Valley Sentinel - 06-16-2022

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Thursday, June 16, 2022 | Vol. 3, No. 15 FREE, Single-Copy

Inside this edition

Best of the River Valley Reader Poll

American Players Theatre launches 43rd season with 'The Rivals'

Grubers branch out with Simply Rooted & Co., offering home decor and more in Spring Green

Jess Amend, American Players Theatre

Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

American Players Theatre (APT) began its 43rd season June 11 with a preview performance of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals, directed by Aaron Posner. The production held its official opening night on June 18.

A delightfully duplicitous 18th Century comedy, The Rivals features an all-star APT cast including Core Company actors Tracy Michelle Arnold, Kelsey Brennan, Tim Gittings, David Daniel, Brian Mani, James Ridge, Marcus Truschinski,

Colleen Madden and Sarah Day. Returning favorites, Phoebe González, Josh Krause and Ronald RománMeléndez, and Acting Apprentices Matthew Benenson Cruz and Isabelle Bushue complete the ensemble.

Artistic Director Brenda DeVita said, “There are only so many truly great Restoration Comedies, and we figured that, after keeping The Rivals on ice for more than 30 years, it was time for it

continued on page 7

Photo by Liz Lauren The cast of the 'The Rivals' perform on stage at American Players Theatre.

Simply Rooted & Co. opened recently in Spring Green, offering the area an exciting variety of home decor, kitchen supplies, both new and antique furniture and more, or as they like to call it: gifts for newlyweds to newborns.

The two-story building, formerly housing the Stage Stop, offers a mixture of modern, industrial, farmhouse and antique decor and furniture styles, along with extras like bar and charcuterie supplies, baby clothes, dog

accessories, candles and jewelry. Many of these items are locally sourced and forged.

The store also offers Sidney Bakes treats, Block 23 goodies, along with coffee and ice cream to replenish after shopping ‘till you drop.

Valley Sentinel had an opportunity to talk with Simply Rooted & Co. Below is a Q&A with owner Tami Gruber, on the shop's background, mission and

continued on page 8

Photo via Simply Rooted & Co. A front view of Simply Rooted & Co. - a new home decor and more store in Spring Green.

Plain continues discussion on Main Street parking changes, pool updates Adeline Holte, Editorial Intern The regular monthly meeting of the Plain Village Board of Trustees was held on June 8. Among some of the topics was further discussion on changes to Main Street parking, as well as the official opening of the municipal pool and road

reconstruction falling through.

Main Street Parking Changes

A large portion of the meeting was spent on the continued discussion of changing the parking on Main Street from diagonal to parallel, due to concerns that vehicles

are obstructing the view of drivers as they cross Main Street. Village Trustee Steve Whitford made a motion to reconsider the idea of parallel parking, which was carried. At the Streets Committee meeting held recently most of the attendees were opposed to changing parking to parallel

on Main Street. Whitford continued with the belief that a different solution can be made to avoid any problems that could possibly appear by switching the parking to parallel only. It was suggested that

continued on page 7

Page 2

Commentary/Opinion/Lte

Thursday, June 16, 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Save Medicare

Dear editor, Prior to enactment in 2010 of the Affordable Care Act (popularly known as “Obamacare”), health insurance companies were charging their customers increasingly higher premiums and providing less coverage. By 2009, health insurance CEOs were giving themselves whopping raises and benefits.

Thus the percentage of customers’ premiums actually used for health care rather than CEO pay, marketing, and other administrative costs was steadily going down.

The Affordable Care Act included a new requirement that health insurers spend at least 80% of customers’ premiums on actual health care and quality improvement, leaving the remaining 20% for administration, marketing, and profit. Insurers that did not meet this standard were required to reimburse customers by way of rebates. Privatized Medicare,

or for-profit Medicare Advantage programs, were held to an even higher standard of 85% of premium income on health care and quality improvement. In contrast, traditional Medicare (without insurance companies as middlemen) allows customers the free choice of any doctor or hospital and pays only single-digit amounts (about 2%) on administrative costs, leaving well over 90% of what consumers pay in premiums for actual health care and quality improvement.

Unfortunately, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are now pushing to privatize traditional Medicare through a program using “Direct Contracting Entities (DCEs),” middlemen like insurers who are given payments

by Medicare to administer health care and permitted to keep as profit up to 40% of what they do not pay for in actual health care services.

Even worse, many customers who

chose traditional Medicare are being automatically enrolled into thirdparty DCEs without their knowledge or consent if their primary care provider happens to be affiliated with a DCE. The only way to avoid this automatic enrollment is to change primary care providers, a particularly onerous task for people in rural and underserved areas and for seniors and people with disabilities who may have long standing relationships with their primary care providers.

After encountering opposition to the DCE medical model, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid established a program called ACOREACH, which is set to begin on Jan. 1, 2023. Unfortunately, the REACH program would continue the existence of middlemen who can retain up to 40% of Medicare payments as profit and administrative costs, restriction of care, automatic enrollment of customers who must

change providers to opt out, the potential to expand privatization to all of traditional Medicare, and other incentives to profiteering.

Traditional Medicare has been, since its inception in 1965, an efficient and enormously popular health care program. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll of 1,849 adults in 2015 found that fully 77% considered Medicare to be a very important government program ranking just below Social Security in popularity.

And 76% said Medicare was personally important to themselves and their families. It would be awful to see such a successful and highly regarded health care program die out in favor of the ACO-REACH program.

Please contact your Representative and Senators to let them know where you stand on this issue.

Marilyn Martin Richland Center, Wisconsin

Your Right to Know — Ask lawmakers for the records they delete John Foust, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council If a legislator deletes an email, is it truly gone? Not necessarily.

Earlier this year, Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn ordered Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to search for deleted emails that should have been preserved after an open records request from American Oversight, a watchdog group.

Weeks later, Vos’ team surrendered an astounding 20,000 emails recovered from the “deleted items” folders of government email accounts.

Obtaining records from state lawmakers can be especially difficult.

Decades ago, the Legislature exempted itself from the state’s records retention statute. The smallest township in Wisconsin is required to keep some records for years, but the legislators and their staff can destroy records at will.

But the state’s open records law states that, once a record has been requested, destroying it is illegal. If you make an open records request, even legislators need to pause their deletions to properly respond to your request.

Judge Bailey-Rihn took this further,

On the cover "Downtown Spring Green" (2022) Cardboard, black paint and oil pastels, by Mason Wright, with credit to RVMS teacher Kaitlin Bril.

Submitted by Emily Benz.

From the artist's mother: "As part of a middle school art project my son made this awesome cardboard, paint and pastel piece. It features Convivio, The Gard, Arcadia and Last Leaf.

Mason says it was a project where they were asked to make a cardboard scene. It's in cardboard, black paint and oil pastels."

Submit your artwork or photography for cover consideration: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Cover graphic image traced and edited by Julianna Williams

ordering Vos to search for records that had been deleted but were still retrievable. Steve Fawcett, Vos’s staff counsel, waited up to 13 days before he notified staff to stop deleting records that may have been responsive to American Oversight’s requests. On March 30, Bailey-Rihn found Vos in contempt of court in a different case, saying he and the Assembly had shown “a collective and abject disregard” of a prior order to produce the records.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired by Vos at taxpayer expense to search for evidence of fraud in the 2020 election, was also ordered by a judge to stop deleting records.

The Wisconsin Legislative Council, the non-partisan agency that gives legal and policy advice to the Legislature, concluded last year that Gableman’s Office of Special Counsel is subject to the records retention statutes. And yet it was continuing to delete records it decided were “irrelevant or useless” to its investigation.

As the Wisconsin Examiner recently reported, the ability to request

records that have been deleted opens up a new avenue for reporters and others seeking to hold public officials accountable—and perhaps provides an end-run around lawmakers’ ability to delete records.

John Foust “I’ve already changed my request template,” Amanda St. Hilaire, an investigative reporter at Fox6 WITI in Milwaukee who makes hundreds of records requests a year, told the news outlet. “I’ve never thought to request specifically deleted records because based on the way the law works, I always was under the impression that

if they could retrieve those records, that would be responsive to my request.”

Jeff Ylvisaker, director of the Legislative Technology Services Bureau, declined to answer my questions regarding its retention policies that might explain how much email is in their archives and perhaps still accessible.

That’s unfortunate, because lawmakers shouldn’t be deciding which records to keep and which to destroy, a power that could be used to hide misconduct. Lawmakers’ exemption from the retention rules in place for everyone else should be eliminated.

But until then, citizens seeking to know what lawmakers are up to should be asking them to search the trash cans, too.

Your Right to Know is a column distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council (www.wisfoic. org), a group dedicated to open government. John Foust is a Council member and a computer consultant in Jefferson.

Editors' Column

The Best of the River Valley is here! And, honestly, it was really hard.

Ah yes, the Best of the River Valley reader poll — the delight and bane of our existence.

The 'Best Of' — as we like to call it here in the newsroom — is simple, it's just that thing where hundreds of you vote on 85+ questions across around 10 sections and we have to interpret the results from a very clunky Google Forms summary and then brainstorm a way to present it so it doesn't just look like a list and is actually useful. At least once one of us pointed out to the other that it is essentially a list and that list is useful simply as a list.

Last year our theme was if you know, you know and it was all about breaking down those walls and sharing the best that the River Valley has to offer, getting more people involved in trying new things and engaging the community — and that will always be our goal.

We want to announce here that this year's theme is: emerging. We'll let the 'Best Of' speak for itself and instead

focus on just how hard this year has been.

The 'Best Of' is a grueling several month process that involves so much behind the scenes that has to be juggled with the normal everyday things that it takes for a tiny outfit to put out a paper every other week.

This year has been hard for most it seems and we've been no exception. This year this simply almost didn't happen.

Our press is great and understanding, but it is very full with its own products and other commercial products. Their costs (and ours by extension) went up — again — in the last couple months. All of that takes its toll.

We're all volunteer here and have other professional positions that take time.

Some of the positions were new right in the middle of the 'Best Of' process and life doesn't often stop long enough for you to catch your breath.

We had interns graduate, former interns have their lives get too busy to continue and more.

It's been a complicated ride and know that we couldn't do it without our community and without those that have helped and help with every edition, thank you.

If the 'Best Of' was simply a list it would still be hard to compile, but there is a feeling, an understanding, of the immense responsibility that weighs on you when you're taking a statistically significant sample size of the River Valley and sharing their likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams for the past, present and future of our community.

So we do our best with the limited resources and manpower available, hope we've created a resource that serves to build community — and we move on to the next edition, the next story that matters to you.

There is so much that we hope to achieve, so much more that we want to do to build our community, but — we can't stress this enough — we can't do it alone — it's really hard.

Commentary/OpInIon

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Page 3

Our Social Dilemma — Part 8: Conspiracy Theories Beverly Pestel, Columnist “Our Social Dilemma” is a series of thought-provoking columns by retired local professor Beverly Pestel exploring a description and explanation of our current social, cultural and political tensions — looking at solutions and means of learning to accept one another.

…

I find myself again having to preface a previously written column by acknowledging horrific events. Ten dead in Buffalo, 21 dead in Uvalde.

Victims of two young men led into a deadly place by a culture that could stop it - but won’t. Two young men, victims themselves of an imagined reality bred by lies, conspiracy theories, and hate and then acted upon and enabled by the availability of multi-capacity weapons. The depth of our social dilemma just gets deeper and deeper. And what we have is another impossible thing that has become all too common.

We began this series with “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari.

Harari described a cognitive revolution that involved a unique development in the ability to use language. Only Homo sapiens developed the ability to speak about things that don’t really exist.

Part 2 of this series explored the “unalienable Rights… [of] Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” crafted into the Constitution. Throughout our history, groups have struggled to become one of the “us” included in the rights and privileges provided in the Constitution. We discussed the social conflict involved in that struggle for equal rights.

That successful struggle can also inspire a backlash that can further endanger our social fabric. One backlash to that struggle could be the

creation of conspiracy theories. Harari emphasize this possibility when he borrowed a phrase from Lewis Carrol in “Alice in Wonderland”: “There's no use trying,' [Alice] said. 'One can't believe impossible things.'

'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. 'When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

Few things have turned out to be more “impossible things” than conspiracy theories. And few things have proven to be more toxic to our social fabric. So, the questions are: Who is responsible for conspiracy theories? Why do they show up when they do? Why do they take the form that they do?

Americans have had a lot of practice believing impossible things. In their book “American Conspiracy Theories”, Joseph Uscinski and Joseph Parent trace American conspiracies theory back to the Salem witch trials. The occurrence of conspiracy theories in America have been a permanent fixture since then. However, they have never spread so quickly, lodged so deeply, or found so receptive an audience as they do now.

