Valley Sentinel - 04-07-2022

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Thursday, April 7, 2022 | Vol. 3, No. 10 FREE, Single-Copy

Inside this edition

Local musician competes on the national stage

Marklein rural EMS bill veto

by Evers sparks debate

Sh*tty Barn announces 2022 season lineup

Pages 1, 8

Pages 2, 4, 5

Page 8

Local musician Jake’O competes in national televised song Wyoming Valley School opens exhibition by award-winning contest representing Wisconsin local artist Jennifer Angus

Photo provided by NBC Local musician Jake'O performing March 21 on NBC's "American Song Contest".

‘There's music everywhere but the Driftless is definitely magical for me’ Taylor Scott, Managing Editor A local artist from our very own River Valley area recently returned home after representing Wisconsin on the national stage as part of NBC’s “American Song Contest”. Jake’O performed an original song on the show

last month and shared his inspiration and thoughts with us on the journey.

What is it?

“American Song Contest” is based on the worldwide phenomenon “Eurovision Song Contest,” organized for 65 years by the European Broadcasting Union and watched

continued on page 8

Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center (6306 State Road 23 Spring Green) recently opened an art exhibition within its space. Jennifer Angus is a local artist and professor in Design Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Creating some of the most provocative work in an art museum setting, Angus’ medium is insects, with the exhibition titled: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada.

Jennifer has exhibited her work internationally including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Spain. She has received awards from the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council and the University of Wisconsin. Recently she received the inaugural Forward Art Prize for outstanding women artists of Wisconsin.

Angus’ exhibition “In the Midnight Garden”, was part of “Wonder” the inaugural exhibition that reopened the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. She was one of nine artists selected by curator Nicholas Bell for this landmark exhibition.

Reviews of Angus’ work have appeared in Art Daily, the New York Times, the Huffington Post, Artlink, Art Papers, NY Arts Magazine, Architectural Digest, ArtNews and many others.

This exhibition is also an opportunity for the public to see the Wyoming Valley School building after a major historic rehabilitation. Located just three miles south of Taliesin in Spring Green, Jennifer’s installation is educational, interactive, and a perfect fit for this historic school. She is thrilled to be installing in her first Frank Lloyd Wright space, referring to it as “inspiring."

Admission prices are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, students and military with children under the age of six admitted free. All proceeds will go towards the continuation of programming at the school. The exhibition will be open from 10am until 3pm Thursday through Sunday, March 26 – June 12.

More information available at: wyomingvalleyschool.org

Valley Sentinel approved by Wisconsin Newspaper Association for membership Jordan Schelling, Wisconsin Newspaper Association In a unanimous vote, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of Directors approved the (Spring Green) Valley Sentinel for associate membership during its quarterly board meeting Thursday, March 24, at The Madison Club.

The Valley Sentinel is a bi-weekly newspaper, publishing every other Thursday in Spring Green. Its coverage area in southwestern Wisconsin also

includes Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, and the surrounding areas in Sauk, Iowa and Richland counties.

Owners Nicole Aimone and Taylor Scott started the newspaper in October 2020, adopting a hybrid model that focuses on community engagement. Aimone is the newspaper’s editor-in-chief and Scott serves as managing editor.

The newspaper distributes about 1,000 copies per issue, offering single copies for free and a $30 annual subscription

for home delivery. They also offer a subscription fund, through which those who may not be able to afford home delivery can have their subscription paid for through donations and a percentage of the newspaper’s advertising sales. ...

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association has been working on behalf of Wisconsin newspapers since 1853 by providing advocacy, resources and education. Our mission is to strengthen the newspaper

industry, enhance public understanding of the role of newspapers, and protect basic freedoms of press, speech and the free flow of information.

Member, Wisconsin Newspaper Association

W I S C O N S I N N E W S PA P E R A S S O C I AT I

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Commentary/Opinion/Lte

Thursday, April 7, 2022

The Plain and Simple Correspondent: Arise Katie Green, Columnist

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to save the world and a desire to savor the world,” wrote E. B. White, author of such classic children's books as Stuart Little and Charlotte's Web. A little of both are in order, don't you think? The world systems affecting nature, politics, the fraying social order, the diminution of the kindness quotient, and so on, obviously need

Photo contributed by Katie Green “saving” – that is, our behavior needs to change radically for us to survive and survive with a modicum of joi de vive. But there is still so much to savor. Our famous Wisconsin artist, Georgia O'Keeffe, a Sun Prairie native, was shy and unconfident about her talent. She experienced emotional breakdowns from crippling doubt and in later years confusion about which gender she was attracted to most. One woman she admired ardently, Margery Latimer, died after childbirth, but in previous correspondence with O'Keeffe she is quoted as writing, “Today is all bare and bright, bare limbs and bright sky

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR On the cover Ukraine Rocks, Photo (2022) by Alison Graves

Arcadia Books, our award-winning friendly neighborhood bookstore and cafe at 102 E. Jefferson St., in downtown Spring Green is helping Ukrainian humanitarian efforts by selling locally-created, hand-painted “Ukraine Rocks.” They are painted blue and yellow (the color of the Ukrainian flag) and are adorned with sunflowers, the country’s national flower.

The rocks, which make great paperweights or gifts, come with special gift bags and tags explaining the significance and meaning of the colors. They are offered for $10 apiece, with 100% of sales going to the nonprofit organization, World Central Kitchen, established by Chief Jose Andrews in 2017. The organization goes into areas in desperate need. They provide hot meals and food, train people on the ground, work with people locally and do whatever they can to feed people. To date they have served more than a million meals in Ukraine and are active in 55 cities there, with 330 distribution centers.

—Alison Graves Submit your artwork or photography for consideration: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Cover image trace graphic illustration by Julianna Williams

and I thought there is a way to face the truth we actually know far inside us, our nakedness, our peril, and let it invigorate every cell. There is a way of becoming so alive that anything on earth that happens is a privilege.”

Everything?

I needed to hear that about now.

I suppose each bump in the road or personal tragedy can provide an excuse, and a challenge, to learn from it, but the thought takes some getting used to. I'd just as soon pass, thanks. As my partner and I prepare to enter a new phase of our lives, I wish we could swig fresh, sweet, justpressed Concord grape juice from our own vines, not vinegar. The pangs are intense in breaking up of this overstuffed household and thinking ahead to what will clearly be a more Zen-like future stripped of many comforting possessions. Some of the hulking antique furnishings have been ours to enjoy for upwards of fifty years, grimly have we hauled them coast to coast and back again, and there is indeed something to savor to think of traveling more lightly. Less to bump into in the night in the dark on the way to the kitchen for water... or that other little room to void it. Today there was much to rejoice in, I admit.

Two friends rendered us outstanding services. The sun was shining and it was almost warm. The early mini irises and crocuses are emboldened again, pretending the sun has danced across the equinox for real. I turn my back on the storm clouds gathering in the sky for tomorrow's forecasted trouble. Snow again? Really! Ah, but it takes a lot to get this old girl down. As Dorothy L. Sayers quipped, “Time and trouble will tame an advanced young woman, but an advanced old woman is uncontrollable by any earthly force.”

Returning to the notion of saving the world, surely some bravado is needed to battle the Forces of outright

Evil. That means pointing fingers, righteous anger, and getting up a head of steam. When our legislature persists in questioning the 2020 election, and 313 bills are introduced in the WI State legislature but only 10 received a public hearing and only two bills make it to a floor vote, I smell a rat. The rat catcher's spleen clicks into overdrive. Only... I am now looking at an old Peanuts cartoon strip unearthed in all the digging through piles of treasures. In it Linus asks Lucy, “Why are you always so anxious to criticize me?” She answers “I just think I have a knack for seeing other people’s faults…” Linus asks, “What about your own faults?” She responds: I have a knack for overlooking them..”

I am strongly tempted to be a Lucy but that's a sure fire recipe for loneliness.

Who likes to be around Lucy?

Five years ago a good friend died in New England. Peter had bought a small manufacturing plant in a small town in the Midwestern heartland decades ago and tried to institute some innovations in structure and company culture. He was successful in a few (especially in giving women more opportunities) but felt that overall he had failed in his goals. The managers and rank & file rejected his suggestions. He was a quiet man, one constantly on a spiritual quest, who journaled daily, wanting to become a better man, always seeking a closer relationship with his family and his God. The general feeling about him in town was that he was a weirdo.

When Peter died one of his children delivered the most gorgeous eulogy at his memorial service, holding him up as the perfect father and husband and friend, who really listened to, saw, and was supportive of all he met.

He successfully epitomized love in action. By the time he died in New England in his 80s, his “outrageous” ideas were pretty much the norm and

an executive from that manufacturing company, now run by his son, assured Pete just before he died that he had just been ahead of his time. Changes aren’t always necessary or good but in this case Peter was wise to try to overcome old prejudices and antiquated ways of working.

Another outstanding quality of our friend was his joy in the natural world.

Katie Green Sometimes he just couldn't wait to change out of his business clothes to ride a horse through the woods on his farm, prune trees, or dig in the earth, which exasperated his more practical wife, the laundress. But there was no way to staunch, let alone discourage, such an outpouring of delight and such a powerful need to be outdoors.

In the end, I'm with Pete. There is a better chance we can save the world best by savoring it. ...

Katie is an author living in Plain that has been writing for fun and profit, mostly the former, since childhood. Her writing is self described as opinionated, but meant to be in the interests of a more loving, better functioning world for all. She may be reached at: greengal2@charter.net.

Has American society gone too far? Hate and distrust are evident. The change is up to us all.

Dear editor, I sit here writing this letter with a great deal of concern over the direction that I see our country heading. Over the last few years we have all witnessed an increase in the amount of hate and dissension not only in the world but our country and local areas as well. It is true that periodically we need to see and experience change for the greater good. Has American society gone too far? Hate and distrust are evident. The federal government is being hamstrung by accusations of voting fraud that has been yet to have solid evidence to the contrary. Supposition and rumors persist. From this, people are still trying to argue both sides of this issue on all levels. Instead of trying to get nearly everyone to work together, the loudest voices are seemingly trying to say that their side is right no matter what. What has happened to the

Evers fails to help rural EMS

Dear editor, On March 31 Governor Evers vetoed SB 89, this legislation would have aided struggling rural EMS agencies across the state. This bill would have made the requirement for the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) testing for Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) optional.

The NREMT certification allows all levels of EMS personnel to operate in other states. In my case, as with many other volunteers, we have no desire to

ego’s of people to not accept or have a willingness to try to work things out to come to an agreement.

With this being said, we can all see where this attitude has expanded beyond the federal side to local issues as well. From local teachers who disagree with their school board, people of different family countries of origin, people of differing orientation to their lifestyles. Road rage gets people shot and sometimes killed. As a society, where are we going? Many speak of the devout beliefs they have while spewing hate.

One item that made me wonder, was an incident that I saw yesterday.

