While they have shown their athletic prowess across all three seasons, Kewaunee High School Principal Lindsey Hudson said they have found similar success in their academic pursuits. Of the 65 students who will walk across the stage on Wednesday, Of them, 11 have perfect 4.0 GPAs and share the title of valedictorian.

Many of the names — including Hannah Miller, Vivian Bootz, Emma Barta, Makiyah Derrig, Mia Ihlenfeldt, Chyanne Robinson, Isaac Heidel, Leanna Kinstetter, Alec Carlson, Noah Hudson and Summer Walechka — are also associated with Packerland Conference championships, regional and sectional titles, and state tournament berths.

With a son in the class, Hudson has had a front-row seat to how competitive the class can be with one another. She believes that competitiveness is a skill that will serve them well in the next phase of their lives.

Kewaunee High School will hold its graduation ceremony Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the main gym.

A 31-year-old Green Bay man was taken to the hospital following a two-vehicle crash in the Town of Brussels on Friday afternoon.

The crash occurred at 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of County Highway D and Misere Road.

According to the accident report released Tuesday, the man was driving south on Misere Road when he failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by another vehicle traveling west on County Highway D.

A witness said the impact caused the Green Bay man’s vehicle to roll over twice before coming to rest in a ditch near the intersection. The other driver, a 29-year-old Brussels woman, lost control of her vehicle before coming to a stop.

Both drivers suffered injuries, but only the Green Bay man was taken to Door County Medical Center for additional treatment. The woman’s infant son also was in the vehicle and suffered a possible injury that did not require hospitalization.

The man was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign.

The intersection was closed for more than an hour while the vehicles were towed and crews cleaned up the scene.

State Highway 42 was closed for approximately an hour Sunday afternoon following a two-vehicle crash that sent one man to the hospital.

The crash occurred just after 1:30 p.m. on State Highway 42 near Rainbow Bridge Road in the Town of Egg Harbor.

According to the accident report released Tuesday, a 39-year-old Burlington man was waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so he could make a left turn when he noticed another vehicle quickly approaching.

That vehicle, driven by an 84-year-old Sturgeon Bay man with two Louisville, Kentucky, men as passengers, rear-ended the other car before rolling onto its roof near the side of the road.

The Sturgeon Bay man told responding deputies he was looking down before the crash and could not stop in time. Witnesses corroborated that statement, saying the vehicle did not stop before impact.

The Sturgeon Bay man was the only person transported to the hospital for additional treatment. His passengers from Louisville, along with the Burlington driver and his three family members, suffered no apparent injuries.

Both drivers were cited following the crash. The Sturgeon Bay man was ticketed for inattentive driving, while the Burlington man was cited for driving without insurance.

The highway remained closed until nearly 2:45 p.m. while the vehicles were towed and crews cleaned up the scene.

An Ephraim cottage sustained significant damage in a Memorial Day weekend fire.

Firefighters responded to the blaze on Larson Lane at 10:25 p.m. Sunday. When Ephraim Fire Chief Justin MacDonald arrived less than five minutes later, the fire — which started in the cottage’s stove — had spread into the roof.

Firefighters from departments across northern Door County, including Gibraltar, Sister Bay-Liberty Grove, Ephraim and Baileys Harbor, arrived soon after. Crews brought the fire under control within 30 minutes through an interior attack in the home’s living room and attic, using approximately 3,500 gallons of water and three gallons of foam.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but damage is estimated at $200,000. No residents were injured, but one firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation.

With assistance from Door County Emergency Medical Services, the Door County Sheriff’s Department and the Door County Communications Center, the scene was cleared at 12:30 a.m. Monday.

It was part of a busy weekend for emergency personnel, who responded to 352 incidents, including eight fire calls and more than 20 crashes, from Friday through early Tuesday morning.

A 29-year-old Baileys Harbor man was treated for a hand injury after hitting a deer with his vehicle Friday afternoon.

