After the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a variance for the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse inside Peninsula State Park, the Door County Historical Society hopes you can help support their efforts to make the dream a reality. Earlier this year, residents weighed in on a variance allowing the Door County Historical Society to add additional features to the site to expand its historical interpretation areas and other amenities to visitors. Even though the Door County Historical Society manages the site, the state owns the lighthouse, so the organization needs the variance approved to improve. Executive Director Amy Frank says having the variance approved is just the first step they needed to accomplish before returning the site to its 1868 roots.

Frank adds that some preliminary work is already underway at the lighthouse and its neighboring structures, but she hopes to have more DNR approval to work at the site by the end of May. The Door County Historical Society is approximately a third of the way to its $3 million goal for improving the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse site.

The milk and cheese you enjoy are still safe to consume despite cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza impacting some dairy herds across the country.

Cows with decreased feed intake and abnormal milk production are being targeted for testing.  No instances of HPAI, also known as the bird flu, have impacted Wisconsin herds as of Monday. Still, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports infected herds are in Texas, New Mexico, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho, Ohio, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Colorado. UW Extension Agriculture Educator Aerica Bjurstrom says some farms in Door and Kewaunee send growing calves and heifers to those states but adds that operators have been cautious moving cattle and watching for potentially infected birds flying near the animals’ feed.

Consumers are concerned about what happens if they eat beef or drink milk from an infected cow. According to National Public Radio, there has been evidence that fragments of the virus have been found in milk, but Bjurstrom says that, as of now, humans are still able to consume milk and cheese without fear of getting sick.

Bjurstom adds that farmers should continue to monitor their herds for potential symptoms and to keep birds away from their barns and feed facilities to prevent potential exposure.

Not only will you find the Peoria Shipwreck standing upright underwater near Baileys Harbor, but you can also find it on the National Register of Historic Places. The Wisconsin Historical Society announced the designation last week, along with the additions of Milwaukee’s Lakeview Hospital, Wausau’s Zion Lutheran Church, Wiota’s Daniel and Catherine Welty Barn, and Waukesha’s Theodore I. and Margaret Morey House. Placed on the State Register last November, the Peoria was built in Ohio in 1853, and in 1901, it was pushed too close to the shallow water in front of the Baileys Harbor Range Lights. After it became stuck in the sand, the crew of six was saved, and everything was taken off the schooner itself, which was considered a total loss. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the Peoria allows historians and archaeologists to study its construction and the trade routes it participated in during its service on the Great Lakes. Last December, four ships with ties to Door and Kewaunee counties, including the Peoria, were placed on the list. The schooner Trinidad, discovered near Algoma, is the last area shipwreck to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Picture courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society

Don’t be shocked if you continue to see high school students continue to fill crucial roles for area businesses through area youth apprenticeship programs. According to the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation, Kewaunee County leads the state in youth apprenticeship participation rate. Over 58 percent of eligible students get paid work experience while earning school and college credits. Those hours also add up, with 238 students earning approximately $1.35 million. Northeast Wisconsin Youth Apprenticeship Coach Lauren Baumann says she sees similar numbers in Door County’s high schools, where her efforts and Algoma High School are primarily based. She sees that students, schools, and businesses see the benefits their partnerships create.

Baumann encourages students and businesses considering participating in the youth apprenticeship to contact them for more information. Baumann works with students from Algoma, Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island. Jolyn Helgeson handles students at Luxemburg-Casco, while Erica Janisch does the job at Kewaunee.

Two months after being formally introduced, you are a week away from learning who will be the next Alice in Dairyland.

The current Alice in Dairyland, Ashley Hagenow, will make her final trip to Door County as the titleholder this week as she and the six candidates participate in their finals activities. Fox Lake’s Cierra Essock, Oconomowoc’s Halei Heinzel, Denmark’s Katrina Hoesley, Kewaunee’s Kiley Pagel, Kiel’s Lauren Siemers, and Big Bend’s Michaela King are all vying for the role of Alice in Dairyland, which is a one-year, full-time public relations position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Ahead of Friday’s Wisconsin Showcase and Saturday’s Finals event, we will tour around Door County, visiting different locations. Steering Committee Chairperson Denise Plassmeyer says this is more than just your average tour: it is a job interview.

Over the past year, Alice in Dairyland has shown off Door County’s agricultural economy, which supports over 2,100 jobs and $78 million in economic activity.

You can find our interviews with each of the six candidates on our YouTube page.

You can help local food pantries restock their shelves for the upcoming months as the demand continues to rise in the area this spring.  Door County Feed and Clothe My People Food Pantry Coordinator Ashley Madson says the organization typically averages about 30 families every month during the summer months but has already seen an uptick in the number of families and individuals picking up food due to higher costs for groceries.  She suggests some of the food items and meal structures that are needed to refill the shelves at the pantry.

The pantry is open to drop off and pick up  Mondays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.  Madson notes cash donations are much appreciated and that Door County Feed and Clothe My People is always looking for additional volunteers to help in the resale and donations area at the back of the store.  

In Wisconsin, Arbor Day is April 26, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates according to their best tree-planting times.  At Crossroads, we  continue to celebrate Earth Day well into May. In fact, looking at the school field trips scheduled, it seems that Every Day IS Earth Day..Similarly, Crossroads celebrates Arbor Day everyday, not restricting ourselves to one day in April to celebrate our forests. 

Recent celebrations at Crossroads include last week's BIG PLANT hosted by the Climate Change Coalition, during which Crossroads staff and volunteers planted over 250 trees and shrubs.  But, we have been planting trees at Crossroads every spring and fall since our inception, and during the past three years, we have planted over 6,000 trees on the Crossroads Preserve.

A Nebraskan newspaper editor, J. Sterling Morton, first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called Arbor Day back in 1872.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “As pioneers began moving into the Nebraska Territory, the lack of trees was deeply felt. Not only did the new residents miss the trees they had left behind. They were also left without the trees they needed as windbreaks to keep soil in place, for fuel and building materials, and for shade from the hot sun.”

Now we realize that trees provide far more than windbreaks and wood. Trees release oxygen, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide, sequester carbon, and improve air and water quality. And in this dry year [it sort of feels like Nebraska] trees are an unappreciated part of the water cycle.

About now---in the time between snowmelt and leaf-out---trees are absorbing enormous volumes of water from the ground.  They will become totally saturated…. between 25-50% water.  Trees store and continue to absorb thousands of gallons of water through their roots throughout the growing season. 

Then, during spring and to a lesser degree, summer, trees slowly release the water from  their leaves or needles in a process called transpiration. In northern forests, this may be the most significant way water evaporates and returns to the water cycle.

As we go into May, the buzz seems to be about helping bees and other pollinators. In her book, “Bees, An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide,’ award winning author and environmentalist Heather Holm wrote, “For some landowners, a mass planting of a variety of trees and shrubs that are insect-pollinated may be a better solution than installing a meadow or prairie planting.” That is certainly true in  Door County. Throughout May, flowering native trees are covered with insects collecting pollen and nectar.

We must plant trees---and now we now understand that planting a variety native trees (AND protecting the mature native trees we have) is one of the best ways to help our ecosystems, the pollinators and the wildlife.

Protecting wildlife is the job of Joel Vos, Refuge Manager with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He oversees the management of both Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges. We will welcome him to Crossroads on Thursday, May 2 at 6:00, when he presents the program “Green Bay’s Wildlife Refuges” describing two wildlife refuges and a federally designated Natural Area here in Door County. He will discuss the important habitat conservation work and the historic preservation work going on Plum and Pilot Islands.

During the final Science Saturday family program of the school year, learners of all ages will participate in activities showing the relationships between trees and insects. Activities will demonstrate the importance of planting a variety of native trees and help learners understand why insects are essential in the food web. Participants should dress for the weather, as we hope that many of the activities can be done outdoors.

The following weekend, Saturday, May 11, the Crossroads Habitat Healers will be planting tree seedlings starting at 9:00 a.m.. Volunteers should wear clothing and footgear that can get dirty and wet and bring a water bottle. Instruction, equipment, and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade at the end! There is no need to register in advance and all ages are welcome. Meet at the Workshop at 2041 Michigan Street.

Thursday, May 2

6:00 Green Bay’s Wildlife Refuges

With family-friendly outdoor adventure, fascinating cultural sites, and state and federal public lands ready to be explored, Door County, Wisconsin is special for many reasons. But, did you know that Door County is home to  two National Wildlife Refuges, and a federally designated   Area? Join Refuge Manager, Joel Vos, from Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges for a presentation about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and at the Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges.

The presentation will discuss the important federal wildlife and habitat conservation work going on in Lake Michigan, the federally managed islands that make up the two refuges and the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and the historic preservation efforts ongoing at Plum and Pilot Islands. Part of the 570 refuges across the nation, you'll leave with a better understanding of the important work the USFWS does as part of the rich conservation traditions of Wisconsin and Door County. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Saturday, May 4

2:00 Family Program: Science Saturday “Trees and Insects”

For the final Science Saturday  program of this school year, learners of all ages will participate in activities showing the relationships between trees and insects. Activities will demonstrate the importance of planting variety of native trees and will help participants learn why insects are important in the food web. Dress for the weather, as we hope that many of the activities can be done outdoors. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon

Saturday, May 11

9:00 Habitat Healers: Seedling Tree Plantings

This week, Habitat Healers (volunteers) will be planting tree seedlings! Wear clothing and footgear that can get dirty and wet and bring a water bottle. Instruction, equipment, and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade at the end!  There is no need to register in advance and all ages are welcome. Meet at the Workshop at Crossroads at Big Creek,  2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

While you will not see a Cobblestone Suites built on Egg Harbor Road, you may see a different hotel fill the void. The City of Sturgeon Bay Finance/Purchasing and Building Committee will consider financial incentives for a proposed Hampton Inn Hotel Project near 12^th Avenue and Egg Harbor Road. It is about where a Cobblestone Suites hotel aimed to be built before it failed to reach an agreement to purchase the land. The proposed Hampton Inn will be four stories with 72 standard rooms, eight full-service suites, and other amenities. According to the staff report, the latest proposed incentive is a $2 million payment upon completion of the hotel and a guaranteed $13.9 million minimum assessed value. The annual taxes paid off that value would be the tax increment used by the city to pay back the principal and interest on the $2 million incentive. Based on projections, the city believes the project will be able to generate enough to pay back the principal and interest on the incentive. The city’s financial consultant, R.W. Baird, projects that the hotel could actually generate an additional $700,000 that could be used for other projects in Tax Increment #6. The committee will discuss the topic in open and closed session during their meeting on Tuesday, which will begin at 4 p.m. inside the city’s council chambers.

I want to share some information regarding a great initiative that fulfills multiple goals all at the same time. The initiative is called “Adopt a Highway,” and it has been around for many years, providing a way to get involved in keeping our roadways clean. While this is its primary purpose, it is also a great way to get out of the house and engage in great physical activity. If that wasn’t enough, it also provides a great sense of purpose. It is what you would call a Win-Win-Win situation. This past weekend, I was able to participate in our Law Enforcement section of STH 42, and this Saturday, I get to do it once again with my family (In honor of our parents) just a few sections south on STH 42. In a few weeks, I will be once again enjoying a nature walk in the ditches of STH 29 with my High School Class, as we sponsored a section a few years back.

While this is a great program, and I do truly enjoy these opportunities to get together for a purpose, it is unfortunate that it is necessary. I look forward to the day when we can take these walks and come up empty rather than filling multiple garbage bags.

Kewaunee County does currently have an ordinance regarding littering. This ordinance adopts State Statute 287.81 and reads as follows: “Any person who deposits or discharges any solid waste on or along any highway, in any waters of the state, on the ice of any waters of the state or on any other public or private property.”

While this definition seems to be fairly self explanatory and very inclusive, it appears there is room for confusion, as many feel it appropriate to continue to use our community as there private dumpster. While I don’t think many people purposely throw garbage out of the car windows, I think the bigger issues are loads destined for the landfill that are not properly secured or items left in private yards or public spaces that are then moved with the wind.                

Regardless of origination, it is still garbage, and it is still not where it should be. We have also recently taken complaints of yard debris that has ended up in neighboring yards. One of the most commonly found materials is portions of plastic sheeting from construction sites of silage bags. Again, even if the intent was not to litter, if these items have left your property because they were not secured, it is littering. The law applies even if the material ends up on private property and not just public property.

Just as important as the message of not littering or making sure your loads destined for the dump are secured, is that of pitching in to solve the problem. We can all stare at the garbage in the hopes that if we look at it long enough, it will go away, or even better, that somewhere out there is someone whose job it is to clean up after us, but in the end, it is up to us to make a difference. If you see someone littering or material flying off a poorly loaded trailer, try to obtain a license plate and call law enforcement. We would be more than happy to be part of this behavior-changing experience. Also, take part in cleanup efforts in our community. You can adopt a section of the road by contacting http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/aid/aah-tour.htm.

We are blessed to live in Kewaunee County, which has such natural beauty. Let’s all try to keep it that way.

With an estimated 275,000 people attending the first night of the NFL Draft in Detroit Thursday night, you cannot blame tourism officials in the region for thinking about what could be in store for 2025 when Green Bay gets its turn to host. Members of Discover Green Bay and the Green Bay Police Department are in Detroit this weekend to learn first-hand what will go into hosting an event that size. According to several Green Bay media outlets, hotels in the city are slowly making rooms available for draft weekend, commanding rates similar to a game weekend.

Approximately 50 miles away from Green Bay, Destination Door County’s Jon Jarosh says they have been involved with meetings with Discover Green Bay and other tourism agencies about what role they could play in the NFL Draft. Jarosh has been gathering perspectives from Detroit and Kansas City tourism officials about their experiences leading up to their cities’ hosting duties. Whatever may happen, Jarosh says the excitement will only build from here.

Jarosh says they are gathering a list of businesses that may want to be involved with their efforts surrounding the NFL Draft, which will take place in Green Bay in and around Lambeau Field on April 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2025.

After a cold and snowy start to April, you will see more farmers go out to their fields to get their work done for the upcoming planting season. The Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report showed that farmers had almost 3.5 days suitable for field work last week, up just a touch from the week before. Spring tillage (22 percent complete) and the planting of oats (19 percent full) and potatoes (25 percent complete) are all five to nine days ahead of last year’s pace and one to five days ahead of the five-year average.

As conditions have allowed, many area farmers use this time to plant other crops, haul manure, and apply fertilizer. For Jeremy Heim of Heim Brothers Custom out of Algoma, this is a busy time for preparing the fields for their own farm and others across the area. One of the practices they employ during this time is low-disturbance manure application on fields that have been freshly planted or have some cover crops still sitting on it. He says it has been a great way for them to provide much-needed nutrients to growing crops while being sensitive to runoff concerns.

Heim will discuss low-disturbance manure application as part of Peninsula Pride Farms’ first conservation conversation on April 30th at 5:30 p.m.

Southern Door junior Ben Grota proved that the nearly impossible is possible when it comes to the ACT.

The district announced this week that Grota registered a perfect score of 36 on the college entrance exam. Out of approximately 1.4 million students who take the ACT, only 0.25 percent earn a perfect score. The overall average score on the ACT is 20.6, which is higher than Wisconsin’s score of 19.4.

It was just the beginning of a week of big accomplishments for Grota. In addition to being named one of the top athletes at the Door County Classic track meet, Grota was named to the 2024 Wisconsin State Honors Band as one of its bassoon players. In October, he will join alto singer Ellie Engerson at the Wisconsin State Music Conference in Madison.

Wisconsin experienced its warmest winter on record, but many of your neighbors and their businesses suffered. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office confirmed in March that last winter, spanning December 2023 to February 2024 was nearly 10 degrees warmer than its normal 18.5 degrees and two degrees warmer than the previous record in 2001-2002. While the lack of snow and ice may have been good news, businesses relying on winter activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling missed important revenues. Door County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Michelle Lawrie says the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program through the Small Business Administration is a way many businesses can make up the gap lost during the unseasonable winter.

Lawrie is thankful that state leaders fought for Door County's disaster declaration along with other communities in Wisconsin. Other Current disaster declarations by the SBA include droughts in Michigan, severe storms in Georgia, and flooding in Illinois. Lawrie advises business owners to call the DCEDC for assistance on the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program application.

More kids in your local schools could get the help they need thanks to a bill signed into law this week by Governor Tony Evers. Under the new law, marriage and family therapists can work directly in schools. Districts can hire them to work with students regularly and remove some financial strain such services could have on families. United Way of Door County Community Impact Coordinator of Health Cami Peggar says the law will not directly affect its STRIDE program as they are the ones that find the providers for Door County schools. For communities less lucky than Door County, she believes this could be a real game changer for students and their families.

The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health announced earlier this year that more than half of the state’s youth have been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or behavioral problems. The study also found that more than a third of high school students reportedly feel sad and hopeless.

While the Door County Board saw changes in its leadership structure earlier this month, Kewaunee County residents will see familiar faces lead their meetings. Earlier this month, Supervisor Dave Englebert was elected from a field of five that were nominated for Door County Board Chairperson. Englebert replaced Dave Lienau, who, after a decade on the board, opted not to run for office again. One of those nominated supervisors, Todd Thayse, was elected as the board vice-chair. On Tuesday, Dan Olson was re-elected as Kewaunee County Board Chairperson, and Gerald Paape was elected as his vice-chair. Shortly after he was re-elected, Olson thanked the board for their support.

