You can participate in one of Door County’s most favorite May events, as the Door County YMCA’s annual Blossom Run will be showcased in Egg Harbor again. Healthy Living Coordinator Sarah Gavin says the family-friendly event will be held on Saturday, May 13th. She says the event started over 30 years ago, and features a five-mile run, a two-mile run/walk, and a one-mile youth run. 

 The 2023 Blossom Run starts at Dock Park in Egg Harbor, with awards after the race being given out to eight age groups in both male and female categories. More information on the event sponsored by Door County Medical Center and Ross Estate Planning is available here. 

For the first time in several years, you will receive the full experience of the Door County Maritime Museum’s offerings when it opens its seasonal locations on Monday. May 1st marks the first day visitors can check out the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock, the Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor, and the Tug John Purves in Sturgeon Bay. Years of construction have limited access to the Cana Island Lighthouse and the Jim Kress Maritime Tower in Sturgeon Bay. Crews finished their work on Cana Island before the end of last season and just small details remain to complete all 10 floors of exhibits in the maritime tower. Deputy Director Sam Perlman says it is an amazing feeling to have the work complete and have something new for their visitors to see.

The Door County Maritime Museum is already seeing the excitement for the upcoming season with a number of tours during its Spring Lighthouse Festival in June already selling out. Perlman says they are currently fundraising to help give the Tug John Purves some much-needed time on dry dock to help extend the life of the 104-year-old vessel. 

You may have seen more high school students in workplaces in the past year thanks to the boost of participation in the Youth Apprenticeship program around the state. 

After strong numbers last year, the Department of Workforce Development announced record participation in the programs amongst high school students. The record-high total of 8,357 youth apprentices in the 2022-2023 school year surpassed the previous record of 6,392 apprentices for the 2021-2022 school year, continuing a year-over-year, record-breaking trend. Northeast Wisconsin’s Youth Apprenticeship’s Interim Coordinator Adam Strassburg says that the higher numbers in the area are thanks to students becoming more interested, and more businesses willing to bring in the apprentices. 

The Youth Apprenticeship program recently added 14 new pathways and has plans to create pathways in five broad program areas: education and training; business management and administration; government and public administration; human services; and law, public safety, corrections, and security. The new YA occupational pathways will be in place by the fall of 2024. 

You can learn more about the 20 county parks throughout the peninsula at a Door County Master Gardeners Educational Lecture Series in Sturgeon Bay.  Door County Parks Manager Tim Kazmiercak will present “You Gotta Love Door County Parks” at the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek on Thursday.  Kazmierczak, who has been the park director since last October, will provide an overview of the parks system in Door County that span more than 1,000 acres.  The lecture will include the history of the parks and the opportunities they offer you today.   

The "You Gotta Love Door County Parks” program will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Collins Learning Center at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay.  

A Sturgeon Bay student has been suspended for the remainder of the school year for allegedly writing a “hit list” on a Post-It note at Sturgeon Bay High School.  According to a letter sent to parents by Principal Keith Nerby on Friday, a staff member at the school discovered the note with a “hit list” of several students on it.  The student was immediately brought into the school’s office and subsequently suspended.  All students whose names were listed on the note, along with their parents, were apprised of the matter right away.  The school district and law enforcement worked together to investigate the matter and take immediate action.  The letter sent to Sturgeon Bay High School families is posted below.

With April being designated as Tornado awareness month, it’s always a good idea to go over some basic safety measures as well as to revisit some resources we have locally to keep our communities safe. While Kewaunee County has not been the recipient of many tornado events, we have had our share of straight-line winds and severe thunderstorms, which should heighten our alert level and trigger some very similar responses.

Our greatest resource is our own situational awareness. Keep an eye on the weather especially if you are planning outdoor events or plan to travel. Establish and become familiar with your own response plan and make sure all members of your family are equally familiar with where to go and what to do in a weather emergency. When you see the weather changing, take advantage of the many forms in which you can receive updates either by radio television or electronic devices. If you are notified of a weather emergency take the precautions set forth in the alerts as these conditions can change very rapidly and delay can mean the difference between safety and tragedy.

During this month’s statewide tornado drill, we utilized one of our most effective tools to weather alerting; our “RAVE Alert” notification system. This system has been used many times for alerting our communities to events such as severe cold weather conditions, severe thunderstorm warnings, localized tornado warnings and even in law enforcement messages regarding public safety during volatile incidents. The main advantage of this system is that its success does not require the individual to be in any specific area, or rely on the presence of radio or television. These alerts can be sent to residential land lines, as well as individual cell phones in the form of voice messages or texts. They can even go to individuals not living in our area as they may want to receive them on behalf of a loved one. Businesses and schools can also receive them and in turn alert their employees, staff, and students. Just make sure that the business phone number you are entering is a direct line and not an extension as part of a truncated system.

What this system does require is that each individual register to receive the notifications. Over the years many have done just that and our data base of numbers is well established with over 6,000 contacts registered. If you did not receive a call, email or text last week as part of the drill, please take a moment to register. You can register your cell phone land line or those of a family member by visiting our website at www.kewauneesheriff.com and click on the “Stay Informed” icon. If you have additional questions, or need any assistance, please feel free to contact the Kewaunee County Emergency Management Department at: (920)845-9700

You will have the opportunity to help Northern Sky Theater raise the curtain on its 2023 season next month. The Fish Creek-based performing arts organization announced the plans earlier this week for its annual Raise the Curtain event to take place on May 27th. The event kicks off the season for Northern Sky Theater, which will debut The Fish Whisperer at its outdoor amphitheater at Peninsula State Park on June 14th and bring back favorites like Cheeseheads: The Musical, Guys on Ice, and Guys and Does. While all funds are important to performing arts organizations, Associate Managing Director Holly Feldman says Raise the Curtain comes at a critical time as they welcome back their performers and technical crew members well before guests begin filling their seats.

A by-product of their virtual offerings in 2020 and 2021, Northern Sky Theater will once again offer its virtual marketplace beginning on May 20th where you can support the organization even if you cannot attend the in-person event at the Gould Theater on May 27th. The event will feature food, live music around its outdoor campfire ring, and a performance on the Gould Theater stage.

Door County Housing Partnership (DCHP) President Jim Honig hopes you see close to 30 homes under their umbrella by 2030. The organization recently became one of over 250 to incorporate the community land trust model into an area, allowing affordable housing to be built in places where it otherwise may be impossible. Thanks to partnerships with local leaders, Door County Habitat for Humanity, and donors, the DCHP has been able to close on two more homes, break ground on one, and develop plans for another. Waiting in the wings are future homes on 10 lots it recently purchased from the Village of Sister Bay. At a special roundtable meeting held at the United Way of Door County in early April, Governor Tony Evers said DCHP’s story of being able to address affordable housing is a story that should be told across the state. Honig says it is gratifying to have the support they have doing the work they do.

Honig says while private donations and grants like the one they received from the United Way go a long way, reaching their goal of 30 homes in their portfolio by 2030 may not be possible without the support of local governments. When the DCHP purchased their 10 lots, the Village of Sister Bay offered them at a combined discount of over $400,000.

You could see more tax dollars flowing to your town rather than to Madison as a part of a new plan championed by Republican legislators this week. Rep. Joel Kitchens joined other Republicans in Appleton on Thursday to talk about a bipartisan plan to return 20 percent of the state’s sales tax revenue directly to municipalities and create incentives to lower local spending. Every municipality will receive at least a 10 percent increase to what they are already receiving from state tax dollars while also investing millions of dollars in public safety. The plan would also provide millions to update the current 911 system, repeal the personal property tax, and encourage municipalities to share services such as administration, IT, and public safety. State Rep. Tony Kurtz of Wonewoc explained that this would be the first update of the shared revenue formula since 2004.

Citing the public safety-related portions specifically, Kitchens said in a statement that “by investing in new officers, preventing cuts to law enforcement, and investments in EMS and fire departments, our state will be a lot safer with this plan.” Door County Administrator Ken Pabich says he is hopeful that this or something similar to it is approved.

Democrats neither endorsed nor panned the plan, merely saying they look forward to having the necessary conversations and seeing the final framework. Governor Tony Evers suggested the state return 20 percent of the state’s sales tax revenues to local municipalities during his budget address in February.

A new face has been leading Door County 4-H since early April and she is bringing plenty of experience to your local club. Extension UW-Madison announced earlier this week that Candis Dart has been serving as the 4-H Coordinator for Door County since April 3rd. The role has been vacant since Dawn VandeVoort took a role with the state 4-H office last fall. The Southern Door resident is no stranger to serving youth, previously working for the United Way of Door County’s Partnership for Children and Families and as a 4-H Educator for Purdue University Extension in Indiana. Dart says she is excited to take on a role for an organization that means a lot to her.

Dart will hit the ground running as 4-H clubs start gearing up for the Door County Fair occurring in August. She also hopes to help grow the county's Cloverbud project, which is available for all kids in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Door County 4-H will host its annual Small Animal Swap this Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. at the Door County Cooperative Country Store.

An engine block heater used for a diesel truck is to blame for a late-night fire in the Town of Gardner on Thursday. Members of the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department responded to the blaze on Stevenson Pier Road just after 10 p.m. to see a vehicle and potentially a nearby sugar shack in flames. BUG Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Wery says the fire was kept to just the engine of the truck as their quick action was able to keep the cab of the vehicle safe other than smoke damage. Firefighters used approximately 500 gallons of water to put out the fire and they were able to leave the scene within an hour. Wery recommends using the proper extension cord and making sure it is in good shape if you use an electric engine block heater.

A second man has been convicted in the connection of an overdose death of a Sturgeon Bay man two years ago.  According to the Sturgeon Bay Police Department, Ryan C. Lyons, of Milwaukee, was convicted of First Degree Reckless Homicide-Deliver Drugs, as Party to a Crime, a Class C felony last week for his role in the drug overdose death of Kyle DeMelle of Sturgeon Bay.  Lyons’ sentencing hearing will be in June. 

Alex G. Hudson of Sturgeon Bay was convicted of the same charges in October of 2022 and was sentenced to a 10-year prison term last December. 

A third person, John Jacob Mosgrove of Sturgeon Bay faces the same charges as the other two men as his case is still pending.

The 38-year-old DeMelle was found unresponsive in his apartment back on February 22, 2021.  Investigators found evidence of drug use at the scene and learned that DeMelle had purchased what he believed to be heroin the previous night.  DeMelle’s autopsy showed the presence of fentanyl in the toxicology report and the death was ruled as an acute fentanyl overdose.

You will have another spot to watch out for when traveling around Door County over the next month as road construction season hits full tilt. The Door County Highway Department announced on Wednesday that it will begin its roadwork on County Highway C beginning May 3^rd. Taking place between Fox Lane and Pickeral Road, the project will include pulverizing the current pavement, replacing the culvert, and resurfacing the road. The road will remain open to traffic except for a short period of time when the new culvert is installed. With a little help from the weather, the project should be finished before Memorial Day. The first week of May is also when work on State Highway 42/57 is expected to begin after a week's delay. That project will close the highway from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly to address the deteriorating pavement and improve safety. The hope is the project, which will extend from just north of Egg Harbor Road to the STH 42/57 split, will be completed in June.

The people behind the Door County Granary are optimistic that you will be able to enjoy the structure in the near future.

The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society and the Door County Granary hosted a public meeting on Wednesday at the Sturgeon Bay branch of the Door County Library to share updates on the project and what to expect in the coming months. Construction continues on the site after it was shifted to its original site and had its original siding removed by Greenfire Management Services earlier this month. While the pandemic severely limited the group’s fundraising and construction progress, there is hope on the horizon.

The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society is putting the final touches on a $3.3 million grant application from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Fund that would allow the Door County Granary to be completed in one large phase rather than throughout several smaller ones. Project Manager Nicole Matson hopes the City of Sturgeon Bay grants them another extension of their current development agreement.

Matson is hopeful for a considerable increase in construction activity at the former Teweles and Brandeis grain elevator by late summer or early fall. She is thankful for the over 150 people who have made significant donations to the project to get it to this point.

Making sure your students in Gibraltar Area Schools can feel safe and cared for in their own skin is a focus point for a pair of policy discussions scheduled to take place again on May 1st. The district’s policy committee will tackle the issues again after technology issues prevented many from tuning in and participating online.

One of the policy topics discusses non-discrimination guidelines regarding students who are transgender or are non-conforming to gender role stereotypes. It outlines the prohibition of discrimination, harassment, and bullying of transgender and non-gender conforming students, privacy questions around educational records, and possible concerns around parent/student relationships.

The second policy topic looks at non-discrimination guidelines as it relates to locker room and bathroom usage for transgender and non-gender-conforming students. It leads into a third policy discussion regarding its proposed $29.8 million referendum project that will replace large portions of the current building. The provision would make sure everything from toilet stalls to locker room changing and showering areas had the necessary privacy for people of all genders. While construction occurs, people can use the segregated bathroom or locker room consistent with their identity or request to use a unisex bathroom.

You can read the whole policies up for discussion by clicking this link.

Using a different type of pen is just one of the ways you can protect your bank account from potential scammers.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department reported earlier this week that they had received several forgery and fraud-related calls related to personal checks being “washed.” Check washing occurs when scammers intercept your checks and put them through a process to remove the ink until they can put their name on it to cash it.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department says swapping out your pens is one way to fight back against fraud. By switching to gel-based ink, you make it harder for scammers to get rid of it because it is near impossible to remove. Bringing your checks directly to the post office, picking up your mail quickly after it is delivered, and paying bills online when possible are other ways you can protect yourself from check-washing fraud.

You can see some of Wisconsin’s rarely encountered birds at the World Migratory Bird Day Celebration in Algoma on Saturday.  The free event will be held at the Algoma Youth Club and include vendors and local organizations on hand with ideas to make your yard more bird-friendly.  The day will feature speakers on our fine feathered friends starting at 10 a.m. with Photographer John Walch will take attendees on a photo adventure on exploring the variety of birds that can be spotted in and around Algoma, including migratory birds.  At 11 a.m., Wildlife Educator Samantha Brooks will bring raptors, like hawks and owls, to the event and explain their significance in the ecosystem.  Dr. Jennifer Phillips-Vandenburg, the director of Lake Michigan Observatory will share ways to make your community more bird, pollinator, and water-friendly.  The World Migratory Bird Day Celebration in Algoma will be from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday and is hosted by the Bird City Algoma Committee.   

Surveillance cameras at various businesses helped the Sturgeon Bay Police Department solve the case of stolen and damaged vehicles over the past two months.  

A string of stolen and damaged vehicles that were reported in Sturgeon Bay has led to two arrests with at least one more to come.   Two minors, 16 and 17-year-old boys have been arrested in two separate incidents.  A third individual, an 18-year-old man, responsible for his role in the crimes, has not been located yet.   Assistant Chief of Police Dan Brinkman explains how the security cameras in the community help lead to cracking the case from the six reported incidents that occurred since February 7th.

The 16-year-old is being referred to the Juvenile Justice System after being arrested for the reported stolen vehicle from a business on Egg Harbor Road on February 21st. 

The 17-year-old was arrested for two reports from a 14th Avenue business on April 10th.  It includes a third vehicle damaged that he attempted to steal.  He faces two counts each for Operating a Motor Vehicle without the Owner's Consent and Removing Major Vehicle Components without the Owner's Consent.   

No arrests have been made yet on the stolen vehicles reported on February 7th at a residence on Georgia Street, West Pine Street, and South 18th Avenue.  Also, a report from March 14 from a South Geneva Street home has not led to an arrest yet either. 

