October 21, 2008 - Tuesday

Todays Gazette is brought to you by the Unity Medical Center Foundation.
~ "Uniting for a Healthier Tomorrow." ~
Please attend "Tonights" meeting about Unity Medical Center at Century
Elemetery School at 7:00 pm in the commons area.
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The current temperature is 32 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 49/27
Normal H/L temp for this date is 53/31
It was 79 degrees on this date in 1947
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"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
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L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff.
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It is becoming more and more evident - to me at least - that the real
winners in this years political campaign will be the ruthless, vicious,
unscrupulous news media buffoons. They, and their affiliated news (?)
networks, are amassing tens of millions of dollars prodding politicians
and American citizens into a frenzy.
Some folks have suggested that the MSNBC moniker stands for Mainly
Swaying News Broadcasting Clowns. There may or may not be any truth to
that inference. I'm almost certain, however, that I am not the only
American Citizen that is getting extremely tired of the way television
networks continually bash of our political candidates.
On both sides of the isle.
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Although I can't be absolutely positive that every member of our
Grafton City Government team has heard about the issues surrounding the
former Walsh County Bank Building. I'm not even really sure how many
members of the Grafton Chamber of Commerce are aware of the status of
the mildew, rodent and rot that is involved regarding that structure.
I am, however, reasonably certain that some members are. The vacant
building, once filled with money, hopes and dreams, now stands empty.
The only possible, purposeful, use the building could provide would be
for the storage of sailboat fuel. Unfortunately, I doubt our city
fathers would allow the use of sailboats in our city sanitary lagoon
system.
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Mentioning the former Walsh County Bank and Trust in the Gazette hasn't
been completely negative however. As evident by the following note from
Millie. >>>>
Hi Gary
The mention of the Walsh County Bank brought back memories of having
worked at it when it was located near the, I think it was the Main Bar
and the Loos Hardware store. I thought they built a new one closer to
Grafton National Bank. I worked there when Bill Johnston was was
President in the late 1940's. As you can see I haven't been back for a
while as I have no family living there any longer. I love living in
eastern Minnesota after 10 years in Arizona. Keep up your articles as
they bring memories to a lot of former residents.
Millie (Pribula) Sobolik. <<<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing
Millie. Your memory is absolutely correct. The "new" Walsh County Bank
was, in fact, moved across the street to the west side of the 500 block
of Hill Avenue in May of 1950. Then the Walsh County Bank moved to the
location in the 900 block of Hill Avenue in 1974 and remains there to
this day. Although it has since become known as a Bremer Bank.
W.J. (Bill) Johnston retired from active banking in 1964, although if
one tries hard enough, it may still be possible to hear Bill greeting
his "beneficiaries" with a smile and a sincere sturdy hand shake.
P.S.
For those of you that haven't been "Home" for awhile. The present site
of the Bremer Bank facility (formerly the Walsh County Bank) is situated
on the property that Melvin Thompson and Bill Meier called home. As a
matter of fact, as I remember it. Bob Oihus moved the beautiful birch
tree that enhances Paul and Jill Thompson's south end lawn, from that
particular corner of Hill Avenue and 9th street. Aren't memories
wonderful?
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Have you ever though about going to Branson, and wondered what the
temperature is in Branson Missouri? Rick answered the temp question.
>>>>
Hi Gary,
We had a high today of 77 degrees and our low was 56. Are you warm yet?
Ha Rick <<<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing Rick. I suspect you
noticed the new (Shivercity) Gazette moniker.
Then of course Rick, it is very difficult to actually "want" warm
weather after harvesting over 9 million tons of sugar beets that
requires cold weather to store them properly.
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I share the following message from Jay with sincere sympathy. Jay
wrote: >>>>
Hi Gary,
I just wanted to let you know, that one of Grafton's children, Rosella
K. Murphy (Sandvig) passed away on Oct. 5th, 2008 after a bout with
Alzheimer's. She turned 86 last July 3rd and is survived by her husband
Wallace Murphy, son Dan 54, daughter Susan (older than Dan), nephew Jay
Robinson (54) (that's me), 4 grandchildren, and 2 and 1/3 great
grandchildren. Also surviving her is a sister Charlotte Tweten of Grand
Forks, brother Orlie Sandvig of Grafton, 1/2 sister Ruth Insko (Hove),
and numerous nephews and nieces. She lost her brother Marvin Sandvig,
and sister Delores Sandvig (my Mom) several years ago. Her Grandmother
was Clara (Monson Sandvig) Hove and most of our family from their
generation is buried at the South Trinity Church near where they grew up
and farmed the land.
I made my first visit this spring back to N. Dakota in nearly 40 years
and saw the old family farm, church, and remaining family. It was
special for me. We lost Rose to this terrible disease long before her
passing, and I would want the folks back home to know how wonderful a
person she was, taking in a nephew that needed a stable environment when
he as in the 4th grade, and keeping him until he spread his wings at the
ripe old age of 19 and made his own way in the world; a better person
due in large part to her.
I'm very proud of my Monson, Sandvig roots, and just wanted to share a
little about my Aunt. I'm sure a number of seniors in the area will
remember my aunt, and perhaps share a story with a friend or family
member. Goodbye and God bless you, Aunt Rose for all you did for me.
Apologies to any family members I might have overlooked, it was not
intentional.
Love, Jay <<<<
Thank you so much Jay, for caring and sharing. Your story is heart
warming and I am pleased you chose to share it with the members of our
Gazette family.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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"If you think no-one is interested in what you have to say. You really
should rethink what you thought in the first place."
Or so it seems to me.


Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they
are,..... before it's too late.