"Five Things you Need to Know Today" is a Patch column that provides readers with essential, daily information at a glance.

1. Will "Joe from Stoughton" Play a Role in Presidential Election?

The 2008 presidential election had "Joe the Plumber." The 2012 race might have "Joe from Stoughton."

A man who identified himself as "Joe from Stoughton" called into the Nightside with Dan Rea show on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 back in October of 2010, asking the guest, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, about the $787 billion stimulus package. Ryan was (and still is) a vocal critic of the stimulus package.

“I assume you voted against the stimulus and I’m just curious if you accepted any money in your district,” Joe from Stoughton asked Congressman Ryan, who is now the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate, according to WBZ.

Ryan responded: "No, I’m not one [of those] people who votes for something then writes to the government to ask them to send us money. I did not request any stimulus money," WBZ reports.

But multiple media outlets reported last week that Ryan did in fact ask for stimulus money for Wisconsin, seeking funds for a pair of Wisconsin energy conservation companies. The vice presidential nominee has since acknowledged this and explained the mix-up.

"After having these letters [asking for stimulus money] called to my attention I checked into them, and they were treated as constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security or Veterans Affairs are handled," Ryan said in an August 16 Boston Globe article. "This is why I didn’t recall the letters earlier. But they should have been handled differently, and I take responsibility for that.”

Read more on this issue by clicking the links below:

• WBZ story
• Boston Globe story

2. High School Fall Sports Preseason Starts This Week

In yet another sign summer is winding down, the Stoughton High fall sports teams are back in action this week, holding tryouts for the upcoming season.

The following tryout schedule is posted on the Stoughton High Athletics website:

Monday, August 20

• Football, 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Thursday, August 23

• Cheerleading, 7 a.m. - 9 a.m.
• Boys' Soccer, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. & 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
• Field Hockey, 8 a.m. - 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Volleyball, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Girls' Soccer, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
• Cross Country, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
• Golf, 3 p.m. (at Easton Country Club)

Student-athletes need to turn in a physical exam as well as a permission agreement and concussion history form before they are allowed to tryout or practice. The athletic participation fee is due August 30. Visit the Stoughton High Athletics website for more information.

3. Student Tours of Stoughton High

Student representatives from the Student Council and the National Honor Society will be providing tours to all new and incoming Stoughton High School students on Tuesdays in August from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., according to the SHS website. No appointments are necessary.

The first day of the 2012-2013 school year in Stoughton for students in grades 1-12 is Wednesday, September 5, 2012 (after Labor Day). Teachers (Unit A) and nurses report the day before, September 4. Kindergarten starts September 7.

Click here to view the full 2012-2013 Stoughton Public Schools Calendar.

4. Tickets Sold Out for Ice Cream Social

Tickets for the annual ice cream social at the Senior Center, which will be held Thursday, August 23 at 12:30 p.m., have already sold out according to the town' website.

Daddy's Dairy will be providing the ice cream and Ron Lovett will be providing the musical entertainment.

5. Signup for our Newsletter

Get all the latest Stoughton Patch headlines delivered right to your inbox. Click here to signup for our FREE email newsletter.