LOCAL BRIEFS

BREEZY POINT - A 63-year-old Albertville man was killed about 10 a.m. Saturday after the motorized scooter he was driving struck a pickup, the Breezy Point Police Department reported Thursday.

Luverne Hartneck was airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital following the collision, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

Hartneck had driven out of a private residence and onto Breezy Point Drive when he crossed the center line and struck a pickup driven by Joseph Neznik, 25, Breezy Point, police said. Neznik was not injured in the collision.

Bicyclist injured in collision

A Brainerd woman was injured about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday after her bicycle collided with a vehicle at South Sixth and Sycamore streets in Brainerd, the police department reported.

Vickie Cronan, 29, suffered an ankle injury in the collision. Information on her condition was unavailable from St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

The driver of the vehicle, Jamison Pitts, 19, also of Brainerd, wasn't injured.

Adoption and foster care event set Tuesday

Residents interested in adoption or foster care are invited to an informational event from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Brainerd Public Library.

The event is being hosted by the Professional Association of Treatment Homes and the Rural Expansion of Adoptive Communities and Homes Project. The event will allow families to ask questions, learn about the process of adoption and discover more about children in need of foster care and adoptive families in Minnesota.

Presenters at the event include Nancy Kagel, PATH social worker; Jan Hoppe, director of the REACH Project and foster parent; and Tim Lorentz, an adoptive and foster parent.

Fireworks scheduled June 30 on Cross Lake

CROSSLAKE - The city of Crosslake and the Brainerd Lakes Chamber will help launch the beginning of area celebrations with fireworks starting at about 10 p.m. June 30.

The display will ignite over Sand Island on Cross Lake. More information on the celebration and on other events may be obtained on the Internet at crosslake.com or by calling the Crosslake office of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber at 692-1828.

Swim lessons start in July at YMCA

The Brainerd Family YMCA's Splash and Dash II swim classes for pre-school and school-age children begin July 2. The classes will be conducted twice a week for three and a half weeks.

YMCA members may begin registering June 28. The lesson schedule is available now at the YMCA and on the Web at brainerdlakesymca.org. Interested persons may contact the YMCA at 829-4767 or stop by at 602 Oak St. to register.

Amateur radio demonstrations slated

The public is invited to a free demonstration of amateur radio communications from the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club from noon Saturday until noon Sunday at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Crosby-Ironton.

The event is called Field Day, an annual exercise where ham radio operators practice emergency operations by communicating with other radio amateurs in this country and around the world. Amateur radio operators also participate as storm spotters and aid in communications during time of disasters.

To get to the state recreation area take Crow Wing County Road 30 north (Irene Avenue) from Ironton and go about one-quarter-mile to a turnoff to the west. Watch for signs. Look for tents, trailers and antennae at an overlook of Mahnomen Mine No. 2.

Everyone is invited to stop by and learn about ham radio. The club Web page is at http://brainerdham.org. Details about Field Day may be found at http://brainerdham.org/2007/6-23-24-07-field-day.html.

For more information, contact Mark Persons at (218) 829-1326.