An approximately 8 year old boy was walking around wearing a hat stating “Let’s go Brandon”. How do you tell someone this age what the hat means without making hate a dominant growth lesson?

I refer to a quote that I read in an article made originally by President John F. Kennedy. "So let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct our attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal."

It’s up to all to have an open discussion regarding our vulnerable youth on how we want them to grow.

Embracing hate or a willingness to work things out to the better of all?

work in another state; we just want to help our rural communities.

The concern that the removing the NREMT would lessen the standards for EMS personnel in the state of Wisconsin is unwarranted. The State Department of Human Services ensures that all EMS personnel in the state are trained to the high standards required to perform the tasks required. The abilities of EMS provider’s qualifications should be left up the Service director of the local ambulance service. This person will

ensure all EMS personnel who work for the service are qualified and current in their capabilities. Should they wish to require their personnel to take and pass the NREMT that should be their decision!

Governor Evers’ veto of SB 89 is tragic for the residents of rural Wisconsin; it will only make the problem of getting and keeping qualified EMS personnel worse.

Jerry Crotsenberg, Hillsboro, Wisconsin

Raye Walz Kendall, Wisconsin

Commentary/OpInIon

Thursday, April 7, 2022 Page 3

Our Social Dilemma — Part 3: Castes in the United States Beverly Pestel, Columnist “Our Social Dilemma” is a series of thought-provoking columns by retired local professor Beverly Pestel exploring a description and explanation of our current social, cultural and political tensions — looking at solutions and means of learning to accept one another.

…

“When we go to the doctor, he or she will not begin to treat us without taking our history…the doctor will not hazard a diagnosis until he or she knows the history going back generations…it does no good to pretend that certain ailments have not beset us, to deny the full truths of what brought us to this moment.

Few problems have ever been solved by ignoring them…Looking beneath the history of one’s country is like learning that alcoholism or depression runs in one’s family…You don’t ball up in a corner with guilt or shame at these discoveries. You don’t, if you are wise, forbid any mention of them.

In fact, you do the opposite…You learn the consequences and obstacles, the options and treatment.” This admonition from Isabel Wilkerson in her book “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents” prompts the continuation of the exploration of our social dilemma.

The denial of citizenship and voting rights, as explored in Part 2, is a part of the history that produced divisions and conflict between cultural groups.

Cultural groups will often be placed in order as castes, and these castes are inevitably defined by constructed stories that describe differences in abilities and values between those castes. Wilkerson points out that “Caste does not explain everything in American life, but no aspect of American life can be fully understood without considering caste and embedded hierarchy.”

A caste system is an “imagined reality” as defined by Harari in Part 1, it exists only in our heads as a network of stories we have told ourselves. We weave stories that not only define our caste but multiple others as well.

They are stories that fix and embed a ranking of groups of humans and set the presumed supremacy of one group against the presumed inferiority of other groups. They have no objective reality, but that does not stop them from having a force in the world.

Over time, the United States has suffered from multiple castes within our social fabric. Initially, inherited physical characteristics were used to establish and maintain castes with the caste defined by white characteristic at the top of the heap. Stories were constructed to assign varying inner abilities (or lack of abilities) and group values (or lack of values) to presumed subordinate castes in an attempt to justify the divisions. As the dominant white caste grew large and diverse as a result of immigration from Europe, “white” was no longer good enough to guarantee anyone into the privileged “us” caste. The number of castes expanded and

became defined using criteria other than physical characteristics such as nation of origin, ethnicity, job type, socio-economic status, urban versus rural, and

Beverly Pestel degree of education. Hierarchies were established by creating divisive stories putting these new categories of castes into arbitrary order based on the nature of the story. The result was a “them/them/them/them” divide of multiple subordinate castes each struggling to claim their rightful place in the “all men are created equal” part of the American promise.

Participation in the human frailty of imagined distinctions and conflicts between “them/them/them” and “us” is guaranteed to prevent any kind of social cohesion. Unfortunately, many of us have fallen victim to it, if not by choice, then by avoiding the inspection of our own biases.

If there is going to be any hope of solving our social dilemma and uniting our country, castes created using imaginary stories containing stereotypes have to be overcome.

Stereotypes such as: The Irish are all a bunch of brawlers. All Jews are rich. A white-collar job is superior to a blue-collar job. The poor are just lazy. Country folks are simpletons and city-dwellers are sophisticated.

Lack of a high school education makes you stupid and a college degree makes you intelligent. All of this is nonsense, stories composed of a network of imagined realities we chose to tell ourselves and build into our belief systems.

It is almost impossible for us to escape some susceptibility to this socially destructive phenomenon.

If you don’t recognize yourself as having fallen into some of these divisive stories, you’re probably not being totally honest with yourself. (I certainly have found some lurking in my mind.) Examining ourselves and eliminating some of these destructive stories from our beliefs could be a start to healing some of our social divisions. We need not be locked into the old, destructive imagined realities of “them” and “us”, we can create a new imagined reality of equality and inclusion. The stories are ours to weave.

Beverly had a 37 year career as a chemistry professor specializing in chemistry education and learning theory. In 2012 she was able to retire and move home to Wisconsin to focus on remodeling an old farmhouse and tending 40 acres of woodland in Richland County. When not in the woods she spends her time reading, writing and enjoying the beauty of the Driftless Area.

Bipartisan work in the Legislature: 83% of all bills were passed with bipartisan support, including the state budget!

Senator Howard Marklein, (R-Spring Green) As I travel the communities of the 17th Senate District, people often ask me – “why can’t you all just get along.”

I often reply with – “for the most part we do, but compromise, collaboration and harmony do not make for a very compelling story.”

That’s right – it’s not interesting to read or hear about a bunch of legislators getting along, working together and passing legislation that we all agree on. But you may be surprised to learn that 83% of all of the legislation passed during the 2021-22 legislative session was passed with bipartisan support, including the

Senator Howard Marklein massive state budget bill.

I recently asked the non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB)

for a summary of all of the bills that were passed with bipartisan support during the current legislative session.

According to the LFB, “as of March 22, 2022, 255 bills have been enacted or vetoed, and 211 of those bills, or 83%, were passed by both the Senate and Assembly with bipartisan votes on passage or concurrence.”

The LRB counts all roll call votes for which at least one member of each party cast an “aye” vote or a voice vote as bipartisan. While some legislation, such as bills that include spending, must have a roll call vote in which every legislator casts an individual vote, any legislator can also request a roll call

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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.

vote on any bill. The voice vote is used for most non-controversial, bipartisan bills that do not require an individual vote.

Every bill that I have worked all of the way through the legislative process has been bipartisan. As of today (4/1/22), nine of my bills have been signed into law and an additional four are pending action by the Governor. My bipartisan bills that have been signed into law include: · Act 1 & Act 2 – both bills included tax reforms and updates related to the state income tax code and tax treatment for

Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Columns Graphic Design/Pagination Bill Gordon Grace Vosen Anna Stocks-Hess Arts & Culture/Editorial Sports Editorial Intern Alison Graves Mike McDermott Adeline Holte Arts Community/Opinion Graphic Design Intern Jen Salt Katie Green Julianna Williams Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors for believing in our community.

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On certain topics in areas of great community interest, the editors of the Valley Sentinel may take positions they believe best represent and serve the interests of the community. Any opinions or positions taken by the editorial board are separate and distinct in labeling and substance from the community journalism that appears in the rest of the publication and does not affect the integrity and impartiality of our reporting. .

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

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Page 4

Regional/Opinion/Lte

Thursday, April 7, 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (con.)

Marklein: Frustrated and disappointed in Gov. Evers veto of rural EMS bill Dear editor, I am extremely disappointed and frustrated that Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have helped our small, local, rural EMS departments as they work very hard to recruit and retain volunteers.

In 2019, I held Rural EMS Summits all over the 17th Senate District to seek ideas for ways to help local, rural EMS.

I know that many departments were struggling to recruit members and provide service and I wanted to help.

This bill was a direct result of those summits. It would have made the NREMT exam optional for Emergency Medical Responders (EMRs) so that individual departments would have had the ability to decide whether or not the NREMT exam would be required in

addition to all of the other training that is required.

I heard about how irrelevant this exam is for EMRs and how many talented, trained volunteers struggle to pass it and then quit. It made sense to give our local, rural departments the option to require it – or not – in addition to all of the other training that is required.

I am frustrated that the Governor decided to listen to the big, urban, paid paramedics instead of our small, rural, volunteer departments as they continue to struggle. Very disappointing.

Howard Marklein State Senator 17th Senate District Spring Green, Wisconsin

Marklein addresses Ukraine, misplaces blame for inflation and gas prices Dear editor, In a recent column, to his credit, Sen. Marklein addressed Ukraine. To his shame he did so only to state “The impact of the war in the Ukraine has compounded the gas price…” How can anyone mention Ukraine and not stop to condemn Russia’s war of choice and express solidarity with the suffering people of Ukraine?

Instead, after bemoaning the prices at the gas pump and grocery stores, he tells us that “It is important to understand these issues and factors that contribute to them.”

Unfortunately, he failed to deliver useful and valid information on that.

Pausing state gas taxes would lower the gas price, but the Senator says that this would eliminate funds for road repair. The Senator admits that constituents have asked that the state surplus (projected at $3.8 billion) be used to compensate for dropping the gas tax, but he says, “Let me put it this way…[I] want to see how things go.”

We can tell you how things are going Senator, not good, and we need you to do something. However, when the Senator states that his ability to impact

gas prices and inflation is limited, he is right. The Republican dominated Wisconsin Legislature has closed up shop and gone home for the year.

The Senator goes on to blame inflation on the COVID relief funds provided

by Democrats in the U.S. Congress.

However, a recent study from Moody’s Analytics indicates that the COVID relief funds contributed only 0.35 % to our 7.87% inflation. In addition, I don’t think the Senator understands where many of us would be if we had not had those relief funds to get us through the worst of the COVID pandemic.

The Senator also tries to blame gas prices on the energy policies of the Biden Administration. But, oops, he admits the increases began in 2020, months before Pres. Biden took office.

The Senator ends his update by bragging that the legislative policies of the last 11 years have put the state in “a very strong fiscal condition.”

Understandably, he doesn’t address how those policies have affected you and me.

William Cary Richland Center, Wisconsin

Bipartisan work in the Legislature: 83% of all bills were passed with bipartisan support, including the state budget! continued from page 3 partnerships and S Corporations. · Act 6 – allows Wisconsin to continue participating in the Powerball lottery when the program expanded internationally. · Act 11 – counting UW Extension specialist’s on-the-farm teaching hours toward university teaching hours to encourage more time working directly with farmers. · Act 91 – designating 123.4 miles of State Highway 21 from Sparta to Oshkosh (through Necedah) as a Purple Heart Memorial Highway. · Act 108 – closes a loophole in state statute related to unregistered vehicles during a state of emergency.

