Valley Sentinel - 03-20-2025 by Valley Sentinel

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Savor the River Valley announces 3rd annual Farm & Food Tour

Tour will be held April 26 and features 12 stops

Be sure to check out Savor the River Valley’s 3rd annual Earth Day Farm & Food Tour on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free, self-guided tour extends from Plain to Ridgeway with stops at 12 small farms, food processors and local food businesses. What can you see and do on the tour? See locally grown grains milled into ﬂour and buy some to take home. Watch milk being turned into cheese and taste the diﬀerence between cheeses made from cow, goat and sheep’s milk. Lunch on smash burgers made from grass-fed beef and walk through a silvopasture.

Sample juices made from aronia berries, honey berries and elderberries and ﬁnd out why agroforestry is important. Walk through an orchard of specialty apples and pears with the mother-daughter duo who grow them. See baby farm

At the March 13 regular meeting of the River Valley School District Board of Education, the board did ﬁrst readings on policies requiring updates due to changes in Title IX, discussed and voted on new names for some of the buildings due to district conﬁguration changes and voted on the school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

Building Renamings

The board discussed new names for the district’s central campus buildings coinciding with the closure of the Early Learning Center in Plain which will consolidate the district into one central campus in Spring Green. The Curriculum and Instruction committee recommended the Elementary retain its current name, the Middle School be renamed to River Valley Intermediate

School, the seventh and eighth grades, which will be housed within the current High School building, be named River Valley Junior High School and the High School to retain its current name. The board voted unanimously in favor of using the recommended names.

2025-2026 School Calendar

The board discussed the school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year. The Curriculum and Instruction Committee recommended the district start school on Sept. 2 for 4K through ninth grade and new high school students, Sept. 3 for tenth through twelfth grade and Sept. 8 for early childhood students. The calendar also includes a previously approved change which builds in an early release on all Wednesdays for teacher inservice time, with the Elementary and Intermediate schools be-

ing released at 1:45 p.m. and the Junior High and High Schools being released at 2 p.m. The board unanimously approved the updated 2025-2026 school calendar.

Civics Course

The board discussed the inclusion of a Civics course as part of the graduation requirements for the district. The board had previously discussed the policy during their November and December regular meetings, which includes the addition of a .5 credit Civics course required for students graduating 2027 and on, but had yet to take formal action to adopt. The board unanimously voted in favor of the addition of this course as part of graduation requirements Policy Changes

The board did ﬁrst readings on numerous policy changes, including 411

animals. Buy cool-season vegetable and herb plants to plant at home.

This family-friendly Farm & Food Tour is a chance for people to connect with a growing movement of small family farmers and other food producers who are producing wholesome food in ways that take care of people, animals and the environment. There will be many opportunities to taste and observe the diﬀerences that makes.

For a tour map and more information, go to the Savor website: savortherivervalley.org.

Savor the River Valley is a grassroots initiative of small farmers, food processors, food retailers and restaurants in the River Valley School District working together to promote a dynamic food network.

River Valley School Board renames school buildings, sets 2025-2026 calendar, hears Title IX policy changes

Student Nondiscrimination and Equal Educational Opportunity, 411.2 Student Anti-Harassment, 411.2 Rule Student Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Procedures, 411 Rule Student Nondiscrimination Complaint Procedures, 511 Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Employment, 524.3 Employee Anti-Harassment, 511 and 524.3 Rule Employee Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Procedures, 411.1 Bullying, 443 Student Discipline and 443 Rule 1 Code of Classroom Conduct. These changes are to bring these policies in line with Title IX, which the Department of Education reverted to its 2020 form in January. The district had previously worked to update their Title IX compliance in July of 2024 to then-

Patti Peltier, Contributed

Picture by Shannon Boyce

This free, self-guided tour extends from Plain to Ridgeway and will be held April 26.

Luukas Palm-Leis, Reporter

OPINION/EDITORIAL

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

Elon Musk purchased Donald Trump’s Presidency for “nearly $300 million” (AP/ March 5, 2025) allowing Trump to avoid ongoing court cases and ended additional convictions and possible prison time. This is why Trump desperately needed to win the presidency!

The investments Musk made came with certain expectations! Trump, having been

Dear Editor,

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing State Supreme Court Candidate Judge Susan Crawford speak at the Reedsburg Rec Center on Sunday, Feb. 23. It was a pleasure because Judge Susan was articulate and no-nonsense, and I left convinced that she will be an impartial Justice on our State Supreme Court, one who cares about people, not special interests.

Judge Susan was born and raised in Chippewa Falls, WI- a small, rural community like Reedsburg. Her younger sister was born with special needs and it was

Dear Editor,

Wisconsinites value our public schools as the hope for our children and the center of our communities. April 1st I recommend you vote for Jill Underly to be re-elected as the Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction to lead our state's schools. Dr. Underly backs increasing support for all public schools in light of past cuts and recent inﬂation. This defunding has

Dear Editor, This is a dress from 1849. Judge candidate Brad Schimel seriously wants Wisconsin to return to an 1849 law banning all abortion … even in case of rape, incest, or mother’s health. Really. 1849. A picture is worth 1000 words.

Peggy Peckham Arena, Wisconsin

On the cover

freed of his looming trials and punishments became free to relax, play golf and let unelected and unvetted Musk share his Presidency. Trump created DOGE (not approved by Congress) and gave Musk free reign over the government while he sits comfortably at the Resolute Desk. Musk has brandished a chainsaw to show his gutting of Congressionally enacted government programs. The Musk/Trump

Susan’s responsibility to make sure she looked out for her sister, at school and in the community. Her family was not wealthy. Susan learned the value of hard work and to care about the well-being of others.

As a prosecutor, attorney, and now as a Judge, Susan Crawford has always held criminals accountable, as well as fought to protect the rights and freedoms of all Wisconsinites. On the Supreme Court, she will be fair, impartial, and independent.

Please don’t believe those TV ads paid

caused a majority of districts to hold referendums to increase local property taxes, for day-to-day operations or building maintenance and replacement. This adds to your property tax payments and makes housing less aﬀordable.

Wisconsin has a $4 billion surplus, Underly has asked that this money be used to support local schools and then limit how they can increase property taxes.

Presidency is attacking and dismantling the VA/Military, Medicare, Medicaid, Education, Social Security, and other programs. Musk is currently interfering in Wisconsin’s April 1st election. The AP/3-5-2025 reported that “Musk’s America PAC donated more than $3.2 million and the Building America’s Future has invested some $2 million” to beneﬁt Brad Schimel’s

for by Elon Musk in order to buy our Wisconsin election! Did you know that Musk also recently oﬀered Wisconsinites $100 each if they signed a petition saying they are opposed to “activist” judges?

Judge Susan is no “activist judge”! Unlike her opponent, she didn’t sue to remove healthcare coverage from a million Wisconsinites with pre existing conditions. She believes Wisconsinites shouldn’t have health care taken away, and she believes that women and their doctors should make healthcare decisions. Judge Susan has prosecuted health care fraud

This should help every homeowner and renter.

Dr. Underly sees increased support for schools as helping add vocational and technical programs, improving school lunch nutrition, student mental health services, and full day 4-year old kindergarten. This is in addition to her past support for new science-based literacy legislation, and new math and science

bid for the open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat with misleading/negative/and false media buys. Musk’s interference in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race is wrong! Do not allow him to BUY another candidate! Judge Susan Crawford has my support and my vote.

Lee D. Van Landuyt Hillsboro, Wisconsin

and protected nursing home patients from identity theft. She has consistently worked for safe communities.

Judge Susan Crawford has my enthusiastic vote on April 1. I also plan to support Jill Underly for State Superintendent of Schools (not her pro-voucher school opponent). I will also be voting NO on the statewide Constitutional referendum, because it is simply another way to make it even harder for people in WI to vote!

Judy Brey Reedsburg, Wisconsin

standards. These and other work have resulted in raising Wisconsin schools' rank to 6th by U.S. News and World Report and graduation rates up to 3rd in the country. April 1st vote for Underly for Superintendent to support your local schools and their students.

Bill Dagnon Baraboo, Wisconsin

Fiscal Facts: State Budget Bright Spots Abound, But Caution Warranted To Avoid Future Gaps

Wisconsin Policy Forum

As Wisconsin’s next state budget debate begins, state ﬁnances appear stronger than at most points in the 21st century, buoyed by low unemployment and a balance in its main fund of more than $4 billion.

Yet the near-term outlook suggests state finances may be nearing an inflection point, the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s new state budget brief finds. The state’s main fund is now spending more than it takes in, and its budget reserves, while very sizable, are shrinking.