Uscinski and Parent cite research that focuses on emotional conditions that trigger conspiracy theories. They suggest “that conspiracy theories flourish when people feel anxiety, alienation, paranoia, or loss of control.”

They further claim “that conspiracy theories are essentially alarm systems and coping mechanisms to help deal with threats…they tend to resonate when groups are suffering from loss, weakness, or disunity.” Finally, “group identities can push people to view their own group as upright and virtuous

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while opposing groups are viewed as biased and nefarious.”

So, we arrive again at the issue of groups and the “them/us” divide of castes and cultural groups. A backlash

Beverly Pestel from the “us” as a result of the expansion of rights and privilege to “them” is entirely possible. Loss of the exclusive privileges once belonging only to the “us” can be perceived as a threat that creates anxiety and fear of the loss of power and control. In an online post for Psychology Today (May 14, 2020), Robert J. Cramer refers to research that suggests that conspiracy theories serve to maintain the social dominance of a group. Enter “us/them” conspiracy theories that eat at the soul of our social fabric. The greater the fear and anxiety of the loss of dominance, the more extreme the conspiracy theory.

Many conspiracy theories implicate government institutions and as a result spill over into political affiliation. I refuse to give voice to some of the more inflammatory conspiracy theories that flood our social media. However, I looked at a free newspaper recently that had a column titled “Implications of Tyranny”. It addressed the United Nations goals from a conference in 1992.

The interpretation of the goals in this column provides an example that allows us to explore the nature of the know you read Valley Sentinel each week.

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anxiety and fear that exists in those who create and spread these conspiracy theories.

UN goal: End poverty in all its forms.

Conspiracy theory: make us obedient slaves to government.

UN goal: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.

Conspiracy theory: the sexualization of children.

UN goal: Ensure inclusive and equitable education for all.

Conspiracy theory: push a false U.S. history and an acceptance of homosexual relationships, and trans and non-binary identification.

All these UN goals involve establishing equality for all people and eliminating the embedded hierarchy system of caste/culture. For those whose identity is tied to their caste and its perceived superiority, this is unacceptable. It describes a change to the world order that simply cannot be tolerated.

Virtually all of the professional researchers of conspiracy theories warn that conspiracy theories are complex and often deeply embedded psychologically. One thing seems clear, however, use of conspiracy theories is a cynical choice that is used when truth will not accomplish the desired goal.

There are no easy fixes for our social dilemma, it appears rooted in a struggle toward social equality that is opposed by those who fear their loss of power and control. However, understanding the underlying issues of caste, emotional intelligence, game theory, exclusivity, and the source of conspiracy theories are essential if we ever want to find a way forward.

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.

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EDITORIAL CCONTRIBUTORS IN THIS EDITION Editor-in-Chief Graphic Designer Community Column Commentary/Opinion Column Nicole Aimone Julianna Williams Grace Vosen Beverly Pestel Managing Editor Taylor Scott Graphic Designer Sports Commentary/Opinion Column Legal Editor Anna Stocks-Hess Coaches Matt Snow, Todd Deibert & Jane Briehl Shaun Murphy-Lopez Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

Have graphic design experience or interested in writing and becoming a community contributor? Let us know. Thank you to all of our contributors for believing in our community.

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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 integrity and impartiality of our reporting. .

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

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Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect editing for space and clarity. Submissions must have a compelling local the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated 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, length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorizawithout chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an tion. . election.

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Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas in Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties.

This edition printed June 22, 2022 due to its size and delays.

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

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Page 4

Community

Thursday, June 16, 2022

COmmunitycalendar Events for June 23 - June 30 Thursday, June 23 Summer Storytime 10:30:00 AM 11:30:00 AM . 234 N. Broadway St, Lone Rock. . lonerocklbrary.wordpress.com . Join us at the Lone Rock library for summer story time and crafts! Activitie will be geared toward ages 3-7, but all are welcome! First three Thursdays of the month from June 9th through August 18th.

Thursday, June 23 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Ocean Odyssey 2:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green . meadowsspringgreen.com . Meadows Assisted Living & Memory Care is partnering with the Library to bring you 'Ocean Odyssey' by the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium! Join us for a fun, fact filled program about rays, their environment, and how to help them. After the program, families can get a chance to touch a ray in their mobile touch tank! People of all ages can join for a related story and craft!

LIVE MUSIC: Local Night @ The Post House Garden Stage: The Crooner Strikes Back! 5:30 PM . The Shed, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green . For more info look up “The Shed” on Facebook . The Crooner returns to front and affront the Post House Garden Stage outdoors for Local Night in beautiful downtown Spring Green. Expect the Sinatra-esque in songs newer and much older, covers, originals, reduxes, featuring The Killers, No Doubt, Soundgarden, and more. Grills will be fired and beverages available, so come and enjoy the best that Midsummer has to offer in the lovely River Valley.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr., Muscoda . wildhillswinery.com . Come for the wine specials...stay for a peaceful and rejuvenating yoga session with certified instructor Lara Carpenter. All sessions are held outdoors in our vineyard. Yoga sessions are $10 cash only.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green . ninasdepartmentstore.com . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Evenings Afield: Signs of Early Driftless Life: Artifacts, Mounds, & More 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . 5550 Far Look Road, Spring Green, . www.driftlessconservancy.org/events .

No cost . Signs of early Indigenous cultures abound throughout northern Iowa County and the Lower Wisconsin Riverway. Join us in bringing this history to life through local artifacts, stories, journals, and descriptions. Registration required.

SOLD OUT- LIVE MUSIC: Shitty Barn Session Session 261: Humbird // Luke Callen 7:00 PM . 506 E Madison St, Spring Green . shittybarnsessions.com . Doors open at 6 . Advance tickets sold out. That said, tickets often come up that people can't use. Check website or socials for the latest details about ticket availability.

Sunday, June 26 Art & Antique Fair in The Barn 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM . The Historic Round Barn E4830 US Highway 14, Spring Green . RockwellAnderson.com . Barn To Market Food Fair Indoor Art & Outdoor Antique Fair, Pet Fundraiser By The Iowa County Humane Society.

Spring Green Arts & Crafts Fair 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM . 5 blocks on Jefferson Street, Spring Green . springgreenartfair.com . LIVE MUSIC at the Post House Garden:11-1: Jambidextrous . 1:30-3:30: Sugar Mama and the Rent Check .

LIVE MUSIC: Don & Scott 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green . www.wiriversideresort.com . Join us for live music outside on the river stage! Drinks specials, great food and even better views!

Deep Mulch Gardening and Edible Landscaping Talk & Demo 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM .

River Valley Area Community Gardens, 900 block of North Westmor, Spring Green . rvacg.org . Come learn how to have a garden that has no tilling, or digging, little weeding and little watering all season.

LIVE MUSIC: Slowpoke Songwriters Round 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . slowpokelounge.com . Featuring Dylan Harris, Ann Christoffer, and Scott Guthrie. Support local artists by joining us for a night of original music with several songwriters, all on the stage together, sharing their music round robin style. No cover, but tips for artists are always welcome.

Monday, June 27 Free Family Flick 1:00 PM - 2:45 PM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . All ages are invited to a free, family- friendly flick at the library! This Week's showing will be of LUCA. An unlikely but strong friendship grows between a human and a sea monster disguised as a human. Children under 6 must have parent or caregiver present. Popcorn and beverage provided. PG 1h 35m.

LIVE MUSIC: Common Chord - Rural Musicians Forum Summer Concert Series 7:30 PM . Performing Arts Pavilion, 116 Bordhead St., Mazomanie . ruralmusiciansforum.org . From Folk to Swing and In-Between.

Tuesday, June 28 Toddler Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green . (608) 588-2276 . Join your friends for a fun and interactive storytime!

You can expect songs, stories, rhymes, puppets, crafts, and more. Activities are geared toward children aged zero to two, but all are welcome!

Summer Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . Join us on Tuesday mornings until August 9th for our Summer Storytimes. Programs are geared toward children ages 3-5, but siblings and friends are always welcome. All children must attend with an adult. For info contact Brittany at bsorg@kraemerlibrary.org. Open to all ages.

Children under 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Popcorn and/or snacks included.

Tuesday, June 28

Open Play 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . Children 6 and under along with their caregivers are welcome to come to the library for an open play time on Tuesdays. Meet up with Calling Artists to Teach! Teaching Artist Workshop 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM . Arts Lab, 143 S. Washington Street, Spring Green . www.artslabspringgreen.org . Register online. friends old and new. Various toys and space for unstructured play provided. Think of it The world needs more artists who share their skills and creativity with their community! as a play-date where no one has to clean their house! Open to all ages. Children under If you are an artist who has considered sharing your experience with others, please join 6 must be accompanied by an adult. Popcorn and/or snacks included. us for a free Teaching Artist Workshop. For more info artslabspringgreen@gmail.com.

Tutoring and Snack With Grandma Pat 6:00 PM -7:00 PM . 234 N. Broadway St, Lone Rock. . lonerocklbrary.wordpress.com . Open to River Valley k-2nd Graders who OUTDOOR LIVE MUSIC: Wine Down Fridays – Andy Braun 5:00 PM . Wild Hills need extra help keeping up academically in the summer. Receive one-on one tutoring Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr., Muscoda . wildhillswinery.com . andybraun.com . Join with local volunteers and a yummy snack!

Andy Braun for folk-rock favorites from the 50s on up! Johnny Cash, CCR, Beatles, Tom Petty, Eagles, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, and more. Andy will also feature original songs Rec Adult Softball Games 7:00 PM . Spring Green Municipal Park, Park Dr, Spring from his new album "Shameless Attempts".

Green . Every Tuesday at the North Park. This is just a relaxing, for fun adult softball game to meet people, stay in good physical health, and to enjoy life. Bring your glove, a Art & Antique Fair in The Barn 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM . The Historic Round Barn E4830 ball, bat if you have one, helmet if you desire, and an awesome personality. Hope to US Highway 14, Spring Green . RockwellAnderson.com . Art vendors will be located in see you there. For more info search “RV Adult Rec Sports” on Facebook. the former restaurant (inside the actual Round Barn), inside the banquet hall, and outdoors on the East side of the Round Barn and banquet hall in the grass. Antique, Wednesday, June 29 food & beverage vendors, and pet adoption/fundraiser space will be located on the Summer Storytime 10:30 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St. South/West side of the property facing Highway 14 and grassy areas adjacent to the Spring Green . (608) 588-2276 . Join your friends for a fun and interactive storytime. parking lot (West side of property). Meet the artists reception inside the round barn.

You can expect songs, stories, rhymes, puppets, crafts, and more. Activities are geared Music & Family Friendly Entertainment TBA. toward three to six-year-olds, but all are welcome.

Friday, June 24

Saturday, June 25

Art & Antique Fair in The Barn 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM . The Historic Round Barn E4830 US Highway 14, Spring Green . RockwellAnderson.com . Barn To Market Food Fair, Indoor Art & Outdoor Antique Fair, Pet Fundraiser Event By Local Animal Rescue. Music & Family Friendly Entertainment TBA. The food fair includes Local & Regional farmers, bee keepers, and organic growers will join a variety of food trucks and other food vendors for a weekend that will tickle and tantalize your taste buds.

Spring Green Arts & Crafts Fair 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM . 5 blocks on Jefferson Street, Spring Green . springgreenartfair.com . This is a juried fair with more than 200 nation-wide artists and craftspeople. Local clubs and civic groups provide the refreshments and offer treats such as brats, root beer floats, lemonade, and hot pork sandwiches. A variety of entertainment is provided, which includes dancing, folk singing, and many local musicians. LIVE MUSIC at the Post House Garden: 10-12: Janna Johnson-Fuchs & Steve Brown . 12:30-2: John Haarbauer . 2:30-4:30: Shekinah King .

LIVE MUSIC: MYLES TALBOTT DYAD 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road, Spring Green . www.wiriversideresort.com . Join us for live music outside on the river stage! Drinks specials, great food and even better views!

Whippoorwill HIke for Kids at Ferry Bluff 7:30 PM- 9:30 PM . E9974 State Rd 60, Sauk City . No Cost . RSVP is required . Kids and families learn about the beautiful whippoorwill and listen for its evening song. We'll also learn about state natural areas and their importance in Wisconsin. We will hike up a bluff for about 15 minutes to get to this scenic spot and enjoy a snack. This event is for students 10 years of age and older. Please contact Diane Schwartz at getkidsoutside@gmail.com 608-358-8314.

Thursday, June 30 Summer Storytime 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM . 234 N. Broadway St, Lone Rock. . lonerocklbrary.wordpress.com . Join us at the Lone Rock library for summer story time and crafts! Activitie will be geared toward ages 3-7, but all are welcome! First three Thursdays of the month from June 9th through August 18th.

