Inside this edition
Reminders against the rumor mill
Spring Green approves ATV/ UTV ordinance
APT’s Winter Words wrap-up
Page 2
Page 4
Page 9
Spring Green, Wisconsin
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 16 Free, Single-Copy
Gov. Evers tours Spring Green Preserve, discusses need for Knowles-Nelson Stewardship funding renewal Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief
Gov. Tony Evers toured the Spring Green Nature Preserve April 19, to see how the location had benefited from Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grants. During his visit, Evers took a brief hike with Wisconsin Nature Conservancy officials, and was able to explore the recently prescribed burned portions of the preserve, while learning about the unique plants, insects and animals that call the area home. Evers also heard about research being done at the site on the effect of climate change on insect populations. Additionally, Evers visited natural areas in other parts of the state that had received Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grants this week.
Taylor Scott, Managing Editor As part of his Badger Bounceback initiative, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers toured the Spring Green Preserve State Natural Area (SNA) on April 19. The main focus of the trip was to highlight Evers’ 2021-23 biennial budget request to renew funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program while touring a site that has benefited from the funding in the past.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Wisconsin Legislature created the Stewardship fund in 1989 to preserve valuable wildlife habitat and natural areas, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. In 1993, the Stewardship Program was renamed the Warren Knowles-Gaylord
Nelson Stewardship program after two of Wisconsin’s revered conservation leaders, Warren Knowles (governor 1965-1971) and Gaylord Nelson (governor 1959-1963, U.S. Senator 19641981). Through the program, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquires land and develops recreational amenities on state properties. The program
also provides grants to local governments and community organizations to acquire and develop properties. In his budget proposal, Evers includes a 10-year reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program at $70 million per year. Currently the program is funded at $33 million per year. The program has been cut from a
See page 6
Arena fills board seat without enough votes, trustee questions financials Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Arena Village Board met April 13 for its regular meeting amidst a new lawsuit filing, took up the resignation of a trustee and purported to fill the resulting vacancy in a vote that didn’t include enough trustees, leaving questions as to how the board will proceed. Financials The board first took up a consent agenda of routine items and passed them unanimously. Trustee Paul Pustina, former village president, in
an email sent to Village of Arena Clerk DeNean Naeger, Village President Kate Reimann, Village Attorney Paul Johnson and press, raised the issue that March financials were left off the consent agenda — and the April agenda entirely, despite being approved earlier by the Finance Committee, and would need to be taken up at the next meeting of the board. Pustina has previously publicly called for a forensic audit of the village finances, with a focus on water bills.
Trustee resignation and appointment, issues The board then took up and unanimously approved accepting the resignation of Trustee Jessica Voight, who has moved out of the village. The next agenda item taken up was the appointment of Rachel DePouw to the open seat vacated by Voight, with a term expiring April 2022. Valley Sentinel reached out to Clerk Naeger seeking to clarify if DePouw was the sole resident interested in the seat and
we have not received a response as of press time. If we receive a response this story will be updated online. Reimann has recently appointed residents to fill trustee vacancies, which are then acted on by the board. Typically, interested residents have appeared before the board and given presentations under a general appointment agenda item, with the appointments decided on by a roll call vote of the board. It’s not clear under what authority Reimann is
See page 5
Restoration of Wright designed Wyoming Valley School gets state boost Jonah Chester, WORT-FM
Wisconsin is dotted with Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. During his decades-long career, the famed architect designed structures ranging from the Monona Terrace to the Robert Lamp House — a single family home on North Butler Street in Madison. Now, one of Wright’s lesser-known buildings is getting a boost from the state of
Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is awarding more than $90,000 in grant funding to help restore and update the Wyoming Valley School near Spring Green. Wyoming Valley, built in the late 1950s, is the only elementary school Wright ever designed.
For more on the project, our Producer Jonah Chester spoke with Dave Zaleski, the Executive Director of the Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center.
To listen to WORT’s conversation with Zaleski, visit www.wortfm.org. Valley Sentinel would like to thank WORT-FM for sharing their coverage on WEDC’s grant funding to the Wyoming Valley School.
Coverage continues on page 7
Page 2
opinion
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
RV High School students involved in fight serves as reminder against rumor mill Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Late last week, we started hearing various rumors about a major fight that occurred involving at least two River Valley High School students, which I’m sure many of you have heard various versions of by now. Normally, a school yard fight between a couple of teenagers wouldn’t be newsworthy, but the rumor mill started running fast with this one, and soon a video surfaced that showed what appeared to be a group of teenagers pistol whipping each other, with rumors that someone was hospitalized, another was on the run from authorities in Iowa and half the rumor mill saying it took place in Lone Rock, the other half saying it took place in Muscoda with all the students involved cutting school to rough each other up. With those accusations flying around this fight, it was a horse of a different color and Valley Sentinel felt it warranted an investigation with police departments. We’re sharing this information today for a simple purpose: Bad gas travels fast in a small town, and this was no exception. After an investigation and discussion with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Muscoda Police, it’s clear that the Valley blew this school yard fight out of proportion with little regard for facts from officials or reliable news sources—and we need to talk about it. Let’s start with setting the record
straight: There was indeed a pretty rowdy fight that involved two or more RV High School students. Names will not be released because the students are still minors, 16 and 17 years old. According to Chief Bill Schramm, Muscoda Police Department, individuals came to Muscoda “looking for a fight” to settle a dispute regarding relationship issues, on Wednesday evening, after school hours. One of the minor individuals did bring an antique Benjamin Franklin pellet gun, which was used as a blunt force object during the fight, but was never discharged. Schramm reports the pellet gun broke into two pieces during the fight, as shown in the contributed photo. Schramm reports there were no serious injuries and all parties are cooperating with police by providing statements. Following the fight, a video circulated widely through students and the area, which means the case will be referred by Muscoda Police to the Grant County District attorney for criminal investigation. Schramm said the DA will determine if there are any criminal Disorderly Conduct charges to be handed out, but said with certainty the individuals involved will be cited for Disorderly Conduct as an ordinance violation, which basically amounts to a ticketed fine. Now that we all know the truth of what happened, and can see that it was
truly a case of teenage emotions getting the best of everyone involved—not the crazy rollercoaster of teenagers cutting class to pistol whip each other to the point of hospitalization and running across state lines from authorities, let’s chat about the rumor mill and the importance of waiting or seeking out the facts before spreading slander in situations like this. In a close knit area such as the Valley it can be easy for the game of telephone to start and tumble out of control quickly, as it did in this situation. When you compare the various rumors floating around this situation, verses what actually happened, it can serve as a good reminder that when rumors spread they aren’t simply just rumors—it’s people’s lives we are all discussing. In this case, it was the lives of a group of minors who made the wrong choice, we’ve all made the wrong choice at some point and I don’t think we’d want an entire geographical area discussing it and making up their own version. The fact is, in this situation and anything similar it remains important to find the truth—wait for police, officials and news sources to report information before sharing it with others. In the words of Schramm, “Give it time, and find out the facts before you repeat it or forward it.” This incident can be a reminder of the importance of a few different things: rumors affect and toy with real, actu-
Photo via Bill Schramm, Muscoda Police Department A photo of the antique pellet gun that broke into two pieces during a fight in Muscoda. al peoples lives, they aren’t meant to be something of entertainment, facts are important and local news sources are important too—it’s literally their job to find facts in situations like this and share it with the public, (just this week’s reminder to support local journalism — #shamelessplug). The takeaway from this really should be patience. Be patient with law enforcement and news sources as we gather the facts of a situation, and whatever you do, don’t be the person who spreads wrongs about another person. Be better. Wait for the facts.
