Local briefs

National Federation of Independent Business is offering free enterprise scholars awards for entrepreneurial Minnesota students and has extended the application deadline to March 31.

Awards are offered to high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative.

The scholarship is open to students across the nation. The program is the first of many the NFIB Education Foundation will implement to encourage young people to consider a career in small business and pursue their own entrepreneurial endeavors.

A minimum of 100 non-renewable scholarships will be awarded for $1,000 each. Eligibility is limited to those entering their freshman year or an accredited two or four-year university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute. Each applicant must obtain the nomination of an NFIB member.

Students will be asked to demonstrate their entrepreneurial achievement by answering a short, personal question defining their efforts. Applicants will compose an essay about the importance of free enterprise and provide standardized test scores, grade point average and class rank. As a general guideline, students should rank in the top quarter to receive serious consideration.

Applications are available online at www.nfibeducationfoundation.org, or call Laura Martin at (800) 634-2669.

IRS releases new tax guides

The Internal Revenue Service released two new publications to provide guidance for preparing 2002 tax returns.

Publications, "Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals" and "Tax Guide for Small Business 2002" are available for sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Publications are designed to supplement information in the tax booklets. Both publications have important tax changes for 2002 and 2003. Information includes the kinds of expenses that may be deducted and various credits that may reduce taxes. Sample forms are shown to help people report particular items on their returns.

The small business tax guide explains business taxes and forms to file. It also discusses taxpayer identification numbers and has examples. The guide for individuals costs $25, which includes regular shipping and handling. The business guide costs $8.

For more information, go online to http://bookstore.gpo.gov, or call toll-free at (866) 512-1800.

Final auditions set for LF musical

LITTLE FALLS -- The Hole in the Day Players will hold final auditions for the summer musical "Children of Eden" at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the choir room at Little Falls Community High School.

The producers are looking for a large number of adults, teen-agers and children to fill the large casting demands of this show. Needed are men and women who can sing, act or dance. No experience is necessary.

"Children of Eden" by Stephen Schwartz and John Caird is a musical of trials and tribulations of love, family and second chances based on the Book of Genesis. Act One is centered around the story of the Creation and Adam and Eve, and Act Two revolves around the story of Noah and the flood.

Performances will be June 26-29 with rehearsals beginning in May. All those auditioning are asked to come prepared with 16 measures of a song to sing to be considered for a lead role. An accompanist will be provided. Also bring a list of conflicts for the months of May and June so the producers can work around vacations.

For more information call Jason Schommer at (763) 208-4201 or Robyn Gray at (320) 632-9106.

PR-B choir, band to give fund-raiser concert Tuesday

PINE RIVER -- The Pine River-Backus High School Choir and Band will perform a Coffee House Concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Pine River-Backus High School commons.

Tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds will go toward helping to defray costs of the upcoming PR-B band and choir trip to Disney World, where both will perform and attend seminars.

The Coffee House Concert will feature pies, specialty coffees and hot chocolate.

Challenge grant set for PR-B program

The Initiative Foundation in Little Falls awarded a $7,500 challenge grant to Pine River/Backus Youth as Resources program.

YAR is a national program designed to encourage youth to get involved in community service and volunteerism by helping them form their own service organizations. Youth partner with adult advisers to raise and award money to support youth-led projects in their communities.

Since 2000, the foundation has fostered and funded the startup of 10 YAR groups in central Minnesota.

Pine River and Backus youth were awarded a $15,000 grant from the foundation in 2001. In the past two years, they have supported such youth projects as painting a barn mural at the Cass County Fairgrounds and installing solar panels on low-income homes.

Their latest $7,500 grant will be used to spur community donations. Each dollar given to YAR will now be matched by the Initiative Foundation until the program reaches its $7,500 goal.

"The program teaches children community service and business skills and the youth apply those skills to benefit Pine River and Backus," said Nolita Christiansen, adult coordinator for the Pine River/Backus YAR group.

For more information about Initiative Foundation children, youth and families initiatives, contact Linda Kaufmann at (320) 632-9255 or e-mail lkaufmann@ifound.org.

MHB to meet March 21 in Walker

WALKER -- The Mississippi Headwaters Board will meet 9 a.m. March 21 at the Cass County Courthouse in Walker.

Riverside Drive public hearing set

The Brainerd City Council will host a public hearing on the Riverside Drive improvement project at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brainerd City Hall.