About Sherburne County, MN

The Elk River Area School Board will consider adding an election district once the city and county have finished drawing their new wards and districts.

The way it stands, the district has two election districts and the rest of the seats are decided by an at-large vote. The election districts were added after a citizen got a petition circulated to force the question onto a ballot question for District 728 voters.

Now that there has been a redrawing of the congressional, legislative, county districts and city wards, the Elk River Area School District must alert the state if they have any intentions of changing the number of election districts.

The Elk River Area School Board took the matter up at its March 5 work session, and there was some discussion about whether to leave things as is or to add one or more districts.

Where do you stand? Do you believe that Elk River should add more districts?

And, if you do, would you be willing to run to represent a district?

I plan to attend this event. It will bring about 10,000 people to the Elk River area next weekend so be prepared.

The ERX Motorsports Track is located just north of Elk River on Highway 169 if you plan on attending. There will be on-site parking with shuttles available for those needing assistance. Parking and shuttles are free.

My son has just started racing, but there will be no snocross in his future. It is just too hard on one's body.

The ERX Motorsports track in Elk River will host its first national snocross event March 9–11, 2012.

The ERX ISOC National presented by Heinen’s Arctic Cat will feature the best snocross racers in the world, including Tucker Hibbert, Ross Martin, Robbie Malinoski and Tim Tremblay.

“The National ISOC points race is tightest it’s ever been, the action will be intense,” according to a press release on the event.

There will be pro autograph sessions from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

The track for the event will be the biggest racetrack in the history of ERX — huge jumps, grueling whoop sections and more — high-speed, bar-to-bar action.

One of the reasons ERX was chosen is great visibility from anywhere on the track. There is also ample bleacher seating available and the opportunity to bring one’s own folding chair to get up close to the fence.

A band (Boomtown) will be playing country to ’80s rock after the races conclude both Friday and Saturday evening for an after-race party that will run 9 p.m. to midnight both nights with free admission.

The cost to get into the races is $15 on Friday, $15 on Saturday and $10 on Sunday, or $25 for a weekend pass. VIP packages are also available for $65. Visit www.isocracing.com or www.erxmotorpark.com to purchase tickets online.

Racing starts at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. on Friday night and the last round ends at 9:15 p.m. Classes include: Sport, Pro AM Plus 30, Pro Lite, Pro Open, Pro AM Plus 30 and Freestyle Show.

Racing starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. Opening ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. Saturday and the last round ends at 9:15 p.m. Classes include: Transition, Junior, Champ 120, Sport, Pro AM Women, Pro Lite, Pro Open and Freestyle Show.

On Sunday, racing starts at 9 and the last round ends at 4:15 pm.Classes include: Vintage and 120 racing only.

A full schedule of events can be found by visiting this link: www.isocracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ERXSchedule.pdf

Maybe I'll see you there!

We are big fish fans in our home. I enjoy fishing summer or winter. So, we eat a fair amount actually. But, when the freezer is empty, we rely on the supermarket to supply our appetites.

I recently came across a great website....http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_recommendations.aspx

This site will give you recommendations as to what to buy that is sustainable that you can purchase in your area.

Did you know, for instance, that farm-raised Atlantic salmon is a bad choice?

And, that the smaller the fish, the less likely mercury contamination is in the fish you serve to your family?

When you buy fresh fish, store it belly down in crushed ice, and remove the water as it melts to keep the fish relatively dry.

Conversely, when you freeze fish, it is sometimes better to actually add water to the bag you are freezing it in to avoid freezer "burn".

And, when you are buying fresh fish from a supermarket, always ask to smell it first. That way you will know that if it smells "fishy", it likely isn't fresh.

Hope this helps. And be sure to get the pocket guide to fish from the website above.

Happy Eating!

The weather forecasters are finally predicting snow. A little late, guys, but an answer to a lot of prayers.

Not complaining, but it sounds as if we will get lots of rain, sleet and snow with this storm. It could be up to 20 inches.

I will beieve it when I see it. But, there are things to be aware of here, too.

Those of you with gas vents to the outside had better bundle up and go outside to make sure that they stay clear. We haven't been used to this much snow so far so it could slip your mind. And, if they aren't cleared, that could mean a catastrophe waiting to happen.

There are other issues certainly, but that is one of the most important.

And, as an aside, an attorney called to ask to set up a closing on February 29th at a location about sixty miles south of here.

Thanks, but no thanks. I have a great vehicle, but I am not traveling unnecessarily in that kind of storm and certainly not close to the first of the season. I will let the emergency personnel do their jobs getting dumb-luck or just ill-prepared drivers out of the ditches and out of each other's way, and stay home like a sane person should do.

Stay warm and stay safe for the next couple of days. This could be a doozy. Stay tuned!

The conclusions reached by the courts and announced on Tuesday will put some politicians in a bind while others don't seem to mind the changes to their districts.

This is the rundown right now..

The Zimmerman and Livonia area will be served by two Minnesota Senate districts — Senate District 15 and 31. Sen. Dave Brown, R-Becker, who currently serves in Senate District 16 — falls in Senate District 15. Sens. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, and Michael Jungbauer, R-East Bethel, fall in Senate District 31. House District 16A Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, falls in House District 15A, and House District 15B is wide open with no incumbents in the district. House District 17A Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, falls in House District 31A. House District 48A Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, is in the new House.

There should be some interesting challenges and opportunities around the state for some new political "blood" in the Senate and the House.

I know that Elk River, for instance, will become aligned more with Otsego, St. Michael, Albertville and Hanover. That is a very up and coming segment of the northwest quadrant and should become more and more important in the coming years.

Keep an eye on your local news for further updates and clarifications, along with new caucus meetings and polling places.