Valley Sentinel - 03-03-2021 by Valley Sentinel

Inside this edition

RV Little League sign up March 9 Page 4

Movie Review: Penguin Bloom Page 6

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Early March Birding Report & Tips Page 8 & 9

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 9 Free, Single-Copy

Lions Club holds annual Spaghetti Dinner

Richland County supervisor removes name from Village President election Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief

Contributed Photo The Spring Green Lions Club volunteers hand out spaghetti dinner ﬁxings, drive-thru style, behind The Shed for the group’s annual fundraiser. Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief The Spring Green Lions Club held its annual spaghetti dinner March 2 — a sign for the organization of slowly moving forward following a less-thannormal year due to COVID-19. Lions Club President Brad Hutnik said the organization was wary about how turnout for the event would be because of COVID-19. “We didn’t expect to do well, but it’s always pleasing to see people come

out,” said Hutnik. “No matter what, we think we were successful with it.” In normal years, the club chooses different organizations to raise money for, typically a student organization where students sell tickets. However, this year the funds went back to the Lions Club, to continue supporting their eﬀorts in the community. Throughout the year, the club hosts a variety of fundraisers for various organizations and projects, with a large majority of those funds coming

from the food booth the club hosts at the Spring Green Arts and Crafts fair—which was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. This means the organization was unable to fundraise as usual. “The Lions have really beneﬁted from being forward thinking about their ﬁnances in the past, because of that, we will take a hit, but we had some money set aside for emergencies,” said Hutnik. “We will be exploring some new fund-

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County Supervisor Dan McGuire, Lone Rock, has removed himself from consideration for village president in the April 6 elections, leaving his position open for write-in candidates. McGuire appeared in-person at the Feb. 9 Lone Rock Village board meeting to give a letter removing himself from the race. According to Village Clerk Tammy Christianson, McGuire stated he did not have time to devote to the position. Dan Quinn, current village president who is running for re-election, will still appear on the ballot. In Wisconsin, a candidate must register as write-in candidate for their election votes to be counted. Christianson said she has not received any write-in candidacy forms. Many of the elections in the area are unopposed. To register as a write-in candidate, a campaign registration must be filed with the clerk’s office by noon the Friday prior to the election, April 2. The registration form can be found at https://ethics.wi.gov/Resources/ CF-1_Registration_Statement.pdf To find out how to register, what will appear on the ballot and deadlines for the April 6 election, visit: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Richland

Arena Village Board tackles home talent baseball, Fire/EMS contract Emilie Conlon, Editor-in-Chief Home talent baseball could be returning to Arena in the near future, starting with the Muscoda Mudcats this summer. The village of Arena gave support to allow the Muscoda home talent team to play three to four home games in the Arena ball ﬁeld, 239 Sharon St., this summer as a way to honor team members from the area and gauge interest in re-starting a home talent team in Arena. “So he [the Muscoda Mudcats manager] called me up, and he said ‘We’d be willing to even come up there to play some games and see the interest from the communities there,” said Nick Jennings, the former manager of the Arena home talent baseball team. Due to COVID-19, the home talent

organization did not hold a season in 2020, and will start their season later, with an abbreviated schedule this year. Jennings said last year was the ﬁrst in 92 years that the Wisconsin home talent organization didn’t have a game. The organization’s season will start in June and go to September, with approximately 16 games, normally the season would start in April and end in August. Jennings said he does not currently have dates for the games that would be played in Arena. Clerk DaNean Naeger said previous rates for visiting teams to utilize the park have been $25 per game, but the board discussed those possibly changing once an agreement was more concrete. Jennings also discussed with the

board bringing a home talent baseball team back to Arena. “I don’t think a lot of people are aware of it, but this village was one of the six original town teams or franchises that started back then,” said Jennings. “But since 2007, we’ve been inactive. But now this younger generation is coming up, mainly my sons and a few of their friends, they are looking to get this thing going again.” According to Jennings, Arena left the home talent league in the 40s, and rejoined in 1969, and Jennings took over management of the team in 1983. Jennings said they are aiming for a 2022 season, as the COVID-19 situation allows. More information is expected to become available in the next few

months.

Fire and EMS contract

The village revisited and voted again to provide $35,000 for its portion of joint Fire and EMT services, because the town board, who the village shares funding responsibility for the services with, did not approve the agreement made last month. The village approved an agreement at its last meeting, amending the original agreement between both municipalities after the village failed to fund its 48% of the joint services. According to Village President Kate Reimann, the town board did not agree with the use of the word “amendment”, and wanted that removed.

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opinion/editorial

WednesdaY, March 3, 2021

EDITORIAL

Final stretch of the pandemic is in view, let’s not squander this, let’s get it right On Tuesday, President Joseph R. Biden announced that the US expects to have enough coronavirus vaccines for all adults by the end of May, two months earlier than anticipated. The same day, Texas became one of the largest states to announce its intent to lift its mask mandate. Closer to home, Dane County — recognized as having some of the most stringent COVID restrictions in the state of Wisconsin — announced it was loosening up its restrictions. 7-day average percent positive cases by test is currently hovering just over 2%, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) — does this mean the end is in sight of this nearly year-long pandemic? Not so fast, there’s too much at stake for us to treat this pandemic like it’s over, and indeed if we take things too fast, we risk losing the ground that we’ve gained and it risks making that distance traveled all for naught. Many of our most vulnerable have been vaccinated at least once: 22.3% (5,271) of Iowa County residents have received at least one

