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Thanks to all people who entered to win Saints tickets over the past few weeks. We have chosen our first winner. Sandi Williams of North Branch is our first winner of the summer. Sandi will get four tickets to an upcoming Saint Paul Saints game compliments of the Chisago County Press.

If you did not win, don't fret. We will be giving tickets out throughout the summer, so mail in your entry and maybe it will be your family or friends accompanying you to the game! Send your entry to: Chisago County Press, PO Box 748, Lindstrom, MN 55045.

Chisago City Fire Department would like to invite you to their second annual Kickoff to Summer Dance this Saturday. Admission is $10, but keep in mind that all proceeds go directly to the Chisago City Fire Department. Held at the Chisago Roadhouse, there will be events taking place all day, including a jumping castle, fire truck tours, fire hose spraying and much more. Couple that with great food and music and you have a winning combination. It all gets rolling at 8 a.m. and goes all day and night.

Harmony in the Park is off and running. Make sure you get out and see some of the great musical acts scheduled for this summer. There are some benches to sit on, but it is advised to get there early and bring your lawn chair.

Next week features the best attended Harmony in the Park from last year. Elvis comes to town. For one night only, you can listen to Elvis belt out all of your favorites like "Jail House Rock". I have seen The Elvis Experience, and I suggest you get there early to get a seat. You will not be disappointed.

The local Vets have been planning to bring a 1/2 scale Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the Chisago Lakes area in September.

Our local Veterans plan to do much of the work however, there will still be plenty of outside volunteers needed. Some of the areas which will have to be addressed soon are: schools (visits), set-up and take-down, possible parade, security (around the clock), facilities (restrooms), day to day entertainment, medical (first-aid), and counseling. The cost to bring the wall to the Chisago Lakes Area is quite high. The local Vets have some money set aside, but donations from the public would be welcomed and appreciated.

If you would be interested in donating anything, manpower, services, or money, it would all be very much appreciated. We think that this could be a once in a lifetime chance for a lot of residents to view this magnificent structure which has touched millions of lives.

For more information, or to volunteer, please call John Broecker at 651-257-5510.

The Press has been running announcements of a benefit for Jenna Johnston. Jenna is a local teen who has been battling a rare form of cancer. Sadly, our community lost Jenna this week. It just sickens me to see a child taken so early in life. Our prayers go out to Jenna's family.

I am told that the benefit will go on this weekend. Instead of raising money for Jenna's fight, it will be a celebration of Jenna's life. For those of you who were lucky enough to meet Jenna, you know what a great person she was. Come out and show your support for Jenna and her family in this trying time, they could use a hug.

For all of you who have been asking when the next time the Sweet Swede will be open, you are in luck. Sonjia will open her doors here at the Press this weekend, June 12-14. She will have all of your favorites on hand and knowing her, probably some new ones as well.

If you see me dancing around the streets with a huge smile on my face, please do not call the police. I have not been using illicit substances. But there is a new liquid that I have found that works better than any elixir when it comes to altering my mood. What is it? Where can you get some?

It is rain. Sorry to disappoint all of you thrill seekers, but this year, rain is more intoxicating than a bottle of Dom Perignon.

We have been so dry around here for so long, that you would swear when the wind blows we are back in the dust bowl days. Everyone has driven by our depleted lakes and seen how sad the ever-widening shorelines look. I know this past rain will not fill our lakes back to where they were, but maybe we have burst that imaginary bubble that seems to keep any and all moisture either north or south of Chisago County. Keep your fingers crossed that the moisture keeps coming and our lakes and lawns return to normal.

One more reason to be excited about the precipitation? A day off from watering plants. I don't know about you, but moving the sprinkler every 25 minutes is really getting old. It would be nice to actually mow my lawn without looking like I have been tarred and feathered with dandelion seeds.

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