Valley Sentinel - 03-06-2025 by Valley Sentinel

Spring Green, Wisconsin

4PeteSake spring funding application deadline

Crosswords & Chess

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Area arts council announces exhibit and workshop opportunities for non-professional artists

Exhibit to be held at Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center April 19

The Richland Area Arts Council (RAAC) will once again host the combined adult and teen Wisconsin Regional Arts Program (WRAP) for our area on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The day long event will be held at the Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center 6306, State Road 23, Spring Green, WI.

WRAP encourages nonprofessional, student, and emerging artists to create and exhibit their work across Wisconsin. WRAP is for people who have a serious interest in art, and create art for the love of art.

Make art! WRAP encourages artists at all levels to practice their craft. WRAP educational workshop presentations and critique sessions will inspire you

to develop your abilities and grow as an artist.

A morning workshop on bookmaking using Japanese bookbinding methods

will be led by Kathy Murphy, retired graphic artist, of Fitchburg, who has over 30 years of bookmaking experience.

4PeteSake highlights community recipients, spring funding application deadline

You matter. The River Valley community cares about each other. This is never more apparent than when I look at the cycle of help and hope provided by 4PeteSake in our community each year.

March 27th is the spring deadline for applying to be a 4PeteSake recipient of that help and care and hope. If you, or a loved one, face extraordinary ﬁnancial need and are unable, through no fault of your own, to provide for yourselves, please go to 4petesake.com/applytoday/. Your community is here for you. The generosity of people in the River Valley has brought comfort to the following community members over the last year. I invite you to read their stories and know that they are forever grateful for the contributions you have made in the past. You made a diﬀerence.

Jayne Beresford

Tenacious. Joyful. God-loving. These are the words running in my thoughts as I leave my visit with Jayne. In spite of the uncertainty from her medical condition (she has a seizure disorder that is not being controlled in spite of maximum dosage of anti-seizure medication), Jayne has a sweet sense of humor, is gentle and thoughtful, and has a remarkably positive attitude. She told of a hard day in which she chose to challenge herself to come up with 100 things that bring her joy in order to help herself get oﬀ the couch. She humbly shared how quickly she was able to do so. When she thinks about surviving a head-on collision, she doesn’t ask, “why did this horrible thing happen to me?”, but rather, “why did I survive?” and then she feels grateful. Her gratitude

leans heavily on her belief in, and love for, God, and her constant sense of his love for her. Christian music brings her joy, as does her love of reading.

Jayne moved to Spring Green in 2022 where she then married her husband, Nathan. She came from Beaver Dam where she had grown up, and has found our community to be very welcoming, full of good people, and interesting events. She refers to it as a “Mayberry” feel in all the good ways: neighbors know each other and look out for each other, a meal at Anita’s means conversations with multiple acquaintances, and events, such as the Country Christmas activities, and the 4PeteSake Day in the Park all are completely open and welcoming. She is grateful this is her community.

In spite of no longer being able to

Judging and critiquing the exhibition is Lisa Humke, retired art teacher, of Dodgeville, whose artwork is a compilation of found materials. Show your work! Register for the RAAC WRAP at https://wiscartists. wildapricot.org. Follow links to the WRAP and WRAP TEEN pages. Cost for the workshop and exhibition is $30. Registration is open until March 29. State Award winners from these local exhibits will be invited to have their work shown at the annual State Exhibit. Coordinating the Adult WRAP are Sally Probasco, sallyprobasco@gmail. com, and Ricki Bishop, rickibishop@ yahoo.com. Aron Meudt-Thering, aron@dynameudt.com, is coordinating the Teen WRAP. Questions can be addressed to the emails listed. This program is made possible in part by a generous grant from River Valley Arts in Spring Green.

drive, she still goes to Middleton where she works at a Chiropractic oﬃce. This means relying on Nathan, or others such as his long time friend, Jessie, to drive her to and from work, a 4 hour daily commitment. Her demeanor when talking about her work family is ﬁlled with more gratitude, appreciation, and joy, a theme in all that she shared. She doesn’t claim to be strong, that feels cold to her; instead she says that she is tenacious, she keeps on going with the help of her communities here and in Middleton. For her, that is because life is good, and God is good. For Jayne, being soft and vulnerable is a sign of caring, and she would rather be seen that way than as strong and therefore, in her mind, hard.

Ricki Bishop, Contributed

Picture via Ricki Bishop

The exhibit will also feature a morning workshop on Japanese bookbinding methods.

Jennifer Moore-Kerr, Contributed

OPINION/EDITORIAL

The (not so) Plain and Simple Correspondent: Love Letter to A Man of Integrity

Katie Green, Columnist

Recently I picked up a book at the library about a man once important in American politics whose major contributions happened before I was old enough to be aware of such things. William McCulloch (1901-1990) was a 9-term Republican Congressman from Ohio, later a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In many ways he was a conservative, but in the late 1950s and into the 1960s ignored the opinions of most of his party and constituents to support President Kennedy and, after Kennedy's untimely assassination, then President Johnson's civil rights legislation. He knew the Southern Democrats wouldn't vote for anything that would enhance voter registration for blacks or eliminate segregation, so he told Pres. Johnson that he would back the civil rights legislation with one proviso: that Republi-

cans and Democrats would receive equal credit. He was ethical but also practical.

Katie Green

McCulloch also argued for the rights of any not able to defend themselves.

An example: he said that people termed “insane” shouldn't be institutionalized without a hearing. His hero was Senator Robert A. Taft, whose family had been ﬁrmly supportive of civil rights for generations. When Taft died of cancer in 1953, McCulloch stepped into his ideological shoes.

I mention these people because it proves that occasionally there are legislators of conscience and integrity who do what they think is right regardless of what the consequences might be to their political careers. Certainly I thought of Taft and McCulloch during conﬁrmation hearings and votes for Pete Hegseth as head of Dept. of Defense. Only two female Republican senators and Mitch McConnell (who has nothing to lose, as he is retiring at the end of his term) refused to vote to conﬁrm Hegseth-- in my opinion and theirs a completely unqual-

Openness in Government Awards bestowed as part of Sunshine Week

Bill Lueders, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council

For the 19th consecutive year, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is bestowing its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees, meant to recognize outstanding eﬀorts to protect the state’s tradition of open government, as well as highlight impediments. The awards are being announced in advance of national Sunshine Week (sunshineweek.org), March 16-22 and will be presented at the Wisconsin Openness Awards Dinner in Madison on March 6, as part of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s annual convention.

Awards are being given in six categories. The winners are: Public Openness Advocate (Popee): Milwaukee Police Sensitive

Crimes Division and Open Records Division. When Jessica McBride’s UW-Milwaukee journalism class launched a full-semester project to delve into unsolved missing persons cases, she was impressed by the cooperation she received from Milwaukee police, especially Capt. Erin Mejia and Sgt. Jason Kotarak. “They provided the full, unredacted missing person ﬁles for each case submitted by the students in just a few weeks,” McBride wrote in her nomination. Credit goes also to the students, who produced an impressive collection of stories, “Missing in Milwaukee.”

Citizen Openness Advocate (Copee): American Oversight. After a years-long ﬁght, this liberal advocacy group pried records from the probe into Wisconsin’s 2020 election conducted

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

For the past decade, I’ve participated in legislator listening sessions in my district.

Constituents frequently ask for better roads/schools/health care/teacher pay, more support for the UW-- especially our local campus, provided lunch for young students, improved water quality, stronger state support of counties and

On the cover

From the photographer:

"I absolutely love watching the Winter's sun set down along the lower Wisconsin River way - leaving that warmth of orange-yellow afterglow upon the moving water. It is, in my mind, one of the most poetic places to be in the beginning days of March - when the Winter begins to fade away her darkness and the new Spring begins sneaking bits of warmth into the fadings of the longer day."

Submit your artwork or photography for cover consideration: editor@valleysentinelnews.com

cities, more available childcare.

One thing never mentioned is tax cuts. Most of us know we get very little, that the state can better help us using funds to strengthen our communities.

Tax cuts are not generally a top priority for Americans. A mid-January survey by Fox News found 1 percent of voters said tax reform should be top priority, that to lower the deﬁcit, most

by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, as well as recovery of its legal costs. And Gableman’s disregard for the state’s transparency laws was flagged in several of the ten counts of alleged misconduct filed against him by the Office of Lawyer Regulation. The probe cost taxpayers nearly $2.5 million and turned up no evidence of wrongdoing other than that committed by Gableman himself.

