When Shakopee's Chase Hentges takes the mound expect the stands to be full.

The stands are full of scouts with radar guns trying to decipher whether Hentges is ready to be a professional baseball player

The senior pitcher is getting a lot of interest from Major League Baseball these days.

In his most recent start on Thursday, more than 20 scouts where in the stands, including former Minnesota Twins general manager Terry Ryan, watching Hentges.

I'm never one to shy away from a physical challenge. I've completed seven running marathons, an 87 mile inline race, countless inline marathons, a triathlon (even though I still can't swim), and many more challenging races. Today though, I am training to participate in a 100 mile "Century" bike ride called "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. Many of my other races have been rewarding but there is an extra incentive with this one as I'll be racing for a cause.

I have been aware for some time now about these spirits. What has prompted me writing about them is some of the articles I have been reading about them. They do not call these poor souls Walking Spirits, they are called “Tramp Souls or Spirits” “Vagabond Spirits” “Restless Spirits” and other not so nice names.

I prefer to call them “Walking Spirits” The American Indians knew about these spirits for centuries. These are spirits that have chosen not to cross over at the time they needed to for what ever reason and wonder the world.

Before you visit garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, antique malls, estate sales and auctions for pieces to transform, clear out your own spaces to see what you can discover.

The key to creating treasure from trash is to look at things in a different light and be open to possibilities.

Remember, most wobbly furniture can be strengthened with glue, dings can be covered up and stains can be cut out.

You don't need a huge budget for a creative dramatic change. Your furniture may not be glamorous, but it's functional -- you may not need to buy a new table or desk.

Kids First Garage Sale
Date: May 9th, and 10th
Time: 9am to 6pm
Place: 14400 Rutgers St NE Prior Lake
Please join Cultural Care Au Pair for a very special event: a Kids First Garage Sale! Our group of au pairs will be selling all kinds of great items: games, toys, clothing, furniture and more! Cultural Care Au Pair's Kids First holiday cards, CD of international children's songs and the International Cookbook will also be featured at this event.

If any group of people is more self-promoting than chiropractors, real estate agents and multi-level marketers, it's got to be musicians. 

Minnesota is arguably as melodious as any state in the union. Over the years, it has produced almost as many great musicians and bands as it has lakes – and the variety is as diverse as the weather.

As a former daily traveler of University Avenue between St. Paul and Minneapolis, I always thought that if any place made since for a light rail line, that would be it. The road is super busy and is a major conduit between the cities, with much of the population likely to use transit.

I just received the following group e-mail from Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, in which he makes some good points about the cost of the project. Read it and tell me what you think:

How many of these goals have been achieved?

1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.
5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

I keep hearing people talking about the stimulas payment,Im not sure why some people are so negative,but for my family it is going to help pay for my daughters graduation. We moved here from Tennessee where everthing doubled in price. Myself and my husband work full time and are raising three teen-agers we pay plenty of taxes. Whether people spend it at Wal-mart or buy groceries it is welcomed for alot of families. I say thank you Bush for finally doing something nice.