Special Parking Notice for
Karl Oskar Days
7/2/2008

The Lakes Area Police Department would like to notify you that the following streets will be closed to parking due to Karl Oskar Days events:

 1.      Newell Avenue (Between Park and Linden) 7-12-08 Anytime

 2.      Linden Avenue (Between Hwy. 8 and Newell) 7-12-07 & 7-13-07 Anytime

 3.      295^th Street (Between Olinda and Neal Avenue) 7-12-07 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

 4.      295^th Court 7-12-07 6:00 A.M. to 11:00A.M.

 5.      Neal Avenue (Between 295^th and Sylvan Ave.) 7-12-07 6:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

 6.      Beach Parking lot 7-13-07 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. 

7.      St. Croix Ave at the Cemetery 7-11-07 at 6 PM to 8 PM. (Kiddie Parade)

 8.      Hwy. 8 (Between Akerson and the Lakeview Motel) 7-12-07 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 9.      Newell Ave.(Between Park and Olinda Trail) 7-12-07 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 10.   Akerson Street between Highway 8 and Neal Ave. 7-12-07 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. (for parade staging)

 11.   Newlander Ave. (Between Akerson and Olinda Trail) 7-12-07 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 12.   Olinda Trail (Between Newlander Ave. and Hwy. 8) 7-12-07 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 13.   Broadway Street (Between Highway 8 and Newlander Ave.) 7-12-07 4:00 PM to 8:00 P.M.

 14.   Park Street (Between Highway 8 and Newell Ave.) 7-12-07 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 15.   Akerson Street  (Between Hwy. 8 and Sylvan Ave.) 7-11-07 6 PM to 8 PM (Kiddie Parade)

 16.   Sylvan Ave. (Between Akerson St. and Lions Park) 7-11-07 6PM to 12 AM Kiddie Parade & Events)

 17.   Sylvan Ave (Between Akerson and Broadway) 7-12-08 4 PM to 8 PM for Parade Disbursement

Safety Tips

Internet Safety: Excerpts from an article by Dave Ambers, Chisago County Press

When asked what parents can do to protect their children, all agreed that the most important thing is to educate kids about the dangers. Parents should be open with their kids about the dangers and make the youngsters feel it's okay to tell them when they come across questionable material when accessing the internet.  

According to the officers, when youth are asked why they didn't tell their parents about objectionable, inappropriate or illegal information on the net, they usually say something like, "I was afraid I'd get banned from the internet or get grounded."

Other steps parents can take include the following:
1) Keep the computer in a common area - NEVER let your child have access in their bedrooms.
2) Browse the internet history frequently - find out what sites they've been using.
3) Limit the times of the day that kids can be on the internet.
4) Install some kind of filtering software - filters can be set up to limit hours of use, limit access to age appropriate websites or record everything your child views or hears on the web.
5) Use internet safety websites like NetSmartz.org, SafeKids.com, SafetyEd.org and GetNetWise.org
6) Keep your eyes and ears open to find out when the next internet safety forum will be scheduled - look for a meeting in the fall. You'll be glad you went! 

Home owner safety tip: During summer vacations set light on a light timer, but set the lights in different rooms to come on and go off at different times not all at the same time. Have a trusted neighbor collect the mail.

Trick-or-Treater Pedestrian Safety Tips for Halloween:

• Attach retro-reflective tape, fabric, or decorative patches to costumes and
  trick-or-treat bags.

• Review basic pedestrian safety rules, including where and how to cross streets.
• Teach kids never to dart into the street — one of the most common causes of pedestrian deaths among children.
• Drivers should be particularly alert on Halloween and watch for children crossing streets, alleys and driveways.
• Use face paint or cosmetics instead of a mask.
• Make costumes short enough to prevent tripping.
• Provide flashlights.
• Advise children not to cut across yards where tripping hazards may be obscured by darkness.

Preventing Bicycle Theft: Every year dozens of bikes are stolen in Chisago City and Lindstrom.  Most of them are recovered, yet because of a lack of proper identification, only a small percentage are ever returned to their owners.  Here are some things that you can do to help prevent bike theft and recover your bike if it is stolen.

• Always lock a bike that's left unattended, even for just a minute, even if it's in a fenced yard and especially on a car bike carrier rack.
• Be sure to lock the bike to something stationary, preferably where it can be seen by you and others (in Minneapolis it is illegal to lock bikes to any city sign or parking meter).
• A quality U-lock is the best locking device you can buy.  Avoid locks, chains or cables that can easily be cut, broken or picked.
• Make sure both wheels are locked, either by removing on and U-locking it with the other and the frame or by using an auxiliary lock on one.  You can also purchase devices that replace the cam and the lever on quick-release wheels and seats with a keyed system.
• Remove any components and accessories, including tire pump, seat or bags that can easily be taken.
• If you keep your bike in a garage, make sure that the garage is properly secured.  You can call the Lakes Area Police Department to get more information on garage security.  Lock your bike inside the garage by the same techniques as listed above.
• If someone attempts to rob you of your bike, don't resist.  Your life is more valuable than your bike.
• Register/license your bike.  It costs only $10.00 for three years and can be done at any Minnesota motor vehicle deputy registrar's office.
• Filling out an application will require the following information: bicycle brand name, serial number, wheel size (it's in your manual or on the side of the wheel), frame type (men's, women's, tandem), number of speeds, purchase date, owner's full name, address and date of birth.  Sales receipt or proof purchase is not required, however, it will be noted on the record that no proof of ownership was available at the time of the registration.  If you have any questions about registering/licensing your bike, call Bicycle Registration at 651-296-7051 (Downtown St. Paul) or the Chisago City License Bureau at 651-257-6578.

Additional ways of identifying you bike include:

• Operation Identification (OPID), a 13 digit number assigned to you to mark you valuables and make it easier for police to trace stolen merchandise.  You can obtain an OPID number free from the Lakes Area Police or by calling 652-257-0622.  Put the number on an inconspicuous part of the frame and on accessories with an engraving device.
• Keep a copy of your bicycle's receipt of purchase.
• Record it's make, mode, serial number and any distinguishing features.
• Take a color photo of the bike.
• List the bike on your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy.
• Write your OPID number or name, address and phone number on a piece of paper and put the paper inside the seat post, seat tube or handlebar stem in case all other ID is removed from the bike by a theif.