Valley Sentinel - 03-10-2021

Inside this edition

A YEAR IN COVID-19 SPECIAL EDITION Community COVID-19 Experiences

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Keg & Kettle featured on “Manitowoc Minute”

Spring Green, Wisconsin

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First SWC virtual math competition

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Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 10 Free, Single-Copy

Spring, end of pandemic on the horizon as March 11 marks one year of COVID Photo by Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief March 11 marks one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

COVID has led to some interesting proposals. Valley Sentinel recently talked with bar and restaurant owners about a proposed bill would allow establishments with “Class B” liquor licenses to sell mixed drinks and wine by the glass in tamper safe to-go containers to be consumed off the premises.

Wisconsin Riverside Resort owner Suzanne Shifflet said if the bill would allow the establishment to practice this, many to-go drinks would go to on-site campers to consume at their campsite.

“Most of our cocktails to-go would be to campers who walk to their campsite, sit around their fire and relax....and they have been walking off with our cups/mugs for years! It’s part of our advertising budget,” said Shifflet.

The proposed bill (Wisconsin Senate Bill 22/Assembly Bill 32) has support from the Tavern League of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

Pictured, a sunset view of the Wisconsin River from the boat landing just outside the Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green on March 6.

Elementary music education is virtual, mobile due to COVID-19 Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief

For just over a school year and a half, the River Valley School District has been faced with finding ways to provide education through virtual or socially distanced measures. The elementary music program has been no exception to that.

Since returning to in-person learning in the Fall, River Valley School District Elementary music teacher Nick Ehlinger has spent days rotating between up to

10 different classrooms per day, pushing with him a hand-curated music cart with a various musical instruments and different it items to keep young minds involved in the arts.

In a normal year, students would leave their classrooms to visit the music room, but because of COVID-19, they are required to stay within their own class, even for lunch. Ehlinger said this has changed how and what he teaches.

“We’re not allowed to use instru-

ments, which kind of cuts back on a lot of things I like to do,” said Ehlinger.

“Singing, which is usually a really big part of my program, we still do but I don’t really encourage them to sing out, because in general vocalizing isn’t really encouraged in this time.”

Ehlinger said keeping children engaged in music through virtual learning and when they are in the same classroom all day has been a struggle.

Despite the struggles he, the depart-

ment and the district has faced, Ehlinger said he believes in the districts efforts to provide an education to it’s students.

“Everything but the students themselves have been different this year,” said Ehlinger. “Our schools have given our 100% dedication to being here for students and families in person.”

Ehlinger himself has received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccines, and believes diligently in following masking and social distancing.

A look back on COVID-19 a year later with Iowa, Sauk County public health For Valley Sentinel’s “Year in COVID-19” edition, we reached out to health directors of Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties for reflection on the departments experiences and handling of COVID-19.

Below are answers from Keith Hurlbert, Iowa County Emergency Management Director.

Valley Sentinel: If you could go back to last March, is there anything you’d do differently?

Keith Hurlbert: As an Emergency Manager I would pay more attention to Public Health and the response methodology to Public Health Emergencies. I spent a lot of time early on, learning the ins and outs of Public Health operations.

VS: What have we done well?

KH: We knew early on that messaging to the public was going to be crucial to keeping our communities safe. The success of Iowa County’s response was entirely in the publics hands. We needed to provide accurate information and guidance to them through every communications channel we could access. The media was very much a part of this process. We em-

braced working with the media whenever we could.

We kept the lines of communications open with our Public Safety, Schools, Long Term Care facilities, Upland Hills Health, and other community partners and agencies. This proved invaluable throughout pandemic and continues today. We have reduced the frequency of our meetings but we do continue to meet.

We worked very closely with Upland Hills Health. They assigned a staff person to be physically present in our Emergency Operations Center every day. To this day, although we do much of our EOC work virtually now, Upland Hills has continued to have a that liaison to assure good communications with them.

VS: What are we doing well currently?

KH: The Vaccination program we are administering right now is 2nd to none.

We are very proud of what we have accomplished. Operations at Lands’ End are being tweaked for the adjustment to larger amounts of vaccine being available and increasing the number of people vaccinated on any given day accordingly.

VS: What do we need to do?

KH: Continue to educate and communicate with the public. We can’t let off the gas now. Until we have the vast majority of people vaccinated we need to continue following the CDC Public Health mitigation recommendations.

Below are responses from Iowa County Public Health Officer Debbie Siegenthaler.

VS: If you could go back to last March, is there anything you’d do differently?

Debbie Siegenthaler: For me, because March 13 was my first official day with the Iowa County Health Dept, I wish I had a period of orientation to county operations and even the benefit of having met key officials and individuals prior. I literally met some of the amazing people I would be working so closely with in the Emergency Operations Center. This is not ideal in any way. You are faced with serious and intense circumstances, with quickly changing variables. Knowing folks around the table is key and I didn’t have that luxury. I am a very firm believer in relationships, so not having established relationships was a huge challenge for me. Fortunately, each

person I met, quickly showed their competence and dedication to the response.

In particular, Keith Hurlbert, the EM Director, has been an incredible co-pilot.

I am grateful to him every day. I also want to send a special thank you to Sue Matye, the immediate past Health Officer. She is a dear friend and assisted me tremendously this last year. I am grateful for her too.

VS: What have we done well?

