Valley Sentinel - 07-07-2021

Inside this edition

Police Committee reviews complaint against Arena Police Chief: “There’s no evidence of wrongdoing”

Gard Theater reopens following COVID-19 closure

4th quarter RVHS honor roll

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Spring Green, Wisconsin

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 27 Free, Single-Copy

River Valley celebrates 4th of July with parade, fireworks in Lone Rock Photos by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor

The Valley came out in full force to celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July, congregating in Lone Rock to enjoy everything from a parade, to a chicken BBQ, a lawn tractor pull, fireworks and more.

Pictured at left, above: Onlookers take in the fireworks show at Firemen’s Park in Lone Rock on July 4.

Pictured at left, below: Kids scramble to pick up candy thrown by a fire truck at the parade in Lone Rock on July 4.

Community comes together following tragic Wisconsin River accident that leaves a local man missing Taylor Scott, Managing Editor and Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief “One of the most dangerous things about the Lower Wisconsin River is that it doesn’t look dangerous.”

Timm Zumm, president of Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW), shared those words of warning and wisdom this week during a brief break in the search for 22-year-old Parker Kruse, of Arena, who was knocked overboard in a boat collision after rescuing someone in need on July 3 into a Wisconsin River that was high and swift.

Joni Johnson-Kropp, Kruse’s aunt, speaking on behalf of the family, shared the family’s understanding of the events that led up to and caused Parker to be thrown overboard: “Parker, his girlfriend Kourtney and friend Brandon were on a sandbar. They saw a boat drive by, hit something and throw the driver

overboard. So Parker & Brandon jumped in Brandon’s boat to help the stranded man.

They threw him a life jacket and tried to get control of the driverless boat. The out of control boat hit the side of Brandon’s which tossed Parker into the water. Nobody is sure if he resurfaced because of all the commotion. Parker had his life jacket on, but it wasn’t fastened. It was found floating in the water,” said Johnson-Kropp.

“It was like a scene out of a horror movie, with a boat going around in circles,” shared Zumm, noting that most newer boats have a “kill switch” that attaches to a lanyard the boat operator wears and would turn off the motor in any instance where the operator was thrown from the boat. Zumm said he didn’t know if the boat that collided with Kruse’s had a switch that would do that.

Johnson-Kropp said that the driver of the other boat is someone she grew up with and disagreed with any characterization of neg-

ligence, “it was a tragic accident.” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Law Enforcement Supervisor Mike Green stated that the incident isn’t currently being investigated as a criminal matter.

“The DNR is investigating the boat accident portion of it and the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department dive team and Spring Green Fire have been doing the search and rescue,” shared Green. “They haven’t recovered the body yet, they’re still working on it now.”

Over a half dozen agencies were involved with the search from the day of the incident, dragging the river for several hours the first day and using drones to search for signs of Kruse. They’ve since been joined by Wings of Hope, from Medford, WI, Northstar Search & Rescue, from Golden Valley, MN, Wisconsin K9 SOS Search and Rescue, from Madison, WI, and Bruce’s Legacy, from Black River Falls, WI, among others.

Official agencies and organizations have

also been joined by dozens of community members and volunteers who have coordinated with authorities to walk the banks and have brought their own boats to assist as needed.

“Sometimes we can find people really quick and sometimes it can take days,” said Green. “There’s lots and lots of variables.”

It’s “moment by moment” Green said on any decisions to expand the search area.

In addition to specialized K9 units, recovery teams have been utilizing technical equipment such as side scan sonar & drones, both in the air and water. Spring Green Fire and Rescue set up and has been utilizing a command center and coordinating with the other agencies and volunteers.

Johnson-Kropp asks those interested in helping to avoid the area in boats when underwater drones and dogs are out to ensure

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PSC reconsidering permit for Cardinal-Hickory Creek transmission lines after potential conflict of interest surfaces Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Public Service Commission (PSC) voted to reconsider the controversial Cardinal-Hickory Creek Transmission line project July 1, following secret mes-

sages between a former regulator and employees of the utilities involved in the projects came to light.

The PSC voted 2-0 to give notice of intent to rescind an original permit granted for the project, the $450 mil-

lion controversial project would span throughout southwestern Wisconsin and Iowa.

The reversal comes after owners of the transmission lines, American Transmission Co. (ATC) and ITC Midwest filed

a request with the PSC June 29, for the permit to be nullified. The owning companies citing the discovery of former PSC regulator, Mike Huebsch, who was

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opinion

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

From The Plain and Simple Correspondent...Them and Us: Transcending Gender Differences 2 Katie Green, The Plain and Simple Correspondent Humans have been debating the definition of “normal” as regards sexuality ever since we climbed dripping wet out of the swamps and looked around in search of intimacy.

In between conducting sieges, banging vengefully on each other, and finding other fun ways to be hurtful, our ancestors have loved and lived in a bewildering variety of ways. Look at the ancient Greeks, who practiced homoeroticism openly and with impunity, as their decorated pottery attests. The Romans looked askance at intimate relations between men but it was okay for women to engage in it, I’ve read. They had another hang-up: if women were raped, it humiliated the entire family, especially the male members, and was considered the women’s own fault. (Punish the victim is still a favorite playbook in many Middle Eastern quarters, not to mention closer to home. Sometimes the raped woman is disowned or even killed.) The Egyptian pharaohs reputedly practiced incest, marrying brothers to sisters, or fathers to daughters, to perpetuate the throne within the clan, although some scholars now dispute this in part because incest was frowned on for ordinary folk. The point may be, what was conventional or “normal” depended on where you lived, when you lived, and what your status was on the social ladder.

When I was a naïve, know-nothing kid, I assumed every family was constructed pretty much like mine, a harmonious nuclear family with heterosexual parents and children, a straight arrow father who was the Captain of the Ship (a phrase he actually uttered from time to time, silly man, ‘tho we all knew his evercapable, virtuous First Mate steered the course.) When I had a few more years on me and looked around with open eyes, I discovered a larger truth that contradicted my basic simplistic premise. Time passed, the full range of humanity was revealed, even in my tiny hometown. There were parents who beat each other and their children, there was incest, addiction, cheating and lying at the highest levels of county government. And there was one boy my age who was “different” from the other boys in his interests.

He was klutzy at most sports but wizard at the music keyboard, witty, debonaire, even then practicing up for a career in interior design. He was just Mike. Nobody snickered about him, certainly my parents didn’t, or if anyone did it wasn’t in my presence.

Mike went on to have a star-studded career as a designer in Sacramento, being retained twice to decorate the White House at Christmas. He learned to ice skate well enough to be in professional ice reviews and was a paid organist at a church. Even when he was an adolescent there was far more good will toward him in the community than the inevitable unhappy moments when peevish peers clearly didn’t want him on their baseball or basketball team, and the more general acceptance set the standard for me from a young age.

And when Mike made an undisputed success of himself, we all bragged on him, bathing in reflected glory. Local boy makes good.

As it happens, there are scholarly studies that suggest a considerable rate of homoeroticism among the bachelor miners who populated the Gold Rush in this same territory of my youth in the Sierra. There simply weren’t enough women to marry, even if the men had wanted to, and so they constructedliving arrangements that were a reasonable facsimile of family.

These relationships may have been forged out of loneliness and shared interests and not even sexual. Who knows? Who cares? If it worked for them, it was always acceptable in our town from the 1850s onward and that could have influenced the acceptance of my “different” classmate into the fold.

As an adult I went to see a stunning exhibit of paintings of 19th Century Native Americans at a gallery in Southern California. One painting of a medicine man depicted him riding backward: the exhibit notes claimed both his career and the way he rode his horse were dictated by tribal custom as a result of his being gay.

He also had to live at the edge of the village, apart from the rest of the tribe.

This would seem to express a dual mixture of acceptance, even honor, as a medicine man on the one hand– and on the other hand of shunning, forcing him to live alone, a source of

uneasiness in the minds of the others.

Animal biologists enjoy pondering idiosyncrasies of sexuality among the different wild species. It varies extremely widely and delightfully, according to what I read on line. I know we had a border collie who was what dog experts call “a shy breeder.”

He wasn’t interested in the opposite sex, only in chasing frisbees or cars, ripping cornstalks apart on our walks through the fields around our property, or savaging the bark on the trunks of shagbark hickory trees in a sort of frenzy. His bark was worse than his bite, you might say, since he was an affectionate creature. Anyway you cut it, Dundee was peculiar, one of a kind, and perfectly adorable.

