Kewaunee County Sheriff-elect Eric Zellner is excited to experience for himself what it means to be the county’s top cop after his primary win Tuesday. Zellner, who serves as Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski’s lieutenant of operations, won the Republican primary with 2,711 votes, more than the combined total of Scott Szydel and Kevin Schmidt.

With no other nominees put forward by the area’s other political parties, a win in August is essentially a win in November, meaning Zellner will take over for Joski at year’s end. Zellner says it was a special moment for him and his family when he realized the promotion Kewaunee County voters granted him Tuesday.

Zellner believes his conversations with the community will set him up well for when he takes the post in January and appreciates Joski for the support and encouragement to run for sheriff.

In his 28-year career with the department, Zellner started as a part-time jailer and dispatcher before taking on other positions, including SWAT team member, patrol deputy, field training officer, evidence room manager and drug investigator.

A Nasewaupee homeowner lost their garage and everything inside it after a fire Wednesday morning. The Nasewaupee Fire Department responded to the blaze on County Highway M between Elms and Hammarstrom roads shortly before 9:15 a.m.

The single-stall garage was already fully engulfed when crews arrived, but the fire was quickly extinguished once crews established a water supply. The Brussels-Union-Gardner, Southern Door and Sturgeon Bay fire departments also responded, along with the Door County Sheriff’s Department and Door County Emergency Services, but not in time to save the structure and its contents.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Smiles dotted the midway and beyond on the opening day of the Door County Fair. The work to make the fair a reality began long before the first animals and projects arrived Wednesday morning. Setup for a new carnival and different features like Jurassic Kingdom and Dominguez Attractions began earlier in the week, while the behind-the-scenes work by the Door County Fair Board started as members said goodbye to the final guests of the 2025 event.

Mike Kuehn has spent many summer days at the Door County Fair, starting on the cleanup crews as a 10-year-old and now serving as a member of the fair board and his business, Door County Custom Creations, a sponsor of the main stage that welcomed The Glam Band for the Door County Fair’s opening night. Kuehn is happy to see friends and families enjoying the fair as much as he does.

One of those people is Sturgeon Bay’s Phineas Shaw, who brought five projects to the fair. His parents also brought several exhibits of their own, all among the more than 6,000 that will be on display throughout the fairgrounds.

Shaw took a lot of pride in the work that went into his projects and the five blue ribbons he earned for them.

The Door County Fair continues through Sunday, with some of the livestock shows starting Thursday morning.

Three brands of tractors that were once united in business will reunite in spirit this weekend at the Valmy Thresheree. Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline and White equipment will be featured at this year’s event, which opens Friday.

According to Successful Farming, White Motor Co. acquired Oliver and Minneapolis-Moline in the early 1960s before merging them under the White Farm Equipment Co. banner in 1969. The Oliver and Minneapolis-Moline brands disappeared by the mid-1970s, while the White name disappeared from tractors by 2001.

Tractor pulls will be part of the weekend entertainment, with antiques taking the track Saturday and garden and kids’ pedal tractors taking over Sunday. The weekend concludes with the Cavalcade of Power at noon Sunday before mud pig wrestling begins at 3:30 p.m.

The annual event will also feature historical equipment demonstrations, an antique chainsaw competition, church services and live music. You can find more details about the event here.

Last May proved to be a swan song for Griffon String Quartet cellist Jesse Nummelin after Midsummer’s Music recently announced his departure. Nummelin had performed with the Griffon String Quartet for three years before leaving the ensemble to spend more time with his wife, Rie Tanaka, in Arizona, where she is an accomplished pianist and educator.

Midsummer’s Music Executive Director Allyson Fleck says Nummelin served the roles of performer and educator well during his stint with the group.

Fleck adds that it takes a unique individual to be a great performer and an outstanding teacher at the same time.

You can find information on how to apply to be Nummelin’s replacement here. The Griffon String Quartet’s first performances of the season will take place Sept. 17, with an afternoon appearance at First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay followed by an evening show at The Tarlton Theatre in Green Bay.

Republican voters in Wisconsin’s 1st State Senate District have become accustomed to seeing Andre Jacque and Matt Joski’s names on the ballot, but for the first time in a long time, that was not the case Tuesday.

Joski and Jacque announced their departures from their respective positions earlier this year, paving the way for new faces to step into the fold.

Joski began his long goodbye in January when he announced his retirement after 20 years on the job. Tuesday marked the first time since 2006 that his name was not on the ballot, and he is ready for the next step and to support his successor.

Jacque has been more visible since announcing his looming departure from the Wisconsin Legislature after 15 years of service in the Assembly and Senate. He has continued to attend many of the events he would have as a sitting state senator while also supporting Republican candidate Nic Cravillion in his bid to take Jacque’s seat.

For the first time since 2011, Jacque said he had mixed feelings not being on a primary ballot, but he is looking forward to supporting the community in other ways.

Despite the finality that Tuesday’s primary brought, both Jacque and Joski are excited to finish their terms through the end of the year.

One of the great traditions from the old country makes its late-summer comeback this month.

The tradition of kermiss events dates to the 1850s, when Belgian communities in northeast Wisconsin would celebrate the harvest season. Many kermises serve as church celebrations, offering traditional dishes like booyah, trippe and pies, along with Belgian beer and fun for the whole family.

Belgian Heritage Center President Joe Alexander says a kermiss like theirs is a great way to introduce visitors to Belgian traditions while keeping them alive for locals.

The Belgian Heritage Center hosts its annual kermiss Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event serves as the center’s largest fundraiser of the year, helping it provide programming in the community in addition to caring for its building in Namur.

Other churches and communities will host their own kermises in the coming weeks.

An 18-year-old Green Bay man was transported to a Green Bay hospital Sunday night after suffering a serious injury in a golf cart crash.

Emergency personnel were called to the area behind Harbor Village Campground in Carlsville at approximately 8:30 p.m.

The driver, also an 18-year-old Green Bay man, told the responding deputy they were driving the golf cart and began making a left turn when it started to flip. The injured man stuck his leg out to brace himself as the cart landed on its side.

The driver and two other passengers, both 17-year-old Green Bay girls, were uninjured. No citations were issued as a result of the crash.

No matter your age or physical abilities, the Door County YMCA likely has something that might capture your interest.

Registration opens for YMCA members Aug. 17, with community members able to follow suit Aug. 19. During this week’s Y-Wednesday Podcast, Specialty Wellness Director Baker highlighted some of the course offerings for the fall session, which begins Aug. 31.

Some of the offerings she highlighted include TRX group training (Monday through Thursday, Sept. 2-Oct. 22), meditation (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Aug. 31-Oct. 25), Memory in Development (Tuesdays, Sept. 1-Oct. 6), Livestrong (Tuesdays and Thursdays, Sept. 1-Nov. 11) and Zumba (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Sept. 1-Oct. 21).

Baker also featured the Door County YMCA’s Rock Steady Boxing course. Introduced last September, the Rock Steady Boxing program is a noncontact, high-intensity program designed to counteract the motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Baker is looking for volunteers for the course, which meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. this fall.

You can listen to the entire Y-Wednesday Podcast here.

While many races at the state and federal levels were settled long before the polls opened Tuesday, there were still some that needed voters to weigh in on before the road to November could continue.

On the Democratic side, David Crowley narrowly won the nomination for Wisconsin governor and will face Tom Tiffany in November, despite dropping out of the race just a few weeks ago. The current Milwaukee County executive was trailing state Rep. Francesca Hong in the polls heading into Election Day but came out on top by just over 3,000 votes with 98% of the vote counted.

In the race for the U.S. House, Rick Crosson edged Mark Scheffler and Katrina deVille for the nomination to face incumbent Rep. Tony Wied in the November election. There was less than a four-percentage-point gap between first-place finisher Crosson and third-place finisher deVille.

