Reading, Writing and Arithmetic

One of the things I've regretted over the years is not taking time to do more reading and writing. My Dad ordered a series of Hardy Boy books for me and my brother John and Nancy Drew books for my sister Diana when we were little. Diana and I read them as fast as they came in. The next logical step was a series of classic books from Airmont Books. While we hungered for mystery, Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, Jack London, etc didn't get our same attention. 

Sometime last year I decided to start reading all the books I had in my own library beginning with a biography of former New York Jets Quarterback Joe Namath that Diana had given to me. It was warts and all and I lost a lot of respect for Namath as I read how he took for granted his talents and what others had to offer him. 

I went through every book I had including several on writing and style. Best advice "Keep it simple stupid!" Finally on a visit to my Mom's I grabbed a fist full of the Airmont Books and to my surprise began enjoying the classics. So now you have the reading and writing in the title. Further evidence of the writing being this blog and how I used what I learned in the books on writing for my every day job as a news director for KFIZ radio station. 

As for the arithmetic that comes in several ways. I found that in addition to personal libraries and public ones, used books can be quite cheap. You can find them at used book stores, online, garage sales, even at St. Vinnie's. One other thing about arithmetic. My Dad was an accountant. He died in 1980 and I often think of him. Imagine my surprise when several of the Airmont Books I read I found a subtle, but loving reminder of my father. He used adding machine paper as bookmarks and I found it in two or three of the books. My Mom has more at her home. I wonder what other books may have those reminders in them.

Although I have a renewed appreciation for books I have to says that my favorites have always been biographies. Some recent books I've read have included a biography about Lombardi and autobiographies from Frank Deford and Charles Kuralt. All led fantastic lives, part success, part regret, but as human as you or I.

I've included a photo from the Kuralt book I recently finished now on to a Stephen King short story collection. But a few words about the Kuralt book first. His best stories about "A Life on the Road" were about the extraordinary people he met. So it was only fitting that when I opened up the book I found a dedication, not from Kuralt but from the person who had bought the book and given it to a favorite aunt for Christmas one year. From the few words I gathered there was a special connection between them. How appropriate given the book and author. I'm going to pay if forward and share it with someone I love.

Reasonable Doubt

"I don't know!" A Fond du Lac County jury must have heard that uttered by Dennis Brantner dozens and dozens of times during his murder trial.

Brantner recently stood trial for the murder of 18-year-old Berit Beck in the summer of 1990 in Fond du Lac. After 2 1/2 weeks the jury couldn't decide if he was guilty or innocent.

Some jurors had tears in their eyes as they were dismissed. They clearly took their duty as jurors to heart. But fingerprint evidence, testimony from witnesses Brantner worked with and for establishing his knowledge of the area where Beck's body was dumped was not enough.

In an audio interview taped in Brantner's kitchen in Kenosha and a video interview later that same day in March of 2014 at the Kenosha Police Department, police and Fond du Lac County Sheriff's detectives pressed him about Beck's murder.  Did you kill her? "I don't know." How did your fingerprints end up in her van? "I don't know." You must have been in her van. "I don't know." He repeatedly used the phrase, "I don't know" to answer their questions.

The jury heard the audio three or four times and watched the video at least as many times. "I don't know," became a mantra. I'm not sure if that influenced the jury, but they had their doubts about his guilt or innocence. They weren't the only ones.

After the jury was dismissed the press waited in the jury assembly room for a press conference with District Attorney Eric Toney and Dan Miller a pastor at the church the Beck family attends. While we were waiting there was a lively discussion about whether Brantner was guilty or innocent of Bert Beck's nmurder. Even the professional skeptics couldn't agree and we can sometimes be the most unreasonable of doubters. Should there be another trial. "I don't know."

Opportunity Knocks

Opportunities are important during your career, but don't sneer at those fresh to your field when they are presented with what may seems to be an overwhelming opportunity. 

Recently I had a chance to do a one-on-one interview with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. He was in Fond du Lac and had a couple interviews lined up with local media, five minutes each. While waiting I saw someone who had worked for one of our stations as an intern. He is now working for another station.

He was filling in for someone who was on vacation and was nervous. He commented that this was probably old hat for me. In fact I've interviewed at least five or six governors in my time and Governor Walker on multiple occasions. But I offered what words of encouragement I could. 