Brinkman adds that the three individuals are the only ones he believes are responsible for the reported rash of stolen vehicles at this time.  He notes that the investigation continues and that it is just a matter of time before the 18-year-old is found arrested. 

Starting this Saturday through June 17, you can experience different group exercise classes at the Door County YMCA.  The “Saturday Scramble” will include High-Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T) with Cardio and Strength, Pilates, Yoga, Cycle, and Raising the Barre (dance).  Living Health Coordinator Sarah Gavin says the YMCA is offering the new Saturday classes to meet the demand of what members have been requesting.

The Saturday classes will have different instructors with the course running from 8:30 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center.  A boot camp may be offered as well with the Saturday Scramble but will be offered free this Wednesday evening and also next week on May 3rd.  You can find out more information on the Saturday classes and boot camp by calling the YMCA at 920-743-4949).  

You can listen to the entire interview with Sarah talking about the upcoming Blossom Run and more on the Y  Wednesday Podcast page.    

You might have to make changes to your daily drives around Sturgeon Bay for the next ten days. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) announced Tuesday an updated schedule of the spring maintenance for the three Sturgeon Bay bridges will occur for the rest of the week and the week of May 1st.  This Wednesday, the Bayview Bridge will have maintenance work until 4 p.m. The Maple/Oregon Street Bridge will have full closure from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. this Thursday.  The bridges will remain open to marine traffic during both maintenance times.  
 
The final piece of bridge maintenance by the DOT in Sturgeon Bay will be the following week, when the Michigan Street Bridge will have daily full closures from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. starting May 1st until Friday, May 5th. During those traffic closures, the bridge will be also closed to any marine vessels traveling through the channel.  
 
Drivers be asked to follow detour route signage while the maintenance work is being done on the respective bridges. 

You can help support sending the three teams from Sevastopol schools that are going to Kansas City in May for the Destination Imagination Global competition by attending the first-ever showcase event.  Mindi Vanderhoof, teacher and DI Coach at Sevastopol says two teams from the elementary school and one from the high school qualified for the global competition.  To offset the approximated cost of $40,000 to send all three teams, the school is hosting two performances on Sunday.  The showcase features the challenges of engineering, science, and fine art for the respective teams. 

The showcase fundraiser on Sunday will also include a silent auction that will have items to bid on that were donated by 65 businesses in Door County.  The Sevastopol DI showcase performances will be at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the atrium and Pioneer Room at Sevastopol. Admission is free with donations being accepted at the door and all proceeds going towards funding the trip to Kansas City.  

Photos courtesy of Sevastopol Schools

Your child could be one of many to enjoy a complimentary evening of entertainment at one of Door County’s most renowned performance theaters.  Northern Sky Theater and the Door County Maritime Museum are distributing nearly 4,000 free ticket coupons that will be delivered to every student in all five Door County schools, as well as parochial and homeschooled students.  Associate Managing Director Holly Feldman, says the free shows are a great way to partner with the community while giving children the opportunity to appreciate the features right here in Door County, The give-away this year includes a new school spirit week at the end of June where students and families can attend a performance and see one of their school groups perform on stage before the show.  Feldman shares the details of the two shows in the park that students will have the opportunity to enjoy.

Feldman adds that the free tickets will be delivered near the end of the school year in May and also via email.  The performance season begins for Northern Sky Theater with Fish Whisperer opening on June 14th and the following night for Cheeseheads! The Musical.  

(photo courtesy of Northern Sky Theater)

Growing concern about the largemouth bass virus impacting the smallmouth bass population around Door County will be up for discussion when Dr. Nicole Nietlisbach, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DMV) presents a program at Crossroads at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay Thursday.   The largemouth bass virus is responsible for a number of fish die-offs in the southeastern part of the United States, and during the last couple of years, smallmouth bass infected with the virus have been caught in Green Bay just off Door County. The program is called "Largemouth Bass Virus and Smallmouth Bass of Green Bay: Current Knowledge and Remaining Questions" and will be the final presentation of the Fish Tales Lecture Series at Crossroads this spring.

The local fishing industry along with Door County being one of the top bass fishing locations in the United States makes the topic of smallmouth bass health a key issue as the open-water fishing season begins.

Nietlisbach, a fish health specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, gives guidance to state fish hatcheries and spawning facilities while investigating wild fish kills.  She will explain to anglers what should be done if they catch an infected bass.

Organized by Mark Holey, the presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek will begin at 7:00 p.m. this Thursday, April 27th.  The program is free to the public and will be held in the Collins Learning Center.   

The Door County Sheriff’s Office had a successful Drug Take Back Day last Saturday that will help keep the community safer from drug misuse.  Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says over 408 pounds of unused prescriptions were turned over to the Department of Justice on Saturday alone and that the state disposed of over 54,000 pounds of medications last year.  He says even though the Drug Take Back Day is over, you can always drop off outdated or unused prescription drugs at the Door County Sheriff’s Department.

McCarty adds that there are three important reasons to dispose of drugs properly.  One is to keep them from falling into the hands of people who may abuse them.  The second is to help prevent accidents where young children take unused medications, leading to tragic results.  Thirdly, improper disposal can have the medications to wind up in our water supply by flushing them.   You can find a collection site nearest you for unused prescription drugs with this link.   

(photo courtesy of Door County Sheriff's Office)

A large contingent of people from Door and Kewaunee counties met with state legislators over two days last week in Madison to discuss important economic initiatives for the area.  The group included 66 citizens, elected officials, and business and community leaders, along with students from Sturgeon Bay, Gibraltar, and Luxemburg-Casco.  As in the past, the event served as an educational experience for high school students.  

Dividing into smaller groups, the delegation collectively met with almost 100 state officials during the Door County/Kewaunee County Legislative Days event.    

Michelle Lawrie, executive director of the DCEDC, says the grassroots event has contributed to numerous achievements since 2003 for the peninsula.

  

The far-ranging topics of discussion included water quality, affordable housing, childcare, commercial fishing, repair of the Potawatomi State Park Tower, and funding for youth apprenticeship.  

Luxemburg-Casco junior Eva Hau said, “To be honest, I didn’t really know how the (advocacy) process worked.  This gave me a better understanding, and I found it cool that we could sit down with (legislators and staffers) and express our issues and concerns freely.”

This was the 10th biennial Door County/Kewaunee County Legislative Days event that was organized by the Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) and the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation (KCEDC).   

After many months of practices and other competitions to qualify for the weekend, the Southern Door Eagles forensics team had a stellar performance at the WISDAA State Tournament hosted by DeForest High School. 

With multiple gold medal performances, meaning the performance was perfect, and every competitor from the Eagles team returning home with a medal, the weekend down in Madison was a success. Competitors had to go through the subdistricts round at Sturgeon Bay on February 16th, and Districts at Bay Port on March 9th to qualify for the State Festival Saturday. 

The 2022-2023 forensics season concluded with a top 10% finish for Southern Door in consecutive years, and was a great way for the double-digit number of seniors on the team to end their careers as competitors. 

With the shortage of workers in the trades, as well as other careers, Tool of the Trade Scholarships to apprentices statewide are making an impact in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Ascendium has awarded over 700 scholarships totaling over $1.5 million in the past ten years.  This year, 97 recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College received a $2000 scholarship that can be used by student apprentices to purchase tools, clothing, and equipment required by their trades.  Tom O’Neill of Marinette, who works in the heating and cooling business, says the apprenticeship and scholarship that he received have been a true blessing for him.

Apprenticeship Lead Christina Jungwirth notes that the program has helped a major issue with contractors trying to fill positions throughout the state.

You can learn more about Ascendium’s scholarship program with this link.

Photo submitted

In an effort to help you with better gun safety, the United Way of Door County has adopted a statement on gun violence and partnered with Virlee Gunworks for an event on Saturday.  Gun Safety Day will be held at Virlee Gunworks Shooting Range in Sturgeon Bay and will include a handout of free gunlocks and information on gun safety and upcoming classes.  United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says her organization understands the value and importance of gun ownership while partnering with Virlee Gunworks to encourage gun safety and responsible ownership.

Gun owners are invited to pick up gunlocks for their firearms anytime from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, with up to 150 locks being given away.  You can read the full statement made on gun violence by the United Way of Door County below.   

United Way of Door County

Statement on Gun Violence

United Way of Door County is committed to creating a community in which every person has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive in an environment that is safe and supportive.  This includes identifying barriers that may impede the success of Door County residents in achieving this goal.  United Way of Door County provides both programs and support so that we can build a community where all people can achieve their full potential through education, financial stability and healthy lifestyles. 

We believe gun violence is a public health issue that as a community we must address in order to “enhance our collective well-being, improve and protect lives, and support a vibrant and resilient community.” (National Alliance on Mental Illness, June 6, 2022)

The threat of gun violence is real.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 45,222 persons died from gun-related injuries in the U.S. in 2020, the most ever recorded.  This is approximately 124 gun deaths each day. While our attention is often drawn to mass shootings, those resulting in four or more deaths in a single incident, the reality is that mass shootings account for only 1% of all gun deaths. (Gun Violence Archive) Suicides, however, account for 54% of gun deaths while homicides represent an additional 43% of gun-related deaths according to the Pew Research Center.  Wisconsin experienced 717 lives lost to homicide, suicide, accidents and other events in 2020. *  Easy access to guns is often cited as a contributing factor in these deaths.

Firearm ownership is an important and cherished part of the hunting, sport, and self-sufficiency traditions in Wisconsin. We honor and uphold these traditions. Yet we hold in tension the reality that even firearms used for hunting may result in unintended consequences. World Population Review reported a total of 64,878 registered guns in Wisconsin in 2020, although many guns go unregistered.  In an average year, 621 people die and another 1,093 are wounded by guns in Wisconsin.  Guns are the second leading cause of death for children and teens in Wisconsin.  Approximately 48 children and teens die by guns every year and 50% of those deaths are suicides, according to Gun Violence in Wisconsin, EveryStat.org. 

We agree with the National Parent Teacher Association’s Statement on Gun Safety and Violence Prevention, “Practical gun safety and violence prevention efforts will protect not just our children, but all citizens from gun violence while at the same time respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.  We must work together to end gun violence.” As a community, we can pledge to secure our guns safely to prevent unauthorized access which may lead to tragedy. Together we can create and maintain a safe environment in Door County for all residents and visitors by learning more about the impact of gun violence locally, regionally and nationally.

*By comparison, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported 573 motor vehicle fatalities in 2020.”

(Correction:  The original headline said "Sunday".  Door County Daily News apologize for this error) 

With more orange barrels and barricades popping up in and around Sturgeon Bay this week, you may have to be more patient and drive accordingly.  The only state highway project planned for Door County was to start Monday night and improve a 1.2-mile stretch on Highway 42-57 north from Egg Harbor Road to the junction of the state highways.  The Wisconsin DOT announced late Monday that the start of the project has been delayed until next Monday. 

When the construction does start, traffic will remain open during the day from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. with overnight work being done.  From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., traffic will be detoured utilizing Egg Harbor Road, Old Highway Road, County BB, and County HH.  Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regional Communication Manager Mark Kantola explains the details of the milling and resurfacing project should be completed by the middle of June.

In Sturgeon Bay, City Engineer Chad Shefchik said that starting Monday work will begin on Michigan Street from west of 12th Avenue to 4th Avenue with rolling “soft” closures of the roadway. Soft closures mean barricades will be staggered across the roadway to close the roadway to general traffic and allow only local traffic through.  You can find the complete list of construction projects beginning this spring in Sturgeon Bay below.

Construction Update - Sturgeon Bay Roadway Projects

Sturgeon Bay’s 2023 roadway projects have just begun and you may have started to see barricades and construction vehicles starting to show up around the City.

Starting on Monday, April 24^th rolling “soft” closures of the roadway will begin on Michigan Street from just west of 12^th Ave to 4^th Ave.  A “soft” closure means that barricades will be staggered across the roadway to close the roadway to general through traffic.  The barricades are staggered so that access remains open for residences, businesses, and emergency services vehicles within the closed areas.  For all others, please go around the block and stay out of the closed areas if at all possible.  The contractors will only be “soft” closing sections that they are actively working on, and the barricades will be moved back to the side of the road when they complete work for the day.

S 16^th Place (from 460’ south of Michigan to Utah Street):  Concrete curbing and sidewalk sections to be replaced have been marked, cut, and are currently being removed.  The contractor should have crews in on Monday April 24^th to start repouring the removed sections.

The Michigan Street project also involves work on multiple side roads that intersect with Michigan Street.  Currently concrete curbing and sidewalk sections to be replaced are being marked out and cut.  Starting on Monday, April 24^th or Tuesday, April 25^th removal of these sections will begin and this work will require the roadway closures described above.  This work described will be taking place on the following roadways:

• Michigan Street (from just west of 12^th Ave to 4^th Ave).
• S 8^th Ave (from Michigan Street to Oregon Street)
• S 7^th Ave (from Michigan Street to Oregon Street)
• N 6^th Ave (from Michigan Street to Louisiana Street) – NOTE:  this segment only includes sidewalk repairs from last year’s gas line replacements.

N 12^th Ave (from Michigan Street to Louisiana Street) is also part of this project but work will be pushed back until the rest of the project is completed to minimize the impact to school traffic for now.

After these 2 project complete work will eventually begin on:

• W Juniper Street (from N Duluth Ave to N Fulton Ave)
• N Elgin Ave (from W Juniper Street to W Hickory Street)

Running through the streets of London, England on a rainy Sunday morning, Tim Kowols from Door County Daily News finished the London Marathon in 2:55:03.   Kowols qualified for the race known as the “Super Bowl of Marathons” and was supported by family along the 26.3-mile route.  Running for JDRF UK, the United Kingdom’s leading Type 1 Diabetes charity, Kowols raised 2,319 pounds (equivalent to $2,883.21).  He has run in over 35 marathons in the past 15 years, including the Boston Marathon.  You can still donate to the JDRF UK charity for Type 1 Diabetes with this link.

A program that helps pregnant women and mothers of young children in the area will get much-needed funds thanks to an initiative by Nicolet National Bank on Monday.  The “Cradle to Career” program through Lakeshore Cap will receive the proceeds from the “Souper Bake Sale” at Nicolet Bank’s downtown location in Sturgeon Bay. Nicolet Bank Branch Manager Paula Englebert says the event is part of the bank’s focus during Power of Community week in which volunteering is stressed.  She shares how the fundraiser on Monday is something extra special for non-profit organizations.

Englebert says the Door County Cradle to Career (DCCTC) program touched the hearts of Nicolet Bank staff.  The program offers support regularly and helps to access needs and connects people to supportive services.  They develop a personalized plan for a career and improve stability for families while offering support for education and job training. Monday’s “Souper Bake Sale will offer a variety of soups for $5 a cup and baked goods as well from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

The Miller Art Museum in downtown Sturgeon Bay announced at a free public reception held Monday evening April 17, the award winners for the 49th Annual Salon of Door County High School Art, on display now through Saturday, May 27. The multi-media exhibition features original artwork by 116 students in grades 9 – 12 from the 2022-23 academic year who attend school at one of the Peninsula’s five high schools: Gibraltar, Sevastopol, Southern Door, Sturgeon Bay, and Washington Island.

Certificates of Participation were presented to all student artists by their respective art teachers. Students receiving an Award of Excellence or Honorable Mention were announced and presented by Museum Curator Helen del Guidice during the reception. Awards of Excellence, a $100 cash prize, were presented to: Lilly Cihlar (Sturgeon Bay), Victoria Fiscus (Sevastopol), Joseph Lux (Washington Island), Emily Purdy (Southern Door), and Gwendolyn Sohns (Gibraltar).

