Connections 2022-2023

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

AMBULANCEFIRE - POLICE

Albany

FIRE - EMERGENCY 911

NON - EMERGENCY

205 N Mechanic 608-862-3919

POLICE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 206 N Water 608-862-3255 AMBULANCE 911 NON - EMERGENCY 608-862-3249

Brodhead

FIRE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 608-897-2112

POLICE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 608-897-2112 AMBULANCE 911

Juda

FIRE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 608-934-5563 or 608-934-1628

POLICE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 608-328-9400 AMBULANCE 911

Orfordville

FIRE - EMERGENCY 911 NON-EMERGENCY 608-879-2122 POLICE - EMERGENCY 911 NON - EMERGENCY 608-879-9212 AMBULANCE 911

SCHOOLS

Albany School District

400 5th Street, Albany 608-862-3135

Albrecht Elementary School

1400 21st Street, Brodhead 608-898-2146

Brodhead High School 2501 W. 5th Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-2155

Brodhead Middle School 2100 W. 9th Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-2184

Juda School

N2385 Spring Street, Juda 608-934-5251

Parkview Elementary School 106 W. Church Street, Orfordville 608-879-2956

Parkview High School 106 W. Church Street, Orfordville 608-879-2994

LIBRARY

Albertson Memorial Library

200 N. Water Street, Albany 862-3491

Memorial Public Library 1207 25th Street, Brodhead 897-4070

Orfordville Library 203 W. Beloit Street, Orfordville 879-9229

CITY AND VILLAGE GOVERNMENT

Albany Township

N6065 County Hwy E, Albany 608-862-3000

Albany Village Hall 206 N. Water Street, Albany 608-862-3240

Brodhead City of – Clerk/Treasurer 1111 W. 2nd Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-4018

Brodhead Historical Society 1108 1st Center Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-4150

Brodhead Parks Department Director 1111 W. Second Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-2159

Brodhead Senior Center 1103 W. 2nd Avenue, Brodhead 608-897-4796

Brodhead Swimming Pool 1106 4th Street, Brodhead 608-897-8091

Brodhead Public Works 1700 11th Street, Brodhead 608-897-4384

Brodhead Water & Light Commission 1108 11th Street, Brodhead 608-897-2505

Brodhead Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 16, Brodhead 608-897-8411

Orfordville Clerk 106 N. Center Street, Orfordville 608-879-2004

Town of Jefferson (Juda) 608-934-5255

ADVERTISING

Independent Register

922 W. Exchange Street Brodhead • 897-2193

APPRAISERS

Timberline Appraisals P.O. Box 27 Brodhead • 897-3355

ASPHALT PAVING & MAINTENANCE

Bartelt Enterprises, Inc. 800 Briggs Drive Albany • 862-3395

AUTO PARTS, REPAIR-PAINTING

Body Crafters Auto Body Repair 2508 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-8447

Brodhead Collision 208 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-8234

AUTO REPAIR & SERVICE

Arn’s Auto Service 802 2nd Street Brodhead 897-3330 or 897-8088

BAKERY

Country Lane Bakery 1602 Scotch Hill Rd. Brodhead • 897-3820

CHEESE

Maple Leaf Cheese Store W2616 State Road 11-81 Juda • 934-1237

CHIROPRACTORS

United Chiropractic Joseph K. Murphy, D.C. 2504 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-2136

CHURCHES

Bethany Lutheran Church 16529 W. Church Road Brodhead • 897-4158

Bethlehem Lutheran Church 405 E. 9th Avenue Brodhead • 897-2341

Brodhead Baptist Church 507 E. 9th Avenue Brodhead • 897-8344

Church of the Nazarene 1004 13th Street Brodhead • 897-9277

Congregational United Church of Christ 204 E. 23rd Street Brodhead • 897-2917

Footville Church of Christ 117 Church Street Footville • 466-4710

Gospel Hall 908 1st Center Avenue Brodhead

Grace Independent Baptist Church W624 Clarence Lane Brodhead • 897-8084

Harvest Community Church of Orfordville 519 E. Beloit Orfordville • 879-2640

Hilltop Community Church of Albany 101 S. Jackson Street Albany • 862-3790

Living Word Church 3825 County Road T Brodhead • 897-8246

Luther Valley Church ELCA 7107 S. Luther Valley Beloit • 879-2934

New Horizon Methodist Church 1726 S. Murphy Road Footville • 876-6256

Orfordville Lutheran Church 210 N. Main Street Orfordville • 879-2575

Pleasant View Mennonite Church N3881 Cty. Road E Brodhead • 897-4565

Plymouth United Methodist Church Plymouth Church Road/ Cty. Road H Orfordville • 879-9443

