---

I had someone comment as to why I don't identify the photo used in my column in the first paragraph. I told them I don't want people to just look at the first thing to get that identified and then not read any more because my column is boring! But to appease them this week the above photo shows some of the Barneveld 4th and 5th graders camping out in the gymnasium as part of "Literacy Night", something the school does!
*****
We're still looking for spring to actually arrive in this area - also there are a lot of other areas in the US that are looking too! Friday night we had thunderstorms - power was even out in some areas. If you left your car outside that night you had a lot of ice to scrape off the windshield before you could head out anywhere. I got to the office around 7 a.m. and heard this loud whipping sound. I thought there was something beating against the building or window. I left for breakfast at the Red Room and decided to walk through the "pocket park" to see what was doing that. I looked all around the office building and didn't see anything as well I didn't around the courthouse or the Gayle Jebbia Attorney office. Then I saw where it was coming - it was the American flag whipping back and forth high above the courthouse. I would be really suspicious of whether it survived the winds Saturday!
*****
Oh and Sunday we got some snow! And I mean snow plus ice! There was nothing but ice on the sidewalk out in front of the Chronicle when I arrived early Sunday morning. Then, I had on my "good" shoes and they don't keep me upright as easily as my sports shoes do!
*****
This coming Saturday (21st) is when Dodgeville's City Wide Garage Sales will be held throughout. Maps are available at several businesses - Corner Drug, both Kwik Trips, New Horizon, White Rose Annex and Piggly Wiggly. We have a good number of garage sales listed on the official map, but it amazes me of the number that take place that aren't listed. People just "piggy back" off of someone else who advertises their sale. It's not a huge newspaper money maker and takes a pretty good amount of time to put all the sales together - it is done by the Dodgeville Chronicle. I guess what amazes me the most is the support for sales on the map (with a cost) that all the communities around us get and we don't get that support in Dodgeville! In mentioning this to people their response is, "Well you got to remember we're talking about Dodgeville!
*****
The Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce is still looking for people to go attend the Friday night "Cheese Event" at Dodger Bowl on April 27. For $20 from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Dodger Bowl you can have a lot of fun. There will be at least 8 cheese makers displaying their products with FREE samples and cheese for sale. You get two FREE drinks with a ticket and a raffle ticket that guarantees you a prize. There will be some demonstrations and also polka accordion music. I hope to see some of you there!
*****
Don't forget the Dodgeville Chamber of Commerce still needs volunteers for the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championships to be held at Harris Park Saturday, April 28. Stop at or call the chamber (935-9200) to do so. They need help setting up all day Thursday plus all day Saturday. Check out the chamber website at www.dodgeville.com Tickets are available for $20 from any chamber board member or at the chamber office.