Media Openness Advocate (Mopee): Wisconsin Examiner. This nonpartisan, nonproﬁt news site, represented by attorney Tom Kamenick of the Wisconsin Transparency Project, this year settled two important lawsuits. The ﬁrst was against the city of Black River Falls for seeking to charge reporter Henry Redman thousands of dollars

working-class voters want Congress to raise taxes on corporations and households with $250,000+ annual income before cutting spending. Even among Republicans, three-quarters of respondents believed that tax increases should be a part of any budget solution. Why the tax cut obsession?

A recent NYTimes piece notes that Club for Growth, Americans for Tax Reform,

iﬁed and unstable man. Others such as Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, who stated grave reservations early on, caved when President Trump threatened to support an opponent of anyone who didn't conﬁrm his candidates. She preferred to be sure of keeping her position rather than do the right thing. A sad message to the world at large.

As the other cynical, merciless, and punitive acts of the new administration play out in regards to the environment, government oversight, immigrants, tariﬀs and so forth, it will be interesting to see what heroes of integrity step forth.

Katie, who most previously lived in Plain, has been writing for fun and proﬁt since childhood. Self-described as opinionated, she writes in the interests of a more loving, better-functioning world for all.

for a third-party to retrieve records regarding the disappearance of an Indigenous man. The second was against the city of Wauwatosa for its long delays in handling records requests from reporter Isiah Holmes. Both cases settled with $5,000 payments, with Black River Falls saying its records system was changed to avoid these huge charges. Open Records Scoop of the Year (Scoopee): TMJ4 for “Ghosted.” When this Milwaukee television station asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Oﬃce for its “Brady list” of law enforcement oﬃcers who have had issues that impact their credibility as witnesses, it was denied a complete copy. But it hired attorney Brendan

continued on page 9

and Koch’s Americans for Prosperity have made it their mission to cut taxes continuously, regardless of what most voters prioritize or the federal budget can bear. These groups support some legislators. Do those legislators listen to us or their donors?

Dorothy Thompson Richland Center, Wisconsin

“Cartons of Gold” (2025) Photo, by Amanda Thomas

Photo taken March 3rd, 2025 at the Wisconsin River bridge in Spring Green.

OPINION/EDITORIAL

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor,

Many people don't realize that there's an election on Tuesday April 1st for Justice of the State Supreme Court. They also don't realize how critical it is. Judge Susan Crawford is by far the best candidate. She has been a Circuit Court Judge since 2018 and a prosecutor for nearly a decade. As a private practice attorney, she protected voting and workers' rights, and defended access to reproductive health care. She also protected nursing home patients from identity theft and kept families safe from sex oﬀenders. She will be important in safeguarding

Dear Editor,

What is the Arena Community Team (ACT)? The Arena Community Team (ACT) is a volunteer-driven organization committed to fostering transparency, engagement, and collaboration within our village and town. We strive to keep residents and businesses informed and actively involved in local governance, ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.

Why was ACT created? ACT was established in January 2024 to support open communication and encourage community participation. Our goal is to make local governance accessible by sharing recorded village board meetings, promoting civic engagement, and facilitating discussions about the future of our community.

How does ACT encourage civic involvement? We empower residents by

Dear Editor,

I write to you as a Christian concerned about the current legislative threats to LGBTQ+ people. In recent months, my church, Five Points Lutheran Church, in Boaz, Wisconsin has held several gatherings with LGBTQ+ members of our communities in Southwest Wisconsin. We have listened to their stories and considered what the Bible says about identity and gender.

Nowhere in the four Gospels does Jesus of Nazareth or his disciples discuss homosexuality. Paul, a disciple, has a line in Romans that has been interpreted as condemning homosexuality, when in fact Paul condemns idol worship and lust, not same-sex relationships. Some Christians cite Leviticus as condemning homosexuality, but cultural-linguistic translation methods make it clear that what is being condemned in Leviticus is rape, not same-sex intimacy. The Bible has the same teaching for all

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the fundamental rights and freedoms aﬀorded to every Wisconsinite through our Constitution.

Wisconsin's democracy is under attack by Elon Musk and other billionaires. They are trying to take over Wisconsin's Supreme Court and install a hyperpartisan justice: right-wing extremist Brad Schimel. If he wins, it's very likely that the rigged election gerrymander will again be imposed on the voters of Wisconsin. He has a history of ﬁghting against democracy. As attorney general, he boasted he helped Trump win the 2016 election in Wisconsin by restricting the right to vote. More

providing opportunities to engage with local government. This includes attending meetings, participating in discussions, and joining civic initiatives. We believe that an informed and engaged community leads to strong and eﬀective leadership. What community activities does ACT support? ACT actively participates in various community activities such as distributing voter information, assisting with local fundraisers, engaging in events like the Arena Steak and Chicken Feed (VFW), the Yolanda Peterson & Mary Jones Memorial Parade and hosted their ﬁrst community potluck dinner. ACT ‘s monthly Tuesday meetings have included guest speakers such as: Chief Todd Pinkham and Steve Wilkinson from our Arena Fire and EMS departments and Courtney Norton, the previous Village of Arena Public Safety Committee Chair, they shared

sexual identities and genders: treat one another with dignity, equality, and respect as each of us is created in God’s image— love one another. Studying these matters at my church has intensiﬁed my resolve to support the LGBTQ+ community and write openly about what is going on today in state politics.

Currently, I am particularly concerned about two bills under development in our state Legislature that attack trans youth, some of the most vulnerable members of our society. One focuses on banning trans youth athletes from sports. The second seeks to deny trans youth healthcare. I have written our State Senator Diane Hesselbein and our State Representative Karen Desanto about my concerns. Permit me to discuss each bill individually because it is important to think about the implications for trans youth and their families if these bills were they to pass. I played sports in high school. It was an

recently, he has supported pardoning the criminals who violently stormed our nation's Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election and destroy our democracy. Also on the ballot is a constitutional amendment asking if our strict voter ID law should be added to the constitution. I'm voting NO on the amendment because our ID law doesn't belong in the constitution. Nationally, voter ID laws are common, but it is rare for states to enshrine those requirements in their state constitutions. Voter ID requirements can impair the

information and updates regarding Arena’s safety services; Larry Bierke, County Administrator, Iowa County, presented the County’s budget and the current housing initiatives; Rich Judge from the River Valley Housing Coalition gave a presentation on current research and planning for the River Valley community’s future; Ray Porter, Resident Member of the Dane-Iowa Wastewater Commission discussed the proposed Dane-Iowa Wastewater plant upgrades; and Village of Arena Trustee Matthew Schroeder held an Arena Community Listening Session. These activities help strengthen our sense of community and encourage greater participation. Why is transparency important to ACT? Transparency and open dialogue are key principles that strengthen our village. We value respectful and constructive conversations that contribute to an

important part of my social, psychological, and physical development. Joining a team helped me to feel like I belonged. Imagine yourself a trans youth. Your identity is questioned at every turn. Playing sports is one way that you gain a sense of belonging and do something bigger than yourself. You are part of a team. And now members of the state Legislature are drafting a bill to take away your freedom and further isolate you in your school setting. How would you feel? Most of us take health care for granted. We make an appointment, gain access to the care we need, and continue with our lives. Imagine yourself as a trans youth, trying to understand yourself and your relationship to your body. Healthcare for trans youth that is medically accurate, age appropriate, and respectful is a blessing. It is genderaﬃrming and life-aﬃrming to you. It supports you and your freedom to embrace your identity. It supports you and your

right to vote and undermine the fairness of elections by imposing unnecessary barriers that disproportionately impact people of color, older voters, those with disabilities, low-income communities, rural voters, and others who have more diﬃculty obtaining an ID. Even where photo ID is not required, veriﬁable incidents of voter fraud are extremely low.

With such high stakes in the April 1st election, get out and vote. Don't be an April fool by staying home.

Marie L. Baker Dodgeville, Wisconsin

inclusive and well-informed community. Public engagement is essential to good governance, and we encourage residents to stay informed and take part in discussions that shape our community’s future. How can the Arena community get involved with ACT? We welcome all village and town residents and business owners to join our eﬀorts in promoting transparency, accountability, and community involvement. Stay connected by joining the ACT email list at (arenacommunityteam+yahoo.com@ icontactmail6.com) or our Arena, WI Community Team – ACT Facebook page. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 6:00 pm at the Ewing-Olson VFW Post 9336, 514 Willow Street, Arena, WI 53503. We look forward to seeing you there!

Karen Wilkinson & the ACT Team Arena, Wisconsin

family as you grow into an adult. It supports you in becoming a productive member of our society. How would you feel if that right were taken from you?

