By Lori EhdeJust in time for the July 4 holiday weekend, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty approved a funding package that would keep state parks open for camping.That news arrived Thursday, June 30, just as campers with reservations in the Blue Mounds State Park were packing for the weekend.The local campgrounds were booked full for the weekend, but as time ran out on the regular legislative session, lawmakers still couldn’t agree on several budget plans – including the Department of Natural Resources.Campers with reservations in Minnesota state parks were warned they may need alternative plans if the state government shut down.Jack and Gloria Jonas, Fergus Falls, made their reservations for the Blue Mounds State Park camp site more than two weeks ago.They planned to stay at the campground near Luverne on their way back from a July 4 family gathering in Nebraska."With the possible state shutdown, we didn’t know what to expect," Gloria Jonas said from her campsite Tuesday morning. "The first thing I said to the park ranger when we got here was ‘I’m sure glad you’re open.’"On June 30, Gov. Pawlenty signed a bill that was passed by the Minnesota Legislature that approved funding for the DNR for the biennium.Approval of this budget means that all DNR facilities, offices, services and state parks have funding to remain open for the next two years.But as of press time Wednesday, a complete budget agreement still hadn’t been reached in the Legislature.The most visible signs of the state government partial shutdown were closed rest stops along highways, including the Beaver Creek Travel and Information Center on the Minnesota-South Dakota Border along I-90.The state also received emergency funding to continue delivering services to the health and safety of Minnesota residents, including the State Patrol.About 9,000 of the state’s 48,000 employees didn’t report to work Friday after the state budget wasn’t approved.Among those were workers at driver’s license exam stations, including the one in Luverne.Funding for transportation, social services, health care and public schools was not approved before the start of the new budget cycle, forcing offices associated with those programs to close.Construction projects along state roads will continue, but district DOT offices, such as the one in Windom, will be closed to the public.