We are fortunate to have a first class university so near to us. UW- Eau Claire is the second highest ranked public regional university from Wisconsin and Minnesota according to Money magazine’s 2020 “Best Colleges for Your Money,’’ rankings. UW-Eau Claire is ranked 175th on Money magazine’s list that includes 739 public and private universities and colleges that Money says successfully combine educational quality, affordability and alumni success. *** It was only a matter of time. I recently saw a posting on Facebook of what reportedly appeared on a school bulletin board, along with a little boys’ and girls’ underwear and some face masks on a clothesline. Here is the wording: Treat your mask like underwear – do not share it, change it daily, make sure it’s clean, do not borrow or lend it, and make sure it fits snug, but not too tight! *** Often we think of the U. S. as the only economic superpower of the world. A new look at Fortune magazine’s top 500 global companies indicates otherwise. Here are a few of the leading countries and the number of Global 500 Companies they have located in their country. China has 124, the United States has 121, Japan 53, France 31, Germany 27, Britain 22, the Netherlands 13, and Russia 4. *** Speaking of economic things, I read recently what the impact is on Madison and Wisconsin if Badger football is not played this fall. An Econsult Solutions, Inc. study indicates that Badger athletics as a whole create 2,950 jobs, $395 million in revenue and $1.7 million in tax revenue for the city of Madison each year, and 4,480 jobs, $610 million in revenue and $12 million in tax revenue impact for the state of Wisconsin as a whole. Whoa!! That is a huge impact and one can understand where the desire, and cry, to see the Badgers play football this fall comes from. *** The political season is in full swing. Stanley, like most communities, has loyal supporters of both presidential candidates. Trump signs definitely out number Biden signs. However, if you want to see the ardent supporters of both these candidates, you need to only travel on Sixth Avenue. On the corner of Sixth and Park Avenue are found a number of Biden yard signs including non-traditional ones: BYE DON (Good Bye Donald Trump), STD – Stop the Donald 2020 Don’t let the infection spread and Pro-America Anti-Trump. Then a half-block away on the corner of 6th and Franklin Street, you will find a yard and fence full of signs calling for the re-election of Trump/Pence and to Keep America Great. The TV ads are much more numerous and if you’re not sick of them already, I expect you will be come November 3. *** The auction of the historic Farmer’s Store building took place on Monday, September 14 and as I am writing this before the auction I do not know the results. It has been interesting to hear and read the comments from the public. There are definitely those who think it should be saved and would make a great ??? And those who say it has outlived its usefulness and needs to be torn down. In the end, it will be interesting see which argument wins out. *** As long as I am on historic buildings I will turn to the historic city hall that was recently sold. Over the years I have heard from more than one person that the historical society should take it over. Just to set the record straight most of the current movers and shakers of the historical society are growing to the end of their time of running the operations as they currently exist. And if some younger people do not step forward and take leadership, it is unknown what will happen to the organization. A solid foundation has been laid but in order to keep it going the same old bodies will need replacement. Think about it and get involved, or stand by and watch its demise. It’s reality folks, the present pillars are eventually going to be gone, hopefully to a better place, where they will watch what happens to the organization they saw grow from a small seed to the mature body it is today. Anything beyond what is there today, will need to come from new hands and minds. *** Back to the old city hall. I am told that the person who purchased the building is from Augusta and has plans to convert the building into apartments, one of which he will live in himself. So let’s hope he has an appreciation for the historic nature of the building and that he will keep the building’s appearance in its current form. Apartments fits rather nicely into what the City of Stanley's Updated Comprehensive Plan is calling for in and near the downtown area. *** President Donald Trump suggested recently in North Carolina that people should vote twice in November once by mail and once in person. Chippewa County Clerk Jaclyn Sadler warns against voting by mail and in person. She is confident that systems are in place that wouldn’t allow someone voting twice. If you vote by absentee ballot and return it by Election Day, it will be marked down in the poll book and that person would then be prohibited from voting in person. If people are doing double voting, it only will cause frustration for poll workers. Voter fraud has been rare in the Chippewa Valley. Everyone is warned that voter fraud is a felony. *** Work on the new Dollar General Store on S. Broadway began August 31. By weeks end, it looked like they were ready to pour cement. +++ In other business news: Donna Haas is retiring and has sold her Sew & Sew Quilt Shop to the folks at Pine Hollow. *** Smile time. Never give up your seat to a lady. That’s how I lost my job as a bus driver. +++ Never, under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative at the same time. +++ Never try to keep up with the Jones. Drag them down to your level, it’s cheaper. +++ Never slap a man while he is chewing tobacco. +++ Never get annoyed if your neighbor plays music at 2 a. m. Call him at 4 a. m. and tell him how much you enjoyed it. +++ The rain was pouring down. There standing in front of a big puddle outside the pub was an old Irishman, drenched, holding a stick, with a piece of string dangling in the water. A passerby stopped and asked, “What are you doing?” “Fishing, replied the old man. Feeling sorry for the old man, the gent says, “Come in out of the rain and have a drink with me.” In the warmth of the pub, as they sip their whiskeys, the gentleman, being a bit of a smarty, couldn’t resist asking, “So how many have you caught today?” “You’re the eighth,” says the old man.