Subject: SKEETERVILLE GAZETTE
08/23/04 MONDAY grp. 3
The present temperature is 46 degrees (above) with calm winds under a
fair sky.
There is a seventy percent chance it won't rain today. Tonight there's a
seventy percent chance it will. There is a fifty percent chance, most,
forecasters will be at least fifty percent accurate on todays forecast
for yesterdays weather.
==================================
"Profanity makes ignorance audible."
==================================
Last weeks "cooler" weather started many plants - and animals -
preparing for fall. Several varieties of trees and bushes have started
shedding their leaves. Lawn sprinklers are being used less frequently.
It's the time of year when more boats are heading home than to the lake.
Harvest season, though later than average, has begun throughout the
area. Unfortunately last weeks hard frost damaged much of the areas bean
crop. Now, not only the price of oil is going up, so too will the price
of "natural gas". Rumour has it the Red River Valley Sugarbeet harvest
will also be set back from it's normal early September start date.
==================================
This coming Wednesday, there will be a "energize Grafton" meeting. I'm
not sure what is involved. I'm guessing it will be someone "we payed"
from out of town, telling us to spend our money in town. Now that's a
new concept.
Question? What can small towns do to increase business. Answer. Deserve
it.
energize Grafton?
Small town businesses MUST do business in town if they expect the
community to do business with them.
Yup, (that's Norwegian for, if your business doesn't do business with
other businesses in town. Why should other businesses in town, do
business with yours?) That being said, it's time local businesses
understand that without local residence, they, will no longer be a local
business.
ENERGIZE GRAFTON?
The idea that local businesses can justify going out of town, and, out
of state to purchase their "goods" - because there cheaper - makes about
as much sense as expecting local residents to shop in town - because
it's more expensive.
ENERGIZE GRAFTON?
Within the past two days I have "shopped" at a local business
establishment that doesn't appear as though the shelves have been dusted
or cleaned for years. Energize Grafton? I went to three local businesses
looking for what I "obviously wrongly" thought to be a common item and
found none. Energize Grafton?
On two separate occasions, at two different establishments, in one day.
I personally received less (significantly less) appreciation for my
business than I could ever imagine. Energize Grafton?
On a regular basis I observe "our" local businesses prime parking
spots, consumed by the firms owners or it's employees. Energize Grafton?
It's not unusual, in fact it is the norm, to find the proprietor, or
employees, of one establishment parking (consuming) in the prime parking
spots of their fellow Chamber of Commerce business member. Energize
Grafton?
Do "we" find ourselves spending more time telling "us" we can't, than
we do saying "we" can. Energize Grafton?
The place to look for solutions to Graftons needs will not be found in
one room, "cleaned up", for a meeting. It will only be found in "cleaned
up" business establishments that present themselves as deserving of
"our" residence patronage.
Our community will not grow, if it continues to be absorbed by a few.
It will not prosper if the business community continues to "farm out"
it's business to other communities. Energize Grafton.
The best animal trainers in the world will tell you that a dog "can
learn" if it does things right. However, it will learn faster and better
from it's mistakes.
Lord knows "we've" made a few mistakes, everyone has. If we are ever
going to Energize Grafton. We must first learn from "our" mistakes, and
correct them. Or so it seems to me.
==================================
I understand Daves Hardware is, or will be, under new management. Dave
Lott brought a super hardware store to Grafton. When he started his
store in the old Reyleck's building. It would have been very difficult
to need anything he didn't stock. It was "our" small town version of
Menards, Lowes and Home Depot all rolled into one. I haven't heard Daves
plans for the future nor am I sure enough about the new management to
make comment at this time.
I'm not sure if I heard the conversation correctly this morning.
Either the store has some real nice oak wood in it, OR, the new owner is
from Oakwood. (I think)
I do wish Dave the very best in his future and hope the store, under new
management, will continue to prosper.
-------------------------
I have, on more than one occasion, been asked to share my opinion
about American Crystals tax appeal. I must admit, I struggled with the
topic for quite some time. Then, fortunately for me, Mike Jacobs,
Publisher and Editor of the Grand Forks Herald put an editorial in the
August 18 edition of the Herald that tells it just like I would have
wanted to,....if I had the ability to write like Mike.
Thanks Mike, for getting me off the hook. Most of all, however, thanks
for understanding and dealing with such a very difficult subject.
I've spent 36 years in the sugar beet business. I can honestly say that
I never once met a sugarbeet grower that wanted, or expected, to shirk
their community responsibilities.
In this, an election year let it be said. "He that believes he doesn't
pay enough taxes stand up and pay more", so that he that pays more than
his fair share might pay less". Or so it seems to me.
==================================
It's still not to late to get your ticket for the year long Grafton
Volunteer Firefighter calendar draw. $ 20 for 365 chances to win. Total
prizes of $11,550. Your name goes back in the hat after every draw.
PLEASE, contact a Grafton Volunteer Firefighter or drop me a line and
I'll make sure you get one,...or two,....or more.
==================================
GOTTA GO WORK ON MY DASH
==================================
P.S.
Our school starts this Thursday. I've never really figured out why
school should start on a Thursday. Why not on a Monday and have a long
weekend? Why not on Tuesday and have two long weekends? Why not wait
until after Labor day and have a longer summer?
No matter, it is the time of year when we should be extra careful
around buildings used for educational purposes. Besides, the instructors
don't always look when they cross the street either.
P.P.S
The latest fishing report.......
Write if you can, call if you can't, and, tell your loved ones they are,
before it's too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment