LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Legislation that would bring a wide-range of stakeholders to the table to analyze and recommend changes to the current management structure for the state's natural resources gained approval from the Senate Agriculture and Veterans Committee on Tuesday.

Authored by Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, the DNR reorganization bill aims to identify ways in which management practices can be streamlined and redundancies can be reduced or eliminated.

"Countless local citizens have brought up the problem of overlap and confusion in the way we manage our natural resources," Olson said. "The permitting process is not coordinated between different entities. Responsibilities for providing services - such as helping a lake association establish a lake management plan - are not clearly delineated."

Olson's bill, S.F. 1657, would establish an Environment and Natural Resources Organization Advisory Committee. The committee would be made up of citizen, government, environmental, agriculture and tribal groups, and would be tasked with gathering information and identifying ways in which the state's natural resource management structure could be more efficient. The advisory committee would identify ways to make management more accountable to the public, more professional and void of political influences. The committee also would look to use technology that could help to better align services in the future.

United Way Lakes Area Team Challenge winners announced

The United Way of Crow Wing and Southern Cass Counties' Lakes Area Team Challenge Final Weigh Off celebration was Tuesday at Westgate Mall in Baxter.

First-place team was the Thin Mints. Second place went to the On Our Weigh Down team with third place going to E.R.I.S.A. (Eating Right is so Annoying).

Top pairs included Team Awesome with first place; Go Stockingers with second place and third place went to The Narrow Weigh.

For eight weeks, participants used local fitness clubs free of charge, were able to attend free classes and received discounts on various activities. Teams earned points by getting active, learning, eating well and losing weight.

A donation of $25 per person was required to participate. Dollars raised are directly applied to programs in Crow Wing and Cass County that instill healthy habits in children.

Morrison County planning meeting scheduled Friday

LITTLE FALLS - A Morrison County Board planning session is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the county board room.

Agenda items include the public health report presented by Bonnie Paulsen; social service report by Steve Reger; position vacancy, assistant county attorney; community development report by Carol Anderson; administrator's report by Deb Gruber, which will include the county board packet information.

Ward legislation sets Sept. 16 as American Legion Day in Minnesota

Legislation authored by State Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, that will establish Sept. 16 of each year as American Legion Day was signed into law Thursday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Ward said he was honored to carry this legislation in support of the work done by 14,000 American Legion clubs and their 3 million members nationwide.

"This new law will give us another opportunity to say 'thank you for your service' to the members of the American Legion who have served our country and now serve our communities," Ward said.

Food program workshop planned

BAXTER - A food program workshop is planned for child care providers and parents from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday and March 25 at the Baxter Lord of Life Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 3200 Fairview Road N., Baxter.

The workshop will highlight the major causes of foodborne illness and share information on safe food handling practices to minimize the risk of foodborne illness in the home.

There is no cost to attend.

Pre-registration is required by calling Tammy Yttrie at (320) 766-1657.

Listening session planned

The Little Falls School Board will host a listening session regarding elementary reconfiguration at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Performing Arts Center at Lindbergh Elementary School in Little Falls.