DS: In a complex response such as a pandemic, there are many critical variables… Communication: to partners, stakeholders and the public. I feel this has been done well with all groups. We have hosted and held regular briefings with LTC, schools, public safety, and Upland Hills Health, some of which continue today. We now have a weekly vaccine call with all Iowa Co vaccinators. Consistent and ongoing communication is key in planning and implementation as well as providing accurate info and finding answers. In addition, we have had regular media releases and been very available for

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opinion

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Editor’s Column: Writing the news during a year of COVID-19 Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief

To think that we have lived with COVID-19 impacting our lives for over a year now still hasn’t hit me.

I’m sure most of us have seen the internet memes about how we’re still processing last March while this March has already started, but for me, it’s kind of true.

For a while, I couldn’t figure out why I was feeling that way while it seemed like most people were sick of sitting at home for endless hours, days, weeks and months. And yes, part of me feels that way, I miss all of the things I could do pre-pandemic, but deep down I haven’t felt trapped in a never-ending quarantine. I think that’s because, personally, the pandemic hasn’t really changed my life all that much.

I don’t say that because I’ve ignored mask mandates or safer at home orders or quarantine guidelines, I say that because throughout this pandemic, I was a public-facing essential worker—my life couldn’t bend to those conditions. My essential work was to inform the community during an unprecedented, tumultuous time.

I remember the first story I wrote about COVID-19 in 2020, it was in early February, speaking with doctors following the first case of the virus in the state.

I asked if this was going to spread, they said, positively, no. I asked about treatment, they were unsure. I asked if they

were taking precautions to prepare for the worst, they said no. Looking back, it gives me chills to think that medical professionals I spoke with felt they had this under control just over a year ago, they had no reason to believe things would be the way they are now.

The next story I wrote was about a passenger on a quarantined cruise ship on the coast of California because of a COVID-19 outbreak amongst the staff.

She spoke of how herself and family members were required to stay in their rooms aboard the ship, their meals were left in the hall outside their door—things that seemed dystopian to us at the time, but are commonplace just a year later.

Public health officials I spoke to at the time, recommended hand-washing and staying home if you have symptoms.

The next major COVID related story I followed was the spring election, it was days and weeks of back and forth on whether there would be an election, and if there would be in-person voting.

I covered city, town, village and county boards as they made contingency plans for keeping government moving if there wasn’t an election.

The decision was made—there was going to be an election—an election that landed our state on national news because of our choice to hold in-person voting.

The stories I wrote following that decision included how municipalities were

going to keep voters safe, and going to polling stations on election day to speak with voters and get photos—at the time, eerie photos of people wearing masks and interacting behind glass dividers while practicing their civil rights.

After that, I lost track of the COVID-19 related stories I wrote, it was endless hours and days reporting on rising cases, the first death, the second death, too many deaths. I followed municipal governments as they weighed declaring a state of emergency, as they scrambled to practice open meetings via Zoom. I covered testings, I covered overworked health officials—pushed to their breaking point.

At one point, a corporate news media editor told me virus stories had become so oversaturated, it wasn’t news anymore.

And then George Floyd was murdered. It was the first time since March a story I wrote didn’t include the words COVID-19, COVID, coronavirus or virus.

My essential position switched from informing the public on a deadly virus to informing the public about deadly force.

I witnessed and documented riots at the state Capitol, I saw statues come down, felt the tear gas, and witnessed boisterous pleas for our nation to do better go unanswered.

I was relieved to see a majority of Black Lives Matter protesters choosing to wear masks during my coverage.

Following the riots, life went back

to COVID-19, cases continued to rise, deaths continued to rise, the endless mask debate continued.

Honestly, by the time we made it to the presidential election and Jan. 6 national insurrection, everything was a blur. We were in this “Groundhog Day” like cycle of virus, politics, violence, yet I continued to cover them as they happened.

Journalists always say news never sleeps, and it’s true. It doesn’t matter if we’re quarantined or not, the news has to go out and there is never going to be a shortage of news. My life was relatively unchanged, news happened, I masked up, wrote it into words and shared it with the community.

I worked from home when I could, but ultimately I was in public following the endless news wire, quarantine wasn’t an option for me. And I wouldn’t have it any other way, I chose this profession because I am passionate about the need for an informed public and the documenting of history—I will choose to fight this virus a million times over to ensure the preservation of that.

In the midst of the last year, all of these things were stories to me, but looking back, I’m exhausted.

Now at the one year mark, the stories have turned to covering vaccine distribution and administration, and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel as the pandemic wanes and the stories turn to grappling with the aftermath.

Letter to the Editor: Sale of school forest doesn’t match district values Dear Editor, As a River Valley resident since 2003, I have always admired our community for striving to support the common good.

Here, actions match values. Whether it’s the community coming together at 4PeteSake, confronting racism when we find it, supporting the arts, or sustaining The River Valley School Fair, we strive to live our values. Most communities do not have the courage or conviction to make these same choices.

At the upcoming River Valley School District meeting, the River Valley School Board will be reviewing bids and possibly acting on the sale of the majority of the River Valley School Forest. It is understandable and admirable that a rural school district should look at every

means at its disposal to ensure a quality education for its students. It should not do so at the expense of conservation as a value. As a value, Aldo Leopold defined conservation as “teaching students to live on a piece of land without spoiling it.”