Aquarium Snow Globe Craft 1:00 PM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . Kids can create their own mini aquarium in a jar that they can fill with their favorite sea creatures! Sign up encouraged!

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr., Muscoda . wildhillswinery.com . Come for the wine specials...stay for a peaceful and rejuvenating yoga session with certified instructor Lara Carpenter. All sessions are held outdoors in our vineyard. Yoga sessions are $10 cash only.

LIVE MUSIC: Local Night @ The Post House Garden Stage: Psycherelic! 5:30 PM 8:00 PM . The Shed, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green . For more info look up “The Shed” on Facebook . Grills will be fired and beverages available, so come and enjoy the best that Midsummer has to offer in the lovely River Valley.

Knit Night at Nina’s 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Nina’s Department Store, 143 E. Jefferson St. Spring Green . ninasdepartmentstore.com . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

Commentary/OpInIon

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Page 5

Richland County Column — The state of our county highways Shaun Murphy-Lopez, Richland County Board Supervisor Here is my latest update on the Richland County Board of Supervisors.

The State of Our County Highways

Earlier this year a constituent asked when his road (County Highway H in the Town of Bloom) would be fixed by the County. Since then, I’ve met with Highway Commissioner Josh Elder and researched highway funding to better understand the situation.

The first piece of information I received is a pavement condition rating for every County highway in Richland County. Highways are rated on a scale of one to 10, with 1 being a failed pavement and 10 a new surface. Nearly half of County highway miles are rated as 3 or 4, meaning they need significant rehabilitation (e.g., County Highway H is rated as a 4 out of 10). If the County were to fix all highways with a 3 or 4 rating in 2022, the total cost would be $39.1 million.

The reason we see such a large portion of County highways rated as a 3 or 4 is because County highways have not been resurfaced at the same rate in the 2010’s and 2000’s, compared to the 1990’s and 1980’s. The last year County Highway H in Bloom was resurfaced was 1985. 100 miles of County highways

were last resurfaced in the 1980’s.

Why are so many County highways in rough shape? In the past two decades, the amount of money spent on highway maintenance has declined.

According to the WI Department of Revenue, Richland County government invested $2.4 million in 2001 on County highway maintenance and administration. By 2019, that amount had dropped to $2.1 million. If the 2001 figure had been adjusted for inflation, the amount in 2019 would have been $3.4 million.

In my next column, I’ll share how Richland County government has begun to increase investment in our county’s highways.

Radio Tower Project Moves Forward

At the May County Board meeting, a project to upgrade the County’s radio tower system advanced. This project is needed for two primary reasons: 1. Only 65% of the County’s geography is currently served by our emergency communication equipment. The goal of the project is to increase that figure to 95%. Coverage will be increased all over the county, but particularly in the villages of Cazenovia and Viola areas where emergency communications are challenging.

2. Much of the equipment is outdated,

Chris Hardie's 'Back Home' column

or approximately 30 years in age.

For example, the central emergency controller in the Sheriff’s dispatch center is a secondhand piece of equipment from La Crosse County, with parts that will soon be unavailable.

These two factors have led to multiple failures, which have resulted in slower than desired response times for highway crashes, fires, and medical emergencies. It is estimated the project will use eight to nine towers, with one to three of the towers being new.

The project will include generators to provide back-up power during outages, as well as equipment for local volunteers, such as Yuba Fire/EMS, the Viola Fire Department, and Kickapoo Valley Rescue Squad.

The project is estimated to cost up to $8.5 million. At the May meeting, we learned about the impact to property taxes, which is anticipated to be $16 annually per $100,000 in property value from 2023 – 2037, if all other debt remains at a constant level.

I voted in favor of this project, and was pleased to learn that our bond rating (i.e., credit score) was upgraded by Moody’s Investor Services on May 11th due to our improved financial practices at the County. This will result in lower interest rates on the project, with more of your tax money going to equipment

rather than investors.

Committee Assignments

At the April Board meeting, the County Board elected its leadership. I ran for both Chair and Vice Chair. Marty Brewer was reelected County Board Chair, and I was elected County Board Vice Chair. I would like to extend my congratulations to Marty Brewer on his reelection, and express gratitude to my colleagues for electing me to serve as the Vice Chair.

This term I have been assigned to the following committees: Finance & Personnel Committee, where I will serve as vice chair Rules & Strategic Planning Committee, where I will serve as chair Education Committee The Education Committee is a new combined committee including UW Agriculture & Extension and UW-Richland, of which the County contributes funding to both. I look forward to serving on these three committees.

Shaun Murphy-Lopez is the Richland County Board Supervisor for District 2 and Vice Chair of the County Board, as well as serving in leadership roles on multiple committees. He can be reached at shaun.murphy@ co.richland.wi.us or 608-462-3715.

Battling the garden super weed

Never crack under the pressure of maintenance projects

Chris Hardie, Columnist

Chris Hardie, Columnist

Every gardener knows that battling weeds comes with the trade but nothing compares to the enemy with superpowers that silently spreads its poisonous roots.

I’ve written before about battling nettles and burdock – two weeds that within their own rights are tough customers. But this enemy goes by many names – couch grass, twitch, quick grass, quitch grass, dog grass, scutch grass and witchgrass – but is better known as quackgrass. It is by far the hardest weed to eradicate and has many ways to defeat you.

I may at times take some artistic liberty and overexaggerate, but I am very serious when it comes to the scourge of quackgrass. It’s scientific name Elymus repens means sudden field of fire in Latin. And for good reason.

Each plant produces 25 seeds that are viable for between three to five years.

Once it germinates, the plant develops rhizomes – underground roots – in two or three months. Each root or stem can spread 3 to 5 feet and produce a plant that can grow the same height.

So why not simply till up the weed?

Because once you chop the rhizome, each bit is still capable of producing a plant.

Unless you repeatedly till – and constant churning of the soil is not good for its health – you have done it a favor by helping it spread.

I think witchgrass is a good name for it, because once the weed appears in your garden – or yard – you feel like you’ve been cursed.

And if it’s not enough to be a superinvasive weed, quackgrass is also allelopathic, with the ability to release chemicals to inhibit the growth of other plants. Just its presence is a detriment to any nearby vegetables or flowers.

The USDA calls it a “cool-season, exotic, perennial, rhizomatous graminoid,” which is far more kind than what I call it.

It is native to Europe and has been in the U.S. for more than 200 years, showing up in every state but not in desert areas. So much for my mother’s idea that she could turn the Sahara desert into an oasis by simply planting some quackgrass.

As my former boss would say, I

have somewhat buried the lede, the journalistic term for the opening sentence or paragraph of the article which summarizes the most important aspects of the story. This rather lengthy introduction was important to set the stage for our recent war against this garden invader.

Six weeks ago my wife Sherry and I started to prepare the garden for planting, as we wanted to get our coldweather vegetables in the ground prior to our trip to Scotland. We tilled up half of the garden.

Upon our return, a quarter of what we planted and much of the other half had sprouted a lush patch of quackgrass.

Having thus established the difficulty in dealing with the weed, you can imagine our dismay.

There are herbicides, but you need at least two to three applications and allow the weed to regrow to be truly effective.

Using chemicals in our natural vegetable garden is not something we favor and we didn’t have time to do it effectively and safely.

It would have been counterproductive to plant seeds in the midst of the green jungle, so we settled on a slow and methodical way to deal with the invasion.

We dug it out. Using a digging fork, I loosened the soil enough to pull out as much of the plant and the rhizomes as possible. Otherwise if you pull just the grass, you leave the root system to continue to spread.

It took us at least 12 hours spread out over the course of a week to work our way through the garden, bit by bit, fork by fork, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow.

It was body and mind-numbing labor that required little thought – which was right up my alley. I thrive on having an empty head. Sore muscles means I did something.

We certainly didn’t get it all. We will battle quackgrass and other weeds all season long. But at least our garden now has a fighting chance to produce some fresh vegetables and fruit.

That is something I can dig in another way.

It’s a rule of nature that the amount of maintenance you have to do is proportional to the amount of property you own.

It’s not exactly like the law of thermodynamics, but having a house, business or farm with structures, driveways, porches and yards means there is always some sort of maintenance to perform. Gutters plug, paint peels and driveways crack. Things just generally break down, wear down or succumb to the inevitable forces of nature.

I am referring to inanimate objects and not myself, but the same rules could apply.

One can hire skilled craftspeople to complete specific projects, but that goes against my natural instincts of having to pay someone and moving closer to conceding that I can’t do all things or that I am getting too old.

I am not prepared to do any of that, but that doesn’t get me any closer to getting those tasks done – especially when they have been on the master to-do list for several years. That is the list that includes the constantly revised list from my wife Sherry that never seems to grow shorter.

Two years ago I noticed that our asphalt driveway that was installed in 2006 was starting to develop some cracks. I put one sealcoat on the driveway about 10 years ago, but aside from a few cracks, it has held up pretty well.

Tiny cracks can become big cracks and then become missing chunks of the driveway, so it’s important to get them filled. So two years ago I purchased some tubes of crack sealer and they disappeared into the garage. I purchased another container last year. It also disappeared into the garage.

I found both compounds recently, but discovered they were unusable after being ruined by freezing temperatures. The cost of my procrastination was a third purchase of sealers and after a couple of hours, the cracks were filled.

Feeling emboldened by checking that box, I turned my attention toward our two porches. Both have cedar floors that need to be stained at least every

two years. I’ve tried every sort of stain and preservative under the sun, but it’s the sun that inflicts the most damage in breaking down the protective coating.

Step one was to locate my pressure washer. The last time I used it, I noticed the hose started to crack, so I bought a new hose. That was last year. I found the hose, swapped it out, applied some thread tape and I was in business.

There’s something therapeutic about wielding a pressure washer. It’s a little tedious, but you can see immediate results watching dirt and grime get blasted away. It’s good for the soul.

I finished the floor on one porch and set the pressure washer wand on the steps.

I immediately forgot it was there and proceeded to step on the wand with my size 12 boots.

Pressure washers aren’t designed to handle that sort of pressure and I snapped the wand in two. It was a clean break of plastic and metal, which meant that my pressure washing was done for the day.

One step ahead, another step back.

My wallet was set back about $50 the next day with the purchase of a new wand and accessories, but I was back in business and proceeded to clean the other porch, along with some dirty sections of the patio, two picnic tables and two benches.

The porches are now re-stained, but the railings will need a fresh coat of paint.

The paint has been purchased – if it doesn’t get lost in the garage.

Then it’s on to other maintenance projects, which are far too many to get done in the time I have to do them.

Funny how those projects seem to take a little longer than a few years ago.

I guess I’m not all as cracked up as I used to be.

Chris Hardie spent more than 30 years as a reporter, editor and publisher.

He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and won dozens of state and national journalism awards. He is a former president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Contact him at chardie1963@gmail.com.

regional

Page 6 Thursday, June 16, 2022 Record number of retirements in Wisconsin State Legislature this year More than a quarter of incumbents not running for their seats in 2022, a rate not seen since World War II Howard Hardee, The Badger Project Count on it: When Wisconsin’s political districts get redrawn, an unusual number of state lawmakers head for the door.

This election cycle is no exception.

Following the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision in April to accept legislative maps drawn by Republican lawmakers, members of the state Senate and Assembly are retiring or seeking another office at the highest level since World War II. At least 31 legislators have either filed noncandidacy paperwork with the Wisconsin Election Commission or did not submit paperwork to run again: 24 state Assembly members and seven state senators. That’s the highest percentage since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.

In 1942, 32 lawmakers didn’t run for reelection, according to statistics from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

In 1954, the first election under a new redistricting plan, 31 legislators also did not try to hold their seats, but the legislature was slightly larger then, with 100 seats in the Assembly instead of the 99 now.

In 2014, 30 state lawmakers chose not to seek re-election, following the Republican-led legislature’s hyperpartisan redrawing of district maps in 2011 and the resolution of court challenges that affirmed them.

“At one time, there was great turnover in the legislatures and (then) there was a big movement to make being a legislator more of a career,” said Ed Miller, a retired political science professor with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. “And that’s what happened — the legislature became much more stable over the years.”

But one pattern of lawmakers leaving has held in the modern era. “Generally, the greatest turnover has occurred at those sessions following redistricting,” reads a 2007 brief from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Of the outgoing legislators, 14 are

Democrats and 17 are Republicans.

Among them is Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna), the 2nd-ranking legislator in the Assembly behind the Speaker, who is retiring after 10 years in the legislature to pursue work in the private sector.

Wisconsin state legislators receive an annual salary of $55,141 per year, plus per diem payments up to $153 per day.

Not all want to leave politics.

