Valley Sentinel - 04-07-2021

Inside this edition

Wisconsin Watch: Racial disparities and COVID-19

Graph: 2021 fire season blazing

Page 2-4

Page 7

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Dashboard: COVID-19 cases rise slightly

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Wednesday, April 7, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 14 Free, Single-Copy

Absentee numbers appear to return to pre-COVID levels Local health officials respond to overturned mask order Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

See page 6

Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

Spring Green resident Declan Daniel submits his first-ever ballot at the village of Spring Green polling location, the Spring Green Community Library, on April 6. Daniel said “It’s awesome to finally be part of a system that’s happened for hundreds of years, that people fought for.” As of Tuesday morning, Village Clerk Wendy Crary reported that 127 of the 167 absentee ballots requested have been returned. In Spring Green for the April 2020 election, 584 absentee ballots were returned, and for the November 2020 election, 639 absentee ballots were returned.

Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the statewide COVID-19 emergency order, meaning masks are no longer required in public spaces, at the state level. Local health officials in Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties were quick to respond with the importance of wearing masks, even without a mandate.

The Iowa County health department shared a press release on March 31, the day of the supreme court’s decision, stating the department will continue to encourage residents to wear masks and social distance in public, when they are around non-family members or not fully vaccinated individuals.

“The overturning of the State masking order today by the State Supreme Court does not mean masking and social distancing are no longer important,” said Debbie Siegenthaler, Director of Iowa County Health Department. “We all want to be done with this pandemic, but we need to hang on a little longer. One important measure we can take is wearing a mask. Iowa County residents have done a terrific job with prevention measures, including mask wearing and we ask that they continue until we can get a

See page 5

Wildfire burns five acres in Arena, Gov. declares statewide fire emergency Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Almost 491 acres of land were burned in 41 wildfires across the state over the weekend, including five acres of prairie restoration land in Arena off Reimann Road.

The property that burned on April 1 was a savanna prairie restoration project that was scheduled and permitted for a prescribed burn which became uncontrolled, said Ralph Sheffer, a forest ranger with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“There had been a number of trees that had been cut prior to the fire. The intent was to burn a small portion of the larger savanna restoration area when the fire escaped control,” said Sheffer. “So there was a mixture of grass and dead and downed trees that required a significant amount of mop up so they were fully extinguished going into this dry weekend.”

The fire was contained to just the property it started, but does border nearby farms. The DNR brought in equipment to dig 5-6 foot fire breaks around the perimeter of the fire, to prevent further spreading.

Sheffer said this is standard practice

when dozers are deployed to a fire. The machines create breaks by flipping over a layer of sod.

On Monday, Gov. Ever’s declared a state of emergency due to the vast wildfires the state experienced from April 1 to April 4, and due to continued unfavorable weather conditions.

The DNR has requested the National Guard to provide fire suppression support as the state remains at high risk for wildfires. The emergency order will allow quick mobilization of National Guard helicopters and other resources.

Since the start of fire season, there have been over 320 wildfires and over 1,400 acres burned in Wisconsin. Sheffer said wildfire season in Wisconsin runs approximately from mid-March to the end of May. Already, this surpasses the total amount of acres burned in the 2016, 2017 and 2019 seasons.

“Our primary fire season is from the time the snow melts until vegetation greens up,” said Sheffer. “Coming off of a dry fall has set the stage for dry fuels this spring. With the lack of moisture we’re

See page 7

Photo via Mike Finlay A DNR dozer working to create fire breaks at the Reimann Road fire in Arena April 1.

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opinion

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Federal coronavirus funding received by school districts thus far Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green

Madison—State Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) and Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance, released the following statement following an analyses by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau of the federal funding received for school districts under federal coronavirus aid: “School districts across the state have received significant resources to keep students and staff safe and to open full-time, in person instruction,” Rep. Born said. “We know it is best for kids to be in the classroom and we also know that the resources are there to do it.”

“This data also shows there are wide disparities in funding provided by district,” Rep. Born said. “We have districts getting over $10,000 per pupil and others getting a few hundred dollars per pupil. The way that Congress distributed these funds does not treat students equally in Wisconsin.”

“Many school districts have

Federal Coronavirus Funding Received Total Amount Per Pupil Area School Districts

Weston: $5,455

Marklein dedicated significant resources and efforts to teach our kids safely and effectively,” Sen. Marklein said. “Yet, some of those schools are receiving significantly less than schools that are closed for in-person learning. This formula is not providing aid where it should.”

The analysis shows that schools have shared in $2.2 billion in federal funding or $2,669 per pupil thus far.

These funds do not include roughly $200 million in additional funds, some of which are discretionary, that will be provided to districts in the future.

Richland: $4,131 Riverdale: $3,361 Reedsburg: $1,927 River Valley: $1,795 Ithaca: $1,589 Wisconsin Heights: $1,510 Dodgeville: $1,432 Highland: $1,207 Sauk Prairie: $1,185 Barneveld: $459 Valley Sentinel graphic by Whitney Back

Data: Legislative Fiscal Bureau

Driftless Grace—Booking it: Little Free Libraries

Grace Vosen, Contributor

When I moved here from Sauk City, I left behind a small volunteer project. A few months into last year’s lockdown, I decided to become the unofficial steward of a Little Free Library two blocks from my apartment.

Several factors contributed to this. I wanted to help others, yes, but I was also walking by the place at least twice a day and feeling offended by the poorly curated selection. In all the places I’ve lived, uncared-for Little Free Libraries get so stuffed full that they either won’t open or won’t close. Instead of sharing books that others might want, many of my fellow citizens use the Libraries to get rid of what no one wants.

Vosen Tragedy of the commons, indeed.

My main duty as unofficial steward

was reshuffling. I set upright books that were shoved in at odd angles; I grouped genres together. I also monitored the Library so that when someone got into a fit of cleaning and dropped off a houseful of junky books, I’d know within a day or two. While I never threw books away, I did give them to thrift stores when one genre became too dominant. I also added my fair share to the Library’s single shelf.