Six $50 Honorable Mention awards were presented to Dasia Daubner (Gibraltar), Rayna Hoffman (Sturgeon Bay), Anna Ibarra-Gallardo (Sevastopol), Dezaray LeRoy (Southern Door), and Rita Valentincic (Washington Island).

In addition to cash prizes, the museum, through a generous financial gift from the Cramer Family Fund in memory of long-time art supporter Tricia Cramer, provided awardees certificates for art supplies from the Artists Guild in Sturgeon Bay and instruction to further their individual artistic endeavors through workshops at the Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek.

Executive Director Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead had the honor of presenting Sevastopol High School sophomore Amolia Jefferson with the Mr. Rericha Legacy Award, a $100 cash prize, for her work titled “Hot Buttered Toast.” Mr. Rericha was a longtime art teacher and theater director at Sevastopol who had a significant impact on the lives of those he taught and mentored; he passed away in September 2022 and an anonymous financial gift made the establishment of the award possible.

“I am not alone in saying that he was one of the best,” says Elizabeth Meissner-Gigstead, executive director. “He was an incredible artist in his own right, with a quirky sense of humor, and a mentor and friend to all the students whose lives he deeply touched, including mine. It was an exceptional honor to select and present Molly with this award; her work embodies the characteristics, most prominently a hint of whimsy, that Jim so loved. I hope this award provides motivation for the chosen student to continue pursuing art, just as Mr. Rericha always pushed his students to do­­.”

In addition to the student awards, the museum also presented monetary awards to each high school art department, made possible through gifts from the Cramer Family Fund and DCAL. DCAL was a longstanding coalition of artists and art lovers who were committed to promoting the creative arts in Door County and supporting each other through mentoring, exhibitions, workshops, and fellowship. Upon the dissolution of that organization in 2016, the museum was gifted of a portion of these funds specifically so that it could serve as a conduit for the support of students through the exhibit.

You can see the 49th Annual Salon of Door County High School Art at the Miller Art Museum through Saturday, May 27, 2023. 

A special religious place that has been known as “Our Lady of Good Hope” for over 160 years will be officially changed to “Our Lady of Champion” in May.  The National Shrine was notified by the Holy See’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments confirming the change and the inaugural Solemnity Mass of our Lady of Champion will be celebrated at the shrine in October.

Bishop David L. Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay made the announcement this week and said “It will be a day of the highest honor at the National Shrine.  This solemnity of Our Lady of Champion, although only celebrated on the grounds of the National Shrine at this time, is a day to remember the profound messages of the Blessed Virgin and her presence in the United States.”

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion will make its transition from Our Lady of Good Help this May and culminate with the Solemnity at the 11 a.m. mass on October 9th. 

(Submitted photo)

You can find a hidden treasure or two while helping out the Door County Campus of the Wisconsin Humane Society. The organization is holding its annual Rummage Sale in Sturgeon Bay next month.  Tanya Ditzman of the Wisconsin Humane Society says the fundraiser raised nearly $5,000 last year and will again be held at the Arle Memorial Hall (formerly the KC building) on Tacoma Beach Road in Sturgeon Bay.  She says donated items can be dropped off the day before the event starts, but cannot include large appliances or furniture, televisions, or clothing.  She suggests home décor, kitchen supplies, jewelry, sports items, collectibles, and pet supplies as ideas for donations.

The rummage sale will take place from Noon until 6 p.m. on May 5th and from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on May 6th.  Donated items should be dropped off on Thursday May 4 from 4 – 8pm.  One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit the animals at the Door County Campus.  To adopt a pet, you can visit wihumane.org/adopt to see the list of dogs, cats, and more that are available and schedule a time pick up your new furry friend.        

(CORRECTION:  The hours listed for the sale on Saturday were initially incorrect, Door County Daily News regrets this error)

You can get outside and help support the Mink River Preserve on April 28th and 29th. The preserve is one of the few high-quality freshwater estuaries remaining in North America. You can help by volunteering to plant trees in the area. Trees not only protect ground and surface water, but they also provide habitats for migratory birds that pass through Door County and the rest of Wisconsin. Throughout the 28th and 29th volunteers will be filling in gaps where trees have died. Trees have many benefits to the environment, they give us the air we breathe, they also reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere by sequestering carbon in new growth every year and they provide habitats for wildlife. Kari Hagenow, North East Wisconsin Land Steward for the Nature Conservancy, talks about how visiting and appreciating nature is the first step to preserving it. 

You can register to volunteer and get more information by clicking this link.

Photos credits to Mink River Preserve

UPDATE:  Tim Kowols finished the 26.3 mile London Marathon in 2:55:03.    
 

A familiar face and voice in Door County media will be one of the nearly 40,000 runners who will be participating in the London Marathon in England on Sunday.  Tim Kowols of New Radio and Door County Daily News qualified and will be competing in what is billed as the “Super Bowl of Marathons” with mass participation waves starting between 10:00 am and 11:30 a.m. London time ( 4:00 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. CDT) Sunday.  Having increased his training in the past few months, Kowols flew to London from Chicago this past Wednesday with family in preparation for the race.  He has run in numerous marathons in the past 15 years, including the Boston Marathon.  You can track Tim’s run during the London Marathon by downloading the 2023 Official TCS London Marathon App here. 

From Bryan Mazur: We are so proud of Tim, not only for the work that he does for NEW Radio but for qualifying for the London Marathon! (and taking the time off to compete in that event)! We wish him the best of luck and we will be rooting him on from Door County!" 

From Tami:  I have always admired your hard work and dedication-not just to your job, but in your effortless pursuit of greatness in your running endeavors.  You are faster than the energizer bunny and faster than the speed of light.  The fact that you qualified is already a huge accomplishment!  Enjoy every minute you are there, and know that we will be cheering you on from the couch.  ( with a beverage and a bag of crisps). Run like the wind, Tim!!!

From Paul Schmitt:  Tim, I want to wish you the very best in the London Marathon and express my adoration for what you have accomplished in running.  We miss you here and can't wait to hear about your family's trip and your race!  Appreciate all that you do at New Radio and for the news department!

From Angela Lemme: Tim, you are the man!  I am honored to know you, someone, that has accomplished many amazing things including qualifying for the London Marathon! I wish you the best of luck! I am rooting for you! 

From Larry Stevens: Best of Luck to you Tim!!!!  U Rock!!! 

From Reece Robillard: So proud of you Tim and thankful for everything you do! I am honored to work alongside a person so hardworking and dedicated to anything they do. Good luck Tim and don't trip...that would be embarrassing." 

From Shelly: What an exciting time for you and your family, making core memories. Have fun, enjoy the moment, and in true Tim fashion I’m sure you’ll be thinking “I don’t care how fast they run. I’m gonna run faster. I don’t care how much they want it. I want it more.” Run Tim Run!! 

From Gary: Congrats Tim on your trip to London. Enjoy your time there! I appreciate you teaching me everything I know. Bring back something for the rest of us. 

Although the work and planning of the new Jail facility have been ongoing and drawing a great deal of our attention and efforts here at the Sheriff’s Department, it has been a while since I have provided an update.

        Since my last update in November, we have continued to meet on a regular basis, with almost constant communication regarding every topic from detention equipment to the color of the walls. Each and every decision point is guided by our need to adhere to budgetary limitations while adhering to state code compliance and industry best practices. I can’t even begin to recall how many times we have stopped an asked the question: “Is it a need or a want?” and even in the needs, we pursue the most economic and efficient option towards that need. The challenge is walking that fine line between short-term cost savings and long-term operational dysfunction. I am very proud of the work we have done thus far, and very grateful for all of those around the table at each of these many meetings. We continue to work with our partners at Venture Architects as well as the amazing resource we have in The Samuels Group as they guide us in the management of our project. Our state Jail Inspector Nancy Thelen, continues to be both a wealth of knowledge as well as a source of relevant practices from counties throughout the state of Wisconsin. There have been numerous times when our unique approach to our facility has coined the phrase “The Kewaunee Model”. This speaks to our willingness and ability to think outside the box for the best possible facility to serve our community’s needs.

       So where are we in the process? We just had our final planning meeting, and based on all of our work, the specifications have been drawn up and will be released for public contractor bids in early May. In early June, we should then receive those bids, which will then be reviewed by The Samuels Group. They will then in turn provide a presentation of those bids to the County Board in late June for their consideration. We have been fortunate to have members of our County Board involved in every step of this project and many have even attended the numerous planning meetings over the past 7 years. The involvement and input of so many will no doubt be the key to our success as we continue to move forward in this long-overdue project for a facility that we can all be proud of.

        On the staffing side, we continue to face the same challenges as every law enforcement agency throughout our nation. We are challenged by not only recruiting and training to meet the needs of the new facility but also to backfill the numerous vacancies that will be created as current staff transition to retirement in the upcoming years. As always, we are blessed with such high-quality men and women who have chosen to serve their communities as Deputies. On that note, if you or someone you know would like more information on the opportunity to work as a Jailer/ Dispatcher, please feel free to reach out to me, and I can share more details and even provide a tour of our operations. I can always be reached at (920)255-1100 to answer any questions. Take Care!

A fire ravaged an unoccupied home on North Sand Bay Lane in Sister Bay late Friday night.  Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Assistant Fire Chief Mike Goldstone told Door County Daily News that about a 3,000 -4,000-square-foot home was engulfed in flames at the far side of the structure when crews arrived.  A MABAS call to all Door County units was made and the fire was contained and knocked down on the exterior of the building within five minutes and another five to ten minutes inside the structure. The fire was extinguished using nearly 1500 gallons of water and a compressed Class A foam that seeps into the wood more effectively control blazes.    Goldstone notes that the owners of the property are from outside of the area and have been contacted.   The fire crews cleared the scene shortly after midnight.  The fire remains under investigation and the cause and origin of the fire have not yet been determined.

The owners of the home wanted to express their appreciation with an open letter to all firefighters who helped minimize the fire damage to the house. 

"Thank you to the Firefighters of Door County On Friday night April 21st our Door County home was severely damaged by a fire. The home was not occupied at the time and our thanks to our neighbor who made the 911 call. The response from the Sister Bay Liberty Grove fire department and then the numerous firefighters from all of the Door County departments who responded was truly amazing. We’ve been told more than seventy personnel were on the scene with numerous pieces of equipment and apparatus that contributed to limiting the damage to our home. These dedicated volunteers who give generously their time and skill to help others in need are truly admirable. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to all who were there. And a special thank you to Assistant Chief Mike Goldstone who stayed on scene to meet with us at 3 in the morning to explain everything that happened that evening and walk us thru our home. That was above and beyond the call of duty and we will be forever grateful. Finally a thankful shout-out to all of our Sand Bay friends and neighbors who have offered their support and concern for us. See you on the beach."

With sincere gratitude,

John and Marilyn

You and your kids can go to an instrument petting zoo at the YMCA in Fish Creek. The Griffon String Quartet performs 100 events between September and May. This free event for families will have instruments like violins and violas for kids to learn about and hold. There will also be performances throughout the day from 10am - 2pm. Alison Fleck, Executive Director of Midsummers Music, talks about why being healthy is more than just nutrition.  

Fleck says “It’s incredible to see kids interact with music.” Swing by and let your kids learn a bit about music on Saturday, April 22nd. 

You can help our environment this Earth Day. There are many ways to get involved in the community, tree planting events, litter pick up, and educational lessons. Here are some ways to benefit the Earth in your own backyard. 

Reuse old or unused items by turning it into something new. You can take old milk jugs or pinecones and turn them into bird feeders. This helps birds by giving them a safe environment to feed and can also help them distribute seeds to other places. You can also repurpose coffee cans into planters for indoor or outdoor plants. 

Another way to get involved this Earth Day is to start composting. Composting is an easy way to discard and reuse food scraps. Composting at home rather than throwing away food waste produces less methane gas than a landfill and gives you fertilizer for your plants. One more way to get rid of food waste is to plan meals before you buy them so you know what you need and don’t over-buy products. 

One other example is to help clean up your community. Even if it’s going around the block you live on and picking up trash, it makes a difference. Volunteering at state or county parks is another great way to give back. 

Finally, you can start making the switch to sustainable products and choices. Save a bit of gas and carpool to work or school every once in a while. Some other benefits include reducing the number of vehicles on the road, which in turn reduces the amount of traffic, which then reduces the amount of harmful emissions released into the atmosphere. You can also do research on store-bought brands that have reduced their carbon footprint and are vegan and cruelty-free. This helps ensure the products you are using were made in an environmentally friendly way and that animals were not harmed in the process. Even if you can’t get some of these alternatives, you can still use reusable bags and other reusable items. 

These aren’t the only things you can do the help the environment at home. There are many other options and alternatives to some products and habits that may be harming the environment. This is the first in a series on Earth Day and the things you can do to benefit the Earth. For information on Door County-specific Earth Day events, click this link.

Your insurance rates have followed the same path as the items you grab from the grocery store. Bankrate.com reported earlier this year that the average driver is paying just over $2,000 a year in insurance premiums nationally. That’s a nearly 14 percent increase over last year, with some parts of the country seeing their rates climb up to over 20 percent higher. You can partly blame inflation for the increase as wages for mechanics and body shop technicians have climbed along with the cost of parts and other supplies. Paul and Julia Stoneman from Stoneman-Schopf Agency say they have seen it cross over to other industries, too.

The Stonemans recommend talking to your local insurance agent about different options to help stabilize or even lower your insurance premiums such as shopping around with other insurance companies and bundling other policies. You can listen to the full conversation with the Stonemans on the Bridging the Gap podcast by clicking here.

You can clean out your medicine cabinets and help prevent the misuse of prescription drugs that could potentially save lives. Door and Kewaunee County law enforcement agencies will participate again in the Drug Take-Back Day across Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Justice is promoting the opportunity for you to dispose of unwanted and unused medications at disposal locations throughout the state. The Door County Sheriff’s Office will collect unused prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, inhalers, creams, vials, and pet medications for disposal. You can drop off any old medications from 11 am until 2 pm Saturday at either the Brussels Fire Department or the Door County Sheriff’s Office in Sturgeon Bay. Door County Chief Deputy Pat McCarty explained that this disposal method is better than throwing drugs in the trash or flushing them.

Both Door and Kewaunee County have drop boxes available for proper disposal year-round.  The 24/7 drop-off in Kewaunee County is located at the Sheriff’s Department Safety Building/Jail.  

(Photo courtesy of Door County Sheriff's Department)

You may have to take alternative routes from your usual travels across Sturgeon Bay starting next week.  The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week that the annual spring maintenance of the three Sturgeon Bay bridges will occur during the weeks of April 24th and May 1st.  Beginning next Tuesday, the Maple/Oregon Street Bridge will have full closure from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.  The Bayview Bridge will follow with maintenance work on Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The bridges will remain open to marine traffic during both maintenance times.   

The final piece of bridge maintenance by the DOT in Sturgeon Bay will be the following week, when the Michigan Street Bridge will have daily full closures from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. starting May 1st until Friday, May 5th.  During those traffic closures, the bridge will be also closed to any marine vessels traveling through the channel.   

Drivers will see signed detours while the maintenance work is being done.  You can find all DOT maintenance alerts on the DOT website here. 

A former governor of Wisconsin shared his story and offered important information to community members on supporting those impacted by Alzheimer’s disease in Door County on Thursday.  Governor Marty Schreiber spoke at the Door County Community Foundation in Sturgeon Bay and at the Village Hall in Sister Bay trumpeting a message of hope and the importance of becoming more involved in changing the course of the devastating disease of Alzheimer’s.  Drawing on personal experiences with his wife, Elaine, Schreiber says he has two important messages to share with caregivers who are dealing with loved ones with Alzheimer’s.