These are important statistics because a bipartisan vote on passage or concurrence means that there were likely bipartisan votes throughout the committee process in both houses. This means that legislators on both sides of the aisle found merit in the legislation, participated in public hearings on it

and offered their support along the way. In addition to my bills listed above, additional examples of strong bipartisan legislation include: · Act 9 – related to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and the costs of prescription drugs. · Act 28 – updated stalking statutes to add cyberstalking. · Act 72 – prohibiting placement of a child with a family member who has a record of crimes against children. · Act 74 – designating the Bart Starr Memorial Bridge in Green Bay. · Act 75 – related to use-of-force by law enforcement officers. · Act 76 – relating to elderabuse. · Act 82 – relating to disclosure of employment files for law enforcement officers in the hiring process. · Act 92 – relating to the agricultural export initiatives. · Act 156 – relating to tax treatment for Restaurant Revitalization Grants. · Act 159 – relating to resident-tuition rates for children of relocating service members who choose Wisconsin.

· Act 185 – providing grants for police body cameras. · …and more.

The state budget is another strong example of bipartisanship. There are negotiations, compromises and votes that occur throughout the budget process that are bipartisan. We work hard to consider all of the requests and priorities of legislators and the governor as we craft the legislature’s version of the budget. In the Assembly, four Democrats and all of the Republican members voted for the budget. In the Senate, all Republican members and three Democrats, including the Senate Minority Leader, voted for the budget. Then, the Governor signed it.

Unfortunately, the Governor has vetoed at least 16 bipartisan bills that were supported by both Republicans and Democrats. These included: · Assembly Bill (AB) 1, 23 and 24 – all related to COVID-19 including prohibiting vaccine mandates and closing churches.

· AB 191 – which would have eliminated the personal property tax (PPT). · AB 293 – which would have made Wisconsin a Second Amendment Sanctuary State and protected the rights of gun owners. · AB 383 – which would have made the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) make an exception for eligibility rules related to transfer students who transferred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. · AB 407 – which would have made Legislative Human Resources a standalone service agency. · SB 89 – which would have made the NREMT exam optional for rural EMS departments to aid in recruitment and retention.

Again, I am proud of my work with all of my colleagues in the legislature to advance bills that make a difference.

As always, please do not hesitate to connect with me to provide input, ideas or to seek assistance. Send an email to sen.marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-0703.

Better ways to do elections are out there, critics say. Other countries use them. Why not here?

Peter Cameron, The Badger Project Elections are supposed to be the mechanism voters use to choose their political representatives. But increasingly, it’s the elected leaders who choose the voters. Changes could be made to prevent this.

Gerrymandering — the manipulation of political district boundaries by the political party that controls state government at the right time — has given the GOP a decadelong grip on power in Wisconsin, one of the most evenly-divided states.

Predictably, they have drawn those maps to help get the most Republicans elected. Even when Democrats won a majority of the total vote in races for state legislature, which happened multiple times last decade, Republicans won a majority of legislative seats. In other states, Democrats have been the ones to ruthlessly gerrymander the districts, reducing the ability of voters to throw them out.

It’s been that way in Wisconsin since 2011, when, as part of the U.S. Census count, the party in power had the Constitutional mandate to draw the legislative maps.

Experts say that system is much to

blame for our increasingly toxic political environment, where elected officials are incentivized against working together to solve problems.

Different, and some would say more effective, election frameworks exist. Some are starting to emerge in the U.S. One is proportional representation.

Countries across the world use it in a variety of forms to elect their politicians.

Some experts believe it could motivate elected officials to collaborate more often while cooling some of the rage in politics.

Every state in the country’s current election map consists of a patchwork of overlaying state and federal districts. In Wisconsin, eight members of Congress, 33 state senators and 99 state representatives each represent one district.

In one form of proportional representation, all candidates would run across the entire state – like U.S. senators do – eliminating districts altogether.

Another proportional representation model would divide the state into a couple, massive districts, which would be represented by multiple elected officials, instead of just one.

The larger size makes the districts much

harder or even impossible to gerrymander, which renders the importance of who draws the districts almost irrelevant, experts say.

“In a purple state such as Wisconsin, (a proportional representation system) would probably mean that the congressional delegation and both chambers of the state legislature would be nearly equally divided between the two major parties,” Barry Burden, a UW-Madison political science professor wrote in an email.

“Representation of parties in this way completely avoids the problem of partisan gerrymandering.”

The number of seats a political party gets depends on the percentage its candidates receive in the election. If, for example, Democratic candidates get 45% of the total vote across the state, Republican candidates 44%, Libertarian Party candidates 6% and Greens 5%, each party would receive an equivalent number of seats. Often a party must reach a minimum percentage of the vote before it wins seats.

Under our current system, regularly winning about half the vote or less, Republicans in Wisconsin control close to ⅔ of the seats in both houses of the

state legislature, giving them a near supermajority.

Protected by gerrymandering and thus with little fear of losing those majorities, state Republicans have made little to no effort to adopt measures that have strong support across Wisconsin. Those include legalizing marijuana, mandating universal background checks on all firearms purchases, enacting red flag laws on guns, and expanding Medicaid, said Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll.

Other potential benefits of proportional representation include boosting third parties and independent candidates. Minor parties like the Greens or Libertarians have little chance of success in the existing winner-take-all system. A proportional system could enable them to win seats in the U.S. House of Representatives or state legislatures.

In addition, if Republicans and Democrats each failed to win a majority of the vote and therefore seats in the state legislature or Congress, both would have

continued on page 5

Community

Thursday, April 7, 2022 Page 5

Local EMS directors respond to Marklein’s rural EMS bill as Evers issues a veto, expert weighs in Taylor Scott, Managing Editor On March 31, Gov. Tony Evers announced that he had vetoed recently passed Senate Bill 89. The bill, introduced by Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, would have made the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians exam optional for emergency medical responders. Marklein argued the bill would improve recruitment and retention for rural emergency medical services. Local EMS directors fell on either side of the issue, with an expert in prehospital emergency medicine arguing lowering the bar is never the answer.

The rural EMS bill, SB 89, was introduced

by Marklein in February 2021. The bill passed the Wisconsin state Senate in April of last year, with the state Assembly following suit in January of this year and the bill ending up on the governor’s desk in late March.

The bill would have prohibited the Wisconsin Department of Health Services from requiring an applicant who is applying for certification as an EMR to register with or take the examination of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).

Current DHS rules require an applicant for a license as an emergency medical services practitioner at any level, including an emergency medical responder, to be registered with the NREMT or to have completed the NREMT examination.

“I object to potentially lowering statewide educational qualifications needed to be certified as an emergency medical responder in Wisconsin,” said Evers in his veto message.

Evers noted the important work EMRs are doing in our communities while acknowledging the challenges facing EMS in the state. According to Evers’ statement, state aid to communities has gone down by more than nine percent since 2011, while public safety costs have increased more than 16 percent. Evers also noted more than half of EMS providers in the state are either operated exclusively by volunteers or through a combination of volunteers and paid staff.

Though he vetoed this bill, in his Stateof-the-State address in mid-February, Evers announced an additional $27.4 million funds for training, a Medicaid reimbursement rate increase and onetime flexible grants funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act for EMS programs.

Evers said there are provisions in the bill he was open to considering, specifically satisfying emergency medical responder certification requirements by having

applicants demonstrate military service training, education or experience that is substantially equivalent to the course required for emergency medical responder certification.

“This effort could help further ensure our veterans entering our workforce after their service face fewer barriers to finding work,” said Evers. “I cannot support other provisions in this legislation that I am concerned would have negative, longterm effects on patient care by lowering educational and training qualifications.”

The next day Marklein expressed his disappointment in Evers’ veto.

“I am extremely disappointed that Gov. Evers vetoed my bill that would have helped rural EMS with recruitment and retention,” said Marklein in a statement. “I authored this bill with Rep. Travis Tranel, R-Cuba City, because our rural EMS squads told us that they needed some flexibility in order to have enough members to provide services in our small rural communities.”

Marklein said the bill was inspired by conversations he had with rural EMS volunteers.

“They told us this is what they needed,” said Marklein. “The governor isn’t listening to local people and the local volunteers who are working hard to save lives in our communities.”

Marklein also disputed Evers’ assertion that the bill would have lowered standards, saying he believed the bill gave individual departments the ability to decide whether or not the NREMT exam would still be required for credentialing in their specific department.

“Every EMR would still have needed to complete a DHS approved training course and pass all other applicable tests and hands-on experiences to receive licensure,” said Marklein.

Tracey Brent, Plain EMS service director, said she was hesitant to weigh in on the issue, fearing the bill has or may become political. Instead, she suggested, providing more incentive to volunteer.

“Instead of attacking the process for becoming a first responder,” said Brent.

“We would be better suited to look at incentivizing those who give back to their communities.”

Brent says the few tax credits that exist for first responders is not enough.

“Volunteers give up a lot to serve their communities. They give up their freedom to leave town when on call, they leave their friends and families during the middle of dinner, holidays, and the middle of the night. They give up their life to serve others,” said Brent. “Making classes for first responders more accessible and more affordable is an area that would serve us

better. Perhaps incentivizing taking the class is an option as well.”

Volunteerism is a dying craft, says Brent, with both recruitment and retention issues facing many EMS services and the situation becoming dire in our rural communities.

“When you or a loved one needs help, you dial 911 expecting someone to answer the call,” said Brent. “But what if there was nobody there to answer it?”

Brent says ambulance services in our area are in jeopardy of cessation without the continued involvement and volunteerism of members of the community.

“Having an ambulance service is a vital piece in what makes a community thrive, knowing that if you ever need help, help will be there,” concluded Brent. “Volunteer services will only last as long as there’s people to staff the truck.”

Last year, when the bill was originally introduced, Tyler Tisdale, Arena EMS service director, said he believed the bill would help, but that it doesn’t solve the main issue of recruiting volunteers.

“It's great to have EMRs,” said Tisdale.

“But we still need at least one EMT with an EMR to minimally staff the ambulance while maintaining a legal crew.”

Tisdale says that Arena has the same problem that he believes is rampant across the state — recruiting people to become volunteer EMTs. Tisdale suggests the solutions lie in hiring full time EMTs, changing the requirements for incoming EMTs and providing better compensation for volunteers.

“We are aware of the time commitment one takes on when volunteering to be an EMT,” says Tisdale. “These individuals give up so much of their time in an instant to respond to an emergency and, in many situations, their efforts are not compensated as they should be.”

Both EMS directors agreed that more volunteers are needed and urged those interested to reach out to their local EMS program and sign up for classes.

“It’s a great cause,” says Tisdale.

Dr. Michael Abernethy, clinical professor of emergency medicine at UW-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health and the chief flight physician for UW Med Flight said he believes the bill would lower the standard of medical care.

“I think lowering the bar is never the answer,” said Abernethy, an expert on prehospital emergency medicine.