The books inside were mostly what you’d expect. But this Little Free Library has the distinction of standing next to a building dedicated to the exchange of ideas. Occasionally, some real gems would show up. Someone

else must have been watching the place too, because those were never around for long.

I figure my work went completely unnoticed. But I do wonder if anyone quarantined at home some time during the past year saw me meddling in the Library. I also wonder if anyone will take up the mantle and care for this piece of the community now that I’ve left. Who will spend their free time on the Free Library?

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.

‘We’re not given the option to get vaccinated’:

Advocates work to narrow racial and ethnic disparities in Wisconsin Community groups find success through partnerships, deep listening and meeting people where they are — lessons that transcend vaccination campaigns

Bram Sable-Smith, Wisconsin Watch Barbara felt ecstatic in January when a Wisconsin Department of Health Services letter confirmed that she and her parents were eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations.

The 28-year-old education student lives with her parents in Milwaukee. All three share caretaking duties for Barbara’s young child, who is on the autism spectrum. That unpaid work qualifies them as frontline health care personnel in Wisconsin’s vaccine rollout.

WPR and Wisconsin Watch are withholding Barbara’s last name to avoid repercussions for her parents, who are living in the country without legal authorization. The family arrived in Wisconsin from Mexico about two decades ago. Barbara is currently protected from deportation under the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, which grants some rights to eligible immigrants who came to the United States as children.

Barbara shouldered more caretaking duties during the pandemic because her parents work outside of the home, and they feared exposing the child to the coronavirus. Vaccinations would offer peace of mind and make everyone’s life a

little easier. Booking three appointments at a Milwaukee Walgreens went smoothly enough. But Barbara didn’t anticipate the obstacles once they showed up. Pharmacy staff turned away her parents because their IDs were expired, she said. Barbara said she presented two current, state-issued IDs but was asked for additional proof of residency. The pharmacy gave her a 45-minute deadline to return after fetching it from home, she said.

The family left and didn’t come back. It is just one example of what some members of racial and ethnic groups in Wisconsin say are barriers to getting vaccinated among people hardest hit by the pandemic.

Five things to know about vaccination in Wisconsin

•Everyone ages 16 and older is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin.

•COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge regardless of your health insurance status.

Providers may still ask for your insurance information to get reimbursed, but this won’t cost you anything.

•COVID-19 vaccines are free of charge regardless of your immigration status.

•You can find a searchable map of vaccine providers here: https://bit. ly/2PQdphS or at Vaccinefinder.org.

•Have questions about the vaccine? Call the state’s Vaccine Assistance Hotline at 844-684-1064. Assistance is available in Spanish, Hmong, Chinese Mandarin, Hindi and Somali.

Shots at last

The family eventually received shots through the Milwaukee Health Department, where a family member works. But not until a month later.

“I know we’re not the only ones who have gone through something like this,” Barbara said, referring to the broader Latino community. “A lot of us want to get vaccinated. But we’re not given the option to get vaccinated. … it’s very challenging, especially for the undocumented community.”

Walgreens would not comment on Barbara’s experience unless she signed a medical privacy waiver, a corporate spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The pharmacy asks for identification at the appointment to match the person receiving the vaccine to the person who booked it online, according to the statement.

“We also ask them to confirm their attestation again in store to reconfirm they are eligible to receive a vaccine. Unless specifically required by a jurisdiction, our policy is to not turn away individuals who do not produce an ID,” the statement said. “Neither a state-issued ID nor U.S. citizenship is a requirement for a vaccine.

We are reiterating this policy with our 40,000+ pharmacy team members.”

Vaccinations hard to find for some

Public health leaders have called Wisconsin a national leader for quickly and widely delivering shots to residents. But access remains far from even among Wisconsinites.

The state’s racial, ethnic and other

minority groups face major barriers to inoculation — just as those groups suffer a disproportionate share of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths. A March study of 48 states ranked Wisconsin 32 in delivering shots to highly vulnerable communities.

Interviews with Barbara and others illustrate how barriers are fueling disparities in the state’s vaccination rollout.

Sheng Khang of Wausau, who is Hmong, sees barriers in the form of “whiteculture-based” security questions she answered in a health records portal while booking an appointment for her mother, who immigrated to Wisconsin 26 years ago. The online portal asked for the patient’s astrological sign.

“I don’t think my mom would know what her astrological sign is. She would be confused,” Khang said.

Mariana Savela sees language barriers for the Latino residents she helps find appointments near Abbotsford, Wisconsin.

Melody McCurtis sees a range of barriers for residents in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood on Milwaukee’s Black-majority North Side. Those include a lack of internet access, time and transportation — resources that more privileged vaccine hunters have used to find appointments during times of high vaccine demand.

Wisconsin officials anticipated some challenges early in their vaccination campaign. DHS in April awarded $6.2 million in grants to promote vaccine access in undeserved communities. But DHS data

See page 3

opinion

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Page 3

Disparities in race, ethnicity in COVID-19 vaccinations continued from page 2

reveal that stark disparities persist: Only 12% of Black residents have received at least one vaccine dose as of April 1, compared to 29% of white residents, 20% of American Indian residents and 19% of Asian residents. Meanwhile, only 14% of residents identifying as Hispanic have received a dose, compared to 30% who are non-Hispanic.

Aiming to understand what works, WPR and Wisconsin Watch interviewed nearly a dozen people working to bring vaccines into underserved communities.

The barriers in each community vary, but the solutions illustrate common themes, including the power of partnerships, deep listening and meeting people where they are — sometimes through low-tech methods, such as door knocking and even organizing sporting events. The diverse experiences offer lessons for tackling disparities across the health care system.

‘Our ZIP code has been left out’

Aiming to reach Black and brown-majority neighborhoods in deeply segregated Milwaukee, state and local officials in March broadened vaccine eligibility to all residents 18 years and older who live in 10 city ZIP codes. Not on that list: 53210, home to Metcalfe Park.

