Valley Sentinel - 06-09-2021

Inside this edition

Looking for a weekend excursion?

Check out the Community Calendar

Lone Rock goes for a ride with first Family Fun Fair carnival

RV Sports go big in conference play

Page 5

Page 8

Page 4

Spring Green, Wisconsin

Wednesday, June 9, 2021 Vol. 2, No. 23 Free, Single-Copy

Highway 23 bridge ready to open for one lane traffic June 12 Jim Simpson, P.E., P.L.S., WIisDOT Project Manager The good weather and the dedicated employees at Kraemer North America have kept this project on schedule. Kraemer North America and their subcontractors have poured all the concrete for the bridge and are now working on the necessary road improvements to open STH 23 to traffic

again.

They are committed to have the roadway open next week before Saturday, June 12th.

The bridge will be open to one lane of traffic only. There will be portable traffic signals placed to alternate traffic between northbound to southbound vehicles. The bridge will continue to be a work zone, so please be patient and proceed cautiously.

The wooden falsework needed to pour the concrete is currently being removed from the bridge.

The majority of the remaining work is cleaning and painting the steel members of the bridge. This work requires one lane of traffic to be closed and that one lane will be needed throughout the summer. The entire project is to be completed and both lanes

open to traffic in September.

Also remember the river under the bridge is a work zone. The river will remain open to boaters and other recreational users, but some portions will be restricted for your protection. Be alert for crews working and use caution when navigating this area.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.

Village of Plain opens, dedicates new playground with emphasis on play and joy Photo by Kalen Scott, Contributor The village of Plain and village residents gathered to celebrate the opening of a new playground.

The village received approximately $61,650 in monetary donations to replace the tattered equipment and did not have to pay for labor. Clerk Sheila Carver said the projected totaled about $105,000.

The difference was covered by a loan the village took to complete the playground and other upgrades the park area needed.

Village President Ray Ring said the project was spearheaded by Village Trustee Merry Lynn Riek.

“She is a tireless advocate and outstanding leader pursuing ways that enhance the image and interests of Plain,” said Ring. “She set her sights on a goal to deliver a remarkable Playground that adds to the beauty of the entire Park and further enhances the many amenities Plain has to offer.”

Pictured, children and village residents try out the new playground at the dedication ceremony June 6.

Another Trustee resigns in Arena, Board settles dispute that resulted in lawsuit Nicole Aimone, Editor-in-Chief Arena faces two vacancies as another trustee resigns and as they settle a tax dispute that was previously taken up in court, during the Arena Village Board’s June 1 meeting.

The meeting again started with disagreement about the agenda, with Village President Kate Reimann motioning to remove an agenda item requested by Trustee Paul Pustina regarding the May 22 village sponsored brat fry held at The Crappie Shop. The brat fry was held to raise funds for an accessible fishing ramp for the pond at the village’s West Park.

Pustina shared that he had concerns about the potential that village funds were used for the brat fry. The brat fry was never taken up for action by the board. However, color flyers for the event featured the village’s logo.

“There was no village money used for that, it was all private donations on private property,” stated Reimann in moving forward with her motion. “So no taxpayer money was used for that item.”

The board struck Pustina’s agenda item to discuss the brat fry, with Reimann, trustees Kathy Stoltz and Charles Burch agreeing and Pustina being opposed, with trustee Rachel (Depouw) Maxwell being absent.

The board approved a motion to accept the

resignation of Tami Erspamer as village trustee, with a term expiring April 2022. With this resignation, following the resignation of Jessica Voight in March and her seat being filled by Maxwell and Tara Hill declining to run for re-election in April, this leaves the village with two trustee vacancies, the other expiring in April 2023.

No interested candidates appeared at the meeting, with the board taking no action to appoint to fill the seats. Clerk DeNean Naeger suggested that interested residents contact Reimann and attend the next board meeting.

After some back and forth, with parties drowning each other out in discussion, the board approved an Amplified Device Permit extension of hours for Tara Hill to extend hours from 9pm to 11pm for an outside band for a wedding to be held on June 19 on commercial property on Sharon Street. The motion carried 3-1, with Pustina opposed, stating he was not in favor of the noise and increased traffic in a residential area.

The board heard from representatives of Johnson Block LLC regarding the village’s 2020 audit report. Johnson Block reported that the total fund balance was 18% in 2020, with policy requiring it to equal 20% of expenditures and allowing five years to improve. Tax revenues have increased 10% from 2018 to 2020.

The board concluded the meeting by going into closed session under Wis. Stat. 19.85 (1) (g): Conferring with legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy to be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved, regarding an incorrect assessment alleged by village residents Christopher and Deana Toutz.

The Toutz’s claimed inaccurate assessment of property and asserted that the village did not provide written notice/appeal rights. The Toutz’s had received an omitted property tax bill for 2019 from Naeger of $5,858.30 that was accruing interest, despite the fact that the Toutz’s hadn’t owned the property in 2019.

Court records indicate that the lawsuit was dismissed on April 20 at the request of the plaintiffs, without prejudice, meaning the action could have been brought before the court again if there was no resolution.

The board approved a proposed settlement for the Prairie Street property for the 2019 omitted property tax bill with a tax value of $90,026 in the amount of $2,606.69. The details of the settlement were not available at press time. This story will be updated online when the details become available.