Having practiced emergency medicine abroad, Abernethy says the problem in the US is the divide between prehospital care and health care, with EMS being largely reliant on individual communities.

Abernethy uses the examples he sees of EMS programs and volunteers doing bake

sales and pancake breakfasts “to keep the lights on.”

“I do work in other countries where they look at us and sort of shake their heads, why is there this divide?” says Abernethy. “Why isn't there just this continuum of health care?”

Abernethy says the quantity and quality of care in the US is “all over the place.”

He says in the UK paramedicine requires a four year college degree and is uniform, saying a paramedic in Edinburgh, Scotland would have the same training and medical education as a paramedic in London, England. “[In the US] you can have everything from a four year degree to a two year degree to a one year certificate and now there's programs, you can do it almost all online,” says Abernethy. “So the idea of any uniformity when someone says, ‘we have a paramedic’ here, I don't know what that means…when I have a new graduate or a new paramedic, I have no idea what that means.”

Abernethy says that he considers a national registry test to be the bare minimum.

“So by having a national registry test, it minimally says ‘okay, they've probably met these standards,’” says Abernethy.

Though he believes there is value in looking into the possibility of using a grandfather clause to license paramedics that have equivalent experience in the field. “[You] can talk about higher standards, and all that, but until the government recognizes that this is a problem,” Abernethy says, comparing the situation to other regulations enacted after loss of life.

“Do people have to die because of lack of care for people to pay attention to this?”

As for solutions, Abernethy suggests moving EMS regulation at the federal level to be under Health and Human Services rather than under the Department of Transportation, where it is currently. He also suggests looking into a penny tax on a gallon of gasoline to put into EMS infrastructure.

He agrees that getting volunteers is the biggest issue facing rural EMS right now, but says it’s “absurd” that a critical service depends on volunteers and there needs to be better funding.

“I certainly understand, ‘Oh, my God, we don't have volunteers and now we're making more requirements and making it harder for them to do this when we should be making it easier,’ but we have to have standards,” says Abernethy. “We can't just say, ‘we need more doctors, so let's cut two years out of medical school or let's skip spleen week or something,’ you can't lower the standards, you got to fix the problem.”

Better ways to do elections are out there, critics say. Other countries use them. Why not here? continued from page 4 to negotiate with minor parties to pass legislation.

“That could lead to more fluid coalitions when it comes to making policy and could help mitigate the zero-sum politics that currently defines how the major parties interact in the capital,” Burden said.

Sounds almost idyllic, right?

But to enact proportional representation, Congress would have to scrap the singlemember district mandate, which has been in place since 1967.

At least one effort is underway. U.S. Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA) has introduced The Fair Representation Act, which would eliminate single-member districts and replace them with multi-member districts across the country, drawn by an independent commission. The bill would also launch ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank candidates based on their preference rather than voting for one. Maine and Alaska use the system, and Nevada and Missouri are considering it.

The bill has no Republican sponsors though, giving it a very low likelihood of passage.

And in Wisconsin, the state’s constitution must be amended to enact proportional representation, Burden, the UW political science professor said. That’s a highly unlikely scenario at the moment.

But another reform has brighter prospects here.

Ranked-choice voting, which requires a candidate win a majority of the vote before they win a seat, is gaining momentum across the country. Many cities, including New York City, Minneapolis, and Saint Paul, also use it.

Last year, a bipartisan group of legislators in Wisconsin, including state Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) and state Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee), introduced what they call The Final-Five Bill.

The bill would eliminate partisan primary elections for U.S. Senate and Congress in the state. Experts and at least one study say the partisan primary format pushes candidates to the political extremes to

protect their seats.

Final-Five would call for every candidate from any party to run on a single primary ballot. The top-five total vote winners would move on to the general election, where voters would then use ranked-choice voting to select one winner.

If the top vote getter fails to win a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place finisher is eliminated and their secondplace votes are distributed to the remaining candidates. The process is repeated until one candidate has a majority.

Democracy Found, a political reform group based in Wisconsin, is championing the bill. The organization focuses on initiatives that are powerful and achievable now, Sara Eskrich, Democracy Found’s executive director, wrote in an email.

“Final-Five Voting is evolutionary, not revolutionary,” Eskrich said. “It keeps intact what Americans tend to like about our political system — geographical representation, choosing our own candidates — which proportional representation and/or multi-member

districts lose.”

At the same time, Eskrich and other experts argue Final-Five Voting could fix much of what’s broken with election maps – partisan gerrymandering, the lack of competition, gridlock and hyperpartisanship.

Final-Five could become law in Wisconsin without a change to the state constitution or federal law, Eskrich noted. All it needs is a majority of state lawmakers to pass a bill and the governor’s signature.

The bill is off to a promising start.

A total of 22 co-sponsors from both parties and both houses of the legislature are sponsoring the bill.

The state Senate ended its annual session March 15 without considering the measure. It will need to be reintroduced in 2023, when it will likely face Republican leadership with little incentive to change a system that is working well for their party.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin.

Page 6

Community

Thursday, April 7, 2022

COmmunitycalendar Events for April 8 - April 21 Friday, April 8 Ridgeway Pine Relict Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Ridgevue Road, Ridgeway .

Ridgeway Pine Relict State Natural Area is known for its large, quality wetlands and spring complexes. With prescribed burning and brush control, DNR crews and volunteers have increased efforts to improve this site. For questions or to RSVP to attend this workday, contact Mary Kay Baum at marykbaum@gmail.com or 608-935-5834.

ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8 . Jennifer Angus is a professor in Design Studies at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Creating some of the most provocative work in an art museum setting, Angus’ medium is insects. Her exhibition at Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center will fill our entire School with bugs! Her unique installations show insects as art, with her intricate displays showing how something as humble as an insect can be beautiful.

Saturday, April 9 Go With the FLOW Field Trip: An Effigy Mounds Sampler 9:00 AM . The LWSRB office, 202 N. Wisconsin Ave., Muscoda . (FLOW) Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway . www.wisconsinriverfriends.org . Mark Cupp will lead a tour focused on effigy mound sites in southern Richland County near Muscoda. There will be easy to moderate hiking involved. A camera and/or binoculars are recommended. Content is appropriate for ages 8 years old and up. Younger children are allowed but under parental supervision at all times. Contact: Mark Cupp cell phone 608-739-2179 or e-mail at mark.cupp@wisconsin.gov. RSVPs are encouraged and would be very helpful. Dress for weather conditions and be prepared for bugs including ticks. Boots or hiking shoes are recommended due to possible muddy trails.

Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8 LIVE MUSIC: Bluegrass Jam 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 South Albany St, Spring Green . springgreengeneralstore.com . Come to play- or come to listen. This jam will be held the second Saturday of every month. Everyone is welcome. Kitchen closes at 2 pm. Will sometimes be held on the back deck!

LIVE MUSIC: Thompson Springs 7:30 PM- 10:00 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . slowpokelounge.com . $10 in advance/$15 at the door Chicago band Thompson Springs is a 4-piece indie-rock band from Madison, Wisconsin, founded and fronted by singersongwriter Matt Smith. They released their debut album, Under tones, in 2020 with help from Wilco's Pat Sansone. PBS called the band “a mix of indie rock with a southern/western feel,” and Detroit Public Radio (WDET) noted that they pull influences from classic songwriters, like Tom Petty, to more recent indie artists, like Kurt Vile.

VFW Steak and Chicken Fry 4:00PM - 7:00PM . Arena VFW Post 9336, 514 Willow St, Arena . $13.00 for Steak $8.00 for boneless Chicken breast with baked potato, salad, dessert, bun and baked beans. Dine in or we also have carry outs. 608-753-2225.

Sunday, April 10 ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8 Plays Out Loud: “The River Bride” by Marisela Trevino Orta 2:00PM . Free event Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson St., Spring Green, . springgreenlitfest.org Join with friends and other lovers of dramatic literature in a community reading of a play from American Players Theatre’s upcoming 2022 season. Choose the part you want to read out loud or come to just listen and discuss. Free scripts available at the door the afternoon of the event, or playbooks are for sale at Arcadia Books or on loan at the Spring Green Community Library with a South Central library card. The free event is sponsored by the Spring Green Literary Festival. Beverages for sale.

Tuesday, April 12 Spring Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Kraemer Library, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . Come join us for 45 minutes of fun-filled interactive stories, songs and rhymes! Meet new friends, sing songs, and have fun! Enjoy a story session that encourages a love of reading and fosters the development of early literacy skills. Ages 0-5. Masks encouraged.

Wednesday, April 13 Storytime at the Library 10:30 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green . Join Ms. Grace for storytime at the library. We'll have stories, songs, and fun! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot. With signs of spring all around, if the weather is nice we will meet outside! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up when we meet inside. See you there!

State Solo and Ensemble Showcase: Fundraiser for UNICEF Ukraine 7:00PM 9:00 PM . Slowpoke Lounge & Cabaret, 137 W. Jefferson St., Spring Green, . Tickets $10 Come join River Valley High School State Solo and Ensemble qualifiers as they showcase their State-bound selections for you. Featuring both vocal and instrumental pieces, classical and contemporary, these students are excited to show the River Valley community their work. All ticket sales will go to benefit UNICEF Ukraine , as the war in Ukraine poses an immediate threat to the children in that area and the surrounding areas. For more information on UNICEF Ukraine, please visit https://www.unicef.org /ukraine/en. Proof of vaccination is NOT required for this event.

Thursday, April 14 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . springgreengeneralstore.com . 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. Jefferson St. Spring Green . ninasdepartmentstore.com . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8

Friday, April 15 ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8

Saturday, April 16 Tree Planting: Friends of Governor Dodge State Park 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . 4175 State Hwy 23 North Dodgeville, WI 53533 (608) 935-2315 Park Office . friendsofgovdodge@gmail.com ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is outside the Spring Green Community Public Library every Saturday morning. Pre-orders are recommended. Visit our Facebook or Instagram page or email SGFarmersMarket@gmail.com for a list of participating vendors and their contact information.

LIVE MUSIC: Jambidextrous 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . slowpokelounge.com . Come on down for a tour through the jazz archives with standards from the 50s, progressive jazz from the 60s, to funk and fusion of the 70s featuring local favorites Rob Steffen, Erik Johnson, Dave Saperstein, and Ted Frank. No admission cost, but donations for musicians are always welcome.

Sunday, April 17 ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8

Monday, April 18 OPEN MIC: A Night of Words 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . slowpokelounge.com . An open mic. Friends sharing words.

Watch. Listen. Speak. Share. Maybe you have a favorite poem, or passage from a book you’d like to share. Or maybe you write your own and are ready to share it with the rest of us. Maybe you just want to tell a story. Or maybe you just want to listen. It’s all good.

Let’s hang out and share words together.

Tuesday, April 19 Spring Family Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Kraemer Library, 910 Main St, Plain . kraemerlibrary.org . Come join us for 45 minutes of fun-filled interactive stories, songs and rhymes! Meet new friends, sing songs, and have fun! Enjoy a story session that encourages a love of reading and fosters the development of early literacy skills. Ages 0-5. Masks encouraged.