A day or so later I told a few people about seeing our former intern. A couple of them said what does he know about talking to the governor. I didn't say anything in his defense, but it reminded me of something that happened to me soon after I started at KFIZ. 

I was invited to moderate a candidates forum for the Dodge County Sheriff's race. It got back to me that some people at my previous station had laughed when they heard about it and said what does he know about moderating a debate. In fact nothing, but for more than eight years I covered the Sheriff's Department for that station and knew most of the seven candidates. I was told I did a good job moderating the debate.

Getting back to our former intern. I wish I had stuck up for him, I guess I am here. The important thing is he got a chance to do a one-on-one interview with the governor. Maybe that's not something you list on your resume, but it's experience and it counts.

R U Connected?

Back in the late 1990's I started working with a computer at work. I'd worked with a word processor before that and some more ancient forerunners before for programming, but this was the first PC I used to type and file stories.

About that same time I got a PC for home. I had an old Apple in the 1980's, but never got it up and running. It was given to me second hand and even dial-up was a new concept and spotty at the time.

Recently I took stock of just how connected I've become and to say the least it surprised me. I have two computers in my news studio. One to type and file stories and edit sound. Everything we do now is digital. Another computer is used to record and send newscasts and interviews to our AM studio. On the infrequent days I do my own engineering for our AM talk show I work with three computers in that studio. At home I have a laptop.

Then there is email. I have my personal account at home and 5 at work. I'm also responsible for news on our website and a newsletter. At work I have two phones and a smart phone to take to meetings and news events. At home I have two phones and a cell phone.

Then there is social networking, it's just crazy. I have two Twitter accounts and four Facebook accounts. And somewhere along the way put together a LinkenIn account. With the smart phone I am now posting on Facebook and Twitter during meetings and news events. This gives the news more immediacy. My work smart phone is on 24/7.

It strikes me as funny that when I worked in Minocqua, Wisconsin our AM station programming was actually run off a Commodore 64 keyboard and the system was hooked up to a marine battery so if we lost power the memory wouldn't also be lost. That was the late 1980's.

In 1981 I was in my senior year at Northern Michigan University. Taking stock of what I might need for my professional career I asked my advisor if I should take any computer courses. That sage professor said I wouldn't need them! And while I'm taking stock I also write a blog.

Iced

I've been drinking Starbuck's coffee's for years, but until the other day had never actually bought one in one of their stores. A couple months ago I was sent a Starbuck's gift card by someone and I worked up the nerve to finally use it.

Fond du Lac has a Starbuck's so I decided to walk in and order some iced coffee. After I did, with apologies to Seinfeld, I felt like I had walked into a Soup Nazi episode.

First I got into the wrong line. I was in the pick up line and not the line for ordering. Someone nicely informed me of that. Once I got into the line I placed an order for a vanilla flavored ice-coffee. That was my first indication that I did not have the right lingo down. The second came when I got into the pick up line, which really wasn't a line at all. It was more like pick a spot near the entrance where you don't impede foot traffic.

Finally my order came. I didn't realize it at first because there was the lingo problem. To me what was a vanilla-flavored iced coffee came out of the barista's mouth as all together something different. It came out at warp speed and more akin to Klingon, at least to me. I didn't know it was mine at first until I worked up the courage to pick up the cup and read the label. Yep it was mine. The rest of the customers must have thought I was a moron.

One thing I learned from the experience is that apparently you have to have one heck of a coffee buzz going to thoroughly understand the barista. He has the lingo down and well enough to rattle it off like a mosquito. I do plan to go back. I don't believe in the phrase "No Coffee for you!"

Malpractice

There was a period in the late 1980s when I was working for a radio station in Minocqua, Wisconsin where I reviewed a movie and critiqued it as a weekly feature on my show. It's been nearly 25 years since I have wielded my critic's pen, but after watching a few episodes of a summer replacement series on NBC I have dusted off that pen.

I have always been a sucker for good hospital dramas, The Night Shift isn't one of them. A drama about an emergency room, this one in Texas, should always have plenty of story lines. But this one is trying to accomplish too much. It's trying to be E.R., Grey's Anatomy, M*A*S*H*, Scrubs and a host of others combined.

Particularly annoying to me is the use of time that pops on the screen before a commercial and returning from commercials. If the show is called The Night Shift that should be enough to give the viewer a reference as to when things are generally happening. M*A*S*H* used the time thing once, but that was an episode taking place in real time so to speak and it was very effective. The use of time in this show is just pointless.