dose of the vaccine. 12.2% (2,884) of residents have completed the vaccine series. 75.4% (3,478) of 65+ year old Iowa County residents have received at least one dose. 21.5% (3,710) of Richland County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 13.6% (2,338) of residents have completed the vaccine series. 65.4% (2,656) of 65+ year old Richland County residents have received at least one dose. 19.1% (12,308) of Sauk County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. 9.7% (6,230) of residents have completed the vaccine series. 65.1% (7,989) of 65+ year old Sauk County residents have received at least one dose. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) - 03/02/2021 We must keep in mind that, for many of the vaccines out there, two doses signiﬁcantly increase the eﬀectiveness of the vaccine. We must also remember that some of our most vulnerable cannot be vaccinated. No vaccine has been approved

for children. Any illness is risky for an extremely young child, and while most children have what appear to be mild symptoms, we’re still not sure what long-term effects there are — with concerns ranging from permanent heart and lung damage to complications from multisystem inflammatory syndrome. The U.K. variant, B.1.1.7, has been identified in Wisconsin. Data shows that the B.1.1.7 variant may be 40-70% more transmissible than the current dominant strain of coronavirus, and 30% deadlier. The fear is this B.1.1.7 variant will become predominant in the United States by the end of the month, leading to a surge of cases in early spring. “Variant strains of coronavirus continue as a concern and we must continue to gather data and watch them closely. The bottom line is that we need to stay the course; we can’t let our guard down,” stated Debbie Siegenthaler, Director/Health Officer, Iowa County Health Department. We can’t let our guard down. Our local economy and area small businesses need us to get this right so we can keep the gears turning. It’s likely that we will have to be masked in public for

quite some time. Even as we enjoy the warming weather, as gatherings ease the limitations on numbers as we congregate and greet our community outdoors again, let’s not let our guard down. This does not entail living in fear. We must strive to find ways to engage socially and patronize local businesses safely. From Convivio holding Saturday campfires out back, to regionally with the Driftless Music Gardens in Hillsboro planning on holding socially distanced concerts outside, we must seek ways to engage safely, for our social and mental well-being. Residents and businesses both need to be creative in finding solutions. So in the meantime, mask up. Get vaccinated when you can. Perhaps the final stretch is in sight. However, this isn’t a race where speed is the winner. The winner is our vigilance and creativity, and we lose through complacency and apathy.

Letter to the Editor: Thanks to Sen. Howard Marklein Dear Editor, State Senator Howard Marklein is the co-chair of Wisconsin’s budget committee. Before he was elected to the legislature, he spent his professional career as a certiﬁed public accountant. I am glad that we have a CPA watching over the state’s checkbook. When the U.S. Congress passed the CARES Act last year, the intent of the

Paycheck Protection Program was for employers to get the funds tax-free. Those PPP funds have been a critical lifeline to help businesses keep their doors open and pay employees. In December, Congress took action to make sure this emergency assistance was not taxed at a time when so many businesses are shutting down. Thanks to Senator Marklein’s leader-

ship, the state will not send an unexpected tax bill to businesses already struggling to survive. Recently passed legislation will federalize Wisconsin tax policy related to PPP loans so they are treated the same for federal and state taxes. As a CPA myself and a member of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs, which advocated for state

conformity with the federal tax policy, I know just how much this means to Wisconsin businesses. Thank you for pushing to make much-needed PPP loans tax-free. —Austin Ayers, CPA Dodgeville

Letter to the Editor: The area needs an ice rink, winter activities Dear Editor, I am so pleased that folks are thinking of ice rinks in Spring Green....and sledding spots, x/c ski trails and maybe some snowshoeing areas. These silent and lifetime sports are so important to young ones, families and people of all ages and should be supported by local governments with some help from local groups and interested parties. My interest comes from having been

brought up in Baraboo where there were local rinks, 3 of them, one each for each school district in the town. As a kid I walked to a rink every day it was open. I had a great time, there was a shanty with benches, a wood stove and an older gentleman who was in charge.....keeping the ﬁres going and the kids safe. Crack the whip and learning to skate backwards were my great joys.

I do not know how these rinks were supported, as a kid it never entered my mind. I carried my skating abilities on to my family of 5. We lived in the country and skated on a natural pond and when the freezing was just right we had beautiful skating on the backwaters and sloughs of the Wisconsin River. Later my son-in-law made an ice rink for his family every winter. This included a shed, benches, wood stove and ice

hockey games. People came from town to enjoy. There is a history of ice rinks in Spring Green and if private families like the Quiqleys’ can do it, one would think the Town/Village could also get in the act. How do towns such as Dodgeville and Sauk support their ice rinks? —Derry Graves Spring Green

Shifts in transportation revenue raise questions about future Wisconsin Policy Forum A paradigm shift appears underway in Wisconsin’s state transportation fund as vehicle fees may soon rival fuel taxes as its primary revenue source. Unanswered questions about when driving returns to pre-pandemic levels will continue to loom over the fund, the state’s primary source of funding for highways, bridges and other transportation projects and programs. The question of how to grapple with these changes and uncertainties — as well as additional challenges that predated the pandemic — will underlie Gov. Tony Evers’ proposal for the next state budget, as well as state lawmakers’ response. For decades, fuel tax revenues have been by far the leading revenue source for the state transportation fund, in many years more than doubling the amount collected from vehicle registration fees. Yet fuel tax revenues in Wisconsin and nation-

ally have seen sluggish growth in recent years as growth in vehicle miles traveled has stagnated, and as automobiles have become more fuel-efficient, with a corresponding impact on fuel sales. The impact has been particularly significant in Wisconsin since 2006, when a law took effect repealing the state’s prior policy of indexing the fuel tax rate to inflation. Since that time, inflation-adjusted revenues have generally fallen as the rate has remained at 30.9 cents per gallon, plus a 2-cent per gallon petroleum inspection fee. The flattened trajectory of fuel tax collections, coupled with strong growth in vehicle fee revenues, may put the latter on track to approach the former. The implications of this shift are considerable, and warrant thought by policymakers about the merits of different funding strategies. On one hand, a heightened reliance on vehicle fees would appear to strengthen

the financial position of the transportation fund in a future dominated by fuel efficient and electric vehicles. Conversely, some say fuel taxes are a more equitable way to pay for transportation programs because the amount paid by a taxpayer is linked, through fuel consumption, to the amount of miles driven and choice of vehicle. Environmental advocates often advocate for higher fuel taxes as well, arguing they create an incentive for greater fuel efficiency by motorists and create a connection between the cost of driving and the environmental cost of carbon emissions. Additional transportation revenue options could include vehicle tolling, which state policymakers directed the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to study in a 2016 report but have not pursued. A vehicle miles traveled tax or fee is another concept already used for commercial vehicles in four states and being

studied for more widespread use. Questions remain about this concept, which likely would hinge on the use of GPS or other technology to track miles driven, including concerns about the ease of implementation and privacy. The Wisconsin Policy Forum is a statewide nonpartisan, independent policy research organization with offices in Milwaukee and Madison. We provide informed analysis of critical policy issues affecting local governments, school districts, and the state of Wisconsin. Our research and facilitation activities encourage elected officials and community leaders to find effective, data-driven solutions to pressing policy challenges, and promote productive discussion among the public and private sectors.

opinion

WednesdaY, march 3, 2021

Page 3

Weekly Poll: Should Wisconsin legalize medical, recreational marijuana? In his recent biennial budget proposal, Gov. Tony Evers proposed the legalization of marijuana, both recreationally and medically. Evers stated the product would be regulated and taxed in similar ways to alcohol. In his proposal, Evers estimated the state could see an additional $165 million by the second year it is legalized. According to a press release from Evers’ oﬃce, a Marquette study found that nearly 60% of Wisconsinites support legalization. In Valley Sentinel’s weekly social media poll, 83% of voters supported the state legalizing marijuana, with 17% voting against it. The governor did propose the legalization of medical marijuana in his 2019-21 biennial budget, but the proposal was rejected. If you missed the weekly poll but would like to share your thoughts on the legalization of marijuana, please email editor@valleysentinelnews.com. To vote in our weekly polls, follow us on Instagram, @vs_wisconsin or like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/valleysentinel.

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

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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

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and impartiality of our reporting.

Est. 2020 igne conﬂatum “Forged in Fire”

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

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Community

WednesdaY, march 3, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Month-Long Event Brewhaha Coﬀee Fundraiser for the Spring Green Area Arts Coalition Through March, support the arts while you enjoy delicious Brewhaha coﬀee! Order online at:

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

https://www.brewhaharoasters.com/product-page/spring-green-area-arts-coalition.

Local pickup at Arcadia Books or have your order shipped directly to your door. All proceeds go to support arts related grants, scholarships, and community programs in the River Valley area.

Let’s build community together.

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. Email us to submit your local events. ads@valleysentinelnews.com

Sauk Prairie Healthcare explains its process for Phase 1B COVID-19 vaccination Sauk Prairie Healthcare

In keeping with Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) guidance, Sauk Prairie Healthcare is continuing to prioritize those age 65 or older for the COVID19 vaccine, while also serving as a vaccinator for educators and child care through the coordination of local health departments. “For us, vaccine supply continues to be the limiting factor,” said Shawn Lerch, CEO of Sauk Prairie Healthcare. “We are prepared to vaccinate 10 times as many people each week, but instead have been encouraging area residents to get the vaccine wherever they can

get in soonest. It’s frustrating, because we’d like to be able get people vaccinated sooner than supply has allowed.” On March 1, the DHS released more groups to be eligible for the COVID19 vaccine. Due to the limited supply of vaccine doses, DHS has directed that people age 65 and older, educators, and child care workers be prioritized for the vaccine before others in the 1B group. According to DHS, each local health department has submitted a local-speciﬁc plan to DHS detailing how they will vaccinate staﬀ of K-12 schools and child care in their communities. DHS will be setting aside a portion of vaccine

doses each week for educators beginning the week of March 15. Sauk Prairie Healthcare has been identiﬁed as the vaccinator for some of the educators in Sauk and Columbia Counties, and will work directly with a point of contact at those school districts. Those employed at schools should work directly with their employer to understand their vaccination plan. “As of this date, we are still learning the details surrounding the vaccination of child care staﬀ,” said Lerch. “It’s our understanding that county public health departments have begun the process of contacting regulated child

cares to begin planning for how that group will receive vaccinations. We stand by ready to assist if needed.” Others in Phase 1B should not anticipate that vaccine will be available to them until mid-April. These groups include: individuals enrolled in Medicaid Long-Term Care programs; some public facing essential workers, including 911 operators, utility and communications infrastructure, public transit, and food supply chain; non-frontline essential healthcare personnel; and congregate living facility staﬀ and residents.