St. Augustine’s Catholic Church 280 Haberdale Footville • 876-6252

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 410 E. State Street Albany • 608-424-3681

St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1708 W. 6th Avenue Brodhead • 897-2092

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church 1005 W. 2nd Avenue Brodhead • 325-9506

United Methodist Church of Albany 500 Park Street Albany • 862-3206

United Methodist Church of Brodhead

501 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-2515

United Methodist Zion Church N2350 Church Street Juda • 934-5398

CONCRETE & LANDSCAPING

DP

1934 N. State Road #104 Albany • 862-3156

Schlittler Construction Co., Inc. 909 E. 9th Avenue Brodhead • 897-4262

CUSTOM CABINETRY

Horst Kitchens, LLC 15846 W. Hafeman Road Brodhead • 897-4010

EXCAVATING CONTRACTORS

Schlittler Construction 909 E. 9th Avenue

Brodhead • 897-4262

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Greenwoods State Bank LPL Financial 1015 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-3015

FLOORING

Bob’s Carpets

N2706 City Hwy GG- Box 136 Brodhead • 897-4893

FUNERAL HOMES

D.L. Newcomer Funeral Home 1105 E. 9th Avenue Brodhead • 897-2484

GOVERNMENT

Green County - Ag Building Auditorium 2842 6th Street Monroe • 325-1638

Green County - Child Support Agency Courthouse Monroe • 328-9460

Green CountyCircuit Court-Clerk 2841 6th Street Monroe • 328-9433

Green CountyCivil Process Courthouse Monroe • 328-9569

Green County - Clerk Courthouse Monroe • 328-9430

Green County - Coroner Monroe • 328-9400

Green CountyCrimestoppers 800-422-7463

Green County - District Attorney Courthouse Monroe • 328-9424

Green CountyEmergency Management Director

Pleasant View Complex Monroe • 328-9415

Green CountyEmergency Medical Services-Non-Emergency 1821 12th Street Monroe • 329-4367

Green County - Fair Association 2600 10th Street Monroe • 325-9159

Green County - Family Court Commissioner Courthouse Monroe • 328-9429

Green County - Finance Courthouse Monroe • 328-9449

Green County - Health Department Courthouse Monroe • 328-9429

Green County - Highway Shop 2813 6th Street Monroe • 328-9411

Green County - Human Services N3152 State Rd 81 Monroe • 328-9393

Green County - Jail 2827 8th Avenue Monroe • 328-9400

Green County - Judge Courthouse Monroe • 328-9420

Green County - Juvenile Intake Worker Courthouse Monroe • 328-9572

Green County - Land Conservation Monroe • 328-9525

Green County - Pleasant View Nursing Home N3150 State Rd. 81 Monroe • 325-2171

Green CountyProperty Lister Monroe • 328-9436

Green County - Register in Probate Monroe • 328-9567

Green County - Register of Deeds Courthouse Monroe • 328-9439

Green County - Safe Kids N3150 State Rd. 81 Monroe • 328-9508

Green County - SheriffNon-Emergency 2827 6th Street Monroe • 328-9400

Green County - Tourism Coordinator

N3150 Hwy. 81 Monroe • 328-1838

Green County - Treasurer Courthouse Monroe • 328-9435

Green County - University Extension Agent

N3150 State Rd 81 #B, Pleasant View Complex Monroe • 328-9440

Green County - Veteran’s Service Office

N3150 State Rd. 81 #B, Pleasant View Complex Monroe • 328-9415

Green CountyWelcome Center 2108 7th Avenue Monroe • 325-4636

Green County - Zoning & Land Use 1016 16th Avenue Monroe • 328-9423

GROCERS

Brodhead Piggly Wiggly 1604 1st Center Avenue Brodhead • 897-2105

Countryside Bent & Dent W363 Atkinson Rd. Albany • 897-2867

INSURANCE

American Family Insurance 704 23rd Street Brodhead • 897-8111

Spring Grove Mutual Insurance Company 1105 W. 2nd Avenue Brodhead • 897-2148

LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES

Footville Rock & Lime Corp. 14249 W. Dorner Road Brodhead • 876-6608

LIMESTONE

Footville Rock and Lime Corp. 14249 W. Dorner Road Brodhead • 876-6608

Ryan Farm Quarries 13566 West Brandherm Road Beloit • 879-2623

MONUMENTS

DL Newcomer

Funeral Home 1105 E. 9th Avenue Brodhead • 897-2484

NEWSPAPERS

Independent Register

922 W. Exchange Street Brodhead • 897-2193

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Connections SCW, LLC 1203 1st Center Ave. Brodhead • (608) 897-9500