Other actions taken by the board: —Cigarette Licenses for Jax Enterprises, III,

and Crappie Shop, LLC —Class “A” Beer/“Class A” Liquor license renewal for Candy Parrell, DBA Crappie Shop, LLC, 300 Dalogasa Dr. —Class “A” Beer/“Class A” Liquor license renewal for Jax Enterprises III, DBA Arena One Stop, 300 Village Edge Rd. —Class “B” Beer and “Class B” Liquor License renewal for Ewing-Olson V.F.W. Post #9336, 514 Willow St. —Class “B” Beer and Quota Plus “Class B” Liquor License renewal for Mary Sawle, DBA Grandma Mary’s Café, 175 Hwy 14.

—Accepted a bid from The Expediters, Inc in the amount of $13,604.10 for sanitary sewer cleaning and televising.

—Approved Chicken Permit to Jamie White on South Street.

— Approved sending a contractual agreement between WEDC and the Village to the Village Attorney for approval regarding the ACES Development at 314 Willow Street potentially receiving a $250,000 grant.

—Approved a proposal by Ehlers to provide a comprehensive water and wastewater rate study for the Village at a cost of $18,500.

—Approved Ordinance #2021-0601 Rezoning Lots 26-29, Hodgson’s Prairie, Arena from Business(B1-B2) to Two-Family Residential District (R-3).

Page 2

Regional

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

Before and after: See how Wisconsin republicans redrew the state’s congressional districts to their advantage Peter Cameron, Badger Project, Managing Editor Wisconsin is one of the most competitive swing states in the country.

Democrats have won every statewide election in the last four years, including U.S. president, governor, U.S. senator and attorney general.

Yet Republicans have easily held five of the state’s eight seats in the U.S. House for all of the last decade. And they nearly took a sixth in the 2020 election. Some experts say gerrymandering is at least partially to blame for that. Others say mostly.

After Republicans won full control of state government in 2010, the hyper-efficient redistricting they conducted in 2011 gave the party a nearly unbreakable hold on a majority of congressional seats, as well as both houses of the legislature.

Even when Republicans have lost the majority of the total vote in the state legislature, as they did several times last decade, they still held those majorities of seats.

The gerrymandering process also created eight congressional districts in which incumbents from both sides of the aisle rarely, and usually never, face a serious challenge from the other party. Many experts warn this result of gerrymandering, which creates safe seats for both parties, leads to hyper-partisanship and gridlock in government. Wisconsin, one of the most politically competitive states in the country, usually sees double-digit blowouts in its uncompetitive congressional races.

The Badger Project has put together a side-by-side comparison of how the eight congressional districts changed in the 2011 redistricting process to show how Republicans gave themselves a partisan advantage. Politicians from both parties do this across the country, but in Wisconsin, Republicans have been the ones benefiting from gerrymandering. And let’s not forget, Wisconsin Democrats had full control of state government in 2009, and despite a push from inside and outside the party to enact a nonpartisan redistricting commission, similar to the one in Iowa, they declined to do so.

This year, following the 2020 Census, the district maps must be redrawn again. But without the complete control of state government they had in 2011, Republicans face an almost certain veto of their maps

by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a unique wrinkle of Wisconsin politics.

This will send the redistricting power to the courts. But will it end up in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, or federal court? And what will that court decide? Time will tell.

Expert Analysis - 2nd District

In regards to political makeup, “the 2nd Congressional District didn’t change much from the 2001 redistricting to the 2011 map. According to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, the 2nd district went from +15 Democrat in 2010 to +16 Democrat in 2012. The Fair Vote analysis of redistricting also says it was more D by +1.

Photo via The Badger Project The Second Congressional District

Photo via The Badger Project The Third Congressional District “For the 2nd District, the bigger change was in 2001 when (former U.S. Rep.) Paul Ryan (1st Congressional District) and (then-U.S. Rep.) Tammy Baldwin (2nd Congressional District) both had their districts made safer for them.”

-David Canon, professor of American politics at the UW-Madison

Expert Analysis - 3rd District

“I believe that one of the redistricting goals, in 2011, was to help protect (the Republican incumbent in the 7th District to the north) by shifting some Republican voters — looking at

past historical voting patterns — into the 7th District. Southwest of the district was the 3rd, securely held by (Democrat) Congressman Ron Kind since 1996. This district was somewhat crescent shaped and followed the Mississippi River, from St. Croix County in the north to Grant and Lafayette Counties in the south.

“The areas primarily involved in this redistricting were from St. Croix County (which was becoming more like a suburb of the Twin Cities), Clark and parts of Monroe and Jackson counties, areas identified as more likely to vote Republican,

and move all or parts of Democratic-leaning Wood, Adams, Portage and Eau Claire into the 3rd. This was expected to solidify (Republican) hold on the 7th and increase Kind’s security in holding the 3rd. The 3rd district (changed) from a crescent to more of a “Y” shaped district, which now included the cities of Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids in central Wisconsin.

“In the 2020 November election, with President Trump again on the ballot, and against a very competitive

see page 3

Regional/OPINION

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

Page 3

Driftless Grace — this week: seeing double Grace Vosen, Contributor

I just made a short visit to a place three degrees of latitude farther north. That’s not much for seasoned travelers, but it served to remind me that my home is only halfway to the equator. The farther north you go, the more the spring is compressed into a few fleeting days. (We had our share of frosty weather last month, but at least we don’t have a Great Lake messing with our temperature.)

This place was two weeks behind schedule, relatively speaking. I found I could watch certain spring phenomena unfolding again. Lilacs that would be brown and tattered back home were in their fullest

Vosen bloom outside of my hotel. Some friends announced that they were going on a “smelling walk” to enjoy a perfect Saturday with four senses.

I felt their joy, knowing how long they must have waited for warmth to return.

I was a resident of this northern place a few short years ago. (Most of those years were winter.) If I ignored the signs of a global pandemic on this recent trip, I could almost participate in a second form of time travel and step back into that role.

Other times, though, change was harder to overcome. I asked for a favorite item at the local bakery and was told, “We haven’t made that in YEARS!”. After that, I felt more like my current self — but I pictured the Grace from back then walking alongside me.

There’s no question that such places are sacred to my life. I hope I can always make return visits. The endless lapping of waves on the shore keeps me grounded (watered?).

However: I’m glad to live here in the south, where the gratification of spring isn’t quite so delayed.

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.

Expert analysis of Wisconsin’s congressional districts continued from page 2 and well-financed Republican opponent, Derrick Van Orden, Kind’s margin of victory narrowed to about 51% of the vote and he won only by about 11,000 votes (out of 314,000 votes). He won by doing well in the urban centers of the district, while Van Orden carried virtually all of the rural counties Thus, over the 10 year period, the district went from a “safe” Democratic to a much more competitive one.”

– Joseph Heim, professor emeritus of political science at UW-La Crosse “In an effort to ensure that (the

incumbent) easily retained the (7th Congressional) District (to the north), Republicans removed the Democratic areas of Portage County and half of Wood County from the (7th), placing them in Democrat Congressman Ron Kind’s 3rd District. Prior to this change, Kind represented the western part of the state, often referred to as the Mississippi River District.

His new constituency included Democratic-dominated central Wisconsin cities of Stevens Point, place of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Rapids, an industrialized city that had been dominated by the paper

industry. Interestingly, Republicans moved some GOP areas, as shown by their vote for former President Donald Trump, into Kind’s district to replace other Republican areas that had to be moved into Duffy’s district to maintain districts of equal population. Most notably, Adams and Juneau Counties are now part of Kind’s district. This has the effect of making Kind vulnerable, illustrated

by Democrats fearing that this district could be lost. While Kind held the district in 2020, the strong vote for Trump has put the district in the competitive column.”

– Ed Miller, professor of political science at UW-Stevens Point

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.

The Badger Project is a nonpartisan, citizen-supported journalism nonprofit in Wisconsin that investigates government, politics and related matters.

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) Interns Graphic Design/Pagination Anna Stocks-Hess Graphic Design/Infographics Whitney Back Editorial Adeline Holte Graphic Design/Editorial Nicole Hansen

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

Editorial Matthew L. Beyer Editorial Adam Meyer Distribution/Photography Kalen Scott Regular Contributors Arts & Culture/Editorial Bill Gordon

Arts & Culture/Editorial Alison Graves 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 and impartiality of our reporting. .

Est. 2020 igne conflatum “Forged in Fire”

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.

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, june 9, 2021

COmmunitycalendar Events for June 10 - June 23 Thursday, June 10 Local Night: Point 5 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Free . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

APT: Talk Backs — The Mountaintop 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM . www.americanplayers.org. Our usual post-show Q&A continues this year through the magic of Zoom.

Bonus: we're recording them this year, so if you can't make the live stream, you can still watch any time after.

Friday, June 11 Wine Down Fridays: Mastodon DS 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Join Mastondon DS for a Dub, slow reggae, and downtempo set. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery!

Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

Ridgeway Pine Relict Workday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM . Ridgeway, WI . www.dnr.wisconsin.gov. Ridgeway is known for its pine relicts that have northern plant species. The workday this month will focus on spraying or pulling garlic mustard.If you have any questions, please call Jared Urban, DNR Volunteer Coordinator, at 608-228-4349.

Saturday, June 12 Carle and Cacti Story Hike at the Spring Green Preserve 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM .

Jones road Spring Green . Free . www.springgreenlibrary.org . We'll read an Eric Carle story or two about using our senses to discover the world around us. Then we'll use those skills as we take a stroll through the "Wisconsin Desert," home to cacti and other flora and fauna rare to our area!

Bluegrass Jam 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM . Spring Green General Store, 137 S Albany Spring Green . Free . www.springgreen.com . Come to play, come to listen. Come to teach, come to learn. Or just hang out & enjoy the people and the music.

Sunday, June 13 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Open House at Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Seth Peterson Cottage 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM . E9982 Fern Dell Road, Lake Delton . FREE . www.sethpeterson.org.

Join us for guided tours to find out more about Frank Lloyd Wright and Seth Peterson.

Spring Green Community Center Open House 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM . 117 South Washington Street . Call (715) 340-1288. We are repoening the Spring Green Community Center. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.

Madtown Mannish 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Monday, June 14 Take & Make Craft Kits: Yarn Birds 11:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Drop by the library to grab a Take and Make Yarn Bird! These kits are created with adults in mind (all are welcome to them!) and contain materials needed to complete the project. Kits are available first come, first served, while supplies last.

Spring Green Community Group for Racial Justice 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM . Daley St and Park Rd Spring Green . Contact sgcommunitygroup@gmail.com. The Community Group for Racial Justice is a discussion and action group that meets the second Monday of each month.

From Blocks to Rocks: Design Outside the Box (Ages 8-11) 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM . Taliesin Preservation Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, 5607 County Road C Spring Green . $175 . www.taliesinpreservation.org. In this introductory summer camp catering to our youngest creatives, participants will engage with the essential elements of architecture and design as they explore the natural and built environment of the Taliesin estate through interactive, virtual, and hands-on activities.

Tuesday, June 15 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Wednesday, June 16 The Spring Green Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Tournament 10:00 AM . House on the Rock Resort, 400 Springs Dr, Spring Green . Call (608) 588-2054. Registration is at 10 AM and the shotgun starts at 11 AM. The day will include a lunch catered by Prem Meats with appetizers durning the awards.

Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Arcadia Book Club: In The Company of Killers 6:00 PM . 102 E Jefferson St, Spring Green . https://www.readinutopia.com. We are very excited to welcome Bryan Christy to our discussion of his thriller, "In the Company of Killers."

Thursday, June 17 Zoozort at the Park 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM . Plain Community Park Pavilion, 925 Parkview Avenue, Plain . Free . LIMITED TICKET EVENT . www.kraemerlibrary.org.

Zoozort is a unique, hands-on interactive program that features live exotic animals from all around the world. Children are enthralled with animals, information, props and humor; sparking an interest in animals that will last a lifetime.

Local Night: Janna Johnson 5:30 PM - 8:00PM . The Shed/Post House Garden, 123 N Lexington Street, 119 E Jefferson Street Spring Green . Come out and spend your Thursday evenings with some local music and local food. The food cooked on the grill on the patio is from our many local vendors in Spring Green and surrounding towns, and the musicians are from the River Valley area.

Wine & Yoga 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . $10 cash only . www.wildhillswinery.com. Wine & Yoga every Thursday in the Vineyard with certified Yoga Instructor Lara Carpenter.

APT: Talk Backs — An Improbable Fiction 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM . www.americanplayers.org. Our usual post-show Q&A continues this year through the magic of Zoom. Bonus: we're recording them this year, so if you can't make the live stream, you can still watch any time after.

Friday, June 18 Wine Down Fridays: John Gay 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM . Wild Hills Winery, 30940 Oakridge Dr. Muscoda . Free . www.wildhillswinery.com. Join Mastondon DS for a Dub, slow reggae, and downtempo set. Wine down and chill at Wild Hills Winery!

Live music every Friday! Enjoy the sounds of local musicians and singer-songwriters outdoors on the patio. Food and drink specials.

Saturday, June 19 Brat Fry 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM . River Valley Area Community Garden, 900 N. Westmor Street, Spring Green . Brats and Chicken luncheon costs vary . info@rvacg.org. River Valley Area Community Garden will hold a Brat Fry at Prem Meats on Hwy. 14, Spring Green. All proceeds will go to build a shelter at the Gardens.

Sunday, June 20 40th Annual Richland County Dairy Breakfast (Drive Thru) 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM .

Richland County Fairgrounds, 23630 County Hwy AA, Richland Center . $5 per carryout . www.dairydaysofsummer.com. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 40th Annual Richland County Dairy Breakfast will be as a drive thru event at the Richland Co. Fairgrounds.

AD German Warehouse, Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Tour 11:00 AM 3:00 PM . $15/person, cash or check only . 300 South Church Street, Richland Center . www.adgermanwarehouse.org. Tour the only warehouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Tours are available by appointment only.

Story Time Special: Father’s Day 12:00 PM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Facebook exclusive storytime special.

Four H’s 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM . Wisconsin Riverside Resort, S13220 Shifflet Road Spring Green . www.wiriverside.com/entertainment. Summer music continues on the River Stage!

Monday, June 21 Take & Make Craft Kits: Animal Habitats 11:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Drop by the library to grab a Take and Make Animal Habitats! These kits are created with adults in mind (all are welcome to them!) and contain materials needed to complete the project. Kits are available first come, first served, while supplies last.

Tuesday, June 22 Story Time at South Park 10:00 AM . Spring Green Community Library, 230 E Monroe St Spring Green . www.springgreenlibrary.org. Join Ms Christi at Spring Green's South Park for a fun morning of summer Story Time!

Tails & Tales Outdoor Storytime 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM . Plain Kraemer Library and Community Center, 910 Main St, Plain . www.kraemerlibrary.org. Storytime lasts between 30 minutes and aimed for ages 0-6 with themed songs and stories.

Community/Arts & Culture

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

Page 5

Movie Review: American Players Theatre Actors Power Short Film ‘One Foot In’ Bill Gordon, Contributor American Players Theatre actors James DeVita and Marcus Truschinski star as grave robbers seeking to reconcile their troubled past by making a big score in One Foot In. The twenty-five-minute independent film was written and directed

by Eric Schabla, and produced by Jack Whaley, both APT alumni. Whaley was also director of photography for the film.

The first thing I noticed was how the visual and auditory elements of this film quickly create a mood and atmosphere.