Letter to the Editor: No, We Should Not Legalize Marijuana As a father and grandfather, I am very upset by the news that Governor Evers is advocating for the legalization of marijuana in the upcoming Wisconsin Budget. However, this does not surprise me as Democrats are promoting this at the federal level also. These politicians seem to forget that for years they condemned the tobacco industry for ruining our health and driving up insurance costs, and
enticing young people into making an unhealthy, addictive lifestyle choices. Having learned nothing from those experiences, these same lawmakers want to legalize something that can be far more harmful. Money-minded pro-marijuana backers feel that Wisconsin is losing out on tax benefits because we do not have legal recreational marijuana. But this is simply not true. The Colorado
Christian University’s Centennial Institute states that “$4.57 is spent to mitigate marijuana’s effects for every $1.00 it generates”. I reached out to my State Senator, Howard Marklein, on this issue since he helps write the Wisconsin Budget as the Chair of the Joint Finance Committee. Thankfully, he stands firmly against the legalization of marijuana in Wisconsin. For the future of our
kids and grandkids, we cannot let legalization happen in our State. In fact, we should be doing more to curb its use. If Evers were to be totally honest, I’m sure he would not want his grandchildren to use marijuana even if it is legal. —Mike Breuer Glen Haven, WI
Considine: Governor Nelson, Milli Zantow, and Earth Day Dave Considine, D-Baraboo
Wisconsin’s former Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a day for Americans to speak out about preserving the environment and the crises that our fragile environment faces. This year as we’re beginning to return to “normal” from COVID-19 I encourage you to observe and participate in an Earth Day celebration. This may include a masked and socially distanced park clean up, planting something in your garden, taking a walk to discover native plants, or learning about recycling. Did you know that Sauk County’s own Milly Zantow invented plastic recycling? She saw an issue with tossing plastic in the landfill when it doesn’t decompose for centuries. Not only was that wasteful but it became cost-pro-
Considine hibitive for municipalities who didn’t have unlimited landfill space. To solve this problem she created a plastic
SUBSCRIBE to Valley Sentinel!
recycling company where she ground up plastics for reuse. Eventually she came up with the idea to number the bottom side of plastic containers to make it easier for everyone to sort and recycle the different types of plastic. Governor Nelson, Milli Zantow and many other Wisconsinites have made history by revolutionizing the fight to protect our environment. Maybe this year more history will be made by someone like you! As you see problems in our community, feel free to bring them to my attention. I am happy to partner with you to make change. For example, I am working on a recycling bill right now that would create a bottle deposit and refund system in our state. Over time this would eliminate waste and could reduce distributor costs. I am also working on
Want Valley Sentinel delivered to your home/business? Send a check with your name, address and $30 to: Valley Sentinel PO Box 144, Spring Green, WI 53588.
bills regarding sustainable agriculture practices so that farmers can continue to lead the conversation on conservation. If you are interested in getting involved in protecting the environment I encourage you to research ways to get involved in your local and statewide organizations. You may also reach out to me at any time at Rep.Considine@ legis.wisconsin.gov or at (608)2667746. I always enjoy hearing from you. Dave Considine represents the 81st District in the State Assembly. The 81st District includes Baraboo, Sauk City, Prairie du Sac, Portage, and many other communities. His office can be reached at (608) 266-7746 or via email at Rep.Considine@legis. wisconsin.gov
Or visit: valleysentinelnews.com/subscribe to pay using a credit card, debit card or paypal.
opinion
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
Page 3
Driftless Grace Column: The Outlook — observing life
Grace Vosen, Contributor “Fearsome” isn’t a word that people would use to describe me. But it fit the other day when a squirrel, attempting to perch outside my window, became paralyzed with fear by a glimpse of my giant’s face. Not long after, a mourning dove suffered a similar fate. Although I live on the second floor and at the same level as these denizens, I doubt they’ll ever accept me into their community. Luckily, the same window provides a view of a human community. This feature is why I chose my apartment. I’m surrounded by sound and movement, even when life inside my building is quiet and still. While this might bother some of my more reclusive friends, I welcome it. There’s just enough activity to be interesting and not enough to annoy. One pattern I’ve observed is that a lot of people spend a lot of time sitting in their cars. I’ll see someone arrive, then glance out again five
Photo by Grace Vosen A view of Festge County Park in Cross Plains.
or ten minutes later and find them still sitting there. They may just be scrolling on their phones or waiting to meet up with friends. But I like to think that a few of them are taking time to enjoy their surroundings -- to really look at the place where they find themselves. I’m finding myself right where I want to be: in an area that has fasci-
nated me for 15 years. What started as a family day trip destination grew to hold an almost spiritual significance for me. I looked forward to my visits here, which always left me feeling refreshed. Now I call this place home. In a time when so little is certain, I count myself extremely fortunate. May you get to visit the places that
inspire you this week. Be sure to take a moment to look around at where you are, and to observe the bounty that life brings even in difficult times. Grace Vosen is a writer and conservation educator living in Spring Green. She blogs about both the human and nonhuman communities of our region at DriftlessGrace.com.
Grace Vosen
Contact us
PO Box 144 Spring Green, Wisconsin 53588 USA (608) 588-6694 editor@valleysentinelnews.com valleysentinelnews.com Editorial Editor-in-Chief Nicole Aimone Managing Editor Taylor Scott Legal Editor Gary Ernest Grass, esq. Interns Graphic Design/Pagination
Deadlines: The display and classified
Valley Sentinel is published in Spring Green, Wisconsin every Wednesday by Lower Wisconsin River Valley Sentinel, LLC. ISSN 2694-541X (print) — ISSN 2694-5401 (online) Anna Stocks-Hess Graphic Design/Infographics Whitney Back Editorial Adeline Holte Graphic Design/Editorial Nicole Hansen Editorial Matthew L. Beyer
Editorial Adam Meyer Distribution/Photography Kalen Scott Regular Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Bill Gordon Arts & Culture/Editorial Alison Graves
advertising deadline is Monday at noon for that week. If you would like our design team to design the ad then please allow extra time for the creative process and proofing.
Ad team: ads@valleysentinelnews.com Arts Jen Salt Columns Grace Vosen Sports Mike McDermott
Our team will be growing and changing as we settle into publishing regularly, please stay in touch. Thank you to all of our contributors, by name and by pen, for believing in our community.
Editorial Policy
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
Letter to the Editor Policy
Letters submitted for consideration are subject to fact-checking and editing for space and clarity. Submissions must have a compelling local community interest. Letters to the editor must fit within a 500-word limit, and include name, city and phone number. Phone numbers are for office use only and will not be published. Letters of a political nature, without chance of rebuttal, will not be published the week before an election.
and impartiality of our reporting.
Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”
Valley Sentinel is a free, weekly single-copy news publication, available on newsstands in the area. Covering Arena, Lone Rock, Plain, Spring Green and the surrounding areas.
Column Policy
Editors may feature opinion columns written by public figures, members of the public or other publication staff. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual contributors and do not represent positions of the publication. Guest columns of an anticipated length more than 500 words should seek prior editor authorization.
Subscribe Want the paper delivered to your home or business? Subscribe online at valleysentinelnews. com/subscribe or subscribe annually with your name, phone number, address and $30 sent to: Valley Sentinel, PO Box 144, Spring Green, WI 53588
Community Discussion Policy
From time to time the editorial board may select letters to the editor of a particular compelling community interest where a public figure or accountable public action is the recipient of criticism and allow, in the same issue, the subject of the criticism chance for rebuttal, with expounded independent input. The format shall be point, counterpoint and expert analysis. This community discussion shall serve as a moderated dialogue that presents multiple views of important community topics.
