South metro news: Deer hunt is slated for Spring Lake Regional Park in October

Organizers want residents to know that there's still time to form a team, join the walk or sponsor a walker in the CROP Hunger Walk: Ending Hunger One Step at a Time on Oct. 11.

Registration will start at 12:45 p.m. at Spirit of Life Presbyterian Church, 14401 Pilot Knob Road in Apple Valley. The walk will begin at 2 p.m. and will cover about 4 miles. A 1-mile walk also will be available. Participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the local food shelves.

CROP Hunger Walks raise money for Church World Service's programs in many parts of the world. One-quarter of the money raised by each walk goes to local hunger-fighting agencies. The beneficiaries of the South of the River walk include 360 Communities, the Open Door Pantry and the CAP Agency.

For more information, go to www.cropwalk.org or the Twin Cities South of the River CROP Walk's Facebook page.

"The Girls" Night Out on Monday wants to raise $4,000 to support Lewis House in Eagan, a shelter for battered or abused women.

The event, sponsored by Citizens Bank Minnesota, starts with shopping in downtown Lakeville, where many stores will offer specials from 3 to 6 p.m. Then it's over to the Lakeville Area Arts Center at 20965 Holyoke Av., for happy hour and appetizers from 5 to 6:30 p.m., plus unique items and artwork for sale. There will be music from "Sister" from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and all proceeds go to Lewis House. Tickets are available at Citizens Bank, the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce office, the arts center and downtown businesses. For more information, call Sandy Ihrke at 952-469-1919

Scott County is now under an emergency quarantine and will eventually join Dakota, Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Chisago, Fillmore, Houston, Olmstead and Winona counties in a state and federal quarantine to help prevent the insects from spreading.

The city of Prior Lake will hold a community forum to discuss the ash borer at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Parkview Community Room at City Hall, 4646 Dakota St. SE.

If residents suspect their trees might be affected by the insect, the state Department of Agriculture suggested they check for woodpecker damage, as the birds like the larvae, and check for bark cracks that could mean the larvae are tunneling underneath, revealing S-shaped tunnels. Residents also can contact a tree care specialist or e-mail arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us.

Fire departments in many cities in the south metro are holding open houses to mark National Fire Prevention Week, which runs Sunday through Saturday.

Fire trucks and firefighting equipment will be on display at the open houses, along with demonstrations of extricating a victim from a vehicle, car fires, resuscitating an animal, putting out a kitchen fire and more. Attendees at some of the events can practice using a fire extinguisher, escaping from a smoky room and the proper way to install a child safety seat.

The fire departments also offer these tips: Minnesota law requires smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside every sleeping area and on every level of a house, including the basement.

If an alarm sounds, get outside and call 911. Test smoke alarm batteries once a month, change the batteries every six months, clean the alarm with a vacuum several times a year and replace the entire alarm every 10 years.