Brainerddispatch Videos

Sporting Clays Summer Fling - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber's sixth annual Sporting Clays Summer Fling at Rice Creek Hunting and Recreation in Little Falls.

Sideline View (June 19, 2013) Interview with Drew Olson - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

An exclusive interview with Brainerd native Drew Olson. Olson talks about playing hockey all the years in high school, how it felt to win the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four National Championship with the UMD Bulldogs, and what he hopes for in the future of his hockey career.

Pequot Lakes Pet Parade - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Video from the Pequot Lakes Pet Parade

Holy Cow, Mayor wins milking contest - again! - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Brainerd Mayor, James Wallin took top honors again during the annual "June is Dairy Month" Celebrity Cow Milking Contest held at Culver's Restaurant in Baxter.

Camp Confidence Classic Golf Tournament - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Video from the beginning of the Camp Confidence Classic Golf Tournament

Flag Day Ceremony - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Flag Day Ceremony at Woodland Good Samaritan

Father's Day Feature - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Steve Senica knows that initial shock new fathers go through. He went from zero kids to four in less than a year.

Steve and his wife, Traci, were desperately trying to conceive a child. On their fifth round of in vitro fertilization, the couple started looking into adoption and surrogates. Just a few weeks into the treatment, the new Brainerd lakes area residents had the opportunity to adopt a baby named Victoria.

She was their miracle.

Steve and Traci decided to finish up the in vitro fertilization for closure but call it quits after that.

Three months after little Victoria arrived, the Senicas found out Traci was pregnant — with triplets.

Sideline View (June 13, 2013) Interview with Matt Pohlkamp - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

An exclusive interview with Matt Pohlkamp. He plays for the Bismarck Bobcats juniors hockey team. Pohlkamp talks about the difference between high school and juniors hockey, staying with host families on the road and his plans this summer to help with the MN Hockey Camps. He plans on attending Bowling Green this fall, and possibly playing center position on the hockey team.

Nothing But Nets Campaign - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Tossing bean bags at the Westgate Mall Tuesday during the Brainerd Jaycee's bean bag toss tournament for the Nothing But Nets Campaign, a global effort to help prevent the spread of malaria.

CRMC Groundbreaking Ceremony - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

People gathered beneath a tent with sand underfoot on one of the warmest and sunny days of the season to celebrate construction of a new medical clinic in Baxter. The outpatient clinic is a partnership venture between Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) of Crosby with Allina Health and Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI) of Baxter.

Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Video from the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Festival in Crosby and Ironton.

2013 Nisswa-stämman Folk Music Festival - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Nisswa-stämman Scandinavian Folk Music Festival, June 7 & 8, 2013, features about 150 folk musicians performing on 3 stages, day-long dancing opportunities on two dance floors, dance instruction, a cultural children's activity/performance tent, and great Scandinavian food...all under the shade of the majestic Norway pines of the Nisswa Pioneer Village in Nisswa, Minnesota.

Sena Ehrhardt to give heart and soul at Lakes Jam - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Ehrhardt of Rochester grew up in a home filled with music as her father, Ed Ehrhardt, has been a professional guitar player for more than 40 years. The father-daughter duo along with the Sena Ehrhardt Band that consists of Steve Hansen on the bass, Cole Allen on guitar and Tim Hasler on the drums are proud to bring their talent to Brainerd.

The band will perform at 2 p.m. June 29 in the Lakes Jam to be held at Brainerd International Raceway and Resort (BIR).

"I'm so excited to be performing at that venue (BIR,)" said Sena Ehrhardt. "Being a Minnesota girl I went up north all the time when I was a kid. That's what we did for fun. We passed by BIR all the time ... We hung out on the White Fish Chain and near Longville on Woman Lake. It is so beautiful up there."

Ehrhardt said Brainerd fans can expect a fun, high-energy show. She said they will play a lot of songs from their two albums, "Leave the Light On" and their new release "All In." Ehrhardt said that fans will learn about the band through their music.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/entertainment/2013-06-05/blues-artist-give-brainerd-her-heart-and-soul

Concert in the Park Series - Park United Methodist Choir - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

The Park United Methodist Church Choir starts off the Concerts in the Park series at Gregory Park in Brainerd.

Kinship kids just part of the Johnson family - Brainerd Dispatch MN

For Jim and Joan Johnson, a child doesn't have to be biological to be part of the family.

They've added an extra five to their three boys through the Kinship Partners mentoring program.

The Brainerd couple are the recipients of two high honors at Kinship Partners: Jim was chosen the Real Men are Mentors recipient and Joan, the Women in Kinship Mentoring award.

