Glad You Asked: Tracing license plates; the story behind the St. Bernard collar keg; where to get a burn barrel; Michael Ricker pewter

Saturday, March 24, 2007 2:45 AM CDT

Is there a way to find out who owns a car by the license plates without asking the police? In our neighborhood a man parks his car and jumps into another car with a woman every night. The car sits for hours. We believe the man Is cheating on his wife. This has been the talk of our neighborhood and we think his wife should know.

Yes, you can find out who owns a car by searching a license plate, but it'll cost you. Online searches are available and run between $50 and $100. You can also hire a private investigator to search for the information, but that will likely cost hundreds of dollars. We're not going to delve into the specifics, because the context of the question makes us a little uneasy. Suffice to say, if you're highly motivated to track a license plate you can do it with relative ease.

Does anyone know where a person can purchase Michael Ricker pewter? And, do they know how it can be sold and how to go about it?

First, here's a little background. Michael Ricker is a well-known artist who became famous for PeeWee pewter figurines that are widely collected around the world. His work was also honored by presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II. Ricker died in 2006. He was 65.

As for buying and selling his works, there are six galleries that are licensed to sell Ricker's works. The closest to Racine is in Matteson, Ill., on the south side of Chicago. A secondary market is discussed on Ricker's Web site, but does not appear to be active. The best outlet for buying and selling Ricker's artwork is the Internet. There are 108 listings on eBay for Ricker's figurines with the highest accepted bid at $152. A number of other Web sites also appear to deal with Ricker's work.

Madeline and Niec Burkhardt ask: "Why do St. Bernard dogs have barrels on their collars?"

First, some background on St. Bernards. They got their name from a monastery that was established by the monk Bernard, high in the Swiss Alps in the 11th Century. Travelers brought dogs with them along St. Bernard Pass and the huge dogs eventually became known for their ability to rescue people trapped in wintery conditions. One dog, Barry, reportedly saved between 40 and 100 lives.

Breeding over the centuries have changed St. Bernards into the more domesticated dogs we know today. They are the largest breed of dog in the world. One St. Bernard, named Benedictine, was weighed at an incredible 357 pounds.

Now, to the question about the barrels. Stories have it that the barrels were strapped around the neck of St. Bernards to carry drinks to people who were stranded. It's unlikely the dogs ever carried the barrels, but an early painting made the image famous. Today, St. Bernards are frequently depicted with barrels around their collars - you can even buy a St. Bernard barrel for your dog on the Internet. The Web site is: http://www.saintbernardkeg.com.

Many thanks to Madeline and Niec for the question!

Where can I buy a 55-gallon oil barrel so I can burn sticks in my yard?

You probably can't - or shouldn't. Kevin Metzger, of Metzger Metal Fabricators in Racine, said his company has steel drums that are used for paint, but they're too dirty to use for burning. "I don't know where you could get a clean barrel," Metzger said.

A better idea for burning sticks this spring would be to use one of the backyard firepits that are commonly sold at Target, Wal-Mart, Menard's and similar stores. A price check online found a general range of $100-$200 for the burning pits.

How many bachelor or bachelorettes are with the people they met on television?

Ah, someone has seen the promos for the new season of ABC's "The Bachelor," titled "Officer and a Gentleman." After some serious Internet gossip hunting, we can report that 2 1/2 of the reality shows couples are still together. Trista and Ryan (she was the original bachelorette) are still married, and Byron and Mary from season six are reportedly still together and planning a wedding. As for the half, Prince Lorenzo from season 9 broke up with his choice on the show, Jen, and is now with runner-up Sadie, according to Internet reports.

The new season, featuring a U.S. Navy lietenant, starts Monday, April 2.

What is Glad You Asked?

GYA seeks answers to your questions. Have a question? Send it to us at: ask@journaltimes.com or give us a call at (262) 631-1758. And, don't forget, we're looking for new logos. Sketch out a new look for GYA - we'll run it with a future column. The first new logo debuts tomorrow!

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