Valley Sentinel - 03-24-2021 by Valley Sentinel

Inside this edition

Vortex Optics opens new training facility

Brewhaha, SGAAC team up for fundraiser

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Spring Green, Wisconsin

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FLOW volunteers clean-up island near Arena

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Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 12 Free, Single-Copy

American Players Theatre announces six-play 2021 season

American Players Theatre American Players Theatre (APT) is thrilled to announce its projected 2021 Summer Season. The schedule is set to include six plays, with one production playing at a time in the Hill and Touchstone Theatres. The ﬁrst two plays will be the world-premiere staging of James DeVita’s An Improbable Fiction in the Hill Theatre, and Katori Hall’s The Mountain-

top in the Touchstone Theatre. Next up will be Tom Stoppard’s Rough Crossing (Hill) and a remount of An Iliad (Touchstone), Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s adaptation of Homer’s The Iliad. The third pair will be an adaption of William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline by Henry Woronicz (Hill) and Christopher Fry’s A Phoenix Too Frequent (Touchstone), which was originally slated for the 2020 sea-

son. APT also expects to announce three more productions in the coming months that will play in fall and winter. Artistic Director Brenda DeVita said, “We are so incredibly grateful that the world is moving in the right direction and we are able to be working on these stories for our audience. Just thinking about being back in our theaters – on our Hill – after the year

we’ve had, is such a relief. We can hardly contain our excitement! The past year we were doing everything in our power just to stay connected to each other, and ﬁnd some hope, some joy and some inspiration. And now to be contemplating being together in person?!! So we have a wonderful, original season planned. And, to be honest it will be a little weird that our

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Prescribed burns dot the landscape, Valley reaps ecological beneﬁts Taylor Scott, Managing Editor

Two minor wildfires burn less than an acre in Spring Green, DNR reminds that a majority of wildfires happen in spring Spring is here and with it brings an increasing risk of wildfires, with two small wildfires burning a combined 0.30 acres in Spring Green over the weekend. On Saturday alone, there were 36 fires burning over 100 acres across the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Five structures were burned and several more were threatened. None of those structures were in the Spring Green area. The DNR reports that, so far this year, 47% of wildfires were caused by debris burning, the leading cause of Wisconsin’s wildfires. Wildfires can happen just about any time of the year, but historically, 60% of all annual wildfires in Wisconsin occur in March, April and May alone. The first wildfire occurred on Saturday afternoon at a residential address on Jones Road. The fire was “caused by the owner working in his yard cutting metal fence parts up with a grinding wheel,” said Scott Lancaster, local forester-ranger for the DNR. “Sparks ignited dry grass in his yard, spread rapidly, was contained on his property and suppressed by Spring Green Fire Department.” The Jones Road fire was contained to 0.10 acres, according to the DNR. The second wildfire occurred along Big Hollow Road on Sunday. It was caused “by high winds pushing a dead tree over onto electric transmission lines, sparking to the ground, and igniting the dry grass along the road. This fire was actioned quickly and contained to the powerline right-of-way and a few tree rows on the edge of pine for-

Photo by Emily Mills/The Nature Conservancy The flames of a prescribed fire rush up the side of the dry bluff prairie at the Spring Green Prairie preserve. Staff created fire breaks along each side of the burn to make sure the flames wouldn’t spread to the woods above. est,” said Lancaster. “This fire just burned surface vegetation of grass, shrubs and pine needles and not entire trees. This fire was contained to 0.20 acres and suppressed by DNR and Spring Green Fire Department.” Both wildfires were coincidentally close to prescribed burns that occurred in the Spring Green Preserve over the weekend. “Neither wildland fires were related to

the recent prescribed burning. While close in proximity, each wildfire was caused by unrelated events,” said Lancaster. “The primary purpose for prescribed burns is for ecological benefit to reduce invasive species, allowing native plants to grow and sustain themselves and keep those types of ecosystems going,” said Ralph Sheffer, forest ranger for the DNR. “That also does

allow for fire prevention in that if there is another fire in that area if it gets to those spots that have been burned, essentially they run out of fuel to burn, or there’s less fuel there. So the fire behavior at that time, when it hits that, is greatly reduced and much easier to control.”

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ATV routes growing and changing in counties, surrounding municipalities Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Routes for ATV/UTV’s in Sauk and Iowa counties have been expanding in recent months, with counties and surrounding municipalities choosing to expand routes or secure funding to up-keep routes for the use of recreation vehicles. At the March 16 Sauk County Board meeting, the board approved various expansions to ATV/UTV routes throughout the county, after local recreation clubs submitted petitions for the addition. Additional routes throughout Sauk County include: 7.2 miles on County Highway (CTH) PF from CTH C to Church Road, 1.2 miles on CTH PF

from Hemlock Road to Leland Road in Honey Creek, 2.09 miles on CTH PF from CTH D to Skyview Road in Honey Creek, 2.4 miles on CTH O from Troy Road to Skunk Valley Road in Troy, one mile on CTH G from Highway 23 to just past West Prairie View Road in Spring Green, and 2.14 miles on White Mound Drive from CTH GG to Lake Road in Bear Creek. The expansions include trails in Reedsburg, Delton and Prairie du Sac. ATV/UTV use on county roads has been an on-going discussion throughout Sauk County, with the board originally rejecting petitions to open county roads in 2019, citing safety

concerns and a state loophole that allows drunk driving offenders to operate UTV/ATV with a clean record for that vehicle. At the March 16 meeting, two supervisors spoke against the route additions, with Supervisor Michelle Buschweiler, who represents Baraboo and portions of Freedom, North Freedom and Excelsior, voting against the motion, citing traffic and safety concerns on routes added on CTH H near Delton and Winfield. “I know at least for County Highway H, there is a plan, because there are so many crashes on that road, to add rumble strips on center and sidelines, I’m wondering if it’s a real good idea

to add an intersection crossing at this time,” said Buschweiler. Highway Commission Patrick Gavinski said the department and Highway committee did originally share similar concerns for the two routes already on CTH H, but have not seen any incidents or concerns with ATV/UTVs on the road. Gavinski said he believes that is because the road does have four foot, paved shoulders. Supervisor Thomas Dorner, of Baraboo, echoed similar concerns but did vote in favor of the routes. Supervisor Shane Gibson, of Baraboo, questioned if Gavinski had

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opinion

WednesdaY, March 24, 2021

Letter to the Editor: Biden leadership gives hope to local communities Dear Editor, Like a 60 degree day in March, President Biden’s leadership on Covid-19 is a welcome sign of renewal. I’m referring to Mr. Biden’s American Rescue Plan, passed by a Democratic majority in Congress. The Plan is a Godsend, especially to rural communities. Here’s a short list of what the Plan does to beneﬁt us:

•$4 billion to buy and distribute American dairy products, meat, and produce. •Grants to small and mid-size food processors to upgrade equipment and improve safety. •$8.5 billion for rural hospitals. •$29 billion in grants for small and mid-size restaurants. The grants can be used to buy food inventory, which beneﬁts producers and processors. •Direct aid to local governments, in-

cluding $12.5 million for Sauk County, $9.9 million to Grant County, $4.5 million to Iowa County, and $3.3 million for Richland County. •$1.4 billion for Wisconsin’s K-12 schools, tied to opening for in-person instruction. It will take a lot of money to jolt the economy back into action. Democrats chose wisely by spending that money on communities that feed America and

make it strong. The American Rescue Plan is not the last word. There is plenty of work to do on vaccinations and reopening schools. But, like that ﬁrst robin of spring, Mr. Biden’s leadership gives me hope. —Tripp Stroud Avoca, WI