Both counties have big projects ahead of them, with Door County looking to improve its communications system and Kewaunee County still weighing options for its jail and main highway shop. The following Door County Board meeting is May 28th, and the next Kewaunee County Board meeting is May 21st.

Two motorists were sent to Door County Medical Center for suspected injuries, and a third narrowly missed out on her own due to a three-car accident in the Town of Sevastopol Wednesday. The crash occurred just after 12:30 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 57 and Mathey Road. According to the accident report, Linda Geier of Sturgeon Bay was driving north on STH 57, preparing to turn left onto Mathey Road, when another vehicle struck her from behind. Christine Polster of Baileys Harbor, also traveling north on STH 57, alleges that Polster pulled out in front of her from the stop sign at Mathey Road and could not avoid the accident. A third vehicle, driven by Jamie Hoerres of Sturgeon Bay, tried swerving around the accident to avoid the accident but instead was struck on the driver’s side of their vehicle.  Polster and Geier were sent to the hospital for minor injuries, while Hoerres escaped with no injuries. With the cars being towed away, the Door County Sheriff’s Department cleared the scene in just over 30 minutes with no citations issued.

Nearly 300 community members packed a sold-out venue at Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay Wednesday evening to honor all volunteers during the 2024 Golden Heart Awards celebration.  The 22nd annual event was coordinated by the United Way of Door County and presented by the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation.  Seven categories of volunteers or groups were honored among several nominees and awarded a Golden Heart.  The evening’s festivities began with Brian Stephens of Door County Medical Center awarding the Adult Volunteer of the Year to Susan Morgan for her work at Unity Hospice.

Other Golden Heart award winners included Northern Sky Theater’s Raise the Curtain—Light the Sky Committee for “Arts”, Door County Historical Society Lighthouse Committee for “Culture”, Bill Wolff for “Environmental Stewardship”, Door Tran Volunteer Drivers for “Group”, and the late Bob Perlewitz who passed away last July for the “Karl May Lifetime of Service Award” from the Sturgeon Bay Noon Rotary Club.

Two high school students were honored with $500 Youth Scholarships as well.  Helen McCormack from Gibraltar and Abiageal Tooley of Southern Door for their volunteering, including mentoring and tutoring work.

Investigators were expected to be back on the scene Thursday morning after an overnight fire on the north end of Ephraim destroyed a house. The first page went out just before midnight Wednesday evening for crews to tend to a blaze on Shannon Square, located just off Water Street (STH 42). When they arrived, they discovered the home with heavy fire damage occurring to the front, extending into the attic and along the roof line. Ephraim Fire Chief Justin MacDonald says they initiated their mutual aid response immediately.

No one was hurt in the fire, and no cause of the blaze had been discovered as of 6 a.m. Thursday, roughly two hours after they were able to clear the scene. MacDonald says more information will be found during the investigation. Fire Departments from Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove, Jacksonport, and Sturgeon Bay also responded.

Picture courtesy of Ephraim Fire Department

You will be introduced to the three Republican candidates for the Eighth Congressional District at the Door County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner. Former state Senator Roger Roth, current state Senator Andre Jacque, and former gas station mogul Tony Wied are the people slated to speak at the event. It will be the first time many voters will meet Roth, Jacque, and Wied as candidates since they entered the race. Roth joined the race shortly after Rep. Mike Gallagher announced he would not be running for re-election. He has added several endorsements, including Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski. Jacque, who currently represents Door and Kewaunee counties in the Wisconsin State Senate, joined the fray at the beginning of March as he was wrapping up his work in Madison. Wied became the latest entrant into the race two weeks ago, kicking off his announcement with an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. The three candidates appeared together at the Lincoln Day lunch held in Kewaunee County on Saturday.

Door County Republican Party Chairperson Stephanie Soucek says this year’s Lincoln Day Dinner will be a great opportunity for voters to meet who will likely be on their primary ballot in August.

Writer and public policy professional Tawsif Anam, originally from Bangladesh, will headline the list of guest speakers. Anam will share his thoughts on the country’s immigration concerns from a legal immigrant’s perspective. State Rep. Joel Kitchens and Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairperson Brian Schimming will also speak at the event, which begins at 4 p.m. on May 4th at The Log Den in Egg Harbor.

You can be involved in filling the next full-time superintendent position for the Sevastopol School District.  Kyle Luedtke, who resigned last week to take a superintendent position at the Frederic School District, will finish the school year at Sevastopol and leave the office on June 30.  The School Board has enlisted the services of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to help facilitate the search. Still, it is interested in gathering input from staff and the community to identify key priorities and needs for the next superintendent.  School Board President Lisa Bieri says former Southern Door Schools superintendent Patti Vickman is leading the process by holding focus groups with staff next Monday morning and afternoon.

You can attend a community focus group session at Sevastopol School either next Monday evening or Tuesday morning. The sessions will be from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 29, in the High School IMC and from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, in the Carl Scholtz Pioneer Room.

The school district’s website has an online survey available here, or you can request a paper copy by contacting Kayleigh Sinclair at the district office at ksinclair@sevastopol.k12.wi.us and returning it by Wednesday, May 1.     

Bieri hopes to complete the first interview with candidates on May 23 and the final interviews on May 28 to finalize a decision. She notes that if no candidates come forward to fulfill Sevastopol’s vision of the future, the board may engage an interim superintendent to fill the position. 

(photo courtesy of Bray Architects)

A grassfire that started near the intersection of County Road J and Kolberg Road Tuesday afternoon required a response by the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department.  BUG Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wautier says the fire jumped out of the property owners’ burning barrel and burned about a 50 by 50-foot area of grass and small trees before being put out with 100 gallons of water by the department’s brush truck and six firefighters on the scene.  With weather conditions staying dry and windy, Wautier recommends people avoid outdoor burning at this risky time.

The BUG Fire Department cleared the scene and returned to the station within an hour of the fire call.  According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 53 counties, including Door and Kewaunee County, remain in the high or very high category for the risk of fire danger.

This summer, your child can explore and enjoy the Kid Day Camps at the two Door County YMCA facilities while connecting with new friends. Youth & Sports Program Executive Paul Briney says the opportunities are becoming more scarce, but openings remain for full or half-day camps starting on June 10 at the Kane Center in Fish Creek. He notes that the camps are an excellent way for children to meet other students from different schools in the area during the summertime. 

The day camps are for children from four to 12 years old, and three of the camps are now being held at the NEW Kress Youth Activity Center at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center.  The Camp in the Park is held at Otumba Park on the west side for kids 7-12 years old, with the Trekkers hosted at the Kane Center in Fish Creek. You can learn more and sign your child up for the Door County YMCA summer day camps here. 

A Highway 42-57 crash in Sturgeon Bay on Monday resulted in one person being transported to the hospital and the morning traffic commute being backed up for a considerable time.  According to the Police report, shortly before 7 a.m.,  a white van driven by Pamela Robillard of Sturgeon Bay struck a utility pickup truck driven by Scott Kobussen of Neenah on the northbound lane of Highway 42-57 at the intersection of Duluth Avenue.  Kobussen’s vehicle was then pushed into a cargo van driven by Joshua Walkush of Shawano, who was also stopped at the traffic lights. 

Robillard suffered head and neck injuries and was sent to the Door County Medical Center, while the other two drivers were not injured.

Robillard’s vehicle had disabling damage to the front end and needed to be towed from the scene.  The other two vehicles suffered only minor damage.

No citations were issued, and the officer's report suggests that the sun position at the time of the crash may have played a factor in it. 

According to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, you will find two of the best students in the country in Door and Kewaunee counties. Kewaunee’s Ellie Delebreau and Sevastopol’s Ezra Linnan have been named semi-finalists in the program that has been around since 1964 to honor the country’s most distinguished students.  In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. That’s where Delebreau falls in the equation. She is not just a good student and a youth apprentice for InitiativeOne in Green Bay, but she is also the Kewaunee High School Chapter and Wisconsin State President of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. She says being recognized means a lot to her as she tries to set herself up for success after she graduates this spring.

An Eagle Scout, Linnan was announced as the Sevastopol valedictorian and earned a perfect score on the ACT last spring. Delebreau and Linnan are two of the 625 semi-finalists selected from a pool of 6,000 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidates. Sturgeon Bay’s Emilie Konrad was also a candidate. Delebreau and Linnan will learn if they are finalists next month.

Door and Kewaunee counties will be represented for a fourth straight season in the performing troupe Kids from Wisconsin.

Luxemburg’s Joey Thuecks was named to Kids from Wisconsin earlier this month, joining 34 others around the state for a summer full of shows. Before becoming a musical theater student at UW-Stevens Point, Thuecks was the featured singer and dancer at the Center Stage Musical Theatre Awards when Luxemburg-Casco High School performed “Mama Mia” and received a Best Actor nomination for playing the role of Harry Bright.

The Kids from Wisconsin begin their Larger than Life Tour on June 27th at UW-Whitewater. In addition to their end of residency at the Wisconsin State Fair, Kids from Wisconsin will play shows at the Southern Door Auditorium in Brussels on July 26th and the Capitol Civic Center in Manitowoc on August 15th.

Previously, Southern Door alum Brady Tooley was a part of the Kids from Wisconsin cast four times.

Picture courtesy of Kids from Wisconsin

You and your bike will be able to go on some new adventures in the near future at Peninsula State Park. Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources released proposed changes to its trail system.

The 2018 Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Master Plan allows several improvements to improve trail sustainability and the visitor experience. According to the proposal, new trails, including one for mountain biking, would be added in two phases, while some segments in the southwest portion of the park would be retired. In February, the Friends of Peninsula State Park received $150,000 from the Destination Door County Community Investment Fund to help create eight to ten miles of mountain biking trails, including designated loops for beginner, intermediate, and advanced riders. Peninsula State Park Superintendent Eric Hyde said last month that a lot of work needs to be done before they can start building trails.

If you missed last week’s public meeting hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, you could read more details about the project by clicking this link. Pending reviews and the acquisition of permits, construction of the trails could begin as soon as this fall, with Phase 1 opening as soon as next year.

Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Rural hospitals are leaning on their leadership to get through some of the challenges the industry is facing, and one of those newly certified leaders is in your own backyard.

Patti Vickman, the Board Chairperson of Door County Medical Center, is among the first 12 graduates of the National Rural Health Association’s Rural Hospital Certification Program. Last summer, the organization began its first cohort to help rural hospital board members strengthen their leadership skills and lead their respective hospitals. NRHA CEO Alan Morgan said that “leadership is the biggest predictor of rural hospital success” at a time when one in every three rural hospitals has been identified as “at risk.” Other rural hospital board trustees designed the program, and the certification immediately recognizes those who complete it as equipped to lead a rural hospital with excellence.

Leadership is nothing new for Vickman, who, besides being the former Southern Door School District Superintendent, has served on other boards such as the United Way of Door County, Birch Creek Music Performance Center, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has Door and Kewaunee counties listed in the high danger level for the risk of wildfires as of Monday afternoon.  Arid conditions and high winds have most of the state under a very high or high fire danger.  Six wildfires were reported in the state in recent days, and the fire danger ratings describe the potential for a fire to start and the intensity it would spread in the wildland.  Southern Door Fire Department Chief Rich Olson says it is advisable to avoid outdoor burning until the dry and windy conditions change.

The weather forecast calls for more rain this weekend, but windy conditions are expected on Friday and Saturday. The DNR provides more information on the fire danger levels in Wisconsin and safety tips here.

You could see over a dozen cruise ships come to Algoma again this summer after welcoming hundreds of guests last year. Viking Cruises already has eight days on the calendar in 2024, from May 29^th to October 1^st. Two other cruise liners are also considering stops in the lakeshore community. Last year, dozens of volunteers helped guide day trips into Green Bay and Door County while community members welcomed guests carrying free bags passed out by the chamber. Algoma Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rosemary Paladini believes the city has established its standing as a friendly place to visit, and it is already paying dividends beyond the additional cruise stops in 2024.

Paladini says they are currently recruiting volunteers to assist in welcoming visitors. Below is the current schedule of cruise ships stopping in Algoma this summer.

Viking Cruise Algoma, WI Port Visits 2024 and Approximate Arrival & Departure Times

Wednesday, May 29, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, June 11, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Friday, July 12, 2024: Viking Polaris (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Thursday, July 25, 2024: Viking Polaris (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Wednesday, August 7, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, August 20, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Wednesday, September 18, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Toronto to Duluth), 0800-1800/ 8 AM – 6 PM CT

Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Viking Octantis (Direction: Duluth to Toronto), 0700-1500/ 7 AM – 3 PM CT

Arrival and departure times are subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Engaging the local workforce, unifying equitable housing efforts, improving mental health, and building an engaged and supportive sober community are the goals of the 2023-2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) released this week by the Door County Public Health Department. The Community Health Assessment and its corresponding plan are a requirement of every public health department in the state to be updated every five years. For Door County, that means navigating a process that started during a global pandemic and weathered staffing changes. Public Health Strategist Shauna Blackledge says one of the essential aspects of this CHIP is the collaboration, incorporating 25 individuals across more than a dozen organizations. Blackledge adds that the buy-in from so many shows that physical health is a tiny part of someone’s overall health.

Each one of the CHIP’s four goals is marked by multiple strategies to help achieve them by the end of 2025. You can click this link to read the CHIP online now or pick up a hard copy at one of the many partner organizations, such as the Door County YMCA, Door County Library, United Way of Door County, and more after April 25th. 

Organizations across the country are celebrating National Volunteer Week, and it is not just the humans who are saying thank you. The Wisconsin Humane Society and its campuses across the state rely on volunteers inside and outside their shelters. For some volunteers, it is as simple as taking them for walks and cleaning cages. For others, it requires welcoming a pet into their house to give them a respite from the shelter and prepare them for their forever home. Tanya Ditzman from the Wisconsin Humane Society says that, like many organizations, volunteers make their mission possible.

In addition to celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Wisconsin Humane Society-Door County Campus is preparing for its annual rummage sale next week. You can donate items to be sold during the sale on May 2nd from 4 to 8 p.m. at Arle Memorial Hall in Sturgeon Bay. The sale will also take place on May 3rd and 4th. 

Picture courtesy of Wisconsin Humane Society

Little Leaguers and their families enjoying games at Red River County Park in northern Kewaunee County will see some improvements soon. After its organizational meetings, the Kewaunee County Board will vote to accept a donation from the Dyckesville Lions Club and approve a donation agreement for a concession stand addition at the park. The measure received unanimous support at the Kewaunee County Finance and Public Property Committee meeting earlier this month. The approximately $15,000 addition will be attached to the existing pavilion, providing more indoor space to provide concessions. During the previous meeting, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers and Committee Chairperson Tom Romdenne both commented on how much use the park receives.

The organizational meeting will elect a new chairperson and vice-chairperson and divide up new committee assignments. Doak Baker, Paul Zeitler, and Wendy Shelton are the newest faces on the Kewaunee County Board after they replaced the retiring Dennis Langteau, Douglas Doell, and John Mastalir.

Almost everywhere you look, and everywhere you go, there seems to be an area where construction is taking place in Door County.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced its annual bridge maintenance schedule for Door County. The Bayview Bridge in Sturgeon Bay will be closed on Monday, April 22, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Maple/Oregon Bridge in Sturgeon Bay will be closed on Tuesday, April 23, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sturgeon Bay City Engineer Chad Shefchik provided an update on the various construction projects around the city. Contractors started pouring all of the curbing and sidewalks to reconstruct the N 2nd Ave parking lot (between Michigan Street and Louisiana Street), and the concrete work was completed early this week. Motorists are encouraged to use the parking lot along N 2nd Ave between Louisiana Street and Kentucky Street as an alternative until the restoration work is completed.

Shefchik’s update also included the concrete work schedule for the following efforts:

Concrete cutting started yesterday on:

• N 12th Place (from Bluebird Street to Eagle Street)
• Eagle Street (from N 12th Place to N 12th Place)

After these roadways are completed cutting will begin on:

• W Maple Street (from Bayfield Ave to Baraboo Ave)
• N Fulton Ave (from W Hickory Street to W Juniper Street)
• N 17th Drive (from Michigan Street to Jefferson Place
• Kentucky Place (from N 16th Place to N 17th Drive)
• Louisiana Place (from N 16th Place to N 17th Drive)
• N 16th Place (from Louisiana Place to Kentucky Place)
• N 16th Drive (from Louisiana Place to Kentucky Place)

The contractor is currently removing concrete on:

• Huron Street (from N 14th Place to N 15th Place)
• Huron Court (from Huron Street to N 15th Place)
• N 15th Place (from Huron Street to Georgia Street)

After they are done in these areas they will head to the roadways being cut listed above.

Concrete removals where completed this week on:

• N 18th Place (from Georgia Street to Jefferson Drive)
• Jefferson Drive (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)
• Iowa Street (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)

The pouring crews will be headed to these streets after they complete the concrete work on at the N 2nd Ave parking lot.

Shefchik asks motorists to avoid these areas if possible to keep the area clear for construction workers and to limit congestion.

Further north, work on Wisconsin 42 continues with more culvert pipe work and grading of the roadway near Monument Point. You will also see crews start to milling and asphalt paving as well. The highway is closed to through traffic between the WIS 42/57 Mid Junction and County T, but local traffic will be maintained using flagging operations. You are considered local traffic if you live, shop, or work inside the closed area, and it can only be accessed by Wisconsin 42. Highway improvements are expected to be done by the end of June, but it will be open to all traffic for the Memorial Day and Juneteenth holidays.