State Sen. Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) is running for governor. State Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton) and state Rep. Sara Rodriguez (D-Brookfield) are vacating seats to run for lieutenant governor. State Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) is running for secretary of state. State Reps. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton), Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Rachael Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) have their eyes on the state Senate. And state Reps. Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego) and Don Vruwink (D-Milton) are running to represent different districts on the newly-drawn Assembly map.

In a case likely influenced by redistricting, state Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is stepping down after a single term representing the 5th State Senate District, citing in his April announcement the “politically tumultuous events of the past couple of months.”

In response to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed district boundaries, which would have drawn him out of his district and into fellow Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling’s, Kooyenga took to social media to protest “quite possibly the most personal, creative, partisan and cynical gerrymander in Wisconsin history.” He later announced he would retire.

First, the Wisconsin Supreme Court accepted the governor’s legislative maps, which would have forced Kooyenga to run against another Republican incumbent to keep his seat. But when a right-wing challenge at the U.S. Supreme Court resulted in the maps being sent back down for reconsideration, the state Supreme Court reversed its decision and chose the Republican-drawn maps instead.

Kooyenga then changed course, saying

Who’s on your ballot for state legislature?

In the 17th State Senate District — covering Richland county and the western half of Sauk and Iowa counties in our coverage area — incumbent Senator Howard Marklein, a Republican from Spring Green, is running without partisan opposition and will appear on the ballot for the November 8 election facing Pat Skogen, a Democrat from Monroe. Skogen is running without partisan opposition as well after local attorney Trip Stroud, who announced his candidacy for the 17th District in August 2020, declined to seek a spot on the primary ballot. The partisan primary is set for August 9 for races that require it.

In the 27th State Senate District — covering western Sauk and Iowa counties in our coverage area — two candidates are vying to replace retiring Senator Jon Erpenbach, a Democrat from West Point. Representative Dianne Hesselbein, a Democrat from Middleton, and Robert Relph, a Republican from Cross Plains, will face each other in November. Both are running without partisan opposition.

In the 51st State Assembly District — covering the southeast corner of Richland county, the southwest corner of Sauk county and western half of Iowa county in our coverage area — incumbent Representative Todd Novak, a Republican from Dodgeville, is being challenged in November by area business owner Leah Spicer, a Democrat and current interim clerk in the Clyde township.

Both are running without partisan opposition.

In the 81st State Assembly District — covering the northeast corner of Iowa county and the eastern half of Sauk county in our coverage area — incumbent Representative Dave Considine, a Democrat from Baraboo, will face in November the winner of the partisan primary between Bob Wood, a Republican from Baraboo, and Shellie Benish, a Republican from Lodi. Considine is running without partisan opposition.

Voting information, ballots and polling locations are available on myvote.wi.gov.

he would run for re-election, before finally deciding to retire a second time.

Despite the new maps appearing to give Republicans the advantage in the 5th State Senate District, some areas have been trending from “dark red” to “lighter red” and “pink” in recent elections, said Ryan Weichelt, a professor of geography with the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

“You can think of the Democratic support growing from the east and slowly moving westward from Milwaukee,” he said. “Wauwatosa is Democratic, and when you move towards the Village of Elm Grove and Brookfield, it starts changing Republican. While still red, it’s slowly trending towards Democrats in some areas.

“This is troublesome for the GOP for statewide elections because its success is dependent on large turnout of rural votes and additional support in the suburban areas,” Weichelt continued.

“Though they’re not going blue, the loss of a few thousand votes is difficult to overcome, especially if voter turnout remains so high in Dane County.”

Kooyenga’s office did not respond to The Badger Project’s requests for comment.

“It’s not fun anymore”

Wisconsin’s once-famous moderate and civil politics has long since corroded into nasty hyperpartisanship.

The legislature has become a hostile work environment, which could make the private sector more appealing to some lawmakers, Miller said.

“There’s great conflict within the legislature,” he said. “In other words, it’s not fun anymore.”

For Republican incumbents, there’s also pressure from the national GOP to be sufficiently in favor of former President Donald Trump, Miller said, and a greater expectation to fall in line with party leadership under threat of a primary election challenge.

“They’re actually calling members of the state legislature and threatening to run people against them,” Miller said. “They didn’t use to do that. If you don’t follow the leader of the party, then you’re in trouble — particularly in terms of financing.”

There is some loss of institutional knowledge when so many lawmakers leave at once, Miller said, and there are benefits to stability in a political body.

“That was the issue, years ago: Do you have a more stable, more professional legislature with staff? Or more of an amateur, citizen’s legislature? The professional legislatures have some institutional memory and history and know how things work. When you don’t have that, you’re operating somewhat in the dark and get greater pressure from outside interest groups,” he said.

There is a steep learning curve for freshman lawmakers, particularly regarding balancing the budget, said Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, 70, who is among the highest-profile Democrats to retire. However, she noted the legislature is supported by a strong staff of non-elected and nonpartisan employees.

“When you’re elected and you come in as a freshman, if you’re thoughtful you’ll acknowledge that there’s a lot you have to learn and you’ll seek out people that can be trusted to give you good information,” she said. “It depends on the personal integrity of the person coming into office.”

Bewley said that having a frontrow seat to the rancor, discord and noncooperation that have come to define state politics over the past 12 years did not play into her decision to retire.

“If I were to run again, that would be another four years and I would be in my mid-70s,” she said. “My husband and I decided that it just makes sense for someone of my age [to retire].”

Bewley was elected to the State Assembly in 2010, serving a couple of two-year terms. Starting in 2014, she then served two four-year terms in the state Senate. She still has faith in compromise and democracy, but admits that the political climate in Wisconsin is an issue.

“Gradually, it’s getting worse,” she said. “The unwillingness to cooperate is more severe than when I first started.”

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.

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Community/Outdoors

The Sauk County Gardener June gardening tasks Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

“I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” −Abraham Lincoln June has been flying by and with it comes graduation parties, weddings and of course, lots of gardening. It’s been a couple busy weeks for me, so my gardening tasks are falling behind. I still have plants to get in the ground, beds to be weeded and then planted, and then there’s the general maintenance of the rest of the beds.

I use my regular garden walks to see what is growing and blooming, but also to see what other things need my attention.

Walk through your gardens and take note of things that should be done. Pay attention to your roses and peonies and destroy any diseased

On the lookout – for bugs Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener

“We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics.” − Bill Vaughan Our June weather has been all over the board – from cold and wet to hot and humid – making it hard to accomplish garden tasks when I’m at home. The good working weather seems to always be when I’m working in the office. Luckily, the primary garden tasks right now are weeding (a never-ending chore), popping in plants here and there, and watching for garden insect pests.

Pinch back taller sedum about halfway when they are about eight inches tall. This will help them create

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Page 7

foliage or flowers immediately. If your houseplants “summer” outdoors, place them outside in a shady place once nighttime temps stay above 50 degrees F. Gradually acclimate them to light.

Dig and divide any non-blooming daffodils to stimulate them. For larger dahlias, pinch off all but one shoot per clump. Cut back delphiniums once they’re done blooming. Apply fertilizer to perennial beds if they need it. Start watching roadside ditches for blooming chicory; it’s an indicator plant that the Japanese beetle scouts have arrived and to take action to prevent damage from squash vine borers. Japanese beetles typically don’t arrive until closer to the end of June but if the chicory is blooming, the conditions are right for their arrival.

In the vegetable garden, keep a close eye on tomatoes and control for diseases. Dispose of any diseased foliage or plants immediately – just not in your compost pile. Key methods for

disease prevention are: maintaining proper plant spacing, pruning to improve air flow, and mulching to prevent soil-borne disease from splashing up onto the underside of leaves. Clean tomato cages or support systems with 10% beach solution before using. Plant peppers, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and late potatoes if you haven’t already. This year, I’m planting some of my peppers in our greenhouse beds in the hopes of giving them a little extra heat and hopefully extend the season if the fall turns cool early.

If you have space, plant successive crops of beans, beets, carrots, kohlrabi, corn, turnips, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Mulch your garden after a deep watering or a good rain to help retain the moisture. Keep an eye out for cabbage worms and loopers on cole crops. Cabbage worms are velvety green larvae with a few faint yellow stripes. Cabbage loopers are yellowgreen caterpillars. Both are quite destructive. Use row covers to deter adult cabbage worm butterflies. Also,

consider planting thyme near your cole crops as a deterrent. Manually remove the eggs if possible. I use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstacki) every one to two weeks to help control these pests.

Finally, start Brussel sprout seedling for transplanting into the garden in July.

Once spring-blooming shrubs finish blooming, remove leggy and old branches at the ground level. Also remove any suckers from fruit trees and continue applying fungicide on trees and small fruits. If you want to encourage larger, better-flavored fruit and prevent damage to overburdened branches, thin fruit after the natural June fruit drop. Thin apples 4-6” apart, plums 3” apart, and pears 6” apart.

Finally, get inspired by some local gardeners. On July 30th, the Sauk County Master Gardeners Association will be holding their 2022 Annual Garden Tour of eight private and 2 public gardens in the Baraboo, WI area.

To purchase tickets, visit Eventbrite. com and search for SCMGA Garden Tour.

more compact and sturdier growth and prevent them from flopping over later this summer or early fall. Do the same for early blooming chrysanthemums.

It’s time to side-dress perennial beds with 10-10-10 fertilizer. Roses should be done after their first blooms.

Closer to the end of June, use a higher phosphate or superphosphate on beets, carrots, garlic, melons, onions, potatoes, and Swiss chard. This will help promote root growth. Use a 1010-10 fertilizer on peppers, pumpkins, squash. Remember to follow the instructions on your fertilizer.

There are also some early summer insects to start watching for in your garden. This is the time to start a spraying regiment to help prevent apple maggots, codling moth, and plum curculio.

Another pest to keep an out for is the cabbage moth - a small white moth. They will be looking to lay eggs on cole crops such as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and broccoli. I’m going to try and get my row covers on this week as I haven’t seen any moths yet.

If necessary, I will treat them with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) every 1 to 2 weeks to help control them.

If you plant potatoes, their nemesis is the Colorado potato beetle. They will also feed on eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers. The Colorado potato beetle is known for its ability to rapidly develop resistance to repeated insecticide use so avoid repeated usage of one particular insecticide by rotating the insecticides used. If possible, try to control them early. Inspect the underside of leaves for yellow or orange eggs and crush them. Adult

beetles are orangish colored with black stripes and their larvae are brick red to pink/salmon colored with black heads and two rows of dark spots on their side of their bodies. Handpick and drop the adult beetles and larvae into soapy water.. Bt can be effective when the larvae are still small.

There are a couple different cucumber beetles to watch for - the striped cucumber beetle and the spotted cucumber beetle. Both are orangish yellow with either stripes or spots. They can damage the foliage of cucumbers, but more concerning is their ability to transmit bacterial wilt.

These are just a few of the insects to watch for in your gardens. Before you break out the insecticide, properly identify the insect. There are lots of good “bugs” in the garden as well; you don’t want to accidentally harm them with improper insecticide use.

Plain continues discussion on Main Street parking changes, pool updates continued from page 1 changing St. Luke’s Avenue to a one-way street could be an alternative. Village Trustee Melissa Marx suggested changing it to no left-hand turns from St. Luke’s Avenue or reducing sidewalk space. It was stated by Whitford that reducing the sidewalk would be a massive project and that it would not be “just cutting concrete.”

Trustee Wade Neubauer agreed that cutting the sidewalk would be an expensive mistake if it ended up being the wrong solution to the Main Street parking issue. Marx suggested starting a donation fund to possibly pay for the reduction of the sidewalk, if that ended up being the final solution. Chief Mike Stoddard inquired if a four-way stop on Main Street could be a potential option, as it would slow drivers down and reduce the risk of a collision. Village President Raymond Ring stated that a four-way stop at the Main Street intersection could potentially help with drivers having to stop at Highway 23. Public Works Director John Ruhland mentioned that this option would most likely have to require an overhead stop sign, since a standard stop sign could be potentially blocked by

parked cars.

Neubauer asked Stoddard if the road was painted with a “Stop Ahead” signal and if a vehicle were to be blocking the actual stop sign, if the “Stop Ahead” signage on the road would be sufficient, as opposed to having an overhead stop sign. Stoddard said in reply that “they would have that defense,” but it would ultimately be up to the judge to decide if that would be sufficient. It was also informed that the parking stalls would need to be 15 feet away from a crosswalk, so a standard stop sign may not be totally obstructed by parked cars and could be even more effective if it were installed at a higher level. Neubauer stated removing a single parking stall by St. Luke’s Avenue could help to give more visibility to a standard stop sign.

