Sign up now for a firearms safety hunter education class

Now is a great time for people to sign up for a hunter education firearms safety class offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Volunteer Instructors from throughout the state are calling in right now to set up spring classes, so this is the time to get your son or daughter registered before the fall hunting seasons begin,” said Acting Capt. Jon Paurus, DNR hunter education coordinator.

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979 must take a DNR safety training course and receive a certificate of completion before purchasing a license for big or small game. 

“Every year we have hopeful hunters who wait until the last minute to take a hunter safety class only to find out they have missed their opportunity to do so,” Paurus said. “The fall is when many of our volunteer instructors would like to be enjoying the outdoors as well, which means it can be more difficult to find a class.”

Also, hunters frequently encounter problems when they hunt states where more stringent hunter education requirements are required. For example, Colorado requires a hunter education certificate for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1949, and neighboring states such as North Dakota and Iowa have requirements for those born after 1961 and 1967. 

For a list of classes or to check requirements from other states please visit the Safety/Education webpage at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/index.html.

Classes generally fill up quickly but check the listing often as more classes are being added daily. For more information, call 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.

Extension, FSA add extra 2014 Farm Bill crops education seminars

ST. PAUL, Minn.  (Jan. 14, 2015)—Due to high demand, University of Minnesota Extension and the Farm Service Agency will offer seven educational seminars to help crops producers choose options necessitated by the 2014 Farm Bill programs.

In addition, online instruction is available to guide both crops producers and landowners through decision-making required by the new farm bill. Visit http://farmbill.umn.edu/ for videos and printable materials.     

Registration is not required. Newly added programs, and phone contacts for more information, are:

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Jan. 27, Freeport Community Center, 307 Seventh St. SE, Freeport,  (320) 836-2526

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Jan. 28, Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, 1501 State St., Marshall, (507) 537-7110

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 3, Courtyard Marriott, 901 Raintree Road, Mankato, (507) 388-1234

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 4, Rochester International Event Center, 7333 Airport View Dr. SW, Rochester, (507) 529-0033

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 4, Bede Ballroom (second floor, Sargeant Student Center), University of Minnesota Crookston, (218) 281-6510

·         9:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 5, Bigwood Event Center, Fergus Falls, (218) 739-2211

·         1 to 3:30 p.m., Feb. 5, University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center, 1890 Buford Ave., St. Paul, (612) 624-3275

Crop producers have until March 31, 2015 to make decisions required by the farm bill, including the choice among three new risk management programs. They will be locked into a decision that lasts five years. Landowners have until Feb. 27, to complete the base reallocation and yield updates.

The farm bill repeals several previous programs, including direct payments for most crops. It covers the following crops grown in Minnesota: corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, canola, sunflowers, oats, sorghum, lentils, dry peas, garbanzo beans and flax.

The farm bill designates the extension arm of land-grant universities nationwide as the education provider for producers. To learn more, visit Extension’s 2014 Farm Bill page at http://z.umn.edu/qpn. 

MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES LATEST LEGACY GRANT RECIPIENTS

ST. PAUL (JUNE 2, 2014) – The Minnesota Historical Society announces 63 recipients of Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants (up to $10,000 each) totaling $320,046 in 39 counties, and five new Heritage Partnership Awards (external partnerships) totaling $212,025 in four counties. The grants are awarded to help non-profit and educational organizations, government units and tribal organizations preserve and share Minnesota history.

A number of small grants in this cycle were awarded to support scholarships to attend this fall’s national meeting of the American Association of State and Local History, which will be held in St. Paul.

"Building organizational capacity was one of the expressed outcomes of legacy funding," said David Grabitske, manager of outreach services and grants. "Scholarships for Minnesota organizations and city staff to attend the nation's premiere history training provider, the American Association for State and Local History, while it is in St. Paul this fall will spread best practices to every part of the state."

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants are made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Legacy Amendment supports efforts to preserve Minnesota land, water and legacy, including Minnesota history and cultural heritage.

