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Two Dodgeville High School girls were part of a school trip for DECA students to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game April 25th. They made a sign asking leftfielder Ryan Braun to throw them a ball and they got their wish - in a roundabout way. During the game, Braun caught a ball and turned to throw it in the direction of the girls, but a fellow in front of them caught it instead. He said, after he caught it, Braun pointed behind him. He turned around and saw the girls with the sign and he gave them the ball. It may have been that these two girls used the magic word "PLEASE" in their sign that they were granted their wish. It also was pretty nice of the fellow in front of them to spot that they were the intended recipients of the ball, so he relinquished ownership of it.
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The other day there was an internet story and video of a 3 year old at a Texas Rangers baseball game who had virtually the same thing happen to him that happened to the two Dodgeville girls. The 3 year old however was crying and screaming when he didn't get the ball. I'm glad Rachel and Maria kept their cool and didn't do that or they probably would've ended up on the internet too! The outcome with the 3 year old was that he had a ball given him too!
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While I'm on baseball and the Brewers, Chris Narveson - one of their starting pitchers - who I have mentioned before as having "local" ties had surgery on April 21st at Milwaukee. It will be five months before he starts the rehab process and nine months before he starts throwing. He has an apartment in Milwaukee and will remain there the entire season because he wants to support the team. This came from his grandmother, Elaine Narveson, who ran Narvey's Restaurant here for over 50 years. Her son, Bruce, is Chris's father and was a pitcher for the Dodgeville high School, Legion and Babe Ruth teams and might've also thrown for the home talent team. Bruce is right handed while Chris is a lefty!
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Larry Keith, former Dodgeville resident who is now in Eau Claire, sent in his renewal notice to the Chronicle and had this to say: "This will be our 39th year since leaving Dodgeville, but I still enjoy your paper each week. It keeps me up to date what is happening in one of my favorite communities." The note was on hunting and fishing logoed paper - fitting for Larry!
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One of the things talked about at our Friday morning chamber breakfast (this month at Culver's) was the people who take their dogs walking on the main (Iowa) street and let them "do their thing" and don't pick it up. That's really distasteful for anyone walking down the street and going into a business. I see a lot of people walking their dogs on side streets and carrying the bags with them. I don't know why people think the main street - especially right on the sidewalk - should be an exception? Now, in front of the bakery I can see why!
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It's with as heavy a heart as you can imagine that I write about the Dodgeville True Value store starting a "Going Out of Business" sale this week. Terry has been a mainstay in the downtown for over 20 years and not only his store will be missed greatly, but all the services he does out of that store. All anyone has had to ask for is "help" and he's right there to give it a try and in most cases succeeds in fixing it! Terry has been as faithful a member of the chamber of commerce as you will ever find and works hard with the Lions Club, Farmers Appreciation Day and a lot more volunteer work. He's faithfully one of my "lunch buddies" and fixes anything I can't - which is everything!