Village Trustee Merry Lynn Riek stated that she had received a letter suggesting that the Board of Plain was not concerned and in favor of businesses surviving these potential parking changes, and that the change could take away some businesses' livelihoods. Riek stated that she wanted it known that this is not the Village’s intent, and that the Village is actively trying to prevent dangerous accidents from

occurring and stopping the possibility of a child getting killed from the potential dangers the parking on Main Street currently possess. She further stated that just because it has never happened, does not mean that it could not happen.

There have been multiple letters sent to the board in opposition of the parallel parking ideas.

The Streets Committee will investigate the presented options and bring a recommendation back to the Board.

Pool Updates

The Plain pool was officially opened on June 4th, with three new lifeguards and six returning ones, for a total of nine. The first session of swim lessons were held on the week of June 13 with a total of 22 kids signed up, and the second session with 29. To sign up or find more information, visit the Plain Pool and Summer Rec Program Facebook page. The pool is open daily from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Pool passes are available for purchase at the pool.

Public Works Department

Public Works Director, John Ruhland

reported that there were leak studies and detections done, and that a water leak on Oak Street has been repaired. New valves were installed on Oak Street and Reservoir Avenue, and the eaves were installed on the pavilion and concession stand in the park. A few valves were also replaced at the pool.

Other Actions of the Board

The Streets Committee was told that due to issues from the DOT, the grant funding of $175,720 was pulled for the reconstruction of Bridge Road.

Marx made a motion to approve Liquor Licenses in the Village starting from July 1, through June 30, 2023. The motion carried. A motion was also made to approve a temporary liquor license as well as four temporary operators’ licenses; and an extended hours permit for Friday, July 29 and Saturday July 30 for the Plain Fire EMS Celebration. Motion carried.

The library is celebrating 20 years of being in its current building this month, with Library numbers continuing to go up monthly. Linda Paulus is the new president, as well as other elected officers.

The next regular monthly Board Meeting will be July 13 at 7 p.m. at the village hall.

American Players Theatre launches 43rd season continued from page 1

to make a comeback at APT. It’s kind of crazy how fitting this play is to these times. The characters are so absurd and ridiculous - like Lydia Languish and Mrs. Malaprop and Jack Absolute, whose

primary characteristics are right out there in their names - and yet these archetypes are very much still walking around in our society. APT's acting company is uniquely equipped to take on these characters, and this hilariously complex storyline,

and make it both easily accessible, and absolutely delightful to watch. They do this better than anyone, and after the past couple of years, we deserve to laugh a little. We’ve earned it.”

The Rivals will play now through

September 17th.

For more information on tickets and other plays this season, please visit the APT website at www.americanplayers. org, or call the APT box office at (608) 588-2361.

After a nearly two month long process, we want to formally welcome you to the results of the 2nd annual Best of the River Valley reader poll for the Spring Green area!

Let’s get into the nitty gritty. Only the date range of June 2021 – May 2022 was considered for the poll. Residents could only vote once, popular write-ins were added to the poll, most of the categories were limited to the Valley (Arena, Lone Rock, Plain and Spring Green), with some exceptions. The greater area was included, more or less 15 miles around the Valley.

Through this process a feeling kept surfacing as we looking back on the last year or more. Like when someone opens the lobby door or curtain when it’s still dark in the theater, or you’re emerging from a matinee and you forgot that it’s day time. Our 2022 Best of the River Valley theme is: emerge.

Whether you view it as us emerging from this ongoing pandemic or you view it as some sort of metaphor for Plato’s cave and finding that perception isn’t reality and there have been innovations while we’ve been in the dark, regardless we are emerging to a new normal. Entropy fights against us and we need to foster community and celebrate the achievements that we’ve made during this time and look toward the future and where we want to go.

That’s the goal of the Best of the River Valley.

Ultimately, this is YOUR poll, YOU decided the winners.

Best Body of water for recreation 1st Place: Wisconsin River 2nd Place: Devil's Lake (Baraboo) (tied) 2nd Place: Lake Wisconsin (tied) 3rd Place: Cox Hollow Lake/Twin Valley Lake (Gov. Dodge)

Best PLACE TO GET FIT 1st Place: RV Lexington Fitness 2nd Place: Wisconsin River 3rd Place: Hiking the Spring Green Preserve

Best Canoe & Kayak Rental/Livery JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best CAMPGROUND 1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 2nd Place: White Mound County Park Campground 3rd Place: Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area (Highland)

Best Sledding Hill 1st Place: Spring Green Municipal Golf Course 2nd Place: St. Luke's playground 3rd Place: Tom Limmex's hill

Best GOLF COURSE 1st Place: The Springs Golf Course at The House on the Rock Resort 2nd Place: Westbrook Hills Golf Course Village of Plain 3rd Place:Spring Green Municipal Golf Course

Best Trail - Hiking or Biking 1st Place: Spring Green Preserve bluff hike 2nd Place: Tower Hill State Park (tied) 2nd Place: White Mound County Park (tied) 3rd Place: Tower Hill State Park (tied) 3rd Place: White Mound County Park (tied)

1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 2nd Place: Trader's Bar & Grill 3rd Place: Pine River Paddle & Tube LLC BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

PAGE 1

Best Free Entertainment Option

Best Holiday/Seasonal Event

1st Place: Local Night, Post House Garden

1st Place: Lone Rock's 4th of July Celebration

2nd Place: Summer Music at Wisconsin Riverside Resort 3rd Place: Lone Rock bar scene

2nd Place: Spring Green Arts & Crafts Fair 3rd Place: Fermentation Fest/Art D'Tour

Best Local Play/Musical (specific production) 1st Place: Newsies (River Valley High School) 2nd Place: Almost, Maine (River Valley Players) 3rd Place: The Gift of the Magi (APT)

Best Local Visual Artist (Illustration/Painting/ Sculpture, etc.)

1st Place: Nick Ringelstetter 2nd Place: Sue Johnson 3rd Place: Ashhley Pfannenstiel

Best Local Author

Best Regional Music Festival/Series

Best Mural 1st Place: Live Art Wall/Graffiti Atomic7 Studio Mural - Spring Green General Store (Nick Ringelstetter/Various) 2nd Place: Jazz Mural - Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret (Pamela Miles & original artist unknown) 3rd Place: Center Stage - Gard Theater (E.LEE)

1st Place: Sh*tty Barn Sessions

Murals are popping up all over the Valley, but these are three that can't be missed. The Graffiti Atomic7 Studio Mural (137 South Albany St, Spring Green) is a local favorite and winner for two years in a row.

2nd Place: A Day in the Park (4PeteSake) 3rd Place: BobFest

The Jazz Mural (137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green) keeps its mysteries and asks that you help find the original artist.

The Shitty Barn Sessions bring unparalleled music to the Valley.

4PeteSake does so much good for those in need. And BobFest is a local favorite, celebrating Bob Marley Dylan.

Best Art Gallery

And Center Stage is, well, center stage right downtown Spring Green on Lexington Street.

Best Local Musician/Band

1st Place: Gallery Art on 23

1st Place: Janna Johnson

2nd Place: No Rules Gallery 3rd Place: Dennis Alfred Phillips Art to Wear

2nd Place: Hard Tellin' Band 3rd Place: Better Daze

Best Music Venue

Best Photographer

1st Place: James DeVita

1st Place: Sh*tty Barn

1st Place: Molly DuCharme Photography

2nd Place: Dan Bomkamp 3rd Place: Katie Green

2nd Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 3rd Place: Post House Garden

2nd Place: Alicia Feiner/Copper Antler Photography 3rd Place: Brandon Joyce Photography

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BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best Appetizer (location and item) 1st Place: Potstickers, Roarin 20s Dining and Social CLub 2nd Place: Deep-fried Cheesecurds, Bob's Bitchin' Barbeque (Dodgeville) 3rd Place: Cheesecurds, The Woods Bar and Grill One of the most popular questions. So many good options, although we have to give the Chicken Curry Frites from Last Leaf Public House (134 W Jefferson St, Spring Green) an honorable mention. Imagine poutine, but it's curry. Yep, it's amazing.

Best Breakfast/ Brunch Spot

Best Food Event/Series

Best Place to Get Coffee

1st Place: Smoke in the Valley, Prem Meats

1st Place: Butternut Road Coffee Truck

2nd Place: Strassenfest, Village of Plain 3rd Place: Local Night at The Shed

2nd Place: Brewhaha Roasters 3rd Place: The Paper Crane, Arcadia Books

Best Bakery 1st Place: Sidney Bakes 2nd Place: Quality Bakery (Dodgeville) 3rd Place: The Paper Crane, Arcadia Books Sidney Bakes (176 S Washington St, Spring Green), what more can we say? Although the scuffins are a favorite at Paper Crane in Arcadia Books (102 E Jefferson St, Spring Green), don’t sleep on the purple ube cookies.

Best Friday Fish Fry

Butternut Road was fast to become a community and regional favorite and surprises no one with this much deserved win.

Notable for Brewhaha Roaster’s number two spot: based on out most current understanding, both Butternut and The Paper Crane at Arcadia Books use or have used Brewhaha coffee!

Now we just need to be able to get coffee after 5pm and before 10am.

Best Burger (location and item) 1st Place: Burger, Baron Brooks 2nd Place: Cheeseburger, Ring's Bar 3rd Place: Double Cheeseburger, Culver's

1st Place: Anita's Cafe 2nd Place: Grandma Mary's 3rd Place: Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom

Once seemingly forgotten in the Valley, brunch is making a triumphant return. And with two of the best brunch spots across the street from each other, Anita's Cafe (214 US-14, Arena) and Grandma Mary's (175 US-14, Arena), Arena has been holding out on us. We're just happy we can go to Anita's and get a great skillet somewhere in the Valley.

Best Wings (restaurant/bar) 1st Place: Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom

1st Place: St. Luke Catholic Church 2nd Place: Prem Meats & Catering (tied) 2nd Place: Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom (tied)

For the second year running the best burger in the Valley is — the burger! The burger? No fancy name? Apparently it doesn't need oneto be the best. Baron Brooks (122 E Jefferson St, Spring Green) definitely knows something we don't know.

Best Regional Beer (brewery/specific brew) 1st Place: Spotted Cow, New Glarus

Best Food Truck/ Food Pop-up 1st Place: Jose's Authentic Mexican Food truck

2nd Place: Shifflet's Bar & Riverside Grille, 2nd Place: Butternut Road Coffee Truck 3rd Place: Vesperman Farms ice cream Wisconsin Riverside Resort truck (tied) 3rd Place: The Woods 3rd Place: Rub'in the Bonez BBQ (tied)

2nd Place: Warped Speed, Lake Louie 3rd Place: Fatty Boombalatty, Furthermore Beer Spotted Cow is not a surprise, neither is native son (but now Verona-brewed) Lake Louie, formerly of Arena.

But Fatty Boombalatty is. The ties go back sure, and so does the fanbase. But can you even get it any more? Last time we asked the owner said only in small batches on draft no where near us. We reached out again recently and *crickets* — if you're drinking Fatty Boombalatty, you need to share and let us all know where you're getting it. You'll make some people very happy.

Maybe the near future will bring Valley-brewed beer back?

JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

Best New Restaurant/ Food Place 1st Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 2nd Place: Rocket Man Pizza 3rd Place: Homecoming

Best Outdoor Dining

Best Pizza (restaurant/bar) 1st Place: Rocket Man Pizza

1st Place: Shifflet's Bar & Riverside Grille, Wisconsin Riverside Resort

Last year was a hard year for this category as we grappled with the ongoing pandemic, this year new food has hit its stride in the Valley, with so many good places to check out and try.

2nd Place: Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom 3rd Place: Homecoming

Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club (170 Main St, Plain) has a bit of everything, and it's good at it. The dishes are inspired, the style and classic arcade are a must see.

With over 2/3rds of the vote and views of the river, Shifflet's (S13220 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green) is a no-brainer. Looking for more of a garden vibe? Try Homecoming (242 N Lexington St, Spring Green).

2nd Place: Trader's Bar and Grill 3rd Place: Hyde Store (tied) 3rd Place: The Shoppe at Herbs Spices & More Another new business with a big win, there are a lot of options for pizza and flatbread in the Valley, but if you're looking for the best hand tossed pizza, Rocket Man Pizza (1150 Main St, Plain) is the place to go. I mean pizza is right in the name. Seeking flatbreads?

Try Last Leaf Public House (134 W Jefferson St, Spring Green).

Rocket Man Pizza (1150 Main St, Plain) is connected to Roarin 20s and puts out some great pizzas, with some tasty sides.

Homecoming (242 N Lexington St, Spring Green) is farm to table at its best. With an ever-changing menu that depends on what our local farmers have at the market, you can't miss Homecoming.

