Construction and a New(ish) Name on Main Street

Sunday, September 30, 2012. I've had quite a month:

• "Another Month, Another Unexpected Drive"
  Through One Dad's Eye (September 26, 2012)

I enjoyed spending a week at the Spiral Light Candle factory, filling in for the boss. I learned quite a bit about day-to-day operations there: and that I'm not a 40-year-old kid any more. Now that I've rested up from that, I caught a cold: but, like we say in Minnesota "it could be worse."

Here's the first bit of catching up on what's been happening in Sauk Centre: what I've noticed, anyway.


The new building on South Main may be ready by winter: or, not. My guess is that it'll be apartments. or something else. September 8, 2012.


Diversicom, also on South Main, is called Arvig now. September 8, 2012.

Mainstreet Communications/Diversicom, the telephone/cable/Internet company on South Main, has been called Arvig since January of this year. Or maybe it's arvig. Here's what I found at the TriCountyNEWS.MN website:

"Diversicom to change name to Arvig"
TriCountyNEWS.MN (December 2, 2011)

"Arvig Communication Systems (ACS) announced Nov. 28, that its subsidiary, Diversicom, will change its name to Arvig as of
"Jan. 1, 2012.
"In December 2010, Arvig Communication Systems purchased Diversicom and its wholly owned subsidiaries of Melrose Telephone and Mainstreet Communications...
"...'Over the years, customers have referred to us in a variety of ways including Arvig Communication Systems, ACS, and Arvig Communications, among others. We have decided to simplify our name to eliminate confusion and clarify our name and image to our customers, both residential and business,' said Chief Operating Officer, David Arvig. We found the same name confusion with Diversicom with customers referring to the company as Mel Tel, Sauk and Mainstreet.'..."

The article says Arvig started out in 1950 as East Ottertail Telephone Company, and that's another topic. I can see a point to calling all of the Arvig companies "Arvig." I think it'll help if the outfit sticks with that name for more than a few years - yet another topic.

That's all I'll do this week. There are quite a few more photos I took this month, of concrete rubble, chickens, a sunset, a street: and maybe something you'll want to see.

A Change in Expectations

Monday, September 10, 2012. I thought I'd have time to do yesterday's post today. The 'family stuff' got a bit more urgent this morning, so - I expect I'll get back to the Sauk Centre Journal by September 23. Of course, I expected that I'd have time today: and you see how that turned out. :)

Today's Post - Should be Here Tomorrow

I plan to get today's post done tomorrow. Some 'family stuff' came up, and took more time than I expected.

Labor Day Weekend, 2012

Sunday, September 2, 2012: Labor Day weekend. It's the last (unofficial) summer weekend. Folks are visiting family, getting in a last weekend at 'the lake,' or - in my case - grilling burgers.

On a not-so-cheerful note, I've heard that a local grocery is having trouble getting some brands of apples: another result of this year's drought. Still, things could be worse. A lot worse.

Sauk Centre's talking traffic signal isn't new, but I hadn't heard it until yesterday. Street work on South 4th is progressing, and Sauk Hop is now Nic's Diner.


Pipes - culverts, I suppose they should be called - at the east end of South 4th. September 1, 2012.


Pieces waiting to be placed: the east end of South 4th, again. September 1, 2012.


An old Volkswagen 'bug,' with personality, on Sinclair Lewis Avenue, downtown. September 1, 2012.


Sinclair Lewis Avenue and Main: and Sauk Centre's talking traffic signal. September 1, 2012.


It told me to wait, and later to get going. September 1, 2012.


That countdown is a nice feature: and encourages promptness in crossing. September 1, 2012.


Nic's Diner: looks a great deal like the Sauk Hop. I'll want to learn more about the place. September 1, 2012.

So far, this Labor Day weekend has looked like a picture postcard: nearly-clear sky, with occasional artistically-placed cirrus clouds.