If a whole lot of talk is any measure of an election – and it usually is – expect a wild one this year.

Credit the Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce and the Scott County Historical Society with paying close attention.

Between the two organizations, all four of the most interesting local election races will have candidate forums. The first one is next Thursday.

Years ago, Valleyview hospital in Sand Creek Township expanded to four floors.

For more information, read the Looking Back column in the Sept. 25 issue of the Jordan Independent. Read it online in the Print Edition section, or subscribe by going to www.jordannews.com/subscribe.

Final Grade Inc. of Sand Creek Township is demolishing the the former Jordan Car Care building and the former Tri-Mart gas station, which in about 1955 was the first business built near the intersection of highways 169 and 282.

Shortly thereafter, Wolf Motors and Clancy's Bar & Pizza Parlor made permanent homes in what's become known as the Triangle business district, a burgeoning commercial center in Jordan.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Ron Anderson worked four years at the gas station, which for decades housed the Triangle Cafe. This morning, Anderson, the president of the excavating company, was running a Bobcat on the demolition crew.

During a tour of Jordan area farms earlier this month, farmers pitched their ideas of agricutural preservation to the Scott County Board.

Check out this week's photos (you can buy these at http://jordannews.smugmug.com/):

Early this morning, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Jordan police and fire departments, and Allina Ambulance responded to a car crash on Highway 169, near its intersection with166th St. in Sand Creek Township, north of Jordan.

The crash occurred prior to 6 a.m., and personal injuries were involved.

At 7 a.m., traffic was still backed up for 1 mile south of the accident.