The crash occurred on County Highway A near North Junction Road in the Town of Jacksonport shortly after 1:45 p.m. According to the accident report released Tuesday, the man was traveling south when a deer ran into the passenger side of his vehicle.

The man was able to drive the vehicle home following the crash after emergency personnel treated him for his injuries.

The accident comes as encounters with deer on area roads increase during May and June because of spring fawning and yearling dispersal. According to the 2025 Door County Sheriff’s Department annual report, June had the third-highest number of vehicle-deer crashes with 58, trailing only November with 80 and October with 62.

A new Destination Imagination Global Finals champion calls Door County home.

Several teams from Door and Kewaunee counties participated in last week’s Destination Imagination Global Finals competition in Kansas City, Missouri. Destination Imagination allows students to complete challenges based on STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Six teams from Sevastopol, three from Algoma and one from Holy Rosary qualified for the international competition after placing in the top three at the 2026 Wisconsin Destination Imagination Affiliate Tournament, held last month in Sun Prairie.

All six Sevastopol teams finished in the top 10 at the competition, including a global championship by “Penguins with Pizzazz” in middle-level scientific competition and runner-up finishes by “The Ultimate Ending” in secondary-level engineering and “MHGR” in elementary scientific competition. The teams were greeted with a parade in Sturgeon Bay when they arrived Monday night.

Holy Rosary School’s Destination Imagination team nearly brought home its own global championship to Kewaunee, with the HRS Rockets taking second place in the middle-level “Win It Big” technical division.

Algoma’s Destination Imagination team “The Four Horse Them” also earned a top-10 finish, placing eighth in its improvisational category.

The area’s Destination Imagination teams were not the only ones to bring home hardware from this year’s Global Finals. Algoma’s Robyn Harper received the Champions of Belonging Award for years of support for local Destination Imagination teams.

Residents gathered across Sturgeon Bay on Monday morning to honor the nation’s fallen service members during a series of Memorial Day ceremonies marked by patriotism, remembrance and community tradition.

Local veteran organizations began the morning with ceremonies at Bayside Cemetery before continuing to St. Joseph’s Cemetery and Sturgeon Bay Health Services, where veterans and residents joined in moments of reflection and tribute.

The city’s main Memorial Day observance drew a large crowd to the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department. Veterans, families and community members filled the grounds as the Peninsula Symphonic Band performed patriotic selections and military tributes.

Door County Veterans Service Officer Beth VanOss delivered remarks recognizing the sacrifices made by military personnel who died in service to the country. The ceremony also included the solemn reading of names of local service members killed in action, followed by a rifle salute and the playing of taps.

American flags lined the ceremony area as attendees stood quietly during the observance, many wearing red, white and blue or carrying flowers to place at veterans memorials later in the day.

Memorial Day ceremonies have long been a centerpiece of community remembrance in Sturgeon Bay, bringing together veterans organizations, local officials and residents each year to reflect on the cost of military service and honor those who never returned home.

The observance was part of a broader series of Memorial Day commemorations held throughout Door and Kewaunee County during the holiday weekend.

When Gibraltar’s graduation ceremony concludes Sunday, the senior class may have one final debate with Principal Jim DeBroux over who gets to turn off the lights for the last time.

DeBroux will join Gibraltar’s class of 43 seniors in leaving the school as he prepares to become principal at Ripon High School this fall.

This year’s senior class includes magna cum laude graduates Celeste Ashley, Emilie Glocke, Abigail DeMeuse, Megan Gallant, Melen Knapp, Alice Nelson, McCartney Schwab, Ivana Northrop, Kai Nordahl and Kylie Kwaterski.

The class was DeBroux’s first group of eighth graders when he took the job at Gibraltar five years ago. DeBroux said it has been rewarding to watch the students grow and develop into young adults prepared to take the next step in life.

Gibraltar will hold its graduation ceremony May 31 at 2 p.m. at the Door Community Auditorium.

In an instant, your life can change because you or a loved one has a stroke, and you may not even notice it coming.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, and every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, but its immediate impact can vary from person to person.