Meanwhile, the Democratic governor and GOP Legislature are eying the state’s reserves and oﬀering tax and spending plans that would deplete it and potentially

leave the state with future budget gaps. Gov. Tony Evers’ 2025-27 state budget proposal, if enacted, would represent the largest percentage increase on record in state spending. State all funds spending, when compared to the base budget, would climb 20.3% over the two years.

The plan would boost state aid for K-12 schools and local governments, make the largest infusion of state dollars into the Universities of Wisconsin in a generation, and address priorities such as broadband expansion and lead remediation.

The governor’s capital budget proposes to transform and modernize the state prison system at a total cost of $500 million. Another operating budget proposal aims to address growing concerns about the cost, access, and

quality of child care, at a total cost of $480 million over two years. To help ﬁnance its spending, the budget would raise individual and corporate income taxes. The largest increase would be the creation of a bracket with a marginal rate of 9.8% for ﬁlers with taxable income over $1 million, which would generate an estimated $1.3 billion in revenue over the next two years. These changes are unlikely to be passed by the Legislature, but if approved along with some tax cuts, they would amount to a net general fund revenue increase of $2.4 billion over two years. At the same time, the governor proposes nearly $1.1 billion over two years in new

“The view from Tower Hill” (2025) Photo, by Wyatt Gundlach

From the photographer:

"This sunrise view from Tower Hill State Park overlooks the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, where golden light illuminates the leaﬂess trees and rolling hills. The partially frozen river reﬂects the morning hues, contrasting with the cool sky. The scene captures the quiet beauty of the Wisconsin landscape at dawn."

OPINION/EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

Our View: We're endorsing a better future for the Village of Arena

We always wanted our ﬁrst endorsements as an editorial board to be founded upon a well-thought out rubric that was repeatable and transparent. We have not had the time or bandwidth to yet set up such a rubric. However, the stakes in the Village of Arena in the upcoming election on April 1 are so dire that we feel compelled to take a position as an editorial board.

Yes, it’s true that Arena, both the Village and the township, have a new joint operating agreement for ﬁre and EMS. There are problems with it, the update was unnecessary and cost the village nearly $15,000 in unnecessary attorneys fees. We will endeavor to update the community on that and point out the diﬀerences in a future edition. But that’s not what we’re talking about right now.

On the night of March 17, around 8 p.m., while one of our editors was passing by yet another vehicle accident on Highway 14 just outside of Arena, we came to the full understanding that we can’t stay silent on the upcoming village of Arena election.

As we watched the volunteer firefighters and EMTs clear the scene along with the hard-working law-enforcement, we were reminded of the utter disrespect and disregard in the way they were treated by the Village of Arena Board of Trustees, namely, village president Kate Reimann and trustees Melissa Bandell, Kathy Stoltz, Kristen Shea and Brittany Carney. The blame for the Village of Arena — one of the busiest villages in the area in terms of traffic, along Highway 14, along the river, straddled by two other counties and in the corner of another and seeing over 400,000 vehicles pass through it every week — not having a police department, and throwing its EMS service into disarray, lies squarely on those trustees.

We feel compelled to remind some and inform others, that the village and town went without ﬁre and EMS coverage for over 17 hours on August 1, 2024 specifically because the Village kept changing the goal posts with little notice to the Town while renegotiating the joint ﬁre and EMS agreement.

This agreement was not discarded by the Village for any actual reasonable, tangible reason — despite what some trustees may argue — other than ego. Several of the trustees made excuses about slush funds, and up-charges, and when pub-

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Editor-in-Chief/Publisher

Nicole Aimone

Managing Editor/Publisher

Taylor Scott

Legal Editor

Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

Editorial Policy

two rational actors with the best interests of the village in mind. Paul, for all of his passion in following things to the letter, is the only candidate for village president that has the best interests of the Village of Arena and its residents in mind.

Kathy Stoltz has allowed the village to ﬂirt with disaster and her words and actions indicate she doesn’t care. Kathy Stoltz was the head of the personnel committee when the village Police Department was begging the village board to come talk to them, to do a ride along, to have any sort of engagement that would help them understand the rigors of the job and the necessity for it in the village. Yes, most villages this size don’t need their own police department, but Arena is in a unique place.

Now that discussions of the agreement are over we have been forced again to look at ﬁling an open meetings violation complaint against Arena. The ﬁrst part for a gathering held at Reimann’s residence after a meeting November 11, 2024 that constituted a negative quorum and a committee meeting, and the second part due to the fact that it appears that every closed session from October thru February was held improperly — and we’re not even bringing up the March 20 “Candidate Forum”.

Now legal complaints are flying, a bulk of which have been filed by a trustee against Reimann’s voting bloc. These complaints are credible, sourced well and alarming. (In fairness, a complaint has been filed against Pustina as well, but while it may not meet the legal threshold of frivolous, it appears meritless, easily dismissed and a product of poor communication at best, and election interference influenced by Reimann’s voting bloc at worst.)

lic records did not bear those astounding claims out, these oﬃcial simply doubled down and made fools of themselves and of Arena. Showing that they simply did not understand budgeting, accounting and could not read records. If they have records that we don’t have to justify their actions, then they’ve withheld them from our records requests.

For those that do not know how to vote in the village president election between Kathy Stoltz and Paul Pustina, for those who don’t always understand Paul’s strong and passionate personality, or have been on the receiving end of him meticulously dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ’t’, this is not an election where you can make a protest vote. This is not a choice between

All together, the complaints paint a picture of village governance in Arena still in chaos, moving from one constructed and unnecessary crisis to another — culminating in what now appears to be election fraud.

We’ll update more online at www.valleysentinelnews.com.

This election, we’d be voting for Paul Pustina for Arena village president and Steve Wilkinson, Joseph Hipsky and Don Helt for village trustees. We encourage you to do the same.

Graphic Design

Julianna Williams

Democracy, Society & Edu. Columnist

Beverly Pestel

Calender & Events Coordinator

Paige Gilberg

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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 integri- ty and impartiality of our reporting.

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Alex Prochaska

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Luukas Palm-Leis

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Bonnie Ostrander

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.

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The Tools of Conversation — Part 7: Attention Please

Beverly Pestel, Columnist

This series explores how our tools of conversation—from speech and print to television and social media—have shaped the way we think, learn and interact, often steering us into a state of fragmented discourse and misinformation. By examining seminal works on information networks, critical thinking and media influence, each column digs deeper into why our collective capacity for thoughtful conversation and civic engagement appears at risk. As we navigate new technologies and grapple with the merging of entertainment and news, we confront a crucial question: can we harness our evolving tools of communication to foster truth, community and meaningful dialogue, or will we be “amused into indifference”? Join me on this journey through reading, reflection, and inquiry, as we seek practical insight into building a more informed, empathetic and civically engaged society.

Before I start, I want to welcome Sherry Hillesheim and the Wellness Warrior column to the Valley Sentinel family. It is a great addition from another local writer for a local independent paper. Nice to have you here, Sherry.

I keep popping into Facebook to see how the conversation is going. I dared to suggest on one site that they were posting lies that should be fact-checked and got suspended for a day. The responses to my challenges were not links proving what they posted was true, but numerous snide and insulting remarks attempting to get me to respond. I’m not taking the bait. One person keeps telling me “go lay down by your dish.” They are even resorting to creating silly memes about me and posting them on

multiple sites. They appear desperate to attract my attention.

And ‘attention’ is the word of the day for this column and brings me to a brand-new book hot oﬀ the press (and currently #1 on the New York Times Best Selling list), The Sirens’ Call by Chris Hayes. His book is all about attention, our ability or inability to maintain attention and the insistence of some to demand attention.

Postman and others (Part 6) focused on the issue of entertainment inﬁltrating and dominating the news arena. But

Hayes makes a compelling case that the issue of attention may be an even more signiﬁcant component.

In his book, Hayes references Neil Postman and his ‘amusing ourselves to death’ proposition and presents it as being a prologue to the more fundamental issue of attention and the techniques for capturing it. Hayes explains:

“…The battle to control what we pay attention to at any given instant structures everything from our inner life…to our collective public lives…Every single aspect

of human life…is being reoriented around the pursuit of attention.”