Best Steak (restaurant/bar) 1st Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 2nd Place: The Woods Bar and Grill 3rd Place: Arthur's Supper Club

Best Old Fashioned 1st Place: Arthur's Supper Club 2nd Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 3rd Place: Shifflet's Bar & Riverside Grille, Wisconsin Riverside Resort Often referred to as the most important question (by us at least), Arthur’s comes out on top with a Wisconsin favorite. Not to be ignored is Slowpoke’s (137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green) craft maple old fashioned, which could be a solid contender in the future and nearly placed.

The real question is, brandy or whisky?

(There is a wrong answer, this is Wisconsin.)

Best Wedding Venue 1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 2nd Place: Sugarland Barn 3rd Place: Octagon Barn

PAGE 4

Best Place for Dancing

Best Bar 1st Place: Baron Brooks

1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 2nd Place: Sh*tty Barn 3rd Place: Keg & Kettle

The Shitty Barn Sessions (506 E Madison St, Spring Green) are something special, but so is the River Stage at Wisconsin Riverside Resort (S13220 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green). But if you're looking to dance until your teeth fall out (that's an expression, right?) then the Keg & Kettle (104 S Oak St, Lone Rock) is always full of energy and fun.

Best Subs/Sandwiches 1st Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club (tied) 1st Place: Prem Meats (tied) 2nd Place: Spring Green General Store (tied) 2nd Place: Subway (tied)

2nd Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 3rd Place: Traders Bar and Grill (tied) 3rd Place: Shifflet's Bar & Riverside Grille, Wisconsin Riverside Resort (tied) A longtime downtown Spring Green favorite, it's no surprise that Baron Brooks (122 E Jefferson St, Spring Green) comes out on top.

Best Restaurant 1st Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 2nd Place: Shifflet's Bar & Riverside Grille, Wisconsin Riverside Resort 3rd Place: Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom Despite being new, Roarin 20s (1170 Main St, Plain) is fast becoming a favorite, THE favorite according to the numbers.

Owned by the same consortium that owns Lone Rock Bistro (234 S Oak St, Lone Rock), they've tapped into a need for elevated dining that endears itself to Valley residents.

Best Regional Supper Club 1st Place: Hi Point Steakhouse (Ridgeway) 2nd Place: Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club 3rd Place: Green Acres (Sauk City) A controversial list for sure. Last year's winner, Green Acres, gets knocked down to third, while new restaurant - and not what one might think of when they think supper club, but great in its own way -- Roarin 20s (1170 Main St, Plain) takes a prominent spot. No room at the top for a Valley proper supper club, yet. But may we suggest Arthur's?

BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

Best Regional Winery 1st Place: Wollersheim Winery (Prairie Du Sac) 2nd Place: Spurgeon Vineyards & Winery (Highland) 3rd Place: Botham Vineyards & Winery (Barneveld) (tied) 3rd Place: Baraboo Bluff Winery (Baraboo) (tied) JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best Day Trip

Best Hotel

Best Public Park

1st Place: Governor Dodge State Park 2nd Place: Lake Wisconsin 3rd Place: Wisconsin River

Some big changes from last year, Lake Wisconsin stayed but Downtown Madison and Ferry Bluff got knocked off.

Some of us can walk to the river, so is that technically a day trip?

Suppose it is if you make a day of it!

Best All-Ages Hangout 1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort 2nd Place: Wisconsin River 3rd Place: Post House Garden

1st Place: Spring Green Motel 2nd Place: Spring Valley Inn 3rd Place: Round Barn Lodge

Best Tourist Attraction

Best/Most Beautiful Local Spot

1st Place: American Players Theatre

1st Place: Wisconsin Riverside Resort

2nd Place: House on the Rock 3rd Place: Wisconsin River

2nd Place: The view from the top of Shot Tower, Tower Hill State Park 3rd Place: Spring Green Preserve The sunsets overlooking the river at Wisconsin Riverside Resort (S13220 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green) can't be beat.

But if you're looking to stick closer to downtown, the Post House Garden (119 E Jefferson Street, Spring Green) is always bustling with life or music.

1st Place: Arcadia Books

JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

2nd Place: White Mound County Park 3rd Place: Plain Community Park

Ironically, none of hotels that placed or were nominated have ‘hotel’ in their name.

When two of your best hang-outs involve the river, you know it's a draw.

Best Area Bookstore

1st Place: Governor Dodge State Park

2nd Place: Office Market 3rd Place: Ocooch Books & Libations (Richland Center) BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

No surprise here! Arcadia Books (102 E Jefferson St, Spring Green) may be the only true bookstore in the Valley proper, but there are lots of places to find books.

PAGE 5

Best Gas Station (specific location) Best Clothing Boutique 1st Place: Nina's Department Store 2nd Place: Bargain Nook 3rd Place: Spring Green General Store

Best Place to get Groceries

1st Place: Rite-Way Plaza, Spring Green 2nd Place: Kwik Trip, Black Earth 3rd Place: D&Z's, Lone Rock

As much as many may love Kwik Trip, it's nice to see a gas station that's in the Valley proper win this. Kwik Trip may be a Wisconsin staple, but Rite-Way (E4905 US-14, Spring Green) is a Valley staple.

Best Hardware Store

Best Sporting Goods/ Tackle Store?

1st Place: Crappie Shop 2nd Place: Kate's Bait & Sporting Goods 3rd Place: Pappas' Trading Post

Best Place for Jewelry 1st Place: Pamela's Fine Jewelry

1st Place: Hometown Supermarket

1st Place: Doerre Hardware

2nd Place: Prem Meats & Catering 3rd Place: Spring Green Farmers Market

2nd Place: Ederer's Do It Best 3rd Place: Mazo Hardware

Best Cheese Factory

Best Place to Buy Meat

2nd Place: Stella & Dot - Keep, Amanda Nabbefeld 3rd Place: No Rules Jewelry (Lone Rock) (tied) 3rd Place: No Rules Gallery (Spring Green) (tied)

Best Shop for Gifts

1st Place: Arena Cheese Factory

1st Place: Prem Meats and Catering

1st Place: Simply Rooted & Co.

2nd Place: Cedar Grove Cheese 3rd Place: Carr Valley (La Valle)

2nd Place: Straka Meats 3rd Place: Richland Locker (Richland Center)

2nd Place: Nina's Department Store 3rd Place: Spring Green General Store

Best Attorney

Best Autobody Shop/Automotive Repair

A huge win for the newly-opened Simply Rooted & Co. (334 E Daley St. Spring Green). Only open for around a month before polls opened, they knocked last year's winner, Spring Green General Store, out of first place.

Best Bank/Credit Union

1st Place: Tom Kelley

1st Place: Nachreiner Auto Care

1st Place: Peoples Community Bank

2nd Place: Michael Curran 3rd Place: Patricia McKinney-Lins

2nd Place: George's Autobody 3rd Place: Ringbrothers

2nd Place: WCCU Credit Union (tied) 2nd Place: Royal Bank (tied)

PAGE 6

BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best Place to Get a Haircut

Best Carpentry or Remodeling Company

Best Construction Company

1st Place: Bowdatious Salon

1st Place: Feiner Construction

1st Place: Kraemer Brothers

2nd Place: Inspired Innovations Salon 3rd Place: Lucy's Hair & Nail Salon

2nd Place: S&D Builders 3rd Place: Jason Schluter Construction

2nd Place: Feiner Construction 3rd Place: Jason Schluter Construction

Best Dental Practice

Best Electrician

1st Place: Village Family Dental

1st Place: Berry Electric

2nd Place: Advanced Family Dental 3rd Place: Richland Family Dental (Richland Center)

2nd Place: Alt Electric 3rd Place: Miller Electric

Best Heating & Cooling Company 1st Place: Nate Frank Heating & Cooling (tied) 1st Place: Thermo Dynamics (tied) 2nd Place: Nachreiner Plumbing and Heating

Best Plumber 1st Place: Foster Plumbing & Repair 2nd Place: Kraemer Plumbing 3rd Place: Nachreiner Plumbing & Heating

Best Vet Clinic 1st Place: Spring Green Animal Hospital 2nd Place: River Valley Veterinary Clinic 3rd Place: Dodgeville Veterinary Service

Best Local Insurance Agent or Office 1st Place: Michael Olson, American Family Insurance 2nd Place: Ted Greenheck. Driftless Area Group 3rd Place: Pletzer Insurance Agency

JUNE 2022 PAGE 8 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best Area Clinic 1st Place: River Valley Clinic, Sauk Prairie Healthcare (Spring Green) 2nd Place: Prairie Clinic (Sauk City) 3rd Place: Upland Hills Health Spring Green Clinic

Best Senior Living Residence 1st Place: Meadows Assisted Living and Memory Care 2nd Place: Greenway Terrace 3rd Place: Pine Valley (Richland Center)

Best Real Estate Agent or Office 1st Place: Ashley Straka, Century 21, Spring Green 2nd Place: Ted Greenheck, Driftless Area LLC, Richland Center 3rd Place: Peggy Ring, Century 21, Spring Green

Best Nail Salon 1st Place: Bowdatious Salon 2nd Place: The Nail Salon SG 3rd Place: Lucy's Hair & Nail Salon

BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

Best Florist 1st Place: Country Crossroads Floral and Gifts 2nd Place: Prairie Flower and Gifts 3rd Place: B-Style Floral & Gifts (Mazomanie)

Best Area Hospital 1st Place: Sauk Prairie Healthcare Hospital (Prairie Du Sac) 2nd Place: Upland Hills Health (Dodgeville) 3rd Place: Richland Hospital (Richland Center)

Best Tax Service 1st Place: MS Tax & Accounting 2nd Place: Mick Baryenbruch 3rd Place: Zander Tax and Bookkeeping (Dodgeville)

Best Landscaping/Lawncare 1st Place: River Valley Landscapes 2nd Place: J& J Total Lawn Care and Snow Removal 3rd Place: Feiner Enterprise

Best event/wedding DJ 1st Place: Over the Moon Weddings & Midnight Divas DJ, Joni Johnson-Kropp 2nd Place: Scott Siewert, Full Tilt DJ's (tied) 2nd Place: Doc's Ultimate Entertainment (tied)

JUNE 2022 PAGE 7 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

Best area CSA

Favorite Elected Official

Best Farm

1st Place: Enos Farms

1st Place: Bear Vale Farm

2nd Place: Steadfast Acres 3rd Place: My Fine Homestead (Blue River)

2nd Place: Cates Family Farm 3rd Place: Enos Farms

Most Underrated Thing in the Valley

Most Overrated Thing in the Valley

2nd Place: Lone Rock Village Trustee Adam Reno 3rd Place: Governor Tony Evers

1st Place: River Valley School Fair

1st Place: "Coldest in the Nation" sign in Lone Rock (tied)

2nd Place: Lone Rock 3rd Place: Sidney Bakes

Ray Ring edges out last year's winner, Gov. Tony Evers, and Adam Reno knocks State Senator Howard Marklein off the list.

1st Place: Spring Green's outsized sense of self, without innovation (tied)

1st Place: Plain Village President Ray Ring

Last year some people really liked this question and some people thought it felt out of place. We stood by it and still do. We explained last year that a time when it feels like decisions are made so far away, we need to remember that not only can we get involved but that we also can hold our elected officials accountable to our interests and that we should also celebrate the very best of our elected officials as well, from local on up. We hope this award stands as a reminder and as incentive for our local elected officials.

2nd Place: House on the Rock This one is always fun. It asks us to be introspective, while also firing figurative shots.

For the second year in a row Lone Rock's sign and the House on the Rock make an appearance. New to the list is the desire for Spring Green to innovate.

Also, sorry Lone Rock, we still love your sign <3

Thing the Valley is Best At 1st Place: Kindness/ Helping each other/ Being friendly 2nd Place: Tourism 3rd Place: Rallying around athletics/ extra curricular activities No change this year, a couple new nominations, but the answers were the same and in the exact same order.

It's important to note just how highly kindness scored, it wasn't even close. That showing, along with the lack of placement this year over last for the Valley needing to work on being welcoming bodes well for the future.

PAGE 8

For the second year in a row, the River Valley School Fair wins.

The River Valley School Fair is something special. At one point we heard that it’s one of only two left in the state, Ithaca being the other. It someone wants to fact check that, let us know the results.

In the meantime we’ll just enjoy what we have here.

How Sidney Bakes (176 S Washington St, Spring Green) can be both Best Bakery and one of the most underrated things in the Valley certainly says something special.

Biggest Thing We Should Make Happen Soon

Thing the Valley is Worst At

1st Place: Kwik Trip

1st Place: Affordable housing (tied)

2nd Place: Extending the ATV/UTV trails 3rd Place: Affordable housing

1st Place: Anything for 20-30 year olds/ Is Kwik Trip really a surprising answer? For two years running Kwik young families/young professionals (tied) Trip comes out on top. We love our local gas stations too of course, 2nd Place: Broadband/Cell Service

but Kwik Trip is a Wisconsin staple.

