BAXTER — A first for Baxter combined with a heat index of 105 degrees this Fourth of July keeping some people home, but others were parade diehards.

“Hot,” said Nancy Cross, Brainerd Community Action director, as she monitored the start of the parade. “It’s going really well. It’s just so hot. People waited until the last minute to come. I don’t blame them.”

Read More: http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2012-07-04/lakes-area-celebrates-freedom