There are a good number of people who feel our school board and administration should be focusing more on technical education in their future building plans. The suggestion I have heard more than once is that they should take a field trip down to Osseo to see their new state of the art O-F Technical Education Building. And then come back and tell district taxpayers what is needed for new buildings. *** With the beginning of school, the subject of bullying is in the news again. Bullying is a long standing problem, that has been dealt with only with limited success. The National Bully- ing Prevention Center presents these staggering statistics related to bullying: 20.2 percent of kids in America say they have been bullied at school; 42 percent of bullied students say they were mistreated in the school classrooms; 49.2 percent of kids, ages 9 to 12, reported being bullied at school; 69.1 percent of kids ages 9 to 12 who are bullied say mistreatment and teasing hurt their self-esteem; and 70.1 percent of LGBTQ students reported being called names or threatened because of their orientation or gender identity. *** Walmart is at it again! The city of Medford has received notice that Walmart is asking to have its property tax assessment reduced from it current $6.4 million to $4.65 million. The sad fact is, if Walmart is successful the other property taxpayers in Medford would need to pick up the reduction in Walmart’s taxes that would result. Plus, if they are successful Walmart would need to be refunded what was overpaid in the current tax year. Ouch!! It seems to me these big profitable companies are being exceedingly greedy. This is the second time Medford has faced Walmart’s demand for a reduction in their property assessment. Back in 2017, the city came to a negotiated agreement, prior to going to court. This time the Board of Review, where these issues are heard, voted to waive any hearing and send it to circuit court. Medford’s legal insurance carrier, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, will represent the city. Sounds like a David vs Goliath case to me. Good luck to the city of Medford. *** The Community Foundation of Chippewa County was established in 2001 and is one of 750 community foundations in the Untied States. It offers the people of Chippewa County a variety of ways to impact our county, communities and one’s favorite organizations, through philanthropic giving. A recent news release indicates the Foundation now has over $27 million in assets under their management and have granted and distributed over $16 million in grants since 2001. During the 2020-2021 fiscal year over $3 million was granted. The Community Foundation of Chippewa County provides a simple, effective and highly personal approach to giving and has a variety of tools to help one achieve their charitable goals. Gifts of cash, stock, bonds, real estate or other assets are accepted and most qualify for tax advantages under federal law. For more information and confidential planning contact Jill Herriges, Executive Director at 715-7238125. She can, “HELP DONORS DO GOOD WORK.. FOREVER.” *** What does the Community Foundation of Chippewa County do for the Stanley area? Although not meant to be an inclusive list of ways, these are a few examples of how established funds contribute to Stanley being a better community. First, the Stanley Community Fund, established under the leadership of the Stanley Lions Club, and with multiple donors, annually donations can be made to organizations such as the Moon Memorial Library summer reading program and the Stanley-Boyd Food Pantry. The Stanley Area Historical Society has Trust Funds with the Foundation, which help fund the organizations annual operating budget. Generous grants from the Foundation have come to the Stanley-Boyd Food Pantry and its Weekend Backpack Program and the Moon Memorial Library for programming and outreach services. Another way Stanley is served is through the establishment of Pass-Through Funds, such as the D. R. Moon Memorial Library Pass-Through Fund, which was established to support renovations and expansion of the existing public library.

*** The Clark County Fairest of the Fair contest began in 1968. Thus, 2022 marks 55 years of girls vying to compete for this title. Among the 55 winners have been six girls from Thorp. They were: 1980 Lorrie Keating; 1981 Lisa Merlak; 1984 Kate Kay; 1998 Sherri Haas; 2006 Katelyn Broda; 2011 Hanna Koltis. The most queens have come from Neillsville, which has had 12, followed closely by Greenwood, which has had 11 queens. Interesting to note is that there has never been a queen from Abbotsford or Owen. Other communities in Clark County have had at least one.

*** Clean drinking water is a necessity for the health of citizens across the nation. With a new $10 million grant program, recently announced by Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin DNR, approximately 1,036 additional wells will be able to be replaced, reconstructed, treated or abandoned. The program is based on the state’s Well Compensation Grant Program. There are approximately 800,000 wells in Wisconsin that serve an estimated 40 percent of Wisconsin households. The funding targets nitrate contaminated wells, arsenic contaminated wells and bacterial contaminated wells.

*** Did you know? According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 U. S. adults experience mental illness, 1 in 20 U. S. adults experience serious mental illness and 17 percent of youth (6-17 years) experience a mental health disorder. *** One last reminder, anyone who plans to attend the Stanley-Boyd All School Reunion needs to get their registration in by September 25, to insure food service. Anyone registering after September 15, the late registration fee is $35 per registrant.

*** Smile time. Man cannot live by coffee alone but he will give it a good try. +++ There’s some good in the world and it’s worth fighting for. +++ What happens when an artist has trouble finding inspiration? She draws a blank. +++ There is a great power in kindness. +++ “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” +++ All pro athletes are bilingual. They speak English and profanity. +++ A man reported that a squirrel was running in circles on Davis Drive, and he wasn’t sure if it was sick or had been hit by a car. An officer responded, and as he drove on the street, he ran over the squirrel. +++ A priest, a minister and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So each one goes into the woods, finds a bear, and attempts to convert it. Later, they gather together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his First Communion.” “I found the bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and I preached God’s Holy Word. The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.” They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast, “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the circumcision.”