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This weekend is our chance as a community to say “Thank You.”  Thank you to each and every Veteran alive and deceased for their service to the United States.  There are Memorial Day services all over the county both Sunday and Monday.  If you are planning on attending the All-County Memorial service, please note that it has moved to Sunday this year.  Normally held on Monday, the service which takes place at Memorial Park in Lindstrom will be held Sunday at 1 p.m.  Please see page 11 in this edition of the Press for times and locations of services.

If you have ever read my column in the past, you know I hold a special place in my heart for our local Veterans.  Maybe my father serving had something to do with it, or maybe it is the fact that every single Veteran that I have dealt with is nicer than the last.  I am not kidding when I say our local Veterans are some of the greatest people in the world.  I have nothing but the utmost respect for our living and deceased Vets.  If you are a Veteran, please accept my deepest thank you.  You are very much appreciated.

Speaking of one of our local Veterans, I have a special thank you for a special woman.  Dorothe Stream, who has served our country as a servicewoman, has made a wonderful contribution to our community.  Dorothe has donated an eight foot by 12 foot American flag.  The flag will be flown at the Lakeview Motel which sits at the gateway to Lindstrom.  It is quite the scene seeing an enormous flag flying as you enter a town.  While I won’t get into the cost of the flag, let’s just say that Dorothe made quite an expensive donation.  As a business owner from Lindstrom, I would like to thank Dorothe.  As a community member, I would like to thank Dorothe. And for serving our great country, I would love to thank Dorothe.

I understand that people are excited about the long Memorial weekend.  I too am looking forward to sleeping in (if the Blue Jays will cooperate) a little bit on Monday.  This is normally a weekend of prepping our homes for a hopefully warm summer filled with activities and entertaining.  

I would like to highly urge you to shop local this weekend.  If you think about it, you and I are the sole reason these local businesses remain here.  Not trying to lay on the guilt, but it is absolutely true.  It is plain and simple, we go away (stop shopping local), they go away.  It’s that easy.  The flipside is plain and simple.  We stay here (shop local) they stay here.  we have some easy choices.  Shop locally and enjoy this wonderful small town atmosphere or shop elsewhere and enjoy the ghost town we’d live in.  Please folks, I urge you, shop as local as you possibly can.

On page 10 in this Press, you will find a whole page dedicated to EMS Week.  The page is packed with 74 men and women who serve our area with Lakes Region EMS.  These brave, hardworking women and men wake up with the sole purpose to help those in need in our area.  Can you imagine the pressure?  I have dealt with many of these great folks over the years and they are all top notch.  This is our week to formally say thank you to them.  If you happen to see them in a store or in a coffee shop, make a point of telling them thank you.  Thank you for keeping us and our loved ones safe.

If you have not mailed in your blue renewal cards, this is your time.  In just a week or two, we will be cutting off all who have yet to renew.  If you get cut off, don’t fret, all you have to do is mail or call us with a payment, and we will ensure your paper is in your mailbox the very next week.  Remember the cost of the paper for a subscription is $47 for those with a Chisago County address, and $49.50 for those out of county.

I failed to acknowledge a couple of women for Mother’s Day a week ago.  I totally forgot to mention the two most important women in my life.  My wife Cheryl.  She is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me and I would be nothing without her.  I can’t put into words the love I have for her.  

The other woman is my grandmother Evelyn.  Gram has been my rock.  She is my sounding board. She is my spiritual guide.  She is my mentor. She is my hero.

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