Heritage Partnership Program Award Recipients
The Minnesota Historical Society awards Legacy-funded partnership grants to organizations working together to preserve and share knowledge and resources related to Minnesota history. The partnership grants extend the reach of Legacy history funds across the state.
Hennepin County, AirSpace Minnesota, $24,200
To develop formal partnerships with other aviation and aerospace history organizations statewide to engage in long-range, strategic planning for coordinating future projects.
Ramsey County, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota, $80,310
To develop the Southeast Minnesota Preservation partnership, a program that will increase awareness of the role of historic preservation in building communities, promoting shared values and developing local economies.
Rice County, Northfield Historical Society, $17,303
To increase the capacity of the Northfield History Collaborative by adding four to six new partner organizations and to continue to digitize materials for current partners.
Rice County, St. Olaf College, $67,616
To develop NorthfieldHistorical [stet], a mobile device application and website, as a nexus for the cultural heritage of Northfield.
St. Louis County, Northern Bedrock Conservation Corps, $22,596
To develop a memorandum of understanding and strategic plan to identify the historic west trail system of the Chester and Clara Congdon Estate (Glensheen), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Small Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Recipients
Recipients of small grants (up to $10,000) from the April 11, 2014, deadline cycle are listed by county, in alphabetical order below.
AASLH conference scholarships are listed as a group below. Each project will preserve and enhance Minnesota’s cultural and historical resources.
Blue Earth County, Minnesota State University, Mankato--Department of Anthropology, $9,995
National Register Evaluation and Archeological Interpretation of the Nelson Site: To hire qualified project personnel to evaluate the Nelson Site, a Late Woodland archaeological site, for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Chisago County, City of Taylors Falls, $10,000
National Register Nomination Update for Angel's Hill Historic District: To hire a qualified historian to complete an updated nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for Angel's Hill Historic District.
Clay County, City of Barnesville, $10,000
Old City Hall Opera House Ceiling Restoration: To hire qualified professionals to repair plaster in the 1899 Barnesville City Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County: $3,277
Acquiring Moorhead Daily News Microfilm: To add 40 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.
Goodhue County, City of Red Wing: $9,498
Red Wing Fire Department Ahrens-Fox Fire Apparatus Preservation: To hire qualified conservators to restore a significant historical fire engine.
Goodhue County, Prairie Island Indian Community (PIIC), $10,000
Geophysical and Archaeological Assessment of the PIIC Burial Mound Group: To hire a qualified consultant to conduct an archaeological survey of burial mound groups on the PIIC reservation.
Goodhue County, Friends of St. Rose, Inc., $8,800
Church of St. Rose of Lima Historic Building Conditions Assessment: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the Church of St. Rose of Lima (Kenyon), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, City of Osseo, $6,564
Osseo Water Tower Intensive Level Survey and Evaluation for National Register Eligibility: To hire qualified consultants to evaluate the Osseo Water Tower for possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, Linden Hills Neighborhood Council, $7,000
Evaluation of Linden Hills Commercial Nodes for National Register or Local Designation Eligibility: To hire qualified consultants to evaluate the Linden Hills commercial nodes for local designation or possible inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennepin County, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, $9,950
Tolerance & Inclusivity: The Formation and History of Mount Sinai Hospital and Women���s Auxiliary, 1942-1992: To hire a qualified historian to research the history of Mount Sinai Hospital and Women's Auxiliary.
Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Bell Museum of Natural History), $7,802
Collection Storage Case Replacement and Upgrade: To improve collections care and management through proper storage.
Hennepin County, Regents of the University of Minnesota (Institute on Community Integration), $10,000
Polish the Evelyn Deno Anthology on the 1957 State Law Requiring Special Education: To hire qualified professionals to produce a manuscript on Evelyn Deno and the history of special education in Minnesota's public schools.
Hennepin County, Rockford Area Historical Society, $6,000
Shorthand Language Translation of the Florence Stork Diaries and Letters: To hire qualified professionals to produce a translation of Florence Stork's shorthand language diaries and letters.
Houston County, City of Hokah, $2,690
Microfilmed Newpaper Collection: To add 33 rolls of microfilmed newspapers to broaden public accessibility to primary records.
Houston County, Houston County Historical Society, $9,385
Library Digital Microfilm Reader/Printer: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.
Mille Lacs County, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe: $9,694
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Archives Mold Remediation: To provide appropriate mold remediation for collections items.
Mille Lacs County, Mille Lacs County Historical Society, $5,800
Great Northern Depot HVAC System Evaluation: To hire a qualified and experienced HVAC engineer to evaluate the current system in preparation for better control of the Mille Lacs County Historical Society museum environment.
Nobles County, Nobles County Historical Society, $9,760
Nobles County Pioneer Village Inventory & Assessment Phase 2: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Polk County, Polk County Historical Society, $10,000
Historic Carnegie Building: Restoration Planning: To hire a qualified architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the Crookston Carnegie Public Library, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Ramsey County, American Aviation Heritage Foundation, $10,000
Manuscript: History of Northwest Aeronautical Corporation: To hire a qualified professional to produce a manuscript on the history of the Northwest Aeronautical Corporation.
Ramsey County, Hmong Cultural Center, $10,000
Hmong Minnesota History Exhibit Implementation Project: To install an exhibit on Hmong history in Minnesota.
Ramsey County, Ramsey County (Parks and Recreation Department), $10,000
Preserving and Sharing the Rich History and Tradition of Keller Golf Course: To hire consultants to develop and install an exhibit on Keller Golf Course in Ramsey County.
Ramsey County, Ramsey County Historical Society, $9,945
Phase II: From Exile to Resettlement: Elderly Bhutanese Refugee Women in Minnesota: To document in oral history interviews the history of Bhutanese refugee women in Minnesota.
Ramsey County, Rondo Avenue, Inc., $10,000
Research for Book on Rondo Society Columnist: To hire a qualified historian to conduct primary source research on the history of Estyr Peake, Rondo society columnist.
Red Lake County, Minnesota's Historic Northwest, $1,697
Small Museums Tool Kit Book Discussion & Review: To provide professional development opportunities to northwestern Minnesota historical organizations using the Small Museum Toolkit.
St. Louis County, Minnesota Discovery Center, $8,883
Minnesota Discovery Center's General Assessment and Long-Range Plan: To hire professional conservators to assess historically significant collections and write a long range preservation plan.
Stevens County, Stevens County Historical Society, $8,350
Men and Women of the Land Research and Script Writing: To hire qualified professionals to research and write an exhibit script on the history of Stevens County residents.
Washington County, Afton Historical Society and Museum, $9, 944
Final Cataloging and Partial Rehousing: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Washington County, City of Stillwater, $6,900
Bergstein Shoddy Mill and Warehouse Reuse Study: To hire qualified consultants to conduct a reuse study of the Moritz Bergstein Shoddy Mill and Warehouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Washington County, City of Stillwater (Fire Department), $10,000
Fire Station History Exhibit Plan: To hire a qualified consultant to write an exhibit plan for a history of the City of Stillwater Fire Station.
Wadena County, Wadena County Historical Society: $10,000
Microfilm Reader/Printer Scanner: To purchase a microfilm reader/printer to broaden public accessibility to microfilmed records.
Winona County, Polish Cultural Institute, $9,800
Inventory of Museum Collections: To gain intellectual and physical control of historic objects held in public trust.
Wright County, Cokato Historical Society, $8,000
Akerlund Glass Plate Scanning, Phase VII: To digitize part of a large collection of glass plate negatives in order to broaden public accessibility.
Small Legacy Grants were provided to the following organizations for staff member professional development scholarships to attend the American Association for State and Local History National Conference in St. Paul, September 17-20, 2014.