SADDLE & TACK

Brodhead Harness 1602 S. Scotch Hill Road Brodhead • 897-3820

SAND & GRAVEL

Footville Rock and Lime Corp. and Trucking 14249 W. Dorner Road Brodhead • 876-6608

SEPTIC CLEANING

Southern Wisconsin Septic Service, LLC 704 4th Street Albany • 862-7867

On the cover: Ava Risum and Harper Krattiger are all smiles as they serve Ava’s lemonade during Brodhead’s Covered Bridge Days in August.

BECKY

Major grant funds Kelch Museum growth

The Kelch Aviation Museum at Brodhead Airport started construction on its Phase III museum building project in early 2022.

Construction of “The Dick and Bobbie Wagner Atrium” is only possible due to a very generous financial commitment by The Wagner Foundation of Lyons, Wisconsin, according to Patrick Weeden, the museum’s executive director.

The $1 million-plus addition will commemorate the couple’s love for aviation.

The Wagner’s connection to the Brodhead Airport runs deep, as does their connection to Al and Lois Kelch, the original founders of the museum, Weeden said.

Richard “Dick” and Bobbie Wagner were deeply involved in aviation, both in Wisconsin and internationally.

Al and Lois Kelch were members of the Wisconsin vintage aviation scene from the very beginning, and the two couples formed a close friendship.

Dick and Al worked on several airplane construction projects together, and the two couples spent many vintage fly-ins together at the historic Brodhead Airport.

“The Kelch Aviation Museum epitomizes the era of light aircraft aviation in which Dick and I were involved during his lifetime,” said Bobbie Wagner. “Located at Brodhead Airport, it provides an ambiance that is unavailable to other air museums. It brings back many wonderful memories to me, and I am so grateful to see the history of those special days being preserved for our upcoming generations.”

Aviation was always a part of Dick Wagner’s life. He got his pilot’s license at age 16 and went on to a 24-year career as an airline pilot. Together Dick and Bobbie Wagner raised two daughters, Marcy and Julie, while running a successful familyowned aviation business.

In 1995, the couple sold Wag-Aero and retired to form the Wagner Foundation.

The charitable efforts of the Foundation include supporting numerous international humanitarian projects, as well as many aviation, education, community, and historical projects in Wisconsin.

Upon Al Kelch’s death in 2004, a trust was set up to fulfill his dream of creating a vintage aviation museum. Dick Wagner served as a trustee for the Kelch Charitable Trust, until he died in 2012.

The Kelch Aviation Museum has grown into a world-class facility; after years of fundraising, construction for an initial building was begun in summer 2019 and the museum held its grand opening in July 2021.

The 12,000 square-foot main hangar showroom and smaller gathering hall with a library and amenities make up the current, incomplete museum campus.

A welcoming center and gallery in the style of a 1930s aviation hangar has been designed to connect the two existing buildings and provide space for offices, smaller exhibits and galleries, and a gift shop.

The Wagner Foundation’s support will bring the museum to its next stage.

“This project seemed like the perfect way to honor our dad, as well as commemorate his friendship and shared love of historic aviation with Al Kelch,” said Marcy Essman, Dick and Bobbie’s daughter and board member on the Wagner Foundation.

The Dick and Bobbie Wagner Atrium will begin construction this spring, aiming to open in autumn 2022.

“I am confident that current management will make this happen, and in a judicious manner,” she added.

The Kelch Aviation Museum, located at N2463 Airport Road, is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission is free.

The museum houses a collection of 19 vintage aircrafts, three vintage automobiles, 10,000 aviation books, 12 original aircraft engines, cabinets of photo collections and dozens of models, works of art and other treasures.

As a non-profit, educational corporation, all donations are tax deductible.

To learn more, or to donate, visit kelchmuseum.org.

