To the Editor:
Enclosed is our check for renewal.  As I have said before, "What a unique publication."  I look forward to each issue.
Virginia Leivermann
Bloomington, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Hi, Sue.  Love your paper.  No murders.  No rape.  No child molestations.  Just great news about a great town.  Keep up the good work.
Dan Herbst
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I have no idea why it has taken so long to subscribe to the Gazette.  After 30 years of running Marsh Lake Hunting Club, having our dear friend Tom Stumpf working for us, and reading the Gazette for many of those years, we have missed it.  A few days ago one of our daughters called to read the opening lines of Cowboy Tom's article to us, which prompted this subscription order.  Thanks for all of your hard work in keeping the paper going.
Bob and Karen Swanson
Robertsdale, Alabama

To the Editor:
I always enjoy Tom Gray's practical civil engineering thoughts in the Victoria Gazette.  He deftly adds humor to useful topics in his monthly column.  The (Portland) "Cement vs. Concrete" is a prize. 
Here's a sequel:  "That Tar on Your Car isn't Tar" or "Tar vs. Asphalt" or "That Tar Road Wasn't Built with Tar."
Modern black surfaced roads are a highly engineered pavement system, and the top is built with the more modern glue called asphalt.  Tar (was) is an old glue left over when coal is turned into non-car gas and other products, whereas asphalt is basically the remaining product from refining crude oil.
Just like Mr. Gray's article could have said, both (Portland) cement and asphalt are formulated in many grades, hardness, and stiffnesses to solve environ-mental differences and to resist the huge loads on modern truck tires/axles.
Hard asphalts (more refining) are used where pavements get quite hot like in Texas and were prone to rutting.  Softer asphalts are used in cooler climates to resist cold weather shrinkage cracking.  Some modern research has found ways so we can have it both ways - at a price.
The news media perpetuates the erroneous "cement" sidewalks/road thing as much as they coach the public to use the word tar to describe black roads and airport pavement.  (The "tarmac" is a real road base developed and used in the 1920's.)
Tar for all practical purposes hasn't been used in roads during the last 60 years.
Paul Diethelm
Good looking, rich, famous (& vain)
Civil Engineer, Retired
Mahtomedi, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I really enjoy your paper but surely, in your priest's column last month, he means slalom and not salmon, or maybe it's just a joke.  Keep up the good work.
Areleen Hoese
Mayer, Minnesota

To the Editor:
What "A Beautiful Mind" you have!  Keep those stories coming.  I love every one of them.
Your former neighbor,
Judy Gray
Winsted, Minnesota