FROM THE CORNER

Congratulations to Lily Hoel, a Stanley-Boyd senior, who was named to the All Chippewa County Girls Basketball First Team. Receiving Honorable Mention were Leslie Derks, Jessica Hazu – ga, and Kayte Licht. Lauryn Dietz, McDonnell, granddaughter of Nancy Hendrickson Shaurette (Class of 1967), was named Chippewa County Player of the Year. *** Congratulation also to Carsen Hause named to the 2021-2022 All-Northwest Third Team and to Brady Potaczek and Lucas Smith in gaining Honorable Mention. Noted is that Carsen Hause was second in scoring in the Western Cloverbelt with an average of 16.1 points per game; Lucas Smith was 9th with 12.7; and Henry Hoel came in 11th with an average of 11 points per game. It was an exciting season for locals to watch! *** It was sad to have learned this past week that another community in our area has lost its grocery store. I have been told that the Gilman IGA has closed, but is reportedly still doing some catering. That makes Loyal, Cadott and Gilman without grocery stores. Each community has limited availability of some grocery stock in convenience stores combined with gas stations and Dol- lar General / Family Dollar Stores. The Owen grocery store has a new owner who has vastly improved the stock available and could of easily joined the shuttered grocery stores in other communities.

*** Have you ever stopped to take a good look at the logs that are sitting in the IKE International yard? If you haven’t, do so at the south end of their property on Pine Street. One is truly amazed at the number of logs that are stored there and the quality of the logs. It is fenced in for good reasons. These logs are purchased generally within a 200 mile radius of Stanley. They are basically purchased and stored until readied for shipment abroad. I am also amazed at the variety of logs purchased including black and brown ash, basswood, birch, white and red oak, cherry, gray and red elm, and hard and soft maple. It has been interesting this past winter to have seen trucks waiting on Dahl Street to deposit their cargo as early as 7 am.. The backup was between Oak and Maple Streets. There were some mighty impressive loads of valuable cargo. IKE International has a very low profile in our communi ty, but is a mighty important feeder system to a major Japanese business that does some of its manufacturing in China. *** A couple of tidbits of history? Wisconsin has approximately 460 pubic libraries. The Black River Falls Public Library is cel – ebrating its 150th anniversary this year, having been established in 1872 and was the first public library established in Wisconsin. +++ According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, in 1893, the city of Chicago hosted the Chicago Colombian Exposi – tion, a world's fair that celebrated the 400th anniversary of famed explorer Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The unique food sold at the world’s fair was a sausage in a bun, the hot dog. Germans are credited for introducing this sausage in a bun. Hot dogs got another boost in 1893 when they started being sold in ball parks. *** Did you know? John Menard had his start in business while a student at UW-Eau Claire. In 1958, he began building pole

buildings to pay for college. Over the years his building business lead to various lumber related businesses that have made his estimated fortune worth more than $20 billion. This makes him America's 33rd richest person and the 76th wealthiest in the world. Menard's high profile name is a part of about 300 giant improvement stores. His philanthropy has benefited Mayo Lu –

ther Hospital, UW-Eau Claire and the YMCA. *** Usually beginning in mid to late April through May or shortly after the ice melts, the Ojibwe spring fishing season starts. The DNR reminds us that tribal members have a right to hunt, fish and gather in the Ceded Territories. There are 2,300 lakes larg – er than 25 acres in the Ceded Territories, including 919 walleye lakes and 623 muskie lakes. These rights date back to the mid-1800's when the Lake Superior Ojibwe Tribes ceded more than 22,000 square miles of tribal territory and gained these rights. A federal court ruling in 1983, reavrmed their rights. It should be noted that it is illegal to interfere, or attempt to interfere, with these tribal members rights. *** While the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison chose a person from Switzerland as the 2022 world champion, over 50 Wisconsin towns won honors in this year's competition. Fortunately, two of the winners are located near us. Right next door in Thorp is Marieke Penterman's Gouda that placed first in the Flavored Gouda category and her young Gouda placed third. Associated Milk Producers of Jim Falls placed second in the Monterey Jack category and their Four Pepper Blend took third. I have said this many times how fortunate we are to have LaGrander's Hillside Dairy in rural Stanley, where we can pur chase great Colby and Cheddar cheeses. *** Twelve U. S. states currently tax Social Security benefits. They are Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. How and when taxes are applied vary from state to state.+++ According to the Social Security Administra – tion, the Social Security Trust Fund peaked in 2020 to over $2.9 trillion, thanks to hardworking baby boomers. However, with boomers retiring and fewer workers feeding the system, these funds are projected to be depleted by 2034. *** If you would like to see "Stanley the Sturgeon" you will have to motor on over to Shiocton, which is located near New London, WI. Stanley the Sturgeon is one of those mascot type figures that sets a town apart from its neighbors. Like Thorp's cows. Stanley the Sturgeon overlooks Bamboo Bend in the Wolf River, which is associated with the sturgeon migration upstream to spawn. *** Smile time. Two rural deacons who were having a sociable beer in the local tavern when they saw their minister drive by and take a good look at their pickup trucks parked outside. One deacon ducked down and said, “I hope the reverend didn’t see us or recognize my pickup." The other replied indiuerently, "What diuerence does it make. God knows we're here and he's the only one who counts." The first deacon countered, "But, God won't tell my wife.”

BY DAVID JANKOSKI