Unfortunately, selling a School Forest with the expressed hope that it be plotted for development or cleared for farming teaches them something else. It teaches them that conservation is a convenience, not a way of living with land. It teaches them that land can be battered for the right price. Above all, it teaches them that values can be sold. The School district may make money, but our students and community will be impoverished.

Does this mean development is incom-

patible with conservation? No, however it does mean that land management should be informed by values. For the River Valley School Forest, this might entail: ● Selling a portion within the School Forest for development: This would retain the balance of the 120 acres as a working, educational forest to showcase development and natural community management which are not mutually exclusive. ● Rewriting the School Forest Management Plan: Modeling sound land management can strive to make as much money as possible. It simply needs to be recognized as a goal and objective. The current plan does not do this. The most current inventory of the forest shows that

harvesting could be designed to produce regular income on a 10-15 year basis. ● Pursuing conservation easements: If integrated into a sale, a conservation easement could retain use of the land for educational purposes, managed according to an approved management plan.

There are other options as well. In any event, compatible land uses need to be informed by conservation as a value and require both creativity and an eye to the future. Exploiting the School Forest for short-term gain does none of these.

—Brad Hutnik Spring Green

Weekly Poll: Has quality of life gotten better or worse during in the past year?

March 11 marks the one year mark of when COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic. What followed included a state-wide mask mandate, emergency declarations, safer-at-home orders, rising virus cases and deaths.

In March 2020, officials believed lockdowns and stay at home orders would last a few weeks, however, a year later, a sense of normalcy has yet to return.

In Valley Sentinel’s social media weekly poll, we asked the community if their quality of life has gotten better or worse throughout the on-going pandemic. 83% said their quality of life improved, with 17% saying their quality of life was worse in the last year.

The past year has held different experiences for each individual, both positive and negative, as the virus brought new challenges at the same time as opening up new opportunities in how we work and connect. Please see page 3 for experiences that were shared with Valley Sentinel and how some made the most of quarantine.

If you missed the weekly poll but would like to share your thoughts on your experiences during the pandemic, please email editor@valleysentinelnews.com.

To vote in our weekly polls, follow us on Instagram, @vs_wisconsin or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/valleysentinel.

ADD US ON INSTAGRAM Use the Instagram app or any smartphone camera app to scan the QR code at right.

Community

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A Year in COVID-19 — Community experiences throughout quarantine This week marks one year since COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic. This edition of Valley Sentinel is dedicated to reflecting on the events of the past year. The edition includes stories on the effects of the virus, a look at the milestones we as a nation, state and tri-county area have marked and upto-date information on COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccinations. Below are submitted experiences from members of the community and Valley Sentinel readers.

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Because I no longer have a commute to work, which was about an hour each way, I have more time to exercise, and so I’ve spent a lot of time since the beginning of Covid exercising and working on my fitness. I was able to lose weight during Covid that I’d put on since getting married five years ago...“love chub” if you will. As a result of the better eating habits, cutting out my evening glass(es) of wine and a lot of exercise — I feel healthier. I’ve experimented with a lot of new recipes and have done much more cooking. We used to go out to eat or get take out a few times a week — and we never do that now. We also used to go out to movies every Friday, and we haven’t been out to a movie in a year, but we do watch them through streaming services.

I try to get outside each day to spend some time in nature, and that helps my mental health.

The biggest negative change I’ve seen in my own life is that I’m watching so much more TV than ever before, and sometimes I watch things that upon reflection were just totally trash TV (in my opinion) — and I feel guilty about that. I had fun in the earlier months of Covid creating little vignettes with hedgehog stuffed animals, taking pictures of them and putting them on my social media — it seemed childish but it was fun and gave me some joy during an otherwise dark time.

—Alison Graves Escondito, California

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I have always enjoyed a safe fire; inside, outside, camping, a prairie burn, burning dry holiday trees, any safe fire. We heat with a woodstove in our family room; more fire. I am happy. Fire: beautiful, warm, comfortable, mesmerizing, plus hot food. Wild predators don’t like fire.

For thousands of years, fire has kept humans safer.

Safety got a new parameter in the last year. Physically distance, wear a mask, outside is safer. Regarding the coronavirus, I was pro-mask, before the CDC and the WHO were pro-mask. Yet, I like to see people’s faces, so I prefer outside and 10 to 20 feet apart and masks optional.

Also, watch the wind direction. Humans are not comfortable 10 to 20 feet apart for visiting. We drift closer, unless we are seated. Winter can be bit chilly for sitting in chairs outside.

Welcome my old friend fire! This winter I hung out with friends a few times around a mini bon-fire. We hiked into the woods, collected some dry dead wood and made a fire. We visited, enjoyed the heat, the beauty and that age old comfortable, safe feeling humans have around a fire.

And we were safer, especially regarding this coronavirus. A fire is more than hot enough to kill this virus. Plus, the fire creates an updraft, so our breath is being carried up and away with the heat of the fire. My partner and I have our side of the fire and our friends have their side of the fire; each 4 to 6 feet from the fire.

The fire is about 4 feet wide, so we are at minimum 12 feet apart with a hot strong updraft between us.

I enjoy nature hikes, even without a fire.

A COVID safety challenge with hiking is that hiking paths are narrow, so people have to walk single file, with distance.

This still has people walking in the breath trail of those ahead of them and it is hard to hear each other. In parks, you meet other people, so you can end up pretty close, as you pass each other.

