What We’re Talking About

Working from isn’t always easy…..Check out this TV reporter from Florida as she tries to tape a news segment.

Credit:  Twitter/Jessica Lang

During the Coronavirus panedemic Dr. Fauci has been seen on TV a lot because he is one of the leading members of the White House’s Task Force.  Now you can bring him home….Introducing the Dr. Fauci Bobblehead from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.  Orders are expected to ship this July.  The bobblehead will set you back $25…but the best thing is $5 from every order will be given to the American Hospital Association in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge.

Credit:  National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum

Yesterday (April 2nd) William Harold Dean Jr. celebrated his 57th birthday… We know him as Billy Dean!  I kinda forgot about this, but he actually got his start on Star Search in 1990.  Over his career he’s racked up 11 top ten hits.  Enjoy some classic Billy Dean videos as we feature him on the Double Shot.

CMT will celebrate the life and career of Kenny Rogers, who passed away on March 20 at age 81, during an upcoming TV special, CMT Giants Kenny Rogers, on April 8.

The tribute will feature virtual performances and interviews from Dolly Parton, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Jennifer Nettles, Lady Antebellum, Lionel Richie, Michael McDonald, Randy Houser, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill and more. The special will be filmed from performers’ homes and blended alongside archival photos, interviews and performances, with clips and commentary from Kenny.

During the special, viewers will have the opportunity to donate directly to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was created by The Recording Academy to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus outbreak and subsequent cancellation of music events. Half of all funds raised will go directly to the Nashville country community.

Viewers can support CMT’s efforts here or by texting KENNYCARES to 41444 to contribute during the broadcast.

Launched in 2006, the CMT Giants series is CMT’s elite honor celebrating the careers of country music’s most legendary artists, inclduing Reba McEntire (2006), Hank Williams, Jr. (2007) and Alan Jackson (2008). In his nearly six decades on the charts, Kenny sold more than 120 million albums and recorded hit songs such as “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Lucille,” “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” and more.

CMT Giants Kenny Rogers: A Benefit For MusiCares will premiere on April 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CMT. The special will encore on MTV Live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on April 10 and again on CMT at 12 p.m. ET/PT on April 11.

Baby Shark came out with a hand washing song….now it’s Sesame Streets turn.  Elmo tells you how to get it done in the “Washy Wash Song”.

Busch Beer has partnered with a Minnesota animal rescue to offer people three months’ worth of free beer for adopting or fostering dogs.

The company said that the offer will be available for 500 people (twenty-one years of age or older) who complete the adoption and fostering process from Midwest Animal Rescue on its website: www.midwestanimalrescue.com.

Then, after receiving a confirmation email from Midwest Animal Rescue Services, participants can enter by sending a photo of that email via direct message to the Busch Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts.

The “Busch Beer for 3 months” prize isn’t an unlimited supply of beer for three months though, as it actually consists of one $100 pre-paid debit card.

Nashville’s 2020 CMA Fest on June 4-7 has been canceled. It will not be rescheduled.

The Country Music Association issued the following statement on March 31:

After careful deliberation, and in following the latest guidance from national, state and local authorities, we are sad to announce that CMA Fest will not take place in 2020.

Whether you planned to attend CMA Fest for the first time, or you have attended many times throughout the last 48 years, we know how special this festival is for Country Music fans around the globe and that many will be disappointed by this decision. As the world is still greatly affected by the spread of COVID-19, we cannot in good conscience risk the health and well-being of our fans, artists, staff and Country Music community.

We will honor four-day passes purchased for this year?s event for CMA Fest 2021. However, if you prefer a full refund, we will provide one upon request if your passes were purchased through Ticketmaster or the CMA Fest Box Office. Those who purchased passes through non-official channels should contact the seller directly. Within the next 24-48 hours, all four-day pass purchasers will receive an email with further instructions.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and patience, as our actions are always in the best interest of our Country Music community. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to bring Country fans and artists together to celebrate the unique spirit and sense of unity that is at the heart of what CMA Fest stands for. We will also share information about future CMA events and ways to support those within our community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe, and we hope you will join us for CMA Fest next year, June 10-13, 2021.

