Learn about invasive earthworms at the Door County Invasive Species Team's monthly meeting. Coordinator Bob Bultman says earthworms are considered invasive because they are not native species to Wisconsin. Earthworms were brought here by early European settlers who began bringing plants and soil from Europe and other places. The meeting will start with a power point presentation by Kathryn Corio from the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity at University of Wisconsin- Green Bay. Corio will talk about their introduction, life cycle, and their impact upon native and exotic plant species and a few animals. Bultman says earthworms are not bad for gardens but are harmful to forests.
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Also at Monday's meeting, the group will head outdoors to get a look at some of these earthworms.
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The Door County Invasive Species Team will talk about invasive earthworms at Crossroads at Big Creek on Monday at 2:00PM. Bultman says all are welcome to attend.

Door County Habitat for Humanity will complete the construction of house 26 today, while other crews will work on pouring the foundation of home 27. Director Rick Nelson says crews are finishing with a few minor touch ups on home 26.
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Nelson says work on house 27 began about two weeks ago and volunteers are now working on the foundation wall. Two outside groups will help with this home and a Thanksgiving completion date is anticipated. Nelson has been very pleased with the number of people who have donated their gift of time.
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Finding volunteers to help with Habitat projects is not a problem, funding is adds Nelson. As more people volunteer, homes are finished faster. This all means Door County Habitat for Humanity is in need of some major funding to continue with upcoming projects. To find out how you can help, phone the Sturgeon Bay office at (920) 743-2869.

This letter of commendation is to recognize Sergeant Greg Zager for his professionalism, commitment and dedication to duty in his role as the Sturgeon Bay Police Department’s primary Internet crimes investigator.
Sergeant Zager’s interest in investigating the predators of cyberspace was self-initiated. He took it upon himself to gain the education, knowledge, and experience necessary to effectively combat what has come to be modern law enforcement’s greatest challenge, those who exploit and victimize innocents online. In addition, he was instrumental in fostering liaisons with other law enforcement entities to pursue cyber-criminals and in obtaining financial assistance in the form of grants to effectively combat this latest crime trend. I know that he has committed innumerous, uncompensated hours, at the expense of his own time and his family’s time with him, to protect others.
Just one example of the fruits of Sergeant Zager’s hard work and dedication to duty is his recent receipt of the Internet Crimes Against Children Award from Wisconsin Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen. Not only is Sturgeon Bay a safer place because of Greg Zager, but the entire State of Wisconsin has benefited from his commitment to the law enforcement profession.

Candidates have until 5:00 PM today to file for county positions. Register of Deeds, County Clerk, Treasurer and District Attorney are the positions that will be on the ballot for the September 9 primary and the November 4 general election. There will be no contested positions in Door County and one in Kewaunee County.
Kewaunee County Clerk Linda Teske anticipates a two-person race for County Treasurer. Michelle Dax is the incumbent and Joe Jerabek will be the challenger if he files. Teske said Jerabek took out papers but has not returned them yet. She described what will happen if both run for the open position.
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Kewaunee County Clerk Linda Teske and Register of Deeds Janet Wolf are both expected to file before the deadline. Papers for the District Attorney position need to be filed with the state.
In Door County, Treasurer Jay Zahn, Register of Deeds Carey Petersilka and Clerk Jill Lau will all run uncontested. Lau said anyone wishing to file has a limited time to do so.
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Election season is fast approaching. The primary is on September 9 and November 4 marks the general election that will include other contested area races and the Presidential race.

Along with camping and bonfire season comes the potential for the Emerald Ash Borer to be introduced to Wisconsin. EAB is an invasive insect that will cause major damage to ash trees. Door County Invasive Species Team Coordinator Bob Bultman says while the bug has wrecked havoc in neighboring states, it has not yet been detected in Wisconsin and he hopes to keep it that way. 
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Bultman says the Emerald Ash Borer has devastating effects. Compared to the Dutch Elm Disease it is worse and is expected to kill even more trees. We need to be sure EAB stays out of Wisconsin says Bultman. He talks about how the Emerald Ash Borer is spread.
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Bultman talks about what will happen if EAB does make its way to Wisconsin
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We all need to do our part to keep the Emerald Ash Borer out of Wisconsin. Bultman says to keep an eye out for roadside firewood stands and be sure to buy locally, no matter where you are.

The Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation welcomes all business owners to a special seminar today at North Brook Country Club in Luxemburg. The keynote presenter is Joe Kiedinger of Prophit Marketing. He will talk about how businesses can maximize their marketing efforts. The Prophit Marketing system will be broken down into seven stages. The system was designed to help small to medium sized business owners make marketing decisions that produce results. Kiedinger talked about the advice that will be given during the presentation.
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Attendees will learn how to make their marketing dollars work. Joe says one must become a prophet to make a profit. He discussed a number of key points that will be presented at the KCEDC Power Breakfast.
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The presentation on Prophit Marketing Systems will begin at 7:30 and last approximately one hour. The KCEDC Power Breakfast cost is $10.