You can root, root, root for your favorite Door County League team with the comfort of knowing that a lifesaving device is nearby. On Friday, the Door County League announced that it has raised enough money to outfit all its baseball diamonds with Automated External Defibrillators for the 2024 season. League officials began the push last year after a Maplewood Mets pitcher took a line drive ball square to his chest. On-site athletic trainers and nurses ensured a happy ending to the story, but it alerted team officials and fans about the need to have AEDs on–site. DCL teams raised $9,000 through different methods to purchase an AED for each of the eight fields. It was an essential effort for Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht, who not only led his own campaign in the county to install AEDs at businesses and public places but also has a son who plays on the Sister Bay Bays.

Since most of the parks also host other events, the use of the AEDs will be open to everyone. The AEDs will be in place for the DCL’s opening day on May 12th, including a rematch of last year’s playoff championship between Washington Island and Sister Bay that will air live on 105.1 The GOAT. You can click this link for the full DCL schedule, including our broadcasts on 105.1 The GOAT.

You can have your mom saluted with the Women’s Fund of Door County’s Mother’s Day feature coming next month.  The Women’s Fund is planning to recognize women's vital role in the Door County community.  Board member Abby Grommet says the feature post selected photos and quotes about Door County women that were submitted to the Women’s Fund of Door County’s Facebook page beginning the week of May 12.  She says Mother’s Day is an extraordinary day to honor women in our lives, whether in the traditional sense of a mom or as a grandma, an aunt, a sister, a mentor, or someone else who has impacted your life.

Grommet encourages you to submit photos and quotes to recognize the remarkable woman in your life.  Submissions to honor the mother figure in your life can be emailed to womensfund@givedoorcounty.org or sent as a Facebook message by Friday, May 10.  This weekend, the Women’s Fund of Door County is working with Northern Sky Theater to present the “Tales of our Lives” event at the Gould Theater in Fish Creek at 7 p.m. Saturday, with five women story slammers sharing their stories with a musical accompaniment.  

At Crossroads at Big Creek, we are celebrating the predictable progression of the seasons.

“The boom and bust of the seasons has produced much variation in animal and plant life resulting in complex ecosystems,” wrote Russell Foster, a professor of circadian neuroscience at the University of Oxford and co-author of "Seasons of Life"

Without seasons, he wrote, there would be “fewer species with much less diversity in form and behavior. It is also possible that life would not exist at all. Because the Earth had a huge diversity of life-forms, there has always been some form of life that has been able to bounce back after major extinction events.”  [note: Biodiversity is more important than most of us realize.

Foster also explained that the seasons shaped our ecosystems and by extension, human history.

If we did not have seasons, we would not have deciduous trees…think fuel and building materials and fruits and nuts.

If we did not have seasons, we would not have annual (cold season dependent)  plants so agriculture as we know it would not have been possible. And agriculture was absolutely necessary to support increasing human populations, and for the establishment of cities, thus the development of advanced civilizations (but alas, also of wars).  And on and on. Pondering the “what ifs” of our Earth without  seasons boggles the imagination.

But even on a small, peninsula-sized scale, the progression of the seasons shapes our lives.  On Tuesday,  April 29 at 6:30, The Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones-Door Peninsula, are bringing Charlotte Lukes  to present “Seasons of Nature in Door County.” She will discuss wildlife and plants in the four seasons. A special feature will be some aerial photos that her late husband Roy took 20 years ago of some state parks, The Ridges Sanctuary and the islands at the northern tip of the peninsula.

On the last Wednesday of the month, the  Crossroads Book Club will gather around the fireplace to  discuss “Rooted, Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt.  This collection of essays,  as the book jacket states: “is cutting-edge science that supports the truth that poets, authors, mystics, and earth-based cultures have proclaimed over the millennia.” Not surprisingly, this book repeatedly describes how plants and wildlife respond to the ratio of daylight to night and the resultant progression of the seasons.

On Wednesday, May 1, the Door County Library in collaboration with the Door County Master Gardeners, the Seed Library and Crossroads will host a watch party for a live-stream webinar featuring nationally-known and Wisconsin-based horticulturist Melinda Myers called “Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables”. Growing varieties of these season-dependent plants that are both ornamental and productive will increase the nutritional value and beauty of a landscape.  

To help people learn more about how wildlife responds to the seasons,  on Thursday, May 2 at 6:00, Joel Vos, Refuge Manager of the  Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges will present a program called “Green Bay’s Wildlife Refuges.” The presentation will discuss the important federal wildlife and habitat conservation work going on in Door County on the federally managed islands that make up the two refuges and the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and the historic preservation efforts ongoing at Plum and Pilot Islands.

The community is welcome to celebrate the changing seasons by exploring the trails of  Crossroads' three preserves all day, any day free of charge.  

Wednesday, April 24                                                                                                                 

10:00 Crossroads Book Club

Gather around the Learning Center fireplace to  discuss “Rooted, Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit” by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. This collection of essays,  as the book jacket states: “is cutting-edge science that supports the truth that poets, authors, mystics, and earth-based cultures have proclaimed over the millennia.” You need not have read the book to attend. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center,  Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

Saturday, April 27

10:00 Family Program: Science Saturday-Fossils

Learn a bit about how Door County fossils were formed and then, pick up some tips and tricks for picking up fossils. Weather permitting, the learners of all ages will venture outside for a real fossil hunt, so dress for the weather. Each participating family  will receive a free Door County fossil pamphlet. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.  

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Tuesday, April 30

6:30 Master Gardener/Wild Ones Lecture: “ Nature through the Four Seasons”

Join Charlotte Lukes and travel through Door County to see stunning images of wildlife from spring to winter including wildflowers, trees and birds along with some animals, insects, reptiles and mushrooms. There will be a few aerial photos of our parks and preserves as well. Sponsored by Door County Master Gardeners, Wild Ones-Door Peninsula and Crossroads at Big Creek. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

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Wednesday, May 1

6:30 Webinar Watch Party: Ornamental Fruits and Vegetables with gardening expert & author Melinda Myers

Increase the nutritional value and beauty of your landscape by incorporating attractive fruits and vegetables into your landscape, garden beds, and containers. Growing varieties that are both ornamental and productive increases the opportunities for creating a beautiful space right outside your door. We will look at new and proven fruit and vegetable varieties suited to both gardens and containers.  Sponsored by Door County Library, Seed Library and the Door County Master Gardeners.  Free and open to the public. Meet in the Lecture Hall of the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, May 2

6:00 Lecture: Green Bays Wildlife Refuges“

With family-friendly outdoor adventure, fascinating cultural sites, and state and federal public lands ready to be explored, Door County, Wisconsin is special for many reasons. But, did you know that Door County is home to 2 National Wildlife Refuges, and a federally designated Wilderness Area? Join Refuge Manager, Joel Vos, from Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges for a presentation about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Green Bay and Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuges. The presentation will discuss the important federal wildlife and habitat conservation work going on in Lake Michigan, the federally managed islands that make up the two refuges and the Wisconsin Islands Wilderness Area, and the historic preservation efforts ongoing at Plum and Pilot Islands. Part of the 570 refuges across the nation, you'll leave with a better understanding of the important work the USFWS does as part of the rich conservation traditions of Wisconsin and Door County. Free and open to the public. Lecture hall, Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

You can help make Door County greener, and it won’t cost you anything when the Ephraim Green Tier hosts the Big Plant at the end of the month.  Member Cindy Nelson says the annual event is part of a county-wide initiative to see 8,000 trees given away during the weeklong campaign.  The Ephraim Green Tier has given away over 500 trees in the past five years, and the Climate Change Coalition of Door County coordinates the event.  Nelson explains why the tree giveaway is so important and helpful to the Door County environment.

Nelson notes the native trees that will be given away are three-year-old balsam fir, red pine, and white pine varieties.  She adds that the trees usually go fast and that you can preorder your trees by emailing cindyandbruce@gmail.com.   The Ephraim Green Tier Big Plant will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 at the Ephraim Village Hall on Water Street. 

Here are the other locations in Door County that is hosting the "Big Plant"

The Climate Change Coalition is planning "Every Day is Earth Day" activities for the next week as Earth Day is officially on Monday, April 22.  You can find a complete list of events happening throughout Door County here. 

Be prepared now for the sticker shock coming next year from the Wisconsin Public Service.

Earlier this week, Wisconsin Public Service announced that it had filed a proposal with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin for new customer rates for electricity and natural gas. WPS expects the average residential electric bill will increase by $11-$12 a month in 2025 and $3-$4 for natural gas if the rate increases are approved. WPS says the increases will help the company’s efforts to reduce customer outages, build the infrastructure needed to support jobs and economic growth in Wisconsin, and meet new Environmental Protection Agency rules. According to WPS, typical electric bills in Wisconsin fall in line with the rest of the Midwest and well below the national average ($112.59 in Wisconsin vs. $138.90 nationally, according to SaveOnEnergy.com). WPS customers will learn more about the specific impact of these increases in May, and the PSCW will conduct hearings on the proposals before making a final decision. If approved, the new rates would take effect in January 2025.

You are encouraged to sign up for Kewaunee County's latest round of well testing. In January, UW-Stevens Point groundwater education specialist Kevin Masarik shared with the Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Committee his findings of a study that showed many residents have nitrate levels in their water above the state average despite improvements in recent years. His data came from Kewaunee County's latest round of testing in October. At the committee's meeting earlier this month, Land and Water Conservation Department Director Davina Bonness said they would still have the program despite not having the funding to make it free as it has been in recent rounds.

Thanks to community donations, you can purchase a homeowner kit that tests for bacteria, nitrates, alkalinity, and chlorides for $30. The test date is May 13th, and you have until May 10th to register.

If you are looking for housing in Door County but still need to qualify for conventional financing, a group of organizations and businesses is offering you an opportunity to learn more about how it can still be accomplished. Money Management Counselors, NeighborWorks Green Bay, Partners for Community Development, Workforce Housing Lending Corporation, Shorewest Realtors, and CrossCountry Mortgage organized the 90-minute seminar to address some of the questions many in the housing market face. According to the Wisconsin Realtors Association, a mild winter aided the growth in housing inventory across the state in February. The statewide median price still went up 5.7 percent to $275,000 over the last 12 months. When coupled with higher mortgage rates, the Wisconsin Housing Affordability Index fell 7.4 percent between February 2023 and February 2024. 

Housing had been a significant issue in Door County for several years, prompting a study by the Door County Economic Development Corporation in 2019. The study showed a countywide shortage, especially in affordable housing. Sturgeon Bay is addressing their shortage by teaming up with a developer to build several homes with the stipulation that they be reserved for people who are working in the county. Sister Bay hosted a meeting in January addressing its affordable housing concerns.

Realtor Carri Busse hopes with an extra knowledge that buyers and renters that do not qualify for conventional financing can still be successful.

The seminar will provide an update on the housing market in Door County and highlight community resources that are available such as lending programs, down payment assistance, and more. The event takes place at Stone Harbor Resort on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay

Affordable housing and the environment are two areas you will hear more about as a part of a destination stewardship plan presented on Wednesday. This results from a community-driven process with residents, business leaders, and other stakeholders sharing their vision with Destination Door County leadership. Destination Door County President and CEO Julie Gilbert says the plan's goal is to help guide tourism strategy and investment and identify opportunities for the county’s 19 distinctive communities and its business leaders to take advantage of in the future. She adds that in many discussions, they have confirmed issues they already knew and placed extra urgency on addressing them.

Gilbert says many destination communities like Door County around the world are developing similar plans because of the challenges they are all facing. The community presentation will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor and will be live-streamed via Zoom at this link. It will also be available on-demand at this link after April 24th.

According to a Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune report, Luxemburg-Casco may become the next local school district to hop on the superintendent carousel. The publication listed Luxemburg-Casco Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks and Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School Principal Ronal Rasmussen as finalists for the soon-to-be-open superintendent position in the Wisconsin Rapids School District. Its current superintendent, Craig Broeren, resigned in February after being named St. Croix Falls's new superintendent. Fairbanks became Luxemburg-Casco’s fifth superintendent in July 2022 and guided the district through its first operational referendum vote this month. The Wisconsin Rapids School District expects to decide at its May 13th school board meeting.

The area has seen one superintendent hired and another resign in 2024. Southern Door filled its open superintendent position when it named Kevin Krutzik to the role in February. On Wednesday, the Sevastopol School Board accepted the resignation of its superintendent, Kyle Luedtke.

Something rare and something brand new were among the highlights at the Door County Economic Development Corporation Annual Meeting held in Sturgeon Bay on Wednesday.

John Asher, who has worked at Roen Salvage since he was a teenager working in the family business since he was 16, and has been involved in other efforts throughout the county, including the Door County Maritime Museum, was given the lifetime achievement award. He became the fourth business owner to earn the award since 1978.  On the opposite spectrum, Southern Door senior Sophia Counard received the inaugural Door County Youth Apprentice scholarship award because of her work at Destination Sturgeon Bay. Amy LaBott received the Light Keeper Award for a woman, minority, or veteran-owned business as the operator of the county’s two Ace Hardware stores in Sister Bay and Sturgeon Bay. Just In Time Corporation, a Sturgeon Bay-based manufacturer, received the Lighthouse Established Business of the Year Award, while Peter Gentry of One Barrel Brewing Company was honored with the Range Light Award for emerging business.

“DCEDC is delighted to recognize the outstanding contributions of these individuals and organizations to the Door County community," said Michelle Lawrie, Executive Director of DCEDC. "The stories of this year's award winners are a source of inspiration for our organization's Board of Directors, staff and investors toward DCEDC’s mission to enhance the economy and quality of life in Door County."

MORE ABOUT THE WINNERS

Sophia Counard – Youth Apprentice of the Year
Sophia Counard, a senior at Southern Door High School, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the DCEDC Board of Directors as Youth Apprentice of the Year for her work at Destination Sturgeon Bay. Her first experience as a Youth Apprentice, Sophia quickly learned to manage key community events, such as the Moo-La-La three-week holiday shopping promotion. Filling a key role on the Destination Sturgeon Bay team, Sophia has exceeded all expectations. Sophia will be attending UW-Stevens Point in the fall of 2024.
 

Amy LaBott, Door County Hardware – Women, Minority or Veteran Owned Business of the Year
Following in the footsteps of her grandfather, father and uncle, Amy LaBott has taken the reins at Door County Hardware, making it her own. Over the past two years she has not only expanded her business in a new location, but rejuvenated her former location into leasable spaces in the heart of Sturgeon Bay and taken over a new location in Sister Bay. Amy is also deeply involved in philanthropic efforts, including a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
 

One Barrel Brewing Company – Emerging Business of the Year
Peter Gentry started brewing beer with a home brew kit he bought for his father, and opened his first small brewery in Madison in 2012. In just five years, Peter and his wife Jennifer have made One Barrel Brewing Company a staple, year-round destination in Egg Harbor. Now calling Sturgeon Bay home, the Gentry’s are heavily involved in the community where they are raising their two children and are ambassadors for everything Door County.
 

Just In Time Corporation – Established Business of the Year
Operating now for more than three decades, Just In Time Corporation began in the corner of Rick Jeanquart’s garage. Even in the face of such growth, their customer-centric model remains at the core of the business. Led by Rick and his three children – Collin, Chis and Melanie – Just In Time Corporation serves a varieties of industries in Door County, including Original Equipment Manufacturers, Maritime and Food Service industries.
 

John Roen Asher – Lifetime Achievement
John Roen Asher has committed more than 50 years to his company, Roen Salvage Company, and to the Door County Community. John’s dedication has positioned Roen Salvage Company as one of the premier marine construction companies on the Great Lakes. Involved with dozens of charitable organizations throughout his life in
Door County, John has played a role in in many Door County nonprofit projects. John has served on the Board of the Door County Maritime Museum for 31 years, playing an instrumental role in fundraising for the new 10-story Maritime Tower at the Museum.
 

Picture from Door County Economic Development Corporation

You have seen their medals, but the road to that point started a lot further back for the area’s Special Olympians who participated in last weekend’s state basketball tournament on the campus of UW-Oshkosh. The Kewaunee County Special Olympics Lakers took third place in their division, with members Tammy taking 4th place and Ollie earning seventh place in the individual basketball skills competition. The Door County Tigers took fourth place in Division 11, and the Door County Clippers won the state title in Division 4. For Tony Hoffman, Josh Leitner, and Nathan Klaubauf, last Saturday culminated in years of hard work. Many have been playing on the team for the last five to six years, helping the squad climb up divisions yearly, with the pandemic being their biggest obstacle. The trio said winning a gold medal was a highlight, but they were happy just to play with each other.

While the basketball season may be over, Hoffman, Leitner, and Klaubauf are not done showing off their athletic prowess this spring. All three will compete in multiple events at the Special Olympics track meet hosted at Ashwaubenon High School on May 18th.

When the Kewaunee High School National Honor Society hosts its Neon Run in June, it is about much more than just raising money and spraying paint powder onto people. Alum Cole Pawlitzky formed the event as his Senior NHS project as a way to bring back events like the Kewaunee Troutman Duathlon/5K and the Lakeshore Firecracker 5K that had brought the community together that had gone missing in recent years. Now in its third year, the current crop of Kewaunee High School National Honor Society members have made this their signature NHS project, raising more than $1,700 last year for Kewaunee Area Scholarships. The scholarships are excellent, but the Neon Run means something more to Kewaunee NHS President Hannah Morton and Vice-President James Joski. It is about learning the soft skills they will be able to use down the road and creating a legacy in the community they call home.

