Bowlers will descend on Shakopee next week in the hope of striking out a rare disease.

Todd and Julie Buckner of Shakopee are sponsoring “Pinning Down a Cure for HLH” in honor of their daughter, Abigail, who died from hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in February 2009. The fundraiser features bowling and silent auction from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 at Louisville Lanes in Shakopee.

HLH is a rare disorder of the immune system, primarily affecting young infants and children.

Autocross was a hit at the Scott County Fair on July 30. See the video of one heat of the Compact Truck division below:

As they say, they just plain go together – beer and baseball, er, bull rides.

Scott County Fair’s beer garden sponsor is trying to “spice it up” with free rides on a mechanical bull tonight in St. Lawrence Township, near Jordan, said Jerry Lang, a Jordan resident and representative for MillerCoors.

Patrons of the fair’s Miller Lite beer garden – that means adults only – can ride the mechanical bull for free, beginning 6 p.m. Friday, July 30 and ending at midnight.

The Scott County Fair opened Wednesday at the fairgrounds at 7151 190th St. W. in St. Lawrence Township near Jordan Wednesday for a five-day run that ends Sunday.

Music, entertainment, food and livestock shows take place all weekend. Merriam’s Midway will also be open selected hours.

Grandstand events start at 7 p.m. through Saturday and include a motorcycle Supercross, truck and tractor pull and demo derby. New this year is an Autocross event Friday evening.

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:

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):

Braving the elements and wading through knee-deep water, the DNR and The Nature Conservancy crews and volunteers recently spent some time on the lookout for the federally threatened Western prairie fringed orchid.

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR):

Hot summer weather continues in Minnesota, and families are enjoying summer vacations that include long weekends at the beach or pool. Unfortunately, as cool and refreshing as it may look, water can be dangerous.

Lydia Zion United Methodist Church's vacation Bible school (VBS) is going on this week. These photos are from July 19. The VBS has a theme of High Seas Expedition, and will wrap up with a special VBS service 10 a.m. Sunday, July 25 at the church located at 1026 E. 205th St., Sand Creek Township. Hope Lutheran Church's VBS happens next week. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church had their respective vacation Bible schools in June. See the photos of Lydia Zion's VBS below: