Wednesday, June 18, 2008

June 18, 2008 - Wednesday

Todays Gazette is brought to you by.... all the wonderful folks from
St. Thomas North Dakota that welcome everyone in the area to help them
celebrate St. Thomas Daze this Saturday, June 21.
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The current temperature is 51.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 81/46
Normal H/L temp for this date is 77/54
It was 105 degrees on this date in 1933.
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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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Trucks and equipment from Strata Corporation are hauling the all the
dirt from three street projects into the area often referred to as the
States School Slough south of the Leistikow Park. Filling in the slough
will not only improve the overall look of the area, it will eliminate
some real serious skeeter breeding grounds as well.
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Speaking of Leistikow Park. The staff responsible for it's day to day
care and maintenance are to be commended for the fantastic work they do.
Grafton can be very proud of it's Park & Rec facilities and the programs
they offer the Grafton area.
I invite everyone to take a leisurely drive through Leistikow Park and
experience the tranquil, calming, effect it can have.
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Rumor has it that more and more people every day are finding the Daily
Grind, just off main on east 5th street is a fantastic place for a
coffee break and a lunch.
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===== === MINTO === =====
TOMORROW.... THURSDAY, 19th
everyone will motor to Minto for their Quasquicetennial Celebration
Cookout.
Burgers, brats, chips, pop and ice cream sundaes will be served on the
Main Street in Minto from 5 to 9. I guarantee you won't find better
burgers and brats anywhere in the world.
Proceeds from the FREE WILL offering will be used to defer celebration
expenses.
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Graftons Heritage Village is open Sundays from 1 to 4 to tour the
buildings and grounds. Vintage Merry-go-round rides are also available.
Graftons Heritage village is fortunate to have one of the country's few
remaining "authentic" merry-go-rounds in existence.
Heritage Village will also be participating in Graftons SummerFest and
will be offering the following lunch menu after the parade.
Saturday June 28th from 11am til 1pm
Music will be provided by Brent Hermans—Piano Talk—from 12noon til
1pm
Serving:
Roast Turkey on a Bun, Macaroni Salad, Chips, Ice Cream, Lemonade and
Coffee all for only $7.00.
On the lighter side:
BBQ, Chips, Ice Cream and Lemonade all for only $4.00.
All proceeds will go toward the operation of Graftons Heritage village.
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~~ Grafton's 2008 SUMMERFEST ~~
I understand most of the final preparations for this years celebration
have been completed. Members of every age group should find this years
celebration fun and entertaining.
Events like SummerFest require significant effort and input of many
people to make them successful. Everyone in the business community is
not only asked, but to a certain degree required, to contribute and
participate if such undertakings are to come to fruitfull fruition.
To that end I often find myself wondering. Why, I wonder, isn't
businesses like Wal-Mart, Target, Menards, Loews, Old Navy and the
Columbia Mall among others, listed in the credits along with our "local"
merchants? Certainly, in my mind at least, they have gained as much, or
more, from the folks that will enjoy Grafton's SummerFest Celebration
than the local merchants that inevitably end up "footing the bill".
Everytime I drive through our local merchants parking lots, I am truly
amazed at the number of vehicles that have been purchased from a small
town dealership along the Red River. I often wonder, how much that
business contributes to, and participates in, the success of the
community in which I live.
"Small town celebrations are a lot more fun, when there is still people
left in them,.... to celebrate.
Or so it seems to me.
========================
GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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The next several issues of the Gazette will be written in invisible
ink. If something really important comes up. During the day, I can be
reached at
WALLEYE COMBINE.COM


