LOCAL BRIEFS

Tri-County Community Action, Inc. is currently accepting applications for two awards. The awards are for parents who have participated in the Head Start or Early Head Start programs during the 2008-09 school year - the Rutha Weatherl Memorial Parent of the Year Award and the Beating the Odds Award. The awards are sponsored by the National Head Start Association.

The Rutha Weatherl Memorial Parent of the Year winner will receive a $1,000 award, the first runner-up will receive $300 and the second runner-up will receive $100. Each will receive a commemorative plaque. Criteria for the selection: must be a Head Start parent in the 2008-09 school year, must have volunteered in the Head Start program and must have participated in strides toward self-sufficiency.

The Beating the Odds Award is given to a Head Start parent who overcame stumbling blocks and persevered through hardship to become self-sufficient. The winner will receive a $1,000 award, the first runner-up will receive $300 and the second runner-up will receive $100. Each will receive a commemorative plaque. Criteria for the award: must have been a Head Start parent in the 2008-09 school year, must have volunteered in the Head Start program and must have participated in strides toward self-sufficiency.

Applications may be obtained by writing TCC/Head Start, Attn: Michele, 501 Le Mieur St., Little Falls, MN 56345 or calling (320) 632-3691. Deadline for applications is Friday.

Class schedule for AARP Safe Driving Program

The AARP Safe Driving Program (formerly known for as 55 ALIVE) has released its class schedule for August through October 2009 in Cass and Crow counties.

A first-time participant must take a full eight-hour class. Then, every three years, a participant must take a four-hour refresher class to maintain their insurance discount. The class is $12 for AARP members (must have membership card) and $14 for non-AARP members.

For reservations at Walker Senior Center in Walker, call (218) 547-1116 for classes from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 29; at Lakes Area Senior Center, 803 Kingwood St., Brainerd, call 829-9345 for classes from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 11, Sept. 8 and Oct. 13 and from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 27, Sept. 24 and Oct. 29; at Nisswa Community Center (Lions), call Dell Draves at (218) 568-4732 for classes from noon to 4 p.m. at Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21; for additional classes in Pine River and Backus, call (218) 587-2080; at Emily (City Hall), call (218) 763-2480 for classes from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 25; and for reservations at Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union in Brainerd, call 829-0371 for classes from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 and from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 6 and 13.

The AARP Safe Driving Program is a classroom driver refresher course conducted by AARP volunteers for people over 50. Course participants sharpen their driving skills, develop strategies for adjusting to age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time and learn how to handle the challenges of today's roads, including how to deal with aggressive drivers. Upon completion, Minnesota participants are eligible for a mandatory discount on their automobile insurance.

For more information, call Draves at 568-4732 or e-mail wdraves@tds.net.

LSCC fundraiser scheduled Saturday

The Lakeshore Conservation Club fundraiser is scheduled from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the club.

The event is an effort to raise money for the Brainerd Lakes Veterans Center and will include trap and skeet competition with trophies and door prizes.

Cost to participate is $20, which will cover two rounds of trap or skeet (shells not included) and lunch, with $10 from each entry fee donated to the BLVC.

Donations will be accepted from those unable to attend but who would like to contribute.

More information is available online at www.lakeshoregunclub.com.

Lakeshore Conservation Club is located on County Road 77, across from Ski Gull.

Event addresses urinary incontinence in women

STAPLES - On Aug. 17, Lakewood Health System plans to host "Relief at Last," part of HealthBEATs For Her, a 2009 speaking series for women.

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Lakewood's Main Campus classrooms.

Relief at Last will cover a variety of topics regarding urinary incontinence, including symptoms, testing and treatment options. Presentations include urinary incontinence in women by Dr. Carol Uhlman, OB/GYN; urodynamic testing by Kelly VanVickle, registered nurse, women's health case coordinator; urinary incontinence treatment options by Carrie Taylor, PT.

RSVP is appreciated by those planning to attend. For more information, call Nola at (218) 894-8586.

Crosslake Clothes Closet has a new home

CROSSLAKE - The Crosslake Clothes Closet, formerly located in the lower level of the Lakes State Bank, has found a new home at 37560 Ox Lake Landing.

The owner, Judy (Maas) Kenobbie, has offered the space to the Closet rent free. The Closet will occupy the rear of the building, which is the second building on the Ox Lake Landing next to Home Interior Supply. Customers may access the Closet by the rear entrance. Learn and Play Day Care occupies the north half of the building.