Wednesday, April 20 Storytime at the Library 10:30 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St, Spring Green . Join Ms. Grace for storytime at the library. We'll have stories, songs, and fun! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot. With signs of spring all around, if the weather is nice we will meet outside! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up when we meet inside. See you there!

Arcadia Book Club discusses "I Must Betray You" by Ruta Sepetys 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Virtual/Zoom . readinutopia.com . I Must Betray You is 17 year old Cristian’s story and through his eyes we see what devastating effects Communism and a cult of personality have wrecked upon the people of Romania, a stranglehold that lasted 22 years and pitted friends and family members against one another. On December 21, 1989 the people rose up, led by students armed only with truth and passion.

Thursday, April 21 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . springgreengeneralstore.com . 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. Jefferson St. Spring Green . ninasdepartmentstore.com . Every Thursday from 6 to 8 pm. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Store closed after 5:30 pm.

LIVE MUSIC: Slowpoke Songwriters Round 7:30 PM- 9:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . slowpokelounge.com . With special guests Camela Widad, Kit Mayer, and David Nash. Tim Eddy curates this series, throughout this fall and winter, of singer/songwriters from the Driftless Area. Support local artists by joining us for a night of original music with several songwriters, all on the stage together, sharing their music round robin style. No cover, but tips for artists are always welcome.

ART EXHIBITION: Jennifer Angus: A is for Ant, B is for Bug, C is for Cicada 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM . Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center, 6306 State Hwy 23 Spring Green . www.wyomingvalleyschool.org . Cost is $8

Community

Thursday, April 7, 2022 Page 7

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary Cases as of 4/6/2022

1,395,166 Positive Cases +4,910 from 3/23

12,815 Deaths +193 from 3/23

Updated: 4/6/2022

Vaccine Summary Statistics

covid case activity level

Updated: 4/6/2022

This graph shows information on case burden and trajectory. Burden (case rate) is the total number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 Wisconsin residents in the last two weeks. Trajectory is the percent case change from the previous to the current week. These are different from Community Transmission Level, which is the total confirmed cases per 100,000 persons reported in the past 7 days.

Case activity is a combination of burden and trajectory over the prior two weeks.

Iowa County

3,548,877

344,613

Total doses administered

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

1,977,861

1,136,444

816,158

25,259

Total boosters administered

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

These two core measures are 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 the current target range is 60-90%. -Adapted from Madison Public Health and Dane County

+19 from 3/23 +2 from 3/23

5,241 Positive Cases 28 Deaths

5,507,398

Vaccine Data

county level weekly statistics Richland County 3,847 Positive Cases 47 Deaths

9,400,888

Richland

+38 from 3/23 +2 from 3/23

Sauk County

15,851 Positive Cases 131 Deaths

+49 from 3/23 +5 from 3/23

Target Range

Sauk

Target Range

59.6%

65.2%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

57.4%

62.1%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated Target Range

Iowa 70.2% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

67.5%

Updated: 4/6/2022

Percent fully vaccinated

Cases per zip code

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 5-11 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases as of 4/6/2022

Updated: 4/6/2022 Lower %

Richland County

18.6%

Ages 5-11

Iowa County Ages 5-11

Higher %

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

32.0%

Sauk County Ages 5-11

Ages

25.3% Dane County Ages 5-11

Graphic by Anna Stocks-Hess

57.5%

5-11 12-17 18-24 25-34 35-44

Updated: 4/6/2022 27.2% 61.3% 60.0% 64.1%

45-54

69.2% 71.6%

55-64 65+

78.0% 85.5%

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

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Community

Thursday, April 7, 2022

Sh*tty Barn Announces 2022 season lineup The Sh*tty Barn (506 E Madison St, Spring Green) recently announced the lineup and opened ticket sales for the 2022 season of the Sh*tty Barn Sessions.

• •

Band Friday, July 22 – Boulevards and Izaak Opatz Wednesday, July 27 – Cerqua Rivera Orchestra

The following shows will go on sale July 1st: • Wednesday, Aug. 3 – Radio Free Honduras • Wednesday, Aug. 10 – Frank Catalano • Wednesday, Aug. 17 – Kiss the Tiger and Joshua Powell • Wednesday, Aug. 24 – Panchromatic Steel • Wednesday, Aug. 31 – TBA • Wednesday, Sept. 7– TBA • Wednesday, Sept. 14* – Gaines & Wagoner and Three Hours • Wednesday, Sept. 21 – TBA • Wednesday, Sept. 28 – The Deslondes • Wednesday, Oct. 5 – TBA • Friday, Oct. 14 – TBA

Here's the schedule: • Wednesday, May 4 – Sway Wild and Logan Ledger • Wednesday, May 11 – Jeffrey Martin and J. E. Sunde • Wednesday, May 18 – Dave Simonett and Christopher Gold • Thursday, May 26 – SUSTO • Thursday, June 2 – Disaster Passport, “Koyaanisqatsi” film and Anonymous Guest • Friday, June 10 – William Elliot Whitmore • Saturday, June 18 – SASAMI • Thursday, June 23 – Humbird and Luke Callen • Friday, July 1 – Riley Downing and Nikki and the Phantom Callers • Friday, July 8 – The Yawpers and Wise Jennings • Saturday, July 16 – The Reverend Peytons Big Damn

STREAMING NOW

Sh*tty Barn 2022 Season Preview Playlist sh*ttybarn

Most up to date information and tickets available at: shittybarnsessions.com

Local musician Jake’O competes in national televised song contest representing Wisconsin continued from page 1 by 200 million viewers annually.

“American Song Contest” is featuring live original music performances – representing all 50 states, five U.S. territories and our nation’s capital – competing to win the country’s vote for the best hit song.

Hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, the live competition kicked off March 21 and consists of three rounds as the artists compete in a series of qualifying rounds, followed by the semi-finals and the ultimate grand final where one state or territory will emerge victorious.

The 56 artists span a wide range of performers, from undiscovered talent, up-and-coming new artists, rising stars to established and legendary icons — including Jewel, Michael Bolton and Macy Gray.

“We can’t wait for viewers to discover new music from our incredibly talented artists from across the country and help decide America’s next big song,” said executive producer Audrey Morrissey in a statement.

Representing Wisconsin is Jake'O, a resident of the River Valley, who is an American vocalist, guitarist, performer, and entertainer that combines vintage

vibes, modern motifs and futuristic flair in every original song by fusing Rock ’n’ Roll, Blues, Pop and R&B.

Inspiration

“The Driftless region of southwest Wisconsin Is quite a magical place,” says Jake’O. “I don't want to say like backwoods mysticism is the thing that inspires my music, but it very much is, it's the land… you can't help but be introspective to some extent. And I feel like that solitude has allowed me to really hone in to the sounds that are around me…there's music everywhere but the Driftless is definitely magical for me.”

“American Song Contest'' describes Jake’O as the originator of the NuvoRetro sound — a term he coined to describe his genre and style — having built a reputation in Wisconsin by using his soulful vibrato voice, reverberating mile-wide guitar tone, electric showmanship and signature baby blue brand.

So what’s Nuvo-Retro?

“Nuvo-Retro is a convergence of things that I love,” says Jake’O, with an excited smile. “And that's the vintage vibes, the modern motifs, and the futuristic flair.

And I like to put them all in one, or take two thirds of them and put it together

STREAMING NOW

Feel Your Love Jake'O

Photo provided by NBC Local musician Jake'O performing March 21 on NBC's "American Song Contest". and to create. So Nuvo-Retro is retro futurism. It could also be like a modern, futuristic take on things, future retro…

When I came up with the term ‘Nuvo’, it's actually a derivative of the French word ‘nouveau-riche’, which means like, it's a new movement, a new movement of, of rich in the the socio economic terms, but I like the idea of nouveau being like a new movement, like a next generation.”

What happened?

During his nationally televised performance March 21, Jake’O electrified the audience with his original song "Feel Your Love" — a love romp that featured his wide range of vocals and skill with the guitar.

However, facing stiff competition in week one — including the legendary Michael Bolton, Jake’O wasn’t chosen by the jury or public vote to move on.

“My biggest takeaway was I got to plant the seed of Nuvo-Retro and I feel like that night I performed was the night that Nuvo-Retro was really created to some extent,” says Jake’O. “And that was an honor because I think the takeaway is that maybe there's somebody else that was watching that’s like, “I want to make that type of

music”.

What’s next?

“I'm gonna keep going, I'm going to be making music,” says Jake’O. “When I got home to Wisconsin, I just picked up my guitar… I don't want people to think that it's over… they're gonna select two more wildcard contestants and you never know what's going to happen. So you know, if it happens, they call me back, I'm gonna hit the stage and do my thing. But if that doesn't happen, I'm gonna just keep making more music.”

Jake’O iterated how proud he is to have represented Wisconsin and even sat through a lightning round of truly Wisconsin questions for us — and left us with some truly Wisconsin answers that you can only listen to online

Want to hear More?

A recording of Valley Sentinel’s full interview with Jake’O will be available online at: www.valleysentinelnews.com You can listen to his performance of "Feel Your Love" using the Spotify barcode at left or watch it on NBC’s YouTube channel.

SPoRtS/Schools

Thursday, April 7, 2022 Page 9

Spring Sports Preview

Girls Soccer

Todd Deibert, RVHS Girls Soccer Coach As the spring sports season starts at River Valley High School, we asked Girls Soccer Coach Todd Deibert some questions to get the season started: Valley Sentinel: Did you have any comments or quotes as we start out the season?

Todd Deibert: I'm very excited for our matches to begin. We have a tough start to the season with some difficult opponents early on our schedule. I am looking forward to seeing how we compete and gel as a team.

Valley Sentinel: What are you most excited about regarding this season?

Todd Deibert: I am most excited to see how we can improve on last season.

Valley Sentinel: What are some of your goals for the season?

Todd Deibert: Some of our team goals include having good communication on the field, improving our conference record, and scoring more goals than last season.

Softball

Jane Briehl, RVHS Softball Head Coach As the spring sports season starts at River Valley High School, we asked Softball Coach Jane Briehl some questions to get the season started: Valley Sentinel: Did you have any comments or quotes as we start out the season?

Jane Briehl: We have a great core group of experienced players returning this year which will help with our strength of skill.

However, having to replace even just a couple of players means we need to continue to work on our team chemistry. We are very excited for the season as we have just an incredibly great group of young ladies to work with. They work hard for us and are always looking to improve.

Valley Sentinel: What should the community be looking forward to while watching this season?

Jane Briehl: These kids love each other and love playing the game of softball. Coming to watch them will be fun just because of

Golf Matt Snow, RVHS Golf Co-Coach As the spring sports season starts at River Valley High School, we asked Golf Co-Coach Matt Snow some questions to get the season started: Valley Sentinel: Did you have any comments or quotes as we start out the season?