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

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

June 17, 2008 - Tuesday

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Todays Gazette is brought to you from beautiful Arnesen's Rocky Point
Resort on the south shores of Minnesota's Lake of the Woods.
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The current temperature is 75
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 75/43
Normal H/L temp for this date is 78/53
It was 100 degrees on this date in 1995.
And that's global warming?
===================
"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
===================
L O C A L news & stuff,.. mostly stuff
------------------------
Some may have noticed that the Gazette has been printed with invisible
ink for the past few weeks. During that time I have been experiencing
all of the sights, sounds and weather conditions mother nature has been
able to muster.
Fishing out of Rocky Point, as always, has been absolutely
fantastic..... catching on the other hand, ran the entire gamut. The old
Walleye Combine didn't seem to have any trouble finding fish. However,..
it's operator (me) couldn't seem to coax many of the wily walleye's to
take the bait as often as I would like. Fortunately, for me anyway, the
walleye and steak at Rock Harbor Lodge are all much easier to come by
and are cooked to perfection.
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There doesn't seem to be much activity around the new Subway Sandwich
store. Everything looks about like it did before I went walleye hunting.
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The Extra End Patio project appears to be up and running with a bright
new white fence surrounding a sea of astro turf and patio tables.
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I notice Country Realty has sold a few more houses while I was gone. It
still looks like the best way to sell a house in town, is have the folks
from the Country do it.
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Speaking of houses. Delhart and Judith Nygard, along with having one of
the nicest looking lawns in town, also has one of the prettiest
"roofers" in town as well.
Evidently, when Alysia Osowski isn't busy working with Troy at
Granny's, she helps him shingle roofs.
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It sure is great to see the Leistikow Park Camp Ground full. Without
question It will have a significant economic impact on our little
community and the entire area.
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Pat and I stopped at the Country Smokehouse and picked up a couple
books of "RAFFLE TICKETS" good for over $2000 dollars in prizes. You can
purchase individual tickets for $5 each, or a book of five tickets for
only $20.
It's a super way to participate in the activities and festivities of
Graftons annual Summerfest Celebration.
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Stan Pascke and his lovely wife Emmy will be in town Wednesday the 25.
Most of the "older" hockey players and fans will remember Stan. Although
Stan has been retired for quite some time know, he still remains current
on regional hockey and sports events.
For us "fisherpersons", Stan and Emmy still produce some of the best
"Wa-Pa" fishing spinners on the market. Stan once told me that every
single spinner he sells is absolutely guaranteed to catch something. If
not a fish,... a fisherman.
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If you've been thinking about moving back to North Dakota, and, have
been trying to decide on just the right property to settle on. You might
consider bidding on one or more of the 14 former MinuteMan III Missile
Sites. You could fill'em full of bottle rockets and have a real bang up
fourth of July at the same time.
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Badger Minnesota is not only the Mallard Capital of the world. It is
also the home of Judy and Darrel Borgen, two of the nicest people in the
whole wide world.
++++
Speaking of nice people. We've been thinking alot about Lloyd Hanson
lately and hoping everything is going well. Somehow coffee at the lodge
just isn't the same without him. Hurry up and get back to the Rock
Lloyd, Jerry O. said he can hardly wait to talk to you.
++++
Gosh, Dr. Bob, I sure am sorry I missed you when you visited Rocky
Point the other day. Thanks a million for the note. I hope your trip up
North was a good one.
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==== = CONGRATULATIONS = ====
The Schumacher's are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their family
business.
For three quarters of a century Schumacher & Sons has played a
significant role in the business community of Grafton.
Over the years members of the Schumacher family have contributed untold
hours and resources to numerous projects and organizations around the
area.
A park on the south end of town has been named Schumacher Park,
honoring Buster for his life long contributions to the city of Grafton.
Buster and Helen Schumacher will always share a very special place in
the hearts of our family for helping us during a a time when even hope
seemed so difficult for us to reach.
To this day, David and Linda, and their organization, continues to
carry on the "Schumacher tradition" of carring for the needs of the
people the area.
Pat and I would like to extend our most heartfelt congratulations to
Dave and Linda Schumacher, and the entire Schumacher & Sons organization
for 75 years of caring and sharing.
You have made our little town a much better place to live.
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The forecast for the next several days calls for fantastic fishing,
and, I just happen to have a box full of the best looking worms I've
ever seen. (Thanks to Gunner)
So,... I'm going to take those worms, and a couple pink Wa-Pa spinners
just south of Rocky Point and hook a limit of 19½ inch Walleyes for
the frypan.
And, even if I don't get my limit, I'll have a darn good time trying.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
=====================
Just in case you're wondering. I use pink Wa-Pa spinners because female
walleyes are bigger than the males and females prefer pink. And,
everyone knows walleyes prefer pretty worms rather than ugly ones. 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.