For some people, symptoms may include a drooping face, slurred speech or blurred vision. For others, it may be a fall or sudden weakness in the body.

Door County Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Heise said people should “BE FAST” when it comes to stroke awareness. That means watching for symptoms involving balance, eyes, facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty and a severe headache.

People who smoke or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes are at a higher risk of having a stroke.

The Ephraim–Gibraltar Airport will celebrate a milestone this summer as the Northern Door aviation hub marks its 80th anniversary with a community open house on Saturday, June 6, from noon to 3 p.m.

The free event will feature aircraft displays, aviation history exhibits, live music and light refreshments, while giving residents and visitors a closer look at the airport’s role in the community. The airport is partnering with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, which introduces youth to aviation through educational activities and flights.

The celebration is will honor the history of the airport while highlighting its continued importance to Door County’s emergency services, tourism and general aviation community. The airport first began taking shape in the mid-1940s and officially opened to flights in 1947.

The open house will be held at the airport grounds in Fish Creek. Updates and event details are available through the Friends of Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport and Town of Gibraltar social media pages.

Sturgeon Bay is among five schools where you will see seniors march toward their future in graduation gowns this week. Principal Keith Nerby will address the senior class one final time when the Sturgeon Bay School District hosts its commencement exercises Saturday at 10 a.m. inside the high school gym.

Led by valedictorian Miya Nell and salutatorian Sawyer Clark, the class of 86 students will go their separate ways, whether it’s directly into the workforce or to universities like Stanford and MIT. Nerby says he will remind his seniors that this is just the start, and some of the best things are yet to come. He says he will always remember how inclusive the class was, whether students had attended school together for years or were new to the district.

As has been tradition since the pandemic, the community will be able to celebrate the Class of 2026 following the graduation ceremony along the waters of the bay. The graduation boat parade will depart from Madelyn Marina at approximately 11:30 a.m.

The Wisconsin State Patrol will conduct aerial traffic enforcement in multiple counties next week, including Door County, as part of a broader effort to improve roadway safety across the state, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced Thursday.

Weather permitting, pilots with the State Patrol’s Air Support Unit will monitor highways from the air and coordinate with ground units to stop drivers observed committing traffic violations.

The planned enforcement schedule includes operations on Sunday, May 31, along WIS 57 in Door County, a major north-south corridor.

Other patrol locations during the week include I-39 in Portage and Waushara counties on May 26; I-94 in Jefferson County on May 27; and I-43 in Manitowoc County and I-94 in Eau Claire County on May 28.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the State Patrol’s primary mission is public safety, including efforts to reduce crashes and encourage compliance with traffic laws. Officials said aerial enforcement allows pilots to identify speeding and aggressive driving behaviors that may be harder to detect from the roadway.

When violations are observed from the air, pilots relay information to ground-based troopers, who then initiate traffic stops.

Crossroads at Big Creek is kicking off the summer season with the theme “Take a Hike.” Visitors are always welcome to explore the trails, and this week they can also enjoy the children’s book Take a Hike, by Alison Farrell, featured on Trail Tales, the storybook walk that begins at the West Trailhead.

During Take a Hike Week, a variety of hikes will be offered. It’s not unusual during one of these naturalist-led outings for someone to ask: “What good are mosquitoes? Lake flies? Poison ivy?”

Plants and animals did not evolve to help humans, but researchers are learning that even species we dislike often play important roles — what ecologists call “ecosystem services.” Take a hike this week and discover some of the ways plants and animals support healthy ecosystems.

The Nature Investigators program on Thursday, May 28, invites families and learners of all ages to explore the ways local mammals benefit the ecosystem.

Saturday Science: “Pollen Probe” will focus on the relationships between flowers and their pollinators.

The Wandering Wednesday program on June 3 will explore spring wildflowers and their relationships with insects, which extend far beyond pollination.

