Valley Sentinel - 12-09-2021

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2021 BLAZE ORANGE BOARD Pages 10-13

With the holiday celebrations underway and all things winter on the horizon, we thought we'd put together a special section to highlight some wonderful last minute local holiday shopping options in the greater Spring Green area.

Spring Green, Wisconsin

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December 9, 2021 | Vol. 2, No. 48 FREE, Single-Copy

River Valley Youth Football grant 9from the DEADLINE: Packers, USA Football DATEreceives OUT: December SPACE December 6 for program development Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Since 2006, USA Football, in football coach. “If we focus on the fun River Valley Youth Football was partnerships with the Packers and and fundamentals along with the love recently awarded a grant by USA other NFL clubs, has awarded more of playing, the winning and losing will Guaranteed 1,000 copy regional print distribution with additional e-edition Football and the Packers football the $15 million in grants to youth and take care of itself later.

I would like to engagement. The section will be featured online all year as well for residents team to further develop their training programs. This year, think this grant might allow us to keep and tourists alike to plan theirschool-based local gift-giving. programs.

River Valley is one of 8 schools in the young people involved with football USA Football’s Development model state to receive a total of $2 million in through middle school and high school aims to mesh the fun of playing the grant money. competition.” sport with skills-based work to develop “The Packers are pleased to work The grants are part of the Packers an athlete based on age and stage of once again with USA Football and the football outreach program and development, according to a news NFL Foundation to help local football Packers Give Back, the Packers’ allrelease from the Packers. programs access the resources and encompassing community outreach “The grant is a nice way to boost our equipment they need,” said Packers initiative. Combined with other Green youth program. Hopefully, we will President/CEO Mark Murphy.

Bay Packers charity endeavors, the continue to focus on teaching the love “Through these grants, youth and awards contribute to a comprehensive of the game of football,” said Tim school programs can help create a safe Packers charity impact that was in Eastlick, River Valley high school head and healthy environment for young excess of $9 million last year.

athletes to develop their skills and enjoy the sport they love.”

The other schools to receive grants include: • St. Francis Xavier Youth Football in Cross Plains • Watertown Youth Football Junior Goslings in Watertown • McFarland Youth Football Inc. in McFarland • Columbus Youth Football in Columbus • DeForest Area Youth Football League in DeForest • East Side Youth Athletics in Madison • Fox Volley Pop Warner Football Inc. in Appleton

Chamber’s Spring Green Country Christmas brings Santa, lights, fireworks, crafts and more to the Valley Photos by Taylor Scott, Managing Editor

Interested in learning more? Contact us today to claim your space!

Pictured to the right: Email: ads@valleysentinelnews.com | Phone: 608-588-6694 People of all ages gather around Santa at the Post House Garden in Spring Green following the official Christmas tree lighting and holiday lights parade on Friday Dec. 3.

The events were part of Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s Country Christmas.

Country Christmas festivities were limited last year due to COVID-19, and did not include an official tree lighting ceremony or parade.

Pictured below: People gather at North Park in Spring Green to watch colorful holiday fireworks as part of Spring Green’s Country Christmas celebrations on Dec. 4.

Photo via Julie Jensen Kids line up to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast with Santa last week.

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Editorial/Opinion

Thursday, December 9, 2021 EDITORIAL: Don’t write off Mondays in the Valley

Don’t let anyone tell you that it’s not worth your business being open or there’s nothing to do on a Monday in the Valley. Coming off a week where our Monday evening was spent out and about, starting off with wonderful Indian cuisine at Homecoming, we capped off the night with Trivia at Slowpoke Lounge and Cabaret. What we experienced leads us to implore our readers not to write off their Mondays locally.

Homecoming restaurant in Spring Green needs to be applauded first of all, for having an amazing vision and, second of all, for excelling at everything they do. They have built successfully upon their foundation and continued to innovate, grow, expand hours, expand services (we’re looking at your brunch!) and do the things others say aren’t possible. They are the epitome of our oft-quoted “first make it work, then make it work better.”

In addition to making that decision to be open Mondays, this past week Homecoming decided on a special event that featured the aforementioned Indian food. In a

testament to its success, Homecoming reported being sold out nearly two hours before their scheduled closing time. Lines were seen out the door with temperatures in the teens. The community came out to support this business.

Many people actually went straight from Indian cuisine night at Homecoming to Trivia Night at Slowpoke, us included. We expected an intimate affair on a cold night that already had the thermometers reading 10° — and were surprised by 12 total teams of roughly 4 people each and a handful in the bar listening and likely laughing as well (Slowpoke requires vaccination against COVID-19 for events). Hosted by the always affable Kyle Adams, the trivia and resulting fun took a night that most are tempted to write off and turned it into something remarkable.

We need to shake our expectations and think about how we see our community. Shifflet’s Bar and Riverside Grille & Lone Rock Bistro and Taproom can also be pointed to as some examples of Monday night options in

the Valley. This is by all means not an exhaustive list of businesses open late and open on Mondays in the Valley, but it’s a rallying call to take a risk and trust in the community and try something new — and that call is as much for area residents as it is for businesses.

As we head into the winter, some businesses are cutting hours, which leaves options limited - for events and for food, especially safely now while we are still very much in a pandemic.

But some businesses have bucked that trend and kept their regular hours or continued to add events. For the businesses that have recently taken that risk and tried something against the convention, it seems to have paid off and it appears that an unserved need has been tapped into.

Many local businesses are open on the weekends and — as small business owners ourselves — we understand the need for rest, especially if you can’t afford support staff. But for others it just makes sense to be open past 5p.m., to be open on the weekends and on Mondays. Ultimately a business’s owners will do what they believe is best

and they should be supported in that and it’s our job as a community to come out for them.

For all of the students - college and otherwise - hybrid learning with late paper deadlines, for the other small business owners up late doing a bit of everything to succeed, for the night owls and the second shifters, for the artists and creatives toiling on their work burning the midnight oil — worry not, we still want our cup of coffee in downtown Spring Green after 5pm and we won’t stop saying it until it happens.

But sincerely, these events, ideas and yes, risks, have shown that the Valley will support and come out on days that have traditionally been written off. So to those that would write others and ideas off, to those vocal loudmouths who pass judgment on others and what should or should not be supported, we say it’s time to look at our area with clear, creative minds and news eyes and ask ourselves not what we can’t have, but what do we want and deserve as a community and how do we make it happen?

