Due to the questions I have received regarding when the Courtesy Ford people are going to begin working on the Shopko building, I made an inquiry. Here is what I learned. There was a three-month delay in getting all the state approvals due to COVID-19. Plans now are to begin renovation of the building around the middle of September. Sounds like the same delays experienced in getting the approvals to move forward with work on the design of the 8th Avenue bridge. *** The night of Sunday, August 16, many of the Joe Biden for President signs disappeared from the front lawns of Stanley residents who were displaying them. It was likely a prank as when the sun came up on Monday morning 15 Biden signs appeared on the lawns of Oriole Park. Subsequently, I have been told that some Biden signs also were also reported missing in Thorp and were found at Oriole Park in Stanley. *** The rattlings going on nationwide regarding the post office, and especially postal service in rural areas, has the local populace buzzing. If they are going to try to close our post office, and post offices across rural America, I suspect it won’t happen without a fight from many rural communities. Currently, we are hearing about the removal of the blue mailing boxes, like the one found outside our post office and most post offices. I can’t imagine there not being such a box there, as it is visited almost constantly during the day with many drivers even crossing to the wrong side of the street to deposit their mail without getting out of their vehicle. Only in a small town!! *** Did you know? The cucumber is a native of India and has been grown for some 3,000 years. According to Wikepedia there are three kinds of cucumbers – slicing, pickling, and burpless/ seedless. Cucumbers are 95 percent water. While they originated in Asia, they were introduced in Europe by the Greeks and Romans. Cucumbers are at their peak and many people are doing their annual pickling of them for winter consumption. +++ Teflon is the slipperiest substance in the world. +++ The “vintage date” on a bottle of wine indicates the year the grapes were picked, not the year of bottling. +++ In 2007, San Francisco became the first U. S. city to ban single use plastic shopping bags. By 2020, the rest of California, seven other states, and many cities have followed suit. *** The application period for the 2021 bear hunting season opened July 1 and ends December 10, 2020. With an increased bear population in Wisconsin, the hunting zones in Wisconsin have increased from four to six. Bear hunting has increased in popularity over the years. The Wisconsin Bear Management Plan, 2019-2029, was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Bear Advisory Committee. For the 2020 hunt, there were more than 119,000 permit applicants for 11,535 available permits. To hunt black bear in Wisconsin, one needs to possess a Class A bear license, which requires you to be selected in the bear drawing. Interested readers can obtain more information via the DNR website. As reported in this column last week, there were more than 28,000 applicants for a mere four permits issued by the DNR for this year’s elk hunt. So your chances of receiving a permit to shoot a bear are considerably better. Bears are a lot closer to us and way more numerous than most of us realize.

*** Congratulations to all those from the Stanley-Boyd area who donated blood on August 7. The goal was 51 units but due to the good turnout, 63 units were collected. It is nice to see the number of donors in our area on the increase. It seems to me we have been low for a long time in our turnout for the population base we have. Donating blood is just one of the many things we, as citizens, can do to make America a better place. Researchers have discovered that, “Doing kindness makes you happier.” Giving blood is a means to turn compassion into action. The next blood drive in Stanley will be on Friday, October 16, 1 – 6 pm. If your better angels are moved to help save lives, call Donella Christianson at 715-644-3638 to schedule an appointment. You’ll feel even better after you learn from the American Red Cross how your blood was used. Please consider giving blood. *** Here is a story that will warm your heart. One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. +++ On their return trip home, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” +++ “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh, yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what you learned from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered, “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have a wall around our property to protect us and they have friends to protect them.” +++ The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.” +++ Perhaps that story will help us refresh our perspective and appreciate what we have, especially our friends. *** Smile Time. This one came from the Bloomer Advance “Blooms” In Bloomer column. It made me laugh so I hope you enjoy it too. When my grandson graduated from high school, he had to give a speech. He began by reading from his prepared text., “I want to talk about my mother and the wonderful influence she has had on my life,” he told the audience. She is a shining example of parenthood, and I love her more than words could ever do justice.” At this point he seemed to struggle for words. After a pause, he looked up with a shy grin and said, “Sorry, but it ‘s really hard to read my mother’s handwriting.” +++ Here are a few of the answers children gave on a science exam. Q: How is dew formed? A: The sun shines down on the leaves and makes them perspire. Q: Give the meaning of “Cesarean Section.” A: The Cesarean Section is a district in Rome. Q: What is the fibula? A: A small lie. +++ The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. +++ There are two kinds of adventurers; those who go truly hoping to find adventure and those who go secretly hoping they won’t.