The capital city needs some road repair
By Jim Galewski | Just Jim

Welcome Gov. Tim Pawlenty! How nice is to have you in our fair city as we help celebrate Minnesota’s Sesquicentennial with Winona as Capital for a Day.

I know your busy schedule caused you to arrive in Winona by airplane. I really wished you could have driven to Winona — preferably on Highway 61 and in your own car.
Had you experienced the trip by car, you would have seen that parts of the highway are one big pothole. You would have witnessed — firsthand — what many of us experience every day.

The road is not only ruining our cars, it is dangerous to travel highway speed on parts of the rough stretches. Traffic flow is disrupted as motorists drift from lane to lane trying to find a smoother road.

We are pleased Winona was chosen to be a capital for a day. Winona was a key city in the early days of Minnesota. More than 100 years ago, Winona was the fourth largest city in Minnesota — three times larger than Rochester. Winona was a destination point and a regional hub when trains and steamboats were used for transportation.

We are still the first major Minnesota city travelers see when they enter the state from the south or the east. If visitors travel by car and use Highway 61, they will have a very low opinion of the road conditions in Minnesota.

While Highway 61 has moved up the list on roads in need of major repair, it will still be years before the Winona portion of Hwy 61 will get any attention.

Maybe we can kidnap the governor for an hour and drive him up and down Highway 61? If he saw the poor conditions of the highway, he might better understand why our blood boils when we use it.

Until Highway 61 gets repaired, I suggest you travel north and south on the Wisconsin side of the river. The view is different and the highway doesn’t suffer from neglect.

Hitting 100 feels good

It has been seven months since my gastric bypass surgery. A week or two ago I passed the 100-pound mark — of weight I have lost. I have an easier time of getting around and have lost three symptoms of my MS.

Because I use a wheelchair and don’t have a normal exercise level, it was predicted I would lose 70 to 80 pounds. My new walnut-sized stomach can hold a cup of food if the food isn’t too rich.

I had a glass of wine this past weekend and found I was very impaired. I had always been a “cheap drunk,” but now 2 ounces of wine will do it.

I wasn’t impressed with my weight loss until I was carrying an 80-pound sack of concrete on my lap. I was impressed with how heavy it was, and I was hoping I wouldn’t harm my wheelchair with the extra weight. I then realized that six months ago, I weighed more than me and that 80-pound sack.

I’m pleased with dropping three shoe sizes, three shirt sizes and 12 inches off the waist. I enjoy the compliments I get and would recommend the surgery to anyone who is ready to change his or her eating habits and attitude toward food.

“X” simply marks the spot

You may have seen a white “X” painted on the street. The painted mark is in various, but very key positions in the city. The city of Winona will have some aerial photographs taken soon to assist in some detailed mapping.

Don’t stand on the “X” and look up hoping to get your picture taken. It’s not that kind of picture, and you may be waiting a long time.

Persistence prevails

Developer Jason Phillips is one step away from being able to build the first phase of the Cobblestone Creek subdivision off County Road 17. Opponents to the project were very vocal, but it would appear Phillips is succeeding in silencing those objections.

Let’s hope the city is protecting the valley’s delicate balance. It’s OK to make a profit on a development, but not if it’s at the expense of the valley and the community.

Jim Galewski is the retired editor and opinion page editor of the Winona Daily News. His views don’t necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper. If you have an idea or tip about a Winona issue, call Jim at (507) 452-3960. His e-mail address is editor@luminet.net.

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