• Beltrami County, Beltrami County Historical Society, $1,402
• Clay County, City of Moorhead, $1,440
• Clay County, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, $2,306 (2 staff)
• Dakota County, City of Farmington, $575 (2 staff)
• Goodhue County, Goodhue County Historical Society, $679 (2 staff)
• Hennepin County, City of Eden Prairie, $375
• Hennepin County, City of Eden Prairie, $300
• Hennepin County, City of Excelsior, $920 (2 staff)
• Itasca County, Itasca County Historical Society, $3,497 (2 staff)
• Kandiyohi County, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, $2,130 (2 staff)
• Koochiching County, Koochiching County Historical Society, $3,387 (2 staff)
• Lake of the Woods County, Depot Preservation Alliance, $1,475
• Meeker County, Meeker County Historical Society, $575
• Morrison County, Morrison County Historical Society, $1,361 (2 staff)
• Mower County, Hormel Historic Home, $1,586 (2 staff)
• Nicollet County, Nicollet County Historical Society, $1,357 (2 staff)
• Pine County, Pine City Library Foundation, $415
• Ramsey County, Minnesota Museum of American Art, $1,365 (2 staff)
• Ramsey County, Ramsey County Historical Society, $1,600 (2 staff)
• Redwood County, Redwood County Historical Society, $1,795
• Redwood County, Redwood Falls Public Library, $1,326
• Rice County, Rice County Historical Society, $602
• Roseau County, Roseau County Historical Society, $1,700
• Sherburne County, Sherburne County Historical Society, $550 (2 staff)
• Stearns County, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict, $460 (2 staff)
• Stearns County, St. Cloud State University, $575 (2 staff)
• Stevens County, Stevens County Historical Society, $3,249 (2 staff)
• Washington County, City of Afton, $980 (2 staff)
• Winona County, City of Winona, $1,165
• Winona County, City of Winona, $1,165