While strawberries, cherries and apples have been agritourism mainstays for decades, lavender is carving out its own path. Reaching its peak from mid-July to early August, lavender farms are becoming increasingly popular in Wisconsin. While the Midwest's largest lavender producer calls Washington Island home, you can also catch the familiar purple hue dotting the landscape in communities such as Kewaunee, Pulaski, Kiel and Baraboo.

 

Glen Innish Farms owner Amber Hewett is one of the newest entrants after planting five different varieties of lavender in 2021 before settling on two varieties to cultivate two years later. Hewett says it has been a great complement to their operation, as lavender can be used for culinary and self-care purposes.

 

 

Many lavender fields are open for you-pick events in the coming weeks before the season comes to a close. That includes this weekend's Lavender Festival at Glen Innish Farms.

You have just over a week remaining to catch some of the best musicians in the Midwest at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. The second big band jazz session is down to just 15 performances across the county before the curtain closes on the academy season Aug. 8, including seven full shows on its Egg Harbor campus.

 

Hundreds of students and faculty members called Birch Creek home this summer, traveling from across the country to participate in one of the four summer sessions. Executive Director Jenna Ferdon says it is a bittersweet moment for her and the staff after dedicating the other nine months of the year to ensuring these three months are special and rewarding for the students they serve.

 

 

Just because the summer academy season ends next week does not mean the learning stops at Birch Creek. Adult retreats begin the following week, with free concerts featuring the wind ensemble Aug. 15, chamber music Aug. 20 and piano Aug. 24.

Your options in the Democratic gubernatorial primary are shrinking by the week after former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped out of the race Thursday. The news came after the gap between him and front-runner State Rep. Francesca Hong grew to double-digit percentage points following a candidate debate in Milwaukee earlier this week.

 

"We're incredibly proud of all the things that we've accomplished and all the resources that we have raised to spread our message," Barnes said in a video posted on X. "But it's become very clear who our nominee is going to be."

 

According to the Marquette University Law School Poll, Hong has the support of 38% of likely Democratic primary voters statewide, while Barnes has 16% and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has 7% after he re-entered the race following the exit of Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. State Sen. Kelda Roys and former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan also remain in the race.

 

The winner of the Democratic primary on Aug. 11 will face likely Republican nominee and current U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.

A 21-year-old man from Melrose Park, Illinois, died Thursday after drowning in Krohn's Lake in Kewaunee County.

 

The Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department was called to Krohn's Lake County Park in the Town of Pierce at approximately 4:35 p.m. According to the caller, the man had gone into the water but did not come back out.

 

The sheriff's department said multiple people tried to help the man, but the silty composition of the lake bottom made rescue efforts difficult.

 

The Door County Dive Team, underwater drone units from Brown County, the Algoma Police Department, the Algoma Fire Department and Algoma Rescue assisted the Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department in locating the man and recovering him from the water.

 

The man's identity is not being released until his family has been notified. The incident remains under investigation by the Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department.

Emergency Medical Specialists, S.C. (EMS) will become the new provider of emergency services at Door County Medical Center at midnight Saturday, but President and CEO Brian Stephens says you will still recognize many of the faces standing by to help you.

 

DCMC announced the new partnership Thursday, marking the end of Envision Health's role in providing physician and advanced practice clinician (APC) coverage for the hospital's Emergency Department, Urgent Care and DirectCare services.

 

The Wauwatosa-based EMS is well established in the state, operating at 21 hospitals in Wisconsin, including many in the Fox Cities and Milwaukee areas. Stephens says many of the same physicians and clinicians you have seen at the Emergency Department, Urgent Care and DirectCare facilities are staying on.

 

 

Stephens adds that DCMC is working with EMS to improve the patient experience when patients need emergency care the most.

 

 

Door County Medical Center was recently recognized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as one of 44 Wisconsin hospitals to earn a five-star rating for nurse communication, according to a list compiled by Becker's Hospital Review.