I chose to make Spring Green my home in 2019 in part because of the strong progressive tradition here. I knew after years of visiting the village that I would be welcomed here. I noted that River High School had a Gay Straight Alliance. I encourage you to continue in this progressive tradition by writing Senator Hesselbein and Representative Desanto, asking them to stand in opposition to bills that attack trans youth. Please consider joining hands with organizations like Fair Wisconsin. Let’s make the River Valley a place where trans youth know that they are loved and respected.

Patrick Hagen Spring Green, Wisconsin

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The Tools of Conversation — Part 6: Reasons Not to Think

Beverly Pestel, Columnist

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

It is Inauguration Day as I write this, and I should have known better, but I ventured onto Facebook. Sure enough, the Trump supporters were posting their usual disgusting nonsense – but some Biden/Harris supporters were just as bad. One post even took a shot at Barron. Are some under the illusion that his kind of stuﬀ is cute or clever? Or do they just never stop and think about what they are about to say or post?

What makes any of us think that putting tacky and vulgar, or at best tasteless stuﬀ into the public space is okay? Postman and Tom Nichols are right – our news/entertainment system has made us “sillier by the minute” and “indelicate as it sounds...dumber and meaner.” Nichols explains the signiﬁ-

cance of this in his book The Death of Expertise. “The Internet gathers factoids and half-baked ideas, and it then splays all that bad information and poor reasoning all over the electronic world…Maybe it’s not that people are any dumber… than they were a hundred years ago: it’s just that we can hear them all now.” (pg. 17) And according to Nichols, “they lack a key skill called “metacognition” … the ability to know when you’re not good at something by stepping back, looking at what you’re doing, and then realizing that you’re

doing it wrong.” (pg. 48)

But before I go any further, I need to remind readers that those who resort to this kind of communication are the minority – but a minority that makes everything in our communities and our country more diﬃcult. But what is even more disturbing is that not all of this is done with the intention of being disgusting – some just aren’t thinking it through – no metacognition. It’s just too easy to hit the GIF button and post the ﬁrst tacky and crass thing that comes up or post a comment that is as

thoughtless, inﬂammatory, and as unnecessary as the original post. What we are doing to one another under the banner of free speech is indefensible. Why are so many so willing to descend into such an abysmal way of communicating with one another? We seem to have gone way beyond Postman’s accusation of amusing ourselves to death, we’ve even gone beyond Nichol’s dumber and meaner description. How do some allow themselves to live in that space?

And that brings me to another book, Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know by Mark Lilla. This is the part that has signiﬁcance to this column:

“At every age we ﬁnd reasons not to think.” (pg.43

So Lilla suggests that a proclivity to communicate thoughtlessly and carelessly is not necessarily some genetic defect, or lack of education, or even exposure to a ﬂawed news/entertainment system. It is by choice.

He continues:

“At every age we ﬁnd reasons not to think. Not just about ourselves and what we really are, but about the world and how it really is. It is one thing to resist toxic knowledge of the inner self…It is another thing…to resist…external reality, which can help us navigate the world and reach our own ends. But we do resist, often with equal vigor. And there is a reason for that: the less the knower knows himself, the less he knows what it is to have knowledge of anything and the limits of that knowledge. Evasion of the self inside our heads is really a training exercise for evading the world outside our heads. (pgs. 43-44)

If you are like me, you need to read that

paragraph a few times to absorb it, but doing so is necessary to put the last sentence into context: “Evasion of the self inside our heads is really a training exercise for evading the world outside our heads.” Another quote comes to mind, doesn’t it? “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”

Amanda Gorman echoes this truth in her poem Do Us Good. “…When something changes within us, something changes in this vast world. We will never be the same…Everyone won’t do good deeds. But all deserve the chance to try…”

Lilla also has more to tell us...

“We willingly give up a shot to acquire true beliefs about the world out of fear that truths about ourselves will be exposed in the process, especially our insuﬃcient courage for self-examination…” (pg. 50)

The blame for the abysmal conversational behavior of some is not the external circumstances that surround us, regardless of how infuriating they may be, it is our own internal weakness and our lack of desire to try to be better.

Remember in a previous column I said that a friend told me “Just because something can be said, doesn’t mean it should be said.” That piece of wisdom came from a friend that had to deal with a very painful and diﬃcult situation because of something totally stupid and unnecessary that I said in an unnecessary place. And now another quote comes to mind, “Physician, heal thyself.” (Luke 4:23) – I’m working on it… I seemed to be inundated by quotes today…

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the

continued on page 5

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

CROSSWORD & CHESS PUZZLES

Puzzle created by Nick Zaborek, edited by Jen Zaborek

Miklos Locker

Beverly Pestel

Openness in Government Awards bestowed as part of Sunshine Week

continued from page 2

Healey and pressed for more information, which was reported in a series called “Ghosted.” It’s the ﬁrst of a series of reports on the serious accountability and transparency concerns the station found. This reporting is ongoing, in partnership with Wisconsin Watch and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Whistleblower of the Year (Whoopee): Todd Heath

This operator of a business that audits telecommunications bills has endured 17 years of litigation over his federal whistleblower claim that Wisconsin Bell overcharged schools and libraries millions of dollars for internet access and

other services. In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in

Heath’s favor, which will allow his claim to proceed (yes, it’s not over yet). The case could reinforce federal programs that make broadband more accessible, and aﬃrm accountability and taxpayer protections in whistleblower cases. No Friend of Openness (NOPEE):

Satya Rhodes-Conway

At a press conference the day after the deadly Dec. 16 shooting at Abundant Life Christian School, Madison’s mayor ripped the press for asking too many questions. “It is absolutely none of y’all’s business who was harmed in this incident,” Rhodes-Conway admonished. “Please have some human decency and respect” for the victims and their families. “Don’t feed oﬀ their pain.” Her

The Tools of Conversation — Part 6: Reasons Not to Think

continued from page 4

age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…” A Tale of Two Cities

by Charles Dickens

I shed my ﬁrst tear since the last election today and need to put a hopeful face on a future that may continue to be plagued with language and actions that propel us to a winter of despair unless we ﬁnd a solution.

On this day, Cecile Richards also died. The statement from Richards' family was “If you’d like to celebrate Cecile today…remember something she said

a lot over the last year: 'It’s not hard to imagine future generations one day asking: ‘When there was so much at stake for our country, what did you do?’ The only acceptable answer is: ‘Everything we could.’ ” To solve our communication dilemma, we need to examine ourselves and think through everything we say and every post we make until we have done everything we could to become part

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comments were deeply unfair to the reporters, who were hurting too. Bashing the press for political gain is contrary to the cause of openness. Enough already.

Your Right to Know is a monthly column distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council (wisfoic. org), a group dedicated to open government. Bill Lueders is the Council’s president.

Editor's Note: Valley Sentinel was previously nominated for an Opee for it's open meetings and public records actions against the Village of Lone Rock, as well as submitting a nomination this year for our Arena Public Safety Series.

of the solution instead of part of the problem.

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

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-Accounting/bookkeeping

-Municipal meeting recorders/reporters

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

-E-newsletter

-Website posting/design

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

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

Bill Lueders

COmmunitycalendar

Community Calendar

Events for March 6 - March 20

Thursday, March 6

Tech Drop-in 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Need help with technology? Stop by for one-on-one assistance with devices, internet navigation, and basic tech troubleshooting. No registration required.

Knit Night at Nina's 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Nina's Department Store, 143 E. Jeﬀferson St. Spring Green • ninasdepartmentstore.com • FREE • Every Thursday from 6 to 8 PM. All knitters and crotcheters are welcome. Store closes at 5:30 PM.

Colorful Paper Stars 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Create unique and colorful 3D paper stars in this collaborative workshop led by Emily from Rural Remedy. The session includes color play, drying time with snacks, and star assembly. Kids are welcome with an adult participant. $30 per person; registration required.

Friday, March 7

Author Event: 'Primordial' with Mai Der Vang & Bill Robichaud 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jeﬀerson St., Spring Green • readinutopia.com • Poet Mai Der Vang and conservationist Bill Robichaud explore the endangered saola of Southeast Asia through poetry and conservation insights. Vang will read from her new collection, Primordial, while Robichaud shares his eﬀorts to protect one of the world’s rarest animals.

DJ & Karaoke Night 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM • The Shed Bar & Grill, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green • For more information, look up The Shed Bar & Grill on Facebook • Kick oﬀ karaoke night on the ﬁrst Friday of the month! Sing your favorite tunes, dance, and enjoy a fun night out. All are welcome.

Saturday, March 8

Free Children's Clothing Swap 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Bring gently used children's clothing and shoes to exchange for new-to-you items. Sizes range from newborn to youth 18, with some junior and adult sizes available. No requirement to donate, but early access is given to those who contribute. Leftover items will be donated.