On the Republican side, Nic Cravillion dominated the field for Wisconsin State Senate District 1, leading second-place finisher Barb Bittner by more than 20 percentage points, 44.08% to 23.43%. Sturgeon Bay resident Jacob VandenPlas finished fourth with about 13% of the vote. Cravillion will now face independent candidate Mark Becker in the November election.

The winners of Tuesday’s Republican primary for sheriff in Door and Kewaunee counties face two different paths moving forward.

Eric Zellner captured the nomination in Kewaunee County, garnering 2,711 votes to Scott Szydel’s 1,606 and Kevin Schmidt’s 339. With no Democratic or independent challenger on the November ballot, Zellner is expected to become the next Kewaunee County sheriff and take the reins from retiring Sheriff Matt Joski.

For Curt Vandertie, it is one race down and one to go after beating Carl Waterstreet in the Door County Republican primary for sheriff, 3,114-1,951. Vandertie will now face incumbent Sheriff Tammy Sternard, a Democrat, and independent candidate Randy Wagner in the November election.

In the only other contested local primary, Shannon Lauder edged Pamela Parks, 2,598-2,326, for the Democratic nomination for Door County Clerk of Circuit Court. She will face Becky Rericha in the November election.

Click Here for Door County Election Results

Click Here for Kewaunee County Election Results

The Sturgeon Bay School District has been contemplating a fall referendum for months, but what will ultimately make it onto the ballot became clearer this week.

District officials received survey results from consultant School Perceptions to learn what the community would support ahead of the expiration of the district’s current referendum cycle. Higher costs for transportation, utilities, insurance and special education services, along with declining federal funding and state general school aid, have left the district facing a multimillion-dollar shortfall if nothing is done.

When the district sent out surveys in July, Superintendent Dan Tjernagel said the district was doing what it could to trim the budget, following a multiyear plan to reduce staffing by 15 positions and save about $1 million annually.

According to the survey, 60% of the 857 respondents said they would definitely or probably support a replacement operating referendum that would provide the Sturgeon Bay School District with $3.5 million in each of the next five years. When the amount increased to $3.75 million to pay teachers more competitively, 59.4% of respondents said they would definitely or probably support it.

Support dropped nearly 10 percentage points to 50.8% when respondents were presented with a $4 million referendum that would also provide funding for building maintenance above and beyond what they already do. Tjernagel says that with the data they collected they leaned heavier into the opinion of those who would be contributing to the district's success without direct connection to them like a parent or staff member would

You can find the full report from the survey here.

The Sturgeon Bay School Board will meet next week to discuss placing a potential referendum question on the November general election ballot.

Just because the summer academy season is over does not mean the learning has stopped at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor. The organization will host three different musical retreats this month, beginning with wind ensemble on Aug. 12, followed by chamber music on Aug. 17 and piano on Aug. 21.

Each session ends with a free concert at 2 p.m.: wind ensemble on Aug. 15, chamber music on Aug. 20 and piano on Aug. 24. Birch Creek Music Performance Center Executive Director Jenna Ferdon says it is inspiring to see so many adults in the community who want to get better at their instruments.

The adult retreat concerts serve as a precursor to Birch Creek’s fall concert series, which kicks off Sept. 12 with the Michael Stryker Quintet. You can listen to our full interview with Ferdon here.

Two Door County institutions are joining forces this fall to assist you or your loved ones who are struggling with memory loss.

Door County Medical Center and the Door County YMCA are presenting Memory in Development (M.IN.D.) beginning Sept. 1 for people who are worried about memory loss or are already experiencing mild memory loss.

M.IN.D. is a research-driven, interactive workshop that combines mental strategies with light physical activity to begin addressing some of those concerns. DCMC Rehab Services Outreach Specialist Christy Wisniewski has helped teach the course for more than 15 years and says the biggest change has been a more proactive approach to helping people who might be noticing changes.

M.IN.D. meets Tuesdays at the Sturgeon Bay YMCA Program Center from 12:30 to 2 p.m. from Sept. 1 through Oct. 6. You can sign up for the course through the Door County YMCA or Door County Medical Center.