The same hours will be observed from 9 a.m. to noon each Tuesday from Labor Day through May. All clothing, shoes, kitchen supplies and miscellaneous items are still offered at no charge. Opening day will be Sept. 8. The group is considering adding more hours to accommodate working people.

For more information, call Arlyn at (218) 543-6509, Rosie at (218) 765-3417 or Dodo at (218) 692-4056.

Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Days plans

Visitors to the Soo Line Depot Museum during Heritage Days Aug. 21-22 will find themselves the focus of many of the historical happenings there.

One of the most popular attractions and photo opportunities will be the Man High II capsule, piloted by Dr. David Simon to the edge of space on Aug. 19, 1957. Simons was the first man to visit the frontier of space in a balloon flight that was launched from the Portsmouth mine pit on the Cuyuna Range. Visitors may sit inside the capsule and experience the incredibly cramped conditions Simons endured during his historic and hazardous flight. The capsule and schoolhouse room also includes an interactive invention of museum governing board member Jack McAllister that visitors can work to duplicate in miniature the rise of a balloon from the mine pit and its landing a day later in a South Dakota flax field.

Paula Marie Lekatz Robinson, Ironton, a museum volunteer, will be in Indian dress to share her knowledge of Indian reservation life and culture. Robinson has a long list of academic credits in a variety of fields, and among her current interests and primary work is researching and writing a book on Indian chiefs.

The museum has a wealth of information and visitors and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions.

Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council meetings

Minnesotans voted in November to increase their sales tax by three-eighths of one percent effective July 1. One-third of the funding from that Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment goes to the Outdoor Heritage Fund that is dedicated to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game and wildlife.

The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which is charged with annually making OHF funding recommendations to the Legislature, has scheduled planning meetings during the first two weeks in August. The general public is invited to observe the process and then participate in a comment period of at least one hour that will follow each meeting.

Remaining meetings:

• St. Paul for the Metropolitan/Urbanizing Area Section on Thursday, Minnesota State Retirement Systems Building, 60 Empire Dr., 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. for conservation professionals, 3:30-4:30 p.m. for the public input meeting.

• Rochester for the Southeast Forest Section on Friday, University Center Rochester, Atrium 103, 851 30th Ave. SE, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for conservation professionals, 4:30-5:30 p.m. for the public input meeting.

• Grand Rapids for the Northern Forest Section on Tuesday at the Minnesota Forest History Center, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for conservation professionals, 4:30-5:30 p.m. for the public input meeting.

• Detroit Lakes for the Forest/Prairie Transition Section on Aug. 17 at the Holiday Inn on the Lake (formerly Clubhouse Hotel), 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. for conservation professionals, 4:30-5:30 p.m. for the public input meeting.

The L-SOHC also invites the public to provide written comments and suggestions on the draft goals for each section. The plan may be viewed at the Council's Web site. Comments may be submitted via e-mail, mail or fax, with addresses provided on the L-SOHC Web site at www.lohc.state.mn.us for two weeks after the last meeting. The L-SOHC will meet in September to review the public input, discuss the goals and objectives from each planning meeting and seek majority approval.

Backus Lions Club to sell peaches

BACKUS - The Backus Lions Club will sell ripe Colorado peaches at 8 a.m. Friday at Jim's Off Sale parking lot on the west side of Highway 371, north of Backus. Sales will be first-come, first-served. No advanced orders.

Cost is $25 per case with approximately 35 to 40 large, juicy peaches per case.

'Under Our Skin' documentary to be shown

CROSSLAKE - Due to public demand, the documentary "Under Our Skin" will have additional showings in Crosslake.

The following schedule has been set and posted at the Lyme display at the Crosslake Community Center: 6-7:45 p.m. Tuesday and Aug. 25 and 1-3 p.m. Aug. 26.

Quilt sale planned Saturday in Crosslake

The 23rd annual Camp Knutson Quilt Auction is scheduled Saturday in Crosslake.

Viewing of the quilts and the silent auction are from 10-11:30 a.m., with the live auction starting at noon at Camp Knutson, 11169 Whitefish Ave.

Cass County 4-H at the Pine River Fair

Approximately 90 4-H members participated at the Cass County Fair, exhibiting livestock and non-livestock projects July 15-17 in Pine River.

Many exhibitors will continue on to the state horse show, the state dog show, the state fair or the Northeast Livestock Show.