Might as well be blunt, the churches’ role in teaching hostile attitudes toward gender differences continues to foster conflict and heartbreak.

Not all churches, (I don’t know as much about practices in synagogues, temples, mosques and what have you), only some. Because they are “Christian” churches, this is astounding, since Jesus constantly harped on inclusion and love, of never shoving anyone to the margins. At first his followers found his habit of hanging out with outcasts bizarre, and no doubt were weary of hearing about the Love Thing. It’s hard to rid yourself of old shibboleths just because some guru tells you they are outmoded. Tell me about it. How to break the cycle and think and act anew? I am still trying to love my neighbor as myself at all times and I’ve been at it (and failing) all my life.

A PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) chapter was formed here in Plain a few years ago by the mother of a young man who, when he ‘fessed up to being gay, wasn’t allowed to take communion or be a member in good standing any longer in the church he grew up in.

Having heard about PFLAG years before (it organized in 1973), when I saw a notice in the paper about the new chapter, I attended meetings and learned a lot. The woman who founded the chapter and her husband are completely supportive of their son, but many parents aren’t. Hundreds of kids in their teens and even younger, from all classes and castes, are literally thrown out on the streets to

fend for themselves each year, guilty only of being themselves. A person in late middle age who grew up in Plain gave me a sheet with a list of LGBTQ+ kids from here she knew of, one of which was her brother. Most distinguished themselves as adults in various careers, some publicly owning their gender inheritance, some still afraid to do so to this day. However, one killed himself. None of this was openly discussed, apparently, save by the woman who started a PFLAG chapter, in effect saying, “Attitudes and policies have to change. Enough already.”

Are gender variations inborn or a matter of choice? As one gay friend says in disbelief, “If I’d had a choice, do you think I’d have chosen to be gay? The object of derision and scorn, disapproved of by society?” He, like many other of my homosexual friends is in a longterm committed relationship with his partner and such partnerships compare favorably in longevity with that of “straight” folk.

Ironically, psychologists often say that a person without a healthy mix of both male and female characteristics lacks an ingredient necessary for being fully human. It’s tiresome to be around someone who is “all boy” or “all girl”, in my opinion.

Homophobes here in WI and in some other states have proposed a new law, banning transgender girls from competing in sports. Honestly. How many cases of unfair advantage on the part of transgender girls have been documented in our grammar and high schools? It sounds to me like a hot button, non- issue capitalized on to garner publicity for certain politicians and cater to sore losers, and has nothing legitimately to do with sports. It has everything to do with adding to the injustice and rejection felt by individuals who are gendered differently from “normal”.

From the pen of psychiatrist J.D. Laing comes something to ponder over your next glass of brew: “What we think is less than what we know. What we know is less than what we love. What we love is less than what there is. And to that precise extent we are so much less than what we are.” Them and Us 2

Sen. Howard Marklein: State Budget Passes the Legislature Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green As of June 30, the state Legislature passed the latest biennial budget. Gov. Evers is set to veto or sign the bill by July 9.

MADISON, WI - Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) made the following

statement June 30 following the final Senate’s passage of the State Budget bill: “I am very proud of the legislature’s state budget. We made strategic investments to support the priorities of the people of Wisconsin while respecting the hard-working taxpayers we serve.

This budget is very good for the rural

roads in my district. The rural hospitals and nursing homes in my district will benefit from increased funding. The dedicated employees that work in those nursing homes and agencies will also benefit from this budget.”

We cut taxes by $3.4 billion while funding education, healthcare, transportation, broadband and much,

much more. We did all of this while growing the balance in our Rainy Day Fund to $2 billion. This safety net is terrific insurance for the future.

This is a good budget that makes strategic investments while respecting the taxpayer’s checkbook. I am proud of our work on behalf of the people of Wisconsin.”

Republican Budget Falls Short—Wisconsinites Pandemic Recovery Disregarded by GOP Sen.Erpenbach , D-West Point MADISON – Despite overwhelming public support for Governor Tony Evers’ state budget proposal that prioritized a successful economic recovery for the state, Republican politicians settled for less. Senate Democrats introduced an amendment to enact key proposals from the Governor’s Bounceback Budget, including investing in schools, increasing access to affordable health care, securing federal funding for the state, and ensuring that Wisconsinites have access to clean drinking water. Unfortunately,

Republicans voted against these commonsense proposals and turned their backs on the communities that they represent.

“After the turbulent year that Wisconsin families and communities went through, the Republican budget is incredibly disappointing compared to what was originally introduced by the Governor,” said Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point). “Republicans failed to show up at the height of the pandemic when their constituents needed them most and the budget they have created is no different. Over the last several months,

Gov. Evers and Legislative Democrats have tirelessly tried to capture federal funds and incentives to invest in schools, strengthen communities and grow their economies. Meanwhile, Republicans are not only refusing to bring home money that belongs to Wisconsinites, but they’re hoarding money that should be invested back into every corner of this state.

“Gov. Tony Evers’ original budget proposal seized on an historic opportunity to capture funds to invest in families, strengthen communities and ensure a prosperous economic bounce-back,”

added Sen. Erpenbach. “Families, schools, and small businesses depend on a responsible budget that invests in our priorities. We need bold, innovative solutions in order to make Wisconsin a place where future generations want to work and live – the Republican budget misses the mark and because it underfunds our K-12 schools so severely, I voted no. I am hopeful that through his constitutional powers, Governor Evers will be able to make necessary modifications to sign a budget that better reflects the needs of our state.”

opinion

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

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This week’s Driftless Grace— Something (or nothing) happens

Grace Vosen, Contributer

My mind inevitably goes blank when someone asks me what I did yesterday (or over the weekend, or on Tuesday — wait, isn’t today Tuesday?!).

Lately, though, that response has been close to the truth of what I’ve been doing: nothing. At least, nothing that strikes me as worth talking about.

Don’t get me wrong; I’ve been working, volunteering, and doing the various small projects that make up a Grace’s life. I’ve visited and been visited by people I love after a winter of

isolation. It just all feels too normal compared to the events of last year.

While none of them are boring, these things that might have seemed worth chatting about in 2019 now have to compete with tales from a global pandemic.

Neither am I reducing the pandemic to a conversation starter. But for the conversationally challenged among us, it was helpful to have a shared experience to refer to. “How are you coping?” “Where are you spending your quarantine (to misuse the word)?” Or, a bit later: “What’s the

first thing you’re going to do when this is all over?” It’s hard for me to feel like I’m contributing something of interest when I talk about my daily life. COVID changed that — for a while.

The feeling is qualitatively different now, at least in our corner of the Driftless. For the first time, we have enough relief from pandemic woes to see the end of the tunnel. We’re not to the end, of course, and we don’t know how much light awaits us there.

But I never thought I’d be so glad to report that nothing is happening.

Grace Vosen

Representative Dave Considine— Personal Property Tax Bill Rep. Dave Considine On June 29th the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on Assembly Bill 117 relating to eliminating the personal property tax. I have been an advocate of repealing the personal property tax since I was elected. The personal property tax is unfair to small businesses. It taxes the tools they own which are necessary to conduct their business like blow-dryers for a salon, ladders for a roofer, or ovens and mixing tools for restaurants.

However if the state eliminates this tax, it should supply the revenue it takes away from local municipalities. These dollars are what local governments use to repair local roads and supply police, fire, and EMT services.

That is why I have met many times with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on this. I wanted to ensure that when we finally passed a bill in the legislature we would do it right. Unfortunately, the bill we passed on the 29th leaves much to be desired. The legislature did agree to finance the cut but it is only for the next two years. My colleagues argued

Rep. Dave Considine that we cannot guarantee funding past the current budget, but that’s what we do time and time again with tax cuts. I don’t see how this fiscal decision is any different. Ensuring that the state doesn’t

falter on our commitment to maintain a similar funding level creates stability in local budgets.

Another issue with the bill is that it unlawfully taxes railroads. Current Wisconsin statute states that railroads cannot be treated differently than other taxed entities. Assembly Bill 117 breaks the law by retaining the state property tax on railroads and repealing personal property tax on other businesses. Importantly, the railroad property tax goes to the transportation fund. The state will likely find that this poorly crafted bill creates an issue for our crucial transportation fund. A last minute amendment was added to ensure transfer of $64 million from the general fund to the transportation fund if railroads reject this bill and refuse to pay taxes. Unfortunately, transferring $64 million from the general fund to the transportation fund each budget is not sustainable and our roads cannot take $64 million less in investments.

