The Lakeshore Conservation Club will host its fourth annual spring kickoff party from 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at the range on County Road 77.

The event will include awards, shooting games, dinner, vendors, raffle, silent auction and more. Social and shooting games will be from 1-4 p.m. with awards at 4:30 p.m.

Lunch throughout the day will include pulled turkey and pork sandwiches, beans, chips and potluck desserts.

DNR conservation officer Shoutz receives award

Conservation officers with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources were recognized during annual in-service training at Camp Ripley.

Conservation officer Nikki Shoutz of the Pine River field station received the DNR’s Education Achievement Award. The award recognizes an officer based on overall career performance with emphasis on involvement in the division’s education programs; support and involvement with volunteer instructors; and educational efforts through the media and special presentations.

Early last Saturday morning, after my young Labrador and I had taken our ritual morning walk, I brewed up a Thermos-filling pot of coffee, loaded Bella into her crate in the car, and the two of us took a reconnaissance drive to check out ice conditions on the lakes in the area we call home.

There was not a great deal of suspense in this, because I knew that the main body of all these lakes would still be icebound. Less than a week before this, there were ice fishermen on several of these lakes, some then holding 18 or more inches of ice.

Madden’s will host a Women’s Golf Night kickoff at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, to kick off the 2013 season.

The event will feature a full swing clinic at the Madden’s Driving Range followed by a social reception at Parfecto Pizza. It’s open to female golfers of all ages and skill levels.

Cost is $20 per person, which includes the full-swing lesson and pizza buffet.