Sunday, December 28, 2008
Retailers say economy leads to a rise in shoplifting
WASHINGTON - Retailers have blamed the global financial crisis for a litany of ills over the past year: slumping sales, mass layoffs and bankruptcy filings. Now, they are looking to the economy to explain recent spikes in shoplifting from their stores.
Riverwood reports community benefits top $3 million
AITKIN - Nine months into its fiscal year, Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin, reports bad debt totaling $823,748 for medical care that was not paid for by health insurance or individuals.
Bunyan Bowl hopes for a strike with renovation
BAXTER - The restaurant at the Paul Bunyan Bowl in Baxter has a new look and new focus.
Alternative club opens in downtown
A new option for New Year's Eve recently opened in downtown Brainerd as The Medium offers live music in an alcohol-free venue.
BIZ BUZZ: A LOOK BACK AT 2008
It's not a news flash to say 2008 has been a challenging year for area businesses, owners and workers.
Business notes
Deerwood Bank, which took over the Midwest Bank on Woida Road in Baxter, opened a branch office at 611 Washington St. N.E. in Brainerd on Dec. 1.
Firefighters respond to bin fire at apartment
POLICE BLOTTER
Snow often times can help police on a case. The snow proved to be effective to Brainerd police on Christmas Day.
AGENDAS
Crow Wing County Board of Commissioners
WHAT'S DOING
AITKIN - A Lois luncheon will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the 40 Club in Aitkin. Order off the menu. Entertainment will be a skit by Ruth Hamman and Wally Swenson and a Wright game. Bring a white elephant gift wrapped in newspaper. It will be used to play the Wright game. For more information, call Lois Johnson at (320) 684-2000 or Lois Neuman at 927-1354.
Local briefs
Ray's Promenaders will have a New Year's Eve dance from 9-11 p.m. Wednesday at the Franklin Art Center in Brainerd. Larry Johanson will be calling the dance. The officers will be hosting and serving sloppy joes after the dance.
Ryan wishes for an adult friend
What a wonderful time of year for so many.
Christmas 1938
I heard this special story of a Christmas in 1938.
WITH THE MILITARY
Air Force Airman Steven J. Davis, son of Pam Ohman and David Davis, both of Brainerd, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
Cass entrepreneurs are at work
BACKUS Despite the economic downturn, the Cass County Economic Development Corp. still has entrepreneurs working toward opening new businesses or expanding existing ones.
Hallett center to offer course on 'Sweet Land'
CROSBY - A two-session course focusing on "Sweet Land," a collection of stories by Minnesota author Will Weaver, will take place on Tuesdays, Jan. 13 and 20, from 1:30-3:30 pm. at the Hallett Community Center in Crosby.
What about highway speed limits?
Question: I know that the speed limit on interstate highways is 70 mph and on other Minnesota highways it might be 55, 60 or 65 mph. However, when I travel those posted limits, other cars go whipping past me and I almost feel that my abiding by the law I could be considered a hazard. I wonder, should I be going with the flow of traffic rather than observing the posted speeds? Also, is there a range of 5 to 10 miles above the posted limits that is considered an "OK" speed and probably safe to drive without getting a speeding ticket?
Geriatric Fracture Program begins at St. Joseph's Medical Center
St. Joseph's Medical Center and Northern Orthopedics announced a new program dedicated to the care of geriatric fracture patients beginning Jan. 5.
Is it better to return than to receive?
Post-Christmas shopping motivates many consumers to wade through slews of torn wrapping paper and battered gift bags, braving overcast skies and slushy roads to return clothing that doesn't fit and gifts that would go unused.
This was Brainerd
DECEMBER 28 - 20 years ago (1988) - Students at Franklin Junior High School donated $500 during the holiday season to the Toys for Tots program. Shelly Breen, student council president, presented the donation.
It's still not too late to help agencies
Christmas may be over, but it's not too late to give one last gift before the end of the year that can be used for a tax deduction.
Overheard
It shows we're all hostage to another terrorist attack.
Despite downturn, BLADC keeps working for area
Only time will tell if 2009 provides an economic rebound or a deeper recession.
We love our lakes
A study indicates Minnesotans are willing to pay to restore polluted lakes.
Russell J. Cofield
BROOKLYN CENTER - Russell J. Cofield, age 83, of Brooklyn Center, died Dec. 24, 2008. Preceded in death by wife, Ruth. Survived by children, David, Daniel (Deb), Dean and Dana; grandchildren, Veronica, Taylor, Brady and Kayla; and sister, Arline.
James Plaisance
ONAMIA - James Plaisance, 67-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., died on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at the Mille Lacs Health System. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at Holy Cross Center in Onamia. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Holy Cross Center. Arrangements are with the Shelley Funeral Chapel of Onamia.