Finally, although the bill passed the Senate and Assembly my colleagues decided that the Joint Finance

Contact us

PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Nicole Aimone Managing Editor Taylor Scott Legal Editor Gary Ernest Grass, esq.

Committee should be able to hold on to these funds and release them on a “needed” basis. This concerns me greatly. In the past couple of years alone the Joint Finance Committee has held on to funds for bills that passed the legislature as they said they were not needed. To explain this further – the Joint Finance Committee members voted for these bills on the floor and agreed with them, but when it came to actually releasing the funds for homelessness and farmer mental health, they decided the programs didn’t need funding after all.

It is for these reasons that my vote was a no on June 29th. I am supportive of repealing the personal property tax. I am supportive of supporting our local municipalities through making them whole. I was not supportive of this bill.

Dave Considine represents the 81st District in the State Assembly. The 81st District includes Baraboo, Sauk City, Prairie du Sac, Portage, and many other communities. His office can be reached at (608) 266-7746 or via email at Rep.Considine@legis.wisconsin.gov

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Community

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for July 8 - July 21 Thursday, July 8 Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Community-Wide Garage Sale 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

Pattern/Geometry Workshop 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM . Arts Lab, 143 S. Washington Street, Spring Green . $25 . www.artslabspringgreen.org. This workshop will cover the beauty of simple geometric shapes and grids as they generate pattern for compositions of all kinds, from graphics, to quilts, to crafts, etc. No previous knowledge of geometry or math is required. All principles will be demonstrated visually so we can follow and use them as visual artists.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

Local Night: Don Myers & Scott Stieber 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Evenings Afield - Solar Energy for Homes & Farms 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM . Seven Seeds Farm, 5079 County Road Z, Spring Green . Free . www.driftlessconservancy.org/lowery-creek-watershed. Lowery Creek Watershed Initiative partners invite you to join us to learn about the current state of solar energy,how to go about getting solar systems installed, and more solar-related topics.

Friday, July 9 Community-Wide Garage Sale 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

Ridgeway Pine Relict Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Ridgeway, WI . www.dnr.wisconsin.gov. Ridgeway is known for its pine relicts that have northern plant species. The workday this month will focus on spraying or pulling garlic mustard. If you have any questions, please call Mary Kay Baum, at 608-935-5834.

Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wine Down Fridays: Beth Kille 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery!

Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

APT: Facemask Fridays Showtimes vary . www.americanplayers.org. For those of you who want or need to be masked at APT, we have set aside select performances on July 9, 23 & 30 where masks are mandatory on the grounds and in the Hill Teatre. Visit our website for tickets and additional information.

Saturday, July 10 Community-Wide Garage Sale 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. The event is organized by the Friends of the Spring Green Library as a library fundraiser. Registration for the sale is FREE, though donations are encouraged ($10 minimum donation suggested).

River Valley Wrestler Camp 8:00 AM - 4:00PM . 660 W Daley St., Spring Green .

Free . www.facebook.com/rivervalleyschooldistrictwisconsin. Calling all interested River Valley Wrestlers! Check out this summer's wrestling camp that will be led by RV Alum, Shane Liegel. The camp will have a range of sessions for all RV students entering Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . S230 E. Monroe St Spring Green . www.facebook.com/SGFMarket. Local farm fresh produce, coffee, fresh baked goods, honey, soaps & lotions, bedding plants, cut flowers, maple syrup and more.

Driftless Landscape Tour 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $6 – $25 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. Join Taliesin for a conversation about the interconnectedness of land and culture while enjoying an approximately 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate.

This completely outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme between topics.

APT: Talk Backs — An Iliad 11:00 AM . www.americanplayers.org. Our usual post-show Q&A continues this year through the magic of Zoom. Bonus: we're recording them this year, so if you can't make the live stream, you can still watch any time after.

Whiskey’s Summer Cookout 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM . Whiskey Row Saloon, 403 Front Street, Avoca . Free . www.whiskeyrowsaloon.com. Come join us for our summer cookout! We will be cooking outside on Whiskey’s BBQ pit burgers, brats and hotdogs wth all the fixings. Featuring DJ John Torgerson W/ Dance Doctors, Kelly Long and The Michael Mikrut Band Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Arcadia Book Club: Book Signing with James DeVita, author of Blue 12:00 PM .

Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. Twenty years ago Jim DeVita wrote a beautiful, funny and magical book called, Blue. Jim has generously made himself available for a book signing.

Myles Talbott Dyad 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Bluegrass Jam 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany Spring Green . Free . www.springgreen.com . This group of artists have been playing together for decades. Come and listen or grab your instrument and come and play with them.

Sunday, July 11 2021 Hunter/Jumper Summer Schooling Horse Show Series 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM .

Timeless Farm North, 7431 Village Edge Rd, Arena . $12/hunter class, $14/jumper class, $20/derby and prix. Ground Poles, Crossrails, Walk/Trot, Green and Baby Green, to Open Jumper. Class 3 Walking Equitation is FREE, along with Walk/Trot division . www.timelessfarm.com. Timeless Farm in Arena, WI has been dedicated to offering quality, affordable horse show opportunities for every rider from beginner to advanced and every horse from green to made. There is no fee to come watch the beautiful horses, ponies, and riders perform.

APT: Sunday Salon 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . www.americanplayers.org. Sunday Salons are hosted by APT Leadership and are your chance to ask questions and discuss the things about APT that YOU want to talk about.

AD German Warehouse, Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: Health Care Workers Special Rate 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM . $15/person, cash or check only . 300 South Church Street, Richland Center . www.adgermanwarehouse.org. Tour the only warehouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Health Care Works will receive $5 off their tour. Tours are available by appointment only.

Vesperman Farms - Ice Cream Truck 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Peck’s Farm Market East, 6445 US-14, Arena . www.vespermanfarms.com/ice-cream.html. Track the truck! Our ice cream truck will be in Spring Green from 1pm to 5pm. For a more detailed list of our locations, please visit our website.

Cowboy Church 2:00 PM - 3:39 PM . 29864 Brown Chruch Rd., Lone Rock . Contact (608) 647-0622. "Cowboy Church" with Monty Berger, of The Country Gold Band, will be held on Sunday, July 11th. The Church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. All COVID-19 safety protocols will be practiced.

Arcadia Book Club: Book Signing with John Galligan, author of Bad Moon Rising and Bad Axe County 2:30 PM . Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. John Galligan's fictional Bad Axe County is populated with the good, hardworking people of southwest Wisconsin. Please join us to have your book personalized.

1st Annual Pride Picnic 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Eunice Keepers Shelter, 200 W. 8th Street (Corner of 8th and Jefferson Street), Richland Center. Contact shawnakratochwill@gmail.com. In celebration of a recently passed resolution by the Richland County Board of Supervisors celebrating June as Pride Month in Richland County, please join us for an inclusive picnic! The picnic will be potluck in nature. Please bring a dish to share.

Monday, July 12 Design with a Pro: Advanced Digital Modeling Studio (Ages 16+) 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $325 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. This two-week intermediate and advanced design studio allows students/adults to explore architecture as a profession.

Taught by a professional architect trained at Taliesin, this studio engages students in exploring design in a digital environment.

Take & Make Craft Kits: Book Page Magnets 11:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Drop by the library to grab a Take and Make kit: Book Page Magnets! These kits are created with adults in mind (all are welcome to them!) and contain materials needed to complete the project. Kits are available first come, first served, while supplies last.

Spring Green Community Group for Racial Justice 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM . Daley St and Park Rd Spring Green . Contact sgcommunitygroup@gmail.com. The Community Group for Racial Justice is a discussion and action group that meets the second Monday of each month.

Tuesday, July 13 Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers Concert 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Spring Green Community Center, 117 S. Washington Street, Spring Green . Free for seniors 65+ years; others are $5/each donation . www.facebook.com/SGCommunityCenter/. Come to the Spring Green Community Center where the Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers will be playing.

The concert is sponsored by Folklore Life Village.

Pizza on 14 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Shoppe, 7352 Hwy 14, Arena . Pizza from our wood-fired oven and live music every Tuesday.

Wednesday, July 14 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Pasture Walk Echo-Y Farm 6:00 PM . Echo-Y Farms, S7909 Skyview Rd, Loganville .

Contact serge.koenig@saukcountywi.gov. Learn about what you should be looking for when finishing beef animals on grass. The Wisconsin Grass-Fed Beef Cooperative (WGBC) will also be joining to provide an overview of WGBC and to provide a sample of WGBC hamburgers for all to enjoy!