Spring Green Winter Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM • S230 E. Monroe St. Spring Green • Spring Green farmers market is a year - round outdoor market oﬀering seasonal produce, local meats, baked goods, and many other wonderful items. Held outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning.

Cooking Class: The French Mother Sauces Part 1 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM (includes lunch) • RedBarn Catering, 525 E. Madison St., Spring Green • savortherivervalley.org • Registration: $60 (Part 1) or $115 (full series). RSVP required; class may be canceled if fewer than eight people register by March 3 • Part 2: SOLD OUT! Join Chef Jay Miller for a hands-on cooking class covering the foundations of French cuisine. Participants will learn to make béchamel and hollandaise sauces and enjoy a meal with classic pairings.

LIVE MUSIC: Bluegrass Jam 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green • For more information, look up Spring Green General Store on Facebook • Bring your instrument or just come to listen! This community jam welcomes all skill levels for an afternoon of bluegrass and folk music.

LIVE MUSIC: Tobias Meinhart 7:30 PM - 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist Tobias Meinhart brings his dynamic sound to Spring Green. A seasoned performer in New York’s top jazz clubs, Meinhart’s music blends traditional rhythms with modern compositions. Tickets: $15 in advance, $20 at the door.

Sunday, March 9

LIVE MUSIC: Taliesin House Concert: Mike Block 2:00 PM - 4:15 PM • Taliesin, 208 N. Winsted St., Spring Green • taliesinpreservation.org • Renowned cellist and vocalist Mike Block, known for his pioneering techniques and work with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, brings his dynamic performance to the historic Taliesin estate. This intimate concert showcases a fusion of classical, folk, and contemporary music. Check online for ticket details.

River Valley Arts Trivia Fundraiser 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • rivervalleyarts.org Entry: $15 per person • Registration starts at 5:30 PM. Test your knowledge while supporting local arts! Hosted by Trivia Mistress Kyle Adams, this event raises funds for River Valley Arts, which has granted over $200,000 to local artists, schools, and organizations. Teams of up to four can compete for prizes.

Monday, March 10

Introduction to Zazen 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green • Donation-based • A weekly Rinzai Zen meditation class covering posture, breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Includes a tea and discussion period from 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM. Arrive 10-15 minutes early; meditation cushions and chairs provided. Contact bethany.morehouse.howlett@gmail.com with questions.

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

Monday, March 10 cont.

Homeschool Hangout 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • A meet-up for homeschooling families to connect, share resources, and participate in educational activities. Open to all homeschoolers in the area.

Winter Indoor Soccer 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM • Plain Elementary School Gym, 1370 Cherry St, Plain • For more information, look up Spring Green Recreational Soccer on Facebook • FREE • Join the community for fast-paced indoor soccer games suitable for ages 12 and up. Played on a basketball court, the game promotes cardio and skill-building. Limited parking is available; carpooling is encouraged. Contact Avery Radue for updates on cancellations.

Tuesday, March 11

Movies, Munchies, and More: The King's Speech 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Enjoy a screening of The King’s Speech, the Academy Award-winning drama about King George VI overcoming his speech impediment. Light refreshments provided. Free and open to all.

Moving Senior Bodies 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join Upland Hills Health professionals Rosie Morrey, APNP, and Jennifer Day, COTA, for a balance and strength training class designed to promote healthy aging. Participants should bring their own weights, wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes, and bring water. Registration required: forms.gle/wrZAELr4rkvw1bsd9.

Winter Family Storytime 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM • Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St., Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Enjoy an evening of stories, songs, and a fun themed craft or activity. All families are welcome to participate in this engaging storytime session.

Puzzle Night 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Enjoy a cozy evening of puzzle-solving with fellow community members. Choose from a variety of puzzles ranging from 300 to 500 pieces, or bring your own to share or trade. Snacks and warm drinks provided.

Wednesday, March 12

All Ages Storytime 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join librarian Kate Franzmann for a fun-ﬁlled storytime exploring VEHICLES! Enjoy stories, activities, and interactive fun for all ages.

Explore the World of Watercolor 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Artist Vicky Lilla leads this hands-on watercolor workshop, guiding participants through techniques to create vibrant paintings. Open to all skill levels. Registration required: forms.gle/3X6akCpDFtwDitg58.

Cocktails and 'A Forty Year Kiss' with Nickolas Butler 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • The Shed Bar & Grille, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green • readinutopia.com • Join bestselling author Nickolas Butler for a discussion of his latest novel, A Forty Year Kiss, paired with cocktails. Enjoy an evening of literature and conversation in a relaxed setting.

Rural Remedy Yoga Class 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Drop-in rate: $20. Multi-class packages available • An all-levels yoga class designed to promote balance, ﬂexibility, and relaxation.

Thursday, March 13

Lego Builders Club 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St., Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Build, create, and explore with Legos! Free build or take on a weekly challenge. Open to kids of all ages.

Friday, March 14

SOLD OUT — LIVE MUSIC: Driftless Jazz - RVHS Jazz Band & Vocal/Jazz Chamber Ensemble 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson St., Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Enjoy an evening of jazz with the talented young musicians of River Valley High School. This showcase features the school's Jazz Band and Vocal/Jazz Chamber Ensemble performing classic and contemporary jazz pieces. Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 at the door.

Saturday, March 15

Breakfast from a Zen Monastery 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM • Elderﬂower Retreat, 6511 Hillside School Rd., Spring Green • savortherivervalley.org • Experience a traditional Zen monastic breakfast with Gordon Greene, Abbot of Chosei Zen. Learn the mindful preparation and serving techniques behind this simple yet profound meal. Following the oatmeal and tea, enjoy coﬀee and pastries while discussing the practice. Cost: $25. Registration required.

The

is curated by Paige Gilberg and designed by Julianna Williams. Events

for March 6 - March 20

LIVE MUSIC: Bob’s Your Uncle 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • Enjoy an evening of energetic, genre-blending music from Bob’s Your Uncle. This lively band delivers an eclectic mix of rock, folk, and blues. Grab a drink, sit back, and enjoy the tunes!

LIVE MUSIC: Sh*tty Barn Session K025: The Claudettes 7:00 PM (Doors 5:30 PM) • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jeﬀerson St., Spring Green • shittybarnsessions.com • Tickets: $20 • Six albums in, The Claudettes bring their unique "garage cabaret" sound—a fusion of blues, R&B, punk spirit, and ﬁlm-noir mood. Featuring force-of-nature vocalist Rachel Williams and renowned pianist Johnny Iguana, this Chicago-based band delivers a theatrical, high-energy show.

LIVE MUSIC: St. Patrick’s Day Party 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM • The Shed Bar & Grill, 123 N. Lexington St., Spring Green • For more information, look up The Shed Bar & Grill on Facebook • Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with live music from Matt Schmidt, green beer, and classic Irish eats like Reubens and corned beef. Festivities run all day, with music starting at 6:00 PM.

Yoga & Meditation with Annette Varichak 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Tae Kwon Do Lion’s Den, 208 N Winsted St, Spring Green • springgreen.com/events • This guided yoga and meditation workshop with Annette Varichak oﬀers relaxation and mindfulness techniques for all levels. Bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. Registration required: email lionsdentkd@icloud.com or call (608) 588-2054.

Acoustic Jam 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • Bring your instrument or just come to listen! This welcoming jam session invites musicians of all skill levels to share their love of music in a relaxed setting. All are welcome.

Sashiko Mending with Ren LaDassor 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Road 23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Cost: $45 • Learn the traditional Japanese technique of Sashiko for garment repair, patching, and reinforcement. No sewing experience required. Ren LaDassor, a costume designer with nearly 20 years in the industry, will guide participants through this mindful and practical craft.

Monday, March 17

Arena Historians Meeting 1:30 PM • Grandma Mary's (Brisbane Hall), 175 US Hwy 14, Arena • For more information, look up Arena Historians on Facebook • The Arena Historians hold their ﬁrst meeting of the year, spotlighting bachelor and bachelorette farmers from the area. The group will also pay tribute to their late member, Bob Murphy. Attend in person or via Zoom. For live stream access, contact Peggy Peterson at (608) 628-6629 or pondex1@hotmail.com.

A Night of Words 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • An evening of poetry, stories, and spoken word. Share your favorite passage, read an original piece, or just listen and enjoy the community of word lovers. All are welcome.

LIVE MUSIC: RVHS Pops Concert 7:00 PM • River Valley High School, 660 Varsity Blvd, Spring Green • rvschools.org Doors open at 6:30 PM. Enjoy a lively evening of popular music performed by the talented students of River Valley High School. Hosted by the River Valley School District.

