old resident of Little Falls, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls. Funeral services for Ray R. Greene will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Little Falls with the Rev. Nate Bjorge officiating.
George C. Marcum
BELLE PLAINE - George C. Marcum, age 93, resident of Belle Plaine, formerly of Brainerd and Florida, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2007, at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home. Mr. Marcum was born in Buchanan County, Va., May 30, 1914, to Joseph and Julia Ann (Howell) Marcum. George was a retired plumber. He had served in the U.S. Army and was a life member of the VFW.
Raymond A. Wilson
Raymond Arthur Wilson, age 79, resident of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at his home. Raymond was born in Columbus, Ohio, on March 23, 1928, to Howard and Alice (Larcamp) Wilson.
Stacy Owen
PILLAGER - Stacy Owen, age 39, resident of Pillager, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 25, 2007, at his home.
Viola McGillivray Smith
Viola Marie McGillivray Smith, 88, passed away Dec, 26, 2007. She was born Dec. 15, 1919, to Charles and Albie (Jahoda) Baxter. She married Archie McGillivray on April 15, 1936. She was a cook for most of her life and was famous for her sticky buns and pies which everyone looked forward to at holidays and special family functions. Viola also loved to fish and was always after that big one.
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.
Leo Boog
CROSSLAKE - Leo Boog, 50, died at his father's home Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, in Crosslake. Leo's family will be holding private family services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel of Crosslake.
Shelly Crosby
STAPLES - Shelly Crosby, 34, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at the Lakewood Health Systems Hospital in Staples. Arrangements are pending with the Brenny Funeral Chapel of Staples.
Richard D. Houske
BAXTER - Rick Houske, 57, Baxter, died at St. Joseph's Medical Center on Dec. 23, 2007.
Esther I. Morrow
Esther Irene Morrow, born on July 14, 1914 in the Staples area, passed away at St. Cloud Hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Esther married Harry Morrow on May 28, 1932.
Elaine Strom
LITTLE FALLS - Elaine Strom, 74-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Funeral arrangements are pending with the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, Minn.
Florence E. Burlingame
AITKIN - Florence E. (Howard) Burlingame, age 99, of Aitkin, formerly of Brainerd and Minneapolis, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007, at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin.
Dorothy Olson
PINE RIVER - Dorothy Olson, age 96, of Pine River, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2007, at Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Center in Pine River. She was born April 2, 1911, in Nebraska to Ben and Bertha Weaver.
Leo Kowalzek
HARDING - Leo Kowalzek, 91-year-old resident of Harding, Minn., died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at the Golden Living Nursing Home in Battle Lake, Minn.
Rose Schlichting
LITTLE FALLS - Rose Schlichting, 96-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls, Minn.
David L. Handt
PALISADE - David L. Handt, 71, of Palisade, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at his residence.
Lorraine Ludowese
ALDRICH - Lorraine Lucille Ludowese, age 63, of Aldrich, passed away on Dec. 21, 2007, at Lakewood Health Systems in Staples, Minn.
Everett L. Smith
LITTLE FALLS - Everett L. Smith, 93-year-old resident of Little Falls, Minn., passed away Thursday, Dec. 27, 2007, at the Lutheran Care Center in Little Falls.
Shelly M. Crosby
BROWERVILLE - Shelly M. Crosby, 34, of Browerville, Minn., and Severn, Md., died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at the Lakewood Health Systems Hospital in Staples, Minn. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29 at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Staples. Visitation will be Friday evening at the funeral home from 5-7 p.m.
Stacy Owen
PILLAGER - Stacy Owen, age 39, resident of Pillager, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 25, 2007, at his home.
Donald H. Longanecker
BAXTER - Donald Longanecker, 68, formerly of Baxter, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, in Seattle, Wash.
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.
Lorraine Ludowese
ALDRICH - Lorraine Lucille Ludowese, age 63, of Aldrich, passed away on Dec. 21, 2007, at Lakewood Health Systems in Staple s, Minn.
Nancy R. Burnham
DOUSMAN, Wis. - Nancy R. Burnham, Dousman, Wis., formerly of Emily, Minn., and Shinglehouse, Pa., age 63, was called to eternal life, Monday, Dec. 24, 2007.
Leo Kowalzek
HARDING - Leo Kowalzek, 91-year-old resident of Harding, Minn., died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at the Golden Living Nursing Home in Battle Lake, Minn. Arrangements for Leo are pending with the Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz, Minn.
Catherine Brixius
PIERZ - Catherine Brixius, 91-year-old resident of Pierz, Minn., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pierz, Minn., with Father Gerald Dalseth officiating.
RoseAnn J. Fercho
ST. PAUL - RoseAnn J. Fercho, age 65, of St. Paul, passed away Dec. 22, 2007.
Viola M. Smith
Viola Marie McGillivray Smith nee Baxter, 88, of Brainerd, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2007. Funeral services for Viola will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2007, at Park United Methodist Church with Pastor Rory Swenson officiating. Friends may visit one hour prior to services.