2021 Summer Little League On March 9, 2021, just outside the athletic entrance of the high school, from 4:00-7:00 PM, there will be a sign up for all summer little league. Due to COVID, the signup will take place outdoors. Please only send one adult per family to the signup and please wear a mask. The goal of this sign up date is to have an oﬃcial date and time where ALL youth in our communities have a place to sign up, be included and informed about the summer T-Ball, Coach Pitch, and Baseball and Softball opportunities. We are excited with this new approach and hope it will lead to an increase in participation! If possible, please try to utilize these times for signing up your players: 4:00-5:00: Families with more than one player 5:00-6:00: Players in T-Ball and Coach Pitch 6:00-7:00: Players in Softball and Baseball. This is for ALL River Valley Communities: Lone Rock, Spring Green, Arena and Plain. If your player has never played before and has interest, please come to the sign up, and we will make sure that they have an opportunity to play ball. River Valley Little League will be adopting the safety guidelines that the SWCL adopt. If the SWCL fails to adopt safety guidelines for their conference, River Valley Little League will adopt guidelines based oﬀ of the WIAA guidelines. Our T-Ball and Coach Pitch teams will play games with other teams within our communities, while the 3rd-8th grade teams will be part of the SWCL, www.swcl.org and play teams in neighboring towns. Please refer to the SWCL website before you buy equipment. All players will receive a jersey-t-shirt and players in live pitch will also receive a baseball cap or softball visor. Players in 4K-2nd Grade are required to bring their own glove and a batting helmet. Players in grades 3rd-8th are required to bring their own glove, pair of black baseball/softball pants, and batting helmet. All players should bring their own water bottles. This sign up will be for all ages and genders. Players will be signing up under the grade they were in during THIS school year, the 2020-21 school year: 4K: Co-ed T-Ball ($35) 5K: Co-ed T-Ball ($35) 1st Grade: Co-ed Coach Pitch ($35) 2nd Grade: Co-ed Coach Pitch ($35) 3rd Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 3rd Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75) 4th Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 4th Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75) 5th Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 5th Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75) 6th Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 6th Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75) 7th Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 7th Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75) 8th Grade Boys: Live Pitch Baseball ($75) 8th Grade Girls: Live Pitch Softball ($75).

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In regard to payment, many families chose to carry over their payment from last summer when River Valley Little League was canceled. The league has that information documented and will honor those payments on March 9th. Please remember that if your player is moving up from 2nd grade to 3rd grade, and you chose to carry over your payment of $35 for coach pitch, you will need to pay $40 as the diﬀerence for moving up into live pitch baseball or softball. There will be staﬀ available on March 9th to help out in determining proper payment. As with any activity, parent involvement and coaching is always needed. The league will provide information and help new coaches as they learn the process. The key component required is patience and a willingness to help our youth. If you are interested in coaching, there will be a sign-up sheet available on March 9, please consider it!! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email: rvsummerlittleleague@gmail.com

Let’s build community together.

Community

WednesdaY, March 3, 2021

Arena up to bat for home talent continued from page 1 “They did not consider that a legal amendment to the fire agreement,” said Reimann. ‘We did not put that language in of the amendments to the fire protection service agreement,’ nor did we put the language in ‘the town and village no desire to amend the agreement as follows.’ That was the fire board.” The town board also asked the village remove wording regarding the funding of EMTs, “village share represents 27% of the cost of three full time employees, plus benefits,” because there was discrepancy between the budget numbers for the township and the village. The village had budgeted $35,000 for fire and EMS services, but the township had budgeted $30, 263 in the agreement. Trustee Paul Pustina spoke in support of giving the township the full

$35,000. “I would not recommend changing it back to 30, I would recommend giving 35, Because there’s enough bad blood now,” said Pustina. Trustee Chuck Burch agreed. “The EMTs were concerned because if there’s no contractual agreement, they’re afraid the money won’t be available,” said Reimann.

Other actions the board took include:

—Appointed William Hanson to the Plan Commission. —Approved a contract with MSA to do a well site study and test well for the second water well the village approved last month. —Acted on two plan commission recommendations to rezone 802 and 804 Sharon St from Agriculture to R-3 2-family residential district and R-4 multi-family residential district, respectively.

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In other news 2021 Community Garden plots available A variety of garden plots are available through the River Valley Area Community Gardens for the 2021 growing season. Plot sizes include a 20 x 20 area for $30, 10 x 20 for $20, and a 10 x 10 for $10. The fee includes water, marsh hay for mulch and the use of a ground tiller. The organization oﬀers free plots for low income families and students, and encouraged organic gardening techniques. To register, visit www.rvacg.org or email info@rvacg.org Sen. Howard Marklein budget listening sessions Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, along with four other representatives will be holding listening sessions for the public’s input on the upcoming biennial budget. The listening sessions include: —March 5, 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. with Marklein and Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc at the Necedah Village/Town Hall, 1010 Center St., Necedah. —March 5, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. at the LaValle town hall, 314 WI-33, LaValle —March 12 1 p.m.-2 p.m. with Marklein and Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 916 E Elm St., Lancaster in the Youth and Ag building. —March 19, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. with Marklein and Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, and Tranel, at the Belmont Community Center, 222 S Mound Ave, Belmont. There will be one virtual session oﬀered, March 8, 2 p.m.- 3 p.m. with Marklein only. Only residents of the 17th senate district will be able to participate, and can send an email to sen.marklein@legis.wi.gov to register. The deadline to register is March 6.

