LOCAL BRIEFS

Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, said the possible location of the next state veterans home in Little Falls could mean new jobs in Morrison County and better services for area veterans.

Little Falls ranked first in a study as a potential location for the home with Brainerd and Crosby finishing second and third.

"It's no coincidence that communities in Crow Wing and Morrison Counties topped the list," he said in a statement. "Clearly there is a need here."

Northern Trackers Railroad Club reflects life 100 years ago

CROSSLAKE - Northern Trackers Railroad Club of Crosslake replicates the railroad's role in the logging and mining industries from 1905 to 1915 in the Brainerd lakes area.

The large HO scale historical model portrays country-style life and structures of precise accuracy and is rapidly becoming "the place to see" when visiting Brainerd and the surrounding area.

Local towns have buildings that were scratch-built from photos of the early 1900s. Kids can play a "search and find" game and also operate the "kid's" Lionel model train.

NTRRC is open extended hours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. this Saturday. A fundraiser raffle drawing will be at 6 p.m. There is no admission charge. NTRRC is across from Lakes State Bank in Crosslake at 35170 Crow Wing County Road 3, just south of the Pine River Dam.