---

Thank you to the great folks in North Branch who once again put on a fun-filled family event. MidSummer Days was a big hit among celebration lovers, and a great start to the summer celebration season.

With the celebration season now churning away, one of the largest of the summer is right around the corner. Lindstrom's Karl Oskar Days is in two weeks. The Karl Oskar Days buttons should be in most stores around town, so please pick yours up today. Not only can you possibly win cash prizes if your button number is drawn, but you will be able to get some great deals around town if you are wearing one.

The snuff box hunt will once again take place this year. A huge hit among treasure seekers, the snuff box will net you $250 if you are a subscriber to the Press and are wearing a button and $150 with a button and no subscription.

I will let you know next week about all the events as Karl Oskar Days gets closer.

If you happened to miss Elvis when he performed at Harmony in the Park last week, don't fret. Your favorite scarf wearing, hip shaking, jump suited singer of all time has ordered his tour bus back to Lindstrom. That's right, the King will once again melt hearts to fans this Saturday. He will be playing a live show at the third annual Praise Fest Cookout and Ice Cream Social which will be at the First United Methodist Church in Lindstrom.

The only cost for admission is a food item(s) to be donated to our local food shelf. Praise Fest will feature bands from St. Bridget's, Surrendered Hearts, Testify, and First United Praise Band. There will be lots of food available with some great music as well. The concerts begin at 2 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. You are encouraged to bring your lawn chairs. For more info, go to www.lindstrommethodist.org

Speaking of fun things to do this summer. Chisago Lakes now has something really cool and fun for kids to do with their friends. Rollerskate. That's right, there is a new roller rink in Lindstrom and all the reviews have come back positive. Warehouse 17, which is located behind Tortillas and next to Wally Carlson's BP, offers a fun safe environment for kids of all ages. This week is their grand opening and they would love nothing more if you stopped by to say hi. The rink is a family (literally every employee is from the same family) run business that caters to young people and families looking for a good time. Stop by and give it a roll.

If you were one of the lucky ones to see "Chisago City - The Town That Moved" play last Ki Chi Saga Days, you know what a hoot it was. Everyone that attended had a fantastic time and the local actors did a great job.

Jack Doepke, who produced that fine play, is searching for a person to direct this summer's Ki Chi Saga history pageant "The Ghost of Camp Ojiketa. This original 55-minute multi-media musical traces the history of the Campfire Ojiketa & YMCA Icaghowan camps on the shore of Green Lake and uses local actors and volunteers. Similar to "Chisago City: The Town That Moved", this play is part narrated historical photos and part live sketches with singing and shenanigans - not a huge production. It will be staged in Strom Hall at Ojiketa Regional Park and the position is paid. Contact Jack Doepke at [email protected] for details.

I don't know about your house, but our house has some very odd quirks. every once in a while we will hear loud crashes when we are all in the same room. Once in a while our phones will ring just once, but keep doing it for a while.

The one that really bugs me just happened and happens about once or twice a year. Usually about 2:30 or 3 in the morning our smoke detectors decide they are going to go off in unison. It usually takes us about 20 seconds to realize what is happening, and then another five minutes to locate the culprit detector that decided to misfire.

The first time it happened we were in a panic, rushing around the house looking for a fire or smoke, but now we just head for the detector that is blinking red. I don't know if it is dust that makes them go bad or what, but what I do know is it always happens when we are in dire need of some good sleep. Like this weekend we had played baseball all weekend long, and had another game on Monday night. Apparently our house thinks it should wake us up half way through, just to keep us looking like zombies.

I know the talk around town has been the awful crash that took place on Friday night down Olinda Trail. I never like hearing about car crashes, and frankly when I hear about a child killed in an accident I get sick to my stomach.

I just happened to be out riding my bike and came across the accident shortly after it had happened. The first responders and fire department was already on the scene tending to the victims. I made sure not to gawk, but did notice how the firemen were handling themselves. They were working feverishly to try and save the crash victims.

It was a tragic, tragic accident and something no person deserves to see. I don't know how these firemen do it, they worked so hard and were so determined to help the victims, it was truly amazing to see.

---