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Above, Orin Smith (left) and John Broecker (right), with VFW Post 7267, presented checks last week to the winners of the middle school Patriot's Pen essay contest winners from Chisago Lakes Middle School. They were: first place- sixth grader Ali Saueressig (front, left), second place- eighth grader Jesami Jones (back, left), third place- seventh grader Matthew Hoffman (back) and fourth place- sixth grader Emily Albers. Below, Chisago Lakes High School winners of the Voices of Democracy oral essay (video) contest who received their checks Monday were: first place- senior Holly Gruntner (second from right) and second place- senior Sadie Williamson. All winning students now have the chance to compete at the district, state and national levels for a chance to win up to $25,000.

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