“Our ZIP code has been left out,” said McCurtis, deputy director of the nonprofit Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, “even though we know that when COVID first broke out, 53210 had some of the the most cases, the most deaths and people were getting sick and dying from this virus.”

(Gov. Tony Evers last week announced that Wisconsin would expand eligibility to all residents 16 and older beginning Monday.)

McCurtis would have drawn up rules differently early in the state’s vaccine rollout — prioritizing all people experiencing homelessness, seniors and people of color.

But it wasn’t up to her, so she worked to improve access within her neighborhood.

Her group worked with the city health department and three Milwaukee nonprofits to launch vaccination clinics open to residents 16 and older who live in the Metcalfe Park and Amani neighborhoods.

The coalition, funded by The Northwest-

ern Mutual Foundation, is planning eight vaccination events through early June.

COA Youth and Family Centers and the Wisconsin Black Historical Society are hosting the clinics. Those familiar spaces offer easy access to neighborhood residents, McCurtis noted, and appointments are open to walk-ups only — to decrease the likelihood that digitally connected vaccine hunters living elsewhere will gobble up slots.

“We’re hopeful that folks are going to come out and get the vaccine now that it’s in a walkable distance. It’s right in their neighborhood,” McCurtis said.

That requires spreading the word. McCurtis and other volunteers are circulating information about the events and vaccines themselves. They are also closely listening to their neighbors.

Earlier listening sessions revealed less trust in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine — hesitancy popping up in various communities nationwide. Clinical trials have shown the company’s single-dose vaccine to be safe and effective. But at one glance, the vaccine might appear less effective at preventing COVID-19 illnesses, compared to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, whose trials produced a higher efficacy rate.

Experts caution that Johnson & Johnson performed its tests later in the pandemic as coronavirus variants emerged, making rate comparisons apples-to-oranges.

Even so, McCurtis knows that perception matters, especially in communities that have reason to distrust an American health care system with a racist track record. So the coalition’s walk-in clinics will deliver only the Pfizer vaccine — to reduce any hesitancy.

“We don’t even want to waste time on trying to talk folks into something that they just don’t want to do,” McCurtis said.

As interest grows in the community clinics, McCurtis said, “We’re seeing the effects of what access, real outreach and commitment does to a community that has been oppressed and almost left on the back burner for almost a year now.”

Offering comfort and familiarity

Madison, Wisconsin’s Hmong community is seeing similar success with vaccination events. The Hmong Institute, a nonprofit, hosted two such events in

Photo via Coburn Dukehart, Wisconsin Watch Ut Trinh, a Madison, Wis., resident formerly from Cambodia, gets her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a free vaccination clinic on March, 9, 2021, at Life Center Madison. The Hmong Institute ran the clinic in partnership with the Benevolent Specialists Project. The clinic targeted Hmong and Southeast Asian adults 65 and older. Peng Her, CEO of The Hmong Institute, brought in a Hmong nurse to help with the vaccine clinic to make it less stressful for people receiving the shot.

March and plans more.

Life Center Madison is hosting the events, providing a familiar backdrop for residents who previously attended Hmoob Kaj Siab, The Hmong Institute’s culturally and linguistically accessible mental health program for elders, which paused during the pandemic.

The familiarity is key to encouraging shots among Hmong elders, some of whom faced trauma around vaccinations before arriving in Wisconsin as refugees from Laos, Vietnam and neighboring countries following the Vietnam War, said Peng Her, CEO of The Hmong Institute.

In some cases, the military in Laos forced mass vaccinations upon villages. Other residents may have received poor treatment from disdainful Western doctors at refugee camps decades ago, Her said.

“There was a lot of distrust built back then,” he said. “Fast forward to now when even the testing site at (Madison’s) Alliant Energy Center — the National Guard was there to help. That helps trigger a lot of

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the things that they witnessed and saw back in Laos.”

Vaccination site staff speak in Hmong, and the Hmong Medical Association offers information about the vaccine and possible side effects through a video playing in a waiting room.

Since some residents lack internet access, The Hmong Institute uses word of mouth and other outreach channels. Most of the 49 people vaccinated at the first event, on March 9, previously participated in programs such as Hmoob Kaj Siab, Her said. A March 23 event vaccinated 80 residents, and the institute plans to vaccinate 200 more at the next event.

‘Why do you want to help me?’

In Marathon County, the COVID-19 Hmong and Hispanic Communication Network (H2N) is spreading information and helping to book vaccine appointments through extensive on-the-ground outreach. Khang, who booked her mother’s

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Community

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Plain EMS hosts spaghetti dinner to raise funds for scholarships Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Plain EMS member Tracy Brent serves a to-go spaghetti dinner April 6 outside the American Legion. The dinner raised money for scholarships for River Valley seniors who plan to go into a medical field.

Statewide groups working to remedy racial issues amid pandemic continued from page 3 vaccine appointment in Wausau, serves as a Hmong community coordinator for the network, a joint project of the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service and the Medical College of Wisconsin-Central Wisconsin. Khang said her team reaches residents in a variety of ways, including through a Hmonglanguage podcast and a booth at the Wausau World Market, where her colleagues can chat up community members, hand out materials and schedule appointments.

The Wausau-based Hmong American Center is also a crucial partner, Khang said, since struggling residents have relied on it during the pandemic for information on everything from food, rental assistance — and now vaccine logistics. Outreach to Marathon County’s Hispanic communities looks somewhat different, said Tony Gonzalez, a Hispanic community coordinator for H2N. Their homes are spread out across rural countryside — often without internet access — and they lack a centralized community center, Gonzalez said. So Gonzalez meets residents where they are. He runs a soccer league, where he can circulate vaccine information to some of the 300-plus people who participate each Sunday. Gonzalez also occasionally appears as a guest on El Premerito, a popular local Spanish-language podcast.

Isis Vidal and Norma Castro, two network liaisons, perform additional outreach, delivering food door-to-door and sharing information about a variety of rent relief and other topics. DHS funding last year allowed Vidal and Castro to spread information about flu shots, and now they are focusing on COVID-19 vaccines.