Residents in Brown, Door and Kewaunee counties are finding any way they can to improve the lives of those impacted by tornadoes earlier this week in the Fox Cities. One of those ways is as simple as bringing children who have lost everything a new toy.

New Franken's Rick Brunner has been running his nonprofit, Rick's Toy Box Inc., since 2011 as a creative outlet to inject positivity into people's lives after he began dealing with several health issues all at once. Thousands of toy cars have been distributed around the world in the years since, but Brunner's trip to Appleton and Menasha was a different experience.

Many times, the toys he and his volunteers build get packaged up and sent overseas or given to police officers to distribute as they see fit. This time, it was Brunner who spent Wednesday with a smile on his face and enough activity cars and tabletop basketball games to brighten the day for about 300 children.

He got to see the destruction and the gratitude firsthand as he visited hotels, motels, the Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley, and pop-up street-corner supply stations in hopes of making someone's day brighter. In moments like these, Brunner says children can be forgotten, and he hopes the toys he gave away are the start of brighter days ahead.
 

You can help support Brunner's efforts to build more toys for children affected by Monday's storms and other difficult situations by clicking here.

Brunner is far from the only person trying to make a difference in the wake of the destruction in the Fox Cities. Sturgeon Bay Utilities has been assisting Menasha Utilities and other companies restore power to communities that have been without electricity since Monday's EF2 tornado ripped through the area.

Door County Candle's Wisconsin Strong candle has raised more than $5,000 to assist with recovery efforts. Owner Christiana Trapani says they are working with nonprofits in the Fox Cities to determine the best way to distribute the funds raised.

You can find more information on how to support the recovery efforts here.

 

Picture courtesy of Rick's Toy Box

As it celebrates vessels of yesteryear, the Door County Maritime Museum's Classic and Wooden Boat Show is becoming vintage itself.

 

With fiberglass boats of the Jet Age as its focus, the Classic and Wooden Boat Show is celebrating its 35th year. The colorful, post-World War II watercraft inspired by 1950s automotive and aerospace design will be among the dozens of boats guests can admire during the two-day event.

 

The Classic and Wooden Boat Show also features a boathouse sale, U.S. Coast Guard demonstrations, food and beverages, and Sunday's Sikaflex Build-a-Boat Contest. Just as the classic and wooden boats that will fill the museum grounds on Saturday and Sunday have stood the test of time, Door County Maritime Museum Deputy Director Sam Perlman says so has the festival that celebrates them.

 

 

The Classic and Wooden Boat Show is just one part of a busy slate of activities during Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week. Other events include the Door County Mariner Honors Dinner and sail races at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the Salute to the Coast Guard Golf Outing, a special military-themed Concert in the Park, and the U.S. Coast Guard Picnic.

Amy Hutson's third move in three years at Sturgeon Bay's St. John Bosco School could very well be her last after taking on the role of principal this summer.

With a career in education that includes a stint with the Diocese of Madison, Hutson moved to northeast Wisconsin to be closer to her family in Green Bay. She had never been to Sturgeon Bay before touring St. John Bosco, and she instantly fell in love with the school. After one year teaching kindergarten and another teaching second grade, Hutson is ready for her next step as principal.
 

Hutson greeted prospective families earlier this week during St. John Bosco's open house as the school prepares for the upcoming school year with a few more seats to fill. She is excited to begin the school year with an all-school Mass on Aug. 26.

Two feuding pizzerias in Door County have made amends after a trademark dispute earlier this summer.

 

Wild Tomato Pizza announced on social media Wednesday that it had "reached a mutually agreeable resolution and established a positive path forward for both businesses and their employees" with Ooluru Pizza, formerly Wild Man Pizza.

 

Wild Tomato Pizza filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in Green Bay's U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin in April against Ooluru Pizza, arguing that its former Wild Man name and logo had caused confusion among customers.

After trading social media barbs during the spring, the resolution came following mediation in June.