Community Column — Katie Green’s The Plain and Simple Correspondent: Eclipsed Katie Green, The Plain and Simple Correspondent I hope many of you were able to witness the “astronomical phenomenon” of an almost complete lunar eclipse on the night of November 19. I love these sky spectacles – comets, eclipses, sunsets, sunrises, cloud formations, meteor showers, conjunctions of planets – and enjoy tracking the planets through the seasons. What could be more fun than to stand outside clad in bathrobe and slippers at 3 a.m., shivering but jubilant at being alive for something that last happened 580 years ago, give or take a few? Lunar eclipses are actually not that unusual, just the extreme length of this one, which was previously matched by the one occurring in the year 1440.

Predating that one, who knows? The process, start to finish, went on for more than six hours. No, not being completely daft, I was not standing outside the whole time, but went out periodically with my camera to listen to the night rustlings, hear the coyotes howl from afar, peer up and around, and take a few photos. As a bonus, the twinkling Pleiades were lovely to behold just above the moon.

In the days before astronomy had advanced enough to explain what was really happening, some pretty wild explanations were offered for eclipses.

Such as a dragon eating the moon or sun, or the onset of the Apocalypse.

The Chinese were famous for setting off

Katie Green firecrackers and beating loudly on pots and pans and other metal objects to scare the “dragon” away — or were they just pretending to believe the hype for the fun of getting together and making a big noise? Periodically apocalypses are announced by groups sure that the “rapture” is imminent, but so far the only apocalypse I see coming toward us is the environmental one of our own making which we perhaps can, and I hope will, avoid if we get serious fast.

I am waiting to see if the fringe groups among us with, um, vivid imaginations

will suggest that the eclipse was a plot.

Maybe by those typical butts of suspicion: communists, Jews, feminists, Muslims, vegetarians, Druids, black and brown people, union members, atheists, drivers of foreign cars, Bernie Sanders, vaxxers, anti-vaxxers, peaceniks, Choice advocates, limburger cheese-eaters, etc. I’m teasing, and yet.... Personally, I suspect that the really ludicrous, more-than-fantastical conspiracy theories in this day and age are mostly for show, an attention-getting device. Surely no one truly believes the Holocaust was made up by deluded folk with a silly grudge against those nice, efficient Nazis, or that Hillary Clinton eats babies.

Make your own list of how you want the future to look and how that will come about. I want all of us to get a grip and rediscover logic. Be kind to one another. Have a meal with individuals whose views are different from one’s own. Examine one’s inherited or acquired beliefs with the help of a therapist or a wise friend. Study war no more. Focus attention on servant leadership. Count your blessings. Restore the balance of nature. Listen more and talk less (strongest message to self!)

Look up at the sky and see how small but unique you are – that kind of thing.

My earliest interest in the heavens was aroused when I was about 8 or 9 years old, on the occasion when my brothers and I were first allowed to sleep outdoors in our front yard in the piney woods of Northern California.

Curled up with the dogs in sleeping bags under a rather narrow patch of sky because of trees and mountains, no man-made lights dimmed the brilliance of the stars. The high altitude made everything so sharp and clear.

The Milky Way really did look like a river, the occasional shooting star was a major thrill. The night music — hooting of owls and the roar of the actual river down in the canyon below the cabin — added greatly to the ambiance. On one such night of sleeping outdoors gazing upward, I suddenly experienced the sensation of falling, falling into the sky!

I grew dizzy and actually felt as if I were leaving the planet. The concept of gravity, even if known to me then, which I doubt, would not have staunched the awful, stomach-turning conviction that I was a goner, flying away to be lost in the outer darkness of endless space. I closed my eyes, which had the effect of returning me to my place on earth.

Thank God, terra firma! After that I was careful not to stare too long into the constellations during our sleep-outs.

Researching this latest heavenly event, I wondered what, besides the solar

Photo contributed by Katie Green Katie Green’s view of the Lunar Eclipse in Plain on Nov. 19. eclipse, was happening in the 1440s?

The Western European countries were still recovering from the huge die-offs of citizens caused by the Black Death (bubonic plague) in the 1300s, and Iceland was then in the midst of a ferocious viral plague. The Turks were overrunning Constantinople, ushering in the Ottoman Empire, and the War of the Roses (a bloody power struggle between family factions for the throne that widened into a civil war lasting more than a century) was beginning to heat up in England. In that sense, the time was very much like our own, a time of suspicion, upheaval, fighting over the power to direct a nation, questioning what the meaning of it all was in the face of so much distress.

The only positive event of that era I could dig up was that Johann Gutenberg invented moveable type and was publishing his first Bible. Depending on what you think about Bibles and books, it was an advance to celebrate.

The workings of the solar system and beyond have inspired awe and reverence in humankind since the beginning. Rock art and cave paintings depicted the sun, moon, and stars thousands of years ago. The mystery of creation has prodded humans of every culture to look upwards for The Source, which, ever since writing began, recorded what humanity had already been pondering for time out of mind.

Among the religious, it is still common parlance to say that the Creator is “up above.” Usually spoken of as He, which I mentally replace with my own creative female figure, He is sitting amongst the clouds, directing activity from afar … or letting us make bad choices and stew in our own juice, which we are certainly capable of doing. The Creator in other cultures has been depicted as a turtle, a bear, a coyote, or some other non-hu-

man representative or a committee.

Often I tend toward the committee theory, myself. Who but a committee would have such a sense of humor, lavishness in species, and arrange the world’s reproductive biology so comically?

Havelock Ellis (1859-19390, English physician, intellectual and social reformer) wrote in his book Dance of Life, “The sun and the moon and the stars would have disappeared long ago...had they happened to be within the reach of predatory human hands.”

That’s harsh, or is it? He either had a crystal ball or was reflecting on what he saw happening around him, the rapacious exploitation of the earth’s treasures by a few for their own gain or for the frivolous appetites of us all.

In fact, the moon is becoming a waste dump from all the expeditions that have left space junk there, and the atmosphere above earth is already a crowded freeway filled with live and dead satellites, space stations, space tourists, and asteroids of all sizes. The surface of other planets will soon be cluttered with human space junk as well. The exploitation Ellis cited hasn’t slowed down in the 80 years since his death. Why not? The usual, I think: habit, greed, carelessness, fear of letting go. Longtime listeners to NPR will remember Guy Noir, Private Eye, who used to say on Prairie Home Companion, we need to “find the answers to life’s persistent questions.” This is one such question: why not change?