(pg.13)

Hayes divides attention into three categories: voluntary attention, involuntary attention, and social attention. Voluntary attention is our purposely focused attention, involuntary attention is that unanticipated and interrupting siren that grabs our attention, social attention is our ability to hear our name mentioned in a crowded room and indicates our need for recognition. It is the difference between voluntary and involuntary attention that primarily influences the entertainment/news media. Voluntary attention is very difficult to maintain – I don’t have to tell you that, do I? When I was a college student in the late 1960s, the attention span of an adult was reported as between 10 and 15 minutes. However, studies have shown that our average attention span has decreased from 2.5 minutes to 47 seconds over the past twenty years. (Are Attention Spans Actually Decreasing? — The Center for Brain, Mind and Society)

Unsurprisingly, the entertainment/ news industry has realized that to keep our attention they have to resort to grabbing our involuntary attention over and over again using multiple techniques. Hayes describes his own program on MSNBC:

“Look at a cable news screen, and you’ll notice immediately that it is jam -packed with visual stimuli. Interruptions are constant. The ‘crawl’ on the lowest part of the screen…another band of text in the lower third…that alternates every few seconds. The main part of the screen rarely stays ﬁxed… anchor on camera, anchor with graphic…full screen of an image,

roll sound, and so on...we set up a competition between two alternate modes of keeping attention: the method of serial interruption… and the method of holding attention through storytelling… It felt a bit odd to ﬁnd myself in competition with my own screen to win the battle.” (pgs.48-49)

Good storytelling is compelling, but few of us are really good at it, as a result the most eﬀective form of attention capture is iteratively grabbing our involuntary attention, something Hayes calls the slot machine model. And what we end up with is addiction by design, just try to walk away from that screen, it constantly calls you back.

And then Hayes brings the subject into an important context:

“…the twentieth century left an entire generation of intellectuals to wonder how compatible mass media and mass democracy truly were…to successfully monopolize attention, and therefore control of a nation…” (pg.19)

Mass media, especially social media, appears to have learned that our attention can easily be hijacked and put to use even if human decency must be abandoned to do so. Reference this quote from Ezra Klein’s podcast:

“…listen to what Steve Bannon told PBS’s frontline in 2019. ‘The opposition party is the media… All we have to do is ﬂood the zone every day. We hit them with three things. They’ll bite on one and we’ll get all of our stuﬀ done. Bang bang bang. These guys will never, will never be able to recover. But we got to start with muzzle velocity…It is hard to even think coher-

Bev Pestel's column sponsored by: Economic Equity Now! — a nonpartisan community organization striving for a fair tax code for all. More information at Facebook.com/EconomicEquityNow or at economicequitynow@gmail.com continued on page 5

CROSSWORD & CHESS PUZZLES

Puzzle created by Nick Zaborek, edited by Jen Zaborek

Walter Caine 1944

Beverly Pestel

Fiscal Facts: State Budget Bright Spots Abound, But Caution Warranted To Avoid Future Gaps

continued from page 2

state aid intended to slow the growth of property tax levies. That includes more than $375 million in state general aid to K-12 districts that eﬀectively would force districts to lower local property taxes. Another $375 million would increase the state’s school levy tax credit, thereby buying down local property taxes. The ﬁnal $339 million in state aid goes to

counties and municipalities to reduce property taxes.

The plan also would spend down the state’s general fund balance from nearly $4.3 billion to $646 million, though it would also leave roughly $2 billion in the state’s rainy day fund. The bill would also raise state taxes on net by more than $2 billion over two years, while also including $1 billion in measures to hold down local property taxes.

The Tools of Conversation — Part 7:

continued from page 4

ently…The ﬂood is the point. The overwhelm is the point.’” Opinion | Don’t Believe Him - The New York Times Ezra Klein, Feb. 3, 2025

Constant diversion creates attention, but the attention is so disconnected, meaning becomes lost and a recipe for chaos and confusion results. And for some, that is the whole point. I refuse to end a column with Steve Bannon, thankfully Hayes gives me a perfect excuse not to. On page 73 he mentions a psychologist named Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. I can’t pronounce

Attention Please

that name, but I recognized it from somewhere in my past. I found it in a book on my shelf, Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (1995). Csikszentmihalyi describes a state called “ﬂow” in which the emotions are positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand. Goleman describes it as “a state in which people become utterly absorbed in what they are doing, paying undivided attention to the task…attention becomes so focused that people…are unconcerned with how they are doing…one [way to achieve ﬂow] is to intentionally focus a sharp attention on the task at hand… once focus starts to lock in it takes on

If adopted, Evers’ plan would leave the state with a two-year structural deficit of roughly $4 billion. This would make it difficult to balance the 2027-29 budget, even if the economy remains strong and does not succumb to recent drops in the stock market and consumer sentiment. Ultimately, some further use of the state’s massive surplus is expected and welcome given the state’s many challenges, our brief finds. But taxpayers

a force of its own, both offering relief from emotional turbulence and making the task effortless…the quality of attention in flow is relaxed…” (Pg. 9192)

Sounds great, doesn’t it? Emotion being positive and energized through focused attention, but how do we get there in a world where our attention is constantly being diverted and scattered? How do we get there when our life experience has brought us to a place where our attention span under most conditions is a mere 2.5 minutes if we are lucky.

The ﬁrst time I experienced ﬂow I was backpacking in Glacier National Park.

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OPPORTUNITY

WE'RE LOOKING FOR INTERNS AND COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTORS

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We are looking for interns/volunteers who want to be in the unique position to learn the nuts and bolts of a news media publication that started from the ground up.

You will have the chance to make an impact at the ground level of a startup and see the effect of your work and ideas carried out with a lot of flexibility, in an environment and creative culture you can help influence and create.

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EDITORIAL/JOURNALISM SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING/MARKETING

GRAPHIC DESIGN/PAGE DESIGN/LAYOUT DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION/CRM MNGMT PODCASTING/AUDIO PRODUCTION

We are a new, all volunteer local news source that holds a strong belief that by working to keep our communities informed and engaged on a variety of topics including arts & culture, events, community news and serving as a watchdog for our local governmental bodies, we can help create a strong identity for our community and ignite positive growth and change throughout the area.

Interested? Send us your area(s) of interest and a resume to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

Internship will be unpaid, interns will be required to sign a FSLA-compliant internship agreement. If credit is available from intern’s educational institution for participation in an internship, we are glad to work with you to meet any requirements for receiving credit.

Want to help build community?

Know a college student that’s looking for a spring or summer internship for academic credit or to gain experience? Already attending village board or school board meetings and want to record or report on them? Want to engage with arts & culture, ag, businesses and other topics important to our community? Want to take scenic walks or drives delivering papers to subscribers and businesses? We have so many ideas to grow and do more for our community, but we need help, we CAN’T do it alone.

If you want to be a part of something bigger please email us and let us know what your interests are: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

Areas in most need:

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-Social media posting/audio & video creation (TikTok, Reels, podcasting, etc.)

-E-newsletter

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-Agriculture reporter/columnist (current events) -Inside sales (commission available)

We have the infrastructure set up for most of these areas, we're just in need of manpower from passionate community members.

have good reason to watch both sides in this process carefully to ensure the ﬁnal budget does not erode too many of the state’s hard-won ﬁnancial gains.

This information is a service of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, the state’s leading resource for nonpartisan state and local government research and civic education. Learn more at wispolicyforum.org.

Once we were far enough along the trail so that going back was out of the question, nothing was important except what I carried on my back, and all that mattered was the view and placing one foot in front of the next. Finding that place is harder now, but I think I’m going to go in search of it by placing one foot in front of the next.

Beverly is a retired professor. She lives in a remodeled farmhouse and tends 40 acres of woodland in Richland County. When not in the woods she spends her time reading, writing and enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Area. Beverly may be contacted at bpestel@msn.com.

COmmunitycalendar

Events for March 6 - March 20

are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in. March 20 March 28

Thursday, March 20

Community Art Class – Alma Thomas: Rhythmic Expression 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM • Angel Dreams Studios, E2516 Brace Road, Lone Rock • For more inforrmation look up Angel Dreams Studios on Facebook • Learn about pioneering artist Alma Thomas and explore vibrant abstract painting techniques. Open to all ages and abilities. $20 per participant, all supplies included. Part of a weekly Thursday series through July.

Tech Help 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Need assistance with your phone, computer, Kindle, or another device? A knowledgeable librarian will be available to help troubleshoot issues and guide you through technology challenges in a friendly environment.

Read to a Dog 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Young readers can practice their literacy skills by reading to a trained therapy dog in a calm, supportive environment.

Lego Challenge 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Test your creative building skills in a themed construction challenge. Completed creations will be displayed in the library.

Family Night - Monkey Bread 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Families are invited to the library to learn how to make monkey bread, a beloved family treat. Space is limited—reserve your spot in person or by calling (608) 546-4201.

LIVE MUSIC: River Valley Middle School Choir Concert 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM • River Valley High School West Gymnasium, 660 Varsity Blvd, Spring Green • Enjoy an evening of music performed by the River Valley Middle School choir. All are welcome.