"You hope you make some difference in the kids' lives," Joan said. "It might not always feel like it, but you just hope."

BHS Warriors 2013 Grad Blast Party - Brainerd Disptch MN

The 2013 Seniors work off their graduation pressure with a night of fun and play with Grad Blast at the high school.

Young girl finds sheltie dog missing for three weeks - Brainerd Dispatch MN

NISSWA — When Lydia Gazelka spotted a flyer for a missing dog at Schaefer's in Nisswa Memorial Day weekend she had no idea she would be the one to find the pup.

But she prayed she would be.

Five years ago, Gazelka's dog Luka went missing. "She never came back," Gazelka said. "I remember how sad I was. I thought about that when I saw the flyer."

Three weeks before Gazelka, 12, read the flyer, Anne Gustafson of Merrifield got a call from a friend who was serving as her dog sitter.

Her dog, Banjo, was missing.

Sideline View (June 5, 2013) - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

This week on Sideline View, Jeremy and Mike discuss future golf star Erik Stoxen, Pequot Lakes softball team advancing to the state tournament, along with area track and field and golf athletes.

72-year-old woman attacked by black bear - Brainerd Dispatch MN

An Aitkin County woman was injured in a black bear attack Monday evening, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The 72-year-old McGregor woman was bitten and clawed by a sow bear before the animal and her three yearlings left the woman's property. The woman's injuries were serious but not life-threatening. The bears had been seen on the property prior to Monday's incident.

A conservation officer later killed the 190-pound female, or sow, bear, after the animal ran at the officer as well.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/outdoors/2013-06-05/72-year-old-mcgregor-woman-sustains-non-life-threatening-injuries-bear-attack

Aura and Chakra readings at Brainerd Lakes Holistic Center - Brainerd Dispatch MN

A hazy cloud of green and orange surrounded Doreen Gallaway.

It couldn't be seen by the naked eye, but Gallaway felt it, and a biofeedback video machine painted the picture of her state of mind last Friday afternoon.

"It just made sense for how I was feeling that day," Gallaway said of the colors, which showed she was a little off balance.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-06-04/interactive-view-auras-and-chakras

"This is really something," veterans visit the Traveling Wall - Brainerd Dispatch MN

A stiff south wind blew gray clouds across Crow Wing County Fairgrounds Thursday as veterans and others trickled in to see the recently assembled Traveling Wall — a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

"That's a lot of names," U.S. Navy veteran Bill Diethart concluded when he first walked up to the 360-foot-long, 80 percent scale replica.

"This is really something," U.S. Army 9th Infantry Division Vietnam veteran Dick Olmstead said.

Olmstead remembered kissing the ground when he returned to the U.S. from Vietnam, but there was no fanfare to accompany his return.

"I got off the plane in Fargo (N.D.), he said. "That's all I remember."

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-30/veterans-visit-traveling-wall

Aloha Brainerd Warrior Graduates - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Graduates, parents, ISD 181 staff, school board and guests, thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

So here you are, the graduating class of 2013. You have spent the last 13 years working for this moment. On behalf of the faculty at BHS, and all the teachers and staff at ISD 181, I offer congratulations!

In 1982, when I made it into my high school's top choir, I sang at my first graduation. Since then, I have performed at or conducted in a graduation ceremony every year. That's a lot of graduations. That's a lot of graduation speeches. To be honest, I don't remember any of the speeches.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-31/aloha-class-2013

Pequot Lakes Bypass - Brainerd Dispatch MN

A Highway 371 bypass is planned for the city of Pequot Lakes, Minn. and is scheduled for construction in 2018.

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials recently met with business owners and residents along with city officials and members of area chambers of commerce to get an update on the project.

Grant awarded locally to help student career exploration - Brainerd Dispatch MN

On May 30, 2013, the Otto Bremer Foundation announced the award of a $248,000 grant to the Bridges Career Academies & Workplace Connection to benefit career exploration and to provide greater exposure to students through the development of career emersion camps, business tours, online resource material, a faculty workshop, expansion of the career academy to schools, tours and practical job experiences through the Educator in the Workplace program and other activities to give students a greater exposure to potential careers.

Sideline View (May 29, 2013) - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Playoffs are here for spring sports. Most sports are still going strong late into the season. Jeremy and Mike talk about area baseball, softball, boys and girls golf and track and field.

Brainerd Lakes area gets stylish - Brainerd Dispatch MN

The 30th annual Nisswa Women's Club Fashion Show and Luncheon was held Tuesday at Madden's Town Hall.
The show is the club's major fundraiser allowing it to give $18,000+ in scholarships and donations last year.

