Inver Grove Heights earns status as Yellow Ribbon city

Last month, Inver Grove Heights became the latest south-metro town to be recognized as a Yellow Ribbon City.

Yellow Ribbon cities are so designated because they make special efforts to support military families and service members.

The Inver Grove Heights Yellow Ribbon Network was created to provide support to the local National Guard Armory and service members and families in the community. The network has helped to support local families by providing such basic needs as lawn care and meals as well as coordinating home improvement services.

Rosemount, South St. Paul, Farmington, Hastings and Lakeville also have been proclaimed Yellow Ribbon communities.

If you know a military family with a need or would like more information about volunteer opportunities, contact Sara Martin at martinsarac@gmail.com.

Job fair will be held Monday in EaganJob seekers can look for employment Monday at a career and job fair hosted by Congressman John Kline.

The free job fair will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Pkwy. Dozens of businesses with job openings will have representatives on hand. There will also be sessions on interviewing skills, résumé writing and job-seeking tips.

For more information, including a list of employers who will be at the fair, go to Kline's website at kline.house.gov.

Record numbers ride buses to the fairState Fair-bound residents from the south metro hopped aboard buses in record numbers this year.

The Minnesota Valley Transit Authority reports that ridership of its State Fair express buses rose 24 percent from 2010. Over the 12 days of the fair, the south-metro transit agency provided 53,414 rides. The first Saturday of the fair had the highest ridership with 8,259 rides, followed by the second Sunday of the fair, when MVTA provided 7,976 rides.

Will Branning, chairman of MVTA, said the State Fair service is an important opportunity to showcase the bus service. "When residents see how easy it is to ride the bus to the State Fair, we hope they will consider it for the commute or other transportation needs," he said.

For more information on transit options provided by MVTA, call 952-882-7500 or go to www.mvta.com.

Credit cards can be used to pay for vehicle tab renewals, title transfers, driver's licenses, DNR transactions, game and fishing licenses, birth and death certificates, passports and passport photographs.

Only Discover and MasterCard will be accepted, based on guidelines set up by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.