Moving Senior Bodies 10:00 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • A movement class designed for seniors, focusing on ﬂexibility, balance, and gentle exercises to promote overall well-being. Suitable for all mobility levels.

Movies, Munchies, and More: Coﬀee, Bananas, and More from Latin America 1:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join Joe Fahey of When in Roam with Joe Fahey for a presentation on the cultivation of coﬀee, bananas, sugar, cocoa, and more in Latin America. Enjoy a warm drink and a sweet treat while learning about the global food supply.

Yarn Rocks! 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • A creative ﬁber arts group open to all skill levels. Bring your knitting, crochet, or other yarn projects and enjoy an evening of crafting and conversation.

Winter Family Storytime 5:30 PM - 6:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Hosted by the Kraemer Library, this engaging storytime includes stories, songs, and a themed craft or activity for children and families. All are welcome.

Library Trivia 6:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Test your knowledge at the library’s trivia night! Join solo or form a team of up to four teens or adults and compete for bragging rights. Themes change each session.

ADRC Drop-in 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Elder Beneﬁt Specialist Mindy Shrader will be available to assist seniors with complex paperwork, billing issues, appeals, and connecting to local resources. No appointment necessary.

Explore the World of Watercolor 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Join artist Vicky Lilla for an immersive watercolor painting workshop. Learn techniques, explore color mixing, and create your own artwork. Open to all skill levels. Registration required Yoga with Emily Benz 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 State Highway 23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • A drop-in yoga class with Emily Benz, focusing on movement, breath, and relaxation. Open to all levels. $20 per class. Pay-it-forward options available.

LIVE MUSIC: Rural Musicians' Forum presents: Pro Arte Quartet 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jeﬀerson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Enjoy a special performance by the world-renowned Pro Arte Quartet, an ensemble with a storied history dating back to the Belgian court. This free-will donation event is presented by the Rural Musicians’ Forum.

Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • FREE • The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome. Tech Help 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • Need assistance with your phone, computer, Kindle, or another device? A knowledgeable librarian will be available to help troubleshoot issues and guide you through technology challenges in a friendly environment.

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

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

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

CIVICS & SERVICES

CIVICS & SERVICES CALENDAR

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

March 10:

Spring Green Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org

March 11:

Community Referendum Information Session 5:30 PM • Lutheran Church Community Hall, 250 W. Richland St., Lone Rock • Hosted by the River Valley School Board, this public session will provide information on the upcoming school district referendum, including budget impacts and future plans. Community members are encouraged to attend and ask questions

Lone Rock Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Village Hall, 314 E. Forest St., Lone Rock • villageoﬂonerock-wi.gov

March 12: Plain Village Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Village Hall, 510 Main St., Plain • villageofplain.com

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

March 13:

River Valley School Board Meeting 7:00 PM • River Valley Middle School Library, Spring Green • rvschools.org

March 14:

VOLUNTEER: Pine Ridge Volunteer Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM • Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area, Iowa County • dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/StateNaturalAreas/volunteer • Help restore this ecologically signiﬁcant area by cutting invasive brush and supporting native plant growth. No experience necessary; tools and guidance provided. RSVP preferred for updates on weather-related cancellations.

March 18:

Community Referendum Information Session 5:30 PM • River Valley Middle School Library, 660 Daley St., Spring Green • Hosted by the River Valley School Board, this public session will provide information on the upcoming school district referendum, including budget impacts and future plans. Community members are encouraged to attend and ask questions. Iowa County Board Meeting 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM • Health & Human Services Center, 303 W. Chapel St., Dodgeville • iowacounty.org

Richland County Board Meeting 7:00 PM • County Board Room, 181 W. Seminary St., Richland Center • co.richland.wi.us

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

Ruthann Corrao is the featured artist in the Glass Case Gallery in March. She shares that "I've been creating...drawing, coloring, painting since I was a child. In high school I won contests and a scholarship to a week-long art camp. My sunﬂowers design was chosen and used on the cover of the annual Spring Green Art Fair brochure for a few years, back in its early day. It's only in the last few years that I've been able to spend more time with my favorite...watercolor painting. Mostly I'm self taught. My inspiration comes from Nature and the precious, fragile natural world that we are all so intricately a part of." Corrao's art is available for viewing during regular library hours. Megan Quigley's fourth grade artists at River Valley Elementary School are showing their work in the Community Room Gallery throughout March. They have been working hard in art class this year learning about the principles of design. Works of art incorporating contrast, emphasis, pattern, movement, and unity will be on display. They have picked their very best work to share with you! The exhibit is available for viewing during regular library hours when the Community Room is not in use. Please ask for the room key at the circulation desk.

Flying Above The Cuckoo's Nest

Bi-Weekly Sword Tip Holistic Wellness and Politics

Any idea where the Cuckoo Nest is located in our current world? You may have three guesses but the first two don’t count. Obviously this depends on one's perspective, and for mine…it’s the current newly elected administration. It had been quite some time since I had seen this movie in its entirety, so I watched it again with the purpose of exploring some common threads of this film and our current crazy/cuckoo nest that we find ourselves experiencing with our new regime. Due to my nursing background, seeing Nurse Ratched was a major déjà vu for me. After graduating from nursing school in Denver, I was SO proud of my nursing cap (with two green stripes) and my golden nursing pin… both distinguish my hard-earned accomplishment and signified which nursing school I attended. And yes…those white stockings, white shoes, and starch-pressed white uniforms…it was all quite the symbol of authority and control…and in this mental institution setting… this was certainly the case. McMurphy (masterfully played by Jack Nickolson) was the epitome of a revolutionary in the movie…he broke the rules; he defied the system; and he also wanted the other inmates to go along with his disruptive antics…he was the icon of the call for change in their micro-society (the asylum). Meanwhile, Nurse Ratched can be paralleled to a dictator…who had absolute power inside the ward, and was capable of using both hard and soft power to control her subordinates (the patients). Despite certain instances of negotiation for change, McMurphy failed to loosen up the tight system enforced by Nurse Ratched, and it even cost his own wellbeing, as he was sadly subjected to a lobotomy to decrease his spirit.

However, McMurphy’s efforts were not totally in vain. At least, he inspired someone in the asylum to rethink about his own existence and to go beyond the system…and that was Chief Bromden. While pretending to be deaf and mute for all the time he spent with the inmates, he was seen by the others as dumb and good-for-nothing. However, motivated by McMurphy’s example, he finally saw himself ‘as big as a mountain’ and ready to escape the choking system inside the mental hospital. Although one may argue that he just waited for the right time to escape as the authorities focused too much on McMurphy while he remained silent in between the conflicting parties, I still consider Chief as a ‘roundabout character’tra…nsformed by circumstances into a new character toward the end of the story.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" serves as a timeless exploration of the struggle between individuality and authority, reﬂecting themes that resonate with today’s political climate. The novel/ movie oﬀers insights into mental health, societal norms, and the nature of power reveal ongoing tensions in our current

Hillesheim, R.N.

discourse. As individuals and movements continue to challenge oppressive systems, the spirit of McMurphy's rebellion remains a potent symbol of resistance and hope. In navigating the complexities of the modern world, the lessons from this narrative remind us of the importance of ﬁghting for individual freedoms and advocating for a just society.

How to ﬂy above the “Cuckoo Nest” while maintaining our hope, serenity, sanity and wellness in our world…here are a few ideas:

• Involvement in speaking out for change via peaceful means (i.e. womens, LGBTQ rights)

• Contact our political representatives regarding issues they can support and those not supporting our freedoms

• Happy Socks–these could be SpongeBob, dogs or whatever ﬂoats your boat and resembles “happy” to you (they are also available in compression socks…what a deal!

• Decrease the amount of time spent watch/reading news and/or social media…I know this is easier said than done when we want to stay informed

• Play music that supports your soul and gives you joy (since the election I’m enjoying playing blues… Keb Mo and other like artists)

• Reach out to an old friend

• Downsize clothing and household items & donate them

Progress, not perfection Warriors! And let’s be gentle with ourselves along the way.

Political Humor: food for thought— perhaps if RFK, Jr had received the “brain worm vaccination” …maybe he wouldn’t have a cuckoo nest in his brain.

Spiritual Meditation: One of the biggest spiritual problems in our life is simply not showing up. Sometimes our fear paralyzes us. We have to remember life is a participatory journey. – Daily Medicine

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

VALLEY SENTINEL'S LITERARY JOURNAL SUBMISSIONS OPEN

Works can be submitted at: valleysentinelnews.com/literary-journal/. Questions about submissions can be directed to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Submissions will remain open until enough journal-quality submissions are received.