To begin our new austerity regime in honor of the earth and its residents, at this house we had thin gruel for Thanksgiving. It wasn’t so bad... but next time I’ll toss in some raisins and pecans, and burn incense that smells like turkey, gravy, and sage-sausage stuffing.

Commentary/Opinion

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 3

Richland County Column: Supervisor commentary on Board actions and upcoming elections Shaun Murphy-Lopez, Richland County Board Supervisor Editor’s Note: We reached out to Richland County Board Supervisor for District 2, Shaun Murphy-Lopez, about the possibility of him adapting his monthly Richland County government newsletter into a column regarding the county-wide actions the Board of Supervisors have taken the prior month and other goings-on. ...

Here is my latest update on the Richland County Board of Supervisors.

Reforms Continue

The County Board continues to make reforms to improve your county government. In the past several months, the following has happened: —Department heads no longer come to the County Board to make pleas for large unbudgeted purchases throughout the year. These are now handled through a capital improvement program, where all big-ticket expenses are prioritized once a year. The first capital improvements program was recommended to the County Board by the Finance & Personnel Committee at this year’s August 20th meeting.

—The County Board no longer draws its district lines to protect incumbents.

As of the upcoming Spring election, voters will be choosing their County Board members, instead of County Board members choosing their voters.

This new way of drawing supervisory maps was proposed by the Redistricting Committee, whose majority membership was citizens and municipal clerks, and confirmed by the County Board at our October meeting.

—At their November meeting, the Ethics Board recommended nine changes to the County’s ethics ordinance. If adopted by the County Board, these changes would include expanding ethics to include County elected officials (currently the ordinance applies only to non-elected employees), and to require economic interest disclosure by candidates for CountyBoard.

—At their December meeting, the Rules & Resolutions Committee authorized researching how various County committees pay bills and monitor annual expenditures compared to the adopted budget. This is because there is too much inconsistency with how financial oversight/control takes place across departments.

—Also at their December meeting, the Rules & Resolutions Committee

recommended changes to the way the County Board appoints members to committees. Currently this responsibility is given to the 7-member Committee on Committees, which makes a recommendation to the County Board Chair, who makes a recommendation to the County Board. If adopted by the County Board, the new changes would shorten the process by giving this responsibility directly to the County Board Chair, with County Board confirmation required.

—There is currently no defined process for removing members from committees. The changes in the above point would give this infrequent but challenging task to the CountyBoard Chair, with County Board confirmation required.

—The Strategic Planning Committee is putting the finishing touches on their recommendations for the County’s first-ever Strategic Plan. They are currently addressing comments and questions on their draft plan, which have come from other committees, department heads, and members of the public.

These reforms are on top of other important changes made over the past few years: —Due largely to the pandemic, many committee meetings are now recorded, and several have written materials placed online for the public to see. This transparency makes it easier for you to learn about what your County Board is doing, and attend many meetings from your home.

—All department heads (except those elected by the people of Richland County) now have one boss: the County Administrator. The old model was for each department head to have a 3 to 7 bosses (County Board members) who served on a committee that met monthly. The committee membership changed with an election every two years. With 21 CountyBoard members, 300+ employees, and 15+ committees, the chain of command was constantly changing. This reform was proposed by the Rules & Resolutions Committeeand Finance & Personnel Committee, and then confirmed by the CountyBoard in July 2020, and affected 13 department heads: Child Support Director, County Conservationist, Corporation Counsel, Courthouse Maintenance Supervisor, Emergency Management Director, Fair and Recycling Coordinator, Health and Human Services Director, High-

way Commissioner, Management Information Systems Director, Pine Valley Community Village Administrator, U.W. Platteville-Richland Food Services Supervisor, Veteran Service Officer, Zoning Administrator —Richland County’s first Administrator, Clinton Langreck, was hired in February 2020 by the County Board.

The Administrator is accountable to your County Board. Mr. Langreck is also in charge of proposing and executing an annual budget, managing human resources functions, overseeing the County’s properties, serving as the primary contact with the community and other government agencies, and ensuring that ordinances, resolutions, and orders adopted by the County Board are carried out.

I am always open to your ideas for additional reforms. Please contact me to share how we can continue to improve.

Spring Election

County Clerk Derek Kalish has published a guide for how Richland County residents can run for County Board.

The election is on April 5, 2022. Three forms are required to be turned into his office by January 4, 2022: Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1), Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162), Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office (EL-169).

The ballot access checklist (ELIS3) has more information about the required number of signatures and other dates. All forms can be found at https://elections.wi.gov/forms. Current County Board supervisory district maps can be found at https://www.co.richland.wi.us/supervisoryMaps.shtml.

If you have any questions, or would like paper copies of the forms, please contact Clerk Kalish at 608-647-2197.

Driftless Music Gardens

Late this summer, I had the opportunity to visit with Crickett Lochner, co-owner of Driftless Music Gardens.

Established in 2016, this is an outdoor music venue which hosted 8 weekend shows over the past year, bringing an average of 350 people to Bloom township each weekend. The bands play bluegrass, folk, funk, R&B, and rock.

The venue is non-motorized and family friendly with food vendors and overnight camping.

Crickett is the 6th generation to live on this farm, homesteaded in 1854 by her ancestors. Her father Sherry Wallace, also a co-owner of Driftless Music Gardens, is a beef and cash crop farmer in Bloom township, and her mother Yvonne Muller also lives close by.

Crickett is a 2002 graduate of Hillsboro High School, and moved back to the area in 2019 after living in Madison for several years. My husband and I have attended several of their shows, and I can attest to the fun, family-friendly atmosphere. Crickett welcomes local residents to attend their festival grounds, which are located on Pine Avenue. Please contact her at crickett@ driftlessmusicgardens.com if you have any questions.

Shaun Murphy-Lopez is the Richland County Board Supervisor for District 2 and Chair of the Richland County Fiance Committee. He can be reached at shaun.murphy@co.richland.wi.us or 608-462-3715.

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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.

More about the role of County Board members can be found on the UW-Extension Local Government website and the Richland County Administrator’s website under “policy documents.”

