St. Cloud Times from Saint Cloud, Minnesota • Page 11

July 9, 2004 St. Cloud Times 3B Casinos rake in 3rd-highest take in nation MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota's American Indian casinos brought in more than $1.3 billion in revenues last year. It was the third-highest total in the country, according to a report by the Los Angeles- Analysis Group. Minnesota tribes trail those in California and Connecticut when it comes to gaming revenues. Wisconsin tribes ranked fifthhighest in revenues.

The top five states accounted for 61 percent of total gaming revenue. John McCarthy, executive director of the Minnesota Indian Gaming. Association, disputed report's numbers, saying Minnesota's gaming tribes do not release revenue figures. He said the report's figures for Minnesota revenues were likely overestimated, and put the figure closer to $700 million to $800 million a year. "It's got to be very anecdotal because he doesn't have revenue From Page 1B Board Getting out Von Korff said the idea is not to avoid having the meetings on TV.

It is to get out in the district and meet with people who are involved at each school. In May, the board met for a special meeting in St. Joseph to talk about the city's interest in building a school in the western part of the district. The agenda included a discussion of a program and a tour of Kennedy Elementary School in St. Joseph.

Von Korff said many people who live on the edges of the district have not had a close connection to the school district. "When we went out there we DAILY POLL How often have you visited an American Indian casino in the last year? Vote at www.sctimes. com. Results will be on tomorrow's Opinion Page. figures.

Nobody has given them to him," McCarthy said. The report also does not break down revenues for individual tribes or casinos, which are believed to vary widely in Minnesota. Sluggish growth The report written by economist Alan Meister claims that revenues for Minnesota's 19 casinos run by 11 gaming tribes grew by only 1.1 percent in 2003 from 2002, the report said. Tribal casino revenues nationally rose 12.1 percent last year. had an audience full of people we had never seen before," Von Korff said.

Board Dorsher said people who smaller towns feel included Joanne Dorsher School board chairwoman bers St. Cloud City The main the meetings on cable city council hires hourly Wisconsin Indian gaming grew by 7.5 percent last year, according to the report. Meister attributed the sluggish growth in Minnesota to a gambling market that faces competition from commercial gambling in other states but said there appeared to be areas for growth. Most of the growth in American Indian gaming elsewhere was from tribes building new and larger resort complexes. Growth may also be affected by the uncertainty about the future of gambling in the state, exacerbated by off-again, on-again talks between the tribes and the state about compacts that allow tribes a continued monopoly on casino gambling, Meister said.

"Gaming in that region has always been fairly strong," Meister said. "The tribes there are not expanding their gaming options very much." the technical aspects of the broadcast. The broadcasts are shown again a week later. Board members have said they can tell from the comments they hear that the meetings are watched. Attendance at board meetings varies.

Depending on what issue is confronting the board, the council chamber can be almost empty to having several dozen people attend. Unions will sometimes encourage members to appear at the meetings to draw attention to an unsettled contract. Buzzell said televising the meetings allows people the opportunity to find out what the board is doing. The board cut half the budget for the broadcasts when it made $1.4 million in reductions in June. "It's a small pot of money, I thought they would keep it," Buzzell said.

TODAY IN Juana Botello of Melrose cele- CLOUD Life: page IC brates emony. 15-year-old's her coming-of-age the cer- Your www.sctimes.com Place To Be. Tributes chairwoman Joanne she has heard from live in some of the who say they don't in the district. "I'd like to change that," Dorsher said. In 1995, the board shifted its meetings from the District Administration Office to the City Council chamat Hall downtown.

reason was to allow to be televised live television, just as the does. The district workers to handle Lorraine T. Ruff celebrant. Inurnment will be private at a later date at St. Cloud Oakes, ND.

Visitation will be Aug 24, 1910-July 8, 2004 one hour prior to the services A Memorial Mass will be on Tuesday at St. Mary's held on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 Cathedral (Lower Church). at 4:30 P.M. at St. Mary's Arrangements are with Cathedral Catholic Church Daniel Funeral Home in St.

