Runaway steer, a huge cabbage, a rabbit show and the opening ceremony are only a few of the highlights from the first day of Scott County Fair on July 28. Also, a few of the fog over the Minnesota River July 29 are included. See the photos below:

Jerry Kucera, Joe Thill and Joe Wagner, the county commissioner candidates in District 1, will debate Thursday evening at the Scott County Fair.

The candidate forum, which is at 7:30 p.m. in the gazebo, is the only debate scheduled before the Aug. 10 primary. It is being sponsored by Southwest Newspapers.

Shannon Fiecke of the Shakopee Valley News reports:

A high-voltage power line will pass through Scott County according to a decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission.

The approved route was preferred by a consortium of public utilities but opposed by Scott County because it spans the bulk of the county’s southern border, impacting the New Market, Cedar Lake, Helena, and Belle Plaine townships.

The number of calls to the Jordan Fire Department have decreased during the past six months.

Jordan firefighters serve city residents but also respond to calls in the cities of Shakopee, Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Carver, as needed. Jordan contracts to provide fire services in Sand Creek, St. Lawrence, and Helena townships.

According to a report that compares the first six months of 2009 to the first six months of 2010:

- calls are down to 49 in 2010 from 50 in 2009;

A press release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA):

When the summer sun shines and temperatures climb, conditions are ripe for Minnesota lakes to produce harmful algal blooms. The MPCA is again reminding people that some blue-green algae can harm pets, livestock and even people.

Algae are microscopic aquatic plants and are a natural part of any aquatic ecosystem.

A press release from Great River Energy and Xcel Energy:

Yesterday, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission granted a Route Permit for the 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between Brookings County, S.D. and Hampton, Minn., except for a segment involving the crossing point of the Minnesota River.

Marshall Erickson of Helena Township and Malinda Erickson of St. Lawrence Township go to nationals this weekend as members of the Wizardz Special Olympics team, as well as Team Minnesota. Read the story in tomorrow's print edition. See photos from this week's Area 9 tournament below:

After two weeks of rain, the sun came out just in time for Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative’s (MVEC) 73rd annual meeting and member appreciation event on June 16.

Deb Erickson of Savage was elected new board director in District 1 over incumbent Lyle Lambrecht and challengers Harold Wilson of New Prague and Allen Erickson of Jordan.

A level three sex offender, Ryan Patrick Navratil, 29, will not be moving to Helena Township, after a Douglas County Court judge ordered that Navratil be civilly committed as a sexually dangerous person.

The decision was made by Douglas County Court Judge Ann Carrott on June 25.

Fifty years ago, residents of area school districts met to discuss consolidating the Jordan area -- including St. Joe, St. Lawrence, St. Benedict, and Lydia -- into one school district.

To learn more about Jordan's history, read the Looking Back column in
the July 1 print edition of the Jordan Independent or go to jordannews.com/news/looking-back.