Not so Neat Cool in Victoria
As I've mentioned, the site I use to research the local news here in Victoria doesn't really believe in hyperlinks to it's columns, so I remain unable to read the columns from regular columnists, but I was able to pick out a couple headlines that I found entertaining.
First, the local golf pro wrote a column (and in the headline, golf was spelled "gold") in which he reminds us what a big deal tennis was in the 70s and 80s. Every new neighborhood had a tennis court and what not. Then he went on to say that tennis isn't popular anymore and golf is the new tennis. Take THAT tennis! I would really like to see a response and a full scale rich people sport throwdown in the local paper.
Then, there were a couple articles that were entertaining only in their juxtoposition. First, there was a column regarding the coming ice fishing tournament on Steiger Lake, which was sponsored by the fire department. They bring all sorts of stuff out for it, and I remember a year or two when they had some firefighting vehicles on the ice. Right below that was a warning from the Carver County Sherriff reminding us that, if we can avoid it, we should never drive on the ice. Unless, apparently, you have a 16 ton fire engine.
Usually, as I have also mentioned, when looking for news from Victoria, to read the letters to the editor because she prints everything she gets. I'm half expecting this letter one day, "Dear Editor, You are prequalified for a Capital One Visa! - C. One, Wilmington, Delaware". There was one bit of important news there. The president of the local high school was stepping down to take a job with the William Mitchell school of Law. It strikes me as impressive that such a new school has already garnered enough reputation that it's president could gain such a prestigious new career based on his experience. Other than that, however, the letters were pretty devoid of any really significant news, other than the tragic passings of some really old people.
In the paper's city hall section, it was revealed that the new mayor, Mary Thun, began her term by "looking and speaking directly to the people". So thats good news. Victoria elected someone with good diction.
Another good quote was in regards to the city's new phone system. Councilman Tim Amundson said he wasn't interested in a "neat cool" phone system because Victoria is a town of only 5000. I'm embarrassed that Victoria is apparently not ready for neat cool phones. Some day, however. Some day.
In more serious news, there was some tension in the council regarding the Victoria Field House, and the potential to hire a new director for it. Councilman Richard Tieden was quite pleased about the change in tacticss. This was a shift in the original plan that had been dominated by Mayor Thun and Councilwoman Kim Roden. He said that in the past he, "[had] been told if he's not on board, to shut up and not talk for the past couple of years." First off, it's unbelievable to me that a city in America could seek to snuff out dissenting opinion like that, and secondly, it's alarming that Tieden didn't speak his mind and represent the opinion in question. Additionally, neat cool Councilman Amundson mentioned that he was dismayed that the council had voted to not even let former Mayor Mary Meuwisson speak at the prior meeting. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, what the hell is going on up there?
There was also quite a bit of dissent in the council on a liquor liscence issued to a new business downtown. It will be a wine shop, and the owner of the main liquor store downtown was opposed to it, saying that Victoria wasn't big enough for two liquor stores (even though the new one was probably going to sell wine exclusively), and for as small as the town was, there were too many liquor liscences being bandied about. Another concern was the parking situation (dreadful) that would be made worse by a new retailer downtown. these ideas were eventually squelched, and Victorians everywhere can look forward to Parker Tannin's Wine shop.
That will wrap up this month's attempt at hard hitting news. I thought it was pretty neat cool.
First, the local golf pro wrote a column (and in the headline, golf was spelled "gold") in which he reminds us what a big deal tennis was in the 70s and 80s. Every new neighborhood had a tennis court and what not. Then he went on to say that tennis isn't popular anymore and golf is the new tennis. Take THAT tennis! I would really like to see a response and a full scale rich people sport throwdown in the local paper.
Then, there were a couple articles that were entertaining only in their juxtoposition. First, there was a column regarding the coming ice fishing tournament on Steiger Lake, which was sponsored by the fire department. They bring all sorts of stuff out for it, and I remember a year or two when they had some firefighting vehicles on the ice. Right below that was a warning from the Carver County Sherriff reminding us that, if we can avoid it, we should never drive on the ice. Unless, apparently, you have a 16 ton fire engine.
Usually, as I have also mentioned, when looking for news from Victoria, to read the letters to the editor because she prints everything she gets. I'm half expecting this letter one day, "Dear Editor, You are prequalified for a Capital One Visa! - C. One, Wilmington, Delaware". There was one bit of important news there. The president of the local high school was stepping down to take a job with the William Mitchell school of Law. It strikes me as impressive that such a new school has already garnered enough reputation that it's president could gain such a prestigious new career based on his experience. Other than that, however, the letters were pretty devoid of any really significant news, other than the tragic passings of some really old people.
In the paper's city hall section, it was revealed that the new mayor, Mary Thun, began her term by "looking and speaking directly to the people". So thats good news. Victoria elected someone with good diction.
Another good quote was in regards to the city's new phone system. Councilman Tim Amundson said he wasn't interested in a "neat cool" phone system because Victoria is a town of only 5000. I'm embarrassed that Victoria is apparently not ready for neat cool phones. Some day, however. Some day.
In more serious news, there was some tension in the council regarding the Victoria Field House, and the potential to hire a new director for it. Councilman Richard Tieden was quite pleased about the change in tacticss. This was a shift in the original plan that had been dominated by Mayor Thun and Councilwoman Kim Roden. He said that in the past he, "[had] been told if he's not on board, to shut up and not talk for the past couple of years." First off, it's unbelievable to me that a city in America could seek to snuff out dissenting opinion like that, and secondly, it's alarming that Tieden didn't speak his mind and represent the opinion in question. Additionally, neat cool Councilman Amundson mentioned that he was dismayed that the council had voted to not even let former Mayor Mary Meuwisson speak at the prior meeting. To paraphrase Vince Lombardi, what the hell is going on up there?
There was also quite a bit of dissent in the council on a liquor liscence issued to a new business downtown. It will be a wine shop, and the owner of the main liquor store downtown was opposed to it, saying that Victoria wasn't big enough for two liquor stores (even though the new one was probably going to sell wine exclusively), and for as small as the town was, there were too many liquor liscences being bandied about. Another concern was the parking situation (dreadful) that would be made worse by a new retailer downtown. these ideas were eventually squelched, and Victorians everywhere can look forward to Parker Tannin's Wine shop.
That will wrap up this month's attempt at hard hitting news. I thought it was pretty neat cool.
posted by Ryan | 12:38 PM
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