Each year, hundreds of artists performing at CMA Fest donate their time and talent so a portion of ticket proceeds can directly help enrich and sustain music education programs across the country through CMA?s nonprofit arm, the CMA Foundation. CMA Fest 2019 featured 11 official stages with more than 300 acts, including Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Maren Morris, Luke Bryan, Kane Brown and many more.

Sara Evans will be keeping busy over the next few months with the release of a new album, Copy That, and the release of a new book, Born to Fly.

Copy That, which will drop on May 15, is a 13-song collection that features Sara covering country and pop songs that have inspired her career, including “If I Can’t Have You,” “Come on Eileen,” “My Sharona,” “Crazy Love” and more. The new album also features two collaborations: “Whenever I Call You Friend” featuring Little Big Town’s Phillip Sweet and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” featuring Old Crow Medicine Show.

On Sept. 8, Sara will release her new memoir, Born to Fly, which takes its name from her 2000 studio album–and No. 1 single–of the same name. Drawing on stories from her own life, the upcoming book finds Sara sharing “wisdom on topics ranging from motherhood and marriage to finding your purpose.”

“I am so excited to release my memoir this year,” says Sara. “With 2020 being the 20th anniversary of my Born To Fly album release, which was such a pivotal project for me and my career on so many levels, this book really brings everything full circle. I am so proud of how it all came together and can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

Thomas Rhett teamed with Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, Chris Tomlin and Keith Urban to record a bright new tune, “Be a Light.”

Thomas Rhett, who is celebrating his 30th birthday today (March 30), co-penned the song with Josh Miller, Josh Thompson and Matt Dragstrem. TR and the song’s collaborators will donate all proceeds from “Be a Light” to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, which was created by The Recording Academy to help people in the music industry affected by the coronavirus disease outbreak and subsequent cancellation of music events.

“I wrote ‘Be A Light’ last year as a way to process negativity and sadness I was seeing in the world,” says Thomas Rhett. “Now, as I sit in my home with my family on my 30th birthday, we are in the middle of a worldwide pandemic affecting every single human on earth, all while our town of Nashville is still healing from devastating tornadoes that destroyed so much of our city less than one month ago. But, among the wreckage, I see us come together in ways I never dreamed possible. I knew in my heart this was the time to share this message with the world and our community. The voices who join me on this track are some of the brightest lights I know. I hope this song serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.”

To maintain short hairstyles, many men go for a haircut about twice a month. The novel coronavirus pandemic has closed non-essential businesses in some areas, which means barber shops haven’t been open. Out of desperation some men have cut their own hair, or given themselves questionable hair styles, and shared photos on social media. Would you ever attempt to cut or color your own hair?

We’ve all heard about the Italians who sang songs from their balconies during the country’s COVID-19 lockdown.

Well now, a group of residents from a senior living facility in Pennsylvania have echoed that solidarity by singing an uplifting tune from their own balconies.

The residents at Willow Valley Communities in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, recently stepped out onto their balconies to sing a rendition of the patriotic tune “God Bless America.”

A message posted on the Willow Valley Communities Facebook page says the residents “sang from their balconies in a spirit of togetherness and community.”

After Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood broke the Internet on March 23 during their at-home concert on Inside Studio G via Facebook Live, the tandem has decided to take their talents to CBS on April 1 for a prime-time TV special, Garth & Trisha Live.

During the special, Garth and Trisha will perform live from their home recording studio. Garth will share details about how viewers can make song requests for the special on Inside Studio G on March 30.

More than 5.2 million viewers watched Garth and Trisha’s concert on Inside Studio G on March 23, repeatedly crashing the site, which spurred the idea for the CBS special.

“We’re seeing how big things can be when we all do them as one. In addition to the special, we and CBS will donate $1 million to charities to be determined, combating the COVID-19 virus,” said Garth and Trisha.