The event was sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association and featured copies of Schreiber’s third edition of his book “My Two Elaines Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver”.  Schreiber had earlier this week presented in Rhinelander, Antigo, Oshkosh, and Green Bay sharing his wit and wisdom on the topic.  

You can watch Schreiber's presentation held in Sturgeon Bay below.

It is not the easiest conversation to have, but making sure you have control over your healthcare decision when life takes a turn makes it an important one. A Power of Attorney is the written legal authorization that allows one person to act on the behalf of the other in legal matters. It often comes up in the healthcare field when a patient approaches the end of their life or has a procedure taking place. Many times, people think a spouse or a next-of-kin can take over the decision-making during such times. Chaplain John Hauser and Social Worker Erin Szakala from Door County Medical Center explain why that is a major misconception.

Hauser and Szakala recommend people have a Power of Attorney in place before they come into the hospital before a procedure or extended stay. If you do not have one, Hauser, Szakala, and other members of the Door County Medical Center team can walk you through the process. You can listen to the full conversation online by clicking on this link.

Over 250 people came together Wednesday evening in Sturgeon Bay to be part of the 21st Annual Golden Heart Volunteer Celebration.  Held at Stone Harbor Resort & Conference Center, it was the first time that the event was in-person in three years.  United Way Director of Operations Kelly Hellman says 35 nominees were submitted for six different volunteer categories.  She highlights the individual and group award winners and the organizations they impacted.

The Golden Heart event was put on by the United Way of Door County, the Golden Heart Committee, and the former board members of the Volunteer Center of Door County.  The United Way is planning on launching Volunteer Connections later this year.  You can find a list of the award winners and nominees from the 2023 Golden Heart Volunteer Celebration below.

Adult Volunteer of the Year- Rebecca DenHollander for Unity Hospice

Arts & Culture- The Northern Sky Theatre Tuesday Crew

Environmental Stewardship- Art Lutzke for Crossroads at Big Creek

Youth Scholarships- Bethany Paye from Southern Door High School, Symone Sandoval from Sevastopol, and Elsa Schoeneman from Sturgeon Bay High School (received a $500 scholarship each)

Karl May Lifetime of Service Award-  Gerald Richter, who passed away last December, family members accepted the award on this behalf, recently received a Lifetime Volunteer Award signed by President Joe Biden in honor of his 5,000 hours of service to the Door County Maritime Museum.

Photo courtesy of Northern Sky Theater

The hopes of spring were short-lived in northeast Wisconsin as dry weather and temperatures in the 80s were quickly replaced with snow, rain, and cold. The United States Department of Agriculture reports that Wisconsin farmers got out to their fields just less than four days last week. While the heat melted the snow off the fields, the return of more wintry weather will likely keep them off until more consistency comes in the forecast. Duane Ducat from Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee said ahead of last Sunday’s cold and wet weather that the fields were off to a good start, though he would like to see more temperate temperatures.

Progress made spring tillage and the planting of the corn, oat, and potato crops was all at least four days ahead of last year’s pace, but in some cases were behind the five-year average. The National Weather Service does not offer much hope to build on that success this week with rain and snow in the forecast through the weekend.

A dairy farmer west of Kewaunee had several cows get loose from his farm late Wednesday.  According to the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department, officers and owners attempted to capture the six cows wandering free near County F in the Birchwood area. Still, they were unsuccessful in corralling all of them.  As of 7:15 a.m. on Thursday a few cows remain at large, according to the Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department.  If you locate the cows, you are urged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 920-388-7108 to report it.  The cows have shown to be aggressive.  Door County Daily News will update this story until all the cows come home.   

The Door County Sheriff’s Department has released the name of the driver who was killed in a one-vehicle rollover accident on Mill Road in Forestville last Friday afternoon.  32-year-old Gildardo Valazquez passed away after sustaining injuries when he was ejected from the SUV he was driving.  An autopsy was conducted on Monday and the results have not yet been released at this time.  The Door County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the crash and no further information is being released at this time.  

One of Door County’s performance theaters will have a new leader this summer.  Elissa Wolf has joined Door Shakespeare in Baileys Harbor as its new managing director this week.  She will join Amy Ensign who is the artistic director as part of the leadership team at Door Shakspeare. Wolf has worked in artistic, administrative, and supervisory roles with the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and the Chicago Youth Shakespeare. 

Wolf, who has called Door County home for several summers as a child in Ellison Bay, has supported Door Shakespeare in the recent past as a volunteer.  She said, “I love this theater’s work, vision and values, and look forward to contributing to its future growth and success."

Having earned a degree in theater performance at U.W.-La Crosse, Wolfe has her Masters of Arts in Shakespeare and Creativity from the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, a program that is partnered with the Royal Shakespeare Company.  

(photo courtesy of Door Shakespeare)

You can help Door County veterans get work done around their home or other needs by referring them to apply for assistance through an organization that has shipped thousands of care packages to active military personnel around the world.  Adopt-A-Soldier Door County no longer ships care packages but is busy working to help veterans in the area who need some help with expenses and home improvements.  Adopt-A-Soldier Door County Founder and President Nancy Hutchinson says the program that began a few years ago has helped veterans with building ramps, replacing windows, and paying utility and medical bills, among other expenses.  She says veterans can apply and could receive up to $6,000 per year in assistance. 

 Hutchinson says a seven-person committee reviews all applications that are decided on within a week.  She notes that over the past few years, all 35 veteran applicants have received some sort of assistance.  Although the large-scale collection and shipping of care packages has ended for the Adopt-A-Soldier program due to a lack of response for requests and updating of mailing addresses, Hutchinson says active personnel or families can contact her directly to make arrangements.  You can reach out to Adopt-Soldier Door County and find more information through its Facebook page here.   

You will see a new name on the three car dealerships in Sturgeon Bay this week.  Jim Olson Motors is transitioning its operations to a new owner, Patriot Motors, Sturgeon Bay, LLC.  According to Jim Olson, the transaction will be finalized sometime Wednesday.  Patriot Motors Sturgeon Bay will be taking over the Chevrolet Buick store at 632 Green Bay Road, the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Truck dealership at the intersection of Duluth Avenue and Highway 42-57, and the Jim Olson Ford location at 440 South Duluth Avenue.  Olson first purchased the Bill Boettcher Chevrolet Buick Cadillac in 2006, and in April of 2012, the Chrysler franchise was awarded to the auto group after Bergstrom closed operations in 2009 at 812 Green Bay Road.  In October 2014, the Jim Olson Auto Group expanded by purchasing the Witt Ford, renaming it Jim Olson Ford Lincoln, and moving to a brand new store on Duluth Avenue in 2017. 

According to Bizapedia.com, Patriot Motors Sturgeon Bay filed as a company last November and lists Shawn Kohli as the registered agent.  A letter sent out to vendors last week by Jim Olson Motors notes that the new general manager at Patriot Motors will be Jake Belcher.

One of the most popular activities for kids at the Door County YMCA is back this Friday and will be held exclusively poolside.  The Super Kids Fun Night will be taking place at the pool only at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center due to the current construction being done.  Member Experience Executive Brett Cleveland shares the details of the event. 

 The Door County YMCA staff will provide swim tests just prior to 5:00 p.m. before the Super Kids Fun Night starts and if your child passes, they may swim in the deep end of the recreation pool.  Participants should bring their swimsuits and towel and anyone interested in volunteering should call the YMCA at 920-743-4949.  When parents volunteer, their children get in for free.  

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council held its annual organizational meeting on Tuesday and got an update on the Door County Granary Project.  After public comments, Beth Renstrom and Nicole Matson of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation spoke on the application for CDS (Congressional Directed Spending) funding through the USDA Rural Development that is under review and will be discussed at a special public meeting next Wednesday, April 26 at the Door County Library.  Earlier this month Greenfire Management Services removed the original siding from the headhouse. 

After nominated committee assignments were made and approved (see below), council member Dan Williams was re-elected unanimously as the council president.

The council then voted unanimously to keep the regular meetings on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m.

In a couple of additional actions, the council kept the Peninsula Pulse as the official newspaper for the city for the second consecutive year, and public depository designations were approved for public monies that come into the city treasurer. 

The final piece of business by the Sturgeon Bay Common Council was the approval of the second reading to repeal and recreate an ordinance to lower the minimum floor area for efficiency apartments to 450 feet from 500 feet where multiple-family dwellings are zoned.

Mayor David Ward closed the meeting by thanking the council members for their commitment and time in getting the city moving forward in the past three years.

A manure spill in Brussels Monday night could have been a lot worse if it was not without the quick action of everyone involved. Officials from the Door County Sheriff's Department, Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department, Sturgeon Bay Fire Department, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the farm on Pit Court located near State Highway 57 where a valve on a manure holding tank malfunctioned. That caused nearly 150,000 gallons of manure to spill out. While much of it was contained to the barn, a small portion of it did roll down a hill into nearby Renard Creek. Crews were on the scene from 6:15 p.m. to just after 1 a.m. and members of the Door County Sheriff's Department reported that the water was clear and normal fish activity had returned later that morning. DNR Spill Coordinator Cody Heinze says he was able to get notified quickly and the spill was addressed efficiently because of the cooperation of the farmer and the responding crews.

If you witness a manure spill, you should call the DNR's manure spill hotline at 1-800-943-0003.

The future of Kewaunee County agriculture was measured in the hundreds of smiles you saw on the first day of Ag Career Days, organized by the Kewaunee County Economic Development Corporation. Approximately 900 students from Algoma, Kewaunee, Luxemburg-Casco, Denmark, and Southern Door schools will have filed through Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee by the time the two-day event closes on Wednesday. During that time, students will have seen everything from how the farm addresses comfort and milking to cheesemaking and packaging to accounting and information technology. Three students from Luxemburg-Casco said they learned a lot from the experience.

Ag Career Days was an idea of the late John Pagel, who saw the biannual event as a way to introduce kids to all aspects of agriculture and, with a little hope, keep them close to home rather than watch them move away after high school and college graduation. It has been five years since Pagel’s sudden passing and it has been just as long since the county has hosted the event because of the pandemic. His son, JJ, hopes his dad is smiling down on what they have been able to accomplish in the years since and what is still on the horizon.

Ag Career Days, which began in 2012, is held in opposite years of the KCEDC’s Manufacturing Days. Several dozen volunteers helped make the event a reality, which took kids through eight different stations highlighting the different career paths available in agriculture.

You can volunteer and find a new passion. April is National Volunteer Month, meaning it’s time for you to get involved in the community.  Door County Habitat for Humanity has over 75 volunteers and, for almost 30 years, they have invested almost 130,000 hours into the community. Volunteering helps you improve your social skills, teaches you valuable life skills, and gives you a sense of satisfaction. Lori Allen, Executive Director for Door County Habitat for Humanity, talks more about why volunteering matters. 

If you’d like to volunteer for Door County Habitat for Humanity, you can contact them at 920-743-2869. You can also contact some of your other favorite non-profit organizations and see how you can lend a helping hand.

Whether you are at your house down the street from the Door County Government building or several time zones away, you will be able to continue participating in Door County Board meetings remotely.

Whether you are at your house down the street from the Door County Government building or several time zones away, you will be able to continue participating in Door County Board meetings remotely. The Door County Board of Supervisors voted 17-4 to change their Rules of Order to allow remote comment at meetings. Supervisors David Englebert (District 1), Todd Thayse (District 2), Nancy Robillard (District 4), and Dan Austad (District 9) were the dissenting votes in amending the Rules of Order, which also eliminates the need to sign in and speak, the “first come, first serve” rule, and the allowance of public comment from people who did not sign in prior to the meeting. Those attending the meeting in person will still get to speak first. Public comment was shared by speakers attending remotely and through their respective supervisors. One asked Supervisor Nissa Norton (District 12) if Pony Express or passenger pigeon would be alternatives if remote comment was taken away. Joel Gunnlaugsson of District 21 said the topic was among the stupidest topics they have ever covered, adding that any tool that can connect constituents to their government officials should be used.

Thayse, who voted against the amendment, cited the growth of artificial intelligence and the power of in-person comments as the reasons why the topic was brought to the administrative committee.

The remote open comment portion of the meeting was born out of the early stages of the pandemic when local municipalities still needed to conduct meetings but public participation was deemed to be too risky. Tuesday’s vote cleared up conflicts that were created within the Rules of Order as a result.

Screenshot from Door County Board meeting Zoom feed

If you hear tornado sirens and other warnings going off on Thursday, you may not have to be alarmed.

The Wisconsin Emergency Management and the National Weather Service will use April 20th as a day to conduct its statewide tornado drill. The drills will take place at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Both the NWS and WEM’s ReadyWisconsin campaign will post information on social media about the drill in addition to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio test.

Other communities will take part in the statewide tornado drill by testing out their sirens or other emergency communications. In Kewaunee County, for example, they will use it as an opportunity to test their RaveAlert system, which makes calls to landlines and sends text messages to cell phones to alert residents of different emergencies. Kewaunee County Emergency Management Director Tracy Nollenberg says it is important that residents take this time to go over their severe weather plans and practice them during the drills. She recommends having an NOAA weather radio handy, a weather app downloaded on smartphones, and registration be completed for Kewaunee County’s mass emergency notification system, RaveAlert to receive information specific to Kewaunee County.

The statewide tornado drill corresponds with Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. If there is severe weather on April 20th, the drill will take place on April 21st.

You can expect to see orange construction barrels popping up just north of Sturgeon Bay beginning April 24th.  The one and only state highway improvement planned in Door County this year starts next week.  The over $1.5 million contract will make improvements on a 1.2-mile stretch of highway from Egg Harbor Road to the mid-junction of WIS 42 and WIS 57 begins.  Traffic on the roadway will remain open to traffic from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., with the majority of the work being done overnight.  Detour routes will be set up from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m., with access to side roads and adjacent properties will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.  Wisconsin Department of Transportation Regional Communications Manager Mark Kantola explains the benefits of the improvements to the highway.

Kantola notes that the road construction on Highway 42 should be completed in June.  You can find details on the construction project and detours at https://projects.511wi.gov/wis42shore/.

Making sure your mouth stays as healthy as it can be is the goal of a free oral cancer screening taking place at the Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic on Wednesday. Dentists will take a look at your mouth, tongue, and visible throat for signs of cancer and other precancerous conditions. The American Cancer Society projects that over 54,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer. If caught early, your chances of survival are 80 to 90 percent, compared to just 43 percent if not detected until its later stages. Tanya Fischer from the Door County Medical Center Clinic says when it comes to any issue involving the throat and mouth, it is important to be proactive rather than reactive.

The free oral cancer screenings will take place at the Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. No appointments are necessary.

You can listen to our entire interview with the Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic team by clicking this link.

You knew when they would be celebrating it, but now you know the slogan Sevastopol School District will use when celebrating its centennial anniversary. Instructional Aide Cathleen Heinz created the winning slogan of “Proud of our past. Focused on our Future.” It was chosen from over 70 entries created by community members, staff, students, and alumni. Even the official centennial logo has Sevastopol ties as alumna Laura (Ash) Blahnik from the Class of 2005 created it. Plans are still being formed for the rest of the yearlong centennial celebration, which will coincide with the 2023-2024 school year.

