LOCAL BRIEFS

The Cuyuna Iron Range Riders ATV/OHV club has scheduled an ATV safety training class for youths 11-15 years of age. (Certificate is valid when student turns 12 years of age.)

Students who complete the classroom and field test will be allowed to ride an ATV over 90cc.

The class is scheduled at 9 a.m. June 6 at the Hallett community center, 470 8th St. NE, Crosby. Pre-registration is required as class size is limited. Cost is $15.

Before attending the class, students must complete an independent study course. The CD-Rom course is available free of charge through the DNR Information Center at (888) 646-6367 and the Enforcement Safety Training office at (800) 366-8917. Or visit the DNR Web site at www.DNR.state.mn.us. Click on education and safety training.

Students must fit the machine and provide their own ATV, helmet and goggles for the field training.

For more information, call Jason Winter at 829-2191 or e-mail ATVSafety@cuyunaironrangeriders.com.

Nisswa Garden Club plant sale

NISSWA - The Nisswa Garden Club's annual plant sale is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon May 30 at Schaefer's Foods in Nisswa.

The sale will offer annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants grown by Garden Club members.

The sale will be held rain or shine and is supported by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, with a $500 matching grant.

Proceeds from the sale will help defray the costs of the gardens planted and maintained by the Nisswa Garden Club.

CLC Foundation scholarship

A scholarship fund in memory of the late Steve Schluender, Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance instructor at Central Lakes College, has been created in his memory by wife, Wendy, and family.

The initial donation of $25,000 will be endowed and the earnings will be used to provide financial assistance to a third-semester CLC Heavy Equipment student.

Schluender, who held a bachelor's degree from Bemidji State University, was a Heavy Equipment operator and worked for several construction companies. He taught for 26 years in the CLC Heavy Equipment program, until his retirement in August 2008.

Donations to the fund may be sent to the Central Lakes College Foundation, 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401.

Boat and water safety classes

The Gull Chain of Lakes Association, in conjunction with the Cass and Crow Wing County Water Patrol, will sponsor classes for those 12-17 years of age, qualifying them for a permit to operate a personal watercraft.

The classes will cover all rules and regulations and provide participants with some hands-on training.

Classes are scheduled June 9 and June 30, starting at 8:30 a.m. both days. A fee of $10 will be charged for lunch.

Those interested should call Marv Meyer at 828-9577 for details and pre-registration. Call now as class sizes are limited.

According to Minnesota state law, all persons 13-17 are required to have a permit to operate a personal watercraft and all persons 12-17 must have a permit to operate a boat with a motor of over 25 horsepower.

Wildflower hike near Walker

A wildflower hike is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday on the North Country Trail near Walker.

Hikers are to meet at the Chippewa National Forest Picnic Grounds near Lake Erin, seven miles southeast of Walker on Highway 371.

The hike will be approximately three miles and pass near a field in the Chippewa National Forest that historically produces a vast expanse of trillium.

For more information, contact Jerry Trout, Itasca Moraine Chapter of the North Country Trail Association, at (218) 675-5448

Shoreland landscaping workshop

Shoreland landscape design is the topic of a workshop being sponsored by the Mille Lacs Lake Watershed Management Group and the Lake Mille Lacs Association.

The workshop is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. May 29 at the Garrison City Hall, 27069 Central St. Aitkin County Master Gardener Jim Ravis will lead the program.

The workshop is free; pre-registration is requested. To reserve your spot, call the Aitkin County SWCD at (218) 927-6565.

Blood drive planned in Motley

MOTLEY - A blood drive is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Motley Middle School.

For appointments, call (218) 352-6284 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. After 5 p.m., call Larry at (218) 352-6219. Bring a photo I.D.

ATV trail grand opening Friday

The Blind Lake ATV Trail grand opening is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday near Aitkin.

The festivities will be held in the south parking lot at the grant-in-aid trail. From Aitkin, go north on Highway one for three miles, continuing west on the tar to Highway 22 for approximately four miles. Continue north onto County Road 24 for 3.5 miles, then go north on 430th Place and watch for signs.

Carbon credit options

The forest lands administered by the Aitkin and Cass county land departments maintain nearly 10 million tons of stored carbon, or about 36 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

"The storage in these two counties represents the annual carbon dioxide emissions of more than 5 million cars," said Kathryn Fernholz, project manager and executive director for Dovetail Partners. "The forest sector clearly has a large role to play in offsetting carbon emissions."

An analysis of the forests and forest management of Aitkin and Cass county land departments in north-central Minnesota shows the opportunities for forest-based carbon credits in the region.

"The results give us an insight into carbon storage as one of the benefits of forest management in Minnesota," Fernholz said.

The North Woods Carbon Credit Partnership utilized the counties' current inventory data and their management plans for their combined 475,000 acres of land. The project modeled forest growth and changes in carbon stocks over the next five to 10 years, typical time periods for marketing carbon credits.

The project is being supported through a grant from the Blandin Foundation.

For more information, including a report of the preliminary project results, go to dovetail inc.org/content/forests-northern-minnesota store-abundant-carbon.