To get ALL the news from the Edge of the Frontier, subscribe to NORTHERN HERALD. Details on Home Page: http://northernherald.com ****************************************************************** Copyright (c) 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 by Northern Herald and Northern Herald Publications, Inc. MEDIA AND OTHER USERS: See Copyright Info and Limited Permission to Use - Revised 9/6/97 - at the end of this file. ****************************************************************** THE LIBRARY - VOLUME 10 10/25/04 through last archived issue Later issues which have not yet been archived to text-only here are still available in .pdf format at northernherald.com THE NORTHERN HERALD LIBRARY OF ARCHIVED ISSUES ************************************ FULL TEXT FOLLOWS TABLES OF CONTENTS ************************************ There is no index, nor is one needed. If you are researching a particular subject, or person, use the FIND utility in your browser's EDIT menu (at top of your screen) to locate stories dealing with your topic. Contents are in order - are not hypertext - just SCROLL DOWN to find what you want - this file is cumulative and voluminous - you may find it expeditious to FIND (from your EDIT menu on Explorer and certain other browsers) for a keyword in the headline (as listed in these Contents), or to download and then search): CONTENTS - BY ISSUE (DESCENDING): -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/07/2005 - VOLUME 10 NO. 3 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow Up DISCRIMINATION HAS NO PLACE IN BEMIDJI. Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up GRABER CASE DISMISSED FATHERS FILE ENORMOUS CLASS ACTION SUITS Multi-State Actions Include Minnesota; Affected Non-Custodial Parents Invited to Join In Suit IT'S BACK-TO-HACK! CRAFT FAIR - The Creme de la Creme! CHILI FEED at the Legion HECKLEFEST (TM) AT LUCETTE'S THE CROWN JEWEL OF BACK-TO-HACK: THE SNOWFLAKE QUEEN THE GARTER AUCTION A CASE FOR LIBERTY Beltrami County Smoking Ordinance Catastrophic for Rural Bars, Pull Tab Charities, Municipalities; Six Challenge Constitutionality in U. S. District Court DEPUTY ANDERSEN STILL HAVING PAID VACATION THEY'VE COME TO LOOK FOR AMERICA ... BEMIDJI'S MANN FOR THE JOB IS A MANN ON THE MOVE! Postmaster Charles Mann Improves Bemidji Postal Service, Now Moves On To Solway. In Focus GARFIELD LAKE ICE RACERS DO IT AGAIN AT LAPORTE! Editorials - Opinion STATE MINIMUM WAGE IS HIGH ENOUGH Letters to the Editor SOLWAY RESIDENTS WANT THEIR WILDLIFE DISPLAY BACK FOREIGN EXCHANGE ORGANIZATION REPORTS SUCCESSFUL BEMIDJI AREA PLACEMENTS Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up - Beltrami co. Corruption CLINT BRUESTLE GETS 30 DAYS FOR $10-$15,000 HOSPITAL THEFT Adjudication Stayed; Record to be Expunged Following Probation; Loses Wife DEFATTE CHARGED WHILE TRYING TO PREVENT TRACTOR THEFT GOINGS-ON UNION STATION, AT BEMIDJI, NOW FEATURES JAZZ TURTLE CREEK SALOON Consumer Corner THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK In Focus NEW YEAR'S EVE AT LA ROSA ! GAME FEED AT BECIDA! FISH ABOUND AT CASS LAKE TOURNEY WHALEN WOODS REBUILDS SUMPTION: IN RIGHT PLACE AT RIGHT TIME Recipe Box HOW TO GET MARRIED AND STAY THAT WAY BASIC VANILLA FROSTING SWEET CORN PUDDING CAKE FBI ARRESTS ALLEGED PEDOPHILE AT RED LAKE In Focus S.A.V.E. TOBACCO - THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GOOD CIGAR -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 12/20/2004 - VOLUME 10 NO. 2 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up NO FOUL ON HOCKEY SCORE All Charges Dismissed Leading Edge Journalism This Is Bemidji HAVOLINE XPRESS LUBE TRIES TO FRAME NATIVE EMPLOYEE Owner Randy Johnson Makes Racial Statements; Threatens To File Charge If Employee Won't Resign. ATMS TARGETED FOR BURGLARY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA JAN. 14TH - 16TH, IT'S BACK TO HACK ! In Focus BSU JAZZ PLAYS "REMEMBER WHEN", READIES FOR JAZZ FEST FEB. 5TH SYD PERFORMS AT BSU Editorials - Opinion LAKELAND TV IS OWED DEBT OF GRATITUDE, AND MAYBE SOME STATE HELP. ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant REMAINDER GIFTS TO CHARITY: DEDUCT NOW, GIVE LATER Letters to the Editor READERS TOOT OUR HORN! HER BROTHER'S PERSPECTIVE Susan Berkovitz's brother, Robert Berkovitz, comments on SUE BERKOVITZ: WHY? in our issue of 06/21/04 (available at northernherald.com). Follow-Up GRABER HEARING GAINS LITTLE GROUND Advertisement: Adam Steele, C.P.A. NOW! BIG TAX REFUNDS FOR PROSTITUTES ! Consumer Corner THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK GARY LEWIS & PLAYBOYS PLAY THE REIF -- A Northern Herald Restaurant Review -- COME HUNGRY TO LA ROSA'S SUNDAY BUFFET! MAC ROSTIE ART EXHIBIT GOODS FROM THE WOODS !! -- A Northern Herald Book Review -- FLUKE RELEASES "SUGAR COOKIE MURDER" Review by The Lady Steele BOVEY CELEBRATES 100TH WITH GALA BLOWOUT Huge Parade, Events Draw Thousands TOY DRIVE AT REMER -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 10/25/2004 - VOLUME 10 NO. 1 NINTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE ! -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism MEDICAL STUDY REFUTES SECOND-HAND SMOKE MYTHS Rare Long-Term Exposure Study Concludes That Second-Hand Smoke Does Not Increase Risk of Heart/Lung Disease. Leading Edge Journalism Beltrami Deputy Involved in Alleged Drugging, Rape BSU HOCKEY TEAM SCORES AGAIN PREECE GETS REPRIEVE BEAUSOLEIL PACKS REIF CENTER DEER RIVER COUPLE BATTLES FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS False Petitions Aided by Advocates For Family Peace; Itasca Co. Health & Human Services INTERNET PROVIDER TO BEMIDJI RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD BRIAN CARLSON SEEKS ITASCA CO. BOARD SEAT UPCOMING EVENTS 9/11 CITIZENS WATCH CRITIQUES COMMISSION WILL PRESENT SEMINAR AT BEMIDJI, OCT. 28TH JUSTICE COMMISSION MEETINGS BECIDA GAME FEED WILL BE DEC. 4TH CONSUMER CORNER Good Deals MR. LEE IS A LUCKY GUY CAUTION NEEDED WITH BEMIDJI'S REBUILT CAR PARTS TOOTH TIPS THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK WATERFOWL WEEKEND AT SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE FUN FOR ALL AT HUBBARD POSSE FUN(D) RAISER WRANGLERS RIDE TOUGH, RIDE HARD, AT NORTH STAR WOODCARVERS CONVENE AT BLACKDUCK HUBBARD CO. COORDINATOR JACK PAUL TO BE ARRAIGNED NOV. 8TH CORN FEST AT BACKUS! REMER CELEBRATES HARVEST DAYS! It's a Fair Deal At The 2004 CLEARWATER COUNTY FAIR ! HATCHING A PLAN FOR AFFORDABLE RX - ADVERTISEMENT - ADAM STEELE, C.P.A., INDEPENDENCE PARTY OF MINNESOTA CANDIDATE FOR STATE REP - DISTRICT 4A WHITE OAK TO OFFER SCHOOL DAYS PROGRAM ****************************************************************** TEXT OF ARCHIVED ISSUES BEGINS: -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 03/07/2005 - VOLUME 10 NO. 3 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow Up --------------------------------- Northern Herald - Fighting Northland Corruption - And we're winning! ------------------------------- This is Bemidji - There's Lots of Open Space and Lots of Opportunity, But . . . DISCRIMINATION HAS NO PLACE IN BEMIDJI. (Photo Caption - photos are not included in The Library edition): The light patches on the building front are where the Havoline Xpress Lube lettering used to be, at their former location on Bemidji Avenue across from Lake Bemidji. The big free standing Havoline sign was hauled down by a crane truck the day before, less than 3 weeks following Northern Herald's exclusive release of the story, Havoline Xpress Lube Tries To Frame Native Employee. Bemidji consumers are to be commended for not standing for this type of business practice. The former Xpress Lube property was transferred to Valvoline, which held it's grand opening January 12th, 2005. Hopefully, they will be a better employer, although owner, Allen Korpi, failed to return press calls inquiring as to whether he'd be hiring the displaced Havoline workers. Charges remain pending against Craig Littleghost, the former Havoline employee who was subject to an extortive attempt to obtain his resignation by Xpress Lube owner Randy Johnson. Johnson had threatened to make a police complaint of theft unless the employee agreed to resign. Littleghost will answer the charge, which may have been fabricated by Johnson, at pre-trial, March 29th, 2005 at 2 p.m. For full details, see our original story, in Northern Herald of 12/20/04, available below on this page, and follow-up of the trial in Northern Herald of 07/04/05 ------------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- GRABER CASE DISMISSED GRAND RAPIDS -- The extremely publicly-expensive attempts of former exotic dancer Adrianne Chase, Keewatin, to misuse the system to deny child custody to their father, Bradley Graber, of Deer River, came to an end February 17th, 2005, with full dismissal, by the Honorable Judge Hawkinson, at Grand Rapids, of the baseless CHIPS petition Chase initiated against Graber with the help of corrupt (our opinion) former Itasca County Social Services worker James Jerome. The betrothal of Chase and Graber fell apart due to her frequently being "out" overnight, after exotic dancing calls. By the time of the breakup, they had two children (for details of the case, earlier reported, see Deer River Couple Battles For Parental Rights, NH of 10/25/04; and Graber Hearing Gains Little Ground, NH of 12/20/04; available at northernherald.com). They agreed to a joint-custody arrangement, which worked fine - until it was time for Bradley Graber to have the kids, starting July 30th, 2004. During the 3 days before that date, Chase sought a Temporary Restraining Order (ultimately dismissed) and enlisted the help of Jerome to bring a CHIPS (child endangerment) petition, keeping Graber from having custody, and severely limiting even visitation, on grounds which were never proven in court, and, per witnesses, were baseless. Bradley Graber has never been shown to have mistreated or presented any danger to his children, and he "passed" a psychological evaluation the court ordered. Through the proceedings, which took 6 1/2 months, the court-appointed attorney for one of the children (neither of them ever, actually, lodged a complaint against their father) said that the child had told him she wanted unsupervised visits with Bradley, and, "She does not feel that she is any danger, nor has she been." Case worker Amy Bestland submitted a report that "Neither child expressed discomfort or fear in the company of either parent," and recommended that the case be closed, as did the psychologist. This baseless action, which deprived Graber of his kids for over six months, involved 2 court-appointed attorneys, a guardian ad litem, social services workers, a psychologist, court staff, the County Attorney, and the tax-supported Advocates For Family Peace. Total public costs of this fiasco are not known, but are likely well over $5,000. ----------------------------------------------------------- FATHERS FILE ENORMOUS CLASS ACTION SUITS Multi-State Actions Include Minnesota; Affected Non-Custodial Parents Invited to Join In Suit ST. PAUL -- Citing deprivation of civil rights, including involuntary servitude under threat of jail (debtor's prison) and loss of other rights; intrusion by the state into fundamental rights of natural parents; gross negligence and reckless disregard for duties in custody proceedings and restraining orders; enforcing unlawful custody orders, while refusing to enforce orders granting visitation; fraud in awards of unreasonable child support; and disparate taxation of custodial, vs. non-custodial, parents; Minneapolis resident David Witte has brought a mammoth federal lawsuit (case no. 04-4152 JRT/FLN) which, in a 47 page Amended Complaint filed February 15, 2005 at the United States District Court at St. Paul, comprehensively challenges many tenets of Minnesota's divorce/custody/child support scheme. According to a release issued by The Legal Action Committee (www.legalactioncommittee.org), this Minnesota action is one of suits which have been brought in each of 45 states challenging similar corrupt state methods. Witte filed the case as a class action, inviting others to join as parties Plaintiff, and seeks damages including one million dollars per plaintiff, as well as relief from the improper custody/support orders, and declaratory prohibition of future unlawful actions of the states and state officials involved. Interested fathers and other non-custodial parents will find participation info at The Legal Action Committee's website, ante. The landmark suit is assisted by attorney Frank Schulte, Esq., of St. Paul. ------------------------------------------------------------- IT'S BACK-TO-HACK! HACKENSACK -- Come rain or shine - snow or no - one thing they know how to do in Hackensack is have fun, even at 20 below. So the cold weather didn't chill spirits any during the 2005 Back-To-Hack winter festival (an annual event), January 14th - 16th. The event kicked off Friday night with hay rides and the gala Open House at the Chamber of Commerce's new Visitor Center. Still early in the evening came the parade, huge community bonfire and free wiener roast (a tradition), followed by Family Night sponsored by the Senior Center, featuring Karaoke, music, and fun, provided by Spectrum Entertainment. Comedy buffs could wind up the evening with refreshments and hilarious stand-up comedy at Lucette's Pizza & Pub. Clearly, the emphasis was on quality at Saturday's Craft Fair, which this year featured not so many as before, but the very best of exhibitors (see photos, page 8). It was hard to go in there and not buy something! Saturday also brought the Treasure Hunt, and the sumptuous annual Chili Feed at the American Legion (one bowl isn't nearly enough). The falling of that evening found kids and teens at the Community Center for the Movie Matinee and Games, followed by the Teen Dance; while older folk went to the Fire Hall for Hackensack's notorious annual Snowflake Queen Pageant. It's a rather unusual beauty contest - but don't take our word for it - the pics are on page 9! Sunday's schedule featured Breakfast at the American Legion, followed by Ice Racing and the Big Raffle Drawing for prizes including an Ice House and $500 shopping spree. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Starting off with a bang, fireworks lit the night sky over Hackensack Friday, January 14th, 2005, opening the festivities of the Back-To-Hack weekend! Warm like toast. Despite frigid subzero temps, Hackensackians and visitors keep warm in the last embers of the enormous community bonfire, made from stacked trees, on the opening Friday evening. There's nothing like Free Hot Dogs and hot chocolate to go with a bonfire. The Hackensack Chamber of Commerce served up several hundred of them, from their booth, by the fire site. What could liven up an evening like a lot of hula hoops? Ryan Burns, whose Spectrum Entertainment produced the event, knew to bring a bunch of them for everyone! Burns also hosted Karaoke, and DJ'd music for dancing, with complimentary cookies, hot cider, popcorn, and coffee, provided by the Senior Center and served by volunteers Sue Johnson and Sheila Hunter, who also operates the HOWA Family Center at Walker. Brittany Goble, Haley Reider, and Katelyn Hanke perform for the crowd. CRAFT FAIR - The Creme de la Creme! This year's Back-To-Hack craft show didn't sprawl - it was concise and comfortable, including only the very best crafters from the area and beyond, with unique and distinctive wares that one wouldn't otherwise find. So one didn't navigate tables of stuff they wouldn't buy; the only problem was keeping one's wallet from becoming overactive amidst these treasures. Our cutting room floor is littered with the great pics of the other great stuff that just wouldn't fit on this page. Some of the other primo exhibitors included Glenn and Joyce Edwards, with natural plant inlays in pottery (pic available in NH of 12/20/04, page 7, at northernherald.com); original candles by Debi Schultz and Bob Zimmer's D & B'ZZZ candles, of Hackensack and Akeley; and handcrafted jewelry by Diane James, who owns Dreamscape at Laporte, Minn. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Mary Cottrell displays tasteful wrought iron clocks, while her husband shows off his ornate birdhouses. The Cottrells are from Park Rapids, Minn. Nita Kelley, of Kelley's Fleece, Sauk Rapids, Minn. At first glance, these attractive jars, with their multi-coloured contents, look like objects d'art. But they're actually premeasured ingredient combinations for the cookie and dessert recipes featured at Tommy's Treats & Eats, Walker, Minn. Other mixes include (very excellent) pancakes, bread making, etc.; and their retail location at Walker has many varieties of finished take-out cheesecakes and baked goods. Tommy Larson, owner CHILI FEED at the Legion It's an annual tradition! Coming in from the Minnesota January cold, there's nothing like a warm bowl, or two, or three, to warm things up. And every year, people find savoury and meaty bowls, served up with all the condiments (for safe chili eating), including onions, Tabasco, even sour cream, at the Hackensack American Legion. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Ruth and Dale Dwire dish it up. They made 10 gallons for the event. Patti Peters, of Aitkin County, and Frank, of Hackensack, enjoy the hearty brew with kidney beans and lots of meat. HECKLEFEST (TM) AT LUCETTE'S A highlight of the Back-To-Hack Friday evening was the hilarious stand-up comedy of Jamie Blanchard and Bob Larson, which went well with beverage and the excellent Calzone at Lucette's Pizza & Pub. Lucette's regularly features stand-up, and will likely have other acts this summer. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Jamie Blanchard, from the Twin Cities, dryly pointed up the more comical aspects of day-to-day life, interacting with the audience in a light and non-intimidating way. Recalling some of the fast food employees he's met: "I'm sure the school requirement is at least three years - of eighth grade." Comedy seems to come naturally to Blanchard. In interview, Blanchard said that, with friends, he's always been the funny guy; and that everyday occurances, are "the funniest stuff out there." It's the kind of humour that leaves audiences chuckling and saying, "Yes, I've been there . . . I know exactly what he's talking about." Blanchard plays in the Twin Cities, and tours the midwest. Booking info: 612-743-1206 Billing himself as a politically-incorrect comic, Bob Larson was very much the working man's comedian. One of his favourites was Jack Benny. Over his twenty years in the business, Larson has perfomed for U.S. troops, played the Embassy Suites, and The Improv, as well as Rodney Dangerfield's Las Vegas stage; and has worked with greats including Rich Little, George Miller, and Jeff Wayne. Born and raised in Duluth, Larson, a family man now living in the Twin Cities, operates the Hecklefest(TM) comedy agency, and tries to book in Minnesota and surrounding states, so as to not be away from his wife and kids for too long. Booking info: 651-503-3841. The audience, regularly erupting in laughter, was highly appreciative of both of the evening's entertainers at Lucette's. The Crown Jewel of Back-To-Hack THE SNOWFLAKE QUEEN With bitter cold outside, the Hackensack Fire Hall was packed to capacity. About 400 people trudged through snow and tundra to be there, and those who'd been there before knew to come early to get a good seat. By the time the show started, even standing room was close and crowded. By the end of the evening, they'd have raised over $4,000 for the Hackensack Chamber, and Fire Dept.; and, additionally, about $1,200 for the Hackensack First Responders. Yep, the theme was 1950s Shake, Rattle, & Roll, and it was the evening of the 2005 Snowflake Queen! Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Making it happen! This annual event couldn't happen without, of course, the contestants, their wives who, largely, put them up to it and helped with costuming, and the many community boosters who organize and contribute to the event. Alice McQueen handmade many of the contestant's costumes and garters. Coordinators for the event, Sheryl Engler, Kris Kayser (of Stone Woman Herbal), and the very beautiful and glamourous (and married) Cindy Cressy (of North Country Tire). Many other volunteers included Kayla Farr, whom the pageant thanked, "for her choreographic efforts, and her attempt to teach rhythm to our candidates," and The Has Beens who provided music for the event and dance afterward. THE CANDIDATES. Only one could win, and it must have been so hard to choose. The candidates, one of which, that evening, would become the newly reigning Snowflake Queen, with all of the benefits and duties that attend to that office. Buxom with biceps and tatoo, Norma Jean Biker performs in the entertainment competition event; Luscious Lucy McGee, with escort, Brian Schultz; Pinky Swivel Hips (yes, her hair really was pink - it loses something in B & W); Lucy Day; Marilyn Mudfence, with escort and good sport, Hackensack councilman John Chuba; and, with only a shadow on her upper lip, Anita Smallerbum. CROWNING GLORY. The last official duty, as tradition has it, of last year's Snowflake Queen is to crown the new Snowflake Queen, per the judges' decision. 2004 Queen Lulu Bamboo makes her appearance, and parting address; and then bestows the coveted crown on 2005 pageant winner Lucy Day! THE GARTER AUCTION Much more than just guys dressing up in gals' clothes, Snowflake Queen is an evening of very well produced and hilarious comedy. Usual events include the walk, individual and group entertainment sections, interview questions, serenade and crowning. New this year was the garter auction. For each candidate, the highest bidder got to remove the candidate's garter - with her teeth! With proceeds going to the First Responders, the bidding intensified as audience members passed their own contributions to the bidding ladies to increase the bids. In just a few minutes, the auction raised $1,100. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Auction winners, with Master of Ceremonies, Jake Howard. When Lucy Day's turn came, she pulled a switch, tossing her garter into the audience where it was caught by area building contractor Tim Paulsen. With a bid of $150, the lady won the right to pull it off of him, but first, she had to remove his shoe. Said M.C. Jake Howard, "For the $150, as far as I'm concerned, she can take his PANTS off!" Hackensack First Responders A CASE FOR LIBERTY ------------------ Beltrami County Smoking Ordinance Catastrophic for Rural Bars, Pull Tab Charities, Municipalities; Six Challenge Constitutionality in U. S. District Court BEMIDJI -- OK, so a few people get together and decide to pool their money and build a clubhouse where they and their guests can come to relax, have some drinks and smoke long cigars. But this couldn't happen under the new Beltrami County smoking ordinance. In a strange twist of words, this Nazi-inspired law defines that private clubhouse as a "public place" and prohibits anyone from smoking there. Indeed, even the familiar scene at the end of TV's Boston Legal, where, at the end of the work day, with everyone else gone from the office, Captain Kirk and the office hot shot smoke big cigars and philosophize over the day's events, couldn't lawfully happen in Beltrami County. The office is a workplace - under the ordinance, a "public place" - where all smoking is banned. Despite hype that sales in the overall have gone up (they do anyway due to annual growth) since smoking bans were enacted in other locales, they have put many individual businesses under the axe. Now, under the Beltrami County smoking ban, it has been reported that receipts, and pull-tab sales, are sharply down at the municipal bars of Kelliher and Blackduck. A Turtle River bar, which took the owner 19 years to build up, is now in danger of going out of business due to the ban. A popular limousine service driver reported that he often goes around Beltrami County. That his fares usually select destinations outside the County, so they can smoke. The manager at Wilton Liquor Store reported a 75% loss of customers immediately after the ban; they put in a smoking area (which can only be 30% of the total business area), but still reports about 25% loss, compared to before the ban. "You change people's patterns and they don't come back," she said; and as most customers smoke, much of their taxable business area now cannot be used. The nazi ordinance goes so far as to also prohibit smoking in Bemidji's smoke shops, where most all of the customers and employees are people who, normally, smoke. The canisters of bulk tobacco, on display for pipe smokers to sample and find their favourite blend, may no longer be sampled in the store. In ways, the push mirrors something Adolf Hitler called his "war on lung cancer", which, like many of his institutions, including his death camps, presumed to tell people what was good for them. A Little Hitlerian group of people that don't smoke and don't want anyone else to, known as the "B-Team", is lauding the ordinance; but in passing it, the Beltrami County Board, never that big on individual rights anyway, seems to have been totally oblivious of such well-rooted fundamentals like private ownership of property and the proprietor's rights to determine how that property is used, and how his business is run; as well as people's right to smoke, if they want to and if it's OK with the owner of whatever place they're in. 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. But the Principles of America are being defended in the United States District Court at St. Paul. Those Constitutional principles are now being raised by 6 Plaintiffs, comprised of three bars (Corner Bar, The Other Place, and Turtle Creek Saloon), a restaurant (Hillcrest Supper Club), a smoke shop (Tobacco Super Store, dba S.A.V.E. Tobacco), and an individual smoker (Adam Steele); in bringing suit in federal court to overturn the ordinance (case no. 04-5109 JNE/RLE). If successful, the action could also bear upon the unconstitutionality of similar ordinances in other Minnesota locales, and other states. The suit cites Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendment constitutional challenges; alleges that Beltrami Commissioner Vicki Haugen was not a resident of Beltrami County when the ordinance was passed; and cites a comprehensive medical study which shows that second-hand smoke is not a factor in lung cancer, heart disease, and other ailments (See Medical Study Refutes Second-Hand Smoke Myths, NH of 10/25/04 at northernherald.com). In latest action, March 7th, 2005, USDC Judge Joan Ericksen turned down Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction, pending trial, of the ordinance. At the hearing, the judge implemented various technicalities to prevent most of the plaintiffs, who had traveled to St. Paul from Bemidji for the purpose, from speaking. The County of Beltrami was represented by attorneys Scott T. Anderson and Eric Quiring, of the Minneapolis firm of Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. The matter now goes to scheduling for discovery and full trial. The American Legion club was built by it's membership for the exclusive use of it's members and guests. Nonetheless, it falls under the axe of the new ordinance. A Veteran member was recently heard to say that American freedom was what he and his compadres put their lives on the line, overseas, to defend. He strongly took exception to them now not having the freedom to smoke in their own clubhouse. This newspaper fully supports America's efforts abroad, and its proud men there. Still, it recognizes that, indeed, the steady erosion of the liberties and values that, at one time, set this great nation apart from all the others may tend to explain why, nowadays, there aren't nearly so many, as in the W.W. II era, that are finding it something worth defending and are rushing out to do so. --------------------------------------------------- Have We Lost Our Minds? DEPUTY ANDERSEN STILL HAVING PAID VACATION BEMIDJI -- As of February 9th, 2005, Beltrami Co. Deputy Jeffrey Andersen remains on "paid administrative leave" for his part in taking dirty movies at a Bemidji romance party Sept. 19, 2004. Andersen receives $1,678.40 every two weeks (43,638.40/yr. plus benefits) from the taxpayer's money; and has received about $16,784. plus benefits, for the 20 weeks of leave, so far, since the September incident. ----------------------------------------------------- THEY'VE COME TO LOOK FOR AMERICA ... GRAND RAPIDS -- The Reif's fundraiser, featuring the legendary band AMERICA, has been rescheduled and will be September 17th, 2005. The event, underwritten by AmericInn Motel, and Anderson & Ophoven Law Office, P.A., is now expected to be a sell-out, so people wanting to see AMERICA are advised to get their tickets early, whether at Reed Drug, Grand Rapids, or by calling the Reif Center at 218-327-5780 ------------------------------------------------------ BEMIDJI'S MANN FOR THE JOB IS A MANN ON THE MOVE! Postmaster Charles Mann Improves Bemidji Postal Service, Now Moves On To Solway. BEMIDJI -- After 4 years of improving Bemidji Postal Service, Postmaster Charles Mann went to the Solway Post Office February 1st. "I guess I find that I miss dealing with the customers directly and waiting on the customer, and this provides an opportunity to do more of that . . . so, when the opportunity came, I requested a transfer," he said. Mann's tenure at Bemidji has seen many positive changes. Unlike Dallas Radel, the postmaster before him, who efficientized by cutting customer service, shortening the lobby hours, and making the last mail pickup earlier in the day - an inconvenience for businesses mailing after work; Mann's focus was on giving the customer more service and convenience for the money. He recently returned the lobby closing to 10 p.m. weekdays; and implemented an automated postal center, allowing people (using a credit/debit card) to send parcels, including those weighing over a pound, anytime the lobby is open. Mann's term saw the implementation of the new 911-emergency services street names, and he said that helping the customers and the postmen deal with that and make the conversion was one of his biggest challenges; the new addresses, he said, will prevent confusion due to reassignment of route numbers as the community expands. "Once you get an address, it's the same and we don't have to change it, even if you end up on a different route," he said. Mann is excited about recent innovations in the postal system which now allow customers to use the Internet more, such as to place a mail vacation hold, arrange a mail pickup, or even print their own postage; as well as the newer sorting equipment, which they're "using to hold our costs down, to help the customers," he said. Mann's term also saw the 9/11 period with it's anthrax scare, and addressed the required beefing up of security, "Internally, we've made a lot of changes since then - how we handle the mail, on plans to react if there is an emergency, on aviation security, that sort of thing," so they'll be "as ready as we possibly can," should another emergency occur. In closing, Mann added that they've received some calls and there has been some concern about the possibility of postal rates increasing, but said that this is not in the immediate future, and probably wouldn't happen until toward the end of 2005. He could not speculate on what the new first-class letter rate might be. Mann's departure leaves some pretty big shoes for the new Bemidji Postmaster to fill. Mann said that the job would be routinely advertised, and likely filled within about three months. Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): More Service for the Money! Postmaster Mann displays the Bemidji Post Office's new expanded lobby hours - 'til 10 p.m., and 'til 8 on weekends. This will be more convenient for the many boxholders. Mann's predecessor had reduced the hours the lobby was open. ---------------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- GARFIELD LAKE ICE RACERS DO IT AGAIN AT LAPORTE! LAPORTE -- The 2005 ice racing season got off to a good start January 9th on Laporte's Garfield Lake, and is expected to last as long as weather and ice permits. With spectator admission still free, each Sunday, crowds drive out onto the ice to watch the sport, generally from the comfort of their cars which can be parked around the perimeter of the track for good viewing. The races start at 11:30 am, and continue through most of the afternoon. Food, hot chocolate and other refreshments are available from the Laporte Lions' food booth. The Lions sponsor the Garfield Lake races. Said head flagger Jerry Davis of the season start, ". . . Everything's been pretty decent. Not bumping - they're rubbing a little but that is racing, you know. Good turnout, good bunch of guys [racers] this year." He said of the new 4 cylinder studded class, "they can have all 4 tires and wheels studded - [they] handle in the corner just nice - fast - real exciting class [with] a lot more control in the corners and in the straightaways." Said club President, Dale Donat, Jr., of the opening day, "I thought everybody did a really excellent job. . . . The new 4-cyl. class . . . keeps [the ice] ... with good 'bite' on it for the V-8s." He said, "We're doing our best to keep everything as safe as we can." More information on Garfield Lake Ice Racing can be found at www.garfieldiceracers.com or by calling 218-224-2521 Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Winning It! Kurt Honer drives his #07 car over the finish line winning his heat January 9th, as head flagman Jerry Davis offciates from his truck parked on the season track carved from the lake ice. Clouds of snow fly as Jesse Morris, in the Downare Roofing car, #60, commands an early lead in the feature race of the new 4-cylinder class. Morris went on the win that feature event. Ahead of the pack coming from the turn is Paul Himmelright in car #77, early in the 8 cylinder feature. That feature was won, though, by Rick Hanson, in car #81, who afterward said, "you never know," if you've got it won 'til the flag is down. In the falling snow, G. L. Racing Association V.P. Kurt Honer, wife, and crew, in #07 meet with press. In the 8 cylinder class, it is usual to have passengers in both the front and rear, for weight and traction. ------------------------------------------------------------ Editorials - Opinion -------------------- STATE MINIMUM WAGE IS HIGH ENOUGH Raising Minimum Wage Would Put More Minnesota Small Businesses Out of Business; Encourage More Outsourcing; Increase Unemployment, Consumer Prices For most businesses, good, dependable staff are their greatest asset. Employers know this and pay accordingly. But raising what they must pay to new workers before the employers know whether they will work is a bad idea in many ways. The Minnesota Legislature's Senate File 3, which passed in the Senate 02/03/05 on a 37-28 vote, would, generally, raise the Minnesota minimum wage to $5.85 and $6.10 (large employers) per hour, starting 7/1/05; and $6.75 and $7.00/hr beginning 7/1/06. The House has it's own version, HF 48, that would raise the wage, generally, to $5.65 and $5.90 on 7/1/05; and $6.40 and $6.65 on 7/1/06. Both bills, SF 3 and HF 48, are now pending before the House. * The minimum wage is, typically, the entry-level wage paid new employees on many jobs. The present Minnesota minimum is $4.90 and $5.15 (large businesses) per hour. The federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour. Generally, the higher of the Minnesota or federal minimum is paid, so most employees in Minnesota receive at least $5.15 per hour. * Only 12 states have minimum wages higher than the federal. These are mostly places like California, New York and New England, the Pacific Coast, Alaska, and Hawaii; where prices and the costs of living are much higher than in rural Minnesota. Is this the direction in which we want to move? * The nature of those demanding more. From an employer's perspective, the labour market is highly competitive; good workers who are underpaid are attracted elsewhere. Most people who remain at the minimum wage are there because they lack sufficient skills, or their performance on the job is not adequate to warrant more. A higher wage is generally paid to employees who've demonstrated that they're worth more. So the people, primarily, affected by the minimum wage are the newest employees, job hoppers, or those who, for one reason or another, have failed to advance. The new entrants. Most people who are out-of-work are that way because they want to be. It's either because of poor performance on their last job, and/or unwillingness to work and adequately apply themselves to a job to be punctual, dependable, and perform it diligently. It's an attitude thing. There are a lot of people looking for a job, a few who want to work. Even Bemidji's premier employers, with good wages, benefits, and flexible hours, experience a lot of turnover - employee excuses for quitting or refusing work include things like "I just couldn't arrange my schedule for it," and other such nonsense which belies that these people simply ascribe a low priority to working - everything else comes first - they've found other ways to get money to live and doing a good job isn't that important to them. This is the crux of America's labour problem - it's why the biggest and best employers would rather get their labour in China where a lot of people still have their heads screwed on straight. Where they're not fat and sassy on government giveaways (the tax dollars of the people who do work); and where having a job is valuable and important them (It's what we used to call the American Work Ethic). * Causing employers to pay more, in the initial (probationary entry-level) period, to people who don't want to work, would further erode Minnesota's already questionable business climate. Small businesses, which make up a vast percentage of the employing sector, have to be very competitive to stay alive. They are often already strapped and operate near the break-even point. For them, training-in new help often already costs more than the business benefits if the employee doesn't work out. Requiring that they pay more to new, unproven employees would, for some, make staffing prohibitive. The result is less employment, less business growth, less product, less commerce, less state revenue from taxes, and more people going elsewhere to seek their small business dream. * The Ripple Effect. An advance in the minimum wage generally means increasing other levels of pay. It could even affect the $21/hr Minneapolis bus drivers who went on strike. Like a gas hike, this raises the cost of everything you buy. When it raises a retailer's costs of merchandise enough, he simply buys from another country that doesn't have this problem. The mind set of the average Bemidji job-seeker. The run of the mill job applicant would do well as a neurosurgeon, save that he's missing a medical degree. But that's about the pay scale he expects. He wants neurosurgeon's pay for doing little or nothing. But there are only so many government positions available, and these people aren't related to the right people to get them; that's their quandary. Some will take a position, but walk off of it (usually without notice) when they find out it actually involves work. Do something. Lead, follow, or get out of the way. The solution isn't to inflate the economy so that, for a little while, they seem to be doing better. The solution is for them to embrace the work ethic. To be better, less job-hopping, more loyal and hence, better-trained, workers; and enhance their standard of living thereby. Their solution is certainly not to go crying to the state legislature because they can't hold a job. It's either to work, or starve and die. Either way, society is served. ------------------------------------------------------ Letters to the Editor SOLWAY RESIDENTS WANT THEIR WILDLIFE DISPLAY BACK I have lived in Solway 67 years and have supported and donated many dollars to the community and school, as so many other people have. The action recently taken at Solway School made us very angry! I feel the public should know how Dist. 31, principal & teachers at Solway School spend our tax dollars & give away our community projects. They want parents & the community to work together, but how can we when we are treated like this! We were fortunate to have Mr. Bouchie as our principal. He pulled our community & school together by listening & working with us, not against us. When Solway School was still located in the old school, three of Solway's very talented parents joined together and gave their money & time; PTO donated several hundred dollars to help Richard Sand make a beautiful oak glass show case. The background scene was painted by a well known artist, Maureen O’Brien. Animals & birds were beautifully mounted & donated by Wilson Naegeli who has his own taxidermy. Mr. Burwell, who has only been at our Solway School for 1 1/2 yrs., and some of the teachers here only 2-3 yrs., made the decision to give it away, because they couldn't spare 8 feet. It was made for the Solway School. If they didn’t want it, why didn't they ask the community where we would like it, & keep it in Solway? It was kept a secret. The old school house would be grateful to have it; also the new Up North Archery, I feel the community has been cut short by these ungracious people. Some of us contacted the Principal, school board members, PTO, and Superintendent with our wishes, and sent a petition with about 300 signatures to the Superintendent on the 24th of December, but he didn't receive it until Dec. 31st. By then, it had been moved to the Bemidji Science Center. Mr. Hess wrote a letter to me stating it was "on loan" to the Science Center & if we could find a suitable place in Solway (which we have), he would consider returning it. Now, Mr. Burwell sent a letter home with the Solway school children stating it's been "donated" to the Science Center. I put my trust in the words of Mr. Hess. If anyone would like to read my letter from Mr. Hess, I'd be glad to share it. I wonder if Mr. Burwell will pay for a bus to take Solway students to Bemidji to see the display each year from now on. If the display is placed in one of the two places mentioned, 16,000 people may not pass by it, but the ones that do will notice it and be proud to know the people that made it for the Solway Community. Please read the newsletter that Mr. Burwell sent home with the Solway school children. After the PTO Meeting, I talked with each of these great people responsible for the display. They all wanted it to stay in the school, & if not, at least in our community. What a shame that's what they do to us small community people. But, we are good enough to pay their salaries. This won't be forgotten! -- Arlis Strandlien, Solway The NH Editor replies: Gosh! If I'd voted for that school bond issue, I'd sure feel like a fool. Of course, pigs will be flying about before one would find me be voting for most school bond issues. They always want more money, but those buildings were meant to last a lot longer, rather than have all of that fine workmanship laid to waste. Northern Herald spoke with Mrs. Elwell, at Headwaters Science Center, Bemidji, and she said that they'd return the display (photo is not included in Library edition) when Solway had a place for it. But she mentioned that there might be some red-tape problems: that the federal migratory bird act prohibited ownership by other than a qualified educational institution. This applies to taxidermy of endangered and protected species, presumably owls, unicorns, certain nongame birds, etc. On a positive note, at least the Science Center has given the display, below, a good location where it can be seen, along with it's plaque, letting people know that it was the product of the industry of Solwayans; and will be able to preserve it until it's ready to go back to Solway, where it ultimately belongs. -- Ed. --------------------------------------------------------- FOREIGN EXCHANGE ORGANIZATION REPORTS SUCCESSFUL BEMIDJI AREA PLACEMENTS BEMIDJI -- STS Foundation, a not-for-profit organization based out of Scottsdale, Ariz., which, since 1986, has facilitated high school foreign exchange for students from 15 to 18, has announced that two of their exchange students, one from New Zealand, attending Bagley High School, and another from South Korea, attending Bemidji High School, are residing with sponsors and "they are both having a great experience," STS reported. A host family reported that their guest student was doing well in school here, getting As and Bs; and "she really fits in well with our family. . . . She's really happy. . . . I really enjoy having her," and that they had learned a lot from her. STS is presently seeking Bemidji & Bagley area families to share culture and customs, hosting a foreign exchange student in the 2005-2006 school year. Per STS, only students who show academic interest and achievement, good character, adaptability and a satisfactory command of the English language are accepted into the program. Host families provide the exchange student with a comfortable, nurturing, and safe environment, a separate bed, quiet place to study, and help with school registration. STS also offers opportunities for American students to study in Europe, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Interested parties may contact the STS Foundation, or their local rep, Stacey, at 218-694-3228 --------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up - Beltrami co. Corruption ------------------------------------------------------------- CLINT BRUESTLE GETS 30 DAYS FOR $10-$15,000 HOSPITAL THEFT Adjudication Stayed; Record to be Expunged Following Probation; Loses Wife BEMIDJI -- Thieves and embezzlers might well be encouraged to come to Beltrami County where crime sometimes does pay. And if you get caught, well, you might only receive a "slap on the wrists", if you have the right connections. Indeed, graduating high schoolers here might want to consider a life of white collar crime. This paper does not, of course, advocate lawlessness; but some may say that Judge Holter's action in the Bruestle sentencing did. It sends that message to kids and would-be crooks on no uncertain terms. In a city where a tourist who, inadvertently, drops a fishhook in his pocket while shopping might have to pay a fine of 10 times the amount of the merchandise; Clinton Bruestle, 46, former site foreman on North Country Regional Hospital's (NCRH) $40 million building project, who was charged, in an embezzlement-type of theft, with billing the hospital for $10-15,000 worth of work that was actually done on his home, received, January 24th, 2005, before Judge Holter, a Stay of Adjudication of the crime, meaning that if he fulfills the Judge's conditions, it will be removed from his record, so he maybe can get another high position and