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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Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021

PERSONALIZED HOLIDAY ORNAMENT

THE MIDWEST SURVIVAL GUIDE BOOK

Personalized for your special people. This is a great gift for

If you know what a bubbler is and can pronounce

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Arcadia Books Ali Kauss Adornments

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WICKED SNOW DAY COFFEE

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RED LEATHER TOTE BAG

It’s beautiful holly red leather lined in fabric with interior pocket. Sold at Convivio.

122 N Lexington Street. Spring Green.

Convivo Find us on Facebook (Convivio spring green) and Instagram (@122convivio) 608-588-2351

2022 STATE TRAIL PASS Trail pass needed for anyone 16 or older for biking, cross country skiing or horseback riding; good in all Wisconsin state parks Order securely online www.GovDodgeEquestrians.com Friends of Governor Dodge State Park 4175 State Highway 23, Dodgeville, WI 53533 www.GovDodgeEquestrians.com

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TREATS AND TEA AT INSPIRED NUTRITION

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Stop into Inspired Nutrition for an energizing tea, a protein

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brush, and real looking in various sizes. The festive

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holiday quilt is called "Junction" and our kits are sold for $132.50. If you have a quilter to buy for this could be a

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Inspired Nutrition

Country Sampler

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Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 5

SANTA WITH A LAMB

FOLK-ART ANGEL Our favorite!

Country Sampler 608-588-2510 133 E Jefferson St Spring Green, WI 53588 www.sgcountrysampler.com

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WHITE RESIN DEER

Our popular "Folk-art Angel priced at wearing one of our new "Glittered Mistletoe Wreaths" ($62.25) Country Sampler 608-588-2510 133 E Jefferson St Spring Green, WI 53588 www.sgcountrysampler.com

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KIND & GENTLE WOODLAND HOLIDAY PA beautiful pair of white resin deer.

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SQUISH-A-BOOS PILLOWS

WOOL SHERPA LINED THROW BLANKETS Squish-a-boos pillows by Ty. Choose from 14 adorable characters in two sizes..

Nina's Department Store 143 E Jefferson St, Spring Green, WI 53588 608-588-2366 https://ninas-department-variety-store.business.site

10" are $5.99, and 14" are $9.99

MERINO WOOL IMPORTED IRISH SWEATERS Men's or women's Merino wool imported Irish sweaters by Aran Craft.

Assorted patterns and styles. Very soft and cozy.

Nina's Department Store 143 E Jefferson St, Spring Green, WI 53588 608-588-2366 https://ninas-department-variety-store.business.site

$82.99-$172.99

PAINTED WOOD CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS Painted wood Christmas ornaments in a variety of styles make great holiday exchange gifts!

Nina's Department Store 143 E Jefferson St, Spring Green, WI 53588 608-588-2366 https://ninas-department-variety-store.business.site

4.9" ornaments are $3.99 each 5.7" ornaments are $4.99 each

Classic wool sherpa lined throw blankets by Wooly. 50"x58", 85% wool and 15% nylon, assorted stripes and plaids.

Nina's Department Store 143 E Jefferson St, Spring Green, WI 53588 608-588-2366 https://ninas-department-variety-store.business.site

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Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021

DAVID HOWELL EARRINGS

TREE OF LIFE THROW From an art glass design for the Darwin Martin

Earrings-designs are inspired by museum pieces, adapting original, iconic work to modern, meaningful gifts. Gift boxed with detailed descriptions.

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WRIGHT-INSPIRED ORNAMENTS Material is rhodium plated over brass.

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Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 7

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Page 8

Community Calendar

Thursday, December 9, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for December 9 - December 23 Thursday, December 9 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Friday, December 10 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. Our winter workdays, led by Friends of Waubesa Wetlands, will focus on cutting, treating and burning (if there is snow) of invasive brush like buckthorn and honeysuckle. Seeds are collected in the fall to spread in the cleared areas. For questions or to RSVP to attend this workday, contact Mary Kay Baum at marykbaum@gmail.com or 608-935-5834.

Saturday, December 11 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter 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.

Christmas Market 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . www.wildhillswinery.com. This year, we’re trying something new at the winery. We’ll be hosting a traditional, outdoor Christmas Market. We’ll have several makers and artisans on site selling unique, locally made Christmas gifts. We’ll also have gluehwein for sale (a mulled, spiced wine) and a brat stand. Owner Colleen was inspired to host an outdoor Christmas market because she went to several in Germany where her Dad was stationed when she was a little girl. It’s a magical place with lights, good smells, and tasty treats. Make sure to mark your calendars! We’ll also have drink specials and deals in the tasting room for your holiday shopping.

SOLD OUT - Winter Wine Walk 3:30 PM - 8:00 PM . Throughout Spring Green . www.springgreen.com . During the Winter Wine Walk, Spring Green businesses become “tasting rooms” where attendees may sample different wines and take in an ultimate shopping experience. Take a horse and wagon ride, walk or catch the shuttle to the area businesses all while exploring what each business has to offer and shop while you sip from your souvenir Country Christmas Winter Wine Walk glass. Tickets are $30 each in advance or $40 on the day of the event.

Holiday Open House with Vandehoney Pop Up Shop 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . Meet the local honey bee folks from Vandehoney, see their wares, and get some special holidays deals from the General Store.

Arena VFW Steak and Chicken Fry 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM . Arena VFW Post 9336, 514 Willow Street, Arena . Steak $13.00 and Chicken Breast $8.00. For those who were wondering, VFW will be having dining in; for those who do not we still will have carryout's. Please call in your orders 608-753-2225 for carry outs. Thank you again for the continued support of Arena VFW Post 9336!

Live Music: Christo's Novelty Combo 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . What happened when Jazz guitar legend Django Reinhardt met Hot steel guitar virtuoso Sol Ho’opi’i? A new type of driving acoustic swing music was born! Well, actually that never did really happen.

However it's the exciting blending of styles that Christo's Novelty Combo is built on.

They present is a unique mixture of the Vaudeville era, novelty infused hot steel guitar and ukulele of the teens and twenties “Hawaiian Craze” and the swinging sounds of French jazz from the 1930s and 40s. Think Hot Hawaiian guitar meets Jazz à la Django!

Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

Sunday, December 12 Tarot Readings with BillieJo Scharfenberg 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM . North Earth Gifts, 128 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.northearth.com . BillieJo Scharfenberg began her journey with The Tarot in 1996. She uses her proficiency and knowledge to help clients make better life choices via the unique format and interpretive insights the cards offer. She has read Tarot cards professionally, both for individuals and groups, for nearly twenty years. She brings her experience, a combination of study and practical knowledge, as well as a keen devotion to the practice, to each reading in order to help you navigate your life path. $60 per half hour session. Walk-in appointments will be taken as availability allows. Time slots fill up quickly, so please call 608.588.3313 to set up an appointment.

Tuesday, December 14 Fall Storytime (Indoors) 10:15 AM . Kraemer Library Community Room, 910 Main St., Plain . Indoor Storytime is back! Join us for our Fall Storytime sesson from November 16th - December 21st 2021. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts in the Community Room. Aimed at children ages 0-4 but, all are welcome:) Stories and songs are 20 minutes followed by a themed activity/craft:) Masks are encouraged due to CDC guidelines

Wednesday, December 15 Family Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org . Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, and fun!

Starting in December, we will offer indoor storytime on Wednesdays! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up and will be socially distanced around the room for safety.

Arcadia Book Club discusses our favorite books of 2021! 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM .

Virtual/Zoom . www.readinutopia.com • We were going to skip our December 2020 book club gathering due to busy holiday schedules. James and Nancy realized that they just didn't want to go for a month without hearing from our brilliant and lovely book club participants and instead decided to host an informal discussion of everyone's favorites of the year. It was so much fun, we're going to do it again this year. Please join us to share a favorite (it doesn't have to be a 2021 book) and to get some excellent recommendations. You don't have to share a book, you can just enjoy the conversation.

Thursday, December 16 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Slowpoke Songwriters Round 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . Featuring duos Eric & Bruce Tessmer and Christina Dollhausen & Katie Fassbinder-Getz. 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.

If you would like to take part on stage, please contact Tim Eddy at: pinehill@mwt.net.

No cover, but tips for artists are always welcome. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

Friday, December 17 Live Music: Harmonious Wail 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM . Slowpoke Lounge, 137 W Jefferson St., Spring Green . www.slowpokelounge.com . Americana flavored Gypsy Jazz on full tilt! Harmonious Wail combines the searing wit, humor and mandolin virtuosity of vintage Jethro Burns performances, the Continental panache of Django and charm of Edith Piath inspired vocals to create a unique musical journey.

“In the gypsy jazz field, no one does it any better than the Madison, Wisconsin based group Harmonious Wail.” -Jazz Review ”Intense playing & sense of purpose that never wavers… a mind altering experience.”

-The Washington Examiner.

Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 required for all Slowpoke events.

River Valley High School Music Department: Disney’s “Newsies: The Musical” 7:30 PM . Gard Theater, 111 E Jefferson St, Spring Green . The River Valley High School Music Department is proud to present Disney’s “Newsies: The Musical” on December 17th at 7:30 pm, December 18th at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and December 19th at 2:30 pm at The Gard Theater in downtown Spring Green. Tickets are $10 and are now on sale at Arcadia Books in Spring Green or by calling 608-588-3315. “Newsies” is directed

by Sara Young, choreographed by Michael Stanek, and music directed by Becky Schinker. “Newsies” is also a Jerry Awards participating show through The Overture Center in Madison. Thank you for supporting live music and theater in your RV schools!

We hope to see you there!

Saturday, December 18 Pop-Up Spring Green Farmers Market 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM . S230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . The Spring Green Farmers Market is continuing in the Spring Green Community Public Library Lot through the winter 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.

Pop Up Shop with Heart of the Sky Fair Trade 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St., Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com .

Heart of the Sky Fair Trade is a Spring Green based business that specializes in gorgeous, one of a kind items. Melinda will be joining us with a wide variety of kitchen and home goods, scarves, baby items, stocking stuffers, and baskets. Support fair trade, pick up some last minute gifts, and chat with Melinda about her travels!

Sunday, December 12 Palm Readings with Jenafer Humphries 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM . North Earth Gifts, 128 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.northearth.com . Jenafer Humphries has been reading palms for over 30 years. Through hand analysis and intuitive palm reading in the Romany tradition she can reflect on where you are along your path, where you might be going, and provide insight into your life. Jenafer is also the owner of North Earth Gifts, a reiki master, sound healer, spiritual coach, and voice teacher.

Please call 608.588.3313 to reserve your spot. Cost is $60 per half hour.

Tuesday, December 21 Fall Storytime (Indoors) 10:15 AM . Kraemer Library Community Room, 910 Main St., Plain . Indoor Storytime is back! Join us for our Fall Storytime sesson from November 16th - December 21st 2021. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts in the Community Room. Aimed at children ages 0-4 but, all are welcome:) Stories and songs are 20 minutes followed by a themed activity/craft:) Masks are encouraged due to CDC guidelines

Wednesday, December 22 Family Storytime 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E. Monroe St., Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org . Join Ms. Grace for stories, songs, and fun!

Starting in December, we will offer indoor storytime on Wednesdays! There is no sign up required for now, but attendance is limited to 19 people, so get there early to reserve your spot! We do require masks for everyone age 2 and up and will be socially distanced around the room for safety.

Thursday, December 23 Stitch and Bitch 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S. Albany St. Spring Green . www.springgreengeneralstore.com . The Spring Green General Store’s Stitch and Bitch handwork group meets Thursday afternoons weekly. All are welcome.

Reminder The risk of participating in a certain activity depends on many factors. Because of this, there’s no way to assign risk levels to certain actions. That’s why it’s important to consider your own situation and the risks for you, your family, and your community.

Here are some important guidelines to help ensure everyone’s safety: Get vaccinated.

Stay at least 6 feet away from other people when possible.

Wash hands frequently.

Wear a mask.

Stay home when sick.

Get tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor spaces when possible.

Taken from: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/community.htm

Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 9

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

889,078 Positive Cases +13,685 from 11/30

Cases as of 12/7/2021

3,700,652 Negative Test Results +11,947 from 11/30

9,128 Deaths +109 from 11/30 Updated: 12/7/2021

Critically High Vaccine Summary Statistics Very High Updated: 12/7/2021 High 3,018,793 4,436,458 7,763,273 308,022 Medium Moderna doses Johnson & Johnson Pfizer doses Total doses Low administered doses administered administered administered

covid case activity level 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.

