The following is a press release from the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance:

The Minnesota River cuts diagonally across the southern part of the state until it hits Mankato where it flows northeast to the confluence with the Mississippi River. You can paddle the entire 335 miles from Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge all the way through the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. In between a person there is a lot of rural America with a dash of urban life here and there.

A press release from MN2020:

ST. PAUL -- While the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided Minnesota a powerful boost to improve transportation infrastructure, it’s likely to make only a small dent in addressing the state’s long-term highway and transit needs, according to a report released by St. Paul think tank Minnesota 2020.

An e-mail newsletter item from state Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan:

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

During this past legislative session, one of my DFL colleagues asked me, “Representative Buesgens, why are you such an angry, white male?” At the time I just assumed he was tired of hearing me talk about how raising taxes during a recession is a bad idea. After all, there were so many tax increases up for debate this year that I did have to give a lot of speeches in defense of economic freedom.

Jordan Public Schools math and reading proficiency dropped below state-wide performances in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, according to data recently released from the Minnesota Department of Education.

The Minnesota comprehensive Assessment - II test (MCA-II), which students took in April, measures student performance according to state academic standards in reading, mathematics, and science.

Relay For Life events are held throughout the United States and serve as the signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life of Scott County will be held July 10-11 this year.

Local organizers are looking for community members who would like to volunteer their time to help the day of the event. Contact tri-chair Ruby Winings at 952-445-6354 or circulation@swpub.com if you would like to donate your time.

For more details about our event go to www.relayforlife.org/scottcountymn.

This week, there was a clown in town to herald the soon-to-arrive Culpepper and Merriweather Great Combined Circus, which will perform next week under its big top near Jordan Middle School.

Here are just a few photos of Skeeter's visit to Jordan:

The Jordan City Council should follow the lead of the Scott County Board and the cities of Chaska and Prior Lake, among others, and adopt a social host ordinance.

The county board approved the ordinance June 2. Chaska and Prior Lake adopted similar ordinances earlier.

Two Jordan Brewers players, Scott Hollingsworth and Cullen Bahn, have been selected to play for the River Valley All-Star team on Friday, July 10 in New Prague.

The River Valley All-Stars will take on the Dakota-Rice-Scott All-Stars at 8 p.m.

St. Benedict's third baseman Scott Eischens and pitcher Steve Weiers will play for the DRS All-Stars.

Bahn will also participate in the Home Run Derby beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Below is the schedule for the all star game and the participants in the home run derby.

Following one of the deadliest Memorial Day holiday weekends ever, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reinforcing the need for motorists to drive belted, safe and sober during the Independence Day weekend. Last year, alcohol-related crashes accounted for five of the eight motorists killed surrounding the holiday. Another 1,819 motorists were arrested for DWI.

The Jabs Farm, located in the Louisville Swamp area, was purchased by Frederick Jabs in 1905. Some of the buildings still remain and are accessible by foot. Read more about the farm by viewing the images attached below.