Wisconsin Policy Forum: Pandemic spurs outdoor pursuits Wisconsin Policy Forum

From a hike in state parks to a first-time deer hunt, state and local data in Wisconsin show an exceptional increase in outdoor pursuits during the crisis months of COVID-19. With unemployment for a time at its highest levels since the Great Depression and other leisure activities often curtailed, pastimes like biking, fishing, birdwatching, or just sunbathing were among the few options that could be practiced while maintaining social distance. Though perhaps not unexpected, the magnitude of the shift remains striking. Much of this upsurge may dissipate as soon as regular employment and entertainment can be pursued. Still, some of the increase could prove durable enough to help boost visitor fee revenues for the state parks system, which has struggled after the elimination of its tax funding in the 201517 state budget; as well as conservation funding coming from hunting and fishing license fees, which have been declining in recent years. At the same time, state and local officials may also want to give thought to whether spending levels on parks, public lands, boat ramps, and other green space are adequate to handle the high demand. Perhaps most prominently, lawmakers must decide in the coming months whether to renew the state’s Stewardship program that funds purchases of public lands and improvements on them. Though budgets are strained, the past year has demonstrated the value of public lands in the state, which benefit the health of the state’s residents and environment and boost its battered tourism sector. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has reported that outdoor recreation contributed $7.7 billion to Wisconsin’s gross domestic product in 2019 – 20th in the nation and 2.2% of the state’s total GDP.

Demand grows for ﬁshing and hunting

After years of modest but steady decreases in fishing license sales, Wisconsin saw a substantial jump in the 2020 fishing season, according to data from the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR). From March 1, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021, the state sold 1.14 million fishing licenses to state residents – a 13.2% increase over 1.01 million for the same months a year earlier and the highest in at least five years. In addition, licenses sold to anglers from outside Wisconsin were up 6.1% during the same months of the pandemic over the prior year. The extra stamps sold for trout and salmon fishing in the Great Lakes and for trout in other inland waters were up 16.6% and 20.4% respectively. In each case, the 2020 sales represented the highest total in at least five years. Most striking were sales of first-time annual fishing licenses, which offer a reduced price for anglers (just $5 for state residents) who have never purchased a license or not done so for at least 10 years. From March 2020 to January 2021, first-time license sales to Wisconsin residents totaled 93,414, more than doubling the 45,557 sold during the same months in the prior year (see Figure 2). First-time licenses to non-residents increased 38.6%. In both cases those were easily the highest in at least five years. Data for hunting licenses are not as complete and are somewhat trickier to interpret – those licenses were already on a more substantial decline prior to the pandemic. Yet licenses for deer hunting show an increase in 2020 and first-time

hunting licenses also show increases, a notable finding given that merely holding steady would have represented a shift in a previously downward trend. In October, the DNR conducted an online survey of 8,822 of the adult first-time fishing license buyers – both in-state and out-of-state – and got responses from 30% of them. Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed said they had returned to fishing after many years away from the sport; 33% were truly buying their first fishing license; and 28% typically fish in another state but recently decided to fish in Wisconsin. The majority of respondents said that COVID-19 was “not at all” an influence on their buying their first-time license. However, two of the most common reasons for the purchase were “a reduction in work/ school hours” for 16% of respondents and “other leisure activities were no longer available to me” at 14%. The DNR has previously linked a substantial increase in fishing licenses sold in 2009 at the height of the Great Recession to higher unemployment, which allowed for more leisure activities. COVID-19 not only left many workers unemployed, but it also reduced the number of other leisure activities they and their children could pursue. Other outdoor activities also on the rise DNR data show a broad increase in other outdoor activities – from state park visits to trail passes for all-terrain vehicles. Sales of state park vehicle stickers rose by more than 42% in the 2020 calendar year over 2019 despite the fact that the 2020 data are missing December sales. Data on state park visits may not be as reliable – state parks were shut down at some points during the pandemic and the state figures represent a best general estimate because each property reports attendance differently. That said, the DNR data show 20.7 million visits in calendar year 2020, a 17.6% increase over 2019 and the highest year in our available data (again, the 2020 data do not include the month of December). Notably, these visits do not include other state lands, such as natural areas, for which no count is available. COVID-19 also accelerated the previous growth in annual trailpass sales for all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles in Wisconsin. From last April – the starting month for trailpass sales – through December, annual trailpass sales rose 32.7% over the comparable months in 2019 (see Figure 4) and were the highest by far in the decade of available data. Five-day passes also hit the highest levels in the available data.

Local Parks and Federal Lands See

Interest One of the striking aspects of the jump in outdoor pursuits is the breadth of the activities that saw a surge in interest. The DNR reports that downloads of popular phone applications that aid birdwatchers have seen year-over-year increases that far outpace those of recent years, and visits to their birding and bird conservation webpage more than tripled from April through June 2020 over the same period in 2019. One popular birdwatching app, eBird, also saw a year-over-year spring increase in submitted checklists from Wisconsin of 27%, far outpacing the growth seen in other recent years. In other examples: • The city of Madison saw its 2020-21 sales of cross country ski permits for its parks nearly double those of any previous year. • Bike path counters show non-motorized traﬃc on the Racine County North Shore Trail and the New Berlin Trail were up 74.9% and 58.4% respectively in 2020. •

At Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve in Ozaukee County, an entrance count shows 2020 visitors topped 269,000, more than two-and-a-half times the typical levels of around 100,000 per year. • After three roughly stable years, the Ice Age Trail Alliance saw membership as of Jan. 2021 rise by 53.2% over the previous year. • During the peak months of April through October, the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway saw total visits increase by 25.3% -- from 633,264 visits in 2019 to 793,510 visits in 2020. Part of this may be attributable to a 60.1% increase in anglers in the area from 31,315 in 2019 to 50,133 in 2020. Not every green space in the state saw an increase, however. For instance, preliminary data show visits to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore during the same peak months dropped 12.8% from just under 230,000 in 2019 to just under 200,000 in 2020. A large reason for this may be a substantial decline in visitors to the islands themselves, as island camping was suspended and lighthouses and visitor centers were closed because of the pandemic. One natural question is whether examples that show an increase in outdoor activities will last beyond the eventual fade of COVID-19. Time will provide the ultimate answer, but in the meantime the state’s sales tax collections might provide a modest clue. Consumer purchases hint at lasting impacts The Department of Revenue (DOR) provided data on sales and use tax collections by month as reported to the state by both sporting goods stores and general merchandise stores. For most of 2019, growth in monthly sales tax collections over the same month in the prior year did not diverge widely in the two retail segments. Yet, as Figure 5 shows, after a 17.2% drop from the prior year for collections from sporting goods stores in April 2020, those stores and general merchandise stores diverged sharply, with sporting goods purchases rebounding at a much faster pace. Since Gov. Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order classiﬁed establishments selling guns and ammunition as essential businesses and allowed them to remain open, the April drop in sporting goods sales may have reﬂected the decision by many con-

sumers to hunker down and hit pause on unnecessary purchases. Over the following months, reported collections by sporting goods stores rose sharply over the prior year and outpaced general merchandise stores. At roughly $160 million in additional taxable sales statewide over the prior year, these extra sales are not substantial on a per person basis and much of them likely went to exercise and sports equipment that would not be used in the outdoors. Still, Wisconsin consumers who bought products like fishing poles, kayaks, or tents might be in a better position to pursue and stick with a new outdoor pursuit because of their purchase. National data on the federal excise taxes collected on fishing, boating, hunting, and shooting products back up that possibility. Manufacturers, producers, and importers pay these excise taxes, which in turn go to state fish and wildlife agencies to use to help their wildlife and conservation efforts. Figures from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided by Southwick Associates show that federal excise tax revenues on sportfishing equipment such as rods, tackle boxes, and motorboat fuel increased 68.8% in 2020 over 2019. Meanwhile, excise tax collections on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment increased 31.1% in 2020. While most of these increases clearly seem linked to greater outdoor activity, some caution is in order in interpreting the firearm sale data, as news outlets have widely attributed that increase at least in part to concerns around the pandemic and political unrest. Overall, these data hold out at least the strong possibility that additional time spent in the outdoors may have given state residents a positive outlet during the difficulties of the pandemic and that some of that activity might outlast concerns over COVID-19. Funding for public lands and spaces Given that the upsurge in outdoor recreation occurs at a time when state and local governments also are facing financial challenges, we next consider state and local funding for these activities.

