(Submitted photo)

The board of the Staples Motley Area Arts Council recently accepted a large check (in more ways than one) from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The funds are appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, administered through the Five Wings Arts Council. The arts council received $7,240 which is 25 percent of their previous year’s budget. The funds will be used for operating expenses and for programming. In front, from left, are Sally Gorton, Mary Sperley, Ellen Nelson, Kathy Morey, Dick Donat and Steve Sveom. In back, from left, are Brenda Halvorson, Amy Hunter, Stan Carlson, Bernie St. Pierre, Mark Turner and Duane Strack. Turner is the executive director of the Five Wings Arts Council.