BUSINESS NOTES

BAXTER - Jennifer Person, doctor of chiropractic, joined the Family Chiropractic Clinic in Baxter.

Person, originally from Brainerd, has been practicing in rural Manitoba for the past five years. She obtained her associate's degree from Central Lakes College in Brainerd and bachelor of arts degree from Hamline University. She completed her bachelor of science degree and doctor of chiropractic degree at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington. Person has experience in difficult cases and has a special interest in working with women and children.

Anderson joins WSN

Karen Anderson has joined the marketing department of Widseth Smith Nolting.

She has 20 years of experience in photography, advertising and marketing. She owned and operated Anderson Advertising, a full-service advertising agency in Woodbury that specialized in corporate photography, graphic design, copywriting and research writing.

Before that she was creative director for several divisions of The Pedro Companies in St. Paul. She received a bachelor's degree in English and mass communications from Bemidji State University.

Smith joins Lakewood Health System

STAPLES - Kirsten Smith, Baxter, recently joined Lakewood Health System of Staples as a respiratory therapist.

Smith attended East Grand Forks Technical College and the California College of Health Sciences, earning her degree as a respiratory care practitioner. Some of her experience includes working at Specialty Home Medical in Baxter, Stormont-Vail Medical Center in Topeka, Kan., and Baylor Medical Center in Dallas.

Smith is originally from Minot, N.D.

Erickson joins RedHouseMedia

Dain Erickson joined RedHouseMedia in Brainerd as a full-time production/graphic designer.

Erickson brings has more than five years of graphic design and color management expertise from the advertising and magazine publishing industries.

Headlee joins Nextera in Baxter

BAXTER - Dan Headlee, a Pequot Lakes native, recently joined Nextera Communications located in Baxter, as controller.

Headlee was employed by Lutheran Social Service as finance manager. Along with an master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota, Headlee has six years telcom experience with Infotel Communications and Integra Telecom.

Parsons gains recognition

P. Scott Parsons, Farmers Insurance agent in Brainerd, was inducted into the Farmers' Topper Club of Farmers' top sales producers.

Parsons was recognized by Farmers for outstanding sales achievements during 2006.

Schumer joins Ameriprise Financial in Brainerd

Luke Schumer, associate financial adviser, recently joined Ameriprise Financial in Brainerd.

Schumer has a bachelor's degree from St. John's University from 2005 with a major in business. He earned a master's degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 2006. He previously worked as a financial adviser with Ameriprise Financial in Minneapolis.

The Black & White Bash planned Tuesday

BREEZY POINT - The Black & White Bash, the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce fall membership dinner, is Tuesday at Breezy Point Resort.

The dinner will honor the Nisswa Citizen of the Year. Dress code is to wear black and white "Nisswa Style."

The Nisswa Chamber will be having a raffle with the winners drawn at the dinner. People do not need to be present to win.

Brown Bag Lunch program planned

NISSWA - The Nisswa Chamber of Commerce's networking event is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Nisswa Community Center.

The Brainerd School District will present information regarding the operating levy referendum that will be voted on Nov. 6. There will be a $5 cost for the lunch. Chamber members and employees are encouraged to attend. RSVP is requested by calling 963-2620 or e-mail at mary@nisswa.com.

LAHRA luncheon set Oct. 11

The Lakes Area Human Resources Association HR Achievement of the Year luncheon is planned from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Iven's on the Bay.

The event honors LAHRA members and recognizes outstanding achievement in human resources. There is no charge for LAHRA members' meals, guest meals are $15 each.

For more information, e-mail cara@maddens.com.

Nisswa at Night planned Oct. 11

NISSWA - Nisswa at Night, the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce's networking event, is planned from 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 11 at Good Ol' Days Resort, north end of Main Street on 26050 Oak Lane.

This event is open to Nisswa Chamber members and their employees. RSVP requested by calling 963-2620 or e-mail mary@nisswa.com.

Brainerd Lakes Chamber announces its 2007 annual dinner

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber's 2007 annual dinner has a theme of "TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More."

The dinner event begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 8 at Breezy Point Resort. The event begins with a social and silent auction, followed by a buffet dinner and wraps up with the recognition program.

For more information, contact Mary Kempton at the chamber at 822-7107, or e-mail mkempton@explorebrainerdlakes.com, or go online to www. explorebrainerdlakes.com and go to the calendar of events section.

Lakes Area Young Professionals to meet

Lead the Community by Influencing Your Young Professionals' Fall Luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 4 at the Legacy at Cragun's.

Registration and buffet lunch begin at 11:30 a.m. with the program at noon. Cost is $15 per person.

This event is hosted by the Lakes Area Young Professionals group at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and is for chamber members of all ages to bring a young professional as a guest and learn how you can help them connect to their community and chamber while developing professionally.

The LAYP is for professionals age 21 to 35.

CHOW Time planned in Pequot Lakes

The Brainerd Lakes Chamber networking event CHOW Time is planned from noon to 1 p.m. Oct. 3 hosted by Lonesome Cottage Furniture Co., 30671 State Highway 371.

Cost is $5 for pre-registration and $7 at the door. RSVP is available at the calendar of events page on the chamber's Web site at www.explorebrainerdlakes.com. For more information, call the chamber at 829-2838 or e-mail to info@explorebrainerdlakes.com.

Night welding courses offered at CLC

Central Lakes College in Brainerd will host a 48-hour welding course Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 16 - Nov. 29.

This course is designed for the beginner and will also allow experienced individuals to build on their existing skills.

Instructor Craig Weigel will cover safety, metallurgy, oxyfuel, arc, mig/tig, plasma cutting and more.

