LOCAL BRIEFS

RE/MAX Lakes Area Realty sales associates from the Nisswa and Crosslake offices were recently recognized for outstanding achievements in 2007 in the RE/MAX North Central Region.

Mark Wessels, Crosslake, was named to the RE/MAX International Hall of Fame for career sales and service. William King, Nisswa, was honored with the 20 Year Service Award.

Honored in the 100 Percent Club, the fourth-highest RE/MAX sales award, were Sue Bolton, Beverly Fussy, Lorie Johnson, Lakes Vacation Dream Team, Mary Shimp, Kim Vahlsing and Wessels, all from Crosslake; and Howard Hanson of Nisswa.

Honored in the Executive Club, the fifth-highest sales award, were Teri Jo Flynn, Crosslake; and Brent Anderson and Sarah Sellnow, both of Nisswa.

Crosslake Garden Club meeting set March 19

CROSSLAKE - The Crosslake Area Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. March 19 at the Crosslake Community Center.

The speaker will be Jackie Froemming, technical adviser with the University of Minnesota Extension Service in Brainerd, who will speak on rain gardens.

Crow Wing Power receives award

Crow Wing Power recently was given the first annual Distinguished Business of the Year award by the Builders Association of Minnesota.

The award was created to recognize businesses that support individuals within their organization that contribute to the local, state and national associations.

Crow Wing Power has been an active member for 26 years and has allowed its employees to become active in the builders association. Two employees, Pat Goff and Chuck Hiltner, have served as president of Mid-Minnesota Builders Association; Goff, Hiltner and Wayne Harting have served as MMBA directors; and Goff currently sits on the BAM board of directors.

Goff also was awarded the Associate of the Year based on his service to the local, state and national associations and involvement demonstrated to BAM and the community. He has been a member for more than 25 years.

Edina Realty in Baxter joins donations campaign

BAXTER - Edina Realty in Baxter is helping raise awareness for hunger issues and collecting food and other donations for the state's food shelves by participating in Minnesota's March FoodShare Campaign.

Throughout March, Edina Realty offices in the state will be drop sites for the annual food drive. Items needed include canned or packaged foods; baby items including diapers, formula and cereal; and various household basics such as toilet paper, shampoo, laundry and dish soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Wendy Coward joins Edina Realty

CROSSLAKE - Wendy Coward recently joined the Up North Properties Realty Team with Edina Realty in Crosslake as a real estate agent.

Coward graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in natural resources and French. She worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, Africa, and worked as a park ranger for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Tennessee. Coward later joined the U.S. State Department, working in the Dominican Republic, Armenia, and Lagos, Nigeria, embassies on immigration issues and services for Americans traveling abroad.

While working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, she was the project real estate liaison, issuing licenses, easements and regulatory permits to individuals, municipalities, state government and utility companies.

Amanda Reichenbach joins Century 21

BAXTER - Amanda Reichenbach recently joined Century 21 Brainerd Realty in Baxter as a real estate agent.

Reichen-bach's experience includes sales and marketing, and previous to real estate, she redecorated and organized clients' homes in the Brainerd area.

Butcher named to Bremer Bank's Platinum Club

BAXTER - Becky Butcher recently was named to Bremer Bank's Platinum Club.

The Platinum Club recognizes the top real estate lenders at Bremer who consistently perform at high levels and are committed to exceeding client expectations.

Butcher is a mortgage consultant for Bremer Bank in Baxter. She has 25 years of banking experience, including 21 years in the mortgage industry.