The 85th annual American Legion Post 225 Independence Day celebration is in full swing.

Forest Lake’s salute to the Fourth of July and the nation’s independence opened Wednesday and concludes on Saturday with the annual 10 a.m. parade and 10 p.m. fireworks display over First Lake.

The parade route for the 2009 Forest Lake Fourth of July parade is displayed at right. The parade starts at 10 a.m., rain or shine on Saturday. (Illustration by Jeanine Sass and Judy Bachelor) 

Like any good dad, Tim Pearson was keeping a careful eye on his five-year-old son as he splashed about in the resort swimming pool.

As Ashton Pearson played in the water at the Kahlahari Resort and Convention Center Pool in the Wisconsin Dells, his dad would occasionally look about. It was on one of those casual glances when he noticed another young boy floating face down in the water

Tim Pearson at home in Forest Lake with his five-year-old son, Ashton. (Photo By Cliff Buchan) 

Although rain clouds were looming in Scandia, area residents enjoyed a day of Swedish music, food and fun at the Gammelgarden Museum's Midsommar Dag on Saturday. The Kichi Saga Jr. Dancers circle around the Mai Stang (Swedish pole). In modern Sweden, the holiday ushers in summer with a party. (Photo by Jennifer Larson)

  View more photos from Midsommar Dag by clicking here.

David Lawrence experienced his share of very bad luck and very good luck while fishing in Forest Lake on a weekday in early June.

Marlow Hansen, right, and co-worker Trent Linden on the No. 15 tee box in front of Shields Lake.  The two Forest Hills Golf Cub workers saved a man from drowning in the lake last month.

(Photo By Clint Riese)

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a lower court decision that DFL candidate Al Franken received more votes in the U.S. Senate race than former Republican U.S. Senator Norm Coleman. Coleman later conceded the race to Franken, a move that should end any appeals of the decision.

The court further affirmed that Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty should sign the election certificate for Franken for U.S. Senator. Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has previously said he would sign the certificate based on the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

Al Franken, left, has been declared the winner of last November's U.S. Senate race by the Minnesota Supreme Court. (File Photo)