"Coming of Age" by Sue Orsen.  "This is a story about the Kelzer family coming of age and hitting pay dirt when they sold the farm.  They still live on the acreage, now a large platted development called Watermark, in a luxury home that sits, big and elegant, on the same spot where their barn once stood, tall and proud."  Click on Front Page/Feature Story.
Welcome to Paradise by Kyra Schindler, Student Friend of the Gazette.  "Summer is so close I can almost taste it.  When the school days seem to drag on longer, my constant daydreaming consists of my hopes of summer …"
Victoria Teen Golf Scene by Tom Abts, Deer Run Golf Pro.  "Patience is not the first quality used to describe teenagers, and golf requires patience, lot of it …"
Running Out of Gas by Pastor Thomas Braun, Christ Victorious Lutheran Church.  "Let's not run out of gas spiritually.  Let's resolve this summer to stay fully charged …"
From the Lions Den by Steve Reus, president, Victoria Lions Club.  "It's out with the old and in with the new Victoria Lions President and other officers.  Thanks to everyone involved …"
Getting My Breath Back by Thom Derr, Rough Rider.  "The Harley Babe and I recently gave motorcycle rides to Special Olympians, and at the instruction to hold on, one of them, with a rose painted on her face and beautiful smile, put her arms around my waist and her knees on my hips.  I thought I had been clamped in a vise and began to be concerned about cracked ribs …"
The American Dream by Tom Stumpf, Cowboy Correspondent.  "I'd like to tell all you fans and fannies that the city I'm happiest for this spring is Richfield, Minnesota …"
Carver County Comments by Gary Delaney, Carver County Commissioner.  "Carver County is approaching its 150th-year birthday.  A steering committee has been formed to plan events …"
Code Corner:  High Adventure by Tom Gray, Victoria Building Official.  "Whoever wrote that patience is a virtue didn't have a three-year old son, and he didn't have to deal with annual road construction …"
Council's Column by Mary Thun, Victoria City Council.  "We look forward to new points of view ...and your council continues to look to the future … We are working on partnerships …"
Common Sense Law by State Representative Paul Kohls, Victoria, MN.  "Governor Tim Pawlenty has signed by lawsuit liability reform legislation into law.  The new law is a small common sense step toward a more fair system requiring defendants to pay for only the harm that they have actually caused …"
FIRELINE by Tom Walsh, Victoria Fire Department. "If you hear the severe weather warning siren, please pay attention and take cover.  We are in the middle of a severe weather season here in Minnesota …"
A Page from Parks & Rec by Tammy Abrahamson, Victoria Parks & Rec Director.  "This time of year is filled with finding things to do with our summer months.  Some of the upcoming programs include …
The Chamber's Channel by Laura Wood, president, Victoria Chamber of Commerce.  "We are continuing to form committees and gather volunteers for our annual town festival, Touch of Bavaria, to be held on Saturday, September 20th, at Lions Park …
Oh, That Betsy!  by Father Bob White, St. Victoria Catholic Church.  "We are coming up on our first anniversary.  It seems just like yesterday that we first met.  To celebrate, I'll take her out to dinner …
Senior Citizens Corner by Ethel Ausink, Senior Citizens Reporter.  "I traveled to Hampton, Virginia, to the high school graduation of my grandson, the oldest of four boys who was home-schooled  …"
Youthful Dreams by Pastor Frank Jones, Lake Auburn Moravian Church.  "As we grow up, we become realistic about our abilities and skills, but to aspire to greatness is better than to achieve mediocrity …"
Fat, Fault, and Free Will by Jim Larkin, amicus et editoris.  "All societies have developed rules of conduct that enable us to live and work together despite our differences.  Rules are necessary for survival …"
Obituaries:  John A. Anderson, 81, of Victoria died April 24th.  Geneva (Ginny) Grosam, 59, of Waconia, died May 14th.  Ralph Zrust, 72, formerly of Victoria, died May 24th.
Twenty Years Ago, in "It's Time to Fly Our Flag," the Gazette featured Hilda Caspers and her winning flag design for the City of Victoria.  Hilda's design was adopted for the first official city flag on December 4th, 1975 …"
Ten Years Ago, in "The Waltons of Victoria," the Gazette featured Marvin and Mary Storms who raised nine children as well as lambs, geese, turkeys, and peacocks next to the Victoria Dairy Queen …"