“Random Thoughts” for Thursday, July 2nd, 2020
Hang in there! We’ve almost made it to the holiday weekend! Do you have Friday off? if so, today is the end of your work week! Lucky you!! I’m working Friday. I’m working Saturday. I’m working Sunday. I’ll still find time to enjoy the 4th of July holiday though.
Here are my “Random Thoughts” for Thursday…
MORE RESTAURANTS FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY
It seems that just about every day we hear of more and more restaurants filing for bankruptcy. The coronavirus has been incredibly tough for restaurant owners.
Yesterday, NPC International, the operator of 1,200 Pizza Hut and nearly 400 Wendy’s restaurants in the United States, filed for bankruptcy.
The restaurants has been dealing with a perfect storm of problems that led to the Chapter 11 filing on Wednesday. They are facing a massive debt burden of nearly $1 billion along with rising labor and food costs. NPC’s restaurants will continue to operate while the company navigates the Chapter 11 process. The company employs nearly 40,000 people in 27 US states.
I think this weekend I’ll have to get a hamburger at Wendy’s and a Pizza Hut Supreme pizza to show my support for the company — two of my favorite foods!
INCOME TAX FILING DEADLINE COMING UP
In mid-March, we were all starting to scurry around thinking about doing our Federal and State of Michigan taxes, which were originally due on April 15th. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, that deadline was extended to July 15th. There has been talk that the latest deadline might be extended, but that has not happened yet.
That means you have less that two weeks now to get your Federal and State Income Tax Returns filed for 2019. The Cities of Grand Rapids and Walker have extended their deadlines to July 31st.
You can read more about the deadlines here.
“IN THIS CORNER…”
I have been down to the Gatlinburg, TN area several times in my lifetime. I’ve even stayed in some of the cabins you can rent down there.
One thing I don’t want to wake up to is a brawl between bear cubs on the front porch of the cabin…
No word on when the rematch will be!
TODAY IS…
Today is World UFO Day!
We have several UFO sightings over the years here in Michigan. On the evening of March 8th, 1994, police departments around west Michigan were getting calls inquiring about the strange lights that people were seeing in the sky. Several callers reported the U.F.O., it was even reported to be observed on radar.
These lights were not just seen by a few, there are reports of over 350 witnesses, including police officers. Some reports tell of a phone call to the National Weather Service and the objects showing up on their radar screen. One object was said to move 20 miles in 10 seconds time.
The History Channel’s “UFO Hunters” featured this story on one of their programs, because it was similar to sightings south of Michigan nine months afterwards.
To see that video and to read more about this sighting, click here.
A LOOK BACK
On this date in 1947, an object crashed near Roswell, NM. The U.S. Army Air Force insisted it was a weather balloon, but eyewitness accounts led to speculation that it might have been an alien spacecraft.
Find out what else has happened on July 2nd.
WRAPPING UP
Have a TERRIFIC Thursday! I will be on the air this afternoon — local and live — from 3-7 pm on 98.7 WFGR! Plus, we will kick off an “Awesome 80s 4th of July Weekend” — playing all of your favorite songs from the 80s all weekend long! I’ll talk to you then.
If you have any comments on the above stories, please leave your remarks below…