(Lower Church) located at 25 Cloud. 8th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN for Lorraine Theresa Ruff DANIEL 93 of St. Cloud, who died FUNERAL HOME age (320) 251-0383 on Thursday, July 8, 2004 at the St. Cloud Hospital.

The Obituary Guestbook on-line at Reverend Al Stangl will be the www.danielfuneralhome.com Norma Soschnik, 56 employed at the Cold Cold Spring Spring Sept 20, 1947-July 7, 2004 Cleaners for Services will be 11:00 a.m. many years. Saturday, July 10, 2004 at the She worked Sts. Peter Paul Catholic in the Church in Richmond, MN for Foundry at Norma Soschnik, age 56, the Cold who died Wednesday, peace- Spring Granite Company for fully at her home surrounded 16 years. She most enjoyed by her family.

Burial will be in time with her grandchildren. the parish cemetery. It didn't matter what she did Friends may call after 4:00 with them; played cards, p.m. Friday (TODAY), and garage sale or just sit by the from 9 10:30 a.m. Saturday campfire-they fulfilled her life.

morning at the Wenner She will be missed by all her Funeral Home in Richmond. family and friends. Parish prayers will be at 4:00 Survivors include her husp.m. and the St. Boniface band, Conrad; sons, Pat Christian Women and (Stephanie) of Cold Spring Catholic Aid Association will and Mark of St.

Cloud; grandpray a rosary at 4:30 p.m. sons, Nathan, Mitchell, Norma was born in Matthew and Ryan; brothers, Richmond to Aloys and Irene Jack, Don, Howard, Lester, (Schulte) Hemmesch. She Jeff and Dean; sisters, Grace, married Conrad Soschnik on Rita, Joan, Jane and Mary. September 17, 1966 in Sts. She was preceded in death Peter Paul Church, by her parents; sister, Edna Richmond, MN.

Norma was and brother, Rick. Services Rosetta Grandma Balaski, 74, Little Falls, died July 7. Services: 10 a.m. July 10, St Mary's Catholic Church, Little Falls. Shelly Funeral Chapel, Little Falls.

Richard (Dick) Burg, 62, Kimball, died July 6. Services: 11 a.m. July 9, St. Anne's Catholic Church, Kimball. Dingmann Funeral Care, Kimball.

Lucille Chmielewski, 94, Duelm, died July 6. Services: 2 p.m. July 10, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Duelm. Foley Funeral Home, Foley.

Paying their share Gov. Tim Pawlenty and others have argued Minnesota's tribes need to pay more to the state or face the possibility of an expansion of non-American Indian gaming. Minnesota's gaming compacts, which have no end date, require only $150,000 a year in contributions from the tribes to the state, all for gambling enforcement. Nationally, tribes paid $759 million in revenue sharing with states. Meister said some of his figures, representing 356 gaming facilities operated by 222 tribes, were obtained from public records, from tribes and from other sources with the understanding that he not reveal individual casino figures, and from computer modeling.

Gaming revenue refers to money earned from gambling that includes bingo, slots and card games such as blackjack. Von Korff said he is not giving up on having the meetings televised. He said the district might be able to find volunteers to run a recorder so the meetings can be taped and broadcast later. CHOOSE TASTE Miller: Live Distributed by BERNICK'S Mass of Christian Burial 10 AM Monday, CHURCH OF ST. PATRICK, 3535 E.

72nd St. in Inver Grove Heights. Visitation 4 to 8 PM Sunday, SOUTHERN FUNERAL HOME, 414 Marie Ave. in So. St.

Paul, 1 hour prior to the Mass at church on Monday. Interment St. Patrick's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred Southern Funeral Home 651-451-1551 Virginia M. Hilsgen, 89 South St.

Paul Feb 7, 1915 July 4, 2004 Age 89 of So. St. Paul, formerly of Inver Grove Heights. Passed away July 4th. Preceded in death by husband, Florian 2 brothers; 2 sisters; 2 grandchildren.

