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My wife and I had the pleasure of attending this year’s Lions Cadillac Dinner on Saturday.  We have attended the dinner for about six years now, always with the hope of winning it all.  Last year, we finally hit the jackpot and won the grand prize.  If you know where I live, our grand prize is in the form of a new slab of cement outside our garage.
We thought we could buck the odds this year and be the first ever consecutive winners.  As the numbers were drawn our number was not called.  Then it came, number 54 out of 100 was our number.  We won.. a gas card from Wally Carlsons.  Don’t get me wrong, a gas card is wonderful and I love Wally Carlsons, but we were hoping for the whole shabang.  My wife made the mistake of telling the kids before we left, that if we won, we would use that money to purchase a used four-wheeler.  Mistake.  My dinner consisted of taking a bite, then getting five texts, taking a bite then five more texts asking if we have won yet.
When it was all said and done, everyone left having had a great time.  The only disappointed people were two spoiled kids.  Thank you to the Lions for putting on such a great diner.  

Speaking of Lions events, have you registered for this year’s Carp Festival yet?  Speaking with the founder Steve Levey, he said they are way ahead of last year as far as registrations go.  He also wanted you to know that you can still register right up to the event.
So what happens at a Carp Fest?  Well for starters, it begins with the cleaning our lakes of harmful fish that destroy a lake’s ecosystem.  Hopefully, thousands of Carp will be removed from North and South Center Lakes.  As people are fishing, there will be a 5K run/walk that begins at Lions Park in Lindstrom.  There is an egg hunt, minnow races, a kiddie dipping pond, and some great food.  All proceeds from the concessions will fund this year’s Chisago Lakes all-night senior party.  
When the fishermen come back for the weigh-in, that’s when the party really gets rolling.  There will be live music, the crowning of a King and Queen as well as drawing for prizes and the grand prize.  
Steve Levey has assured me that the weather will cooperate this year, so grab your buddies and your boat and come out May 19 to catch some carp.  For more info, please call Steve at 651-257-2966 or email him at [email protected].


I have heard from a few businesses about how residents seem to be shopping locally since the construction began.  First off, I would like to say “Thank You!”  
Believe me, you will get tired of me chanting shop local, but the reality is there is only one person that can help all of these businesses pull through this construction, that person is you.  Trust me when I say we can do this.  Other towns have made it through the same construction woes, so can we.  
I have spoken with two other towns that had similar road construction and they both said the same thing.  It boils down to the community.  If the community chooses to support their businesses in a time of need, then that town will survive.  If a community chooses to shop at a place where there is no construction, well you can guess the results.
This is not meant to be a broken record, nor is it meant to cause you guilt of any sorts.  I simply am asking you to support our community.  We can do this...I promise.


On a completely different note, did you hear about the ex-Twin getting arrested in New York for a hate crime?  It seems he decided to beat up a person of Jewish decent while screaming slurs at the victim.  Not cool.
This past weekend, I was part of a hate crime as well.  On Saturday night about midnight, I heard a loud crash outside our house.  I got up and looked out a few windows but could see nothing.  I figured it was our pet racoons.  We have about 20 or so that visit our house every night and kindly leave brown presents around our patio.  
When I woke up on Sunday morning, I went out to see what had happened.  I noticed my mailbox was laying on the ground.  Upon further inspection, it was obvious  someone had taken batting practice on the box and knocked it right off the pedestal.  I went for a drive and could not find any neighbor’s boxes damaged.  It was blatantly obvious.  The person who did this has a deep burning hate for gray mailboxes.  My neighbor’s all have black boxes and mine is the only gray one.  
I have planned a support group for owners of gray mailboxes that will meet on odd number Thursdays each month.  As soon as the t-shirts are printed, I will let you know when the first meeting is.  Until then, consider painting your mailbox.

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