Thursday, July 15 Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

APT: Talk Backs — An Iliad 4:30 PM . www.americanplayers.org. Our usual post-show Q&A continues this year through the magic of Zoom. Bonus: we're recording them this year, so if you can't make the live stream, you can still watch any time after.

Santa Teresa Sister City Ice Cream Social 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Krouskop Park, 1050 N. Orange St., Richland Center . www.santa-teresa.org . Join us for an Ice Cream Social!

With Covid precautions, this social is an alternative way for people to gather and support the project.

Community

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Local Night: Solstice Jazz Band 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

Dedication of Mazomanie Pavilion Designed by Taliesin Students 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Westland Promenade, 116 Brodhead St., Mazomanie . Free . Contact Jay Rath at jay.rath@yahoo.com. The return of students from the architectural school founded by Frank Lloyd Wright will be celebrated with a community event. A brief live music performance is planned, and Tim Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright’s grandson, will tell tales of his teenage years living at Taliesin in the summers and working for his grandfather.

Page 5

Art Paul Schlosser 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany Spring Green . Free . www.springgreen.com . This group of artists have been playing together for decades. Come and listen or grab your instrument and come and play with them.

Jambidextrous 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Arcadia Book Club: Book Signing with Nikki Wallschlaeger, author of Waterboy 4:00 PM . Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com.

Using the element of water to connect her poems, Nikki Wallschlaeger writes about family, memory, Blackness, motherhood, work and the toll taken on the body and spirit.

Mazo Music & Street Market: Red Door Duo - Helen Avakian & David Irwin 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Apothecary & Mercantile, 18 E Hudson St., Mazo. Spend a fantastic evening in Mazo! Enjoy live music and browse a bountiful farmer/craft market.

Sunday, July 18

Friday, July 16 Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Wine Down Fridays 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery! Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

Saturday, July 17 Spring Green Farmers Market 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . S230 E. Monroe St Spring Green . www.facebook.com/SGFMarket. Local farm fresh produce, coffee, fresh baked goods, honey, soaps & lotions, bedding plants, cut flowers, maple syrup and more.

River Valley Area Community Garden Brat Fry 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM . Prem Meats, E5028 US-14, Spring Green . www.premmeats.com. Brats, hotdogs and chicken sandwiches will be served. All proceeds will go towards building a shelter at the Gardens.

Everyone is welcome to tour the Gardens!

Driftless Landscape Tour 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $6 – $25 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. Join Taliesin for a conversation about the interconnectedness of land and culture while enjoying an approximately 1-mile walk across the Taliesin estate. This completely outdoor tour will speak to the natural history of the estate, using Frank Lloyd Wright as the connecting theme between topics.

APT: Play Talk — Rough Crossing 11:00 AM . www.americanplayers.org. Talk about the plays with the artists and experts. Live stream requires a reservation.

Wyoming Valley School Tour 11:00 AM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Road 23 Spring Green . Free . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org. Tour times are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. Our tours are free to the public and casual. The rehabilitated historic project is finally complete. Come visit the only public elementary designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

AD German Warehouse, Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Tour: County Employees Special Rate 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM . $15/person, cash or check only . 300 South Church Street, Richland Center . www.adgermanwarehouse.org. Tour the only warehouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. County Employees will receive $5 off their tour. Tours are available by appointment only.

Bobby’s Misbehavin Band 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Monday, July 19 Local Night: SG Fire Department Fundraiser 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . 4H (July 26 is a rain date) The Shed dining room will be closed inside.

Rural Musicians Forum: The Underground Collective 7:30 PM . Mazomaine Outdoor Pavillion, Mazo. Performing Beethoven’s Septet and more.

Tuesday, July 20 Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Pizza on 14 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM . The Shoppe, 7352 Hwy 14, Arena . Pizza from our wood-fired oven and live music every Tuesday.

Wednesday, July 21 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Arcadia Book Club: Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty 6:00 PM .

Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.readinutopia.com. From sixteen-year-old Dara McAnulty, a globally renowned figure in the youth climate activist movement, comes a memoir about oving the natural world and fighting to save it.

Local gymnastics student raises money for gym with lemonade stand Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

A student from Hardcore Gymnastics in Arena held a lemonade stand fundraiser July 2 at the corner of Sharon Street and Village Edge Road in Arena.

She and her friend, a former gymnastics student were selling the drink to help raise money to purchase a foam pit for the gymnastics gym.

As of Friday afternoon, the team had made approximately $40.

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Page 6

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Hickory Cardinal Creek transmissions getting another look by PSC continued from page 1 involved in the initial permit approval, had regular, private communications with an ATC employee, an ITC employee, among other individuals for multiple years as the transmission line was working through the approval process.

The permit for the project was already facing nullification in court, after Driftless Area Land Conservancy (DALC), various other environmental advocacy groups as well as Dane and Iowa Counties filed to stop the 102 mile line, citing bias by Huebsch.

Dane County Judge Jacob Frost allowed for an investigation into the approval process in the beginning of June, stating if the groups could prove at least one out of three approving PSC regulators were biased, Frost would overturn the permits.

In its filing to recall the permit, ATC said Huebsch exchanged encrypted text messages using the messaging service Signal.

The Signal messages in question came out through a legal discovery in the DALC lawsuit looking to stop the trans-

mission lines. The legal discovery found that Huebsch had applied to be the CEO of Dairyland, a power company involved with transmission lines, after leaving the PSC in February, but did not get the job.

The discovery also found that Huebsch exchanged personal, private text messages with Dairyland executives.

In a prepared statement, Huebsch said he used Signal to chat with friends that he’s known for over 25 years, without the messages filling up a phone’s hard drive.

“Although some of them are connected to the utility industry, at no point have I discussed with them over Signal anything related to my work as a commissioner,” said Huebsch. “That’s primarily because we are all aware of the law, and we know ex parte communication is not allowed. And, frankly the commission’s business is just not that interesting.”

On the same day as ATC’s court filing regarding the permit, Huebsch informed a court that PSC lawyers will no longer be representing him.

The decision on the permit will go back to the PSC, following being open for further studies and comments.

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO THIS SUMMER? Inspired by Convivio’s summer playlist, submitted by you and curated by Valley Sentinel — Let’s put together a community playlist for those floats on the river or that evening enjoying wine out on the patio or around a fire with friends and family and more.

To submit your songs, please email us at editor@valleysentinelnews.com or message us on Instagram @VS_Wisconsin.

Community Gov. Evers, DHS Announce GenderNeutral Language Options to be Added to Wisconsin Birth Certificates Gov. Tony Evers, WI State Governor MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers June 28 with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced that beginning Thurs., July 1, 2021, Wisconsin parents will have a new, gender-neutral option for identifying the parents of a child. Birth forms used to generate birth certificates will be updated to include an option for “parent-parent,” in addition to “mother-father.” This change reflects the Administration’s commitment to gender-neutral terminology and recognizing that families are diverse and should all be recognized and valued in state systems.

“This change reflects my and my administration’s commitment to gender-neutral terminology and to recognizing that Wisconsin families are diverse and should be valued and respected,” said Gov. Evers. “I am glad to see this change being made as we continue to update our state policies and procedures to better reflect the Wisconsinites we serve.”

On Tues., June 1, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #121 directing state agencies to use genderneutral language in their external communications.

“We are working hard to make Wisconsin a more inclusive, equitable, and just state and this update ensures our LGBTQ Wisconsinites are seen and heard when welcoming a child into the

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Let’s try to keep it mostly recent and up and coming.

Bonus points for local and regional artists!

Submit your song ideas through June and be on the lookout for our Spotify code in print the first couple weeks of summer.

Let’s build community together.

world,” said DHS Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. “Updating our birth certificate forms is one important step on the long road to adopting gender-neutral language in all of our external documents.”

Other changes to the birth forms include using “parent giving birth,” and making the forms available in English, Spanish, and Hmong starting July 1. These changes are consistent with other public-facing forms within Vital Records that use spouse-spouse and other genderneutral language. After July 1, 2021, individuals who would like to request that the label on their or their child’s existing birth certificate be switched to parent-parent can contact the Vital Records Office by email or by calling, 608-266-1373.

“Families have told us that a birth certificate that doesn’t accurately reflect their growing family can take away a piece of the joy when welcoming a new baby,” said Sue Erickson, President and CEO at UnityPoint Health-Meriter. “We are so pleased that Wisconsin created a more inclusive birth certificate form to reflect the families of our state and community. This change allows all birthing parents to focus solely on their newborn.”

