Cravaack named vice chairman of aviation subcommittee

Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., Thursday was appointed to three Congressional subcommittees with broad oversight of national transportation and infrastructure issues, and was named vice chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee.

U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica, R-Fla., also appointed Cravaack to the subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime transportation, and the subcommittee on water resources and environment.

 Cravaack said each committee covers issues and areas that are of importance to his constituents in the 8th District - from the Port of Duluth and the Iron Range to the forestlands.

Verndale teacher named candidate for Minnesota Teacher of Year

VERNDALE - Kelly Youngbauer, a Verndale teacher, has been named one of 108 candidates for the 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, a program sponsored by Education Minnesota.

The 2011 Minnesota Teacher of the Year will be announced May 1 at the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park. A 23-member panel of community leaders will name a group of semifinalists, and then narrow the field to finalists.

Airport commission to meet Feb. 1

The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 1 in the airport conference room.

FRED program awarded $5,000 grant

The Brainerd Lakes Area Fathers Reading Every Day, or FRED, program has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Qwest Foundation. FRED is a national program aimed at improving children's reading ability by encouraging men to read daily to their children. The presentation of the check was given at the FRED Run and Read event hosted by TCC Head Start in Brainerd Tuesday.

Sons of Norway meet Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd

Sons of Norway Sagatun Lodge will meet at 10 a.m. for brunch at Trinity Lutheran Church. Donna Salli, author and playwright, will present a program on researching her Finnish-American heritage.

Brainerd dancers to dance at United We Dance competition Sunday

Brainerd will be among 1,200 dancers in second through 12th grade throughout the state competing Sunday at the Just For Kix United We Dance competition at Halenbeck Hall at St. Cloud State University.

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with the kick routine competitors. Jazz team competitions will follow in the afternoon. The competition is split into fourteen divisions.

Tickets for the event are $6 for adults and $3 for students.