Town briefs

Forum on predators The Cottage Grove Police Department is hosting a forum Thursday on sexual predators and preventing sexual violence.

Panelists from the department, the state Department of Corrections, the Jacob Wetterling Foundation and Human Services Inc. will offer insight on the characteristics of sexual predators, how to recognize the signs of sexual abuse and how to protect yourself and your family, according to a city news release. The panelists are both people who assess or supervise sexual predators and people who work with victims and their families.

The forum is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Cottage Grove Junior High School. For more information, go to the city website at www.cottage-grove.org or contact officer Gwen Martin at 651-458-2850 or gmartin@cottage-grove.org.

BETH L. PODTBURG

A deal on rain barrels Dakota County is offering residents a chance to buy a rain barrel to collect water from rooftop runoff that can be used later.

Each barrel costs $56 and hold 55 gallons, weighs seven pounds when empty, and is made locally from clean, sturdy industrial plastic. Its spigot can be attached to a garden hose. The county says the barrels help the environment by reducing storm-water runoff, conserving water and providing chlorine-free water for gardens.

To reserve one, call 952-891-7000 or send e-mail to water@co.dakota.mn.us before April 20. They will be available for pickup at the Dakota County Government Building on the Fairgrounds, 4008 W. 220th St., Farmington, on from noon to 7 p.m. April 24 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25.

STAFF REPORT

Earth Day event Got a stack of those plastic flower pots piling up in your garage or potting shed and need a spot to recycle them?

That's among the recycling opportunities at Roseville's Earth Day celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 19 at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center. A pot-munching machine will take care of the pots on site, and you can also bring fluorescent light bulbs, printer cartridges and prescription eyeglasses for recycling, the city said.

The day starts with a fitness walk with Mayor Craig Klausing and a pancake breakfast, but you can also browse Earth-friendly exhibits and do crafts and games. A limited number of free tote bags, seeds and tote-bag sewing patterns will be available.

The park is at 2520 N. Dale St., and it offers an interpretive center and paths through 52 acres of marsh, prairie and forest. For more information, call 651-792-7012.

BETH L. PODTBURG

Family game nights The Junior League of St. Paul is sponsoring game nights at St. Paul recreation centers as a chance for children to bond with their parents or other adults.

The game nights are free and targeted toward children age 5 through teenagers. Board and card games will be available. The upcoming nights are:

• Tuesday 4-6 p.m. at Arlington Recreation Center, 665 E. Rose Av.

• April 16 4-6 p.m. at Hancock Recreation Center, 1610 Hubbard Av.

• April 16 4-6 p.m. at West Minnehaha Recreation Center, 685 W. Minnehaha Av.

• April 17 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Dayton's Bluff Recreation Center, 800 Conway St.

• April 17 4:30 -6:30 p.m. McDonough Recreation Center, 1544 Timberlake Road.

BETH L. PODTBURG

Administrator search Arden Hills could have a new city administrator by the end of April. The City Council met March 31 to narrow the field of candidates to three: Jim Norman, Melinda Coleman and Ron Moorse.

Norman, formerly the city administrator of Ramsey, is the interim city administrator in Afton. Coleman, formerly the assistant city manager of Maplewood, is currently in the private sector. Moorse, until recently, was the city administrator in Orono.

Search consultant Harry Brull of Personnel Decisions Inc. said his firm will be doing reference and background checks and other assessments. Depending on the results of those checks, and council members' opinions about the candidates, the city could name a new city administrator in the next three or four weeks.

The listed salary range for the position in 2007 was $85,200 to $106,500. Brull said the salary figure, adjusted for 2008, will be roughly 3 percent higher.

ERIC M. HANSON