Monday, March 24 cont. Wednesday, March 26 Saturday, March 22

Spring Green Winter Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM • S230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green • Spring Green farmers market is a year - round outdoor market offering seasonal produce, local meats, baked goods, and many other wonderful items. Held outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning. 2025 Layton-Brown Memorial Bean Bag Tournament 10:00 AM start, bags fly at 11:00 AM • Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green • For more information look up Wisconsin Riverside Resort on Facebook • Team tournament, double elimination format. $20 per team. Bring your own partner and bags. Pre-registration recommended; day-of registration opens at 10 AM. Scholarships benefit River Valley seniors. Contact Nicole at (608) 412-5788 or Bill at (608) 588-5156 to register.

LIVE MUSIC: Kit Mayer 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany Street, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • Enjoy live music by Driftless-based singer-songwriter Kit Mayer. Mayer’s Americana style blends folk, country, and rock influences for a heartfelt performance. All ages. Power Cuff Workshop – Art as Activism 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Ali Kauss AdornmentAKA, 101 East Jefferson Street, Spring Green • For more information look up Ali Kauss Adornment on Facebook • Design your own sterling silver cuff using gemstones and metal stamps. No experience necessary. $130, all materials included. Limited space available.

LIVE MUSIC: Psycherelic 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Classic rock favorites performed with high energy and playful stage presence by Psycherelic. Suggested donation of $5–$10 at the door for the band.

Vocal Harmony Workshop 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM • Spring Green Community Center, 117 S. Washington St., Spring Green • This ﬁve-session workshop (February through June) is designed to help participants hear and learn vocal harmony. While not advanced, attendees should be familiar with their instrument and basic music reading. The regular jam will begin at 1:00 PM as usual. To register and receive materials, email GentleJamSG@gmail.com.

Spring Green Gentle Jam 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Center, 117 S Washington St, Spring Green • FREE • The Spring Green Gentle Jam meets on the 4th Sunday of every month, offering a low-pressure environment for practicing acoustic instruments and singing. To register, email GentleJamSG@gmail.com. River Valley Film Club Presents… 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson Street, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Monthly film screening series. Movie title revealed at showtime—follow River Valley Film Club on Facebook for hints. Arrive early to grab a drink and connect with fellow movie lovers. Bring your own popcorn or dinner.

Monday, March 24

Introduction to Zazen 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green • Donation-based • A weekly Rinzai Zen meditation class covering posture, breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Includes a tea and discussion period from 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM. Arrive 10-15 minutes early; meditation cushions and chairs provided. Contact bethany.morehouse.howlett@gmail.com with questions. Spring Break Virtual Reality Drop-In 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Drop in to try out two versions of VR headsets during spring break. Recommended for ages 10+. Drop-In Makerspace – Peep Dioramas 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Get creative and build your own Peep diorama at the library's drop-in makerspace. All supplies provided. All ages welcome.

LIVE MUSIC: Open Mic with Dylan Harris 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Bring your music to life at this monthly open mic night. Plug in, play solo, sing along, or gather your band. Hosted by Dylan Harris. No cover; tips for the host welcome.

Tuesday, March 25

Spring Break Movie – Moana 2 11:00 AM - 12:45 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Watch the newly released Moana 2 during spring break. Popcorn and lemonade provided. Rated PG, 1 hr 20 min. Movies, Munchies, and More – The Shape of Water 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Enjoy a free screening of The Shape of Water, plus complimentary snacks.

Spring Break Virtual Reality Drop-In 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Drop in to try out two versions of VR headsets during spring break. Recommended for ages 10+.

All Ages Storytime 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Stories, songs, and activities designed for children of all ages and their caregivers. A fun and interactive way to encourage early literacy.

Explore the World of Watercolor 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Learn watercolor techniques and create a unique landscape painting. Taught by artist Vicky Lilla. Registration required at forms.gle/3X6akCpDFtwDitg58. All materials provided.

Book Discussion Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton 2:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join in for coﬀee, snacks, and discussion of this month’s selection, Birnam Wood. Copies available at the library a month in advance. All are welcome.

Yoga with Rural Remedy 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 WI-23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Evening yoga class welcoming all levels. Drop-in rate is $20 per class. Pay-it-forward option available to support others in the community.

Thursday, March 27

Spring Break Ninja Training Camp 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Lions Den, 121 W. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • lionsdentkd.com • Two days of martial arts, obstacle courses, and ninja skills for ages 5-12. $60 for both days or $35 per day. Email lionsdentkd@icloud.com to register.

Lego Builders Club 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Drop in and get creative with Legos. Free build or take on the weekly challenges. All ages welcome.

Silent Book Club 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM • Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • readinutopia.com • Bring your book and read in community. Socialize and share your current read, enjoy an hour of silent reading, and linger afterward. Drinks and after-hours shopping available.

Knit Night at Nina's 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Nina's Department Store, 143 E. Jeﬀferson St. Spring Green • ninasdepartmentstore.com • FREE • Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crotcheters are welcome.

thursday, march 27

Sunday, March 23 Friday, March 28

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM • Phoenix Center - Banquet Hall, 100 S Orange St, Richland Center • Pizza & Mingling: 4:30-5 PM (FREE PIZZA, as long as it lasts! First come, ﬁrst served!) Listening Session: 5 to 6 PM. This is your chance to share your thoughts and ask your state senator questions as the state budget process continues. All are welcome. Senator Keyeski (D-Lodi) serves on the following committees: Agriculture and Revenue, Education, Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families.

NOTE: This is not a campaign event, it is an listening session in the Senator’s official capacity. The Senator’s office has confirmed attendance.

Karaoke at Slowpoke 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Belt out your favorites or cheer on friends at this lively karaoke night, hosted by Janna Johnson. No cover; tips for the host welcome. Event may run later depending on turnout.

The Community Calendar is curated by Paige Gilberg and designed by Julianna Williams. Events

March 29 - April 3

Events for March 6 - March 20

LIVE MUSIC: The Instigators 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany Street, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • Enjoy lively blues and roots music from The Instigators. All ages.

Open Euchre 5:00 PM • Arena VFW Hall 514 Willow Street, Arena • For more information look up Arena VFW on Facebook • $5 • BBQ, Chips and Beans available for purchase. No partner needed. Last Saturday of Every month!

LIVE MUSIC: The Driftless Revelers 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson Street, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Genre-blending string band mixing early roots blues, jazz, and freak-folk. Tickets $12 advance, $15 at the door.

March 30

Iowa County Pheasants Forever Youth Learn & Hunt 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM • Iowa County Outdoor Sportsman’s Complex, 732 Tower Street, Mineral Point • Contact andreapf0538@gmail.com to register • Youth ages 10-15 learn about hunting safety and pheasant hunting. Free event includes lunch. Registration required.

March 31

April 1

NWS Storm Spotter Training 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Fire & EMS, 327 S. Winsted Street, Spring Green • For more information, look up Sauk County WI Emergency Management on Facebook • Free training covering severe weather awareness, safety, and how to assist the National Weather Service as a trained spotter. Open to the public, no registration required.

Beginner Stained Glass – First Session 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM • Angel Dreams Studios, E2516 Brace Road, Lone Rock • For more information, look up Angel Dreams Studios on Facebook • Five-session course covering design, cutting, soldering, and ﬁnishing techniques. $150 plus $75–$150 for materials. Space limited. Call (608) 350-9989 or email billiejo@angeldreamsstudios.com to reserve.

April 3

Tech Drop-In 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • rvbroadband.org/techhelp • Need assistance with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Volunteers and library staﬀ oﬀer free help with email setup, social media, software troubleshooting, and more. No appointment necessary.

Part of a rotating weekly series at River Valley area locations.

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome. Knit Night at Nina's 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Nina's Department Store, 143 E. Jeﬀferson St. Spring Green • ninasdepartmentstore.com • FREE • Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crotcheters are welcome.

Container Gardens for Sun and Shade Viewng Party 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Watch a recorded webinar by gardening expert Melinda Myers. Learn plant combinations and care tips for sun-ﬁlled and shady container gardens.

The Community Calendar is curated by Paige Gilberg and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.

WHAT’S HANGINg ?

Spring Green Community Library Art Exhibitions Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green Monday-Thursday: 10 AM - 7 PM • Friday: 10 AM - 5 PM • Saturday: 9 AM - 1 PM •

Ruthann Corrao is the featured artist in the Glass Case Gallery in March. She shares that "I've been creating...drawing, coloring, painting since I was a child. In high school I won contests and a scholarship to a week-long art camp. My sunﬂowers design was chosen and used on the cover of the annual Spring Green Art Fair brochure for a few years, back in its early day. It's only in the last few years that I've been able to spend more time with my favorite...watercolor painting. Mostly I'm self taught. My inspiration comes from Nature and the precious, fragile natural world that we are all so intricately a part of." Corrao's art is available for viewing during regular library hours.