Another option: walk backroads with friends, gravel or paved is great during

Photo via Roger Reynolds

Mud Season. In rural Wisconsin, we have so many country backroads that are quiet and beautiful. These roads are wide enough to walk 10 to 15 feet apart, each on our own side of the road. Again masks are optional, because we are outside, with good distance.

On these hikes, we have seen and heard so many birds, plus deer and many tracks. One late summer walk on a Wisconsin Riverway sand road near Blue River, we enjoyed the last of the flowers of the backwater wetlands. We have enjoyed the beauty of the bare winter landscape with naked trees, and a blanket of snow for contrast. Walking backroads and mini-bonfires are new activities that I will continue post-pandemic. Yes, we can be social, be safe and have fun as we get through this.

—Roger Reynolds Lone Rock

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We’ve reached the one-year mark for the lockdowns surrounding COVID, but

Contact us

PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Emilie Conlon Creative Director Morgan Marlenga Managing Editor Quincy Aston-Lott Legal Editor Gerry Strang, esq.

my own virus saga is slightly longer. Last February, I came down with one of the worst chest colds I’ve ever had. I lost my senses of smell and taste (as I do every time I get sick) as well as my voice and a good deal of my hearing. I spent the next few days on the couch, staring straight ahead and waiting for the fever to break.

Was it the Dreaded Virus? I won’t know until I take the antibody test. But it was certainly an opening act for the strangeness that followed. Things have changed so fast since then that I’ve barely been able to catch my (figurative) breath. Not only has it been one year; it has been one crazy year.

The past twelve months have completely shifted my baseline concept of normal.

Seeing myself in a mask feels normal now. Sitting indoors with a large group listening to someone sing, something I did hundreds of times in the first 27 years of my life, does not. I’m honestly not sure if “going back to normal” would even feel normal anymore.

I should note that some things haven’t changed. For example, I didn’t get outside as much as I should have during the winter (my daily walks ground to a halt once the temperature became lower than my shoe size). I guarantee that I was the same way the winter before -- illness or no illness. It seems that things can be both normal and not normal at once.

The difference is this: in March 2020, I still thought I had a whole summer of attending concerts and working my tourism job and volunteering ahead of me. I could spare a few nights indoors during the coldest part of the year; in fact, I relished the alone time. I can’t make the same prediction for this summer. It feels as if I’ve just lived through a whole year of winter. And although I’m a card-carrying introvert, I’d gladly give up some of that alone time for time spent in my community.

From where I stand post-2020, spring couldn’t come soon enough.

—Grace Vosen Spring Green

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Valley Sentinel is published in Spring Green, Wisconsin every Wednesday by Lower Wisconsin River Valley Sentinel, LLC. ISSN 2694-541X (print) — ISSN 2694-5401 (online) Interns Graphic Design/Pagination Amber Mueller

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Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors, by name and by pen, for believing in our community.

Editorial Policy

On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity

Letter to the Editor Policy

Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity.

Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.

and impartiality of our reporting.

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

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Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas.

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Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization.

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From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of criticism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.

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COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

567,334 Positive Cases

Cases as of 3/9/2021

+2,742 from 3/2

2,650,773 Negative Cases +19,061 from 3/2

6,510 Deaths +70 from 3/2

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 3/9/2021

2,140,265

215,300

Allocated

In Transit

1,689,505

1,739,995

Ordered

Administered

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose Updated: 3/9/2021

Richland County

1,293 Positive Cases +7 from 3/2 7,977 Negative Cases -29 from 3/2 15 Deaths +0 from 3/2

18.7%

1,088,339 Percent of Wisconsin residents who have completed the vaccine series

Iowa County

1,887 Positive Cases +27 from 3/2 10,862 Negative Cases +83 from 3/2 10 Deaths +0 from 3/2

Sauk County

Updated: 3/9/2021

5,334 Positive Cases +41 from 3/2 34,507 Negative Cases +139 from 3/2 43 Deaths +1 from 3/2

10.5%

613,542

The orange represents the population for whom the vaccine is authorized.

The gray indicates the population under 16 years of age whom the vaccines are not authorized.

Cumulative total confirmed COVID-19 cases by date in Wisconsin Cases as of 3/9/2021

Graphic by Whitney Back

Cases per zip code Cases as of 3/9/2021

Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm

Arts & Culture

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“The good stuff.”

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Movie Review: ‘I Care a Lot’ is a Wild Ride Bill Gordon, Contributor

When does the Russian mafia look like the good guys? When it faces off against the unscrupulous Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike) in “I Care a Lot” (directed by J. Blakeson, 2020). Grayson is a court-appointed legal guardian and self-described “predator” that targets wealthy older people, putting them (unnecessarily) in elder care facilities, liquidating all their assets, and taking a cut for herself. Peter Dinklage co-stars as Roman Lunyou, a Russian-American mob boss with a connection to Jennifer Peterson (Dianne Wiest), one of Grayson’s more recent victims.

Rosamund Pike is convincing in her portrayal of the calculating, ruthless Grayson and one can’t help but hate this woman.

She is fearless, and her brand of capitalism doesn’t have any rules (and pity the fool who gets in her way).

Dianne Wiest is excellent as Peterson and when she is drugged and trapped in the senior care complex, you root for her when she tells Grayson with a steely glint in her eyes, “he’s coming... just you wait,” referring to Lunyou.

