The Right Time  by Sue Orsen.  It is the right time to recognize the exceptional leader in this past eight-year era in the City of Victoria.  That leader is Mary Meuwissen, who chose not to run for re-election as Mayor of Victoria.  Click on Front Page Feature Story.
FIRELINE by Tom Walsh, Victoria Fire Dept.  "The city has planned for some urban renewal in Victoria, which has given the department a great opportunity close to home for training with hot drills …"
Chamber's Channel by President Laura Wood and Adm. Asst. Dave Speltz.  "Our next Home & Garden Business Expo is set for Saturday, March 29th, from 9 am. to 3 p.m. in the gymnasium at the new Victoria Field House …"
The Ten $100 Bills by Pastor Bill Bonner, Waterbrooke Fellowship.  "A few issues ago I told you about the Sunday morning that 'we got it backwards," i.e., you usually expect to give your offering to the church, not vice-versa …"
Changing Years Again by Pastor Frank Jones, Lake Auburn Moravian Church.  "There are lots of changes we can make, like smiling more, sharing our times and skills, and genuinely caring about people, but we don't need resolutions to do that …"
Take Care by Jim Larkin, amicus et editoris.  "We must care about each other.  To do that we must care for ourselves, and we must not let care for others become attempts to control them …"
What a Surprise!  by Pastor Tom Braun, Christ Victorious Lutheran Church.  "We, too, have been graced with a surprise.  Jesus was born to save us from our sins.  He lived the perfect life for us …"
One Biker's Perspective by Thom Derr, Rough Rider.  "I always get a little nostalgic during the holidays … with memories of the neighbors getting together and flooding the pond ice, skating in the moonlight without lights and warming houses but with a bonfire …"
The Meaning of Golf by Tom Abts, Deer Run Golf Prof.  "Our conversation wasn't idle golf talk, but rather a moving story about Bob spreading his parents' ashes on Pebble Beach at California …"
From the Lions Den by Steve Reus, president, Victoria Lions Club.  "Victoria Lions plan to have guest speakers at the coming regular meetings.  The newly elected Mayor Jerry Bohn, the Raptor Center, and our Sheriff of Carve County Bud Olson will present interesting topics …"
Heroes of History by Carol Vadnais, Victoria friend of the Gazette.  "Robert Frost had a real appreciation for the beauty of the New England countryside, but his writings have touched many people around the world.  Born on March 26th, 1987, in San Francisco …"
Code Corner by Tom Gray, Victoria Building Official. "If your house is like ours, we received numerous Christmas letters from family, friends, and acquaintances throughout the month of December …"
Senior Citizens Corner by Ethel Ausink, Senior Citizens Corner.  "The trouble with some of our judges is that once they are appointed to the federal judiciary, they seem to think they have been anointed to rule over lesser mortals …"
The World is Full of Them by Tom Stumpf, Cowboy Correspondent.  "Guardian angels, good Sams, call them what you will, the world is full of them …"
Twenty Years Ago the Gazette featured Elmer and Lydia Klatt in "The Fishing is Always Good."
Ten Years Ago the Gazette featured longtime Victoria Postmaster Al Folden in "A Spice of Life."
My Russian Childhood by Pastor Ken Kotzer, Mount Olivet Church West.  "My father's side of the family was Russian Orthodox, and their church used an older eastern calendar that celebrated Christmas on January 7th.  Having two Christmases each year was a huge benefit to a child …"
Angels at St. Olaf by Kyra Schindler, Student friend of the Gazette.  "We were all here to see the alumni singers of the St. Olaf College Choirs.  We walked up the stone aisle as the sound of high heels echoed all around. I took a pew and marveled at the arches that sprang up all around …"
What'd Ya Get for Christmas?  by Mike Wartman, Former resident of Victoria.  "Despite the fact that kids  growing up in Victoria of my vintage did not receive a lot of gifts, we looked forward to receiving the gifts anyway …"
Hook, Line, & Sinker.   "Seems this column is ten years old already.  Where does the line fly when you're having fun ... or fishing ... or farming ... or fixing supper?  Lines fly and times fly and pretty soon everybody's in the air about something.
Well, I'll tell you there's one bobber that landed right in the middle of the soup, and when I pulled it out there wasn't any worm left on the hook.  Had to dump the whole pot down the drain and decide on a new menu.  Yup, you gotta draw the line somewhere.  There'll be no rodents in my hamburger and no worms in my wild rice soup!
Along with the new menu comes a new fishhook.  The last one was in the right arm of the snowman in the Hartman Tree Farm ad on page 20 in the December issue of the Gazette.  Herbert Lentz found it there and so his name went in the pot with the others and his is the one that got pulled.  Congratulations, Mr. Lentz.  Your ten dollar bill should be on its way to your mailbox as soon as it dries out.
If any one of you fishing fools finds the hook hidden in this issue of the Gazette, you're welcome to join the fray.  Simply drop a line to Box 387 in Victoria, MN 55386, telling where you found the hook, and sinker in the mail.  Then watch the lines fly and before you know it, it's time to be fixing supper."  --Sue