7/31/01 - It's been a busy month - back on July 7 people who attended the Edison School, just over-the-hill on G-12 in Lake Township, held a reunion. Dorothy Kruhmin, who taught at the school from l942 to l945, was the only teacher to attend. Eleven of her 21 students were there. She said there were about 50 people who showed up for the pot luck meal. There was much reminising and picture taking. "All of the living LeRoys (there were 16 of them) were there. Gordon LeRoy came from Georgia and Lucille Lundquist came from Washington state." The Edison School was open from 1904 until 1961, according to Dorothy, and provided instruction for students from kindergarten through 8th grade. My only recollection of it is that my sister, Irene Marciniak, dressed up in a red suit and played Santa at the Christmas parties there a couple of years.

Agnes Toberg and Harriet Tebo were primary organizers of the event.

Speaking of reunions - a check with Elaine Miller Haban provided an update on the 50th reunion of the Stephenson High School Class of 195l planned for September lst. The group has been meeting every 5 years with 88 people attending last time and 88 signed up so far this time. There will be an informal get-together at 6 p.m.on Friday night at Belgiumtown. The "official" reunion will be held at the VFW in Menominee on Saturday.

Area kids were donning their barn clothes quite a bit this month. The term has a different meaning than many of us remember - they didn't have to worry about having them smell like manure. Instead the worst that could happen was to get them a little smeared with bright colors of paint. Their job was to provide ideas and enthusiasm for painting a mural on the north side of a barn on Wildwood Road between Ingalls and Wallace. The public was invited to see the nearly-finished results last Thursday evening. There was food and music, and many compliments on the work done by the group under the direction of artist Renick Stevenson. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this week, so if you are in the area drive by and take a look. It's only three miles off the highway and worth the trip.

I didn't make it to the County Fair at Shakey Lakes the weekend of the 20th, but I did pick up some hints on how to wash a lamb from Katie Beechner when I stopped by Peggy Jardeen's on Saturday. Her son, George, and his cousins Katie, Kyle, Erin and Brent were getting ready to show their lambs at the fair on Sunday, so while others were enjoying the Da Yoopers show at the High School these kids were busy scrubbing lambs. We didn't have lambs on our farm when I was a kid so I innocently asked what you used to get them clean. Duh! Woolite, of course. (We didn't have Woolite either when I was young.) I also learned, from Katie, that washing a lamb can be pretty messy because "when you get them wet they shake all over, just like a wet dog." It was all worth it though as she got a Reserve Grand Championship award for showmanship of her lamb 'Gemini."

7/28/01 - It's 7:40 am and it's raining! Apparently it's more effective to be clever than to beg or apologize. The city's message on the signboard by the highway - a revised version of "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" - apparently SHAMED this nice rain cloud ilnto visiting us. ( So what if it chose a day when we planned to take grandkids raspberry picking and to the beach at Shakey Lakes.) The city claimed "The grass is just as brown on the other side of the fence."

7/21/01 - Apologies and pleading worked. A little rain cloud visited Stephenson at about 6 pm but only stayed for about ten minutes. It rained enough to bring the 90-degree temperature way down to 87!

By 6:15 local Yoopers were lining up outside the High School Gym to hear "Da Yoopers" perform at 7 p.m. They are a professional group, if there is such a thing as a professional Yooper. Most people associate that term with backwoods hunters and fishermen who speak their own language, Their idea of a "sacred" song is a prayer asking for help in locating the bathroom door at camp. "Twenty Yoopers in a Pontoon Boat" prettly much tells you what to expect in their average "normal" offerings.

They drew a big, appreciative crowd who might be a bit suprised to learn they aren't quite as hickish as they would have you believe. Either that or they've learned to be on their best behavior when visiting big cities like Stephenson. I checked the area where their truck was parked. There were no dead, rotting fish or empty beer cans anywhere in sight.

Not even a backwoods version of a port-a-potty, so someone is answering their prayers and showing them the way to indoor facilities.

7/20/01 - It's been too hot and humid lately to socialize....talk....think....write. Us Yoopers aren't very used to this.

7/12/01 - The doors of the City Fire Station are being painted today with hard to miss signs that say "FIRE DEPT No Parking." It's all part of the plan to have everything looking it's best for the July 15th Open House at the Municipal Building site on Samuel Street. Residents are invited to stop by between l and 4 p.m. to tour the area, which includes the newly constructed Public Works Building. Refreshments will also be available. Quite a few parking spaces have been added in the paved area in front of the new building to accomodate visitors.

7/12/01 - The St. Vincent de Paul Board of Directors met recently and made a few changes to make things easier and more convenient for shoppers and volunteer workers. The table for receiving and sorting donations has been moved to near the entrance door, allowing workers easier access to the area where excess items can be stored until they have time to sort and display them. Visitors are also being asked to sign in to get a better idea of how many are using the facility. The information is needed to apply for available freebies and for other necessary paperwork.

Betsy Allie (753-6627) has been appointed to be in charge of incoming donations on days when the St. Vincent de Paul Center is not open. People wishing to donate a large number of items are asked to contact her and set up a time to meet . Smaller donations can still be taken in on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday mornings from 9 am. to noon.

7/7/01 - Population in the city of Stephenson has dropped from 904 to 875, according to a recently published newsletter sent to all city residents. But, on the 4th of July each of those 875 must have had about 10 family members or friends visiting them. Many local residents have commented they have never seen so many people in town for the parade, festivities in the park. and the fireworks.

I had grandchildren visiting from Green Bay. They went to the street dance at the Tivoli theater Monday night, had a wonderful time and, by Tuesday and Wednesday, were able to recognize and identify more people than I could - and I was born and raised in this area!

The talent show at the Tivoli Tuesday evening had a Standing Room Only crowd. Parking spaces were hard to find on any city streets that night and all day Wednesday. The near-perfect weather and the variety of planned activities were a big plus.The amazing thing about it all was that the Fourth of July Planning Committee consisted of just one, that's right, ONE (1), person - Dale Parrett. Lots of others helped, with the ball games, concessions, parade. fireworks, etc. and did an excellent and much appreciated job, but nobody showed up to be part of a Committee, so Dale took on the responsibility for coordinating all the activities and handling the small but important details. Next year the celebration will be in Daggett, but when it's Stephenson's turn again in '03 he's hoping there will be a few more volunteers.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please take a minute to write H. Barb Upton.