The Center

Monday

8 a.m.- Greeting card recycling.

8 a.m. -4 p.m.- Cardio Exercise Room.

9 a.m.- Free Blood Pressure Checks.

9-10 a.m.- ZUMBA Gold

10 a.m.-4 p.m.-The Gift Shop.

10 am- Grief Group (2nd week of month)

11 a.m.- Bone Builders.

11:30 a.m.- Lutheran Social Service Dining-Roast pork, whole potatoes, buttered cabbage, rosy applesauce.

12:30 p.m.- Party Bridge.

1:15 p.m.- Cribbage.

5 p.m.- Monthly Dinner (2nd week of the month).

Tuesday

8 a.m.-1 p.m.- Open Craft.

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MENAHGA (AP) — Firefighters were getting the upper hand Wednesday on a wildfire that destroyed several structures as it scorched about 7,100 acres in northwestern Minnesota.

Jean Goad, spokeswoman for the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, said crews were off to a good start toward containing the Green Valley Fire, which started on private land during windy weather Tuesday afternoon, about two miles northwest of Menahga, a community of about 1,300 people.

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Central Lakes College’s graduation at the Brained campus is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Brainerd High School gym. The commencement at the Staples campus of Central Lakes College was scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 15 at the Staples-Motley High School gym.

DEAN

SAVOR

A Better Brainerd is conducting a digital photo scavenger hunt at 1 p.m. Sunday in northeast Brainerd. The event is called “Snapshot Brainerd” and it is free and open to the public.

Teams will consist of three people, with at least one person under age 18 and one person over age 55.

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LITTLE FALLS — The Camp Ripley Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations

Facility grand opening will take place at 10 a.m. Friday.

The nearly 13,000-square-foot building includes a hangar for the Shadow System, a 475-pound Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, and the Raven, a

four-pound, Small Unmanned Aircraft System, with a four-foot wing span.

“This facility allows us to further leverage our capabilities and train for current and anticipated missions,” said Capt. Eric J. Lewanski, commander of

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CROSBY — Crosby Police Officer Dean Savor was recently named the 2012 Officer of the Year.

The annual Officer of the Year award is presented to a Crosby police officer who has a high degree of professionalism and has conducted performance above and beyond the call of duty, with regard to total performance as an officer during the year of 2012.

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Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Cass County, said the the Child Care Providers Representation Act, which the Senate passed early Wednesday, May 15, is a power grab by Democrats.

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It took a few motions, but Crow Wing County commissioners voted to seek a court order to clarify the county’s authority related to issuing bonds on behalf of the North Long Lake Sewer District.

John Sausen, assistant county attorney, told commissioners Tuesday he didn’t think the move was needed but the county’s bond council Kennedy and Graven was requesting it.

The county established the North Long Lake Sewer District in the 70s and the Department of Natural Resources may require system improvements.

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An effort to close education gaps between white students and those of color is now officially supported by Brainerd schools.

A trio leading the effort appeared before the Brainerd School Board during a special meeting Wednesday, asking for support.

Officials started meeting two years ago to begin looking at data, have conversations about race and equity, and start talks on changing demographics.

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The Central Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge’s outpatient program, Life Renewal, is pleased to announce it is moving.

“This program has grown out of its current space, so we are moving it into a larger facility at the corner of Sixth and Oak streets in Brainerd,” said Sam Anderson, MnTC Center director.

Now in its second year, the program has expanded to include three full-time counselors and offers afternoon and evening groups for women and men. Life Renewal is a licensed outpatient chemical dependency program that focuses on client’s strengths.

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Some of Trevor Fisher’s classmates found any excuse to stay home from school.

Upset stomach, a cold, flu or unfinished paper — parents hear them all. But not Fisher. He hasn’t missed a single day of school. Ever.

The Crosby-Ironton High School senior graduates in a few weeks with perfect attendance, starting all the way back in kindergarten.

It’s an achievement Principal Jim Christenson hasn’t seen in his 11 years in his position.

“It’s remarkable, really,” he said. “I’m amazed a student could go without missing one day.”

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It was dark and intense and embers were flying everywhere. Those were the words one Brainerd lakes area firefighter used to describe the Green Valley Fire that reportedly burned about 7,100 acres, northwest of Menahga.

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Gas prices shot up past $4 in the Brainerd lakes area Wednesday, hitting that threshold where many motorists blanch at the sticker shock on the pump.

Gail Weinholzer of AAA said reduced capacity due to closures of two large refineries in Chicago was the main culprit in the price surge.

And surge it did. Gas prices rose by as much as 30
cents Wednesday.

The last time gas prices of $4 were common was in June of 2008, during some of the darkest days of the Great Recession. The average prices during that June five years ago topped out at $3.99.

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COMING THIS WEEKEND

Knitting community

Utrinkets settles into Brainerd, bringing knitting enthusiasts to downtown. The attraction, patrons say, involves more than yarn.