do it again. Conditions imposed included serving 30 days in the Beltrami County Jail (with Huber work release), pay $1,000 as costs of prosecution, write a letter of apology, and be on supervised probation for from 0 to 10 years, at the discretion of the probation officers. At the time of the offense, Bruestle was the Bemidji Division Manager for Krause-Anderson Construction Company, which was the contractor for the hospital project. Since the discovery, Krause Anderson has reimbursed the hospital for the Bruestle amount, as well as about $250,000 of other disputed charges noted in a subsequent audit of the construction progress billings. In the early phase of the project for a massive hospital addition, in 2001-2002, bills were coming in to the hospital for work performed. But, in late 2003, NCRH's sharp-eyed auditor, Craig Boyer, questioned why they were getting billed for finish carpentry at a time when foundations were just being poured. Bruestle was fired from Krause-Anderson, and ordered off of the project, in January 2004. Per the filed complaint (case no. 04-K8-04-1844), investigation disclosed that up to 600 hours of work time were missing from site work records, and several Krause-Anderson workers stated, and further investigation into the records confirmed, that they'd performed at least 347 of the work hours (about $10,000 worth), billed to the hospital, on Bruestle's new home at 1457 Island View Dr., near Turtle Lake. The workers stated that they were unaware that Bruestle was charging their time to the hospital project. Bruestle was charged Dec. 12th, 2004, with felony theft ($2,500 or more) carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or $20,000 fine. He was represented by Bemidji attorney Robert Wallner, who has a reputation for representing high profile people charged with crimes, such as former Bemidji Police Chief Robert Tell, and getting them off easy. (For coverage of the Tell matter, see The Police Chief Robert Tell Accounts, in Living On The Edge, at northernherald.com) For reasons unknown, the stay of adjudication was apparently recommended by the Minn. Dept. of Corrections (DOC) in a pre-sentence investigation. In a letter to the Court, Beltrami Co. Atty. Tim Faver said, " . . . there appear to be no grounds recognized by law that would justify this extraordinary recommendation. If anything, this offense is more serious than the 'usual' felony theft, as it involved the theft of approximately $10,000 from a local non-profit medical facility. "For all these reasons, it is the state's request that the recommendation from the . . . [DOC] not be followed." At hearing, however, while opposing the stay of adjudication, Faver requested a stay of imposition of sentence. For better or worse, richer or poorer, 'til death do you part. That's what they say; but here in Northern Minnesota, a lot of women are not of that stout quality, and it's more like, When the going gets tough, the tramp gets out. Bruestle's wife, Kari Jo Winkler, 34, filed for divorce Dec. 23, 2004, three weeks after charges were filed. It was granted Dec. 29th. They had been married Jan. 1st, 2004. For original detailed coverage of this matter, see Clint Bruestle Resigns After $250,000+ Construction Billing "Discrepancy" in NH of 01/05/04 at northernherald.com ------------------------------------------------------------ DEFATTE CHARGED WHILE TRYING TO PREVENT TRACTOR THEFT LAKE GEORGE -- On May 17, 2004, following a verbal altercation, in the Bemidji area, with his son, Jerome, 27; John Defatte Sr., 65 and disabled with a back injury and knee surgery, returned to his home in Lake George to find Jerome on his property, removing a tractor. Per John, words followed, including a threat by Jerome to "kick the ... [stuff] out" of him. John said that Jerome did then kick him. Per John, he picked up a pipe to defend himself, if needed, and told Jerome to leave the premises. When Jerome refused, John called 911 to have him removed. In the ensuing time, per John, Jerome quickly jumped off of the tractor, scraping his leg, and possibly his hand, on some nearby parts. Jerome says that his father hit him with the pipe, which John specifically denies. Jerome has also stated that he believed it was his tractor; that John gave it to him, verbally, some time back. Dispatched to the call was Hubbard Co. Deputy Mike Mercil, who, upon investigating at the scene, with Jerome and John present, arrested John, Sr. for Second Degree Assault; handcuffed him, and took him to jail. Jerome was not charged. The matter (case no. K3-04-404) is scheduled for jury trial March 16th at 9 a.m. at Park Rapids. Hubbard Co. Atty. Greg Larson has offered Defatte to have the matter continued for dismissal; but Mr. Defatte wants to be fully exonerated, and, at presstime, intends, instead, to go to trial. John said that he has tried repeatedly to have Jerome charged with trespassing, but Hubbard Co. Sheriff Gary Mills has refused to take his complaint or statement. Everybody needs counseling. In the course of the proceedings, John was directed to seek an anger management assessment. He received one, showing no significant abnormality, from accredited therapist Charles Hagan, who found that John had done the appropriate thing and didn't have an anger management problem. But Larson's office wouldn't accept it, referring Defatte, instead, to Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center (UMMHC), a state-subsidized facility which, pretty much, has a monopoly on court ordered assessments, and of which it is said that very few, if any, are found normal. Presumably, there would be far less tax-supported business for UMMHC if they were. In 1998, UMMHC settled the last of the lawsuits stemming from one of their male employees attempting to "treat" three male patients, two of whom were vulnerable adults, by coercing them (under threat of their "failing" the court-ordered program, thusly resulting in incarceration) to engage in homosexual romance, including unnatural acts. (For report, see Homosexual Assault Charged in UMMHC Suit, in Living on the Edge at northernherald.com) Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): John Defatte Sr. ------------------------------------------------------------ GOINGS-ON --------- Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Union Station, at Bemidji, now features jazz entertainment (bands and soloists, on a rotating schedule), Wednesday evenings. At right, jazz singer Leisha Kaye, appears there Feb. 9th, 2005. Couples dance the night away, below, as the Jammin' Country band, of Puposky, entertains at Turtle Creek Saloon, Feb. 4th, 2005, at Turtle River. Turtle Creek generally features live bands - usually country or dancable light popular - Fri. & Sat. evenings. Consumer Corner --------------- Readers are invited to submit consumer complaints or compliments to this column, and to our Auto Service Forum. Send info c/o this paper, P.O. Box 1535, Bemidji, MN 56619 THINGS THAT JUST DON'T WORK "There is no product that someone cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper. Those who consider price alone are this man's lawful prey." This column is cumulative, and provided for consumer awareness. Signed consumer submissions are welcome. For review of the following things that just don't work, from past issues, see Things That Just Don't Work at northernherald.com: * PATTON(R) Oil-filled Electric Radiators * CELLULAR-ONE(R) * HI-VAL(R) (I/O MAGIC(R)) CD-RW drives * SYMPHONIC(R) VCRS. * LEXAR(R) Compact Flash cards * OFFICE MAX(R) REBATES * HEWLETT-PACKARD(R) product support * carsoup.com * CARDONE rebuilt auto parts (sold by many Bemidji parts houses) --------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- Note: In Focus features are primarily pictoral. Photos, however, are not included in The Library edition. NEW YEAR'S EVE AT LA ROSA ! Whether dancing to "Whoda Thunk It" in the renowned Garland Room, or to DJed disco in the lounge area, everyone seemed to have fun and ring in the New Year right at La Rosa, located in the Grand Rapids Rainbow Inn complex. ------------------------------------------------------------- GAME FEED AT BECIDA! BECIDA -- All comers can always plan on a good, down-home meal of the best Providence and nature have to offer at Becida Community Church's annual Wild Game Feed. But this year, for the first time, at their feed, Dec. 4th 2004, Deacon Tim Ewert, who with the many volunteers throws it together, decided to go Haute Cuisine! Yep, it was a great game dinner, as usual, but with added niceties like individual Caesar salads topped with grated cheese; a lavish hors d'oeuvre table stocked with fancy crackers and cheese, an excellent venison summer sausage, and Canadian goose to put on them; and a generous convention table of desserts including brownies, and homemade pumpkin, and cream, as well as fruit, pies. And as always, people could come and help themselves to these appetizers, salads, desserts, and the big roasters brimming with a wide variety of game cooked every which way, for a free will offering at their discretion. There were also many door prizes given away through the evening. Said Ewert, "The money goes to our youth group," for bible camp and other youth projects. Many of the youth volunteer to help serve the dinner. Inexpensive holiday wreaths are also available. This'll probably happen again next year, so hunters and fishermen willing to devote some of this fall's bounty to a good cause and a great feed may contact Tim Ewert at 218-444-9451. The Wild Game Feed is generally held the first Saturday in December. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The bear roast was superb and went fast (as did the bear), but there were more than ample roasters full of plenty of other good stuff. Things like venison chili, wild rice soup, pheasant, barbecued beaver, raccoon, venison meat balls, bear meat balls, moose meat loaf, buffalo, antelope stew, caribou, catfish, fry bread, and garlic potatoes; all savoury, perfectly prepared, and great! Phyllis Eastman came down from the Red Lake Nation to prepare the fry bread. Volunteers Tim Ewert and Cal Carter. Ewert, who brought much of the game, said of the bounty, "What we want to do is . . . thank God. . . . He provided all this for us; we just pass it on to others." Some of the many other volunteers included Myron Selzler, Lorraine Vojak, Jennifer Werlein, and Amy, all from Becida. Mrs. Berry, of Becida, puts the Canadian goose, garnished and adorned with spiced apples and grapes, on the hors d'oeuvre table. The feed packed the dining hall as over 200 diners continued to arrive from 5 pm 'til about 7. Charlie Osland and Kathy Roy, from South of Cass Lake, are no strangers to game. Said Osland, "We do a lot of venison dinners . . . that type of thing." Of the Becida fare, he exclaimed, "It's delicious! This is really good, the variety [of different game dishes] is incredible." His favourite that night? The bear. Hers? The venison chili. --------------------------------------------------------------- FISH ABOUND AT CASS LAKE TOURNEY Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): CASS LAKE -- A small village of cars, tents, fisherman, and portable fish houses erupted on Cass Lake Sat. Jan. 15th, 2005, for the Cass Lake Chain Reaction [Ice] Fishing Tournament. The event featured 50 prizes, including an ice house & trailer for the largest fish, and an ugly fish prize. Said Ken Detwiler, about 350 people bought tickets, and just about everyone who caught a fish won a prize. -------------------------------------------------------------- New Showroom to be Bigger and Better. WHALEN WOODS REBUILDS PEQUOT LAKES -- It started in 2001, from Jim Whalen's garage hobby, and was an overnight smash. Now, only 4 years later, Whalen Woods has become the Midwest's premier furniture manufacturer and showroom, employing 30 people from their original location S. of Pequot Lakes; shipping furniture orders nationwide, while attracting also, an international following; and taking awards, in two years, from the Minnesota State Fair, where they've displayed, by invitation, since 2002. Due to demand from the Metro region, they've had to open a satellite store in Becker, and plans are now in the making for future venues in Chicago, New York, and Maine, to serve their large out-of-state clientele which, due to satisfied customers and word of mouth, has mushroomed from Florida to Maine to Lake Tahoe and the Pacific Coast. Running something like this is a 7-day a week job for the Whalens, and though some might have been daunted, they didn't even lose pace in January, when a nut - a disgruntled former employee - set fire to their wood shop, burning it to the ground. A local resident, Andrew Lynn Utter, 31, had been fired in 2003 due to "poor job performance"; and from his record, it may be fair to surmise that he was drinking on the job. Per the complaint (case no. K3-05-50), signed by Officer Timothy Pickar, investigating Officers Travis Loeffler (Pequot Lakes PD), Jamie Lee, and Josh Carter (Crow Wing Co. deputies) reported that on Jan. 9th, 2005, at approx. 1:21 a.m., they were dispatched to Whalen Woods on a report of a fire. The officers arrived to find Utter emerging from a parking lot across from the blaze, and driving without his lights on. (Apparently, after setting the fire, he had parked across the highway to watch it burn.) Deputy Lee recognized the license plate as corresponding to an earlier report of a threatened fire. Stopping the vehicle, Deputy Lee found Utter to be intoxicated and placed him under arrest. His blood alcohol was later found to be .21; and his license had been revoked for prior DUIs. Utter's clothes smelled of gasoline, and were littered with wood chips and sawdust. Officers seized a lighter from his person. Fire threat. Earlier that night, a clerk at the nearby SuperAmerica had notified police that Utter, visibly drunk and smelling of alcohol, had been in the store, and had offered the clerk money to help burn down a business. After being turned down, Utter later returned to the store to buy a Bic® outdoor lighter. Utter was charged with arson in the first and second degrees - the first degree charge carries a maximum of 20 years, and/or $35,000 fine. He was also charged with two counts of driving while impaired, and one of driving after cancellation. Utter remains at the Crow Wing Co. jail, with bail set at $20,000. The matter is scheduled for jury trial March 18, 2005, at 9:00 a.m., before the Honourable Frederick J. Casey at Brainerd. OK to commit crime if you get drunk first? Utter's public defender, Brook R. Mallak, notified the Court, on Jan. 21st, that Utter "intends to rely on the defense of voluntary intoxication" at trial. Work goes on. Judy Whalen said that she was "heartbroken" and "devastated" when they went to the site, being notified of the fire. "We've worked 7 days a week for 4 years to build this, and for someone to just take it all away is really sick and sad," she said. "But . . . you gotta move forward. That's the only thing you can do . . . .,"she added, explaining that the employees and their families rely on working there, and that there were furniture orders on the books that had to be filled. The fire destroyed the workshop where the manufacturing was done; so the Whalens moved the shop to what had been the main showroom for large pieces of furniture. Stock was rebuilt, and a wide inventory of furniture continues to be displayed along with the gifts, in their front showroom, which remains open for business as normal during the rebuilding; as well as at their newer Becker showroom. A customer wouldn't necessarily even know that anything was different. But what's different is that this has given the Whalens a perfect reason to build the new shop and showroom they've wanted. It's expected to be two-story, and open by April. Known nationwide for quality furniture woodworking, a lot of their business is unique custom orders. Mrs. Whalen explained that often a customer will see a piece in their showroom or on their web site (www.whalenwoods.com), and "they can come in and design it a little differently to fit their home; ... that's mostly what we're about." Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): The charred connections to adjacent buildings still stand by the slab where the wood shop used to be. Work on product and orders to be filled continues as normal during the rebuilding. Shop forewoman Judy Whalen assists woodworkers in the new wood shop, in what was the large furniture showroom before the fire. Mr. & Mrs. Whalen, by his log glassware cabinet, in their front gift and furniture showroom in the log house. Whalen Woods's original store is located on the east side of Hwy 371, about 2 mi. S. of Pequot Lakes. -------------------------------------------------------------- SUMPTION: IN RIGHT PLACE AT RIGHT TIME WALKER -- In response to a number of inquiries Northern Herald has received on this, we are covering it primarily to clear the air and relieve possibly needless concerns. Several Cass County residents have inquired about the circumstances under which Cass County zoning official, John Sumption, and his wife, Longville residents, received a house, from a resort owner, for $1. Northern Herald has investigated this matter and has found that, about four years ago, when the transactions in question occurred, the property was to be newly developed, and the house was one of several cabins slated for demolition to clear land for the prospective development. Sumption knew of the plans by way of having, for many years, known and worked for the resort owner; and was one of several individuals who knew that, as often happens up here, the cabins would be available at the salvage price of $1, plus costs of removing them. He was one of several people who acquired the cabins in that manner. There appears to have been nothing irregular or indicating favoritism in Sumption's dealings, on behalf of the County, with the developer. He was simply aware that the cabin would otherwise be demolished (at cost to the resort owner or developer) to clear the land, and offered to remove it, in exchange for receiving it for $1 plus removal costs. Although comments have been received challenging the propriety of a person benefitting in this manner, there does not seem to be anything illegal, or even unethical, about it. Many people have, at one time or another, been privy to good deals coming about, and have as much right as the next person of availing themselves of them. Any person having information as to any irregular or improper dealings in this matter is encouraged to contact Northern Herald. ------------------------------------------------------------- Recipe Box ---------- HOW TO GET MARRIED AND STAY THAT WAY Tips for normal and wholesome living - the stuff they used to teach young ladies in High School, but don't anymore, so we will. OK, basic home economics. You can buy a slice of cake, out, for about $2.50, sometimes more. With today's mixes, often on sale, and about 15 minutes, you can make the whole cake for less than half that. What sets the cake off, though, is the frosting or decoration. That's what sells it. A can of frosting is about $1.35; still cheaper than buying a pre-made cake; but frosting is so simple - it's basically just sugar and butter, whipped, or otherwise disciplined - about 10 minutes work - using stuff already in your kitchen (hopefully). Using real ingredients, it'll still cost about a buck (mostly the butter) but it'll be fresh and wholesome (sometime, read all of the ingredients of the canned stuff) and you can make it the way you like. Wouldn't you rather eat real, wholesome and good food? Frosting is nothing mystical. Ladies all used to know this; but judging from the number of cans sold, these days, not all do, which may, along with short hair and perms, partially account for the divorce rate. So here's the skinny: Almost all popular frostings are variations on the basic 10-minute recipe, below. You can add cream cheese, instant coffee, Kaluah, rum, or fruit flavour as you like. Some people like to add beaten egg whites for a higher, fluffier, frost. But it all starts with this, and the basic vanilla recipe works well with most cakes. BASIC VANILLA FROSTING * 1 stick real butter, softened at room temperature * 2 cups powdered sugar * a tad of boiling water * 1 tbs. real vanilla Preparation: In a medium mixing bowl, place the sugar and the butter. Add 1 tablespoon, maybe even a tad more (you can't have too much), of the real vanilla. Discipline with electric mixer on low until all ingredients are combined, adding boiling water - a little at a time - to desired consistency. Then whip on high for five minutes. It's that easy! About the vanilla. Go to Mexico. There you'll find the world's best vanilla, made from real vanilla beans. Those who are skeptical need only smell the Mexican vanilla, and then the commercial American counterpart, and compare, to see what we're talking about here. The key to the finest cooking isn't usually anything fancy or complicated - it's just a matter of insisting upon, and using, only the highest quality ingredients. The quality of your vanilla makes an enormous difference in the taste of what you cook. You can buy the vanilla at a Mexican tourist shop for a premium, or buy it at the Mexican supermarket, like the Mexicans do, for about $1 for an 8 oz. bottle. This compares with over $4 for a few ounces of the inferior product here; so when you're in Mexico, you'll want to bring back several bottles. Good brands include Posa and Molina. One caution: like in America, the Mexican firms produce both a real, and an imitation vanilla, both labeled accordingly. You don't want the imitation - so look carefully at the labeling. SWEET CORN PUDDING CAKE (Don't frost this - it's a side dish, like cornbread) This is the Chateau Steele's version of a recipe that's been served at some of the finest Mexican restaurants, including El Torito of La Jolla. Now, due to NAFTA, you can enjoy it at home! It's fast and very inexpensive to make from stuff you probably (or should) have in your pantry; and very good. If one took this to a pot luck, it would be the first thing gone. * 6 1/2 oz. yellow cornmeal * 2 oz. sugar (or a tad more) * 1 level tsp. baking powder * 2 oz. (1/2 stick) melted butter * 1/4 cup Minnesota Water (it comes from your faucet) * 1 15 oz. can cream corn * 1/4 tsp. salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine ingredients in bowl and mix briefly 'til relatively smooth. Pour into buttered 9"x5" loaf pan, or glass bowl and bake 45-50 minutes - center should be cooked, but moist. An ice cream scoop is handy for serving this. This recipe serves 2 and may be doubled (increase baking time a tad). ---------------------------------------------------- FBI ARRESTS ALLEGED PEDOPHILE AT RED LAKE RED LAKE -- Special Agent Paul A. McCabe, Northern Herald's contact with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reports a major collar at Red Lake, Minn. Morris Edward "Sonny" Benais, 30, was arrested February 11, 2005, by FBI agents and officers from the Red Lake Police Department. The arrest occurred at the Defendant’s residence located at Red Lake, Minnesota and was without incident. Benais, who allegedly sexually assaulted a juvenile female on or about May 18, 2002, was indicted by a federal grand jury in St. Paul, Minnesota on February 7, 2005. He was charged (case no. 05-CR-37) with two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The Grand Jury alleged in the indictment that Benais did knowingly render a juvenile female unconscious and did thereby knowingly engage in a sexual act. The juvenile female was, at that time, at least 12, but not yet 16 years of age. Benais made his Initial Appearance in United States District Court, before U.S. Magis-trate Mary K. Klein, at Bemidji, Feb. 14th; and was arraigned Feb. 16th before Magistrate Erickson, at Duluth, where he pled not guilty. Mpls. attorney Lyonel Norris was appointed to represent Benais. Trial is set for May 2nd, at 10:00 am, before the Honourable David S. Doty, Judge of the United States District Court at Minneapolis. ---------------------------------------------------------- In Focus -------- Note: In Focus features are primarily pictoral. Photos, however, are not included in The Library edition. THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A GOOD CIGAR. And they can be found, in Bemidji, at S.A.V.E. Tobacco's large humidor; as well as a variety of smoker's gifts and articles, like hard-to-find metallic cigarette cases - just the thing for formal occasions, or the lady who just likes to look spiffy everywhere. Also, genuine pipestone pipes, and many of the hard to get better cigarette brands, including Dunhill and American Spirit. S.A.V.E. Tobacco is across from Orton's, on Paul Bunyan Dr. NW -------------------------------------- ISSUE OF 12/20/2004 - VOLUME 10 NO. 2 -------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism - Follow-Up ----------------------------------- NO FOUL ON HOCKEY SCORE All Charges Dismissed BEMIDJI -- Bred in Beltrami. Beltrami County doesn't like breeding. Here, like many places, it is regarded as the most repulsive thing that the people here do, usually as often as possible. So, when a woman has second thoughts about a guy she's breeding, and makes a complaint, even where she consented to or initiated the illicit breeding (See Fors: Only Abuse Was of English Language - NH of 05/19/97; Fors' Motion Challenges Accusations, NH of 04/01/98; A Synopsis of the Fors Matter, NH of 11/25/98 in The Library at northernherald.com), it's often treated as a rape, and the guy may be arrested, caused to post bail, incur attorney's fees, and other inconveniences. They say it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind; here, when she does so the next day, we put guys in jail for it. (In the unrelated Roy Martin matter, Co. Atty. Tim Faver had Martin held in jail, at unpostable bail, for almost 7 months before a jury determined that he was not guilty of a rape accusation. The charge was based only on a woman, Ida Stein Heightshoe, saying that his voice sounded like that of her alleged assailant.) The matters of State v. Riley Riddel, Scott Savre, and Tyrone Orde, (Beltrami case nos. 04-1482 through 1484, respectively), however, were referred for prosecution, due to obvious conflict of interest by Beltrami County Attorney Tim Faver, to Anoka County, where they're a little more sensible and less inbred. And accordingly, Anoka Asst. County Attorney Paul Young, on December 2nd, 2004, announced that he would move to dismiss the charges, originally brought by Faver, before they could do more damage. The State's dismissal, made Dec. 2nd by Young, was filed in the case December 6th. Faver had no comment on the dismissal. In interview, Young gave as reason for the dismissal, "A constellation of findings that would prevent us from proving it beyond a reasonable doubt." The charges stemmed from an accusation made by Natasha Lynn Dearstyne, an 18 year old Bemidji State University (BSU) student, who told police that she had been drugged and raped. She made the claim 18 hours after she left the last of two residences where, she said, nonconsensual romance occurred in the early morning hours of Sun., Sept. 19th, 2004. (For detailed report, see BSU Hockey Team Scores Again, NH of 10/25/04, at northernherald.com) That morning, at a "party" she had had romance with Riddell, a scholarship hockey player, Orde, and Savre, all BSU students, while Beltrami Deputy Jeff Anderson made a video of the proceedings; then she left with Riddell and had romance again at his house, before calling her friend, Nicole Murray, for a ride back to the dorms so she could go to church. Dearstyne had just met the three men the previous evening. The defendants denied drugging her drink; said that Dearstyne never objected to the romance at the disgusting gang-bang party; and in fact, she initiated it. Savre told officers, "When she was giving me a [manual fondling], she said for me to try and have [romance] with her." The defendants said she boasted of having had physical romance since she was five years old. Dearstyne's friend, Nicole Murray, told police that Dearstyne told her, "it is better not to say 'no' to guys." In a release, Young stated, " . . . Facts which were unknown at the time of charging, but are now known, significantly impact the ability for the State to prove criminal charges beyond a reasonable doubt. . . . Therefore, the criminal cases . . . are dismissed." Mr. Faver, are you listening? Young continued, "It is as much a prosecutor's job to deny, or dismiss, charges that cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt as it is to vigorously prosecute cases that can be proven. This decision cannot be compromised because of the nature of the allegations. Similarly, the conduct of the accused must be more than distasteful or reprehensible - it must be proven as criminal. A personal opinion about the facts or the accused are not valid considerations. This decision to dismiss should not be construed as approval of the conduct involved in this matter." The results, if any, of BCA testing for drugs in Dearstyne's drink, were not addressed in Young's release. It is also not known if Beltrami authorities will pursue a charge, against Dearstyne, of Falsely reporting crime under M.S. 609.505 As to Deputy Anderson, Young said, "The Anoka County Attorneys Office also reviewed the role Beltrami County Deputy Jeff Anderson played. Although Deputy Anderson exercised poor judgement, particularly for a licensed peace officer, insufficient evidence exists to prove he is guilty of a crime and no charges will be filed. This decision to deny charges in no way suggests his conduct was appropriate for a licensed peace officer - but any disciplinary action is left to the law enforcement agency." Is deputies' making dirty movies within policy? Deputy Anderson is now on paid administrative leave - essentially a paid vacation - while the Sheriff's Office determines his status. Beltrami Sheriff Keith Winger said that he doesn't like that arrangement, but with County officers' union contracts and county policy being what they are, "I don't like it, but I don't have any choice," he said. "The dropping of criminal charges makes no difference . . . what we are looking for is policy violations," Winger said, adding that he has hired an independent investigator from outside the area, and has told the investigator to go "full speed ahead"; but Winger doesn't know how long it will take, and during which Anderson will continue on paid leave. BSU declined to comment on the effects of the apparently baseless accusation upon the 3 mens' college standing, and they could not be contacted personally; their family members, however, told Northern Herald that Riddell, a Fulbright scholar from Canada, was suspended from the BSU hockey team and has not been reinstated; as a result, he lost the last semester of his scholarship; it is not known if it can be recovered. Upon charging, all three men withdrew from BSU and it is not known if they'll return. The public cost of Tim Faver's initial filing of the charges before full investigation is unknown, but is expected to be high. It included, in part, costs of the arrest and jailing, public defense costs, a court-appointed defense investigator, County Attorney, police investigator and transcription, and