Todays Gazette is brought to you Doris' Gourmet Soup. Assembled and
packaged right here in Grafton, North Dakota.
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The current temperature is -17 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was -1/-19
Normal H/L temp for this date is 14/-5
The national weather service says we can expect winter weather or
winter like weather, for the rest of the winter.
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"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
"Smoking makes ignorance visible."
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L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
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Rumor has it that a, "previously owned", vehicle dealership from the
Grand Cities to the south will soon be operating out of the former
Johnson used car facilities on the west side of Grafton. I'm not sure
who, However, I was assured they would be Top Quality used cars.
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Paper work for a new automotive service center to be housed in the
former Heritage Ford Chrysler building is under way and expected to be
completed soon.
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Advertising, as I mentioned yesterday, is an extremely important part
of any business strategy. Obviously Slumberland of Grand Forks, Fargo
etc, etc, understands that importance too. They sent one of their huge
trucks, complete with a giant picture of a mattress and their company
name and address to town yesterday. They backed the truck into the
driveway of a home on the busiest intersection of town. (Main street and
hiway 17). What a perfect spot for a giant advertising sign for a out of
town business. Newman Sign Company couldn't have picked a better spot.
Obvious too, is the fact that the folks living at that residence must
not have been aware that Grafton True Value and Landowski's Furniture
both sell top brand bedding for a safe and sound and restful sleep.
Small town USA, use them, or loose them. Or so it seems to me.
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I've received a significant amount of correspondence lately about "Our"
friends from Ohio. All of it has been positive, with one exception.
Almost everyone that writes, or asks, would like to know more, about the
group that travels so far to enjoy our area and spend time with us.
So, I am pleased to share a note Bill sent shortly after returning
home. He wrote.
Hello,Gary
I'm happy to let you know that we all arrived at home in Ohio
safely Friday evening. As we separate and each go our own way, we shake
hands with a smile, thank each other for the camaraderie, friendship and
fun we've shared over the past two weeks and look forward to next year.
Similarly to the way we leave Grafton.
In response to 'disgruntled', I admit the $27 license to hunt fox
and coyote is a very reasonable fee. We actually feel we become
residents of the Grafton area for two weeks. We patronize local
businesses: i.e. Hansons, motel Leonard, Grannys, Napa, Auto
Wash, Pizza Hut, Pamida, Alco, Dennys, Simonsons, Grafton Drug,
Schumachers, Market Place, among others, where we pay North Dakota sales
tax. Not to mention the business we patronize in the Fargo and Hunter
area on the trip both ways.
We patronize and participate in Grafton area fund raisers. I
enjoyed looking over the wrestling schedule posted in the window at
Simonsons. And took some pride in knowing that I had a small part in
supporting that program. We are as much residents for our time there
as any other seasonal resident during their stay.
Our group shares a great deal of respect for the out doors
and nature. Kind of obvious since we come 1200 miles to Grafton to spend
time outside in January. We wouldn't consider destroying property public
or private or disposing of trash anywhere except the proper receptacle.
It saddens us to see that all people who travel the rural roads don't
feel the same.
Myself, I'm a farmer, I own and operate a seed company and
serve as chairman of our local soil and water conservation district. My
roots in conservation run deep. Steve is a drainage contractor and
farmer he's fascinated by the network of ditches, dikes, rivers and
topography. He has a great respect for mother nature and the power of
water. Gary a gunsmith runs a shop and store selling outdoor
recreation gear. His business depends on people sharing his
appreciation and respect for the out of doors.
Chuck is a retired parks officer who spent his entire career studying
nature, maintaining natural areas and enforcing the law. Currently he
helps his brother-in-law Bob in spring and fall plant and harvest.
During summer he helps Steve. Bob W. Operates a grain farm with his
two sons it seems pretty obvious that a farmer would be fascinated by
the rich agriculture heritage of the Red River Valley. His desire to
pass his business to his sons gives you an idea that he has a vision
for the future which includes the next generation working hand and hand
with mother nature. Bob S. the newest member of the group is a retired
railroad engineer. He's spent many years seeing the country from a
different perspective. His family has a long history as outdoor
sportsmen. He is currently president of the Lytton Fox Hunters Club.
Our club consists of about 40 active members; the club
started in the 1950s as an organized social group of primarily farmers
who enjoyed hunting. For many years there was a bounty on fox since they
raided many hen houses. Today our club is primarily a conservation club.
Many members enjoy hunting/fishing and have interest in wildlife
habitat, conservation, community service and hunter safety.
We made our first visits to the Grafton area more than ten
years ago in search of snow. At home snow fall in recent years has
become sparse. Our primary method of hunting is tracking on foot.
Without snow that becomes very difficult. Residential encroachment on
farmland and natural areas has also been a detriment.
In answer to the question about fox in Ohio yes we have some fox.
Similar to North Dakota the fox population is down largely due to
increased coyote population. Fox and coyote almost never inhabit the
same area. They compete for habitat and food. When there is a
confrontation between the two, almost never do both participants
survive. A coyote being approximately three times the size of a fox
requires much more food. Their food of choice appears to be venison and
in the spring while feeding their young the young of any species makes a
tasty meal.
In Grafton, the coyote population has been on a steady rise
for the last ten years. We've been seeing two to three times as many
coyote as fox, but things are looking up for your local fox population.
This year all of the fox are healthy, five years ago most of the fox had
sacroptic mange which is transmitted from one animal to another by
contact i.e.: its mate or young. Mange is almost always a death
sentence.
Hunting as a wildlife management tool is an interesting
concept. By selling licenses, management of this natural resource is
funded. The concept is best understood through the eyes of a Biologist
or Agriculturalist. The hunting process tends to eliminate animals who
are ill, injured or old.Thus the remaining animals are stronger, more
healthy, younger, faster and more intelligent. Now having more
habitat making them more prolific with offspring sharing these same
characteristics. Of particular importance, is the likelihood that since
these animals are healthy a resistance to disease is being bred into the
species.
In animal husbandry or plant breeding, we term this process culling the
herd or population. Thus insuring the survival and productivity of the
population. In Ohio there are urban areas where hunting is not allowed,
now the wildlife population is so high the animals are diseased. So the
state is paying professional snipers to cull animals. Disease is a
natural process, but sometimes nature is very cruel. Maybe you've heard
of aids, smallpox or polio.
I understand not everyone feels the same way about hunting.
I hope this sheds some light. We are all entitled to our own views and
opinions on many topics, such as religion, politics and the environment.
All concerned people, can rest assured that we left plenty of critters
for seed. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is looking out for
the interest of all critters, as well as yours and mine.
Gary, you are welcome to do as you wish with any or all of
this information as you see fit. Thank you for all you have done for us.
I am sure you realize this is my view from my side of the fence.
Bill Shininger <<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing
Bill. Thanks also to the rest of "our" Ohio Fox Hunting Friends for
picking Grafton, and, north eastern North Dakota to enjoy you passion
for the great outdoors. Thanks as well, for participating in several
local projects while your here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
====== HAPPY BIRTHDAY ======
--- TOM & NICOLE HARTJE ---
Tom celebrated the anniversary of his birth Sunday. He also has 44
reasons why he doesn't need any more candles.
Nicole will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of her first day on
earth.
Happy birthday Tom and Nicole
We love you both very much!!!
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GOTTA - GO - WORK - ON - MY - DASH
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Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they are,
before it's too late.
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