Garth & Trisha Live will be filmed without a live studio audience. The special will involve a minimal crew practicing social distancing and will be filmed with extensive safety precautions in place.

Garth & Trisha Live will air on April 1, at 8 PM.

It’s been a tough stretch for country music, last week we lost Kenny Rogers….Now Joe Diffie.

Two days after confirming he tested positive for COVID-19, Joe Diffie, 61, died on March 29, according to a statement from his PR company: “Grammy-winning country music legend Joe Diffie passed away today, Sunday, March 29, from complications of coronavirus (COVID-19). His family requests their privacy at this time.”

Joe topped the charts with “Pickup Man,” “Home” and more in the 1990s. In 2019, Joe celebrate his 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

He recently released his new vinyl album, Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie, which features many of his past hits.

Joe performed at Musikk Fest in Spring Grove the May of 2018 and put on a great show as usual.  Days before Kathy and myself had a chance to interview Joe over the phone.  He was a super nice guy and a great interview.  You can listen to that conversation below and enjoy some classic Joe Diffie videos.

The good people at Baby Shark are at it again…..A new video shows you how to wash and dry your hands and how to cover your sneeze and cough into your elbow.

High school seniors are having a rough go of it. For many, their final year of sports has been canceled, as well as graduation, senior trips, and even prom. Instead of foregoing the social event of their high school careers, Time reports that students are planning virtual prom parties with their friends and dates. The kids will log onto Zoom, Facetime, or other virtual networking apps at a specified time — dressed up, of course — and get their prom on! It might be hard to dance with their date, but at least they’ll get to dress up and socialize.

The Indianapolis 500 will be held on August 23rd, not in May as usual. The GMR Grand Prix and the NASCAR Xfinity Series races, which had been scheduled as a doubleheader on May 9, move to Saturday, July 4. The Brickyard 400 goes the following day, July 5. The whole re-worked 2020 schedule will be released soon.

ACM Presents: Our Country on April 5 at 7 p.m.  on CBS. The two-hour special will feature conversations and at-home acoustic performances from many of your favorite country stars, along with clips of their favorite moments from the ACM Awards 55-year history. Artists will appear from their homes via video chat to share their thoughts and perform acoustic songs. Additionally, video clips from previous ACM Award broadcasts will allow viewers to reminisce with them about their favorite ACM moments.

Happy Birthday to country superstar Kenny Chesney!  He turns 52 today and is still going strong!

He just released a video for his new hit  “Here and Now”.

“In these times, remember how blessed we are to be alive,” said Kenny via Twitter, as he announced the new video. “Wherever you are, look around, get engaged! Love the people you’re with, find something to smile about. Be mindful, but be happy & take care of yourself & others.”

The new clip features Kenny singing the tune onstage as a screen behind him displays videos of adrenaline-inducing activities, including surfing, skydiving, skiing and more.

Penned by Craig Wiseman, David Garcia and David Lee Murphy at a writing retreat Kenny set up in Malibu, the new tune beckons listeners to live in the present with a chorus that proclaims: “You and me, ain’t it good to be alive / Ain’t no better place, ain’t no better time / Than here and now.”

“Here and Now” is the title track to Kenny’s upcoming 19th studio album, which will drop on May 1.

Enjoy Kenny’s new video and some classic Kenny(like when he had hair, lol)!

A snake catcher in Australia got a lot more than he bargained for when he was called out to relocate a female tiger snake last week.

When Stewy the Snake Catcher opened the bag to let the highly venomous snake out, he discovered that she’d actually given birth to several other snakes.

While it’s common for tiger snakes to give birth to live young, what surprised the snake catcher was that one of the babies had two heads.

A Facebook message posted by Direct Vet Services said that while the two-headed snake was a pretty remarkable find, it actually had to be euthanized.

The message said, “As cool as it was these animals are not generally viable so it was euthanized on humane grounds. Mum and the other kids were checked over and released, slithering off into the distance.”

