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Thank you to all the great people who donated their time for this year's Wannigan Days. Whether this was your first Wannigan Days or you have attended many before, it is blatantly obvious how much the event has improved. It is a smooth running machine and that is all because of the great people behind the scenes.

We have a couple of huge events taking place in our area this week. Relay for Life and the Chisago Lakes Triathlon, both pretty massive attractions, will be in the spotlight.

The Chisago Lakes Triathlon is now in its fifth successful year. Last year I think there was something like 1,400 runners in the race and from all accounts, this year will be even bigger.

Saturday will be the children's triathlon where kids of all ages will compete in swimming, biking, and running.

Sunday is the big one. Around 1,500 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.

As we have in the past, we need to show our support and cheer on the triathletes. There are quite a few locals among the racers and their faces really light up when they hear their names cheered.

The Chisago Lakes Chamber will always welcome volunteers if you would like to. Please call 651-257-1177 if you would like to help.

Tomorrow, one of the most emotional events of the year takes place at the Almelund Threshing Show grounds. I am speaking about the Relay for Life. Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At the Relay, teams of people camp out at the Threshing Show grounds, and take turns walking or running around a track. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length.

The Relay starts with a Survivors Lap which is an inspirational time when survivors are invited to circle the track together and help everyone celebrate the victories achieved over cancer. The Survivors Lap is a super emotional example of how Relay participants are ensuring that more lives are saved each year - like those of each individual on the track.

After dark, they will honor people who have been touched by cancer and remember loved ones lost to the disease during the Luminaire Ceremony. Candles are lit inside bags filled with sand, each one bearing the name of a person touched by cancer, and participants often walk a lap in silence. As people take time to remember, those who have walked alongside others battling cancer can grieve and find healing.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m., but there will be food and refreshments available throughout the event. The event is totally free. If you would like to purchase a luminaire for the event you are asked to call Sue at 257-2033 or Barb at 213-6649.

I know I wrote about this once before, but the City of Lindstrom needs your help. Lindstrom is looking for new innovative ways to bring people to town during Highway 8 construction.

There are a few ideas in place, but they really need yours. I promise you folks, they will look at each and every idea brought before them.

The main objective here is to keep our businesses open during and after construction. The only people that will make that happen is you and I. Together we will have to make a concerted effort to shop locally as much as humanly possible.

With your ideas, hopefully we can accomplish keeping all businesses open. You are asked to email your ideas to City Administrator John Olinger at [email protected] strom.us or here at the County Press at ch[email protected]. Please put Hwy. 8 ideas on the subject line.

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