Brainerd

Greetings from

Where Minnesota memories are made

There is no better destination than the Brainerd lakes area to enjoy the great outdoors with all the comforts of home, to be closer to all that nature can provide — sparkling water bodies and 2,000 miles of shoreland amid tall pines, with hundreds of miles of bicycle, walking, jogging and snowmobile trails. There are deep mine pit lakes for a quiet kayak ride or scuba dive, lakes and rivers for fishing and recreation.

Load up the bike (or rent one) to try the Cuyuna Range mountain bike trails, then take a break in an area coffee shop or eatery. The area has 45 resorts and more than 400 holes of golf, plus a zip line. Or camp and see the glorious Milky Way, away from city lights.

While nature and the outdoor experience are the stars here, that’s not the only attraction. Visit historic homesteads in area parks — from early settlements to the nearby boyhood home of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh — along with local history museums and art galleries.

But the area offers so much more, from Brainerd-Baxter to Pine River, Pequot Lakes to Crosslake, Crosby to Pillager, there are unique experiences available, whether walking on a nature trail or shopping along a main street. With numerous festivals and events all year long, a visitor can be as active as they want to be or simply relax with a book at the beach.

The Brainerd micropolitan offers diverse shopping, theater productions and world-class summer music fests with everything from bluegrass to symphonic orchestra to opera, and a regional airport with commercial and general aviation. Go to visitbrainerd.com and explorebrainerdlakes.com/events for more information and calendars of events.

HE’S KIND OF A ‘BIG’ DEAL MEET TALKING PAUL BUNYAN

Generations of children have heard the largerthan-life and animated Paul Bunyan greet them by name. He’s been a Minnesota tradition since 1954. The 26-foot-tall legendary lumberjack continues this tradition at Paul Bunyan Land, an amusement park 6 miles east of Brainerd on Highway 18. Paul’s faithful friend Babe the Blue Ox is nearby. The amusement park has about 30 rides for kids. For more information, go to paulbunyanland.com.

CUYUNA MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS

Enjoy heart-pumping action with tight turns and scenic vistas along 30 miles of trails spread across 800 acres of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Trails wind around mine pits and lakes with breathtaking overlooks. With more than 30 purposebuilt routes to choose from, mountain bikers from beginner to pro can enjoy a ride. Find more info at cuyunalakesmtb. com. Bonus pro tip: You can stay in a yurt while at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. Three seven-person yurts are available for rent year-round along the Yawkey Mine Lake.

BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

This world-class racing facility combines a road course and dragstrip, and continues to grow and bring in top names in racing and rising stars. The 600-acre facility attracts a weekend population of 100,000 for its annual marquee drag racing event — Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Nitro-fueled NHRA drag racing returns to BIR for the 39th Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals on Aug. 19-22, 2021. The raceway offers 200 acres of camping, a playground, driving school, band stage, and bar and grille, along with 164 full-service recreational sites, shower trailers and in-field deluxe condominiums. For more information on events, go to brainerdraceway.com.

Lakes Area Music Festival

This captivating festival brings nearly 200 world-class classical musicians to audiences for a summer series of free concerts. Outdoor yoga and ballet performances are sometimes incorporated into the concerts, too. Pre-concert lectures provide greater insight into the music, authors and musicians. For more information, go to lakesareamusic.org/.

BEST BETS FOR SHORT TRIPS

STAY FOR THE WEEKEND:

Whether a beginner or an expert mountain biker, the 30 miles of mountain bike trails, or miles of paved walking and biking trails, or hours of kayaking on the clear waters of the mine pit lakes provide an outdoor escape in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area, which is known for its “breath-taking rides” and scenic overlooks. The Cuyuna Lakes State Trail provides 8 miles of paved trail. There are multiple options for a weekend getaway, from camping to hotel rooms, cabins and resorts, along with eateries and breweries throughout the area. Hike or bike to the top of Miner’s Mountain, the highest point in the recreation area, to put it all in perspective.