 

In its statement, Wild Tomato Pizza said both businesses have united and understand they need to be the ones to lead the change when it comes to positive and constructive discussions moving forward.

 

"There is no need for negative and amplified negative, hate speech, and claims of violence. We are a united Door County community of local businesses and will always work together to ensure a positive environment and outcome for all parties."

 

 

The announcement comes nearly two weeks after Red Oak Winery, which owns The Ooluru, announced it is shutting its doors in Carlsville in September. The owners are looking to relocate The Ooluru to Green Bay.

It did not come down the way they would have preferred, but Monday's rain was a welcome sight for farmers across northeast Wisconsin.

 

The USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report for Wisconsin once again indicated it was a good week for fieldwork, with 6.7 days suitable for work in the fields. That allowed farmers to move ahead of the five-year average for the winter wheat harvest, which is now 51% complete, and the second cutting of alfalfa, which is 95% complete. It also helped crops continue to progress, with corn silking reaching 52%, soybean blooming at 78% and oat coloring at 83%.

 

While the dry weather made it easier to get work done, the USDA also reported dry soils and stressed plants because of the recent lack of precipitation combined with warm temperatures.

 

Monday's rain provided welcome relief for those crops, with parts of Kewaunee County receiving 1 to 3 inches of rain. The accompanying winds and hail caused problems for some farmers, though Salentine Homestead Dairy owner Josh Salentine said his operation escaped major damage for the most part. However, he added that this is a crucial time of year for crops to receive the water they need.

 

 

The condition of corn (74% good to excellent), soybeans (70%), oats (79%), winter wheat (79%) and hay (73%) all declined by 1 to 5 percentage points from the previous week due in part to the previous lack of rain.

 

Farmers may have another opportunity to thank Mother Nature later this week, with more rain in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.

Celebrating Sturgeon Bay's history on the water begins Thursday when Destination Sturgeon Bay welcomes the community for the Sail Through the Avenues Sidewalk Sales. From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., the annual precursor to Sturgeon Bay Maritime Week shuts down Third Avenue between Jefferson Street and Michigan Street as businesses put some of their best deals outside alongside food vendors, nonprofit organizations and more. Destination Sturgeon Bay's Alexa Soto says it is like having an extra day of the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market this week, which will still take place Saturday.
 

While much of the attention will be on Third Avenue, Soto adds that businesses on Madison Avenue, Jefferson Street and Egg Harbor Road will also be participating in the event. Maritime Week is a week-plus-long celebration of Sturgeon Bay's maritime past with activities that also include the Classic and Wooden Boat Show at the Door County Maritime Museum, the Door County Mariner Honors Dinner and sail races at the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the Salute to the Coast Guard Golf Outing, a special military-themed Concert in the Park, and the U.S. Coast Guard Picnic.

The heavy police and fire presence you saw at the corner of Gordon Road and State Highway 42/57 was all for a special cause on Tuesday.

 

Law enforcement personnel from Door and Kewaunee counties joined forces to celebrate the 10th annual Cops at Culver's Day. Uniformed members of the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, Town of Gibraltar Police Department, Door County Sheriff's Department and Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department worked through the lunch hour, delivering food to tables and cars in exchange for tips to help buy gift cards for families in need during the holiday season.

 

The Lights of Christmas Program started at Q90 FM as a way not only to do something nice for the community during the holidays, but also to promote positive relationships between the community and local law enforcement. Door County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Kyle Veeser says it is a great way for officers to connect with each other and the people they serve.

 

 

While the final totals will be announced in the coming days, Veeser hopes they can top last year's $4,362.35, which was the third-highest total in the state behind Waupun ($7,001) and De Pere ($4,745.19).

 

In 2025, the Lights of Christmas Program had 115 participating police departments that distributed $300,000 in gift cards and 1,000 backpacks to their communities. That is an increase from 75 departments distributing $225,000 in gift cards and 1,000 backpacks in 2024. You can donate to the Lights of Christmas campaign at this link.