Peter Dinklage is outstanding as the mysterious, calm, but at times combustible Roman Lunyou. He is feared by his band of Russian gangsters, and when he

first meets Grayson (after subjecting her to some obligatory torture) he tells her she reminds him of a woman he mutilated and had buried under a Jimmy Johns sub shop.

While “I Care a Lot” plays a little fast and loose with its portrayal of the guardianship legal process, if you haven’t put your estate plan in order, this movie might prompt you to do so.

The plot has a few cracks, but that doesn’t stop the fun. Packed with surprises and turnabouts, the war between Grayson and Lunyou keeps us engaged. If you like a fast-paced thriller with unexpected twists, you’ll like this movie.

4/5 stars.

Viewing information How to view: Netflix Release date: 2021 Duration: 118 Minutes Genre: Crime, Thriller, Comedy Rating: R

Photo via Netflix A still of Rosamund Pike from Netflix’s “I Care a lot”.

APT The Road Back - Chapter 8: All about the tickets American Players Theatre

So, this is the week. In normal times, you may be texting your friends right now.

Plotting your shows, maybe making reservations or planning picnics, and watching your mailbox for your Book of Summer to proclaim that the APT season is on its way.

And, finally, waking up early to be at your computer, like runners at the gate, prepped and ready to get your tickets. Instead, here we are.

While we may not be embarking on that annual feel-good play prep just yet, that time – with fingers crossed in perpetuity – is on its way. So it seems like a good time to brief you on how we are re-imagining our ticketing process this year. As is our mantra this season, keep in mind that some planning is still underway and all of this is subject to change. And with those now-familiar caveats, away we go.

Tickets for different plays will go on sale on different dates. As we’ve mentioned, we need to get the various unions with which we work to sign off on our safety plans, and that is done on a show-by-show basis.

So each play, or pair of plays, will go on sale on a different date. We expect that date will be about four to six weeks before each opening, which is around the time rehearsals begin. Once a play is in rehearsal, it’s a good indication that the show will indeed go on.

Discounts last all season. Because there

won’t be one big on-sale date this year, we figured what the heck – let’s make our normal “pre-season” discounts last all summer.

So, both our 25% discount and our Four Packs will be available through October, subject to availability. On the flip side, because of our abnormal schedule, we can’t offer 40% off autumn shows on the Hill when you purchase summer tickets.

The exchange policy will be different this year. Exchanges will still be available for any reason up until 4pm the day before your show. However, if you feel ill or “off” in any way, you’ll be able to receive an exchange up to an hour before show time, either to a ticket to an “APT at Home” virtual play, or another performance, subject to availability.

And once again (and not for the last time), if you feel under the weather, please take advantage of the exchange policy and we’ll see you another day.

We’ll offer electronic ticketing. To cut down on contact, we’ll offer electronic ticketing this season. Once you order, you can download and print your tickets at home, or simply present the pdf on your phone at the theater. We’ll still provide our regular tickets if you’d rather, either via mail or Will Call at the box office.

We’ll ask that you be flexible about seat selection. Our ability to re-open is predicated on our ability to maintain social distance between parties. In order to smoothly accommodate this, we’ve implemented

new functionality in our ticketing system.

Instead of choosing specific seats, you will choose a preferred section and price level, and indicate the number of people in your party. The system then chooses the best and most efficient seating based on that criteria.

If you have special accessibility requirements, we recommend you call the box office so we can accommodate. We know that everyone has their favorite seats, and we ask for your understanding this season if those seats aren’t available to you. We hope that you will take joy from being back in our theaters, and know that those seats will be yours again in seasons to come.

Let’s talk about ticket availability. We’re going to level with you, folks. We’re not sure what to expect in this area. And, since we will only be able to seat the theaters up to 25% capacity, including cast and crew, it could prove a bit tricky.

We know that many of our regular patrons will not feel comfortable coming back to APT in person, so even at 25% of capacity there could be enough tickets for everyone who wants to come in person. We hope that’s the case. But based on some research, we anticipate that there could be more demand than supply for tickets.

With that in mind, we will be using a number of factors to determine the order of ticket ordering. If you are an APT donor, purchased tickets or Play Passes in 2020 or purchased tickets in each of the three

consecutive years prior to last year, you will be placed in one of our priority ordering groups before tickets go on sale to the general public. Even so, especially with capacity in the Touchstone coming in at 30 to 35 tickets per performance, there may not be enough in-person tickets to go around.

Which brings us to an exciting reminder: a high-quality filmed version of each play will be available digitally for folks who aren’t able to come to APT in person. We’ll cover the details of this option in a future chapter of “The Road Back,” but know that we expect them to be the next best thing to being here. Virtual bonus: No mosquitoes.

The Box Office will be ready to help. One thing that definitely won’t be different is that our box office staff will be ready to answer your questions, and help you negotiate all the changes. You can count on them.

The bottom line is that we are committed to having as many people as possible experience APT this season, either in-person or virtually. We may need to adjust our process as we go, and we beg your patience, grace and support as we find our way through it.

Next week: Q&A Part Deux! You asked, we’ll answer. We have several of your questions in our inbox, and we’ll get to as many as we can next week. Email us at info@ americanplayers.org if you’d like to add to the stack. Plus, we’ll give you an update on how the safety plans are moving along.