You will no longer have the opportunity to chime in during the open comment portion of the Door County Board of Supervisors if you are not physically in the chambers. The remote open comment portion of the meeting was born out of the early stages of the pandemic when local municipalities still needed to conduct meetings but public participation was deemed to be too risky. While many municipalities adopted the practice of recording their meetings for future viewings, remote public comment has disappeared. When reviewing the county’s by-laws, Door County Administrator Ken Pabich says there was a discrepancy regarding whether the remote public comment was allowed. With the April board meeting serving as the annual organizational meeting, Pabich adds that the administrative committee suggested that this was the time to address it.

Pabich emphasizes that even though the remote public comment period could disappear, you can still participate in the meetings by attending them in person, talking directly to your county board supervisor, or sending your correspondence via mail or email. The Door County Board will also receive an update on the Forestville Millpond including its involvement in a suit brought on by the Friends of the Forestville Dam as well as the rural address project when they meet inside their chambers in Sturgeon Bay on Tuesday at 9 a.m. 

The fight over a stretch of sidewalk you may have used in Egg Harbor is not over quite yet.

The Village of Egg Harbor announced last week it filed a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court seeking the review of a recent Court of Appeals decision between them and Sojenhommer, LLC regarding a disputed sidewalk. The case dates back to 2019 after the village condemned close to 400 square feet of property along County Highway G in order to make road and pedestrian improvements.

Sojenhommer LLC, which operates Shipwrecked Brewpub, sued the village the following year, arguing that the property could not be condemned to establish or extend a recreational trail. The village believes the sidewalk is not a recreational trail but rather a road safety feature since pedestrians in the past had to use the road in order to walk around that area of the village. After the village won its case in Door County Circuit Court, Sojenhommer, LLC appealed and received a positive judgment from the Court of Appeals in March. The village believes the ruling establishes a new precedent and could potentially all Wisconsin municipalities from utilizing their condemnation power to provide sidewalks in certain situations.

Village of Egg Harbor President John Heller said via a statement that “A complete street is designed to enable safe use by all people regardless of their age or ability and regardless of whether they are traveling as a driver or a pedestrian. The ultimate outcome of this case will have a major impact on Wisconsin municipalities’ ability to urbanize, make safety-related improvements, and/or reconstruct their roads. It will also impact the everso-important availability of grant funding which often requires the installation of a sidewalk. The Court of Appeals’ decision, if left unchallenged, will deter sidewalk construction and safety improvements on future streets in our State. This will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the general public.”  

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has not given an indication of whether it will take the case or not.

A new person will deliver the homily to you later this summer at a pair of parishes in Brussels and the Lincoln/Rosiere area. Father Edward Looney, who has served as the pastor of St. Francis and St. Mary Catholic Parish in Brussels and St. Peter and St. Hubert in Lincoln/Rosiere for the last six years, announced that Diocese of Green Bay Bishop David Ricken appointed him as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Shawano and priest celebrant at St. Martin Parish in Cecil effective July 1st. In addition to his current duties at the two parishes, Looney was a frequent contributor to the ministries at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion and produced a documentary about the Belgian roadside chapels in Door and Kewaunee counties.

Looney shared the news during his homily over the weekend and said that among the emotions that may be felt because of the news, he stressed to his parishioners to trust in Jesus.

After Looney departs, Fr. Ted Hendricks will take the reins of the parishes through August 31st until an international priest takes the role of pastor this fall.

Picture and homily courtesy of Father Looney's Facebook page

You can learn how to support survivors of child abuse and sexual assault with the Violence Intervention Project in Algoma. The VIP helps survivors of abuse by providing free and confidential services. They help with restraining orders, court appearances, and provide some financial support. Survivors of abuse can reach out to the VIP, their doctor, and/or a counselor. Kaylin, the volunteer coordinator and victim advocate at the VIP, says “Every 68 seconds, so just a little over a minute, an American is sexually assaulted, and for every nine minutes that victim is a child.” This shows that sexual assault and child abuse should be taken seriously and have more awareness brought to them. Survivors deserve to be believed and deserve to have a safe space within the community. Kaylin gives more facts and statistics as well as shares more about what the VIP does. 

The VIP has a 24-hour hotline for survivors of abuse, that number is 877-847-3223. 

What do you do if you need important medications and all of the pharmacies are closed? Door County Medical Center has an answer. For the last month, patients have been able to head to the emergency room lounge and use the InstyMeds vending machine to get antibiotics, analgesics, and steroids after visits to the hospital. DCMC Clinical Pharmacist Bradley Hobart says that the machines are more popular in rural areas, where the likelihood of a 24-hour pharmacy is low. There is also a health benefit according to a University of Minnesota study that shows that people that get their medicine at the point of care have higher rates of adherence, or making sure they are sticking with taking their medicine. The study goes on to say that with higher adherence comes better patient outcomes, fewer return visits, and lower healthcare costs. You can learn more about the machine and how it works by watching the video below.

A Door County organization has raised nearly $5,000 for Aspiro, a disability services provider in Green Bay, that lost four buses from its fleet in a February fire.  Sunshine Resources of Door County will be presenting a check to Aspiro next Friday from money raised in its resale store during March.  Forty percent of all sales during the month will be donated to Aspiro’s new bus fund.

Heather Mundy, Director of Client Services for Sunshine Resources, says “This was an easy decision. We felt for Aspiro and understand what the transportation piece offers to families and clients needing and wanting their services. Without it, most of our clients would not be able to participate in our daily programs. We knew we needed to do something to help”. A formal presentation of a check to Aspiro of Green Bay will be made by Sunshine Resources on Friday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m.

Sunshine Resources will also be celebrating its 50th Anniversary awards dinner on May 17th from 5:00 until 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are available online at www.sunshineresources.org/shop/. 

With planting season right around the corner, you are invited to join farmers and other members of the public in learning about some of the conservation strategies being employed in the area. Peninsula Pride Farms started to host their Conservation Conversation a few years ago as a way to showcase different farms and the practices they employ that could be either duplicated or tweaked for other operations. Peninsula Pride Farms President Duane Ducat is the first host of the year, inviting people to Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee. He says the no-till planter and the strip-tilling machine that will be on display are just two examples of how to do some of the more run-of-the-mill things better.

The first Conservation Conversation will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can find more details at this link.

Over the years many people have tried to capture what makes Kewaunee County such an amazing place to live, work and raise a family. There have been actual studies and surveys which have sought out to quantify the contributing factors to the great quality of life that we so often times take for granted.

While there are numerous contributing factors to this question, without a doubt, one of the key factors is the seemingly unlimited capacity of generosity and giving. This element of giving can be found in everything from fundraisers for local programs to massive turnouts at events such as our County Fair and Breakfast on Farm. It can also be found in the untold number of random acts of kindness that occur without recognition or awareness each and every day right here in our community.

The value of such qualities is not exclusive to Kewaunee County, in fact the impact and value of giving of one’s self is so important that there is actually a national awareness for it. April 16th through the 22nd is set aside to recognize National Volunteer Week. On that note, The Kewaunee County Volunteer Expo will be held on April 18th at East Shore Industries in Algoma from 1:00PM to 4:00PM. This event is being coordinated by the Kewaunee County Violence Intervention Project

It is easy to understand the value of volunteerism on the many projects, initiatives and institutions that benefit, but what is not so apparent and is many times overlooked is the value and impact of volunteerism for those who are doing the volunteering.

There are actual scientific studies that have looked at the relationship between positive mental health and human connection. We know that as human beings, we thrive when engaged in deep meaningful relationships. This is one of the reasons we see such a deficit in our current state of mental health, as you can not establish nor sustain meaningful relationships exclusively through social media. There must be at some point a physical human interaction, to experience the mental and physiological benefits. To take it one step further, we create a stronger sense of purpose and meaning in these relationships when they are connected to giving of one’s self.

This is where volunteerism comes into play. The history of our great country can be directly tied to volunteerism. The very existence of our nation was secured by men and women who gave of themselves and their resources, in some cases to the detriment of their personal safety. Even in our current day and age, the men and women who stand to protect freedom do so as volunteers.

The basic fabric of our communities is woven through the many volunteers and the amazing organizations that rely on them for the valuable work that they do in supporting our communities. We can track the wellbeing of our communities and its members by the level of volunteerism within that same community. As the level of volunteerism increases, the quality of that community improves, and in contrast as that level decreases so too, does the quality of life in that community. Another misconception that has evolved in recent years is that government and its programs can some how supplement or replace the need for volunteers and the organizations they support. This couldn’t be further from reality. Also, the mere act of writing a check does not provide the same personal level of fulfillment, for it is the human connection that both the giver and the receiver realize the greatest impact. There is a quote from Mother Teresa that states “Love is not patronizing, and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and Love are the same. With Charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.”

If you ever find that you are in a place of sorrow or experiencing a lack of fulfillment, try volunteering for something. Even in its simplest form, volunteering brings with it some pretty profound impacts for both you and the purpose for which you are giving of yourself. 

You will notice more orange construction barrels popping up on roadways in Door and Kewaunee counties, and the Department of Transportation wants to remind you of the importance of safe driving this spring and summer.  April 17 through the 21st is National Work Zone Awareness Week in Wisconsin.  WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said “Work zones are temporary, but our decisions behind the wheel can make an impact forever.  The people working behind the barrels rely on us to drive safely.”

With highway construction and rolling maintenance operations, as well as emergency response, municipal projects, and utility work being done along local roads, local law enforcement asks that you set down your phone, avoid distractions, slow down and focus on the road ahead. 

Speeding, tailgating, and distracted driving are listed as the common factors in the majority of crashes.  In 2022, over 2,000 crashes were recorded in work zones in the state, resulting in 63 deaths and more than 4,300 injuries.  You can read the entire news release on work zone safety from the Wisconsin DOT below.  

Annual Work Zone Awareness Week highlights importance of highway safety

Gov. Tony Evers has proclaimed next week (April 17-21) as National Work Zone Awareness Week in Wisconsin. For more than 20 years, National Work Zone Awareness Week has marked the start of construction season across our country, promoting road worker safety and cautious driving in work zones.

“Transportation investments are reaching all corners of the state and crews are rolling out the barrels to establish work zones for this year’s construction season,” Gov. Evers said. “Work Zone Awareness Week reminds us of our call to action, but these messages do not apply to just one week. Work zone safety must be top of mind for every driver when getting in the vehicle. Safe driving is always in season.”

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) reminds motorists of the importance of safe, responsible driving – especially in work zones as the 2023 construction season gets underway. In Wisconsin, work zones include highway construction and rolling maintenance operations as well as emergency response, municipal projects and utility work along local roads. Every year there are typically more than 300 state highway and bridge improvement projects in Wisconsin.

“Work zones are temporary, but our decisions behind the wheel can make an impact forever,” WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson said. “The people working behind the barrels rely on us to drive safely. Glancing at a text or social media alert while driving is not worth it. Let’s work together to avoid distractions and stay focused on the road ahead. Safe drivers create safe work zones.”

Preliminary data shows more than 2,000 crashes were recorded in Wisconsin work zones in 2022, resulting in eight deaths and more than 650 injuries.

• From 2018 to 2022, Wisconsin work zones saw more than 11,500 crashes causing 63 deaths and more than 4,300 injuries.
• Speeding, tailgating and distracted driving are listed as common factors in a majority of crashes.
• Download the 2023 Wisconsin work zone safety fact sheet.

Cell phone use is one of the most common factors in distracted driving crashes. Wisconsin law prohibits texting while driving on any road. It is also illegal to use a hand-held mobile device in work zones and in areas surrounding emergency response vehicles with flashing lights.

Drivers and passengers make up the vast majority of those injured or killed in a work zone crash, but workers remain at risk as well. Last year, a 25-year-old utility worker was struck and killed while unloading equipment on the side of a road in Sauk County. In 2021, a 57-year-old Clark County highway worker was killed and another worker was injured after being struck by a vehicle while removing a fallen tree during a storm.

“It only takes a momentary distraction to create a deadly situation on the road,” Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent Tim Carnahan said. “Through enforcement and public safety efforts, our goal is to motivate drivers to behave responsibly. Everyone must do their part behind the wheel to stay safe; remember: buckle up, phone down.”

We want everyone to get home safely each day. A moment of being distracted while driving can result in lives being changed forever.

How can people help?

• Drive safely. Be courteous, avoid distractions and obey posted speed limits.
• Leave the phone alone. Texting while driving is illegal statewide and talking on a hand-held mobile device is illegal in work zones.
• Move over, or slow down, when you see workers and vehicles with flashing lights along the highway. Wisconsin’s Move Over Law applies to maintenance operations as well as emergency response units.
• Buckle Up, Phone Down. Take the pledge at wisconsindot.go?v/BUPD?? and share your commitment with others. Participants are encouraged to share a thumbs up/thumbs down photo on social media using the hashtag #BuckleUpPhoneDown then challenge friends, family and coworkers to do the same.
• Show support for work zone safety with the social media hashtags #WorkWithUs, #NWZAW, #WorkZoneSafety, or #Orange4Safety (but please never text and drive).
• Participate in “Go Orange Day” on Wednesday, April 19 by wearing orange in support of highway safety. (Tag it on social media with #Orange4Safety and #GoOrangeDay)
• A nationwide moment of silence is planned for Friday, April 21 for people who lost their lives in a work zone incident.
• Visit wisconsindot.gov and search “work zone” for more tips and information.

A 32-year-old man from Mexico has died after injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover crash in the Town of Forestville Friday afternoon. Sheriff's Deputies responded to the scene at 3:50 p.m. to the scene on Mill Road between Old Elm Road and West Center Road. The initial investigation shows that the man was traveling northbound on Mill Road when it crisscrossed across the roadway before it entered a nearby ditch. While the vehicle was rolling over, it ejected the man from the driver's seat before it settled on its roof near a plowed field. He is only being identified now as a 32-year-old Mexican national who was working in the area and his name is not being released until family members have been notified. Emergency personnel from the Door County Sheriff's Department, Southern Door Fire Department, Southern Door First Responders, and Door County Emergency Services all responded to the incident that closed Mill Road until approximately 5:15 p.m. The incident remains under investigation.

You missed your opportunity to ask your questions directly to State Senator Andre Jacque during listening sessions on Monday in Sturgeon Bay and Luxemburg.

There was a good turnout and even better conversation at the pair of listening sessions, with the main topic being the budget and how the structure of tax relief will work. Another concern discussed was state park funding and the Potowatomi Tower and the support for preservation, followed by the governor following Jacque and the community’s recommendation to have more funding for the structure. Mental health, ice rescues, disability, veterans' benefits, and education were also on the table for discussion.  Jacque goes over more questions and comments that were discussed. 

Jacque says, “It’s always a great opportunity for folks to be in person and for me to get good legislative ideas and I’m able to work all the way through the process.” He will continue to do listening sessions throughout the spring in four other counties in Wisconsin.

Door County resident Jim Meyer never thought he would be an organ recipient when signed the back of his driver's license as a young man, but he hopes his story resonates with you moving forward. Meyer and his family were the guests of honor at this year's Donate Life flag-raising held outside the main entrance of Door County Medical Center Friday afternoon. The flag was raised at 1:08 p.m. to recognize the eight lives you can save as an organ donor. A moment of silence was then held for 104 seconds, representing the 104,000 people still waiting for an organ donor. Meyer was lucky when during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was told that he needed a replacement for his ailing heart that could not be repaired. He only had to wait three weeks for his new heart and along with it, a new lease on life.

Door County Medical Center President and CEO Brian Stephens echoed Meyer's thoughts at the end of Friday's ceremony, urging everyone to sign up to be an organ donor. You can watch today's ceremony below.

You could see shovels go into the ground for the new Kewaunee County Jail in late summer according to the timeline outlined by Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski during Tuesday’s Kewaunee County Board meeting. Joski outlined the progress being made with the project that is expected to go out for bids in May. Joski says right now they are working hard to cut dollars where they can to make sure they stay under budget for the over $20 million project.

