Here’s what Susan Crawford’s state Supreme Court win means for Wisconsin Liberals will control the court until at least 2028 — with implications for abortion rights, congressional redistricting, labor rights and the environment.
Susan Crawford’s win in Tuesday’s record-smashing Wisconsin Supreme Court election paves the way for the court’s liberal majority to continue to flex its influence over state politics.
The Dane County Circuit Court judge’s victory guarantees that liberals will control the court until at least 2028.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is at the center of state politics. It has been since 2020, when it denied Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and has continued to make headlines — especially since flipping to liberal control in August 2023.
For the past two years, Justices Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky, Janet Protasiewicz and Ann Walsh Bradley — who collectively make up the court’s liberal majority — have flexed their authority and remade Wisconsin’s political landscape. Crawford, who will be sworn in on Aug. 1, will replace the retiring Walsh Bradley, who has served on the high court for 30 years.
Here’s what Crawford’s victory could mean for some key issues.
1. Abortion rights
The Wisconsin Supreme Court seems poised to, in some form or the other,
strike down the state’s 1849 abortion law — which bans almost all abortions in the state.
The court’s current justices in November 2024 heard oral arguments in the lawsuit challenging the statute. It was filed by Attorney General Josh Kaul in the days after Roe vs. Wade was overturned. The lawsuit asks the court to determine whether the 1849 law applies to consensual abortions. It also asks whether the 1849 ban was “impliedly repealed” when the Legislature passed additional laws — while Roe was in effect — regulating abortion after fetal viability.
A Dane County judge ruled in late 2023 that the 1849 statute applied to feticide, not consensual abortions. Abortion ser-
vices, which were halted in the state after Roe was overturned, have since resumed.
Crawford’s opponent, conservative Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel, argued during the campaign that the liberal majority was delaying its ruling in the case “to keep the 1849 law a live issue” in the race. While working in private practice, Crawford represented Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin in litigation related to abortion access.
Crawford’s victory on Tuesday ensures the court’s upcoming ruling is likely to remain intact — at least for now — meaning abortion will remain legal in Wisconsin.
2. Congressional redistricting
The liberal majority’s decision to throw out the state’s Republican-gerrymandered legislative maps, breaking a GOP lock on the state Legislature, has been its most influential ruling since taking power. As a result, Democrats picked up 14 seats in the Assembly and state Senate in 2024 in a good Republican year nationwide.
However, during the same time period, the high court denied a request to reconsider the state’s congressional maps without stating a reason. The maps were drawn by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, but under a “least change” directive from a previous conservative court, so they remained GOP-friendly. But in the liberal court’s legislative redistricting decision, it overturned the “least change” precedent. Crawford’s victory opens a window for Democrats and their allies to once again challenge the maps, potentially using the argument that the current lines were drawn under rules that have since been rejected.
The future of the congressional districts were a key issue in this year’s state Supreme Court race.
Elon Musk, who spent some $20 million to boost Schimel’s candidacy, said at a rally in Green Bay last weekend that a potential redrawing of the maps is what made the race so important. He called Tuesday’s election “a vote for which party controls the U.S. House of
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Jack Kelly, Wisconsin Watch
Picture by Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Susan Crawford, shown behind the podium microphone, celebrates her win against Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Brad Schimel in the spring election, April 1, 2025, in Madison, Wis. Joining her at the podium are the rest of the liberal majority she will join on the court. From left, justices Jill Karofsky, Rebecca Dallet and Janet Protasiewicz.
OPINION/EDITORIAL
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Every now and then we have to address pure nonsense. In the March 6, 2025 edition we had someone write a supposedly Christian approach to LGBTQ subject. To support his pro homosexual stance, he said things like, No where did Jesus or his disciples discuss homosexuality in the 4 gospels. Of course not, you know why, it’s because most of the people that were being addressed were Jews and the Jews did not have a problem with homosexuality because it was condemned. Does a doctor talk to you about curing cancer for you, if you don’t have cancer?
Secondly: The author of that article fraudulently said there is a line in the Book of Roman that some interpret, “as condemning homosexuality when in fact it condemns idol worship and lust,
Dear Editor, Russia has been murdering Ukrainians for three years. Trump’s strategic response is to pick a fight with tiny Denmark. There’s nothing about Trump’s behavior which should surprise anyone. What I find especially tragic though, is the silence of the Democrats and the acquiescence of the so-called mainstream media.
As Trump and his court jester Vance rant about the necessity of literally,
not same sex relationships”. Well, here is the verse from the book of Romans 1: 26-27 (NKJV).
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
As we can clearly see, the context is women with women and men who abandoned the natural relationship with women, in exchange for being with men. That is plainly talking about homosexuality!
Thirdly: He mentions that the disciples of Christ did not address the topic
taking Greenland for the sake of national security and “world peace,” why are those with unlimited access to the public forum not demanding some explanation as to what that is even supposed to mean? Why aren’t they hammering the simplest of questions, such as:
• Who exactly is our security threat and how is Greenland supposed to protect us from that threat?
• What exactly does the U.S. want
of Homosexuality in the Gospel. As I said that is because it mostly addressed the Jewish Population, however when they started sharing the gospel with the non-Jewish people who were involved in homosexuality, they did address it. Aside from the aforementioned, verse in the book of Romans, here is another verse on this topic, 1st Corinthians 6:9, written by the Apostle Paul, (NIV) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites.”
