Kathleen Lordbock Keller Williams Realty Brainerd Lakes

Syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin in Thursday's Washington Times wrote:

"What and who exactly are President Obama's homeland security officials afraid of these days? If you are a member of an active conservative group that opposes abortion, favors strict immigration enforcement, lobbies to protect Second Amendment rights, protests big government, advocates federalism, or represents veterans who believe in any of the above, the answer is: You."

Patriotic Americans now pose a threat to the United States government. There are millions of them, they are everywhere.

People who believe the government is too large and taxes its people too much. All those who participated in TEA parties, anti-abortion rallies, those who attend Christian denominational churches, advocate for marriage and family in a traditional manner. People who realize that the government can not fix everything and should stop trying. If you are returning from active duty, you will be watched very closely because someone might want to recruit your US Miltary trained talent to their anti-USA cause - you are a bigger threat than an illegal immigrant or a Muslim militant.

You do not know where they are hiding, some are even undercover in the very government that is claiming this threat. You can not tell because they vote like all the rest - a very good undercover operation, indeed.

photo by - lautenbach FLICKR

There is a special tax break available for new car purchases in 2009 - if you are thinking of buying one, you will want to check into this.

Taxpayers are receiving a temporary tax incentive that will be available to them for the purchase of a new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle during 2009. The deduction will be available for the cost of all state and local sales and excise taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price. The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers (this probably eliminates most real estate agents - right?) and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers. The vehicle must be purchased after February 16, 2009, and before January 1, 2010, to qualify for the deduction. The special deduction is available regardless of whether a taxpayer itemizes deductions on their return. The deduction may not be taken on your 2008 tax returns.

Internal Revenue Service

Jim the Corsair - Flickr

The time will soon be arriving for young women to make a decision on this year's pageant participation. There have been serveral contestant meeting so far and we have 15 contestants to date. Anyone still intested in participating should contact Vicki Randall at 219 851-4808 or Kathleen Lordbock 218-829-0339. Prefer to email?

Vicki: vrandall_msbrd_lakes@hotmail.com

Kathleen: resaledesign@gmail.com

Our current Miss Brainerd Lakes is a diabetic and her platform is Beautifully Broken

Emily Wyman, 2008 Miss Brainerd Lakes was diagnosed at age 7 with Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when a cell causes the pancreas to stop producing insulin. Emily Wyman, who got her insulin pump when she was 12, plans to study nursing and eventually become a diabetes educator. Her platform for the Miss Minnesota Pageant this summer is diabetes and explaining that if it's under control it doesn't have to control you.

See photos of the sandbagging efforts and view the Fargo/Moorhead flood area

Despite everyone's best efforts to keep up with the rising waters, in some areas there is already dike failure and subsequent flooding. The volunteers are growing weary but fresh replacements are still coming in. With the evacuations , there will be less time spend on rescue efforts as there will be less to rescue. There will always be those who stay in their homes risking their lives and those of their rescuers. No one knows exactly how long the waters will keep rising and how long the crest will be sustained.

Update: Officials are now indicating that the crest has been reached and for the most part the sandbags are holding.

click link for real time views below

Time lapse images here

The Red River has reached its highest stage in 112 years. Yesterday many buses went out from Brainerd/ Baxter MN from our Greater Lakes Association of REALTORS parking lot and from many area churches filled with volunteers. Their main goal was to fill and place as many sandbags as humanly possible to hold back the waters. Tired and wet, they came home late last evening as these communities began to call for evacualtions. Fargo is now under mandatory evacuation and Moorhead (lenient MN style) evacuation is highly recommended. The sewer systems are failing and drinkable water is a problem. Rescues are now being made by chopper and all types of boats.

Baby, that ice water is sure cold!!!