Business/Professional

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Community

WednesdaY, March 10, 2021

Page 9

Iowa, Sauk health officers reflect on COVID-19 a year later continued from page 1

questions and interviews. This has been a key partnership in providing key info to the public as well as social media.

The team at the health dept along with emergency management has been truly stellar. They have taken challenges and acted professionally and compassionately.

There were months where calls to positive cases were at times met with angry, hostile and unkind words on the other end. There were weeks where it seemed the climbing case numbers would not stop, but they kept forging ahead. We have an incredible group working for the health of Iowa County residents and it is my sincere hope they are truly appreciated as the work they have been committed to has saved lives.

I also feel the relationship with Upland Hills has been excellent and they have been an incredible partner, stepping up in so many ways and responding expertly.

I want to add that the dashboard with both general metrics and the school capacity indicators were an important

piece to assemble and implement. These metrics have been consistently communicated to the public. They also inform recommendations and guidance. They have truly been a central and critical piece to the response.

VS: What are we doing well currently?

DS: Community vaccine clinic operations, held now, at the Lands’ End Comer Center, are working smoothly. This space is an extraordinary gift from Lands’ End. Furthermore, over 100 people have signed up to answer the call to volunteer. Dozens are assisting with multiple aspects of the community vaccine clinic. Other volunteers are assisting with answering phones, scheduling hundreds for their vaccine, and many other tasks.

The pandemic response in Iowa County has been full of challenge and hardship, for residents, businesses and all of us responding. However, it has also demonstrated residents showing tremendous diligence and fortitude. Residents, businesses and organizations have been terrific partners in following guidance.

Additionally, there has been an incredible show of support, such as 100 plus volunteers coming forward to help, the amazing gift Lands’ End provided in allowing the use of the Comer Center and also a recent incredible donation of $5000 by Vortex to help fee all those helping at clinics.

VS: What do we need to do?

DS: Community vaccine clinic will be ramping up when we get more vaccine.

We need residents to take the vaccine when it is their turn. In addition, we still need diligence with mitigation measures of masking, social distancing, washing hands.

Below are responses from Sauk County Public Health officer Treemanisha Stewart.

VS: If you could go back to last March, is there anything you’d do differently?

Treemanisha Stewart: Unfortunately this was a new virus, so we all had to learn as we went. Having correct information from the beginning (wearing masks versus not) would of helped our consistency in

messaging to the public.

VS: What have we done well?

TS: We have been very transparent, doing what we felt was best for the community and being a place the community can come to for information.

VS: What are we doing well currently?

TS: We have a good system for vaccination, which is proven by our current vaccination rates. We also plan well and always try to think two steps ahead. We also strive to keep good communication with our community partners.

VS: What do we need to do?

TS: We want people to know, that when eligible to get vaccinated to get vaccinated. Waiting or ‘shopping around’ for their preferred vaccine only hinders our vaccination plan. Even with people being vaccinated we must continue to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Officials from Richland County did not respond, this will be updated online at www.valleysentinelnews.com if they do.

Lone Rock’s own Keg & Kettle featured on Charlie Berens’ “Manitowoc Minute” Screenshot of “Manitowoc Minute” via Charlie Berens’ YouTube

Keg & Kettle, a Lone Rock bar, was featured on comedian Charlie Berens’ “Manitowoc Minute” March 2 video segment.

According to the “Manitowoc Minute” website, host Charlie Berens “does a minute(ish)-long news show about everything from national news to Wisconsin news to used bubblers for sale on Kenosha’s Craigslist.“ Valley Sentinel reached out to the owners of Keg & Kettle, however it’s not clear as of press time if the tooth was ever found.

The video can be viewed on Charlie Berens’ YouTube page at: https://youtu.be/-_Ib6SmpIFQ

Jose’s Authentic Mexican food truck is a hit during Spring Green visit Contributed Photo Jose’s Mexican food truck visited Spring Green March 8 just outside the Post House Garden, offering a variety of to-go Mexican cuisine options and margaritas. The food truck visits from Jose’s Mexican Restaurant in Baraboo.

Food truck cravings?

With food truck and related options becoming more available, interest has grown in a regular monthly or bi-weekly food truck event in the Spring Green area.

Like the idea? Let us know!

Are you a food truck or related pop-up owner that’s interested in an event like a Food Truck Friday? Let us know! editor@valleysentinelnews.com

Local. Natural. Delicious.

We strive to serve specialty coffee and baked goods created with ingredients that are locally sourced, all natural and sustainable.

Our schedule is posted each week on social media.

Get in touch with us today! www.butternutroadcoffee.com butternutroadcoffeetruck@gmail.com 608-459-5016 Butternut Road Coffee Truck butternutroad_coffeetruck Butternut_Road

Coffee & News A collaboration by Valley Sentinel & Butternut Road Coffee.

Stop by the coffee truck starting mid-week to pick up a copy of Valley Sentinel with your coffee, while supplies last.

Community

Page 10 WednesdaY, March 10, 2021

River Valley Elementary music students show off opera skills Photo via Nick Ehlinger, River Valley Elementary music teacher River Valley School District elementary music students perform in Opera for the Young’s production of Engelbert Humperdinck’s classic opera, Hansel and Gretel. Elementary music teacher Nick Ehlinger taught the music and choreography to all in-person students and all virtual learners in grades 4K-4.

