Following a late season snow and cold weather, many hobby beekeepers found themselves at Mann Lake Ltd. in Hackensack on Saturday, May 11, waiting to collect new bee colonies for the summer.

It seems that delayed spring weather taxed the stores of food stored away by honeybee colonies belonging to some beekeepers in the north. As a result, an unusually large number of keepers were forced to purchase brand new bees last Saturday. It was that day that Mann Lake received 1,900 packages of bees.

The senior van, a transportation service provided by Pequot Lakes Community Education for the past 30 years, will conclude its service at the end of June. Concerned residents should know there is an alternative for their transportation needs.

The senior van operates within the Pequot Lakes area every Tuesday. Though it is available to anyone who needs its service, it mostly serves senior citizens living in low-income housing in Pequot Lakes. The van also transports passengers to Brainerd once a month.

When Joel Soukup and his family were battling bone cancer, there was no book to tell them what to expect or what to do.

Now, thanks to Joel and his mother, Kathy, that is no longer true.

Joel fought osteosarcoma for the first time when he was attending Pine River-Backus High School at age 16. Though it cost him a leg, he won the battle. When the cancer came back at age 20, Joel came out on top yet again.

BY TRAVIS GRIMLER

Staff Writer

A bill in support of same-sex marriage passed in the state House of Representatives with a vote of 75-59 and the state Senate with a vote of 37-30. Gov. Mark Dayton was to sign the bill Tuesday, May 14, and the law would become effective in August.