For up-to-date information about the State Vital Records Office, visit the DHS Vital Records Services page.

We encourage you to follow @ DHSWI on Facebook and Twitter, or @dhs.wi on Instagram for more information.

We care about the community and want to showcase your events, especially in times like these! Our goal is to keep the community in touch with events, people, life and businesses of the Lower Wisconsin River Valley.

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Community

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Page 7

Committee finds no wrongdoing in complaint against Arena Police Chief Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Arena Police Committee did not take any disciplinary action against Arena Police Chief Nicholas Stroik following a complaint from an area resident who said she felt harassed and targeted by the chief.

The committee met June 29 to hear from an Iowa County Sheriff’s detective, Brian Fitzsimons, on his findings in an investigation of a traffic stop between Stroik and Arena area resident LaNessa Goforth.

“This wasn’t an overly complicated incident because of the bodycam footage,” said Fitzsimons. “It’s taken up her time, some of those things can be embarrassing and she can feel those things.”

In the complaint, dated May 28, 2021, Goforth detailed her interactions with Stroik, which she said has made her fear for her safety when she has contact with him. Goforth and Stroik had three separate interactions, the first at the Crappie Shop in Arena, after a complaint was called into the police department regarding a potentially intoxicated individual.

In the complaint, Goforth said she was accused of drunk driving and given a field sobriety test, which she states she was never given the results to. The complaint says Goforth was later accused of having THC during the incident.

In his report to the committee, Fitzsimons said Stroik asked Goforth to find a ride home, as he believed she was not able to safely operate a vehicle.

“I would have made the same decision,” said Fitzsimons.

Fitzsimons said the Iowa County Sheriff’s office, who shares policing duties with the village department, does have a specially trained officer to detect drug use, however the officer was on the other side of the county, and Stroik would have had to ask for the officer to travel to Arena, which he decided against, in an effort to move the situation forward.

The second interaction between Goforth and Stroik was at a residence in which the police were called to, which resulted in the

warranted arrest of a male at the residence.

Fitzsimons said Stroik was not involved in the arrest, nor in the decision to arrest the male, instead assisting with the general call to the residence.

The third and most recent interaction between the individuals was a traffic stop initiated by Stroik, when he believed Goforth did not stop at a stop sign, which Goforth states is inaccurate, and that Stroik would not have been able to correctly see her driving from his position on the road prior to the traffic stop.

“This last incident he pulled me over claiming I didn’t stop at a stop sign. He was nowhere near me to make that determination and in fact I had realized where I had taken my complete stop was not close enough to give me a direct line of the oncoming traffic,” said Goforth.

In body camera footage of the traffic stop, Goforth’s driver’s side front seat door is open prior to Stroik exiting the vehicle.

When Stroik approached the vehicle, Goforth was recording the stop on her phone, and called Stroik a “racist ass police officer.”

In the complaint, Goforth said she always records interactions with Stroik because she fears for her and her children’s safety.

“I get I’m the only black person in his town but I don’t bother, harass or cause conflict with anyone. If he doesn’t want me in his town he can just say that instead of trying to make my life miserable by abusing his power,” wrote Goforth in her complaint.

Bodycam footage of the stop shows Stroik asked for identification and proof of insurance for the vehicle, which drivers in Wisconsin are required to have while operating a vehicle. Goforth stated she did not have proof of insurance in the vehicle at the time.

When Stroik tried to clarify whether Goforth had proof of insurance, she stated that she did, but didn’t have it in the vehicle, and told Stroik to contact her boyfriend for proof of insurance.

During the Police Committee’s viewing of the footage, Fitzsimons shared with the committee that providing proof of insurance

is the responsibility of the driver, and they cannot expect an officer to go through the process of locating proof of insurance.

Following asking for insurance, Stroik peered into the back seat of the SUV, and asked Goforth the ages of the children riding in the vehicle. Initially, Goforth refused to give the ages but eventually gave the three children’s ages.

Stroik questioned if the children were in carseats, or if Goforth had carseats available for them, she responded by asking if Stroik was going to purchase car seats for the children.

Footage shows Stroik returning to his squad car to review Goforth’s information and write citations. While waiting for Stroik, Goforth exits her vehicle and looks to be recording Stroik’s actions.

Stroik exits his vehicle, stating to the camera he is going to see if she needs something.

Ultimately, Stroik gave Goforth three citations, one for failing to stop at a stop sign, one for driving without proof of insurance and one for failing to have her children in carseats. Stroik told Goforth she would likely be able to have the court lower fines for the ticket regarding insurance and child seats if she brings proof of having both to the court, and told her the police department has services to get her children car seats if she is unable to afford them.

Following the incident, Goforth said failing to stop at a stop sign, driving without insurance or not having her children in carseats are not things she has ever done or would do.

Fitzsimons shared with the committee that he found no wrongdoing by Stroik.

“His voice never came up, we didn’t hear any aggressive rhetoric or language, he just didn’t do anything wrong,” said Fitzsimons.

“Every one of us is going to have a different reaction to dealing with someone confrontational, this one is especially uncomfortable.

As a white male officer there is nothing I can do to understand what she’s feeling. Here’s a perspective that I’m never going to be able to pretend to understand, as a black woman who has had previous life experiences that

will make her feel this way. There is an opportunity here to learn and seek out some training.”

Fitzsimons didn’t recommend any disciplinary action, but did recommend the entire Arena Police Department undergo implicit bias and racial training.

“If there’s no evidence of wrongdoing, I see no need for any discipline,” said Melissa Bandell, Police Committee chairwoman.

The committee voted to take no action, and directed the department to complete the recommended training.

While Goforth said she isn’t upset with the outcome of the committee meeting and the complaint, she said she feels like the trainings won’t make a difference.

“I feel like if the Iowa County Sheriff’s office hadn’t suggested the training, they wouldn’t have done anything,” said Goforth.

Goforth said she has lived in the area for over 5 years, and there are people who are unwelcoming.

“Would I say I feel like I’m a part of the community? Not really. My sons started playing baseball this year, and there were some parents who were standoffish. But there were some who did reach out and introduce themselves, so I wouldn’t say it’s the whole community,” said Goforth.

Goforth said she would be open to mediation or meeting with Stroik in the future, because she believes in second chances, but remains cautious of what something like that would accomplish.

“I believe in kindness,” said Goforth. “But he needs to come to it with an open mind too.”

Goforth said in terms of improvement the community can make to be more welcoming, she encourages family friendly activities and amenities, such as a splash pad, that brings people together and allows them the opportunity to become familiar.

Bodycam footage of the traffic stop will be available at www.valleysentinelnews.com later this week when the story is posted online.

Recovery efforts continue following tragic holiday weekend accident continued from page 1

the water is calm, encouraging volunteers to search the banks downriver. Johnson-Kropp has been providing updates on Facebook and community members are encouraged to check there or with Spring Green Fire and Rescue on how to assist.

While much is still unknown about the factors that caused the accident, the incident was one of several in the Valley on the Wisconsin River on July 3, with reports of canoes capsizing in the swift and high water.

“People get lackadaisical on there, especially if they haven’t done any research, they think they’re on a ride at the water park for God sakes, and it’s not, it’s the real deal,” shared Zumm of the Wisconsin River. “You don’t circle back around and you don’t have a lifeguard every 10 feet.”

“WEAR A LIFE JACKET,” says John-

son-Kropp to those that are planning to recreate on the river. “This river should be feared. Not respected. Feared. She doesn’t care who you are or that you grew up knowing her, she will take you. It’s fast. It’s unpredictable. It’s dangerous. You can enjoy the Wisconsin River. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and great for fishing. But wear a life vest and make sure it’s completely secured.”

“When you get to the parking lot by a boat landing, seatbelt off, life vest on right there. Even one wrong step along the bank and you’re in trouble. Put a properly-fitted, Coast Guard approved, in-good-condition life vest on before you get anywhere near the water’s edge,” says Zumm. “The big point here appears to be, make sure you have it buckled or fastened properly, you can’t just have it hanging on you.”

While the family waits for closure and

Construction Superintendent

Kruse’s recovery, they expressed their thanks to all those who have assisted in any way and shared their thoughts and prayers.

“The outpouring of love and support from friends, family and the RV community has been phenomenal,” said Johnson-Kropp, noting she lost her son, Kody Phillips, in a car accident in December. “After Kody’s accident I found out what an amazing place we live and how the people here band together to help their own. We can’t thank everyone enough.”

“I see the way this community comes together time and time again. It’s truly amazing and I wish people around the world would treat every person this way all the time—with kindness, caring and compassion.”

“Hug your loved ones tight. This life is such a precious gift and it can change within a

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breath,” shared Johnson-Kropp.

A vigil was held Wednesday at the Wisconsin Riverside Resort in Spring Green. Kruse has not been found as of press time.

In light of these events, the River Valley School District has offered counseling services to students and asks that appointments be made by calling 608-5882551.

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Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

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Arts & Culture SGAAC delights with exclusive music opportunity as it transitions to River Valley ARTS Page 8

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Valley Sentinel Staff As previously reported, the community grant foundation Spring Green Area Arts Coalition (SGAAC) is changing its name to River Valley ARTS (Advocacy, Resources, Training, Scholarships). As it transitions it has graced us with an opportunity like no other.

Earlier this year, the band Middle West, featuring local artists Ron Román-Meléndez, Jack Whaley, Patrick Michaels, Alys Dickerson, Ben Feiner, Marcus Truschinski, Rob Doyle and Brian Knapp, gathered to film a concert to benefit River Valley ARTS’ grants, scholarships and community programs.

What resulted is an intimate look at the creativity contained within the waning days of the pandemic, in a time when not yet everyone was vaccinated, when artists and creative-types were itching to get together and create, and the end product is powerful.

Starting out with a powerful, soulful five minute ballad from Dickerson in ‘Change Me’, it sets the tone right away.

Photo contributed by Spring Green Area Arts Coalition Middle West left to right: Ron Román-Meléndez, Jack Whaley, Patrick Michaels, Alys Dickerson, Ben Feiner, Marcus Truschinski, and Brian Knapp with sound recording. (Not pictured, Rob Doyle.) We also thank Asa Derks and Marco Lama for filming and Kyle Adams/Wander Provisions for craft services.

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The concert detours into uptempo rock with a folksy drawl from Truschinski in ‘Last Shot’ and brings everything together with a duet between the always beautiful voice of Dickerson and the more intentionally gravelly Truschinski in ‘Runnin’ Wild’ and more before finishing off largely acoustically with ‘Bravely’. With some beautiful stops in the middle it’s a trip worth taking.

“And why do we raise money? To give it all away!” is the perfect embodiment of what River Valley ARTS does and rarely does an opportunity come up for such an amazing artistic benefit to both the benefactor and the community.

The link is available for purchase on a sliding scale only through July 15th, so get it while you can.

All money raised from sales will be invested back into our community through grants, scholarships, and programs.

The link is available for purchase at: www.springgreenarts.org Please email SpringGreenAreaArtsCoalition@ gmail.com with any questions.

Gard Theatre in downtown Spring Green reopens Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Over the 4th of July weekend, the Gard Theater in Spring Green reopened for the first time in over a year and a half, following COVID-19 closures.

The theaters kicked its reopening off with a showing “Nomadland”, staring Frances McDormand, which features a woman in her 60s who has embarked to the Western Coast of American to live as a van-dwelling nomad after losing everything she had to the 2008 Great Recession.

The theater is opening with specific COVID-19 guidelines which includes recommending the use of face masks

in common areas, and allowing them to be removed for eating and drinking in the theater.

Capacity for the theater will be at 50% or about 100 patrons at a time, and seating is based on a first come, first served basis, regardless of membership status.

Theater staff will also be expanding cleaning procedures, including additional sanitation.

Theater Manager Gwen Schwanke said it’s been a long year while the theater has been closed.

“It’s been a long year. Not having the theater around has been such a strange experience,” said Schwanke.

“Personally, I’ve missed seeing the

patrons that I’ve developed relationships with over the years. I’ve also really missed the popcorn.”

Schwanke said simply showing up and purchasing a ticket to a movie is a great way to support the theater, as well as buying concessions. The theater also sells various leveled memberships, in which proceeds benefit keeping the local theater up and running.

Schwanke said the theater also accepts donations and sells take-home concessions.

The Gard will be open for a showings of “12 Mighty Orphans” at 7 p.m.

July 9-11.

Jewelry, Table Saw, Men’s Bike, Art, Art Supplies, Books, Beads and More.

Classified Rates •$10 for the first 15 words •$0.20 per each additional word •$0.05 per bolded word •Center a line for $0.05 per line.

•Employment ads are considered display ads, but will run in their own employment classified section.

To place your own classified ad, contact Valley Sentinel at:

ads@valleysentinelnews.com or (608) 588-6694

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor

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Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Page 9

New signs, clearing along DNR riverway property in the Valley Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Passersby may have noticed next to the new Wisconsin Highway 23 (STH-23) bridge the addition of a bright new sign as well. Take a trip a few miles away on Highway 14 (STH-14) and you may notice a new sign across the road from Traders Bar and Grill, along with some conspicuous clearing of brush. It’s all part of the plan the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says.

“The department makes great efforts to identify the properties for the public to enjoy,” shared DNR Public Information Officer Molly Meister “These new signs are consistent with the other signs found on other DNR properties in the area.”

While these may be two of the most visible signs, Meister said there are several other newly installed signs throughout the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, with 15 new property identification signs installed in this past year alone.

Mark Cupp, executive director of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, said that most of the previous signs along the Riverway had been installed up to three decades ago and many had fallen into disrepair. Meister said the purpose of the signs is to raise better awareness of the popular infrastructure within the Riverway.

“We hope the signs help identify these recreation areas within the Riverway, especially for new visitors that are not familiar with the area,” she said.

The new sign along STH-23 on the Sauk County side of the bridge a couple miles south of Spring Green provides a prominent note that you’ll find Wagner Pond and Pecks Landing there. Wagner Pond is a popular fishing spot and Pecks Landing is a frequent put-in and stop-off point for canoes and kayaks, as well as boasting a beach to enjoy.

The new sign along STH-14 near the corner of Helena Road between Spring Green and Arena denotes that you’ll find Helena Lake there (depending on who you’re talking to they may prefer Goofy’s Slough or, more fondly, Goofy’s Mudhole). Just as noticeable is the significant clearing of trees and brush that’s taken place between STH-14 and the boat landing on Helena Lake.

Where simply only a gravel road was visible before hemmed in on either side by trees, now is a boat landing and lake clearly visible from the highway. Meister shared that the clearing was done as an invasive species removal effort and to establish a more park-like setting.

“The property master plan calls for the creation of a lightly developed picnic area with a mowed lawn, picnic tables and grills,” said Meister. “If future demand warrants, the addition of a small picnic shelter could also be constructed.”

On the STH-23 side of things, the beach at Pecks Landing runs along the Wisconsin River and is frequented during the summer by locals and visitors alike, some who may not be familiar with the river. With a number of drownings and

water incidents on the river recently, both Cupp and Meister emphasized the importance of safely enjoying the river.

“Several years ago the department installed ‘wading not advised’ signs (including in Spanish) warning visitors of the dangers of the strong currents,” said Meister.

The DNR has also partnered with groups such as Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway (FLOW) and others on the ‘Kids Don’t Float’ kiosks at boat landings, which offer free loaner life jackets, or personal flotation devices (PFD).

“Clearly, safety is of utmost importance,” shared Cupp. “I am constantly preaching about river safety with emphasis on wearing a PFD, walking upstream on sandbars to look for dropoffs, etc.”

“Wear your PFD! Don’t swim alone. Play on the upstream side of the sandbars as there are often steep drop-offs on the downstream side of sandbars. Be careful of down trees and submerged rock beds. Know the weather conditions and water levels as they can change quickly.

Limit the use of alcohol,” said Meister. “Be aware of the power of the river’s current.”

Calmer is Helena Lake, a slough off the Wisconsin River with little to no current, but popular with anglers. Less tranquil are the adherents to the lake’s traditional names, including Goofy’s Slough and Goofy’s Mudhole.

The name of Helena Lake has long depended on who you ask, even DNR websites often list it as ‘Helen Lake’.

Photo by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor The newly-erected sign along Wisconsin Highway 23 close to the new bridge. The DNR installed the sign to help the public engage with Wagner Pond and Pecks Landing.

“The names are determined by the USGS, US Board of Geographic Names. The official name for this body of water is Helena Lake, presumably named after the abandoned community of Helena,” said Meister, seemingly putting to bed the traditional names of old. “The department is in the process of changing our documents to reflect the correct spelling.” Cupp was less convinced, offering hope when asked what he’d say to those using the traditional names.