Equipped with training, the women answer questions such as how much vaccines cost (nothing) and what documents are needed. They also spend time building trust, Vidal said, which strengthens their work. “(Residents) are wondering, ‘Why are you here?’ ” Vidal said in an interview interpreted by Mariana Savela, another H2N community coordinator. “ ‘Why do

you want to help me? What do you want from me? And why are you really interested for me to get vaccinated?’ ” The team’s earlier engagement around flu vaccines yielded lessons for the COVID-19 campaign, Savela said. But they’ve also faced unique limitations.

Whereas the team found familiar, accessible churches to host flu vaccine clinics, the intense cold storage requirements of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines eliminated that option. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine is easier to store, but it carries a moral stigma in these predominantly Catholic communities, Savela said. Some Catholic leaders have raised concerns about the role of cells derived from decades-old fetal tissue in the vaccine’s development.

Still, Savela’s team has notched successes. Those include working with an Abbotsford Pick ‘n Save pharmacy to reserve 100 doses for Latino residents. Spanish-speaking pharmacy employees called residents to schedule appointments over the phone, overcoming the obstacle of English-only scheduling websites. H2N community liaisons supplied a contact list.

The vaccination campaign could get a bigger boost on later this week when a community-based clinic opens in Wausau, in partnership with DHS. The site is slated to deliver as many as 1,000 doses per day.

Forging partnerships

Elsewhere, partnerships have boosted access. When a Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers clinic on Milwaukee’s Latino majority South Side struggled to find vaccine storage, it partnered with Ascension to begin delivering shots. An additional partnership with Walgreens allowed the clinic to host events capable of vaccinating 800 people in a day, according to Itza Vargas, a nursing director for the clinic.

The clinic so far has delivered shots to more than 4,100 people, 77% of them saying they primarily speak a language other than English. Vargas attributed the success to trust built over the years.

“It’s great to be able to reach the undeserved in the community where we’re

Photo via Angela Major, WPR Pharmacist Hashim Zaibak speaks to a client arriving for a COVID-19 vaccine at Hayat Pharmacy on March 11, 2021. The Milwaukee pharmacy accepts walk-ins who might otherwise struggle to book appointments online. “We’ve had slow days when we just vaccinated 50 or 60 people, and we’ve had some really, really busy days that we were getting close to 1,000 a day,” Zaibak says. seeing that COVID was so prevalent,” Vargas said.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin will soon aid some of the roughly 85,000 elderly and disabled residents they serve in Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon and Wood counties.

With DHS grant funding and other federal dollars, the center will hire bilingual staff to work phones and travel to register residents for vaccines, said Jonette Arms, the center’s executive director. The center has already sent vaccine information to residents through the Meals on Wheels program, and it partners closely with local public health departments and other groups. The new funding will allow it to schedule appointments and, if logistics allow, offer in-home shots for the home-

bound. It’s one of several projects statewide to reach such residents.

Said Arms: “We’re going to do as much outreach as we can, as much advertising as we can. And we’re hoping that people will begin calling us and we can get them registered.”

Wisconsin Watch (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated

by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

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Page 5

SCOWIS overturns mask mandate, public officials urge continued mask use continued from page 1 larger percentage of folks vaccinated. We are doing great, let’s not stop now.”

In Iowa County, about 36% of county residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, but the health department is urging even those vaccinated to continue masking in public.

The Sauk County Health Department is sharing similar sentiments, after announcing April 1 that a more infectious variant of COVID-19 was found in the county. The B.1.427 variant is associated with a more serious infection and symptoms of COVID-19 and has an increased person-to-person transmission rate.

“It is concerning that a more transmissible variant, meaning that the virus can spread more easily from person-to-person, has been identified in Sauk County.

With this new strain being present in our county, it is even more important that we all continue to wear a mask, watch our distance, and wash our hands to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Treemanisha Stewart, Sauk County public health officer.

Sauk County remains classified as

high COVID-19 activity levels, with 41% of new cases in the last two weeks of March being passed through community spread, meaning there is no known source for contracting the virus.

The Richland County Health Department urged its residents to continue masking, stating it remains the best defense against the spread of coronavirus.

“When the State masking order was overturned by the State Supreme Court, the legality of the order was challenged, not its wisdom or its commitment to the health of Wisconsin’s residents.

Masking and social distancing remain extremely important. In fact, these measures, in combination with avoiding large gatherings and hand washing, are particularly effective in preventing the transmission of COVID-19”, said Rose Kohout, Richland County Health Officer.

The Southern Region Association of Local Health Departments and Boards (WALHDAB), which includes Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Madison/Dane, Richland, Rock, Sauk and Vernon counties, also released a statement urging Wisconsin residents

to continue masking and social distancing.

Many counties, such as Dane County still have mask orders in effect. Businesses and schools can still require the use of masks as well.

Rep. Dave Considine, a Democrat from Baraboo, stated the overturning of the emergency order would not only affect masks mandates, but also additional coronavirus funding the state and it’s residents were receiving due to the emergency order being in place.

“The consequences of this ruling are great. They aren’t limited to the current public health emergency. This ruling may also keep Wisconsin’s neediest from receiving $50 million in federal food assistance each month. Without legislative action, we will be neglecting the low-income families who have trouble putting food on the table,” said Considine.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, a Democrat from West Point, released a statement honoring Gov. Tony Evers’ work throughout the pandemic, while lamenting republic legislators for overturning emergency orders.

“There are two things this pandemic

Valley Sentinel graphic by Whitney Back

Mask Mandates in the Midwest ND SD NE KS

WI

MN IA

has taught us, masks work and Republicans don’t. While Governor Evers has worked diligently to protect the health and wellbeing of our communities, Republicans refused to do their job and undermined the Governor’s efforts every step of the way as thousands of Wisconsinites lost their lives to this virus. This Republican backed lawsuit has shown that Republicans will go to any length in their vendetta against the Governor even if it comes at the cost of human life,” said Erpenbach.

Gov. Tony Evers released a statement urging residents to continue masking.