Joski and Morton are also happy that the event is inspiring future runners through the Kewaunee Running Club. Registration is open for the third annual Neon Run, which will occur on June 2nd at 10:30 a.m. 

You will not have to drive to Green Bay to have a unique experience watching the Griffon String Quartet perform. The outreach arm of Midsummer’s Music recently announced that its Gather with the Griffon Concert Series, which has been well received in the Green Bay area, will have dates in Door County in the coming weeks. The series features midday performances in intimate locations that features not just music, but conversations with musicans Roy Meyer, Alex Norris, Kayla Patrick, and Jesse Nummelin. Midsummer’s Music Executive Director Allyson Fleck says it is a great opportunity for community members who cannot make their evening performances or drive to Green Bay to experience their music and interact with the performers.

The quartet will play at noon on April 24th at Eagle Harbor Inn in Ephraim and Country View Farm in Baileys Harbor on May 22nd.

Giving you more options when it comes to voting is the goal of a renewed push by the state’s chief executive regarding absentee voting ballot boxes. Earlier this month, Governor Tony Evers urged the Wisconsin State Supreme Court to take up the case Priorities USA, v. Wisconsin Election Commission, arguing that the state’s election laws do not prohibit drop boxes. “All across our country, election officials have chosen to use drop boxes to ensure that all eligible voters can freely cast their ballots. And they’ve done so while keeping ballots safe and secure,” said Gov. Evers. “At the very heart of our democracy is the fundamental freedom to vote.” The voting method popularized in 2020 during the pandemic was axed in 2022 when the state Supreme Court ruled that state law does not permit drop boxes anywhere other than election clerk offices. Only state lawmakers could change that through new policy. According to the Movement Advancement Project, the decision made Wisconsin one of 12 states that ban the use of drop boxes, representing approximately 24 percent of the population. Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck hopes reinstating the practice is what is decided.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the case regarding ballot drop boxes will be heard on May 13th. Adding extra urgency for voting rights advocates is the retirement of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who announced last week that she would not be running again for her seat in 2025. Bradley is one of the four justices of the court’s liberal majority that could flip back to conservatives next year.

Some changes could be made to a portion of the Ahnapee Trail in Kewaunee County to improve the user experience.

The Friends of the Ahnapee Trail and the county are discussing installing a rest area along the trail’s route in Algoma that would feature a covered shelter, benches, and picnic tables. Currently, the trailhead in Algoma has some signage and a parking lot but not much else for trail users. With over 30 miles of the Ahnapee Trail located within its borders, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director Dave Myers says investments like these are essential as the trail becomes even more popular.

Last year, an Eagle Scout project led to the installation of bike repair stations to select parts of the trail. Myers says approximately six of those are scattered along the trail for people to use in cases of emergency.

One of the premier fishing contests on Lake Michigan, and the first of 2024, will launch this Thursday.  The 36th annual Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament will start at 4:00 a.m. Thursday and run until noon on Sunday.   Over 100 anglers have already signed up to participate this year with weigh-in stations in Baileys Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, Algoma, and Kewaunee.  Baileys Harbor Destination Director Cynde Krowas says the tournament has drawn up to 400 anglers in the past, with the winning brown trout weighing in at 22 pounds last year.  During the four-day tournament, a special "Blessing of the Fleet" will be performed at the Baileys Harbor Marina. Krowas shares the history and details of the event, which will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The Baileys Harbor Brown Tournament pays out to the top 25 anglers with a first-place price of $1,000 that will be distributed at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday during the Baileys Harbor Town Hall awards ceremony.  The Baileys Harbor Community Association sponsors the tournament. 

(photo courtesy of Baileys Harbor Brown Trout Tournament Facebook page)

Hundreds of Door County community members came together Tuesday evening in Sturgeon Bay to celebrate the United Way’s annual meeting and honor this year’s Bob Stiefvater “Magnificent” Volunteer Award winner. 

Mary Ellen Smith, who was known as the “shot lady” from her work at the Door County Public Health Department giving children their vaccines, was the 2024 recipient.  She has served on the HELP of Door County and Families Services of Northeast Wisconsin boards and worked with a group that developed the Door County Partnership of Children and Families, becoming the co-chair.  The United Way has given the Bob Stiefvater “Magnificent” Volunteer Award every year since 1998.

Denise Stillman will be stepping down as the president of the United Way, with vice-president Andy Anderson assuming that role on the Board of Directors.  Three outgoing board members were recognized for their dedication and service to the United Way: Heidi Neubauer and Jason Palmer for six years and Patti Vickman for three years.

The United Way also celebrated raising $800,728.42 during last year's annual campaign.  

Your children can participate twice in an annual free event at the YMCA that promotes and reinforces healthy lifestyles.   The Kane Program Center and the Sturgeon Bay Program Center are among more than 1700 YMCAs nationwide that bring a Healthy Kids Day to local communities.   Member Services Director Rachel Stoehr says the Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay over the next two Saturdays.  She says facilities are open to everyone in the community and that over 20 vendors will be on hand, providing fun activities and valuable resources.

The Healthy Kids Day will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, in Sturgeon Bay, and Saturday, April 27, in Fish Creek. You will find the list of organizations and agencies with booths and displays below.

A packed gallery of over 40 people in Council Chambers at City Hall greeted the Sturgeon Bay Common Council on Tuesday night as they addressed an extended list of 25 agenda items over two hours

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The first piece of business was the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Dennis Statz for his years of service as District 2 alderperson. The newly elected council member Matthew Huston was then seated to replace Statz.

During public comments, two local professional anglers asked the council to reconsider the proposed elimination of weigh-ins during fishing tournaments at city parks. Four people spoke against the proposed sidewalks and assessment for installation along S. 9th Avenue, South Hudson Avenue, and South Hudson Court.

Before the vote, the council talked extensively about the process of doing special assessments, namely new sidewalks, and the need to make it fairer and more consistent in the future. The council then approved the recommendation by the Local Transportation Board to remove the planned sidewalks from the east side of South Hudson Avenue and South Hudson Court and table the preliminary resolution for levy special assessments for sidewalk installation on the three streets until a better solution is found.

Another long discussion centered around the proposed recommendation by the Park and Recreation Committee/Board to change the fishing tournament rules in city parks to not allow for weigh-ins on land, making only the weigh-on-the-water format an option for tournaments utilizing the city parks. The city and the Department of Natural Resources collaborated to update the policy to omit references to spawning and fishing activities and focus more on what occurs on dry land. However, after the original proposal was amended, leaving out rule 1, which stated the “city park property shall not be used as a weigh-in site,” the council approved the amended, revised rules by a 4-2 vote with one abstention. This means the weigh-in option on land for future tournaments will still be allowed in city parks.

In other business, Dan Williams was re-elected as the Council President, and resolutions for designating public depositories and the official newspaper were approved. After a brief discussion, the increase in Sidewalk Café Permit Free without alcohol, which would go up from $55 to $110, was unanimously approved.

Second readings for rezoning parcel properties located on the corner of South Columbia Avenue, Highway 42-57, and Cove Road were also approved.

Kyle Luedtke is resigning at the end of June after serving as the Sevastopol Schools superintendent for the past seven years.

In his resignation letter sent to the Sevastopol School Board on Monday, Luedtke says “It is bittersweet as we have accomplished many things over the past seven years here at Sevastopol”.

Sevastopol School Board President Lisa Bieri says Luedtke has done great things for the school district over the past seven years and will be hard to replace.

Luedtke is taking a new position as the superintendent at Frederic School District, which is in northwestern Wisconsin and closer to family for himself and his wife.

Taking on the superintendent role at the Sevastopol schools in 2017, Luedtke managed the district through the pandemic and oversaw the district’s referendum project, encompassing the academic additions for elementary classrooms, the library, special education, and a fab lab.

At Wednesday's regular school board meeting, the Sevastopol School Board will accept Luedtke’s resignation and begin the search for a new superintendent. 

If you ever wanted to learn more about some of the many products produced in Wisconsin, Alice in Dairyland candidates would like to be your guide.

Part of the Alice in Dairyland Finals taking place in Door County next month is the Wisconsin Products Showcase taking place at the Door County Gala in Sturgeon Bay. Attendees can interact with the candidates while learning about Wisconsin products. This marks the first year the candidates could pick their products to showcase, including Christmas trees, honey, maple syrup, ginseng, snapbeans, and cherries.

Steering Committee Chair Denise Plassmeyer says this event will not only give the candidates a preview of what the next year will look like for them if they are chosen to be the next Alice in Dairyland, but it will allow attendees to learn more about Wisconsin products they either did not think was important to the state or even existed.

Tickets are on sale for the Alice in Dairyland Finals’ two main events: the Wisconsin Products Showcase on May 3rd at Door County Boardwalk’s Gala location and the finale at Stone Harbor Resort on May 4th. Click this link to buy your tickets before Friday.

Volunteers will continue to be hard at work for Door County Habitat for Humanity in 2024, you just will not see them building a new home for a deserving family.

The Door County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors decided last week to forgo building a new home in 2024 after building two new homes in Door County and completing a major remodel in Algoma in recent years.  The rise in home construction costs and the lack of a partner family were why the organization will not build a new home this year. Out of the disappointment, Door County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lori Allen believes they have an opportunity to showcase the other ways they have an enormous impact on the community.

Allen adds that they will assist the Door County Housing Partnership in their efforts to build affordable homes in the Sister Bay area. The organization seeks volunteers to help with critical home repair, ramps, deconstruction, and ReStore operations.

For the second cycle in a row, Milt Swagel will try to unseat Rep. Joel Kitchens for the Republican nomination for the Wisconsin State Assembly. Swagel is a farmer from Kewaunee who has served multiple terms on the Kewaunee County Board in recent years. He has also run for West Kewaunee Town Chairperson in the past. Swagel has a passion for public service, having previously served in the U.S. Army. Even though Kitchens bested him in the Republican primary last year, Swagel feels confident that his conservative principles are needed in Madison.

Kewaunee resident Renee Paplham joined the race for the First Assembly District as a Democratic candidate. Monday was the first day candidates could begin circulating nomination papers for the August primary.

The newest parcel of the Door County Land Trust is just a fraction of the size of its neighboring Three Springs Nature Preserve in Sister Bay, but you can expect it to do a lot for the area’s water quality.

The newest property acquired by the land trust is just 10 acres but includes groundwater springs that are a part of the headwaters of Three Springs. It is vital because Three Springs flows into North Bay and then moves toward Lake Michigan. Land Program Director Jesse Koyen says the new parcel’s ecological significance is high despite its size. "Protection of this property furthers the Land Trust’s goal of protecting water quality throughout Door County," Koyen said. The property also includes wetlands and an old agricultural field that can act as groundwater filtration before it flows into Three Springs. The field is also used as a breeding habitat for birds and insects.

The Three Springs Nature Preserve made news last year when the Door County Land Trust announced plans to preserve the Three Springs Barn in Sister Bay so the area's bat population has a reliable place to call home at its Halloween social on Thursday. The barn at the preserve is a maternity roost for the endangered brown bat mothers and their pups, while other farm buildings and old stone fences also provide an essential habitat for area bats.

The turkeys you have seen in the fields throughout Door and Kewaunee counties will be on notice later this week.  Local Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha reminds turkey hunters that the 2024 spring turkey season opens this Wednesday, April 17.  He shares some vital gun safety reminders all hunters should follow when heading out to the woods to bag a tom.

Kratcha emphasizes the importance of planning your hunt and hunting your plan.  He says the mild winter will probably mean more birds on the landscape for hunters.     

The 2024 spring turkey season will run from April 17 through May 28 and includes six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday.

For more information regarding turkey hunting in the state, visit the DNR's Turkey Hunting website here.  

After spending the winter at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, the Tug John Purves is back in its rightful spot behind the Door County Maritime Museum. The former World War I and World War II vessel made its trip across the bay on Monday morning, with other tugboats acting as an escort.

 

 

 

 

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Door County Maritime Museum Executive Director Kevin Osgood said earlier this month that while some repairs were related to being tied up next to a barrier all year long, others could be attributed to its time sailing in saltwater missions during World War I and World War II. Deputy Director Sam Perlman says it was a great experience seeing the tug come through the Michigan Street Bridge, but there is still some work to do before May 1st due to all the work that was done.

The move puts the Tug John Purves in a position to welcome guests beginning May 1st.

Property owners will get a reprieve later in the week, but you are still being advised by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to be highly cautious if you plan on starting a fire or using off-road vehicles. Of the 72 counties in the state, 44 of them, including Brown, Door, Kewaunee, and Manitowoc counties, are at a very high fire danger level. The other 28 counties, primarily in far northern and southern Wisconsin, are listed at high fire danger levels. The National Weather Service says elevated fire weather conditions are expected to stay in the area through Tuesday due to mild temperatures, low humidity, and wind. Embers from fire and sparks from off-road equipment could be enough to start a fire. Saturday was a busy day for fire departments across the state as they responded to 35 wildfires that burned approximately 300 acres. You can expect the fire danger level to drop later in the week when rain hits the area Tuesday night into Wednesday.  

The use of alcohol is alleged to be a contributing factor in one vehicle rollover crash Sunday morning that sent two men to the hospital for suspected injuries. At approximately 6:30 a.m., 20-year-old Levi Kleiman of Kewaunee and his passenger, 19-year-old Dakoda Cornette of Brussels, were driving south on County Highway C near Fox Lane when it crossed the centerline and entered a ditch on the left-hand-side of the road. According to the accident report, Kleiman overcorrected his mistake, re-entering the roadway and crossing both lanes of traffic on County Highway C before returning to the ditch. It was there that Kleiman’s truck re-entered the ditch and overturned several times before coming to rest in a wet, grassy area. By the time deputies arrived, Kleiman and Cornette were both outside of the vehicle, with Cornette being ejected through the side window when the truck was rolling over. Both were taken to Door County Medical Center to be treated for suspected minor injuries. Kleiman was cited for causing injury while operating under the influence, failure to keep the vehicle under control, and keeping open intoxicants in the motor vehicle.

A Sturgeon Bay man was sent to the hospital Friday afternoon after his vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a structure. At 11:15 a.m., 80-year-old Richard Bohn was traveling north on County Road M near High Cliff Road when he crossed the center line and the southbound lane before entering a ditch. His passenger van struck some large chunks of cut wood as it traveled through the ditch. After it crossed High Cliff Road, the vehicle crashed into concrete and stone structure where it stopped. According to the accident report, Bohn said he may have looked down at his phone, but that he did not remember doing it. He also told the Sheriff’s Deputy that by the time he entered the ditch, it was too late to take any corrective measures. The crash caused significant damage to the structure and the van, which had to be towed. Bohn was cited with failure to keep his vehicle under control and taken to Door County Medical Center for a suspected minor injury. 

Beginning next month, a group of community members hope to show you how far a haircut and a couple of loads of laundry can go to improve mental health in Door County. Studies show that putting on clean clothes every day and regular haircuts can give people a boost in confidence, reduce anxiety, and a positive self-image. Like everything, inflation has damaged people’s ability to afford to do their laundry or keep up with haircuts. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, laundry, and dry cleaning services experienced an average inflation rate of just over three percent, about half a percentage point higher than the overall inflation rate. It’s part of why Lori DeJardin from DC Laundromat, Ron Wehringer from Door County Trolley, Trent Snyder from Bridge Up Brewing, and the Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church teamed up to form the Clean Start Initiative. Once a month, community members in need can bring their items to the laundromat to have them cleaned and receive a haircut while they wait if needed. Wehringer says he helped start a similar program in New Jersey, where he owned a salon. Snyder said when Wehringer told him about the idea, he knew he wanted to be a part of it.

Snyder adds that you can donate laundry pods, dryer sheets, or money to the brewery or to Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church. The first Clean Start event will take place on May 6th from 6 to 9 p.m.

Picture courtesy of Bridge up Brewing

You will be able to weigh in on how the state runs the 2024 deer hunting season in your county in the coming weeks. Each county in Wisconsin has a County Deer Advisory Council (CDAC) to provide input and recommendations to the department on deer management within their county. Councils work with local department staff to schedule meetings, provide community outreach and an opportunity for public input, review population data and deer impacts on forests and agriculture, develop three-year recommendations on county population objectives and create annual antlerless harvest quotas. You have until April 14th to click this link to let your thoughts known ahead of the dozens of meetings being held across the state. The DNR will host its deer advisory council meeting in Door County on April 24th at 6 p.m. at the Door County Government Center in Sturgeon Bay and in Kewaunee County on April 29th at 7 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Highway Department in Kewaunee.

You will be able to experience some of the history of the Belgian community this summer in Door County while touring an early 1900s school classroom.  The Belgian Heritage Center renovated the old schoolhouse facility in Namur last year and added to an already impressive cultural history exhibit.  President Joe Alexander shares the improvements done to the building this past year as the Belgian Heritage Center prepares to open for the season on May 24th. 

Alexander notes that Northeastern Wisconsin was the largest settlement of Walloon people in the United States, peaking at 5,167 in 1880.  Walloon is a language of French dialect spoken in southeastern Belgium.  The Belgian Heritage Center will host a Booyah and Bread lunch event on Sunday, April 21, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  You can find more details on that event and the history of the Belgian settlement in Door County here.

