December 4, 2008 - Thursday

Todays Gazette is brought to you by the citizens of Grafton. The proud
"new" owners of some of Graftons most prime venture property.
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The current temperature is 11 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 22/6
Normal H/L temp for this date is 24/8
It was 52 degrees on this date in 1916
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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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According to an article in the latest edition of the Walsh County
Record. Three (3) properties were "offered" to the citizens of Grafton
for the sum of one, ($1.00) dollar each. In general terms that's about
the same price as a dozen rolls of toilet paper at the dollar store. Of
course, some might argue that the toilet paper, in the end (pardon the
pun) would be a better deal.
It seems now that the former owner of the former Walsh County Bank
building, has indeed "given" our community the property they haven't
been paying the taxes on anyway.
I/we can only hope that "we" work posthaste at transforming that
property into a positive addition to the downtown business community.
And,... it goes without saying, now that the building has a responsible
owner, again, that the new owners (the citizens of Grafton) will most
certainly keep the building facade and sidewalks cleaned to the same
standards the rest of the downtown business establishments must adhere
to.
++++
The former Fish's 5 & 10 cent store - obviously the store was named
before inflation - has also become the property of the citizens of
Grafton. Gordy Stark "gave" me the first cap gun I ever owned way back
when he and Fritz Finger were the proprietors of Fish's Five & Dime.
A drive down the alley gives evidence that the back end of the building
is working diligently against the pressures of gravity and mature
nature. To put it another way. A substantial section of that building,
several feet long, doesn't seem to want to belong to the rest of the
building anymore and has starting breaking away from it. The yellow
caution tape and barricade in the alley behind it gives one a fare
indication of the issues "we" have acquired with that facility.
++++
Fortunately, for us, the property we "acquired" at 334 Stephen Avenue
only has a 'salvageable' garage with 7 foot sidewalls. And, fortunately
for us, the two 1940's model International Cub tractor mowers in
Grafton's grass cutting fleet probably didn't have enough grass to cut
during the summer anyway.
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~~~ IMPORTANT - REMINDER ~~~
/ / / / FRIDAY EVENING / / / /
The Vessel of Praise Concert
7:30 at the Grafton Lutheran Church
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I must admit, I've been wondering how my good friend John has been
doing lately. His following note gives some indication that he is still
somewhat "gainfully" employed. John wrote: >>>
Gary,
Just a note to let you know everything is back to normal at
the beet plant.
After 3 months I'm still employed as a mud man and so far I've
collected enough
mud to own 6 quarters in Minn. and 3 in N. D. I haven't moved up the
corporate ladder yet but CEO Dave Berg has me on speed dial. If anyone
is interested, including the beet farmers they should tour the plant as
it is something else.
It is interesting to see the sugar beet transformation, from a plant
grown in the ground to pure white crystal sugar. Most people don't
realize that last year the American Crystal Sugar factory at Drayton
sliced almost 2 million tons of sugar beets. ~~~~~~~~~~
Also,... I would like to remind your following of the 3rd annual
CHILI-RAMA Cook Off and bake sale at the Grafton Federated Church this
Sat. from11 am to 2 pm. There will be lots of different
chili's and 2 types of soup for the weak at heart. Also there will be a
showing of different types of nativity sets. Everyone is invited come
and enjoy them.
Thanks for getting the message out and I have to go as the mud of the
valley calls.
Thanks,
John Olaf Aasand the 12th <<<<
Thanks a million for caring and sharing John. Lets hope there is a
super turnout at this years Federated Church Chili-Rama this Saturday
between 11 & 2.
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After church Sunday, bring the family to Heritage Village in Grafton
for a delicious Pancake and Sausage Breakfast
~~~~~~ Serving 9am til 1pm ~~~~~~
A "Free Will Offering" will be used for the operation and
maintenance of the Grafton Heritage Village complex.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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"Some days your the nail, some days the hammer."


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