Inside this edition
RV School Board passes on track resurfacing
SG Farmers Market weighs FoodShare/EBT payment
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Spring Green, Wisconsin
Fishing & Foraging + Morel pasta recipe
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Wednesday, April 28, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 17 Free, Single-Copy
DHS Secretary visits Richland County to view lead abatement progress in area homes Photo by Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee, Karen Timberlake visited a home in Richland County April 22 to see progress on a house that will benefit from Lead Safe Homes funding from DHS. The Lead Safe Homes project was introduced about two years ago, and aims to give homeowners or landlords funding to remove any lead based paint or other lead based products in pre-1980s homes to minimize lead poisoning in children. In the upcoming biennial budget, Gov. Tony Evers is proposing additional funding for lead removal in homes and water supplies. For more information on how to benefit from the Lead Safe Homes project, contact local county health departments. Pictured: DHS Secretary-designee, Karen Timberlake, center foreground, tours a home included in the Lead Safe Homes project in Richland Center with Troy Morris, Richland County’s environmental health consultant, right background, and Rose Kohout, Richland County’s public health officer, at left.
Richland County appoints new clerk following sudden resignation of Vlasak Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief The Richland County board voted to appoint former deputy clerk Derek Kalish as County clerk, and approved an overall decrease to the position’s salary at its April 20 meeting. Following the sudden resignation of current County Clerk Victor Vlasak earlier this month, the board scrambled to appoint someone prior to April 30, Vlasak’s last day in office. Kalish will finish out the 2021-2024 term to which Vlasak was re-elected in No-
vember 2020. “I would like to thank all of those who put their name in for the position, it’s not easy and I do appreciate it,” said County Board Chairman, Marty Brewer of Richland Center. “This was put together pretty quickly, we didn’t have a lot of time to react, but we sure as heck need a clerk.” While the position of Clerk is typically elected, due to Vlasak’s resignation, the board is given the power to appoint a replacement through state
statute. The county board could also choose to appoint someone intermily, and order a special election to elect the permanent replacement for the remaining term. However, Interim Corporation Counsel Julie Dadoun recommended the board not take that route, as there is no upcoming election cycle that would create additional cost to the county. “I am eager to see Derek Kalish return to service for the residents of Richland County as our future County
Clerk. As the former Deputy County Clerk, he will hit the ground running with his knowledge of elections, record keeping, and state requirements,” said Supervisor and Finance Committee Chair, Shaun Murphy-Lopez, of Hillsboro. “I look forward to seeing how he modernizes the office and creates partnerships with the County Board and other elected officials.” The board’s vote to appoint Kalish was unanimous.
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County Health Departments provide update on vaccine distribution Valley Sentinel reached out to the local health departments for an update on vaccine distribution in the county. Below are responses about vaccines in Iowa and Richland counties. Valley Sentinel: As availability increases and demand plateaus, do you foresee there being an excess of vaccines? Iowa County Health officer Debbie Siegenthaler and Iowa County Emergency Management Kieth Hurlburt: Yes, at some point we will see more vaccine than there are people wanting to be vaccinated. VS: If so, does the county plan to adjust its distribution methods? DS/KH: We have started to make adjustments now. This week and next
week we will offer clinics that will incorporate some evening hours. Our intent is to provide an opportunity for people to be vaccinated without taking off of work or using their earned time off. VS: How confident are you that we will reach a herd immunity level of vaccinations in the county? Do you have an estimate of when that could happen? DS/KH: We are relatively confident that this will happen later this summer/fall. To reach herd immunity, we strongly encourage people to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their family, friends and neighbors. We have confidence that residents will continue to help in this pandemic response as
they have been all along. Getting vaccinated is another important step everyone can take to reach herd immunity and get our lives back to whatever our “new” normal is. VS: What would you say to the people who are on the fence about getting the vaccine? DS/KH: We ask that they base their decision on credible sources of information, do their own research and not fall victim to the misinformation game. They should consider the documented data on the testing of the mRNA vaccine technology, its incorporation into the COVID-19 vaccines and the efficacy data that has been established. We can’t do anything about those who spread bad information or twist information
to fit their agenda. We ask that those on the fence remember this. Those of us working to vaccinate people are not interested in profit or notoriety. We simply want people to live as long and as healthy of a life as they can. Herd immunity is necessary to achieve a broad level of protection from the virus. To that end, it is important that every person who can get vaccinated, does – see a few resources on herd immunity below as well as vaccine safety. Below are responses from Rose Kohout, Richland County Public Health Officer. Valley Sentinel: As availability increases and demand plateaus, do you
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