Local briefs

To help boost blood supplies for those in need, the Red Cross has scheduled the upcoming bloodmobiles in the Brainerd lakes area:

From 1-7 p.m. April 28, Pequot Lakes School; 1-7 p.m. April 29, Crosslake Immaculate Heart Church; and noon to 6 p.m. April 30, Emily City Hall.

Call Immaculate Heart Catholic Church in Crosslake at 692-3731 to schedule an appointment for this specific blood drive.

Brainerd/Baxter Women of Today forming, meeting set tonight

The newly forming Brainerd/Baxter Women of Today invites all area women ages 18 and older to join them for membership night at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the First Lutheran Church, 424 8th St. S. in Brainerd.

The Brainerd/Baxter Women of Today is brand new to the area with active chapters in neighboring cities like Nisswa, Aitkin, Longville, McGregor and Crosby-Ironton. The group already has many ideas for projects such as a fund-raiser garage sale scheduled for May 9-10. An event during the Fourth of July celebration, possible donor drives and area walking events are also being discussed. They will focus on projects such as picnics, family nights, socials and sponsoring speakers on a variety of topics.

For more information, contact Sheila Avenson at 828-0919.

Coleman visits Camp Ripley today

CAMP RIPLEY -- Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., was scheduled to meet with the families of deployed soldiers at Camp Ripley today. He was to hear their concerns and talk with them about the future of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The senator's visit also was to include a tour and briefing of the shoot house, an on-site anti-terrorism project in need of federal funding. The training facility is designed to help local, state and federal agencies prepare for the possibility of terrorism.

Comprehensive plan meeting set

The final Brainerd comprehensive plan focus group meeting will be 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Mississippi Horizons Middle School.

The meeting will focus on current transportation trends, future road corridors and sewer and water issues.

Goals and strategies will be introduced for transportation and infrastructure.