Local briefs

Do you have a question for a legislative candidate?

Debates 2000, a series of television broadcasts sponsored by Lakeland News and The Brainerd Dispatch, will pose viewer-submitted questions to the candidates during the live, televised debates that begin Oct.16.

There will be no audience at the debates but viewers are invited to send in questions by Oct. 9 to Debates 2000, Brainerd Daily Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN, 56401.

Pick up fair exhibits, checks by Sept. 29

The last day to pick up open class fair exhibits and open class premium checks from the Crow Wing County Extension Office will be Sept. 29.

Exhibits left at the office after Sept. 29 will be thrown away or donated to Good Will. All premium checks not picked up by this date will be returned to the fair treasurer for disposal. This includes all state and county 4-H fair exhibits.

The Crow Wing County Extension Office is on the first floor of the courthouse in Brainerd.

Conference on underage drinking set Friday at CLC

A teleconference on combatting underage drinking will be offered from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday at Central Lakes College.

The session is sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

The meeting will be in Room C228.

170 participate in 'Pedaling for Partners'

PEQUOT LAKES -- On Saturday, about 170 people took to the Paul Bunyan Trail in Pequot Lakes during Kinship Partners' "Pedaling for Partners" biking event.

Community members, Kinship Partners board members and supporters gathered in the Bobberland Wayside Park in Pequot Lakes to show their support for the organization and to help raise awareness of the need for adult mentors in the Brainerd lakes area. Pequot Lakes Mayor Jack Schmidt greeted the crowd.

Kinship Partners matches children ages 5-14 with adult volunteers who act as positive role models by providing guidance and friendship. The biking event was funded, in part, by the Initiative Foundation.

For more information on Kinship Partners, contact director Pat Johnston at 829-4606.