Fourthly: The author mentions a verse in the bible in the book of Leviticus that Christians refer to as proof that the bible condemns homosexuality, but says that verse is only condemning “rape, not same sexual intimacy. Here is a verse,
to see in Greenland that cannot be accomplished by NATO?
• What happens to NATO if our armed forces engage in an unprovoked military attack upon a member nation?
• Are we prepared to kill Greenlanders – or Danes – in order to impose the will of one man who might be hard pressed to locate either land on a map?
We have already seen Trump attempt
Here’s what Susan Crawford’s state Supreme Court win means for Wisconsin
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Representatives.”
Democrats have pushed a similar idea.
The Democratic leader in the U.S. House, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, last week called Wisconsin’s congressional lines “broken.”
“As soon as possible we need to be able to revisit that and have fairer lines,” he said during an event with DNC Chair Ken Martin. “The only way for that to be even a significant possibility is if you have an enlightened Supreme Court.”
Crawford’s win makes the court friendlier to a potential congressional redistricting lawsuit.
3. Labor rights
A Dane County judge ruled late last year that provisions of Act 10, a Scott Walker-era law that kneecapped public sector labor unions, violated the state
constitution. Under the ruling, all public sector workers would have their collective bargaining restored to what it was before the law took effect in 2011.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court in February declined to fast-track an appeal in the case, meaning it must first be decided by a conservative branch of the state Court of Appeals, likely ensuring it won’t come before the high court before the end of the current term.
That means Crawford, who challenged aspects of Act 10 while working as a private attorney, will be on the court when it comes before the justices.
She didn’t answer directly when asked during the race’s only debate if she would recuse herself from the case. But she did note that the provision currently being challenged is different from the one she brought a lawsuit over.
“If the same provision that I was involved in litigating back in those early days was challenged again, I most likely would recuse,” she said.
But with conservative-leaning Justice Brian Hagedorn having already recused from the case, Crawford could step aside and liberals would still have the votes needed to overturn the law.
4. Environmental issues
The high court is currently also considering a case about enforcement of the state’s “Spills Law.”
Enacted in 1978, the law requires people or companies discharging a hazardous substance “to restore the environment to the extent practicable and minimize the harmful effects from the discharge to the air, lands or waters of this state.”
The lawsuit was filed by Wisconsin
you decide. Leviticus 18:22 (NIV) ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable. Does that sound like it is only talking about rape and not homosexuality to you?
Then he said that cultural Linguistic translations have misinterpreted the meaning of the original text. Hogwash, he did not do a proper exegesis of the passage, nor did he do a correct hermeneutical interpretation of the scripture! Some might be thinking I should say shame on you to the author who wrote that article, but truthfully, I say, shame on you pastors and Christians who kept quiet, and took no stand for the truth of God’s word!
Pastor George Schleif Arena, Wisconsin
to extort a beleaguered Ukraine in order to plunder its mineral resources. Why should we imagine his interest in Greenland to be any more complex? Now is the moment to call out this treachery. Although the more careeroriented might be predisposed to sit by as it all unfolds. And complain with shock and outrage, later.
Michael Brandt Spring Green, Wisconsin
Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s powerful business lobby, in 2021. It argued that the DNR could not require people to test for so-called “forever chemicals” contamination — and require remediation if they’re present — because the agency hadn’t gone through the formal process of designating the chemicals, known as PFAS, as “hazardous substances.” The court’s liberal justices seemed skeptical of WMC’s position during oral arguments in January. WMC has been a perennial spender in state Supreme Court races. It spent some $2 million targeting Crawford during this year’s race.
Any forthcoming ruling in favor of the DNR is likely safe with Crawford on the court. She was endorsed during the campaign by Wisconsin Conservation Voters.
On the cover
“Counting the vote” (2025) Photo, by Taylor Scott
Our managing editor had the opportunity to watch the last hour of voting and the subsequent hours of
OPINION/EDITORIAL EDITORIAL
DONATION DRIVE
The April 1 election may have come and gone, but we made important updates to our Village of Arena editorial from last edition as complaints and public records came in — as well as to reflect Valley Sentinel filing an open meetings complaint. It's an important read for anyone interested in good governance.
Recently we received word from our press that costs for materials have risen over 19% in the past few months and that our printing cost will go up accordingly.
Use the QR code or go to: www.valleysentinelnews.com.
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.
There is one individual on a MAGA-friendly FB site that continues the mantra of “We can’t mock them enough.” And now someone has started mimicking him. It reminded me of a friend who visited us in Indiana and had her first experience with mockingbirds. She was enjoying its extensive repertoire. When she heard it mimicking the tree frogs, she cracked up. Mocking and mimicking can be amusing things to hear, but are they an effective communication tool if you want to be taken seriously?
Seriously…the public conversations we engage in are a reflection of our experiences and our inner lives. And here is where I find a fascinating connection
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The Tools of Conversation — Part 8: Mockingbird
with a quote from Lilla’s book Ignorance and Bliss (Part 6):
“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)
If we are unwilling or unable to examine our inner lives, and lack the ability to control our own reactions, our ability to exist and communicate in the external world is bound to be compromised.