LITERARY + ARTS & CULTURE SECTION

Lexington & Jefferson

Arts/Community In Brief

River Valley ARTS Creative Community and Artistic Development Grant applications closed, Eureka Grants open on a rolling basis

Creative Community and Artistic Development grant applications are now closed. More information is at www.RiverValleyARTS.org.

Eureka Grants

Applications for the Eureka Grant are received on a rolling basis and are accepted until funding is exhausted.

The Eureka! Grant provides support for smaller arts and culture projects with a quicker response time than RV ARTS' larger grant programs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The maximum request is $500, and applications will be considered until all available funds are awarded.

Funds for this program are raised through local fund-raising events, memberships, and donations from businesses and individuals.

Trivia Fundraiser

Join River Valley ARTS for a fun night of trivia at the Slowpoke Lounge with celebrated host Kyle Adams! Challenge your friends and yourself at trivia, raise funds for River Valley Arts grants, win great prizes and maybe some bragging rights. Sunday, March 9th. Doors at 5:30pm and trivia starts at 6:00pm. Slowpoke Lounge & Caberet, Spring Green.

Questions? Please email contact@RiverValleyARTS.org.

FREE Tax Filing Assistance Available

Volunteer Tax-Aide counselors trained and certiﬁed by the IRS will provide one-on-one assistance helping low-to-moderate income or older individuals complete and ﬁle their tax returns. This includes 1040 tax forms with schedules A,B, C and D along with the corresponding Wisconsin

forms and the Homestead Tax Credit.

Volunteers are available in Spring Green and in Dodgeville by appointment only.

Call the ADRC oﬃce, 608-930-9835 to schedule an appointment.

4PeteSake Spring Applications Now Open

The 4PeteSake Board will be accepting applications for its Spring Funding Round until March 27, 2025. Applications can be found on the website at www.4petesake.com, picked up at Arcadia Books in Spring Green, or requested by mail at PO Box 577, Spring Green, WI, 53588. Please contact Todd Miller at tmiller@4petesake. com or at 608-588-4619 with any questions.

Applicants must live within the boundaries of the River Valley School District and ﬁnd themselves in health-related circumstances, through no fault of their own, for which assistance is needed. All applications are reviewed by the 4Petesake Board, who determine the number of recipients to be funded and the amount that each recipient will receive.

Poetic Wonderer

Sherry

Community/GOVeRnMent

4PeteSake highlights community recipients, spring funding application deadline

continued from page 1

Jayne is grateful to 4PeteSake for helping her try to get to a better place. She feels that the organization has encouraged her to say, “Yes, you can do it,” and that helps motivate her. She also wants to thank the people in the community who have contributed to the organization and made it possible for her to hang on to her tenacity. In addition to the community at large, she wants to thank the people at the Spring Green Community Church for their support, too. She feels very blessed by all of you.

Laura Robson

Laura came to the River Valley in 2019. She had found her to-be husband online, and that burgeoning relationship led her to leave her home and family in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lived with her sister, Ashley, and settle in our Valley. In spite of the isolation of the Covid 19 shutdown happening just after she moved up here, this young woman was welcomed into the community by her new family. You may know her very own “Grandma Mary” from Grandma Mary’s in Arena–Laura’s story was part of Mary’s motivation to retire from the restaurant and give her energy

to helping Laura and her new great grandbaby when Laura was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2024.

For Laura it was a bit of an adjustment coming from a city of over 78,000 people not far from Chicago to a town of only 844! Grocery shopping took on a whole new meaning! And yet, Laura, a self described homebody, settled in just fine, quickly becoming a part of the extended Robson family. She likes to bake cupcakes and cookies, and do puzzles–ones that she can complete in a short amount of time because she doesn’t like the mess of leaving a puzzle on the table! Her home is welcoming, with a view of the fields on the edge of Arena. Laura says she likes to watch the tractors working those fields, she finds it peaceful and beautiful.

Devin, the “smiliest baby ever” was born in December of 2023, and is clearly the light in her mom’s heart. Like any 15 month old, she keeps everyone busy. Apparently her favorite thing to do as she walks determinedly around their home is to throw things away… including a recent trick of throwing away Grandma Mary’s phone found ringing in the garbage after much searching! At the same time, the fact that so much of Devin’s ﬁrst year was spent visiting

WisPolitics — The other election on April 1

The state Supreme Court race, to decide ideological control of the high court, is the April election most people are paying attention to.

But the other big race -- the contest for state schools superintendent -- is also attracting attention.

The race is between the two candidates who emerged from the Feb. 18 primary: incumbent Jill Underly, endorsed by the state Democratic Party and recently the state teachers' union WEAC vs. Wauwatosa education consultant Brittany Kinser, who is backed by a lot of of Republican-leaning money from

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her mom in the hospital, quickly brings tears to Laura’s eyes. Grandma Mary, unobtrusively working in the kitchen as I talked with Laura at the dining room table, pointed out that of the many days in which Laura was in the hospital, they were able to bring Devin to see her all but three days. For Laura that meant the world. Being with her beloved Devin makes her happy. And, at the same time, when I asked what makes her sad, she immediately teared up and said, “missing out.” So much of her baby’s ﬁrst year, she didn’t even have the strength to hold her. Being a mother is a complex role in the best of times; doing it while ﬁghting for your life is nearly incomprehensible.

The Robson family, and the community of Arena have rallied around Devin during this time. It did not matter that she was relatively new to the area; they have held a beneﬁt at the restaurant, Danny’s baseball team, the Arena Aces, has supported her, there were t-shirts, the quilting ladies, for whom Grandma Mary catered lunches at the Round Barn, created the beautiful quilt hanging in their dining area for Laura. You can see it behind her in the picture. And through it all, the family has been there to help with Devin, to visit Laura

private school voucher supporters.

One of the big issues separating the two candidates: student testing standards from Underly's Department of Public Instruction.

The GOP-run Legislature is pushing a package of bills on the issue.

The Assembly on Feb. 19 approved 5444 along party lines a bill to overhaul DPI standards put in place by Underly. Republicans argue the new standards mask poor student performance.

Meanwhile, Democrats knocked the bill as politically motivated and said it wouldn’t help improve student achievement in the state.

AB 1 would reverse changes to state

when she has been in the hospital, to take care of all those things that need to be done. And still, they were struggling. The family had been involved with 4PeteSake as community members and when friend, Karen Wilkinson, suggested that they apply for assistance, they were given hope. The funds they have received have helped to cover their basic living expenses while Laura continues to recover and gain strength but is unable to work. Again, Grandma Mary piped in to say, “we’ve gotta get her back, she is the strongest person I have ever seen, she is determined, really a trouper.”

One hundred days ago she received a stem cell transplant from Ashley, the sister she had lived with before moving up here. She was a perfect match. She is recovering, proud of her new grown hair, and says, “you’ve just gotta get through it.” With the help of this community, and her family, Laura is an amazing example of the incredible beauty of the cycle of help and hope provided in part by each of you through 4PeteSake. If you would like to donate to the organization to help people like Laura, who are in need through no fault of their own, please go to 4PeteSake » Donate. Thank you all so very much.

testing standards made by Underly. Opponents have argued Underly lowered the standards, making it harder to gauge how students are doing.

But she says the changes actually provide a better picture of student achievement and were made through a transparent process with input from educators.

Rep. Joy Goeben, R-Hobart, said Underly’s primary victory “wasn’t a huge surprise,” charging her with “making false claims on the backs of students.” “Changing standards to mask the problem is unacceptable,” Goeben said. Freshman Rep. Angelina Cruz, continued on page 10

Driftless Grace: Gathering Strength

He showed me where the repetitive cranking motion had almost worn through the metal at one end of the tool. It looked as if a metal-melting superhero had happened by. The reality was much more profound, though: the power of a routine repeated six days a week,

Community Health Needs Assessment Town Hall

• Thursday, March 20

• 5-6:30 PM (check in at 4:45 PM)

• Dinner provided

• Ramada by Wyndham 1450 Veterans Drive, Richland Center

Please RSVP for the CHNA Town Hall by visiting the events page at RichlandHospital.com or scan the QR code to sign up immediately. 2025 Greater Richland County Area

A dinner and public discussion of our community’s health and wellness priorities

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

I haven’t checked my social media feeds in a few days – a rare accomplishment for someone who grew up while this technology was taking oﬀ. It’s not the platform itself that bothers me; it’s the intrusion of the fraught news cycle into every moment of my life. Even a quick glance can be overwhelming nowadays.

So far, I’ve managed to stay just as informed through other methods (although I literally don’t know what I’m missing).