Matt Snow: We are excited for the season to start, with only one graduating senior from varsity. The RV golf team should continue to grow but also capitalize on experience gained over the past two seasons.

Valley Sentinel: What should the community be looking forward to while watching this season?

Matt Snow: The community should keep an eye on our conference play. The conference is up for grabs and we feel we have some

Photo contributed by Todd Deibert The River Valley High School Girls Soccer team.

how much fun they are having.

Valley Sentinel: Any breakout athletes to watch?

Jane Briehl: All of them. We have 10 full time varsity players and 5 part time players who will also be spending time playing JV ball this year all of these players will be essential to our success this season.

Valley Sentinel: What are you most excited about regarding this season?

Jane Briehl: Being around great kids who love the same game we love. We enjoy being with them every day.

Valley Sentinel: What are some of your goals for the season?

Jane Briehl: Though we have many team goals this season, the biggest of those is to improve every night we take the field and to be playing our best ball at the beginning of the tournament season. We are also hoping to improve our offensive output from last season. We did well, but there is always room for improvement.

young players that will help us compete more consistently this year.

Valley Sentinel: Any breakout athletes to watch?

Matt Snow: While it is too early to tell, we are excited to see many returning juniors and new freshmen join the team. In addition, Senior, Eli Johnson is RV's contender to lead the conference.

Valley Sentinel: What are you most excited about regarding this season?

Matt Snow: We are excited to continue RV's current streak of 14 sectional appearances. I think we are excited the most about the continued development of our team of players and their potential to win the conference.

Goals include: winning conference, reaching sectionals, and sending at least 1 golfer on to the state level

Retired educators to meet to discuss Spring Green & RVSD: Springing to the Green Paul Murphey, RAREA “RAREA: Springing to the Green” will be the theme for the first 2022 meeting of the Richland Area Retired Educators’ Association (RAREA) 48th year scheduled for Thursday, April 14, 2022, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at The Phoenix Center, 100 South Orange Street, Richland Center. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. The cost will be $15 for RAREA members, their guests, and prospective members; this meeting is not open to the public. RSVP deadline for all attendees will be 12 noon on Monday, April 11, 2022, and should be directed to RAREA President Paul Murphey, 269 South Park Street, Richland Center, WI, 53581-2303; 608.647.6439 or pmurphey@mwt.net.

Attendees will be following all safety & health protocols as defined by our Richland County Public Health Officer (Rose Kohout).

President Murphey stated, “While the theme might sound as though our RAREA members are headed to a golf outing, the focus for our chapter this year will be to highlight, each meeting, one of the 12 public educational districts/ institutions we support. To start off this series, we will shine a spotlight on Spring Green and the River Valley School District. Our program will feature Pat Mahoney, Brewhaha Roasters; and Loren Glasbrenner, River Valley School District Administrator, followed by a short chapter business meeting.”

RAREA is one of sixty active chapters

throughout Wisconsin and Arizona affiliated with the greater Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA).

WREA and RAREA serve all retired and currently employed public education professionals (administration, teaching, and support staff) at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels and retired or currently employed public employees (non educators) that belong to the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Currently employed professionals may also join both groups as a regular member. In addition, retired or currently employed public employees (non educators) that belong to the Wisconsin Retirement System may also join both organizations! As a local chapter, RAREA serves the following

12 school districts/institutions within the greater southwest Wisconsin area: Boscobel, Ithaca, Kickapoo, North Crawford, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley (shared with Sauk County REA), Riverdale, Seneca, UWPlatteville Richland, Wauzeka-Steuben, and Weston. For more information regarding a WREA or a RAREA membership, please contact RAREA Membership Marketing Chair Barry Roghair, 230 Schmitz Street, Richland Center, WI, 53581, 608.647.6542 (or) bjcrogh@charter.net, or visit the WREA website at https://wrea.net/. Make plans now to join with other RAREA members to attend the first meeting of our 48th year, as we all go “Springing to the Green.”

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Outdoors & Recreation

Page 10 Thursday, April 7, 2022

The Sauk County Gardener

Teaching children to garden, plus (trying to) patiently wait for spring Jeannie Manis, Wisconsin Certified Master Gardener “Tell me and I’ll forget. Teach me and I’ll remember.

Involve me and I’ll learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin A few years ago I was teaching Sunday school to some preschoolers, and I asked them where food came from. As a person who has gardened almost my entire life, and introduced numerous children to gardening, I was surprised, and a little sad, when their response was the name of a major chain store.

They didn’t know their food came from gardens and farms from all over the world.

I’ve been introducing gardening to my 2-year-old grandson since last summer.

During the past few weeks, he helped me pot up my tender bulbs. He got to the opportunity to play in the soil and water the newly planted pots while I enjoyed seeing how excited he was to experience it. Last summer he loved eating fresh tomatoes, green beans, strawberries, and blackberries right out of the garden so I’m looking forward to teaching him how to plant those fruits and vegetables this year.

There are a variety of things you can do to introduce your children to garden, and vegetable gardening is a great one.

One easy idea is to start a “salad bowl” of greens. They grow quickly so children can see and eat the fruits of their labors sooner versus later. Any 3-4” deep container with drain holes will work such a large plastic bowl or shoe box.

Fill the container with potting soil and then thickly sow the leaf lettuce. One seed packet should be enough for a container; I like to use a mix of lettuces and other greens. Cover the container with plastic wrap and place it in a cool, but bright, location. Remove the plastic wrap once the seeds germinate.

Once the soil temp reaches a consistent 40 degrees F and the night temps stay above 45 degrees F, it’s time to plant cool-weather crops directly into the garden. Younger children can help with peas and onion

sets, while older children can plant more lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, parsley, radishes. Many of these have short growing times so children can enjoy the fruits of their labors quickly.

As the weather warms, have younger children plant vegetables such as beans, peas, zucchini, squash, potatoes, and pumpkins. Older children can help plant smaller seeds and transplants such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers.

Throughout the summer, have children help water the vegetables, observe pollinators, and pick the vegetables at harvest time. Consider planting some fast-growing vegetables such as lettuce or radishes to keep them interested while the other vegetables grow. If you plant pumpkins, have the children care their name or a picture on them. The carving will scar over and come harvest time; they can see their name right on the pumpkin. As I want my grandson and other garden visitors to enjoy the fresh vegetables directly out of the garden, I don’t use pesticides or other chemicals.

One more key to successful gardening with children is to keep the tasks age appropriate. I have been known to gardening all day long when the weather is not too warm, and I greatly enjoy it. However, if I expected children to garden all day long, it would soon become tedious. A half hour is about the extent of time my young grandson is willing to garden before he needs to run off and do something different.

Older children will enjoy gardening a little longer, but they will not grow to enjoy gardening if it seems like a chore.

I learned the hard way; my son doesn’t enjoy gardening but that may have to do with the fact that he had to dig numerous holes and carry a lot of heavy rocks when he lived at home. Take the time to introduce gardening to children now – it’s a skill they can use their entire life. Just take it easy on the heavy labor part – they will figure that out

soon enough.

…

“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Mother Nature sure is a fickle one!

I finally started seeing my daffodils, hellebores, iris, and my other early appearing perennials and then she threw another snow shower our way! I know I need to be patient, but it is very hard this time of year.

My side yard is quite wet and in other areas I still have frozen ground. I’d like to start clearing off my garden beds as I’m worried if I wait much longer, the perennials will have grown so much that I will damaging them with the raking. If your yards and gardens are thawed and dry enough to walk on without it being squishy, it’s time to break out the rake. You want to get leaves and other dead plant matter out of your perennial beds before your spring blooming bulbs and perennials get too tall. When the soil can be worked in your perennial beds, you can spread fertilizer if needed and gently work it in. Plant pansies in the workable soil to add a touch of color. Take note of perennials that can use some dividing.

For example, Chrysanthemums can be divided every one to two years (try to do it when they are about three inches tall). Coreopsis (tickseed), Achillea millefolium (yarrow) and Gaillardia (blanket flower) can be divided every two to four years and Monarda (bee balm) every three to four years. Deer seldom bother tickseed, yarrow, blanket flower, or bee balm so be sure to divide these plants and spread them around if deer are a problem for you. Keep a close eye on your hostas as well as it is best to divide them once the ‘eyes’ or growing tips start to emerge to minimize damage to the rest of the clump. I’m regularly checking hostas to see if they’ve emerged as I want to divide them and spread them out more.

This is also the time to rake the lawn,

prune non-flowering shrubs, and plant bare-root trees (include fruit) and shrubs. When selecting deciduous trees and shrubs, select ones that are still dormant and have not started to leaf out. If you’re adding an evergreen, avoid choosing ones that are showing new growth. Cover the trees with two to three inches of mulch but avoid placing it directly up next to the tree or creating a mulch volcano. The mulch will help control weeds, erosion, soil temp, and minimize water lose. Expect to water new trees regularly for their first couple of years.

It still early to plant very much in the vegetable garden, but there are some cool weather crops you may be able to put in now or soon. Watch for night air temperatures to remain above 45 degrees F and soil temp is 40 degrees F. If you have these conditions, you can plant lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, parsnips, onion sets, carrots, radishes, parsley, and peas. Just make sure the soil is not too wet. For example, peas do not like wet feet and will germinate poorly if the soil is too wet. Once the soil can be worked, turn over your green manure crop if you planted one.

Green manures are legumes such as winter wheat or rye, buckwheat, beans, peas, and oats. If you didn’t plant a green manure crop, top-dress your garden with compost or composted manure. Composted manure will not have any unpleasant smell and will almost have the texture of soil. Fresh manure should never be applied in the spring or during the growing season on fruits and vegetables. This is because of the potential of transmitting human pathogens, like as E. coli. Wait until fall to apply fresh manure to your garden.

To learn more about using manure in your gardens, visit https://hort. extension.wisc.edu/articles/usingmanure-in-the-home-garden/.

There are so many things you can start doing in the garden, assuming Mother Nature starts to play nice. Until then, I’ll work on my patience.

Birding Report

Bust out the binoculars, birders! Spring migration is heating up!

Ryan Brady, Wisconsin DNR Biologist Despite weather more fit for winter at times, spring bird migration slowly rolls on across Wisconsin.

The first wave of short-distance migrating land birds has reached southern Wisconsin, including rusty blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, fox sparrow, eastern phoebe, yellow-bellied sapsucker, northern flicker, winter wren, eastern bluebird, yellow-rumped warbler and both ruby-crowned and golden-crowned kinglets. Dark-eyed juncos remain in high numbers, uneager to depart due to extensive snow cover up north. American robins, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and other species are similarly behind schedule for northern birders.