The Kelch Aviation Museum’s third phase has become a reality thanks to the recent grant designation announcement from the The Wagner Foundation of Lyons, Wisconsin. SUBMITTED RENDERING Connections

Justin Schott,

Best Burger Contest shows it’s not just a burger

By Tony Ends INTERIM EDITOR

It’s hard to describe just how good a hamburger tasted at almost every little familyrun café my family frequented in the 1950s.

However, if you go to Baumgartner’s Cheese Store and Tavern on Monroe’s courthouse square and order their Feel Good Burger, you’ll likely experience what I remember.

Maybe it’s the way it’s cooked and served? Smashed on a grill, medium to medium-well, and laid out on a toasted, buttered French roll.

Maybe (more likely) it’s where the meat’s from and how the cows were raised? Angus and shorthorn cattle with access to grass or forage, as well as grain, and no synthetic growth hormones at “Dreamy 280” in the Driftless hills of Blue Mounds, Wis., and butchered at Hoesly’s in New Glarus, of course.

Melted cheddar, local bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and lettuce – well I confess. That all goes way beyond what I got on a burger as a child.

But in Baumgartner’s Best Burger Contest entry this year, it sure did make me feel good.

Something called “Feel Good Sauce Smokey Bacon Mayo” was just right, too. It enhanced my burger to 1950s déjà vu without covering up that incredible burger flavor out of the past.

If you’ve been paying the modest annual fee to get both sections of the Independent Register, you may recall my writing about Green County Beef Producers’ summer Best Burger contest as editor a few years back.

Dela and I had a good time combining breaks from long hours in gardens and fields with visits to local restaurants and tasting yummy burgers from around the county.

I was happy to see Bridges Bar & Grill still on the contest lineup for Brodhead this year.

We ate and enjoyed special burgers back a number of years delivered from Hoesly’s Meats in New Glarus and cooked just right at Bridges.

Every other participating Best Burger contestant of 13 this year (but The Ole Grizzly in Browntown) is in Monroe.

I thought this might help us break with routines of going to the same places to eat, support more local businesses and producers in Green County, too.

I also thought if we started sampling burgers at these places in June, we might get to more restaurants before the Aug. 9 deadline for receiving our stamped cards and votes are due.

Green County Beef Producers will present prizes for this year’s Best Burger Contest at their Steak-Out held at Green County Fairgrounds on Aug. 18.

Both times so far that Dela and I started out in the car for our first Best Burger purchases, though, our eyes fell on familiar places

we’ve enjoyed in Monroe: Suisse Haus and Baumgartner’s.

Each time I was so taken with flavors and presentations that I thought I’d already found what would be my pick of 13 burgers I’d buy for this contest.

I started to fear I was going to like them all, and not be able to decide which is best, or even to remember how each tasted.

Maybe it’s my appreciation for little local businesses – not big, sprawling chain enterprises, that’s making this difficult?

Even the potato chips with Baumgartner’s Feel Good Burger – Mrs. Mike’s from Freeport, Ill., are local. Mrs. Mike’s products, by the way, have provided more flavors that take me back 60 years. I’ve enjoyed buying them a time or two at County Line Beverage for years.

Baumgartner’s sourcing of meat for their Feel Good Burger from Dreamy 280 Cattle Company in rural Blue Mounds set me to Google searching more about them.

Their web photos – and the taste of that Feel Good Burger – will likely drive me to take another road trip this summer to see their store and sample more of their products.

At this point in my story, I guess you see why I need your help with this Best Burger Contest.

I’ve yet to tell you about the amazing Dill Breaker Dela and I had at Suisse Haus – another issue of the paper, and there are 11 more burgers to experience.

Anyone among our readership who can help us get around to more of these restaurants in Green County, sample the burgers, and send your reviews – please, please do.

Maybe if you do, we’ll all have food experiences worth remembering – and local businesses and food producers – for 60 years to come.

top: Featuring some of Wisconsin’s finest cheese, imported cheese, and specialty foods, Baumgartner’s Cheese Store & Tavern, 1023 16th Avenue, opened in 1931 and is Wisconsin’s oldest cheese store.

above: Beth Heidenreich, dressed in recognition of Pride Week, serves up the Feel Good Burger at Baumgartner’s – the state’s oldest cheese store and an institution for good food and conversation in Monroe. She’s lived there for 26 years and enjoyed six of those years working at Baumgartner’s. Meeting friendly folks like Beth is half the fun of taking part in the Best Burger Contest.