Chris Hayes in his book The Siren’s Call (Part 7), quotes Pope Pius XII from 1950:
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the future of modern society and the stability of its inner life depend in large part on the maintenance of an equilibrium between the strength of the techniques of communication and the capacity of the individual’s own
reaction” (pg. 19)
I’m beginning to wonder if we are amusing ourselves to death as Postman suggested or if we are more accurately communicating ourselves to death – or at least communicating ourselves into significant social peril because we can’t control our own speech and reactions. I was struck by a comment by Joe Biden in his interview with Lawrence O’Donnell on The Last Word (Jan.17, 2025), in which he expressed serious concern for U.S. democracy, he said: “…everything’s changing, and the biggest thing changing is: How do we communicate with one another?” I think he put his finger on an extremely important point. We can now “say” things without ever saying anything. Just wear a t-shirt meme or post an internet meme or short video of some furry faced guy ranting about something and you have had your “say.”
Even when some have nothing themselves to say, they search for someone else’s voice and mimic it to get attention and to assert themselves. Lilla has something to say about this:
“We feel disempowered and compelled to let the world know that we exist…In these moments, our will to knowledge undergoes a subtle change. No longer aimed at some practical end…no longer about knowing, it is now entirely about the willing, the right to assert ourselves.” (pg.70)
The t-shirt and internet memes seem to have become the ultimate mockingbird in our communication toolbox and a favorite way for some to assert themselves, too often in a nasty, negative, and sarcastic way. According to Wiki-
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pedia, a meme “is an idea, behavior, or style that spreads by means of imitation.” As such, it can become the refuge of the unthinking soul.
To be honest, these memes aren’t always bad, I enjoy silly memes as much as the next person. One of my favorites is “Never underestimate cranky old women, when we are mad even the demons run for cover.” The visual of the cranky old woman is hilarious, but I warn readers to take this particular meme seriously, because memes can carry cultural truth.
It might horrify some users of memes to find out that memes are actually first cousins to the principles of biological evolution. According to Wikipedia, the word meme was coined by British evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Wikipedia continues:
“A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices, that can be transmitted from one mind to another…with a mimicked theme. Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures… Memes do this through processes analogous to those of variation, mutation, competition, and inheritance…”
If the theory that memes conveying intellectual and cultural transmission is accepted, the ramifications are significant. The memes that survive have done so by the extinction of their rivals. As such they exert selective pressure on intellectual and cultural thought.
continued on page 6
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From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of crit- icism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.
Beverly Pestel
Events for April 3 - April 17
Thursday, April 3
COmmunitycalendar
COmmunitycalendar
The Community Calendar is curated by Paige Gilberg and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.
Tuesday, April 8
Circular Weaving 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM • Angel Dreams Studios, E2516 Brace Road, Lone Rock • facebook.com/angeldreamsstudios.art • All ages • $20 per participant, all supplies included • Learn the basics of circular weaving while creating vibrant spiral pieces that can be used as wall hangings or décor. Designed for all abilities and ages, the weekly Community Art Class series includes a short art history lesson, technique demo, and hands-on project.
Tech Drop-In 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • rvbroadband.org/techhelp • Need assistance with your smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Volunteers and library staff offer free help with email setup, social media, software troubleshooting, and more. No appointment necessary. Part of a rotating weekly series at River Valley area locations
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. Plain Listening Session with Sen. Keyeski, Rep. DeSanto, & Sec. Godlewski 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM • Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • Share your thoughts and ideas with Senator Sarah Keyeski and Representative Karen DeSanto during this community listening session. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski will join as a special guest. Questions? Call 608-266-0751.
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.
Container Gardens for Sun and Shade Viewing Party 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe Street, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org •
Watch a recorded webinar by gardening expert Melinda Myers. Learn plant combinations and care tips for sun-filled and shady container gardens.
Saturday, April 5
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.
Friends of the Library Book Donation Drop-Off 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • All ages • Donations accepted of up to four boxes of gently used books, DVDs, and CDs to support library programs. Damaged materials, encyclopedias, and textbooks will not be accepted. Friends reserve the right to limit or refuse donations.
Adult Diamond Painting Workshop 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • For more information, look up Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center on Facebook • Ages 17+ • FREE • Create a gem-covered masterpiece in this fun, beginner-friendly workshop led by Dawn Williams. All materials provided. Sign up at the library front desk or call 608-546-4201 to reserve a spot.
LIVE MUSIC: Common Chord 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • All ages • FREE • Enjoy live acoustic music from duo Common Chord, blending folk, blues, and Americana in an intimate setting at the General Store café.
LIVE MUSIC: The Iowans 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • All ages • $12 advance / $15 at the door • Soulful, harmony-rich songs from the Driftless, performed by first cousins Katie and Christina, joined by jazz bass and electric guitar. Their heartfelt performances are steeped in nostalgia and rooted in Northeast Iowa charm.
Sunday, April 6
7-Day Candle Mosaic Workshop 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM • North Earth Crystals & Gifts, 124 W Jefferson St, Spring Green • For more information, look up North Earth Crystals & Gifts on Facebook • $60 • Transform a 7-day candle into a mosaic piece of intention and light. This hands-on workshop blends creativity with meditation. All supplies provided; bring personal embellishments if desired.
Plays Out Loud: Fallen Angels by Noël Coward 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM • The Shed, 123 N Lexington St, Spring Green • springgreenlitfest.org • FREE• A lively and interactive group reading of Noël Coward’s comedy Fallen Angels, hosted by Gae Polisner and Arcadia Books. No acting experience needed—scripts provided. Listen or join in! Sherry’s Bunny Workshop 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM • The Park Lane Lounge, 420 E Forest St, Lone Rock • For more information, look up Sherry Poad on Facebook • Snacks and drinks included • Join host Sherry Poad and crafter Tracy Ladd to make cute, crafty bunny-themed decorations. Bring your friends and check the event’s discussion tab for design options!
