March 23, 2009 - Monday

Todays Gazette comes to you in spite of the .32 inches of moisture
since Sunday evening.
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The current temperature is 43 degrees.
Yesterdays H/L temperature was 57/34
Normal H/L temp for this date is 38/20
It was 78 degrees on this date in 1910
The river level at the time this Gazette is beng sent to you is 12.40
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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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If the Grafton community doesn't make it through the predicted
potential for flood. It will not be because every member of the Grafton
city leadership team. It won't be because Gowan Construction Co.,
Kilmers Excavating Co and hundreds of other folks haven't worked their
rear ends off trying to keep us dry.
As almost always happens when "things get tough", amazing things just
seem to happen. Generally those amazing things happen, because of the
wonderful amazing folks stand at the ready so it can.
For instance Monday morning my son-in-law David decided it would be a
good idea to have some sand bags on hand by the Country Smoke House.
Just in case the water exceeds the dikes. So,... he asked a couple
Smokehouse employees, Mike Misialek & Jon Burke along with my grandson
Nick, if they would mind going over to the City Hall parking lot and
fill some sand bags. They took Jons pickup with trailer in tow and
headed for the sand bagging pile.
Now then,... this is really where the amazing part starts. You'll
remember that "the boys" were going to fill sand bags to protect the
Country Smoke House from potential flood damage. The amazing part
is......... Kent DeSautel, a co-owner of Wallys Supermarkets of Grafton
and Devils Lake, helped them fill the sand bags and load them in the
truck. That's not all, ironically, this whole process just happened to
be at the same time that the Grand Forks Channel 8 television crew was
in town getting a story on our flood problems.
Although you are reading about the "amazing event" in the Gazette. If
you had been watching channel 8 news Monday evening you would have seen
the event in living color.
Now,..... that I've written about it, and now that I have read what I
wrote. Maybe I used the term 'amazing' in error. According to my
Webster, Amazing. suggests with great surprise, astonish or wonder. Yup,
now I am absolutely certain. It really wasn't any great surprise, nor
should I have been astonish in the least. You see, DeSautel's have been
helping people in this community, ever since their father Wally DeSautel
was a young man helping people in this community.
THEN AGAIN,.... after I read that part. I'm beginning to think, doggone
bugger heck shucks. That is AMAZING after all.
So,.... before I share Mayor Burianek's latest message. I would like to
thank everyone, for everything they are doing to protect our homes and
our livelihood.
Mayor Burianek wrote this just prior to noon on Monday Morning. >>>
~~~~~~~ FLOOD UPDATE ~~~~~~~~
At 10:30 am. we received an updated flood projection.
The projected crest is 14 feet IF the anticipated precipitation
is in the form of snow
The projected crest is 15 feet IF the anticipated precipitation is
in the form of rain.
The crest is projected to be on Thursday or Friday of this week.
Who thought we'd pray for snow at the end of March?
We have the levees high enough for either crest.
TB <<<<<
Thanks a million for caring and sharing Todd. I might also add that as
I am writing this the water is frightfully close to entering Leistikow
Park. For easy reference I am including a few specific levels for
general information.
15.0'...storm sewer drains...Armory.
14.5'...Major flood stage. Flooding on 300 block of Noben Avenue.
14.0'...Flooding on 100 block of Griggs Avenue.
13.5'...Moderate Flood Stage. Water level is at the top of hydrants at
3rd and Western. Water reaches 2nd and Burgamott.
12.5'...City park begins to flood. 5th Street West and Golf Course road
blocked.
12.0'...Flood Warning Stage...minor. Water in Leistikow park at 3rd and
Eastern.
11.8'...Bankfull Stage.
9.0'...Forecast Service Stage.
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"How you look at a problem is not nearly as important, as how you deal
with it."
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Subject: Our Saviours Potato Feed
Our Saviours Lutheran in Grafton will host a Potato feed with all the
topping, bars and a few other surprises. It sounds like their furnaces
went the opposite direction their parishioners are hoping to go and
their air conditioner needs repair. The event will be held Saturday,
March 28, 2009 from 5-7pm.
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I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out
to be an optical Aleutian.
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If you haven't toured the Minto Community Center, so I've been told.
It should be put on you "must do list". AND, I've been told. With a
little luck you may even catch a glimpse of Ginger Rogers and Fred
Astaire dancing in the ballroom. Of course, some pessimist's might say
the dancers better resemble June & Art Selseth. I can assure you,
regardless of who you might think they look like. They caress a dance
floor like a warm summers breeze on the lips of an angel.
Gary,
Sandy Schuster would like to remind everyone about the Polish National
Alliance Dancers 4th Annual Polish Food Fest Saturday, March 28, 2009,
Polish meal from 3:00 - 7:00, performances by the P.N.A. Dancers at
4:00, 5:00 & 6:00, and from 7:00 - 11:00 enjoy the music of Matt Hodek &
the Dakota Dutchmen all at the Community Center in Minto, ND.
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GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
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"Life is to short for long answers."


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