Affordable housing is huge, there are tons of young professionals and young families that would love to live in the area but can’t.

The Valley is a complicated place. It’s growing and changing and we Kudos to the developers that realize this and are moving forward with affordable apartments and lots. believe that it can keep its heart and its rural character while still striving for something more.

Worth mentioning is how high commuter rail was on the list and Last year the answers were more nebulous, this year this question how close it was to placing. As lovely as a train into Spring Green to see APT or Taliesin would be, until we create more jobs in the area, prompted some great tangible endeavors. many still commute. Commuter rail would be a welcome way to commute along the HWY 14 corridor and into Madison.

BEST OF THE RIVER VALLEY READER POLL

JUNE 2022 VALLEYSENTINEL.NEWS

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

SPoRtS/Community

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Home talent baseball Plain A's fall to Black Earth after seventh inning score The Plain Athletics stayed in it until the end, but Black Earth pulled away late in a 6-5 Home Talent baseball victory on June 3. Black Earth trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning when Bryce Barsness homered on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs.

Plain A's lost despite out-hitting Black Earth 11 to eight.

Plain A's scored three runs in the sixth inning. Plain A's scored its runs on an

RBI double by Will Jewell.

Black Earth scored four runs in the fifth inning. The big inning for Black Earth came thanks to a triple by Mitch Howard, a single by Curtis Barsness, and a double by Shane Moyer.

Bryce Hopwood was the winning pitcher for Black Earth. The pitcher surrendered five runs on ten hits over six and a third innings, striking out five.

Clay Caminitti and Logan entered the

game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

Logan Morris took the loss for Plain A's.

The pitcher surrendered four runs on seven hits over four and a third innings, striking out two.

Plain A's totaled 11 hits. Jack Meixelsperger, Morris, and Jewell all managed multiple hits for Plain A's .

Meixelsperger went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Plain A's in hits.

Black Earth scattered eight hits in the game. Barsness and Tyler Krause all collected multiple hits for Black Earth.

The Plain A’s are 0-3 on the season, with a June 24 game against Ashton (4-1), a June 25 game at Waunakee (3-3) and a July 3 game Cazenovia (0-6) on the horizon.

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Kraemer Library and Community Center celebrates anniversary Jennifer Kraemer, Friends of the Kraemer Library In June 2002, the citizens of Plain and the surrounding area gathered to celebrate the opening of a new library and community center. The celebration was the culmination of several years of planning and fundraising and marked the transition from the former library, which had been located in the Village municipal building since 1964.

The new facility was a major undertaking for the community. A group of committed community members led the effort - including Bill Gruber, (Village President), Elsie Haas (Librarian), Jennifer Kraemer, Linda Kraemer, Norm Kraemer, Mary Jane Liegel, Linda Paulus (Asst. Librarian), Joseph Prem, (Town of Franklin), Ralph Soeldner, Susan Turn Thering Dischler, Joseph Wankerl and Bob Wills (Sauk County Library Board).

The mission of the group, written by

one of the members, included the following statement: Imagine…..

A new building in our community, a building designed as a gathering place for people of all ages. Where mothers meet with each other to share experiences and bring their children for social interaction. Where senior citizens gather for coffee and conversation. Where teenagers converge after school for homework or group assignments. A place where all these groups form lasting community bonds. A building where book clubs meet, and classes of all kinds take place. Include a room dedicated to the rich history of the area, a room where pride is shown in the heritage and work ethic of the early settlers…….or for those who simply want to immerse themselves in the books and resources on the shelves……The possibilities are endless…….

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Employment Bonus Eligible! *RN ED – Weekender position working Saturday/Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Premium pay program! *RN OB unit - .75 FTE evening/night shift position. $3,750 Employment Bonus Eligible! *Certified Nursing Assistants – part-time positions available in our Nursing & Rehab Center on day, evening and night shifts, $3,000 Employment Bonus included along with a competitive wage and benefits package for part or full time work! *Imaging Technologist – premium pay Weekender Program with 2 -12 hour day/evening shifts! As well there is a 1.0 FTE p.m. shift position. Up to a $5,000 Employment Bonus, prorated based on FTE! *MRI Imaging Technologist - .5 to a 1.0 FTE day shift position. Up to a $5,000 Employment Bonus, prorated based on FTE! *Respiratory Therapist – part or full time day shift position. *Insurance Billing Specialist – full-time day shift position. *Operating Room Technologist - .8 FTE day shift position. *Physical Therapist – 1.0 FTE day shift position. *Patient Access Specialist - .8 FTE night shift position and an every other weekend position. *Clinic CMA or LPN – .8 FTE day shift position for our Barneveld and Mt. Horeb clinics. *Clinic Registration Specialist – full-time day shift position in our Mineral Point and Dodgeville clinics. *Maintenance Technician – full-time day shift position. *Environmental Services Supervisor – full-time exempt supervisory position. *Environmental Services Staff – full and part time p.m. and night shift positions. $1,000 Employment Bonus!

To find out more detailed information about all open positions and to apply, go to our website at www.uplandhillshealth.org.

Upland Hills Health 800 Compassion Way Dodgeville, WI 53533

The fundraising campaign for the facility was initiated by a lead gift from the Kraemer Businesses and Family Partnership, and the goal met through the participation of generous village and township residents.

Twenty years later, the Kraemer Library and Community Center continues to fulfill its original mission, and meets the needs of the community and surrounding area that it serves.

Despite being completely flooded in the spring of 2008 and forced to close for six weeks in 2020 due to the pandemic, the library is an important resource for its patrons in Plain and the surrounding area.

Nick Studnicka, library director since 2016, has been instrumental in planning and managing improvements to the library building and grounds.

His efforts will be invaluable to the library’s continued role in the village.

In addition to the current volunteer Library Board members (Mary Brey,

Grubers branch out with Simply Rooted & Co., offering home decor and more in Spring Green continued from page 1 possible future: Valley Sentinel: What's the origin of the name Simply Rooted & Co. and what does it mean to you?

Tami Gruber: The name of Simply Rooted & Co. originated as my family’s roots are deep within the River Valley Community. The Spring Green area has always been our home; it’s where my husband and I grew up, have gotten married, raised our family, and created a wonderful life together. We were tossing names around and this one came up and it just made sense.

VS: For those that haven't stopped in yet, what makes you different from the business that previously occupied the space? How have you set yourself apart?

TG: We loved the Stage Stop that was here prior to us, and we loved what it brought to our community. Simply Rooted includes some of the wonderful items and ideas that were here before us, but we have also expanded to include more home decor, kitchen supplies, indoor and outdoor furniture, gifts for newborns to newlyweds, toys and clothing for fur parents and their pets, decorative flowers/greenery, bar and drink mixes/supplies, and an ample amount of other items that we get in weekly! We carry Sidney Bakes, Block 23/Straka Meats, Clyde Company

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Becky Ellis, Nicole Feiner, Gwen Kraemer, Linda Paulus, Oxana Peper, and Kelly Yanke), who work directly with Nick in the management of the facility, the library has an active volunteer Friends group, (Emily Benz, Shannon Shelton-Ganser, Kathy Dwyer, Kathy Heiser, Nicole Feiner and Jennifer Kraemer), who support the library by raising funds through the annual Pies and Pages sale, and encouraging innovative programming and events, including the monthly Senior Movies and Lunches.

The latest project of the Friends is the launch of a Books for Babies campaign, designed to develop the next generation of library users by providing books, resources, and library cards for new moms and their babies. In addition, the Friends will work with the board to develop events to celebrate the first 20 years of the library and plan for the future.

We look forward to the next 20 years.

Photo via Simply Rooted & Co.

Clothing, Luminous Rose Facial Line, beautiful and homemade real wooden bowls, unique homemade jewelry, antiques, Amish decor, candles and many other vendors! Of course, ice cream, coffee, and specialty chocolates too!

VS: Please feel free to add anything else about the business, the process, the vision and where you go from here!

TG: It has always been my dream to open up a gift shop of my own! My family and I along with some great friends have worked hard for this dream to be put into action. We still own and operate The Spring Green Motel and my husband continues to work as a “retired” engineer; even though now he is busier than ever with his private engineering job and helping me run two businesses!

Where do we go from here? We don’t know! We are living in the moment, spending time with our children and grandchildren, and making memories along the way! My family has LOTS of ideas coming, so stay tuned!!

Simply Rooted & Co. is located at 334 E Daley Street, Spring Green and is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. More information is available on their website at: www. simplyrootedhomedecor.com.

SPoRtS/Community

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Page 9

RVHS Spring Sports

Blackhawks Girls Soccer finishes out season in Regional loss to #1 seed Todd Deibert, RVHS Girls Soccer Coach On June 2 we hosted Richland Center in a Regional game. We won 2-0.

Karina Osborn started the scoring 4 minutes into the second half. Karina made a great play, controlling the ball off a Kylie Morrey corner kick. She beat a defender and smashed a shot into the far post. Six minutes later Grace Morrey gathered a ball off a Richland Center goal kick, dribbled down to the end line and made a great cross in front of goal.

Kylie Morrey was there on the far post to finish it. That was such a nice goal.

Grace made a great play settling the ball out of air, beat her defender to the end line and made a really nice cross.

It was cool for those two to connect on a goal like that. It was a beautiful day and a great game. The girls came ready to play and delivered. It was a great achievement to get a home game in the first round of Regionals.

June 4 we went to Assumption in

Lydia Weiss

Announcing 2022 Softball All-Conference Team from River Valley FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE Brooke Anderson (SWC Player of the Year) Delaney Milanowski Morgan Brickl Aryana McElwee SECOND TEAM ALLCONFERENCE Leah Makarowski Kylie Merritt

good to have some success and be competitive this year. This group of girls worked really hard and came together well as a team. We had a lot of fun. I want to thank all of the parents, my assistant coaches Colleen and Erika, team managers Devlin, Kin, Isaac and Ben, Joannie Harrington, Julie Kuhse, Karl Nelson, Brian Quigley, Dawn Jensen and Jaime Hegland for all their time, effort and support during the season.

Golf finishes up season with Sectional showing

Girls Softball announces all-conference Jane Briehl, RVHS Softball Head Coach

Wisconsin Rapids. Assumption was the #1 seed in our Regional. We lost 1-11. The highlight of the game was a goal scored by Kylie Morrey, assisted

by Karina Osborn. Kylie hit one from outside of the 18. It was a rocket.

Overall, I thought we played really well, but we just couldn't stop their forwards.

They are very fast and finish really well.

They were by far the best offensive team we've faced this season.

We had a really nice season. It was

Matt Snow, RVHS Golf Coach

HONORABLE MENTION ALLCONFERENCE Kora Eberle

WIAA Division 2 Sectionals were held Wednesday, June 1st at La Crosse Country Club in Onalaska Wisconsin.

Eli Johnson, representing River Valley, finished 32nd out of 69 golfers. Moving onto the State tournament as teams were Edgewood High School (327) and Edgerton High School (344).

COACH of the YEAR (STAFF) River Valley The River Valley Girls Varsity Softball team finished out their season with a record of 18-6.

The Blackhawks were defeated in a surprise postseason upset by Westby 5-3 after finishing up their regular season with a 11-1 blowout over Richland Center.

Photo contributed by Matt Snow Eli Johnson competing at Sectionals.

Photo contributed by Jane Briehl From left to right standing: Kora Eberle (Co-Captain), Aryana McElwee (Co-Captain), Lydia Weiss (Most Improved Player), Katie Hahn, Brooke Anderson (Co-Slugger/Offensive Player of the Year), Kylie Merritt (Golden Glove/Defensive Player of the Year), Morgan Brickl (Hustle Award,Co-Captain). Seated left to right Miranda Feiner, Kylie Robbins, Haylee Williams, Lydia Willoughby, Leah Makarowski (Rookie of the Year), Hannah Hegland, Addie Lilla.

Missing from picture Delaney Milanowski (Co-Slugger/Offensive Player of the Year).

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regional/Outdoors

Page 10 Thursday, June 16, 2022

LOWER WISCONSIN STATE RIVERWAY BOARD

Apple trees and bumble bees topics at Riverway Board meeting Mark E. Cupp, LWSRB Executive Director The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board met in Prairie du Sac on June 9th to conduct a regular monthly business meeting. The guest speakers for the meeting were Curt Meine and Rob Nurre of the Badger Apple Corps project. Meine explained the idea for the project began as Mike Mossman, former Department of Natural Resources (DNR) ecologist, was conducting surveys at the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant.