AUTHOR TALK: ‘Funny Because It’s True’ with Christine Wenc 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM • Arcadia Books, 102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green • readinutopia.com • Historian Christine Wenc shares the untold history of The Onion, the satirical paper born at UW–Madison that became a global phenomenon. Wenc, an original staffer, reveals how a group of undergrads shaped modern satire and influenced comedy worldwide. RSVP preferred.
Monday, April 7
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. Trivia Night 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • First question at 7:00 PM • Hosted by Kyle Adams, this lively trivia night brings teams together for prizes and fun. Expect 2 to 2.5 hours of questions, laughs, and friendly competition.
Movies, Munchies, and More: Emilia Pérez 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • FREE • Enjoy snacks and a screening of Emilia Pérez, a vibrant, genre-defying film blending crime drama and musical. Spanish with English subtitles.
Moving Senior Bodies 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • FREE • Led by Upland Hills Health professionals Rosie Morrey, APNP, and Jennifer Day, COTA, this weekly class focuses on balance and strength training to promote healthy aging. Please bring water, your own weights, and wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes. Registration required.
Puzzle Night 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Work on 300–500 piece puzzles or try puzzle chess, a fast-paced two-player game using 100–200 piece puzzles and a timer. Library puzzles provided, or bring one from home to share. All ages welcome.
Spring Afternoon Storytime 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • A short and sweet afternoon storytime in the Community Room. Ideal for families with young children. This weekly session runs through May 13.
Wednesday, April 9
Yoga with Rural Remedy 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 WI-23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Evening yoga class welcoming all levels. Drop-in rate is $20 per class. Pay-it-forward option available to support others in the community.
Thursday, April 10
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.
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.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s World Heritage Buildings 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Taliesin historian Keiran Murphy presents on the 2019 UNESCO World Heritage inscription of eight Frank Lloyd Wright buildings—including two in Wisconsin. Talk runs 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for questions.
Lego Builders Club 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • We supply the Legos, you supply the creativity. Kids of all ages are invited to free build or take on weekly Lego challenges in the Community Room.
Friday, April 11
LIVE MUSIC: Bassel and the Supernaturals 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • $12 advance / $15 at the door • Soulful, jazz-infused funk from Syrian American frontman Bassel Almadani, blending love, loss, and resilience with grooves and activism. As seen on PBS’s The Express Way with Dulé Hill.
Saturday, April 12
Lone Rock Craft Show 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM • Lone Rock Community Building, 214 Broadway St, Lone Rock • For more information, look up Sara Spencer Fuhlbohm on Facebook • Browse a variety of handmade goods and local crafts. Vendor tables are $10; call 608-495-4290 to reserve a space.
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. 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 an instrument or just come to listen—this informal jam is open to all. A welcoming space for musicians and music lovers alike.
LIVE MUSIC: The Shed’s Saturday Night Live 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 • Enjoy a night of live music. Wisconsin Singers 7:00 PM • River Valley High School, Varsity Blvd, Spring Green • wisconsinsingers.com/see-us/springgreen • The nationally renowned Wisconsin Singers bring their high-energy, Broadway-style revue of American popular music to Spring Green for one night only.
Sunday, April 13
Plays Out Loud: Picnic by William Inge 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM • Spring Green Community Center, 117 S Washington St, Spring Green • springgreenlitfest.org • A casual group reading of William Inge’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Picnic. Scripts provided—no acting experience needed. Hosted by Gae Polisner and Arcadia Books. Come to read or just to listen.
LIVE MUSIC: Dale Glaudell 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany St, Spring Green • springgreengeneralstore.com • Enjoy live tunes in the café with Dale Glaudell, offering a laid-back Sunday soundtrack for browsing, brunching, or just relaxing.
River Valley Film Club Presents... 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM • Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W Jefferson St, Spring Green • slowpokelounge.com • Monthly film night featuring a surprise movie selected by the River Valley Film Club. Come early to grab a drink and connect with fellow film fans. Bring your own popcorn or dinner.
Events for April 3 - April 17
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.
Homeschool Hangout 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • A space for homeschoolers to connect, learn, and play together. Includes themed activities and creative time in the Community Room. Ideal for homeschool families of all ages.
Movies, Munchies, and More: Conclave 1:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Enjoy snacks and a screening of Conclave, a political thriller starring Stanley Tucci and directed by Edward Berger. Moving Senior Bodies 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Led by Upland Hills Health professionals Rosie Morrey, APNP, and Jennifer Day, COTA, this class supports healthy aging through balance and strength training. Bring water, comfortable shoes, and your own weights. Registration required.
Spring Afternoon Storytime 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • A short and sweet afternoon storytime in the Community Room. Ideal for families with young children. This weekly session runs through May 13.
Paint ’n Sip – Wishing Tree 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Paint a dreamy “wishing tree” design while sipping and socializing. Instruction and supplies included. All skill levels welcome. Registration required.
Yarn Rocks! 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Try your hand at rock wrapping with yarn—part craft, part meditation. All materials provided. Ages 8 and up. Registration recommended; walk-ins welcome if space allows.