court time. Said a member of the Orde family, "It cost us a lot." They had to retain a private attorney to defend the groundless accusation; and then there was the cost of bail. "It affected our family very much ... physically, mentally, financially." And they were surprised that even though it was a false report of rape, the system, including BSU's response, was very one-sided. Orde's family member said that BSU provided lots of support, counseling, etc., to Dearstyne (the, apparently, false victim); but, "They didn't do anything for the boys." No teacher, counselor, or advocate attempted to visit or advise them after they were jailed. Initially, the prevailing attitude at BSU was to have had them convicted and hanged, before any trial and before there was even any substantial investigation of the false rape accusation, made by a female of questionable morals. Said Orde's family member, "I feel sorry for, and my thoughts and prayers are with all of the families [including Dearstyne's] involved in this." About breeding. When the male of the species is brought into the presence of the female in heat, breeding will generally occur. This is true of most animals, and particularly of the lowest, humans. Although the BSU Student Affairs Office (run by John Blessing) officially condemns student breeding, or attempts at same, when it comes to light, and sometimes reprimands or sanctions the men who do it there, at the same time, BSU, by its action, encourages illicit conduct, up to and including maintaining coed dorms, which tend to encourage what will then happen. It was in those dorms that Dearstyne first met the three men the evening before, and told them that she was looking for a "party". Editor's Note: Clearly, if Mr. Riddell desired to breed Miss Dearstyne, when they first met at her dorm room that evening, he should have asked her to marry him, rather than invite her to a "party". But then, in this country, it would have been difficult for her to marry Orde and Savre, also, at the same time. Questions have arisen as to why the three men in this case were arrested, charged, jailed, and caused to post bail, before full investigation of the veracity of Natasha Dearstyne's accusation. It is known by law enforcement that because it's so easy, false accusations of rape are common; and some have speculated that our County Attorney's, Tim Faver's, association with Dearstyne's father, also an area attorney, may have been a factor as to why a flimsy case was so quickly charged. Just basic Favertism again. Natasha Dearstyne's conduct should not be a reflection upon the Dearstyne family, and particularly, her father, Don Dearstyne, who is a long-standing area professional; but this is Bemidji, so it probably will. Sometimes no matter what's done at home, children turn out that way. The ways of an area can be infectious, particularly when an impressionable girl is placed in a place like Bemidji, a town without morals, and on the BSU campus, where boys and girls have the opportunity to get together and practice immorality in the University owned, and taxpayer-supported coed dorm rooms. Fathers intending to send their daughters to BSU, and concerned about them retaining their virtue for sacred and holy marriage, may want to review Chastity Belts - Manufacturer's Claims, Prices Compared, a Consumer Corner piece, in NH of 01/05/00, in The Library (Vol. 5) at northernherald.com ---------------------------------------------------------- Leading Edge Journalism ----------------------- This Is Bemidji HAVOLINE XPRESS LUBE TRIES TO FRAME NATIVE EMPLOYEE Owner Randy Johnson Makes Racial Statements; Threatens To File Charge If Employee Won't Resign. BEMIDJI -- The corrupt little berg of Bemidji is a remote and strange place. It's a place where a good worker can get fired without good cause. Of course, if he resigns, that saves the employer unemployment taxes; and if he won't, in this Good 'Ol Boy town, certain officers of our police dept., headed by civilly-proven swindler Bruce Preece (son of former Judge James Preece), may be glad to help; particularly if the person is not well liked, or of the wrong colour. The Players. In this case, Randy Johnson, owner of the Lakeside Havoline Xpress Lube, at 500 Paul Bunyan Dr. SW, Bemidji (next to Overbeek Electronics), wanted Craig Littleghost, a Native American employee with a mild, but not work-affecting, neurological impairment (if he didn't tell one, one would never know it was there) to leave. But Johnson likely didn't want the firing without just cause to go on his unemployment tax record; so, he tried to extort Littleghost into signing a resignation. Johnson threatened that if Littleghost didn't sign, Johnson would bring a theft charge against him. When Littleghost refused to resign his job, Johnson fired him, and then, on Nov. 15th, 2004, contacted Bemidji Police Dept. (BPD) Officer Lehmann, and made what appears to be an unfounded accusation of theft of an old, used, grey metal small parts tote box, with dividers, worth about $20, per Johnson's estimate. Lehmann took Johnson's statement and issued a citation charging Littleghost with theft. Littleghost, who received the citation by mail on Nov. 17th, said that he had been on the job for over 10 months, longer than any other employee there; a few months earlier, his performance had been evaluated and he received a raise. SSI. But shortly thereafter, per Littleghost, he was made aware by the Social Security Administration, payers of his SSI, that Littleghost was required to notify his employer of his condition. He did so. It was then, said Littleghost, that Johnson's attitude toward him changed. Littleghost's SSI, of course, was reduced for his earnings, but he wanted to work. Theft? Per Littleghost, he was on 11/15/04, routinely working his 8 am - Noon shift. Johnson had told him to empty the refuse (mostly recyclable containers) into the public recycling bins, which are actually on the Xpress Lube property. He did so; when he emptied to almost the bottom of the refuse container, he noticed the tote box in it, and, assuming it to have been discarded, dumped it, too into the recycling bin. He finished his shift and went home. At no time did Littleghost attempt to retrieve the parts box from the bin; and, in fact, in the bin, it remained on the Xpress Lube premises. After his shift, shortly after getting back home, and while taking a shower, Littleghost got a call from Johnson. Johnson accused him of stealing the parts box and threatened Littleghost, telling him that if he didn't resign, Johnson would file a theft charge against him. Littleghost told Johnson what had actually happened, and refused to resign. Later that afternoon, Johnson called Lehmann and made the accusation, which Lehmann used to prepare the charge, mailing the citation to Littleghost. The file (case no. TX-04-4518) contains a report of officer Lehmann's interview with Johnson (Littleghost was never interviewed by police or offered an opportunity to make a statement prior to charging; he was cited immediately based solely on Johnson's accusation). Per the report, Johnson told officer Lehmann, at Xpress Lube, "at approximately 10 a.m., Littleghost was seen going out the door carrying a large red plastic garbage can. Johnson knew that this garbage can had very little contents of garbage . . . this particular can is used for plastic, empty oil cans for . . . synthetic oil . . . . the garbage can is in no need of being dumped." The report continued that Johnson reported that after seeing the can dumped into the recycle bin, he went out to the bin and "located a grey metal storage tote . . . ." Johnson told Lehmann that he confronted Littleghost, and "Littleghost admitted to taking the tote." In interview, Littleghost adamantly denied ever making such an admission; he acknowledged that the tote was in the garbage can he was told to dump; but that he didn't put it there, and that the can was so full that he didn't know that it was there until the can had been mostly dumped. When he saw it, he assumed that it was there because it had been discarded, and, accordingly, dumped it with the rest of the contents. He also noted that the time given by Johnson (10 a.m.) was not the time he emptied the can, that it was almost noon - near the end of his shift; and that Johnson didn't confront him, as the report indicates, on the premises prior to the end of his shift; Littleghost said that the first he'd heard of this was when Johnson called him, while he was showering at home, after he'd routinely left the Xpress Lube premises when his shift was over at noon. Littleghost further told Northern Herald that contrary to what Johnson had reported, routinely, the shop help didn't just use that garbage can for synthetic oil cans; and that it had been used all morning and was full, with a lot of boxes, papers, and the like in it, when he dumped it. He said, "It's normally made for plastic . . . oil containers, but the [employees] . . . tend to throw . . . remains of lunches, . . . household garbage, papers, this and that, and there was a stack of recycled newspapers that were already in there, so I saved that [the task of emptying the trash can] for the last, because we started to get vehicles in the bay." Littleghost continued that with customers arriving, he had to go to the lower bay to drain the oil, "we started to have [customers] lined up at the door, so I . . . didn't get to get up to take out the garbage [until when] . . . I looked at the time, it was like a quarter to, ten to, twelve; I came upstairs, we had no vehicles in the bay at that time, . . . I went out and I started dumping garbage . . . at the bottom, I noticed something heavy and stuck, so I leaned my hand in there, and it was . . . one of the boxes . . . for PCV valves . . . I took it out, threw it in there (the recycling bin), shut the bin. . . . When he [Johnson] told me to take out the recycling, I didn't know what was in there." Littleghost's assumption that the box, in the refuse can, was meant for disposal, was reasonable. He said, "It was an old, . . . scratched up, . . . crusty box. He [Johnson] has a newer one . . . that he's using now." He continued, "I went back in, put the [garbage can] . . . back where it belonged, went and changed my clothes, punched out, said . . . [to the other employees] I'd see 'em Wednesday, because Tuesday was my day off . . . went home, jumped in the shower; about maybe 12:30 or so, . . . he [Johnson] called me up and said, 'I want you to come back down here; I want you to explain something to me.'" Returning to Xpress Lube, Littleghost was approached by Johnson who accused him of stealing the PCV tote box. "I told him . . . that was already in the [garbage can], I just dumped it all out, I didn't think nothin' of it," and that he had no need for the box and wouldn't be jeopardizing his job over such a petty item. "I love my job, and I kept telling him over and over," Littleghost said, but Johnson continued to accuse him and demand that he resign. "He told me, . . . 'I want you to sign resignation papers, . . . I'll be able to help you out, by telling the employers that you just got burned out, you got tired of working here, and that you moved on to something bigger 'n better.'" Littleghost retorted, "I said, 'I don't know what you're talking about, . . . I don't know what you're up to,' I said, 'I did enjoy this. . . . You make it seem like changing oil and stuff, you know, people don't like it . . . I actually like it . . . . I enjoy it,' I said, 'so there is no moving on to bigger and better things,' I said, 'this was it for me." The ultimatum. Littleghost recalled, "I said, 'I'm not signing them papers, I'm not doing nothing,' [and Johnson said,] 'Well then, if you don't sign these papers, then I'm going to call the cops on you and say that you tried to steal that.'" Lehmann's report reflects Johnson's apparently extortive attempt to get Littleghost to sign a "separation from employment" (resignation) form, and that when Littleghost wouldn't sign it, recites the report, "Johnson terminated Littleghost. Littleghost will be cited for theft . . . ." It has been speculated that Johnson may have earlier planted the parts box at the bottom of that refuse container, to provide a way to pressure Littleghost into resigning, so Johnson could avoid firing him. That would tend to explain why Johnson, so soon, knew to look for it in the recycling bin. Originally, Littleghost applied for the job, from a newspaper ad, about January, 2004. By about August, he had his positive review, and received a fifty cent an hour raise. The following month, Littleghost was required to notify Johnson of his condition, which resulted from an auto accident many years ago. "He wasn't sitting well with that - he got very upset about it - that's when the unfairness - the being treated differently [started]," Littleghost said. He added that Johnson told him then that due to his minimal condition, which didn't affect his work in the oil change business, "I wouldn't be advanced," anymore, and that upon firing Littleghost, Johnson again reiterated it; Littleghost recounted, "he said, 'The only reason why I always held you back is because you had a mental instability,'" and "he said, 'the reason you're not upstairs on the computer is because you have a mental instability.'" In interview, and as can be discerned by his comments, Mr. Littleghost was perfectly cognizant, concise, coherent, conversant, and professional. Whatever his condition is, it is sufficiently minimal to where it is not a factor in his life, work, or dealings with people. That Johnson didn't suspect any disability, and, in fact, promoted Littleghost, before Littleghost notified him of it, is pretty good evidence of that. Nonetheless, when Johnson learned of it, per Littleghost, his hours were immediately cut from 35-40 to 10-12 per week. He said that he told Johnson he wanted more hours, although it meant less disability payment, "I said, 'I'm just interested in making my money here, even if they cut my (SSI) check," he said. Racist statements also started then. The auto service bays are divided into an upper level, where the car and customer are - where the fluids are checked and under-hood maintenance is performed; and the lower level - under the car, where the serviceman does the lube, and other under chassis work. Littleghost recalls Johnson telling him that, "I was one of his first . . . Natives to work for him, and that he didn't want me upstairs, to be seen by any customers, and the Native employees belong downstairs [when customers were there]; . . . before this finding of disability, I was always upstairs helping him out. I was always good with the customers, there was no reason for him to keep me downstairs. And all of a sudden, when this issue (the disability) comes about, he starts telling me to stay downstairs; that he didn't want me to be seen by customers upstairs; that I had no business up there. As to pay disparities, Littleghost said of the newer employees, "I was there way before they were, and they're already making over eight dollars an hour." With his advancement stifled by Johnson, he was held at $7.50 until he was fired. Littleghost said that while he was there, he was the only Native employee; that in his latter months (after the disability issue) a friend applied for work there. Littleghost recounted that Johnson asked him, "'Do you know Craig Littleghost,' he said, 'Yeah, I know him, he's a good friend of mine,' he [Johnson] said, 'Well, then, I can't hire you.'" Littleghost is aware of other instances where Johnson, or his wife, have threatened other employees at Xpress Lube. Littleghost addressed his positive relations with clients at Xpress Lube, and