“Since the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve worked to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe, and I’ve trusted the science and public health experts to guide our decision making. Our fight against COVID-19 isn’t over —while we work to get folks vaccinated as quickly as we can, we know wearing a mask saves lives, and we still need Wisconsinites to mask up so we can beat this virus and bounce back from this pandemic,” said Evers.

IL MO

ND: Masks required statewide on Nov. 14, 2020. Expired Jan. 18 2021.

SD: No statewide mask requirement.

KS: Revoked April 1, 2021.

MN: Masks required statewide on July 25, 2020.

MI: Masks required statewide on Oct. 5, 2020.

MO: No statewide mask requirement.

WI: Masks required statewide on July 30, 2020.

MI Overturned April 5, 2021.

IA: Masks required statewide on Nov. 17, 2020.

Expired Feb. 7, 2020.

OH IN: Masks required statewide on April 6, 2020.

IN Expired April 6, 2021.

OH: Masks required statewide on July 23, 2020.

IL: Masks required statewide on May 1, 2020.

Mask mandate in place

Data via aarp.org Updated: 4/6/2021

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Page 6

Community

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

PPE, social distancing still present at 2021 Spring election continued from page 1

Photos by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Top Left: A village of Arena resident signs in to vote at the April 6, 2021 election. As of the morning of April 6, Village Clerk DaNean Naeger said there were 42 absentee ballots returned for Arena. Compared to 149 for the April 2020 election, and 188 for the November 2020 election.

Top Right: A poll worker at the Plain Village Hall takes notes on April 6. As of the morning of election day, Village Clerk Sheila Carver reported 19 out of 23 absentee ballots requested had been returned. This compared to the 207 returned for the Spring 2020 election, and 209 for the November election Bottom Right: Poll workers at the Lone Rock Village Hall keep tabs and check information for absentee ballots and in-person voting on April 6, 2021. Lone Rock Village Clerk Tammy Christiansen did not respond to inquiries by press time regarding absentee ballot numbers.

In other News Wander Provisions finds home

Wander Provisions, a local snack company that started in Fall of 2020, will have a brick and mortar store front in May 2021.

The storefront will feature an operational kitchen and small retail space.

The space will be located at 136 South Albany Street.

Currently the company offers pick up for it’s handcrafted snacks and picnic baskets at the Paper Crane Cafe inside of Arcadia books. Their offerings and how to order can be found at www.wanderprovisions.com

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Community

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Page 7

Fire safety stressed during impending dry weather continued from page 1

experiencing right now this leads to the elevated fire conditions.”

Sheffer advises people to hold off on burning of any kind until there is a substantial amount of rainfall. He also advises that people keep tools such as rakes, shovels and water nearby if they decide to burn, and to avoid burning on windy days.

“If the fire does get out of control they should call 911 immediately to get fire resources started,” said Sheffer.

It is advised to follow burning regulations for the area, that can be found at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestFire/ restrictions.asp

Assisting Agencies

The Arena Fire Department assisted the DNR in extinguishing the Reimann Road fire.

Arena Fire Chief Todd Pinkham said a variety of factors could lead to elevated fire risk recently, including a lack of precipitation along with low humidity rates, and wind.

“This is keeping the fuels (grass, leaves, brush) dry and highly combustible. In recent years we’ve had very active springs as far as precipitation goes so we haven’t had these extended periods of elevated fire risk,” said Pinkham.

While in the case of the Reimann Road fire it was a permitted, prescribed burn that became uncontrolled, Pinkham expressed that controlled fires can be beneficial.

“A controlled burn when done properly and effectively is one of the greatest tools for reducing the risk of a wildland fire, but like anything else if done improperly it can pose a serious threat to other properties and structures,” said Pinkham.

Pinkham echoed the need to call 911 immediately if controlled fires become uncontrolled.

“Don’t wait to call 911. If things are starting to go wrong with a burn don’t wait to call. These fires can spread rapidly so the sooner you get help on the way the better.”

Photo by Ashton Scott Smoke can be seen from a distance off Reimann Road in Arena as a five acre wildfire burns on April 1.

Data via Department of Natural Resources Fire Management Dashboard Wildfire View

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“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Arts & Culture

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

If you are too young to know the story of civil rights crusader Fred Hampton Bill Gordon, Contributor

Judas and the Black Messiah

Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, Get Out) gives a compelling performance as Fred Hampton, a trailblazer in the 1960s Black empowerment movement.

At just 21 years of age, Hampton was a senior leader in the Black Panther party in Illinois and was known as a unifier.

His ideas were viewed as radical by many and the FBI saw him as a threat.

LaKeith Stanfield stars as Bill O’Neil, a small-time criminal coerced by FBI agent Roy Mitchell (Jesse Plemons) to infiltrate the Black Panther party.

Judas and the Black Messiah has six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (both Kaluuya and Stanfield).

(Premiered on HBO Max. Still playing in theaters and should return to streaming by this summer).

4/5 stars

Viewing information How to view: Netflix Release date: 2021 Duration: 126 Minutes Genre: Biography, Drama Rating: R

Photo via IndieWire

If you want to see Owen Wilson like you’ve never seen him before: No Escape Bill Gordon, Contributor

No Escape

This movie was recently in Netflix’s Top 10 Viewed list, so I checked it out.

With Owen Wilson as the lead character, I was expecting action with a bit of light-hearted comedy: wrong. This film is frenetic and very intense. It doesn’t take long before the action starts, and it never stops. Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson) works for a US-based water infrastructure company and takes his wife Annie (Lake Bell) and family on a new assignment in an unnamed county bordering Vietnam.

Pierce Brosnan stars as Hammond, someone that always seems to be around at the right time—is he good or bad? You’ll have to watch to find out.

5/5 stars

Viewing information How to view: Prime Video Release date: 2015 Duration: 103 Minutes Genre: Action, Thriller Rating: R

Photo via The Cinemaholic

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Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Page 9

Share the trail: Etiquette tips for a better outdoor experience Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Spring means new trails and new opportunities for adventure in Wisconsin’s outdoors. It’s also a good time to remember to share the trail and practice caution on muddy or rutted trails.

