LOCAL BRIEFS
Storlie named of Merit Scholarship semifinalist
Breanna Storlie was named a semifinalist in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.
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The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced the names of the 16,000 semifinalists in the 54th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $35 million, that will be offered next spring.
More than 1.5 million juniors in nearly 21,000 U.S. high schools entered the 2009 National Merit Program by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state's percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
Breanna Storlie
To become a finalist, a semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal and earn SAT scores that confirm the student's earlier qualifying test performance.
Staples teens win $1,000 prize
STAPLES - Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens.
Katherine Ziegler and Shelby Wilds have been caroling for the cause as a part of "Holiday Holla" - an online video contest from Keep the Drive - a teen-to-teen smart driving movement funded by The Allstate Foundation.
Their video, "Drive Safe," was voted as one of the top 15 in the nation, earning the teens $1,000 and a chance to win a free trip to the Mall of America on Dec. 6 to perform in front of celebrity guest judge Kate Voegele and win the $10,000 grand prize.
Katherine Ziegler
Those interested can view the video at www.holidayholla.com/videos.
Sen. Olson announces four-day, 13-city tour
Between Dec. 1-4, Sen. Mary Olson, DFL-Bemidji, will host town hall listening sessions in 13 cities in her district.
The meetings are designed to give area residents the opportunity to offer input on the upcoming legislative session.
All meetings are expected to last approximately one hour. Meetings in the Brainerd lakes area include:
Dec. 2: 10 a.m. Walker City Hall.
Dec. 3: 11:30 a.m. Longville Senior Citizen Building, 1:30 p.m. Emily City Hall, 3 p.m. Crosslake Community Center.
Dec. 4: 9 a.m. Pillager City Council Hall, 10:30 a.m. Pequot Lakes City Hall, noon Backus City Council Hall, 1:30 p.m. Hackensack Senior Class.
Shelby Wilds
For more information on the listening tour, contact Sen. Olson at (651) 296-4913 or sen.mary.olson@senate.mn.
Balkan heritage burns bright with memorial Evergreen tree lighting
IRONTON - A reminder of community Balkan heritage will burn bright this holiday season starting on Sunday as the Serbian Sisters' organization hosts a tree lighting ceremony in Ironton. The transplanted, 14-foot Evergreen tree is located on the north end of Curtis Avenue, where the activities will be conducted.
The spruce was planted as a seedling in Cuyuna many years ago by Balkan native Ed Radinovich and moved to its current site this past fall. The Radinovich family has given the tree in loving memory of their father. This tree is part of a Serbian Sisters Balkan Memorial Garden endeavor.
The group invites its members and the public to arrive at 3:30 p.m. to decorate the tree. If a person wishes, they may donate an ornament to hang or bring a strand of popcorn or cranberries to string on the tree. Bird-friendly ornaments are especially valued.
At about 4:30 p.m. plans are to flip the switch and light up the tree.
Serbian Sisters is a nonprofit group interested in preserving cultural heritage, community beautification and historical preservation. It is open to men, women and children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Riverside Elementary School receives grant
Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd was awarded the Sylvan Dell Publishing Resource Grant.
This one-year site license provides unlimited access to all 35 Sylvan Dell eBooks, featuring flipviewer technology with selectable English and Spanish text and audio. The license can be used on all school computers and may be placed on secure school Web sites (if available), enabling students and their families to log in and have access from their homes.
Teachers throughout the school are able to project the books in the classroom for easy reading to supplement or to introduce science and math through literature in the classroom.
For additional information about the books or the grant, go to www.SylvanDellPublishing.com, e-mail info@SylvanDellPublihshing.com or call (877) 958-2600.
Brunch with Santa planned in Baxter
BAXTER - Youth As Resources presents the 39th annual "Brunch With Santa" from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 7 at Forestview Middle School in Baxter. Santa will arrive at 9:30 a.m. with a gift for all children.
Entertainment will be provided by Just For Kix. Golden Years Gift Shop will provide special holiday shopping. Other activities include photos with Santa, make and take crafts and brunch. Tickets are $8 for adults; $4 for children (3-12); children under age 3 are free. Tickets are available at Brainerd Community Action, Northern National Bank, Bremer Bank, Cub Foods-Brainerd and Baxter locations. Call 829-5278 for more information.
Buddy Walk was successful
A successful first Brainerd Lakes Area Buddy Walk recently was conducted at the Northland Arboretum. The walk was led by Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson and Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd.
The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down syndrome. The walk was sponsored by Arc Headwaters, which is a private, nonprofit organization. Donations received will help to start a support system in the Brainerd lakes area.
For more information about Down syndrome, go to www.buddywalk.org, www.archeadwaters.org, e-mail angelsupnorth@yahoo.com or call Arc Headwaters at (800) 450-7338 or Becky Meyer at 828-6359.
Christmas program planned at Tornstrom
The St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School Christmas program will be 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at Tornstrom Auditorium in the Washington Education Services Building on Oak Street in Brainerd.
Students of every age participate. It is open to the public and all are welcome.
For more information, call 829-2344.
Airport commission to meet Dec. 2
The Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport Commission will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 2 in the airport conference room.