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.

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.

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.