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With all of the crazy weather we have had recently, we would like to remind you to use extreme caution when going onto the local lakes. Yes, many of the lakes have adequate ice thickness to support a vehicle, but I am told that there are some spots that are nearing dangerous thicknesses for vehicle traffic. Although we have not had a vehicle fall through the ice around here, there have been multiple vehicles through the ice as close as Forest Lake.

Please exercise caution if you are driving on the lakes, we would rather not report an auto went through the ice, and we definitely would not like to write about a fatality from falling through the ice.

If you would like to get your business in the 2009 Home Show, there is still time. While the early bird rates have now expired, there is still room for exhibitors who would like to showcase their business or services. The Home Show is a very popular attraction and brings in thousands of visitors. If you would like to be part of this year's show, you are encouraged to call Community Ed at 651-213-2600 for details. Hopefully we will see your business at the show!

My son finished his last week of third grade LARA basketball this week. In the past, him joining basketball consisted of getting up on cold Saturday mornings and watching him practice for an hour or two at the Middle School. This year he decided he wanted to play on the traveling team. Thoughts of packing the family up to travel to distant cities taking up weekend after weekend crept into my mind. I was happy to learn that third grade traveling basketball consists of traveling all the way to Forest Lake. Forest Lake? Not a problem. The kids practice once a week here in Chisago City and play their games on Thursday nights.

My son's coach this year was Perry Tinjum. That name might seem familiar to you. His daughter Whitney is a basketball phenom for the Wildcats. Perry did such a terrific job with the team. If you know Perry, he doesn't have a booming commanding voice, but he definitely had the attention of this third grade team all season. Thank you Perry for doing such a terrific job with our kids, and thank you LARA for again putting together another sports program for children to participate in.

Thank you to everyone who stopped in to say hi to our new tenant the Sweet Swede last weekend. She sure picked the right weekend (Valentine's Day) to open. There were three groups of people in her store at all times. We wish Sonjia all the best and if you have tasted her chocolates, hopefully you will be a regular patron.

Pakistan has agreed this week to enforce Islamic law in the northern region of its country to appease the Taliban. The Taliban has recently upped their violence and terror in the region and has threatened to take the insurgence even deeper into Pakistan. In return for enforcing Islamic law, Pakistan is asking the Taliban to disarm.

I never claim to be a scholar when it comes to relations in the Middle East, nor do I have any friends that claim to be versed in Islamic virtue. But asking the Taliban to disarm? Are you kidding me? Do we now think for some reason that the Taliban will hold true to their word? Have they suddenly become honest trustworthy militants? You know darn well if they signed the pact, that the guns they hand over will be their old, rusty, sand filled guns and they will have a pile of new shiny guns hidden close by. Yeah, the Taliban can be trusted, as far as I can throw a two ton rock.

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