Common loons have arrived at southern lakes, where their numbers will build in the weeks ahead as they wait for extensive ice cover to retreat from northern lakes. Trumpeter swans have been seen by the dozen in western and northern Wisconsin. Tundra swans have been reported by the hundreds or even thousands in flooded fields and other wet areas of southern and eastern

Wisconsin. Some greater white-fronted geese continue to be seen, while Canada geese have only trickled into northern regions.

Duck migration is underway – it has yet to peak in southern Wisconsin and has barely reached the north. Arrivals include wood duck, hooded merganser, blue-winged teal, scaup, ring-necked duck and nearly every other species that migrate through the state. American white pelicans are back in the south, as are pied-billed and horned grebes, American coots and a few red-throated loons at multiple Lake Michigan vantages. Arriving shorebirds include killdeer, Wilson's snipe, lesser and greater yellowlegs and black-necked stilt. Great blue herons have returned to nesting rookeries and wetlands, the latter also hosting its first great egrets, American bitterns, and whooping cranes.

Now is an excellent time to visit brushy fields or woodland edges at dusk to witness the American woodcock courtship flights. Wild turkeys are also displaying, ruffed grouse drumming and both sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie chickens have begun to

dance on leks.

April is also prime time to view resident and migrating raptors.

Eagle migration is past its peak, but many red-tailed hawks are currently moving through or nesting. Merlins and peregrine falcons have returned, as have ospreys, turkey vultures and red-shouldered hawks. Look for broadwinged hawks to arrive around April 15-20, with large numbers toward the end of the month. Young great horned owls are leaving nests, barred owls have active nests with eggs or young and snowy owls have begun to depart.

White-winged crossbills continue at spruces statewide, while northern birders reported the last pine grosbeaks this past week. Feeder activity remains busy with American goldfinches, house and purple finches, pine siskins and American goldfinches among other regulars. Common redpolls continue statewide, although in much smaller numbers across southern Wisconsin.

However, in the north woods, they continue by the hundreds and will likely persist through the month, making for an expensive bird feeding season.

Although songbirds generally are at low risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza, redpolls and other birds that congregate at feeders are susceptible to salmonellosis at this time of year. This bacterial disease is transmitted through feces. Signs often include a puffed-up, lethargic individual that doesn't fly away with the rest of the flock. If a sick or dead songbird is found near a feeder or birdbath, remove the feeder or birdbath, wash and disinfect it using a 10% bleach solution and wait at least a week before putting it back up. It is also recommended to clean, bag and dispose of any waste seed from the ground. If five or more songbirds are found sick or dead, please report them using our Wildlife Health webpage's guidance.

April & May promise to be exciting months for birdwatching. Look for an influx of migrants Sunday into Monday before north winds and rain potentially settle in again next week. Are you thinking of orioles, hummingbirds, and warblers? Late April into early May is the typical arrival for those favorites in southern Wisconsin. Help us track the migration by reporting your sightings to www.ebird.org/wi.

Thursday, April 7, 2022 Page 11 Outdoors & Recreation Doctors debate, patients suffer: The fight over chronic Lyme disease in Wisconsin Zhen Wang, Wisconsin Watch If life had gone as planned, Maria Alice Lima Freitas would be in medical school, inspired by the career of her father, a surgeon who practiced in Brazil. But instead of changing careers, the 49-year-old therapist retired from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Freitas says her undiagnosed Lyme disease has sapped her energy, fogged her thinking and caused pain in her neck, shoulders, hands and right knee. She has three times deferred her entrance into medical school while struggling with myriad symptoms that she attributes to Lyme.

Most of her doctors say she is mistaken, and that her symptoms, which began in 2015, are due to rheumatoid arthritis.

Freitas is among thousands of Wisconsinites who say they are suffering from a chronic or long-term version of the disease. The infection comes from tiny ticks primarily found in the northeastern United States, including in Wisconsin — which is a hot spot for Lyme, ranking No. 5 among states for Lyme cases in 2019.

Nationally, Lyme disease infects an estimated 476,000 people a year. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports the state had 3,076 estimated cases of Lyme disease in 2020 — a doubling in the past 15 years. But medical entomologists say Lyme cases in the state could be 10 times higher than reported.

The medical establishment calls Lyme a short-term disease that usually quickly resolves with antibiotics. Self-described “Lyme-literate” practitioners argue patients like Freitas suffer from a long-haul version of the disease, often called chronic Lyme disease.

The orthodox position held by most scientific experts and some professional associations — and endorsed by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — is that Lyme disease is an acute infectious disease. Clinical diagnosis is based on a “bull’s-eye” rash, other specific symptoms and two-tiered antibody tests.

Treatment is by short courses of oral antibiotics. And persistent symptoms rarely occur.

The standard antibody testing for Lyme disease, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration and endorsed by insurance companies, has been criticized by patients and practitioners as inadequate to detect all cases of the disease. Some practitioners offer alternative tests and treatments, but insurance does not cover the cost of their care. And in extreme situations, such doctors risk disciplinary action.

For most people, Lyme disease is treatable and curable. Most patients report their symptoms cleared after a short course of antibiotics if the infection is recognized and treated early.

Another 10-20% of patients develop more severe cases whose symptoms include debilitating pain, fatigue, brain fog, irritability and sleep disorders.

Dark-skinned patients face particular difficulties in getting a Lyme diagnosis. Identifying the red target symbol over light skin tone is easy for light-skinned people, but not so with dark skin tones. A recent UCLA study found that 34% of Black patients with Lyme disease had neurological complications compared to just 9% of whites, suggesting the disease may not have been recognized for many Black patients in earlier stages when it’s easier to treat.

Patients with persistent symptoms struggle to get a diagnosis. Wisconsin Watch has spoken with five people in addition to Freitas whose persistent, subjective symptoms fall outside of the mainstream definition of Lyme as an acute disease. Caught in the middle of the debate, they face emotional, physical, mental and financial exhaustion as they bounce between specialists in search of explanations for their pain.

“The best way I can explain…I’m going through hell, (and) keep on going,” Freitas said.

Diagnoses: Viral infection, arthritis Freitas’ Lyme journey began in March 2019 as she battled monthly bouts of fever. She had trouble falling back to sleep late at night.

Her hair rapidly fell out. And her body ached and her neck was stiff. She suffered from severe pain in her joints, bones and chest.

She also felt tired. At first, Freitas attributed the exhaustion to the bladder surgery she had undergone in April. Fevers hit her in June and again in July.

The unbearable pain made it hard for her to work. It felt like someone was scraping the inside of her right knee with a knife. By August of that year, Freitas took a medical leave, unable to work.

She checked into a Madison hospital for a couple of days. She said the doctor ordered a variety of tests — but not for Lyme. Freitas was diagnosed with a viral infection, which she said failed to explain her full slate of symptoms, including electric sensations on her face and arms and forgetfulness.

Four summers earlier, Freitas said she similarly felt eye pain, knuckle pain, fatigue, forget-

fulness and headaches. She recalled a rash that had stayed on her leg for at least three weeks.

Freitas saw a rheumatologist at St. Mary’s in early July 2015.

The doctor noticed a red spot on her leg, but it was not the classic Lyme sign of “bull’s-eye” rash. She recalls being tested for Lyme, but the two-step testing came back negative.

The doctor deemed the red spot a likely spider bite and diagnosed her with arthritis. After taking pain medication for a month, Freitas began to feel better. When more symptoms took hold in 2019, she sensed that viral infection alone did not explain them. Freitas started reading articles about Lyme disease.

Her husband, John Oppenheimer, recalled his wife devouring medical journal articles.

Freitas has a bachelor’s degree in biology from UW-Madison and a master’s in marriage and family therapy from Edgewood College. In late 2018, a Florida-based medical school had admitted her to a pre-med program, but her declining health disrupted those plans.

Freitas floated the Lyme hypothesis to a rheumatologist, who felt the joint pain and hand swelling looked more like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Test results also suggested Freitas may have RA. Questions about testing Freitas was not convinced.“I have other symptoms that can’t be explained by RA,” she said. She had read journal articles about the difficulty in Lyme diagnosis, finding the recommended tests are “pretty fallible.”

CDC recommends a two-step testing process for determining whether a person has Lyme disease. Both blood tests must come out positive — or at least indeterminate — for a Lyme diagnosis to be made, the agency recommends.

The two tests measure antibodies that can remain in a person’s system for months or even years and therefore may not indicate an ongoing infection.“It cannot tell when you got infected,” said Elitza Theel, who directs Mayo Clinic’s Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory.

And the testing has other drawbacks. “It cannot tell what disease severity (is), and it cannot tell whether or not you responded to treatment,” Theel said. “It’s important to remember that we’re not making a diagnosis based on a test result alone.”

She went on to say that the testing also cannot be used to detect other infections that may cause Lyme-like symptoms. “You would have to test for those other infections,” she said.

Freitas tested positive in the first stage of testing but not the second, showing three bands instead of the five that the CDC says are proof of Lyme disease.

She asked the rheumatologist to order a different type of test from IGeneX, a California-based commercial laboratory, hoping that the insurance company would at least cover some cost. It didn’t.

“It’s expensive. I don’t have the money. I’ve been out of my job since August,” Freitas recalled.

The results from that $2,600 test came in December 2019. It indicated she did have Lyme disease. However, the IGeneX testing is not conclusive, either, Theel said. “Their criteria are less stringent than the CDC,” she said, “which will lead to a higher number of false-positive results.”

Her rheumatologist refused to accept the result, Freitas and Oppenheimer said, calling it a “shit test.”

Health woes lead to self-doubt Oppenheimer said Freitas, once wildly independent, increasingly depends on him as she struggles with her health. The two met when she was a single mom driving a Madison Metro bus and juggling classes at the UW-Madison.

Oppenheimer had overheard her speaking in Portuguese, and he tried to put together a phrase that he could speak in the same language. That led to a first date — and in 2011, marriage.

But these days, Oppenheimer said, his wife is “very drained.”

And even friends and family members question whether the symptoms Freitas describes are real.

“When everybody is saying that it is not Lyme,” Freitas said, “you start to question yourself.”

She tried a four-week course of doxycycline, the first-line antibiotics therapy for treating Lyme disease, prescribed by another rheumatologist. She began to feel better, with less pain and less brain fog. However, the symptoms returned once she completed the treatment.

She even found herself starting to stutter.

Oppenheimer himself was diagnosed with Lyme disease as a 19-year-old. At the time, he was living less than 50 miles from Lyme, Connecticut, the community for which the disease was named.

He described an “arrogant unwillingness” by the medical establishment to recognize what he believes are his wife’s ongoing symptoms of

Lyme disease. “(I’m) just trying to be there with her and seemingly nothing to be able to do, and it’s horrible to watch,” he said.

Lyme controversial from the start In autumn 1975, Polly Murray, an artist and mother of four in Lyme, reported to the state health department that she and her children were suffering from mysterious maladies, including stiff and swollen knees and rashes.

And neighboring children were having similar hard-to-explain symptoms.