In this year’s unique virtual production, students played multiple roles (ragamuffin children, gingerbread cookies, and pixies) in their classrooms or at home while professional opera singers portrayed Hansel, Gretel, the witch, and other principal characters. This year’s partnership with Opera for the Young was funded by a grant from the River Valley Endowment Fund.

RV High School students compete in first-ever virtual SWC math competition

Photos via Brian Krey, RVSD Business Manager The first Southwest Conference virtual math competition was held at River Valley March 3. Each competing team stayed at their home school with questions and answers being sent and graded via email.

Students were placed in five divisions based on grade and math level and were given four tests. The total amount of correct answers were added up, and participants were graded based on the total.

River Valley Students participating included: Division 1: Addison Brey - Gold, Stephen Gostomski - Silver, Silas Eacret - Silver, Orin McBride - Silver, Emily Ranum - Bronze.

Division 2: Ashton Scott - Silver, Hadley George - Silver, Delaney Johnson - Silver, Lars Anding.

Division 3: Kylie Morrey - Silver, Maraya Klukas - Bronze, Charlotte Ferstl - Bronze, Ayden Horton, Morgan Brickl Division 4: Olivia Wittmann - Gold, Anabelle Willoughby - Silver, John Frazier - Silver, Ian Hamblan Bronze, Ryan Norton Division 5: Bradley Richardson - Silver, Will Bailey - Bronze, Anna Deibert, Isaac Prem, Matthew Gostomski

Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, March 10, 2021 Page 11

DNR conducting statewide prescribed burns through mid-June Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced March 2 that fire management crews plan to conduct prescribed burns on DNR properties throughout the state from March 2 through mid-June. These burns take advantage of Wisconsin’s optimal conditions during the spring. Additional prescribed burns will occur in late summer and fall (mid-July through November).

The DNR utilizes prescribed burning to preserve and restore fire-dependent ecosystems found within state-managed properties throughout Wisconsin. These burns mimic the natural benefits fire historically provided: a decrease in dead grass (thatch) buildup; improved spaces for wildlife to feed, nest and raise young; and an increase in native grass and wildflower growth.

Wetlands, prairies, oak/pine barrens and oak savannas in Wisconsin have developed throughout history with periodic fire occurring across the landscape. Many of these communities would not exist without fire, occasionally restoring the balance between open grass and brush.

DNR staff spend months comprehensive-

ly planning each prescribed burn and begin pre-season preparations and refresher training in January. Staff assess weather forecasts (temperature, RH, windspeed and direction) and vegetation moisture to determine if fire behavior will be within the desired range and meet the objectives of the burn. Based on daily weather forecasts, the decision to burn is evaluated in the morning and at the burn site. Where required, local law enforcement and fire officials are notified in advance.

DNR staff conduct prescribed burns only when weather and vegetation conditions meet strict standards for safety, smoke management and burn effectiveness. In 2021, all burns conducted on DNR land will follow additional COVID-19 operational protocols to further minimize health and safety risks to burn crews and the general public. If prescribed burns are conducted near roads or recreational trails, signage will be posted to notify the public on the morning of the burn. For public safety, please avoid these areas while the burn is being conducted.

Visit the DNR’s website to view where DNR prescribed burns are occurring across the state and learn more about the benefits of prescribed burns.

Garden Plots for rent at River Valley Area Community Gardens

Rose Ellen Schneider, River Valley Area Community Gardens In rural South Central Wisconsin, many communities are establishing community gardens for their residents. Why? Many people have a desire to get back to nature and grow their own food in a healthy, non-chemical environment but don’t have the space for a garden at their dwelling.

The River Valley Area Community Gardens, Inc is excited for the 2021 gardening season. Gardening was so popular last year that our family units jumped from 14 in 2019 to 26 including 3 student gardeners in 2020. As a result, 18 additional plots have been added on the west side of the Gardens which are located at 900 N. Westmor on the northwest side of the Village of Spring Green a block off of highway 14 behind Ring Brothers Classic Auto.

Registration is now open for garden plots. Plot sizes vary. Rental fees for first time community gardeners are $30 for a 400 square foot plot, $20 for a 200 square foot plot and $10 for a 100 square foot plot. The rental fee is for the duration of the season and includes water, tilling, irrigation, compost and marsh hay mulch.

Free plots are available for low income families, the elderly, and the unemployed.

Qualifications for free plots include qualifying for QUEST, SNAP, TANF, SSI, free or reduced school lunch programs, or local food pantry services.

A student gardening program has been organized to develop gardeners of the future. Currently any student who lives within the boundaries of the River Valley School District may rent a plot free of charge. Parental permission must be provided. Special student registration forms are available on the web site. Additional programming is being planned to introduce young students to nature and the environment through gardening experiences.

In development is an Enabling Garden of raised beds for people who are physically challenged. More information will be available as the Garden is created.

Any resident of the River Valley School District may rent one or more plots for personal, non-commercial garden space at the RVACG. The RVACG practices organic gardening methods. Mentoring from experienced gardeners is available for beginning gardeners.

People who need more information or want registration forms are invited to drive by the Gardens to see what the plots look like and ask questions through the Gardens’ Facebook page, the web site at rvacg.org, via email at info@rvacg.org or via phone at 608-588-6040.

Paper copies of the registration forms are also available in the INFO box at the gardens.