This morning we talked with Jason Howes with Allamakee County Social Services about the mental health side of things during the Coronavirus Pandemic.  Jason had some great advice on how to decompress, and what to do if you or someone needs help during these trying times.  You can listen to our conversation below and check out the list of resources.

This Thursday would of been opening day of Major League Baseball season.  With the coronavirus pandemic, opening day will happen sometime in May at best.  Since I’m a huge baseball fan(Go Twins),  I’ve been watching old games, highlights, and reading about players of the past to scratch that baseball itch.  Yesterday I came across a piece of baseball history I kinda forgot….on March, 24th 2001 a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson collided with a…Bird.  Let’s just say the baseball won.  Check out the video of it below!  -EK

Credit:  Harker Davies YouTube

Miranda Lambert dropped a stylish new video for her current single, “Bluebird”.

“Bluebird, which Miranda co-wrote with Luke Dick and Natalie Hemby, is featured on her seventh studio, Wildcard, which was released in November 2019. The new single is currently No. 29 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart after 13 weeks.

“This song is special,” says Miranda. “It’s got this hope to it. It’s got a darkness too, though, but it’s also hopeful. Life is going to give you lemons, period. If there wasn’t problems then we wouldn’t appreciate the great days, but going through those things and overcoming problems–whatever they are–makes us strong and appreciate the sun. You know, it’s like ten straight days of rain and then the sun comes out and you’re like, ‘I forgot how much I loved it.’ Since we wrote ‘Bluebird,’ I’ve been seeing bluebirds everywhere. And the bluebirds have been there, but I never saw them like I see them now. It kinda reminds me to open my eyes to what’s around me.”

If you’re currently running low on toilet paper and don’t know if you’ll make it through your quarantine, there’s a new website that could help with that.

The website, howmuchtoiletpaper.com, features sliders that alter the amount of toilet rolls you currently have stocked and the amount of times you use the toilet every day.

It also includes advanced settings that include sliders for wipes per trip, sheets per wipe, sheets on roll, the length of your quarantine and the amount of people in your household.

The website was created by London based student software developer Ben Sassoon and artist Sam Harris after they had a discussion about how much toilet paper they use daily and how that might change during the pandemic.

According to the website, the average user has 500 percent more toilet paper than they would need for quarantine.

UPDATE:The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo is officially postponed.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach have mutually agreed that it is in the athletes’ best interest to push the Games off until the summer of 2021. It marks the first time in Olympic history that a global health crisis has suspended the Games.

The announcement comes after mounting worldwide pressure to postpone the Olympics, and several nations vowing to skip the Games if it wasn’t postponed. (NBC News)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause big events all around the world to be cancelled or postponed, a lot of people have been wondering if the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will also be affected in some way.

While no decision has officially been made regarding a delay of the games, veteran International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound tells USA Today Sports that he predicts the games will be postponed.

Pound tells the publication that, “On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided. The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”

Pound’s comments came after the IOC released a statement that said “cancellation of the Tokyo 2020 Games is not on the agenda,” but also left the door open to postponement if it comes to that.

On Sunday (3/22), Canada said that they won’t send athletes to the Tokyo Games unless they are postponed for a year.

Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd’s life changed for the better today (Monday). Their son Hayes Andrew Hurd came into the world!

Congrats to the new parents!

GARTH BROOKS and his wife, TRISHA YEARWOOD, will host a free concert on Facebook Live tonight (Monday, March 23rd) starting at 6 p.m. CT as part of his weekly Monday night Inside Studio G series. The couple will be taking song requests via social media.

Here’s a rundown of other artists going live today:

Tenille Townes: 3 p.m. CT – Instagram
Niko Moon: 4 p.m. CT – Facebook
Keith Urban: 4 p.m. CT – Instagram
T. Graham Brown, Bryan White, Wade Hayes, Tim Rushlow & More: 6 p.m. CT – Facebook
Walker County: 6 p.m. CT – Facebook

We had a great visit with Sheryl Mooney from Allamakee County public health on the latest with COVID-19.  Take a listen yo our conversation below.

Neil Diamond sings “Sweet Caroline” with updated lyric for safety during Covid-19 pandemic.  Take a listen!

Over the weekend we lost a true music icon, Kenny Rogers.  He was 81.  Today we will feature him on the “Early Morning Double Shot”.  One of his signiture hits, and one forgotten one.

Kenny Rogers was born August 21st 1938 in Houston, Texas. He was the fourth of eight children born to Lucille and Edward Floyd Rogers.

Rogers started his musical career in the 1960s in a number of different rock and folk groups, including a doo-wop ensemble called The Scholars, the already-established New Christy Minstrels and his own First Edition, who scored a Top 5 psychedelic hit (“Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”) in 1968. The group continued with country hits like “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” (1969). After leaving the First Edition in 1976, Rogers became a solo act with the albums Love Lifted Me and Kenny Rogers.

While his solo accomplishments continued to fuel his career, Rogers teamed up with Dottie West in the ’70s for a series of successful albums. The pair remained close friends until West’s 1991 death. Rogers worked with many other notables throughout his career, including Dolly Parton, Sheena Easton, and Kim Carnes.

His many hit records include “The Gambler,” “Lady,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Lucille,” “Coward of the County,” “She Believes In Me,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Daytime Friends,” “Through the Years,” “Love Will Turn You Around,” “You Decorated My Life,” “Crazy,” “Every Time Two Fools Collide” and “Buy Me a Rose.”

“The Gambler” was made into a series of TV movies, with Rogers playing the the title role. “Coward of the County” was also adapted for television.

Rogers, who retired from touring in 2018, leaves behind his fifth wife, Wanda Miller, their two children and three children from previous marriages.

Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin announced that the tax deadline has been moved from April 15th to July 15th.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas — again. To help ease your cabin fever, Hallmark Channel is bringing back its marathon of Christmas movies this weekend. You can relive both the holiday spirit and the seeming addiction to these types of gooey story lines as you stay at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Starting at noon ET/PT on Friday and continuing through Sunday at 6 p.m. the network will air 27 of
its “Countdown to Christmas” films.

Allamakee Community School District Waukon, IA- Grab N’ Go Meals for all children 18 and under.  Drive-Thru Pick Up Meal Services at Waukon Middle School.

Breakfast 7:30am-8:30 am

Lunch 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Monday through Friday March 20, 2020 until school reopens

Postville School Distrcit Postville, IA- Grab-n-Go School Lunches from 11:30-12:00 for all K-12 students at the Elementary building.  Please bring your backpack or plastic grocery sack to carry out your meals.

Eastern Allamakee School District Lansing & New Albin, IA- Grab & Go lunch for all children 18 and younger.  Pick up between 11:30-1230 Monday-Friday. Lunch available at Lansing and New Albin Centers.

MFL MAR-MAC School District-  Grab & Go Breakfast and Lunch for children at all communities which will be served by our district. These are FREE meals offered to all children 18 years of age and younger.  Students in need of Grab & Go Meals are invited to pick up at the designated locations listed below at 8 a.m. and noon, Monday – Friday, during the shutdown.

*McGregor

School Lunchroom

In front of McGregor Public Library

Breezy Point Shelter

*Marquette

Marquette Bench Diamond/Park

Marquette Under Bridge Park Parking Lot

*Farmersburg

City Park

St. John’s Lutheran Church Parking Lot

*Luana

St. John’s Lutheran Church Parking Lot

Park by Post Office

*Monona

School Lunchroom

Community Center Parking Lot

*Giard

Church at noon.

Howard-Winneshiek School District Cresco, IA-   Students will continue to receive both their school breakfast and lunch. Complete this form if you want school breakfast and lunch meals during the COVID-19 school closing.  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hwcovid19

South Winneshiek School District- Grab and Go” meals will be available beginning Monday, March March 23, and distributed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12:00-12:30.  Meals will be distributed throughout the district in Calmar, Festina, Ossian and Spillville.

Calmar  – South Winneshiek High School (southside by the high school office)

Festina  – Festina Community Center

Ossian – East/back door of the St. Teresa of Calcutta School

Spillville – Spillville School parking lot

Register here:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfx4EWyr9tlVPuG9HhIWDA5P_1ORSfdPpjmQz8PnbHyzwNhCg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

Turkey Valley Schools- Free meals for children 18 and under.  Carry out breakfast and lunch will be provided. No identification or proof of school enrollment is required.

Curbside pick up at these locations:

Lawler- In front of library- Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  11-11:30AM

Fort Atkinson- Community Center- Monday, Wednesday.  Friday. 11-11:30AM

Protivin- Post Office- Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  11:45-12:15PM

St. Lucas- Church Parking Lot- Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  11-11:30AM

Waucoma- City Park- Monday, Wednesday, Friday.  11:45-12:15PM

New Hampton School District- Drop off/pick up lunches and breakfast will begin on Wednesday, March 18th, at locations throughout the district from 11:30-12:30. Contact the school to sign up your child/children. If you have children who are not in school yet, meals can also be provided.

1. 1. New Hampton-Mikkelson Park and Elementary Playground
   2. Ionia- City Park
   3. Alta Vista- City Parking Lot
   4. North Washington-Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Parking Lot
   5. Jerico- Jerico Jo’s 
   6. Hwy 63/18 Junction- Parking lot next to Ameritec

Caledonia School District- Caledonia Area Public Schools will be providing free bag meals during the mandated COVID-19 school closure. Bag meals will be offered starting Thursday, March 19th thru March 27th.

Caledonia Area Elementary School will be between 11:00-12:30 Monday through Friday

Drive into parking lot off Main Street and wait by the red cone for a staff person to bring the bags to your vehicle, please exit the parking/playground onto Grove Street.

Eitzen ——- Bus will be there about 11:30 near City Hall

Freeberg ——-Bus will be there about 11:30 near Community Center

Brownsville ——Bus will be there about 11:30 near City Hall/Community Center

Spring Grove Schools- FREE Meals are available for children 18 and under. Parents, if you haven’t already, please complete the survey so that we have a good idea of the number of meals to plan for. https://forms.gle/iQsQ975eJ21AyuaS8

When you pick up meals you might want to bring a reusable bag and a small cooler for cold items.

North Crawford School District- Meal deliveries within the district.  Please put a cooler near your front door for us to leave the food in. Contact Jen Kapinus at jkapinus@ncrawford.k12.wi.us or 608-735-7213.

Mabel-Canton Schools- During the school closure related to the COVID-19 VIRUS, FREE cold sack Breakfast and Lunches are available to ANY child ages 0-18 years old, no matter what school they attend.  Please contact Jane Hall at jhall@mabelcanton.org or TEXT ONLY 507-272-9363

De Soto School District- School buses will be delivering the meals which may also come with homework assignments, and educational materials.  “Go Bags” will also be available at Stoddard Elementary, De Soto Middle/High School, and Prairie View Elementary for parent or student pick-up between 7:30-8:30 a.m. weekday mornings.

Seneca School District-  Click on the link to order meals for your children. It is currently set up through April 3rd. We will add additional dates if the closure continues. Please take advantage of this even if you feel your family does not NEED it. It’s great for our school and will provide some normalcy and familiarity to the children. https://forms.gle/Bwn59JyoyNMLS3ew8

The Academy of Country Music has stepped up in a big way with a safe alternative to this year’s ACM Awards. ACM Presents: Our Country — a television event bringing acoustic concerts and interviews from artist’s homes — will air in place of the award show.

The two hour show, which will also include clips from previous ACM Awards shows, airs on April 5th on CBS. Participating artists will be revealed soon.

Happy birthday to actor Bruce Willis, who turns 65 today (Thursday). He got his big break in the ’80s on TV’s Moonlighting, and then went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 60 movies including the Die Hard series, The Sixth Sense, Pulp Fiction and 12 Monkeys. Did you know that before pursuing an acting career, Willis worked as a security guard at a nuclear power plant in New Jersey?

Since we all staying in….A Die Hard marathon sounds like a plan.  -EK

People are battling feelings of dreariness from staying home to social distance by putting up their Christmas lights, and are sharing photos on social media with the hashtag #lightsforlife. One man whose son suggested putting lights on their tree outside tweeted: “Lights are on tonight as a sign of hope and the sweet mind of my 10 year old.” Another said it’s been suggested to “cheer up people in quarantine, in isolation, or just to remind the world there’s still light and hope.”

Count Keith Urban among the country artists who are finding creative ways to keep fans entertained during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Keith treated fans to a 30-minute concert via Instagram on March 16, performing a number of songs from his instrument/gear warehouse, including “Somebody Like You,” “Coming Home,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “God Whispered Your Name” and more.

Keith’s in-person audience included wife Nicole Kidman, who did a bit of dancing, along with a camera operator and sound tech.

“We’re coming to you live from our warehouse, actually,” said Keith, in part, during the video. “I was supposed to be playing tonight and I just thought it would be nice to be able to play anyway, even though we can’t be in front of all you guys [in person] tonight, I wanted to be able to play, and just play some songs and bring a little bit of entertainment into your screens right now.”

-The Family Table  Restaurant is Closed until March 31st

-TBocks in downtown Decorah is closed until April 2nd

-Magpie Cafe & Coffeehouse Decorah is now closed until April 1st

-Barney’s in Burr Oak: open 11am-8pm for carry out food and beer! Call us 563-735-5900

-Tapt out west union. 11 til 7- 563-412-1185

-The Creamery, Rushford
-Burdey’s Cafe, Peterson
-Shawnee’s, Rushford
-Stumpy’s Rushford
-Subway, Pam’s Corner- Rushford
-The Pizza Place, Spring Valley
-Rack’s, Spring Valley

-Diane’s Cafe, Hawkeye 563-427-3315

-Pizza Hut, Decorah – CARRYOUT & DELIVERY. Now offering delivery times 11am-2PM & 4pm-close.

-Dairy Queen, West Union 563-422-6284

-the Mint in Protivin

-In Lansing: Safe House Saloon: 563-538-4288, Shep’s Riverside Bar & Grill: 563-538-2009, Milty’s: 563-538-4585, NutMeg’s Cafe and Bakery: 563-538-9214, Main Channel Grill & Lodging: 563-538-4955, Fajitas Grill: 563-538-3000

-The Zipper in Festina: 563-534-7181 ,Monday-Saturday: 11-1:30 ,Wednesday Night: 5:30-8:30, Fish Fry Fridays 4:30-8:30

–South Side Bar and Grill in Cresco (563)547-4242

-Jets MEATS AND CAFE 563-568-2620

-Buzzards In New Albin IA 544-4422

-Luana Tap. 563-539-4380

-Green Valley Getaway -Update on hours! 430-730 pm Tue-thurs take out only! Friday 11-1 take out only! Fri-sunday 4-8 take out and delivery available!

-Ktown tap, Kendallville 563-547-3256

-Oneota Coop: ONLINE ORDERING IS LIVE! http://oneotacoop.com/covid-19-and-the-co-op/?fbclid=IwAR0AA7iO8dxaCE02WD2PDsdMyPUiQrI_MauM9jY_eYwI7geHZMnw9NEbET8

– Riverside, Waucoma Takeout only: 563-776-4971

–Stone Hearth has To -Go and Carry outs available 563-382-4614 Hours are 11-2 and 5-7

-The Fort in Ft Atkinson is open for carry outs from 11 am to 2 pm and then from 4 to 8 pm every day 563-358-9006!

–Alpha Tap, Alpha: 563-429-3051

-Farr Side, Spillville. 563 562 3114

–Buzzards, New Albin 563-544-4422

-The Barrel Drive in in West Union IS Open

-Little Miami, Freeburg- We will be open for carry outs and off sales ONLY, no dine in Wednesday – Sunday 11-7 p.m.
Our full menu is available.