Total boosters administered

Iowa County

445,027

Moderna doses administered

12,813

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

+31 from 11/30 +36 from 11/30 +0 from 11/30

3,015 Positive Cases 14,426 Negative Tests 18 Deaths

Pfizer doses administered

Vaccine Data

county level weekly statistics Richland County 2,367 Positive Cases 9,974 Negative Tests 28 Deaths

633,436

1,091,276

Richland

+59 from 11/30 +78 from 11/30 +1 from 11/30

Sauk County

+210 from 11/30 +161 from 11/30 +0 from 11/30

9,428 Positive Cases 43,724 Negative Tests 68 Deaths Updated: 12/7/2021

Target Range

Sauk

Target Range

56.4%

60.4%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

54.1%

57.5%

Percent fully vaccinated

Percent fully vaccinated Target Range

Iowa 65.3% Percent with at least one vaccine dose

62.8% Percent fully vaccinated

Cases per zip code

Percent of Wisconsin residents ages 12-15 who have received at least one dose by county

Cases as of 12/7/2021

Updated: 12/7/2021 Lower %

Richland County Ages 12-15

Iowa County

Ages 12-15

Higher %

44.9%

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

57.4%

Sauk County

Ages 12-15

Updated: 12/7/2021

48.6% Dane County Ages 12-15

Graphic by Anna Stocks-Hess

Ages

83.8%

12-15 16-17 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

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

50.1% 54.2% 54.9% 59.6% 66.7% 67.3% 75.6% 87.5%

Outdoors/Recreation

Page 10 Thursday, December 9, 2021

BLAZE ORANGE BOARD PRESENTED BY PREM MEATS

2021

Mark Weiss harvested this 10 pointer with a 19 ⅛” wide spread.

Bryce Ferguson, 13, was able to take his first buck, an 8 pointer with 17” spread and field dressed at 180lbs, on Nov. 26 near Spring Green.

Shannon Marin captured this view “waiting for the big one” during early bow season in Richland County.

Tim Salmon took a picture of himself in his stand near Richland Center. “There is a squirrel in the tree above me,” said Salmon. “But he moved before the picture was taken. I thought it looked cool.”

Cael Reno, age 8 of Lone Rock, harvested his first ever deer during the October youth hunt outside of Spring Green.

Shannon Marin captured this view of “God’s Country sunrise over the hills” in Richland County.

Outdoors/Recreation

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 11 Tim Salmon captured this view of a small buck that walked between his stand and the tree near Richland Center.

Tim Salmon captured this view of a group of maple trees from one of his stands that had leaves on, late into fall, near Richland Center.

Tim Salmon captured this sunrise view from one of his stands near Richland Center.

Tim Salmon captured this shot of a bald eagle that landed in the tree above him.

“He started to fly when the picture was taken,” said Salmon. “Didn’t even notice the moon at the time.”

Tim Salmon captured this sunrise shot from one of his stands near Richland Center.

Hunter Hannah Stevens caught this view of the rising sun with a fresh frost in Linden in Iowa County.

Shannon Marin captured this view of the sunrise from her blind in Richland County.

Shannon Marin captured this view of the sunset near Richland Center in Richland County.

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Outdoors/Recreation

Page 12 Thursday, December 9, 2021

BLAZE ORANGE BOARD

WINNERS 2021

BIGGEST BUCK 1st PLACE

BIGGEST DOE 1st PLACE Adam Reno, of Lone Rock, harvested this giant doe outside of Spring Green on the opening weekend of the Wisconsin gun deer season.

Taylor Ferguson, 13, of Spring Green, harvested this 13 point buck with a 20” spread near Spring Green on Nov. 21 in very windy conditions.

2nd PLACE

2nd PLACE Ryland Schwarz, 10 years old, harvested his first deer, a nine pointer with a 17 ¼” inside spread, in Western Dane county the afternoon of opening day, Nov. 20. He used a Remington 700 chambered in .308 win.

3rd PLACE

Bryce Ferguson, 13, was able to take his second doe ever on Nov. 27 near Spring Green. The doe’s field dressed weight came in at 168lbs.

3rd PLACE Landon Stark harvested this doe.

Laura Erickson harvested this buck on her grandparents land just outside of Plain. “I shot him 100 yards away right in the heart,” said Erickson. “A perfect shot!”

Outdoors/Recreation

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 13

BEST YOUTH 1st PLACE

BEST VIEW 1st PLACE Shannon Marin had this to say of her first time hunting, during bow season in Richland County: “This picture may not exactly fit this [best view] category but I wanted to send it with my other entries. It’s my first day of bow hunting ever. I wanted to share the joy I had that day and the wonderful group of people who made it possible. I ended up with a girlfriend’s family on the edge of Richland Center.

These poor guys were amazingly gracious about having a 50 yr old first time bowhunter, in her hand-me-down, 3-sizes-toobig hunting gear thrust upon them. Due to rotator cuff issues I had to switch to a crossbow right before the season started.

The group, mostly made up of veterans, each went out of their way to teach me what they knew. I learned so much and gained so much confidence that I plan to hunt late season by myself.”

Bryce Ferguson, 13 years old of Spring Green, was able to take his first buck (8 pointer), first coyote and 2nd doe ever. “Nice trifecta for this 13 year old,” said his dad Shane Ferguson.

The coyote was taken on Nov. 21 near Spring Green.

2nd PLACE This year Kaleb Dolan, 14, of Dodgeville, harvested his first buck on Nov. 20, opening day of the regular gun deer season in Wisconsin.

3rd PLACE Todd Wilson, 11 years old, shot his first buck on October 9th during the first day of the youth season in Iowa county. His brother Owen got to watch it all go down.

2nd PLACE

Shannon Marin captured this view of the sunset near Richland Center in Richland County.

3rd PLACE

This view was captured by Krista Dolan near Dodgeville.

Sports Girls Gymnastics Preview: Girls look to compete as coach starts her first year

Page 14 Thursday, December 9, 2021 Claire Enos, RVHS Girls Gymnastics Head Coach This was such a great team to have for my first year! These girls have put a lot of time in outside of season on their own and have set some really high goals. We gained some really strong freshmen this year who we are excited to see grow in the next few years. We also have some really strong returners. Our Seniors and Junior that we have returning, are very excited and we as a team agree that we have a shot at qualifying for state as a team.

