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• Fun Fest festivities kick off in New Richmond
• Severe thunderstorm warning issued for St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn counties

There will be a few changes to Fun Fest 2008, including an expanded food court, plenty of parking, free bingo and live music on Thursday night.

According to Russ Korpela, executive director of the New Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the food court area will be somewhat larger this year to accommodate crowds at peak times.

Korpela also advises to check the WITC parking lot first before parking at other more distant sites.

"Last year people were parking in areas much further away and the WITC lot wasn't full," Korpela said. "There should almost always be parking available at the WITC lot throughout the weekend."

New this year will be free bingo for families on Sunday afternoon beginning at 1:30 p.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Small prizes will be awarded and everyone is welcome to play.

Also new this year is live music on Thursday, July 10. Thursday is being dubbed Country Music Night at Cyclone Park, located between the WITC building and St. Croix Press.

The festival grounds officially open Thursday at 5 p.m. with the Sonny Winberg Band playing during happy hour until 7 p.m. The food booths and rides will also be opening at 5 p.m. The rides run until midnight each night except Sunday.

From 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. the Nielsen White Band will perform on the main stage.

"We are very proud of our music line-up again this year," Korpela said, "and that it is offered to the community with no cover charge."

Firehouse, scheduled to play at 10 p.m. Saturday night, is a classic rock act that has sold more than six million albums, according to Korpela.

The band represents the second year in a row that Fun Fest will bring a national act to the stage, Korpela said.

"They are most famous for their power ballads including 'When I Look Into Your Eyes' and 'Love of a Lifetime,'" Korpela said. "Families can be assured that the Firehouse show is family friendly."

The American Legion has been part of the community's big weekend celebration in previous years, but this year they're setting up in a new location.

The Legion Hall is no longer located on Knowles Avenue, but is across the street from the New Richmond Armory on Wall Street. They will be serving chicken, brats, hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches Friday through Saturday. Heutmaker and the Hunyoks will be playing Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. and North Country Karaoke and Sonjia Hogland will provide entertainment Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m.

More on this story with a complete list of weekend Fun Fest events is available on the New Richmond News Web site at www.newrichmond-news.com.

St. Croix, Pierce and Dunn counties in western Wisconsin are under a severe thunderstorm warning, effective until 2:15 p.m.

According to the National Weather Service, at 1:28 p.m. radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing penny size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located five miles south of Baldwin or about 12 miles northeast of Ellsworth and moving east at 20 mph. Some locations include Woodville, Spring Valley, Wilson, Knapp, Elmwood and Eau Galle. If you are in the path of this storm prepare immediately for damaging winds and large hail. Seek shelter now inside a sturdy structure and stay away from windows. Severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes with little or no advance warning. Prepare to move to a place of safety in a sturdy structure such as a basement or small interior room if a tornado is spotted. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 600 PM CDT Thursday evening for southeastern Minnesota and west central Wisconsin.