STAY FOR A DAY: Bike or drive from Brainerd and Baxter to the Crow Wing State Park for a day trip to the park to hike scenic trails, step back into history for unspoiled sweeping views of the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers and the historic Old Crow Wing Town Site. Interpretive signs provide a look into the past for the frontier town. “Start from the picnic area parking lot. From the boat landing, climb the stairs to Chippewa Lookout. Stand high atop the Mississippi River for distant views,” the park notes, adding along with canoeing or kayaking, the park provides a great place to get back to nature and observe wildlife.

CONNECT WITH NATURE WITH A PEACEFUL PADDLE

Whether by canoe or kayak, paddle the peaceful expanse of the Pine River, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-designated canoe route with nearly 60 miles marked as a water trail for travel. This river flows through the Whitefish Chain of Lakes.

Or, take a historic Mississippi River trek to the Crow Wing State Park. You can also enjoy the calm, deep, turquoise-colored waters of the Cuyuna Range mine pit lakes. Glide above the outstretched limbs of mature trees entombed in the clear water that reclaimed the mine pits.

Bring your own kayak or canoe, or rent one from area establishments that will deliver them to the launch point and pick them up when the paddling adventure is complete. Or try a stand-up paddle board on any number of Crow Wing County’s more than 400 glorious lakes.

PLAY A ROUND

The Brainerd lakes area, known for its recreational lakes popular for fishing and boating, is also home to numerous nationally recognized championship golf courses. Golfers could play a different championship course every day for a week. Golfing legends Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Joel Goldstrand all have developed courses in the lakes area.

On Famous Gull Lake

• Cabin and Condos • Pools & Beach • Reunion Facilities • Great Fishing • Affordable Vacations

www.mnResortCabins.com 800-964-4855 PAGE 44 | DESTINATIONS 2021

MOUNT SKI GULL

SKI IN WINTER, ZIP LINE IN SUMMER

Mount Ski Gull offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing in one convenient location near the shores of Gull Lake, off Cass County Highway 77 in Fairview Township between East Gull Lake and Lake Shore. Mount Ski Gull offers another way to see the lakes area’s beauty — on a zip line. The Brainerd Zip Line Tour boasts seven zip lines of varying length, with bridges and tree platforms connecting them. The daring rider can jump off the edge into a 50-foot free fall. The longest zip line is more than 950 feet long. For more information, call 218-963-4353 or visit mountskigull.com.

GO BIG ON SELFIES

Take a selfie-photo tour with “the bigs” — the giant walleye on the shores of Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison, the leaping deer in Deerwood, a waving Paul Bunyan at the Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center, the colorful serpent on the shores of Serpent Lake in Crosby, or Babe the legendary blue ox at Paul Bunyan Land near Brainerd, or the big man himself — the 26-foot-tall talking Paul Bunyan.

OUTBACK TRAIL RIDES

See the beauty of the lakes area from the back of a horse on a guided trail ride through the Pillsbury State Forest near Pillager. The scenic trail rides are designed for riders of all ages and experience levels. The family-owned ranch also provides riding lessons. For more information, go to outbackranch.com/.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

The mighty Mississippi River runs through the Brainerd lakes area, offering opportunities to bike or walk along its banks, or boat, kayak or canoe down the water. Or, you can simply watch the bald eagles who live along its expanse.

Cuyuna Pump Track

Offers more than 2,000 feet of continuous circuit of dirt rollers, berms and jumps for a variety of skill levels with tent and RV campsites, pavilion and playground and all near the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails. “This pump track is a hidden gem in the Cuyuna area,” Lindsay Leet wrote in a review. “With loads of dirt trails, hills, mounds and more tucked into a relatively small area, it offers lots of opportunity for practice and fun.” For more information, go to ci.cuyuna.mn.us/pump-track.

.com SUMMER 2021

218.820.3046

BEAN HOLE DAYS

A midsummer day brings throngs to Pequot Lakes to take part in the annual Bean Hole Days celebration, where cast iron kettles of beans are buried so they can cook overnight and be served free of charge at noon the following day in Trailside Park. The community picnic tradition stretches back 82 years. People move quickly through the lines to receive their free cup of beans, bun and water. A King Bean and Queen Bean are crowned each year during the event. Bean Hole Days is scheduled July 14, 2021, with a crafter show.

