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Mother Nature just won't give the Carp Festival a break. Last year it was practically snowing with gale force winds. This year it was deluge after deluge of rain.

There was one major difference between last year and this year however, carp. That's right, this year there was carp to be had. Last year if you remember, there were no carp caught at all. This year there were over 300 carp taken out of our lakes in just a few hours.

Apparently the rain doesn't bother carp, and apparently it doesn't bother carp fishermen. Think we don't have big fish in our lakes? Well the winning carp weighed in at a whopping 19 pounds 10 ounces. That was caught by Steve Peltier. Chad Kent caught the second largest weighing in at 18 pounds 12 ounces. Those are some huge fish swimming in our lakes.

As far as numbers go, Rick Johnson and his team brought in 20 carp. Sean Vainaskis and his group pulled 46 carp out of the lake. Jessie Mishler, from Stacy, removed 68 carp in just a few hours. That is amazing.

The number of entrants was down from last year, most likely because of weather, or could be a result of no fish caught last year. With the amount of fish taken this year, I see a huge increase in participants next year.

A million thanks go out to Steve Levey for his tireless work on the festival. Steve busted his tail to make the festival a success and he deserves a pat on the back.

Thanks also to Shalice Levey for working so hard during the festival and never complaining.

Our subscription renewal campaign is coming to a close this week. Thank you to each and every subscriber who has renewed for another year of the Chisago County Press.

If you have lost your blue card, or have been thinking about getting a subscription, all you have to do is pick up the phone and give us a call at 651-257-5115. We will be more than happy to help you start getting the Press delivered to your mailbox.

If you are an existing subscriber and you know of someone who might like to get the Press at their house, we have a great deal for you. If you refer someone and they mention your name, we will offer you either some tickets to the Saint Paul Saints, or a couple of tickets for the historic train ride in Osceola. Make sure the new subscriber mentions your name. Quantities are limited.

If it ever warms up, and I mean ever, I have a fun outing for your family. The Sunrise River is one of the most beautiful small rivers in the state, and if you get a chance, try floating down in a tube. The river meanders through some really scenic areas and is one of the most peaceful experiences you will ever have.

As I sit here writing, I am dusting off hundreds of little insulation pieces. Once again, my trusty roof here at the Press has decided that it has hung in the air long enough and would like to see what the floor looks like. When I opened the door I had a floor completely covered with wet sheetrock, insulation (blown, I couldn't be so lucky to have roll insulation) and ceiling tiles. Just the sight you want to see on deadline day.

We have a tar and gravel flat roof (whoever invented the flat roof must have been from Iowa) that loves to slowly drip after rain storms and ice melt. One of the previous owners thought that if they screw sheetrock right up against the roof, well that would help to keep the water out. Right. So whenever we get a sizable rain total, we play the guessing game, which is guess when the roof will cave in next. It helps take our minds off the normal grind that is the work week.

On Sunday, when the state was experiencing the nasty storms and tornadoes, we like many of you, were paying close attention to the weathermen on television. At one point in time, the goofs on the roofs, said that there was a tornado heading right down Highway 8 in Lindstrom. Looking outside we didn't see anything that resembled a tornado, heck it wasn't even raining.

When the all clear was sounded by the meterologists, my son and I decided to drive into Lindstrom and survey the mass destruction. Driving north on Olinda Trail we noticed the garbage that was set out for Monday's pick up, was right where it was supposed to be. Even the recycling was intact.

As we approached the Press, I turned to my son and said "Keep your fingers crossed. Let's hope the Press is flattened and no other homes are damaged". We turned the corner and my stomach just dropped. There was the Press standing proud with no damage and plenty of dandelions in the yard. Again I turned to my son and said "Maybe next time". Back to the drippy roof and collapsing ceilings. Always a bridesmaid never a bride.

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