Megan Quigley's fourth grade artists at River Valley Elementary School are showing their work in the Community Room Gallery throughout March. They have been working hard in art class this year learning about the principles of design. Works of art incorporating contrast, emphasis, pattern, movement, and unity will be on display. They have picked their very best work to share with you! The exhibit is available for viewing during regular library hours when the Community Room is not in use. Please ask for the room key at the circulation desk.

CIVICS & SERVICES

CIVICS & SERVICES CALENDAR

This calendar is a place listing (for free) the typical meeting dates for area governmental bodies, and Please email us with these meetings, or use the form on our Community Calendar page — let's build community together: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

March 24: Plain Library Board Meeting 6:30 PM • Plain Village Hall, 510 Main Street, Plain • villageofplain.com

March 25: Arena Community Team (ACT) Meeting 6:00 PM • VFW Post 9366, 117 N. State Street, Arena

March 26: Spring Green Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Village Hall, 154 N. Lexington St., Spring Green • vi.springgreen.wi.gov

March 28: Blood Drive at Arena Fire & EMS 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Arena Fire Station, 111 David Circle, Arena • For an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org • Give in March for a $10 Gift Card by email & successful donations get A1C testing. reblood.org/March

March 31: Plain Kraemer Library Board Meeting 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main Street, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org

April 1: 2025 Spring Election 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM • For more information to ﬁnd your polling location and to see what's on your ballot, go to myvote.wi.gov/

Blood Drive American Red Cross 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM • Lone Rock Community Building, 214 Broadway Street, Lone Rock • redcrossblood.org

Plain Lions Club Meeting 7:00 PM • Plain Village Hall, 510 Main Street, Plain • villageofplain.com

April 3:

Blood Drive: American Red Cross 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 WI-23, Spring Green • redcrossblood.org

4:30-5 p.m. (FREE PIZZA, as long as it lasts! First come, first served!)

Listening Session: 5 to 6 p.m. share your thoughts and ask your state senator questions as the state budget process continues. All are welcome. (D-Lodi) serves on the following committees: Agriculture and Revenue, Education, Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families

EEN! website and Facebook, or email for more info at: economicequitynow@gmail.com

Time for Some Good Trouble

Bi-Weekly Sword Tip Holistic Wellness and Politics

Admittedly, with all the crazy brouhaha going on with our country daily…it can be challenging to know what direction to go, respond or ﬁnd hope…that’s when I thought of one of my heroes, John Lewis, whom I learned more about several years ago since sadly he wasn't in my history books back in the day. John was responsible for this recognition of the words “Good Trouble”. This social change warrior believed that people coming together to mentor, protest and learn could create a society that they wanted to live in…just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others called the “beloved community.” Realistically, creating that community required persistence; optimism; and the willingness to make what he called “good trouble”.

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.” John Lewis made this statement on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on March 1, 2020 (just over 5 years ago) remembering the tragic events of Bloody Sunday. Sadly, Bloody Sunday occurred on March 7, 1965 as peaceful protesters were beaten by law enforcement oﬃcers for crossing the bridge. Lewis (who barely survived) and others were beaten so badly they required hospitalization.

According to a Brookings commentary by Rashan Ray titled “Five Things John Lewis Taught Us About Getting into ‘Good Trouble’, the meaning behind the march is signiﬁcant. The 600-person civil rights march was actually about police brutality due to a 26-year-old church deacon, Jimmie Lee Jackson…who was killed by James Fowler, a state trooper in Alabama.

Bloody Sunday has often been noted as the culminating point of Lewis’ life. This deﬁning moment highlights ﬁve things he taught us about getting into “good trouble”:

1. Vote, always: Our vote matters. If it didn’t, why would some people keep trying to take it away? What a great way of having our voices heard!

2. Never too young to make a difference: As a founder and leader of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Lewis was the youngest person to speak at the March on Washington.

3. Speak Truth to Power: “Speak up, speak out, get in the way,” said Lewis. He taught us the importance of speaking up and speaking out. We have to be willing to speak up about injustice, always, no matter the costs.

4. Become a Racial Equity Broker: Lewis was the model of transitioning from a political activist to a politician. A racial equity advocate speaks up and speaks out, stands in the gap, and sits at the table to advocate for people who cannot advocate for themselves. There is a saying… “If you are not at the table, you are on the menu and someone is eating you for lunch.” Shirley Chisholm said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” Lewis realized that to make transformative change, he had to be at the table and

Sherry Hillesheim, R.N.

often bring his own chair.

5. Never Give Up: When Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986, one of his ﬁrst bills was the creation of a national museum to chronicle the history, culture, and successes of Black Americans. Lewis taught us persistence. He taught us that when a person has transformative ideas, they should not taper those ideas. Instead, they should push those ideas until others get on board. Simply because change is slow does not mean change agents have to move slowly towards it. Lewis was a lightning bolt for equity, social change, and social justice. We must continue his legacy, never forget history, pursue equity, and get in good trouble.

Wellness warriors…as we push back and ﬁnd our unique way of making our voices heard through our “good trouble” eﬀorts, as a reminder, our woke minds are required:

Ten Attributes of a Woke Mind

1. We read books and don’t burn them

2. We embrace science.

3. We are willing to change your mind.

4. We understand that most issues are not black and white.

5. We believe in true equality for all people.

6. We have empathy.

7. We embrace cooperation.

8. We respect the rights of others.

9. We believe culture and arts have value.

10. We are for the planet.

Let’s keep hope alive, Warriors…progress, not perfection.

Spiritual Meditation: ”The worst sound of injustice sounds like silence from the masses” - Daily Medicine

Political Humor: Breaking news! In preparation for life after politics, President Trump has agreed to a formal apprenticeship with Elon Musk to pursue the necessary social and intellectual skills to sell gently used, tariﬀ free Teslas (the market is unsurprisingly ﬂooded). Note: special discount pricing (50% APR) for recently terminated Federal employees and Veterans.

My blog and contact information: www. holisticseekers.com; 719-213-9963

Your ad here, same size as above, for ONLY

Spring Green Literary Festival announces 'Plays Out Loud'

The Spring Green Literary Festival will soon begin its community readings of four American Players Theatre plays in advance of the 2025 summer season. The series, called "Plays Out Loud," will take place on Sundays at 2:00 pm beginning April 6 and continuing on April 13, April 27 and May 4. The April 13 and May 4 readings will be held at the Spring Green Community Center, 117 S. Washington Street. On April 6 and 27 meetings will be held at The Shed Upstairs.

Those who attend are invited to participate in these readings by selecting a part to read out loud or by simply listening and joining the discussion that follows. Playbooks are available for

sale at Arcadia Books or on loan from the Spring Green Community Library with a South Central library card. Free scripts will be available at the door on the afternoon of the reading. The purpose is to bring together those from the area who love plays and words and want to have fun reading the plays out loud in advance of the summer performances. As a result, participants gain insights to the plays’ development and a preliminary understanding of the stories. The plays chosen for readings this year are Fallen Angels by Noel Coward on April 6, Picnic by William Inge on April 13, Art by Yasmina Reza on April 27, and Anna in the Tropics on May 4. The series is free and open to all. Beverages and popcorn will be provided.

Shitty Barn announces 1st half of 2025 season

Hey y’all,

We're just about set with another season of sessions guaranteed to light up your summer. Some of your favorite Barn alums will be returning, and we've booked some shining stars that we know you're gonna love.

Plus, get ready to go Rogue! Rogue Sessions are shows curated for those who like a little more energy and a lot fewer chairs.

So folks, NO chairs in the Barn at these shows. We want movement and dancing to match the energy the bands are bringing. Expect high-energy performances where the crowd moves freely and every night is unpredictable.

Check out the schedule below, and make your plan to get the shows you want when May through July tickets go on sale April 1st at 7pm. Looking forward to seeing you all out there!

