This is a sad column, as typically it would begin with a welcome to alumni returning for the 9th Annual Alumni Reunion, that was scheduled this year for Saturday, October 3. The Board of Directors decided that it was prudent to cancel this year’s gathering because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the feeling that the vast majority of attendees are older and thus would likely stay away. Instead a letter went out requesting that alumni support the three scholarships given each year, and an annual donation to our alma mater, towards a special project. To date, donations have been received from a good number of generous donors and it is likely to be voted by the Board in November to make the usual 2021 contributions that the Alumni Association traditionally supports. It is also planned that SBAA will be publishing the names of the donors (not amounts) to the Scholarships Fund, General Fund, Memorials and Honored Classmates, in a special notice in The Stanley Republican. There is still time to donate if you haven’t done so. Donations can be sent to SBAA, PO Box 162, Stanley, WI 54768 and indicate the fund you wish to support, or the person you wish to memorialize. *** Many interesting things come into the historical society during a typical year. Recently, when working there, I discovered a Financial Statement for the City of Stanley Public Schools, beginning July 1, 1937 and ending June 30, 1938. Saying things have changed since that time would be an understatement!! Here is a glimpse from that report. First off, the entire budget for the fiscal year was $42,806.21. Here are the major income sources that funded the schools: Appropriation from the City of Stanley – $19,000 (taxes); County School Aid $2,500; State Aid to Public Schools – $4,721. 96; additional High School Aid – $1,893.59; Library Aid – $197.40; Vocational Aid – $788.88;Tuition for Teachers Training – County – $1,152.; Sale of Books and Supplies – $427.49; Sales from Fuel $157.50; Tuition – $11,967.39 Total Receipts $42,806.21. *** Some of the major disbursements for the same above reporting period were: Salary of Board Members – $162; Supplies for the Superintendents Office – $228.21; Agriculture – $612.58; Text Books – $1,007.40; School Supplies – $2,048.63; Teachers Salaries – $22,496.51; Retirement Fund for Teachers – $929.72; Superintendent (salary) – $2,700; Magazines for the School Library – $196.99; Janitors Salaries – $2,468.02; Janitors Supplies – $492.25; Fuel – $2,203.56; Lights -$408.54; Water – $459.07 Telephones $87.20; Repairs to Buildings – $920.15; Insurance -$276.56; Library Books – $576.64; New Furniture and Equipment – $2,750.98. Total Disbursements $42,621.22. Balance on Hand – July 1, 1938 – $184.99. Compared to today, this entire budget wouldn’t pay for one teacher’s salary. *** Articles on recycling always draw my attention as I think everyone should recycle. It is relatively easy, and in the City of Stanley it is currently free to each household, although city tax dollars do pay the bill rather than individual residential occupants. Although the recycling market faces challenges because of China’s ban on contaminated recycling, the US markets are flooded with materials, which drives the value down. There are fewer items that should go in your recycling bin than you might think. When in doubt if an item belongs in a recycling bin this phrase should apply: “When in doubt, throw it out,” rather than “Just in case, throw it in.” So what is recyclable? Aluminum and steel cans. Glass bottles and jars but remove the caps. Paper, boxes and cardboard – all office paper, junk mail, construction paper, magazines and notebooks. No dirty cardboard pizza boxes with grease or other residue. All corrugated cardboard needs to be collapsed and if it is large, cut into smaller pieces. Plastics are the hardest for most of us to distinguish those to be recycled and those that should not be put in the recycling bin. Items numbered 1, 2, and 5 are recyclable but must be cleaned. Plastics #3, #4 and #7 are technically accepted but are uncommon. Styrofoam in any form is generally not acceptable so throw those in your garage bin. So that is it for your recycling bin. In addition, plastic bags from the grocery store do not go in the recycling bin, but can be returned to grocery stores for recycling. They should be clean, dry, and have the grocery slip removed. Zip-top bags, bread bags and shipping pillows are all accepted through grocery store return bins. So that should make recycling easy and correct for you. *** Want a bridge? Recently, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced that the Cobban Bridge is available for free. The bridge has been closed since August 2017, and is expected to be replaced with a new structure costing nearly $6 million dollars. Bridge construction costs will be covered with the state paying 80 percent and the county paying 20 percent. The county pays entirely for the design costs. The offer of a free bridge is likely to draw little interest because of being cost prohibitive to move it. But it is a novel way to get preservationists from criticizing the county for it destruction. The bridge has an interesting history as it was built in 1908 over the Yellow River, in the town of Anson, and was moved to its current location between 1917 and 1919. That makes the structure 112 years old and in its current location around 100 years. I know that the cost of moving a bridge is cost prohibitive as when the Yellow River Bridge, on Highway H north of Stanley was offered for free, I thought it could be used in Chapman Park and placed over the old trestle site so the lake could have a path all the way around it. *** Smile time. In a crashing plane there was a Pilot, a Lawyer, a Priest, and a kid and there were only three parachutes. The pilot grabs one and jumps off the plane saying: “I have a family and a daughter that is expecting.” The lawyer grabs a chute and jumps saying, “I’m the smartest man on earth and have to live.” Noticing only one parachute left the Priest says, “Son go ahead take the last one, I have lived my life.” But the boy exclaims, “Wait, we can both live! The smartest man on earth took my backpack instead of the parachute!” +++ The worst part of stopping during a road trip is knowing that all the idiots you’ve passed are once again getting ahead of you. +++ You never go wrong when you take the high road – it’s less crowded up there. +++ Whenever it feels uncomfortable to tell the truth, that’s often the most important time to tell it. +++ An American (his name was Carl) was stationed in England with the Air Force when he went to a local barber and told him he had a date that night and asked for a very close shave. After working his magic, the barber exclaimed, “There you go Yank. If you want it any closer than that, you’ll have to bite’em off from the inside.”