Then, on Thursday, June 4, Crossroads will offer a Nighttime Bat Hike at the Ida Bay Preserve at 8:30 p.m., during which participants will look for, listen to and record bats. The event is free, but preregistration is required. Reserve a spot by calling 920-746-5895 or visiting www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org.

Most people know bats eat night-flying insects, but few realize the magnitude of their ecological services. Bats are important to forest health as well as agricultural ecosystems. By consuming thousands of insects nightly, bats help reduce crop damage and decrease the need for chemical pesticides.

What good are plants and animals? Research continues to reveal how interconnected and beneficial many native plants and animals are to ecosystems. So this week at Crossroads, take a hike — and discover the hidden services nature provides.

The 25th Anniversary Challenge is now underway. In honor of the Collins Learning Center’s 25th anniversary, Jim and Cathy Collins are matching all gifts up to $25,000. Gifts to Crossroads at Big Creek today will have double the impact.

Saturday, May 30

9:30 a.m. — Master Gardener Workshop: “Starting a Vegetable Garden on a Budget”
Those who dream of growing flavorful vegetables but don’t know how to begin without spending a lot are invited to attend this workshop. Stacia Dick-Schuster will share practical ways to garden economically. Door prizes and handouts will be provided. Sponsored by the Door County Master Gardeners and Seed Library. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

10 a.m. — Saturday Science: “Pollen Probe”
Learners of all ages are invited to explore plants, bees and pollen. Free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, June 3

1:30 p.m. — Wandering Wednesday
This naturalist-led hike will focus on spring wildflowers and their relationships with insects. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

The 25th Anniversary Challenge is now underway. In honor of the Collins Learning Center’s 25th anniversary, Jim and Cathy Collins are matching all gifts up to $25,000. Gifts to Crossroads at Big Creek today will have double the impact.

Thursday, June 4

8:30 p.m. — Nighttime Bat Hike
Grab headlamps and join Crossroads for a night hike to look for, listen to and record local bats. Meet at the Ida Bay Preserve, 1195 Canal Road, Sturgeon Bay. Registration is required. Visit www.crossroadsatbigcreek.org for details and reservations.

Art lovers filled Martin Park on Saturday as the annual Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair returned for Memorial Day weekend, bringing together artists, visitors and downtown businesses in one of the city’s signature pre-summer events.

More than 80 artists from across the Midwest transformed the waterfront park into an open-air gallery featuring paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, ceramics and mixed-media artwork. Crowds moved steadily through vendor booths throughout the day as warm temperatures and holiday weekend traffic helped draw visitors to downtown Sturgeon Bay.

The fair coincided with the launch of Destination Sturgeon Bay’s 2026 public art installation, “Set Sail,” which features 28 artist-designed sailboats displayed throughout the city’s downtown corridor. The colorful installations now line streets and public spaces across Sturgeon Bay and will remain on display through September.

Visitors also explored nearby shops, restaurants and waterfront attractions throughout the day, giving local businesses an early boost ahead of the busy tourism season.

The Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Martin Park. The fair also serves as a lead-in to the opening of the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market season on May 30.

Thousands of residents and visitors packed Lakeside Park on Saturday as the 53rd annual Jacksonport Maifest brought a full day of spring celebration, community traditions and Memorial Day observances to the Door County lakeshore community.

The longtime festival, organized by the Jacksonport Area Business Association, featured a bustling art fair, live music, food and the annual Maifest parade along Highway 57.

Families lined the parade route Saturday morning as decorated floats, community groups, classic vehicles and local organizations made their way through downtown Jacksonport. Following the parade, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3088 presented the flag during a Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans and fallen service members.

Festivalgoers gathered in Lakeside Park for the traditional Maypole Dance and scholarship award presentations before spending the afternoon enjoying midway games, food stands and live performances from local bands.

Maifest, now in its 53rd year, has become one of Door County’s signature Memorial Day weekend traditions, drawing both residents and tourists to Jacksonport to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.

