---

Can you believe the chaos in downtown St. Paul last weekend? There must have been four or five groups of anarchists tearing up the city. Some of the footage on the news was down right frightening. You saw people throwing street signs through department store windows, policemen being knocked down surrounded by rioters, and everything that was somewhat fastened down was removed and destroyed in the streets.

I understand that there will always be protesters. I also appreciate that living in America gives us the right to stand up for what we believe in. But where is the line between standing for your beliefs and using a convention to cause complete chaos. How does breaking windows, rolling cars over, and causing complete destruction get your point across?

I know there were some people like me watching all of this on the news thinking if I were down there I would try to stand up to the rioters at all costs. But I guess that would make me no better than them. At least it would make me feel better.

This is my last chance to remind you to get out and vote. The Primary is Tuesday and it is our civic duty to get to the polls. The polls open early in the morning and close at 8 p.m. so there really isn't a reason to not partake in the voting process.

This is your chance to see your favorite politician or future politician move forward to the General election. Judging by the amount of signs in people's yards, there are a lot of fans of all the candidates. Please get out and vote.

If you are looking for something fun to do with the kids, I have just the thing. How about taking the kids to the Shafer Corn Maze. The Shafer Corn Maze is set on 12 acres and is in the shape of a patriotic puzzle. There are over four miles of paths to maneuver and find your way around. The Shafer Corn Maze is located just south of Highway 8 in Shafer. You can see it from the highway. Come out and make a day of it.

Did you have a chance to take in the State Fair this summer?  We went on Saturday with six of our closest family members and 200,000 of our closest friends.  I could be a little off on the last estimate, but it certainly felt like 200,000 to me.  If I could sum the State Fair up in two words they would definitely be sticker shock. 

We usually attend the fair every year, but this year it seemed like we hadn't been there in six years.  You are hit with price increases as soon as you hit the entrance and throughout the fair.  Five dollar cheese curds, six dollar shrimp cocktail (that you only get 5 small shrimp), six dollar scotch eggs and well you get the picture. 

Yes, the kids had a blast in the Midway which translates into me carrying around a ridiculous looking Pokémon stuffed animal.  Yes, it was cool seeing baby cows and chickens that were the size of a German Shepherd.  Every year the news does feature stories about new foods and products at the fair.  You have seen them, deep fried candy bars, chocolate pizza, and my personal favorite chocolate covered bacon on a stick.  I'm sure the people in the Fairview Health Care booth were licking their chops over that one.  As I was driving home from the fair trying to figure out how much money I no longer have, I came up with a feature story for the news.  New to the fair his year...we already have a food building and an education building, how about a personal loan building.  You enter on one end and meander through various financial institutions picking up a loan that will "fit you".  I have to make a phone call.

---