Local briefs

The Region 5 Area Agency on Aging and Health Insurance Counseling Program is sponsoring a Senior Surf Day computer training starting at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Brainerd Public Library.

Senior Surf Days offer basic computer and Internet training to participants and are typically two hours in length. The training is free and geared for senior citizens, people 50 years and older and caregivers.

Guests will each receive a resource manual, along with one-on-one assistance with accessing the Internet. Topics to be discussed include: why use the Internet, shopping on the Internet, three basic tools of electronic mail-news groups-the World Wide Web, search engines, glossary and resources.

Call Sharon Notch at the Region 5 Senior Linkage Line to register at 1-800--333-2433. Space is limited.

Bloodmobile

is coming to area

To help boost blood supplies, North Central Blood Services has scheduled bloodmobile drives in Brainerd and Pierz Wednesday and Thursday.

Donors are needed at bloodmobiles from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Brainerd Eagles Club, 124 Front St. in Brainerd; and from 1-7 p.m. Thursday at Pierz-Healy High School in Pierz.

Donors of all blood types are encouraged to attend. For more information about upcoming bloodmobiles in your community or to schedule a donation appointment, call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Bremer grant to help

with torndado relief

The Otto Bremer Foundation, a private charitable foundation established in 1944 by Otto Bremer, recently awarded eight grants totaling $212,930 to programs in Minnesota, North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin, including a $25,000 grant to the United Way of Crow Wing County for tornado relief.

Portion of St. Mathias Road closing today

The St. Mathias Road will be closed starting today from the Dewing Highway to Sleepy Hollow Road.

The road is closing to allow the replacement of the bridge over the Nokasippi River. The existing bridge will be removed.

Detours will be in place.

This portion of St. Mathias Road will be closed about 4-6 weeks.

Historical society

holding garage sale

The Crow Wing County Historical Society will sponsor its second annual garage sale fund-raiser.

From Aug. 13-15, the historical society will be accepting donations for the sale. Items may be dropped off from noon until 6 p.m. on those three days at the historical society's fairground buildings near the 13th Street entrance. Most items will be accepted, except clothing. Examples are books, toys, kitchen wares, furniture, holiday decorations, small appliances, electronics, bikes, sporting goods, tools, health equipment and garden tools. Objects should be clean, usable and in working order.

This is fund-raiser to keep the historical society's budget balanced. No artifacts from the collection will be sold at the garage sale.

The garage sale will be 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Aug. 17 and from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Aug. 18 at the historic area at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds.