Alva Review-Courier -

Trump to start deporting Democrats. Mexico responds by starting to build border wall.

A week ago last Friday Anne and I went to Shattuck for the tournament grandson Josh and the Alva Junior Varsity were playing in. Murphy's law was that I could not go Thursday or Saturday and sure enough Josh played both days and did not play Friday. I watched both the girls and boys games Friday, neither of which had a happy ending score. This was a regular tournament and in fairness to our kids they played really well against the other teams’ first strings.

I had never been to Shattuck's arena. It is about 5 years old and it is one of the nicest, well put together basketball stadiums I have ever been in. If you get out that way, Shattuck has a neat antique windmill farm. It also has a museum that was closed the day we were there. At Fargo there is a huge dinosaur made out of car wheels. Really cool but the guy that built it had way too much time on his hands.

Congratulations are in order for my grandson Josh as the other night he played with the varsity and scored the last goal of the game. Great job, kid.

Cousin Anne has left not only the house but the whole country. Originally, she had planned to stay until the first of March, but a first of February meeting at home in Edmonton needed her attention so away she went Wednesday, bad weather and all. I'll miss her because I will have double cat petting duties with her gone but she will return again one of these days.

She is a good sport and was game to go anywhere we traveled. She is going to go to the Yukon this summer so she brought her "house" with her here. It had a few issues that were a lot more fun to repair here than in the north country.

On the cat note, why is it when I finish eating something, I have to show my hands to the cats like I'm a blackjack dealer?

Fred Isenbart passed away this week. He was one of the most upbeat people I ever knew. Besides being a cousin, he was a lifelong friend. When I was little we lived a half mile west of his home place. He and Dad worked together, hunted together and were good friends forever. Fred had kind of a tough go these last few years healthwise. He was one of my regular stops anytime I went to the rest home. He had trouble communicating, but you could tell by his grin he understood what I was telling about.

Growing up whenever I was around and he was visiting with someone, he would eventually get around to his "Jim" story. One time when I was little Dad and Fred were visiting. I was being a nuisance as usual. Dad told me I needed to either sit quietly or go outside while they visited. Fred said I looked at Dad and said, "Let's leave Isenbart out of this." Condolences to his family. Heaven has gained a good one.