REGION FIVE IN GOOD SHAPE

About a year ago, commissioners from Crow Wing, Cass and Hubbard Counties were talking about pulling out of the Region Five, a clearinghouse for government grants and research activities. But that was April, 2006 and Region Five is doing much better these days. Executive Director Cheryl Hills said the agency was $895,000 in debt and when she joined the agency, two days before payday, she wasn't sure employees could be paid. Hills said today, the agency is starting to see black ink in its ledger books. It still has some debt, about $135,000 but has a plan to pay it back in the next five years. Hills said most of the thanks goes to a dedicated staff and committee board of directors who believe in what Region Five does. Recent activities included a survey of people who live in and around Pequot Lakes and their preference for the future route of Highway 371.