Along The Ad Routes

by Mike Reilly

We received a couple of notes with subscriptions for the Dodgeville Chronicle recently. The first came from a classmate of mine - Jon Jacka - who said: “Mike and Pat: Payment to keep up your FAKE News. Go Broncos!” He used to live in Denver, but now resides in Edmund. I guess his letter must’ve been written before the Broncos lost to the Patriots 10-7 last Sunday in the AFL (American Football League) Championship football game!

The other one came from Sherril Pecor of DeKalb, IL. She renews their subscription along with her mother’s. She writes: “Folks: Please renew my Chronicle subscription for another year and please renew my mother’s subscription for another year as well. We look forward to the issue we get every week. Keep up the great work. There is no comparison to a print newspaper! Enclosed is a check for both subscriptions. Thank you, Sherril Pecor.”

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There are a few things happening with Dodgeville businesses.  There is to be a new bank coming to the Walmart area and another bank is selling. There are to be two new businesses located at the Truck Stop area that is now vacant. 608 Custom Screen Printing is moving to the former DECO Supply building. I talked about American Family Insurance and Rural Insurance both going to new locations last week.

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I also want to welcome the new hardware store to Mineral Point. That’s something very much needed in the area!

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Saturday morning breakfast took us to the east, but not too far. We went to the Golden Eagle in Barneveld. We were last there in mid October, so it’s been a little while! It was Tom driving Bob, Terry, me, Royce and Potsie from Dodgeville leaving at 7:30. Dave got there at 8:00 and then we ordered. Vanessa was our waitress. She usually is in the kitchen, but was called out to wait tables as they were very busy. We had to put a pair of tables together to have enough room for the seven of us! Our usual waitress, Kayla, brought us coffee refills several times after she got caught up! I saw a lot of people from Barneveld that I know, but I sure do miss seeing  Leo Clerkin!

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The winter sports season of tournaments began Saturday with the SWC/SWAL CLASH wrestling tournament.  In two weeks,WIAA Sectionals will take place. Then in two more weeks (end of February) will be state individual wrestling. At that same time, girls basketball playoffs begin and gymnastics will be heading to their conference meet then their tournament schedule! Also in the mix will be girls wrestling regionals, sectionals and  state wrestling with their CLASH this Friday night.

That means baseball, softball, track & Field and girls soccer is right upon us - also Spring Break! The school year will be coming to an end before we know it!

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Unfortunately there was enough sunshine on Monday for the groundhogs to see their shadows. That means 6 more weeks of winter! I like winter, but I think most of us are pretty tired of this one. Sixteen straight days of below 0 or single digits temperatures is enough! Luckily now things are looking better with “just at fereezing” temperatures supposed to be here by the end of this week!

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We did have the thermometer hit the 20s over the weekend!

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I am going back one day for this week’s special day. National Thank a Mail Carrier Day is celebrated annually on February 4th (Wednesday in 2026) to honor postal workers for their dedication in delivering mail six days a week, regardless of weather conditions. It is a day to express gratitude through small gestures like a thank-you note, a kind word, or a treat left in the mailbox.

We have a fantastic Mail Carrier in Leo Flynn. He makes everybody’s day when he comes in the back door during the week!