I hope everyone took the opportunity to vote in the Primary Election on August 9. I always am an early voter as I visit the polling place on my way home from my morning visit to the Stanley-Boyd Community Pool and Fitness Center. Well, I was a little taken back as I approached the First Avenue and Franklin Street intersection, as there were no cars at the Fire Station. Then I remembered that the polling place moved to the new Stanley Community Center at Chapman Park. Whoa, how nice for the voters and those who work the polls – so much space. Even if I was a little late for the actual poll opening I was still the first voter. As such, I felt a little like a "guinea pig" as at the first two stations, there were several people watching and checking on the workers – not really checking, but helping them acclimate to the jobs/equipment they were going to be using. So after a little delay, a seasoned worker provided me my ballot. I checked who I wanted to vote for and I them submitted my ballot to the automatic counting machine. I waited for the machine to show me that my vote had been recorded and that I could leave. It was a simple enough process. The only feature I didn’t like was signing my name on a computer screen. You could compare that signature to whatever and it would never look like my actual signature. The Stanley community is now introduced to where we will be voting henceforth. Thanks to all the poll workers. They were very professional and did their jobs respectfully. I was pleased to see that they were all from the City of Stanley and not individuals from distant places. This should have been good practice for the November election!

*** Just a reminder that there is still about a month and a half for the Stanley Area Historical Society Museum to be open for this season. So think museum when you have friends and relatives visiting Stanley and your looking for something to do. There are a good number of wedding dresses on display and the Miller Arrowhead Collection is available for viewing. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm. Looking ahead, note that on Saturday, September 17, at 1 pm, Betty Plombon will present on the KKK operations in Stanley. *** By the time you read this hopefully most of you will have received the June 2022 issue of the Stanley Area Historical Society Newsletter. If you haven’t received it, it should be in your mailbox very soon. Editor Betty Plombon will have a full explanation of the delay in the newsletter. It is good to know that so many look forward to receiving the newsletter, as the historical society received a good number of calls and notes from those who missed the June issue.

*** Last week I touched on the euort of three automakers who have collectively pledged $120 billion to get electric vehicles production to be a substantial part of their inventory by 2030.

Ford is leading the way with an investment of $50 billion in EV plants, software and training through 2026. Ford will be electri- fying their top selling models first, most notably the F-150 Light ing pickup. Their goal is 50% of sales to come from EV’s by 2030. * General Motors has a lofty goal of 100% of global sales to come from EV’s by 2035. With an investment of $35 billion, GM plans to launch 30 new EV’s globally by 2025. Look for an electric Silverado pickup in 2023, if all goes as planned. * Stellantis (Chrysler) is committed to have 100% of its European sales and 50% of North American sales to come from EV’s by 2030.

So as we use to say, “The Big Three” are deeply committed to having large numbers of EV’s on the market by 2030. The big questions are, “What will these vehicles cost?” and “Will there be enough charging stations available to handle demand?”

*** Besides Wisconsin’s microbreweries and wineries, our state also has some great coueehouses that cater to the couee cul ture. Some of the most notable are also close enough to warrant mention. The closest is The Couee Grounds in Eau Claire. The uniqueness of this business is that it is located next door to a microbrewery and also houses a retail business that sells among its merchandise Le Creuset pots and pans, cheeses, wines and cigars. There is also an all day breakfast and lunch menu in their cafe. * Another fairly close-by (1.5 hours) coueehouse is called Ruby Couee Roadsters, aka Ruby Colorful Couees, and is locat ed in downtown Stevens Point. This unique brewer sources all its beans from farmers the owners have visited in Latin America.

Besides their couees, they feature a food menu of home made crepes, salads, and select Main Grain Bakery items. Many in- gredients of the food served is locally sourced. This couee cafe features artwork on the walls, with many pieces done by local artists. * As fall approaches, and if your visiting takes you to Bayfield, you could also experience Wonderstate Couee. This owner also has cafes in Viroqua and Madison. The uniqueness of this ownership is that it has a 100 percent solar roastery that operates in Viroqua, it sources its beans from farmers who are fairly paid and features almost all organic couees. Their food ouerings also showcase ingredients close to each location. Perhaps the most unique feature of this business is that it donates five percent of its profits to community based initiatives in couee growing countries, to support a more equitable and resilient future. If your not familiar with these coueehouses, their worth checking out. *** Smile time. My neighbor was working in his yard when suddenly a car came crashing through his hedge and ended up on his front lawn. He rushed over to help the driver, an elderly lady.

“You appear a bit old to be driving,” he said. “I am!” she replied proudly. “I’m so old that I don’t need a license anymore.” “Really?” he asked skeptically. “And how did you manage that?”

“The last time I went to my doctor.” she explained, “he asked to see my drivers license. Then he said, “You won’t be needing this anymore, cut it up and threw it away. So I thanked him and drove home!" +++ A psychiatrist and a proctologist opened a practice together. They put an ad in the local paper asking what the sign out front should read. The suggestions received were: Minds & Behinds; Catatonics & High Colonics; Nuts & Butts; Loons & Moons. They finally settled on Odds & Ends. +++ Who knew the hardest part of being an adult is figuring out what to cook for dinner every night until you die. +++ Never trust an electri – cian with no eyebrows. +++ Me: Please bring me a screwdriver. Wife: Flat head, Phillips or Vodka?? And that’s when I knew she was the one. +++ So a neighbor knocked on my door at 3 am… 3 AM!!! Luckily I was already up playing the bag pipes.

BY DAVID JANKOSKI