FROM THE CORNER

This past week we received another offer from HomeServe to insure our exterior water service line. Be careful how you deal with this offer, if you decide to take advantage of their special offer. HomeServe wants to insure you in case your water service, from the street to your house fails, and you need it replaced or repaired. It's an insurance offer with half price rates the first year and at the bottom of the letter is an Acceptance Form, which if you sign will enable them to have your payment automatically deducted from your checking account or charged to a credit card. If you enroll is your choice, but make sure you know that the second year the rate is doubled and again, if you sign the Acceptance Form you agree to have premiums deducted from your bank account, or charged to your credit card. Water service lines seldom fail, but of course they can. Old lead lines are being replaced in many communities that are taking advantage of state grant funding available. I have not heard, or read, that our city has applied for any of this funding. If they haven’t, it’s my opinion they should. *** An interesting read!! Toyota for years has rejected the idea of developing an Electric Vehicle. Instead, they were relying on gasoline hybrids as being the best way to slash vehicle emissions. That is expected to change when in the year 2030, or so, they have set the goal of 3.5 million battery-electric vehicles. Here are the recently announced funding commitments automakers are putting towards electrification: Toyota – $70 billion; Nissan – $18 billion; Ford – $30 billion; Stellants – $35 billion; GM – $35 billion; and Volkswagen – $59 billion. What’s ahead? A whole range of vehicles – hybrids, plug-in hybrids, pure electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. However, gasoline powered vehicles are predicted to still be around for a long time. *** Are you a problem gambler, or do you know a problem gam- bler? If you answered either of those questions affirmatively, it would not be surprising, as 22,201 Wisconsinites contacted the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling in 2021. This is the organization whose mission is to provide resources, public awareness and education on gambling disorders while maintaining strict neutrality on the issue of legalized gambling. And I would bet if 22,201 gamblers, or their family made a contact with the aforementioned organization, there are likely at least an equal number who have a problem but there has been no contact made. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, you can call the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-426-2535 or text at 1-860-888-4673.. *** As winter drags on, sometimes interesting events come along that if one participates in can be memorable. Here is one of those events. On Saturday, February 12, the Lake Wissota Lions Club and the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire will be holding their ninth annual Jig's Up ice fishing contest. The event takes place from 7 am to 2 pm, near Wissota View – where Lake Wissota narrows between the big and small lakes. It is billed as offering $80,000 in cash and prizes, including a two-year lease of a Ford -F150 truck to be drawn from all registered fish tickets. Partici – pants can purchase unlimited fish tickets for $25 each, with one ticket required for each fish registered. Prizes will be awarded by weight to the top 20 fish and every 10th place thereafter to 480th place and every fish between 481st and 500th place. Look for a tremendous crowd, as more than 1,500 tickets were sold last year. *** As I have said any number of times, in years past the Stan- ley, and Stanley-Boyd, versus Thorp basketball games filled the gyms of both schools to capacity, and even over capacity before Stanley and Thorp had their new school. Last Thursday, January 27, the two teams met at Stanley-Boyd High School. There was certainly room for twice the crowd that showed up. As is expected, the home crowd was two or three times larger than that of the visitors. I have not researched this but my thought was that the beating Stanley-Boyd gave to Thorp was among the worst in the storied rivalry, or at least in recent years. The final score was 58- 37, a 21 point spread, and it was worse than that at some points during the game. At the team's first meeting in Thorp, S-B again wonbutonlybyascoreof56-42. Myguessisthatdespitethe outcome this year, Thorp still has a decided edge in the win column over the years. *** While at the game against Thorp, I also did a little reminiscing about the Stanley-Boyd gymnasium. I can remember watching it being built in 1959-60 and couldn’t believe how big it looked. And it was big compared to the cracker box that was in the old high school. I also looked at the gym and thought it looks really good for being 60 plus years old. Can you believe the gym is that old! Time passes swiftly!! *** Did you know? Milestones are a time to celebrate. During February, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will celebrate a very special milestone – the 60th anniversary of the hospital’s opening by founder Danny Thomas. *** Big numbers often blow me away. Here are a few that do the job. Apple announced on January 27 that its first quarter sales were $123.9 billion in revenue and $34.6 billion in profit. Their figures represent the final three months of the 2021 calendar year, so include the Christmas holiday shopping season. The company had its best quarter ever for almost everything it sells, except for iPad sales which were down slightly. *** Smile time. Love doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be true. +++ “It’s never about the size of your circle of friends, it’s about the loyalty that’s in it.” +++ If a child can work a tablet, phone or game, they can work a broom, mop and dishes. +++ Have you ever been crazy about somebody back in the day and you see them now and you’re like, “Glad I missed that ship!” +++ I reached the “Wonder Years!” I wonder where my glasses are? I wonder what day of the week it is? +++ You know who’s going through a lot right now? Literally everyone. Just be kind. +++ Learn to waste time with people you love. +++ A teacher was talking to a student who had again and again failed to do the necessary amount of homework. “No math done again? Didn’t you promise me you would do it last night?” “Yes, sir: but — ” “And didn’t I promise to punish you if it wasn’t done?” “Yes, sir; but as I didn’t keep my promise, I won’t hold you to yours either!” +++ Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity. But … what’s normal anyway? +++ People in the U. S. “Bible Belt” consume the least alcohol. This region is also known by doctors as “Stroke Alley.”

BY DAVID JANKOSKI