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opinion

WednesdaY, march 24, 2021

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Contributor Column: Moving Forward with (Driftless) Grace Grace Vosen, Contributor

The riverwalk in Sauk City became crowded earlier this month when the temperature soared, relatively speaking, into the 50s. Although I prefer to walk alone, I found I couldn’t blame my fellow hikers and cyclists. For those of us who didn’t book a spring break trip, these sunny days were a welcome reprieve from the gray depths of winter. Working my way down the sodden trail, I passed a fence meant to keep visitors off the riverbank. A woman was looking intently over the barrier and into the water. I asked if she saw anything good. She told me she was studying the erosion along the bank. “That’s not good,” I quipped. “Well, you have to look at it before you can fix it,” the woman replied. I immediately felt the relevance of this sentence to my current situation. A friend and I have been discussing the importance, or lack thereof, of acknowledging hard times. At what point should a person just shrug it off, move on, and try to be grateful for what they have? Longtime readers of my blog, “Driftless Grace”, know that I do my best never to complain. I prefer to use humor and — yes — gratitude in my approach to life. That’s how I’d like to appear, at least. Really, it’s no secret that this winter was hard for me. In addition to the pandemic

Vosen and its eﬀect on group activities, I was kept away from some favorite people and places by icy backroads. The result was way too much time spent dejected and in front of a screen. But now that spring is here, I’m more free to acknowledge these problems (look at them) and take steps in the other direction (ﬁx them). When an opportunity arose for me to move to the Spring Green area, I took it. I now live closer to more of my favorite spots, in a place that nurtures my interests in conservation and community. This change should help immensely. Even we introverts are members of a social species. Having these people and places close by will make me feel part of something, help me play my own small

Photo via Grace Vosen A welcome sign outside the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center in Spring Green. role a little better. It’s my hope that when the next winter or (heaven forbid!) next pandemic comes around, I’ll have the resources to live a more fulﬁlling life. Sorry I won’t be around to ﬁx the erosion.

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

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.

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opinion

WednesdaY, march 24, 2021

Outdoor activities boom during pandemic in Wisconsin continued from page 2 State spending on parks As it turns out, Census Bureau data show Wisconsin ranks in the bottom half of states for parks and recreation spending overall and second to last for spending at the state level. In our recent “Dollar for Dollar” report on local and state spending, we found that 2017 per capita state operating spending on parks and recreation in Wisconsin ranked 49th in the country, ahead of only Alabama. More recent – and slightly different – data from the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) show that despite more than three state park visits per capita (19th overall), Wisconsin’s state government spends just $3.67 on its state park operations per capita – 48th in the country (above only Arizona and Texas). The state’s $135 per acre in operating spending and $32 per acre in capital spending also are far below nationwide averages of $154 and $57, respectively. As a result, Wisconsin spends just $1.20 in state park operations per visitor – the second-lowest amount of any state in the country. In the 2015-17 state budget, the state cut $4.7 million in state tax funding out of the parks system – nearly 28% of the parks budget at that time. Most but not all of that was restored through an estimated $3.2 million increase in fees on parks users – creating a $1.4 million budget shortfall within the parks system at the time, according to DNR and LFB reports. The changes completed an erosion in tax funding for state parks that goes back to 1995, when the state eliminated the requirement that state parks operations be funded equally from the parks account and the general fund, according to LFB. The Legislature followed up in 2017 with additional though more limited fee increases for parks. The uptick in outdoor pursuits has led the DNR to request budget increases to support state and local ATV trails. The state may also wish to consider additional policies and programming to help keep the surge of new anglers and hunters engaged in those sports – the Forum mentioned some options in a 2018 brief. Doing so could boost long-term funding for conservation programs. Local parks spending DOR figures show that between 2000 and 2018, increases in spending for parks and recreation by counties and municipalities in Wisconsin have modestly outpaced the rise in their overall operating and capital spending (excluding debt payments). As a result, the share of local government spending going to parks and recreation grew slightly over that period. In the case of counties, the 46.4% increase in parks and recreation spending since 2000 was only slightly greater than the rate of inflation. In the case of municipalities, the 60.9% increase in parks and recreation spending was greater. Moving forward, much of what happens with spending on parks operations in Wisconsin likely will depend on local government finances and priorities since they shoulder most of that responsibility in this state. Expanding and improving public lands Most of the figures cited above do not include capital spending for land purchases or facilities. The state plays a significant role in this area through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program, which uses bonding to finance state and local land purchases for public recreation and environmental conservation as well as improvements on public lands. The Stewardship program is once again at a crossroads. After providing only a two-year extension in the 2019-21 budget, lawmakers and Evers must again decide whether and how to reauthorize the program, which is currently set to expire on June 30, 2022. In his 2021-23 budget bill, Evers is proposing to more than double the authorized borrowing for the Stewardship program to $70 million per year and then shift how that funding is divvied up. Under the legislation, the funds for helping local com-

munities with purchases and projects and for making improvements on state lands would grow substantially while those for state land purchases would not. In 2019, the Forum examined the Stewardship program and found it facing several key financial challenges. Almost all of them still stand: • The annual allotment for borrowing is still at $33.3 million a year, down 61.3% from its 2011 peak without accounting for inflation, according to LFB figures (see Figure 7). Actual spending has been even lower in four of the past five years. • The $9.6 million spent in 2020 on land purchases was second only to 2018 as the smallest in the program’s history. Overall spending was up substantially to $52.5 million in 2020 but a significant share of that was linked to specific projects that were directed by lawmakers and are now winding down. • Stewardship debt payments are down from their 2019 peak but remain well above their levels of a decade ago. The rise in overall program spending reflects debt associated in part with the more than 863,000 acres that have been purchased and protected by the DNR since 1990, as the Stewardship program has been the single largest source of funding for those acquisitions over that time. Though it can be costly, much of this land is owned outright by the state, lasts longer than other capital investments such as roads, and can appreciate in value. Funds have also gone to many development projects as well as local land purchases. In addition, these lands have provided outdoor recreation as well as environmental benefits, which lie beyond the scope of this report but are substantial in areas such as biodiversity and flood mitigation. The Stewardship program helps the public access and enjoy these lands by helping fund construction or renovation projects such as parks, trails, piers, and harbors. The program allows the state to borrow money for DNR land purchases, typically through 20-year general obligation bonds. Borrowed funds also are used by DNR to award grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations for conservation or recreation purposes, generally for up to 50% of the cost of the proposed spending. In other words, these state grants draw substantial matching dollars. Over the past five years, local governments submitted roughly 2.5 times as many applications for grants as were actually awarded. For a look at properties statewide, explore this interactive table or this interactive map created by Gathering Waters: Wisconsin’s Alliance for Land Trusts. New Funding Options Since the onset of COVID-19, the state has experienced both declines or slower growth in key revenue streams such as income and sales taxes, as well as higher expenditures on needs such as public health programs, personal protective equipment, and social services. As the Forum has documented, local governments have had steadier revenues from the property tax, but like the state they have experienced some higher costs as well as lost revenues in areas such as county sales taxes, municipal room taxes, parking fees and fines, and investment income. Since Wisconsin parks are primarily a local service, state policymakers could factor in those needs as they debate larger questions such as state aid payments to local governments and state limits on local property taxes. One question to consider is whether parks and public spaces could suffer more in low-income communities or those communities particularly affected by the pandemic. Both state and local officials could look for ways to economize through encouraging more collaboration across local governments to provide adequate parks and amenities. They could also look at ways to enhance state and local revenues for parks. At the state level, a 2016 DNR report offered revenue options such as imposing greater fees at high-demand parks and electrifying more campsites and then

