NEIGHBORS BRIEFS

Free concerts in the park are returning to Staples for another season. The concerts will be at 7 p.m. on Sundays in the Northern Pacific Park across from the Government Center at 611 Iowa Ave. N.E. The first concert will be on July 12 and will feature Bruce and Elaine Nelson. The concerts will run through Aug. 16.

Bruce and Elaine Nelson were named to America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame in 2009 as a duo, but they also have achieved fame in their solo careers. Elaine was named the 2007-2008 Best Country Singer by the National Traditional Country Music Association and Bruce was named the 2008-2009 Best Country Singer by the National Traditional Country Music Association.

The couple met in 2004 and divide their time between Erhard, Minn., and McAllen, Texas. They own and operate a small music store in Erhard.

The Music in the Park Series is funded by the Staples Host Lions Club. The series is organized by the Staples Motley Area Arts Council, with the assistance of the Staples Motley Public Schools and the city of Staples.

Mission Fire Fair planned July 18

MISSION - The Mission Township Firefighter's Relief Association will celebrate the 22nd annual Mission Fire Fair at 11:30 a.m. July 18 at Mission Park. Roast pork dinner, brats, dogs, popcorn and drinks will be available.

The safe house and North Air helicopter will be at the park along with fire department, EMS and DNR campfire safety demonstrations as well as the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department children's fingerprinting.

Mission Park is seven miles north of Merrifield off Crow Wing County Road 3 one mile east on Mission Park Drive.

Partners work to restore shoreline on south end of Pelican Lake

C & L Distributing, the Pelican Lake Property Owners Association and Minnesota Elks Camp announced they have partnered to restore shoreline on the south end of Pelican Lake.

The effort is part of the Minnesota Waters/Michelob Golden Conservation Grant Program that is designed to assist in the conservation of wildlife habitat along lakes, shoreline and river shore lands.

Work is being done to restore the border shoreline of the Minnesota Elks Camp - 150 feet on each side - to a depth of 30 feet. The restoration will compliment the existing natural landscape of the camp and serve as an important demonstration site on the lake.

The lake association has actively promoted shoreline restoration with limited success to the homeowners on the lake. The Elks camp site will provide a visible example of a quality shoreline restoration project and demonstrate how native plants can create a nice buffer around a sandy beach area.

Launched in 2007, the program awarded $35,000 to seven Minnesota Waters affiliates to implement this important work and has recently awarded grant funds for 2009 conservation projects, including the Pelican Lake south shoreline restoration project.

For more information about the Michelob Golden Draft Light Minnesota Waters program, visit www.minnesotawaters.org.

CLC offers short courses in office management, 'green' skills

Central Lakes College in Brainerd has scheduled many short courses this summer for those interested in learning skills associated with current and future employment opportunities.

They are grouped under three Business and Industry Center program areas in collaboration with Rural CEP and the WorkForce Center for Displaced or Unemployed Workers.

Administrative Office Management provides training associated with entry-level office leadership, office manager and administrative assistant. The sessions in this series assist individuals in developing skills helpful toward managing or starting a business.

The skills include communication, time management and ergonomics. Computer skills include the basics as well as Web page design and maintenance, and some components of the hour-based programs can be converted to credits toward a CLC certificate program.

Retro Green Construction training teaches construction aspects for energy-efficient public and private building certification. Sessions include topics such as technical math, blueprint reading, welding, sustainable energy theory, HVAC and OSHA.

Renewable-Sustainable Energy training includes some of the sessions that come with the previous two, such as communication skills, business etiquette and basic computer skills. It also includes alternative fuels, residential and commercial wind generators, solar panels and geothermal systems.

Available through this program are the competencies and certification for a residential energy auditor.

Sessions are scheduled in July, August, September and October. For complete information, call 855-8142 or visit the Web site at www.clcmn.edu/busind.

Corn, soybean crops on pace with average

ST. PAUL (AP) - Minnesota's corn and soybean crops are on pace with the five-year average.

In its weekly crop progress report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the average height of field corn as of Sunday was 42 inches, just behind the 5-year average of 43 inches. The average height of soybeans was 11 inches, compared to a 12-inch average.

Crops remain in generally good to excellent condition statewide.

Statewide, an average of 6 days were suitable for fieldwork last week.

Precipitation was light. Topsoil moisture declined, with 69 percent of the state rated adequate to surplus compared with 78 percent a week ago. Topsoil moisture remains short to very short across central Minnesota, where precipitation remains below normal.