It’s Memorial Day weekend in one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the country. With more than 300 miles of shoreline along Green Bay and Lake Michigan, Door County is a kayaker’s paradise for paddling and, for anglers, outstanding fishing.

I’m beginning my 11th year writing these kayak and kayak fishing articles for Door County Daily News, and I look forward to sharing many useful tips again this year.

It’s been a cool spring, with water temperatures in many locations still in the 50-degree range and even lower farther north. When you take your kayak onto the water, be sure to take precautions. Wear your personal flotation device, keep your phone in a waterproof plastic bag, wear proper clothing in case you tip over and make sure to tell someone where you are launching and where you plan to kayak.

Also, be aware of weather conditions. In Door County, the wind can shift quickly, making conditions dangerous. Because of the big water and rapidly changing weather, I stay close to shore.

Now that I’ve touched on some important safety tips, it’s time to get on the water and enjoy kayaking. From top to bottom, there are no bad places to paddle or kayak fish in Door County. You are surrounded by beauty everywhere you go. There are also dozens of kayak and boat launches throughout the county, along with many roads that dead-end at the water’s edge where you can launch. Just be sure to park your vehicle off the road.

For anglers — especially smallmouth bass anglers — the water will continue warming, with smallies heading into the shallows to spawn. You should have good luck from Little Sturgeon Bay to Gills Rock, as well as at several spots on the lake side.

As always, I hope you catch, photograph and release those smallies. Or, as the Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance says, “Free the Fighter.” Also, please avoid trying to catch smallmouth bass that are guarding nests.

If you are new to kayaking, several kayak outfitters in the county would be happy to guide you. I’m also always happy to answer your questions. Just email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com

Families looking for summer activities for youngsters in Door County have several options through the Door County YMCA’s summer day camp programs, which are designed to combine fun, learning and provide healthy meals in a safe environment.

The YMCA says registration for its “Best Summer Ever” day camps, featuring programs for children as young as 3 years old through middle school-age youth, is filling up very quickly.

Camps will take place at multiple locations, including at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center, Otumba Park in Sturgeon Bay and the Kane Center in northern Door County.

“Our summer camps are about so much more than keeping kids busy during the summer months,” said Holly Butenhoff, Kane Center YMCA branch executive. “We want every child to leave camp with new friends, confidence and memories they’ll carry with them after summer.”

Programs include camps for preschoolers, Camp in the Park at Otumba Park and the Trekkers Camp program in northern Door County. The YMCA is also continuing its Leaders in Training (L.I.T) program for students entering seventh grade and older. The L.I.T. program gives teens the opportunity to assist camp counselors while developing leadership, organization and communication skills.

The YMCA will also continue operating its Summer Foods Program, providing free nutritious meals to children 18 years old and younger throughout the summer.

Children participating in Sturgeon Bay YMCA summer camps will receive complimentary breakfast and lunch through the program. Additional community meal sites will provide lunches or snacks on scheduled days and times.

Butenhoff says the Summer Foods Program remains an important part of the YMCA mission to support the health and well-being of local youth during the summer months, when school meal programs are unavailable.

“With rising food costs, programs like Summer Foods can make a real difference for families,” Butenhoff said. “We’re proud to help ensure children in our community have access to healthy meals while they learn, play and grow during the summer.”

More information about summer camps and meal schedules is available through the Door County YMCA website.  Or listen to this week’s Y-Wednesday podcast here.

Throughout this month, I have focused on mental health, and one of the primary components of strong emotional and mental well-being is knowing your “why.”

I can’t think of a more fitting topic as we conclude the month of May and its commemoration of Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. During this month, we remember those who have fallen in service to their communities while celebrating those who have chosen this difficult and demanding calling. This month’s observances also provide inspiration for those considering service to their community as their life’s purpose.

As I shared in last week’s article, the ability to live a life of purpose rests heavily on our ability to recall, almost daily, why we are doing what we are doing. This “why” must be a constant element, sustaining us through good times and bad. It must remain the cornerstone, even as conditions and daily realities are ever-changing.

