Local news briefs

PEQUOT LAKES - The annual Coats for Kids drive, where winter coats are distributed through the Lakes Area Food Shelf in Pequot Lakes, is under way. Drop-off locations for winter coats include Echo Publishing and Printing in Pequot Lakes, Martin's Sport Shop in downtown Nisswa and Belle Cheveux at the Northland Center, north of Sportland Corners, in Nisswa. Gently used winter coats for kids and adults are being accepted now through the end of the year at these locations.

All coats that are collected are cleaned at Anderson Cleaners in Brainerd and then taken to the Lakes Area Food Shelf to be distributed.

Second half of agricultural and mobile home taxes due

Crow Wing County Treasurer Laureen Borden announced the second half of agricultural and mobile home/personal taxes are due Sunday. If mailed, timeliness is determined by the postmark. Payments may be made by mail or in person at the treasurer's office on the second floor of the historic courthouse.

Crow Wing County has partnered with Official Payments to offer taxpayers an option to pay their tax electronically either over the Internet by going to www.mncountypayments.org or by calling (800) 272-9829. All Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit and debit cards are accepted. If using these methods, the county jurisdiction code is 3329 and you need the RE code or parcel number of the property. There is an additional transaction fee charged.

Memory screenings scheduled

Good Samaritan Society-Woodland, 300 Buffalo Hills Lane, Brainerd, will offer free, confidential memory screenings from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, National Memory Screening Day, an initiative of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Medical assistant students to sponsor chili supper fundraiser

STAPLES - The Central Lakes College medical assistant program students will sponsor a fundraiser chili supper from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Staples campus of CLC.

All proceeds are being donated to Hands of Hope Resource Center from Long Prairie and Little Falls to purchase items on their Christmas wish list for families and individuals they serve.

The students will be serving chili, rolls, beverage and dessert.

Tickets at the door (no advance sales): Adults $5; children (5-12) $3, (4 and under) free.

Those who bring in a new toy to donate will receive $2 off the adult ticket price.

Hands of Hope is a nonprofit agency that offers services to people who are or have been in abusive situations, find themselves homeless or who need advocates for navigating the court system.