Lila B. LaVoie
Lila B. LaVoie, Brainerd, 95, passed away Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
VOX POP
Yes, there are lots of people driving around with expired license plates. I'm sure the police stop many. In all probability, the police are very busy with lots of problems that require immediate attention and on the whole, do the best they can do.
Open Forum
My daughter and I were at Wal-Mart having a cup of coffee while waiting for my husband to pick us up at 3:30 when the call came to "vacate the building." We were very impressed with the quiet, orderly fashion with which that order was executed.
Open Forum
I am an atheist, and I am responsible for many things.
What do you think?
Write us a letter or send us an e-mail
CHURCH NEWS
MOTLEY - Quantum Connections and the Motley United Methodist Church will sponsor a proper English tea from 2-4 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Motley United Methodist Church.
Hanowskis lead Flyers to 11-0 win
LITTLE FALLS - Senior Beau Hanowski scored four goals and added three assists to lead the Little Falls Flyers past Morris Benson 11-0 in the Little Falls Invitational boys' hockey tournament Thursday.
McAllister wins race, Warrior teams runners-up
DEER RIVER - Hannah McAllister won the girls' race and the shorthanded Brainerd Warrior boys' and girls' Nordic skiing teams still finished second in the Deer River 5-kilometer freestyle race Thursday.
Holiday hubbub this weekend at BHS
If you haven't risen from the couch after Christmas, this weekend might be a good time to consider getting up.
Scoreboard
Area events
LOCAL SHORTS
The first Victory League meeting of the season is scheduled 7 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Ten Spot Bar in Royalton.
Lueck leads Pequot to win
WALKER - Emily Lueck scored 29 points and Mindy Howard added 21 to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots girls' basketball team to a 78-70 victory over the Sebeka Trojans during Wednesday's first round of the Wolfpack Invitational.
Northern Lakes Lightning light lamp twice in win
BREEZY POINT - Derik Midthun tallied a goal and an assist to lead the Northern Lakes Lightning to a 2-1 opening-round victory over St. Paul Academy in the Lightning boys' hockey tournament Wednesday.
Five-goal third period buries Brainerd
ST. PAUL - Joe Frazer scored a goal and added an assist, but the Brainerd Warriors saw its four-game win streak snapped thanks to a five-goal third period by the Blaine Bengals Wednesday in the opening round of the Schwan Cup boys' hockey tournament.
WPSA regional this weekend at BIR
This weekend's World Power Sports Association snocross race at Brainerd International Raceway, the first of two this racing season, is shaping up to be as perfect as a racer's sled landing upright after a 15-foot high table-top jump.
LP-GE/W-DC to play for title in girls' hockey
BLAINE - Alicia Gorka scored two goals to lead the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle/Wadena-Deer Creek Blue Devils to a 3-2 win over Watertown, S.D., in the semifinals of the Schwan Cup Yellow Division girls' hockey tournament Thursday.
Pequot Lakes, Pierz advance
WALKER - Mindy Howard scored 17 points, Emily Lueck 16 and Robin Soukup 11 to help the Pequot Lakes Patriots past Badger-Greenbush-Middle River 68-62 in the semifinals of the Wolfpack Invitational at Walker Thursday.
No. 1 C-I Rangers roll
CROSBY - Joe McLaughlin's 23 points helped carry the Crosby-Ironton Rangers boy's basketball team past Mesabi East 77-57 in the opening round of the Ranger Invitational basketball tournament Thursday.
BHS to play for consolation title
ST. PAUL - The Brainerd Warrior boys' hockey team scored the game's first three goals before giving up two in the third and hanging on for a 3-2 victory over Cretin-Derham Hall in the consolation semifinals of the Schwan Cup Silver Division boys' hockey tournament at Aldrich Arena on Thursday.
Jesse Fisher adjusts to college game
There are many uncertainties for a player when transitioning from high school to collegiate basketball.
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Clear to partly cloudy west. Cloudy east with morning snow likely...Decreasing in the afternoon. Highs in 20s.
State forecast for N.D.
Today... Areas of morning fog statewide. Light snow east. Highs
Snow
Weather drawing by Jacob Vukelich of Mr. Meyer's fourth-grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for S.D.
Dense fog advisory east this morning...
State forecast for Minnesota
Today...Cloudy. Snow likely. Highs 15 to 25.
State forecast for N.D.
Today...Mostly cloudy. Isolated snow showers west and northwest.
State forecast for Iowa
Snow advisory portions of central and eastern iowa through this
State forecast for Iowa
Dense fog advisory in effect until 9 am cst this morning far
State forecast for Minnesota
Dense fog advisory until 10 am thursday for portions of west
Wisconsin state forecast
Snow advisory today much of southern and eastern wisconsin...
Digging snow
Weather drawing by Amanda Sabir of Mrs. Gramer's class at Riverside school.
Wisconsin state forecast
Snow advisory friday for parts of southeast and far southern wisconsin...