You will not be able to have your fish weighed in city parks during fishing tournaments if the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approves the recommendation on Tuesday.

Last June, the city modified its rules to encourage weigh-on-the-water formats to be used for fishing tournaments, especially if they took place during the early parts of the season when some species of fish are spawning. According to a memo from City Administrator Josh VanLieshout, some of the language in the new policy was interpreted as regulating fishing, which municipalities are not allowed to do. The city and the Department of Natural Resources collaborated to update the policy to omit references to spawning and fishing activities and focus more on what occurs on dry land. Because of tournaments already booked on consecutive weekends in May, the revised policy will not go into effect until next year. Tuesday’s meeting, which will take place inside Sturgeon Bay City Hall at 6 p.m., will be the first for District 2 alderperson Matthew Huston, who defeated incumbent Dennis Statz earlier this month in the spring election. The council will also weigh in on new pricing for the workforce housing built in the Geneva Ridge development and discuss a special levy assessment for sidewalk installation on and near Hudson Avenue.

Every Day is Earth Day is an annual event celebrating the people, organizations, and businesses that uphold our sustainable culture in Door County and beyond.  On Sunday, April 21, from 1:00-4:00, Crossroads at Big Creek will host the third day of the four-day festival.  

During the family-friendly event  “Capturing the Energy of the Sun,” Crossroads and many of our partner organizations will offer tree planting, displays,  demonstrations, films, kids’ activities, guided hikes, free tree seedlings, free native wildflower seeds, and educational materials, and if we are lucky, experience safe solar viewing and naturalist-led tours to see the annual sucker run.

So how does the Sun fit the 2024 Door County Every Day is Earth Day theme: “Energy-Making It and Saving It”?

One of the basic concepts of ecology is that (almost) “all energy begins with the Sun and passes through organisms within an ecosystem.”

Take, for example, planting trees. Our partners from the Door County Climate Change Coalition, in collaboration with Crossroads Habitat Healers, will hold one of their Big Plants at the Crossroads event. Volunteers are invited to help plant native trees at Crossroads.

Most people realize that green leaves, through the seemingly miraculous process of photosynthesis, can capture the sun's energy, combine it with water and air, and convert it to sugar…food.

I thought I understood the food web---- that energy from the Sun is captured by plants, and then animals eat plants, and other animals eat them, so the energy is passed along. And in many cases, that is true. But it’s complicated.

Until I read Douglas Tallamy's book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, I did not realize that “insects are able to eat only vegetation from plants with which they share an evolutionary history." In other words, most native Wisconsin insects can eat only one or two species of native Wisconsin plants. All other plants are distasteful or even poisonous to them. 

But consider that in our region, during breeding season, almost all of our songbirds feed themselves and their young with soft, juicy, nutritious caterpillars. Exclusively. And most moths and butterflies lay eggs only on native plants.  But even locally native plants are not equally beneficial. Research by Dr. Tallamy and his team at the University of Delaware has determined that 14% of native plants support 90% of butterfly and moth species. And that matters. Without caterpillars, there can be no baby birds. And, actually, mammals and even fish also relish caterpillars this time of year.

It becomes even more complicated with bees. Most bees – native wild bees and domestic European honeybees – will visit a variety of flowers to gather nectar, but in order to raise their young, they require high-quality pollen, pollen containing four essential amino acids from which to make protein. According to horticulturist Jarrod Fowler, “15-60% of native bees are pollen specialists who collect pollen from only 40% of regionally native plants.”

Consequently, representatives from the Door County Master Gardeners and Wild Ones-Door Peninsula will have booths at which they can help visitors learn about host plants, pick up free wildflower seeds, and perhaps most importantly, learn which locally native trees will support the greatest number of butterflies, moths, and native bees.

Researchers are just beginning to understand how the Sun’s energy becomes food in the leaves, passes through tree trunks to their roots, and grows in association with fungi. The food from the trees supports vast networks of fungi, which in return help trees absorb water and nutrients and, unbelievably, enable trees to communicate with each other and share resources.

So much to learn!  So many ways to learn. And thanks to the generosity of Crossroads donors and volunteers, and our partners in conservation, learners of all ages (please bring the kids!)  can enjoy the Sunday afternoon event free of charge.

Other programs at Crossroads this week include a Door County Master Gardener Program on heirloom vegetables, our weekly family program, Saturday Science, will enable learners of all ages to “Meet the Squirrels” and the League of Women Voters will present a forum aptly named “The Big Stink-A Question of Manure.”

Thursday, April 18

 6:30 pm  DCMGA: Heirloom Biographies

Delve into the intricate histories of cherished heirloom plants with Janell Wehr. We’ll explore captivating stories, including AW Livingston, the father of the modern tomato, and Wisconsin’s own Beaver Dam peppers and Picha potatoes. We’ll unravel the unique narratives behind these beloved varieties and many more, each rooted in cultural and agricultural significance. The program culminates in an insightful understanding of terms heirloom, open-pollinated, hybrid, and GMO.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be live streamed at Crossroads at Big Creek at 6:30 p.m. and also available for at-home viewing via Zoom. Those who prefer to watch at home can join the zoom meeting on the day of the event by clicking  at https://www.dcmga.org/

The Wehr lecture is presented in collaboration with Crossroads at Big Creek and Door County Seed Library.

Saturday, April 20

2:00 pm  Science Saturdays: Meet the Squirrels

Learners of all ages will learn about the bushy-tailed  grey squirrels and red squirrels through a video, games and a hike to visit a red squirrel midden.

Science Saturdays is a free, family-friendly program geared toward elementary students but we welcome learners of all ages. Hopefully, part of this  program will  be outdoors. Please dress for the weather. No registration required. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay,

Sunday, April 21  

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Every Day is Earth Day : Capturing the Energy of the Sun

A celebration of energy in nature featuring  demonstrations, nature journaling walks, films,  tree planting with The Big Plant, demonstrations, citizen science, and other family-fun activities. Free trees, free wildflowers seeds, conditions permitting, Safe Solar Viewing and Naturalist-led Sucker Run Tour. In the Collins Learning Center and grounds of Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

1:00-4:00--Habitat Healers: Earth Day Plantings with The Big Plant

This week volunteers will be planting tree seedlings! Wear clothing and footgear that can get dirty and wet and bring a water bottle. Instruction, equipment, and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade at the end! Meet at the Workshop, Crossroads at Big Creek,  2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay

Tuesday, April 23  

6:30 pm  League of Women Voters Forum: The Big Stink – A Question of Manure

LWV: The Big Stink - A Question of Manure - Crossroads at Big Creek

The League of Women Voters invites you to a public forum surrounding the topic of manure. Manure management is a...

The League of Women Voters invites you to a public forum surrounding the topic of manure. Manure management is a complicated subject, especially given Door County’s Dairy fragile karst substrate and the importance of water health.  We hope to make sense of the benefits and challenges of manure management through a presentation involving regulators, farmers and environmental experts.

Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, April 24

10:00 Crossroads Book Club

This month we’re reading Rooted by Lyanda Lynn Haupt. Crossroads will have a few copies of the book available to borrow if needed. Whether you’ve read the book yet or not, we would love for you to join us as we explore the stories, ideas, and concepts shared within the pages of this awesome books! Gather around the fireplace at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Sturgeon Bay.

Door County Medical Center staff will guide you through four health-related topics during a special event at its Sister Bay Clinic on Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. In the opening session (1 p.m.) and closing session (4 p.m.), Door County Medical Center Lead Chaplain and Social Worker Erin Szakala will discuss the steps families take when making end-of-life medical care decisions.  At 2 p.m., Senior Life Solutions Program Director Jennalee Lundquist will cover her program that helps seniors experiencing depression or anxiety due to the life changes that come with getting older. Door County Public Health’s Shauna Blackledge will introduce attendees to the new Door County CredibleMind platform launched earlier this year, which offers mental health resources online during her 3 p.m. session. At 3:30 p.m., Beverly Beyer from the Door County Medical Center Sleep Lab will present information about the potentially serious issues that could come if you suffer from sleep apnea. Lindsey Donohue from the Door County Medical Center Sister Bay Clinic hopes this is the first of many learning opportunities the facility hosts.

You are encouraged to register for the sessions, which are taking place in the center’s second-floor education room, by calling 920-868-3511.

During this time of tax preparation, many focus on their financial state's wellbeing. Countless hours are spent calculating expenses, evaluating revenues, and accounting for assets. This is a necessary exercise that is part of adult life, and I am grateful to be able to contribute to the perpetuation of this great nation and the resources we have available through the collective sense of obligation we have to each other.

I have spoken before about the four tenants of wellness, with financial wellness being one of them, but I want to focus on the word that we usual associate with financial wellness, and the limitations it places on our ability to truly thrive in life. The word is wealth, and it has taken on a very limited application as to financial status, so I am going to attempt to broaden it.

I will start with my own story of growing up on a small farm and how money, or in this case, the lack thereof, was an early lesson in the true meaning of wealth.

My parents raised six kids on 38 head of dairy cattle. Let that sink in for a bit. During that time, they battled, drought years, flooding years, decimated milk, and crop markets, along with cancer and many other struggles. While most of our nation was experiencing the boom of the 80’s we were living in the realities of the 30s. But here’s the thing: we didn’t know it.  We were being raised by two people who loved each other as much as they loved each one of us. They knew their purpose and remained steadfast in their commitments. There was never talk of poverty or want for more, just appreciation for all that we had. We were in fact wealthy beyond our own ability to grasp it.

So, let’s get back to that word from earlier: wealth. For a moment, set aside its association with finances, and apply it to the other tenants of wellbeing. Are you emotionally wealthy, with a sound portfolio of optimism, appreciation and contentment?  How is your Social Wealth? Have you invested in the relationships that truly matter in your life and support those relationships with meaningful interactions? Finally and most importantly, how is your Spiritual wealth? Do you rise every day knowing that you are part of something bigger than yourself? Knowing that you were placed here for a specific purpose. Does your existence have meaning beyond material accumulation or social status?

On the opposite end of the spectrum from Wealth is Poverty. I fear that in our world today, especially in this great nation, we are, in fact, suffering from poverty—a poverty of the soul, the heart, and the mind. The good news is that we have the ability to raise ourselves from this state of poverty into lives of unlimited wealth—wealth of Mind, Heart, and Spirit. Once you have established those foundations of wealth, your returns are unlimited.  

You can catch two ensembles from Luxemburg-Casco and Southern Door high schools take their final bows after they were honored by the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program this week.

The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program is an education initiative that celebrates and supports the achievement of high school theater while developing confidence, creativity, and collaboration among high school students in Northeast Wisconsin. Luxemburg–Casco High School’s production of The Addams Family and Southern Door High School’s imagining of Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins were nominated for outstanding ensemble awards. Luxemburg-Casco’s Matthew Brand (Gomez Addams) and Southern Door’s Noah Rass (Bert) were both nominated for their outstanding performance in a lead role. At the same time, Bowie Bredael (Morticia Addams) and Jonah Doperalski (Uncle Fester) received honorable mentions. Southern Door’s Molly Hall (Jane Banks) and Lilly Schmidt (Michael Banks) were nominated for outstanding performances in a supporting role. Drama Director Mary Hall earned her own nomination for being an influential theater educator at Southern Door. Hall and Luxemburg-Casco choir director Margaret Meder gave all the praise to their students for the ensembles getting the opportunity to stage the stage again.

HALL: 

MEDER:

Rass will be walking out of the Fox Cities Performance Center with an award regardless of how the rest of the evening goes after he earned one of two Inspiration Through The Arts Scholarships. Both schools will participate in the Jimmys, a red carpet, Tony Awards®-style showcase at the Fox Cities PAC on May 18th at 7:30 p.m.

Picture courtesy of Southern Door School District

Do not be shocked if you are inundated with election advertisements well into next year. Wisconsinites are coming off the most expensive state judicial elections in U.S. history when $45 million was poured into the contest, according to OpenSecrets.org, which led to Janet Protasiewicz being elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court over former Justice Daniel Kelly. The U.S. Presidential Race has already garnered more than $482.9 million in campaign funding, and the race for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate seat between Senator Tammy Baldwin and Eric Hovde is also slated to be one of the nation’s most expensive. With Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley announcing earlier this week that she will retire at the end of her term and ideological control hanging in the balance, Common Cause in Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck expects even more money entering the political arena leading up to that election in April 2025.

Heck does not believe Bradley’s retirement announcement will greatly impact the number of cases the Wisconsin State Supreme Court will hear in the coming months, adding that their calendar does not necessarily mesh with what is going on in the state politically.

While robins have been around for a while, the first true sign of spring is when you see road and parking lot improvements begin in the City of Sturgeon Bay. City Engineer Chad Shefchik shared the news on Friday about the start of the construction season, with work on the N. 2nd Street parking between Michigan Street and Louisiana Street already underway. After the construction company finishes up the parking lot, crews from Martell Construction will then start cutting, removing, and replacing concrete curbing and sidewalk in the following areas:

• N 18th Place (from Georgia Street to Jefferson Drive)
• Jefferson Drive (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)
• Iowa Street (from N 18th Place to N 18th Ave)
• Huron Street (from N 14th Place to N 15th Place)
• Huron Court (from Huron Street to N 15th Place)
• N 15th Place (from Huron Street to Georgia Street)

On Monday, Northeast Asphalt will begin its paving projects on Cove Road (from 715’ north of Zenith Street to the south termination) and Zenith Street (from Cove Road to the west termination), hoping to finish by the end of next week. Earlier this week, the city shut down traffic on N 7th Avenue between Delaware and Colorado streets for gas main construction work. Shefchik reminds residents to use alternative routes if possible so the work can finish quickly and everyone can navigate the area safely.

The second statewide tornado drill, set for 6:45 p.m. tonight (Thursday), has been canceled because of the threat of severe weather later this evening. This evening's tornado drill will not be rescheduled.

NOAA weather radios, mobile devices, and local media sounded earlier this afternoon during the annual drill as part of the Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week campaign.

Ready Wisconsin recommends that you create an emergency plan and practice it.  You should know where designated shelters are located at home, work, and school.  Always be ready to go there if your area has issued a tornado warning.   Have your phone enabled to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and stay aware by keeping an eye on the weather forecast as you make plans.

Many of the memories you have made in the City of Algoma is thanks to Jim Rabas, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 76. A business owner in the city, Rabas was known to support many local community organizations such as the Algoma Chamber of Commerce, Kewaunee County Historical Society, Agricultural Heritage Resources, and Community Improvement of Algoma. One of his larger efforts every year was organizing the Shanty Days in Algoma Parade, where his steam engine that took on the life of Thomas the Tank Engine was one of the many highlights. Algoma Chamber of Commerce Vice President Mark Kunkel says Rabas carried with him a great enthusiasm for the city and the void he leaves will be hard to fill.

Rabas is survived by his wife Dori, three siblings, three children, and four grandchildren. Friends may call at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on 4th Street, Algoma from 1:00 p.m. until the prayer service at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. You can read the full obituary here.

Picture courtesy of Schinderle Funeral Home

Outside of the times when you lose power, you might have never thought about what goes into becoming a line worker. According to Wisconsin Public Service, more than 500 field workers from across Wisconsin and the Midwest came to the area for what they call “one of the largest restoration efforts in WPS history. The wind and snow caused line workers to have to restring 40 miles of power line and replace more than 300 poles and 20,000 other pieces of equipment across more than 40,000 work hours. Like many industries, finding line workers is easier said than done. The next generation of line workers is hard at work at programs hosted at schools like Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay. The college offers a nine-month technical program consisting of classroom time and hands-on training before they find apprenticeships. Instructor Pete Mleziva says it is a rewarding career with plenty of positives that go beyond what is printed on a pay stub.

WPS Spokesperson Matt Cullen said last week during the restoration efforts that they owe a lot of thanks to the lineworkers who connected homes and businesses.

Mleziva says many line workers have a starting wage of nearly $60,000 a year.

Picture courtesy of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Two seats on the Door County Board could be filled if the winners choose to accept after the county’s board of canvassers met earlier this week to confirm last week’s elections. Voters in Districts 8 and 19 selected their new representatives via write-in votes after their former supervisors, Rodney Beardsley (District 8) and Dave Lienau (District 19), opted not to run for re-election. Collin Jeanquart (District 8) and Patrick Voight (District 19) won the majority of the write-in votes, though neither district had more than a few dozen votes. According to their LinkedIn profiles, Jeanquart is the President and CEO of Sturgeon Bay-based Just In Time Corporation while Voight is a Senior Information Security Consultant for Little Chute-based Heartland Business Systems. If they accept their newly elected positions, they could take their oath of office at next week’s Door County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 16th. The meeting is more for organizational purposes as supervisors will elect the new board chairperson and vice-chairperson before they learn their committee assignments for the upcoming term.

UPDATE: The 6:45 p.m. tornado drill has been canceled because of the possibility of severe weather.

Do not be shocked if your phone goes off or if you hear other warnings, as Wisconsin emergency management departments recognize National Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week with a statewide drill. The state will conduct its statewide tornado drills today (Thursday, 4/11) at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. While some communities will use their outdoor sirens as a part of the drill, many will rely on the National Weather Service’s NOAA Weather Radio tests or individual communities’ emergency alert systems. Kewaunee County Emergency Management Director Tracy Nollenberg encourages residents to use the drills to practice what they and their families can do when a severe weather event occurs.

