LOCAL BRIEFS

The Brainerd School District will receive a $99,200 grant to purchase computer software for pre-school through 12th-grade students, Sen. Norm Coleman's office announced Tuesday.

The funding for the PLATO software comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Funds for Improvement of Education Earmark Grant Awards.

Coleman said younger students will use the software for basic arithmetic, reading and letter recognition.

Pam Dyson, director of media technology for the district, said older students would benefit from the program's remedial math, reading and language features.

This curriculum is designed to decrease the high school dropout rate, increase test scores and create learning opportunities for students.

Priebe new Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce chair

BREEZY POINT -- Ken Priebe accepted the gavel from outgoing Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce Chair Nancy Koch on Monday as he took over the chair post at the organization's annual meeting and 100th birthday celebration at Breezy Point Resort.

Priebe is with Larson, Allen, Weishair and Co. Koch, who will serve as past chair, is with Northwedge Greenhouse and Garden Gate Gifts.

In addition to Priebe and Koch, the 2005-2006 board includes Vice Chair Ray Richard, Burger King; Treasurer Craig Kochsiek, Brainerd Hardwoods Inc.; and directors Ryan Buell, Pequot Lakes Chiropractic; Todd Bymark, Ruttger's Bay Lake Lodge; Karen Kirt, Suite Spaces; Pam O'Rourke, BISYS; Rod Osterloh, Close-Converse Commercial and Preferred Properties; Karen Owen, MidAmerica Mortgage Corp.; LoAnn Reponen, Culligan Water Cooling; and Chris Robinson, Askegaard and Robinson, PA.

Outgoing board members were Tom Haglin, Lindnar Corp.; Kevin Larson, CTC Consolidated Telecommunications; and Jeff Fox, Nor-son Inc.

Cold weather rule goes into effect Oct. 15

Minnesota's cold weather rule goes into effect Oct. 15.

CenterPoint Energy said customers seeking protection under the rule should contact the company now to make payment arrangements and apply for assistance.

The rule established by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission protects income-eligible residential heating customers from disconnection if they cannot pay their bills in full. The cold weather rule, which runs Oct. 15 through April 15, also restores service to customers whose service is currently shut off if they are income eligible and pursue protection. The cold weather rule requires customers who have problems paying their heating bills to proactively pursue protection through a payment plan with their utility or with financial assistance from energy assistance agencies.

CenterPoint Energy is in the process of contacting customers and informing them about their rights and obligations under the rule. Customers who are concerned about managing their heating bills should contact the company immediately at (612) 372-4727 or (800) 245-2377 or leave a text message on the company's Web site www.CenterPointEnergy.com.

Area teachers attend business educators convention

About 125 teachers, including Ann Hutchison, business educator at Pillager High School, as well as Rod Reuer and Deanndra Eschenbacher-Hondl from Brainerd, attended the 38th annual fall convention of the Minnesota Business Educators Inc., Sept. 29-30 at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, Onamia.