Here are a handful of OutWiGo good practices for biking and hiking to help make everyone’s outdoor experience (including your own) more enjoyable.

Muddy And Rutted Trails: Try to use hard surface trails like asphalt or stone this time of year rather than native surface or dirt/grass trails.

Think before you sink; if you leave tracks, turn back and try another trail.

Seek out upland trails or trails in sandy areas that drain well.

If you come across a muddy, wet or icy section of trail and cannot turn back, go right down the middle and embrace the mud – do not go around it and widen the trail tread which can damage habitat.

Avoiding muddy trails now helps to limit closures and repairs later.

Photo by Michael DeWitt Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Lake Superior.

Be mindful of safety issues like slippery areas or areas covered in water – walk your bike and go slowly.

Etiquette Tips For Every Season: Know before you go. Learn what types of trail use are permitted at your desti-

nation and obey traffic (and other) laws and signs.

Ride single file. You can ride two or more abreast if you will not block other traffic.

Walk with no more than two people across to allow others to pass.

All users should stay right except to pass. Pass on the left of those you’re passing.

When passing, move to single file and announce yourself (verbally or with a bell) before passing. Slow down when maneuvering around other trail users.

Pets must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter and kept under control. Keep your pet out of the path of oncoming or passing traffic. When possible, walk with your pet on the outer edge of the trail.

Pack it in, pack it out. Pick up your litter.

Thank you for helping keep our trails safe for all users. Please be considerate of all trail users and keep a physical distance of 6 feet between yourself and those outside your group.

Apply for 2021 Elk Hunt applications open now through May 31 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds hunters that the application period for the 2021 elk hunt is open through May 31 for the chance to draw a hunt of a lifetime.

Following several successfully managed Wisconsin elk hunts, the DNR is planning the fourth elk hunt in state history this fall. Wisconsin’s northern herd elk population, centered around Clam Lake, rose to 300 animals in 2020. The DNR anticipates growth in the herd again this year.

“The elk have fared well in the north over the past year,” said Josh Spiegel, the DNR’s Wildlife Biologist in Sawyer County. “Currently, we’ve had mild winters back-to-back and animal body conditions look healthy. We continue to see a strong breeding class of cows and significant recruitment of younger animals into the population.”

Once widespread across North America, elk were eliminated from Wisconsin in the 1880s. Thanks to the support of many partners and the backing of Wisconsinites, the herd is back. Elk hunting season is open Oct. 16-Nov. 14 and Dec. 9-17, 2021.

Successful applicants can hunt during either period. Only Wisconsin residents are eligible to receive an elk

tag.

Wisconsin residents can purchase elk license applications online through Go Wild (gowild.wi.gov) or by visiting a license agent. The application fee is $10.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will also raffle one license. Raffle tickets are also $10 each, and there is no limit on the number of raffle tickets an individual may purchase. The cost of an elk hunting license for the winners of the license drawing is $49.

Last year, five once-in-a-lifetime bull elk tags were issued to state hunters and anequal number allocated to the Ojibwe tribes per treaty rights. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board is scheduled to approve the 2021 elk harvest quota in May. Winning hunters will be notified in early June. Before obtaining an elk hunting license, all winners must participate in a Wisconsin elk hunter education program in early September. The class will cover regulations, hunting techniques and more.

The 2021 hunting season is expected to occur only within the northern elk management zone. While the state’s central elk herd has grown steadily since reintroduction in 2015, it is not expected to be included in any 2021 hunts.

“We want hunters to have a great experience and be successful. With

Photo via DNR The 2021 elk season will be held Oct. 16-Nov. 14 and Dec. 9-17. Successful applicants can hunt during either period. approximately 70% of the elk range During the first three hunting on public land and open to hunting, seasons, applicants generated over finding a place to hunt will not be a $600,000. These funds are already problem for elk hunters,” said Spiebeing used to enhance elk habitat, gel. “Despite the relative remoteness which benefits the elk herd and many of the area, there are informational other wildlife species that call the centers, campgrounds and hotels.

Northwoods home. Funding also conEverything you need is within easy tributes to ongoing elk research and reach.” monitoring.

For each application, $7 goes to elk For more information on the elk management and research in Wiscon- hunt, visit the DNR’s elk webpage. sin.

DNR prepares for 10th Anniversary of the ‘Air, Air Everywhere’ poetry contest Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

May Is Clean Air Month. Celebrate With DNR’s Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Air, Air Everywhere poetry contest. Parents and teachers can lead students through an activity (or more than one) from the Air, Air Everywhere Teacher’s Activity Guide, which aims to teach third, fourth and fifth grade students about air quality and the importance of clean air.

“Winning the contest served as a catalyst to the confidence and drive that I now possess as a 22 year old college

student, all the while helping me to realize that I could be that change in the world regarding aspects that are bigger than myself,” said Jake LaFleur, the DNR’s first-ever Air, Air Everywhere poetry contest winner.

Teachers and parents can submit original poems and riddles created by their student(s) to DNR. Three winning poems will have their work featured on the DNR website and social media.

Requirements:

•Open to all third, fourth and fifth grade students in Wisconsin.

•Any form of original poetry or riddle is acceptable. Entry must be 200 words or less and describe air or the importance of clean air

•Writing must be the original work of the student.

•Each entry must include the name of the author, the name of the parent and teacher and the parent and teacher’s e-mail and phone number.

E-mail entries to: DNRAirEducation@wisconsin.gov Submit entries by Friday, May 7, 2021 to be eligible. Contest entries will not be returned and will become the property of the contest sponsor.

The Air, Air Everywhere Teacher’s Guide includes ten activities to get students thinking about the air in Wisconsin. As part of the Where’s the Air? activity, students will complete simple sensory experiments to discover

the characteristics of air, and then write a poem or riddle describing air. And be sure to check out the Wisconsin air quality facts and information document to help students complete their riddles and poems. This resource is filled with facts on Wisconsin’s air quality history and current status to help students understand the state’s continually improving air quality.