• Thurs, May 8th - Kiss The Tiger with TAE & The Neighborly

• Fri, May 16th - Adam Greuel & the Space Burritos

• Wed, May 21st - Deb Talan (of the Weepies) // Caley Conway

• Fri, May 23rd - Glitterfox // Kat and the Hurricane **ROGUE SESSION**

• Fri, June 6th - Caroline Rose (solo) - Night 1

• Sat, June 7th - Caroline Rose (solo) - Night 2

• Thurs, June 12th - Pieta Brown & The Taken (feat. Erik Koskinen)

• Fri, June 20th - The Ike Reilly Assassination

• Sat, June 28th - Collections of Colonies of Bees // The Hallelujah Ward

• Wed, July 2nd - Jenny Don't & the Spurs

• Fri, July 11th - LowDown Brass Band **ROGUE SESSION**

• Thurs, July 17th - Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys

• Sat, July 26th - Dean Johnson // Erin Rae

• Fri, August 1st - The Deslondes // Sabine McCalla **ROGUE SESSION**

• Thurs, August 7th - TBA*

• Sat, August 9th - Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band // Kate Teague

• Sat, August 16th - TBA*

• Thurs, August 21st - Teddy and The Rough Riders // This Is Gary

• Fri, August 22nd - TBA*

• Fri, August 29th - Lilly Hiatt

• Thurs, September 11th - TBA*

• Fri, September 19th - TBA*

• Wed, September 24th - Drumming Bird

• Wed, October 1st - TBA*

• Wed, October 8th - TBA*

Be sure to check out our Spotify playlist and give a listen to what's coming.

Sh*tty Barn 2025 Season Preview

Sh*tty Barn Sessions

Deniece Carver, Contributed

Sara Stellick, Contributed

Community/GOVeRnMent

River Valley School Board renames school buildings, sets 2025-2026 calendar, hears Title IX policy changes

continued from page 1

new legislation, but now has to remove previous updates to comply with the reverted policy.

This comes after a federal judge in Kentucky declared changes from the Biden administration were unconstitutional and beyond the department’s

authority. Changes under the Biden administration expanded protections for students based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Title IX was introduced in 1972, and acts to prohibit any type of sex-based discrimination in educational facilities or programs that receive funding from the federal government.

Legal Editor's Analysis: When things work right. River Valley School Board's meeting notice insuﬃcient — again. District Administrator's response applauded.

A basic premise of our legal system is that the best way to find the truth is through the crucible of fierce adversary testing, and that’s what generates the courtroom drama that gets made into books, films, television shows and true crime podcasts. But the fact is that most suits, criminal or civil, get settled, and most potential suits never get filed. Our legal system depends on that, and it’s mostly a good thing. There’s a real sense that any time you need to file a lawsuit, it represents a failure to have avoided one.

Some time back, an editor of this newspaper had a lawsuit that they briefly undertook against the Village Board of Arena, for having enacted a public records ordinance that would have violated the state law. We got a judge to block the ordinance from ever being enforced, and the village withdrew it. The village was smart to back down, and the cost of its misstep was confined to a little embarrassment, some legal fees and some filing and service fees. But it should never have misstepped. The damage, though small, was unnecessary.

A better example of how things should go was just provided by the River Valley School Board. When we got the meeting notice for its March 13 regular meeting, we contacted the district’s administrator Loren Glasbrenner to let him know that the board’s meeting notice was defective with respect to its closed session. We did not threaten or demand anything, we just said, “we wanted to bring an issue with tonight’s school board meeting notice to your attention that we hope you can share with the board,” went on to explain the law, and concluded, “Please encourage the board to do better in the future.”

For the record, the issue was that the reason for the closed session was given as, “Considering Employment, Promotion, Compensation and Performance Evaluations. 19.85(1)(c).”

Section 19.85(1)(c) is the provision of the state statutes that uses nearly identical language to exempt such matters from having to be held in open session. Simply stating the language from the statute is not suﬃcient, however, for three reasons, which we explained:

The courts have explained that legally sufficient description must be detailed enough that a member of the governmental body, or a member of the public, or a court, would be able to tell from the description whether the purpose of the closed session actually satisfies the statute. The burden is on the governmental body to provide enough information to show that the closure is really justified.

In this case, would anyone have any idea what public issue is actually going to be discussed, what action is contemplated? Is a new hire contemplated? A change in salary or title? Are multiple employees going to be aﬀected? There have been legal rulings that some things which might seem like they could fall under this section actually do not. For example, coming up with general promotion criteria without applying them to a particular employee is not exempt from the open meeting rule. One may look at this and have no idea whether it was even legal to have a closed meeting.

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Governor Dodge State Park (Amphitheater Lot)

4175 WI-23, Dodgeville

All proceeds go to conservation efforts

50K 7:00 AM / 27K 9:00 AM / 10K 10:30 AM

That is the bare minimum. Ideally, one would like to know enough to tell not just whether the closure would be legal, but whether it is actually necessary. Employment matters may not always raise conﬁdentiality concerns. Maybe everything to be discussed is already public or the employee wants it so. A board member should have enough information to exercise discretion over whether to close the meeting.

Second, the amount of detail required depends on the circumstances, and the open meetings law may require much more than was given here. The courts will consider that less routine matters, that are novel and of great public concern, may require more than the baseline level of specificity. The courts also consider the burden which it would create for the governing body to include more information. If more details can be added without a lot of extra labor or investigation, and without compromising confidentiality concerns, they should be provided. The statute’s goal is to create as much openness in governmental affairs as possible consistent with the legitimate needs of the body. One might reasonably leave out information out of caution but should not treat the notice as the checking off of a legal box by just stating the minimum possible.

And third, the Attorney General, which is charged with issuing advisory rulings on open meetings law, has said that when a statutory exception includes multiple kinds of exempt topics of consideration, like “employment,” “compensation,” and “promotion” here, the notice should at least say which of these specific topics will be under consideration. The Attorney General has also said that where Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) allows governmental bodies to use closed sessions to interview candidates for positions of employment, to consider promotions of particular employees, to consider the compensation of particular employees, and to conduct employee evaluations, each of these phrases beginning with the words, “interviewing” or “considering” or” conducting”, is a different reason that should be identified in the meeting notice and in the motion to convene into closed session.

The response we got back from Loren Glasbreener was positive and encouraging. He said:

“Thank you for your email. We will review the information you provided and consider as we draft our upcoming agendas. I will make sure the board and my oﬃce team are aware of your concern; we will strive to do our best to have open and transparent government communication. We appreciate the opportunity and learning.”

This is a success story. We understand that lots of governmental bodies make open meetings law mistakes. There are times when legal action, or even some punishment, becomes necessary, but most of the time the oﬃcials who make these mistakes are honest public servants doing their jobs as best they can and not trying to hide anything. Acknowledging that is usually the best way to go about improving transparency in government.

—Gary

Ernest Grass, esq., Legal Editor

TOUR DE DODGE Trail Run

50K / 27K / 10K

Community Spotlight

The board recognized Bob Willoughby for the March community spotlight. As part of “Music in our Schools” month, the board thanked Willoughby for his continual support to the district as accompanist in the school’s solo and ensemble performances, band and choir concerts and musical productions. Willoughby has been helping the district since 2000.

“One of the reasons I enjoy doing it here, and keep continuing to do it, compared to other schools I’ve played for, it just seems as if the departments are so solid that I don’t have to worry. Everything goes smoothly, the kids are talented and prepared, and you know it’s a fun school to do that for,” Willoughby said.

Retirement of Lisa Scoﬁeld

The board heard the submission of retirement from Lisa Scoﬁeld. Scoﬁeld has been with the district for many years and teaches high school English and AP courses.

“Phenomical educator, someone who’s very passionate about the profession and does a great job with our students,” said Darby Blakely, high school principal. “She’s going to be missed greatly.”

April 1 Referendum and School Board Elections

The district is participating in the Wisconsin April 1 election, with both school board member elections and an operational referendum on the ballot

Five candidates have ﬁled for the upcoming election, including incumbents seeking re-election and a new candidate vying for a seat on the board, according to the district.

Emily Beck and Jess Hisel have ﬁled to run for a three-year term representing Area 6, Village of Spring Green. Current board member Sara Young has opted not to seek re-election and submitted a Notiﬁcation of Noncandidacy.

Jeﬀ Maier, the incumbent for Area 3, Town of Clyde, has ﬁled to retain his seat for another three-year term.

In Area 9, Village of Plain, John Bet-

Driftless Grace: Going Out

My latest meeting with a friend over coﬀee touched on a favorite topic of mine: the events that mark the change of seasons in a small town. I was pleased when, like me, this friend lumped both human and nonhuman phenomena into one category. From the mourning doves building a nest by his house to the arrival of the brochure for a certain outdoor theatre company, he was seeing signs of spring everywhere.

tinger, the current board member, has also ﬁled for re-election to a three-year term.

Board members for each Area are elected by district voters at large.

The board voted at their Jan. 9 meeting to place a referendum on the ballot for the April 1 Spring Election.