 

Summer might be winding down, but the Door County YMCA is still focused on getting people into the pool.

 

In this week's Y-Wednesday podcast, Abby Cuccaro introduced herself as the new Sturgeon Bay aquatics director. Cuccaro moved to the area a year ago and is a former competitive swimmer. After discovering her passion for aquatics at the Door County YMCA, she decided to dive into the position.

 

She also discussed upcoming swim lessons, including the center's Super Swims program, which condenses the traditional lesson schedule into a weeklong intensive program for children learning to swim.

 

Competitive Swim Team Coach Mike McHugh also joined the conversation, highlighting the conclusion of the Door County YMCA's Peak Performance Clinic and the start of the swim team's fall prep program.

 

You can listen to the full podcast by clicking this link.

The four candidates running for Door County sheriff have had plenty of time to hear from the people they hope to serve before voters head to the polls next month.

Door County Sheriff Tammy Sternard announced her re-election bid in April, months after challengers Curt Vandertie, Carl Waterstreet and Randy Wagner announced their candidacies in January. Community conversations, parades and door-knocking efforts have allowed the candidates to spend face time with potential voters ahead of the Aug. 11 primary. Sternard will appear on the Democratic ballot, while Waterstreet and Vandertie are vying for the Republican nomination.

Sternard says the biggest issues she has heard from residents relate to scams and immigration.
 

Immigration has also been a topic brought up to Wagner, specifically whether the sheriff's office would assist ICE operations in the county.
 

Waterstreet says voters have told him they care less about campaign buzzwords and more about what the department will do for them.
 

Vandertie says voters want to see a more engaged sheriff, especially the first responders he has spoken with.
 

While only three of the four candidates are involved in next month's primary, all four hope to appear on the ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.

You can listen to our full interviews with the candidates here or watch them here.

A recent grant received by the Door County Food Pantry Coalition is ensuring your neighbors in need can get more than boxes of cereal and jars of peanut butter when they stop by to pick up groceries. The Door County Food Pantry Coalition is a network of food pantries across the county, part of a collaboration between United Way of Door County and the Door County Community Foundation.

 

Thanks to a grant application submitted by the Door County Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Hunger Task Force awarded the Door County Food Pantry Coalition $10,000 through its Connecting Farms to Families program. The member pantries worked together to purchase cheese, bacon, ground pork, chicken and ground beef to distribute to families throughout the county.

 

United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says this is just the latest example of the county's food pantries working together to accomplish their shared goal of taking care of their neighbors.

 

 

Food is not the only thing United Way of Door County is trying to gather for families in need. Its program partner, Door County Partnership for Children and Families, is continuing its efforts to distribute diapers and wipes to eligible families. Similar to food, the cost of diapers and wipes has increased with inflation, which has had a greater impact on the county's ALICE population. You can support the effort by visiting United Way of Door County during the Sail Through the Avenues Sidewalk Sales on Thursday.

If you plan to vote in person in the upcoming primary but cannot make it to the polls on Election Day, it's time to visit your local municipal clerk.

 

Early voting began Tuesday and will be available during normal business hours through Aug. 7, the Friday before the Aug. 11 primary. You can register to vote with your municipal clerk when you stop by to cast your ballot, as long as you have a valid photo ID and proof of residence.

 

Because it is a partisan primary, you must select one political party's ballot and vote only for candidates within that party. That includes the Republican primaries for Door County sheriff, Kewaunee County sheriff and Wisconsin state Senate, along with the Democratic primaries for Wisconsin governor and U.S. representative.

 

If you make a mistake while voting in person, Algoma City Clerk Erin Mueller says you will have the opportunity to "spoil" your ballot and try again before you leave.

 

 

Winners in the partisan primary will advance to the fall general election on Nov. 3.

Door and Kewaunee counties wrestled with heavy downpours, high winds and hail during Monday morning's storms.