Arcadia Book Club – Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (virtual) • Zoom • readinutopia.com • Join Arcadia’s virtual book club to discuss Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare. Come and go as your schedule allows throughout the day. Registration required.
Egg Hunt Challenge 11:00 AM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Kids can search the library for hidden eggs containing challenges and prizes. All participants receive a treat. Activities are available throughout the day—drop in anytime!
ADRC Drop-In Hours 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 with paperwork, billing questions, appeals, and navigating benefit programs. Walk-ins welcome. Service offered every third Wednesday of the month. Yoga with Rural Remedy 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM • Wyoming Valley School, 6306 WI-23, Spring Green • ruralremedy.com • Evening yoga class welcoming all levels. Drop-in rate is $20 per class. Pay-it-forward option available to support others in the community.
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 help with your phone, tablet, computer, or e-reader? A knowledgeable librarian will be available to answer tech questions and provide one-on-one assistance in a friendly, supportive environment. Offered every third Thursday of the month.
Read to a Dog 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org • Readers ages 5–12 can sign up for a 15-minute session to read aloud with Luna, a registered therapy dog. Bring a favorite book or choose one from the library. Registration and caregiver attendance required.
Lego Builders Club 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • kraemerlibrary.org • We supply the Legos, you supply the creativity. Kids of all ages are invited to free build or take on weekly Lego challenges in the Community Room.
Family Fun Night – Grass Heads 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM • Kraemer Library & Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain • For more information, look up Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center on Facebook • Families are invited to build and decorate their own Grass Heads to celebrate spring. Call 608-546-4201 or visit the library to reserve your spot.
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Governor Dodge State Park (Amphitheater Lot) 4175 WI-23, Dodgeville
All proceeds go to conservation efforts
50K 7:00 AM / 27K 9:00 AM / 10K 10:30 AM
TOUR DE DODGE
Trail Run
50K / 27K / 10K
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
April 5:
Monthly Dog Park Meeting 10:00 AM • Spring Green Dog Park, S12947 Shifflet Rd, Spring Green • For more information, look up Friends of the Spring Green Dog Park on Facebook • Join to discuss upcoming projects at the dog park. Everyone is welcome!
April 6:
VOLUNTEER: Driftless Trail Trimmers Work Day 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM • Knobs Road Trail, Ridgeway • driftlessconservancy.org • Help maintain over five miles of the Driftless Trail with the Driftless Area Land Conservancy. Tools and training provided.
April 7:
Spring Green Library Board Meeting 5:00 PM • Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green • springgreenlibrary.org American Red Cross Donation Event 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM • American Legion Clubhouse, 1 American Legion Dr., Plain • redcrossblood.org • Donate blood or Power Red with the American Red Cross.
April 8:
Village of Arena Board Meeting 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM • Arena Village Hall, 345 West St., Arena • villageofarena.net
Village of Lone Rock Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Lone Rock Village Hall, 314 E. Forest St., Lone Rock • villageoflonerock-wi.gov
April 9:
Plain Library Board Meeting 6:30 PM • Plain Village Hall, 510 Main Street, Plain • villageofplain.com
Village of Spring Green Board Meeting 7:00 PM • Spring Green Village Office, 154 N. Lexington St., Spring Green • vi.springgreen.wi.gov • Regular meeting of the Village Board. Open to the public. Attend in person or virtually via Zoom.
April 15: Richland County Board Meeting 7:00 PM • County Board Room, 181 W. Seminary St., Richland Center • co.richland.wi.us
The Community Calendar is curated by Paige Gilberg and designed by Julianna Williams. Events are subject to change, always check ahead for up-to-date information on any events you are interested in.
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We are looking for interns/volunteers who want to be in the unique position to learn the nuts and bolts of a news media publication that started from the ground up.
You will have the chance to make an impact at the ground level of a startup and see the effect of your work and ideas carried out with a lot of flexibility, in an environment and creative culture you can help influence and create.
Available subject areas:
Interested? Send us your area(s) of interest and a resume to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com
(OUR EDITOR IS GETTING TIRED OF LAYING OUT THE PAGES AND SAYS ITS NOT IN HIS JOB DESCRIPTION)
Want to help build community?
Areas in most need:
-Graphic design (publication layout & design, visual story design, infographics)
-Community contributors
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Know a college student that’s looking for a spring or summer internship for academic credit or to gain experience? Already attending village board or school board meetings and want to record or report on them? Want to engage with arts & culture, ag, businesses and other topics important to our community? Want to take scenic walks or drives delivering papers to subscribers and businesses? We have so many ideas to grow and do more for our community, but we need help, we CAN’T do it alone.
If you want to be a part of something bigger please email us and let us know what your interests are: editor@valleysentinelnews.com
We have the infrastructure set up for most of these areas, we're just in need of manpower from passionate community members.
More Cuckoo's Nest Stuff to Fly Over
Bi-Weekly Sword Tip Holistic Wellness and Politics
How many “gates” can we have in one administration? Time will tell and we haven't even hit 100 days of this administration yet. The most recent one that has been identified is called “Signalgate”...a fiasco where several top officials (18 total, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth) who shared detailed attack/war plans against Yemen’s militia on an insecure messaging app called “Signal”. If it wasn't for Atlantic’s Editor-in-chief and journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, mistakenly being included in this thread of messages we probably would not have known of this significant security infraction. Initially skeptical that the user was really the National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, Goldberg silently observed a days-long debate on the chat regarding specific military plans…disbelieving it was all real. However, once those strikes did in fact occur at the specific times identified on this chat, Goldberg removed himself from the chat thread. Eventually, Goldberg felt the need to share a screenshot of the thread due to the current administration denying that these messages occurred as he stated and should have been classified as secret…exposing them for a read from other civilian, military and political personnel and potentially enemies to assess.