You can hear more about the course from Wisniewski in the latest episode of the Door County Medical Center Community Connections podcast.

Dry conditions have caused the Town and Village of Egg Harbor to issue a burn ban until further notice. According to Precip.ai, Egg Harbor residents have seen 0.17 inches of rain this month and less than 0.70 inches of rain since the area received approximately 0.4 inches on July 17.

Issued at 3 p.m. Monday, the notice states, “The Egg Harbor Fire Department strongly urges the community to refrain from all burning, including campfires at this time.”

No burn permits will be issued, and annual permits are suspended until the ban is lifted. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ WisBurn website, Door County is currently at a low fire danger level.

Egg Harbor Fire Chief Justin MacDonald told the Door County Daily News that they are trying to be preemptive with their burn ban issuance, especially as area farmers hit their fields to harvest wheat.

A parade of golf carts and celebrities took place at Horseshoe Bay Golf Club in Egg Harbor on Monday as part of the Boys and Girls Club of Door County Celebrity Golf Outing. Mark Murphy, Wayne Larrivee and Paul Coffman were among the participants with Packers ties who came to support the Boys and Girls Club of the Bay and Lakes Region, which supports youth in Green Bay, Shawano and Door County.

Thousands of dollars are expected to be raised as part of the event, with proceeds benefiting the club’s programming. With the help of decorated thank-you bags from its members, Boys and Girls Club of the Bay and Lakes Region CEO Johanna Wicklund said participants get to see and hear about the impact their generosity is making.

Portside Builders founder and Boys and Girls Club of Door County board member Fran Shefchik is thankful to the golfers for everything they have helped the organization accomplish.

Paul Coffman is thankful for the support as well, but from a different perspective. In his eight-year career with the Green Bay Packers, the strike-shortened 1982 season was the only time the team made the playoffs and finished with a winning record. Despite that, the fans never stopped showing up at Lambeau Field, and for the last 12 years, Coffman has shown up to the celebrity golf outing support Door County’s youth.

Monday’s celebrity golf outing was one of the organization’s two major fundraisers this summer as the Boys and Girls Club prepares for its school-year programming.

In one of their family’s darkest moments, the Thalmans are trying to make the future brighter for others.

Last Monday, 20-year-olds David Thalman of Dundee, Illinois, and Franceska Warick of South Elgin, Illinois, were recovered after they went missing while kayaking without life jackets, following an exhaustive 48-hour search by several local, state and federal agencies.

Family friend Amanda Freis says that while the outcome may not have changed, the Washington Island Fire Department told the Thalman family it could have brought them closure much sooner if its rescue vessel had been properly equipped

.

The incident turned into a call to action for the Thalman family, which launched the David Thalman Memorial Search & Rescue Boat Campaign.

By helping the department reach its ongoing $300,000 goal to fully fund a new, purpose-built 28-foot search-and-rescue boat, the campaign could help equip the vessel with state-of-the-art technology, including advanced sonar, radar and FLIR thermal imaging; shallow-water capability; a hydraulic bow door for rescue and diver operations; and a 1,500-gallon-per-minute fire pump.

Freis says the Thalman family has been visiting Washington Island for generations and wants to help other families avoid similar tragedies in the future.

Freis and the Thalman family have been moved by the support the campaign has received. It has raised more than $9,300 toward its $30,000 goal since launching over the weekend.

You can support the David Thalman Memorial Search & Rescue Boat Campaign by clicking this link.

The more things change, the more they stay the same for attendees and exhibitors at the Door County Fair.

The annual rite of summer opens to the public Wednesday, with exhibitors heading to John Miles County Park on Monday and Tuesday to pick up their exhibit tags.

Mainstays like livestock shows, pig and duck races, live music and races in the grandstand will continue to greet attendees, while new attractions like Dominguez Attractions and Jurassic Kingdom make their debuts on the midway.

A lot has changed for Door County Fair Board President Tom Ash, who exhibited at the fair as a boy before helping his own children and eventually joining the fair board alongside his brothers and other family members.

He says the county fair is about family, friends and celebrating the end of summer together.

The Door County Fair runs Aug. 12-16.

Listen to our full interview during Sunday's West Jacksonport/Egg Harbor game on 105.1 The GOAT

Dozens of dogs and their favorite humans visited the Door County YMCA’s Peterson Park in Sturgeon Bay as part of the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Pet Walk Door County on Saturday.

Attendees were greeted by pet-centric activities, music from Door County Media Group and vendors ahead of the 10 a.m. walk.

The event concluded with the annual pet costume contest and talent show, with top honors going to Fran and Loki’s patriotic princess and Frankenpuff.

Thousands of dollars were raised as part of Pet Walk Door County to support the 1,300 pets in the Wisconsin Humane Society’s care.

If you missed the event and want to support the Wisconsin Humane Society, the organization has issued a matching challenge in which all donations will be tripled through the end of August, thanks to a group of donors.

Voters in both counties will be able to weigh in on races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, the 8th Congressional District, the 1st State Senate District and the 1st State Assembly District. The Democratic races for governor (Kelda Roys, Francesca Hong, Joel Brennan and David Crowley) and the 8th Congressional District (Rick Crosson, Mark Scheffler and Katrina DeVille), along with the Republican race for the 1st State Senate District (Nic Cravillion, Jake VandenPlas, Barb Bittner and Katie Baney), have garnered much of the attention locally.

In Kewaunee County, the Republican nomination for sheriff is the only local race with a contested primary. Eric Zellner, Scott Szydel and Kevin Schmidt are all vying for the role being vacated by Sheriff Matt Joski, who will retire at the end of the year. With no other candidates running, Tuesday’s primary could very well decide who the next sheriff will be. You can click this link to listen to interviews with the three candidates.

In Door County, Democrats and Republicans will each have one local race to decide in a contested primary. Democrats will choose between Shannon Lauder and Pamela Parks to run against Republican Becky Rericha for Door County clerk of courts. Republicans will choose between Carl Waterstreet and Curt Vandertie in the Door County sheriff’s race. The winner will face Democrat Tammy Sternard and independent Randy Wagner. You can listen to our interviews with all four Door County sheriff candidates here.

Because it is a partisan primary, voters are limited to voting for candidates in one political party. If you vote in more than one party’s primary (for example, voting in the Democratic primary for governor and the Republican primary for sheriff), those votes will not count.

Polls in Door and Kewaunee counties will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. The winners of the primary will advance to the fall general election Nov. 3.

Businesses and nonprofits have been doing their part to help residents impacted by last month’s tornado in the Fox Cities rebuild and come back even stronger.

The tornado carried wind speeds of up to 140 mph when it ripped through neighborhoods and business districts over a 12-mile stretch between Appleton and Lake Winnebago. Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency, mobilizing the Wisconsin National Guard to support cleanup and recovery efforts while restoring essential services.

Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski detailed his experience in his weekly column, returning the thanks he received for the newfound perspective.

“Having been part of this community’s recovery, I want to thank them for the profound impact it has made on my own perspective, helping me to appreciate what really matters in life,” he wrote. “I will not soon forget the smiles, laughter, tears, and stories shared. Your strength has been inspiring, your perseverance has been humbling, and your courage will be your legacy.”

GFL Environmental’s Steve Estes reached out to state officials to suspend weight limits so he could send trucks to the area to remove debris. Born out of that request was Executive Order No. 301, which directed the Department of Transportation to assist carriers requesting permits to exceed statutory vehicle weight limits for the purpose of removing storm debris and providing other emergency transportation relief.

Sturgeon Bay Utilities was among the more than two dozen utilities that sent crews to the area to help Menasha Utilities restore power to its more than 9,000 customers.

General Manager Jim Stawicki says that as of Friday, more than 90% had gotten their power restored, though some of them will never get it back. His crew of eight linemen rotated through the area over the last two weeks to help in Menasha’s recovery efforts and gain their own knowledge in case a similar disaster ever happens in Sturgeon Bay.

