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I hope you had a chance to take in some of the great festivities that Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls put together for you. Wannigan Days was once again, a terrific time had by all.

I know I sound like a broken record, but we are soooo lucky to have such great people that take time out of their busy lives, who work tirelessly to give us some really outstanding events to attend. Thanks to all who made this year's Wannigan Days a smashing success.

We have another lucky Saints tickets winner. This week's lucky winner is Brenda Birk of Chisago City. Brenda will receive four tickets to an upcoming St. Paul Saints game for simply reading the Chisago County Press. If you think that a Saints game sounds like a good time, just clip out the registration and mail it in to Chisago County Press, PO Box 748, Lindstrom, MN 55045. Once again, thank you for reading!

This weekend, travel around Chisago City is going to be a little busy. Is MnDOT ripping up Highway 8 already? Is Obama planning on visiting the Chisago Lakes Area for a little fishing? Regrettably no.

The Chisago Lakes Area will be hosting its annual triathlon on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be the children's triathlon where kids of all ages will compete in swimming, biking, and running.

Sunday is the big one. Over 1,350 racers are expected to take part in a sprint version of the triathlon, a team version, or the full blown half iron triathlon. Swimmers will depart Paradise Park's beach, bright and early Sunday morning, swimming half way across the lake before returning. They will then transition to their bikes and proceed to ride 56 miles around the area before finishing back at Paradise Park. The competitors then will transition into their running shoes for a grueling 13.1 mile run that also returns to Paradise Park.

This is wonderful time for all of us to show how great the community we live in is by showing our support and cheering on the triathletes. The Chisago Lakes Chamber will always welcome volunteers if you would like to. Please call 651-257-1177 if you would like to help.

The Karl Oskar Committee is still looking for the remaining button winners. If you purchased a button, there is a chance that you have qualified for a prize. The winning button numbers for this year are: 1st place: 0758 (Hannah Swenson pictured in this week's Press), 2nd place: 0120, and 3rd place: 00422. If any of these are your numbers, you have just won a cash prize.

If you have driven through Lindstrom in the last week or so, you might have noticed the Press has changed colors. I don't know about you, but I am still getting used to the "new look" Press. I am so used to driving west through Lindstrom and seeing the white Press building in the middle of the road, now I have to do a double take. The County Press has been white forever. I mean that, forever. I wonder what John Silver would be saying right now if he saw this landmark of Lindstrom's new color. I know exactly what he would say, "It looks ridiculous" but he would then go on to say "it's not what is on the building, it's what's inside the building that counts". How do I know this? Do you know how many times he was asked "What's with your kid's long hair John?" His reply was always the same, "It's only hair". I miss those funny quips.

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