Target Field is indeed home to American League Most Valuable Player of 2009, Joe Mauer (7) and his teammates. The Twins are attempting to win a second straight Central Division championship. The Twins are definitely taking a liking to their new ballpark. Mauer cracks a double to left centerfield in recent action against the Detroit Tigers.

In a new coffee table book, "Target Field, The New Home of the Minnesota Twins," Mauer talks about Target Field: "It's hard to put into words what this new ballpark means to me. I know our team -- my teammates and our coaching staff -- they are definitely appreciative of it, and I think they have a good idea of how long the people here in Minnesota have been waiting for something like this. Being from here and living it, it hits me a little more. When I ran out on the field before the first exhibition game, as I always do to go warm up a pitchedr, the reception I got was almost like getting the game-winning it." SEE SLIDESHOW by Howard Lestrud on the Twins at their new home at Target Field.

Saint Paul, MN – Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ordered all U.S. flags and Minnesota flags be flown at half-staff at all state and federal buildings in the State of Minnesota, from sunrise until sunset on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, in honor and remembrance of Master Sergeant Daniel L. Fedder.

Read more: Pawlenty orders flags at half-staff in honor of MSGT Daniel Fedder

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins Wives Organization and the Twins Community Fund are pleased to announce that bidding has started on the “Shooting Star Quilt” auction at http://www.twinsbaseball.com.

In response to the F-4 tornado that hit Wadena, MN on June 17th, the Twins Wives Organization will donate the quilt’s proceeds to help rebuild the town’s baseball field. More than 200 homes were damaged or destroyed from the tornado, the high school and Minnesota State College suffered extensive damage and the community center was damaged beyond repair, as well as many businesses.

Read more: Proceeds from Twins auction to help tornado relief in Wadena

What could be better than winning a national art competition gold medal and a summer trip to New York City?

Amy Wilcox of Forest Lake experienced both as she was one of 500 arts and writing students selected from more than 150,000 contestants to earn a Scholastic National Gold Medal for visual arts.She was one of four students from Minnesota who were recognized by receiving a trip to New York City in June and an appearance at Carnegie Hall where her gold medal was presented.

Wilcox will begin her senior year this fall at the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Plymouth. She transferred to the arts high school as a junior after attending Forest Lake Area Schools through her sophomore year.She is the daughter of Sue and Dwight Wilcox. See more in Editor Cliff Buchan's Forest Lake Times story.

Amy Wilcox poses outside Carnegie Hall during her trip to New York City as part of a national arts contest.
(Photo submitted)

Thomson Reuters will offer buyouts to 130 employees at its Eagan and Rochester, N.Y. locations in an effort to minimize or avoid layoffs.

Scott Augustin, director of communications for Thomson Reuters, said the company’s goal is to focus on attrition and voluntary buyouts rather than job cuts. See more in Erin Johnson's ThisweekLive story.

Gospel Fest and the North Country Hillbillies car show will begin at 11 a.m. The worship teams from Stanchfield Baptist Church and Braham Covenant Church will be playing, as well as the Northern Lights Bluegrass group. A lunch will be available, featuring Jasper’s barbecue pork ribs.

Braham Fest will begin at 4 p.m. featuring the following bands: Asher, Bright Light Parade, Fades Away, One Lie Away, Silverline, and These Hearts. See more in the Isanti County News.

The new school year means more than just new books, new classmates, new assignments.

For District 11 students, staff and teachers it also means the horizons of the view from its school houses takes on a new look. See more in ABC Newspapers story by Sue Austreng.

It’s not every day you meet a single woman who decides late in life to become a minister, but that’s the story behind Beverly Robinson. Or at least, part of the story. Robinson is the minister at Emanuel Lutheran in Bock.

At a time when her peers are retiring, you can find Robinson at the pulpit (or possibly in the aisle) every Sunday sharing her love of the Lord and her fantastic sense of humor.

“I like the fact that the Lord loves all of us and he doesn’t pick and choose,” Robinson said. “We all have gifts to bring and God needs them all.”

See more in Mille Lacs County Times by Dawn Reede.

Don’t be surprised if she brings in props or happens to go astray from her sermon notes. She will likely make you laugh and most definitely make you smile. (Photo by Mille Lacs County Times)