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Items included in this column are things that I have heard, seen or have been reported to me. I cannot vouch for their veracity.

As Sergeant Phil Esterhaus used to say, "Be careful out there!"

A couple of Sundays ago, we got a call in the middle of the afternoon. I answered. It was the one of those guys who married our daughters. "We're gonna need a ride home. We just hit a deer."

They were traveling east on 95, between Cambridge and North Branch when a buck leaped from the ditch, landed on the hood and bounced off the windshield. The collision caved the glass several inches. Shards of glass filled the cabin. However, it did its job and nobody was seriously hurt, except the deer.

Our daughter was pretty shook up. She was driving and, I believe, this was her first accident. After the fact, we all started to realize how close they were to a real catastrophe. If the beast had hit a foot closer to the center of the windshield, it may have come right through the windshield.

What bothered her most was the sight of the deer, with two broken front legs, pushing itself into the woods on the other side of the road. Close behind, was her dismay that people in, "At least six or seven cars," must have seen what happened. "Nobody stopped. They barely slowed down!"

A state trooper eventually came to the scene, provided us with some direction and gave us his business card, in case there were questions from the insurance company. To our relief, he said, "I'll take care of the deer."

Two days later, we headed north for our annual Fourth of July, "let's see how many people we can crowd into the cabin," event. We loaded up the van, dropped off the injured car at a body shop and took off.

It was a warm, clear morning, and we were able to see a lot of wildlife on the way. The deer were omnipresent. Fortunately, none tried to join us in the vehicle. The birds were out. We saw turkeys, sandhill cranes, pheasants, pelicans and bald eagles.

Our national bird, driven to the edge of extinction by the effects of DDT in the 1950's and '60's, has made a strong recovery. Back then, estimates had the number of nesting pairs in 400's. Today, that count is thought to be somewhere around 10,000. Minnesota has more of those pairs than every other state, except for Alaska. We certainly saw our share of them.

The thermometer had risen to 82 as we approached Mille Lacs from the south. It was a windless day and the big lake was shrouded in fog. As we drove up the west side of the lake on 169, about 100 yards away from the shoreline, the fog was so thick that we couldn't see the water. The thermometer read 73. By the time we were two miles west of Garrison, at the northwest corner of Mille Lacs, it was back to 82. Nature Rules.

On the way up, we always have to stop at the property near Bemidji to mow. There's usually some other fun activity. This year, it was roof repair. For pure enjoyment, little can match spending a warm July afternoon on the roof, in the sun, up-to-the-elbows in a bucket of roof cement. It wasn't all that bad. It could have been hotter and the flies and mosquitoes have been worse.

After our three-hour stop, we went on to a Bemidji full-service store for groceries and last-second supplies. It took 25 minutes to get through the check-out line. This store had 23 check-out lines and 4 self-checkout lines going as fast as they could. Apparently everyone in the Bemidji area, locals and tourists, were stocking up for the next Y2K.

Some time on the morning of the Fourth, everyone who was slated to arrive congregated at the cabin. Three boats (plus one in the boathouse), a canoe, two vans, two pickups, a car, a four-wheeler and numerous water toys littered the area.

A matriarch, two daughters, a son, two sons in law, five grandchildren, a girlfriend and an unborn great grandchild were all there, as well as two dogs. This is a small cabin. Fortunately, it didn't rain, so we were seldom all inside at the same time.

We went to the 16th annual Debs Fourth of July Parade, like we do every year. The official population of Debs is undetermined, but it's safe to say that it does not approach double figures. We believe that the only qualification for registration is that you show up before the last unit leaves.

In the past, as few as 17 units have circumnavigated the "loop." This year the last few entrants were not numbered (perhaps proof of the registration requirements). My unofficial count ended at 51. Veterans groups, politicians, old cars and all sorts and sizes of equine units dominated the lineup this year.

Missing from this year's parade was the Debs Almost Mobile Marching Band. The DAMMB was composed of a bunch of aging hippies who seemed true to their counter-culture roots. If memory serves, some years band members may also have marched with the Koala Liberation Front. The KLF, also absent from this year's proceedings, was always a crowd favorite (possibly a reflection of the political leanings of residents of a community named after a labor leader/Socialist Presidential Candidate).

You are invited to send interesting, unusual and/or humorous items that could possibly be used in this space. If you choose to do so, please send it to [email protected].

If you prefer, you may send it to

Chisago County Press

Attn: Dave

12631 Lake Blvd.

Lindstrom, Mn 55045

or, you may bring it in to the office.

Sports stuff would be great, but, please do not limit yourselves. Politics, religion, culture (pop or otherwise) are welcomed. Please do not feel offended if your contribution is not included.

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