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Boy did I ever take a ribbing about getting wet on the Sunday of the Dodgeville Lions Club Antiques & Flea Market show! They said I should've been prepared for any type of weather since I have to cover outside events like football games, cross country meets, soccer meets and festivals. I guess "they" are right, but I don't think I own a rain parka anymore and heaven forbid that I would spend some money to buy something for myself!
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I had a chance to go to the Iowa County Fair on Saturday and spend pretty much a full day there. I guess maybe AGE is catching up with me. I was really worn out by the time the auction ended and I had made my way back home. I even slept in a little on Sunday, not getting out of bed until 7 a.m. It was fun at the fair and I even got a chance to have a couple of those really good steak sandwiches the Iowa County Cattlemen serve. Every time I order one I ask for one of those great "pork" sandwiches. The servers usually give me a dirty look, but some of them know that I say that all of the time. After all, I'm a hog farmer from way back, raising purebred Hampshires for many years and doing well at all the fairs, shows and even the State Fair!
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This next weekend will be a busy one in a lot of areas, especially south and east of Dodgeville. There will be a prairie Festival on Friday and Saturday at Folklore Village with things such as: local food tasting Friday night, guided prairie walks, kid's activities, music and a barn dance and Jerry Apps as the keynote speaker.  The Hollandale Quasquicentennial (125 years) will take place on Saturday with a run/walk, softball, tours of the village and historic homes/businesses, a parade, beard judging contest, bands, food and more. On Friday night, as part of the Jonesdale Field Days there will be Midget Wrestling at 8 p.m. On Saturday there will be ball games, trap shoot, food and duck races to entertain you. If you don't know where Jonesdale is - head  east of Dodgeville or Mineral Point towards Hollandale on either 191 or 39 and follow the turn off sign on "W"!
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Everybody sure was in a hurry to get wherever this past weekend. I can't tell you how many people passed me in either no passing zones or on highways when I was already going over the speed limit. I was going to Highland to football on Friday night, to the fair on Saturday and to both Highland and Ridgeway on Saturday and at least two vehicles each time sped by me each trip and left me in the dust!
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I ran into an "old"employee - Arianne (Biggerstaff) - at the fair on Saturday. I was heading through the "tunnel" to go to the midway when I met her and her family coming out of the tunnel. She has three youngsters with the oldest one being 8. I guess that speaks for how long it has been since I have seen her because I have never seen any of her kids. She was a state track runner when she was in high school here and left the area and got married in her early 20s.
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Another person I ran into at the fair was former Alice in Dairyland Angie (Rule). She told me she loves me since every time I see her I tell her that she never seems to age!
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The annual Dodgeville Area Scholarship Fund golf outing takes place in two weeks on Sunday (16th) at Dodge-Point Country Club. The DASFI has raised a lot of money that is given to students for scholarships. If you haven't signed up to play yet or even if you want to come out and see some "old"familiar faces, feel free to do so!