Galen D. Doub
AITKIN - Galen D. Doub, age 57, of Aitkin and formerly of St. Cloud, died Wednesday, Dec., 24, 2008, while out cross country skiing near Deerwood, Minn.
Edward J. 'Bud' Schmidt
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Edward J. "Bud" Schmidt, age 88, resident of Overland Park, Kan., formerly of Brainerd, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2008. He was born April 26, 1920, in Chicago to Edward and Willamina (Seyferth) Schmidt.
Donald H. Tabert
Donald Henry Tabert, age 91, of Brainerd, died at his home on Dec. 23, 2008.
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.
Albert Murphy
ONAMIA - Albert Murphy, 83-year-old resident of Onamia, Minn., died on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at St. Cloud Hospital. Funeral ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008, at the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Community Center on the Mille Lacs Reservation with Lee Staples advising.
Alexandria 'Lee' Bard
Alexandria "Lee" Bard, age 59, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2008, at her home in Brainerd. Alexandria was a person who loved the outdoors, such as camping, river rafting, etc. She also loved doing crafts of all kinds to share with people she cared about.
Edwin J. Worms Sr.
Edwin J. Worms Sr. passed away on Dec. 25, 2008, to join his Lord, our God. Ed, age 93, was born on March 5, 1915, in Melrose, Minn. He spent his younger years in Stearns County.
Stanley Sumey
STAPLES - Stanley Sumey, age 83, of Staples, passed away at the Lakewood Health System Hospital on Friday, Dec. 26, 2008. A funeral Mass will be Monday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples with Father Scott Wittkop officiating. The wake will be Sunday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. at the Brenny Funeral Home with parish prayers at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be in the Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Staples.
Southern-baked strategy faulty
WASHINGTON - As a rule, a new president's choice of a secretary of transportation makes few headlines, even when the appointee is a member of the opposition. In 2001, George W. Bush decided to name as transportation secretary Norman Mineta, a former congressman from California, to be the token Democrat in his Cabinet, and no one noticed.
What do you think?
The Brainerd Dispatch welcomes letters on recent articles and current issues. Letters should include the writer's full name, city and a phone number (for verification only). Letters are limited to 300 words. Only one letter per person per week.
VOX POP
After having the misfortune of having to go through Brainerd today on four different streets, I was really impressed that the city is doing so well moving the snow that they aren't doing anything. Of course, the bank that I charged through seemed to be 4-foot high.
Open Forum
What a wonderful relief to hear that His Emptiness had conducted a thorough investigation and found that neither he nor anyone on the staff of the president-elect had had any inappropriate contact with the previously esteemed and now much maligned Gov. Blago.
TRAILS BLAZED IN SNOW
With the recent snowstorms, winter hikers may want to trade in their hiking shoes for snowshoes. But if not, no worries.
OUTDOORS NOTES
The Brainerd Archery Club will begin its 2009 indoor season Jan. 6.
Clark-Larson
Ginny Marie Clark and Kevin Eric Larson were married Oct. 11, 2008, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Deacon Dave Brown officiating.
Hoffman-Wing
Ahnna Hoffman and Jason Wing were married July 19, 2008, by the lake at Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge in Deerwood with Darrell Paske officiating.
Four generations
Four generations recently gathered were Trinity Pacheco-Holmes, daughter, Minneapolis; Rachel Pacheco-Holmes, mother, Minneapolis; Evelyn Hartman, grandmother, Fort Ripley; and Nina Moss, great-grandmother, Brainerd.
Waller-Carlino
Elizabeth Lissa Grace Waller and Aaron John Carlino were married Oct. 4, 2008, at Dreaming Mountain Retreat in East Johnson, Vt., with the Rev. Deborah Celley from First Congregational Church in Brainerd.
SCOREBOARD
Area events
Aitkin, Chaput on the offensive
Her coach says she's calm and cool, but Meredith Chaput is on fire.
Lightning's Smieja offensive spark
Scoring goals was supposed to be a problem for the Northern Lakes Lightning.
CLC like family for Neugebauer
Family.
Flyers prevail over Paynesville
LITTLE FALLS - Even without top all-arounder Breanna Arndt, the Little Falls Flyers gymnastics team picked up a 130.55-118.25 victory over Paynesville Tuesday.
Swimming
Brainerd YMCA Dolphins
State forecast for Iowa
Freezing rain advisory extreme southwest iowa this morning...
State forecast for Minnesota
Winter weather advisory southeast today and tonight...
State forecast for S.D.
Today...Partly cloudy west. Mostly cloudy and breezy east with a few flurries. Highs from the upper teens northeast to upper 20s southwest.
State forecast for N.D.
Winter weather advisory until noon today for northeastern north
This is no vacation
Weather drawing by Kalie Jeremiason in the Baxter third grade of Ms. Hemstad.
Wisconsin state forecast
Flash flood watch through this evening south...