BUSINESS NOTES

The Crow Wing Power Community Trust Board donated $44,650 to local community programs during their first quarter meeting held in January. Operation Round-Up funds were distributed to the following projects: $1,000 to Oasis Share A Meal, Little Falls; $1,000 to St. Gabriel's Hospital, Lifeline Program, Little Falls; $1,000 to Confidence Learning Center, East Gull Lake; $1,000 to Rising Stars Therapeutic Equitation, Little Falls; $1,500 to Camp Knutson, Crosslake; $2,000 to Community Program, Deerwood; $1,500 to Smile Again Ministries, Crosslake; $300 to RSVP, Emily; $1,000 to Friendship Ventures (Crow Wing, Cass and Morrison counties); $500 to Crow Wing County Licensed Family Childcare Assoc., Brainerd; $500 to Longville Lakes Arts Alliance; $1,500 to Bay Lake Area Lions Charities, Deerwood; $27,350 to 11 area food shelves; and $4,500 to Private Cooperative Member Crisis Medical Support.

Operation Round Up is funded by participating members of Crow Wing Power who allow the cooperative to round up their electric bills to the nearest whole dollar. The additional change is pooled and distributed quarterly. Since the program's inception in late 1996, Round Up has donated more than $1,772,000 to community projects and programs in Cass, Crow Wing and Morrison counties.

The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2010. Grant forms can be obtained by calling Crow Wing Power at 829-2827 or (800) 648-9401 or at www.cwpower.com. The deadline for grant applications is April 10.

Westgate Mall encourages support of Haitian relief efforts

In the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti, the Westgate Mall is encouraging shoppers to support the American Red Cross relief efforts.

Westgate Mall distributed an e-mail notifying recipients of its support of the American Red Cross and encouraged donations to the organization's relief efforts.

Vehicle inspector recertification class offered

A commercial vehicle inspector recertification class will be from 8 a.m. to noon Feb. 18 at the Business and Industry Center on the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd.

All certified Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Inspectors must be recertified every two years if they wish to continue as certified inspectors. You cannot attend the recertification class if: Your certification has been expired for more than six months; if your certification is under revocation; if you have already attended and failed a recertification class.

The class fee is $80, including a $10-per-student fee required by the state and all course materials. Instructor is Douglas Brown of the Minnesota State Highway Patrol.

Deadline to register is Feb. 11. Payment is required at the time of registration. For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Certified food manager training set at CLC

A Certified Food Manager course will meet Feb. 18, 23, and 25 in the Business and Industry Center at Central Lakes College, Brainerd.

Certification is required in most Minnesota food establishments.

The class meets 5 to 9 p.m. with instructor Colette Pohlkamp.

The course fee is $160.

Registration deadline is Feb. 11.

For more information, call toll-free (800) 933-0346 extension 8142 or 855-8142.

Free course planned for health care careers

The Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College will be the site for a new free pre-healthcare course designed to help certified nursing assistants improve basic skills toward nursing or other healthcare careers.

Sessions meet from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Mondays and Thursdays, Feb. 18 April 29.

Books and supplies are provided through grant funding and a collaboration of Brainerd School District Adult Basic Education, CLC, and Rural Minnesota CEP Inc.

Session topics: College Academic Expectations Academic Ethics; Time Management Study Skills; College Reading and Writing; Math for Healthcare Occupations; Healthcare Career Options Job Shadowing; Medical Terminology Professional Expectations; Basic Nursing Skills.

Jean Mershon, business specialist, and Kris Jandl, registered, nurse, from the CLC Nursing program, will instruct.

Participants must meet all ABE requirements (high school or GED diploma), have completed an approved CAN course, and achieve reading and math qualifying scores on the test of adult basic education. Brainerd School District Adult Basic Education, CLC, and Rural Minnesota CEP Inc. are hosting the free pre-healthcare course.

For more information, contact Orla Kenton, ISD181 ABE manager, at (218) 454-5400.