said he brought in customers who run another local business and wanted him to service their car, "They . . . talked to me about . . . watching out for their family . . . keeping an eye on Randy [Johnson], making sure that Randy doesn't take advantage of them by selling them products that they don't need. He has done that in the past, before, and I've seen it. He's even trained his upper bay guys to sell them air filters and Justice Bros. products when it's not needed at all. . . . They're always young girls . . . that are not mechanically inclined, they don't know nothin' about it, you know, and I'd come up to 'em and tell them that it doesn't look that bad. . . . That's why a lot of these old timers from these local businesses would come here [to Xpress Lube] without Randy's presence, and tell me, 'When my daughter or my son . . . comes in, you know, would you please watch after them and make sure that they're not getting taken advantage of'; because Randy's done this in the past, you know, not only here, but at Champion Auto." Littleghost wants to be back to work, and is looking for another job. He's also considering going back to college for ASE Mechanic's Certification. He closed the interview saying, "I just wanted to make it fair to the Native people . . . . I enjoyed my job, and I did do a good job for this man and I've always meant well for that business. It's something that I'll carry with me. But I'm being treated really unfair in this case; I'm being charged for something that I did not do. I did not, you know, commit no crime there; there was no wrongdoing. Mr. Johnson is just being typical, wanting to get me out of there, because, in his eyes, he's not going to be able to advance me. . . . I had seniority over all these other employees that came along; he gave the job to them, they got started out at eight and a quarter, eight and a half an hour; you know, and like I said, there was a lot of things that were, you know, unfair." Contacted by Northern Herald, Johnson scheduled an appointment to discuss the matter, at Xpress Lube, but when Northern Herald arrived at the appointed time, he refused to comment on the matter. While our reporter was there, however, he noted the rack of Justice Bros. products, mentioned by Littleghost, priced from $6.99 to $24.99. There was also a price stated for Justice Bros. Products on the station's large service marquee sign which shows it's other rates. The marquee price was $5.99. Asked about this, Johnson said that the marquee price, was an "average". But it wasn't - in fact, there was no Justice Bros. product on his shelf with a price that low; so a customer would see the $5.99 on the marquee, order the product, and then be charged the higher price shown on the small sticker on each container. County connections and camaraderies. The Northern Herald reporter also noted, at the time, that there was a Beltrami Co. official vehicle in the shop for service. Johnson's wife, Debbie, works for the Beltrami Co. Sheriff as a bailiff in the courts. And records disclosed that The City of Bemidji and Beltrami Co. are regular customers of Johnson's Xpress Lube. For 2004, through mid-November, the Beltrami Sheriff's, Highway, and other County departments had contracted with Lakeside Xpress Lube for 103 vehicle servicings, for which Beltrami Co. paid $3,091.85; the City of Bemidji had paid $257.00 (2004 through 10/31) for servicing it's Water Dept. vehicles. Both the City and County also use other lube stations, such as Valvoline. Editor's Note: Discrimination isn't just illegal; it's downright stupid. As all employers here know, in Northern Minnesota, it's hard to find good stable help. When someone likes a job that most don't, does it well, and is dedicated, stable, and permanent, and brings business in the door, that person is a find and a major asset to any business. Mr. Littleghost was the senior employee there; he'd stayed with Xpress Lube longer than anyone else. That that was only 10 mos. says something for the turnover of the Bemidji labour market, generally; but Mr. Littleghost liked his job there and had no intention of quitting or looking elsewhere. Mr. Littleghost is now contacting the new Bemidji ACLU office regarding filing of a major lawsuit against Johnson. He's expected to seek damages for back pay, emotional distress, and hopefully, some punitive damages for general evil. If properly prosecuted and adjudicated, Littleghost could own that Xpress Lube, which would be justice done. But that aside, Johnson may have done himself the most damage by firing his best, most stable employee, in a market where those kind are hard to come by. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face. Randy Johnson, by the way, is no newcomer to the dregs of the Bemidji business scene. For years he ran Champion Auto (next to Ace Hardware); where people bought rebuilt parts that didn't work. When enough people found out, he went out of business; a boon for Bemidji motorists. Post publication note: Craig Littleghost was acquitted of the charges, and Randy Johnson's Havoline Express Lube closed less than three weeks following the release of the above article. For follow- up info, see the front page stories in Northern Herald of 03/07/05, and 07/04/05, available from our main page: northernherald.com Photo Caption (photos are not included in The Library edition): Craig Littleghost and wife at their residence in Nymore ------------------------------------------------------------- ATMS TARGETED FOR BURGLARY IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA HACKENSACK -- One, and maybe two teams of criminals have apparently become adept at a system of stealing entire ATM machines by quickly ripping them out with a pickup truck and chain. Businesses having ATMs are advised to institute security measures, and Cass County (Sheriff: 218-547-1424) and other authorities are seeking information concerning possible suspects, and particularly, are trying to locate the owner of a possibly stolen receiver hitch used in the burglary at Hackensack, at about 4 a.m., Nov. 6th, 2004 Presently, authorities believe that this incident may be connected with one that occurred Sept. 17th at Longville One-Stop. Longville is about 17 miles from Hackensack on Cass Co. Rd. 5, a road used in both incidents. In both thefts, a pickup truck and chain was used to rip the ATM from it's mounting, and out the door. Police believe that it was then quickly loaded into the pickup bed, and driven to a pre-determined location, to be looted. About $18,000 was taken in the Longville heist, but, as reported in The Walker Pilot-Independent of Dec. 1st, 2004, in the Hackensack job, after unloading the ATM, the burglars were apparently spooked by hunters in the area, before they could open the machine. The unopened machine and contents, burglars' tools, and a two-way walkie-talkie, as well as the 2005 white Chevy 2500 4x4 pickup, stolen from a dealership near Winona and used in the heist, were recovered near Deep Portage Road (Cass Co. 46). Officials believe that as many as three men, and a second vehicle, were probably used in the Hackensack job. Said Hackensack Police Chief Mel Rateike, "The call came in at 0413 and I was there at 0415, and they were gone." It has been determined that the private security alarm went off at 0401; the security company took 12 minutes to notify police, giving the suspects time to finish the job and flee. Preventive measures: Chief Rateike advised businesses with ATMs to be sure to have "clean, new, tapes" in their video equipment. Additionally, NH advises that, as time is of the essence in these heists, the ATM, if possible, should be located so that it's not near an outside door; making it more difficult to quickly remove in the manner as has been done; and, at least for now, security companies notify police immediately when alarms go off during closed hours at locations having an ATM. Cass Co. Investigator Mike Diekmann believes that locating the owner of this stolen receiver hitch used in the Hackensack heist might be the missing lead they need. Readers can help! Sharp-eyed readers should be on the lookout for pickups dragging ATMs with a chain. Be aware that this is not the way the machines are routinely transported in business. Should a person see this, or an ATM stuffed into the back of the pickup, they should call 911 immediately. Per Chief Rateike, the ATM thieves may be using a 21' car hauler trailer, which was also stolen proximate to the truck. Persons with other possible leads or information about these thefts, and particularly regarding a possible theft of a receiver-type hitch near Nov. 6th, are advised to contact Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher at 218-547-1424 or 800-450-2677. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Scene of the crime. The darker square of flooring in the corner by the door is where the ATM sat at Swanson's Bait & Tackle, Hackensack. At inset, a hole where the machine's bolts were yanked through the flooring and out of the concrete below. Cass Co. Investigator Mike Diekmann believes that locating the owner of this stolen receiver hitch used in the Hackensack heist might be the missing lead they need. --------------------------------------------------------------- One Thing They Know How To Do In HACKENSACK Is Have Fun! -------------------------------------------------------- JAN. 14TH - 16TH, IT'S BACK TO HACK ! HACKENSACK -- It's the weekend, every mid-January, when from New York to L.A., Cannes, and Tuscany, wherever on the globe Providence has taken Hackensackians, they all come Back-To-Hack for three days of fun and events. And a lot of others come from far and wide for the fun too! This year's event will kick off Friday evening at 5 p.m. with the gala Grand Opening and open house at the new Visitor's Center! At 6:30 p.m. will be the luminescent Parade of Lights on Main St. and huge Community Bonfire, with free hot dogs, followed by fireworks; and at 9, it's to Lucette's for the Back-To-Hack stand-up comedy show headlining Hecklefest's Bob Larson. Saturday will see a plethora of events and goings on. This year's craft fair is expected to fill Union Congregational Church again. It goes from 9 am 'til 3 pm. Spearheading a filled roster of other Saturday events, for young as well as those mature & wise, will be the annual snomo radar runs on Birch Lake, Chili Feed at the Legion, and of course, at 7 p.m. at the Fire Hall, the 5th annual Snowflake Queen pageant, a rather unusual one, as beauty contests go. Sunday will feature ice racing by the Birch Lake Ice Racers. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Past year's enormous bonfire, with Foshay tower overlaid for perspective. Outgoing Snowflake Queen Wanda Windchill passes the crown! Not to scale. Hackensack is 12 mi. S. of Walker. ------------------------------------------------------------ In Focus -------- Note: In Focus features are primarily pictoral. Photos, however, are not included in The Library edition. BSU JAZZ PLAYS "REMEMBER WHEN", READIES FOR JAZZ FEST FEB. 5TH BEMIDJI -- The name for great jazz, here in the Northland, is BSU JAZZ BANDS. The Bemidji State University Jazz Bands, I and II, again produced a great annual Remember When dance, at Bemidji, October 29th & 30th, 2004, featuring all of the great Big Band tunes people remember, but seldom get to see performed live. N-Sync, after all, just doesn't do "In The Mood", but these guys do, and Glenn Miller didn't do it that much better himself! The bands were ably conducted by Dr. Craig Haugen (Jazz II), and Dr. Steven Konecne (Jazz I). Dr. Konecne is the Director of the BSU School of Music; both men are also performing saxophonists. The bands are looking forward, now, to their 32nd annual invitational Jazz Fest concert, at Bemidji, Feb. 5th, 2005. (Info: 218-755-2915) The event is generally held at 7 p.m. in the Beaux Arts Ballroom on the BSU campus. Of the fest's visiting celebrities, Dr. Konecne said, "We have a great saxophonist [&] flutist, Chris Vadala, . . . Chuck Mangione's saxophonist." And he said that Jazz Band I will be touring in Acapulco this year. The jazz bands raise money, so they can tour in the spring, from the nominal door at Remember When, and the Fest. Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Clint Balnes & Rachel Korbel Dr. Steven Konecne conducts BSU Jazz Band I at Remember When. Dance Club members, Dave and Dennie Holmbeck, come from Grand Rapids to Remember When every year. Celebrity guests. Raggedy Ann and Andy know what music is made for dancing! Surely, Max, above, isn't the first clown that's asked Tilly to dance. Just the most fun! ------------------------------------------------------------- SYD PERFORMS AT BSU BEMIDJI -- Hailing mostly from Vermont and New Hampshire, with drummer Smith from Nashville, the SYD band performed several sets over the lunch hour at the Hobson Student Union, Tues., Nov. 16th, 2004. The booking was sponsored by the Hobson Union Programming Board. The group had a really great, very professional sound, as they performed mostly original tunes, including Rest of My Life and Carry Me, as well as their arrangements of some popular upbeat and easy tempoed music. Their work boasted of good original lyrics and excellent guitar licks, particularly by lead guitarist, Tuck; with jazzy instrumental numbers as well as vocals. This group is clearly going places. Two albums are available from record stores, or at sydband.com; with a third next spring. Their Midwest tour took SYD to North Dakota, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, before returning to the East Coast for their December schedule. SYD's music transcends the age spectrum. "Oh, I think it's very good," said Nancy Erickson, very beautiful Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, enjoying lunch by the bandstand. "I'm of the age where I like some of the softer music as well; it's very good," she added. Said freshman coed Amy Wawrzyniak, "I am impressed. They're awesome!" Photo Captions (photos are not included in The Library edition): Dylan Allen, elec. bass Lead singer, Syd Sam Smith, drums Tuck Stocking, lead guitar -------------------------------------------------------------- Editorials - Opinion -------------------- LAKELAND TV IS OWED DEBT OF GRATITUDE, AND MAYBE SOME STATE HELP. A word of commendation is in order for all of the Northern Minnesota media for the excellent job they did, over the past few months and leading up to November 2nd, in informing area voters of all of their choices. Of particular note is the thorough and comprehensive work done by the reporters, crew, and news staff at Lakeland TV, a PBS station located on the Bemidji State University campus, in covering the various campaign appearances and functions of all of the candidates. In this, they really went above and beyond the ordinary. As there is no locally-based commercial station that might have sponsored and televised debates, the Lakeland news crew, led by anchor Dennis Weimann, who personally produced the programs, pulled together and hosted a series of five debates of candidates in elections of concern to viewers spanning Lakeland's entire viewing area; the various slates of candidates for election in individual, local, districts from Grand Rapids, to Bemidji, to Brainerd. We, at Northern Herald, had occasion to host a mayor candidates' debate a few years ago. We can tell you, it's not easy. Takes a lot of manhours to coordinate it, arrange for the space, the officials, timekeepers, candidates, other media reps, etc., and everyone being at the same place at the same time (a necessary element). Lakeland staff did not just that, but produced it as airable, donated the studio, the air time, and camera