Our “why” cannot be like the branches of a tree that sway back and forth depending on the wind, but rather like the roots that hold us steady, even when the headwinds of frustration and defeat push against us.

Over the past few years, we have seen such headwinds bear down on the servants of our communities. We have watched as those who have sworn to a life of service are met with suspicion and cynicism. We have endured increases in both call volume and the violent nature of those calls. Through all of this, we endure because we know our “why.” We know that we are what stands between chaos and peace. We know that we are the ones who will run toward the danger from which everyone else is running. We know that, after a life of service to those we love, our “why” will become our legacy.

We have come a long way in how we care for those who serve us. We have come to realize and appreciate the impacts of cumulative trauma on our first responders and the need for continued focus on emotional, social, mental and spiritual wellness. We have incorporated peer-to-peer support teams, crisis debriefings and chaplaincy support to better serve those who serve us.

We are also very fortunate to serve a community that appreciates the service and sacrifice of its public servants. This appreciation is as important a wellness component as any other. Knowing that the community we serve appreciates our efforts and stands behind us during those storms fortifies our “why” and instills in us our own gratitude. The mutual respect and appreciation a community has for its protectors, and the same level of respect and appreciation those protectors have for their community, truly are the cornerstone of a safe and thriving community. Let’s make sure to share that appreciation all year long!

A house fire in the Town of Forestville around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon, caused structural damage, but no injuries were reported. According to Southern Door Fire Chief Rich Olsen.

Olsen said firefighters were called to the home at 7508 Ike’s Lane in Forestville, where the fire appeared to have started on the residence's exterior.

“There is structural damage, no one was hurt and a lot of things were saved,” Olsen said.

Olsen credited the first firefighters on the scene with quickly bringing the blaze under control.

“We had a really good knock down from our first in crew, they saved a lot of damage,” he said.

Fire crews remained on the scene Friday working to ensure hot spots were extinguished. Olsen asked that travellers avoid the area near Highway 42 and the Forestville town line. Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.

More than 2,500 trips to Southern Door Schools will culminate Sunday when high school Principal Steve Bousley addresses the Class of 2026 one final time. Bousley’s daughter, Emma, is among the 81 students participating in Sunday’s commencement exercises, while three classmates will be unable to attend.

Bousley said the senior class was as competitive in the classroom as it was in athletics. The class accumulated more than $975,000 in scholarships, and the battle for the top spots in the class alongside valedictorian Grant Pieschek and salutatorian Nora LeFevre was arduous. He added that it has been rewarding to have an impact on the education his children received at Southern Door.

Bousley said he will always have a reminder of the Class of 2026 at family functions, but when he thinks of the group, he will remember its grit, determination and problem-solving ability.

Southern Door will host its graduation ceremony Sunday at 2 p.m.

American Airlines has added a series of special nonstop flights to Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) this fall to accommodate fans traveling to major NFL matchups at Lambeau Field during the 2026 season.

The expanded service includes flights between GRB and Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Buffalo, and Houston in January.

Airport Director Marty Piette said the additional flights highlight Green Bay’s growing reputation as a national sports destination. He also reminds locals flying out on these flights to be aware of the limitations on return direct flights home.

 “These are flights that are bringing fans and tourists to Green Bay, if you are local and flying out, just remember to keep an eye on the dates and schedules as they may not be returning directly and all times and dates are subject to change .”

The announcement follows additional nonstop service added earlier this year by Delta Air Lines to GRB for the Wisconsin-Notre Dame football game at Lambeau Field. 

Piette said the flights will provide a boost to the regional economy and there may be more to come. “We’re sure these will do well and I’m sure we will see more flights added by other airline partners within the next few weeks,” He said.

All flight date and time schedules are subject to change and for more information, please visit the GRB website.

Republicans will have another option in the fall primary after De Pere’s Katie Baney announced her candidacy for the 1st District State Senate seat.