Upon successful completion of this class, the beginner student will be prepared for an entry-level position in the welding industry.

The experienced student will be able to improve their skills or add new methods to their abilities. Please bring safety glasses and dress appropriately. Fee is $399.

Payment is required at the time of registration and the deadline to register is Oct. 9.

For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Vehicle inspector recertification class offered

A commercial vehicle inspector recertification class will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at the Business and Industry Center on the Central Lakes College campus in Brainerd.

Recertification is required every two years. This class will review Minnesota Commercial Vehicle Inspection laws and Federal Regulations. It will cover new law changes; inspection changes and will include a test for re-certification. The test will be taken during the last hour of class.

The class fee is $80 and includes a $10 fee required by the state and all necessary course materials. Instructor is Douglas Brown.

Deadline to register is Oct. 11. Payment is required at the time of registration. For more information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

Electrical technician course offered at CLC

Central Lakes College, Brainerd, will host an electrical technician course, "Power-Limited Technician," from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Business and Industry Center.

Power-limited technicians are required to earn eight hours of continuing education credits CEUs every two years.

This class will consist of National Electrical Code- related material as required by Minnesota Statutes and Rules as well as industry-related information. Topics include wiring methods, grounding, transformers, over-current protection, installation methods, separation from power, fireproofing, Ohm's law, series and parallel AC and DC circuits, meter operation, coaxial, Cat 5, HVAC and/or speaker wiring.

Each participant must have a calculator and the 2005 NEC Code Book, available from electrical suppliers. Books will be available for purchase when the class meets for $57.

Tuition is $160 and includes lunch. Instruction is provided by Riverland Community College.

The deadline to register is Oct. 12.

For information or to register call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142.

CLC sets contractor pre-licensing course

Central Lakes College, Brainerd, has scheduled a course that prepares building contractors for licensure.

It will be held on consecutive Fridays and Saturdays, starting Oct. 19 in the Business and Industry Center.

Friday's class meets from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday sessions will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The course is a hands-on review of building codes in the state. Participants not only will be preparing to pass the test, but also will be learning how to start and run a construction business as a licensed contractor.

Larry Puls is the instructor. The $335 fee includes materials. For information, call (800) 933-0346 ext. 8142 or 855-8142. Registration deadline is Oct. 12.

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center receives ACR Accreditation

CROSBY - Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, on the medical campus in Crosby, has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology.

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer- review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR's Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic-interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, and nuclear medicine and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

CLC receives donation

Central Lakes College received a donation of $22,000 from golf event for the heavy equipment program.

On July 24 the Frattalone Companies of St. Paul and Little Canada sponsored the Frattalone Golf Tournament at the Oak Glen Country Club in Stillwater. The Central Lakes College Foundation received the event proceeds in the amount of $22,000.

In nine years this event has produced nearly $160,000 in income that assists the CLC Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance program located on the West Campus near Staples.

Frank Frattalone, company founder, is a 1969 graduate of the program.

The demand for trained operators and service technicians continues to be high. The CLC program, as the only one of its kind in the Upper Midwest, continues to be responsive to the growing need, said Frattalone. He said it is important that a 30,000-square-foot, $5 million maintenance facility is nearing completion at the campus.

Frattalone has been a leader in the program's advisory council that helps direct the CLC program. A significant portion of the 200 employees at Frattalone Companies are CLC alumni.

OFF THE WIREbr>

Consumer spending, construction up more than expected

WASHINGTON (AP) - Consumers shrugged off a rash of bad news to spend more than expected in August while a key measure of inflation eased to the slowest pace in 3 1/2 years. Construction activity also rose above expectations.

The Commerce Department reported Friday that consumer spending rose by 0.6 percent in August, the best showing in four months and better than the 0.4 percent increase that had been expected. Incomes rose by 0.3 percent, slightly lower than had been expected.

A closely watched gauge of inflation was up just 1.8 percent in August, compared to the same period a year ago, the smallest increase since a similar rise in February 2004.

In another report, construction spending posted a surprising 0.2 percent gain in August as strength in non-residential construction offset a continued plunge in home building. Analysts had been forecasting that overall construction spending would fall by 0.2 percent.

Freddie Mac pays $50M to settle charges of misrepresenting earnings to investors

WASHINGTON (AP) - Freddie Mac, the nation's second-largest financer of home mortgages, is paying a $50 million fine to settle civil securities fraud charges brought by federal regulators in a four-year accounting lapse.

In addition, four former executives at the government-sponsored company settled negligent conduct charges by agreeing to pay a total of $515,000 in civil fines and to make restitution totaling $275,548. They are former president and chief operating officer David Glenn, ex-chief financial officer Vaughn Clarke, and former senior vice presidents Robert Dean and Nazir Dossani.

"We take these charges seriously, and that's why the Freddie Mac of today is a very different company than the Freddie Mac of the past," said Richard Syron, Freddie Mac's chairman and chief executive officer.

Midwest sought other suitors during pursuit by AirTran

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Facing a hostile takeover by rival AirTran Holdings Inc., Midwest Air Group Inc. contacted several companies to persuade them to buy the airline instead, according to new regulatory filings.

A week after Midwest shareholders replaced three board members with a slate nominated by AirTran - putting more pressure on Midwest to accept a deal - the company's top executive called his counterpart at Northwest Airlines Corp. to see if the airline would be interested in a possible buyout, Midwest said in filings Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

That late June conversation between Midwest Chairman and Chief Executive Timothy E. Hoeksema and Northwest Chief Executive Doug Steenland "discussed Northwest's interest in exploring a possible transaction," the filings said.

On July 13, Hoeksema called David Bonderman, managing partner of private equity firm TPG Capital, to gauge his interest, the documents said.