TAKE THE STAIRS

The historic 100-foot Pequot Lakes fire tower, north of County Highway 11 and east of Highway 371, is on the National Register of Historic Places and provides a bird’s eye view of the lakes area. The fire tower is open for people to climb the 135 steps from dawn to dusk daily in the warm months. Interpretive signs along the crushed granite walking path to the fire tower share information about the history of the park and of fire towers, Minnesota landscapes, and fires and firefighting. Two trails lead to the fire tower -- a 0.3 mile Fire Tower Trail and a 0.4 mile Wildlife Loop. Dogs are welcome, with two Mutt Mitt stations for people to clean up after their dogs.

Fifty Lakes BRAINERD LAKES

AREA RESORTS AND LODGING Pequot Lakes Crossla NUMBER OF UNITS ke CAMPING/RV SITES FISHING LICENSE ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS SHORT STAYS/ALL SEASON HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE TUBS/SHOWERS/BOTH HOUSEKEEPING CABINS AIR CONDITIONING FIREPLACES LAUNDRY FACILITIES PETS ALLOWED TELEVISION CONVENIENCE STORE SCREENED PORCH RECREATION ROOM SWIMMING AREA PLAYGROUND TENNIS/NEAR/ON GOLF/NEAR/ON POOL/SAUNA/WHIRLPOOL GRILL BOAT LAUNCH BOAT/MOTOR RENTAL/PONTOON BAIT AVAILABLE GASOLINE WINTER/CHILD ACTIVITIES