The show also needs to dial down the testosterone just a tad. Good stories and well crafted characters are what defines a good hospital drama. The character T.C. seems clueless that he's suffering from post traumatic stress disorder from his time as a battlefield surgeon in Afghanistan. He's always in the right and the ends always justify the means. My favorite TV T.C. was Theodore Calvin who flew a chopper in the Vietnam War and later as an Island Hopper pilot in Magnum P.I. His character was more layered than this T.C.

E.R. was on several years before George Clooney rescued a little girl caught in a flooded storm water drain. The timing was perfect and it was a defining moment that made the drama must see TV. By the way E.R.was also on NBC, but we knew it was different right out of the box.

Don't Shoot The Messenger!

Don't shoot the messenger! That phrase usually comes before or after you get bad news, but is there really any good avenue to receive bad news?

Recently I've been considering whether or not I like getting bad news through social networks like Facebook or Twitter. Part of that thoughtfulness is because over the past few years I've gotten bad news through those two social networking icons. The death of a cousin and a friend come to mind.

Last week I got news that a close friend of the family died and the person who called me said they didn't want me to read about it on Facebook first. I'm not sure I would have, but posted the link to that's friend's obituary on Facebook anyway damn the consequences. I guess I could justify it a bit by telling you it was particularly flattering and treated the friend as valued as they should have been.

I believe there is a place for social networks to spread some news, but when it's really personal or close to a family you should weigh the pros and the cons first. If it's going to hurt someone you love it's better to pick up the phone and keep it between you. That also goes for photographs and video of a person.

Being a news reporter I can tell you that stories about those in the publiceye are fair game, but that shouldn't extend to friends and family with Facebook and Twitter being means to do it.

Social Network

Wow where does the time fly. It's been months, nearly seven by my count, since I posted a blog. That's like Rip Van Winkle laying down to take a nap and well the rest is history.

I had an idea for a blog months ago, but I guess it still applies and that's on the term "Social Network." So much of it lately seems to be the exact opposite. Being a news guy I visit quite a few law enforcement Facebook and Twitter pages to get ideas for stories or update stories.

Most of the time those sites are for information sake, but they allow for public posts. Some of them can get particularly nasty. I've seen some sites threaten to bar users because of the comments they've left on posts. It doesn't stop there though. Our website (KFIZ.com) also allows comments on news stories. Most times no one bothers, but on stories that smack of controversy that's a whole different animal.

We get complaints sometimes about those comments. Being a flag carrier for the 1st amendment sometimes leaves you conflicted. The anonymity that a username can afford people sometimes emboldens them to post things they wouldn't dare say to a person's face. It can be spiteful, hurtful and can at times be said about a person who can no longer defend themselves. I know of one such case in which it was suggested a facility be named after a person who is no longer with us. I'm glad she wasn't alive to see the posts that attacked her.

Other posts simply attack people for the job that they do. People who wouldn't dream of getting behind the wheel and driving after a few drinks have no trouble hammering out their spiteful thoughts on a keyboard, smart phone or tablet late at night or early in the morning. I guess I was taught to be courteous to people or not indulge in saying something negative about them in public. As a reporter I do have to report on things that do put a negative light on people sometimes, but it is not done with spite. I learned a long time ago that there are two sides to every story and on most social networking sites a way to bar people who can't be social.

User Friendly My Eye!

I have a new pet peeve, no pun intended, that's been slowly developing over the last few years. Somewhere along the lines while learning my journalism craft I recall the words when it comes to radio listeners "Do the Math for them." Granted the term was in reference to numbers, but taking journalistic license I believe it also applies to using the Internet.

I can't tell you how many times I've been told during a live talkshow interview or in doing an interview for a news story, people can go to our website for more information. It's kind of a blanket statement, which shouldn't be used if it's not true.

You see when I'm doing a story I "Do the Math" and do go to the website to make sure what I'm being told exists at a website is there and is user-friendly. If I have to spend ten minutes perusing a website and find no link, banner or search that will get me to where that information is I'm not going to drive people to that website.

Two recent examples. Go to our website to take the survey. Not on the home page, No banner with a link. But the survey was buried in a previous press release that wasn't recent at all. In the other example I was told people can go to our website to find out more about information meetings. I did spend 10 minutes on that website searching for the information and found references to past information sessions, but nothing on upcoming information meetings.