Graphs via Wisconsin Policy Forum charging for them – steps that since then have been taken to some degree. Other proposals included expanding the amount of privately-run indoor lodging such as simple cabins for parks visitors and allowing more sponsorships and advertisements. These steps could combine for $2 to $3 million per year in additional parks revenue but might be seen by some as antithetical to the idea of a rustic public park. A larger change (projected to raise more than $15 million a year) would be to replace vehicle admission sticker and state trail passes with individual park admission passes. Alternatively, the state could let motorists buy a state parks sticker when renewing their vehicle registration – automatic renewal of a $15 annual sticker (about half the current price) could raise from $7 to 14 million if many more people subscribed and the rates reached 12% to 24% of motorists. In Minnesota, voters in 2008 passed a sales tax of 0.375% to fund priorities that include restoring and protecting habitat for wildlife, helping fund parks and trails, ensuring clean water, and supporting the arts. The state also puts 40% of its lottery proceeds into conservation projects and funding. A similar approach could be considered in Wisconsin but would have to be balanced against the effect on taxpayers and other priorities – for example, some local governments have sought and Evers has proposed a higher local sales tax to fund a variety of services, not just parks. Another avenue for state and local collaboration is the Stewardship program itself. Since the program is financed through borrowing, the effect of new land purchases or projects on the state’s budget is limited to the future increase in debt service costs that would be needed to pay off the bonds. Given the low current interest rates and the time it takes to carry out land purchases and construction projects, increasing program spending and borrowing in 2023 would have little effect during this current period of pandemic-induced financial

strain. The Forum has documented the capital needs of local parks systems such as the huge challenges faced by Milwaukee County. The Stewardship program could represent one vehicle for the state to assist local governments in that task and in other areas such as conserving environmentally sensitive areas. However, the costs over time remain substantial. In 2019, LFB calculated that 10 years of Stewardship borrowing at even the current level would cost approximately $533.6 million in principal and interest at an assumed rate of 5%. Approving 10 years of program borrowing at $46 million annually – still far below the program’s peak funding – would entail total debt payments of $738.2 million, LFB calculates. Conclusion Just as COVID-19 disrupted workplaces and the economy, it also reshaped the leisure hours of Wisconsin residents, sending them outdoors in greater numbers than at any point in recent years. While it is uncertain whether this trend will continue after the pandemic eases, it provides important perspective for state lawmakers as they prepare to debate the next state budget and for local officials as they balance their own competing priorities. At a minimum, recent events are a reminder of the ongoing value of green spaces and public lands to an increasingly urbanized population. While the pandemic has uncovered or exacerbated a host of challenges for the state, many also will see Wisconsinites’ increased time in the outdoors as a positive development, and one that policymakers may wish to support through new investment or policy initiatives. Whether in promoting mental health or enhancing efforts to rebuild Wisconsin’s tourism economy, public lands and time outdoors have a potential role to play in helping the state recover and thrive. The Wisconsin Policy Forum is a statewide nonpartisan, independent policy research organization with offices in Milwaukee and Madison.

Community

WednesdaY, March 24, 2021

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Tortilleria Zepeda wins $5,000 on local pitch show Photo via Tortilleria Zepeda Tortilleria Zepeda received the Jendusa Lubar Entrepreneurship Center award from their appearance on “Project Pitch It,” which will provide them with workshops and support services from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Lubar’s Entrepreneurship Center, and a $5,000 cash prize. Co-owner of Tortilleria Zepeda, Heidi Zepeda, said the company plans to use the cash prize to repair a walk-in freezer at their production location in Lone Rock to up production and inventory. She said the money will also help the company bring on additional staﬀ. Zepeda said the businesses services from the entrepreneurship center will provide invaluable education, and they are excited to begin. Pictured, friends and family of the Zepeda’s gather to watch the premier of “Project Pitch It” at Bear and Bottle in Madison on Saturday.

Vortex Optics opens ‘Edge’ training facility for public classes Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Vortex Optics out of Barneveld recently opened an out-of-the-box training facility to offer different educational opportunities. The Vortex Edge facility is located at the company’s headquarters, 1 Vortex Dr, in Barneveld, and offers both indoor and outdoor facilities for training of employees, local law enforcement and will soon be opening up for public instruction. The indoor facility offers three different ranges, a 25 yard and 50 yard range, both of which are dynamic shooting ranges, and a 100 yard static range. The facility also provides simulations for training. The outdoors facility is used for long range training and shooting up to 1050 yards. It featured barricades and shooting obstacles. “We have both an indoor and outdoor facility at our disposal, both of which aren’t so much ‘public ranges’ in the sense that many people would think— i.e. There won’t be a way to get a card, come in any time you want, but some ammo and go blast away,” said Vortex Marketing and Social Media Director Jimmy Hamilton. Instead of the typical shooting range, Vortex is looking to offer an education in different aspects such as pistol, carbine, long range, hunter marksmanship, home defense and night vision. The training opportunities include how to use Vortex products, how to set them up and get the most out of the product and how the company’s products can be used in different shooting situations. “We’re aiming to make this an unforgettable shooting experience for anyone who joins us to take a course. In addition to learning a lot, we want everyone to have a ton of fun and get to do more than they ever would at their home range just sending some rounds at paper for an hour,” said Hamilton. The facility was originally created for just internal use and only included the outdoor ranges, and two indoor ranges, said Hamilton. Within the last year, the company expanded to include the other features. The company original-

Photo via Vortex Optics Students take a class at the indoor section of the Vortex Edge facility, that will now be open to the public for unique training opportunities. ly used the Edge facility for product development, marketing, and new employee training. Vortex owners wanted the space to become a location not only for the general public’s education, but also provide local law enforcement with practice situations diﬀerent from their average training. Hamilton said the company plans to host events at the Edge facility such as Hunter sight-ins, archery challenges and United States Practical Shooting Association matches. Pricing for classes varys, and Hamilton recommends for intermediate or advanced courses people bring personal equipment but said for introduction classes the company plans to supply necessary equipment for the course. “Certain classes are designed specif-

ically for law enforcement (They will be labeled as such) or other ﬁrearms instructors (Also will be labeled).” said Hamilton. “To take an advanced or intermediate level course, it’s hard to ‘require’ a certain level of skill for someone to join, but we do suggest that people do their best honest assessment of their level of skill prior to signing up for a class.” Students are required to be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult and be U.S. citizens. If classes span over the lunch hour, the company will provide lunches to students. Classes will be held in-person with an eﬀort to take COVID-19 precautions, with the facility and equipment being deep cleaned regularly. Hamilton said the company will follow whatever the state requires for masking at the time

of the course. “It appears as though the statewide mandate could go away soon, in which case, we’ll let visitors choose to wear whatever they’re most comfortable with,” said Hamilton. “No shame either way from us—we’re here to learn and shoot, not argue about what’s on your face.” For more information on the facility, class prices and to sign up, visit www.vortexoptics.com/vortex-edge. html “It’s always been our goal at Vortex to make the entire customer experience amazing from the moment someone hears our name to well beyond the day they buy the product. We look at Vortex EDGE much the same and are aiming to make it the best shooting experience in the world,” said Hamilton.

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Community

WednesdaY, march 24, 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

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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.

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Brewhaha, SGAAC fundraiser coﬀee roast

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

In other news School Board Vacancy Following Dan McGuire’s resignation from the River Valley School District Board, Area 4 of the school board, which covers Lone Rock, is open. At it’s May 13 meeting, the district will appoint someone to fill the vacancy until April 25, 2022. Following the April 5, 2022 election an individual will be elected to fill the remaining year of the term, which ends in 2023. Those interested in filling the position for a partial term should send a letter to: River Valley School Board ℅ Loren Glassbrenner 660 W. Daley St Spring Green WI, 53588 Letters should be received no latter than April 16, 2021, applicant are required to be a resident of Area 4, Lone Rock, and meet the minimum age requirements for holding public office.

