Again I found myself making a last minute innovation in my weekly fish fry ritual. Heide was just getting past a bought with the flu and only felt like eating take-out. One of the last places in Janesville we have not eaten fish fry at is
Beef Brothers. They have a small store front on the south side of Janesville across from the El-Ra Bowl bowling alley.
You order at the counter. There are only four tables. I ate in while they made Heide's fish fry. I had a nice chat with neighborhood lady who was also waiting for her fish fry. Behind the small wall by the counter is a small kitchen. But you can still catch a glimpse of the drama behind the busy grill - the theater is rich.
There will be mostly to-go customers, but I am glad I ate my dinner there. The customers coming and going are part of the charm.
I tried catfish for a change. My basket came with two large fried pieces. And, unlike Texas catfish preparation, this offering did not have the bones still in-tow. I tried a cup of good potato bacon soup on the side.
For Heide I ordered the two-piece deep fried Cod. I got her a cup of thick chilli to go with the deal. Both our meals came with regular French fries.
It wasn't like eating on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. but
Beef Brothers hit the spot. The guy at the counter said they were the one and only. I had wondered if they might be a chain.
Beef Brothers is cool with Cool Dadio. Find them at 1015 Kellogg Avenue in Janesville, Wisconsin, down on the South side. Call (608) 554 - 2940 for more information or visit their humble Website at
http://beefbrothersjanesville.com .
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan)
Marine Reserve Lance Corporal Dean David Opicka, 29, Waukesha, Wisconsin, was killed on Monday April 14, 2008 in Al Anbar province, Iraq. He was one of two Marines killed in combat operations in Habbaniya, Iraq. Lance Corporal Opicka was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes a third Marine was wounded in the incident. The Marine Company was on its second tour in Iraq. Dean's early years were spent in Casco, Wisconsin. The Journal Sentinel went on to say Opicka was a 1997 graduate of Luxemburg-Casco High School. He played quarterback on the Spartan football team and point guard in basketball. He had also been a class officer and had done some acting in school presentations. The Website jsonline.com noted Opicka also played baseball in high school, was prom king, and in the National Honor Society. Dean would go on to Carroll College in Waukesha. The Website marinechat.com via information from the Kewaunee County News mentioned Dean also had played baseball at Carroll. He joined the Marine Reserves in July 2005. The Journal Sentinel went on to note Opicka was working as a teacher in civilian life at Wisconsin Career Academy, a charter school in Milwaukee. Opicka had hoped to teach in his old school district after his return from Iraq. He was the third Luxemburg-Casco graduate to die in Middle East since the war in Iraq started. Opicka's brother had also served in Iraq as a Marine. The Journal Sentinel mentioned Opicka was engaged to be married. He had also hoped to work on a master's degree in teaching.
The Website iraq.pigstye.net notes via information from the Green Bay Press Gazette mentions Dean had a high grade point average in high school. He graduated from Carroll College in 2002 with majors in psychology and history. He received his teaching certification in 2005, also at Carroll. Opicka was deployed to Iraq in September 2007. In civilian life he resided in Waukesha. He was due to return from Iraq in November 2008.
At the time of his death, Lance Corporal Dean Opicka was survived by his parents David and Donna Opicka; his brother Darren; and, fiancée, Katy Bonkoski. Lance Corporal Dean Opicka was the 90th Wisconsin military service person to be killed in Iraq since the spring of 2003.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
0 American casualties to-date in Libyan "Operation Odyssey Dawn" since March 2011
100,142 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,889 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,444 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1513 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
866 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
32,051 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
10,681 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
104 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
29 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
146 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
21 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Wisconsin military service person special mention of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; washingtonpost.com; thehighground.org; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; iraqbodycount.org; www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf; and, icasualties.org.
