Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack will face voters directly in public meetings next week for the first time since voting against increasing the debt limit.

The first-term representative's office announced the meetings in Deer River on Tuesday and Grand Portage on Wednesday.
Cravaack was one of 66 Republicans to vote against the compromise deficit-reduction legislation that increased the nation's borrowing authority.

He said the proposal that became law this week didn't cut spending enough. He joined Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann from the state's 6th District in opposing the bill during a Monday vote.

Cravaack says he looks forward to hearing from constituents in Minnesota's 8th District on the debt issue.

The Buck’s Hardware Fisherman’s Picnic Big Fish Contest is underway. Today the leader board has the following entries:
 

Walleye
1st John Curtis 2 pounds
No other entries !
 

Northern
1st Jon Warren 7 pounds 14 ounces
2nd Jon Warren 5 pound 4 ounce
3rd Terry Klos 4 pound 1 ounce
 

Small mouth bass
1st Larry Dean 5 pounds 2 ounces
2nd Theron Oyler 4 pound 10 ounces
3rd Bob Seward 4 pound 4 ounces
 

Lake trout
1st Tom Bernier 19 pound 4 ounces
2nd Mike Bernier 14 pound 2 ounces
3rd Dwight Peterson 13 pounds 3 ounces
 

Salmon
1st Ken Goby 7 pounds 2 ounces
2nd Jerry Skarupa 6 pounds 13 ounces
3rd Samantha Williams 5 pounds 10 ounces
 

Brook trout
1st Terry Klos 2 pounds 15 ounces
2nd Terry Klos 2 pounds 8 ounces
3rd Dan Viren 1 pound 11 ounces
 

The contest closes at 9:00 p.m. sharp on Saturday, August 6. Good luck Fishermen!
 

On Saturday, August 6 at 10 a.m. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center will present What’s up with our North Shore moose?

Everyone loves to spot a moose when visiting the North Shore. But how much longer will this be possible? There are many factors affecting the survival of our North Shore moose. One is the abundance of white-tailed deer. Join Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife biologist, Martha Minchak for a talk about the future of North Shore moose and how deer and other factors are affecting their survival.

The presentation is free. Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center is located lakeside off Highway 61 in Schroeder at mile 73.3. For more information call 218-663-7679 or visit www.sugarloafnorthshore.org

In August and September, two residents at the North Shore Care Center will be turning 100 years old. Each of the women—Irene Leng on September 16 and Mable Stoltz on September 20—will of course be celebrating with friends and family separately, but the Care Center will also be treating the ladies to a party as part of its “1929 Class Reunion Party.”

Stop by the Care Center at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 and say hello to these soon-to-be centenarians!

There is always something happening at the Care Center and there are many fun volunteer opportunities during the summer months. Please consider giving some time to assist with a garden project, an outing, or a special event. For more information, you can contact the Activity Department at (218) 3870-3518 or go to the website www.nshorehospital.com.

The annual book sale sponsored by Library Friends of Cook County will be Thursday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 6 at the Cook County Community Center.  Thursday night is for Library Friends members only between 5 and 7 p.m.  Memberships will be sold at the Community Center one hour prior to the sale on Thursday afternoon.Join and get first choice on all the wonderful books at the sale!

The hours on Friday are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours are 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and books and materials will be discounted for $3 per bag.

The Library Friends of Cook County is an all-volunteer, non-profit service organization which conducts the sale each year to raise funds in support of the  library mission for all of the libraries, public and school, in Cook County.  In addition to contributing  funds for books, materials and programming, the Library Friends group is making a contribution in support of the new construction of the library which is to be completed by the end of 2011.

The success of the sale depends on the donations throughout the year and the many volunteers who sort books and help with the sale.  This sale will offer books, DVDs, CDs, videotapes and other materials.  This year, there is a large collection of LPs in a  broad range of musical styles, as well.

Materials will be placed by categories of interest on tables.

A judge has blocked AT&T's plan to build a 450-foot cellphone tower near the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The Associated Press reports Hennepin County Judge Philip Bush ruled Wednesday the proposed tower would likely hurt the "scenic and aesthetic resources" of the BWCAW. But he says a smaller, unlighted tower of up to 199 feet would be OK.

The judge sided with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. The group argued the 450-foot tower's flashing lights would be visible from several lakes and waterways within the BWCAW.

AT&T contended one tall tower would do the best job of extending cellphone service east of Ely and allowing paddlers to call for help in emergencies.

An AT&T spokesman says the company is reviewing the ruling and considering its options.