Our family again spent Thanksgiving together at our daughter and son-in-laws home in Appleton. The trip provides an opportunity to check gas prices in many communities along the way. Believe it or not, when we left Stanley gas at three of our four gas stations was $2.97.9 or $2.98.9 per gallon. And we never saw it any lower. In fact, Stevens Point and Marshfield were both at $3.39.9 per gallon. Appleton was $3.03.9 and was the cheapest outside of Stanley. *** At an October Clark County Tourism Meeting, I learned of a new veterans resource, close to home. It is known as Camp Victory and is located at N9839 Sterling Avenue, Willard, WI. It is a 501-c-3 Non-Profit organization established to serve veterans. Camp Victory has as its goal to serve those who served us and their motto is “Health, Hope and Healing Through the Outdoors.” The mission of Camp Victory is to facilitate, in the outdoors, the emotional healing of Veterans. The camp’s environment and activities promote fellowship, community and new relationships.” Camp Victory can accommodate Veteran’s Retreats; Veteran’s Service Organizations can schedule PTSD related retreats, seminars or camping trips for individual veterans, couples or Veteran’s families; 2-4 day Veteran Group archery hunts for deer or turkey; school field trips: study forestry, habitat and botany. This is a place for veterans to do things and associate with other veterans and may be a place to help a veteran in need of healing. *** I briefly addressed campaign spending a week or so ago. Since then, the Federal Elections Commission released information on campaign spending related to the race between Derrick Van Orden and Sen. Brad Pfaff. The release revealed that Van Orden spent more than $6 million, while Pfaff spent about $1.6 million. I did not know it, but I learned that individuals can donate up to a maximum of $2,900 to a candidate’s primary and another $2,900 for the general election. Interesting also is that those same individuals can donate $5,000 to a Political Action Committee for both the primary and $5,000 for the general election. So the folks with the deep pockets can donation a total of $15,800 ($2,900 + $2,900 + $5,000 + $5,000). The article went on to list donors who donated the maximum to the candidates. Donors to Derrick Van Orden from this area were John and Fay Menard Jr., Eau Claire: Peter Farrow, Chippewa Falls; Mark and Barbara Johnson, Rice Lake. There were no maximum donors to Brad Pfaff listed. *** It was with a great deal of sadness that on November 28, I noticed a Mathison Reality For Sale sign on the Church of the Brethren lawn. I am assuming that is indicating the end for the congregation. My main concern is with the historical preservation of that building, as it is the oldest church building in Stanley and remains pretty much as it was constructed. *** The following is a report on a new effort to promote citizenship and civil dialogue. To that end the University of Wisconsin System is committing $20,000 annually in support of the Wisconsin Civics Games, a statewide civics bowl hosted by the Wisconsin Newspapers Association Foundation. The statewide civics bowl for high school students began in 2019 to address a decline in civics education and engagement. The funds will provide scholarships and cash awards for the Civic Games and accompanying editorial writing and cartooning contests, as well as promotion of the programs. *** I don’t know if anyone told Mr. Mc Loone, this newspaper’s editor and publisher, but I think the political cartoon by Joe Heller in the November 24, 2022 edition was among the best I have ever seen. If you don’t remember it was a turkey whose tail was fanned out and it read Happy Thanksgiving. The turkey was holding a sign that read, “NO POLITICS TODAY, PLEASE.” The turkey was holding a quill so it is evident it wrote the words on the sign. Very clever and such good advise. We really don’t need any further division in this country. It is very painful to hear of families divided by the current political scene and also friendships that have ended. *** Stanley native, La Verne Michalak, grew up on a farm in the Town of Colburn. He graduated from Stanley-Boyd High School, Class of 1966, and continued his education to earn a Law Degree. Forty-nine years ago, he began his career as a small-town attorney in Independence, WI. He eventually became a part of a volunteer crew that decorated Christmas trees at the historic Independence Opera House. From there he graduated 20 years ago into leading the volunteers decorating Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Independence. The large historic church is setting on 10 acres that was originally purchased for $15 in the City of Independence. It is among the largest churches in the Diocese of La Crosse and was built in 1895. The Catholic Life Magazine, a monthly publication of the diocese, in its December edition, featured an article on La Verne and the lead role he has played in decorating two 20 foot real trees and four lesser in size real trees at the church annually. The task seems much more impressive when one learns that it takes a crew of seven or eight helpers, who use 70 to 75 strings of clear lights each containing 100 bulbs, plus additional strings of blue lights. In total, they use about 8,000 lights and the entire project takes about 80 hours. Last Christmas was La Verne’s last year of leading the decorating but he is hanging around to aid in the transition to new leadership. La Verne’s appreciation of history is obvious from the article and I am happy to report he is also an annual donor to the efforts of the Stanley Area Historical Society. *** Smile time. Sign posted on a friend’s front door at Thanksgiving: We don’t have Wi-Fi here – people who enter must actively speak to each other. +++ It was tough growing up in Stanley. We mostly walked to school. We didn’t have television in our house until I was 10 and it was of course black and white. TV 13 generally ran from 6 am to 11 pm, when it signed off with the playing of the National Anthem. Sheriff Bob and Howard Tricky were local TV celebrities. Our telephone was a party line and we only had one phone – no telephone in my bedroom, which I shared with my brother. Pizzas were not delivered to our house but milk was. +++ I’ve learned … It’s the small daily happenings that make life so spectacular. +++ I’ve learned … That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved. +++ I’ve learned … That to ignore the facts does not change the facts. +++ I’ve learned … That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting the person continue to hurt you. +++ I’ve learned … That love, not time heals all wounds. +++ I’ve learned … That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

BY DAVID JANKOSKI