We CovertheNewsof CrowWingCounty

GULL FOUR Dan and Sue Padrnos SEASONS RESORT 4132 St. Columbo Road Brainerd, MN 56401 Ni 218-963-7969 www.Gull4Seasons.comsswa Merri 32 field • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • Indoor and Outdoor Pool. Pequot Lakes Crosslake Fort Ripley Fifty Lakes Nisswa Merrifield Brainerd Baxter Crosby Deerwood We CovertheNewsof CrowWingCounty Unlock digital at brainerd dispatch.com/ activate INSIDE TODAY VOL 141-058 DEATHS A5, A7 OPINION A6 CLASSIFIED D1-7 SPORTS B1-4 DEAR ABBY A7 BUSINESS C1 OUTDOORS B5-6 The day sports ended Athletics B1 Get help at brainerddispatch.news/ epaperhelpFor real-time news updates and in-depth coverage not found in print, go to brainerddispatch.com. The e-paper, available daily, lets you access digital stories in the same format as the paper. Find it by clicking the yellow e-paper button at the top right of the homepage. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch Buster from Texas is a rescue cat that arrived Thursday, March 11, at the Babinski Foundation Animal Shelter in Pequot Lakes. Furry friend frenzy Animal shelters celebrate adoption milestones, records during pandemic By Theresa Bourke Staff Writer Last April, animal shelters were closing their doors to the public and urging pet owners to come up with a contingency plan for their furry friends in the event of contracting COVID-19. Now, nearly a year later, shelters are welcoming potential adopters — either by walking in or making appointments — and experiencing record adoptions. Paws and Claws Rescue & Resort in Hackensack started off 2021 by celebrating its 1,000th adoption after three and a half years of operation. Sibling dogs Bonnie and Clyde were adoptions 999 and 1,000. “We were hoping to do it in 2020 before the turn of the year, but that’s how we started off 2021,” Operations Manager Jessie Gearns said during a phone interview. “... We’re in Hackensack. That is a small area. We’ve adopted to several states, but for Hackensack that’s a pretty big deal. We realize that our numbers compared to big animal shelters in the Cities or Duluth — it doesn’t compare to them, but for us, it’s a big deal.”Adoptions were fairly steady at Paws and Claws throughout 2020, as the shelter toggled and back and forth between shutting its doors By Frank Lee Staff Writer The old show business phrase “the show must go on” was around before the coronavirus pandemic started last year.But when the number of COVID-19 cases rose nationwide, the virus proved more than a match for movie theaters struggling to remain open as they attempted to keep staff and patrons safe. “Being shut down for three months (early last year) and then once again in November being shut down for two months and having staff not being able to work — essentially laying them off — that was a hard thing,” Lakes 12 Theatre General Manager Steve Saurer said.Minnesota health officials asked theaters twice to shut down to prevent the spread of the virus, so all Mann Theatres locations, including the Lakes 12 Theatre in Baxter, temporarily closed last March and November, and did not reopen until June and January, respectively.“Now that we’re open again — we’re open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays — we have a small staff covering almost every shift, and we’re hoping to hire some more now because obviously down the road, here, we’ll be open seven days a week,” Saurer said. National Association of Theatre OwnersThe National Association of Theatre Owners By Gabriel Lagarde Staff Writer The coronavirus pandemic represents a worldwide event of seismic proportions, perhaps best evidenced by people’s usage of the half-joking expression “before time” to describe life in the days leading up to when COVID-19 flipped society on its head.On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national state of emergency after the Local movie theaters reopen amid coronavirus pandemic Restaurant owners reflect on past year Past year was a struggle for many establishments Shutdowns in 2020 hit industry hard Frank Lee / Brainerd Dispatch The Lakes 12 Theater in Baxter offers first-run new releases with discounted matinee prices, and it shows older movie classics at the lesser cost of $5 for any showing. Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch A flag advertises takeout/delivery options Nov. 18, 2020, at Sage on Laurel in Brainerd. Gyms, bars, restaurants and many other establishments faced a second round of restrictions on indoor services after an announcement by Gov. Tim Walz, Nov. 18, 2020, in order to combat nationwide spikes of COVID-19. THEATERS: Page A12 OWNERS: Page A14 ADOPTION: Page A12 By Theresa Bourke Staff Writer Engaging students is no easy feat. Doing it during a pandemic is even tougher.But a Pequot Lakes teacher turned to social media as means of connecting with his students while teaching valuable lessons at the same time. Josh Borchardt has hundreds of views on each of his TikTok videos, with one reaching more than 3,400 views. The high school biology teacher is an avid adventurer — mountain biking, scuba diving, mountaineering — and turns his excursions into learning opportunities. “When I started getting into teaching in the K-12 setting, I started realizing how much science and everything goes Pequot science teacher bonds with students over TikTok adventures TIKTOK: Page A12 Serving the Brainerd Lakes Area and Central Minnesota since 1881 SundAy, MArCh 21, 2021 • $3.00 Unlock digital at pineandlakes.com/activate Wednesday, March 17, 2021 • $2.00 AREA EVENTS 4 • OBITUARIES 7 • RECIPES 9 • OPINION 10 • SPORTS 15-16 Volume 8 • Issue 27 Get help at pineandlakes.news/ epaperhelp For real-time news updates and in-depth coverage not found in print, go to pineandlakes.com. The e-paper, available daily, lets you access digital stories in the same format as the paper. Find it by clicking the yellow e-paper button at the top right of the homepage. LOVE LAKES OF THE BE PART OF THE 15TH ANNUAL Magazine produced by the Echo Journal WE WANT PHOTOS OF RECREATION ON THE LAKE!! SHOW US ALL THE WAYS YOU ENJOY THE LAKE FISHING, WATERSPORTS, BOATING... Please include your name and hometown as well as a brief explanation. Please email high