Nollenberg credits its emergency alert system for helping approximately 7,800 residents stay up-to-date last week with the status of power outages and locations of warming centers. You can sign up for Kewaunee County’s Rave Alert system by clicking this link.

Jennalee Lundquist considers herself lucky, but she still serves as a reminder to you about the importance of living organ donation. 

Lundquist, the Program Director of Senior Life Solutions at Door County Medical Center, was the featured speaker of this year’s Donate Life ceremony held in front of the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. Lundquist reflected on her organ donation experience over a decade ago when she donated her kidney to a close family relative so she could live a better life. Because polycystic kidney disease runs in her family, there have been more than sixteen kidney donations among relatives since the mid-1970s.

After having to postpone the procedure because of her pregnancy, Lundquist and her father’s cousin Becky went under the knife in 2012 for a kidney transplant. While Lundquist adjusted to life with one kidney, she was happy that her deed helped give Becky a new lease on life after living with the disorder that caused her kidneys to become riddled with cysts and balloon to the size of small infants.

Lundquist hopes her story inspires others to become organ donors, whether it helps save a life while you are living or after you are gone. April is National Donate Life Month, which raises awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation in the country.

It turns out that last week’s storms only provided you a temporary reprieve from fire danger worries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Just under 40 counties, including Door, Kewaunee, Brown, and Manitowoc counties, are back to experiencing high fire danger levels due to dry conditions. Only six counties in northern Wisconsin are experiencing low fire danger levels, with the rest sitting at a moderate level. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht reminded readers and listeners earlier this year about the dangers that are present when fire danger is at elevated levels.

There have been over 240 wildfires in Wisconsin in 2024, with the DNR blaming the lack of precipitation and mild temperatures for the current dry conditions.

Two long-time Algoma Fire and Rescue volunteers were honored this past weekend for more than 25 years of service. Lynn Schiesser, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), served with the department for over 30 years, and Firefighter/Engineer/EMS driver Don Daul was a 26-year veteran. Algoma Fire Chief Tom Ackerman says the commitment and dedication shown by the men over the years will be hard to replace.

Ackerman adds that the Algoma Fire and Rescue has about 45 volunteers, with 28 serving as firefighters, which is as low as he has seen in his 40 years with the department.  Anyone interested in volunteering with Algoma Fire and Rescue can contact Ackerman through the City of Algoma email at afdchief@algomacity.org.  

Pictured (left to right) - Chief Tom Ackerman, Ret EMT Lynn Schiesser, Ret FF Don Daul, EMS Director Rory Groessl, and Assistant Chief Tom Vandenack.

Photo credit - Todd Haltaufderheid, Retired AFD Administrative Captain

The Door County YMCA offers adult swim classes for all abilities and age levels at its two program centers in Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek.

You can start registering for the next swimming session at the Door County YMCA next week, even if you have never been able to swim.

Competitive Swim Director Mike McHugh says the sign-up begins next Monday, April 15, for YMCA members and Wednesday, April 17, for community members.  He says adult lessons can help people of any age learn the critical skill of swimming while doing so in a comfortable setting.

You can listen to Mike McHugh's interview below and his recap of the Door County YMCA (DCY) swim team, which recently finished third in the boys' division and fifth in the girls' division at the YMCA State Swimming Championships in Brown Deer.

You will probably have to come up with an additional nickel to send your letters in the mail soon.

The U.S. Postal Service announced Tuesday that if the Postal Regulatory Commission approves the proposed adjustments, the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp will increase five cents from 68 cents to 73 cents on July 14. The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will increase from 24 to 28 cents. The governors of the Postal Service approved the proposed adjustments, which would result in a 7.8 percent increase in mailing rates.

The USPS reported in November a $6.5 billion net loss for their fiscal year ending in September after experiencing the lowest volume of first-class mail since 1968.  Over the past four years, stamp prices have increased 36 percent since 2019, when they were 50 cents. 

You can see the best in art created by Door County high school students starting this weekend.  The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay celebrates 50 years in 2024 of honoring Door Peninsula student artists with the '50th Annual Salon of Door County High School Art'.  The exhibit will open this Saturday, April 13, as the museum will celebrate and host an opening reception and awards celebration on Monday, April 15, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and presented at 7:30 p.m. Certificates of Participation will be presented to all student artists by their respective art teachers following the presentation of all other awards by the Miller Art Museum.  Executive Director Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead says the Salon of Door County High School Art is the museum's longest-running and most popular exhibit.

The annual exhibition features the work of more than 100 young artists from schools on the Door Peninsula. Working with their art teachers, the students demonstrate creativity and technical ability across diverse media, ranging from painting to sculpture, drawing, and photography. This year’s show will feature 174 imaginative works from students attending Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island High Schools, along with representation by Door County home school students.

(photo of artwork submitted of Southern Door Junior Madeliene Finger's  "Self Portrait Collage Red Hair")

Download link: https://tinyurl.com/e5cjvrnu

1. Teagan McGrane, Drifting, Washington Island High School, Grade 9
2. Jocelyn Mann, The Takeover, Washington Island High School, Grade 11
3. Axel Howard, Portal, Sturgeon Bay High School, Grade 10
4. Keirsten Mellen, Fantasy Environment, Sturgeon Bay High School, Grade 12
5. Hannah Schley, Lovely Elephant, Southern Door High School, Grade 12
6. Madeleine Finger, Self-portrait Collage, Red Hair, Southern Door High School, Grade 11
7. Hayden Knutson, Op Art 1-4, Gibraltar High School, Grade 9
8. Mia Hummel, Abstract People, Gibraltar High School, Grade 11
9. Gianna Roman, Lamb Flowers, Sevastopol High School, Grade 10
10. Claudia Garcia-Barahona, Room from Above, Sevastopol High School, Grade 12

After several months of preparation and over a year of visits to the area by Alice in Dairyland Ashley Hagenow, Door County is ready to welcome the state for the Alice in Dairyland Finals next month. As a part of her reign as Alice in Dairyland, Hagenow has made nearly 50 stops in Door County alone, let alone her other visits across the state highlighting all of the things that make agriculture in Wisconsin unique. The countdown to the Alice in Dairyland Finals hit a fever pitch last month when the six finalists were announced. Fox Lake’s Cierra Essock, Oconomowoc’s Halei Heinzel, Denmark’s Katrina Hoesley, Kewaunee’s Kiley Pagel, Kiel’s Lauren Siemers, and Big Bend’s Michaela King will all compete for the title of Alice in Dairyland May 2nd through May 4th. Hosting the Alice in Dairyland Finals is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Door County to showcase itself in agriculture. Promotions Co-chairperson Corey Geiger says it has been everything they ever wanted.

Tickets are on sale for the Alice in Dairyland Finals’ two main events: the Wisconsin Products Showcase on May 3rd at Door County Boardwalk’s Gala location and the finale at Stone Harbor Resort on May 4th. You can buy your tickets by clicking this link.

Six All-State selections added up to a second-place finish for the Sturgeon Bay Math Team at the 2024 State Meet. Competitors across the state competed in the meet across multiple divisions during the first week of March. When the dust settled after a month, the Clippers learned they came in second place, just 11 points shy of overtaking Edgewood High School. The result denied the Clippers a third straight team championship. Sturgeon Bay students Luke Selle, Jack Konop, and Tre Wienke finished first-team all-state, while Ben Stephens, Julia Michalski, and Amelia Langfeldt were second-team all-state. Competing in Division 3, Southern Door student James Zittlow was also named first-team all-state. If you want to see what past math teams have gone up against in the state meet, click this link for a sample test.

The Door County Library wants your thoughts as they form their strategic plan for the next three years. The organization released its community survey on Monday, hoping to reach people whether they use the library or not. In its 2022-2024 strategic plan, the Door County Library emphasized five main goals: access, awareness, connection, life-long learning, and sustainability. Making their branches more accessible and engaging both in-person and virtually, strengthening relationships throughout the community, and developing an assessment were some actions the library took based on the responses from 466 surveys, two community conversations, and over a decade of annual library report data. You can access the survey online or visit your library branch to pick up a paper copy. The deadline for the survey is May 12th. 

Every now and then, the clouds fall apart, allowing you to turn around and enjoy a glimpse of the partial eclipse of the sun with bright eyes

Cars lined the streets and the paths surrounding the Stonecipher Astronomy Center on the campus of Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay, leading up to the peak eclipse time of 2:09 p.m. The overhanging clouds chased some people to their cars, but those who hung around were treated to glimpses of the disappearing act played by the sun and the moon. Door Peninsula Astronomical Society President Dave Lenius says he was happy the eclipse gave people an excuse to check out their facilities, many of whom were making their first visit.

If you missed Monday’s total solar eclipse, you will have a long wait before you can catch yourself staring at the sun. The next one will not come until August 23rd, 2044, though that will only shadow Montana and the Dakotas when that occurs. Fifteen states will find themselves under cover of darkness on August 12th, 2045, when a total solar eclipse has a broad reach, like this year when thirteen states and parts of two others found themselves in the path of totality.

Farmers are getting ready and doing what they can, but it will still be a while before you see them planting this year’s crops in their fields. Farmers traded time in the fields for moisture last week after winter storms brought snow and rain to the area. That added some much-needed moisture to the fields, and the USDA reported last week that twenty-seven percent of the topsoil moisture was rated as very short (eight percent) or short (19 percent). Duane Ducat from Deer Run Dairy in southern Kewaunee County said moisture is just part of the equation. He said soil temperatures and the progress of cover crops are some of the other variables he is looking at before he begins planting seeds for his crops this year.
 

After a dry and mild winter, the Farmer’s Almanac warns that this summer will be the opposite. They predict the weather will be warmer than usual and pack a punch in the form of thunderstorms. Ducat subscribes to the “rain will bring grain” adage but says it is important that the added moisture comes at the right time.

Your opinions are welcome at a special committee meeting on Wednesday at Sevastopol School District. Sevastopol Superintendent Kyle Luedtke announced last month his intent to form a committee to explore adding a third gym on the school grounds that district residents could use. When the district went to voters for its $25.1 million referendum in 2018, they opted to replace what was being torn down, not necessarily add anything new. The district will work with Bray Architects to provide options and costs for a new facility. Once different options are developed, community members can weigh in via a survey. Luedtke emphasized last month that the calls from the community are driving this effort.

When the meeting was introduced last week, community members suggested on Facebook that more money should be used for cameras on buses, a full-time nurse, or an auditorium. If you are interested in participating on the committee or just want to get more details on the potential project, the meeting will occur inside the district’s Carl Scholz Pioneer Room at 6 p.m.

Over a year after they first formed, you will find Sea Scout Ship 1261 out on the waters of Sturgeon Bay in the coming months. The Door County Maritime Museum took on the task last year to introduce Sea Scouts for the first time in decades. Sea Scouts is a segment of the Boy Scouts of America that takes boys and girls out of the woods and puts them on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. The program is divided into units called ships, where members worked on improved boating skills and better citizenship. The unit, known as Ship 1261, has nine members with plenty of room to grow. Door County Maritime Museum Executive Director Kevin Osgood says they are preparing to launch a 26-foot sailboat that a community member donated to take the members from the land out onto the water.

Ship 1261 meets at the Door County Maritime Museum on the first and fourth Thursdays of every month at 6:30 p.m. The Door County unit is the only one in northeast Wisconsin, with Sheboygan and Wausau the next closest.  

Picture courtesy of Door County Maritime Museum

A new name is entering the race to replace Rep. Mike Gallagher in the United States House of Representatives, and former President Donald Trump hopes he has your vote.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and The Hill, Trump has endorsed Tony Wied as the next person to represent Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District, which serves Door and Kewaunee counties. Wied owned six Dino-Stop gas stations and convenience stores in the Green Bay area before selling them to Denver-based 7E CO Holdings LLC in 2022.

In his endorsement, Trump not only threw his support behind Wied, but also bashed former State Senator Roger Roth, who entered the race shortly after Gallagher said earlier this year that he would not run for re-election. “After selling his highly successful Oil and Gas Business, Tony Wied has decided to run for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. Tony is running against RINO Roger Roth, who is a ‘clone’ of Paul Ryan, and no friend to MAGA – He should drop out of the Race NOW,” Trump posted on his social media channels. “As your next Congressman, Tony will work hard to Unleash American Energy, Stop Inflation, Secure our Border, Support our Military / Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment. Tony Wied has my Complete and Total Endorsement – He will not let you down!”

The endorsement did not mention the other Republican candidate in the race, State Senator Andre Jacque. Dr. Kristin Lyerly launched her own campaign last week as a Democratic candidate. GOP consultant Alex Bruesewitz was believed to have staged his bid for the seat, but it appears he will work on Wied’s behalf instead. Wied is expected to announce his candidacy Monday night in Ashwaubenon.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay and InspiredImages

Mother Nature may taint the experience, but you can still enjoy a rare event on Monday when the total solar eclipse occurs.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon fully obscures the sun, blocking most of the light.

Visitors to Crossroads at Big Creek received a preview of the celestial event on Saturday during its Science Saturday program when children received their pair of solar-viewing glasses while learning how different species of animals react to an eclipse.

While Door County is hundreds of miles away from the closest spot where you can see the moon totally block out the sun, it will be approximately 87 percent blocked when it occurs after 2 p.m. Cloudy skies and rain are in the forecast for Monday, which could take away from the whole experience. The Door Peninsula Astronomical Society in Sturgeon Bay and Newport State Park in Ellison Bay will still host watch parties on Monday. DPAS will hold theirs from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday at the Ray and Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center on Utah Street. Newport State Park will host theirs at the same time in Lot 3.

This is the first total solar eclipse that could be seen in our area since 2017, and it will be a while before you can see it again locally. The next time it will be showcased in the United States is in 2033, when only Alaska will have a chance to see it. Over a decade later, residents and visitors in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota will have a glimpse of it in 2044. The next best chance for Wisconsinites will not be until 2045. To get a glimpse of the total solar eclipse, you should use special glasses or lens protection to protect your eyes from damage.

Picture courtesy of Buddy Nath and Pixabay

Washington Island officials are still forming plans to ensure people on the water are safe even without the United States Coast Guard taking up a summer residency this year. The station has traditionally been staffed by active duty and reserve personnel during summer to perform search and rescue and law enforcement missions. Last October, the United States Coast Guard outlined how it would adjust its operations due to its ongoing workforce shortage issues. Those plans included crews at the Coast Guard’s 23 seasonal station smalls, including Washington Island, who would transfer to their parent command. Washington Island officials have talked logistics about the change at their last few meetings. Town Chairperson Hans Lux says they met with the Coast Guard on Thursday to discuss what expectations would be moving forward to ensure they are covered in cases of emergency.

Lux added that the Washington Island Fire Department has submitted a grant application to get funds to purchase a new boat, which they have been fundraising for over the last year. He hopes this year’s closure of the Coast Guard station makes it more likely that they will receive that grant.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard

You can be a part of the solution to the childcare crunch Door County families are feeling. Door County remains a childcare desert despite adding one new childcare center and two expansions in the last two years. The Center for American Progress defines a childcare desert as any census tract with more than 50 children under age 5 that contains either no childcare providers or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as licensed slots. The United Way of Door County has provided funding for child care centers to compensate those teaching in the field better, but it is also giving money for those who want to start providing in-home child care. Amy Kohnle and Molly Gary from the United Way of Door County say they are trying to fix the myths out there about providing in-home care and provide the tools necessary to make them successful.
 

Roughly 30 percent of Americans rely on in-home child care for their families. If you are interested in learning more about starting your own in-home childcare business, you can contact Gary at the United Way of Door County offices or click on this link.

There are two reasons for this week’s topic. The first is that with all of the other awareness campaigns in the month of April, this month is also designated as awareness of Inattentive Driving. The second reason is that when we review contributing factors of vehicle accidents, inattentive Driving ranks as one of the leading causes.

We hear much attention being given to texting while driving and rightfully so. I recently attended a meeting where it was stated that the behavior of texting while driving now poses a greater threat than Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated. We have made a huge impact on the number of persons operating a motor vehicle while impaired, and now we must turn our attention to other behavior, which is the cause of so many accidents.

There has recently been legislation passed making it illegal to text while driving. This is a great start, but inattentive driving is not just texting. It includes any behavior that takes the focus of the driver away from doing what they should and that is driving. We can include in this list: Eating, Drinking, Personal Hygiene, Searching for items, Distraction by Passengers, and the list goes on. By the way, there is a law for that. Wisconsin State Statute 346.89(1) “Inattentive Driving, “which brings with it a $187.90 fine and a four-point assessment on your license.

What makes texting while driving unique in the danger that it poses, is that an average text requires the driver to focus on the device for five seconds. A vehicle traveling at 55mph will cover the distance of a football field in 5 seconds. As a test, the next time you are a passenger in a motor vehicle, close your eyes for 5 seconds and then consider the danger that you would have put yourself and others in if you had actually been operating the motor vehicle at that time. Another test I would ask that you conduct is to pay attention to those drivers you meet on the roadway. I was hoping you could take a moment to notice whether or not they are actually attentive, or as I have seen, are they actually looking down as you pass within feet of their vehicle. It’s amazing how many fall into that second category. Don’t be that driver!

