Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth is offering volunteer training for community members interested in serving as mentors to children with an incarcerated parent.

The class is slated for Saturday in Bend. The six-hour class covers policies, how to establish a mentor relationship, the impact incarceration has on families and more. The class is free, but those interested in the program must fill out an application.

The program’s mission is to match each volunteer with a child who shares similar interests and activities. They are expected to spend a few hours a week together for at least one year.

Contact: 541-388-6651, copy@deschutes.org or www.deschutes.org/copy.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office will offer a concealed handgun licensing class once a month in 2009.

There is no preregistration requirement. Classes cost $25 and are held in the MAC training room in the sheriff’s office at 63333 W. Highway 20 in Bend.

All classes run from 6 to 9 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 22, Feb. 12, March 5, April 17, May 14, June 16, July 14, Aug. 6, Sept. 17, Oct. 8, Nov. 19 and Dec. 15.

Topics include concealed carry laws, handgun laws and safety and concealed carry equipment. This is not a “hands-on” weapons handling class, and firearms and ammunition are not allowed in class.

For more information, contact the Concealed Licensing Section at 541-383-4425.

— From staff reports