This recent chat leak involving sensitive information has raised significant concerns about privacy, security, and the integrity of communication in our increasingly digital world. In an era where information flows freely but is often poorly guarded, the implications of such leaks can be devastating. However, amid the chaos and fear surrounding the exposure of classified materials, one individual has emerged as a beacon of integrity and responsibility: Jeffrey Goldberg. OK…here’s the deal…having spent 20 years as an active duty Air Force nurse, I can look at this thread and put money on the fact that this would be considered top secret information that should only be shared in a protected, secure environment (and I’m not a gambler). Granted, we in the medical field did not have many top secret issues to expose other than our sponge or bedpan count…but I think my 9 year old granddaughter, Ava, could understand that these details should not be shared with just anyone. I do understand that using properly secured communications isn’t as easy as clicking an app on a personal phone (read blatant incompetence and sloth)…however (comma) it’s the right thing to do given the extremely high level of security this should have had.
In a landscape where fear and uncertainty often dominate the narrative, Jeffrey Goldberg stands out as a figure advocating for a balanced approach to
Sherry Hillesheim, R.N.
journalism. His emphasis on ethical reporting and accountability offers a path forward in the wake of the chat leak, reminding us all of the vital role that responsible journalism plays in a democratic society. As we navigate the complexities of information in this digital age, Goldberg’s principled stance serves as a guidepost for those in the media and beyond.
Here’s the crazy deal…this whole team of officials…up to the top (including DJT) are still doubling down and denying this was a security issue breach which is not unusual given how unethical this conservative group seems to be while they follow the golden want-to-be dictator’s lead regarding poor ethics. Sadly, how challenging would it be to be a military pilot knowing how unsafely this administration handles secure information… be afraid!! And how sad that it took a journalist to let us know about it all… how many more of these messages have been written and shared in this manner (since not one of the officials on this thread raised the BS flag? Accountability should happen and these inexperienced, non-serious officials should lose their jobs because had it been anyone else in the military that did this, they would be court martialed and/or imprisoned.
Bottom line, while the chat leak of secret information has undoubtedly created a frightening situation, Jeffrey Goldberg’s response reveals the potential for heroism in journalism. By prioritizing ethical considerations and advocating for a responsible approach to reporting, he exemplifies the values that should underpin our engagement with sensitive information. In doing so, he reminds us that even in the face of crisis, there are voices committed to truth, integrity, and the greater good. And that should be the goal for all of us…to speak truth to power with integrity…a much better holistic wellness option for all of us.
Spiritual Meditation: If there is any magic to be found, it is in the truth.
Political Humor: Dang…Pete Hegseth is texting me his action/war plans again… wonder if he’s been drinking again?
My blog and contact information: www.holisticseekers.com; 719-213-9963
The Tools of Conversation — Part 8: Mockingbird
continued from page 3
Now add this piece, “Memes spread through the behavior that they generate in their hosts…”
Wow, did that just say that memes can generate behavior? Does this tool of conversation have that kind of power? Power invested in something that can be just a few words and an image or video with a mimicking theme. Something that is spread with a mimicking and mocking intention and potentially devoid of any original thought by the one spreading it. One capable of mutating into something destructive. Things that mutate and then spread rapidly have a name – cancer.
In the spirit of becoming part of the solution instead of part of the problem, I’m going to have to do some self-examination and think hard about not using these internet memes at all. They may be a communication tool that deserves to be thrown into the trash bin. But is that wise or even possible?
Looking at memes from a broader focus, as a “unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices” they take on a whole different perspective and significance. Within a culture, a person need not have biological descendants to have a continued influence in the world, only the memes they construct need to survive. Consider the cultural ideas of Socrates, Einstein, Marie Curie, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Thomas Edison, and Mother Teresa. Their ideas certainly deserve to survive and change human behavior, but our
t-shirt and internet memes are a different animal.
Hmmm, I didn’t expect this column to get this deep in the woods – but this is cool. However, moving on…
The results of our current communication tools and technology seems to be falling into place – and it’s not a good place. Amusing ourselves to death (Postman), dumber and meaner (Nichols), reasons not to think (Lilla), attention please (Hayes), and now the mocking and mimicking of the nonsense memes.
No wonder that there are some among us who have no hope for what may incorrectly be named Homo sapiens, since the term translates as wise human or intelligent human.
I’m not there yet, but I’m certainly worried.
Thanks to the recommendation of a friend (and my unofficial pre-editor) I’m ordering the book, Political Animals: Why Our Stone Age Brains Get in the Way of Smart Politics by Rick Shenkman. While I’m waiting for it to arrive, I have this interview of Shenkman by Katelyn Fossett in Politico Magazine (Dec. 16, 2015).
Fossett prefaces the interview about the book this way, “…this goes a long way in explaining the baffling state of politics today. Why do we believe politicians when they lie? Why do we shun nuance and flock to demagogues…Do we have any hope of change?”