As with any accident, defensive driving is paramount. Do not assume that the vehicle in front of you or behind you is being attentive. Always consider what your reaction would be if that vehicle in front of you came to an abrupt halt or if that vehicle behind you did not slow down as you were applying the brakes. Don’t assume that the vehicle coming toward you in the opposite lane will stay in that lane. Don’t assume that the vehicle approaching that stop sign is going to stop. Be prepared for the unexpected.

The main message here is that if you are the driver, please just drive. If you are a passenger, let them drive. If you receive a call or text from a person and you know they are driving, ask them to contact you once they get where they are going. Unfortunately, the enforcement of Inattentive driving is usually reactionary once an accident has happened; however, do not be surprised if you are pulled over by a law enforcement officer because they observed you not looking at the roadway in front of you. It’s all about saving lives.

Tuesday’s storm likely helped you clean out your refrigerators and freezers this week, whether you liked it or not. Saturday marked the end of a long week without electricity for many in Door and Kewaunee counties, especially those who could not rely on a generator to power their homes. Local businesses like Seaquist Orchards and Northern Grill in Sister Bay offered freezer space to those who needed it. Still, many others have had food in their refrigerator and freezer for days without electricity.

UW Food Scientist Barb Ingham says perishable foods such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs that are not kept adequately refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if consumed, even when thoroughly cooked. You can find more tips here.

Depending on your policy, the cost of the food that spoils in your refrigerator and freezer could be recovered if your homeowner’s insurance covers the cause of the outage.  If you are on FoodShare, their disaster assistance program could also be an avenue to help you replace some of the food that was lost. According to the Hunger Task Force, participants can fill out a form no more than ten days after the incident where they are asked to describe how food was destroyed and provide proof of what was destroyed and the reason why.

Photo from Pixabay

April Showers bring May flowers, and at Crossroads at Big Creek, April showers bring fish! and the final session of the 2024 FISH TALES LECTURE SERIES…Presenting the Science of Great Lakes Fisheries.

We’ve already seen a few pike in Big Creek, but the Sucker Run! Long before there was a Crossroads, the Big Creek Sucker Run was a thing. Generations have stood on the shore…or right in the creek…. to marvel as these fish make their annual pilgrimage up Big Creek to spawn.

The suckers are here. Staging…waiting for the right conditions to move upstream.  We know this because of Dr. Karen Murchie, Research Director at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Dr. Murchie works with community scientists to aid in data collection for a multiyear research effort at 17 sites in three states (including one at Crossroads) to study sucker movement.  According to Murchie, “Suckers have an important ecological role to play because they’re making these early-spring mass migrations into the tributaries and contributing nutrients that kick-start the food web.”

Dr. Murchie will present the lecture; “Suckers on the Move – what we’ve learned from tagging and tracking” describing the latest results on the movement of white suckers from their spawning stream in Door County into Green Bay using acoustic telemetry tags. She will have a lot of new information to share.

Not surprisingly, at our 2:00 pm Science Saturday program, learners of all ages will explore  “Pike and Suckers,” beginning with indoor lessons followed, weather permitting, with a hike to the sucker monitoring station at Big Creek. All are welcome at this free educational program.

Because we never know quite when (or even if)  a run will start, scheduling is impossible. Instead, we will offer after-school naturalist-led “pop-up” hikes to the creek. Follow Crossroads on Facebook or check the Crossroads website for “day-of announcements” of these Sucker Viewing hikes.

Crossroads visitors are excited when our otherwise placid Big Creek is transformed by melting snow and spring rains into a rushing, babbling brook, and hundreds, probably thousands, of suckers swim upstream to spawn.

Suckers seem to travel in loose groups, so one minute it can be quiet; then suddenly, the water is churning with fish.  The name sucker is given to this type of fish because its downward-facing mouth, in form and function, resembles the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner.

Suckers are bottom feeders, omnivorous bottom feeders. They suck up anything they can find----small insects, crayfish, algae, and plant matter. They eat anything, and just about everything eats them when they are small. Prey fish species …walleye, trout northern pike…. eat young suckers, and so do turtles, birds, and mammals. Young suckers are an important link in the food chain.

But April is not ALL about fish.  We also care ( a lot)  about frog choruses, dancing woodcocks, and pollinating insects and flowers.

Door County Library, in collaboration with The Door County Master Gardeners, Door County Seed Library, and Crossroads, will offer a three-part series of webinars by nationally known and Wisconsin-based horticulturist Melinda Myers. The free webinar, “Container Gardening Throughout the Year," will be screened at Crossroads on April 10 at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

On April 16 at 6:30 pm, the Door County Beekeeper Club plans a special meeting for the purpose of helping new beekeepers. Speakers Len Arsenault, Max Martin, and Mark Lentz will explain beekeeping equipment and recommend the supplies needed to get started, locate and set up your apiary, and install the bees in a hive. For beekeepers that lost a hive over the winter, they will cover cleaning the boxes and preparing to re-populate the hive. A variety of equipment will be available for people to examine.

Wednesday, April 10

6:30 Live-screening of “Container Gardening Throughout the Year”

Gardening expert and author Melinda Myers will present the first of a series of webinars. The Door County Library, in collaboration with The Door County Master Gardeners and Door County Seed Library, invites the community to Crossroads to view this live-streamed webinar in the lecture hall to learn how to use container gardens to boost the color and seasonal interest in any size landscape, garden, balcony, or deck. With your budget in mind, Myers will explore attractive combinations of trees, shrubs, flowers, edible plants, and those that attract pollinators. Plus, you’ll learn strategies for extending your enjoyment year-round by transforming all or a portion of the container planting with the changing seasons. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, April 11

7:00 pm Fish Tales Lecture: “Suckers on the move, what we’ve learned from tagging and tracking”

Dr. Karen Murchie, Director of Freshwater Research at the Shedd Aquarium,  will describe how she, using acoustic telemetry tags, can now track the fish that visit Door County tributaries when they are out in the bays and Lake Michigan. Fish Tales lectures are free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. To participate via ZOOM or Facebook Live, go to https://doorcountylibrary.org/event 

Saturday. April 13

2:00 pm Family Program: Science Saturdays – “Pike and Suckers”

Big Creek is locally famous as a spawning stream for northern pike and suckers. Learners of all ages will learn a little about the natural history of these fishes and, weather permitting, will hike to the creek to make on-site observations. Dress for the weather. Free and open to the public.

Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Tuesday, April 16

6:30 pm Door County Beekeepers Club “Bee Installation and Equipment"

Door County Beekeeper Club plans a special meeting each spring for the purpose of helping new beekeepers. Speakers Len Arsenault, Max Martin and Mark Lentz will explain beekeeping equipment and recommend the supplies needed to get started, locate and set up your apiary, and install the bees in a hive. For beekeepers that lost a hive over the winter, they will cover cleaning the boxes and preparing to re-populate the hive. A variety of equipment will be available for people to examine. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Snow may have been just outside the doors at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Exposition Hall, but you would have thought it was June Dairy Month inside on Thursday. Dairy farmers, Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee volunteers, and other stakeholders came together for the second annual Celebrate Dairy! Dinner is not just to celebrate the industry but also to reconnect with each other after a long winter.

The event also serves as the official introduction of the Breakfast on the Farm hosts, which will be Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy in Algoma this year. The operation began in 1963 with 30 cows under the guidance of Ray and Florence Heim. Now, the farm milks 825 cows and involves three generations of Heim family members. The business has grown to include Heim Brothers Custom, which provides crop harvesting, manure transportation, and other trucking needs to farms of all sizes across the region.

Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy last held the Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm over a decade ago, and Jeremy Heim is excited to show the community how they have evolved in the year since.

The event also honored Jim Smidel as its volunteer of the year. Smidel serves as the committee's treasurer and has been active in other agricultural endeavors in the county. The Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm is on Father’s Day, June 16th. The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee is looking for volunteers for this year’s event, which draws thousands from across the area annually.

Wisconsin Public Service hopes to be done restoring your power by the very latest on Saturday. What started out as 15,000 customers in Door County has dwindled down to just over 3,200 as of 11:30 a.m. on Friday. The utility provider has been working around the clock and hope to be 97 percent restored by the end of Friday. The remaining three percent have crews assigned to them. According to WPS, they have over 300 technicians from across Wisconsin helping repair the damage left in the wake of the storm. As a result of the storm, WPS has responded to more than 1,500 reports of damaged utility poles, downed power lines, and large trees falling onto electrical equipment. Door County was still getting reports of those issues on Thursday to the dispatch center with 10 calls for wires down and two calls for fallen trees. 

Kewaunee resident Renee Paplham wants your vote this fall after she announced her candidacy for the First Assembly District, currently held by Sturgeon Bay Republican Rep. Joel Kitchens. The Democratic candidate launched her bid on Thursday with visits to small businesses throughout Kewaunee and Door counties. Paplham was born and raised in Kewaunee and works as a caregiver and a mediator. She was on the team looking to find a candidate until people began asking her to run. She knows it is a tough district for Democrats to win, but she says there is a lot of enthusiasm in the party right now.

Paplham added that she is focused on improving the economic security of working families, women’s rights and ensuring kids have strong public schools. Kitchens, who has served in the Assembly since 2014, announced his re-election bid last month. 

Picture courtesy of Democratic Party of Door County

Tuesday’s winter storm significantly impacted Election Day, whether you were casting a ballot or counting the votes. The Wisconsin State Journal found that voter turnout across the state was at 25 percent, which was lower than last year despite having two statewide referendums and the Presidential primary on the ballot. Throwing a wrench into the equation was an Election Day snowstorm that limited travel across the state. That included northeast Wisconsin, where the storm hit as schools and workplaces let out for the day. Turnout in Door County far outpaced the rest of the state, with 50 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. Door County Clerk Jill Lau says the more significant issue came after the polls closed when many municipalities lost power, limiting their ability to transmit results.

Lau was happy that voters adjusted their schedules to accommodate the path of the storm, as polling sites experienced higher-than-normal traffic earlier in the day compared to the usual rush in the evening.

The man who was caring for Elijah Vue, the three-year-old child who has been missing for over six weeks, will stand trial for neglect of a child.  Jesse Vang, 39, who was the last person to see Elijah before reporting him missing, was charged with one count of being party to chronic neglect of a child.  He is not, however, being charged in connection with Vue’s disappearance

According to CBS 58, a Manitowoc County judge heard testimony Thursday from two law enforcement officers and ruled there was enough evidence for the case against Vang to proceed. He denied a motion made by Vang’s attorneys to dismiss the case.

Vang, the boyfriend of Elijah’s mother, was charged with one felony count of party-to-a-crime child neglect in February.   His arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 16, and he is being held on a $20,000 bond.

Elijah’s mother, Katrina Baur, is facing a felony count charge of party-to-a-crime chronic child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of child neglect.  She is held on a $15,000 bond.

Last seen at Vang’s residence on February 20 in Two Rivers, Elijah has been the center of a wide search effort by law enforcement and volunteers throughout the Two Rivers area.

You will see a familiar sight on Sturgeon Bay’s working waterfront return to its rightful spot behind the Door County Maritime Museum later this month. Museum officials are pointing to the middle of April when the Tug John Purves will journey across the bay from Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding after receiving some much-needed repairs. Door County Maritime Museum Executive Director Kevin Osgood says while some repairs were related to being tied up next to a barrier all year long, others could be attributed to its time sailing in saltwater missions during World War I and World War II. He added that small holes that caused the vessel to take on water were the only real surprise they discovered during the process.

Osgood says they are excited to welcome back visitors to tour the Tug John Purves as a part of their visit to the museum campus beginning on May 1st.

Town of Washington Chairperson Hans Lux says this week has been another reminder about why living on the island, no matter the time of year, is a special experience. Like many communities in northeast Wisconsin, residents across Washington Island lost power due to Tuesday’s winter storm. Wisconsin Public Service crews had to restore power on the mainland before Washington Island residents could even begin hoping to have theirs return. By Thursday morning, Washington Island Electric Cooperative had restored power to the school, community center, and recreation center, so residents had a place to go.  That includes Lux, who says his home has been on generator since the storm hit. He applauds volunteers from the Public Works Department, Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and community members working hard to restore power.

Lux is hopeful that power will be restored across the town before the weekend. The Washington Island Electric Cooperative has been posting updates on their progress since Tuesday.

A plate full of food and a good conversation were enough to make some area farmers forget about Tuesday's storm that kept kids home, knocked out power, and likely delayed fieldwork for another couple of weeks. In its first Crop Progress and Condition Report of 2024 on Monday, the United States Department of Agriculture blamed the snow and rain as the reason farmers could only put in 1.2 days of fieldwork last week. Twenty-seven percent of the topsoil moisture was rated as very short (eight percent) or short (19 percent), eluding to the dry conditions farmers across the state had experienced. Farmers will likely have to wait even longer to get into their fields after the state receives rain and snow this week. The storm could not ruin the mood at Rio Creek Feed Mill’s customer appreciation lunch on Wednesday, a nearly 30-year tradition for the family-owned business to thank area farmers and kick off the 2024 season. Rio Creek Feed Mill Owner Jerry Barta said farmers sometimes welcome a little adversity because of the experience many of them have to overcome.

Before the storm, USDA data showed that northeast Wisconsin was pretty close to its historical averages when it came to temperature (-0.9 degrees), precipitation (+0.47 inches), and growing degree days (-1 day).

For the first time since Amanda Stuck in 2020, you will have a Democratic candidate on the ballot for Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District.

Dr. Kristin Lyerly told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel ahead of her official announcement at a Green Bay brewery on Thursday that she will run for Congress this fall. “I think people have really felt unrepresented, like their voices have gone unheard, and that needs to change,” Lyerly told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “There is a path here (for Democrats) for the first time in a really long time.”

Lyerly, an OB/GYN doctor from De Pere, has never held elected office but is not a stranger to politics. She lost to Rep. John Macco in 2020 in a bid to replace him in the 88th Assembly District by less than 2,000 votes. She has also been a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s stance on women’s healthcare decisions. Former journalist Kelly Peterson and Navy veteran Alicia Saunders had also been weighing a run for Congress, but they will instead turn their attention to elected positions at the state level.

Earlier this year, State Senator Andre Jacque and former State Senator Roger Roth declared their candidacy for the Republican nomination shortly after Gallagher announced he would not seek a fifth term. GOP Strategist Alex Bruesewitz said he would also consider a run for the seat and could make his intentions known next week.

If you still find yourself without power, a Northern Door County fire department will leave the lights on for you. Earlier on Tuesday, the Gibraltar Fire Department and the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Department were designated as warming shelters for residents needing a warm place to stay or to stop in to enjoy a cup of coffee while charging their phones. Door County Emergency Management in collaboration with the American Red Cross, Gibraltar Fire Department, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department, 211, Incident Support Team (IST), and other local partners, collaborated to set up the response to the winter storm that knocked out the power for over 15,000 customers on the peninsula, many of which reside in the northern part of the county. Matt Ney from the Door County IST says they have since consolidated their operations to take place just at the Gibraltar Fire Station, but plenty of people have been utilizing the shelter.

Ney says they will play it by ear as to how long the shelter will remain open, including if they will provide overnight accommodations. He added that the American Red Cross had been deployed to Washington Island to set up a shelter because of the power being knocked out there. As of 4 p.m., more than 11,000 Door County residents were without power, and Wisconsin Public Service was working around the clock to restore everything.

You can find some other options for warming shelters below:

The restaurant located at the very tip of the Door Peninsula will be under new ownership when it opens for the season on April 30th.  Bob and Mekaila Novitski purchased the Shoreline Restaurant in Gills Rock from Mike and Mary Mead in February, who owned the business for 33 years. 

The Novitskis moved to Baileys Harbor from their home in Wrightstown after working and managing at a golf course in the valley.  Both started in the hospitality business by washing dishes and bussing tables at the young age of 14 years.  Having only been to Door County once since being together in 2018, Bob shares his culinary background and how the opportunity of buying the Shoreline Restaurant came about for him and Mekaila.    

Mekaila says hopes are to keep the tradition of the Shoreline Restaurant while making it their own as a casual fine dining destination for locals and visitors alike. 

The outreach from other business owners and local people, along with the warm welcome they received, stood out the most for the Novitskis as they started out their new venture.

You can listen to the entire interview with the Novitskis below.

An international children’s book reading program initiated five years ago in Door County is showing some impressive results.

The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program began in 2019 in Door County with about 100 children and has grown to impact nearly 1,500 kids under five.  Chad Welch, United Way Community Impact Coordinator-Education, says the fantastic results are reflected in 442 surveys completed by parents with children who participated in the program.  He summarized some key points found in the survey results.

Welch notes that the data shows that Imagination Library reaches various households, including those with different income levels and educational backgrounds. 

Door County has seen 702 children graduate from the program, which ends when the child turns five years old.  When factoring in the 784 children receiving books, the program impacted about 96 percent of all children in the county.  The funding of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library put books into the hands of over 231 Door County children who come from homes that cannot meet basic needs without subsidized help.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library first launched in Tennessee nearly 30 years ago and mails over 1 million free books each month around the World.  The books arrive directly at the child’s home, with the local affiliate securing the funds for the books and shipping fees. 

The Door County Highway Department, emergency personnel, and power company crews were kept busy since late Tuesday afternoon, keeping up with over 130 reported instances in Door County in just over 12 hours.  Utility crews from Wisconsin Public Service Sturgeon Bay Utilities and Door County Highway Department Crews are still working to restore power and clear roads throughout the Door Peninsula.

