TO A POINT: Were you SIGHTED at the fair?

I haven't spent so much time at the Isanti County Fair since I was a girl (with the exception of last year). Whereas we used to live for five days at my dad's booth in the Curling Club building, this year I was all over the place.
It started on Tuesday, a day I didn't even know was busy at the fairgrounds. I was never in 4-H, but apparently all the members arrive the day before the fair officially starts to bring their exhibits for judging. This year I was asked to help judge the photography entries. Wow, there's a lot of talented kids out there! I left pretty impressed.
Wednesday night I arrived just for fun to spend the night at the Midway with two friends. Their boys ran from ride to ride, while we ate cheese curds and chatted. Despite being there just for me, I have to confess my camera was on my shoulder, ready to pop out whenever I saw a great shot.
I spent a couple two-hour stints at the Isanti County Historical Society booth. That woman hollering about the great deal we were offering – a t-shirt for $2 – yeah, that was me.
Friday was the day I was waiting for. The donkey races returned. Once again I competed in the celebrity heat. And just as it was the year before, the entire event was hilarious. It's the kind of roll-on-the-ground funny stuff you don't get often enough. The donkeys were just as cantankerous as the year before – actually, I think they were more. I know I could hardly lead my first donkey around the pen – and that was before I hopped on and the race started. My second pick was a big 'ole fat donkey. I could hardly jump up on it after it ducked me off. And the stomach was so big, I couldn't lock my feet together either. I tried to do as the organizer instructed me (he must have seen my look of panic halfway around as the donkey took off at a gallop) and lie down while holding on tight. But the donkey got the better of me and just leaned down. I went shooting over his head. Next thing I knew the donkey had decided it was the perfect time to dash around the arena, and I went sprinting after him. I caught up just before the finish line, jumped on and crossed the line – dead last, I'm pretty sure.
I sure didn't bring home the first-place trophy, but my six-year-old nephew told me I did a great job. He and my friend's six-year-old daughter still thought I was a winner. Aren't they the sweetest kids ever?
I took Saturday off, but showed back up at the fair on Sunday. Despite it being the last day, there was still a lot going on: talent show, car show, and the ATV pull/mud run. Plus, my husband and I once again were recruited to be salsa competition judges. Are we lucky or what? There wasn't a lot of heat on the fresh salsa side this year, with the recent pull of all jalapenos from the grocery shelves, but the salsa was still delicious. I was pretty impressed by the olive salsa – how creative! I loved the mixture of both black and green olives. Again, it was a pretty tough choice for us judges.
Being a journalist for the STAR, I was never without a camera while at the fair. See all the photos I and others snapped at the various events by browsing our online photo gallery. Go to mystarnewspaper.com, then head to the READ page. Click on the photo gallery button, and then start browsing to see if we SIGHTED you.
Photo galleries include: the donkey races, 4-H judging, car show, motocross, and demolition derby (there was a fire that shot flames up 30 feet in the air!). Another includes various shots of the fair, such as the Midway, booths, ATV pull, salsa contest, Kiddie Day events, animals, dunk tank and more.
We'd love to see your photos on our web site, as well. Go to the Interact tab and click Post Your Photos. It's easy.
See you online!

TO A POINT: Don't just whine about things; file for office and start making changes

Do you gripe about how things are run in your town? Do you have ideas on how things could be better? Do you want to lower taxes? Improve parks? Slash spending? Bulk up the police force? Clean up the weeds sprouting in empty developments? Widen Highway 95? Offer people alternatives to traveling on Highway 95? Bring in new business? Fill up industrial parks? Better water quality?
Then do something about it. Add your name to this year's ballot. The filing period for city slots is open from Aug. 26 to Sept. 9.
There are plenty of spots to fill. In Cambridge, John Schlagel has decided not to run for re-election. Council member Bob Shogren's seat is also up, although he plans to run again.
In Isanti, Ralph Johnson has decided to leave his city council seat and is instead running for county commissioner. The slot for mayor is also up, and there are two vying for the position thus far, incumbent George Wimmer and current council member Sue Larson. Jeff Kolb's term will also be ending, and he intends to run again. (The filing period for Isanti, which will include a primary, closed on July 15.)
Mayor Rick Smisson is stepping down in Harris and is not pursuing another term. That race is wide open.
Braham's mayor Terry Turnquist is moving away from Braham politics and is eyeing a county commissioner berth, leaving his seat open for grabs. The terms of two council members also expire in December 2008.
Terms will also be up in North Branch and Rush City, as well as the Cambridge-Isanti and Braham School boards, although I haven't yet heard if the current incumbents intend to step away from politics or re-file.
If you live in either Oxford or Nessel Township, they have several seats open. Their elections coincide with the general election in November rather than the typical March election date.
If you have higher aspirations, you can always try for a state, federal or county office, although the filing period for those offices officially closed on July 15. But go ahead and work on a write-in campaign. If you've got a solid platform and great ideas, you'll have a chance. Personally, I'm looking for candidates for all offices that I feel will put the people's needs over their own selfish gains. It's especially disheartening to read about federal legislators across the nation who put their own pork-barrel projects ahead of the greater good. We've got a lot of issues in our nation: our rapidly increasing national debt, schools failing to make adequate yearly progress, a failing Social Security system (which I know will never benefit my generation despite the thousands I've contributed), a transportation system that focuses too strongly on automobiles instead of alternatives like rail, lack of affordable medical care, and more. I'm looking for new ideas and a push away from the status quo. We've got things that aren't working; so we need to find new methods of getting stuff done.
What brings me hope is knowing we've got a lot of talented and intelligent people in this nation. When we put our heads together, we will find solutions. I truly believe that.
So, be part of the solution instead of merely complaining about how our country is going downhill.
File for election. Make a difference.

4-H volunteer, teacher dies in crash

Neil Stoeckel killed in crash along Highway 8 in Chisago County

A 58-year-old Isanti man was killed on Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2008 along Highway 8 in Chisago County near Forest Lake.

Neil Stoeckel was a passenger in a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier that was attempting to cross Highway 8 at Pioneer Road. The Cavalier, driven by a 15-year-old Lindstrom teen, was struck broadside at 1:30 p.m. on the passenger side by a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer.

Stoeckel died of internal injuries.

The 15-year-old boy was transported to St. Croix Regional Medical Center with minor injuries, as was the driver of the Blazer, Elizabeth Miller, 61, of Turtle Lake. Both were treated and released.

Neither alcohol nor drugs are contributing factors in the fatal crash.

For 35 years, Stoeckel taught industrial technology at St. Francis Middle School (SFMS). He also served on the safety committee.

"He was an excellent employee," said SFMS Principal Dale Johnson.

Outside of work, Stoeckel was a valued Isanti County 4-H volunteer. He died while working as a driver's education instructor, which he had been doing for the past few years.

The funeral service for Stoeckel will take place on Saturday, Aug. 9, 11 a.m. at Long Lake Lutheran Church. Visitation will be on Friday night, 4 to 7 p.m. at Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.