The April 1 referendum is an operational referendum – the money being requested is to be used for academic courses, programs and classes exclusively, not for building updates, construction or other maintenance. The district is seeking to increase its revenue limit to allow for a mill rate increase, as the district has been dealing with falling mill rates since 2020.

The mill rate is a way to calculate property taxes in Wisconsin, including those used to fund public school districts. It represents the amount of tax owed per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. For example, if the mill rate is 5, a property owner pays $5 in taxes for every $1,000 of their property’s assessed value.

“If the referendum fails we are going to be in a very fragile ﬁnancial situation,” board member Fred Iausley said, while discussing the ability for the buildings and grounds committee to make long term building and maintenance plans.

The district previously hosted community informational sessions in Arena, Lone Rock and Plain, with one to come in Spring Green on March 18.

“We’ve been doing our community sessions… It’s just been really healthy conversations. There’s nothing been like targeting or blameful,” said Loren Glasbrenner, district administrator . “It’s just been really open, really good conversations about how we’re hoping to move the district ahead.

Looking Ahead

The River Valley School District Board of Education next meets April 10 in the Middle School Library at 7 p.m. The board streams meetings to the district’s YouTube channel.

en about 650 miles since mid-January. This would have been unheard of when I was working for conservation groups and had to travel to countless meetings, events, and rural natural areas. It signals a change in my lifestyle as well as the normal course of a Wis-

It feels like we’re poised right on the edge of spring – that time of year when you need to change clothes halfway through each day. The lush growth of April and May gets plenty of attention, but this phase of anticipation is easy to overlook. I, for one, can say it’s changing things for the better.

consin winter.

I make no secret of my dislike for winter. I don’t participate in winter sports, and I’m even less likely to take car trips when there might be snow to deal with. I also get cold far too easily. Thus, while a “staycation” might be a fun option during the warmer months, in the winter it’s a self-imposed constraint. I believe that my particular brand of seasonal depression is caused by limited contact with the outdoors, rather than the cold or the lack of light. And yet, this morning I relished a walk through the frosty landscape because I knew it would be my last chance for a while.

As conﬁrmation of my cabin fever, I noticed yesterday that I’ve only driv-

This lack of distraction does allow for more inner examination. I’m grateful for the breakthroughs, some of them profound, that I’ve experienced in the past few months. But I’m also looking forward to being distracted again (and drinking iced coﬀee at those friend gatherings). The signs are pointing to a new season with new opportunities for growth.

Grace Vosen is a writer and conservation educator living in Spring Green. She blogs about both the human and nonhuman communities of our region at DriftlessGrace.com.

Grace Vosen, Contributor

Grace Vosen

NONPARTISAN WI SUPREME COURT VOTING GUIDE

The Sauk County Gardener

Spring Has Sprung

Jeannie

“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”

— Margaret Atwood, Bluebeard's Egg

I don’t care if it isn’t oﬃcially spring when I’m writing this, but I’m calling it – spring has sprung at our house! With all this nice weather we’ve been having and more on the way, it’s time to get outside for some fresh air and do some March gardening tasks.

As your vegetable garden starts to dry out, rake aside any mulch or lay down some black plastic so the soil will warm up faster. Resist the urge to remove the mulch from your strawberry plants until later in April. If you remove the mulch and we get a few warm days, your strawberries may start to bloom. Most likely there will be a few more frosty nights, and those early blooms will get nipped, decreasing your future pickings. Harvest in-ground root

crops, such as parsnips and carrots, before they start growing again. Fertilize your Asparagus beds before spears emerge. Apply 1 to 1.5 pounds of an all-purpose fertilizer (ie. 10-10-10) per 100 square feet for adequate feeding. Prune and fertilize grapes if they are not growing vigorously. Fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs and evergreens should also be assessed to see if they need fertilizer. Finally, ﬁnish up any tree pruning before April 1.

In your perennial beds, carefully remove mulch from around early spring-blooming flowers. Try to remove as little leaf litter as possible elsewhere as many of our beneficial insects and pollinators are still slumbering underneath. Check heuchera, scabiosa, gaillardia, Bergenia, and other shallow root system perennials for frost heave. If you find any heaved roots, gently tap them down (don’t compact the soil) and cover them with mulch.

Starting Seeds Indoors vs. Direct Sowing

“It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn.”

— B. C. Forbes

Over the last couple of months, I’ve noticed numerous posts on Facebook and other social media by folks who are starting their seeds for the upcoming growing season. Many posts start out with lots of enthusiasm about how quickly their seeds are sprouting, followed by posts of dismay when their seedlings are tall and leggy reaching for the light or fighting damping off. It’s hard to not start your seeds too soon, especially when we’re longing for spring weather. And there are some seeds that really need that extra long growing season. For those who live in Sauk and neighboring counties. mid-March is the most practical time to start many seeds that benefit from being started indoors

There are a number of reasons to start seeds indoors. One reason is that some plants simply can’t be planted outdoors too early because soil temps are too cool. Also, there may not be enough growing days for the plants to get big enough to produce a harvest unless they are started indoors. Another reason is that you can

get a head start on the growing season. I planted some Early Girl tomatoes that are supposed to be ready to harvest within 53 days – I’m hoping for some tomatoes in late June/early July. There are so many more varieties of seeds than what you can get in a cell pack at a nursery or garden center. In many cases, you can get more plants than you’ll ever need for the season for the low price of a seed pack. Of course, there is the simple enjoyment of knowing you grew that flower or vegetable from seed. If you’ve decided to start your garden from seed, you have to assess which ones should be started indoors and which ones should be direct sowed. Your seed packet is a wealth of knowledge. Many times, they will say “start indoors” or “direct sow”. It’ll also indicate how many weeks prior to the first frost to start the seeds. From there, you just count backward. This year, our last frost day in Baraboo is predicted to be May 12. This is a guide, not a guarantee. There are a number of online planting guides, planners, and such that can also help you figure out the timing as well. Some common vegetable seeds that are good candidates for starting indoors right now are tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Bok choy, cabbage, collards, kale, spinach,

Wandering the Driftless

Getting Involved In Outdoor Recreation Decisions

Wisconsin offers some unique opportunities for citizen involvement in decision making relating to the outdoors. Unfortunately, many of us that relish time spent afield do not relish time spent in meetings. Meetings can, however, be important in making positive changes to outdoor activities a reality. Spring meetings of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress and County Deer Advisory Councils offer everyone a chance for input on how our natural resources are managed.

Wisconsin Conservation Congress (WCC)

The Conservation Congress was established in 1934 to give citizens an avenue for input on conservation issues. Governor Patrick Lucey passed a law in 1972 establishing the WCC as the liaison between citizens of the state and the Natural Resources Board (NRB) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Each county in the Badger State is represented by ﬁve WCC delegates. They are elected by residents of their county at spring hearings, all held on the same evening in early April. Hearing attendees also vote on a slate of proposals from the DNR, NRB and citizens of Wisconsin. Following the COVID pandemic, on-line voting on these proposals is allowed for a 48 hour period following the spring hearings. People

Head indoors to start indoor seeds such as cabbage, celery, cauliﬂower, head lettuce, and parsley. You can also start broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggplant, and kale to get a head start on an earlier crop. It’s also time to start tomatoes and peppers. I’ve found that peppers in particular need a little more time to germinate and appreciate their soil being warmer than other seeds we’ve started. This year, my husband and I are trying a new method of seedstarting to see if we can get stronger and larger tomato and pepper plants sooner for transplanting into the garden. We are experiencing excellent germination, faster than normal growth, and signiﬁcantly less drying out of our seedlings. Not sure that’s such a great thing as we planted eight types of peppers and thirty types of tomatoes and all of them are doing wonderful.

Pot up your tender bulbs such as calla lilies, begonias, dahlias, caladiums,

Swiss chard, and tomatillos. There are a number of herbs that beneﬁt from being started indoors as well– think basil, chives, fennel, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme. There are a number of seeds that just do better if they are direct sowed. This includes root crops such as carrots, beets, and radishes. Peas, lettuce, and spinach are good to direct sow as they are fastgrowing and are cold-tolerant, so they can be planted as early as mid-April. As soon as I get my onion seedlings, they will go out in the garden and get a nice layer of mulch to protect them until it gets warmer. Some others to direct sow because they don’t like their roots disturbed include beans, corn, cucumbers, arugula, squash, cilantro, dill, and sunﬂowers.

No matter whether you plan to start seeds indoors or direct sow them, only plant what you and your family will eat. Also, try to be realistic about how much you can really use. There are so many interesting vegetable varieties out there that it’s easy to get sucked in and find yourself with over 30 different varieties of tomatoes. Yes, this happened to me this year! Come this fall, I will have to find homes for all the tomatoes we can’t use.