Survived by children, Pat (Larry) Chopskie, Mary Kay Hilsgen, Rick (Sharon), Janice (Ron) Yingling; 11 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren twins due in October; 3 siblings; many other relatives friends. James J. Murphy, 58 James is survived by his wife Andrea, daughter Apple Valley Michelle of Apple Valley, MN, June 23, 1946-July 7, 2004 parents Tim Frances of Mass of Christian Burial will Cold Spring, MN, brothers be held at 3:00 p.m. on Gary of Eden Prairie; Pat Monday, July 12, 2004 at St. (Pam) of Morris, MN; Art Benedict's Catholic Church in (Karen) of Rochester, MN; Avon for James J.

Murphy, 58 Mark of St. Michael, MN and of Apple Valley. Visitation will Dan of Cold Spring, MN, sisbe held on Sunday, July 11, ters, Kelly (Greg) Brand of 2004 from 7:30 9:30 p.m. at Hutchinson, MN and Carmel St. John Neumann Catholic Murphy (Andy Michaelson) of Church, 4030 Pilot Knob North Branch, MN.

Road, Eagan, MN and will In lieu of flowers, memorials continue on Monday after are preferred to American 1:30 p.m. at St. Benedict's Cancer Society or Catholic Church, Avon. Alzheimer's Association. James was born on June 23, 1946; he passed away peacefully at his home on July 7, 2004 after a long, courageous WILLIAMS battle with cancer.

Arrangements are by (320) 252-2522 www.williamsfuneralhome.com Williams Funeral Home, Avon Corinne Guild, 83, Sun City West, died Dec. 3. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 9, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Pierz.

Virginia K. Hagman, 78, St. Cloud, died July 6. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 9, St.

Joseph's Catholic Church, Waite Park. Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud. Edna S. Harrington, 94, Long Prairie, died July 4.

Services: 11 a.m. July 12, Trinity Lutheran Church, Long Prairie. SteinDingmann Funeral Home, Long Prairie. Virginia M. Hilsgen, 89, So.

St. Paul, died July 4. Services: 10 a.m. July 12, Church of St. Patrick, Inver Grove Heights.

Souther Funeral Home, South St. Paul. The Easiest Way to Get Information on Pre-planning and Funeral Call Miller-Carlin, the Pre-planning Specialist. Miller Carlin for all the right FUNERAL HOMES ST. CLOUD 252.7004 ALBANY 845.2035 HOLDINGFORD 746.9994 WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME CREMATION SERVICES Conveniently located in St.

Cloud with additional funeral homes in Princeton and Avons (320) 252-2522 1900 8th Street North St. Cloud. MN 56303 be informed. Deal would the toe le Lap Lift Triple Crown 70-1 shut spoils War Emblem's CLOUD Sarmlay walkout Spo. SATURDAY PREVIEW Retailer of the Here's what's coming Week: in your Saturday St.

Cloud Times. Nelson Bros. The need for more family assistance centers has grown as Express 458 Great Oak Drive more and more Guard and Reserve members are called to Waite Park active duty. A St. Cloud State art student covers a building with Stop by this week and get your 3,600 popsicle prints.

Monday-Saturday Is your dog out of shape? Take it to the ultimate play- St. Cloud Times ground for new dog agility course. for only and Sunday for only Your Place To Be Informed. CLOUD Pick up the St. Cloud Times at more than 500 locations, subscribe online or call 320-255-8710 for convenient, Your Place To Be.

money-saving home delivery. www.sctimes.com. Robert J. Schwefel of Deer River, and a son, John (Kelly) Schwefel, 75 Schwefel of Princeton, MN; 2 Donna, TX two grandsons, Paul and July 7, 2004 Sean; a sister, Phyllis (Jim) Robert J. Schwefel Gabriel, of Hugo, MN.

Age 75, of Donna, for- Private family service with burial at St. Pius Catholic merly of Zimmerman, passed away July 7, 2004, Cemetery, Zimmerman, MN. after a long illness. Arrangements by Robert is survived by his Advantage Funeral wife, Mary Ann (Fischer) Cremation Services, Duluth, MN. Barbara Ann Spier, 57 King Tut.