For more information about air education contact Lindsay Haas, DNR Air Quality Outreach Specialist, at Lindsay.

Haas@wisconsin.gov.

Page 10 WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

Outdoors/recreation

2021 Spring Turkey Season opener April 21, ends June 1 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding Wisconsinites to get ready for the upcoming 2021 spring turkey hunt happening April 21 - June 1.

The 2021 spring turkey hunt includes six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday.

Each of the DNR’s seven turkey management zones will be open for hunting.

The Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 Combined Hunting Regulations provides hunters with everything you need to know about spring turkey hunting from season dates, general regulations to shooting hours.

Registering your turkey harvest remains a critical component of wildlife population management. Turkey registration is mandatory and hunters must register their turkey by 5 p.m. the day after recovery using the DNR’s Electronic Game Registration reporting system GameReg, or by phone at 1-844426-3734.

Hunters will need their harvest authorization number to register their turkey, located on a paper or a digital copy of their harvest authorization.

The wild turkey is truly one of Wisconsin’s wildlife management success stories. A key part of the success of the wild turkey management program can be attributed to hunters through their purchase of the Wild Turkey Stamp which provides vital financial support in providing for future opportunities for turkey management and hunting in Wisconsin.

Youth Turkey Hunt April 17-18

Youth under the age of 16 may hunt during the spring turkey youth hunt April 17-18. Hunters under the age of 12 and youth without a hunter education safety certificate can participate in the youth turkey hunt under the mentored

Photo via DNR Wisconsin’s spring turkey season opens April 21. hunting program. A qualified adult must accompany the youth and follow the youth turkey hunting and mentored hunting program rules.

Youth hunters must possess a valid spring turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. A harvest authorization for any period can be used during the youth hunt weekend, but youth hunters must hunt within the turkey management zone indicated on their harvest authorization.

Wisconsin’s Public Lands Are The Perfect Place To Pursue Birds This Spring

Each year, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts use Wisconsin’s public lands for various activities, ranging from birdwatching to hunting. For anyone interested in exploring all Wisconsin has to offer, the DNR has several tools

to help users find a new favorite spot in the wild.

The DNR’s free Hunt Wild mobile app gives hunters the tools they need to plan their time in the field, combining public lands mapping, rules and regulations, shooting hours and the option to link their Go Wild account.

Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, public access to nearly 40,000 acres of private land is available through the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) and the Turkey Hunter Access Program (THAP). More information and interactive property maps for both programs is available on the DNR website.

Hunters who would like to pursue turkeys in a state park must hold a har-

vest authorization for the turkey management zone in which the park is located. Spring turkey hunting is allowed in select state parks during the two-day youth hunt and the regular season’s first two time periods. For more information regarding hunting in state parks, visit the DNR’s state park hunting webpage.

The Fort McCoy spring turkey hunting season is managed separately from the State of Wisconsin spring turkey hunt. Hunters who do not receive a harvest authorization through the Wisconsin spring turkey drawing can apply for a spring permit at Fort McCoy. Applications can be obtained from Fort McCoy by calling 608-388-3337 or by visiting their website.

Help protect oak trees from oak wilt during the warming spring

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources MADISON, Wis. – April brings a high risk for the often-fatal oak wilt disease across the state, and as a result, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommends not pruning or cutting oak trees from April through July.

What you can’t see can kill a tree.

Oak wilt is widespread in southern Wisconsin, but it is still a new and uncommon disease in much of northern Wisconsin. As spring draws property owners outdoors to start seasonal yard maintenance and cleanup projects, when it comes to the health of oaks trees, keeping those chainsaws and trimming tools a safe distance will go a long way to ensure that your trees stay healthy for many more spring seasons to come.

Pruning and cutting oaks in spring and early summer leaves them vulnerable to oak wilt, which rapidly kills trees in the red oak group and weakens those in the white oak group. Any damage during this time, including broken branches caused by storms, exposes living tree tissue beneath the bark and provides an opportunity for the oak wilt fungus to attack the tree.

Tree paint or wound dressing is not normally recommended on pruned or wounded surfaces, but for damaged oaks a light application of these products immediately, if possible within 15 minutes, may be the only defense against oak wilt infection from April through July.

Wounds are not susceptible to oak wilt after 72 hours.

It should be noted that although overland infection can occur in mid-July,

it is not common. To be very cautious, avoid wounding oaks from April through October 1.

If an oak is wounded during this period, immediately and thoroughly apply pruning sealer or tree paint over the wound.

Torn branches or roots should be cut clean and the cut surface painted. For additional protection, cover treated roots with soil. The DNR does not recommend tree paint or wound dressing on pruned or wounded surfaces.

Oak wilt spreads over land, by sap-feeding beetles that carry the fungal spores from infected oaks to fresh wounds on healthy oaks; and, underground, from infected oaks to nearby healthy oaks through grafted, or interconnected, root systems.

“Sap-feeding beetles, like most insects, have an incredible sense of smell, which draws them to open wound surfaces to feed on sugary sap in as little as 15 minutes after a tree is wounded,” said Paul Cigan, DNR Forest Health Specialist.

“This is how most new oak wilt infections start.”

Red, black and pin oaks are highly susceptible to oak wilt. Once infected, they can die within a few weeks. White and bur oaks are much less susceptible.

If infected, they can take months or years to die, or they may even recover. they can take months or years to die, or they may even recover.

Avoiding tree pruning in spring not only protects trees from disease, but also helps trees regenerate.

“Deciduous (shedding) trees that lose their leaves in the fall are just starting to

Photo via Wisconsin DNR Red oak leaves with characteristic oak wilt symptoms. grow new buds and leaves, so the trees’ food reserves are low,” said Don Kissinger, DNR Urban Forester. “In general, the best time to prune is in winter when trees are dormant.”

As of January 31, the DNR has received reports of oak wilt in all Wisconsin counties except Ashland, Iron, Forest, Taylor, Door, Kewaunee, Calumet and Manitowoc counties. Several of these counties contain the highest abundance of healthy and productive oak forests in the state.

