The Nisswa City Council on Wednesday, July 18, had to decide how to pay for its share of the Highway 371/County Road 18 project after the awarded bid was higher than engineers' estimates.

After the bid for the $7 million project was awarded to Anderson Brothers of Brainerd, the city's total cost, including 2013 inspections and landscaping (which weren't part of the bid), was $1,683,187, or $183,187 more than the city projected.

The city, Crow Wing County and Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) all will pay for the joint project.

BY KELLY VIRDEN

Pine River Journal Editor

Barclay Avenue in Pine River has a new shop downtown: Hens & Chicks Curiosities: a business collaboration among local women interested in indulging their creativity and providing a unique place for shoppers.

Jenny Hill, Sheila Hunter, Kris Kayser, Barb Mann, Marty Mann, Becky Stanton, Rhoda Swanson and Quinn Swanson are all contributors to the store that specializes in antiques, art work, shabby chic, re-created products, gift items, collectibles and new items mixed in with vintage ones.

During his freshman year at the University of Alaska Anchorage, Ben Woodland worked as a tutor. With the help of one of his friends, the Soldotna native was able to successfully tutor a Tibetan monk for his United States Citizenship test.

“He didn’t really know how to read and write,” Woodland said.

After seeing the monk pass his test, Woodland felt something click.

“That was when I knew what I really wanted to do,” he said. “Use language to better people’s lives.”

Language.

EAGLE RIVER -- Suzie Gorski can finally put away her paint cans.

The Chugiak-Eagle River Chamber of Commerce executive director had made sprucing up the old plywood "Welcome to Eagle River" sign an annual rite of spring.

"It was just tired," Gorski said of the old sign.

Thanks to the work of several community members -- and a $19,000 grant from British Petroleum -- the iconic wooden sign in Chief Alex Park was recently replaced with a brand-spanking-new welcome sign that's sure to become the area's newest big attraction.