Lions Club looks forward after unusual year due to COVID-19 continued from page 1

raisers to keep things going.” The Arts and Crafts Fair is canceled again this year, but Hutnik said he believes the organization is taking “baby steps” towards returning to normal. When COVID-19 shutdowns began this time last year, the group began experimenting with meetings on Facebook Live and settled on Zoom to continue their semi-regular meeting schedule. Hutnik said the group is now starting to shift towards meeting in a hybrid manner, some people attending in-person, and others virtual. Prior to COVID-19, the group met at The Shed in Spring Green, enjoyed a meal together while meeting and took summer months oﬀ from meeting. “It’s a little diﬀerent, because you don’t have the ability to see people,” said Hutnik. “With Zoom, we see people we don’t often see at regular meetings, and a lot of people who might come don’t come on Zoom. I think it sustained us. I think if we had

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to go on with Zoom alone, it would be really hard. Hutnik is confident the Lions Club will always be an integral part of the area, and will continue to adapt to be able to provide services and funding for local projects and organizations—despite the less than normal year they have experiences. “No matter what, Lions will be here. We’re not going any place, whether we have money or not, we’re going to be here. It’s just a matter of how effective we can be for the community,” said Hutnik. “We want to be as effective as possible.” To join the Lions Club, visit www.lionsclubs.org/en/join/membership-form and to donate, visit www.lionsclubs. org/en/donate For more information on the Spring Green Lions Club visit www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/spring_green_wi/ index.php

Contributed Photo The Spring Green Lions Club is moving towards meeting in a hybrid manner and exploring new fundraising options following a slow year after the cancellation of their biggest funding event. Pictured, volunteers deliver spaghetti dinners to cars at Tuesday’s fundraiser.

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Arts & Culture

WednesdaY, march 3, 2021

Movie Review: Netﬂix’s ‘Penguin Bloom’ shines Bill Gordon, Contributor

Ready for a drama down under? “Penguin Bloom” (directed by Glendyn Ivin, 2020) takes place in Australia and is based on the true story of Sam Bloom (Naomi Watts), a wife and mother of three whose emotional recovery from her traumatic life-changing accident is aided by an injured magpie. The magpie is named “Penguin” by the boys after its black and white color. (Thus, becoming Penguin Bloom). Ten different birds are used to play Penguin throughout the film. Whereas Sam feels her family and friends can’t really understand what she is going through, she develops a kinship with the bird, who is also going through a period of healing. Sam’s husband Cameron (Andrew Lincoln of Walking Dead fame) and oldest son Noah (GrifPhoto via Roadshow Films A still of Naomi Watts and Penguin the Magpie from “Penguin Bloom” on Netflix.

Further Reading: More about Magpies The Magpie The Australian magpie has a central role in the movie “Penguin Bloom”, reviewed in this week’s Valley Sentinel. Prior to watching the movie, I wasn’t familiar with magpies, and after seeing such a well-trained actor-bird, I felt compelled to learn more about them, and found myself enjoying the slippery-slope of online magpie research—a surprisingly rich topic. Here are a few fun facts about magpies to accompany Bill Gordon’s review.

•Magpie’s are predominantly found in temperate areas of Europe, Asia and western North America. I’ve never seen one in Wisconsin. •They are considered to be highly intelligent and are one of the few non-mammal species able to recognize itself in a mirror. •The name magpie dates back to Old English, when birds were often given common names such as Robin Redbreast and Jenny Wren. It’s thought magpie was originally called Maggie Pie or Mag Pie. •Lewis and Clark ﬁrst encountered magpies in 1804 in South Dakota. They reported the birds as being bold scavengers, much like Penguin is in the movie. •In East Asian culture, the magpie is a popular bird, considered a symbol of good luck. The Asian magpie is the national symbol of Korea. •Rossini’s opera, “La Gazza Ladra”

(The Thieving Magpie) reﬂects that magpie’s reputation as a collector of expensive shiny objects like wedding rings. •Magpies are the subject of a nursery rhyme used to help children learn to count. One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told. •The nursery rhyme was turned into a song performed by the Spencer Davis Group to accompany a British children’s television program call Magpie (1968 – 1980). —Alison Graves, Contributor

fin Murray-Johnson), must deal with a multitude of emotions as they adapt to a wife and mother (movingly portrayed by Watts) that is despondent about her inability to be the person she was before the accident. Adopted from a 2017 book by Cameron Bloom, the film is rich in symbolism and has a smartly written screenplay. Stunning cinematography captures the spectacular shoreline of Palm Beach, located in northern Sydney where the family lives. Many scenes of their cliffside house were filmed at the real Bloom’s home, which has a flat rooftop where the boys have reckless fun diving off onto a large trampoline below. I’ll confess, given the choice between a movie with a dark or serious subject matter and say... an action thriller, I’ll almost always choose the action thriller. I like a positive escape and I like it when the good guts prevail. With Penguin Bloom however, there’s just enough levity between the inane dialogue between the little boys, “it’s your fart,” and the amusing antics of the Magpie to balance and neutralize the gripping impact of Sam’s injury, and it works. This story is about pain and loss and guilt, and ultimately—healing. There are some very stirring moments in this film. Naomi Watts is terrific, and Penguin Bloom takes us on a journey that delivers an inspiring and uplifting message. 5/5 stars.

Viewing information How to view: Netﬂix Release date: 2021 Duration: 95 Minutes Genre: Drama, Inspirational Rating: TV-14