I personally am excited to see how my first year goes seeing as I have some big shoes to fill. My goal for this season is to have fun in the gym. These girls are so much fun and have so much potential and drive, I’m just really excited to see what they do with that.

The girls have set their goals high and are aiming for team state. They also have some individual qualifying goals that I think are achievable. We have a strong floor group and some really strong vaulters that could go on. We need to clean and continue to work on upgrades to our beam and bars but these girls have set their goals and plan to achieve them fully! We are hoping for back to back conference champions to send our 4 seniors out on a high note!

COVID this year has been handled in a similar way to last year. We use separate chalk buckets and mask up when school recommends. As we go on I hope for a healthy season COVID free.

Photo by Claire Enos Members of the River Valley Girls Gynastics team. Pictured (left to right): Nevaeh Parker, Sofia Sanftleben, Emily Noble, Katie Forseth, Stephanie Limmex, Anya Seffrood, Jorja Pailing. Missing: McKenzie Kruse, Haylee Fruit, Kelly Ojibway.

RV Boys Basketball starts season with play

Photo by Mike McDermott Zach Gloudeman takes the ball down the court in last week’s River Valley High School Boys Basketball game at home versus Lakeside Lutheran.

Business/Community

Thursday, December 9, 2021 Page 15

The Sauk County Gardener: Christmas plants and Christmas birds Jeannie Manis, Sauk County Master Gardener “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”

— Meredith Willson Once again, I am amazed at all the beautiful and different poinsettia one can find in the stores and nurseries.

This native plant of Mexico is American’s most popular flowering holiday plant and, aside from the Christmas tree, is considered a symbol of Christmas. There are over 100 known varieties of poinsettias available in the marketplace. As a traditionalist, I favor red ones, but I also admire the many different colors they come in ranging from white, pink, red, to even yellow. The colors can be solid, streaked, marbled, and multicolor. With so many choices, it’s difficult to choose just one.

Once you’ve finally narrowed in on the poinsettia(s) you want, it’s time to get it home. Take special care as it’s a tropical plant and doesn’t like the cold. Protect it from cold temps and chilly winds on its journey from the store to the car to your home. It won’t be happy if you leave it in your cold vehicle while you run one more errand.

Once you have your poinsettia at home you must find the right location, so it stays beautiful. It needs about 6 hours a day of bright, indirect light or its color will fade. Most

homes have the right temperatures (65 - 70 degrees F) but avoid drafts.

The most common cause of death is overwatering. Only water when the soil is dry and don’t let it sit in water.

Many times, the purchased plant comes wrapped in beautiful foil, but it tends to hold water. If that’s the case, take the plant out of the foil and place it on a plant saucer so it can drain well. If the pot is plain and you wanted to display it in its colorful wrapping, simply cut holes in the bottom of the foil and then place the pot on the plant saucer to collect the water. You’ll still have a beautifully displayed plant, and it will be happy as well. There is no need to fertilize while the poinsettia is in bloom.

Once the holiday season is over, many of us simply toss out our poinsettias after their blooms fade.

As tropical plants, it is difficult to get them to rebloom but not impossible.

If you’re up for the challenge, here are some steps to note on your calendar. Keep watering your plant as usual through March. In early April, decrease your watering so the soil gets very dry, but the stems don’t shrivel up. In late April, place the plant in a dark area that doesn’t get sunlight for 12 – 15 hours and the temps are about 60 degrees F. We have an exposed, finished basement and that is where I house many of my plants that need to go dormant.

The plants get some light and we keep the temps cool down there as we don’t use that part of the house except during parties and family get-togethers. Cut the stem back to about four inches in May and repot in fresh potting soil. Then move it back to a well-lit window, start watering and fertilize every two weeks. Move it outdoors to a partially shaded area when the temps stay above 50 degrees. In July, start to pinch back each stem about an inch to make it bushier and compact. Leave about three to four leaves on each branch of the new stems. Once August comes, move the plant back inside to its well-lit window, continuing to water and fertilize. In October, it needs to experience long nights of complete darkness to initiate flowering. Put it in a closet or a box from 5 pm to 8 am and water sparingly. During the day, put it back in the window. By December, it should start to get buds.

Then you can stop the dark treatment.

By mid-December (or when it starts to bloom), stop fertilizing. It’s a lot of work but some have successfully managed to get their poinsettias to rebloom. I’ve tried several times, but I haven’t had success as I tend to get busy and miss the important steps.

Someday when I’m not so busy, I might be successful. Until then, I’ll just enjoy them during the holiday season.

On a side note, if you’re love looking at the birds or want to find different ways to get outdoors during the cool weather, consider participating in the Audubon’s 122nd Christmas Bird Count. The count occurs every year from December 14 to January 5. As it is a real census, you do have to sign up ahead of time to participate - https://www.audubon. org/conservation/join-christmasbird-count. If you didn’t sign up to participate in the Christmas Bird Count, mark your calendar for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) that occurs every President’s Day weekend each February - https:// www.audubon.org/conservation/ about-great-backyard-bird-count.

No signup is necessary. Until then, you can practice your bird watching skills and even attend the Winter Bird Watching event held at Devil’s Lake State Park on Saturday, December 18 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, lead by the park’s naturalist.

This week’s article is written by Jeannie Manis, a Wisconsin Certified Sauk County Master Gardener Volunteer. If you have any gardening questions, please contact the Extension Sauk County by emailing to trripp@wisc.edu or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.