Incredible sweeping aerial images of Wisconsin skies and forests are used with creative transitions to close-ups of trees. There is a shot of a moonrise over the woods that is spectacular. The score creates intensity with a mix of searing music with chanting and rumbling bass and almost jungle-like sounds as it captures birds piping and trees rustling and the overall feel of the woods. It’s nighttime and dark and danger lurks in the air. The cinematography and score set the tone, and I was immediately immersed in the experience.

Grave robbing is believed to have peaked in North American in the 1870s, which appears be to the general time

frame for this story. DeVita plays Tammany, a gritty, conniving, smalltime career criminal with no moral compass.

Truschinski is Greer, a former understudy of Tammany. There is tension between the two because Tammany fled the scene of a crime they both committed, and Greer was left to take the fall.

Driven by greed, but feeling guilty over Greer’s capture and imprisonment, Tammany is nervous and constantly talking.

Now the two are back together in the dark of night in search of riches buried in a coffin. But Greer is not the same man he was before. Tammany says to Greer, “What is it they done to you in that box?” Greer alternates between blank and pre-occupied stares and at times speaks one word at a time with long pauses between each word. There may be something wrong with him, or he may be experiencing an awakening and seeing the world differently. He responds to Tammany, “I been reborn.”

He has a scar on the side of his head, and while we are not told, he appears to have endured an attack while locked-up, or perhaps 19th century brain surgery to cure him of his criminal behavior.

Greer has become an enigma and has

Tammany on edge as he fears he may take revenge for abandoning him to be arrested.

The movie was filmed entirely outdoors over six days at seven locations in the southwest Driftless area of Wisconsin.

Schabla and Whaley took months scouting locations and ultimately filmed at Devil’s Lake State Park, the Lake Stone Ruins and marshlands, the Lone Rock Boat Landing, and farm and private lands just outside Spring Green.

The language, a mix of Victorian, pre-industrial English, and rural Wisconsin vernacular delivered through the slang of 19th century thieves, creates a feeling of authenticity. Tammany does most of the talking and his speech is brusque, sarcastic and thought provoking; there’s a depth to it that adds to the experience of the film. Fans of the TV series, Deadwood may like One Foot In as it was among the many influences Schabla drew upon for elements in this movie.

Crowdfunding to help finance the project was hosted through the Seed and Spark Web site and achieved the targeted goal, generating over $54K in donations from over 350 people. Additional funding came from corporate sponsor-

ships and endorsements and organizations such as the Spring Green Area Arts Coalition. APT generously provided costuming and props for the film.

DeVita and Truschinski’s performances are thoroughly convincing and engaging and this is an excellent directing effort from Shabala. Will Tammany and Greer hit the big payday? Will Greer exact revenge on Tammany? You’ll have to watch One Foot In to find out. Note: Viewed by many through the Wisconsin Film Festival in May, the movie is undergoing final touches and once complete, an outdoor screening and a hosted premiere is anticipated somewhere in the River Valley. After that, the film will be available for HD download.

Viewing information Release date: 2021 Duration: 25 Minutes Genre: Drama, Crime Rating: Unrated

Lone Rock sees first Family Fun Fair to fill gap between Memorial Day, Fourth of July Photo contributed by Jen Hurley

Lone Rock saw its first Family Fun Fair this past weekend, with the idea behind the traditional carnival to bring fun attractions to the village in June, between events the village holds for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

Event Organizer AJ Christanson said at the June 8 village board meeting the event, which featured carnival games, rides and food from Mr. Ed’s Magical Midway, saw about 1,600 people across three days.

Pictured, Lexi Cook-Hurley, 12, left, and Remy Hurley, 7, right go for a joy ride at the Lone Rock Family Fun Fair that was in town from June 3-5.

Home Talent: Plain A’s Fight Back in Loss to Mazo Mustangs Plain A’s’s effort to come back from down six runs in the seventh inning came up just short, as they fell 14-12 to Mazomanie Mustangs on Sunday. Plain A’s put up nine runs in the failed comeback. Keegan Smith, Jack Meixelsperger, Derek Bodendein, Will Jewell, Zach Paulus, and Brock Mahoney powered the rally with RBIs. Plain A’s was right in it until Mazomanie Mustangs singled in the eighth inning. Mazomanie Mustangs got things started in the first inning. Tyler Flamme drove in two when Flamme doubled.

After Plain A’s scored two runs in the top of the fourth, Mazomanie Mustangs answered with two of their own. Plain A’s scored when Mahoney homered on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.

Mazomanie Mustangs then answered when Hudson Barsness hit a solo homer and Flamme hit a solo homer.

Tim Hewitt led things off on the pitcher’s mound for Mazomanie Mustangs.

The hurler went four and a third innings,

allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking one.

Justin Yanke was on the pitcher’s mound for Plain A’s. The righthander went three innings, allowing eight runs on 13 hits, striking out one and walking zero. Zach Cady and Mahoney entered the game as relief, throwing three and two-thirds innings and one and onethird innings respectively.

Plain A’s socked one home run on the day. Mahoney had a homer in the fourth inning.

Plain A’s collected 13 hits on the day.

Mahoney, Meixelsperger, and Jewell each collected multiple hits for Plain A’s. Meixelsperger and Mahoney each collected three hits to lead Plain A’s.