resolution images. Readers, we want YOUR photos!! Email photos to: nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com CROSSLAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOL By Nancy Vogt Editor Crosslake Community School’s executive director resigned Friday, March 12, and the school’s director of online learning also is no longer with the charter school. Cliff Skagen, executive director since January 2020, said Tuesday, March 16, in an emailed statement: “After lengthy consideration, I decided to resign from Crosslake Community School on March 12 to pursue other professional opportunities. I am proud of my accomplishments at CCS, which include increasing enrollment by 34 percent and bringing in approximately $1 million in new revenue. My family and I have come to love the Brainerd lakes area and I look forward to continuing being an active participant in the community.” Stacy Bender, the school’s director of online learning since August 2014, said in a messaged statement: ““I love Crosslake Community School and specifically its online program that I worked very hard to create along with coworkers who still serve students. With the addition of the kindergarten-fourth grade students in second semester, it is now arguably the best independent charter online school serving all grades in the state of Minnesota.” No more information was available Tuesday on the departures. By Dan Determan and Travis Grimler Staff Writers After a late-season snow dump on the lakes area last week, several school districts took advantage of the past year’s distance learning experience to keep classes going while students remained safe at home. Pine RiverBackus students, however, got to enjoy a good old-fashioned snow day Thursday, March 11. “Pequot Lakes and Pillager decided to go e-learning,” said Pine River-Backus Superintendent Jon Clark. “The state actually has, in statute, what are called e-learning days. There needs to be a plan submitted to them and parents must be notified that schools can move to that when appropriate. “At this point, Pine River-Backus does not have one of those so we weren’t able to just switch to e-learning or a distance learning day. That is something we will be working on moving forward so we can make adjustments like that,” he said. Even with that plan in place, snow days might not come to an end any time soon as students need a forewarning to be prepared to learn from home, and the state limits how many e-learning days a school can have. “Right now, the statute does limit e-learning days to five,” Clark said. “There is a limit on how many you can have. It won’t necessarily eliminate the possibility of snow days. In the future, I think it will always depend on how prepared you are. During this pandemic a lot of kids have their devices going home and are set up so they can do distance learning when these things happen out of the blue. “But during unforeseen snow conditions or Cass County Public Health will hold a COVID19 vaccine clinic with first doses from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 19, at Pine River-Backus School. This is the first of a two-dose Moderna vaccine. The second dose will be given 28 days later. This round of vaccinations is open to: ► Health care personnel and caregivers. ► Long-term care resi-dents. ► Pre-K through grade 12 educators and child care providers. ► People age 65 or older.► People with specific underlying medical conditions (sickle cell disease, Down syndrome, active Kelly Humphrey / Brainerd Dispatch With the temperature reaching 56 degrees Saturday, March 13, people enjoyed ice cream outdoors in front of Lake Country Crafts & Cones in Crosslake, which won the most enthusiastic business award in the Yardi Pardi St. Patrick’s Day decorating contest. See more photos on page 2. Yardi Pardi winner Skagen Director resigns Online learning director no longer employed School snow days aren’t history yet Public health vaccine clinic planned Friday at Pine River-Backus School Pre-registration is required ONE YEAR OF COVID-19 By Dan Determan and Travis Grimler Staff Writers I t has been 365 days since COVID-19 gripped the nation, state and local communities. Over the past year, area communities at virtually every level have had to learn how to live and conduct business differently in an effort to slow the spread of the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Many did so in unique ways. Pequot Lakes Schools Superintendent Chris Lindholm called the state’s “continually moving” parameters one of the greatest stumbling blocks he and the school district have had to deal with in the past year. He also pointed to the highly contentious political disputes surrounding the pandemic as a point of tremendous challenge. “I keep thinking I could navigate a pandemic if the politics weren’t so hot, and I could deal with the politics if we weren’t in a pandemic,” Lindholm said. “When you put them together, I just think, ‘holy cow.’ That has made for a very difficult environment over the past 12 months.” But in those struggles, the school district managed to come up with plans to make education work, including distance learning for those that need it and in-person learning and activities conducted in the safest manner possible. “I’ve learned that we can really be flexible and creative, and pivot quickly and make changes when we come together and work against the common adversity,” Lindholm said. “Time after time, I’ve seen our staff come together and be part of making solutions.” Pine River-Backus Schools Superintendent Jon Clark noted similar challenges with changing information. He said it was difficult when communication and directions were coming from several jurisdictions at once. “I think the biggest challenge for me was keeping up with all the incoming communications coming from the Communities take the good with the bad RESIGNS: Page 6 YEAR: Page 6 SNOW: Page 6 VACCINE: Page 6 advertising@BrainerdDispatch.com •brainerddispatch.com •pineandlakes.com Fort Ripley Brainerd Baxter Crosby Deerwood We listen to our community and what they need from us. Our specialty is gathering and delivering useful information and news to the people who need to know about it. mndestinations.com | PAGE 47