Page 4
Community
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
Spring Green Board approves ATV/UTV ordinance, asks ice cream truck to answer questions Taylor Scott, Managing Editor Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Village of Spring Green Board met April 14 virtually to stamp their approval on the Farmer’s Market location, complete the several meeting process of allowing ATV’s and UTV’s on village roads, to accept the resignation of Trustee Robin Reid as she transitions to village president — and to request the attendance of an ice cream truck owner at their next meeting to answer questions. The board again approved the use of the Spring Green Community Library parking lot as the location of the Farmer’s Market. Spring Green Farmers Market Managers Jane Hauser and Stacey Feiner said the market runs from 9 am - noon, May 15 thru Oct. 16, and from 10 am - 11 am, Oct. 23 thru May 7, 2022 for pickup of orders. Hauser, in her capacity as trustee, recused herself on the vote. The board suspended the third reading and approved the proposed ATV/UTV ordinance that would allow ATV’s and UTV’s on village roads. The board had asked Police Chief Mike Stoddard to include a sunset clause that would require that the ordinance be considered again in a year. Trustee Joel Marcus objected to the approval of the ordinance, and both Hauser and Marcus objected to the suspension of the third reading of the ordinance. Area resident Ed Lilla spoke out with concerns that signage would be posted in front of his house. Wisconsin River Runners ATV Club members Jeff Freel and Jeff Johnson reassured Lilla that would take his concerns into consideration when posting signage. Village Clerk Wendy Crary clarified that the ordinance would be in effect starting Thursday, April 22. Freel and Johnson advised that the routes cannot be used until signage goes up and they were expecting up to a 30 day wait time to receive the signs. After discussion about fairness of variances and a suggestion to refer the applicable ordinances to committee, the board approved a variance request from David and Monica Pilon to allow a second driveway and to exceed the allowed driveway width for their property on Monroe Street. The board then approved a resolution authorizing the submission of a Community Development Investment Grant application to Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to support Karin Miller’s grant appli-
cation seeking to renovate the Spring Green General Store building second floor to add housing units. The board postponed action on a mobile food vending application submitted by Kyle Vesperman of Vesperman Farms LLC for an ice cream truck, asking that Vesperman attend the next meeting and answer questions. Area business owner Terry Shifflet spoke regarding concerns that approving the permit for a food truck from out of the area could be viewed as a “slap in the face” to downtown businesses. Trustee Michael Broh clarified that they can’t discriminate based on the business, but only based on location and times. Marcus brought attention to the fact that there isn’t currently an ice cream shop downtown and that trucks like this can complement the downtown’s offerings, Reid agreed that trucks like this can complement and supplement but offered a motion to table the discussion until the next meeting. Vesperman Farms’ ice cream truck had been scheduled to be in Spring Green Sunday, but was forced to cancel in light of the decision. The board convened into closed session under section 19.85(1)(c) of the Wisconsin Statutes for “considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility” to discuss action regarding candidates for the Director of Public Works and Police Department Patrol Officer positions. Crary confirmed action was taken by the board to offer employment to the top candidate for both positions. Other actions taken by the board: Approved burn requests submitted by 1.) Brad Hutnik, Chuck Schreiber and Mark Baenen, and 2.) Robin Reid. Approved easements for the Woodbury Sanitary Sewer Project. Approved the resignation of Reid as village trustee effective April 19. Reid was elected village president in the spring elections. Village of Plain The village of Plain also met for its regular board meeting on April 14, where it discussed the possibility of an art project being installed at the villages budding business park in preparation for Fermentation Fest in 2022. Fermentation Fest, a 10-day biennial festival that celebrates farming,
food and art in Sauk County, had a stop in Plain in 2020, that brought over 1,000 new people to the Village President Ray Ring. The festival’s organizers approached the village with the idea of an evolving art installation in the business park, Event Organizer Donna Neuwrith with Wormfarm Institution, the organization that puts on the festival, appeared with the board on Wednesday to discuss the issue. She informed the board that a specific art piece or timeline for installation was set, it would be designed, installed and cared for by a group of young architects the institute provides with scholarships to encourage artists and dynamic designs. The village gave the Development and Planning Commission permission to continue working with Fermentation Fest on the art installation. Other actions and discussion the board took includes: —Second reading and adoption of Ordinance #213-21: updating verbiage of parking at 1015 Cedar Street. —Second reading and adoption of Ordinance #214-21: strengthening firearm and projectile ordinances to prevent hunting within the Village limits. —First reading of Ordinance #21521: changing ATV club in charge of signage, which includes a name change for the club currently responsible for signage. —Approved a liquor license for Pat Mahoney in the Village for April 15, 2021 through October 15, 2021. —approve a Class A, intoxicating Liquor License for Country Crossroads Floral and Gifts, LLC, Agent: Carrie M Walsh, for the period April 15, 2021 through June 30, 2021 — Hired Addison Brey for the position of Assistant Rec Director. Trustee Brian Brey abstained from voting. —Hired new Lifeguard Charlotte Ferstl. —Hired Brandon Verthein for the position of Seasonal Public Works Helper. Brandon was employed with the village through grants in the 2020 spring/summer season, because the village hired him as a returning employee it will receive the first three months of his pay subsidized. —Paid Application No. 4 for MZ Construction, Inc. in the amount of $221,829.23 for the WWTP Headworks Upgrade Project. The next village meeting will be May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Village Municipal
offices. Village of Lone Rock The village of Lone Rock met April 13 for its regular monthly board meeting, where it took a variety of routine actions and discussed a skate park in the village. WisCoat, an asphalt company out of Lone Rock, Owner Marvin Joles presented an idea for a Skate Park to be built on the concrete slab that remains from former basketball courts, which the board approved. Joles created a logo for the 50 ft by 50 ft concrete slab, and offered WisCoat to do repairs on the concrete, as well as provide and install a 24 ft by 8 ft ramp. The park would also have a smaller ramp, a four-way ramp and a rail. The park would also include an area featuring the names of donors who help provide the additional ramps. Royal Bank offered to cover the cost of a fence around the park and some ramps and rails. DZ’s, Ray and Alice Hatfield also donated to the park. “I know this was presented a while ago, but now you see these in every town around us,” said Joles. “I always like to make things a community effort.” Joles brought his son, Eli Joles to address the board about his desire to have a skate park in the village. “I like skating because it’s fun, I can do tricks and make friends. I would like a skate park in Lone Rock because it’s where I live and where my friends live. If we had a skate and scooter park in Lone Rock, then we wouldn’t have to go to other towns for their skate parks,” said Eli. “A skate park would be good for kids my age because it gives us something else to do in town, kids have a lot of fun at scooter and skate parks.” Marvin is hoping to have the park operational by the middle of June. Other actions and discussion the village took at its April 13 meeting include: —Approving a kennel license for Jack and Julie Day. —Approved an operators license for Alexis Kast at DZ’s —Approved having a Spring Clean Up April 28 2 p.m.-6 p.m. and May 1 8 a.m.-10 a.m. for village residents only. —Allowed the development of village wide garage sale. The next village board meeting will be May 11 at 7 p.m. at the village office.
COmmunitycalendar Rummage Sale: Christ Lutheran Church 237 Daley Street, Spring Green, WI Thursday - Friday - Saturday May 6-7-8th. 7:30am-2:30pm Good quality Items. Fellowship Hall tables filled to overflowing. Something for Everyone. All are welcome!