It wouldn't be fair to point out these shortcomings without turning the criticism inward. So if I supply the information in a news story I wrote I'm going to make sure if I drive people to our website for more information the link works, the podcast works or the banner works.

Think of it as someone stopping to ask you directions. You would try to give them the right directions if possible. Imagine the look you'd get if you told them to use Map Quest instead.

Wintry Friend

Hello old wintry friend. Plenty of people I've spoken to lately hate how much snow we've received and just want it to stop. For me it's the winter I didn't get to experience five years ago.

I went into a Milwaukee hospital in early February of 2008 for hip surgery. Because of the surgery, complications and rehab I spent the next 6 weeks in hospitals and a rehab center.

The day I went into the hospital for surgery most of southeastern Wisconsin got 12 inches of snow. It was a snowy winter, perhaps our last big winter until this year. I like a good winter it helps me adjust to a new year and put the old one behind me. It also gives me time to organize and take care of things I put off. By spring I'm ready for change.

In addition to the abundant snowfall we've gotten this winter, I've also experienced some loss which I think winter also symbolizes. My Uncle Clyde Chartier passed away at the age of 89. I saw him out Christmas shopping, but a stroke took the life out of him and eventually his life. A classmate at Northern Michigan University went into the hospital to get some problems taken care of and the next thing I know I'm reading about his death on Facebook. Plus another friend I've come to make in Fond du Lac suffered a stroke.

These are all parts of life and maybe I'm more sensitive about them because my Dad passed away one day in January when I was attending college. The last thing we talked about was the upcoming Super Bowl. That was 1980. I knew he was sick, but didn't think he was that sick. It's funny how little our differences while I was a teenager seem to matter now. The real comfort I feel now is when I enjoy a television show, movie or book and think Dad would have loved that.

I no longer take family for granted. We still have our differences from time to time, but more importantly we cherish the time that we can get together. Winter is almost over and spring is hope eternal to twist an old phrase.

Field of Battle

Sometimes young boys become young men on the field of battle. Such was the case last Friday night for my nephew Max Nelson and the rest of the 2012 Manistique Emeralds high school football team.

They entered their last regular season game with a 5 and 3 record and a chance, if they won, to advance to the high school football playoffs for the first time in many years.

It had been raining off and on throughout the day and the field conditions were slippery. That did come into play a bit. Max, a sure-handed receiver, dropped a touchdown pass in the endzone. He wasn't the only player to do so during the evening. Both team moved the ball up and down the field before the other defense would stiffen and the ball would be turned over on downs. At the end of regulation play the score was tied at 6.

I'd never seen a high school game go into overtime. Each team gets it at their opponents' 10 yard line with four downs to score. Both teams failed to score and they went into a second overtime. That's when things got interesting. The Emeralds kept the Harbor Springs Rams out of the endzone, in fact backing them up in the process. When the Emeralds got the ball they were having a tough time trying to get the ball in the endzone and their quarterback was sacked on one play, but an opposing player stood over the QB and taunted him. The Rams were called for unsportsmanlike conduct and Manistique got the ball at the one.

On the final play the Emeralds faked the ball to their go-to running back and handed off to another. They scored and the Emeralds won 12 to 6. Parents and family couldn't have been more proud of those young men. The four captains linked arms when they went on the field for the overtime coin toss to see who would get the ball first. They celebrated on the field and some cried as they left it, including Max. They were tears of joy and perhaps fatigue over a hard fought win.

It was a defining moment for them and one that I am glad I got a chance to see. That's Max number 80 in the photo from one of his earlier games. He's a little older, wiser and stronger now.

Robo Bob

I wish there was a Robo Bob for all the robo calls I've received this year. In fact I wish there was a Robo Bob for unsolicited calls wanting something from me that I'm not willing to give.

Recently I got a call from someone, phone ID said unknown number, wanting to know if I would contribute towards all the poor children on a Navajo reservation. I probably should have given more thought to my response when I asked the caller if there was a casino on the reservation and wouldn't they contribute towards the children's plight. She told me most Native Americans don't care for casinos. No contribution from me.

One thing about those calls is some are very persistent. I got three calls one day from the same number wanting to poll me on politics, something I won't do as a reporter. I said I didn't want to take the poll. They called back twice.

