Victoria MN Newspaper

To the Editor:

My daughter Olivia, 11, has found the fishhook in the latest edition of the Victoria Gazette, in the Orchid Tree picture on page 40. Thank you.

Jim Crowley

Victoria, Minnesota

To the Editor:

This letter is to inform you that effective January 1st, 2014, the City of Chaska is exempt from sales tax. The State of Minnesota revised Statute 297A.70, Subdivision 2, by adding cities and counties to the list of purchasers eligible for sales tax exemption on qualifying purchases. Please make the necessary changes to update our account. Please contact me with any questions regarding the sales tax status change.

Michelle Robbin, Clerk

City of Chaska, Minnesota

To the Editor:

Xcel Energy crews continue to restore power to customers in Minnesota and Wisconsin hard hit by the severe winter storm. At this hour today [Tuesday, February 21st], crews are working to restore service to an estimated 13,800 customers in Minnesota, including 6,300 in the east metro and 3,100 in the west metro, and 7,20 customers in Wisconsin.

Freezing rain, sleet, and heavy wet snow, combined with high winds, snapped tree branches and downed power lines as the storm moved through the region. Crews have been working through the night to restore service as quickly and safely as possible, but adverse weather conditions have continued, resulting in new outages.

Xcel Energy officials are assessing damage to the system at this time and are securing restoration assistance from regional utility contractors and other utilities. They want to assure customers that all available resources are dedicated to the restoration effort.

We caution customers to stay away from downed power lines and report their location at 1-800-895-4999. All downed power lines, even if they're not moving or sparking, are dangerous.

Patti J. Nystuen, Xcel

Minneapolis, Minnesota

To the Editor

I am searching for as many of the stories of 218,000 soldiers within the 24 cemeteries who are buried oversees as I can find. I started working in Oklahoma, my home state.

There are 971 soldiers from World War I and 3,540 soldiers from World War II that are buried or listed on the walls of the missing for Minnesota. This number is too large for me to try and search archives. I am also not looking for archives from newspapers. I want family members of the soldiers to contact me with the information they have.

I am searching for information, pictures, letters, and family stories about each soldier to be shared with the cemeteries. I have contacted the governors and was told to contact the Veterans Associations. I have found that the best way to find family members of the fallen soldiers is through the newspapers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Anyone who has information on a soldier who is buried overseas and information about the soldier's life and even history of the area during the time the soldiers lived there, may contact me.

Michael Beach

P.O. Box 582

Maysville, Oklahoma 73058

To the Editor

Metro Mobility, a service offered by the Metropolitan Council, needs a hand, but preferably two -- to hoist a shovel. Metro Mobility provides transportation services to people with disabilities who need sidewalks, steps, and driveways to be clear of snow and ice to safely and reliably give customers a ride.

The lack of safe cleared spaces also slows down service, making passengers late for their appointments and drivers late for the next customer.

Despite road conditions, demand for the service remains very high. Metro Mobility typically provides an average of 6,400 rides per day. So far this winter we've had several days topping 7,000 rides. Winter conditions have made travel difficult for everyone, but particularly for those who rely on special transportation service to get around.

Questions can be directed to 651-602-1111 or metromobility@metc.state.mn.us.

Bonnie Kollodge

Metropolitan Council

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