Mossman noted there were many apple

trees associated with the locations of former farmsteads that were displaced by the powder plant operation. The heirloom varieties represented by these apple trees led to the idea of trying to preserve the genetic lines of apples and to connect the descendants of the farms to the land via the apple trees. Many people assisted with grafting of trees and a small nursery was established.

Later, trees were given to family members of the displaced farmers and, eventually, trees were planted in public places around the Sauk Prairie area. Meine said the project continues to grow and is a labor of love for those involved. To watch a video or learn more about the project, search for Badger Apple Corps on the Internet.

Mark Cupp, Executive Director, reported he learned about another interesting effort called the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade. Former Riverway Board Chair Don Greenwood had snapped a photograph of a bumble bee on the flowering lupine on DNR

land at Cassell Prairie in Sauk County.

His curiosity regarding the possibility of the creature being a rare rusty patched bumble bee led him to a DNR specialist who said the pollinator was actually a brown belted bumble bee.

He then informed Greenwood about the Bumble Bee Brigade. The mission of the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade project is to “improve understanding, management and conservation of Wisconsin Bumble Bees.” The project’s website contains a wealth of information regarding bumble bees and how to get involved in providing data to track the bees in Wisconsin.

The board elected new officers for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The new Chair will be Gigi La Budde of Spring Green, who replaces Jerry Dorscheid of Arena. Dorscheid recently retired from the LWSRB. Vice Chair will be Steve Wetter of Boscobel and Secretary will be Randy Poelma of LaCrosse.

In other action, DNR Riverway Manager Jesse Kellogg reported the

trail at Ferry Bluff near Sauk City will undergo renovations over the next several weeks. The trail will remain open during the construction period.

The effort was needed due to erosion problems on the existing trail. Kellogg said he is working on obtaining permits for improvements at the Boydtown landing in Crawford County and hopes to have that project completed by the end of summer. Timm Zumm, President of the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW), said the new Riverway text alert system is up and running. Persons interested in receiving text alerts may do so by sending a text to 77295 with the word RIVERWAY in the message. He noted many people were instrumental in setting up the system including Iowa County DNR Conservation Warden Alan Erickson and personnel at the Iowa County 911 Center.

The next meeting of the Riverway Board will be held on July 14th in Muscoda.

Riverway Board welcomes new members Mark E. Cupp, LWSRB Executive Director

Photo by Don Greenwood A brown belted bumblebee on lupine at a prairie in Sauk County.

HIKE, LISTEN TO BIRDS, STORIES AND POEMS

Whippoorwills and Words: An Evening on the Wisconsin River 2022

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board met in Prairie du Sac on June 9th and welcomed new members representing Iowa and Richland counties. Kim Cates of rural Spring Green will represent Iowa County after being nominated by the county board and appointed by Governor Tony Evers. Cates and her family operate a managed grazing beef operation in the Wyoming valley, a short distance from Taliesin.

She has a background in soil science and has worked in various capacities for land resource management and agricultural agencies, including time as an agriculture and environment

JULY 06, 2022 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM FERRY BLUFF STATE NATURAL AREA E9974 STATE RD 60 SAUK CITY REGISTRATION REQUIRED - $45

Kim Cates advisor to former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl. Cates and her husband, Dick, are avid paddlers who enjoy the Riverway and wilderness camping and kayaking experiences. Cates replaces long-serving Iowa County representative Jerry Dorscheid of Arena, the former board Chair who Please bring your own water/beverage. You must be able to hike up a steep hill a short distance (about 15 minutes) to participate in this event. Unfortunately, there is no accessibility for those with movement restrictions

To register contact Diane Schwartz at 608-358-8314 or go to Eventbrite and search “Whippoorwills and Words”

chose not to seek another term.

Dan Hillberry represents Richland County on the Riverway Board

Dan Hillberry replacing Steve Williamson who did not seek re-appointment. Hillberry of the Town of Richwood lives on the family farm near Byrds Creek, a short distance from the Wisconsin River.

He has a background in forestry and soil science and currently works in the agriculture and forestry fields.

Hillberry serves on the Board of Directors for Richland Electric Cooperative, the Wisconsin Electric Cooperation Board and the Grant County Deer Advisory Council. As a cooperating forester, he works with landowners on developing timber management plans and conducting timber harvests as well as timber stand improvement projects.

Mark Cupp, Executive Director, said, “I am pleased to welcome Kim Cates and Dan Hillberry to the Riverway Board. There were several qualified applicants for these

positions and I appreciate everyone who pursued the appointments. Kim and Dan both bring excellent life experiences to the board and will help the agency continue the mission of protecting and preserving the scenic beauty and natural character of the final 92 miles of the Wisconsin River.”

Both Cates and Hillberry will serve three-year terms expiring in 2025.

Currently, one vacancy exists on the board for a recreational user or “at-large” position. The position is appointed by the Governor subject to Senate confirmation. Eligible applicants may not reside in the six counties along the lower Wisconsin River (Dane, Sauk, Iowa, Richland, Grant and Crawford) and should be willing to attend one meeting per month at locations from Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chien.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway was created in 1989 after years of planning and hundreds of public meetings. The project encompasses nearly 100,000 acres along the riparian corridor from the Prairie du Sac dam to the confluence with the Mississippi River near Prairie du Chien. The Riverway Board is a small state agency that administers the aesthetic protection regulations. The board is comprised of 9 members, six from the counties along the lower Wisconsin River and 3 “at-large” members. Additional information may be found at the Riverway Board website or Facebook page or on the DNR website.

Riverway Board to host canoe trips Mark E. Cupp, LWSRB Executive Director The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board will sponsor a series of five canoe outings on the Wisconsin River in late June and July. The large voyageur replica canoes commissioned by the State of Wisconsin in conjunction with the sesquicentennial in 1998 will be used for the trips that will explore different segments of the river. Seating is limited to 14 persons for each excursion and reservations are required. A waiting list will be developed in case of cancellations. The excursions will be led by Mark Cupp, Riverway Board Executive Director.

Water levels and weather permitting, a sandbar stop will be included in each trip. Participants should bring their own beverages, food, sunscreen and bug spray. No glass containers are allowed. Lifejackets and paddles will be provided but participants are welcome to bring their own personal flotation device. Small groups may sign-up for the trips but should do so early to assure adequate space is available.

Additional information may be found on the Riverway Board website or Facebook page.

To make a reservation or to ask questions about the canoe trips, contact

the Riverway Board office Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (608) 739-3188 or 1-800-221-3792 or by emailing marsha.curtis@wi.gov.

The schedule for the canoe trips is as follows: Wednesday, June 29th Muscoda to Port Andrew 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, June 30th Lone Rock to Gotham 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Friday, July 8th Gotham to Muscoda 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Monday, July 11th Muscoda to Port Andrew 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 13th Spring Green to Lone Rock 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Community

Thursday, June 16, 2022 Page 11

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary Cases as of 6/18/2022

1,501,470 Positive Cases +50,934 from 5/18

13,098 Deaths +139 from 5/18 Updated: 6/18/2022 /2022

Vaccine Summary Statistics

cdc covid-19 community levels

Updated: 6/18/2022

Updated: 6/18/2022 This map shows the current CDC COVID-19 Community Level for each county in Wisconsin. Community levels measure the impact of COVID-19 illness on health and health care systems in communities.

COVID-19 community levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and their unique needs. Community vaccination coverage and other local information can also inform decision-making for health officials and individuals.

9,555,811

5,609,465

3,599,474

346,872

Total doses administered

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

2,053,451

1,185,424

842,391

25,636

Total boosters administered

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data These two core measures are 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 the current target range is 60-90%. -Adapted from Madison Public Health and Dane County

Richland County 4,154 Positive Cases +137 from 5/18 +2 from 5/18 50 Deaths

Richland

Iowa County 5,733 Positive Cases +278 from 5/18 30 Deaths +1 from 5/18 1.) Total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days. 2.) New COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days. 3.) Percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

Target Range

59.7%

65.5% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

57.6%

62.6%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated Target Range

Iowa

17,314 Positive Cases +645 from 5/18 +1 from 5/18 137 Deaths

Using these data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium, or high. county level weekly statistics

Sauk

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Sauk County

CDC looks at the combination of three metrics:

Target Range

70.5% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

67.9% Percent fully vaccinated

Cases per zip code

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 5-11 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases as of 6/18/2022

Updated: 6/18/2022 Lower %

Richland County

19.1%

Ages 5-11

Iowa County Ages 5-11

Higher %

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

32.8%

Sauk County Ages 5-11

Ages

26.0% Dane County Ages 5-11

59.3%

Updated: 6/18/2022

5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Graphic by Anna Stocks-Hess

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

Page 12 Thursday, June 16, 2022

Outdoors & Recreation

An Outdoorsman’s Journal Selina Walters - For Mark Walters, Columnist

and terrestrial macroinvertebrates Our family is dealing with an unexpected tragic event at the time. On that note, Selina present at each site. Before I started, I will be taking the role as author for the was extremely intimidated by the idea of week and updating you all on her life!

Hello everyone, I was hoping to do this story later in the summer to cover everything I will do in Montana, but since we ended up having to do this so abruptly, I’ll fill you in all of the steps I have been taking to become a professional in natural resources.

At the end of May I finished my junior year at UW Stevens Point where I am double majoring in fisheries and aquatic sciences and water resources, minoring in soil science, and obtaining a certificate in wetland science. This last year for me though has been focused around learning outside of the classroom.

I was the secretary of the UWSP American Fisheries Society (AFS) this last year, and next year will be the Vice President. Through AFS I was able to meet and network with a variety of fisheries professionals; assist in a brook trout movement study where we electro-fished and pit-tagged individuals, did fyke net surveys on the Wisconsin River, and helped out with the data collection during the Lake Sturgeon Spawn. My proudest accomplishment of the year by far though was doing a research project assessing different riparian habitats and macroinvertebrate drift and participating in the UWSP Jim and Katie Krause CNR Research Symposium.

To say it briefly, my study was assessing how different land uses (forested, wetland, and agriculture) on the Little Plover River affected the number and composition of aquatic

doing research and honestly did not think that I would be capable of doing it on my own. Luckily, I got to work with a great mentor and friend Rachael Valeria who had done the project two years before and was doing a similar project on brook trout diets and riparian land use. This project was a huge steppingstone for me, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do it; especially because this project helped me get a new job during the school year which I absolutely love.

At the beginning of the spring semester, I started a job working in the Aquatic Biomonitoring Lab (ABL) on campus where I sort aquatic macroinvertebrate drift samples. Essentially, agencies like the DNR send us drift samples which contain aquatic insects from all kinds of waterbodies. By looking at the composition of macroinvertebrates you can make an assumption about the quality of the water and habitat in that area. Jeff Dimick runs the lab and has instilled his obsession with macroinvertebrates onto many of his student employees including me.

Shortly after I finished school I drove out to Eureka, Montana where I am working as a fisheries biotechnician for the US Forest Service. This is my first summer traveling for a job and I am so happy that this is where I ended up!

Eureka is a small town that the Rocky Mountains run through and largely composed of land owned by the forest service, so there is more natural land than developed which I love!

Most of my job so far has entailed gauging streams to see the amount of discharge running through them. Many

Photo contributed by Selina Walters Selina and Rachael electrofishing for Brook Trout research study data

Photo contributed by Selina Walters The view from Dickey Lake near Eureka, MT

Photo contributed by Selina Walters Selina with a nice walleye caught using fyke nets on the Wisconsin River during a survey for AFS

of the streams that we gauge are high mountain streams that rely on snow melt to flow, so it is important to see how the flows change as the course of the summer goes on. Since I have gotten here it has been relatively cool, there haven’t been many days above 70, rain has been pretty consistent, and when I got here a lot of the snow was still on the mountains. Last summer it was apparently in the 90’s almost all summer and very dry, so the weather is very variable; but this summer’s weather is not very common.

Very recently it down-poured here for two days straight and highs were in the 50’s, which resulted in more snow on the mountains after much of it had already melted. Many of these streams were already starting to fill up from the regular snow melt, and now with the additional rain and snow up on the mountains streams that we gauge are hitting record highs and there is

flooding going on.

Soon I will get into more fish electroshocking and habitat surveys which I am really looking forward to. We also do a variety of other random small jobs as they come up; last week I went with my bosses to try and figure out if something was a “stream” and extra precautions would need to be taken as it was an area where logging will soon begin.

Overall, I am very happy to see the direction my future is heading. I still am unsure of exactly what I want to do after I graduate but I am not in a rush to figure it out exactly as I have interests in so many different areas and know that I will figure it out with time.

Do what you love, and tell those you love that you love them. Till next time, Selina

Want to read more?

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