To the Editor:
The Victoria Fire Department will be holding its 16th Annual Ice Fishing Con-test on Sunday, February 9th, 2003, on Stieger Lake in downtown Victoria from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  This is the Victoria Fire Department's only fundraiser.
Enclosed you will find 20 tickets for the fishing contest.  If you wish to make a donation, please fell out the stapled stubs and return them in the envelope enclosed so that your name can be placed in the drawing. 
Proceeds from the fishing contest go towards the purchase of new equipment.  Some of the items the Fire Department has purchased from past proceeds include a Rescue One 16-foot rescue boat with a 40 hp mercury motor, a 12-foot Zoom air raft, a 24-foot enclosed trailer to haul the restored 1929 Chevrolet pumper, and new dress uniforms.
Shuttling will be available to and from the contest, from area businesses in downtown Victoria.  In the event of poor ice conditions, an Open House will be held at the Victoria City Hall.
Thank you for your continued support of the Victoria Fire Department.
Aaron Jurek
Fishing Contest Chair
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Anyone looking for a way to support our soldiers overseas can do so by buying Girl Scout Cookies.  For the second year in a row, our council is offering consum-ers the option to buy cookies that will be sent overseas so they can "send a taste of home" to our troops.  We shipped several tons of them last year, and the response from our military men and women was very heartwarming. 
Girl Scouts began taking orders on January 18th.  Help them earn credits for camp, trips, other activities, and learn real-life skills that can spell success in the business world.
Kathleen Lindstrom, Girl Scout Council

To the Editor:
One of your subscribers is Mary Fazio who lives in Escondido, California.  Her mother was a Lenzen from Chaska, and Mary was in our wedding party way back in 1951.  Her son delivers mail, and Chris and Joanne Hollen who had lived in Victoria now are on his mail route in Vic-toria.  I do not know the Hollen name.  Do you?  Was Mrs. Hollen originally from Victoria?  Do you know her maiden name?
Ron Holtmeier, Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
Please find the attached media release that details the announcement of our current president, Paul Stauffacher, to retire at the end of this school year.  Con-sidering the amount of HFCHS families in your distribution area and the locality of HFCHS, this is a great article for your newspaper to cover.  If you would like more information, or if you have questions, please let me know.  Thanks for your support.
Katie Burke, Holy Family Catholic High School
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
You are invited to be an exhibitor at the 6th Annual Victoria Home and Garden Business Expo, scheduled for Saturday, March 29th, from 9 am. to 3 p.m.  We are excited to be able to tell you that the Expo will be at the all new Victoria Field House.  This will be the first time that an event of this size has been held at the new facility, and we feel it will lend itself well to your needs.  Exhibits will be on the main floor of the gymnasium.
Some of the comments from last year's exhibitors were:  "Great show ... Very professional and well run ... I felt my time was well spent and I received many qualified leads ... It was good to see some of my current customers and also receive new ones ... A good show!  I will be back next year."
Seminars, entertainment, and demon-strations will be held in a separate area from the vendors.  A concession stand will be open, and food and drink will be allowed at your booth.  If you have any questions, please contact Jeff Wood at 612-247-4878 or Dave Speltz at 952-443-3442.
Jeff Wood/Dave Speltz
Victoria Chamber of Commerce

To the Editor:
Hats off to the 80 people who volun-teered a pint of blood during the blood-mobile held in Victoria on January 27th.  A total of 64 pints were collected with 13 deferrals and 3 incomplete draws.  There were fewer pints collected than usual so we are especially grateful to those who donated.  Thank you to all who participat-ed.  Donating blood saves lives, and the need for blood is constant.
Special thanks to the recruitment callers, the St. Victoria Parish for contin-ued generosity in providing the Center, to those who helped with publicity, to those who helped the day of the draw, to the Victoria Lions for continued sponsorship and commitment to serving others, and to Chaska McDonalds for continuously con-tributing juice and cups.
All donors are special, but the American Red Cross likes to recognize first time donors and those who continual-ly donate.  Congratulations to Peggy Kaufhold for donating one gallon of blood, to Kristi Kirsch for reaching her six gallon pin, and to Sam Ische for her 14th gallon of blood!  We apologize if we missed anyone who should be recognized.
Susan Hines, Kathy Sether
Co-chairs, Victoria Blood Drive
Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:
I was working on a basketball tourna-ment all weekend.  I was working on and running a speech tournament Monday and Tuesday.  Express my sorrow to the Gazette faithful for missing my column this month.  I will come back with gusto for March!
Mike Wartman, Former resident of Victoria

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