Happy July 4th

I hope everyone is enjoying the July 4^th holiday. The DCI is arriving a little late this week as the postal service is not delivering mail on the holiday. Still many of you are probably enjoying some vacation time, whether it is just taking Friday off or scheduling your summer vacation for this week.

This summer has not been the best for outside activities on a regular basis with rain, often heavy, appearing just when you had something planned. Still, whatever the rest of the weekend brings, enjoy it.

Next up on the summer calendar is the Dodge County Free Fair which gets under way in just a couple weeks. As the fair celebrates its’ 167^th year there are a few changes in store.

First, a new building is scheduled to open its doord next to the Beer Garden. The building will house FFA, Agriculture and Horticulture exhibits. Also new this year, is that the commercial exhibits will be moving to the ice arena building. There are some other location changes for this year so it might be wise to check out the map on the Dodge County Fair website.

There is still lots to come this summer after the Fair including Survival Days, Hog Fest, Festival in the Park, and Marigold Days.

Perhaps some of the best news this summer is that MnDOT and Elcor Construction have said that the work on Highway 57 through Mantorville is progressing on schedule despite the heavy rains. That means that the highway should be open in time for Marigold Days in September.

So, all that being said, enjoy what is left of the Fourth of July holiday and if you have not all ready done so, take a little time and think about the real meaning of the holiday.

It is not all about picnics, parades, and fireworks. It’s a time to think about the United States, how we came to be, the sacrifices made, the high points, the low points. And in these polarizing times we live in think about how we can pull together and become the best we can be.

And Happy Fourth of July!