Community Calendar We care about the community and want to showcase your events, especially in times like these! Our goal is to keep the community in touch with events, people, life and businesses of the River Valley. Email us to submit your local events, editor@valleysentinelnews.com
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021 Page 5 Community Lawsuit filed against Village of Arena, fireworks won’t work for the second year in a row continued from page 1 making the appointments, as statute states that the board as a whole has the sole authority of making appointments to fill vacancies, but does not specify that authority to village presidents. Before and during board action on her appointment, DePouw sat amongst the trustees with a village-provided laptop. Pustina raised concerns about the optics of the seating arrangement. “I really think this is inappropriate, having her sitting with the board, with a laptop, before the meeting even started,” said Pustina. “It kinda looks as if this is a formality.” Reimann ended discussion and took a voice vote on the appointment. With trustees Charles Burch and Tara Hill absent, only Pustina, Reimann and trustees Kathy Stolz and Tami Erspamer were present to vote, with Pustina voting against the appointment. With a 3-1 vote, Reimann concluded that the appointment had passed and Naeger proceeded to swear DePouw in. However, after reviewing the meeting, Valley Sentinel’s legal editor noted that the board’s action on appointing DePouw to the vacant trustee seat lacked
Editorial Analysis:
Village of Arena trustee appointment not proper The Village of Arena claims to have elected an interim trustee to fill a vacancy until the next election for that position. The vacancy was not filled by an internal election among competing candidates but as an up-down vote on a single candidate who was proffered to the board as the appointee of the president. There were four trustees present, out of six (seven total positions pursuant to Village Ordinance 2.10.020, minus one for the vacancy). Of the four, at least one voted against the filling of the vacancy by the candidate. My conclusion is that
the statutory number of votes needed to appoint a trustee by one vote. Statutorily, a majority of the members of the village board, four, is needed, rather than a majority of members present. See analysis provided. Valley Sentinel reached out to Naeger for comment on how the village will proceed with the appointment and we have not received a response as of press time. If we receive a response this story will be updated online. Lawsuit filed against the village The board postponed action on a resolution disallowing a claim, instead acting on village attorney advice to postpone any action until the next meeting. Village residents Christopher and Deana Toutz filed a lawsuit against the village on March 24, claiming inaccurate assessment of property and asserting that the village did not provide written notice/appeal rights. The village’s insurance carrier had recommended disallowance, meaning the village would reject the claim. Court records indicate that the lawsuit was dismissed on Tuesday. Valley Sentinel will provide an update in next week’s edition.
Mary Jones Memorial The board decided it was in the best interest of the community to not hold the annual Mary Jones Memorial and fireworks in July. This is the second year in a row the event has had to be cancelled. Organizer David Jones indicated he felt it wasn’t possible to monitor and enforce masks and social distancing at the event to be in compliance with county health department guidance. Little League Pam Gauger indicated that Little League has 300 members, which make up 32 teams, of which six teams are from Arena. The league is looking at approximately 26 home games, plus practices. Little League encompasses T-ball to 8th grade. The board approved action to waive fees for Little League use of village baseball fields. Archery Fees The daily fee for the Rustic River Archery Club Park, a village park located at 7698 US-HWY 14 in Arena, has been $10, in line with what the Rustic River Archery Club that maintains the property in cooperation with the village has been charging. The board heard from Public Works Superintendent Mike
Schmidt, who recommended signage and a fee reduction to $5 to promote stricter following of the fees, which the board passed unanimously. Other board actions —The village expects to get $81,749 in American Rescue Plan aid. —The board approved chicken permit for Jenna Christensen and Stephanie/ Ian McCririe. —The board accepted a park bench donation in recognition of Bill Akins and directed Public Works to determine the best placement. —The board passed a resolution seeking Stewardship grant money for the West Park ramp to the fishpond. —The board approved Ordinance #2021-0413 to amend Section 15.05.030 (a) & (c) of the Municipal Code of the Village of Arena, Iowa County, WI relating to State Uniform Dwelling Code to apply to camping units. —Along with the invalid appointment of the vacancy created by the resignation of Voight, there is an additional vacancy on the board created by Hill declining to pursue reelection. Interested parties should contact Naeger with a letter of interest.
the person was not lawfully appointed trustee. Wisconsin Statute section 17.24 provides that other than in the context of a recall, “a vacancy in any elective village office may be filled by appointment by a majority of the members of the village board…” “Majority of the members” means what it says, and is intentional language to distinguish from a mere majority votes of members present at any meeting with quorum. Roberts Rules of Order, for example, uses the phrase “majority of the members” to explain quorum and certain types of supermajority votes. See Roberts Rules Online, sections 53, 62, 64, 68, etc. A majority means more than half. Since there were six members of the village board, half would be three, and a majority would be four
or more. There were not four votes for the appointment. The state law provides a mechanism for filling a vacancy, but is ambiguous regarding whether any other means may be used. It says a vacancy “may” be filled this way, not “may only.” I therefore examined the Arena ordinances to see whether they provided for any alternative means of filling the position. On the contrary, the ordinances mandate, at section 2.55.120 (b) that all vacancies “shall” be filled by the means provided in the statute, referencing section 17.24. I conclude that the new trustee was not properly appointed. Consequences are another issue. The best route, if the votes exist to secure the appointment, would be for the Board to vote again to ratify its earlier vote,
without the new trustee voting, but with sufficient attendance to meet the majority of members standard. If not, a suit could be brought to challenge the appointment. A trustee opposing the appointment would have the clearest standing to do this, but in the short term, anyone affected by any deciding vote cast by the new trustee would have a colorable case. Any action that relies on the new trustee’s vote would not automatically be void, but could be voidable in a court action. The sooner a legal action is brought, the more comfortable a court is likely to be in removing the trustee and voiding actions of the Board. —Gary Ernest Grass, esq., Legal Editor
Half poured and on schedule, HWY 23 bridge looks to finish major pours this week
Photos by Jim Simpson, WisDOT Project Manager On April 15, approximately 1/2 of the concrete deck (the northern half) was poured for the ongoing STH 23 bridge project. On Thursday approximately another 1/2 of the concrete deck (the southern half) will be poured. After that there will be many smaller pours that will finish the deck and complete the parapet walls. The project is still on schedule to reopen the bridge to traffic in June. The bridge will have one lane open and will utilize temporary traffic signals to alternate traffic between northbound to southbound vehicles. The entire project is to be completed and the bridge fully open to traffic in September. —Jim Simpson, P.E., P.L.S., WisDOT Project Manager
Page 6
Community
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
‘Less than a fishing license’—Gov. and TNC make argument for Stewardship funds continued from page 1 high of $86 million per year in 2007. The Spring Green Preserve is a nearly 1,400 acre SNA of unique sand prairie, bluffs and oak barrens just north of Spring Green that is owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy, who hosted the tour with Evers. Valley Sentinel previously covered the ecological role of prescribed burns by The Nature Conservancy in our March 24 edition. The Nature Conservancy shared their support for the reauthorization of the Stewardship: “With the increased conservation needs for fresh water, challenges to plants, animals, and people from extreme weather events, and greater demand for outdoor recreational opportunities, we need a strong, well-funded Stewardship Program more than ever. It’s crucial that the governor reauthorize the program for the long-term, with robust funding to support the work.” According to The Nature Conservancy’s Director of Conservation, Hannah Spaul, acquisition of 900 acres of the Preserve was funded in part by Stewardship funds over the years. Spaul said the funds have complemented the acquisition of pieces of property over time, including not only parts with high biological diversity value, but also buffer areas that are important to the restoration and maintenance of the Preserve as well. After a short walking tour with the governor, The Nature Conservancy’s Deputy State Director Matt Dallman
Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief A sign at the trailhead of the Spring Green Nature Preserve showing it is a recipient of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship grant program. spoke and emphasized the value of preserving ecosystems like the Preserve provides. “Wetlands, forests and grasslands slow water down and capture it, preventing damaging flooding events,” said Dallman. “Our best science tells us that we need to conserve additional natural lands for both people and nature.” At a time where attendance numbers show a record amount of people re-engaging with outdoor resources due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallman stated that the Preserve itself
is threatened by climate change. “Stewardship dollars work to harness the powerful solutions nature provides to fight climate change,” said Dallman. Dallman shared research by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies that shows that the Stewardship’s annual cost comes out to $19.75 per resident annually. “Less than a fishing license,” joked Dallman. The same research found that the Stewardship generates $2 billion dollars in economic value to the state annually. Locally, within the 17th district of the Wisconsin State Senate, there have been more than 500 Stewardship projects. Those projects have been worth more than $40 million in direct state investment, according to Map.KnowlesNelson.Org, a service of Gathering Waters, Inc. — a non-profit that advocates and assists with land trusts. “It’s really transformed the landscape for the better,” says Charles Carlin, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Gathering Waters.
