Local news briefs

The United Way Biggest Loser Lakes Area Team Challenge begins Jan. 12 and will run for eight weeks.

The kickoff to the challenge will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Westgate Mall where participants will weigh-in. The final celebration and weigh-in will be March 9.

Cost is $25 per person and the maximum number of people on a team is six. Registration will take place at the kickoff and registration forms will be available at the United Way. Money raised from the challenge is directly applied to programs in Crow Wing and Cass County that promote healthy lifestyles for children and instill healthy habits they will carry forward into adulthood.

This year's sponsors include The Shake Stop, FitQuest Athletic Club, Amplify Life, CTC, Brainerd Family YMCA, Lakes Printing, Snap Fitness, Anytime Fitness, Hallett Center of Crosby, Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Juice Plus.

In the four years of the challenge more than 700 people have participated and dedicated time to make the community stronger and healthier. The community has been trimmed by more than 5,000 pounds.

For more information on the challenge or to see the listing by week of the challenge's activities go to United Way's Web site at www.unitedwaynow.org or call 829-2619.

Winter YMCA swim lessons

The Brainerd Family YMCA swim lesson session schedule is available at the YMCA and on the Web at brainerdlakesymca.org.

The session begins the week of Jan. 4 and meets once a week for six weeks.

YMCA members could begin registering for pre-school classes Monday and school age classes Tuesday. Community members can begin on Wednesday.

Contact the Brainerd Family YMCA at 829-4767 or stop by at 602 Oak St. in Brainerd to register.

Kindness for Kids Rides planned

Kindness for Kids Rides are planned for 5-9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Westgate Mall. The rides are sponsored by the Sausage Haus, Pine River Riding Stables and Westgate Mall.

There will be free hayrides for all children and adults and the rides will be handicapped accessible. There will be free hot dogs, BBQ, chili, cookies and apple juice.

Food and help has been donated by Sausage Haus, Mills Motors, Cub Foods, Super One, Sam's Club, Country Hearth Breads, Wendy's, Brainerd High School Choir and assorted church groups.

For more information, call (218) 330-1216.

Event raises $4,240 for BHS

BAXTER - Brainerd High School students and families participated in Ford's Drive One 4 UR School Program on Sept. 26, raising $4,240. More than 200 people each raised $20 for Brainerd High School by test-driving a Ford vehicle.

"We were happy to sponsor the Drive One 4 UR School event for Brainerd High School and we were so pleased with the turnout from the community," said Carol Coventry of Mills Ford. "Events like this show how much the community cares about our youth and we know the money will be put to good use."

High schools participating in the Drive One 4 UR School program work with their local Ford dealers to host one-day events where people can test-drive a new Ford vehicle. For each test drive taken, Ford and participating dealers donate $20 (up to a total of $6,000) to fund special projects and activities at the school.

Nearly 700 Drive One 4 UR School events have been conducted throughout the country since the program began in late 2007, raising more than $2 million for local schools and enabling more than 105,000 people to test-drive a Ford vehicle.

Christmas pageant tonight

Celebrate the season at a Christmas pageant hosted by the students of St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for the program. Call 829-2344 for more information.Celebrate the season at a Christmas pageant hosted by the students of St. Francis of the Lakes Catholic School at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd. The public is invited to attend. There is no charge for the program. Call 829-2344 for more information.