Local briefs

CROSBY -- The Cuyuna Range Women's Club will hold its first meeting of the new year at 2 p.m. Monday in the Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library meeting room.

Following the business meeting, Kris Hasskamp will present the program "Good Health Encourages Good Living."

Saxophonist Chuck Hagberg will provide music. Sally Mann will accompany him on piano.

Mary Panno, chair, and her committee of Pat Muggli and Juneal Pecarich will serve refreshments.

All women of the area are welcome and invited to join the club. Annual dues are $3.

Airport commission to meet Tuesday

The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission will meet 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the airport conference room.

Energy assistance help available this winter

Lutheran Social Service Energy Assistance is still accepting applications for winter for the Energy Assistance Program.

The program ensures that households with the lowest incomes and the highest costs receive the greatest benefit. Homeowners and renters (except subsidized renters with heat and electric included) are eligible to apply. All fuel types qualify -- propane, oil, natural gas and wood -- self-cut or purchased.

Services provided are:

* Financial aid to pay a portion of heating and/or electric costs.

* Crisis intervention.

* Home heating system repair or replacement for a homeowner who is approved for energy assistance.

* Referral to weatherization and other human service providers.

Income guidelines for three months are: a household of one, $4,721; household of two, $6,174; household of three, $7,627; household of four, $9,079; household of five, $10,532; household of six, $11,985; household of seven, $12,257.

Applications may be requested by calling 829-5000 or (800) 829-5902. Lutheran Social Service is at 2409 Forthun Road S., Baxter. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Energy assistance is funded by the state of Minnesota.

Tobacco-free grants awarded

The Minnesota Department of Health announced it is awarding a new round of Tobacco-Free Communities grants in Minnesota for 2004.

The department is awarding about $3.4 million in grants for locally driven tobacco prevention activities.

Two area recipients include: Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching Community Health Board, $72,259, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, $86,408 for the Leech Lake Reservation.

Nineteen grants will be awarded to organizations to create tobacco-free environments and reduce youth tobacco use by 25 percent by 2005.

Grant recipients were part of a competitive process. The Legislature designated the funds in tobacco prevention funding for community-based initiatives.

This funding replaces the Tobacco Endowment, which previously funded the Minnesota Youth Tobacco Prevention Initiative.

Grant recipients will be required to focus on science-based strategies for creating tobacco-free environments.

Recipients may use a portion of their funds to focus on comprehensive school-based tobacco prevention and to reduce youth access to tobacco.