Grants aid farm business studies

The North Dakota FFA Foundation is offering tuition assistance to young farmers who enroll in a Farm Business Management Program in the state.

Four grants of $500 per year are available, with preference given to new enrollees who are former FFA members or belong to a local FFA Alumni.

Applications are due Dec. 1. Visit www.ndffafoundation.com for an application or contact the foundation office at 224-8390.

Fireworks sales help Guard fund

Memory Fireworks' sky lantern promotion this past summer will result in a $4,500 donation to the North Dakota National Guard's Emergency Relief Fund.

Memory committed to donate $1 for each of the fire balloons it sold, and encouraged people to light them at 10 p.m. July 4 as a symbol of troop support.

ServiceMaster opens in Mandan

ServiceMaster Professional Services has opened an office in Mandan at 1820 40th Ave. S.E. No. 38.

The office will provide residential services within a 10-county region in south central North Dakota and commercial services throughout the state. Services include fire, smoke, water, mold and trauma cleanup and reconstruction, and disaster planning for businesses. Emergency services are available around the clock.

General manager of the new office is Scott Tetley, who has 17 years of experience in the restoration/construction industry.

He is master-certified through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification in all three restoration categories.

The Mandan office may be contacted at 222-7218.

ServiceMaster Professional Services, based in St. Cloud, Minn., is a ServiceMaster franchise.

Coal, biomass conference slated

FARGO -- Robert Bonnie, senior energy and climate adviser to the U.S. agriculture secretary, will join regional, national and international speakers at a conference on Nov. 2.

"The Future of Coal and Biomass in a Carbon-constrained World: Technology & Policy Opportunities for the Midwest" will be held at the NDSU Alumni Center, Fargo.

Brad Crabtree, Great Plains Institute policy director, said other speakers include Hans Pastoors, environmental and permitting specialist at Nuon Power in the Netherlands; Hongmei Zhang, director of technology strategy and development, ENN Group, China; Robert Williams, senior research scientist, Princeton University; Brian Warner, director of environmental services, Wolverine Power Cooperative; Franzjosef Schafhausen, deputy director general, German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety; Greg Ridderbusch, vice president, business development and strategy, Great River Energy; Dave Nomsen, vice president, government affairs, Pheasants Forever; Laura McCarten, regional vice president, Xcel Energy; and Robert Carlson, president, North Dakota Farmers Union.

Conference registration information is available at www.gpisd.net.

BSE distributing new product line

FARGO - Border States Electric, with corporate headquarters in Fargo, has become an authorized distributor for 3M's new Renewable Energy Division, with products to enhance wind turbine reliability and efficiency such as films, tapes, coatings and adhesives.

There also are services related to solar energy, geothermal and biofuels projects.

BSE has 57 branch operations in 13 states and Mexico.

Bismarck Aero Center recognized

Bismarck Aero Center has been selected for the 2009 Best of Bismarck Award in the aviation pilot service category of a U.S. Commerce Association program.

The annual program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country.

Home rehab group gets grant

Rebuilding Together Greater Bismarck Mandan Inc., whose volunteers repair and rebuild homes to improve safety and accessibility for low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, recently received a $1,000 grant from Midcontinent.

Newly elected to the organization's board of directors are Randy Schmeling, vice president of commercial lending at BNC National Bank; Caroline Ternes, commercial loan assistant at American Bank Center; and Vicki Moran, owner of Hallmark Homes.

Roxy Jacobson, executive officer for Bismarck-Mandan Home Builders Association, has been named vice president of the board of directors.

Denise Arntson also is a director.

Applications are being taken for the April 2010 Rebuilding Day. Interested homeowners in Bismarck and Mandan may call 221-3232 for more information.

Lignite council honors three

The Lignite Energy Council recently honored three people with its Ambassador of Lignite Award.

The council, a trade association representing lignite mines, presented the awards at its annual meeting in Bismarck to Stu Libby, recently retired plant manager-operations with Minnkota Power Cooperative; Mike Hummel of BNI Coal; and Duane Steen of Montana-Dakota Utilities.

Specialty crop grants awarded

Nearly $500,000 has been awarded in nine grants to promote the development and cultivation of specialty crops in North Dakota.

Receiving grants were:

n Northern Pulse Growers Association, $82,000 for improving market access characteristics of pulse crops, such as dry beans, dry peas and lentils.

n North Dakota Agriculture Department, $77,100 for the Going Local North Dakota initiative.

n Plains Potato Growers Association, $75,200 for breeding efforts to manage potato early die.

n Northarvest Bean Growers Association, $74,988 for strengthening value-added programs for dry edible beans. This is a joint project with Minnesota.

n National Sunflower Association, $70,389 for breeding rust-resistant confection sunflowers.

n North Dakota State University/Carrington, $47,950 to determine the effects of adding field peas to beef finishing feed.

n North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association, $33,000 for expanding North Dakota farmers markets.

n North Dakota Grape Growers, $30,000 for creation of wine grape hybrids for North Dakota.

n NDSU, $9,100 for an evaluation of hardy roses for cut flower production.

The grant program is funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the North Dakota Agriculture Department.

Group celebrates 20 years of caring

The Caring for Children program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

It provides enrolled children with access to medical, dental and mental health care services at no cost to their families. These children come from working families that can't afford private health insurance but don't qualify for government-funded programs.

Started in 1989 by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, it has since served more than 7,000 North Dakota children with the help of participating dentists, doctors and professionals, according to its director, Lisa Faul. Between January and September 2009, 961 children received health and dental care through Caring for Children.

WDALA selects 2009-10 officers

The Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants elected new officers at its annual meeting last month.

Melissa Klimpel, ACP, was elected president. She is employed with Smith, Bakke, Porsborg & Schweigert in Bismarck.

Other officers for 2009-10 are Becky Osborn, ACP, Bucklin, Klemin, McBride & Schweigert P.C., Bismarck, first vice president; Lynette Anderson, CLA, Temanson Law Firm, Minot, second vice president; Afton Basden, CLA, Howard & Associates, P.C., Minot, secretary; and Carmen Dukeman, McIntee Law Firm, Bottineau, treasurer.

Melissa Hamilton, ACP, legal division of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, was elected NALA liaison.

Laurie Guenther, ACP, Crowley Fleck PLLP, Bismarck, was appointed parliamentarian.