Photo via Brewhaha Coffee Roasters Brewhaha Coffee Roasters and the Spring Green Area Arts Coalition (SGAAC) are working together in the month of March to raise funds for SGAAC throughout the month of March. All proceeds from orders of the special medium, Colombian roast from Brewhaha will go to SGAAC. Orders can be set for local pick-up at Arcadia Books in Spring Green or can be delivered to a home address. To order visit, www.brewhaharoasters.com/ product-page/spring-green-area-arts-coalition Pictured, Brewhaha Coffee co-owner Aaron Holverson, left, holds a bag of the special SGAAC roast next to Kathy Santos, a SGAAC member in Arcadia Books.

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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.

Arts & Culture

WednesdaY, march 24, 2021

Page 7

APT announces dates, ticket sale information for 2021 continued from page 1 rotating repertory has dropped from eight plays at a time to two at a time. But I also think there’s opportunity in this structure - first and foremost SAFETY. But also some things we have not been able to do in the past. So we are going to exploit all the changes and warm up to this idea of normalcy again. The actors and artists are so excited to be back, and to perform for our incredible audience again. We can’t wait to get started.” Tickets for An Improbable Fiction and The Mountaintop will go on sale to priority groups beginning April 16. Patrons will be notified by email as to which group they’re in. Tickets will go on sale to the general public for the first two plays on April 26. Due to 25% capacity restrictions, APT expects that demand may outweigh supply for tickets, and asks everyone for their patience as they navigate these new waters. For more information on 2021 tickets, visit americanplayers.org.

New Safety Protocols on the APT Grounds

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, new safety protocols will be in effect in APT’s theaters, as well as on the grounds. Some of the changes affecting patrons this summer will be: • Masks will be required at all times when not actively eating and drinking, and food and drink will not be allowed in the theaters this year, with the exception of water in the outdoor Hill Theatre. • We ask that people socially distance from people outside of their party. Picnic tables will be distanced to accommodate. • APT’s ticketing software will be automatically distance seats in the theaters when tickets are purchased. • For the time being, the Hill and Touchstone Theatres can only be filled to a maximum 25% capacity. This translates to about 30 seats per

performance in the Touchstone, and about 250 in the Hill Theatre. For the latest in safety updates, visit americanplayers.org/covid-rules.

The 2021 Plays

May 14 – June 19, Touchstone Theatre The Mountaintop – Touchstone Theatre By Katori Hall Directed by Ron OJ Parson The night before his assassination, Martin Luther King, Jr. returns to the Lorraine Motel after delivering his last impassioned speech. A mysterious maid delivers his room service, though she seems to have more on her agenda than a simple meal. As their conversation progresses, true intentions come to light in a story Ms. Hall wrote to humanize Dr. King, to help us understand that you don’t have to be superhuman to be a hero. Featuring Gavin Lawrence and Sola Thompson. May 27 – June 26, Hill Theatre An Improbable Fiction By James DeVita Directed by Tim Ocel The world-premiere staging of James DeVita’s new play, told largely in Shakespeare’s own words. It’s plague time, and Shakespeare’s characters are out of sorts (and out of work). Several of our favorites reunite at The Boar’s Head Inn to celebrate life, and ruminate on the state of the world. Featuring Tracy Michelle Arnold, Brian Mani, Sarah Day, Chiké Johnson, Melisa Pereyra and Ronald Román-Meléndez. July 1 – August 7, Hill Theatre Rough Crossing By Tom Stoppard From an original play by Ferenc Molnár Directed by William Brown Two established playwrights hoping to refresh their careers take their show on the road. Or, rather, on the high seas, along with their two established stars. The plan is to ride the wake of a brilliant young musician – who happens to be engaged to one of the

aforementioned stars - who will compose their new musical. But when the writers and composer stumble across a tryst between the actors, they’ll need to pull out all the stops to keep their young phenom from going overboard. A clever and hilarious comedy, originally slated for the 2020 season. Featuring Kelsey Brennan, David Daniel, Jamal James, Josh Krause, James Ridge and Marcus Truschinski. June 25 – August 15, Touchstone Theatre An Iliad By Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare Translated from Homer’s Iliad by Robert Fagles Directed by John Langs In a reprise of the 2015 production, Homer’s epic tale is distilled to one war-torn poet, as actor Jim DeVita takes us on a thrilling, wrenching tour of the Trojan War. The intimate Touchstone Theatre is an ideal space for this exploration of the contradictory conditions of glory and violence, and the human race’s seemingly endless addiction to war. Featuring Jim DeVita and Alicia Storin. August 12 – September 11, Hill Theatre Cymbeline By William Shakespeare Adapted by Henry Woronicz Directed by Marti Lyons When his daughter Imogen secretly marries Posthumus, a good man without ﬁnancial means, King Cymbeline banishes Posthumus in a fury. In Rome, missing his wife and his home, Posthumus meets Iachimo, who plants a seed in his mind that Imogen will be unfaithful to him in his absence. In despair, Posthumus contacts his servant Pisanio with orders to murder Imogen, but the servant instead disguises her as a page and smuggles her out of court and oﬀ on a great Shakespearean adventure. Featuring: Tracy Michelle Arnold, Gina Daniels, Sarah Day, Alys Dickerson, Elizabeth Ledo, Colleen Madden, Melisa Pereyra and Lisa Tejero.

August 26 – October 3, Touchstone Theatre A Phoenix Too Frequent By Christopher Fry Directed by Keira Fromm In ancient Rome, Dynamene is prepared to die from grief over the death of her husband and has barricaded herself, fasting, in his tomb. She has brought her faithful servant along to die with her (a plan that said servant is not 100% on board with). But it’s not long before Dynamene is distracted from her death wish by the arrival of a handsome soldier, Tegeus, providing a foil for her grief in this comedy about love and expectations. Originally slated for the 2020 season. Featuring Phoebe González, Tyler Meredith and Christopher Sheard.

2021 Ticketing

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on April 26. Tickets will go on sale to priority groups beginning April 16; returning patrons will be notiﬁed of which group they’re in before the on-sale dates.

About the Theatre

APT is a professional repertory theater devoted to the great and future classics. It was founded in 1979 and continues to be one of the most popular outdoor classical theaters in the nation. The Theatre is located in Spring Green, Wis., on 110 acres of hilly woods and meadows above the Wisconsin River. The outdoor amphitheater is built within a natural hollow atop an oak-wooded hill. Under the dome of sky, 1,089 comfortably cushioned seats encircle three sides of the stage. In 2009, APT opened the 201-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre, oﬀering a diﬀerent type of play and experience. APT cancelled the 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and everyone in the organization is excited to be back to creating theater in 2021. For more information, visit www.americanplayers.org

