LOCAL BRIEFS

Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, backed legislation Monday night that is billed as a move toward greater energy independence.

The Renewable Energy Standard passed in the House Monday and was approved earlier in the Senate. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has indicated he will sign the measure. The bill will require utilities to produce at least 25 percent of their total energy from new, renewable sources by 2025.

Ward, a co-author of the bill, said the legislation could lead to investment in Minnesota, significant reductions in global warming emissions and cleaner air and water.

Doty said the bill will result in one more group of farm products to sell with a move to growing grasses for energy instead of row products.

HART conducts fundraiser

Heartland Animal Rescue Team's annual "Hearts for HART" fundraiser is under way and is need of donations. Hearts are available for a $1 donation at lakes area businesses. These businesses, listed on www.hartpets.org, will display the hearts through the month of February.

Donations will help support HART in its effort to care for and place stray, surrendered and abandoned animals in loving homes.

Community education council to meet

The Brainerd School District Community Education Advisory Council will meet at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 in Room No. 200 at Washington Educational Services Building.

Utilities commission to meet Tuesday

The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the BPU Service Center, 8027 Highland Scenic Road in Baxter.

Rookies key to success

The Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club often held the distinction of being the world's largest Sertoma Club.

Sertoma stands for Service to Mankind and this club has been a part of the Brainerd lakes area since the 1970s. It continues to grow and prosper, mainly because so many people become new members.

The club has made each class of rookies into a unit by making them responsible for planning a social activity for all the other members.

Themes have included karaoke contests, survival teams and boat building, to name a few.

The 2006 class under the direction of Paul Heinlen and assisted by Lori Rubin planned what veterans in the club are calling one of the most spectacular Rookie Parties. The object was to raise money for Camp Sertoma for the deaf and hard of hearing children in Minnesota.

The Rookies of 2007 raised $775 in addition to paying all their party expenses. The donation was recently presented to Jeff Olson, executive director at Confidence Learning Center.