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Did you have a chance to attend this year's Home Show? From what I hear, it sounds like most people in the area stopped by. This year's show seemed different to me. In the past, the show seemed a little stretched out, meaning maybe there weren't enough vendors to fill the building so they spaced them out a little bit. But this year it was wall to wall vendors. Quite a positive change from previous years.

There was a really good mixture of vendors and they all were friendly and ready to answer any questions.

The winner of the one year subscription to the Chisago County Press is Stephanie Bushard of Lindstrom. Stephanie, please call the Press at 257-5115 and we will get you set up.

The winner of the 50" flat screen T.V. was John Swanson of Chisago City. Apparently there was a malfunction in the tumbler and my name fell on the floor.

To see if you are a winner of any raffle prizes, you are encouraged to call the Chamber at 651-257-1177.

Many thanks go out to all the great people who made this year's Home Show one of, if not the best, Home Shows of all time. The Home Show Committee worked their tails off almost the entire year to make sure your experience was a good one. Thank you also to all of the business who took part in this year's show.

If you missed this year's show, you missed a great one.

I have received quite a bit of feedback on my article last week about the power lines. Some people asked me why I was so venomous regarding the power lines issue. Some (quite a few) said they were behind me 100 percent.

First, let me say that I never intended to be "venomous" in any way. It is just something I and others feel quite strongly about. Not to re-hash last week's article, but can you imagine a contract signed by someone over a century ago, being honored in the courts. When the very reason for the signing of the contract was just to get power to the town of Lindstrom. Now if they (the power company) so choose they could put as many power lines as they would like through the City of Lindstrom.

Yes, contracts should stand for something. Yes, contracts should be honored. But there should also be the opportunity for both parties to sit down and re-work if not nullify a contract that is this obsolete.

On a totally different note, the Chisago County Press is very excited for this weekend's Search Shopper. Why? Well, on top of great advertising for businesses that the Search always contains, you will find the 2008 Official Chisago Lakes Visitors Guide.

I know many of you received a similar guide a few weeks back, but trust me, this one is different. This guide is the only guide sanctioned by the Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Not only is the guide filled with many events that our chamber is involved with, but a percentage of profits from the advertising go directly back to the chamber. On top of that, ours is the only guide produced in the Chisago Lakes Area, so we know what is important to you, the residents of Chisago Lakes, and to visitors of the area.

We have put out many guides in past years, but I can say with confidence that this guide is the most informative, helpful, colorful and complete area guide you will find.

The guide is an incredibly handy resource that is jam packed with information and businesses from our area. You will be able to find any business in the area you are looking for.

Please put this guide somewhere where you can easily find it. In fact, a good idea is to keep it with your phone book so you can access it at any time of the year.

Becky, Dave, Laurie, Sue, Robin, Denise and the rest of the Chisago County Press crew have worked so hard on this guide, we sincerely hope you take the time to look it over and refer to it all year.

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