Taking recommended precautions will help keep them that way for years to come. Check with your municipality to

find out if they have their own oak wilt ordinances that you should follow as well.

Oak wilt and other diseases move easily on or in firewood logs year-round, so keeping firewood local or purchasing Wisconsin-certified firewood, is another critical component of protecting trees and maintaining healthy forests.

More information is available online on the DNR’s oak wilt webpage and the DNR’s firewood webpage. Additional information about proper pruning techniques is available from community foresters in the DNR’s Proper Pruning Techniques publication.

Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, April 7, 2021 Page 11

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Contributor

Walleye at DePere

Hello friends, When I hit send on this column I will be getting in my truck and heading to the state of Mississippi with my brothers Tom and Mike for a week of fun and crappie fishing. First, I have to tell you about a real cool experience that I had while fishing on the Fox River at DePere for walleye out of my canoe.

Friday, March 26th High 54 Low 29

Each spring thousands of walleyes that live in Green Bay swim up the Fox River until they are stopped by the dam at DePere. Each spring a trophy walleye season starts on about March 8th and runs until well after the spawn is concluded and that season only allows fishermen to keep one walleye and it must be 28-inches.

Nowhere that I fish in a years’ time gets as much pressure from fishermen that come from all over the Midwest as this stretch of river and the fishing can be fantastic. Because I like to do things the hard way, I canoe troll by paddling my canoe with three rods in rod holders and for the most part I use Husky Jerk HJ12 blue chrome, crankbaits.

Most of my experiences take place after dark as this is when the bigger walleye seem to bite and as you are about to read it is a fast paced, go for it, experience.

I launched at the county fairgrounds at DePere and once again was amazed at the literally hundreds of rigs either going in the river or being pulled out. It was 5:30 pm and the fishermen that were finishing for the day had good reports, especially as most said, “once the sun came out.”

So, I start paddling down river and put out a left and right planer board and each one was rigged with the blue chrome. On my straight back rod, I

would try a half a dozen crankbaits but as usual the blue chrome was the fish catcher.

Almost all of my fish are caught well after dark and so was I ever surprised when my left board got hit hard and the crazy show of catching a good walleye while sitting on your knees in a canoe began. Everything worked out well and in the end I netted and released a 21inch walleye.

My plan was to canoe about three miles south and work the body of water that is below the 172 bridge and when I hit that area it was getting dark and was really crazy as there was probably fifty boats pulling boards and of course I am the only guy in a canoe.

You have two constant situations; one is that the boats behind me as well in front of me and also coming at me are all pulling boards and they can be spread out about 40 yards wide. Not running into other boards or getting yours run into is literally a nonstop game, especially since in many situations, you cannot see the boards.

Just as important is that literally the longest that you can go without checking your lines is 30 minutes. If you do not you are dragging a long line of leaves on your cranks and literally are not fishing just paddling.

When I check my lines, all forward momentum stops and if I am not on top of my game I mess up the parade of boats that are behind me.

So, I said that I literally sit kind of like a jockey rides a horse and this keeps me balanced and my weight low. Because no one else is in a canoe, everyone talks to me as I pass by them and for the most part it was a slow bite tonight with mostly small males being the regular reply.

I was paddling upriver on the east shore and decided to cross over to the west shore which was about a 600yard paddle and I would have to pass two boats in the channel, and both were pulling boards. I just got in front

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor The HJ12 Husky Jerk is very reliable.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor It was a circus catching this walleye and taking this picture.

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Seems like this is my second home!

of these guys and had no problem as long as I paddled hard when the blue chrome was hit for the second time tonight and it had been exactly four hours.

Lots of thoughts and actions take place, I am canoeing upriver, it is dark.

As soon as I stop paddling my other two rigs are going to get tangled, the guys 50-yards behind me cannot see that I have a fish.

I held the rod up that had the fish on it and slowly reeled in my two other lines and also grabbed the kayak paddle and made some hard pulls every once in a while.

This fight was really about as fun and challenging as it can get. I am wearing chest waders; one mistake and I am in trouble. There is no thrill like catching

a good fish in the dark, in current, in traffic. In the end the old girl “she was 23 inches” got to swim another day and perhaps on this very day is laying eggs to provide all of us with walleye for the future.

I fished five more hours without getting out of my canoe or getting another strike. I loaded up my rig and drove home just as night was becoming day and kept thinking Mississippi, big crappie, and lots of laughs with the bro’s!

Live large!

—Sunset

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Community

Page 12 WednesdaY, April 7, 2021

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

581,070 Positive Cases

Cases as of 4/6/2021

+4,438 from 3/30

2,751,936 Negative Cases +36,538 from 3/30

6,648 Deaths +36 from 3/30

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 4/6/2021

3,364,565

3,120,369

Allocated

1,642,430

Administered

1,388,246

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

89,406

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data Updated: 4/6/2021

Richland County

1,275 Positive Cases +3 from 3/30 8,088 Negative Cases +57 from 3/30 15 Deaths +0 from 3/30

These two core measures are all measures of herd immunity in Richland, Sauk and Iowa County. We do not yet know what level of vaccination leads to herd immunity for COVID-19, or how current or future variants might affect herd immunity. We know based on other diseases that herd immunity is likely at least 60%, and if more transmissible variants become more common, that threshold may become higher, so our current target range is 60-90%.

-Madison Public Health and Dane County

Richland

Target Range

34.5%

Iowa County

1,960 Positive Cases +10 from 3/30 11,209 Negative Cases +87 from 3/30 10 Deaths -1 from 3/30

Sauk County

5,522 Positive Cases +47 from 3/30 34,927 Negative Cases +109 from 3/30 44 Deaths +0 from 3/30

Sauk 34.3%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

24.9%

22.6%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

39%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose 25.4%

Percent fully vaccinated

Cumulative total confirmed COVID-19 cases by date in Wisconsin Cases as of 4/6/2021

Graphic by Whitney Back

Cases per zip code Cases as of4/6/2021

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

Target Range