Wait Until Tomorrow

57 degrees today and 3 - 6 inches of snow tomorrow!  That's Wisconsin!  But January is almost over and we can start looking forward to spring thaws beginning in February.  And bicycling enthusiatists are beginning to get their bikes ready to hit the roads and trails!

Community Banks Are Special

As of 2011, community banks made up 92 percent of insured banks and 95 percent of U.S. banking organizations.  They hold the majority of deposits in rural and micropolitan counties.  History has shown that well-managed and innovative community banks are well-positioned to handle the challenges of the future and to take advantage of new opportunities.  All of this confirms:  Community Banks are special!

Oh Brother!

On February 3 we will witness something we likely have never nor will we ever see again.......  brothers being the head coach of each of the two teams in the NFL Super Bowl!  John & Jim Harbaugh.  Former head UW football coach Dave McClain and his wife Judi used to babysit these two.

Gun Control

I have mixed feelings about all the rhetoric regarding guns.  I came from a family that did a lot of hunting.  Guns were a part of our life.  Yet, I don't feel assault type weapons are needed for hunting and other sporting activities.  But I am concerned about new government involvement in regulating what we can own.  My concern is the continued increase in government involvement in our lives.  And regulating guns, in my opinion, would not have prevented the Sandy Hook tragedy.  I believe the guns his mother had were legal and would be legal even under the proposed gun control ideas. 

Community Banking

This may be too repetitive but the banking problems of the past four to five years were not created by community banks.  But many community banks throughout the country were impacted by the problems created by investment and mortgage bankers.  We are now seeing significant improvement in the financial stability and earnings at community banks. 

Happy 2013

Happy New Year to all!  The new year always ushers in hope and optimism.  Let's hope we can come to grips with this country's debt situation.

As the Badgers prepare to defeat Stanford today in the Rose Bowl, here's a little Packer trivia.  The Packers won three consecutive NFL championships from 1929 to 1931, and nearly had a fourth in a row in 1932.  They finished 10-3-1 that year, and second to the 7-1-6 Bears only because ties did not count in the standings at the time.

Stay healthy!