On September 21, I learned news I was dreading. The Annual Lutefisk Dinner at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Greenwood is history. As time marches on, there are fewer and fewer lute- fisk eaters and thus Lutheran's are converting to meatball eaters. When I returned to Stanley in the early 1960’s, the seniors(elderly) in the local Norwegian Lutheran congregation were treated annually to a lutefisk meal. In those days I was not old enough to be an invited guest. However, my coffee drinking Berseth brothers talked about the event and said they would invite me when I was old enough. That was an easy invite by them as they knew that by the time I was a senior they likely would no longer be around. So back to present day – I have been told that Big Drywood Lutheran Church will again have their lutefisk dinner. Thank goodness for the Danielson Clan, they will feed the lute- fisk lovers for another year. The next closest dinners are likely in the Eleva-Strum or Blair area.

*** Xcel Energy has spent a great deal of time this past summer updating/enlarging its Stanley Substation located on Development Drive, across on the street from Lube Suppliers. I would like to offer that it may be related to the power grid being geared up for the demand that is coming for charging electric vehicles.

Does anyone have more information on this expansion to share.

If so, please let me know.

*** Be aware of the danger posed by ASH TREES. The DNR is warning hunters to avoid placing deer stands in, or near, ash trees this deer season. Many ash trees are dying due to ash borer infestation and trees infested may unexpectedly snap or drop large branches. Also, be aware that when your on the ground ash trees in windy conditions are susceptible to branch and stem breakage.

Dead and dying trees are structurally weaker than healthy trees.

Better being safe than being sorry – AVOID ASH TREES.

*** Here’s a new wrinkle! I know event organizers are always trying to come up with something different and that no one else has done. Here is one I haven’t heard of before. “A Half-Way to St. Patrick’s Day Party.” The event advertised was held on September 16, 17 and 18. Is it half-way to St. Patrick’s Day? I’m not sure, and I am not going waste my time trying to figure it out. But, I will agree it was a catchy headline and is another event to draw folks in to a party.

*** Did you know? The Governor Tommy G. Thompson State Fish Hatchery is the world’s largest muskellunge hatchery and is located in Spooner. This hatchery is over 100 years old, with the original hatchery having been built in 1913. It was replaced in 1939-40 and was then the largest hatchery in Wisconsin. In 1993, the state authorized funding to renovate and rebuild the hatchery. The hatchery is responsible for producing more than 100 million fish that are stocked in lakes around the state. The majority of the walleye produced at Spooner are stocked in northern Wisconsin, while musky and sometimes northern pike are stocked in both northern and southern Wisconsin lakes. When our children were small, we spent a week vacationing at a cabin located on the shores of Shell Lake and one of our favorite destinations was time spent in Spooner. Among the visits we made more than once was to the Spooner Fish Hatchery. The hatchery still has opportunities for visiting at a year round visitor’s center.

The Wisconsin DNR Spooner Fish Hatchery website will provide additional information.

*** Congratulation to the newly established Owen-Withee Area Historical Society, which gained recognition by the Wisconsin Historical Society and has become an affiliate of the Wisconsin Council of Local History. Allan Hodnett is the president of the O-W group and annual dues are $15 for an individual, $20 for a family membership and $25 for a business partner. If your interested in a membership you can send your membership to P.

O. Box 53, Owen 54460. * Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to establish a local history affiliate program. Since 1899, local affiliates have grown to 430 organizations with a cumula tive membership of 53,000 history enthusiasts.

*** Drug drop boxes are a convenient way to dispose of unused and outdated medications. Before bringing medications to a disposal box, check the containers for any special disposal instructions. Remove any personal information by removing the labels or using a dark marker to cover personal information. Here is what is acceptable: Capsules, creams, inhalers, non-aerosol sprays, ointments, pills, patches, vials, liquids in original containers, vape pens and other cigarette devices with batteries removed. All Chippewa County Police Departments have drop boxes available for disposal of the listed items.

*** Older folks on Social Security are affected by inflation and many depend on that monthly payment as a real source of in- come. With rising inflation in 2021, the 2022 Cost of Living Ad justment (COLA) for Social Security recipients was 5.9 percent.

Look for an even bigger percentage increase for 2023, which should be announced in October. Projections by those who analyze such things are for a 9.3 to 10.1 percent increase.

*** If you have ever been to the Highground, located just west of Neillsville, you know what a beautiful Veteran’s Memorial Park that has been developed. One of the parks biggest annual fundraisers is the Heroes Ride, which this year had 128 bicyclists, who came from five directions, after their three day 150 plus mile journeys. The 38th Annual Heroes Ride concluded on Sunday, August 7, and raised $92,287, which was reported as being $25,000 more than was raised in 2021.

*** There was a nice article on the Cadott Hornets football team in the Eau Claire Leader Telegram-Sports Section on Thursday, September 22. The article stated that this football season is the best start for the Hornets in 17 years. The article further stated that in Week 1 they defeated the Stanley-Boyd 16-6 for their first football win over the Orioles since 2004. And that is a longtime.

*** Smile time. Perfecting is God’s business. I just try for excellence. +++ Any job is a dream job if you fall asleep in meetings.

+++ A couple that golfs together stays together. Where else can you walk six miles and talk to your husband for four hours without distraction? +++ A party without cake is really just a meet- ing. +++ They say every generation is defined by a great strug gle. Our kids will never know there was a time when you had to choose between being on the Internet or being on the phone. +++ My husband and I have both forgotten anniversaries. He was hunting, and I was, like asleep. +++ You’re never too broken to be fixed. +++ All our troubles will disappear with Chanel No. 5 perfume on your neck. Well, they won’t. But your troubles will smell nice. +++ Bloom where your planted. +++ If you don’t have a crazy Facebook friend, you are the crazy Facebook friend.

BY DAVID JANKOSKI