AREA BRIEFS

AITKIN - The reconstruction of Aitkin's Minnesota Avenue in the city's downtown stood out for design and coordination and was recognized as 2005's outstanding urban state aid project.

The Aitkin County Highway Department, Hammerlund Construction Inc., Anderson Brothers Construction Co., and Widseth Smith Nolting, engineering and design firm, received a 2005 Merit Award by the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, the Minnesota Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists and the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The award-winning project was funded by Minnesota State Aid.

The project team was honored for the reconstruction of Aitkin's Minnesota Avenue (County State Aid Highway 1) between the junctions of First Street Northwest and the Mississippi River bridge. The project involved utility replacement, installation of a stormwater collection system and street reconstruction.

Function and aesthetics are combined in the design of colored sidewalks, trees, benches and additional street lighting to complement the historically influenced streetscape.

Palisade to host Midwinter Festival

PALISADE - Palisade's Midwinter Festival will be held Saturday, including the following activities:

Parade - 1 p.m., Main Street.

Meatball dinner, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Bethel Church.

Crafters, entertainment and food, noon-5 p.m., fire hall.

Pork chop dinner, 3:30-6:30 p.m., fire hall.

Coffee and cookies, noon-4 p.m., SuperSledder Building.

Snowmobile drawing, 4:30 p.m., SuperSledder Building.

Palisade Community Improvement Committee drawings, 6 p.m., fire hall.

Pony rides.

Children's games/activities in the afternoon.

Hammerschlagin outside the liquor store.

Fireworks, 7:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Palisade Community Improvement Committee.

Backus American Legion to offer activities

BACKUS - Sunday cards, dances and breakfasts are among the programs featured on the winter-spring schedule of the Backus American Legion.

The Auxiliary's monthly breakfast will resume from 7 a.m.-noon Feb. 12 and continue each second Sunday of the month through October. Cost is $5.50 for adults and $3 for children under 10.

Cribbage will start at 1 p.m. Sundays for six weeks, Feb. 12 through March 19. It is open to anyone with a $5 entry fee. All fees are paid as prizes to players. Then there will be six weeks of 500 at 1 p.m. beginning March 26 with the same entry fee.

Sunday senior dances featuring the Frankie Lamb Band will continue from 2-6 p.m. the third Sunday of the month, except in April when the dance will be April 9 because of Easter.