Mazomanie Mustangs collected 22 hits. Barsness, Flamme, Tylan Parman, Hewitt, Grady Geishert, Deshaun Barsness, and Payton Flamme all had multiple hits for Mazomanie Mustangs.

Barsness went 5-for-5 at the plate to lead Mazomanie Mustangs in hits.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY Looking for a challenge?

We are looking for interns/volunteers who want to be in the unique position to learn the nuts and bolts of a news media publication that started from the ground up.

You will have the chance to make an impact at the ground level of a startup and see the effect of your work and ideas carried out with a lot of flexibility, in an environment and creative culture you can help influence and create.

Available subject areas: EDITORIAL/JOURNALISM SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISING/MARKETING

GRAPHIC DESIGN/PAGE DESIGN/LAYOUT DISTRIBUTION/CIRCULATION/CRM MNGMT PODCASTING/AUDIO PRODUCTION

We are a new, all volunteer local news source that holds a strong belief that by working to keep our communities informed and engaged on a variety of topics including arts & culture, events, community news and serving as a watchdog for our local governmental bodies, we can help create a strong identity for our community and ignite positive growth and change throughout the area.

Interested? Send us your area(s) of interest and a resume to: editor@valleysentinelnews.com Internship will be unpaid, interns will be required to sign a FSLA-compliant internship agreement.

If credit is available from intern’s educational institution for participation in an internship, we are glad to work with you to meet any requirements for receiving credit.

Page 6

Community

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

COVID-19 Dashboard Wisconsin Summary

611,168 Positive Cases

Cases as of 6/8/2021

+944 from 6/1

2,954,907 Negative Test Results +8,080 from 6/1

7,178 Deaths +84 from 6/1

Vaccine Summary Statistics Updated: 6/8/2021

5,782,655

5,273,004 Administered

Allocated

2,858,461

2,199,409

Pfizer doses administered

Moderna doses administered

214,981

Johnson & Johnson doses administered

Vaccine Data

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 County

1,325 Positive Cases +3 from 6/1 8,391 Negative Tests -6 from 6/1 16 Death +0 from 6/1

Richland

Sauk

Target Range

47.5%

Iowa County

2,060 Positive Cases +5 from 6/1 11,877 Negative Tests +26 from 6/1 13 Deaths +1 from 6/1 Sauk County 5,944 Positive Cases +11 from 6/1 36,266 Negative Tests -34 from 6/1 50 Deaths +1 from 6/1

49.9%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

43.9%

43.5%

Percent fully vaccinated

Target Range

Percent fully vaccinated

Iowa

Target Range

56.3%

Percent with at least one vaccine dose

51%

Percent fully vaccinated

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

Cases per zip code Cases as of 6/8/2021

Updated: 6/8/2021

Lower %

Higher %

Richland County Ages 12-15 20.9%

Iowa County Ages 12-15

Percent of Wisconsin residents who have received at least one dose

29.6%

Sauk County

Ages

12-15

Ages 12-15 22.3%

16-17

18-24

Dane County

Ages 12-15 52.3%

Graphic by Whitney Back

25-34

35-44 45-54 55-64 65+

Updated: 6/8/2021 22.3% 33.7%

39.1%

44.9%

53.2%

55.1%

65.8% 83.6%

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

Outdoors/recreation

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

Page 7

The Sauk County Gardener — scouting for Japanese beetles Jeanie Manis, Sauk County

“Bugs are not going to inherit the earth. They own it now. So we might as well make peace with the landlord.” — Thomas Eisner May’s weather has definitely been unpredictable. We had high temps and humidity a few weeks ago, cold and rain the next and then Memorial Day weekend – frost! I know I’m going to be “eating crow” the next time I see a couple of my fellow gardener friends as they both asked if I was sure that May 17th was the last expected frost date. Well, it was the last EXPECTD frost date, but it obviously was not the last date for 2021. If you just planted your tender annuals and newly planted tomatoes, peppers, and other warm weather crops, I hope you were able to protect them from the frost. I had planted my peppers and tomatoes and number of tender annuals the weekend before, so mine needed to be protected.

Luckily, my husband and in-laws were able to get them covered and bring in most of my container plants.

With this unusual weather, it is important to pay attention to degree days and indicator. When the lilacs are in full bloom, it is time plant beans, cucumber, and squash. It is time to plant tomatoes when lily-of-the-valley are in full bloom.

My irises are also in full bloom and it is the time to transplant eggplant, melons,

and peppers. Following these common plant phenological indicators, I knew the conditions were good for planting.

However, it is still important to keep an eye on the weather – as our late frost was proof of that. Now I am starting to watch for insect pests. The closest growing degree days monitoring location for me is Madison. On May 27th, the growing degree days were 551. Those are currently ideal conditions for the Codling moth and European corn borer. Late May/early June is also the time when June beetles emerge and they can damage turfgrass, some ornamentals, various vegetable and field crops, and more. The grubs tend to be the most damaging life stage as the grubs feed on the roots of plants and disrupt the plant’s ability to take up and use nutrients and water. These tend to be localized so don’t be surprised if you don’t see them. If you find them, use proper irrigation and fertilization to help minimize damage. It’s important to note that June beetle grubs resemble the grubs of Japanese beetle so proper identification is important before doing any treatment.

