VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Last year about this time it was dry with dust blowing everywhere and now there is a degree of subsoil moisture.  Oh the upper mid-west and our weather changes!

If you have tree leaves turning a lighter green or golden earlier than normal, chlorosis could be the culprit.  If ignored, branches will die and eventually the tree can die.  Treatments are available so check with the Barnes County Agent at 701-845-8528 or the Valley City Forester at 701-845-1700 for advice.

There were great numbers of fireworks detonated over the extended 4th of July weekend.  Many folks have done a great job picking-up debris though there is still a good amount remaining.  Will you please clean up streets and yards around you?  Thank you and I hope you all had fun. I am still encouraging football officiating!  The “Gridiron Tune-up” is a football officials’ workshop in Williston August 16 (3PM start) & 17 with classroom and on-field experiences.  There is an August 1st deadline for registration and special room rates are available.  Please contact Mike Gunderson at 701-339-2726 or md.gunner@hotmail.com.

Clean-up Week is a great service for us and this year about 289.47 tons of material were gathered.  Thank you to all our Public Works folks.  A couple things got out-of-hand so a little adjustment will be made next year.

“People will go where they are invited, but will stay where they feel welcome”.  ~ A Friend.    Please make people feel welcome here.

Due to rain and very hard work, personal and community gardens are looking so nice & plush.  The sad news is, people are stealing produce and vandalizing gardens.  Some years gardens produce so well, owners may share some produce if asked, but stealing produce is just WRONG!  How about a “neighborhood watch”?  “If  you see something, say something”, call VCPD at 845-3110.  Thank you.

Thank you to all who provide and proof material for this article.

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”   ~ Jean Baptiste Massieu

Blessings, Pray, be Grateful and Respectful, Dave Carlsrud mayor of Valley City.