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If it wasn't for the Coronavirus pandemic this coming Saturday would've been the 10th Annual Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championships right here in Dodgeville inside Let Pavilion at Harris Park. The event normally attracts over 4000 people with all the motels and campsites in the area filled to the brim! Plans were being made and banners were already out promoting the event ...... and then came the virus. Not being able to hold it will be a huge impact to Dodgeville and the area.
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If you remember last year's Grilled Cheese Championship, you'll surely remember the snowstorm that took place on that Saturday. It was snowing and blowing so hard at the start of the day that we weren't sure if it would be held. We did have (a generous) 1000 people there and competitors had a great time, but expenses pretty much exceeded the day's receipts for many. Check out the above photo for an outside scene from last year.
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Another annual event in Dodgeville that happens the same Saturday as Grilled Cheese is that of the City Wide Garage Sales. People all over the city (and a few outside) open their yards and garages to "treasure hunters". That, unfortunately, is another event that won't take place this year. Mineral Point usually kicks off the garage sale season a couple weeks before Dodgeville holds theirs. Other area communities follow with some holding them in conjunction with their village celebrations. Everything is pretty much up in the air at this time - but we're HOPEing!
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Speaking of HOPE, we have continues with our pages of HOPE in this week's edition. Thank you to all the people who have submitted photos and words of HOPE and a huge thank you to our advertisers who want to show their support of HOPE and let people know they are thinking about them and also to let them know they are still in business!
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Maybe it's a sign. I had a dream last Friday night that I was running the concession stand at Centennial Park in Dodgeville for a huge baseball tournament and city celebration. Maybe it was to celebrate the fact the pandemic was finally over! There were people from out of state and all over Wisconsin at the event. I don't know what time of the summer it was or even what year it was - but here's HOPEing it's soon!
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I've heard the price of gasoline in some places is below $1.00. Honestly I never thought I'd see that again. I'm from the era that gasoline was about a quarter/gallon at service stations. We could put a dollar of gas into our vehicles and pretty much drive around the entire weekend (not constantly, but Friday and Saturday night)! I remember the price being 17 cents/gallon for the tank on our farm too!
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With the 2019-2020 school year pretty much a wash as far as spring sports goes, I really feel sorry for the seniors. The vast majority of those who played baseball, softball, track, soccer or whatever will provably not compete ever again except maybe at fun, family things. Some will go on to colleges and compete and others may play in leagues or tournaments or just fun local festivities - but it isn't the same as competing with our classmates and friends!