“On a scale of one to ten Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Gov. Tony Evers, left, examines prickly pear cacti in the portion of the Spring Green Preserve that was burned by prescribed fire in March.
‘Holy Mackerels’ — how important is the Stewardship funding renewal?”
In his remarks after the tour, Evers re-emphasized the critical role ecosystems like the Preserve play in preventing flooding like the state, including the Spring Green area, has seen in recent years. Evers thanked The Nature Conservancy and spoke to the increased traffic natural areas have seen. “We’ve found during this pandemic how important being outside is. We’ve seen it in the state parks, the folks here have certainly seen it, and it’s going to continue afterwards too,” said Evers. “We’ve created a need, and we have to make sure we do it because it’s the right thing, not only for getting outside but preserving what is great for the state of Wisconsin.” Evers shared his belief that Stewardship reauthorization isn’t a partisan issue and said he looked forward to working with the legislature to address climate change and to make sure the state is meeting the needs of the people of Wisconsin in getting outside. Valley Sentinel was able to interview the governor after his remarks: Valley Sentinel: “On a scale of one to ten ‘Holy Mackerels’—how important is the Stewardship funding renewal?” Governor Tony Evers: “Oh, that’s a ten. It’s absolutely a ten.” Listen to the governor’s full remarks and Valley Sentinel’s Q&A with the governor at: www.valleysentinelnews.com.
Local. Natural. Delicious. We strive to serve specialty coffee and baked goods created with ingredients that are locally sourced, all natural and sustainable. Our schedule is posted each week on social media.
Get in touch with us today! www.butternutroadcoffee.com butternutroadcoffeetruck@gmail.com 608-459-5016 Butternut Road Coffee Truck butternutroad_coffeetruck Butternut_Road
Coffee & News A collaboration by Valley Sentinel & Butternut Road Coffee. Stop by the coffee truck starting mid-week to pick up a copy of Valley Sentinel with your coffee, while supplies last.
Community
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
Page 7
Rehab of Wright’s Wyoming Valley School funded by $90,000 WEDC matching grant
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
MADISON, WI. – Children may soon once again be learning at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Wyoming Valley School while their parents attend concerts and people of all ages take part in arts classes, exhibits and more. The Town of Wyoming is receiving a $90,200 state grant to help make needed repairs to the only elementary school building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Wyoming Valley School is located on State Highway 23 near Spring Green and near Wright’s home Taliesin, designated part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. “This stretch of highway runs through a scenic part of rural Wisconsin and draws travelers from around the world who come to learn more about visionary architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the landscapes that inspired him,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “Opening the historic Wyoming Valley School for tours and events will draw even more visitors and allow new generations to experience the area’s rich cultural heritage.” Work, supported by a Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), is underway and includes historically rehabilitating the school’s sloped and flat roofs, rebuilding a chimney and cleaning up water damage inside the building. Once the restoration is complete and the COVID-19 pandemic has ended, the building’s owner, the nonprofit Wyoming Valley School Cultural Arts Center plans to open the building for field trips, art exhibits, classes, concerts, weddings and other events.
Dave Zaleski, the center’s executive director, said the group hopes to get everyone involved in the center from children just learning about the environment around them to architecture devotees. “We want to get the kids out here,” Zaleski said. “It’s a great place for field trips. We want the Frank Lloyd Wright lovers. So we want all ages.” The school was built in 1957 with Wright donating his design and two acres of land to the school district in honor of his mother, who had been a kindergarten teacher. It was used as a school until 1990. “I think the building had a profound effect on anyone who came there to learn,” said architect Peter Rött, the project’s preservation consultant. Rött grew up nearby and recalls that he was jealous of his cousins who got to attend the school. He remembers them telling stories of how teachers forbade bouncing balls in the gym for fear of damaging the light fixtures. Rött said, however, that when he inspected the light fixtures he found that they were durable with replacement parts easily obtainable – evidence that Wright had designed the school with children in mind. “This is the first large grant that we have applied for and the Board is tremendously grateful for WEDC’s funding,” said Board Member Lisa Saucke, who along with Rött was crucial in writing the grant. “The renovation means so much to all of the volunteers who have diligently worked to preserve and protect this building for so many years, simply relying on donations.” Located just down the road from Wright’s
Photo via WEDC A view inside the Wyoming Valley School. famed home and studio, Taliesin, the school isn’t one of Wisconsin’s best-known Wright sites but people sense the building is special, Zaleski said. “The minute they walk in, they fall in love with the building,” he said. “This facility is a treasure in our community and a fine example of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright,” said state Sen. Howard Marklein. “We are extremely fortunate to have so many interesting, yet functional facilities designed by Wright in our area. This is a very good investment to preserve the history of Wright’s work in our community.” WEDC’s Community Development Invest-
ment Grant Program supports community development and redevelopment efforts, primarily in downtown areas. The matching grants are awarded based on the ability of applicants to demonstrate the economic impact of the proposed project, including public and private partnership development, financial need, and use of sustainable downtown development practices. From the program’s inception in 2013 to Sept. 30, 2020, WEDC has awarded nearly $26.7 million in CDI Grants to 87 communities for projects expected to generate more than $446 million in capital investments statewide.
TUNE-UP SPECIALS! BRING YOUR ITEM IN BEFORE MAY 1 AND RECEIVE
10% OFF
Pickup & Delivery available in the River Valley area for an additional charge
Zero Turn Mowers ............$100* Riding Mowers ........................ $90* Push Mowers.............................. $55* Handheld (Chain Saws, Etc.).......... $45* *Includes labor – plus sharpening, greasing and cleaning. All parts extra – gas, fuel conditioner, plugs, fuel & air filters, oil, oil filters, blades, etc.
J J and
Total Lawn Care & Snow Removal
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL
Photos via Wyoming Valley School Instagram Rehabilitation work began earlier this week at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wyoming Valley School, with funding from WEDC matching grants.
E4792 Kennedy Rd., Spring Green
608-588-2453
Open Monday-Friday 8-5• Saturday 8-12
“The good stuff.”