Japanese beetles emerge need about 1,030 growing degree days to complete development and will continue to emerge until around 2,150-degree days. This means they should start showing up around mid to late June so be prepared

to watch and destroy their scouts. Scout beetle will do the reconnaissance on your garden and report back to the rest of the Japanese beetles that your garden is now an open buffet. Look for the scout beetles in the afternoon (I do this when I take my after-work walk in the garden) and hand pick and dispose of them. I use a bucket of soapy water and drop them in the water where they go to a watery death. I used to like to leave the bucket of soapy water and drowned beetles out in a sunny location as a warning to the others that I am a ruthless Japanese beetle hunter and to go looking for food elsewhere. However, that is not a good idea as mere presence of them (even the trapped beetles) attract other Japanese beetles to your yard. This is why it is not recommended to use Pheromone lure traps as the simply attract more Japanese beetles to that location. The only reason I’d use them is if I didn’t like my neighbors and then I’d put the trap close to their yard. Luckily, for my neighbors, I like them and won’t be using any traps.

Both grubs and adults die off when the soil is dry so hold off watering your lawn if possible and that can help reduce the grub population. If you find the need to use insecticides, use one that contains Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae (Btg) to help protect foliage from the adult beetles. It is safe to use a variety of fruits

and vegetables. To control the grubs, a reduced risk insecticide that contains Chlorantraniliprole can be used on trees, shrubs, and perennials. It can help control Japanese beetles for 28 days and has minimal impact on beneficial insects.

Finally, consider choosing plants that Japanese beetle do not typically like. If you decide to use an insecticide, be sure to follow the directions for proper use. As they like more than 350 different plants and flowers, the list of plants they don’t like is quite short. They tend to dislike clematis, dogwoods, lilac, arborvitae, and several types of trees. To learn more about controlling Japanese beetles, visit https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/ articles/japanese-beetle/. Here is also a source to learn more about degrees days: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/ degree-days-common-fruit-vegetableinsect-pests/ and https://hort.extension. wisc.edu/articles/degree-days-commonlandscape-insect-pests/.

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 tim.ripp@ saukcountywi.gov or calling the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension Sauk County office at 608-355-3250.

Birding report: Early June — migration wanes and nesting waxes Ryan Brady, DNR Natural Heritage Conservation Program Biologist As we head into the unofficial start of summer, bird migration is winding down. Shorebirds are the most prominent remaining migrants, many of them headed for breeding areas on the far northern tundra. Species most commonly being seen include semipalmated, least, and white-rumped sandpipers, ruddy turnstone, sanderling, dunlin, and semipalmated plover. Unusual finds include whimbrel (especially along northern Lake Michigan), red-necked phalarope, and American avocet. Wilson’s phalaropes, a species whose core range lies in the Great Plains, have been far more numerous in the state this spring than any in recent memory.

Landbird migration has slowed now, though a few warblers continue to trickle north, including a few Connecticut warblers, which is a rare, declining, and late-migrating species. Also still moving through are olive-sided, yellowbellied, willow, and alder flycatchers, as well as some Eastern kingbirds, cedar waxwings, black-billed and yellowbilled cuckoos, and common nighthawks.

Dickcissels have returned to southern

and central grasslands, though numbers are not high at this time. Have you noticed flocks of Canada geese moving north overhead? These are “molt migrants”, i.e. failed and non-breeders without goslings that are headed to resource-rich areas of Canada to molt new feathers.

Breeding activity is picking up as expected. More young birds are out and about now, including various waterbirds like trumpeter swan, pied-billed grebe, and wood duck; owls such as great horned, barred, and eastern screech; and early landbirds like killdeer, robins, and grackles. Most neotropical migrants will be nest building soon if they haven’t already. Don’t be surprised if feeder activity declines during this period as birds tend to nests and natural foods abound.

Topping this week’s list of rare finds was a first state record and very rare U.S. record of Arctic Loon in Bayfield County. Others included prairie warbler, western kingbird, and tricolored heron in Door, eared grebe in Marathon, Swainson’s hawk and loggerhead

Photo by Dick Verch Small but showy shorebirds of predominately the Great Plains, Wilson’s Phalaropes have been unusually common across Wisconsin this spring. shrike in Burnett, white-faced ibis in several locations, parasitic jaegers in Douglas, and a red knot in Dodge whose bands indicated it had been in Louisi-

ana earlier in the month. Find out what others are seeing and help us track bird populations by reporting your finds to www.ebird.org/wi.

Business/Professional

Directory ork ity W ured l a •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•

•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.

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

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.

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).

“The good stuff.”

Page 8

Sports

WednesdaY, june 9, 2021

RV Trap first in the conference RV softball dominates season

Photo by Kimberly Crook, Contributor RV Trap Shooting finished 1st in the top conference for the Spring 2021 season. With a total of 59 shooters, we had 5 finish in the Top 100 for the State: Joseph Day, Jaydon Rose, Sam Cady, Gaige Dilley and Joshua Crook.