Supervisor Tim Kinnard remarked after the brief presentation by Joski that while he appreciates the proactive approach to staying under budget they still want the structure to have some aesthetic appeal. Joski agreed with Kinnard’s comments, outlining ways they work with the community to beautify the space. The Kewaunee County Board also agreed to join the most recent settlement suit involving pharmacies and opioid manufacturers during the swift 25-minute meeting.

You cannot see the smoke or the destruction for yourself, but the forest fire raging near Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin could serve multiple important reminders here in Door and Kewaunee counties. Multiple agencies around the state are involved in the blaze that started earlier this week that has since burned almost 3,000 acres, forced several evacuations, and even closed down I-94 for several hours due to smoke. While federal agencies are involved in battling the wildfire, many of the responding firefighters are from volunteer departments in communities like Bangor and Warrens. Crews are working in 12-hour shifts to help keep the fire from spreading further, though it is still only 46 percent contained as of Friday morning. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht says large efforts like this show the need to keep recruiting volunteers to join their ranks and the sacrifices the profession requires.

Hecht says there is a possibility that some firefighters from Door County may have to head west to join the effort, but he does not know if a mass deployment from their departments will be required. He also emphasizes that people should take a break from burning until it is safe to do. You can get more updates on the fire by clicking this link.

Picture courtesy of Amy Bryant, who lives near the evacuation zone of what is being known as the Arcadia fire. 

The Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee took time on Thursday night to thank you for all of the support, whether it is at Breakfast on the Farm or just buying their products at the store.

Approximately 200 people stopped by the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds for the new Celebrate Dairy event saluting farmers, volunteers, and sponsors for food, conversation, and, of course, dairy products. The committee took time to highlight the work the committee and its members do in the community, ranging from service on the county board to visits to local schools. Kewaunee County Dairy Promotion Committee President John Blazei said it was a great way to catch up with people after a long winter and to thank people for what they do to promote the industry locally.

The evening also included the formal introduction of the Salentine Family, this year’s host of the 2023 Kewaunee County Breakfast on the Farm. The introduction also included an emotional tribute to the family’s matriarch Mary Salentine, who passed away in September. Blazei emphasized the need for more volunteers for this year’s Breakfast on the Farm, which will take place at Salentine Homestead Dairy in Luxemburg on Father’s Day.

Shortly after 4:30 p.m. Thursday, a vehicle hit a utility pole on the 200 block of North 18th Avenue causing it to snap in half and forcing traffic to be detoured.  The Sturgeon Bay Police and fire department blocked traffic from the Michigan Street intersection to Kentucky Street, as Sturgeon Bay Utilities was contacted to deal with the broken utility pole that was suspended about 12 feet over the street.  No other information is available and Door County Daily News will update this story as more details become available. 

You can support forensics students at the state forensics meet on Saturday, April 15th at DeForest High School. Forensics is a competitive speech team where groups and individuals pick from categories that show their public speaking skills. Categories range from poetry, informative, and radio. The local schools involved in subdistricts were Southern Door, Sevastopol, and Sturgeon Bay. Gary Barta, a state-qualifying senior at Southern Door, goes more in-depth about the inner workings of forensics. 

Forensics is an opportunity for students to put themselves out in the community. Barta says “It’s a good way to get your way into public speaking.” He plans on pursuing journalism at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire.

It is too early to tell yet, but Rep. Joel Kitchens hopes you see big returns from the newly established water quality trading clearinghouse program in the near future. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced late last month that the State of Wisconsin had entered into a contract to establish the nation's first market-based water quality trading clearinghouse. Wisconsin Clearinghouse is expected to launch an online platform this month to connect buyers and sellers of water quality trading credits together. Under the program, farmers could adopt water conservation practices like letting fields go to native vegetation and receive money from wastewater treatment plant operators that are becoming financially strapped due to ever-changing regulations. Kitchens says if the program works the way that it should, it should be a win-win for everyone involved.

Kitchens worked on the program with Green Bay Republican State Senator Robert Cowles, getting legislation passed three years ago. Despite the wait, Kitchens is happy the program is now getting underway.

A new face will guide Luxemburg-Casco Intermediate School following this summer’s retirement of principal Jolene Hussong.

The Luxemburg-Casco School Board approved the hire of Denmark Middle School special education teacher Heather Mleziva as its new intermediate school principal at its meeting late last month. Mleziva also served as the athletic director and the designated interim principal at Denmark Middle School over the course of her tenure. She also served as a non-violent crisis intervention trainer/district coordinator, district instructional leadership team member, and district teaching and learning team member, adding to the experience she brings to her new job at the intermediate school. 

Luxemburg-Casco District Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks said Mleziva’s skill and energy put her "above other candidates for the position.” An alum of the University of Minnesota Duluth and UW-Milwaukee, Mleziva said she is looking forward to meeting everyone and having an open-door policy so she can have “conversations with as many people as possible, listening to and learning from them.”

Mleziva start her new role in July after getting up to speed with Hussong before the end of the current school.

The Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department needs your help finding who may have caused damage to a number of pieces of snowmobiling signage in the Town of West Kewaunee. Sometime during the late evening to early morning hours of April 8th and 9th, a vehicle traveling south on County Highway C left the roadway near a curve at the County F intersection, striking a Moonriders Snowmobile Club sign and a snowmobile trail stop sign. The vehicle continued to drive down the Ahnapee Trail, striking other snowmobile signs along the way. Deputy Jamie Tlachac suspects the vehicle in question is a dark gray or charcoal 2009-2011 Toyota Camry and has front-end damage. You are encouraged to call the Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department if you have any information.

You will see something that has never happened before in the 111-year history of Northeast Wisconsin Technical College when Dr. Kristen Raney is installed as its next president. Raney, who currently serves as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Eastern Iowa Community Colleges in Davenport, will be not only the eighth president in the institution’s history but also its first female. Cathy Dworak from the NWTC Board of Trustees said Raney’s values are “aligned with our college’s mission and needs of higher education today.” Raney says she is humbled to be selected as NWTC’s next president, calling the college’s focus on serving its students and preparing a strong workforce “truly impressive.” Raney will take over her new role on July 1st after Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn retires from a 26-year stint as NWTC’s president.

Tammy Baldwin wants to continue to represent you in the U.S. Senate. The two-term senator announced her re-election campaign Wednesday morning.

In her statement, Baldwin says “Wisconsinites need someone who can fight and win” when it comes to families struggling with rising costs and potential bans on reproductive freedom. First elected in 2012, Baldwin also cited her biggest wins in the U.S. Senate including the promotion of Made in America manufacturing, lowering the price of prescription drugs, and expanding health care for veterans.

According to Wisconsin Public Radio, no Republicans have officially entered the race. Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel in March he would be “bored” as a U.S. Senator after accomplishing so much in his previous stint as an elected official. That same month, QPS Employment Chairperson and CEO Scott Mayer told WisPolitics.com that he was considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat.

STATEMENT FROM TAMMY BALDWIN

“I'm committed to making sure that working people, not just the big corporations and ultra-wealthy, have a fighter on their side. With so much at stake, from families struggling with rising costs to a ban on reproductive freedom, Wisconsinites need someone who can fight and win,”

A fire in Sturgeon Bay could have been a lot worse if it was not for the incident occurring right across the street from the fire station.

The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department received the call just before 8:45 p.m. Tuesday night at a home on Michigan Street. Sturgeon Bay Assistant Fire Chief Kalin Montevideo said a small building located just outside the home with a sauna in it caught fire. Firefighters used approximately 300 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze and they were able to wrap up the operation in just under an hour. There were no injuries and there was no damage to the home.

With the Door County Baseball season less than one month away from the first pitch, a legend on the diamond is being remembered.  Former Sister Bay Bays player Delmar “Pickle” Robert Olson, Jr., 77, passed away at his home in Liberty Grove on April 5th.  According to his obituary, Olson played shortstop for the Bays for over 15 years and was inducted into the Door County Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.  A 1963 graduate of Gibraltar High School, Olson served in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970, earning the National Defense of Service Medal and remaining on reserve status until 1972.  Southern Door High School baseball coach John Berns says Olson was always a great supporter of local youth baseball.  He shares a life-long memory he has of Pickle hitting a home run as a 13-year-old in a Door County Baseball League game.

A celebration of Pickle’s life will be conducted with a visitation at Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday,  April 13 from 3:00 until 6:00 p.m.  You can read Delmar “Pickle” Olson’s complete obituary by clicking on this link.  

After a one-year absence, the Sturgeon Bay Program Center will offer the Peak Performance Clinic for kids this summer.  The six-week program will begin on June 19th with registration starting on Tuesday, April 18.  Aquatics Director Nicole Shepard says the course is similar to CrossFit workouts and will utilize over $9,000 worth of agility performance equipment that helps to develop a powerful foundation of agility and speed, along with strength and endurance.

The Peak Performance Clinic will be run by Director Mike McHugh who has coached over 1,070 state qualifiers from multiple sports.  Participants are expected to commit to all four days of camp each week in order to substantially increase performance.  You can find more information at doorcountyymca.com.  

You might think twice before giving your dog a cheesy treat on a regular basis.  A catchy tune on the social media platform TikTok is going viral, but it could also mean concerns for your pet.  The craze of the video shows dog owners feeding their canine companions cheese while playing “The cheese tax” song.

Many veterinarians are making a friendly warning that giving your pet too much cheese or ones that have additional ingredients may be toxic and harmful to them. According to Sean McCormack, Head Veterinarian at tails.com, says “Cheese may sound like it has many benefits to your dog’s diet because it is filled with protein, calcium, and vitamins that are all good for your dog’s health.  But it’s important to remember that cheese can be extremely high in fat, and feeding it to your dog regularly can lead to a number of health issues, including unwanted weight gain or pancreatitis – an illness that can be fatal to dogs.”  Milk-based products can be harmful to your dog’s health because many canines are actually lactose intolerant and struggle to digest dairy foods properly.   

Some suggested dog treats that can be substituted in moderation are bananas, unsalted peanut butter, berries, and eggs.  You can find more information from tails.com on safely feeding your pet human food below.

Why is regularly eating cheese dangerous for your dog?

Sean McCormack, Head Vet at tails.com, says, “While it's fine to give some dogs cheese as a treat in moderation, succumbing to those adorable puppy eyes every time you take it out the fridge, isn’t always in their best interests for a number of reasons:

It can cause health problems

“Cheese may sound like it has many benefits to your dog's diet because it is filled with protein, calcium and vitamins that are all good for your dog's health. 

“But it's important to remember that cheese can be extremely high in fat, and feeding it to your dog regularly can lead to a number of health issues, including unwanted weight gain or pancreatitis - an illness that can be fatal to dogs. 

Some ingredients are toxic to dogs

“Some types of cheese that taste delicious to humans can contain added ingredients that can be toxic to our four-legged friends, such as garlic, onions and chives. When these are consumed by our dogs, they can cause damage to their red blood cells and can result in them becoming anaemic.

“If your pup might be a bit of a scavenger when you are cooking, make sure to keep any cheeses that contain toxic ingredients somewhere out of reach of those curious paws! 

A lot of dogs do not digest it well

“As well as potentially being harmful to your dog's health, you should try to avoid feeding them lots of milk-based products like cheese because many canines are actually lactose intolerant, and struggle to digest dairy products properly. 

“Though it can be safe to give your pet some cheese in small quantities as a treat, you should probably hold off from doing so if they are lactose intolerant. Instead, find a healthy alternative that will keep them from ‘looking’ every time ‘you’re cooking’ to avoid any unpleasant reactions such as vomiting, diarrhoea and loose stool.”

What kind of food should I give my dog as treats instead?

Bananas - “Bananas cram a lot of nutrition into a small, dog-friendly package. They’re full of potassium, fibre, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, lutein and selenium. Always remove the peel, and serve in moderation to avoid giving your dog too much sugar.” 

Unsalted Peanut Butter - “Unsalted peanut butter with no added sugar can be a good treat to give your dog, as long it is given in moderation. It is packed full of nutrients, such as vitamins E and B, as well as proteins that are all good for your dog's diet. Before letting your furry friend happily lick the spoon, make sure to check whether it contains any xylitol - a sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs. 

 Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries - “High in vitamins C, E and K, and packed with antioxidants like anthocyanin, berries are great nutritional all-rounders. Blueberries contain good levels of B vitamins like folate and B6, too, while blackberries are a great source of potassium and magnesium. Meanwhile, raspberries are sweet, without being too calorific – great for dogs on a weight management diet.

Eggs - “Eggs are full of nutrients, rich proteins and vitamins that will benefit canine health. However, that being said, eggs should only be given as an occasional treat, and served boiled or scrambled without any added ingredients. Fried eggs are better off avoided, as they can come with a lot of grease that could further upset their digestive system or cause weight gain.” 

A small grass fire in a backyard got under control quickly Tuesday evening, as the Egg Harbor Fire Department responded and put the blaze out within 30 minutes.  Fire Chief Justin MacDonald says the burning of materials behind the residence at 5845 State Highway 42 in the Town of Egg Harbor spread to about a 50 by 50-foot area before it could be extinguished completely by firefighters shortly after 6 p.m.  McDonald warns property owners that burning bans have been issued now on a day-to-day basis until safer conditions arise.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the current fire situation in Door County remains at a high level while at a very high level in Kewaunee County.  Governor Evers also declared a State of Emergency on Wednesday due to the elevated wildfire conditions. 

The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department did not have to go far for a call Tuesday night.

Firefighters merely crossed the street just before 9 p.m. The fire was located in the back of the house and it was quickly contained by the crews on duty. Michigan Street did have to shut down for a short time as a result.

We will have more details as they become available.

UPDATE:  The Door County couple won $1.3 million on the NBC "The Wall" game show Tuesday night. 

You will see some familiar faces on a popular TV game show Tuesday night.

Door County Candle owners Nic and Christiana Trapani will appear on the Season 5 premiere of NBC’s “The Wall.” On "The Wall", the Trapani’s will have to answer a series of trivia questions from host Chris Hardwick with hopes of building up to $12 million. The actual money won on the show will depend on their trivia prowess as well as the luck of the bounce of a ball in a giant Plinko-style peg board.

The Trapanis are no strangers to the national spotlight. Their efforts with their Ukraine candles put them on the map not just in the region and across the state, but also around the world thanks to stories played during the national network news. Because of that national coverage, Door County Candle has raised over $868,000 for Razom for Ukraine since Russia invaded the country last year.

The show airs Tuesday night at 8 p.m. on NBC and its streaming service Peacock.

Algoma author Bret Kissinger has a mystery for you to solve in his recently published new book titled The Final Edit. The book is about a woman who faced a horrible ordeal in college, escaped, and is now living a half-life in Chicago. Now working as an editor, she starts getting sample edits that have explicit details about her experience in college. She gets more and more of these letters, and she begins to realize the person who did this to her is still out there committing more crimes. Kissinger talks about his inspiration and how to accurately depict time periods in a story. 

Kissinger says people tell him to “write about what you know” but he finds it more interesting to find things that could happen to anyone and turn in into a mystery. Thinking about how as a writer himself, how would he react to getting sample edits of crimes that were committed on the news. He says it takes effort to turn an idea into a full story.

