Area briefs

State Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, will host a public forum with the DNR from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Northland Arboretum, 14250 Conservation Drive, Brainerd.

Bob Meier, assistant commissioner of policy and government relations, and other DNR staff will give a short presentation on the DNR, provide information on a variety of topics, including the APM program and the shoreland rules revision, and take questions from the audience.

"I get more questions from constituents about DNR issues than any other topic," Ward said. "From invasive species, docks and platforms, hunting licenses and lake improvement districts, people in our region have concerns and want some answers."

"This public forum provides residents in our area with the opportunity to hear directly from DNR officials about the issues they care about," Doty said. "Bob Meier and his staff are coming prepared to participate in an open dialogue; I encourage everyone with questions or concerns to join us on the 18th."

More information may be obtained by contacting Ward at (651) 296-4333 or rep.john.ward@house.mn or Doty at (651) 296-4247 or rep.al.doty@house.mn.

Sigma Delta brings home the hardware

Central Lakes College's Sigma Delta chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (Lambda Alpha Epsilon) brought home 20 trophies as the top entry in the Region 6 competition Oct. 16-18 in Duluth.

Adviser Dave Stumpf competed in the professional division and earned five first-place trophies and one second. Firsts were in criminal law, corrections, firearms, police administration and LAE knowledge.

Students competed in the upper division (more than 70 credits earned as a law enforcement student) and lower division (fewer than 70 earned credits).

Andrew Rollins of Motley earned a first, three seconds and one third in the lower division and Nick Groshong had one of each in the same division. Rollins took first in firearms and Groshong claimed the top spot in criminal law.

Ryan Froelich of Pierz took a second in the upper division criminal law competition. Also in the upper division, Amber Jarosh of Brainerd won the juvenile justice competition.

In team competition, the upper division crime scene team of Jarosh, Froelich and Joe Klemmetsen of Duluth finished first. The upper division firearms team of Klemmetsen, Froelich and Rollins also fared well.

Region 6 includes Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.

The chapter next will compete in the national conference competition March 14-19 in Portland, Ore. The conference theme is "Port Security - Air and Water." Members raise funds to finance participation through year-round activities.

For information on how to help the chapter send its delegation to the national conference, contact Stumpf at 855-8116 or dstumpf@clcmn.edu.

Crosslake Chautauqua program

CROSSLAKE - The Crosslake Chautauqua Program, "eBay Made Easy," is scheduled from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Crosslake Community Center. The presenter will be Ben Gibbs.