One day I got four robo calls about the upcoming elections. The first one I let voicemail pickup, but they didn't leave a message. Call number two I had just sat down to eat a meal. Call number three I was watching a movie I was looking forward to seeing. Call number three I was indisposed. So to sum up the days calls. For the record I'm fed up with those type of calls, so watch your step and quit giving me crap.

Spitting Protestor

An 83-year-old woman protestor was asked to leave when she snuck into a Women for Romney event and spit in the face of a Romney supporter.

(Heart) Breaking News

Breaking News. As a news reporter I've used the term, but found the term doesn't say enough. In most cases it should be "Heartbreaking News."

Often that "Breaking News" carries information that is heartbreaking for someone or a group of people. Imagine for example how many people were affected by the movie theater shooting in Colorado.

I've learned from personal experience that most news stories affect someone or a lot of someones. A story about an automobile accident that claimed a life or lives can impact a lot of people.

As you become entrenched in a community you come to know more people and sometimes find yourself reporting on someone you know or someone you know knows them. I recently reported on the death of Fond du Lac County's Social Services Department Kim Mooney. We weren't friends just acquaintances, but she impressed me as someone who cared about the people she worked for and with. Covering a Habitat for Humanity dedication ceremony I spoke to someone who knew her and was impacted by her death.

I was coverning news live at the scene of a deadly standoff in March of last year in Fond du Lac where Police Officer Craig Birkholz was shot and killed. I saw that day the effect it had on seasoned law enforcement officers and the way it affected the whole community in the weeks to come. That was "Heartbreaking News."

We saw the Fond du Lac County community rally behind a bunch of motorcyclists from Michigan when their group was hit by a Hilbert man driving on Highway 151 at the end of May. Lives were touched on both sides of Lake Michigan in the weeks and months since. "Heartbreaking News" that united people who until then knew nothing about each other.

The term "Breaking News" should be used judiciously because often it's accompanied by "Heartbreaking News."

Tiny Voices

It's a tossup whether I like them or not, but the new Subway commercials featuring adults talking in child-like voices got me to thinking.

How much child-like behavior do you see in the workplace? Sounds like a strange notion, but not if you give it a little thought.

Remeber the kid that never put his or her toys away? Exhibit number one is usually a person's desk. Then there are those who literally expect someone to go behind them and clean up after them. Mounds of paper left anywhere no problem. Things left not where they are supposed to be, but where you would never guess.

The know-it-all. When you were a kid was there another kid who constantly said, "I know, I know, I know." When you grow up it's the person who thinks they know everything and constantly gives an unsolicited opinion. And they don't like anything or at least it seems that way.

It's unfortunate that a lot of kids today eat in front of the TV and don't sit down for meals because at least they would learn some table manners. The office pig is a person who for some reason only gets half of what they are munching on in their mouth. The rest ends up somewhere else on their person or on the floor. You can usually find them by following a trail of potato chips back to their cubicle.

Mr. or Mrs. Loud. Always the loudest kid on the playground, now the loudest in the office. I'm not sure sometimes whether it's intentional or not. You know that person the one you can hear no matter where you are in the office. Sometimes this can be a bad thing if they are spreading office gossip. Sometimes it's annoying and sometimes just plain funny. They must be a joy during the family Christmas gathering.

Honestly we can probably count ourselves lucky if we do still have a little kid in us. It keeps things fresh.

Diva

When it comes to radio talk-shows where are you more likely to find a "Diva" in front of the microphone or behind it?

I've interviewed thousands of people over the years on the radio and to be honest have rarely had to interview someone with "attitude." In fact only one person readily comes to mind. I could easily dismiss her as being a perfectionist and wanting to have things done just, so but I'm not the only one who thinks of her as having a "Diva" like complex.

That being said I have run into a number of radio talk-show hosts who are Divas in their own right. They bring their ego and opinion to the show and think that is why people are tuning in. Of course they may not be wrong. How many people tune in to nationally syndicated talk-shows because they love disagreeing with the host.

I however was referring to talk-show hosts I've worked with on the local level. I ran into one early in my radio career who had a higher opinion of himself than those around him. He was entertaining though and reminded me a lot of the Les Nesman character in the TV series "WKRP in Cincinnati." Another I worked with was simply better than anyone and let everyone know it.

More recently my "Diva" experience had to do with a colleague who 98 percent of the time was a very good talk-show host, loved doing interviews, and the people he had to talk to. Enter politics. That was his one obstacle. He hated doing political interviews. The interviews he didn't like doing were usually with someone whose political affiliation he didn't agree with.