APT’s The Road Back : Department check-in American Players Theatre

A Status Check, And Some News

We thought we’d start this entry with a bit of exciting news: We are going to announce the 2021 Summer Season in next week’s Diversions, on March 24! Unless, that is, something very unexpected happens before then. The caveat comes from the fact that we have not yet received final approval from the unions. The good news is that we’ve had enough feedback from them that we believe we will eventually get that approval, and be able to begin rehearsal. In light of this summer season tease, let’s take a look at what the different departments at APT are doing to prepare for the ever-more-likely APT season. Safety Committee: Led by our Production Manager, Michael Broh, the team has submitted safety applications for the first four plays of the season to the unions with which we work. As we’ve talked about in a previous post, Actors’ Equity Association has the most stringent safety protocols. Last week, they responded to one of our applications and had a number of questions and areas of concern. Michael and his team believe these can feasibly be addressed, and they have already responded to the questions from the union. So for the time being, it’s back to waiting. This group is also organizing testing plans for the season. All actors, and the staff who come into contact with them need to have frequent COVID tests. So the team is vetting companies that can do it consistently and economically. Artistic Staff: Flexibility is the name of the game right now. A few unexpected personnel changes have kept them busy

over the last couple of weeks. These kinds of changes are not new – they literally happen every single year. Perhaps a prior commitment gets rescheduled, creating a conflict. Or someone has to drop out for family reasons. But this year the season planning timeline is compressed, so the changes are coming later in the game, and closer to the season. Brenda DeVita and company are rising to the occasion as they always do, and there is no doubt the 2021 company will be exquisite. Also on the artistic agenda: the 2022 season! Usually the next season is roughed in before the current one begins, which is a little more of a challenge this year than in a normal year. But it’s exciting be working on both seasons, and to think about coming together with a little more normalcy in 2022. Costume Shop: Costume Director Scott Rött is ticking through his usual pre-season list – ordering supplies, getting all the sewing machines serviced and the thousands of moving pieces that go into running the shop during a pandemic. For example, Scott is currently working on instituting extra safety protocols, such as rearranging the costume shop so staff members can work socially distanced from each other. Also, he’s in the process of converting a small rehearsal hall into a fitting room, as the fitting rooms that are part of the costume shop are too small to accommodate the actor and two costume staff members safely. The costume department has already cut the number of people involved down to the bare minimum. In a normal year, there could be up to eight people par-

ticipating in a fitting; this year, most of them, including the costume designer, will join via Zoom. Scene Shop: Technical Director Bill Duwell reports that in many ways it is business as usual right now. He’s doing his annual rite of spring – repairing the Hill Theatre stage. Even though it’s only a few years old, and wasn’t laden with scenery last year, annual maintenance is always needed to prolong its life. Bill and Assistant Technical Director Doug Dion are also working on planning for scenery construction, as the scenic designs arrive and they get a first look at them. And, similar to the costume shop, they’re organizing their COVID safety protocols. Construction will begin on the 2021 sets in just a few weeks! Prop Shop: Shipping is a concern for Prop Master Nathan Stuber. He notes that the shipping industry is a mess from the pandemic, and that anything that comes from overseas will take twice as long as usual – if it shows up at all. That can be a problem for someone who needs to buy the kind of unique and unusual items that are often required for our plays, so he’s starting as early as he can. Company Management: Company Manager Nicole Tilford, who we talked to for the February 10 TRB has brought the first of her two assistants on board to lighten the load. Together, they are meeting virtually with each company member about their housing. They are also starting to move furniture into apartments and to deep clean in preparation for the arrival of the company. Stage Management: Evelyn Matten, the Production Stage Manager, is working

on the schedule. This is usually tied up by the beginning of January, but it’s more (and in some regards, less) complicated this year. Though the one-play-at-a-time-ineach-space model is simpler in a way, there are new considerations. For instance: can an actor do eight performances a week in the heat of summer in our Hill Theatre? Or is it too much of a strain on body and voice? But even with these new considerations, we expect to release the schedule in the next week or so. Finance: Our Controller, Jon Novak, has been busy assessing federal funding opportunities that may be available to APT. There is a second round of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), as well as the Shuttered Venue Organization Grant (SVOG). We may qualify for one or both, and it’s up to Jon to figure out the details. Business Manager, Emily Beck, is gearing up to handle payroll once the seasonal staff starts arriving in a few weeks. The usual payroll for about 25 people will more than triple during the season (much less than a normal season, when it increases fivefold). Marketing: The marketing staff is being comforted by a bit of normalcy this week, as they proof the season brochure before sending it off to print. This year, rather than its usual moniker, The Book of Summer, it’s called The Book of Hope. Because each day we have a little more hope that this season will actually become a reality. Continuing with that theme, they hope to have that book in your hands sometime in April.

“The good stuﬀ.”

Page 8

WednesdaY, March 24, 2021

Community/Outdoors/recreation

Sauk, Iowa counties make updates to ATV/UTV routes continued from page 1 received any negative feedback or objections from municipalities or property owners along the routes. Gavinski said there was no objections, and stated that the highway department notifies all municipalities of the additional or expanded routes. Gibson abstained from voting on the motion. Supervisor and Highway Committee Chairman,Brian Peper, of Loganville, spoke in support of the expansions to ensure clarity and better flow of the routes. “We’ve been going over these updates for the past couple of months, we’ve come across a few hiccups and I think we’ve ironed them out,” said Peper. “We took requests from fourwheel groups from across the county, we did expand on a couple of them mildly, we thought it was a better idea to open up a little bit for clarification, otherwise we’re stopping roads or making people turn around.” The additional routes passed in a 29-1-1 vote. In the same meeting, the board voted to apply for DNR grant funds that aid in maintaining, acquiring, developing and insuring ATV/UTV trails. The DNR grant funds 100% of costs associated with counties providing specific ATV/UTV trails that are not included in the routes of county roads and highways. The money can be used for counties to acquire or develop recreational trails, and for maintaining them throughout the summer and winter season. The funds can also be used towards liability insurance for the county.

Changes to ATV/UTV use in Iowa County

At its regular March 16 meeting, the Iowa County board amended its existing ATV/UTV ordinance to “open” all county highways for recreational vehicle usage, unless otherwise post-

ed, to create uniformed routes and usage. The amendment comes with a few caveats, including the townships of Wyoming and Cldye, that do not allow ATV/UTV usage in the townships. County highways within those townships are not listed as ATV/UTV routes, according to County Highway Commissioner Craig Hardy. County Highways that cannot be used in those townships include: CTH C, CTH I, CTH N, CTH NM, CTH T and CTH ZZ. County roads that see higher traffic or more semi-truck traffic with narrow shoulders are also not included for recreational vehicle use. Only portions of CTH K north of Barneveld, CTH F between Blanchardville and state highway 39, are available for use. ATV/UTV’s are not allowed on state or federal roads, any ATV/UTV routes that intersect with US 151 will be closed at the crossing and redirected to another route, said Hardy. Signage will be posted in the near future to reflect the recent amendment. In an effort to keep riding hours uniform with nearby counties, Iowa County’s hours for use allow recreational vehicles to be used from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., many municipalities in the area have more restricted hours, allowing riders to use roads from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. This includes villages and most townships in the county, along with the cities of Dodgeville and Mineral Point. In February, the Village of Arena changed their ATV/UTV ordinance to adjust riding hours from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Recreational vehicles are allowed on all village streets. The town of Ridgeway follows the county’s time guidelines and allows use from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. The county’s ordinance stipulates that all ATV/UTV drivers must be at least 16 years old and have completed a Department of Natural resources

(DNR) safety course.

ATV/UTV routes in the village of Spring Green

In February, the Spring Green village board discussed a proposed ATV/UTV route in the village that had been requested by Jeff Johnson, Jeff Freel and John Meyerhofer. The village currently does not have an ordinance regarding the use of recreational vehicles, but voted to draft one following the specific requests. The ordinance will be drafted by Village Clerk Wendy Crary, along with Police Chief Mike Stoddard for the proposed route to be allowed on a one-year trial period. The village board discussed the matter with Stoddard, who said he did not have any concerns regarding an ATV/UTV on village roads and would enforce whatever decision the village board made. The board discussed various questions regarding noise, location and speed. Crary will present the ordinance to the board when it is finished and has been reviewed by Johnson, Freel and Meyerhofer. The village has received correspondence from Diane Kaiser, who is a resident within the River Valley School District, but not the village, who expressed dislike for the ordinance and cited many safety concerns. “Perhaps the board thinks that this would help SG [Spring Green] businesses. But, what businesses would benefit from this? A few bars? A few restaurants?” questioned Kaiser in her letter. “Essentially, a handful of businesses. So not a whole of benefit for a potentially damaging outcome.” Kaiser provides a list of concerns she said herself and others hold about allowing ATVs on village roads: ATVers driving too fast, ATVs adding additional noise to the village, parking issues, particularly during events, ATVers not being as easily seen as regular vehicles, inexperienced ATV

drivers, ATVers who are not part of the local club, ATVs driving on pavements (not what ATVs are meant to drive on safely) the eﬀect ATVs will have on tourism and aesthetics of Spring Green and added air pollution. Kaiser goes on, “Someone from Lone Rock, where they already have and ATV ordinance in place said to me: ‘ATVs in Spring Green? That doesn’t seem like a good match. Lone Rock, yes. Arena, yes. Spring Green, no.’” Kaiser recommended the village consider the allowance of recreational vehicles on a six month to one year test period.