Page 8
Community
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
‘s
1ST ANNUAL
BEST of LOWER WISCONSIN
THE
RIVER VALLEY 1 2 20 READER POLL SPRING GREEN AREA
CATEGORIES & QUESTIONS
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Outdoors & Leisure Best Body of Water for Recreation Best Campground Best Golf Course Best Place to Get Fit Best Sledding Hill Best Trail - Hiking/Biking Arts & Culture Best Free Entertainment Option Best Holiday/Seasonal Event Best Local Play/Musical Best Music Festival Best Mural Best Local Visual Artist (Illustration/Painting/Sculpture, etc.) Best Art Gallery Best Local Music Best Local Author Best Music Venue Best Photographer Noms & Nightlife Best Food Event Best Appetizer (location and item) Best Bakery Best Place to Get Coffee
Timeline
April 14 - April 28: Open nominations! This is your time to share all your best choices for each category and question. Share your favorite business or place or thing. Instructions on how are below. May 5 - May 26: Polls open! This is your time to vote on the nominations and
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Best Breakfast/Brunch Spot Best Friday Fish Fry Best Burger (location and item) Best Wings Best Food Truck/Food Pop-up Best Regional Beer (brewery/specific brew) Best New Restaurant Best Restaurant for Outdoor Dining Best Pizza Best Steak Best Place for Dancing Best Bar Best Old Fashioned Best Subs/Sandwiches (Anything between 2 pieces of bread that’s not a burger) Best Restaurant Best Wedding Venue Best Supper Club in the Region Best Regional Winery Oot & Aboot Best Day Trip Best Hotel Best Public Park
help decide who or what wins each poll question. We’re working on the possibility of write-in options as well. June 2: Winners announced! On or around this date winners will be announced. We’re still ironing out the details of what this looks like and what sort of fancy certificates and such
• • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Best All-Ages Hangout Best Tourist Attraction Best/Most Beautiful Local Spot Shopping Best Area Bookstore Best Clothing Boutique Best Gas Station (specific location) Best Sporting Goods/Tackle Store Best Place to get Groceries Best Hardware Store Best Place for Jewelry Best Cheese Factory Best Place to Buy Meat Best Shop for Gifts Services Best Attorney Best Autobody Shop/Automotive Repair Best Bank/Credit Union Best Place to get a Haircut Best Carpentry or Remodeling Company Best Construction Company Best Dental Practice Best Electrician
businesses get, but feel free to share your ideas!
Right Now: Call for Nominations
Visit www.valleysentinelnews.com and submit your nominations online. Online nominations will be live by the end of the week, so keep checking.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Best Florist Best Heating & Cooling Company Best Area Hospital/Clinic Best Plumber Best Senior Living Residence Best Tax Service Best Vet Clinic Best Real Estate Agent/Office Best Landscaping/Lawncare Best Local Insurance Agent/Office Best Nail Salon Best Event/Wedding DJ Agriculture Best CSA Best Farm Extras Favorite Elected Official Most Overrated Thing in the Valley Most Underrated Thing in the Valley Thing the Valley is Best At Thing the Valley is Worst At Biggest Thing We Should Make Happen Soon
Businesses!
Don’t be afraid to nominate yourselves, and please reach out if you’re interested in ways to get involved. Email us with any questions: editor @valleysentinenews.com or visit www.valleysentinelnews.com/best-of
In Other News Briefs SGAAC changes names, hosts logo contest The Spring Green Area Arts Coalition is changing its name to River Valley ARTS, and will be hosting a contest to redesign its logo. The ARTS acronym will stand for Advocacy, Resources, Training and Scholarships. The contest winner will earn a $250 cash prize along with the use of their logo for the organization’s website, printed materials and social media. Entries should be sent to springgreenareaartscoalition@gmail.com by June 30. Requirements for the logo include: Incorporating the name River Valley ARTS, the terms advocacy, resources, training and scholarships, the logo should be in color but should not include a black, white and red color combination or an image of a hawk. The entries will be judged by a panel of board members for River Valley ARTS and will be judged based on visual appearance, design quality and reproducibility. For more information, visit www.springgreenarts.org
Spring Green Area Arts Coalition Announces Creative Community Grant Recipients Every year the Spring Green Area Arts Coalition awards Creative Community Grants to further stimulate creative and innovative arts and culture programming in the River Valley area. Applications are reviewed by a panel of community members and are evaluated on the degree of community involvement and community benefit, artistic merit, creativity and innovation, ability of the applicant to complete the project, and potential for growth and development. Grant funds are provided through the generous contributions of community members and local businesses and through a matching grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the state of Wisconsin. The 2021 Spring Green Area Arts Coalition Creative Community Grants have been awarded as follows: $2,500 to Two Crows Theatre Company for an original musical about Chekov, $2,500 to the Spring Green Community Library for an interactive outdoor sculpture, $2,500 to the Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret for a mural project, and $2,500 to Rural Musicians Forum for a Himmelfarb Sculpture and Villanueva Experimental Jazz Project.
New Hours at Convivio Convivio in downtown Spring Green now has new hours. The updated hours include, Wednesday-Thursday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Arts & Culture/recreation
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
Page 9
Thoughts on APT’s Final Winter Words Reading: Dontrell by the Sea Alison Graves, Contributor Watching and writing about APT’s 2021 Winter Words play readings from my home office in Escondido, California – with actors and directors from home (the Valley) and all over the country – has been, to quote APT’s artistic director, Brenda DeVita, “an unexpected gift of the pandemic.” For their final Winter Words performance of the season, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea (written by Nathan Alan Davis, directed by Ameenah Kaplan) the actors and director virtually spanned the country. Reading from their homes in Spring Green, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Washington DC and New York City, their performances were so strong and the writer’s storytelling was so expressive, I didn’t miss the choreography, costuming or scenery. Kaplan’s strong direction, with an exemplary cast and crew, made this language-driven, coming-of-age/heroes journey tale stand-up on its own – while making a poetic statement about what it means to be young and black in America. Nathan Alan Davis is an award-winning playwright from Rockford, IL now based in New York. His plays include Nat Turner in Jerusalem, Dontrell Who Kissed the Sea and The Wind and the Breeze. Dontrell is a funny and moving play and the title character, Dontrell Jones III (played by LA-based Lorenz Arnell) is an intelligent 18-year old in Baltimore during the final days of summer before his freshman year at Johns Hopkins University. Arnell succeeds in creating an immensely
likeable character – you want him to succeed. Throughout the play, Dontrell documents his words and feelings on a small tape recorder he carries everywhere, creating an oral history for future generations that he geekily refers to as his “captain’s log.” He’s living a stereotypical American high school dream – straight A student, top of his class, with a loving and nurturing family. It seems like things have come easily for him – everything except learning how to swim. One night Dontrell has a nightmare about an ancestor drowning in the Atlantic Ocean. This begins his heroes quest—starting with swimming lessons. Dontrell goes to the local swimming pool and jumps right into the water, assuming that like everything else, swimming will come naturally to him. Upon nearly drowning, he is rescued by the lifeguard on duty, Erika (Rebecca Hurd). She offers to teach Dontrell how to swim and a romantic relationship blossoms. Meanwhile, Dontrell’s cousin Shea (Liz Femi), who works at the National Aquarium, has agreed to obtain a wetsuit for Dontrell. Fearing his family will think he’s delusional, Dontrell doesn’t tell anyone in his family about his plan. Shea tells Dontrell about their grandfather who also had visions and spiritual turmoil. He bought an old fishing boat to go on his own exploration but everyone just treated him as a crazy, drunk old man. At Dontrell’s graduation party his family meets his girlfriend Erika for the first time and his covert agenda is revealed. It doesn’t go
swimmingly The outstanding cast popped off the screen and included the wonderful Gavin Lawrence as Dontrell’s hard-working, strong but largely slient dad. Edmee-Marie Fall is Dontrell’s younger sister, Danielle. She’s terrified at the prospect of being the only child left at home and knows their Mom (Kelsey Scott), likes Dontrell more than her. Danielle’s characterization of her mother making breakfast is a prime example of some of play’s funny banter. In trying to get Dontrell out of bed one morning, Danielle says about Mom, “She’s beating the shit out of those eggs. You know where she puts all her residual stress…me.” While Dontrell is the main character, his mom is the heartbeat of the play, and her righteous stress comes from a place of fear – raising a black boy into a black man—surviving the journey and stewarding future generations. Dontrell’s best friend, Robby (Hassiem Muhammad) is not going to college and jealously pokes at Dontrell for wasting his time at such a prestigious university. Robby prefers to drive around Baltimore and creates clever rap songs when he is with Dontrell. Additional cast and crew included stage manager, Jacqueline Singleton, stage direction by Jean Egdorf, and artistic associates Evelyn Matten and Jake Penner. Through the four readings in their Winter Words series, APT created a canvas that reflects their journey over the years, “from classical to universal theatre,” as DeVita put it, where “the plays speak to
what it means to be human.” From its earliest days, from when I lived at home and was a student at River Valley High School, APT has been such a gift in my life, as it has been for so many others. In the Winter Words readings, the gift was in experiencing beautifully read stories and considering points of view that were new to me. After living away from Spring Green in San Diego, Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas since 1998, I’m excited about moving back to Spring Green this summer and enjoying all the new gifts and performances by APT. They’ll have a six-show summer season. Tickets for the first two plays will go on sale April 26 at americanplayers.org and the first performance will be May 14. The season includes: •An Improbable Fiction by James DeVita •Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard •From an original play by Ferenc Molnár •Cymbeline by William Shakespeare Adapted by Henry Woronicz •The Mountain Top by Katori Hall •An Iliad by Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson Translated from Homer’s Iliad by Robert Fagles •A Phoenix Too Frequent by Christopher Fry APT is taking Covid-safety precautions, which included limited capacity in both theatres, so it’s likely tickets will go fast. Events, including Play Talks, Backstage Talks, Talkbacks and Sunday Salons will all be virtual.
TNT Gymnasts Place at WI State Championships & Headed to Regionals Photo via TNT Gymnastics The TNT Xcel Diamond Team pictured left to right: Maggie Ring, Sofia Sanftleben, Jewel Kleinsasser, McKenzie Kruse, Danica Pauls TNT Gymnastics traveled with 62 gymnasts to Green Bay on March 19-21 for the Wisconsin State Xcel Gymnastics Meet and TNT also traveled to Salto Gymnastics in Waukesha, WI on March 25-28 with 13 gymnasts for the Wisconsin Optional Level 6-10 State Meet. After wrapping up both weekends TNT had 14 State Championship Titles, 17 Runner-Up State Championship Titles & 15 Bronze Medalists. Local results include: Sofia Sanftleben – Bars (5th), Beam (7th), All Around (6th) McKenzie Kruse – Vault (2nd), Bars (8th), Beam (3rd), Floor (7th), All Around (4th) TNT Gymnastics will be traveling with 41 gymnasts to the Region IV Championships on April 23-25 in Cedar Rapids, IA with those that qualified at the State Meet. Stay tuned for more information regarding all things gymnastics by checking out their website at www.tntgymnasticswi.com and Facebook
Business/Professional
Directory ork y W red t i l a u •Qu lly Ins ates •Fu e Estim e •Fr
J J and
Total Lawn Care
M-F Sat 8am-5p 8am -noo m n E4792 Kennedy Rd.
and
Snow Removal
James Harwood •608-588-2453•
rna qva ervice s u H &S es Sal
•Natural double shredded oak bark mulch - $30/yard •Colored decorative mulch Red-Brown-Gold-Orange - $30/yard •Free delivery to the River Valley area (min. 2 yards) •Other landscape supplies available! Gravel-Boulders-Screened Topsoil-Sand, etc.
Reserve a spot in our business/professional directory! Add $30 to any ad order or as a stand-alone ad and you’ll be added to the next week’s business/professional directory.
We offer complete landscape and lawn care service •Full Landscaping from start to finish •Lawn Mowing We’ re y •Plantings stop our on sho e •Grading & Seedings p! •Bark Spreading •Limestone & Boulder Retaining Walls
Business card sized (2 col./5.125” x 2.81”), full color ad. Perfect for top-of-mind awareness. Want to run it every week? $750 for 6 months, $1000 for 1 year (26% discount, $19.23 /week).
Outdoors/recreation
Page 10 WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
Wisconsin DNR Outdoor Report: Keep wildlife wild Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Spring is baby animal season! It’s also a great time to remember the importance of keeping wildlife wild. During the warmer months of spring and summer, the frequency of human-wildlife encounters increases, especially those involving young wild animals. While most of these encounters are harmless, there are times when well-intentioned people interfere in wildlife situations because they incorrectly assume a young animal is orphaned. Mother animals often leave their young for hours at a time while they look for food, and some animals keep their distance from their young except at meal time to avoid transferring scent that could attract predators. If you come across a baby wild animal and you don’t see the mother nearby, chances are that mom and baby are doing exactly what they should to stay healthy and safe. Before handling or bringing a baby wild animal to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, check the DNR’s website for tips to tell if a wild animal truly needs help. To keep all wildlife wild and healthy, it is also important to be aware of the effects wildlife feeding can have on both humans and animals. Feeding can cause harm to wildlife such as waterfowl, deer or raccoons. Here are just a few reasons to refrain from feeding wildlife: •Human food can lead to diseases in wildlife. Most human food does not meet nutritional needs of wildlife and can cause serious health problems. •Animals have specialized diets. Because human food is nutrient deficient for wildlife, animals may become malnourished or die when fed human food. •Human food can cause damage to animals. Animals do not distinguish packaging from food, and the packaging may be consumed resulting in abrasions, sickness and even death. •Animals that lose their fear of humans can become a nuisance.
Fire Experts: Stay Vigilant As Wisconsin Fire Season Continues
It’s been a busy wildfire season in Wisconsin so far and it’s only April 9. During the first week of April, 161 wildfires have burned more than 1,000 acres; 19 buildings were destroyed and another 179 were threatened by the flames but saved with fire suppression efforts. The main fire causes have been debris burning and equipment, accounting for more than half of the fires. However, the
Photo Credit: Joseph Eichers, via the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Portrait of a Wild Fox in Grafton, Wisconsin: 2019 Great Waters Photo Contest. two largest fires of the week, in Juneau and Waukesha counties, were ignited along railroads. Recent rain has given us a bit of a reprieve, but it won’t take long for the dead grass, leaves and pine needles to dry out and be ready to ignite once again. April is the busiest month for wildfires in our state. Stay vigilant with any outdoor flames, smoke, campfires, ash disposal or equipment use. Put off burning your debris pile until the vegetation “greens up,” or becomes less dry after spring rains.
Youth Turkey Hunt Begins April 17
Youth hunters can experience the excitement of Wisconsin turkey hunting with family before the regular season begins. The 2021 youth turkey hunt runs April 17-18, before the statewide turkey opener for period A on April 21. The youth turkey hunt gives hunters under the age of 16 the opportunity to gain valuable experience. Youth hunters must either have completed hunter education or participate under the mentored hunting program to be eligible for the youth turkey hunt. To participate, a qualified adult must accompany the youth and not accompany more than two youth hunters at one time. The adult mentor must hold any valid 2021 hunting license. Hunters under the age of 12 and youth
Weekly School Activities
Middle School Track Riverdale High School 4 p.m. April 23rd
RV High School Golf Dodge-Point Country Club 9 a.m. April 24th
RV High School Golf Reedsburg Country Club 8:30 a.m. April 23rd
RV High School Softball River Valley High School 10 a.m. April 24th
without a hunter education safety certificate can participate in the youth turkey hunt under the mentored hunting program. A qualified adult must accompany the youth and follow the youth turkey hunting and mentored hunting program rules. The Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 Combined Hunting Regulations provides hunters with everything you need to know about spring turkey hunting from season dates, general regulations to shooting hours.