-NutMeg’s Cafe & Bakery, Lansing- NutMeg’s will be doing carry-outs only and have a limited number of baked good and donuts on hand for the foreseeable future. We will still be taking bakery orders so just give us a call.

-Gus and Tony’s in West Union dine-in closed. Carry-outs and deliveries still availiable! Call: 563-422-9500

-Culver’s of Decorah dine-in is closed. Drive-thru will remain open! Call ahead orders are also accepted: 563-382-5120

-Mabes Pizza Decorah plans to be open 11am-9pm for carry-out and delivery only. Find their menu at www.mabespizza.com!

-Don Jose Decorah- will now temporarily deliver within the 4 mile radius of our restaurant as of Thursday, March 19 from 10-2 and, 5-8! We ask if you plan to pay with a credit or debit card, for deliveries, that you pay over the phone. We will still be accepting cash at this time. We thank you guys for being patient with us as this will be something new we are trying. We hope everyone is doing alright during these tough times and we miss everyone dining with us. ALSO, for your convenience, we will temporarily start opening 1 hour earlier. So our hours will be from 10-8!!! **Please mind that there will be a $5 delivery fee.**

-Pizza Ranch Decorah- Pizza Ranch in Decorah is not doing buffets or dine ins until further notice. We will still do carry outs and deliveries until further notice. Please spread the news.

-Ede’s Angry Pickle Decorah is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:30am to 2pm for Curbside pickup. Call to order at 382-9600 and Ede will deliver out to the curb.

-Elsie’s in Caledonia has a window available for food pick up. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm. Call 507-725-3313 to order.

-Jet’s Meat & Cafe Waukon open for carry outs from 9-2 Monday -Sunday and meat counter open Monday – Friday 8-5.  563-568-2620

-Two Tree’s Pizza of Ossian will be offering take out Pizza’s along with offering delivery to all places within 5 miles of Ossian.

-Milty’s of Lansing will be open for pick up orders.  Call them and they will get it ready for you.

-Ivy Grove Cafe in Spring Grove will be providing carry out orders only until further notice. Please call 507-498-5450.

-Toppling Goliath Decorah. Curbside Pick-Up AND Carry-Out services. Their full menu PLUS To-Go Beer, including cans and NEW growler fills, are all available for easy, safe pick-up.  Check out TG’s full menu online at tgbrews.com then call 563-387-6700 to place your order.

-Fireman’s Inn Ridgeway-  Will be switching gears to curbside/carryout food and beverage. We ask that you call when you arrive outside. Please pay by card over the phone, check or exact cash. We will deliver the food to you in either parking lot. We will be open normal business hours – Wednesday through Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm. Thank you for your patience. Stay healthy and safe! The Fireman’s Inn Team.

Waukon Country Club is taking orders for Cod, Walleye, or order off the menu. Fridays from 5 to 830 call (563) 568-9939 and leave your order.

Happy Birthday to country singer and song writer Paul Overstreet!  He’s turning 65 today.  He had run of hits in the late 80’s/early 90’s, but check his song writing credits….a ton of hits!

“During his songwriting career, primarily in the Country genre, Overstreet has written or co-written 27 Top Ten songs. During this time, he has won two Grammy Awards and also won ACM and CMA Song of the Year Awards (1987 and 1988). Overstreet was named the BMI Songwriter of the Year five straight years, from 1987 to 1991, an achievement on music row that has not been achieved before or since. He co-wrote “A Long Line of Love”, “Love Can Build a Bridge”, and “Forever and Ever, Amen”. Other well-known hits of recent years he is known for are “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” by Kenny Chesney and “Some Beach” by Blake Shelton, which was a Number One hit in 2004.”

Credit:  Wikipedia

Verizon is experiencing outages all over the Midwest.

We asked Veterans Memorial Hospital Administrator Mike Myers to come in and talk about COVID-19 and what they are doing in Waukon and Allamakee County.  Take a listen to our conversation below!