Todays Gazette comes to you, from the "other side" of the second crest
of the Park River in Grafton.
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Happy Birthday Robert (Bob) Levos.
Although Bob is only 66, some might consider him a high mileage model.
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Check out the KXPO Radio website.
walshcountydailynews.com
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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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The river level is dropping and the significant rain event that was
forecasted for our area has been down graded to light showers. Life in
Shivercity will be wonderful once again. Mayor Todd sent the following
update a few minutes ago.
Subject: Flood Update 4/16/09
As I type this it is 8:00 pm on Thursday night and I'm quite tired
of water talk. That said, I am happy to see the river has dropped some
since it's crest last night of about 15.8 feet. (by 9:30 thursday
evening the level was 15.28) Hopefully she will move out of here
quickly, and then the biggest concern in my life can be my golf swing.
We NEED DIKE WALKERS tomorrow (Friday). So if you'd like a scenic
stroll along Grafton's flood protection, please contact City Hall at
352-1561.
Thanks
Todd <<<<< Thanks a million Todd, for helping us keep abreast of
the water issues in and around our community.
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Mentioning the East Side Grocery gave
Al and Ellie Johnson reason to share the following. >>>>
We, too, have wonderful memories of all those who visited the East
Side Grocery. And we remember when the town honored Lux on her 75th
birthday. And also the gathering on the East Side during Summerfest
several years ago. She was one of a kind. Al and Ellie Johnson,
Chico, CA. <<<< Thanks a million for caring and sharing.
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I shared the following "cruise for news" thought in a previous Gazette.
>>>> Yesterday, (April, 26 2002) on a "cruise for news" down Wakeman
Avenue. The past, present and what the future will be, all past through
the void between my ears like a lightning bolt hitting a cottonwood
tree. We entered Wakeman Ave. from the North and passed by the
house of our friends Allen & Hilde Mattson and the Corner Trailer Court
realizing that over the years most of the spots filled with mobile homes
are now empty. We passed a few more houses and drove by the home built
by Dick & Barb LaMont and then it happened. "OH MY GOD" came a shriek
from the passengers side of the cruiser. What happened to Wally
DeSautels house? It's gone! As we continued south, together, Pat & I,
said "look, Lequires house is gone too." Then just across the street
from Lequires was a large truck and a backhoe. It was Gene Hagens
equipment. Parked in front of the house my wife, my lover and my friend
grew up in. The house my Father-in-law moved there from main street in
1955. The house I once walked, ran, drove, and (a few times) waded too
in spring floods. HOLY SMOKERS! There they were, getting ready to tear
down a life time of memories.
The front door of the house was open, and the urge to look at the
walls that held so many memories was over whelming. As we stepped
through the door of 17 North Wakeman, images of the past flashed through
my mind like a VCR on fast forward. I could almost hear the sounds of
family gatherings. I looked at the bevelled glass picture window still
in place and the spot where the player piano once stood surrounded by
family members laughing and singing.
A walk through the bedroom that Pat and I slept in when our oldest
daughter Kelly was three years old and in poor health. A quick glance at
the bathtub, still standing on the same four legs it was built with over
three quarters of a century ago. OH, so many memories. The cabinet built
into the wall in the kitchen where Pa (Ray) used to hang his keys. The
spot where the kitchen table used to stand. I could almost hear Pa
signing "let's all sing like the birdies sign" at that table after a
night out playing shuffle board with "the guys". Then, as we
walked through the back door, WOW, it was still there. The bell on the
clothes line post that Ma (Marge) used to ring for the kids to come eat.
For some unknown reason, the need to have that bell was nothing short of
obsession. I asked John Corneillie (Gene Hagens son-in-law) if we might
be able to get it and he said, "if you can get it off", there is over
fifty years of rust on it so it might not be easy." Hearing that we
hi-tailed it back home for a pail full of tools and headed straight back
to "the house".
I pulled up in the driveway with a feeling of appreciation and
satisfaction thats hard to but in words. With pail of tools in hand, we
rounded the back of the house and DOG GONE, BUGGER, HECK, SHUCKS, GEE
WIZ, GOLLY, DARN, RATS!! It was gone. The bell was gone. Who, would have
the audacity to steel our bell. Who could possibly do such a dastardly
deed to a half breed Norwegian. Could they possibly know they didn't
just get a rusty old bell, they hauled away a myriad of memories. Oh
well...............
We were able to get an old cast iron pot Ma used to fill with
flowers in the back yard, as well as the gold address numbers 17 from
the front of the house.
When we returned home I immediately started putting the numbers 17
on a plaque for posterity and then, like the beller from a cow in
calving season. HE'S GOT IT, came from the kitchen. John wanting to be
sure we wouldn't loose the bell, removed it for us. There IS a God, He
WAS at 17 North Wakeman Ave. yesterday, and He allowed us to keep and
share, so many memories.
We have the plaque on the wall, the pot is hanging in our wishing
well, a large rock by our front door, and, the bell will acquire a
prominent spot in our home and our history. Wakeman Avenue has so
many memories. The place they were generated will all disappear but the
love that they fostered, we'll always hold dear.
<<<<<< For me all my memories become more important with years. For me,
memories bring back the laughter and tears. For me, all the people and
things I hold dear, keep getting better and better and better each year.
Memories certainly are wonderful things. They're the magic in life for
the goodness they bring.
And, to you John Corneillie, as the wonderful comedian Bob Hope would
always say, "Thanks for the memories".
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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.
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