FROM THE CORNER

I was over to Thorp last week and observed that the new Kwik Trip is rapidly taking shape. I am told it is scheduled for a grand opening in early February, if all goes well with receiving materials. Lots of building projects are still experiencing materials in short supply. Rumors are that the duplexes being built on the former Dodge School site are several months behind because of material delays. *** COVID has caused its heartaches in more ways than one. Young athletes have seen games forfeited (i.e. Stanley-Boyd vs Fall Creek and a rumored unwillingness of Fall Creek to play the next day, when the team members quarantined would have been off quarantine). Here is a heart warming story that involves Stanley-Boyd Alumna Juliana (Burzynski) Nichols, the first year volleyball coach at Eau Claire Memorial. It was Thursday, October 21, eight of her varsity players were quaran- tined., the team had made it to the playoffs with its first wining record since 2017 and were going up against Superior. Coach Nichols had to bring players up from the JV Squad to fill posi tions. It is great to be able to report that her team beat Superior 3-0. So success can be achieved, lessons learned, without having the rules twisted to tilt the odds of winning in the time of COVID!! Congratulation to Coach Nichols and best wishes for more wins in the route to state. *** On October 15 and 16, we had a nice couple of days on the campus of UW-Eau Claire and at Carson Park celebrating a Blugold homecoming. Our visit to campus on October 15, included a presentation of the history of protests at Eau Claire, back in May 1970, during the unrest at Kent State, where students were killed during protests over the Vietnam War. While Eau Claire had protests, there were no deaths or destruction that took place. Credit was given to the likes of Dr. Carl Andresen, a beloved Political Science teacher and President Leonard Haas, who allowed protests while emphasizing that both the protesters and those not protesting had rights that included sit-ins, but allowing students who wanted to attend classes to do so, and holding students responsible for class work during their actions. At a luncheon, 50 year graduates of 1970 and 1971 were recognized. +++ Homecoming at Carson Park on Saturday, October 16, included the 415 piece Blugold Marching Band performing at massive tailgating that took place prior to the game and during half-time. +++ Former Stanley-Boyd athletes were very present at the homecoming game.. Sam Burzynski, a senior at UW-Eau Claire, made his presence known with several key stops as a defensive back. The spotlight was also on his aunt Brooke (Wozniak) Schmidt, who was one of six new inductees to the Blugold Hall of Fame. Brooke’s fame at UW-Eau Claire came with her being ranked as one of the best three-sport athletes in Blugold history, with 12 letters in volleyball, basketball and track and field. Inter estingly, Brook’s husband, Bob Schmidt, a four-year football letterman, was also a 2021 Blugolld Hall of Fame inductee. Both Schmidt’s are teachers in the Rice Lake School System. *** If your looking for a unique Christmas present, the local museum has several copies of a new book on the Yellowstone Trail. John and Alice Ridge of Altoona have authored a 419 page book titled, “A Good Road from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound.” It is a modern guide to Driving the Yellowstone Trail 1912-1930. The book is a culmination of two decades of research, by two retirees who have become the most knowledgeable people on the Yellowstone Trail. This book is available at the local museum for $30 or $38.70 if it needs to be mailed. *** Many counties in Northern Wisconsin harvest timber from county forestland. The Clark County 2020 Annual Report, from the Forestry & Parks Department, recently came into my hands and reveals some interesting facts. Timber harvest from the Clark County Forests decreased from 3,628 acres in 2019, to 3,237 acres in 2020. Total gross wood product revenue received by Clark County in 2020 was $2,377,657.18. That was a decrease of $19,288.60 from 2019. An additional $1,170 was received from the sale of firewood. The total volume of tim ber harvested by 31 different logging contractors in 2020 was 42,507 cord equivalents, Based on the DNR formula of 28,5 cord equivalents equals one job, 1,491 jobs were generated. County timber sales suffered a blow in July 2020, when the Verso Paper Mill in Wisconsin Rapids was idled. This closure caused the pulpwood markets statewide to be affected, as Verso consumed 25% of all pulpwood produced in the state. The closure affected Clark County greater, as 54% of all mixed hardwood pulp and 26% of aspen pulp harvested from county forest timber sales was purchased by the Verso mill. This report is meant to indicate the interdependence of a paper mill, the logging industry and how it can impact taxpayers, as county revenue from timber sales is divided between Clark County which retains 90% and the 13 townships with county forest land which receive 10%. The total amount distributed to the 13 townships in 2020 was $251,627.18. Due to space constraints there will be several other Clark County Forest reports in next weeks edition. *** Smile time. Borrowed from the Bloomer Advance, “Blooms” In Bloomer column, and appears with a little doctoring!! An Arab Sheik was admitted to Abbott-Northwestern Hospital for heart surgery, but prior to the surgery, the doctors needed to find a supply of rare blood type in case of the need arose. However, it couldn’t be found locally, so the call went out to all the states. Finally, in Stanley, WI, a Norwegian was located who had the rare blood type. The Norwegian, whose name was Ole, willingly donated his blood for the Arab. After the surgery, the Arab sent Ole, as appreciation for giving his blood a new BMW, a pile of diamonds, and several million U. S. dollars. And many days later, once again the Arab had to go though some corrective surgery.. His doctor telephoned Ole who was more than happy to donate his blood again. After the second surgery, the Arab sent Ole a thank you card and five pounds of lutefisk. Ole was shocked that this time the Arab did not reciprocate with a new car, diamonds and money. He phoned the Arab and said, “I thought dat you would be yenerou again, and dat you would give me anudder BMdubleU, an diamonds and money. But you only gave me a tank-you card and some lutefisk." To this the Arab replied, "Ya, but now that I haf Norwegian blood in my veins so I gotta tink twice before I spend my money.” +++ The professor had just related to history class the event where an ancient runner had covered the 29 miles from the plains of marathon to Troy to finally cry, "Victo ry” “Victory” and then fell dead from the run. Asking for comments, the class fell silent until one student, a cross-country runner from the back of the room quietly asked, “Did anyone get his time?”

BY DAVID JANKOSKI