Runners will be flocking to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center at 9 a.m. Saturday. An 8 kilometer run and 1 mile fun run/walk will be helped at the Nature Center this weekend. It’s put on by Dr. Eric Overby.

Race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. It is $15 for the 8 kilometer, $5 for the 1 mile fun run/walk. For more information, go to www.hormelnaturecenter8k.org.

Film to be viewed at Nature Center

The Audubon Society will be hosting a viewing of “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time” at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.

The film explores the Leopold’s life and how his philosophies have affected modern groups. It shares highlights from his life and career, and illustrates how he continues to inspire conservation around the world.

The showing is free and will take place at the Ruby Rupner Auditorium.

Dolan’s to plant trees

Dolan’s Landscape Center, Inc. plans to plant a tree at three local schools in Austin next week.

The trees will be planted as part of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association’s Green for Life project, which will plant trees at local schools across the state on Sept. 22.

The event is aimed to help educate students and the public about the environmental benefits of trees, plants and other healthy components of a quality outdoor living environment, and to pass along a love of horticulture.

Adams insurer receives award

Huseby Insurance of Adams received an Award of Excellence from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company of Grinnell, Iowa.

The award recognizes five years of outstanding achievement in the insurance profession and superior performance.

Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, in business since 1909, provides reinsurance for farm mutual insurance companies and property and casualty insurance products for homeowners, farmowners and businessowners through nearly 1,700 independent agents in 12 Midwestern states. Grinnell Mutual is the largest primary reinsurer of farm mutual companies in North America.

Man wins $30K at Ankeny’s

Manuel Velazquez of Laredo, Texas, won $30,000 after buying a Bonus Crossword scratch ticket at Ankeny Mini Mart at 1400 14th St. NW. Velasquez claimed the prize on Sept. 7.

The Minnesota State Lottery recently reported it had a good year. It set another ticket sales record for the fourth consecutive year in fiscal year 2011, earning $504.4 million.

Sales increased $5.5 million from 2010. Record scratch game sales led the increase, ending the fiscal year at $354.8 million. Sales of lotto games like Powerball totaled $142 million.

Prize payments to players were a record $310.9 million, while the Lottery’s hard-working retail partners earned a record $30.4 million in commissions and incentives for selling Lottery products. This is an average of $10,000 per business.

During FY11 Lottery sales generated about $121.9 million for state projects and programs.