Although Dwane David Peterson was convicted for kidnapping and never for any sexual crimes, he has attempted to contact boys while he was imprisoned, authorities said. A North Mankato man at the public meeting said Peterson had contacted his son several times, visiting the house once claiming to be a member of the Big Brother program.

The meeting isn’t a means to send everyone in a panic. If anything, it should help educate the community about protecting children and teaching them how to deal with various situations. There are other predators in the community who have not been classified as level three offenders.

Thumbs up

To Gov. Tim Pawlenty and CenterPoint Energy for a plan announced Friday to provide free window insulation kits to low to moderate income people in Minnesota.

CenterPoint also will provide free boiler tuneups for K-12 schools throughout its service area.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce estimates the initiative will save an estimated 30,000 Minnesotans an average of $140 or as much as 20 percent on their heating bills this winter.

The boiler tuneups can typically cost up to $800.

The window insulation kits will go to those Minnesotans who received energy assistance payments last year. The kits are produced by 3M, which ramped up production to meet the needs of the program.

The public-private partnership is part of the governor’s Energy Security Package and it’s an easy, fairly cost effective way for Minnesotans to save energy.