The book is on order – please, Mr. Shenkman, tell me there is hope.
in the heart of the driftless
in the beginning of a new Spring
there is a long silence that is reaching
across the fresh meadow there is a growing and out beyond the dry pasture there is a creek and it is distantrunning and there is a dogbarking and a red barn dooropening
a.thomas 30march2025
all at once
I stand - tall in an orange horizon another year - here leaving Winter
graveyard
Poetic Wonderer
The Sauk County Gardener
“When one flower blooms, spring awakens everywhere.”
— John O'Donohue
This past weekend, I starting to hear one of my favorite harbingers of spring – the spring peepers. There are a number of kettle ponds around where I live and when spring arrives, these small, but noisy, frogs come out of the ponds, making loud peeping songs in their search for a mate. These spring peepers are not the only harbingers of spring. If you look closely during your walks around your neighborhood and through the woods, you’ll start to see a number of spring harbingers –woodland early spring-flowering ephemerals. Typically, you’ll see these late April/early May but don’t be surprised to start seeing some of them now. The word “ephemeral” means lasting for a very short time and in this case, refers to those very early blooming flowers you see first. Their growth dies back once it starts to really get warm outside. There are a number of spring ephemerals, but here are a few of my favorites.
First off is one from my childhoodDutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). They were prolific in the woods between
my grandma’s and uncle’s home. The plant has ferny foliage like a bleeding heart and the flowers look like tiny little pantaloons hanging upside down to dry. The bumblebee, with her long tongue, can get to the hard-toreach nectar, and in the process of doing so, pollinates the flower.
Another common ephemeral around here is bloodroot (Sanguinaria candenis). These have pure white petals, and their leaves wrap around the flower bud and stem to hold in warm air. The petals show up before the leaves and close up at night. When they are picked, they extrude red sap, thus the name.
Another favorite is the Large White Trillium. These were all over in the woods where I grew up near Wonewoc, WI. These flowers have three petals, three leaves, and three sepals. In some areas of the United States, these lovelies have been adversely affected by overgrazing of white-tailed deer. In addition to white, trilliums also come in shades of red and yellow, although more common in other woodland areas of the United States.
Jack in the Pulpit also has three leaves but has a unique flower. The flower is green and purple, and the shape is similar to what you see with on a peace lily, except the pointy
Wandering the Driftless
Results of SW Wisconsin Deer Study
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first identified in a captive mule deer herd in Colorado during the 1960’s. It spread to wild deer and elk in the area around the research facility. The disease has proven to be fatal to every cervid (members of the deer family: deer, elk, moose and caribou) that has been infected.
CWD was first detected in Wisconsin, in Dane County during 2002. It has since spread to most of the Badger State, with the highest infection rates found in southwestern Wisconsin. The spread of the disease prompted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to undertake a multi-year study of whitetailed deer in portions of Dane, Iowa and Grant counties, beginning in 2016. The goal of this study was to examine factors impacting deer survival and population trends in this part of the state. These factors included CWD, predation, habitat and hunter harvest.
Adult deer were captured, mostly during the winter, using baited box traps and nets. These deer were weighed and measured. A sample of tissue from near the anus taken for CWD testing. The animals were fitted with a GPS satellite collar and released. A total of 766 adults were involved in the study.
Fawn capture was also part of the study. Fawns will remain motionless when approached for the first few weeks after they are born. They rely on spotted camouflage and their mother’s efforts to keep them scentless to evade predators. DNR researchers and volunteers did grid searches of likely fawn locations. Located fawns were captured with gloved researchers, weighed and measured. A blood sample was taken and the fawn was fitted with an expandable collar and released. The number of fawns collared was 323.
I had the opportunity to be part of a fawn capture during the study. While serving as the School Forest Coordinator for the Ithaca School District, I had the pleasure of working with a group of young ladies that assisted in providing lessons to elementary students at our School Forest. As a reward for their service, I volunteered them (and myself) for a fawn capture team. I assumed that a day in May spent outdoors with
end comes up and over, providing a hood for “Jack” in the pulpit. In the fall, you can see their fruit – a cluster of bright orange-red berries. These grow rampant in the woods behind our home.
If you walk along the Riverwalk in Baraboo, there is a home that has a spectacular stand of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). These spring beauties have pink buds that open up to blue “bells” and are about 1-2 feet tall. Once they are done blooming, the foliage dies back.
You may also notice on your walks, colonies of Mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum). The white flowers are hard to see under their green umbrella-like leaves. They do produce an edible fruit, but you have to eat it at just the right time, and if you have deer, they will most likely get to them before you. As the weather continues to warm up, go outside and find some of these spring ephemerals and more. Many of them can be found on your walks and in state and county parks. Even better, add some to your own gardens to enjoy spring blooms just a little earlier next year. If you want to learn more about some common ones in Wisconsin, visit https:// authenticwisconsin.com/ephemerals.html.
Please plan to join the Sauk County Master Gardeners at these upcoming events. Saturday, April 5 is the “Vegetable Gardening Basics Workshop” from 9-11 am at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library, Baraboo. Learn basic gardening skills and then finish-up with a hand-on seed-starting session where you will plant a flat of seeds to take home. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Next, follow up with “Starting Seeds” on Tuesday, April 22 at 6 pm at the Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Public Library, Baraboo. This is in-depth workshop focused on proven seed-starting methods. On Thursday, April 10 at 6 pm in the Sauk County West-Square Building basement, 505 Broadway Street, Baraboo, hear Bryce Hall of Seneca Foods speak about can manufacturing and food safety. All these events are free and open to the public.