Finishing in the Top 25 for Conference for females are: Hannah Hegland, Kennedy Kropp, Taya Hatfield, Alexa Eveland, Ella Hillebrand, Mia Peterson and Emma Anding. For males: Joseph Day, Jaydon Rose, Sam Cady, Gaige Dilley, Joshua Crook, Hayden Garrelts, Dylan Luther, Chase Bindl, Eli Muckler, and Garrett Palmer. Hannah Hegland placed 3rd in the female division for our conference.

Pictured,Bottom Row – standing left to right: Kadin Larson, Alex Orth, Gaige Dilley, Hayden Garrelts, Dylan Luther, Joshua Crook, Jackson Gilbert, Heston Amble, Jaydon Rose, Cole Amble, Joseph Day, Sam Cady, Kennedy Kropp, Colton Box

Photo contributed by Jane Briehl, Softball Coach RV Softball Player Emily Esser making a catch. The RV softball team is currently No. 1 in conference play, dominating Lancaster June 1 11-0, and beating out Mount Horeb 6-4 June 5.

RV Golf takes on conference cup

Second Row – standing left to right: Colin Stokes, Hunter Spencer, Wyatt Nachreiner, Brady Bloedow, Andrew Maxwell, Hudson Frey, Griffin Sprecher, Chase Bindl, Grady Graham, Mia Peterson, Evan Alt, Alexa Eveland, Luke Pape, Eli Muckler, Ethan Alt, Ashton Hillebrand, Richard Gilbert, Mason Peterson, Talan Miller, Colton Johnson, Gavin McCauley, Blake Busse, Ethan Hillebrand, Cooper Fields, Eli Johnson, Sam Pape, Conner Fields, Alya Schwarz, Austin Accola, Katherine Billhorn, Aaron Fredrick, Garrett Palmer Top Row – standing left to right: Lucas Palmer, Luke Alt, Nolan Box, Ty Larson, Colin Vanhorn, Hannah Hegland, Taya Hatfield, Ella Hillebrand, Emma Anding Not pictured: Kaitlyn Sebranek, Jace Noble, Isaac Ravenscroft, Matthew Roh

RV Girls Soccer 6/1 Varsity RV 0, Platteville 10 Saves: Vivian Jensen 11 JV RV 2, Platteville 7 Goals: Claire Eveland and Isabelle Roske Assists: Mercedes Hurley and Claire Eveland 6/2 RV 0, Dodgeville 1

6/3 RV 5, Prairie du Chien 0 Goals: Frankie Rosenberg, Leah Deibert, Kylie Murray, Anna Deibert, Emily Noble Assists: Claire Eveland, Leah Deibert, Svea Youngquist, Anna Johnson, Kylie Morrey

This week was a fun week of soccer. Our JV team played extremely well against Platteville. We moved the ball well and Claire and Isabelle scored great goals. I think we played our best varsity game of the season on Wednesday against Dodgeville. It was a 0-0 tie until the 89th minute. I was really excited with how we played as a team. We passed well and defended well. We just couldn’t find the back of the net. Dodgeville has a really good team and a really good goalie. They found a way to win in the end. We had a good game to end the regular season against PDC. We did what we needed to do to win despite the heat. We will face Aquinas on Thursday at 4:00 in La Crosse for our Regional matchup.

—Todd Deibert, RV Girls Soccer Head Coach

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

Photo contributed by Matt Snow, RV Golf Head Coach 5/29 SW Cup to head matches over their SWAL Saturday, May 29th was the 11th opponents contributing to the annual SW Golf Cup between overall score.

6/1 rival SWAL and SWC conferences.

WIAA Boys Golf Regional The event is held each year at competition began Tuesday, June Dodgepoint Golf Course. The top 24 golfers from each conference 1st with the Dodgeville Regional, compete head to head in various held again at Dodge-Point Golf formats of match play. This Course. Nine teams competing for year, Eli Johnson, Ashton Price, 4 spots to move on to the Prairie Connor Fields, and Jackson Thier du Chien Sectional. River Valley represented River Valley for the turned in some seasonal bests from Eli Johnson - 79, Ashton Price SWC. At the end of the day, the SWC was victorious over the - 94, and Luke Snow - 96 to secure 3rd Place and their ticket to Prairie SWAL, 12.5 to 3.5. Eli Johnson du Chien on June 8th. and Ashton Price won their head

1.

2.

3.

4.

Dodgeville - 339 West Salem - 375 River Valley -379 Platteville - 380

These four teams will join: Edgewood, Lake Country Lutheran, Edgerton, Lodi, New Glarus, Lakeside Lutheran, Monticello, Evansville Top two teams and two individuals not associated with those teams move on to the State Level

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO THIS SUMMER? Inspired by Convivio’s summer playlist, submitted by you and curated by Valley Sentinel — Let’s put together a community playlist for those floats on the river or that evening enjoying wine out on the patio or around a fire with friends and family and more.

To submit your songs, please email us at editor@valleysentinelnews.com or message us on Instagram @VS_Wisconsin.

Coffee & News A collaboration by Valley Sentinel & Butternut Road Coffee.

Stop by the coffee truck starting midweek to pick up a copy of Valley Sentinel with your coffee, while supplies last.

Let’s try to keep it mostly recent and up and coming.

Bonus points for local and regional artists!

Butternut Road Coffee Truck butternutroad_coffeetruck Butternut_Road

Submit your song ideas through June and be on the lookout for our Spotify code in print the first couple weeks of summer.