LOCAL BRIEFS

A Tea Party protest is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Brainerd Lakes Area Welcome Center.

George Burton, of rural Brainerd, organizer of a similar event that was conducted last April, said by e-mail that the event is for those who feel their voice is not being heard and who see the folly of the current Congress and administration.

He said there are no scheduled speakers and no format.

Bomb squad called out for suspicious package

The Crow Wing County Sheriff's Bomb Squad was called out for a suspicious package found along a bike trail Wednesday in Irondale Township.

The package, found about 1:45 p.m. near Crow Wing County Road 128, was partially buried alongside the trail and was described as a plastic bag, inside of a cardboard box with what appeared to be electronic or electrical components inside the plastic bag, the sheriff's department reported.

Deputies closed and secured a portion of the trail while bomb squad technicians rendered the object safe, using a remotely controlled robot and disrupting equipment. The sheriff's department reported the package and components, which were determined to be non-explosive, were taken for further examination.

No foul play is suspected in this incident.