Geocaching: The thrill of the hunt - Brainerd Dispatch MN

To some, the art of geocaching provides an avenue to use specialized math and navigational skills. Others like a simpler version that replaces formula work with modern electronics and more sleuthing.

To Mark Moser, it's all about the excitement of the hunt.

Each adventure brings something new: a hike through an untouched wooded area, a breathtaking view of a lake, even blowing up his infaltable kayak to reach an island cache.

"It's that ah-ha moment when you find a cache," he said. "It's a child-like joy. ...It brings out the kid in you."

Wheel & Walk Night in Brainerd - Brainerd Dispatch MN

The Brainerd City Council hosted Wheel and Walk Night Wednesday starting and ending at Gregory Park to commemorate National Bike Month. For photos go to spotted.brainerddispatch.com.
http://spotted.brainerddispatch.com/galleries/index.php?id=543843

Bored children? Check out something out of Missy's Toy Library - Brainerd Dispatch MN

It started with a passion for education and children.

Today, it's grown into a library of toys.

Missy's Toy Library opened in March, operating out of the Franklin Arts Center in Brainerd.

The stock of toys was started from the collection of Melissa Gahler, a 32-year-old mom of two from rural Pierz, who died in June 2011.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-23/toy-library-gives-families-access-educational-toys

Grant Wilcox leaves imprint on Brainerd Lakes music - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Brainerd High School (BHS) Chamber Orchestra Director Grant Wilcox has left his imprint on BHS and on the lakes community.

After more than 30 years of teaching thousands of students how to play in the orchestra, Wilcox has decided to retire at the end of the 2012-13 school year. His last Chamber Orchestra concert will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Tornstrom Auditorium at the Washington Educational Services Building.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-20/grant-wilcoxs-imprint-will-not-be-forgotten

A firsthand look at safety - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Watching a crash test dummy being thrown around like a rag doll in a roll-over simulator gave 500 fifth-graders at Forestview Middle School in Baxter a good idea of what could happen if they didn't wear their seat belts.

Forestview conducted an event entitled Safety Days Tuesday and Wednesday where students got a 30-minute lesson from professionals in the community who volunteered their time to talk about their professions that revolve around safety.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-22/forestivew-fifth-graders-get-first-hand-look-how-be-safe

Baxter Council Tour of Whipple Beach Park, trail

Baxter is considering how best to manage Whipple Beach Park for the future and looking at plans for a universally accessible playground at the park and a disc golf course. As they are making decisions on a number of uses for the park land, city council members, staff and parks and trails commission members conducted a walk through of the site and newly cut timber sections. They also walked a wood chip trail by the FitQuest building off Audubon Way.

Sideline View (May 22, 2013) - Brainerd Dispatch

As spring sports comes to an end, Mike and Jeremy discuss how each sport has done so far this season. They talk about baseball, softball, boys and girls golf, track and field and boys tennis.

Waytashek, Hennen overcome odds to win Brainerd Tri - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Travis Waytashek, 18, of Brainerd, took the phrase "try, try again" to heart and posted a winning 2:21.22 in Saturday's triathlon at Brainerd High School after collapsing and finishing fourth during last year's event.

"I feel pretty good," said Waytashek. "I'm pumped. Last year, I passed out so I had to do it again this year.

Hannah Hennen, 18, had more obstacles to overcome than just the other competitors in the triathlon. Hennen, Brainerd, was the top finisher for the girls with a time of 2:52.32 despite being told her junior year that a back injury would keep her from participating in strenuous activity.

"It doesn't really feel real," said Hennen. "I wasn't expecting it and I just went out and did my thing. We worked every day to be ready for this point. I was told that I shouldn't do strenuous activity and I wanted to overcome that and prove everyone wrong."

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2013-05-19/triathlon-waytashek-hennen-overcome-odds-win-brainerd-tri

Buster (Dog) Park set to open June 1 - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Buster would have loved this park.

Spanning 47,000 square feet of grass and speckled trees, there's a view of the river and even a few out-of-commission fire hydrants.

It's the ultimate dog play ground, and it opens June 1. Buster Park, Brainerd's dog park, is finally a reality after nearly three years in the works.

Bob Rudsenske donated the needed $15,000 in memory of his Boston Terrier, Buster, which died more than a year ago.

"Animals are very important to us, especially for those who don't have family," he said.

Today, Rudsenske has a new dog, which he named Buster No. 2. Almost identical to his predecessor, only the personalities separate the two.

The dog park is a good memory of the first Buster, Rudsenske said.

It's set up for the joy of the dogs. Human entertainment is secondary.