Attention Boaters! New Engine Cut-Off Law For Federal Waters
On April 1, the U.S. Coast Guard implemented a new engine cut-off switch law after the law was passed by Congress. This law applies to operators of recreational boats built after January 2020 that are less than 26 feet long. Operators of these vessels must now have use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) and associated lanyard (ECOSL) while out on federal waters such as Green Bay, Lake Michigan, the Winnebago System and the Fox River. The new law does not apply if the boat was made before 2020 and does not have a cut-off switch, nor does it apply to boaters on non-federal waters. •The ECOS and ECOSL prevent runaway vessels and the threats they pose. •The ECOSL attaches the vessel operator to a switch that shuts off the engine if the
operator is displaced from the helm. •Wireless ECOS are also approved for use. Here’s what you need to know about the law to plan for your spring and summer adventures: •Boats less than 26 feet in length that generate more than 115lbs of static thrust (~ 2-3hp) and were built beginning in January 2020 must have a device installed. If the boats’ primary helm is inside an enclosed cabin, it is not required to have an ECOS. •All operators of recreational boats less than 26 feet in length that have an ECOS device installed are required to use the device. •Unless the boat was built on or after Jan. 1, 2020, boat owners are not required to install a ECOS device. The installation requirement applies to manufacturers, distributors and dealers of “covered recreational vessels” after Jan. 1, 2020. •The Engine Cut-Off Switch Link doesn’t need to be attached when the vessel is idling or performing docking maneuvers. The Coast Guard believes that most recreational vessels produced for decades have had an ECOS installed, so this new use requirement simply obligates recreational vessel operators to use critical safety equipment already present on their boat. There are exceptions to this law. To find out if you need to change your boating practices to boat legally, visit the U.S. Coast Guard’s FAQ.
Outdoors/recreation
WednesdaY, April 21, 2021 Page 11
An Outdoorsman’s Journal
Mark Walters, Contributor
Deep South Fishing Trip
Hello friends, I am writing to you once again this week about a very unique trip that I took to my brother Tom Walters lake home on Lake Washington which is in west central Mississippi and one of the nation’s top ten crappie lakes. I have written in the past about my love for hunting and fishing in both Louisiana and Mississippi and this adventure once again reaffirmed that belief.
Sunday, April 4th High 68, Low 44
Today is day five of this trip and the first day that I did not wear long johns. As I wrote last week, for April in the deep south, the weather has been cold and windy which has resulted in very few crappies. Today, that would slowly start to turn around and I might add that when I say slow, Washington Lake has an 11inch legal minimum for crappie to be kept, we have caught plenty that are a half inch shy. My goals for this trip were to at least tie my personal record which is a 14-incher that I caught on Lake Puckaway and to possibly beat that. Two days ago, I caught a black crappie while fishing in the cypress trees with minnows and bobber’s out of Tom’s 22-foot “Avenger”. Today I caught a 14.5 while trolling with jigs and some of my fishing goals for this trip were met. If there is a next year, I will spend some of my time living in the cypress trees and fishing out of my canoe and my goal is to crack 15-inches. Some funny things about this trip,
when we are in fishing in the cypress tress which is jungle fishing, if there is such a thing, we have to be very careful due to the branches and it seems like one of us was always hung up and then there would be the one chance to pull your rig off the tree with a quick snap or have it get so wrapped up that it was gone for good, this was quite often a form of amusement for the audience. I wrote last week that if you want to, that you can fish with a hundred hooks a person down here. One way that many fishermen use a lot of hooks is with yo-yo’s. Yo-yo’s are a springoperated spool that are tied to trees. The line is pulled below water level and generally baited with a minnow. Yoyo’s are used down here and run kind of like a trap line, when you are fishing you can hear the spring kind of snap and if you look you will see a hooked fish swimming at water level. Though the crappie fishing was slow but did pick up, another form of entertainment was hybrid white bass. Often, we would be trolling with 8-rods and perhaps nothing would have happened for quite some time. If we would pass through a school of stripers that ranged 12 to 21 inches all hell would break loose, and we may have as many as four on at a time. Stripers fight like smallmouth and are good eating as long as you fillet out the blood line which is very easy to do. I would have to say that without a doubt the best thing about this trip was three brothers committing to a week and having a great time together both in the boat and the cabin. Tom retired last year after 38- years with Exxon Corporation in Baton Rouge. Mike
Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor The cypress trees reminded me of an “enchanted forest”.
Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor Mark and Mike Walters enjoying their trip on Lake Washington.
Photo by Mark Walters, Contributor (Left to right) Tom and Mike Walters living the good life on Lake Washington!
has been with Research Products for 38-years in Poynette and I have been writing this column for 31-years. On this trip I realized for the first time that we are not exactly kids anymore and I am fine with that, it was so cool that twice Mike said, “we gotta make this an annual trip” and today when we were fishing we made the executive decision to stay another day and I think as soon as we made that decision along with a much improved crappie bite it created what was the most carefree, plenty of laughs, stay up the latest night of the trip. I know it might not happen, but I
am trying to talk Tom into coming to deer camp this November and I have a strong feeling that I will be in Mississippi this winter, camping and hunting deer and hogs from a canoe. Hooked on the south and the north! —Sunset
Want to read more?
Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com
Advertise here for $25 /week!
Advertise here for $25 /week!
608-588-6694 ads@valleysentinelnews.com
608-588-6694 ads@valleysentinelnews.com
Community
Page 12 WednesdaY, April 21, 2021
COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary
591,636 Positive Cases
Cases as of 4/20/2021
+5,001 from 4/13
2,806,631 Negative Test Results +27,777 from 4/13
6,718 Deaths +28 from 4/13
Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 4/20/2021
3,957,045
3,920,796
Allocated
2,076,938
Administered
1,678,533
Pfizer doses administered
Moderna doses administered
165,145
Johnson & Johnson doses administered
Vaccine Data Updated: 4/20/2021
Richland County
1,291 Positive Cases +5 from 4/13 8,205 Negative Tests +65 from 4/13 15 Deaths +0 from 4/13
These two core measures are all measures of herd immunity in Richland, Sauk and Iowa County. We do not yet know what level of vaccination leads to herd immunity for COVID-19, or how current or future variants might affect herd immunity. We know based on other diseases that herd immunity is likely at least 60%, and if more transmissible variants become more common, that threshold may become higher, so our current target range is 60-90%. -Madison Public Health and Dane County
Richland
Target Range
40.8%
Iowa County
1,990 Positive Cases +14 from 4/13 11,423 Negative Tests +114 from 4/13 10 Deaths +0 from 4/13
Sauk County
5,667 Positive Cases +63 from 4/13 35,346 Negative Tests +155 from 4/13 46 Deaths +0 from 4/13
40.5%
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
29.1%
29.5%
Percent fully vaccinated
Sauk
Percent fully vaccinated
Iowa
Target Range
45.2%
Percent with at least one vaccine dose
33.1%
Percent fully vaccinated
Cumulative total confirmed COVID-19 cases by date in Wisconsin Cases as of 4/20/2021
Graphic by Whitney Back
Cases per zip code Cases as of 4/20/2021
Data From: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/index.htm
Target Range