 

According to Precip.ai, Sturgeon Bay received just under nine-tenths of an inch of rain, with even less falling farther north. Egg Harbor and Washington Island each received less than two-tenths of an inch. The storms hit Kewaunee County much harder, with 1.72 inches of rain falling in Kewaunee and 2.41 inches in Algoma. The storms also knocked out power to 1,038 customers at their peak at approximately 1:30 p.m., with the towns of Carlton and West Kewaunee among the hardest hit. As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, power had been fully restored.

 

The storms kept cleanup crews busy and flooded some streets, though most of that work had been completed within a few hours. Algoma Public Services Director Casey Groessl said the flooded streets subsided once their water pumps could catch up and crews were able to clean up one tree that narrowly missed hitting a house and other branches throughout the city.

The storm damage in Door and Kewaunee counties paled in comparison to what was seen in the Fox Valley, where a tornado ripped through Appleton and Menasha, leveling businesses and homes in its path. Outagamie County officials asked residents to stay home if possible to allow emergency personnel to respond to incidents and crews to clean up debris and restore power.

 

Sturgeon Bay Utilities General Manager Jason Bieri announced early Tuesday morning that the utility will assist Menasha Utilities with power restoration efforts by deploying multiple electric line crews to the area. As a result, local operations will have reduced staffing through at least the end of the week, though crews will be recalled if needed to respond to emergencies or service needs within the utility's service territory.

"Providing mutual aid is an important part of the utility industry, and we are committed to supporting neighboring municipal utilities during significant events while continuing to maintain reliable service for our customers," Bieri said.

The storms also inspired the latest philanthropic effort from Door County Candle Company. Owner Christiana Trapani said the decision to release the vanilla-scented Wisconsin Strong candle was immediate, and the company is working with area nonprofits to find the most impactful ways to support recovery efforts.
 

While the area should get some relief from severe weather, the National Weather Service says more rain is expected Friday and Saturday.

Washington Island Police Chief Gary Schultz said that without a group of Good Samaritans, the fate of a 36-year-old man could have been tragically different Saturday afternoon at Schoolhouse Beach.

 

The incident occurred before 3:45 p.m. at the popular beach, where bystanders reportedly saw the man swimming approximately 30 to 40 yards offshore before he went underwater for two to three minutes.

 

The Good Samaritans rescued him from the water and performed lifesaving measures until emergency personnel from the Washington Island Fire Department, Washington Island Emergency Medical Responders, Ephraim Fire Department, Eagle 3 and the Washington Island Police Department responded to the scene.

 

The man was taken by ambulance to Washington Island Airport before being airlifted to a Green Bay hospital.

 

When Schultz released details about the incident at 6:30 p.m., the man was alert and following directions.

 

In addition to the Good Samaritans, Schultz thanked the Door County Communications Department for its assistance.

After nearly three decades of service, including two stints as interim president and CEO, Jon Jarosh officially has the reins of Destination Door County.

 

The national search to replace former President and CEO Julie Gilbert ended within the organization, with its chief communications officer selected for the role.

 

"Throughout the search, we were looking for someone with exceptional leadership, a collaborative spirit and a deep passion for our community, and we found all of those qualities in Jon," said Jeff Lutsey, chair of the Destination Door County Board of Directors. "He has embodied the direction and transformation of DDC, bringing together outstanding destination marketing with thoughtful environmental stewardship and strong community partnerships."

 

Earlier this year, Jarosh completed the Certified Destination Management Executive program, or CDME, considered the tourism industry's highest individual educational achievement.

 

Jarosh said he is excited to expand on his role of helping make Door County a better place to live, work and play.

 

 

Jarosh adds that Destination Door County is in year one of its three-year strategic plan and hopes to continue the momentum that they currently have. He also highlights the organization's Community Investment Fund as a way they have been able to showcase the positive impact of tourism in the community. 

Two occupants of an ultralight aircraft suffered minor cuts and scrapes in a crash Sunday in the Town of Liberty Grove.