Wednesday morning, a little after 9:00, Highway 57 from the south junction with Highway 42 south to County Road H because of low-hanging utility lines across the highway.  The highway reopened shortly before noon.

Door County Highway Commissioner Thad Ash says this storm presents many challenges for road crews because of the number of downed trees and power lines. He says his crews usually remove fallen trees, but resources are stretched with all hands on deck plowing the roads.

Ash estimates that 60-65 trees have fallen across roadways, and about 40-45 power lines have been downed by wind or the fallen trees in the county, making it more challenging.  He says the good news is that temperatures are expected to stay above freezing for the next two days, helping to melt the snow by keeping the roads wet and not icy. 

In Luxemburg, Highway 54 was closed from County AB to Heritage Road due to a low-hanging, ice-covered power line late Wednesday morning. 

As of 11 a.m., Wednesday, Wisconsin Public Service reports 15,525 customers, including many businesses without power in Door County and another 4081 customers in Kewaunee County. 

Gibraltar and Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Departments and local businesses have opened their doors to help people without power.  Also, there are similar issues in Kewaunee County with downed lines and business closures due to the lack of power. 

An anonymous donor has stepped up for the Door County YMCA to help the organization reach its annual campaign goal of $600,000. YMCA Mission Advancement Executive Brett Cleveland says that in April, every dollar raised will be doubled, up to $25,000, thanks to the generosity of the donor.   Cleveland notes that the money raised during the campaign goes towards program and membership scholarships, specialty programs, and more.

Cleveland adds that the Door County YMCA is about $100,000 short of its goal, with the annual campaign wrapping up at the end of May. He says with the matching gift, the YMCA should be able to get close to the goal by the end of April. The Door County YMCA currently has over 11,000 members while providing financial assistance to more than 1,100 persons who otherwise could not afford membership. You can learn more about the Door County YMCA annual campaign here.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council took action Tuesday to help the police department recruit and keep more officers while adopting a new part-time police officer position.

Through Personnel Committee recommendations, the council unanimously approved the abolishment of the residency requirement for law enforcement having to live within a 15-mile of Sturgeon Bay and adopting a part-time position in the department.  Assistant Police Chief Dan Brinkman told the council that they are four officers down, the worst he has seen in his 33 years with the department.

A resolution to adopt the Adjusted Urban Area Boundary was sent to the Plan Commission by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council after discussion and concerns were raised during public comments that the Emerald Drive area might not fit the criteria for urban development.  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is adjusting the Urban Area Boundaries for all Urban Areas within the state to provide better transportation based on the 2020 census.  The change in the draft map includes the southwest of the city, down to Emerald Drive, near where commercial development is being planned along Highway 42-57. 

In other business, the two first readings of rezoning ordinances were approved.  One is for land at the northeast corner of South Columbia Avenue and Highway 42-57 by McDonald’s.  The other one is a parcel located at Cove Road and Utah Street that is to be rezoned from agricultural to residential so the property can be split into two lots.

The final piece of business done Tuesday was approving an updated description for the Fire Chief position since the old one was last crafted in 1997.

Heavy snow and gusty winds of over 50 miles per hour caused fallen trees and power lines throughout Door and Kewaunee counties late Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

WPS reported over 63,000 power outages throughout Northeastern Wisconsin, including over 13,697 in Door County as of 9:00 a.m. Wednesday. Out of those outages, Egg Harbor has 2657 customers without power, 1748 more in Liberty Grove were without power, and another 1862 were in Gibraltar. Sevastopol reported 1717 outages as well.  

Kewaunee County had 2001 power outages, with 1275 customers without power in Luxemburg as reported by the Wisconsin Public Service website.

All local schools in Door and Kewaunee counties canceled classes for Wednesday with no after-school activities.

Stay current with cancellations in the area by clicking this link.

You will see new faces across the board in Door County government positions.

Jennifer Moeller scored a resounding victory to become Door County Circuit Court Judge for Branch 1, earning 6,309 of the 9,993 votes cast to beat Brett Reetz.

Change was inevitable for the Door County Board with some of the seats needing write-in candidates to fill them. Roy Englebert resisted a challenge from Jacob VandenPlas to hold onto his position representing District 3 247-172. Claire Morkin also held onto her title as the District 7 Supervisor, beating Wayne Denil 230-213. One new face on board due to Tuesday's election is Ryan Shaw, who defeated Jon Kruse 289-161 to replace Dan Austad as the District 9 Supervisor.

The town board saw some minor shake-ups up and down the peninsula. In Baileys Harbor, Paul Kordon ousted Terry McArdle from the Town Board as he came in second place to incumbent Susan Tishler, who won the race 324-277-241. Over in Sevastopol, Jeanne Vogel and Trent Olsen were elected to the town board, defeating Derek Wayne Denil and Mark A. Haberli. On Washington Island, Peter Sownie will be the new face on the board after he captured 266 of the 593 votes cast. Loren Roznai is the odd person out as she came in third behind Sownie and incumbent Lawrence Kahlscheuer. 

Some of the closest races of the night were found in the Village of Sister Bay and the City of Sturgeon Bay. Denise Bhirdo won her re-election bid for Village Trustee in Sister Bay, with Louise Howson and Kurt Harff joining her. Just 15 votes separated the top three candidates. In Sturgeon Bay, Seth Wiederanders won his re-election bid by 12 votes over Tom Benzshawel in District 6 145-133, while Dennis Statz lost his own bid to keep representing District 2 to Matthew Huston 235-184.

In the school board elections, Adam Schopf and Janel Veeser edged out Seth Wilson to earn seats in Southern Door, while Angela Kruse, Cathy Meyer, Wayne Spritka, and Damion Howard were voted in for Sturgeon Bay.

The towns of Brussels, Gardner, and Union all voted down separate proposals to use public dollars to fund broadband infrastructure projects.

You can find the full results, including uncontested races, by clicking this link.

An early and strong turnout at the polls on Tuesday saw two local city mayor races determined and two school referendums pass.

In the Algoma mayoral election,  Steve Lautenbach won 54 percent of the votes and defeated Casey Buhr, who still will hold his District 3 seat after topping Bill Bush by 29 votes.

Jeffrey Vollenwieder won his re-election bid by defeating challenger and previous mayor Jason Jelinek in a close race 343-326.

The Algoma School District Referendum asking for $10.5 for capital improvements was passed by a 999-475 margin (68%-32%). 

The Luxemburg-Casco School District Referendum for operational expenses passed by a close vote.  The yeses outdid the noes by 1884-1776.

You can find the complete election day results for various school board, village trustee, county supervisor, and city alderperson seats with this link. 

(The original post stated that the L-C school referendum was passed by a single vote, which was incorrect.  with towns of Humboldt and Green Bay which are included in the vote made the final tally 1884-1776 in favor of the referendum.  We regret this error.)

The rebound of the state’s sandhill crane population will be among the topics you can explore at this year’s edition of The Ridges Sanctuary Crane Symposium on April 12th,13th, and 14th. After the success of its first event, the symposium is being expanded to a third day, where kids can participate in a storytime and birding hike on April 14th. For those visitors, sandhill cranes have almost been populous in the area, with 60,000 to 70,000 calling the state home. The population has bounced back so strongly that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources inquired about holding a sandhill crane hunting season. According to a University of Wisconsin and International Crane Foundation study, only one in five Wisconsinites support a hunt, and more than half oppose it. The Ridge Sanctuary Director of Research Tony Kiszonas says that even though the sandhill crane population rebound story is remarkable, all of the progress can be lost in an instant.

The Ridges Sanctuary Crane Symposium will also feature a keynote presentation by Professor Stanley Temple on April 12th, a crane count breakfast, hikes, and an artist talk on April 13th. Additional details about the free events can be found below:

SCHEDULE

April 12, 6:00-7:30 pm: Keynote Presentation by Professor Stanley Temple: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Then and Now: Is it Still Working? Bird conservation measures from The Migratory Bird Treaty have been responsible for the spectacular recovery of many species, like the Sandhill Crane. Threats to migratory birds today, however, challenge its effectiveness. Loss and degradation of habitat, collisions with human-made structures, predation by cats, pesticide poisoning, and oil spills cause the death of migratory birds each year. Professor Stanley Temple will present the first century of migratory bird protection and speculate about the future. Presented via Zoom. Free Event. Pre-registration is required at RidgesSanctuary.org.

April 13, 5:30-7:30 am, Midwest Crane Count: Sponsored by the International Crane Foundation, the annual Midwest Crane Count draws over 2,000 volunteers who travel to local wetlands and favorite birding locations to monitor the return of Sandhill and Whooping Cranes to their northern breeding grounds. A free 

Crane Count Breakfast Social for counters to share sightings and connect with other participants will follow from 8:00-9:00 am at the Cook-Albert Fuller Nature Center. Free Event. To participate, contact Tony Kiszonas, tony@ridgessanctuary.org.

April 13 & 14, 10:00–11:45 am, Crane Nest Site Hikes: Naturalists Jane Whitney and Julie Knox will lead hikes to potential crane nesting sites and discuss what makes the wetlands of Door County the perfect crane nesting habitat. Fee: Public $15, Member $12, 16 & under $5. Pre-registration is required at RidgesSanctuary.org.

April 13, 1:30-2:30 pm, Artist Talk with Len Villano: Internationally published photographer Len Villano will reflect on his journey photographing nature in Door County, emphasizing birds and Sandhill Cranes. Selected works will be on display during the symposium. Free Event. Pre-registration is required at RidgesSanctuary.org.

April 14, 9:00-10:00 am, Chick Chats Story Hour: Budding birders and naturalists will hear stories on how Sandhill Cranes make the long journey north each spring. At the end of the story, a fun nature craft will be offered to take home or use on the Kids Birding 101 Hike. Suitable for families with young children. Free Event.

April 14, 10:00-11:30 am, Kids Birding 101 Hike: This event offers families the chance to go birding together and learn the basic skills of birdwatching and how to identify common birds of Door County. The event starts with an introduction at the Nature Center and continues down the Hidden Brook Boardwalk to spot birds. Free Event.

The winter storm hitting the area on Tuesday and Wednesday will postpone and cancel a lot of your activities, as well as a significant construction project in Door County. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced Tuesday afternoon that it will begin its State Highway (STH) 42 project on April 8th instead of April 3rd due to the inclement weather. Once it begins, it will stretch from approximately 0.1 miles north of the mid-junction with WIS 57 in the town of Sevastopol to Rainbow Ridge Court in Egg Harbor. The project, which will include milling and resurfacing existing traffic lanes, replacing culvert pipes, and adding right turn lanes to its intersection with Monument Point Road, will improve the pavement structure longevity, ride smoothness, and safety. STH 42 will be closed to through traffic and detoured onto STH 57, County V, County A, and County EE. Local traffic is allowed, but they must pay attention to traffic control.

With bands of snow and rain expected to hit the area over the next two weeks, Kewaunee County farmers will have to wait a little longer in some spots to spread manure on their fields. The Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Committee moved their meeting up nearly two weeks in case it was possible to sunset the ordinance ahead of the usual April 15th date. County leaders have credited the ordinance for helping protect the groundwater during a usually vulnerable time, especially for farmers that use land with shallow soils to bedrock. Department Director Davina Bonness, Committee Chairperson Aaron Augustian, and present committee members Milt Swagel, Duane Ducat, and Kim Kroll all agreed that it is something to consider if the stars align again, but this is not the year.

Bonness announced that the next round of well testing will take place on May 13th, with the hopes of opening registration next week. The county received three donations to help reduce the cost for well-owners wishing to participate.  

If you thought it was spring in Door and Kewaunee counties, guess again.

According to Wisconsin Public Service, more than 3800 customers in #DoorCounty were without power Tuesday night as of 8 p.m. with high winds knocking down trees and powerlines across the peninsula.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for most of northeastern Wisconsin and upper Michigan, including Door and Kewaunee counties. The warning stretches from 1 p.m. on Tuesday to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, bringing heavy snow and gusty winds. Total snow accumulations are expected to be between eight and twelve inches, with areas near the lakeshore potentially getting less. The heaviest snowfall is predicted to hit the area Tuesday evening. In addition to the snow, wind gusts could reach as high as 45 miles per hour. If possible, people are encouraged to delay all travel during the winter storm and to drive with extreme caution if it cannot be avoided. Storms of this magnitude are rare in Wisconsin, where the average snowfall for April ranges from four inches in Sturgeon Bay to 5.7 inches on Washington Island.  

Make sure you stay up to date with cancellations in the area by clicking this link.

As thousands across the state travel to their polling sites for the 2024 spring election on Tuesday, some believe you should have an opportunity to vote in another before the fall.

Republicans have been critical of Rep. Mike Gallagher and his decision to leave Congress after April 19th. Wisconsin law allows a special election for congressional vacancies, but only if they occur before the second Tuesday in April. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene urged House Speaker Mike Johnson last week to expel Gallagher from Congress so that Wisconsin’s Eighth District, which includes Door and Kewaunee counties, can have a special election. Roger Roth and State Senator Andre Jacque, who are both running to replace Gallagher in Congress, expressed their disappointment in the timing of his resignation. Republican leaders in Oconto and Waupaca counties blasted Gallagher in a joint statement, demanding that he step down immediately and calling his resignation “a dereliction of duty and is a betrayal of the citizens of the 8th Congressional District.” Kewaunee County Republican Party Chairperson Kirt Johnson is disappointed in Gallagher’s decision but believes a special election would confuse voters.

Gallagher announced he would not run for re-election in February, prompting Roth and Jacque to announce their candidacies for the seat. Candidates are still lining up to replace Gallagher in Congress, with strategist Alex Bruesewitz considering a run while Democrats sort out their potential field.

You may soon be able to join the Sturgeon Bay Police Department no matter where you live, as long as you can get to work on time. The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will weigh in on a proposal to drop the current residency requirement that forces officers to move within 15 miles of city limits within six months of employment. It used to be that living in the city as a police officer was a requirement, but Wisconsin Act 10, passed in 2011, stated that no city residency rules could be more restrictive than the 15-mile limit. Assistant Police Chief Dan Brinkman believes the rule is antiquated, and other departments have been more successful in attracting new officers with more lenient residency requirements.

Brinkman says he understands worries about the department’s response to emergencies like active shooter scenarios but believes there will be enough personnel on the street to respond if the moment arises.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will also consider creating a new part-time police officer position, a new job description for the Sturgeon Bay Fire Chief, and three ordinances when they meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Committee is scheduled to discuss lifting the county’s Public Health and Groundwater Protection Ordinance two weeks early on Tuesday, but the weather forecast may have already given its final word. Adopted in 2016, the Public Health and Groundwater Protection Ordinance bans spreading waste onto land with a soil depth of 20 feet or less to bedrock from January 1st to April 15th. The hope with the ordinance is that the melting snow and spring rains would not carry manure and other waste into the groundwater. Kewaunee County Land and Water Conservation Department Director Davina Bonness told the committee at last month’s meeting that farmers had requested the date be lifted due to the nice weather that could allow them to plant earlier. Committee chairperson Aaron Augustian was lukewarm to the idea, saying they have come a long way since the ordinance was enacted.

The weather forecast for the coming week could stunt the conversation before it ever gets going. According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance of snow every day between Monday night and Wednesday night, with up to seven inches of snow possible. The forecast shows that the snow could likely melt as quickly as it falls, with daytime high temperatures above freezing all week.

Area voters will head to the polls on Tuesday with plenty to vote for on the ballot. Door County residents will have contested races for Door County Circuit Judge, county board supervisors, school board members in Sturgeon Bay and Southern Door, and new council members in the City of Sturgeon Bay, the Village of Sister Bay, and the towns of Baileys Harbor, Washington, Gardner, and Sevastopol. Write-ins will have to settle a few of the races for Door County Board and Maplewood Sanitary District Commissioner. Some communities will also have a referendum question regarding broadband internet infrastructure funding.

In Kewaunee County, Luxemburg-Casco and Algoma School Districts are asking their voters for extra funding. Algoma residents are deciding on a capital referendum, while Luxemburg-Casco residents will choose to support the district’s needs with its operational costs. Races for the Kewaunee County Board, villages of Casco and Luxemburg, cities of Kewaunee and Algoma, and the school district boards for Algoma, Denmark, Kewaunee, and Luxemburg-Casco are also on the ballot.  After welcoming more than 500 voters for the February primary, Algoma City Clerk Erin Mueller expects another busy election day on Tuesday.

All voters will have a pair of statewide referendums addressing potential private influence on elections and the Presidential Preference Primary on their ballots as well. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

You will learn how a sliver of land near the Door County Maritime Museum used now as a scenic overlook of the bay used to be a crucial part of the Ahnapee and Western Railway. National Railroad Museum Curator Daniel Liedtke is coming from Green Bay to present the program about the railroad that used to run through downtown Sturgeon Bay from Casco Junction for nearly a century. The curved embankment on Sturgeon Bay’s west side is one of the last reminders of Sturgeon Bay’s last ties to railroading after the rail line was abandoned in the late 1960s and the bridge that crossed the waterway was torn down. Andrea Stromeyer from the Door County Maritime Museum is thrilled that this story will be told and that they were able to tap into another regional institution to bring it to life.

Sponsored by Door County Medical Center, the Maritime Speaker Series event entitled “Bridging the Gap: The History of the Sturgeon Bay Railroad Bridge” will occur on Thursday at 7 p.m. The event is free to attend, but donating canned food items to support area pantries is encouraged.  You can click this link to attend the event online.