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Well it’s finally here. Election Day.  It seems like this has been building for a year or more.  While as a newspaper owner, I appreciate the extra advertising, some of the other media ads I have grown tired of.  Mudslinging and name calling absolutely drive me nuts.  If you want to be my congressman, representative, county board representative, mayor, city council person, how in the world could you imagine that dragging someone else through the mud will make you look better?  It doesn’t.  At all.  I am to the point where I would cast my vote for the least offensive politician instead of their platform.  I am not singling anyone out, and I am obviously being a little tongue-in-cheek,  but you have to admit that some of it is really wearing on us.

Okay, I feel a little better.  Now to the serious matter, the election.  Next Tuesday is our chance to finally cast our vote.  Chisago County has a lot of seats on every level that are up for election.  I think the County Press has given you some wonderful insight for every race.  In the end, the most important point is to get out and vote.  It only takes minutes, it’s painless, and your vote does count.  I have said this many times in the past, but those who do not vote, can’t complain about who is in office.  Please get out and vote.

Veterans - we all know one.  Some of us are lucky to know multiple Veterans.  These men and women have shaped the United States into the wonderful country we live in today.  Many times I have been asked why I "gush" so much about our local Veterans.  My answer is always a question.  I reply "Have you ever spent time with our local Vets?".  Usually it's met with a quiet "No".  Which is fine, but if you ever do get that chance, you will meet some of the most inspiring, caring, community minded individuals you will ever meet.  I have never served in the forces.  I was lucky enough to live in a time when extra forces were not needed.  Most of our Veterans were not so lucky.  Yes, some of them chose to enter the service on their own, but some had no choice.  Either way they all joined, and they all changed our country.  If you see a Veteran out in the community, please extend a hand and say "Thank you".  It is the least we can do.

On November 11, at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City, there will be a Free meal for Veterans of all ages.  The meal will be pork loin, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable and desert.  Spouses are free as well.  It is the community's way of saying thank you.  Others are invited as well for a fee of $10 per person.  A family of 4 or more is only $30.00.  The meal runs from 3:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. and is sponsored by American Legion 83, 272 and VFW post 7267.

Many have asked me over the years what the hardest part of writing my column is.  There is no question it is writing about a community member that has passed on.  This week I am very sad to let you know that Al Wahlgren has left us.  Al has been a part of the community for his entire life.  His family is the Akersons - yes the same as the street name.  You might not know the name, but you would definitely know the face.  Al has been on countless councils and boards including the Lake Improvement District which he was very passionate about. Al also served on the EDA, Lindstrom downtown design committee, and  the Chisago Lindstrom Lake Association.  

I met Al the second day on the job. He came in as stoic as a statue, and welcomed me to the community.  I will be honest, as dry and calm as he was, he terrified me.  He warned me that my father had created some very large shoes to fill (not the first time I have heard that), and that this community has a funny way of welcoming newcomers.  He told me that we will soon have some in-depth conversations about the area and taxes.  Boy was he right.  We have spent hours in our lobby discussing everything from county taxes, to a town in Michigan that Lindstrom could "learn from", to blowing mowed grass onto the roads.  I usually am a pretty solid judge of character when first meeting someone.  This time I was completely wrong.  Al, although very serious on the outside, had a wonderful sense of humor.  You really had to pay attention to his conversations to catch all of the subtle jokes.  You know you missed one when you saw him hesitate and curl the corner of his mouth up.  My kind of humor.

Al and Pat have lived in Lindstrom behind the Chamber of Commerce as long as I can remember.  They had a wonderful relationship which was crystal clear seeing Pat tend to Al while he was battling ALS.  Pat is such a wonderful person and will need all of our love and support in the near future.  He has touched many lives in our area. One in particualr with trembling knees will miss him very much.  God bless Pat and their family during this time.

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