---

It was an extremely long weekend starting with the Dodgeville/Mineral Point Chamber of Commerce Golf Outing held on Thursday at Dodge Point Country Club. I volunteered to sit at hole number 15, that was the "Win a Car" hole sponsored by Hallada Auto Group of Dodgeville. First I took all the team photos - 20 of them - and then I proceeded to the 15th hole. I was driven by cart there by Mineral Point Chamber Director Gaile Schwickrath. Neither of us knew where we were gong as she had never been there before and I played a lot of golf there, but before the second nine holes were put in. She let me off at a spot where there was a hole 15 sign, but little did I know that there was an arrow pointing to the north on it and that meant I had about a half mile or so walk to get there! I didn't realize I was heading to the farthest point away from the club house. I mean it was way,way out there! I was there for a good four hours and nobody had a hole in one (not that I was expecting any, but someone had to be the unbiased witness). I found a shade bush to be under so my sunburn wasn't too bad and I got to talk to a lot of people! It was a fun time.
*****
Then on Saturday the Dodgeville Chamber held a Slowpitch Softball Tournament at Harris Park. The weather was great and the day went fast, but it was long - starting around 9 a.m. and ending around 10 p.m. I got more sunburned as I was out in the elements keeping the scorebook until retiring to the concession stand when play went down to one diamond in the evening. Again I got to talk to a lot of people, some I hadn't seen in years. Chamber Director Beth Mikrut-Gilles did a great job organizing the day! Check out the above photo of players eating and gathering at the stand even in the early morning hours.
*****
Next came Sunday and the final Knights Home Talent baseball game of the season at noon at Centennial Park. They won the game and I was in the concession stand from 10:30 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Now we have school starting around the area (some started last week) and we will be doing "Fall Baseball" at Harris Park and Centennial Park starting September 13th. There will be more on that next week!
*****
Don't forget that the Iowa County Fair is a go over Labor Day weekend with the youth being featured this year as they showcase their animals. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help offset expenses. There will not be a Midway or a lot of the vendors or events on Labor Day either. Their will be animal showing and auction. Support the youth by attending the auction and buying an animal! The fair is later this year as is Labor Day (Monday, September 7).
*****
Speaking of Labor Day, the Village of Ridgeway will be holding a drive-thru/pick-up Chicken BBQ and fireworks that day. Also, the Village of Highland will be holding an all-day fun day at their park with ball games, volleyball, bean bags and other fun activities plus a chicken BBQ.
*****
Young kids on scooters have to be like grown ups driving a car when they are on the streets. The other day I was coming down (heading north) on Union Street in Dodgeville when a young boy and girl both failed to stop at a stop sign and drove right out in front of me in my lane of traffic. It's a good thing that I saw them coming as I was able to stop and let them head down the street in front of me until they turned off on another side street!