APT The Road Back - Chapter 6: On The Grounds American Players Theatre

We’re all excited to get back on the APT campus this summer, and from the notes we’ve received from you all, it’s pretty clear that you’re excited, too. There is, after all, so much to miss, and the plays are just the beginning. And while many of the best parts of visiting APT will remain, the experience is, simply, going to be different this year. So prepare yourself for a little time travel, as this week’s TRB takes you on an as-yet hypothetical tour of what we expect it will be like this summer. Some details will surely change before we get to the season – or even during the season – but here’s a snapshot as it stands today. You drive in the parking lot. Right off the bat - a bright spot! Since we’re limiting audiences to 25% of capacity, parking promises to be a breeze this year, with plenty of room in the parking lot. So pull into an amply distanced spot, put on your mask and grab your cooler. It’s time to head to the picnic area. Welcome back for an APT picnic. You’ll notice that there aren’t as many tables, and they are further apart to allow for social distancing. But since the crowd isn’t as big, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect spot for your picnic. Hubbard Avenue Diner will be back with us if you’d like to order ahead, and, of course, you’re still welcome to bring your own. Pick up drinks and snacks at Lower Concessions – we plan to have it open whenever there’s a performance on the Hill. The Play Around the Play. Midsummer Music will be back, though the musicians

won’t roam; rather, they will stay in their socially distanced spots, but close enough for you to enjoy the music. We also plan to present a new edition of Art in the Woods, a collection of nature and APT-inspired art installations, which debuted in 2019. We’re eager to share season two. Looking forward to a Beyond the Plays event? Perhaps a Play Talk or the Sunday Salon? They’re all a go, but you won’t find them in John’s Place or downtown Spring Green. Instead, we’ll head back to Zoom to hold these events virtually. Don’t forget a stop in The Shops at APT before the play. The shop in Gateway will be open before the play, and the Hill Theatre shop will be open pre-show and at intermission. Due to the small audience size (less than 50!) we won’t have a Touchstone gift shop this season, or concessions either; both will return in 2022. The APT Horns Sound to let you know it’s time to make your way to the Hill or Touchstone Theatre. Be sure to put your mask back on if you’ve taken it off to enjoy your picnic. Masks are required on the grounds, unless you are actively eating or drinking. Need the shuttle? We’ll be offering service, but at a reduced capacity to allow for distancing. Because it will take more trips to get everyone to the theater, we’ll need your cooperation in getting to the shuttles sooner (we’re working on devising a system to accomplish this – stay tuned for details closer to when tickets go on sale). Walking up the Hill or to the Touchstone. Nothing out of the ordinary to

Photo via APT Limiting capacity in the theaters is just one of the changes in store this season - learn more in this week’s The Road Back. report here other than you’ll be wearing print playbill that is smaller than usual – your mask. But while we’re here, let’s just the basics. A full, electronic version take a beat to consider just how great it will be sent to you before the play. You will feel to be walking up the path to an can read it online before you leave home, APT play! or even have it on your phone to look at You’ll notice a few changes in the lobby. before (but not during!) the play. You’ll Concessions on the Hill will be open, but notice that you’re seated at least six feet you’ll need to ﬁnish your from those outside your party. You can snack in the lobby. For the safety of the also rest assured that your seat, the railactors (who will be performing without ings and really everything in the theater masks), we’re not allowing any food and lobby have been sanitized before and drink in the theater this year. Also, your arrival, and we’ll clean high touch you’ll notice that the restrooms have surfaces again during intermission. been fashioned for social distance, with The play begins, and that’s where the every other stall and wash basin closed changes end. The stage, the actors, the (but again, at 25% capacity the bathstars and yes, the whippoorwills, are all room lines will be shorter than ever). gloriously familiar as they all take their And, thanks to a generous donation places at long last. from Kohler Co., we will have touchless Next Week: Everything There is to faucets and soap dispensers. Know (that we can tell you at this point) As you take your seat, we’ll oﬀer you a About Ticketing

Community

WednesdaY, march 3, 2021

Campus News

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

RV Alum receives All-Academic honors Shane Liegel (River Valley H.S), a sophomore at Loras College and a member of the men’s wrestling team, was honored as a member of the American Rivers Conference 2020-21 Winter Academic Team. To be eligible for All-Academic Team honors, a student-athlete must be on the eligibility list for the sport of nomination, at least a sophomore in academic standing with at least one year in residence and attain an accumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale). In total, 16 Loras College student-athletes were honored as members of the 2020 ARC Winter-Academic team.

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Our schedule is posted each week on social media.

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Coffee & News A collaboration by Valley Sentinel & Butternut Road Coffee. Stop by the coffee truck starting mid-week to pick up a copy of Valley Sentinel with your coffee, while supplies last.

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Photo via Loras College RV Grad, Shane Liegel is on the men’s wrestling team at Loras College.

Campus View Residence Hall for sale at University of Wisconsin-Platteville Richland

Photo via UW-Platteville Richland County Campus View Corporation is selling this residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Richland campus. RICHLAND CENTER, WI – The Campus View Residence Hall located near the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Richland campus was listed for sale this week by the Campus View Corporation. Campus View Residence Hall comprises four buildings with a maximum capacity to house up to 146 students. Due to this unprecedented ﬁnancial time, the Foundation has been forced to spend a signiﬁcant amount of unrestricted funds given by generous donors to keep the doors open at Campus View. After extensive research, the Campus View board of directors has decided to sell the residence hall. “Our primary responsibility is to be good stewards of every donation the

Foundation receives and to thoughtfully support the students of our great campus for many years to come,” says Terry Sebranek, Richland County Campus Foundation President. The Campus View Corporation Board is searching for a buyer that will continue to oﬀer housing options to students. The Board will closely review all oﬀers to achieve responsible use of the facilities. “A new owner will be able to improve the facility, generate an income stream while renting units to the general public and at the same time, preserve spaces for students,” says Sebranek. “Students will continue to have a quality housing opportunity directly across from campus.”

Citizens of

RICHLAND COUNTY We would like to THANK YOU for continuing to wear your masks, wash your hands, and social distance. You’ve done an AWESOME JOB with flattening the curve!!! But we are not done and WE NEED YOU to hold the course. We are all in this together, so STAY WITH US and continue these efforts. BE PATIENT as the vaccines become available and GET YOUR SHOT when able. These are critical steps as we move forward in DEFEATING THIS PANDEMIC!!!

