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In my business report to last week's COVID-19 story that we ran, I regret that I forgot to mention The Red Room Bar and Restaurant in downtown Dodgeville (one that I talked with, but was on a different page from the rest in my notebook - should've used a tape recorder.) Lauri, Kelly and staff were on board from day one of the business closings as they were an essential business serving food by carryout, curb service and/or delivery. Lauri said the people they served were fantastic with their Friday Night Fish Fry being very good. She said she felt business was down about 50%, but she couldn't be more please with the people they served and the help they had. They are currently open at 6:00 a.m.Tues.-Fri. and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Hours may change in the next few weeks when they figure out what they are going to do for sure. It should be noted that we didn't get to everybody that's in business. The report was a sampling of some of the different businesses.
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School is out pretty much for this trying 2020 year around the area. There needs to be a big tribute to the staffs at the schools for holding classes together virtually during this pandemic. They had to pull the "virtual" thing together pretty fast when schools closed their doors! Also I think a lot of parents realized just how hard teaching can be to their kids. A lot of them became teachers themselves in a lot of instances. They were the ones, too, that had to make sure assignments were done on time and turned in.
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I'm really happy with the weather we've been having. The past few days it's been in the high 60s and low to mid 70s with a few high 80s mixed in there too. The near (or reaching) 90 degree mark is just a little too high for me this time of the year though!
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There's still plans for some baseball to be played in the area this summer. Everything is still up in the air to just when and how, but I'm pretty sure it will happen - barring a huge outbreak of the COVID-19!
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Bob, Terry and I kept our Saturday breakfasts going at "2 in a row" when we went to the southeast to Hollandale last week to Stroz Inn. Jen was our waitress with Kevin doing the cooking. I hadn't had an omelette probably since the last time we were there in February or March. Dave Whitford joined us. He lives just outside of town. Even his 90 year old father Art stopped by. He said he wanted to check and make sure we actually made it! Oh, and the place was bulging with Whitfords as Art's younger brother Bill stopped by too! I think former Iowa County Sheriff Bill is younger at 88!
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Barneveld seniors were recognized Saturday with a parade in Barneveld in their caps and gowns. It wasn't the traditional tribute to the seniors, but for this year it will have to do!
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My great-niece Danielle Roh graduated from Dodgeville High School Sunday, but on Saturday she received her diploma (see above photo) from DHS Principal Ryan Bohnsack in person at her house at 1:00 p.m. There was plenty of family there to help her celebrate her accomplishment - from both the Reilly and Roh sides of the family. Sunday, following a lot of the seniors getting their diplomas by a drive-thru at the high school, there was a "Senior Tribute Car Cruise" that was organized by the parents.