The Community Garden provides a place for you to have your own garden without tearing up your lawn. It is a great place for people who live in a duplex, a condo, an apartment or have a small lot or a shady yard to plant a garden. The Community Garden provides a tiller, and tools if the gardener doesn’t own them. It also provides a place of community, a chance for people to get to know others in the community and enjoy being outdoors.

The list goes on.

Working in a garden plot provides exercise for the body, helps relieve stress and increase a person’s sense of wellness. Gardening builds a sense of worth and pride as beautiful fruits and vegetables are harvested to serve to your family and friends.

Having a garden plot is a bit of work but it is fun also. And, the best part of having a plot in a community garden may be the recipes that are exchanged while visiting with other gardeners. Yum!

Photo by Ryan Brady via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fire management crews plan to conduct prescribed burns on DNR properties throughout the state from March 2 through mid-June.

Wisconsinites are encouraged to visit the DNR’s website to see if a prescribed burn is occurring in their area.

Citizens of

RICHLAND COUNTY We would like to THANK YOU for continuing to wear your masks, wash your hands, and social distance.

You’ve done an AWESOME JOB with flattening the curve!!!

But we are not done and WE NEED YOU to hold the course.

We are all in this together, so STAY WITH US and continue these efforts.

BE PATIENT as the vaccines become available and GET YOUR SHOT when able.

These are critical steps as we move forward in DEFEATING THIS PANDEMIC!!!

T hank You For Helping Us Stop The Spread!

Photo via River Valley Community Gardeners

RICHLAND COUNTY BOARD RICHLAND COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES RICHLAND COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Outdoors/recreation

Page 12 WednesdaY, March 10, 2021

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Contributor

Devil’s Lake, Hard Fishing, Hard Playing!

Hello friends, This past week I stayed in a 17-foot Ice Castle fishing shack on Stump and Devil’s Lake near Devil’s Lake, North Dakota. Dakota Jeffords, Ross Moll, Joey Weber, and Weston Sexton all grew up near Niagara, Wisconsin and graduated in 2012.

Dakota is stationed at Grand Forks, Air Force Base and is the man responsible for hooking us up with the Ice Castle. This week’s column will literally be all over the map as there is a ton to write about.

Thursday, February 25th High 26, Low 12

We met on Stump Lake which is a drainage lake that was created by Devil’s Lake. Dakota was pulling our home, Joey and Weston had arrived at daybreak and fished all day, Ross and I made the solid 9-hour drive and after setting out four lines a piece; three tip ups and a jig pole in the shack the show began.

First, the fish catching has been very slow, but we had high hopes by bed time, and tons of laughs. Later we had 2 walleye and a couple of perch.

Friday, February 26th High 24, Low 2

Second, it is much colder in North Dakota than in Wisconsin and the wind kicks your rear end. We got up this morning and made the decision that we were relocating to Devils Lake. That sounds real simple but Devil’s Lake is 95,624 acres and after a six mile drive on Stump we did a forty mile drive on the road and checked out three spots on Devils Lake before we settled into

the area we would call home for the next three days. To put it simply, I was amazed at the size of this body of water which has no natural outlet and did most of its growth in the mid-90s when it gobbled up 140 square miles of farmland and 300 homes and farms.

Between all of us we had several contacts for the fishing and all our info and personal experience would not make the fish bite. The last hour of daylight, I caught a couple of walleyes, and a perch and had a great conversation with a retired guide that was staying on the ice for the weekend.

I was told we were in an excellent spot and I learned a lot as he was fishing directly over a machine shed that vanished during the rise when this body of water rose 26-feet in four years.

Here is the real story for this trip, the four guys that I was with are great buddies that all have excellent careers, a work ethic, and love to give each other BS every chance they get.

They grew up in what may be the last of the era where kids could be kids and they have more stories than there are pages in the bible.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor The Four Yahoos from Niagara living it up in our ice shack!

Saturday, February 27th High 7, Low -16

Talk about freeze your hands off.

We were up before first light and with the wind and air temp it was minus 27. These yahoos decided it was time for refreshments before first light and what a show that was for me to watch. I fished hard as they kind of did as well but the wrestling matches, verbal abuse, and tying Ross’s shoe strings together with first 20-pound mono and then Gorilla Tape when he took a nap was a hoot.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Our home for the weekend.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor (left to right) Dakota Jeffords, Weston Sexton, Ross Moll, and Joey Weber enjoying life on Devils Lake.

Back in the day I hunted elk in Montana and in reality, per capita, I honestly believe this part of the country has the most unassumingly good and tough people in the lower 48. Without trying I became friends with two groups of North Dakotan’s that made it very clear I could hunt or fish with them anytime I wanted, and I was even given an offer to buy a piece of property for $2500 for a base camp.

Back to fishing, jigging in the shack and we tried, that is for sure. The perch bite was next to dead, but the one ray of hope was tip ups that were well tended and it was for the most part northern pike.

There was a good 36-inches of ice and we worked hard and thought

hard but as it was for everyone that we spoke with on this body of water a non-bite.

We broke camp at sunup the next morning, the temp was minus 8 and to be perfectly honest, every one of us was exhausted.

As soon as this is sent out, I am packing for a four-day trip on Little Bay de Noc of camping and hopefully catching extremely long, fat walleye that take a long time to ice and make me dream all summer of a winter on the ice.

Rest is for the dead!

—Sunset

Want to read more?

Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com

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