This week’s article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.
pop and snacks provided would be preferable to a day spent in school. We only located one fawn, but of course, the girls were thrilled to see a young deer up close and to be part of an important research study.
Local trappers also played an important role in the project. Trappers were asked to call researchers when a coyote or bobcat was captured in a foothold trap. Researches responded to trap sites, collared the animals and assisted in the release of the animal, back to the wild. A total of 69 coyotes and 47 bobcats became part of the study, in hopes of determining their effect on the deer herd.
When a deer collar no longer was seen moving, the body of the deceased deer was located and a necropsy (the animal equivalent of an autopsy) was performed to determine the cause of death. CWD, hunter harvest, automobile collisions and predators were implicated in many of the deer losses.
The data from the study was analyzed and the results were released to the public in January. The analysis presents a discouraging prognosis for the health of our deer herd. The table below predicts the probability of an adult deer surviving for an additional year.
CWD negative | CWD positive
Female 83% 41%
Male 69% 17%
Bucks (males) tend to be infected at a higher rate, as they are more likely to have more interactions with other deer. The above data indicates that individual male deer are at great risk of being eliminated from the herd by CWD. Researchers also found that when CWD infection rates among female deer reach 29%, the deer population in an area was likely to decline.
Should you be interested in learning more about this research project, check the Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator Study homepage on the DNR website. You may also want to attend your County Deer Advisory Council meeting, as DNR wildlife managers will be on hand to answer questions. Meeting dates, times and locations are available on the DNR website.
John Cler Columnist
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 CWD positive buck in Vernon County.
Photo contributed by John Cler Author is standing behind Ithaca students assisting in fawn capture and collaring. DNR researchers on the left.
Jeannie Manis Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener
Harbingers of Spring
An Outdoorsman’s Journal
Mark Walters, Columnist
My EZ Season
Hello friends,
This week I am writing to you about a series of bad luck that has happened to me, and I feel it makes for a pretty interesting story. Every year from around the 1st of April until the end of Wisconsin’s deer gun season I have what I call my “busy season” and to be perfectly honest, it about kicks my hinder. For several years now my busy season has not ended until I return from my annual Mississippi deer and hog hunt in early January.
As I have written about, this late December, while hunting and camping in The Delta National Forest in west central Mississippi a tree fell on my 2017 GMC, smack dab on the cab and it was not pretty. Long story short, I made it home with the truck and a month later it was rebuilt, which cost my insurance company $17,900.
The night I arrived home after a 952-mile trek pulling my toy hauler trailer with broken windows and a scrunched cab I was proud that I got the old girl home. I was shutting the lights off in my house to call a long day quits and I noticed a long and very ugly wound on my 8-year-old golden retriever Ruby’s belly. That wound ended up being cancer, my vet and myself did everything we could do to save Ruby and that was not meant to be, as she passed away 16 days later on my living room floor.
The following week, I started to notice a scratch in my throat, headaches and fatigue, I was getting better then I helped host an ice skating party which was on a snowy night and I became very ill for 7 days. To this day, about 50 days later, I have not fully recovered my stamina.
The illness that whacked me, the loss of Ruby, and a truck-guy being without his truck for a month was not a positive start to my EZ Season.
So we all know that when we fall, we must get back up. My pond biologist had told me that I need more habitat for my fish and minnows. I already had quite a bit but took on the task with about twenty, 20-foot oak and maple tops from a logging job. I would put the butt end on shore and have the top facing out on the “ice” and when spring came it would sink down for my long term fishing/retirement plan.
I was super ambitious and was confident the ice was safe. I got a bit too close to the aerator while dragging the biggest tree top across the pond, over 14-feet of water. My right foot, leg and upper body fell through the ice faster than you can blink an eye. I had 2 problems, one I was in very cold water that was deep and two, my left leg did not fall through the ice as it did not break, and I was stretched as fast as you can imagine. In other words, tie your right foot to an atv, tie your left foot to another atv, have two drivers go opposite directions real fast, it was not pretty.
If anyone is fairly experienced at falling through the ice and getting out, it is me. I honestly thought I was fine, about an hour later I noticed I had hurt my left ankle, knee and my back. Two hours later I was 100% worthless, all I could do was crawl. I knew I needed help, so a host of neighbors answered my call. My house was not perfect and before they arrived, I swept my floors while crawling and was simply put, was a mess.
The next day my doctor told me she was concerned my ankle was broke, x rays revealed a severe sprain. That fall happened 4 weeks ago, I am healing but
my balance, especially when cutting firewood is not good.
Just to put a tad more love into this story, I’m fishing and camping on the ice on the Mississppi river then get a text from one of my Polish neighbors down the road a piece. Here is what it said “there are 3 bulls in my back yard.” I knew it was 3, shorthorn 600, pound heifers and I was doinked as my neighbor is surrounded by forest and I was 4 hours away.
Thank God for my neighbors for the 500 thousandth time! These shorthorns are so tame that even though they were lost in the forest, my good buddy Daren Plantz who helps feed, had carried a bucket and kept calling, when they came out from their adventure which was a good half mile from my house the
neighborhood worked together on a roundup and all’s well that ends well took place!
Can’t wait for this dang EZ season to end!
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 The Three Amigo’s and their buddy Red.
Photo contributed by Mark Walters Nine hundred and fifty miles from home, not a good way to start a day.
Photo contributed by Mark Walters Ruby loved the adventure part of her life.
