'There's nothing to do' is not a valid excuse this weekend, get out and enjoy!

This oppressive heat can only mean one thing - there must be a triathlon near. That’s right, the Chisago Lakes Triathlon takes place this Saturday and Sunday. Can you believe this is the 7th one? Wow, and it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. If your child would like to take part in the triathlon, make sure to register them for Saturday’s Youth Triathlon. Children ages 4 to 15 will take part in a three part race much like the big race beginning with a swim, then a bike ride and finish with a run. The race begins at 9 a.m. and you are asked to register from 7:30 a.m. up to the race. The big race begins Sunday at 7 a.m. at Paradise Park in Chisago City. Triathaletes will begin with a swim out into Chisago Lake and then back to the beach. From there they will transition to the bike portion of the race. To see a complete map of the bike and run routes, log onto midwestsportsevents.com and click on the Chisago Lakes Triathlon. You will then see a category labeled The Course. Just click on bike or run maps and you will find great detailed maps where you can easily pick out a spot to cheer on the racers. I would detail the bike route but it would take too long. Please see the website, it is easy to read. As far as the run, this is easy.

The runners start back at Paradise Park and weave their way down Old Towne Road to County Road 83. Sorry, it used to be 83, now I am not sure what it is. Chisago Boulevard, yes, let’s use that. They head east on Chisago Boulevard to County Road 85, no wait, it is not 85 anymore, let’s use Morgan Avenue. They head North on Morgan to 279th Street then west and follow the loop until it pokes out back on Morgan. Then they simply head back the way they came. The road race is a great place to cheer the runners on.  It is at this point where they could really use some encouragement. I have spoken with racers in the past, and believe me folks, they hear every word of encouragement. Another important, momentous event taking place this weekend is the Chisago county Relay For Life event. The Relay begins Friday night at 5:30 p.m. at the Almelund Threshing Grounds. If you wish to take part, you can register online at relayforlife.org. Then click on find an event and click on Chisago County Relay For Life. You will be able to enter a team or sponsor an existing team. Let’s face it, there is not one of us who has not been touched by Cancer. My mother was taken about 14 years ago by breast cancer. Every person I know has a story like mine. Let’s join together and defeat this demon disease so future moms, children, and dads don’t have to suffer. I hope you find time to come out and take part in the Relay. If you remember last year, there was a great benefit held for a sick little boy from around here. Zac Bartz who is battling a terrible disease had to undergo an emergency surgery on Monday.

He is now preparing for his next round of radiation and chemotherapy. Zac will have to be driven down to the U of M for his treatments for the next six weeks. Zac’s mom CarolAnn would love to take time off to be with her son, but is worried the Bartz family would not make it financially. Friends of the Bartz family are asking the public for donations to help ease the burden of large medical bills and also so CarolAnn can be there to hold her baby’s hand. This family has had to endure so much over the last few years. If you would like to help the Bartz family, you can mail a check to the Bartz Family, 30799 Wallmark Lake Drive, Chisago City, MN 55013. Thank you for your help and your prayers. This weekend, another big event is taking place besides the Triathlon and the Relay for Life. Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls are celebrating their 54th annual Wannigan Days. The celebration begins today and runs through Sunday. Because of the bridge construction, the festival is a little bit split up. For instance on Saturday evening, there will be two parades, one on each side of the river. There is just no way the parade could make its way across the bridge with it only being two lanes. There are certainly a ton of events to take in this year, so I would love it if you could please see our two-page Wannigan Days spread in this edition of the Press. The weather is supposed to be great, so grab your family and head to the river! There is a circus coming to town.

No, I don’t mean the upcoming election. No, I don’t mean Highway 8 construction, although that is more like a war zone than a circus. I am referring to the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus. It is an old fashioned, honest to goodness circus with all the bells and whistles. The circus will have two shows under the big top on July 25 at Lions Park in Lindstrom. The circus will feature horses, dogs, high flying stunts and some great fun for the kids. If you and your family would like to attend, you can purchase tickets at Central Bank, Lake Area Bank, US Bank, Security State Bank, or the Chisago Lakes Chamber of Commerce. In my column after Karl Oskar Days, I wrote that the last time someone was both a Princess and Miss Congeniality was 15 years ago, actually it was done in 2006, so it has been 6 years. I apologize for the confusion. When I was writing about Karl Oskar Days, I did forget to mention someone very near and dear to us here at the Press.  I am talking about Bachman Photography.

Rich and Shari have been so great to us over the years. They have submitted hundreds if not thousands of photos that we have printed for the public to enjoy. If you know the Bachmans, then you know they are two of the greatest people around. They do so much for our community and never ask for anything in return. Thank you Bachmans, you are the best. I need to apologize for omitting something from my article last week. I completely forgot to plug the Chisago County Fair which took place last weekend in Rush City. With all the goings on around here, I completely forgot to invite the public to the fair. Please accept my apology, I promise not to forget next year. If the Triathlon, Relay for Life and Wannigan Days are not enough for you, there is one more option. The second ever Cash Mob will be taking place this Saturday in Taylors Falls. What is a Cash Mob? Simply put, it is where a group of people meet at one spot, decides where to shop and then at the last moment they enter an unsuspecting business and spend at least $20 per person. It is a wonderful idea that worked great last time in Lindstrom. Saturday at 10 a.m., we will be gathering at Coffee Talk in Taylors Falls to form a plan of attack. Come on out, it is so much fun, and local businesses are so grateful.