Tying it all Together  by Sue Orsen.  "Was 2003 a good year for you?  It was a good year for Victoria, the Pearl of Carver County, the Peach in the Apple Orchard, the Pickle in the Pumpkin Patch ..."  Click on Front Page.
There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays, an email by Steve Sarvi, Victoria's City Administrator who is a member of the U.S. National Guard who was called up this fall for one year of active duty to serve as a member of the peacekeeping force in Kosovo.  Steve was able to make it home to his family in Watertown, MN, for Christmas ...
Starting Out with Bad Directions by Kyra Schindler, student friend of the Gazette.  "On a recent escapade to pick up a snowboard, my dad and I took off for a shop located in St. Paul ..."
A New Year's Golf Swing by Tom Abts, Deer Run Golf Pro.  "Was one of your New Year's Resolutions to improve your golf swing?  If so, be careful.  Changing your swing is risky and should be done with care ..."
Shingle Wars by Mike Wartman, former resident of Victoria.  "Someone decided that the shingles of our garage would make fantastic projectiles.  And the projectiles would work best if projectiled toward the public school children ..."
20 Years Ago the Gazette featured Hilda Wartman, born near Lake Bavaria in 1898, and her camera, a Christmas gift in 1913 from her brother John Schneider.  Hilda graduated from the St. Victoria Catholic School in 1912, married Ben Wartman in 1922, and had six children ..."
10 Years Ago the Gazette featured Ken and Sonja Huber in "Reflections on Schutz Lake."  Ken just retired from his 30-year position with the US Department of Agriculture.  Sonja loves her antique business ..."
The Chamber's Channel by Laura Wood, president, Victoria Chamber of Commerce.  "The New Year is ringing and we want to say thank you to those who have helped us along the way.  This January 8th will be a very special membership appreciation meeting.  We will also be holding elections for new officers ..."
Finding Happiness by Pastor Frank Jones, Lake Auburn Moravian Church.  "For me, a peace at heart comes from an internal kind of a knowing that I did the right thing, that obligations are covered.  Happiness is doing my best for others and for myself ..."
What is our Mission?  by Pastor Maureen Bonner, Waterbrooke Fellowship.  "I was one of seven people from Waterbrooke Fellowship who went to Hungary over our Thanksgiving holiday to develop relations with 47 boys and girls in the Fulep Josef Orphanage.  Most of these children are Gypsy, or Roma people who are seen as the riffraff of Europe ..."
Truth, Trial, and Error by Jim Larkin, amicus et editoris.  "Trials in a courtroom are not games.  It's a process designed to find the true facts.  Then, hopefully, the correct legal rules can be applied to bring about justice ..."
FIRELINE by Tom Walsh, Victoria Fire Department.  "It's a tough time of year to fight a fire.  The snow is deep.  The air is cold.  Water in the hoses wants to freeze.  Air packs want to frost up.  But the fire must be fought ..."
One Biker's Perspective by Thom Derr, Rough Rider.  "Happy New Year from the Harley Babe and me.  It is now Grandma Harley Babe as Hannah joined us in December ..."
Hang On for Dear Life by Pastor Thomas Braun, Christ Victorious Lutheran Church.  "It is a powerful love ... No matter what the New Year may bring, nothing can separate us from the love of God for us in Jesus Christ ..."
Sweetest Season by Father Bob White, St. Victoria Catholic Church.  "The inside of the plane is sprinkled in a sea of red -- red sweatshirts, ball caps, and windbreakers.  It's the familiar red of the Johnnie's of St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota.  We are on our way to the NCCA Division III football championship ..."
A Page from Parks & Rec by Tammy Abrahamson, Victoria Parks and Rec Director.  "Although many of us make New Year's resolutions, the vast majority of us do not make it to the finish line ... The Victoria Field House is a great place to start off your resolution right.  We have a walking track to get you started ..."
Code Corner:  Do the Math!  by Tom Gray, Victoria Building Official.  "They want to build a house where?  If you want to know how a house could be built in the middle of a lake, ask me.  I'll get good conversation one way or another ..."
Heroes of History:  Grandpa Dewey by Carol Vadnais, Victoria student of history.  "My father in law, Duane Dewey, passed away the 30th of December, 2003.  It is very sad, especially as he was so excited to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which passed through Mandan, North Dakota, the fall and winter of 1804-1805 ..."
Be Nice to the Guy Between the Pipes by Tom Stumpf, Cowboy Correspondent.  "No man is an island, so they say.  I'll bet 'they' have never been a hockey goalie ..."
Obituaries.  Christopher Dahlin, 43.  Delores Faye Johnson, 57.  Gladys E. Hartmann, 96.  Randall M. Salden, 47.