I have to confess I don't enjoy every interview I do, but generally do enjoy the people I interview. Then again a good talk-show host will recognize that radio is about entertaining and informing. Don't be too quick to take a bow. It's a bad position to be in if someone is planning to give you a good swift kick.

What About Bob?

Apologies to those in the blogosphere for my lack of blogs over the last three months. I actually had some subject matter on several occasions, but didn't get around to it. Which probably begs the question "What About Bob?"

I've actually been cheating on my blog. The affair has been with Facebook and Twitter. Part of this can be blamed on work. When Twitter first started becoming popular I signed up for an account because we didn't have one for work. Later we were asked to sign up for Facebook so we could feature some of our brillant wit and insights for people who follow KFIZ.

Long story short I now have both a work and personal account, plus KFIZ has an account. I also have a work and personal account for Facebook, plus KFIZ has a page. So people have had a lot of opportunities to find out "What About Bob" on Twitter and Facebook.

Alas my fascination with both Facebook and Twitter is starting to fade a bit and I can rededicate myself to trying to post blogs again on a more regular basis. By the way when I did indulge in Facebook and Twitter it was never to excess.

I have two Facebook friends that I believe are in need of some serious counseling. When I do open my Facebook page their posts dominate. While I value their wit and insights I'm beginning to wonder what they do with their lives outside of work and Facebook.

Some food for thought if you have a Facebook page or Twitter Account and don't post to excess you probably have a pretty good offline life and the people you talk to face-to-face probably value your opinion much more than those who follow you online.

Good Knights in the Morning

My sister Kathy says they got a sign from my Dad when my Mom had surgery in Madison in January.

My brothers and sisters and I were a little nervous about it because a supposedly routine procedure she underwent in Marquette, Michigan during the fall of 2010 went wrong when they overmedicated her.

She had great doctors at UW Madison Hospitals to do the surgery that would help remove blockage in her cartoid artery. Still there was a chance she might suffer a stroke or worse.

Last Christmas we were all on pins and needles anticipating her surgery the next month. If it was to be our last Christmas together it was nearly perfect. She didn't admit it until later, but my Mom told me she was nervous about the procedure.

On top of everything else her surgery was scheduled the day after my Dad had died (he died in 1980). Needless to say we were also aware of that. But if my sister Kathy was right my Dad sent a sign to calm her and my Mom.

So the morning of her surgery came and they were preparing to leave from the hotel. Despite the early hour a group was meeting in a room on the ground floor. It was the Knights of Columbus. It was then that my sister Kathy and my Mom knew everything was going to be okay. My Dad had been a KC for years. He was an officer and loved being part of the organization.

The surgery went well. Thanks for the sign Dad!

Tribute to a Fallen Police Officer

Pictures featured were taken by KFIZ staff and others. The song in the video was sung by Fond du Lac Police Officer Steve Olson during a law enforcement memorial ceremony at Hamilton Park in Fond du Lac last May.

Buyer Beware

It's probably too hard to see, but both these candy bars were warped when I bought them. I purchased them out of curiousity. To play it safe I threw them in the fringe before trying them. They tasted just fine.

That leads me to this encounter at the sales counter. The clerk asked if they were on the shelf that way. Refraining from a snotty reply I said yes. She then sold them to me without any other questions.

Just for the heck of it I went back to the store and looked on the same shelf about two to three weeks later. More warped candy bars. I bought one at the sales counter. Different clerk, no questions this time. This was not the only disappointment I experienced at this particular franchised store. When I purchased the candy bars the first time I had gone in the store for four different items. They didn't have two of them. Needless to say I can't hardly wait to see what kind of rewards they have in store for people who actually own one of their rewards cards.

For some reason I frequent the same stores and restaurants no matter how poor the service. Point of interest I always stop at a burger restaurant in Menominee, Michigan whenever I'm on my way up to the U.P. On different trips, they had no ice in their ice machine, didn't have food ready in a timely fashion and were out of some items.

The last time I was returning to Wisconsin I stopped for a restroom break and to pick up some hamburgers. The urinal I used began to flood when I flushed it to the point of overflow, but eventually stopped. Then when I went to wash my hands there were no hand towels in the machine. I debated whether to tell employees of the restaurant about it, but was finally fed up with the crappy service and decided not to.

Each time I stop there are fewer people in the restaurant. I think maybe the buyers are finally becoming aware.