The 4th of July Holiday weekend was a major success on the water, according to Marine Conservation Warden Mike Neal. There were no reported injuries or deaths in Door or Kewaunee Counties during one of the busiest weekends on the water.
Neal said boater traffic was up, especially Jet Ski or personal watercraft use. Neal said he issued many citations to personal watercraft operators. Operating to close to each other, too close to shore or lifejacket use were all common problems seen by the warden over the Holiday weekend.
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Jet Ski operators are not allowed within 200 feet of the shore. When people rent a personal watercraft, many times they are unaware of this law. Neal said it is an expensive lesson to learn. Operators will also be fined if they are not following the rules in slow no wake zones.
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Neal also reported a number of issued citations for life jacket use. He stressed the importance of having a lifejacket for every person aboard your boat. Also if your boat is longer than 16 feet, you must have a throwable life preserve on board at all times.
The Holiday Weekend was busy, but Marine Conservation Warden Mike Neal was happy to report that no accidents occurred in the county and it was a safe weekend on the water.

The Kewaunee County Sheriffs Department is trying to reach out to youngsters through their backpack program. Sheriff Matt Joski says officers and rescue squads are now equipped with backpacks filled with books. Joski heard about the program at a sheriff's conference earlier this year and thought it was a great idea. These backpacks will be given to youngsters in crisis moments. 
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Often, police officers are thought of as mean, or the "bad guys." This is a good opportunity for officers to show a different side.
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Inside these backpacks, children will find a wide array of books suited for kids from 5-15 years old. Joski says they are short, light-hearted books that are meant to take the child's mind off the crisis situation, if only for a few minutes. Donations of new and gently used books are being excepted to keep the program going. Contact Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski at (920) 388-3100 for more information.

With a population that is rapidly aging--the number of Americans 65 and over is currently more than 36.5 million--matters of housing have become crucial. Issues of declining health, financial circumstances, and proximity to family are often compelling reasons for relocation.
A move to smaller quarters, however, is often held off until the bitter end; the decisions of what to keep and what to discard heart-wrenching, emotionally and physically tasking. But Deanne Kubly is ready and willing to step into the fray.
An interior designer and former business owner, Kubly has turned her attention to the needs of the elderly as they transition into smaller living arrangements that require the disbursement of beloved treasures.
The task of sorting through a lifetime of memories can be daunting at best, but Kubly who recently assisted her own mother in relocating, has a plan for downsizing that works well for anyone in nearly any situation.
Although the task of cleaning out, sorting through and the disbursement of cherished and not-so-cherished belongings can be huge, there is another element to downsizing that is often overlooked.
An important rule of thumb when downsizing, suggests Kubly is to complete the tasks when physically and emotionally in good health. Gifting treasures sooner than later celebrates life and creates lasting memories.
With a gentle touch and a compassionate heart, Deanne Kubly is ready, willing, and able to assist in cleaning the attic, contacting the phone company, and sorting through the garage for our elderly. And as the number of older Americans escalates, her services will be invaluable. As a baby boomer myself, I hope I remember her tips and make the journey to elderly citizen easier on my own children.
Contact Deanne Kubly at 920.8392092 for information on the services she provided.

The growing and planting seasons got off to an extremely slow start this spring. Cooler temperatures and less sun have crops on the peninsula a week to ten days behind schedule. Barring a major drought, owner of Olson ARE Farms Rich Olson said the crop should still bring high yields. Corn, wheat, soybeans and peas have not been negatively affected like this year's cherry crop. Olson explained why.
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The severe amount of rains that fell in southern Wisconsin did not fall on the peninsula. Olson said he does not have any fields that were ruined because of too much rain.
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Farmers are getting record prices for commodities including corn, soybeans, winter wheat and other feed products. Although they are getting high prices for their milk, they are paying more for their feed costs. Olson says that is offsetting the increase in income that was expected.

A wonderful arts experience for children, American Folklore Theatre will open the stage to youngsters for a short time Friday, July 18. AFT's Creative Kids program is for kids 5-18 and spots are filling up quickly. Managing director Kaye Christman says kids will get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on an American Folklore Theatre performance.
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The AFT Creative Kids program allows the children to learn from professionals and from each other.
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Whether this is your first time or if you have attended the Creative Kids program in the past, Christman says kids 5 through 18 are invited to attend. 
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There are two sessions available on July 18 and the cost is $20 per child. Like every year, the American Folklore Theater Creative Kids program fills up very fast. To reserve a spot, contact American Folklore Theatre. Phone 854 6117 for more information.