Photo credits to Yardstick

You can mark April 10th, 2023 as the end of the pandemic as far as the United States is concerned. President Joe Biden signed into law the Pandemic is Over Act on Monday, ending the federal public emergency that was first enacted in March 2020. It was scheduled to end on May 11th after being extended more than a dozen times. As a result, it will be up to the individual to cover the costs of COVID-19 tests and treatments. Millions of people could be kicked off of their Medicaid coverage, though some may be eligible for other programs.  The end of the federal public health emergency will not affect existing emergency use authorizations for Covid-19 vaccines, tests, or treatments. Closer to home, the news’ effect is unknown. Both Door and Kewaunee counties ended their public health emergencies months ago. Door County Public Health Director Ben Krawczyk said it was an unexpected announcement and many of the questions posed during Monday’s Door County Health and Human Services Committee meeting were left unanswered. Kewaunee County Public Health Nurse Cindy Kinnard says much of the programming that they stopped because of the pandemic was slowly coming back anyways. She hopes that even though COVID-19 is not going away that people take to heart what they learned during the last three years.

U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher cheered the bill’s signature into law. He said the Biden Administration relied on the public health emergency to “spend massive sums of taxpayer dollars and expand the size of the federal government.” He added that now is the time to address the accountability regarding the Chinese Communist Party's coverup of the origin of the pandemic, which the Biden administration is unacceptably slow to pursue.”

If you saw people having a water fight in their yard on Monday, it was not just because of the warm temperatures. The day after Easter has a different meaning depending on where in the world you are from and the traditions you brought with you. In some countries, Easter Monday is an officially recognized holiday and an extra day off from work and school. Even though it is not an official holiday in the United States, some local school districts took advantage of the opportunity to extend the holiday weekend. In Poland, ?migus-dyngus is a formerly pagan turned Roman Catholic celebration where boys throw water over girls on Monday and the girls return the favor on Tuesday. The men and women have their own fun spritzing cologne and perfume on each other. Ephraim’s Prince of Pierogi owner Krzysztof Krol says his ?migus-dyngus is a fun tradition to continue with his family.

Even though ?migus-dyngus celebrations have not caught on locally, some Polish communities including Buffalo and Cleveland routinely hold events to commemorate the occasion. Events with similar traditions to ?migus-dyngus take place throughout central Europe.

A Luxemburg man who impacted local agriculture and served his community for over five decades will be recognized at the Luxemburg-Casco High School graduation in May.  Bob Miller, a 1965 graduate of Luxemburg High School, is the 2023 recipient of the Luxemburg-Casco School District Distinguished Alumni Award.  After high school, Miller graduated from St. Norbert College in 1969 with a degree in business administration.  He married his high school sweetheart Linda and assumed operations of her retiring parents’ farm and are still farming today.  A deacon in the Green Bay Catholic Diocese, Miller served in that role at St. Mary’s Church in Luxemburg for many years and continues to assist at Holy Trinity School when asked.  Principal Troy Haws says "With farming being a pillar industry in the area, Bob made his mark on the L-C community through work and personal service for over 50 years".  The Luxemburg-Casco District annually recognizes a past graduate who is selected for achievement in high school and beyond, community service, and the ability to serve as an inspiration to Luxemburg-Casco Students.  Miller will be honored on May 24 at the 2023 commencement.  

A simple conversation about organ and tissue donation now could put your mind at ease for what possibly lies ahead when you are gone later. Every year, more than 900,000 lives are helped through organ and tissue donation, whether it be for treating a serious injury or replacing a failing heart or liver. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, nearly 114,000 people are on the national waiting list for organ transplants, including 2,000 Wisconsinites. One person could save eight lives by donating their organs and positively impact the lives of over 70 people when you include tissue donation. Versiti Hospital Relation Liaison Tracy Wylie works with organizations like Door County Medical Center to find the organs and tissues needed for patients. She says the misconceptions about the process often stunt the conversations.

Door County Medical Center will host their annual Donate Life Flag Raising on Friday at 1:08 p.m. in front of the hospital. Joining in the festivities is Door County resident Jim Meyer, who saw his life saved thanks to a heart transplant.

Listen to our full interview with DCMC's Christa Krause and Versiti's Tracy Wylie here

Kewaunee County may become the latest county to join the state’s fight against opioid manufacturers and distributors pending a decision from its county board on Tuesday.

According to the resolution, the county will enter settlement agreements with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, CVS, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and Allergan Finance. In late 2022, the three pharmacy chains and two manufacturers were added to a second round of settlements following a first round of settlements in 2021 that included three pharmaceutical distributors and one manufacturer. About $17 billion will be distributed to counties and states across the country over the course of approximately 18 years. Seventy percent of the proceeds from the settlement will go to local governments while 30 percent will go to the state. The fiscal impact of joining the settlement is an estimated $330,000 over a nine-to-eighteen-year period. The Door County Board of Supervisors weighed in on a similar resolution at their last meeting on March 28^th. 

The Kewaunee County Board will also approve the appointments of Brock Agamaite and Nicole Barbiaux to the Land Information Council when they meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Administration Building in Kewaunee.   

Just because you can still see snow piles and big puddles in spots does not mean area fire departments are not on high alert for an increase in calls regarding grass fires. Spring often means the start of the grass fire season in Wisconsin as the temperatures begin to warm up and dry out the grass that is still dormant from the winter. Brussels-Union-Gardner Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wautier says there is usually a two-week period where this occurs before the grass begins to green up. He says if you must burn at this time of the year, you have to pay particular attention to the conditions.

Wautier says they will issue a burn ban if the conditions are too dry to burn safely. According to WSAW-TV, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says there were 23 grassfires reported through the end of March.  

If you are immunocompromised or above the age of 65, the Food and Drug Administration is saying it is okay if you get a second booster dose of the omicron-specific vaccine. The Washington Post reported last week that the FDA is expected to make the recommendation in the coming weeks with the Centers for Disease Control endorsing its use as well. The expectation is older people will consult with their doctor before getting the second dose and that it will not be recommended for younger individuals. Only about 42 percent of people above the age of 65 received the first booster dose.

The recommendation came before the Door County Public Health Department reported its first COVID-related hospitalization in several weeks. Only eight of the 45 tests administered came back positive for COVID-19 with another three listed as probable. CDC data shows that Kewaunee County only saw three new positives out of 55 tests performed. As a result, Door and Kewaunee counties continue to be at the low community COVID-19 community level as they have been for much of the year. Seventy of the state’s 72 counties are in the low community level with Outagamie and Waupaca counties currently listed in the medium level.

Door County COVID-19 Case Counts - April 10, 2023

Updated weekly on Monday when data available from the state. Case counts do NOT  include any at home testing results.  
Total Tests: 33,853 (+45)
Positive: 8,330 (+8)
Probable: 495 (+3)
Negative: 25,028 (+34)
Hospitalizations: 280 (+1)
Deaths: 77 
*Data regarding deaths may be delayed due to processing of medical reports at the state level. To see the timeline of when deaths occurred in Door County, follow the link below and use the filter to select Door.
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/data.htm

For about two weeks, you will have to watch out for flagging operations along State Highway 57 in Door County beginning Monday. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced a series of highway and bridge maintenance projects in the Northeast Region, including three different spots in Door County. Maintenance crews will conduct clearing, grubbing, and tree removal operations on Highway 57 between Summit Road and Loritz Road, Whitefish Bay Road and Valmy Road, and at County Road T daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The projects are expected to last until April 20th pending weather conditions. The roads will not close, but flagging operations will be used to maintain traffic flow. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is expected to start a more impactful road project on Highway 42/57 resurfacing just over a mile of Highway 42/57 between Egg Harbor Road and the roads’ split will begin later this month.

The run of sap may be over, but now you get to taste the fruit of Ed Staats' labor in the form of maple syrup. The return of warmer temperatures this week marks the end of the season for other maple syrup producers. Staats estimates that they produced approximately 750 gallons of maple syrup from more than 30,000 gallons of sap. Even though the area never had a really deep freeze, the consistently cold temperatures made it easy for him and his crew to pull sap out of his 2,500 trees with his vacuum system. His hard work was rewarded at last weekend's Phelps Maple Syrup Festival contest. His entry won the Amber Color and Rich Taste category and took second overall. He was happy with both the award and the end of the sap season.

Staats says now that he will not have to worry about checking sap lines and cooking maple syrup as much, he can redirect his attention to his dairy operation. Wisconsin produced approximately 440,000 gallons of maple syrup in 2022, which was good for fourth in the country behind Vermont, New York, and Maine. 

Photo courtesy of Country View Farm Maple Syrup

A Sturgeon Bay couple is looking forward to serving you as the Poet Laureates of Door County for the next two years. Ethel and Tom Davis of Sturgeon Bay were jointly approved for the post at last month's Door County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Ethel and Tom met and surpassed the criteria for Door County’s Poet Laureate. Both are heavily involved with local poetry groups. They have been married for 55 years and have devoted their lives to writing and art. Ethel grew up in Wisconsin and has a love for art and writing. She says the people who had the biggest influence on her writing were her high school teachers. Tom grew up in western Colorado and has lived in Sturgeon Bay with Ethel for about 11 years. Tom has published books across Wisconsin as well as the world, from Great Britain to New Zealand. Tom and Ethel have been writing for as long as they can remember and share some advice and inspiration. 

Ethel says she is inspired by the landscape of Wisconsin has always intrigued her, she also works with pastels to create abstract and realistic works of art. Tom says writing helped him through times in his life when he couldn’t do anything else, and says that anyone who wants to pursue writing needs to write every day, even if it’s a little, you still need to write. He adds that Door County is the place to be if you want to become a writer due to the support the community has given him and Ethel.

Photo Credits To Write On Door County.

You could celebrate Earth Day with many different events throughout Door County. This year's focus is composting. Composting is a great way to get rid of excess food scraps, garden waste, and other organic waste. Composting can benefit our community, here is what Alex Cole, Event Director and Property Manager at the Kress Pavilion had to say “By utilizing all of the waste products in an environmentally friendly way, it can be composted back down into dirt and can continue to be good for our environment.” 

First on April 21st, at Northern Sky’s Gould Theater, see live music by Jeanne Kuhns, Paul Taylor, and Terry Murphy. Along with poetry and prose by Write on Door County. 

On April 22nd at the Kress Pavilion, Earth Day workshops, a special visit from Open Door Bird Sanctuary, and other activities for kids. Presentations about the future of Lake Michigan, Gardening for Pollinators, Green Shopping, and more will also be featured on this day. 

Finally on April 23rd at Crossroads and Big Creek, there will be wetland restoration tours, tree planting demonstrations, and plant giveaways. Along with a showing of the film "Ridges and Swales" at 3:00 pm. 

Alex Cole shares more information on how to be more involved this Earth Day. 

For more information on the festival, click this link. 

Southern Door senior Hunter Malvitz, who you knew on stage as Gomez Addams in Southern Door’s The Addams Family, is nominated for the Outstanding Performance in a Lead Role award at this year’s Center Stage Award Showcase. 

Malvitz is one of a handful of carefully selected male and female performers from a total of 31 competing schools in the program and will perform as a soloist at the showcase. He will also go through an interview along with a dancing and singing audition before ultimately finding out on May 6th at the Center Stage showcase if he will be one of the two nominees to attend the Jimmy Awards in New York. The Jimmy Awards are the high school version of the Tony Awards, where nominees from all around the nation are recognized. Malvitz said the reactions he has gotten from others and even from himself have been unexpected. 

Malvitz will be joined by another local performer looking to win the award, as Luxemburg-Casco's Joseph Thuecks, who played Harry in their production of Mamma Mia was also nominated. The ensemble from L-C was nominated for the Outstanding Ensemble award as well. 

The Center Stage Awards Showcase is set for May 6th at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. 

Photo courtesy of Hunter Malvitz 

You could spend April 23rd playing indoor golf, darts, pool, and more. Open Door Pride is hosting an April Fun Night Pride Mixer on April 23rd, 2 pm - 5 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Open Door Pride has made it their mission to celebrate diversity within the community. Every month this organization tries to host a fun night or mixer to bring the community closer together, this month’s mixer will be at Golf ‘n More In-Door. Open Door Pride Board Member, Andrea Frank, shares some of the volunteer opportunities lined up for Pride Month in June. 

Open Door Pride is a 100% volunteer organization representing the LGBTQ+ community throughout Door County. Those interested in volunteering can click this link. 

You can have expert parenting tips, games, and child development information directly in your hands. The United Way of Wisconsin has teamed up with Bright by Text to offer resources like digital library resources, food pantries, and preschool open enrollment periods for parents and caregivers. Bright by Text is free and available to all families. 

To sign up, parents and caregivers with children under 8 can text the word BADGER to 274448. You will receive 2 to 4 text messages per week, and each message includes a link to a landing page with more detail, short modeling videos, and links to related resources.

In between helping your neighbors with their weatherization needs, the team at Partners for Community Development has a little more elbow room to operate moving forward. The organization showed off its new space during its open house on Thursday. After occupying a corner office space with a small kitchenette for the last few years, Partners for Community Development transformed the former gym to include a storage room for their materials, a garage bay for their trucks, and room to comfortably house their team of over a half dozen employees. Weatherization Program Manager Christopher Chase has set up shop in a lot of different locations under a few different names over the years. He is happy that the organization has dug its roots even deeper in Sturgeon Bay with the new space.

Partners for Community Development provide social services for homeowners struggling to keep up with ongoing home repairs and rising energy costs. Their weatherization services have helped homeowners in need of energy assistance save on average $500 on their heating and cooling bills. The demand for their services in Door and Kewaunee counties has been enough to keep two full-time crews busy over the last year.

Move over, 920: You are not going to be the only area code for northeast Wisconsin soon. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin announced on Friday that the 920 area code will run out of assigned numbers by the first quarter of 2024, paving the way for the new 274 area code. The 274 area code will be in service as of May 5th, 2023, but you will not have to dial it quite yet. New customers will not be assigned phone numbers with the 274 area code until all of the 920 options have been assigned. Since the North American Numbering Plan Administrator is establishing the area code as an overlay, you will be able to keep your number if you are a current phone customer. The area has not seen a new area code since the 414 area code was split in 1997, which established the 920 area code. 

Polling places across the state of Wisconsin saw record voter turnout for the spring election on Tuesday, but the Village of Sister Bay still wishes one or two more of you would have cast a ballot. Voter turnout in Door and Kewaunee counties exceeded what was seen across the state with over half of its registered voters participating in the election. Communities in northern Door County saw even more of a boost thanks to their municipal elections and referendum questions regarding Gibraltar Area Schools and Washington Island. In Sister Bay, the voter turnout was at 66 percent, with several people voting early due to the election coinciding with Gibraltar’s spring break. Despite the high voter turnout, it was not enough to decide who the Village President in Sister Bay was as the night ended with Rob Zoschke and Nate Bell locked at 256 votes apiece. For the first time in 16 years, Sister Bay Village Clerk Heidi Teich says they had to rely on a game of chance to decide that Bell would be the winner.

Thanks to a contentious race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, more than 36 percent of the voting-age population in the state voted on Tuesday. The last time it was that high was in 2011 when 34 percent of eligible voters went to the polls to choose their next Supreme Court Justice months after Scott Walker was elected governor.

Snow melting, birds chirping, and night trips to and from Washington Island are all signs for you that spring is here. The Washington Island Ferry resumes its Friday Night Trips on April 7th with trips leaving the island at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and heading back from Northport at 7:45 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The additional trips come about three weeks after the ferry line expanded their daily roundtrips from two roundtrips to six. The next big change will come on April 22nd when the Washington Island Ferry begins offering rides on the hour starting at 7 a.m. from the mainland and 8 a.m. from Northport. Saturday and Sunday night trips will begin on June 3rd and more Friday night trips will begin on June 23rd.

You can find the full schedule here.