 

The crash occurred shortly before 7:45 p.m. near Eagle Lane, between Townline Drive and State Highway 57 near County Q.

 

According to the Door County Sheriff's Office, the aircraft departed from the Ephraim-Gibraltar Airport for a planned one-hour flight before attempting to return to the airport. During the return flight, the aircraft experienced engine failure, and the pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft overturned during the landing.

 

Emergency personnel from the Sister Bay Fire Department, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Emergency Medical Responders, Door County Emergency Services and the Door County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene.

 

The crash remains under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

A 29-year-old Manitowoc man was taken to the hospital Sunday after a motorcycle crash in the Town of Sturgeon Bay.

 

The crash occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. on County U near Sand Lane as the man was heading north and approaching a curve.

 

According to the crash report, the man was traveling too fast for the curve when he lost control of the motorcycle and left the roadway.

 

Although he was wearing the proper safety gear, he was taken to Door County Medical Center with suspected minor injuries. No citations were issued.

A 17-year-old from Wilmette, Illinois, was taken to a Green Bay hospital Saturday following a motocross bike crash in the Town of Sturgeon Bay.

 

The crash occurred shortly after 11:45 a.m. on Sand Lane near Lake Lane as the teen was traveling south.

 

According to the crash report, the rider told the responding deputy he did not lean enough while entering a turn. As a result, he left the roadway, entered a ditch and jumped a nearby driveway. He was thrown from the bike after it landed on the other side of the driveway.

 

No citations were issued as a result of the crash.

A 68-year-old Fish Creek man suffered suspected minor injuries Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in the Village of Sister Bay.

 

The crash occurred at the intersection of State Highway 42 and Country Lane shortly before 11:45 a.m. as the man was traveling south on the highway.

 

As he drove through the intersection, his vehicle was struck by a 64-year-old De Pere woman who was attempting to cross the highway from the stop sign on Country Lane.

 

According to the crash report, the woman told the responding deputy she did not see the man as he approached the intersection. The man told the deputy he saw her pull out in front of him but could not stop in time.

 

The man suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization. The woman was cited for failing to yield the right of way from a stop sign.

 

Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene.

Whether "Christmas in July" dates back to an 1892 French opera or a summer celebration at a North Carolina campground in the 1930s, the work that goes into making your holiday traditions special is a 12-month proposition for area tree farms.

 

For the past several weeks, employees at Aissen Tree Farm in Pilsen have been shearing the new growth from thousands of trees to help control their shape. Each tree also contributes to the collection of pinecones used in some of the fresh greenery decorations the farm sells during the holiday season.

 

Tammy Aissen says the weather has been unusual this year. The March blizzard had the potential to damage some of the trees' lower branches, while the heavy April rains were less than ideal for their root systems. Aissen adds that nearby hail storms could have really caused issues for them. While some tree farms in central Wisconsin are battling the recent hot, dry weather, she feels the trees in this area have never looked better.

Aissen says the shearing process usually takes about two months to complete, with a goal of finishing by Aug. 1.

Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation for Christmas tree production, harvesting nearly 2 million trees each year worth about $50 million annually, according to Farm Flavor.

Christmas is now less than five months away.

Like many law enforcement agencies across the country, Kewaunee County's three sheriff candidates believe staffing remains one of the department's biggest challenges moving forward.

According to a survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum in 2025, overall staffing levels were 5.2% lower than they were in 2020 despite a modest 0.4% increase between 2024 and 2025. Staffing challenges were one of the reasons the county opted not to build a new jail.

Scott Syzdel says it is important to form connections with new and prospective hires and to get involved in the community.
 

Eric Zellner says that even though the pool of applicants is getting smaller, the department cannot fill a position simply to fill it.

 

Kevin Schmidt says the goal is to have at least three deputies on each shift so there is adequate coverage if calls become busy.
 

All three candidates also cited the jail as one of the biggest issues facing the Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department. You can visit this link to listen to all three interviews ahead of the Aug. 11 fall primary.