Other Municipalities

The village of Plain allows for ATV/ UTVs to be used on Highway B/Main Street and Highway 23/Watcher Avenue. Residents of the village are allowed to utilize the vehicles on other village streets when traveling to an ATV route in the village, but are required to take the fastest route from their residence to the route. ATV/UTV riders must follow speed limits posted on the village roads, and follow the minimum state age requirements to operate the vehicle, which is 12 years old to operate an ATV and 16 years old for a UTV, after completing a safety course. Recreational vehicles are prohibited on village routes from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. In the village of Lone Rock, ATV/ UTV’s are not allowed on public property and are limited to a speed of 20 mph and 10 mph when they are being operated within 150 feet of a residence. The vehicles are required to use headlights at all times. People under the age of 12 are prohibited from operating the recreational vehicles unless they are accompanied by a parent, guardian or someone over the age of 18.

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WednesdaY, March 24, 2021 Page 9 Outdoors/recreation Prescribed burns at Spring Green Preserve help foster unique ecological landscape continued from page 1 Sheffer encouraged fire safety tips such as paying attention to the weather, avoiding burning on windy days or very high fire danger days and making sure that the fire is completely out before leaving it. “Check our website, we update our website daily as far as what burning restrictions are in place with fire danger for that day.” “We encourage burning for natural resources,” said Sheffer. “We just want to make sure that it’s done as safely as possible.”

Prescribed burns at the Spring Green Preserve

The Nature Conservancy is one of the groups working to prevent uncontrolled wildfires while fostering the unique ecology of the ‘Wisconsin Desert’. The Nature Conservancy owns and manages the Spring Green Preserve, just north of the village, which they describe as “a land of cacti and lizards, sand dunes and dry grasses... known as the Wisconsin Desert ...a place where forest meets bluff, and bluff levels off into plains and dunes.” Designated a State Natural Area in 1972, the preserve features life seen rarely or nowhere else in Wisconsin. From prickly pear cactus to ornate box turtles to black widow spiders and more, the preserve is home to some of Wisconsin’s rarest plant communities, including sand prairie, dry bluff prairie, and black oak barrens, according to

The Nature Conservancy. All of these communities, which once covered thousands of acres, have all but disappeared. The primary goals of The Nature Conservancy at the preserve are to remove red cedars that invade the prairies and shade out native plant species and use controlled fires to suppress competing trees and shrubs, to stimulate the growth of native grasses and wildflowers. According to Caleb Klima, land manager for The Nature Conservancy, 138 acres of the Spring Green Preserve were burned in a prescribed burn of the eastern bluffs on March 19, with another 76 acres burned the next day on the western bluffs, adding to 22 acres burned on March 4. “A main objective is, as you can probably just see, if I’m looking out at Spring Green [Preserve], those are the only bluffs that are open, everything else has been filled in with trees,” said Klima. “And that kind of shows us that if you don’t put prescribed fire on the ground out there, those bluffs are going to get choked out with trees very quickly.” Klima said they rotate burning different sections of the preserve every year, to allow refuge for different species to survive. “Prior to European settlement, most of those bluffs would have been wide open, like those [on the Spring Green Preserve], because of frequent prescribed fire done mostly by the Native Americans,” explained Klima. “So there’s a lot of species that require that kind of open habitat in order

to thrive ...unique species that require that kind of disturbance of prescribed fire.” Klima says they want to dispel the stigma of fire always being a negative thing. “We like to call it good fire, I think a lot of people hear plenty about bad fire, especially as relates to like Western fires and everything. So we try to keep it designated by calling it a good fire, or obviously, it’s called prescribed fire/controlled burning,” said Klima. “These landscapes evolved with this fire disturbance, so a lot of the species that thrive out there, whether that’s the grasses, or the cactus, or any reptiles and other types of animals, they need that periodic disturbance, particularly prescribed fire, to really thrive.” Klima stressed the need to put more good fire back on the landscape, emphasizing that it’s not just prairie that needs periodic fire to thrive, but also oak woodlands and savannas and others, warning that otherwise these areas will turn to maple and basswood forests. “If you leave a site unburned or undisturbed for very long, you’ll clearly see that they come in very quickly,” said Klima, elaborating that species like honeysuckle, buckthorn, red cedar and garlic mustard can move in and out-compete the species that are native to this ecosystem. “We actually have saw some burning bush out there, and Japanese barberry. So you get a lot of these ornamental shrubs that come from landscaping around people’s homes.

And then they escape into the wild, and they cause us a lot of issues.” Klima says that The Nature Conservancy works closely with local fire departments and the DNR. “We have the equipment, people and the resources to get it done safely.” Klima said they’re always looking for volunteers and if there’s enough interest they’d like to create a volunteer crew again for the preserve. To volunteer, fill out a short form online at: nature.org/en-us/about-us/ where-we-work/united-states/wisconsin/ volunteer-sign-up/, call 608-316-6430 or email: WIVolunteer@tnc.org. Klima expects there to be at least one more prescribed burn at the preserve this spring, occurring on the north side on County Road WC next to Wilson Creek. “Prescribed fire is really like nature’s ultimate regenerator, it really quickens the pace of recycling the nutrients back in.”

If you go

Please stay on the trail during your visit as it will eventually take you to the top of the bluff. To avoid damaging the fragile habitat on the slope, please do not hike straight up or down the bluff. Driving directions From the intersection of Highways 14 and 23 north of Spring Green, go north on 23 0.5 mile, then east on Jones Road 0.75 mile (just past fire #E5196A), then north on Angelo Lane to a parking area. Hours Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Photo by Emily Mills/The Nature Conservancy

Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief

TNC Wisconsin’s Director of Conservation & Land Management, Hannah Spaul, uses a drip torch to set ﬁre to a section of dry grasses on the eastern unit of the Spring Green Prairie preserve.

A view of the aftermath of a prescribed burn in the Spring Green Nature Preserve on Saturday. Klima says to expect the preserve to be “lush and green” in a couple of weeks.

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Outdoors/recreation

Page 10 WednesdaY, March 24, 2021

FLOW volunteers clean up leftover demolition debris on BLM island near Arena

Photos via FLOW Friends of the Lower Wisconsin River (FLOW) along with Department of Natural Resources Warden Dave Youngquist met to clean up debris from a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) island upriver from the Arena boat landing, on Saturday. The island was cleared by a barge and contractor of the two buildings inhabiting the island, one of which was falling into the river, this time last year. Youngquist said during a clean up last year, volunteers found a Volkswagen Bus full of rooﬁng shingles, and multiple sand-point wells. What remained on the island includes some garbage and pieces of glass. This year, Timm Zumm, FLOW director, estimates a few dozen bags of garbage and debris was collected this weekend. The group found some scrap sheet metal and a steel wheel and rubber tire.

