Miss Brainerd Lakes Saturday named third runner-up in state pageant

EDEN PRAIRIE - Miss Brainerd Lakes Lauren Johnson was named third runner-up Saturday in the Miss Minnesota 2010 scholarship program at Eden Prairie High School.

Johnson, 19, the daughter of David and Shelly Johnson, attends the College of St. Scholastica. Her platform was "The Weight of the Issue: Eating Disorder Awareness."

Kathryn Knuttila, 23, Detroit Lakes, was crowned Miss Minnesota. Brainerd High School 2005 graduate Allison Lordbock, who is Miss Coon Rapids, was named fourth runner-up.

Lordbock, 23, the daughter of Arthur and Kathleen Lordbock, also was the overall interview winner. Her platform was "Write Your Own Story: The future begins today."

Ward encourages groups to attend Mississippi trail meeting

Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, invites organizations and individuals in the Brainerd area to attend a Minnesota Department of Transportation meeting on July 1 to introduce the Mississippi River Trail. The bike trail starts at the headwaters of Lake Itasca and travels down the American landscape to the Gulf of Mexico.

Brainerd is included in one of the trail's six geographic regions in Minnesota.

The trail is based largely along the shoulders of low-traffic paved roads. The meeting is a chance for interested parties to learn about the current route and future plans for it. Discussion topics will range from marketing to potential economic opportunities. MnDOT is hoping to gather elected officials, city staff, state agency representatives, tourism officials and others who might have a stake in the trail.

Maps of the current route may be found at the Mississippi River Trail website at www.mississippirivertrail.org. The meeting at the arboretum will run from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

MnDOT hopes to get a general idea of the number of participants and appreciates RSVPs. To RSVP, contact Sharon Henschell at Sharon.henschell@state.mn.us or (651) 366-4172.