April Fool by Sue Orsen.  For the rest of this story, click to your right on Headlines.
Victoria Streets from A to Z by Tom Gray, Victoria Building Official.  "Many years ago the names of a lot of Victoria's streets were changed to a system of alphabetized flowers.  If you take in the entire city, it could be said that we have flowers names from A to Z, from Aster Trail to Zinnia …"
Gators, Palm Trees, and Heat by Thom Derr, Rough Rider.  "Once again the bike got put on a trailer and went south.  The Harley babe sent me with her blessing …"
Are You Kidding Me? by Tom Stumpf, Cowboy Correspondent.  "Having never had an original idea in my life, the cowboy has been listening to and reading the news of late and found himself saying 'Oofda' quite often.  Here's the short list …"
Play the Game by Tom Abts, Deer run Golf Course.  "Sometimes people get so into golf that they forget to play the game.  What I mean is that they become so concerned about swing technique or their equipment or the rules, that they lose sight of the object of golf -- to get the ball in the hole in as few stroke as possible …:
Look at Tapas by Brian Sadowski, Victoria Food Fanatic.  "As the weather gets nicer and the warm days of spring and summer draw near, people tend to begin looking for lighter, more colorful options when it comes to dining …"
Happy Endings by Pastor Ken Kotzer, Mount Olivet Church-West Campus.  "What if we determined our values, attitudes, and priorities by our immortality in the Resurrection of the Christ?  How different would life be!  We would all be walking around with our happy endings …"
Rejecting a Budget Bill by Senator Julianne Ortman, District #34A.  "I will not balance the budget at the expense of education.  The single most common request I hear from taxpayers is to increase financial support for our schools …"
At the Halfway Point by Representative Paul Kohls, District #34.  "We have passed the halfway point in the 2005 legislative session.  I would like to use this space to update you on the issues I am working on and give you a brief rundown of where the House stands on the session's major issues …"
ACLU Undermines USA by Ethel Ausink, Senior Citizens Reporter.  "I don't know how many of my readers of this column have seen the 43-foot cross that sits on top of Mt. Soledad overlooking the city of San Diego, California.  It was erected on top of this mountain in 1953 in honor of war veterans over 50 years ago … The ACLU complains about it …"
Shooting Stars!  by Mary Leizinger, Victoria Realtor.  "A review of home sales reported on property tax records show Victoria joined the ranks of communities with $1 million plus homes in 1997 when a home sale on Smithtown Bay topped the $1 million mark …"
Of First Importance by Pastor Thomas Braun, Christ Victorious Lutheran Church.  "Young Henry Ford found out that his very first automobile, the quadracycle, was too big to go out of the shed in which he built it.  So he took a hatchet, chopped out part of the doorway, and brought the auto out for a road test …"
Pretty Red Wing by Carol Vadnais, Victoria Hero of History.   "Early April my husband, kids, and I usually take a short trip to the quaint city of Red Wing, Minnesota, to watch the eagles soar along the cliffs of beautiful Lake Pepin …"
Send Me To Easter by Pastor Frank Jones, Lake Auburn Moravian Church.  "As the Easter celebration passes into the used pages of the calendar, I thought about how often I'd been asked about the meaning of the Easter Rabbit over the years.  The story, as it was told to me, goes like this …"
Trains, Planes, and Automobiles by Father Bob White, St. Victoria Catholic Church.  "My four hours of sleep the night before has caught up with me.  I lean back in my seat, close my eyes, and for a just a split second I hear a slight snore.  I look around.  Who was that?  Then I realize the snoring was me …"
The Minimalist Approach by Steve & Kathy Schmieg, Coldwell Banker Burnet.  "When it comes to preparing your home for the market, it helps to keep in the mind the age-old phrase, 'Less is more' …"
Kite Kapital of Karver Kounty by Mike Wartman, Former Resident of Victoria.  "Every store in Victoria sold kites.  All the kites were the same design and made up of the same material.  The required tail was always your mother's nylons …"
Chamber's Channel by Jennifer Chapman, Executive Director.  "The City of Victoria is certainly changing, with the construction of new retail shops, businesses, lakefront condominiums, and new housing developments …"
Obituaries.  Jim Larkin, 74.  Hedda Bird, 86.  Idella Schutrop, 97.  Clara Diethelm, 86.  Ed Vanderlinde, 86.  Terry Wickenhauser, 45.
Seems Like Yesterday.  20 Years Ago the Gazette featured Dr. Leon and Vera Snyder.  10 Years Ago, Archie Leizinger.