T hank You For Helping Us Stop The Spread!

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WednesdaY, March 3, 2021

Outdoors/recreation

Early March Birding Report: Red-Winged Blackbirds appear Ryan Brady, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program Biologist Ready for spring? We have good news for you – in the bird world, it’s underway! Southeast Wisconsin always sees the first migrants, and this year is no exception as the first red-winged blackbirds, killdeer and sandhill cranes have been reported there. American robins overwintered in good numbers, but new migrants are also moving in now. Horned larks, an early migrant of open grasslands and agricultural fields, are also showing well on rural roadsides. Farther north, trumpeter swans are returning to limited areas of open water, and the first bald and golden eagles have begun to wing their way northward overhead. Other signs of spring include increased singing activity by northern cardinals, house finches, mourning doves, American robins and black-capped chickadees. Woodpeckers are drumming to announce territories and wild turkeys are now gobbling in some areas. Some species are even nesting already, including active incubation by great horned owls and bald eagles and nest-building behavior in American crows, common ravens, house finches and others. Waterfowl migration has been most Photo by Ryan Brady via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources noticeable on Lake Michigan, where goldeneyes, mergansers, scaup, redheads, A sure sign of spring for many, red-winged blackbirds have begun to return to southeastern Wisconsin and will march northward over the bufflehead and a few dabbling ducks are next few weeks. being seen. Snow and ice cover have limited migration inland so far, but a few new in place, including a few snowy owls, grosbeaks are often the first to depart and the north, more great gray owls have been birds are slowly moving in. Gull diversity northern shrikes, rough-legged hawks, will begin to do so this week if they haven’t documented this year than any since the has been excellent as herring gulls are short-eared owls and “winter fi nches.” already. Be sure to regularly clean feeders, mid-2000s. Keep your eyes open for these abundant and ring-billed gull numbers Common redpolls have been widespread waste seed/shells and water sources to unusual species and report your observabegin to increase. Among them, look for with a few hoary redpolls among them. prevent outbreaks of salmonella and other tions of rare and common birds alike at glaucous, Iceland, great black-backed and White-winged crossbills and pine siskins diseases among these susceptible species. www.ebird.org/wi. lesser blackbacked gulls. have also been present in small numbers. Rarities have been few of late. In the Enjoy the birds! Winter is far from over, of course, Flocks of evening grosbeaks continue south, spotted towhees continue to be and many winter species remain firmly mostly across the north woods, while pine seen in numbers well above average. In

Ten tips for winter bird feeding Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Winter is a great time to feed the birds, as higher energy demands and fewer natural foods give us the opportunity to bring some species closer to home. 1. The single best seed to provide is black oil sunflower, which has high-fat content and attracts the most species. 2. Also offer nyjer seed for finches, white millet for sparrows, doves and other ground-feeding species both suet and peanut chunks for woodpeckers, chickadees nuthatches. 3. Avoid generic seed mixes as these tend to have more waste and attract less desired bird and mammal species. 4. Deter squirrels with cone- or domeshaped baffles above hanging feeders or below pole-mounted feeders. 5. Place feeders closer than 3 feet or farther than 30 feet from your home to avoid the deadliest window

collision zone. 6. Minimize disease by cleaning your feeders at least once every two weeks using soapy water and a 10% bleach solution. 7. Provide cover such as brush piles or dense shrubs for roosting and escape from predators. 8. Oﬀer water to attract a wider variety of species, using a heating element when temperatures dip below freezing. 9. “Birdscape” your property with native plants such as fruit-bearing shrubs and evergreen trees. 10. Contribute to bird science and management by reporting birds you see at your feeder. The Great Backyard Bird Count every February is an easy, fun way to get started: for at least 15 minutes on one or more days you simply tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see. Project Feederwatch spans the entire winter.

Ways to create habitat for birds Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources •Establish native plants for birds to use as feeding, resting and nesting sites. For information on what to plant and Wisconsin native plant nurseries, see DNR’s Plant native plants web page. •Provide more food for birds and maintain a healthier natural environment by removing plants not native to your area. •Provide fresh water for birds. A frog pond, water garden, fountain or even a shallow, regularly cleaned dish of water will get lots of bird use, especially if the water is dripping, moving or otherwise making a sound. •Maintain bird feeders in your yard, placed at least 30 feet from windows and near the natural protection of trees and shrubs; fruit, suet, and mealworms can supplement traditional seed such as

black sunflower and nyjer seed. •Build a brush pile for shelter from predators and weather. •Add nest boxes for species like bluebirds or chickadees that nest and roost in cavities. •Prevent collisions with window glass by using non-reflective window coatings, window screens, awnings, flash tape, paracord or bird netting. Find DIY ideas on the DNR website. •Keep cats indoors or confined to an outdoor enclosure to help reduce the hundreds of millions of birds killed by cats in the U.S. each year. •Limit or avoid pesticide use on your property. Pesticides harm birds directly through exposure/contact and indirectly by reducing the insect populations they need to survive. Birds are natural pesticides.

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YOUR

COVID-19 stories It’s nearly been a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and the first emergency orders were enacted. We want you to share your experiences with COVID-19, your time in quarantine, your struggles or triumphs. Please submit your own ‘Year in COVID-19’ story to editor@valleysentinelnews.com by March 8th One paragraph to 500 words, please feel free to share your story, long or short.

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WednesdaY, March 3, 2021

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Help nature, plant natives!

