South news briefs: Rosemount Fire Department giving agility test

Fire Department giving agility testThe Rosemount Fire Department is looking for volunteers and is offering agility test practice on Oct. 20 for candidates to try out their climbing, lifting and other physical skills.

The agility course is intended to help potential candidates decide whether they want to turn in an application and attend an orientation day next spring.

The 9 a.m. practice session will not be a pre-qualifier for the orientation, written test and physical agility day planned for early April.

Agility test participants must be at least 18, sign a release form and live in Rosemount or within four minutes of one of the two fire stations.

The practice day will be held at Fire Station No. 1, on Shannon Parkway between County Road 42 and 145th Street. Station No. 2 is east of Hwy. 3 on the corner of Connemara Trail and Azalea Avenue.

Candidates will perform in full gear.

The course offers a two-part test. The first is a five-minute timed obstacle course that includes carrying hose bundles up and down stairs, carrying an exhaust fan, lifting a hose with a pulley and dragging a dummy. The second part is a five-minute timed climb on a truck ladder. The ladder will be extended upward 75 feet at a 45-degree angle. Candidates, escorted by a firefighter, will climb to the top and back down.

Oktoberfest theme for defibrillator fundsThere'll be a fundraiser Thursday to raise money to buy new defibrillators for Burnsville police.

Arbors at Ridges Assisted Living campus is hosting an Oktoberfest-themed event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 13810 Community Drive.

Lunch includes brats, sauerkraut, German potato salad, dessert and root beer along with live entertainment and raffle tickets for prizes.

The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Last year's proceeds of $1,800 bought uniforms for the department's honor guard. The goal this time is more life-saving devices to treat heart attack victims.

Learn what kids are up to off campusA talk on the kinds of things students at Inver Hills Community College are doing out in the community as part of their classes is being offered tomorrow.

More than 800 students this semester will be engaged in services ranging from painting murals to helping middle school students learn from dissected sheep brains.

Director of Service Learning Katie Halcrow will discuss the more than 70 classes in a free talk from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in room 290 of the College Center.

For more information, check out www.inverhills.edu/inter estingconversations.

Maps of studio tour are available onlineThe web address to get you to maps of the eighth annual Studio ArTour this month was a little off in a recent item on these pages.

Paper maps are available at local shops and online at www.StudioArtour.com.

Fall events underway at ArboretumFall's blazing colors are taking over the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Festivities celebrating the season include:

• "Scarecrows in the Gardens," through Nov. 4, with 25 fun garden characters in raggedy clothes and whimsical poses.

• "Pumpkin Palooza" exhibit, through Nov. 4. A display of cucurbits (aka, pumpkins, gourds and squash) reflecting the endless variety available.

• AppleHouse, open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through early November, offers 50 varieties for sale through the season. Located just west of the Arboretum's main entrance on State Hwy. 5 and Rolling Acres Road. Call 952-443-1409 to find out what varieties are available on a given day.

Admission is $12 for adults and ages 13 and older, and free for children 12 and younger. Memberships also are available.

JIM ADAMS AND DAVID PETERSON

Fire station tour ThursdayThere's an open house at Prior Lake's Fire Station No. 2 Thursday evening.

The event runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 3906 Station Place and includes truck rides, fire hose spray, smoke house survival demonstrations and extinguishers for sale.