Business/Professional

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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

Commercial Project Manager/Estimator

Duties: • Manage multiple projects in various stages of planning and construction • Prepare and manage detailed schematic budgeting and estimating • Coordinate subcontractor bids Requirements: • 5+ years of Commercial Project Manager/Estimator experience • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or Civil Engineering • Understanding of our self-performed trades • Familiar with estimating software, have strong client service orientation, and demonstrate outstanding communication and organization skills

Commercial Construction Superintendent

Duties: • Management of construction activities • Ensuring compliance with design, schedule, and budget requirements • Overseeing multiple subcontractors Requirements • 5+ years of commercial field management experience • Experience in one of our self-performed trades • Must be able to demonstrate prior success in working effectively as a team with project owners, architects, and subcontractors. Must possess the leadership abilities to achieve top-flight results

For more info visit www.kraemerbrothers.com

Salary will be based on experience EEO/AA employer

Please send your resume to:

Kraemer Brothers, LLC 925 Park Ave | PO Box 219 Plain, WI 53577 Email: jobs@kraemerbrothers.com Phone: 608-546-2411

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CLASSIFIEDS Healthcare Employment Opportunities *Director of Heart, Lung & Sleep Services – full-time exempt leadership position, $7,500.00 Employment Bonus! *Respiratory Therapists – full-time or part-time Evening/Night shift positions, 12 hour shifts available during the week days. Also a .6 FTE evening/night weekender shift Premium Pay position! $5,000.00 Employment Bonus available for benefit eligible positions! *Director of DME Services – full-time exempt management position in our Platteville office. *OR Technician - .8 FTE position *RN Med/Surg unit - .75 FTE evening/night shift position *RN Float Nurse –.6 to a .9 FTE evening/night shift position *RN ICU unit - .6 FTE evening/night shift position *RN OB unit - .6 FTE and a .75 FTE evening/night shift position *RN Nursing & Rehab Center - .6 FTE p.m. shift position *Emergency Department Technician - .6 FTE part-time position *Certified Nursing Assistants – part-time positions available in our Nursing & Rehab Center on day, evening and night shifts, $3,000 Employment Bonus included along with a competitive wage and benefits package for part or full time work! *Imaging Technician – premium pay Weekender Program, Day/Evening and a 1.0 FTE p.m. shift position. *MRI Imaging - .5 to a 1.0 FTE day shift position. *Athletic Trainer – full-time AT position. *Health Information Management Supervisor – 1.0 FTE exempt supervisory position. *Revenue Integrity Pricing Specialist – 1.0 FTE position in our Patient Financial Services dept *Environmental Services Staff – full time p.m. and night shift positions. *Sterile Processing Technician - .8 FTE day shift position. *Phlebotomist - .8 FTE day shift position. *Clinic X-ray/Lab Technician - .5 FTE position *Clinic Triage - 1.0 FTE position *Cook & Culinary Aide - .5 to 1.0 FTE part to full-time Cook position & a .5 FTE Aide position

To find out more detailed information about all open positions and to apply, go to our website at www.uplandhillshealth.org.

Upland Hills Health, 800 Compassion Way Dodgeville, WI 53533

Outdoors/Recreation

Page 16 Thursday, December 9, 2021

An Outdoorsman’s Journal

Mark Walters, Columnist

The Red Brush Gang 2021 Hello friends, The next couple of weeks I will be writing to you about the eleven days I spent at my deer camp, which is in the heart of the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area in northern Juneau County. First thing, this would be my 50th year in a row of never missing an opening day of deer season in this neck of the woods.

For me that is a pretty important piece of the puzzle!

Saturday, November 20th High 42, Low 26

So, our temporary shack that is built on public property for the deer gun season is an 18x36 pole barn with 20 bunks, two woodstoves, six propane lights and a table going down the middle of it. Last night 16 of us slept in it and before the season would end, on our biggest night, we had 23.

There is an electronic dart board and most nights we have a dart tournament, sometimes there is wrestling and an occasional pull up contest. I do very poorly in the wrestling and not so good in the pull up contest. Two nights ago, I did some painful damage to my left elbow in the pull up contest that will heal but would be a problem for all of camp.

We hunt both the Necedah National

Wildlife Refuge and the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area. Some of us walk out of the shack to hunt, others drive as far as 15 miles and then walk as far as 1.5 miles to our stands.

My 20-year-old daughter Selina and I drive and then do a 1.5-mile walk. Our day, like most others in the gang since grey wolf became a solid feature in the area, would be very slow with two deer being spotted. In all my years for an opener I have never heard such a low number of shots.

On the other hand, we have twelve kids in camp this weekend between the ages of 6 and 33, with ten of them being over 17. Ryan Moll is 33 and would be hunting near his dad Jeff and his brother Ross, who would be with his six year old son Jordan and ten-year-old step daughter Elise Mianecki.

Jordan, Elise and Ross sat together in a ground blind and had very little action, but these kids loved camp, could take the cold and were very patient.

Ryan Moll, who flies A-10s and is a Captain at Selfridge Air National Guard Air Base near Harrison, Michigan, was 30-feet up in an oak tree and put a whacking on an 8-point buck. A crazy story on that is while he was dragging the buck back to the truck, he saw just a small part of a horn sticking out of the water on a dike. Ryan waded in over his hip boots, pulled what was a spiker out

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist A few of the members of the Red Brush Gang!

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist (left to right) Ryan Moll, Elise Mianecki, and Jordan Moll enjoying opening day of Wisconsin deer gun season.

Photo by Mark Walters, Columnist Seventeen year old Allie Schuster loves deer camp!

of the water and then located the hunter that he was sure had shot it, as he had witnessed the gun going off.

The hunter looked at the spiker and said it was not his, that he had shot at a fork horn. Long story short, the buck was tagged and not waisted by one of the Moll’s.

Back at camp, Allie Schuster, who is a senior at Deforest High School and plans on attending UW Eau Claire next year with the hope of becoming a math teacher, was hunting in her normal stand when a spiker came by, and she put a bullet in it and that would be our total for day one, with over half of our gang not seeing a deer.

I am Allie’s uncle, and we have a total love/hate relationship that we both play out very well. When she was like 10, she would always say that there was no way that she would ever hunt. Then she sat with her father Shane Schuster and froze her butt off but did not hunt. The next fall I took her camping for the youth hunt, and she harvested an eight pointer.

Even though she truly is a brat, Allie is

now hooked on deer camp.

My nephew Riley Schuster, who is like 33, would be the only person to see what we call a big buck. Riley got a quick shot at a very solid 8-pointer and then could not shoot because there was orange in the background. The other hunter shot the buck and like the rest of us Riley was very sportsmanlike and had a real nice talk with the hunter.

On Monday we are officially done sitting in stands and begin doing deer drives. We stay up every night until between late and very late. The laughter never ends, my elbow is hurting and there is no place like deer camp.

Here ‘till I die!

—Sunset

Want to read more?

Check out previous weeks’ columns at www.outdoorsmansjournal.com