“I still call it Goofy Slough.”

The Sauk County Gardener — Enjoy July’s Blooms While Scouting for Pests Jeannie Manis, SCMGA President ‘A lily or a rose never pretends, and its beauty is that it is what it is.’

- Jiddu Krishnamurti This past week has been a busy one for my gardens. My daylilies have started to bloom, and it looks like it going to be a spectacular display this year. They started a little earlier this year, so I’m hoping there will still be plenty of blooms for my daughter’s bridal shower being held in our garden at the end of the month. After they are done blooming, the daylilies can be cut back and divided if needed. If you still have perennial seeds you wanted to plant, finish up by the end of July. I want to accomplish quite a bit more in my garden before the end of the month, but we will see – sometimes I run out of time.

I had my first sighting of Japanese beetles on my roses and my kale. They always love my roses and tend to show up there first. This makes it a little easier for me to find the scouts if I deadhead regularly.

The beetles also tend to like plants with red colored foliage such as our cannas, smoke tree and ninebark shrubs. They also really like our basswoods. Raspberries and grapes are quite susceptible as well. My floribunda roses have already had their first blooms so there are not lot of roses for them to munch on at this time. It best to take a multi-part approach to control beetles. Go out in your gardens in the cool of the morning with a cup of coffee and a bucket of soapy water and a spray bottle with neem oil mixed in it. While you are walking and enjoying coffee in your gardens, you can also look for those pesky beetles. Handpick the beetles and drop them in the bucket of soapy water and then the spray neem oil (an organic insecticide) on the affected plants. I purchase the concentrate and mix it up in a spray bottle (read the directions for the right concentrate-to-water ratio.) To prevent future generations of Japanese beetles, you can apply Milky spore (the bacterium Paenibacillus papillae) in late summer/ early fall. The soil should between 60-70 degrees F when the grubs are actively feeding. Apply right before it rains or water it lightly, so it soaks into the ground.

Milky spore is safe for humans, animals, and plants. I don’t recommend using the traps; they are designed to draw in the beetles and if you have a small yard, you’re asking for more trouble.

We have a mole problem in our lawn, but I tend to tolerate them as I know they eat Japanese beetle larvae. I typically just stomp down their tunnels instead of using

The Sauk County Master Gardeners will be discussing how to care for your tomatoes to prevent disease and demonstrating how to prune them (Friday, July 16 at 2 pm) at the Sauk County Fair FAME stage in the Commercial Building. We’re also presenting on how to attract pollinators to your garden (Saturday, July 17 at 2 pm) and managing invasive garden weeds (Sunday, July 18 at 2 pm). During those presentations, we’ll have our new book on sale – “Sauk County Gardener”. It’s a compilation of 16 plus years’ worth of articles written by Phyllis Both, past Horticulture

Photo by Jeanie Manis, Contributor traps and other means of removal. Our granddaughter has a different technique.

Recently when she was mowing our lawn, she noticed the ground was being actively disturbed – it was a mole. She dug it out, pick it up by its’ tail, and released him in the woods. She says her gardening services also include humane pest removal.

I haven’t discovered Japanese beetles on our patch of wild blackcap raspberries yet.

I’m hoping to pick enough to make my husband a cobbler. They are just staring to ripen, so maybe the beetles are simply waiting to eat them before we can.

If you have a vegetable garden, check it daily. I’m still picking peas and watching for various insect pests. That’s how I discovered the Japanese beetles on my kale – I didn’t even know they liked kale. If you started any broccoli, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower seeds for a fall crop, transplant them into the garden. You can also plant Swiss chard. Keep an eye on your tomatoes - water regularly and deeply to help prevent blossom end rot and replenish mulch to help retain moisture. Keep pruning your indeterminate varieties of tomatoes. If you prune determinate varieties (other than the leaves that touch the soil), you can reduce the harvest. Indeterminate varieties grow and put on blooms all season. They produce fruit along the stem. Examples include: ‘Pink Brandywine’, ‘Cherokee Purple’, ‘Sun Gold’ and ‘Sunrise Bumble Bee’. Determinate variety reach a certain height and then stop their shoot production once flowers form on the shoot ends. Examples include: ‘Celebrity’, ‘Patio Choice Yellow’, ‘Martino’s Roma’, and ‘Bush Early Girl’. Prune out the suckers to improve airflow and reduce disease, get bigger fruit, and enjoy earlier ripening.

Extension Educator for Sauk County and the original columnist of the Sauk County Gardener. I hope you stop by to watch our demonstrations and learn about the Sauk County Master Gardener’s Association.

This week’s article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to tim.ripp@saukcountywi.gov or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.

Page 10 WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

Outdoors/recreation

The newly-developed TickApp: ‘Your On-the-Go Tick Expert’ Danielle Smith, Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Columbia University and Michigan State University have developed the TickApp, a mobile smartphone application that allows users to learn how they can protect themselves, their families and their pets from ticks—and join a team of citizen scientists helping researchers better understand ticks and tickborne disease risk.

After an initial 5-7 minute survey to gather information about a user’s environment, Tick App participants are

encouraged to tell researchers about their daily activities and tick encounters (or lack thereof) during the tick season in the “Daily Log” feature of the app. When users start making logs, they can get daily reminders to help them remember to check for ticks.

If someone does encounter a tick, the app has a “Report-A-Tick” function where users can share information about where the tick was found, on whom it was found and what kind of tick they think it is. They also can send in a photo of the tick to receive an expert opinion on what tick spe-

cies it is.

The Tick App also provides individuals with information about how to identify different kinds of ticks, good ways to prevent tick exposure and facts about ticks and the diseases they transmit. The Tick Activity function provides information on the local activity level of blacklegged ticks throughout the year.

The TickApp can be downloaded via the Google Play or App Store, or it can be accessed online: www.thetickapp.org. Questions about the TickApp can be sent to tickapp@wisc.edu.

Photo via Wisconsin DNR Adult black legged tick

Be Bear Aware: Learn How To Safeguard Against Unwanted Bear Encounters This Summer Wisconsin DNR MADISON, Wis. – Following several recent bear sightings in Dane County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding the public to take precautions to avoid potential conflicts with black bears across the state this summer.

Although black bears are most common in the northern half of the state, populations have been slowly expanding south over the last decade. As such, Wisconsinites are encouraged to take the same bear precautions no matter what part of the state.

While bear sightings in southern Wisconsin remain rare, the sightings in Dane County this summer are a reminder that bears can be found in any county. Sightings usually increase in early summer when male bears around 18-months-old are pushed out by their mothers and are on their own for the first time. Bear breeding season also occurs in early summer resulting in many male bears wandering around in search of a mate.

If a bear is near your home or cabin:

•Wave your arms and make noise to scare it away.

•Back away slowly and seek a safe location where you can wait for the bear to leave.

•When scaring a bear away, make sure it has a clear escape route; never corner a bear.

•If you encounter a bear while in the woods, stay calm and do not approach the bear.

•Never approach a sow with cubs.

•For your safety, do not attempt to break up a fight between your pet and a bear.

Black bears are naturally cautious animals that normally avoid contact with people for their safety, but conflicts between people and bears can arise. Additionally, bears can quickly learn to associate humans with food when food sources are available.

If a bear finds food, such as bird feed or garbage near your home or cabin, it will likely return for more. Bear visits are more likely to stop when food is no longer available. Bears will periodically check sites where food was once available, so it may take several days to weeks after a food source has been removed for a bear to completely discontinue visiting food sites.

It is important to make sure these tasty food sources are hidden from bears at all times of the year, but it’s especially important in warmer months when bears are more active.

Follow these steps to avoid attracting black bears:

•Do not knowingly feed a bear.

•Completely remove bird feeders, even during daytime hours – Bears are active during the day and may cause

Photo via Tammi Sonnen, Wisconsin DNR A bear caught on a Ring camera knocking over a bird feeder at a home in Madison, Wis. Learn how to safegurard against unwanted bear encounters this summer. problems even if the feeders are out only during that time.

•Clean areas where bird feeders were located so that accumulated deposits of spilled seed are removed.

•Reduce garbage odors by rinsing food cans before putting them in covered recycling containers or garbage cans.

•Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day, and if possible, keep garbage cans in a closed building until the morning of pick-up.

•Be sure to lock commercial dumpsters.

•Keep pet food inside or inaccessible to bears even during daytime hours.

•Keep grills and picnic tables clean.

