Local briefs

AITKIN -- Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, with a visit Tuesday to Aitkin, completed travel to all 87 Minnesota counties and all 67 state Senate districts during her second year in office. She traveled to every county in the state last year also.

"I intend to try and visit as many places as possible every year that I serve as Minnesota's secretary of state to stay in touch on a direct and personal level," she said.

Host families sought for high school exchange students

International high school exchange students will arrive soon for spring semester homestays and the Share! exchange program still needs Brainerd lakes area families to host them.

The exchange students, all between 15-18, will arrive mid-January to live with volunteer host families while attending area schools from January to June to learn about American culture.

The students speak English, are screened, receive orientation and are medically insured when they arrive. Families of all types, including those with small children or teens, families with no children, "empty nesters" and single parent families are eligible to host a foreign exchange student.

Call Dee Petersen at 763-476-6515 or 1-800-314-3738 for more information or check out the Share! Web site at www.erdtshare.org.

Brainerd parks board to meet Monday

The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Board will meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the small conference room at Brainerd City Hall.