A Ledgeview native, Baney returned to the area in 2021 after working for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and former U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan. She has spent the past five years in the private sector working for Delta Defense LLC, the service provider for the United States Concealed Carry Association.

Baney said she wants to continue the work of outgoing state Sen. Andre Jacque by protecting parental rights and medical freedom, addressing workforce and childcare challenges and strengthening community safety. With two young children at home, she said she wants to ensure northeast Wisconsin remains a great place to raise a family and believes Madison needs more young people and mothers in elected office.

Baney joins a crowded Republican field that includes Sturgeon Bay’s Jacob VandenPlas, New Franken’s Nic Cravillion and Outagamie County Veterans Service Officer Kell Bales. The primary is set for Aug. 11.

The general election field will also include former Brown County Republican Party Chair Mark Becker, who is running as an independent.

The 53rd annual Jacksonport Maifest returns this Memorial Day weekend, bringing two days of family entertainment, live music, food and community traditions to Lakeside Park in Jacksonport.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24. It will feature a juried art fair with more than 50 artists, food vendors, games, fireworks and the annual Maifest parade through downtown Jacksonport.

Saturday’s events begin at 9 a.m. with the opening of the art fair and concession stands. The 53rd annual Maifest Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. along Highway 57. At noon, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3088 will present the flag during a Memorial Day ceremony, followed by scholarship and parade award announcements and the traditional Maypole Dance.

Live entertainment Saturday includes performances by Second Hand Stereo and the Tally Ho Brass Band under the performance tent in Lakeside Park.

Sunday activities include the 41st annual Maifest 10K and 2-mile fun run/walk, part of the Run the Door Race Series. Additional attractions include family midway games, horse exhibitions, trick roping and the Frontier Farmers Horse Pull on County V.

For more information, please visit the Jacksonport Maifest website.

Communities across Door County will honor the nation’s fallen service members with Memorial Day ceremonies and tributes throughout the holiday weekend, continuing long-standing traditions of remembrance and patriotism.

In southern Door County, members of the George W. Goetz Post 372 of the Forestville American Legion will begin cemetery services Sunday, May 24, with stops at more than 20 cemeteries, including Brussels, Kolberg, Maplewood and Forestville. Ceremonies featuring rifle salutes and prayers begin at 7:15 a.m. in Namur and conclude around 12:10 p.m. at Old Catholic Cemetery between Maplewood and Forestville.

In Sturgeon Bay, veterans organizations will conduct ceremonies Monday, May 25, beginning at Bayside Cemetery at 8:30 a.m., followed by stops at St. Joseph’s Cemetery and Sturgeon Bay Health Services. The main ceremony starts at 10 a.m. at the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department and includes music from the Peninsula Symphonic Band, remarks from Door County Veterans Service Officer Beth VanOss and the reading of names of local service members killed in action.

Northern Door ceremonies hosted by American Legion Post 527 will take place at 10:30 a.m. at Little Sister Cemetery in Sister Bay, while Washington Island’s American Legion Post 402 will hold ceremonies beginning at Bethel Church at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, or a schedule of Memorial Day events please visit the specific municipalities' websites.

An undercover human trafficking investigation in Oshkosh earlier this week led to nine arrests, including one man from Sturgeon Bay.

The Oshkosh Police Department released details of the investigation Thursday. The investigation was conducted with assistance from the department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit, detectives and patrol officers.

According to the release, the arrests were made Wednesday. The men, who range in age from 20 to 55, are from Oshkosh, Kimberly, Weyauwega, Sturgeon Bay, Sheboygan, Neenah, Fond du Lac and Texas. They were arrested on charges of pandering, defined as persuading, arranging or facilitating another person to become or remain a prostitute.

Police said the charges may be connected to other crimes, including robbery, theft, assault, drug dealing, drug possession and sexual assault.

“The Oshkosh Police Department remains steadfast in our unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking and related crimes, and we continue to work diligently to investigate crimes of this nature,” the release stated.

No further information was available. The department said it works with local nonprofit agencies to provide support for victims of these crimes.