Stawicki says making sure they support their fellow utility companies in times of need was an important thing to do.

Rick’s Toy Box in New Franken has made two more trips to the area since we profiled Rick Brunner’s nonprofit last week. In addition to dropping off hundreds more activity cars and other handmade toys, he has also distributed clothing and gift cards to impacted families.

The Door County Jazz Festival and Door County Candle Company have also been able to assist in the efforts. Donations were collected at Thursday’s Harmon Brothers concert at Björklunden in Baileys Harbor to support the United Way of Fox Cities, while Wisconsin Strong candle sales have raised more than $17,000 as of Thursday to support nonprofits in the Fox Cities serving tornado victims.

With potential changes on the horizon, the Algoma Chamber of Commerce wants you to buy wristbands, listen to some music and enjoy food and beverages at this year’s Shanty Days.

The Algoma Chamber of Commerce opened a discussion about the event’s future on Friday, a week before the annual rite of summer kicks off near the shores of Lake Michigan.

In its message to the community, the organization stopped short of saying the event is ending but added that it needs the support of the entire community to allow it to continue in its current format.

Last year, poor weather hampered attendance and participation in Shanty Days, causing the Algoma Chamber of Commerce to experience a significant deficit from putting on the event.

Citing $20,000 for bands, $8,000 for fireworks and other costs, the Algoma Chamber of Commerce says it cannot afford another year like that as it looks for a more sustainable path forward.

“That could mean changes to the format, entertainment, schedule, or other aspects of the event,” the Algoma Chamber of Commerce posted Friday. “However, before we consider retiring Shanty Days altogether, we will explore every reasonable avenue to make this community tradition financially sustainable.”

Shanty Days also includes a weekend-long fishing contest and volleyball tournament, a parade and 5K run/walk on Saturday, an arts and crafts fair, and more.

It is part of a busy weekend of activities in Door and Kewaunee counties, which also includes the Door County Fair in Sturgeon Bay and the Valmy Thresheree.

Long before Door County’s forests, farms, and shorelines existed, the peninsula lay beneath a warm, shallow tropical sea teeming with life. Corals, crinoids, brachiopods, and other marine organisms thrived here hundreds of millions of years ago, leaving behind the fossils that can still be found embedded in Door County’s dolomite bedrock today. This week’s Summer at Crossroads theme, Fossils, invites visitors to uncover clues from Earth’s distant past and explore the ancient history hidden beneath our feet.

The week begins with a Tale. At 2 pm on Monday, August 17, “Curious About Fossils” by Kate Waters will be read aloud to participants. This engaging book introduces young readers to the fascinating world of fossils, explaining how they form and what they reveal about ancient life on Earth. Along the way, readers will meet famous fossil hunters such as Mary Anning, who discovered the first ichthyosaur skeleton; Richard Owen, who coined the word “dinosaur”; and Barnum Brown, who uncovered the first remains of a T. rex. The story also explores how modern scientists use technology to uncover clues from fossilized bones, teeth, and even footprints. For those unable to attend Story Time, the book will also be featured on our Trail Tales storybook walk, available all week long beginning at the West Trailhead.

At 1 pm on Tuesday, August 18, Journeys with Joan will explore Finding Fossils. Naturalist Joan Wilkie will guide participants in discovering how plants and animals from an ancient sea became the fossils we find throughout Door County today. Visitors will learn how fossils form over vast stretches of time and gain a deeper appreciation for the marine life that once inhabited the region. As participants examine examples and explore fossil-rich landscapes, they will better understand the geological history that shaped the peninsula we know today.

On Wednesday, August 19, at 1:30 pm, participants in Wandering Wednesday will join a naturalist-led hike to look for evidence of Door County’s geological past. Along the trails, hikers will explore the landscape with fresh eyes, observing rock formations, exposed dolomite, and features influenced by ancient seas and glacial activity. The hike will highlight the connections between geology, fossils, and the modern ecosystems that have developed atop this ancient foundation.