staff, and broadcasted it too. And not once, but on five separate occasions - five separate debates, for five geographically diverse election districts. This was a real service to the voters and to the State. As most people know, Lakeland TV is non-commercial and has to be, primarily, viewer and underwriter supported. But the debates didn't appear to be subject to underwriting; Lakeland, apparently, just picked up the tab for them in the public interest. At present, the State gives grants to various non-profits, some of which, really, serve only a relatively small number of people. The work by Lakeland, conversely, was of benefit to thousands - it was a service needed by and available to most everyone in Central Minnesota, from below Brainerd, northward to beyond Bemidji. We hope they'll be able to continue to do this sort of thing. Clearly, it would not be inappropriate, as a matter of necessary voter awareness, and in promotion of lessened monetary and special interest influence in campaigns, were the State to grant to public broadcasters like Lakeland, in those areas where no other major TV medium is providing same, the costs of producing and airing this type of impartial political events. On news, there's a lot one can do in print; but some things require TV for full comprehension. Lakeland is our only source for coverage of local news - the things that WCCO isn't interested in, but you are. If Lakeland hadn't done this, across Northern Minnesota, a lot of people just wouldn't have known who their candidates were and what they stood for. Aiding this is clearly, and very much, a legitimate public purpose. It's something our legislature needs to look at this session. Editor's Note: The tax deductions for charitable remainder gifts apply to gifts to Lakeland TV; but for a 2004 deduction, one has to act by December 31st. See Ask The Tax Guy, in this issue. --------------------------------------------------------- ASK THE TAX GUY by Adam Steele, Certified Public Accountant Tax information presented here is general in nature and is not necessarily applicable to, or advantageous upon, any specific return. Persons interested in strategies and savings discussed here are advised to discuss same, in light of all pertinent financial and tax considerations, as they may apply to the specific taxpayer, with their qualified accountant, or barber. Last Chance For 2004 Deduction REMAINDER GIFTS TO CHARITY: DEDUCT NOW, GIVE LATER So, you want to contribute in a BIG way to your favorite charity, but you just don't have that much to give them right now. How about if you were able to give property, that the charity can sell, at some time in the future when you no longer need it, but you can take the tax deduction NOW ?!!? That's the beauty of Charitable Remainder Gifts and Trusts. You take a deduction now for property the charity will receive when you leave this world. This is called a remainder interest. "But What If I Don't Want to Die?" No problema. It may seem like this is only for people who are planning to eventually depart this earth, but here's the clincher: Even if you never leave, you still get the tax deduction! You can make your remainder contribution, and then fool them all by just staying around; you still take the deduction on your 2004 taxes! But you've gotta act by Dec. 31st to deduct it this year! Without a trust, you can give a remainder interest in your personal residence or farm, or an undivided portion thereof. Use of a trust allows additional flexibility, and allows other assets, such as money and securities to be contributed after you have received the income from them for life. Kids, don't try this at home! The procedures for transferring a remainder interest or establishing a trust aren't that hard; but to avoid disaster, persons interested in this should discuss it with an accountant or tax attorney who is qualified and experienced in these matters. ------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor --------------------- READERS TOOT OUR HORN! Thank you and your staff for a wonderful newspaper. We do not get most of the news NH reports, from the local Grand Rapids paper. -- A subscriber in Grand Rapids, Minn. What a great paper. Keep up the excellent work. -- A subscriber in Park Rapids, Minn. Please renew our subscription for another year. It is nice to see someone that is not afraid to tell the real story. Keep up the good work. -- A subscriber in Alaska -------------------------------------------------------------- Letters to the Editor --------------------- HER BROTHER'S PERSPECTIVE Susan Berkovitz's brother, Robert Berkovitz, comments on SUE BERKOVITZ: WHY? in our issue of 06/21/04 (available at northernherald.com). First and uppermost, I want to emphasize that during the past few years that Susan was involved with her litigious and expensive actions against the wishes of her parents and the rest of the family, never once had any inappropriate action been proven in court against Joseph-Kordell, or her attorney, Hendrickson. Not once had Susan's accusations against Hendrickson, Joseph-Kordell, or anyone else in this article for that matter, been substantiated by documented records. Instead, what would come to light is that Susan mixed a few facts with a whole lot of untrue innuendoes. What also would be apparent is that all of Susan's accusations blaming Joseph-Kordell and Hendrickson of harassment and continuous litigation are exactly what Susan did to them, not the other way around. Court records and documentations would show that Susan harassed Joseph-Kordell and Hendrickson numerous times, leaving long rambling and often nasty and sometimes threatening recordings on Joseph-Kordell's phone, and writing inappropriate letters of similar contents to both. Court records would also clearly show that it was Susan who initiated nearly all the unnecessary court actions that dissipated so much of our parent's funds. It was Susan who ignored the pleas of our parents to stop the unnecessary litigation that was depleting their assets, funds that would have provided for our parents' care and any future inheritance for Susan. In truth, it was Susan who would just not stop. In part, I do blame the courts for allowing Susan to use and abuse the court system as often as she did. In presenting Susan's story, your newspaper absolutely ignored the facts. If you research the documentation available on this case, it would reveal that the responsibility that led up to this very tragic and unfortunate incident lies with Susan Berkovitz. A little bit of history about what transpired the past few years. In 1997, our parents met with a highly respected elder law attorney, who discussed with them the importance of having someone to assist them in managing their affairs in event one or both of them became incapacitated and no longer able to do so. They indicated that they wanted their daughter, Sheri, to assume that responsibility, hence her appointment as their durable power-of attorney. At no time did they ever express a desire for Susan to be legally responsible for their affairs, citing her often irrational and erratic behavior towards them and others over a period of over 30 plus years. They simply did not trust Susan's judgments, and with good reason. Susan suffers from a personality disorder that borders on paranoid schizophrenic. This was brought out in the evaluations done by two psychologists and a psychiatrist during Susan's competency hearing at the murder trial. According to still another psychiatrist years ago, who was given a description of Susan's behavior, though she never observed her personally, deduced from that description that Susan is a classical case of paranoid schizophrenia, and this type of person becomes intensely suspicious and wrongly blames others for perceived injustices, and will use the legal system to attack people. Susan's attempts to use lawyers, the police, and the court system over the years to go after people are almost legendary, and well documented. The Power-of-attorney worked very well for our parents. However, in 1999, it became apparent that living in the family home was no longer a viable option. Our mother had two hip surgeries, and it was becoming very difficult for her to handle the stairs in their two-story home. Although initially reluctant to move, my father understood the need to do so (aware of the pain his wife was suffering). In the summer of 1999, with the assistance of my sister, Sheri, her husband and myself, our parents were moved into a senior apartment building. Our parents adjusted rapidly to their new environment, and, in fact, my mother's comment was that she felt she was on her second honeymoon, as she enjoyed their new home so much. It gave great comfort to know that our parents were in a safe and secure environment. Sheri was also very instrumental in making sure that our parents' needs were being taken care of. She conferred with Shelley Joseph-Kordell because of Shelley's expertise in elder care management, and because our father often sought Shelley's advise for many years prior to their move. Sheri had also arranged for other services for the parents, such as home health care on a as needed basis, cleaning services, etc. At the time of our parents' move, Susan was residing in our parents' house. Susan resided in our parent's house for much of her life. She would periodically move out when she had a job, but when she would quit or be released by her employer, she would return to the house. Her parents were her security blanket. Often she had disagreements in the workplace and was in and out of jobs frequently, thus depleting her funds, necessitating her moves back into the house. As mentioned above, Susan was already in the house when we moved our parents. It was proposed to her that she could stay in the house until such time we needed to get it ready to sell. Susan agreed to this arrangement, asking that she be given three months notice to move, when the time became necessary to sell the house. This was beneficial both to her, as she would save money, and also beneficial for her parents so the house would not stay vacant. Susan made many untrue statements in your interview. She stated that during 2000, the matter of the need for a conservatorship was initially discussed at her parents' apartment, and that her mother had arranged for an attorney (not Hendrickson) to be there for advice. This was total nonsense! Up to this time, a need for a conservatorship was never discussed, since a power-of-attorney had already been legally in place since 1997, by someone my parents wanted and entrusted (my sister, Sheri). In addition, a power-of-attorney is much less intrusive and much less expensive to the individual than having a conservator. A conservator was never needed or even thought about by the rest of the family, except Susan. My mother never arranged for an attorney to be at the apartment. Rather, Susan brought this lawyer up to her apartment, unannounced to my parents. My mother initially had absolutely no idea who this person was. She thought it was maybe a friend of Susan, until Susan then started to insist to my mother that she wanted to be the power of attorney of our father. My mother emphatically told her no and stated that her other daughter, Sheri, was already their power of attorney and told Susan that she was too irrational to have that responsibility. Susan then stated she was going to attempt to get a conservatorship for our father, and our mother's response to that was that we don't need a conservativeship [sic]. However, Susan was not done with her battle. In August of 2000, after being frustrated in her attempts to obtain her parent's consent to be a power of attorney for our father, Susan than took matters into her own hands and attempted to illegally obtain power of attorney of our dad, by having him sign papers. At this point, he was exhibiting initial signs of dementia, and he absolutely had no idea was [sic] he was signing. She had him sign these power-of-attorney papers over to her, without any witnesses present. My mother or no else [sic] for that matter never knew she was doing this. She then took these papers over to a notary, who signed them, in spite of the fact this notary never witnessed my dad's signature and was never in his presence when he did sign the papers. A couple days later, she brought revocation papers to revoke our power-of-attorney, and got my dad to sign them. Again, my dad absolutely had no idea, with his dementia, what he was signing, nor do I seriously doubt Susan ever told him. Like before, there were no witnesses present when he signed these papers, and like before, she went to still another notary, who signed those papers, in spite of never witnessing my dad's signature. This is clearly illegal, and this was brought out in the conservatorship hearing months later, when the judge told Susan that notaries could go to prison for doing what they did. The judge also wanted the names of both notaries, though I don’t know whatever became of them. She had also then hired a lawyer and got a petition for a hearing to become conservator for our father, against the wishes of everyone in the family. At that time, it became apparent that we had to take legal action. We were referred to Richard Hendrickson, who become our attorney to take legal action to oppose her petition. The actual conservatorship hearing was delayed for nearly 10 months, because of Susan's actions of hiring and firing lawyers, recusing judges and other delaying tactics initiated by her. For your information, never once did we feel Hendrickson ever misrepresent [sic] us, and I have nothing but respect for this person. Susan stated in your article that she was very close and devoted to her parents. That is her perception of the relationship, but not the perception of the immediate and extended family members. In the 41+ years of living with her parents, Susan's relationship with her father was often acrimonious (refusing to speak to him for long periods of time, & admonishing him to be quiet in his own home). Susan engaged in controlling and intimidating behavior with regard to both of her parents. A restraining order was issued against her in Oct of 2000 because of the verbal abuse she had been subjecting her mother to in the lobby of the apartment building in which our parents resided (in the presence of other tenants). Susan violated the restraining order numerous times. Throughout the article, you printed allegations by Susan that Joseph-Kordell and Hendrickson harassed her, and started numerous court actions against her that depleted the funds from the estate. On the contrary, in the three years following the initiation of conservatorship proceedings, there were at least 36 or more court appearances relating to the conservatorship and almost all of them were initiated by Susan, not by Joseph-Kordell and Hendrickson as you paper erroneously reported. There are volumes of court records showing Susan petitioning (and often being granted) hearing after hearing after hearing in Ramsey County Courthouse. In most cases she did not prevail because there was no merit to her accusations. She so harassed personnel in Ramsey County Courthouse, that limitations were imposed upon her and she was labeled a frivolous litigant. She also filed numerous petitions for hearings in Hennepin County Courthouse and was told repeatedly that the issues she was addressing needed to be dealt with in Ramsey County. However, she continued to file in Hennepin County, was granted hearings, necessitating appearances in court by Hendrickson and Joseph-Kordell. Throughout the conservatorship, Susan challenged every court decision, over and over and over again. She continually harassed Joseph-Kordell a