"We want to literally make it a playground for dogs," said Brainerd Parks and Recreation director Tony Sailer.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com

Baxter's electronic signs - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Baxter considers regulations for electronic signs with staff suggesting static signs and the planning commission recommending allowing animated signs.

The Baxter City Council is expected to look at the issue on May 21, 2013.

Utrinkets opens in downtown Brainerd - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Utrinkets yarn, gifts and boutique opens in downtown Brainerd, Minn. The store made the move to Brainerd from Nisswa into the former Bead Box on Laurel Street. Shop regulars say the store is about more than yarn with community and a sense of purpose and giving back.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Facility - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Camp Ripley opened its newest facility to the public Friday to show off its $3.9 million, 53,000-acre training facility.

High School Rodeo - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

The Minnesota High School Rodeo at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.

Nisswa brush fire May 16, 2013 - Brainerd Dispatch MN

A helicopter water drop and work on the ground by firefighters from Nisswa, Mission, and the DNR helped keep a wildfire from burning a pole barn on Garden View Road in Nisswa. The fire burned two to three acres, causing minor damage to the pole barn. The fire was challenging because of the thick woods.

CLC Graduation - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

Central Lakes College graduation ceremony for the Brainerd campus at the Brainerd High School gymnasium.

Sideline View (May 15, 2013) Interview with Ray Austin - Brainerd Dispatch, MN

An interview with Ray Austin from the Fort Ripley Rebels amateur baseball team. Austin talks about this coming baseball season, new and returning players, what a smelt fry is and new and current teams in their section.

High school students help with riverbank conservation project - Brainerd Dispatch MN

It began when a Motley neighbor identified massive erosion along Highway 10 in Motley.

The end result was a collaboration of numerous individuals and agencies to create a buffer of vegetation to stabilize the banks of the Long Prairie River as it flows through the Morrison County city.

On Monday, nearly 1,000 trees and shrubs were planted by 70 students from Pillager and Staples-Motley schools, which will receive Minnesota Forest Resource Council funds for planting and transportation.

A donation of $5,000 from the Minnesota Fishing Museum went for the plant materials to do the riparian planting with the help of the students who planted the buffer.

Read more: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-05-13/establishing-roots

Brainerd Lakes awarded 2014 Governor's Fishing Opener - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Brainerd firefighters "Fill-the-Boot" campaign for MDA - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Seven-year-old Emma Elizabeth McKenney — also known as "Princess" — had surpassed all of her doctor's expectations and lived longer than they had expected.

Emma, who fought with a mitochondrial disease and an undiagnosed neuromuscular disease all her life, and her mother Margo Fortune of Brainerd prayed all year that they both would be able to stand beside Brainerd firefighters for their 2013 Fill the Boot campaign that raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The Fill the Boot campaign will be held from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday on Washington Street and Northwest Fourth Street in Brainerd, at the stoplight intersection at Walgreens. Sadly, Fortune will be the only one who will be able to stand next to the firefighters for the campaign. Emma lost her battle with her rare muscular disease, March 24, 2013.

Read more:

2013 MN Fishing Opener at the Gull Narrows - Brainerd Dispatch MN

With several of central Minnesota's larger lakes still ice covered, anglers packed the Gull Lake Narrows in Lake Shore Saturday to fish for walleyes and Northern pike on the first day of the Minnesota fishing opener.

Temps only advanced to the low 40's and the morning was filled with occasional snow flurries and wind.

Even with weather that didn't necessarily make getting out on the water appealing for the 2013 opening weekend, John Edman, Explore Minnesota tourism director, said the opener isn't the kind of event derailed by ice conditions.

This time next year, the governor's fishing opener will be back in the Brainerd lakes area's backyard.

On May 8-11, 2014, the Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener event will be on Gull Lake with Grand View Lodge serving as host.

Firefighters, DNR scramble to contain fires - Brainerd Dispatch MN

Several grass fires ignited Friday in the Brainerd lakes area, sending firefighters and foresters with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) scrambling to contain them.

About a dozen Brainerd firefighters and the DNR responded to a grass fire at 2:58 p.m. Friday on 12774 Crow Wing County 23, south of Brainerd. The grass fire made its way to a small abandoned garage and it caught fire. The garage was a total loss.

Read more:

Minnesota ice out - waiting for spring 2013

As the 2013 fishing opener approaches all eyes are on the economic engines of central Minnesota's lake region. A year ago, records were rewritten for early ice out dates after the amazing spring of 2012. This year is a reversal of fortunes as records will be shattered across the state for late ice out dates. This fishing opener, anglers are taking to small lakes and rivers as the vigil for ice out continues.