Now that you’re excited about everything you can potentially grow, here’s a couple

elephant ears, etc. so they will be ready to put out in your garden in May after the danger of frost has passed. Dahlias grow relatively quickly when planted directly outdoors, but I like to have some earlier than normal blooms if I can get them. Some annuals you can start from seed near the end of the month include alyssum, Asters, bachelor buttons, Calendula, Delphinium, larkspur, pansies, snapdragons, and stocks. I’ve had success both starting them indoors and direct sowing them when the ground is ready. Start them now if you want to earlier blooms.

Resume fertilizing your houseplants and carefully inspect them for insect pests. If you ﬁnd any pests, do your research and ﬁnd the right product for the problem. I’m currently battling spider mites on my hibiscus. Now’s the time to propagate new houseplants from some of your favorites or a cutting from a friend.

good workshops to learn more about seed starting. First up is “Vegetable Gardening Basics Workshop” on Saturday, April 5 from 9-11 am at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library, Baraboo. Attendees will learn the gardening basics and then ﬁnish-up with a hand-on seedstarting session where they can plant a ﬂat of seeds to take with them. They’ll also get to take home more seed packets of vegetables that do best being direct sown. Cost is only $5 and is open to anyone. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

For those that have started seeds before but want to hone their skills, plan to attend “Starting Seeds” on Tuesday, April 22 at 6 pm at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library, Baraboo. This is an indepth workshop focused on proven seedstarting methods.

This article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certiﬁed Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County oﬃce at 608-3553250.

attending the hearings in-person are allowed to vote for their WCC representatives and ask questions of DNR staﬀ and WCC members before casting votes. Online voters do not have these opportunities.

Citizens are also allowed to present resolutions for changes in how our resources are managed. There is a set time frame prior to the spring hearing to put these in writing. There are also resources online, oﬀered by WCC, to assist in writing a proposal in the proper format. These proposals are presented at the county hearings. If approved there, they are forwarded for statewide approval and may eventually become a part of our resource management strategy.

The Conservation Congress convenes in May, with delegates from across the state attending. The main order of business is voting on proposals that have made their way to this ﬁnal step in the process. Each proposal is read. Delegates, for and against, are allowed to step up to a microphone and present their arguments. When this is ﬁnished the vote is called, with each county allowed one vote. Proposals approved are forwarded to the DNR and/or the NRB.

A WCC citizen proposal, ﬁrst presented in Richland County, resulted in a deer hunting rule change implemented during the 2024 season. The DNR began issuing either sex tags to replace antlerless tags

used on CWD positive antlerless deer. Antlerless tags were used to replace antlerless tags in prior years. The process does work. County Deer Advisory Councils

Each county in Wisconsin has a deer advisory council. Members are chosen to represent various stake-holder groups. These are transportation, tourism, sportsman’s clubs, forestry, urban areas, agriculture and landowner’s enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). The CDAC chair and vice chair are members of the WCC delegation. Members serve a 3 year term.

CDACs are to gather public opinion on deer populations and management, review deer herd metrics presented by DNR wildlife professionals and make recommendations for deer management to the DNR and NRB. Public opinion may be oﬀered at the annual CDAC meetings or online for a period prior to the meetings. Meetings are held during the last two weeks of April. Times and locations are available on the DNR website.

CDACs each set a three year goal. This basically states whether the group wants the deer population to increase, decrease or stay about the same. Based on this goal, public input and current deer herd metrics, the CDAC sets an antlerless deer harvest goal. With this in mind, the group sets the

number of free antlerless tags issued per license and the number of extra antlerless tags to be sold in that county.

Each county is different. Differences in deer habitat and hunting pressure may also result in differences in deer densities within that county. This ensures that no matter what the CDAC chooses to do, there are likely to be some folks that disagree. This is also part of the process.

Get Involved

Conservation Congress hearings all occur on Monday, April 14. Locations and times are available on the DNR website. Attend in person if you can. Ask questions and vote for your WCC representative or run for a seat on the WCC. If you cannot attend, go to the DNR and vote on resolutions. As in all democratic options, if you do not vote, you should not complain.

CDAC meetings are all scheduled on different evenings during the last two weeks of April. Check the DNR website for times and locations. Attend the meeting and/or make your feelings known online.

Meetings are not always enjoyable, but in Wisconsin they oﬀer citizens a unique opportunity to help decide on how our natural resources are managed. Those outdoor experiences will shine brighter knowing you had some input in making Wisconsin the great place that it is.

Manis, Wisconsin Certiﬁed Master Gardener

John Cler, Columnist

Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certiﬁed Master Gardener

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

Hello friends,

This week I headed over to Buffalo City which is in Buffalo County and on the Mississippi River to fish for perch on Spring Lake, which is a man made backwater on the river and a very popular spot to catch a variety of fish.

I would be camping on the ice for 2 nights and as usual had my golden retriever “Red” along for companionship.

Sunday, March 2nd

High 42°, Low 29°

This trip just about did not happen as of 5 days earlier, I had fallen through the ice and sprained my ankle, twisted my knee and hurt my back in a pretty touchy experience.

So here is the plan, drive to Spring lake with a trailer in tow with my atv and a small trailer to haul my gear to paradise. The ice is getting rough, so I chose to drive my atv down a dike road and haul my gear down a rock embankment and haul it out to where I wanted to fish/camp in Otter Sleds.

I have camped on Spring Lake at least 35 nights of my life and it seems like the catching is either feast or famine. Getting the gear down the rock embankment was very touchy with a bum ankle but that worked. Hauling my gear to where I planned on fishing was no problem and I might add that the last 2 times I camped here were for 3 nights each time and very good perch and gator fishing.

I had about 2 hours of daylight left and was building camp when I heard someone from far away call my name.

I had no time to investigate and then my friend who just happened to be Mike Bucholz from Mondovi walked over and told me he was catching some perch on tip downs where he was at. I had just enough daylight to stay on task, plus I wanted to check out my spot. Long story, short at dark my tip down, tip up and Finicky Fooler had yielded me nothing.

Monday, March 3rd

High 52°, Low 30°

I was up long before the sun and had most of my camp moved to Mike’s spot, which was officially marked with an orange peel. My friends I have to tell you, taking down, hauling and setting up a camp like this is no simple task but I was excited and did catch one small gator at my first spot while breaking camp.

camp for what was guaranteed rain and that meant tarping my Eskimo ice shack. About 11 a steady rain began and lasted until just before daybreak. My camp was tarped, Red and I were in a dry sleeping bag on a cot with zero cares.

The next day I did my best to catch some perch and have to admit, it’s a good thing I am not a perch fishing guide. On the other hand, I caught 2 and the biggest was 13.5 inches. I was not alone in my minimal catching and at noon it started raining and became very foggy. Each trip to the atv was about 400-yards and the climb up the rocks was a pure test of the ankle, knee, spine and my balance while carrying weight.

I drove home in wet clothes, stayed in them “foolishly” until 8:00 pm and then caught a heck of a chill that came to an end when I took a glorious soak in my bath tub.

Sunset

Want to read more? Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com

Follow along the adventures of Mark Walters, a syndicated outdoor adventure columnist who lives in Necedah, Wisconsin. He began writing his column, An Outdoorsman’s Journal, in 1989. It includes hunting, fishing, lots of canoeing and backpacking. He currently writes for around 60 newspapers. He hopes you enjoy reading about his adventures!

I set up camp in a very casual way and had to two experiences with my tip down where I missed a fish, presumably a perch, I also had one tip up out for gators and moved it 3 times over the next 2 days but had zero luck. I did speak with several fishermen from Balsam Lake, Medford and Mondovi. Most reports were slow to non-existent but I did end up having a real nice time with Clyde Gumbert of Gilmanton who raises chickens for the meat bird industry and Treig Pronschinske who is a state assemblymen representing the 29th Assembly District. Treig is also the Chairman of the Sporting Heritage Committee so between the outdoors, fishing, hunting, pond management and farming which Treig is also a beef farmer, we had plenty to talk about.

As far as my days results on catching fish went, it was my slowest of the ice season, towards dark I prepared my

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Photo contributed by Mark Walters

Good friends Clyde Gumbert of Gilmanton and Treig Pronschinske of Mondovi enjoying a day of fishing on Spring lake near Buffalo City.

Three Days on Spring Lake

Photo contributed by Mark Walters Getting all of this gear from the dike road to the ice was challenging with a sprained ankle.

Photo contributed by Mark Walters

A very cool sunset on my first night in camp.