Physicians diagnosed the children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Another mother from the area, Judith Mensch, also contacted the state health department. Finally, the cluster aroused the attention of the Connecticut public health authorities. Yale University’s Dr. Allen Steere, who was still a rheumatologist-in-training, began searching for a cause.

The following year, Steere told the Journal of the American Medical Association, that he strongly suspected the illness came from some type of infection.

In the early 1980s, Willy Burgdorfer, a medical entomologist at Rocky Mountain Laboratories, identified the bacterium that caused the mysterious affliction. It was named Borrelia burgdorferi after him.

Robert A. Aronowitz, a medical historian at the University of Pennsylvania, said the divide between mainstream medicine and Lyme patient advocates started early — with Patty Murray herself. He noted that Murray created local Lyme support groups starting in the 1980s that began to position themselves “in opposition to the leading Lyme disease physicians and scientists and their view of the disease.”

In her 1996 book, The Widening Circle, Murray warned of long-term cases of the disease.

“To me, the fact that some cases seemed to be chronic, lasting for many years, meant that somehow the infection smoldered in some patients and was set off by an immune reaction, perhaps patients were being repeatedly re-infected by the organism,” she wrote.

Two camps, two approaches Freitas saw a long string of mainstream physicians for a diagnosis — rheumatologists, an infectious-disease specialist, family medicine doctors and emergency room physicians. Then, in the spring of 2020, she began seeing out-ofnetwork doctors in and outside of Wisconsin, and many of them didn’t take insurance.

A survey of more than 2,400 U.S. patients found that 50% of the respondents reported seeing at least seven physicians before a Lyme diagnosis, and more than half continued to suffer symptoms for at least six months after the recommended short course of antibiotics.

In January 2021, Freitas borrowed $4,000 from her mother-in-law and flew to Washington, D.C., to receive intravenous antibiotic therapy. The treatments failed to help; in fact she dropped 30 pounds in a matter of weeks.

“I thought I was gonna die because I couldn’t eat,” Freitas said.

She continued to search for doctors.

On May 19, Oppenheimer and Freitas drove from their house in a quiet neighborhood in Middleton to northern Wisconsin.

They were on their way to a virtual visit with Dr. Samuel Shor. The Virginia-based internist works for the Tick-Borne Illness Center of Excellence in Woodruff, Wisconsin. Shor, who also is a clinical associate professor at George Washington University, sees patients in Wisconsin via telemedicine, charging $490 for an initial consultation.

As the former president of the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), Shor adheres to diagnoses and treatments that the mainstream Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) generally rejects. Dr. Paul Auwaerter of Johns Hopkins Medicine, a former president of IDSA, calls physicians who treat patients for chronic Lyme “antiscience” and a danger to patients and the medical profession.

“It is disappointing to me that people resort to name-calling from either side,” said Dr. Elizabeth Maloney, a family physician from Minnesota who helped write the latest guidelines on Lyme disease treatment. “It’s not helpful, and it does undermine patients’ confidence in our profession as a whole.”

The guidelines issued by IDSA maintain the group’s recommendations against antibiotic treatment for patients with persistent symptoms. It has also removed a previously endorsed term — Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) — for defining patients with persistent symptoms after short courses of antibiotic therapies.

“They don’t even want to go into that quagmire anymore,” said Maloney, who leads the Partnership for Tick-Borne Diseases Education. “They do not really talk about what to do with patients who do not fully recover. It’s kind of a black box.”

The disease is complex. If untreated, Lyme

can have wide-ranging effects on skin, joints, nervous system or the heart. The infectious agents attack connective tissue and can move around and “find their own way to … various parts of the body,” said Dean Nardelli, an associate professor who studies later-stage Lyme disease at the UW-Milwaukee’s Biomedical Sciences Lab Programs.

In a 2019 article in the journal Antibiotics, Shor said chronic Lyme is “often dismissed as a fictitious entity.” He and his co-authors consulted more than 250 peer-reviewed articles pointing to “a multisystem illness with a wide range of symptoms,” either continuously or intermittently, lasting at least six months.

“Signs and symptoms may wax, wane and migrate,” they wrote.

Other pathogens to blame?

Shor and his co-authors, including Maloney, propose that the lingering symptoms are caused by several pathogens from the Borrelia burgdorferi family or other tick-borne pathogens.

Nardelli said there’s a variety of symptoms and severity in Lyme disease patients, and those symptoms can be caused by the inflammatory responses against the microbes.

“Inflammation is a huge part of the immune response. It’s one of the frontline defenses we have, and it has this negative connotation, but it is intended for good,” he said. “Your immune response (is) trying to kill the bug … and in doing so, can cause damage, essentially.”

Some theories suggest that variants of the Lyme bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.

Others argue that chronic Lyme is caused by a powerful immune reaction — or it may even trigger an autoimmune disease. The central neural networks may be altered, having a significant impact on symptoms — or a combination of these factors.

Nardelli is investigating Lyme-related arthritis that persists after treatment with antibiotics. He said science can be a slow process of acquiring new knowledge, and it’s “tough” for patients who are suffering with no clear answers.

That can lead them to seek out untrustworthy practitioners or fall for costly treatments that don’t work. “You go out and find doctors that diagnose everything as Lyme disease,” Nardelli said.

For complicated cases, Maloney said physicians should approach patients as a detective would, whittling away other possibilities until getting to a diagnosis.

“The whole goal is to get people the right diagnosis so they can get the therapy that they need,” she said.

Freitas said she trusts Shor, who has embraced her IGeneX test results for Lyme and has also diagnosed her as having several afflictions: babesiosis, which has some of the same symptoms as Lyme and can come from the same ticks; bartonella, also known as cat scratch fever; and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Alternate treatments offer relief Freitas now takes Epsom salt baths on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and uses an infrared sauna for “detoxification,” saying it makes her body feel better.

And she now takes 30 pills each day, interspersing antibiotics with herbs and dietary supplements, which cost upwards of $1,200 a month.

“For babesia … I’m taking liquid gold …

Mepron,” said Freitas. “It’s really expensive.

It’s 50 bucks for 80 milliliters, which lasts two weeks.”

She gave up dairy, gluten, and sugar to reduce inflammation.

And she meets with Shor monthly online from her house at a charge of $250 per visit, which insurance does not cover.

“It was to me (that) the money is well paid.

I’m having peace of mind,” Freitas said. “I feel like I’m getting better.”

Freitas said she started gaining back some weight in June. Her mind has become a bit clearer. Her long-term memory seems back a bit, too. “I’m getting out of the graveyard,” she said.

Said Oppenheimer to his wife: “What I’m seeing is you’re better relative to the beginning of (2021), because you’re still not good.”

For Freitas, the struggle for recognition — and relief from her symptoms — continues.

She and her husband remodeled their home over the summer, refurbishing their two-story house with a plan to rent out one level to pay for Freitas’ ongoing treatments.

And she still holds out “a little flame of hope” of one day becoming a doctor — just like her dad.

Former WPR/Wisconsin Watch reporter Bram Sable-Smith contributed to this story.

The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.

WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Outdoors & Recreation

Page 12 Thursday, April 7, 2022

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

A Cold Night on the Fox Hello friends, I am currently in a crazy, busy period of time but it’s all positive. A percentage of walleye that live in Green Bay spawn on the Fox River below the dam at DePere. Every spring in early March a rule is placed that if you want to keep a walleye in this section of river it has to be 28-inches or larger.

I used to wade and throw crankbaits, lots of lost lures and sometimes fishermen that were rude changed that plan. For a few years I used my boat and did very well, but I became bored. For maybe ten years I have been paddling my canoe in the world of hundredthousand-dollar boats, after dark and paddle trolling. Simply put, I love it, in a years’ time it is the most dangerous thing I do. One flip in the dark, into the frigid waters of the Fox and it would be a search and not a rescue.

I have caught several walleyes over 28inches!

Monday, March 28th High 32°, Low 8°

This was supposed to be a two-day experience/ adventure. I have had to cancel three times because of flooding (chocolate milk) and or wind. When I launched my canoe at the fairgrounds in DePere I would literally be leaving for Red Lake, Ontario the day after I pulled it out.

I paddle troll using a kayak paddle, I pull three crankbaits, two on planer boards, left and a right and one straight back. My main crank is the J12 blue chrome.

There are two obstacles to success, and they are both a constant. The cranks are always picking up debris, mostly leaves, and if you do not check them, you are paddling but not fishing. To check lines, you have to be floating down river with the nose of your rig.

The other obstacle and it is also a responsibility, especially after dark is to not float into or block traffic.

For the most part I am always thirty feet to 100-yards from one or several boats and if they are pulling boards each rig could be 50-yards wide.

When paddling after dark, upriver, turning my brain off is not an option for even one minute or I could cause a very ugly mess with fishermen that respect what I am doing but do not want problems.

I had three hours of daylight paddling before dark, I squat on my knees and lean against a cooler with my rear end. Sitting on the cooler is not an option as my body weight would be too high and I would eventually fall out.

One of the most real tests when I fish like this is how long can I take it before something goes numb and

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist Walters would rather fish out of a canoe than a boat.

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist Fish catching was tough on the Fox!

that includes my brain. About 6:00 this evening I was loving life and paddling near the 172 bridge about where I caught a real nice walleye last year when my right pole starts bending. I was paddling upriver so the first thing that I had to do was a 180 so I could fight the fish floating down river and not mess up my other lines.

I took care of business and caught what was maybe a 19-inch walleye and I have to tell you, I am thinking, this is going to be a big night. In reality the real story is that for days the north had been experiencing very cold weather and this is not good for fish catching.

So, I started paddling between the 172 bridge and the train trestle about a mile to the north, it gets dark and just like that it’s Christmas on the water. In other words, boats everywhere and most were pulling six lighted planer boards. Twice I got snagged in heavy traffic and you have to be on top of your game, it’s kind of like driving on the interstate, everything is fine as long as you go with the flow, don’t stop in traffic or go backwards.

The real story is that I thrive on this, I am almost always smiling, even when boats blow by me in the dark going very fast and close, it’s all part of the game.

About 8:00 tonight both ends of my paddle where the water drips were becoming very frozen and my feet on

the bottom were starting to become numb. Also, everything inside of my canoe including my reels was getting 100 percent iced up. On this entire adventure I only saw one fish caught besides mine and by 11:00 I was still paddling waiting for the fat mama from the deep to give me a big challenge.

It was also about this time that I realized from my butt to the tips of my toes I could not feel a thing and I actually could not stand up if I had to.

About midnight I was really close to the landing, thinking real hard about my drive home and to Canada and I said, I am bailing.

If a camera was on me, you would see a guy paddle up in his canoe, but he could not get out, nothing worked from the belly button down. I literally flipped myself out, laid there, manned up, started loading gear and my canoe, thought about sleeping, but my lower half was too cold. I drove home, I am writing this, the truck is loaded and it’s Canada here I come!

Been a long winter!

—Sunset

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