The week concludes with a special Talk at 2 pm on Thursday, August 20. We welcome back Naturalist Coggin Heeringa, who will present Ancient Silurian Seas, a fascinating journey back hundreds of millions of years to a time when Door County was covered by a warm, shallow sea. Participants will discover how coral reefs, marine invertebrates, and other sea life flourished here during the Silurian Period, long before dinosaurs or even land plants existed. The program will explore common local fossils such as corals, brachiopods, and crinoids, explaining how they formed, where they can still be found today, and what they reveal about changing climates and environments through time. Coggin will also connect these fossils to Door County’s distinctive dolomite bedrock, Niagara Escarpment, and shoreline landscapes, helping participants understand how the peninsula’s ancient past continues to shape the present.

Throughout the week—and continuing year-round during open hours—visitors can also enjoy Tinkers, our self-led, hands-on activities designed for curious minds. Guests can examine fossils, investigate ancient life forms, and explore the processes that preserve traces of organisms for millions of years.

Fossils are more than remnants of long-extinct organisms; they are records of ancient environments and evidence of dramatic changes across Earth’s history. In Door County, fossils remind us that our familiar landscape was once a tropical sea filled with life very different from what we see today. By exploring fossils, we gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped our region and a greater appreciation for the immense span of time recorded in the rocks beneath our feet.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can offer free programming for all ages, and our trails are open all day, every day, free of charge.

Monday, August 17

2:00 pm — Tale: “Curious About Fossils”

Join us as our weekly story, Curious About Fossils, written by Kate Waters, is read aloud.

Aren’t you curious about what Earth was like long ago? What creatures lived before us? What happened to the dinosaurs?

Curious About Fossils explains why and where fossils form and looks at the colorful lives and important discoveries of some of the great early fossil hunters and collectors, including Mary Anning, who unearthed the first ichthyosaur skeleton; Richard Owen, who coined the word “dinosaur”; and Barnum Brown, who discovered the first remains of a T. rex. Then the adventure continues into modern times, when scientists on fossil hunts in places like North Dakota’s Hell Creek Formation use computers and other technology to dig up the fossilized bones, teeth, and even poop that provide clues to the past. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, August 18

1:00 pm — Journeys with Joan – Finding Fossils

Join our naturalist, Joan Wilkie, for free family-oriented activities exploring nature!

Discover how plants and animals from an ancient sea transformed into the fossils we find at Crossroads. Registration is not required. Open to the public and free thanks to donors like you! Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, August 19

1:30 pm — Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike. Easy walking. About an hour. Well-behaved dogs are allowed on leash. Registration is not required. Open to the public and free. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Thursday, August 20

2:00 pm — Talk: Ancient Silurian Seas

Travel back hundreds of millions of years to a time when Door County was covered by a warm, shallow sea! Join Naturalist Coggin Heeringa for a fascinating program exploring the ancient Silurian seas and the fossils they left behind.

Coggin will guide participants through Door County’s deep geological past, explaining how coral reefs, marine invertebrates, and other sea life flourished here during the Silurian Period—long before dinosaurs or even land plants existed. Learn how fossils such as corals, brachiopods, and crinoids formed, where they can still be found today, and what they reveal about Earth’s changing climate and environments over time.

This accessible and story-rich program will help you recognize common local fossils and understand their connection to Door County’s distinctive dolomite bedrock, escarpment, and shorelines. Perfect for curious beginners and seasoned rockhounds alike, this talk brings ancient geology to life through science, history, and hands-on discovery.

Join us to uncover the fossilized remains of a long-vanished sea and gain a deeper appreciation for the ancient forces that shaped the peninsula we know today. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

As I write this article, I find myself assisting the communities recently affected by severe weather in the Fox Valley. The level of devastation was not something anyone was prepared for. However, it was met with a resolve that I was not prepared for but had the honor and privilege to observe firsthand.

