Carp, carp everywhere, everywhere except our boat; Memorial Day is to honor

Thank you to all who took part in this year’s Carp Festival. There were quite a few boats entered in the contest including mine. I fished with two buddies, or I should maybe say boated instead of fished. We started our day on South Center Lake in one of the many bays. As soon as we could begin, the carp were jumping all around us. Within 20 feet of our boat there was continuos splashing.

The problem was they were just out of reach to shoot them. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that 99 percent of Carp fishermen use compound bows to catch their fish. Me, well I was the one percent who did not. I looked ridiculous in a bay filled with bows and arrows and me casting my line about. As you know, it was super windy on Saturday but at least it was sunny. So we would find a sure fire spot where we would definitely get some carp and then drop our anchor. Well the wind was so great that it dragged us quickly to the other side of the lake even with the anchor down. Needless to say we got skunked in the fish department.

I on the other hand got a carp. Does it really matter if I saw one floating on top of the water and grabbed it and put it in the boat? From the smell of it, it had been there for a while. Back at the park, I am told the day was a big success. The race went well, the egg hunt was well attended and the minnow races were a huge hit. I am not sure what we need to do to grow this event, but for those who have not attended it, it is a blast. I have always heard you need to give something five years to see if it will establish itself. I think we are on the verge of something really big. Thanks a million to Steve Levey for all of his hard work on the event.  Thanks also to all of the Lions who donated their time to the event.

Thanks also to Shalice Levey for making the event a success. This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. While most people look at it as a chance for a long weekend, I really hope you take some time and honor the true meaning of Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a special day for us to reflect upon those men and women who have served our great country. It is a day for us to pay our respects for those who have fought for our freedom. It is a day to say thank you to both the fallen and the present day military men and women. I know I ramble a lot about our local Vets. I can’t help it. These men and women are some of the most special people I have ever met and each one of them is vital to our community.

Words cannot express my gratitude for what they have done and what they continue to do for us. The Wildcat baseball team would like to invite all traveling baseball teams to tonight’s game (May 24) at 7 p.m. The Wildcats will honor all of the great kids who are currently playing Chisago Lakes Traveling Baseball. Kids be sure to wear your jersey for free entrance into the game as well as a free hot dog. There will be prizes given out during the game. Come on out and have some fun, hopefully the Wildcats will rout the Rangers. The Karl Oskar Days Committee is looking for a few more vendors to take part in this year’s Karl Oskar Days. It is the 50th Anniversary of Karl Oskar Days which will hopefully translate into large crowds. It is a great chance to showcase your business at a really reasonable rate.

The Karl Oskar Committee is also looking to fill some spots in this year’s Battle of the Bands and Talent Show. The event will take place July 6 at Lindstrom beach Park before the fireworks. The talent show will take place on Saturday, July 7 at 11 a.m. in Memorial Park. If you have a band or a special talent that you think has what it takes to win some cold hard cash, please apply online at karl-oskar-days.com or please call 651-387-1214. Remember to take advantage of our garage sale special we have going right now, for a low low price, your sale will be featured in the Press, the Search and on our website. The website is accessible from the homepage and has had a ton of hits lately. Look for our ad in this edition of the Press or find it online in the Garage Sales link on the left side of our website chisagocountypress.com. On Tuesday, I was invited to Lakeside Elementary in Chisago City for a special presentation for the students. The fifth graders had a symposium that featured three local Veterans.

The students had a half hour to ask the Veterans anything they wanted. As you might expect, the boys all asked questions about war and guns. There were some really good questions about their time serving our nation. After the question and answer session, the entire school was brought outside. Once there Mrs. Cindy Kaske, who works at Lakeside, spoke to the children. She explained that there was to be a special concert and as she spoke about 50 Tribute to the Troops motorcycles pulled in. Then Mrs. Kaske introduced recording artist Rocky Lynne. Lynne is a country singer who writes and sings a lot of songs about America and the military. Lynne gave a great moving speech about what America means to him.

After he sang a couple of great songs which incorporated the kids, he brought forward the parents who have lost thier children while serving our country. It was unbelievably moving. There were tears everywhere including my own. He sang a tribute to them and their children. The whole experience was unbelievable and the kids absolutely loved it. It didn’t hurt that they got popsicles afterward either. Thank you to Cindy Kaske for setting the event up. She has worked tirelessly to make it all come together. It was great.