GREAT NATIVE TREES, SHRUBS, AND PLANTS FOR BIRDS

Turn your yard into a year-round feeding station for Wisconsin birds by planting native trees, shrubs and plants. By adding one or more of these bird-friendly natives you’ll attract more birds and give them the food and shelter they need to raise a family, survive a Wisconsin winter or make the long migration south. A win-win for you and the birds! Examples of native species for birds.

Oak

• Oak trees (Quercus species) support over 530 species of butterflies and moth caterpillars, more than any other woody plant. • Many migrating and nesting birds rely on these caterpillars for food, including such favorites as warblers, tanagers, and orioles. • Acorns are eaten by blue jays, red-headed woodpeckers, and other wildlife. white oak (Q. alba) red oak (Q. rubra) bur oak (Q. macrocarpa)

Cherry

• Ranging in size from small shrubs to large trees,

cherries (Prunus species) host over 450 species of caterpillars that provide food for birds. • Fruits attract birds from mid-summer to fall, including red-headed woodpecker, rose-breasted grosbeak, bluebirds, and dozens more. chokecherry (P. virginia) black cherry (P. serotina) pin cherry (P. pensylvanica)

Viburnum

• Viburnums (Viburnum species) are fruit-bearing shrubs whose dense structure provides excellent cover during migration and nesting. • Fruits in fall, winter, and early spring attract robins, waxwings, bluebirds, thrushes, catbirds, and more. highbush cranberry (V. trilobum) nannyberry (V. lentago) downy arrowwood (V. rafinesquianum)

Willow

• Willows (Salix species) host 456 species of caterpillars, second only to oaks. • Spring flowers attract small insects that provide a critical food source for early spring migrants like kinglets and warblers. • Dense growth structure of some species forms thickets of cover and offers great nesting sites. pussy willow (S. discolor) black willow (S. nigra) [Note: avoid non-natives like weeping willow (S. babylonica)]

Dogwood

• Dogwoods (Cornus species) provide good cover and ample clusters of fruit during fall that attract vireos, thrushes, waxwings, sparrows, and others. pagoda dogwood (C. alternifolia) gray dogwood (C. racemosa) red-osier dogwood (C. sericea) silky dogwood (C. amomum)

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Upper Sugar River Watershed Spring 2021 Report Matt Wallrath, Invasive Species Program Coordinator, Upper Sugar River Watershed Association Greetings from the Upper Sugar River Watershed Association invasive species program! 2020 was a great example of what you can still do online or remotely to protect the environment. Our core of great volunteers and an expanded staff allowed us to keep projects like boat landing outreach, access signage, and clean bait reminders rolling smooth in tough times. I’m excited to continue our role as the Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator for Dane, Iowa, Sauk, Green, Lafayette, Grant, and Vernon counties in 2021. Our team will enact on the ground training, monitoring and prevention outreach while serving the Driftless as a resource for invasive species issues. In 2020, we verified some of the first stands of purple loosestrife in Grant and Iowa county as the plant continues to spread in the Mississippi and Lower Wisconsin River corridor. To

help control this pesky shrub, this spring we are working with a natural bio-control project involving rearing insects that will munch on the stalks of that particular plant. Extra eyes looking out for dense stands of this tough, knobby, purple ﬂowered shrub are appreciated as we strive to keep our wetlands from getting overrun. We can then control them with the help of our ‘cella beetle friends. Big machines are gearing up for spring, so please remember that mow decks can spread unwanted plants. On March 4 Upper Sugar is teaming up with the UW Renz lab on a public webinar geared towards right-of-way managers and machine operators. Take a stake in invasive species control by learning why prevention is important and best management practices and techniques. Register online at our website to join us on Zoom. It’s a great time to start your planning for how to get outside and get your boots wet after the thaw. We are holding trainings this season for those

Photo via Matt Wallrath Volunteer Abbie Lehman ﬁnds red hailstone invading a rivers edge interested in invasive species identiﬁcation. Our goal is to recruit citizen scientists via Project RED (Riparian Early Detection) at regional trainings, as well as hosting a site as part of the

statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day on August 21st. Please visit us at uppersugar.org to see opportunities to help out. See you on the river!

February 2021 Wolf Harvest Season ends, DNR prepares for fall season Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources The February 2021 wolf harvest season closed at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. State statute authorizes the DNR to close management zones to harvest following a 24-hour notice based on harvest information. Because of the nature of harvest registration and 24-hour notice, it is possible for harvest quotas to be exceeded.

During the Natural Resources Board Special Meeting on Feb. 15, the board unanimously voted for a harvest quota of 200 wolves outside reservation lands. Of the approved quota, 119 wolves are allocated to the state, and 81 wolves are allocated to the Ojibwe Tribes in response to the Tribes’ declaration and in accordance with their treaty rights within the Ceded Territory. Iowa, Richland and Sauk Counties are all within Wolf Harvesting Zone 6. The quota for Zone 6 was 17, with 40 ultimately being the ﬁnal number of wolves harvested. The total statewide quota of 119 was far exceeded and the total harvested was 216. The department’s approved quota considered 2020 wolf population data, population response to previous harvest seasons, scientiﬁc literature, and population model projections. The quota’s objective is to allow for a sustainable harvest that neither increases nor decreases the state’s wolf population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed gray wolves from the federal endangered species list on Jan.

4, 2021, returning management authority to state agencies. The Wisconsin DNR has successfully managed gray wolves for decades and will continue to do so in accordance with the laws of our state and the best science available. The DNR is actively working to prepare for a fall 2021 wolf harvest season in November.

Wolf sightings

Have you seen wolves in our area? Tell us about it: editor@valleysentinelnews.com And let the DNR know:

dnr.wi.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/MammalObsForm.asp

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