Over the years, I have written numerous articles surrounding the topic of resiliency, and I have drawn upon many examples. But the resolve, resiliency and optimism that have been on display over the past week are almost beyond comprehension. To see a family’s life’s work and memories lying in ruins while those same people extend what little they have left in energy and resources to help their neighbors is hard to put into words. It brings to mind a fundamental reality: We have more capacity than we know or can appreciate until we are placed in circumstances that demand that capacity. In this, I am referring to the capacity for courage, compassion, love and patience.

Very few of us will ever be placed in such circumstances, and in some ways, that is to our detriment, as it is in those experiences that our greatest attributes shine forth. It is in those times of struggle that we truly look adversity in the eye and declare that it will not define us. In fact, that pain and struggle can propel us to a place of courage and growth. That is, if we allow it.

As we arrived in these communities and walked through the devastation, it was hard not to feel a sense of guilt or shame that such amazing people had to face these circumstances while others like ourselves have homes and treasured belongings waiting for us. It was also difficult to grasp the amazing blessing that, in all of this devastation, no lives were lost.

Over the following days, as we interacted and shared stories, the true beauty of these people shone through. The sense of loss was overshadowed by the sense of gratitude, even while they were standing on a pile of rubble that was once their dream.

There is a phrase we use in teaching resiliency that states, “Do not let the tragedy define you.” But after this experience, I need to refine that statement, as I have no doubt that this tragedy will, in fact, define this community. It will define them in the sense that they have already chosen growth from the pain. They have already looked this adversity in the eye, smiled back and said, “We will not be defeated. You have made us stronger.”

Having been part of this community’s recovery, I want to thank its members for the profound impact they have made on my own perspective, helping me appreciate what really matters in life. I will not soon forget the smiles, laughter, tears and stories shared. Your strength has been inspiring, your perseverance has been humbling, and your courage will be your legacy.

After the tragic drownings of the two kayakers on Washington Island recently, PLEASE, no matter your skill level or the conditions, wear your PFD (life jacket)!

I have been chasing smallmouth bass in the waters of Door County since 1995, with many days spent in one of my Jackson Kayak fishing kayaks. Summer can be a tough time to find the big smallies, but it is still a fun time to be on the water! Door County is a beautiful place to fish for smallmouth bass, even though the numbers have been on the decline over the past 10 or so years. This can be due to a variety of factors, including more fishing pressure. Even though it hurts the fishery, many anglers still try to catch males while they are doing their natural thing in shallower water, guarding nests in the spring!

Even with the numbers somewhat down, there are still lots of smallies and some big ones to be found. In summer and into early fall, I would suggest fishing shallow — 15 feet and under — and throwing small swimbaits on light mushroom-head jigs. Also, in that deeper range, fishing a tube jig or Ned rig very slowly on the bottom can be productive. As I have found the past few weeks, there are still many smaller bass out there, especially around permanent piers protected by boulders. Smallies love to hang around structure like this.

For the presentations I mentioned, I am using medium-fast and medium extra-fast-action St. Croix rods in the 7-foot to 7-foot-3-inch range and a 2500-size spinning reel spooled with 8- or 10-pound-test braided line with a 3- to 4-foot, 10-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. The Ned rig is a tremendous presentation, and my tip is to use the buoyant Z-Man Finesse TRD in Green Pumpkin Goby, which is what I use almost all the time. Tubes should be the 2.5-inch version, and the well-known local bait shop sells the style I use.

As I have mentioned before, I keep it very simple with my fishing kayaks, whether paddle or pedal. I have two flush-mount rod holders, two external rod holders and a box with additional rod holders in the tankwell behind my seat for gear and lures. I am usually out with four or five rods and a small net. The one item I could use but have never added to my fishing kayaks is a fish finder. This would be helpful for water temperature, water depth and bottom structure. With the clear water and the many days I’ve chased smallies in Door County, I know my spots very well! I’m a 100% catch-and-release angler, and I’d suggest you do the same.

If you have any general kayak or kayak fishing questions, please email me at kayakfishingwisconsin@gmail.com. I’d be very happy to email you the PDF of my Kayaking & Kayak Fishing Door County, WI talk I gave at Canoecopia this year.