She loved to present Sartell people with July 18, 1947-July 8, 2004 small, Mass of Christian burial will thoughtful be held at 10:00 a.m. on things that Saturday, July 10, 2004 at the would Williams Funeral Home, St. invariably Cloud for Barbara Ann Spier, make them 57, of Sartell who died July 8 smile. after a long battle with multiple Barb is sursclerosis. Friends may call vived by daughter, Nicole after 9:00 a.m.

Saturday at the Spier-Hamerlinck, St. Joseph; funeral home. Entombment will grandchildren: Maria and be in Assumption Cemetery Maggie Hamerlinck, St. Mausoleum. Joseph; father: Alphonse Barb attended grade school Stellmach, St.

Cloud; sisters: in the one-room schoolhouse Shirley (Eugene) Barthel, outside of St. Cloud, St. Peter's Rosemount; Sandy (Mike) Catholic School, and graduated Christansen, Cook; Lynn (Paul) from Technical High School in Toohey, St. Cloud; brother: 1966. She worked at Allan (Debbie), St.

Cloud; good Fingerhut for 19 years and later friend, Wayne Garrett; nephews for Comb Company and and nieces: Kelli (Rob) Northern Wire. Ritzman, Ben Barthel, Caleb Barb loved to dig in the dirt Stellmach and Sarah Steib. and lay in the sun at her St. Barb was preceded in death Wendel home. She had a pas- by her mother, Marie.

sion for gardening and rock collecting. Later in life she liked to go on walks, sit outside and bird watch. Barb also loved WILLIAMS everything having to do with (320) 252-2522 Egypt and was fascinated by www.williamsfuneralhome.com Bernadine Elisabeth Didier, 84, died July 5. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 10, St.

Edward's Catholic Church, Princeton. Williams-Hanson-Kaun Funeral Home, Princeton. Donald LeRoy Emery, 80, Princeton, died July 4. Services: 5 p.m. July 11, Williams-HansonKaun Funeral Home, Princeton.

Martha Goodale, 96, Cincinnati, Ohio, died July 5. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 10, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Duelm. Foley Funeral Home, Foley.

Rodd J. Gould, 54, Chanhassen, died July 6. Services: 10 a.m. July 12, Cremation Society of MN, Edina. Ronald L.

Lowe, 77, Little Falls, died July 5. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 9, Shelley Funeral Chapel, Little Falls. James J. Murphy, 58, Apple Valley, died July 7.

Services: 3 p.m. July 12, St. Benedict's Catholic Church, Avon. Williams Funeral HOme, St. Cloud.

Floyd Partain, 65, Little Falls, died July 6. Services not set. Shelly Funeral Chapel, Little Falls. Lorraine T. Ruff, 93, St.

Cloud, died July 8. Services: 4:30 p.m. July 13, St. Mary's Cathedral Church (Lower Church), St. Cloud.

St. Cloud. Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud. Robert J.

Schwefel, 75, Donna, TX, died July 7. Services will be private. Advantage Funeral Cremation Services, Duluth. Helen Schwieters, 97, Melrose, died July 8. Services not set.

Patton-Schad Funeral Cremation Service, Melrose. James T. "Jamie" Seanger, 28, Long Prarie, died July 7. Services: 10:30 a.m. July 12, St.

Mary's Catholic Church, Melrose. Patton-Schad Funeral Cremation Services, Melrose. Norma Soschnik, 56, Coldspring, died July 7. Services: 11 a.m. July 10, Sts.

Peter Paul Catholic Church, Richmond. Wenner Funeral Home, Richmond. Barbara Ann Spier, 57, Sartell, died July 8. Services: 10 a.m. July 10, Williams Funeral Home, St.

Cloud. Randy W. Tribitt, 54, Hillman, died July 4. Services: 2 p.m. July 9, First Congregational Church, Clear Lake, SD.

Brenny Funeral Home, Pierz. Clement M. Wilder, 83, Albert Lea, died July 6. Services: 10 a.m. July 10, St.

Theodore Catholic Church, Albert Lea. Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. Jeanette M. Williams, 82, Princeton, died July 5. Services: 10:30 a.m.

July 9, Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. WilliamsHanson-Kaun Funeral Home, Princeton..