LOCAL BRIEFS

Three area high school Knowledge Bowl teams competed in the 2008 Minnesota Service Cooperative Knowledge Bowl state competition Thursday and Friday at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort in East Gull Lake.

Brainerd and Little Falls competed in the large-school division and Pierz in the small-school division.

Little Falls Community High School's team finished 17th with 95 points in AA. Team members included sophomores Oliver Carrillo, Ben Surma, Canyon Anderson, Missy VonItter and Brittany Meyer-Madges. The coach is Mike Huck.

"I am very proud of our young sophomore team," Huck said. "They had a good four rounds at the tournament and only one not-so-good round. I hope that they have a few more chances to compete at the state meet in the next few years and do even better."

Brainerd High School's team finished 22nd with 86 points in AA. Team members included Justin Bock, Ian McNamara, Christopher Dens, Brian Kolbeck and Patrick Stenglein. The coach is Craig Rezac.

Pierz placed 10th in the A division with 96 points.

Hassler celebration scheduled April 30

COLLEGEVILLE - A Jon Hassler memorial celebration will be from 3:30-4:45 p.m. April 30 in the St. John's Abbey Church in Collegeville. The celebration will include readings, poetry, music and remembrances. A reception will follow in the Great Hall.

The nationally respected author and former Brainerd Community College teacher died March 20 in St. Louis Park. Hassler graduated from St. John's University in 1955 and was appointed writer-in-residence in 1980 until his retirement in 1997.

Mental health in young children topic of speeches

BAXTER - Dr. Terrie Rose will speak at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter. Rose will talk about nurturing emotional and mental health in young children.

Rose will speak from 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 1 - the event is geared toward parents of children 5 and younger, child care providers, students, grandparents, expectant parents and other caring family and community members - and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 2. That event will be geared toward professionals who work with families who have children 5 and younger, including early childhood educators, human service providers, public health nurses, clinic nurses, mental health professionals and teachers.

Those interested in attending should register by April 28 by contacting Charlotte Stokes at (218) 454-5529 or charlotte.stokes@isd181.org.

Little Falls nursing home owner reappointed to board of examiners

James Birchem of Little Falls, president and chief executive officer of ElderCare in Little Falls, was reappointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty Friday to the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators.

Birchem's four-year term will expire in 2012.

He is the owner/operator of eight nursing homes and 16 assisted living communities in outstate Minnesota. He has been a licensed nursing home administrator since 1983. He is a retired member of the Minnesota National Guard and is a member of the Governor's Veterans Health Care Advisory Council.

Birchem graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and a master of business degree from St. Cloud State University.