When your life revolves around flying, nothing gets much bigger than the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture Convention in Oshkosh, WI. Touted as the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration, the event draws about 500,000 people each year who fawn over 2,500 or so aircraft on display. So forgive Forest Lake high-flyer Paul Michaud if he gets a little excited when talking about the major award he took home from the festival earlier this month. The long, rough ride he has endured since winning first place in 2003 just makes his latest achievement all the sweeter.

Paul Michaud and Ernie Kertzscher show the Lindy awards earned at the EAA AirVenture Convention for their work on Michaud’s Cessna C-180.
(Photo by Clint Riese)

Rick Duncan and Karl Schreck outpaced Mark Osland in the primary for Chisago County Sheriff. Duncan took home 2939 votes (46 percent) and Schreck 2280 (36) to move on to the Nov. 2 general election. Osland earned 1142 votes (18 percent).

Also in Chisago County, the race for the District 2 spot on the County Board will come down to Rick Greene and Katherine M. Johnson. Greene earned 587 votes (48 percent) and Johnson 465 (38). Candidate Warren L. Nelson will not move on to the November ballot after getting 161 votes (13 percent). 

Mayor Sheldon Anderson of Wyoming fell short in his bid to knock off his party-endorsed opponent, Bob Barrett, in the Republican primary for the Minnesota House of Representatives District 17B. Anderson earned 611 votes (24 percent) to Barrett's 1916 votes (76 percent). Barrett, of Shafer,  will face DFL candidate Cindy Erickson in an attempt to fill the seat of outgoing DFL Rep. Jeremy Kalin.

Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton edged Margaret Anderson Kelliher to grab the DFL nomination for Minnesota governor. With over 97 percent of precincts reporting from Tuesday's primary, Dayton has received 179,242 votes (41.20 percent), while Kelliher has 173,405 (39.86 percent). Matt Entenza came in third with 79,294 votes. Dayton will face Republican candidate Tom Emmer in the Nov. 2 general election.

In Washington County, Kelliher got over 700 more votes than Dayton. In Chisago County, Dayton earned 46 percent of the vote to Kelliher's 34.

Incumbent James Oberstar easily outpaced fellow DFL candidate W.D. (Bill) Hamm in the primary for Congressional District 8. Rep. Oberstar took home over 80 percent of the vote, and will face Republican Chip Cravaack in the general election. 

If past primary election trends hold in Chisago County, no more than 2700 ballots may be cast next Tuesday. How many of those ballots are cast in the Republican primary is uncertain, but the Republican Party of Minnesota is certain as to who they don’t want to see get votes in the House District 17B primary: Sheldon Anderson.

During happier Republican Party times, Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson and wife, Olga, center, posed with Gov. Tim Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty. “I went from rising star to toxic waste in the eyes of the Republican Party,” Anderson said. (Photo courtesy of sheldonanderson.com)