Be Fire Smart: Get your free burning permit from the DNR Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources MADISON, Wis. – Now more than ever, our favorite outdoor spaces are playing an important role in our lives. Together, we can keep these safe places safe. Whether we are out in nature or home in our backyards, remember that it’s our role to protect the lands we love by preventing wildfires and recreating responsibly. With weekend forecasts predicting warm temperatures, fairly low humidity and high winds, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expects fire danger to be high across the state this weekend. With Wisconsin wildfire season underway, the DNR reminds Wisconsinites to be fire smart this spring and get their free annual burning permit. Unlike out west, the spring is the most dangerous time for wildfires in Wisconsin. After the snow melts and before plants, trees and grass turn green, fires can spread quickly. “Weather is the single most important factor influencing how fires start and spread,” said Ron Weber, DNR Forester, adding seasonal warm and dry weather conditions increase wildfire activity. “Temperature, wind, humidity and precipitation are the key weather components that determine the daily fire danger.” The DNR requires burning permits in many parts of the state to conduct legal and responsible burning outdoors. Burning permits are free and easy to obtain and protect lives, property and natural resources from the damages of wildfires. Debris burning is the leading cause of Wisconsin’s wildfires. Fires caused by careless burning become more frequent this time of year. The 2021 fire season follows a winter with below-normal snow depths. Fire control officials are focusing on the potential for statewide fire activity as the snow is rapidly melting at the same time.

Wildfires can happen just about any time of the year, but historically, 60% of all annual wildfires in Wisconsin occur in March, April and May alone. “Many people are eager to get outside to clean-up their properties by raking leaf “Many people are eager to get outside to clean-up their properties by raking leaf litter, brush and needles, so it looks good and is ready for new growth,” Weber said. “Then, they choose to burn their debris pile. Consider composting yard waste or hauling it to an approved disposal site. Burning debris should always be the last alternative.” Burning Permit Suspensions Are Based On Wildfire Risk The DNR suspended all burning permits throughout spring 2020, Wisconsin’s peak for wildfires, due to increased safety concerns resulting from COVID-19. This year, the DNR plans to suspend burning based on wildfire risk. However, to promote social distancing, burning permits are not being issued in-person by Emergency Fire Wardens or at DNR service centers. “Wildfires on the landscape will continue to occur despite the COVID-19 outbreak,” Weber said. “In an effort to increase public and firefighter safety and reduce human caused ignitions or escapes, the department will take appropriate steps to prevent wildfires and minimize in-person contact both with the public and among fire personnel.” Burning permits are required in DNR Protection Areas once the snow cover is gone. Permit holders are authorized to burn vegetative materials, such as leaves, brush and needles so that burning is done safely with minimal wildfire risk. Permits are free and can be obtained online and instantly emailed or issued over the phone and delivered

Graphic via Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by the Postal Service within three to five business days. Get your annual DNR burning permit by completing the online application or by calling 1-888-WIS-BURN (947-2876). Once an individual has a burning permit, remember to check the fire restrictions in the appropriate county after 11 a.m. each day before burning, including the legal burning hours, size limitations or if burning is suspended for the day. Small campfires for warming or cooking do not require a burning permit.

“It’s important to check the daily fire restrictions each day before you burn,” Weber said. “With a little planning and dedication to getting your burn permit and following the rules, we can all work together to prevent wildfires.” Because the DNR does not regulate all areas across state, it’s essential to check with local municipal or fire department officials for any ordinances or other burning restrictions.

Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, March 24, 2021 Page 11

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Contributor

A Great Trip to Chequamegon Bay Hello friends, This week’s column has way more to write about than I have space, so here it goes. Ashland, Lake Superior, Chequamegon Bay and ice ﬁshing/winter camping along with two buddies that are all pushing 60 that have known each other since the early 70’s.

Friday, March 12th High 42, Low 23

My Polaris “Classic” pulling three heavily loaded sleds and carrying two full grown men with Ruby running alongside for a couple of miles. Two round trips and that part of the job is done. While much of the state is looking at open water, Chequamegon Bay still had trucks on it and 24-inches of ice. We each put out tip ups and began building camp. Then it was time to jig for whatever was hungry using spoons and wax worms or minnow heads. A ﬂag goes up, after a great ﬁght, I ice a 7-pound brown and we are all ecstatic. Jigging lands us several small perch and smelt, by dark we have three gators in the 28inch range along with the brown.

Saturday, March 13th High 61, Low 28

Today was a unique day for all three of us. We caught splake, browns, gators, smelt, tons of 3-7 inch perch and a sunburn while watching full sized pickups cruise the ice. We ﬁshed hard the entire day and really never quit jigging until dark and though I am a rookie to this water, here is my prediction. There is an explosion of perch, the bite is nonstop, but for the most part they are too small to keep. I am guessing that in two years Ashland may have the best perch ﬁshing in

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Doug Cibulka, Mark Walters, and Jeﬀ Moll had a great time on this ﬁshing trip.

the state. Then there is the northern pike population. Everything we caught or heard about was 25 to 30 inches and they are plentiful. I am predicting that in a couple of years there will be incredible ﬁshing here for 30-to-35inch gators. We have bets for gator, splake, browns, coho, perch and walleye and the walleye and coho are not hungry for our live bait. Early in our day I watched my buddy Moll almost catch a splake in the 21-inch range. I caught one just over 20 and that was a tough pill for the “old fart” to swallow. On the last day he beat me by a ¼ inch and that was even tougher.

Sunday, March 14th High 27, Low 13

We have experienced a complete change in the weather. The wind switched to the northeast and is pretty rough on a person outside of the shed and the high was 34 degrees, colder than yesterday’s high. On the bright side of the coin, since the ice was going to last, we decided

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor The Polaris “classic” worked hard to get man and gear to our destination!

Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Jeﬀ Moll with a splake that he caught on Chequamegon Bay.

to stay another day. Late last night my 60-day old Mr. Heater had something go wrong, I am not blaming the company, and the next thing you know our plastic table in the shack is burning up as well as the Mr. Heater. This was while we were asleep. No one died but the heater and the table, but much bad air was inhaled. Mr. Cibluka has been quietly sucking at catching fish on this trip but today he woke from the dead and went on a tear catching numerous fish such as browns, splake and gators and our fish poundage is adding up. Tonight, we did not have a heater but two propane lanterns did the job and we worked hard at the job called fishing until 4:00 a.m. On Monday we

experienced our best ﬁsh catching yet and broke camp, worked the sled and drove home in really tough conditions as two inches of very wet snow made for greasy roads while doing much of the drive in the dark. Doug Cibulka did this crazy stuﬀ with me two weeks in a row and let me know that even though he had a blast, he would not want to do it for a living. I am a bit run down but will soon be somewhere in the great outdoors living on the edge! —Sunset

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Community

Page 12 WednesdaY, March 24, 2021

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

572,770 Positive Cases

Cases as of 3/22/2021

+2,358 from 3/16

2,688,686 Negative Cases +16,005 from 3/16

6,576 Deaths +37 from 3/16

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 3/23/2021

2,679,245

2,384,898

Allocated

1,242,323

Administered

1,099,414

Pfizer doses administered

43,057

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data Updated: 3/23/2021

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

Richland County

1,291 Positive Cases -3 from 3/16 7,961 Negative Cases +0 from 3/16 15 Deaths +0 from 3/16

Richland

Target Range

28.6%

Iowa County

1,935 Positive Cases +10 from 3/16 11,016 Negative Cases +46 from 3/16 10 Deaths +0 from 3/16

Sauk County

5,410 Positive Cases +29 from 3/16 34,712 Negative Cases +82 from 3/16 44 Deaths +1 from 3/16

Sauk 28.1%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose 17.3%

20%

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

32.4%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose 20.9%

Percent fully vaccinated

Cumulative total confirmed COVID-19 cases by date in Wisconsin Cases as of 3/22/2021

Graphic by Whitney Back

Cases per zip code Cases as of 3/22/2021

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

Target Range