Bears are normally solitary forest animals, but their powerful sense of smell can lead them into urban areas in search of food, especially in the spring and fall. Black bears are secretive animals and usually try to avoid people. However, conflicts with humans can occur when bears destroy gardens, bird feeders, apiaries and trash cans.

By understanding bear behavior, there are several ways people can reduce negative human-bear conflicts around their homes. The DNR’s Living With Black Bears In Wisconsin pamphlet is a great resource for learning more about co-existing with bears

in Wisconsin.

More information about black bear behavior and avoiding unwanted encounters can be found in the DNR’s “Living with Bears in Wisconsin” brochure.

The department partners with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services Program to respond to approximately 800 bear-related complaints reported in Wisconsin

each year.

If unable to resolve a conflict with a bear, contact the USDA Wildlife Services tollfree line at 1-800-433-0663 for properties in Southern Wisconsin and 1-800-228-1368 for properties in Northern Wisconsin.

More information regarding bears and safety is available on the DNR’s Bear Hunting webpage.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Kraemer Brothers, one of Wisconsin’s leading construction companies, is seeking a Marketing & Communications Specialist. An innovative and dynamic company, Kraemer Brothers offers tremendous opportunities for qualified and motivated professionals.

Requirements: Degree in Marketing, Journalism or Media required or 5 years of related experience. Proficiency with Mac & PC based design software, strong organizational skills, writing, and communication skills are recommended. Related experience in the construction industry is preferred but not required. Responsible for creating, coordinating, planning and implementing various materials including digital project proposals, website enhancements, project photos and videos, promotional material and social media communications.

Please forward your confidential resume to: Kraemer Brothers, LLC • 925 Park Ave. Plain, WI 53577 608-546-2411 • jobs@kraemerbrothers.com

SCHOOLS

WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021 Page 11

RVHS fourth quarter honor roll — congratulations students!

High Honors

Grade 12 Heston D. Amble William G. Bailey Macy Bindl Colton M. Box Starr Camacho Aaron R. Christensen Thomas D. Daniel Jesse G. Day Joseph R. Day Anna C. Deibert Emily S. Esser Natalie N. Fortney Matthew J. Gostomski Sophia L. Haas Paula R. Hollenberger Olivia C. Iausly James N. Jennings Emily E. Kane Kennedy E. Kropp Ava Liegel Nicole M. Liegel Emmeline K. Lilla Tyler J. Nachreiner Kelsey H. Olson Isaac J. Prem Paige S. Prem Melissa F. Ranum Bradley R. Richardson Sophia M. Rohe Cole E. Schaffer Rebecca G. Schulz Nathan J. Schweitzer Kalen R. Scott Samuel I. Seguin Alicyn R. Stephens Zachary D. Wiedenfeld Grade 11 Landen J. Alt Jacob D. Bindl Lily M. Borucki Abigail J. Cummings Nicholas J. Daniel Kora K. Eberle Michelle M. Emerson Katie M. Forseth John E. Frazier Zach C. Gloudeman Ian N. Hamblen Katelyn A. Hanson Ethan W. Harrah Rhiannon E. Humphries Madeline M. Hutnik Preston R. Hying Elizabeth Jewell Anna L. Johnson Lydia G. Kersten Maraya S. Klukas Madison R. Krey Kristina R. Langrehr Stephanie Limmex Joshua A. Maes Jayla J. Maier Zaynab Miller Jack T. Myers Seth A. Neuheisel Ryan H. Norton Molly K. Peckham Frankie E. Rosenberg Julius J. Ross Sofia E. Sanftleben Kameran R. Smith Benjamin J. Whitaker

Honors

Ethan J. Wilkinson Anabelle R. Willoughby Olivia Wittmann Conrad J. Youngquist Grade 10 Lars M. Anding Reese A. Aron Zachary T. Baumberger Morgan M. Brickl Landon J. Clary Leah G. Deibert Claire E. Eveland Charlotte J. Ferstl Matthew R. Fredrick Katie M. Hahn Ayden C. Horton Bodhi O. Kauss Emma J. Knoble Tyler G. Lewis Kale L. Lissy Kylie R. Morrey Megan L. Nachreiner Landon K. Radtke Tess A. Radtke Kortney M. Sebranek Mikayla E. Seguin Cale A. Sorg Jackson P. Thier Lydia M. Weiss Tyler A. Willoughby Brianna M. Zaemisch Grade 9 Owen Bailey Addison H. Brey Sara K. Clary Isaac E. Daniel Leah R. Drachenberg Bobbi C. DuCharme Miranda J. Feiner Hadley H. George Stephen N. Gostomski Taya R. Hatfield Hannah F. Hegland Jordan L. Jensen Vivian B. Jensen Delaney C. Johnson Ryan Kane Megan E. Kannenberg Jacob A. Klein Oriana E. Krueger Adelaide J. Lilla Madyson M. Lockman Orin J. McBride Brady Myers Andrew J. Neumaier Tyler C. Norton Mia Peterson Tiana Rabine Emily R. Ranum Guidry X. Ridge Zachary M. Rohe Gigi Royko Maurer Aiden C. Schmidt Ashton T. Scott Hayden W. Tafs Kin N. Thao Kylee Wallace Caitlin E. Wastlick Haylee M. Williams Logan G. Willis Svea R. Youngquist

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Grade 12 Cole A. Amble Christian J. Banks Hailey J. Carter Alex A. Harrah Ericka Heath Keeghan J. Kjos Dylan D. Luther Spencer J. Mack Jayden M. Schaller Kylee J. Sebranek Bobby R. Simpson Luke M. Snow Logan T. Tonstad Allison K. Williams Grade 11 Nathan N. Bandell Cyrus P. Duyan Ethan T. Hillebrand Oscar F. Johnson Ryan C. Klein McKenzie L. Larsen-Maki Rebecca L. Lutz 11 Gavin M. McCauley Aryana I. McElwee Foster D. Milanowski Emily J. Noble Jasmine L. Olson Hailey M. Pretsch Miranda L. Reich Maxwell D. Solomon Ethan A. Wastlick Cole C. White Ethan R. Wickman

Grade 10 Brooke L. Anderson Lukas J. Bettinger Brett D. Bindl Morgan J. Bowell Zachary D. Eames Kaleb J. Esser Cooper M. Fields Cameron J. Hanson Bradley S. Hisel Colton J. Johnson Molly E. Kjos Natalie M. Larson Kylie C. Merritt Delaney J. Milanowski Lukha M. Miller Jaksiri Y. Rincon Zachary N. Vickerman Alexis T. Webb-Kreger Kylie L. Williams Grade 9 Emma M. Anding Jacob M. Barnett Magnolia M. Birch Jorja Box Jason T. Bunders Hailey R. Hatfield Olivia D. Lewis Andrew R. Maxwell Elliott J. Mertens Cole A. Nabbefeld Cheyenne S. Reis Rece J. Rhoades Kylie R. Robbins Cameron Schmidtknecht Arie B. Snow Michael M. Westley

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Community

Page 12 WednesdaY, juLY 7, 2021

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

613,150 Positive Cases

Cases as of 7/6/2021

+418 from 6/29

2,989,045 Negative Test Results +6,490 from 6/29

7,323 Deaths +17 from 6/29

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 7/6/2021

6,809,515

5,642,553 Administered

Allocated

3,097,470

2,312,781

Pfizer doses administered

232,164

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data

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

-Madison Public Health and Dane County

Richland County

1,334 Positive Cases +3 from 6/29 8,270 Negative Tests -47 from 6/29 16 Death +0 from 6/29

Richland

Sauk

Target Range

49%

Iowa County

2,066 Positive Cases +5 from 6/29 11,974 Negative Tests +36 from 6/29 13 Deaths +0 from 6/29 Sauk County 5,973 Positive Cases +4 from 6/29 36,562 Negative Tests +98 from 6/29 51 Deaths +0 from 6/29

51.9%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

48.9%

46.5%

Percent fully vaccinated

Target Range

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

58.3%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

55.9%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 12-15 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases per zip code Cases as of 7/6/2021

Updated: 7/6/2021

Lower %

Higher %

Richland County Ages 12-15 25.7%

Iowa County Ages 12-15

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

37.1%

Sauk County

Ages

12-15

Ages 12-15 27.7%

16-17

18-24

Dane County Ages 12-15

Graphic by Whitney Back

61%

25-34

35-44 45-54

Updated: 7/6/2021 28.4%

37.3%

42%

47.1% 55.4%

55-64 65+

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

57.1%

67.6%

84.8%