One of these is good old-fashioned word of mouth, often between sips of coffee. I’ve been more caffeinated than ever in the new year thanks to various groups of friends who meet at local coffee shops. They fulfill my related needs for news, company, warm beverages, and routine.

On my way to such a meeting at the end of last year, I ran into one of the owners of Nina’s Department and Variety Store. It was a Saturday morning, and Joel was about to open the store for business. I asked if I could watch as he expanded the store’s awning, a daily ritual I’d only ever seen from afar.

Joel produced a long metal crank to reach the mechanism from below. As he unwound the spooled canvas, he told me that he likes thinking about his father and grandfather using the same specialized tool for the same purpose. (Indeed, this beloved family business is closing after 108 years of service to the people of Spring Green.)

down through the decades of a turbulent century.

It is my hope to work more routines into my daily life – to wear my own grooves. Whenever I have maintained healthy habits, I’ve approached each day with a clearer head. “Healthy” is the operative word. If they involve the small details of the community in front of me rather than what’s on the screen, I expect I’ll be more clear-eyed as well.

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

Grace Vosen, Contributor

Grace Vosen

Reﬂections from Lost Horizon Farm — Seared in the Mind's Eye: Reﬂections and Additional Thoughts from the Farm

Each edition, retired dairy farmer Barb Garvoille brings her musings on dairy farm life from her own years of experience on Lost Horizon Farm with her late husband Vince “Mr. Farmer” Garvoille. This mooving memoir focuses on 1980-2000, join Barb as she rises with the herd.

Perched on the Leaning Tree display rack at the farm store, greeting cards featuring the paintings of Wayne Lowdermilk showed the most stunning skyscapes.

As I stood on the deck one January afternoon, I saw his work in our sky: blue,

pink, purple, and gray with a thin shaft of sunlight piercing the western sky. Then I turned to see the ridge behind the neighboring Schweppe farm; halfway up the naked trees, there appeared a shimmering glow as if the trees were on ﬁre: burnished copper against that section of gray sky.

****

Checking the Sioux gate north of the barn during wintertime when the snow was deep and crunchy underfoot, I heard chittering above. There were two immature Bald Eagles ﬂying in perfect synchrony. It was as if I was privy to a private conversation between siblings.

Another time, it was just after the gun/ deer season: late November. I watched two fully mature Bald Eagles engaged in a rapid aerial combat. One was trying to steal a food item from the other's talons.

****

Just inside one of the open bays of a machine shed (We called this one “the red shed” because of the color of its powder coated steel.), I was prompted to look up. Incredibly, low and close was a Red-tailed Hawk, wings set in decent, eyes focused on its prey. The bright yellow feet of the predator and its intent

look have imprinted on my mind to this day. The raptor was seemingly oblivious to the stock still me as it continued its trajectory towards a doomed young rabbit. How often does one witness a bird of prey making a kill? ...

Barb has called Lost Horizon Farm, just north of Spring Green, her home for the past 45 years. She is fond of all creatures (including snakes). Her joy stems from being able to be outdoors every day observing and treasuring the plant and animal life on her small piece of this planet. She loved milking cows and is proud to have been a dairy farmer.

WisPolitics — Budget time at the state capitol with tax cuts and aid to local governments atop the to-do list district.

continued from page 9

D-Racine, a public school teacher, said: “Let’s not be fooled — this not about improving education, this bill is about playing political games, playing political games with our children’s futures.

She said if lawmakers were focused on improving outcomes for kids, they should be addressing the root causes of what is holding them back, “not wasting time on symbolic moves that don’t change anything in the classroom.” She cited a need for additional funding as an example.

The changes the Department of Public Instruction implemented included lowering the test score threshold for what is considered proﬁcient and changing the terms used to describe student performance. The terms were changed from below basic, basic, proﬁcient and advanced, to developing, approaching,

meeting and advanced.

AB 1 would reset state report card standards to levels set in 2019-20, align grades 3-8 with national standards from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and restore high school testing standards to levels set in the 2021-22 school year. It also would require DPI to bring back the previous terms for pupil performance assessments.

The chamber also signed oﬀ 53-44 on AB 6, which would require school boards to spend at least 70% of their operating expenditures on “direct classroom expenditures.”

That includes salaries for teachers, teacher aids, instructional supplies, tuition, athletic programs and cocurricular activities.

The bill also would regulate administrator salaries by capping those raises by the same percentage increase the school board provides teachers in the

Rep. Benjamin Franklin, R-De Pere, the bill’s author, cited the decline in student test scores as a reason for introducing the bill. He said there is a “system that fails to put money in the classroom where the education is happening.”

If a school district spends less than 70% on classroom expenditures, the bill says the district should increase by 2% each year until 70% is reached.

The bill also would reduce state aid for schools that fall short of the requirement.

The Assembly via voice vote added an amendment to clarify what wouldn’t fall under “direct classroom expenditures,” including: administration, food service, transportation, instructional support such as media centers, teacher training and student support such as nurses and school counselors.

Dems took issue with the limits the bill would place on local control, and

expressed concerns that the state is already not funding schools enough.

Rep. Joan Fitzgerald, D-Fort Atkinson, a former public school teacher, said she has spoken with constituents and found that school boards do not currently have a grasp on their “direct classroom expenditures.” She argued that bill authors had not actually spoken with teachers and administrators about what they want in their school.

For more, go to www.wispolitics.com

The Capitol Report is written by the editorial staﬀ at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics.

NONPARTISAN WI SUPREME COURT VOTING GUIDE

Barb Garvoille, Columnist

The Sauk County Gardener

Checking Seed Viability

“To see things in the seed, that is genius.”

— Lao Tzu

We started planting pepper seeds this weekend. We start peppers early as they need longer to germinate, and we want bigger plants to place outside when the time comes. We will be starting our cole crops in a couple weeks along with our tomatoes. Over the years, we’ve built up a small supply of leftover seeds. Some of those seeds are favorites and hard-toﬁnd varieties. Instead of buying all new seed every year, I like to see what I have left from the year (or years prior) and plant that older seed. There is a risk that comes from planting old seeds as not all seed viability is the same. There are a few things you can do to improve your seed-starting success, especially if you are using older seeds.

The ﬁrst thing to check is the viability of your old seeds. If you have stored your seeds in a cool, dry, and dark location, you should be able to expect most seeds to last several years. If you check viability seed charts, you will get a range of

expected years that your seeds will last. For example, onion seed viability is only one year. Here are some other common vegetable seeds with many years you can expect to store them and still have them be viable their expected seed viability: beans 2-4, beets 2-5, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, kale, kohlrabi, and rutabaga 3-5, carrots 3-4, cauliﬂower, eggplant, fennel, radish, turnips, and watermelon 4-5, corn 1-3, cucumber, melons, squash and gourds 3-6, lettuce 1-6, peppers 2-5, pumpkins 4-6, and the ever-beloved tomato 3-7. With that much variability, it’s hard to commit to planting older seeds, especially if you are short on time. For many of us, we only have time to plant once, and we need to do it at the right time so we have plants ready to go when it's time to transplant into the garden. The best way to ensure your older seed is viable is to conduct a germination or seed viability test. Conducting a seed viability test is easy and a great thing to do with kids too. Select the old seeds you want to test and take note of their expected germination. Most common

Wandering the Driftless

Warmth During A Driftless Winter

March ushers in the end of the ice ﬁshing season in Wisconsin. Those that use permanent ice shanties in southern Wisconsin are required, by law, to remove them from the ice early in the month. Fishermen in the northern part of the state are given a few more days, as winter hangs on a bit longer there.

This is a sad time for those of us that enjoy our time on the ice. It is a time to reﬂect on the passing ice season. While I did not put many good sized ﬁsh on the ice this winter, the season was not without some highlights, two of which involved youngsters.

Part of my routine to try to stay in shape for the outdoor activities I enjoy involves an early morning swim ﬁve days per week. There is a regular crew that arrives prior to the 5:30 AM opening of the pool at the Symon’s Recreation Complex. Discussions and good-natured insults are part of the wait.

Jordan is among those that are part of the group. One morning he stated that his five year old daughter likes to fish. He also indicated that she had never been ice fishing and was interested in trying it. I took this as an invitation to set up an excursion for Jordan, and his daughter, Eve. Plans were made for a trip to a backwater of the Wisconsin River. I had fished the backwater a couple of times previously and was confident we would be able to catch a few fish.

Jordan and Eve met me on the appointed day and we headed to our chosen spot. The weather was pleasant as we hauled our equipment onto the frozen body of water. I drilled a couple of holes and showed Eve how to scoop the ice out of the holes. She did a great job and we dropped a couple baited jigs into the water.

A fish was hooked in short order. Eve assisted in bringing the small bluegill to the surface. She decided that the fish needed to be kissed, prior to her dropping back into the hole it had emerged from. A few more fish were brought onto the ice and released, before it was time to leave.

We arrived at my home a short time later, where my wife, Vickie, had a ﬁsh fry ready for the entire crew. Bluegill ﬁlets, from the backwater we had just left, were cooked in hot oil and joined a

vegetable and annual ﬂower seeds should germinate within 14 days. For the test, place ten seeds in a row on a moistened paper towel, fold the paper towel over the seeds, place in a plastic bag, and seal. Write the date on the bag and place it somewhere warm, about 70°F. Check it daily to ensure the towel doesn’t dry out. After about a week, check to see if you see any sprouting. After ten days, unroll and count how many sprouted. If less than 70% sprouted, it’s recommended to use new seed, 70%-90% plant a little thicker, and 100% is perfect. Bonusyou can even plant your sprouted seeds in some sterile potting mix, so you don’t waste those seeds you tested and the time it took for them to germinate. If you would like more detailed information on conducting a seed viability test, visit richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/ uploads/2015/01/SeedViabilityTest. pdf/.

There are several local area gardening events that you’ll want to put on your calendar to attend. First up is the Reedsburg Food Fair on Saturday, March 8 from 9 am to 1 pm. Stop by the SCMGA

booth to ask your gardening questions. If you’re interested in a garden plot at the Reedsburg Community Gardens, you can stop by on Saturday, March 8 from 9 am to 1 pm as well to ask any question you may have about obtaining a plot and completing an application. Garden plots are only $15! If that’s not enough things to do, plan to attend Columbia County’s “Let Get Green & Growing” workshop on Saturday, March 22 in Rio. This all-day workshop is only $20 and has over 20 diﬀerent sessions to choose from. Visit www.eventbrite. com/e/lets-get-green-growing-2025registration-1082737630399 to learn more about the sessions and register. Happy Gardening!

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

plate of tater tots on the table. Following lunch, Eve colored a picture that hangs on our refrigerator today. She also sent a Thank You card with a drawing depicting her ice ﬁshing experience. I hope Eve enjoyed it as much as I did.

My grandson, Reif, is eleven and is a seasoned ﬁsherman on the ice and in open water. A short school break in mid-February had Reif’s father, Shawn, making plans for an extended ice ﬁshing outing to the Mississippi River. I was invited to join them, but had a snow goose hunt in Arkansas planned for the same time.

The weather was frigid as Shawn and Reif set up a shelter and started the heater to warm the inside. Holes were drilled and ice cleared. They were set up above a weed bed in ﬁve feet of water looking to catch some perch. The normal routine includes using a short jig pole and a jig baited with waxworms to entice a bite from a hungry perch. Tip-downs with minnows are also deployed.

Breaking with tradition, Reif asked if he could hook a minnow on his jig’s hook in an attempt to catch a perch. Shawn gave him the approval to give it a try. Reif hooked a minnow on the end of his short ice rod and dropped it through the ice.

A very short time later Reif exclaimed, “I have a ﬁsh.” Shawn looked over, and judging by the bend in the rod, assumed he had snagged the bottom. When the rod began to pulsate, the snag theory was quickly discarded. It was obvious Reif had a big ﬁsh on the line.

Reif listened carefully to the coaching his father provided as the fight ensued. The fish would have to be tired to the point where its head could be pointed upward into the bottom of the hole leading through more than two feet of ice. The fight was complicated by the fact that the pole was equipped with 3 lb. test line.

Reif eventually got the upper hand and Shawn was able to reach into the cold water and hoist the ﬁsh onto the ice.

While I did not hear the whooping and hollering while in the Arkansas goose blind, I did get a message and a picture from Shawn, via cell phone, shortly after the catch. A message from Reif, later in the day, asked whether I would agree to mount the ﬁsh for him. That request

was, of course, granted. The Northern Pike measured 38.5 inches long and weighed 13.8 lbs.

I had lots of fun ice ﬁshing this winter. While my freezer did not end up with many ﬁlets in it, the smiles, memories and pictures of two youngsters made

season a great success.

Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certiﬁed Master Gardener

John Cler Columnist

the

John Cler is a retired high school science teacher and principal residing in Richland Center. He is an avid hunter, trapper, ﬁsher and nature nut. He currently chairs the Richland County Deer Advisory Council and the Richland County Delegation of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.

Photo contributed by John Cler 5 year old, ﬁrst-time ice ﬁsher, Eve, with a bluegill she helped pull through the ice.

Photo contributed by John Cler

The author's grandson, Reif, with a big pike he landed using 3lb. test line.

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

Hello friends,

We are hitting that time of winter where it is becoming obvious that our days of walking on water are numbered. This week I am writing to you about my 3rd year of camping and fishing in Tip Up, Pike Jam 7. TUPJ7 is held on the Wisconsin River just north of Stevens Point at The Waters Pier and Pub. This event is run by Alex Daldnodar with a lot of help from his parents Mike and Diane Dalnodar.

Here is the scoop, Alex who is a musician is also a dyed in the wool old school ice fisherman, as in just tip ups and no electronics (we could be brothers). Thirteen bands play in a tent, and they are from all over the country, and at the same time a onewinner takes all on the longest gator of the day fishery takes place. The rules are basic, no electronics and only tip ups. When you enter you are given a 40-inch yard stick. When you catch a gator, you take its pick and send it to Alex.

Two years ago my buddy Doug Cibulka got 2nd at the very end of the day. Our fishing neighbor and crazy UWSP college student Brock Berndt got first. Actually, Brock is a cool kid and like the rest of his gang knows how to fish, I’m not backing down on the crazy statement. Last year I got 1st and $1000, thank you very much, and Brock’s gang got 2nd.

Friday, February 14th

High 28°, Low 20°

It’s Valentines Day, I am camped on the ice in a very real snowstorm with another man and 3 dogs, I miss ya Michelle! Anyhow, my partner this year is 35-year-old Seth Steinhauer and his 2 Chesapeake’s Flower and Arrow, my golden retriever Red is sharing a cot with me.

About the snowstorm, I think it was 7-inches that eventually fell, and

I messed up when I did not bring a tarp for my Eskimo portable ice shack. Let’s just say there was plenty of moisture. We did keep it at bay with 2 propane lanterns and a Mr. Buddy heater.

Our goal today was to find some hot holes for the next days “festivities” and we did just and had a very good time doing it.

Saturday, February 15th

High 35°, Low 18°

Our camp, atv and trucks were a winter wonderland when we woke up and all was well in our world when Dustin Soda pulled into camp. Dustin and Seth were hardcore outdoorsmen when they both attended UWSP and played a lot right where we were fishing. Dustin uses dead bait and so I would learn a thing or two today.

The tournament starts at 9 and runs til 5. I had my somewhat serious hat on and was also going to stay away from the beer consumption as our plan was to go home at dark.

The bite was slow from 9 to 11, then the snow stopped, then I said we needed to drink a beer. I had just taken my first sip of a PBR when low and behold I

got a flag. Soon the fight was on, and it was a good one. A bit later I had a very chunky 34-inch gator flopping on the ice and after sending the pic to Alex, we were informed that we were on top of the leader board with several hours to go.

About 1ish we were still in the lead and an executive decision was made after some phone calls and it was determined since we were in the lead at least for now, we “MUST”stay another night. This also gave us the green light for the enjoyment of a few more of those highly nutritious PBR’s and life was good.

In all honesty, we did not care if we won Pike Jam, just the aura of being in first created an energy in our camp that you cannot buy. At 4:10 I received a text from Alex that a 36-inch gator had been caught by Cory Bush from Somewhere, Wisconsin.

The mood did not diminish, we did not win. Seth is the son of Beth and

Gregg Steinhauer both of whom have been part of our gang of at least 70 are really fun, outdoor oriented people. I had a 2 very nice nights catching up in our ice shack and 100% coming up with a plan for next year!

You can check out Tip Up-Pike Jam on facebook, and thank Alex and family (and I am sure some friends) for getting it done!

Sunset

Want to read more?

Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com

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

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Photo contributed by Mark Walters This is the Brock Berndt’s Gang, these folks know how to have fun and catch fish.

Tip-Up, Pike Jam 7, As Fun as it Gets

Photo contributed by Mark Walters Seth Steinhauer and his Chesapeake “Flower” with a gator that was fun to catch, not big enough to win Pike Jam, and released.

Photo contributed by Mark Walters Alex Dalnodar is the founder and manages Tip Up-Pike Jam and an avid tip up fisherman.