You may not need to use it, but several agencies in Kewaunee County are making sure you have the ability to help somebody having a mental health crisis when the moment comes. Kewaunee County FACES, UW-Madison Extension Kewaunee County, Kewaunee County Public Health, Kewaunee County Human Services, Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department, and Kewaunee County Emergency Management are joining forces to present QPR Training to local business owners and their employees. QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer and it is used to help people who may show signs of suicide and depression. UW-Extension Human Development and Relationships Educator Renee Koenig says for some professions like barbers, beauticians, bankers, and bartenders, this training could be the lifesaver someone needs similar to someone trained in CPR.

You can click on this link to sign up for the training, which will take place on Monday, May 8th from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Expo Building in Luxemburg.

Kewaunee High School junior Ellie Delebreau is the new leader of a state student organization that offers opportunities in family, career, and communities.  Delebreau was installed as president of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) in Wisconsin Dells on Tuesday.  According to the Kewaunee School District, she is the first state president from Kewaunee High School and Northeastern Wisconsin.  Delebreau was bestowed the honor of serving as the president of the FCCLA during the 2023-24 school year, while attending the Wisconsin State Leadership Conference this past week.

The FCCLA is a national nonprofit career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private schools from sixth through 12th grades.  Over 175,000 members are in more than 5,300 chapters across the country.  

(photo courtesy of Kewaunee School District)

Alongside the brats and ice cream served at Rio Creek Feed Mill’s Customer Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday you could easily find the excitement among farmers for the upcoming planting season.

The weather has trended in favor of farmers as of late with a mix of sunshine and rain knocking down the last stubborn piles of snow in area fields. The mild temperatures paired with the mostly dry conditions could also go a long way over the next week into drying them out to pave the way for fieldwork to begin. Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta was thrilled that he and his family could welcome their customers and hear their optimism for the weeks ahead.

After retiring from dairy operations a few years ago, Door County farmer Ron Clark grows cash crops like corn and wheat on approximately 400 acres. Clark says talking to other farmers and lower costs for things like fuel and fertilizer gave him an extra dose of enthusiasm heading into spring.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Crop Progress and Condition Report, Wisconsin farmers on average got less than a day’s worth of work done in their fields in the last week due to the current field conditions. Farmers in the central (1.9 days) and southwest (2.3 days) districts were the only Wisconsin districts with farmers who got at least one day of fieldwork last week. 

Your homebound neighbors in Baileys Harbor will no longer have to worry about where their next nutritious meal will come from after the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Door County announced earlier this week that Meals on Wheels would expand into the town. The program is currently available in Sturgeon Bay, Brussels, Liberty Grove, and Washington Island. Nicki Scharrig from the ADRC says Baileys Harbor has been on their radar for a while for an expansion of its Meals on Wheels program, but it wanted to make sure it had a stable of volunteers in place.

Baileys Harbor along with Sturgeon Bay, Brussels, Liberty Grove, and Washington Island will also continue to offer on-site, dine-in meals at specific locations. You can find that schedule below. Door County’s nutrition program, which includes the dine-in and Meals on Wheels options, is funded by the Older Americans Act and donations. 

FROM THE ADRC

For your convenience, congregate (on-site dine-in) meals are offered at five locations throughout Door County.

• Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC): Monday thru Friday
• Baileys Harbor Town Hall: Wednesday and Friday
• Brussels Community Center: Tuesday and Thursday
• Liberty Grove Town Hall: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Washington Island Community Center: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Everyone is welcome! Meals are nutritious, delicious, and provide an excellent opportunity to socialize with others. All sites serve the meal at noon. The Nutrition program receives funding from the Older Americans Act but is also supported by donations.  The suggested donation amount is $5.00 per meal. Simply call 920-746-2372, 24-hours prior to reserve your meal.

You will likely see another iteration of a new public safety building in the City of Algoma after voters voted down a referendum for the second straight spring election. On Tuesday, the vote was 423 (42%) yes to 583 (58%) no for the $3.7 million referendum, which was not a whole lot different than last year when over 60 percent of voters voted against a new facility located on Sunset Avenue that would have housed the city’s police, Fire, and EMS departments. City Administrator Matt Murphy felt much more confident heading into this election after about $2 million and several thousand square feet were trimmed from the original proposal. Murphy accepts the results but knows the problem is not going away either.

Work towards creating a Plan C approach will likely begin when the Algoma City Council has its next meeting on May 1st at 6 p.m. inside Algoma City Hall. The result was an anomaly in the area as three referendum questions in Door County were approved overwhelmingly.

From Maundy (Holy) Thursday through Easter Sunday, local churches in Door and Kewaunee counties hope you join them for the celebration of the Resurrection.

The extra services and holiness of the holiday make Easter the busiest time for pastors and one of the most attended of the liturgical year. In Kewaunee, Immanuel Lutheran Church Pastor Matthew Sprunger hopes people walk away from his services knowing that Jesus lived for us.

Pastor Joel McKenney of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Algoma says that Easter offers proof that sins are forgiven.

Father Daniel Schuster of St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Casco wants Easter to serve as an exclamation point for people.

Christian churches across Door and Kewaunee counties will offer their Holy Week and Easter services throughout the weekend. You can visit their individual sites for more information.

EASTER FULL OF FAITH

St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay, St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Institute

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Algoma

St. Mary's Catholic Church in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Casco

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kewaunee

Local businesses in Kewaunee County are making sure you see a playground built for all abilities in the near future. The committee behind the Bruemmer Park Inclusive Playground started their efforts last fall to make the dream a reality. Similar to what was placed at Kewaunee School District a few years ago, the playground will feature equipment that will allow physically-challenged kids to play alongside their able-bodied peers. In the months since, organizations like Hooray for Hollywood and businesses like Homestead Kitchen and Tap, Rendezvous of Luxemburg, and Lemens Hardware have raised important funds for the project. Rhonda Detempel is thrilled with the response the Bruemmer Park Inclusive Playground has received.

With the help of additional donations and grants, Detempel says they are well on their way to being able to install the equipment at the playground site at Bruemmer Park by this fall. You can contribute money to the cause by clicking this link.

You can watch 63 young dancers from the Door County YMCA perform later this month at a dance recital in Sturgeon Bay.  Dance Instructor Amber Novotny says the show will feature 13 different performances of tap, ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary dance.  The classes learn two routines each and the show’s theme will be “The Greatest Show on Earth”. Novotny shares how excited the dancers, ages four to 13, are about the recital after 15 weeks of dance lessons.

The Door County YMCA dance recital will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 at Prince of Peace Church in Sturgeon Bay.  Admission tickets are $5 per person and are available at the Door County YMCA Welcome Center in Sturgeon Bay. 

You could help save a unique breed of Door County seed. Local gardener Ken Paschke has been growing and saving these beans for over 58 years. These Ken Paschke beans have adapted to the Wisconsin climate and soil and are the first known to be an original breed in Door County. The Door County Seed Library is looking for 25 seed stewards to help grow, spread, and save these bean seeds and donate a portion back to the Seed Library. If you are new to seed saving, the Seed Library will provide information to help you successfully save the seeds. Catherine Edmundson, a volunteer at the Door County Seed Library discusses how these seeds came to Door County and how to help preserve them. 

Those who volunteer will get a free packet of bean seeds, planting, growing, and harvesting advice, and free bean recipes. 

Anyone interested in being a seed steward or finding out more details about the program can contact the Door County Seed Library at DCSeedLibrary@gmail.com.

UPDATE: Following the charges brought against Perciavalle and two other Austal employees in 2013-2016, Fincantieri announced just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday that they have suspended him for the time being. “We are aware of the criminal indictment and civil complaint filed against Craig [Perciavalle] related to his previous employment before coming to FBS,” said Marco Galbiati, CEO of FMG. “We have chosen to suspend him from his current duties until these matters are resolved.” In the meantime, Former Fincantieri Marinette Marine CEO, Jan Allman, will be the interim GM. Allman is currently FMG’s senior vice pres. for public affairs and community relations, a position she will continue to hold during this interim period

ORIGINAL STORY

Craig Perciavalle, the current Vice-President and General Manager at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS), is facing charges of accounting fraud when he was the chief executive at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.  None of the charges or investigations pertains to FBS.  According to a news release by the United States Department of Justice, accounting fraud charges were brought forward last Friday against three maritime executives, including Perciavalle, after a long investigation into activity from around 2013 to July of 2016.  According to court documents, the federal grand jury indictment from the DOJ and the SEC complaint claims the three executives “conspired to mislead Austal Limited’s shareholders and the investing public about Austal USA’s financial condition. Specifically, the defendants are alleged to have artificially reduced and suppressed an accounting metric known as “estimate at completion” (EAC) in relation to multiple LCS ships that Austal USA was building for the U.S. Navy. Suppressing the EACs allegedly falsely overstated Austal Limited’s reported earnings in its public financial statements.”

Perciavalle was hired by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in November 2021.  

Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay had no comment when reached Wednesday morning, but a Fincantieri Marine Group spokesperson was quoted earlier this week by Forbes.com saying “We are aware of a Department of Justice indictment that is related to his (Perciavalle) previous employment at a different shipyard.” 

The Department of Justice news release is below.

Three Men Indicted for Multimillion-Dollar Accounting Fraud Scheme at U.S. Navy Shipbuilder

A federal grand jury returned an indictment yesterday charging three Alabama men with orchestrating an accounting fraud scheme at Austal USA LLC, a Mobile-based shipbuilder that constructs vessels for the U.S. Navy, including the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Austal USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Austal Limited, an Australian company that is traded over-the-counter in the United States via American Depositary Receipts, as well as on the Australian Securities Exchange.

According to court documents, from at least in or around 2013 through at least in or around July 2016, Craig Perciavalle, 52, Joseph Runkel, 54, and William Adams, 63, all of Mobile, and their co-conspirators allegedly conspired to mislead Austal Limited’s shareholders and the investing public about Austal USA’s financial condition. Specifically, the defendants are alleged to have artificially reduced and suppressed an accounting metric known as “estimate at completion” (EAC) in relation to multiple LCS ships that Austal USA was building for the U.S. Navy. Suppressing the EACs allegedly falsely overstated Austal Limited’s reported earnings in its public financial statements.

The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly manipulated the EAC figures in part by using so-called “program challenges” – ostensibly cost-savings goals – but which in reality were “plug” numbers and fraudulent devices to hide growing costs that should have been incorporated into Austal USA’s financial statements, and ultimately reflected in Austal Limited’s reported earnings. The defendants allegedly did this, among other reasons, to maintain and increase the share price of Austal Limited’s stock. When the higher costs were eventually disclosed to the market, the stock price was significantly negatively impacted and Austal Limited wrote down over $100 million.

Perciavalle, Adams, and Runkel are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud affecting a financial institution, five counts of wire fraud, and two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the conspiracy count and each count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, and 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Sean Costello for the Southern District of Alabama, Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southeast Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael D. Butler II of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement.

DCIS and NCIS are investigating the case.

Assistant Chief Kyle Hankey, Acting Assistant Chief Christopher Jackson, and Trial Attorney Laura Connelly of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bodnar for the Southern District of Alabama are prosecuting the case.

If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. Victims can find case updates and additional information at www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-craig-d-perciavalle-et-al.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

(FBS photo)

After lengthy discussions, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council decided to send two agenda items back to the committee level on Tuesday evening.  A recommendation by the Parks & Recreation Committee/Board to approve a new fishing tournament rule was voted to be sent back to the committee.  The updating of fishing tournament rules and regulations through the city would mandate a “weigh on the water” format for bass and walleye tournaments in the month of June and prior to May 15th, respectively.

The second agenda item to be referred back to the committee level was the ordinance for amending Chapter 32 of the Municipal Code for Natural Landscape and Regulations.  A clarification of the registration of the natural lawn property process going forward was to be readdressed.  A motion to table the decision failed on a 4-3 vote before another motion passed to refer it back to the Community Protection & Services Committee for review.

In another action Tuesday, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved the resolution to terminate TID #1 in the Industrial Park.  Mayor David Ward shared that the successful Tax Incremental District showed a $41 million value over the last 32 years since it was created in 1991.  After ending one TID, the city approved the creation of TID #8 on and around Egg Harbor Road.   

Considerations for an agreement with Muse Project for restrooms and a development with Estes Investments, LLP gained approval before the meeting adjourned after an 80-minute session.

Northern Door will see a lot of change in the coming weeks as a result of Tuesday's election.

On the referendum side, all three passed in resounding fashion. Gibraltar Area Schools will get a $29.8 million overhaul thanks to district voters approving the capital referendum by a 2755-837 margin. Washington Island School passed its operational referendum 309-136, allowing the district to exceed its revenue limit each of the next two years by $935,000. The Town of Egg Harbor will have townwide curbside garbage and recycling pickup as a result of voters choosing "yes" by a 409-210 margin.

In local government, two municipalities will see new leaders while a third will likely need a recount. Liberty Grove Town Chairperson John Lowry was unseated by Janet Johnson 632-356 and Dave Eliot retakes the Baileys Harbor chairmanship from Don Sitte by a 422-196 margin. In Sister Bay, Rob Zoschke and Nate Bell are currently tied at 256 votes apiece in the race to become the village president. 

You can see more Door County election results by clicking this link.

For the second consecutive year a referendum for a new public safety building in Algoma has come up short.  The vote was 423 (42%) yes to  583 (58%) no for the $3.7 million referendum.  Last year, over 60 percent of voters voted against a new facility located on Sunset Avenue that would have housed the city’s police, Fire, and EMS departments. This year, city officials trimmed about $2 million and several thousand square feet from the original proposal along with other changes that will keep the police department stationed at Algoma City Hall.  

For the complete Kewaunee County results of Tuesday’s election click on this link.

You have seen the strides made in childcare and affordable housing over the last year, but Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wanted to see and talk about it for himself.

Evers and Secretary of Administration Kathy Blumenfeld joined community leaders from across the county in Sturgeon Bay Tuesday afternoon to discuss a number of issues facing the state such as childcare and affordable housing. In December 2021, the United Way of Door County received a $3.5 million Workforce Development Grant from the state to address the two issues that are holding Door County businesses back when it comes to hiring people to work in the area. In the year since Northern Door Children’s Center has been able to expand its operation and the Door Community Child Development Center was able to break ground on a new facility as a result of the funding.

On Tuesday, Evers proposed dedicating hundreds of millions of dollars towards programs offering affordable workforce housing grants and workforce housing rehabilitation loans. He says it is important to hear how some of the programs that have already been instituted are paying dividends in communities like Door County.

People associated with two different housing projects received the opportunity to tout their current success and inquire how to make their efforts even more successful. Jim Honig and Mariah Goode of the Door County Housing Partnership highlighted how they were able to work with the Village of Sister Bay to acquire a number of lots for affordable housing under their community land trust model. Paula Anschutz of Sister Bay discussed her home and cabin reclamation project that is saving buildings from demolition and setting up future housing at the fraction of the price of new builds. You can watch portions of the roundtable meeting below.

Door County Medical Center in cooperation with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is making it easier for you to start a new career in the healthcare field. The two organizations announced the Start the Path to a Rewarding Career (SPARC) program on Tuesday to help future Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Medical Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses complete the work they need to jumpstart a new occupation. While NWTC will handle the classroom portions of the coursework for the CMA, LPN, and RN programs, Door County Medical Center will be the one providing the hands-on experience in their facilities. All of the CNA training will take place at Door County Medical Center. The hospital is also not just fronting the investment for the training, they are also paying program participants to work during clinical hours. Door County Medical Center Education Coordinator Renee Glesner says she hopes the two organizations can light a spark in the community to address a major need.

You can click this link to learn more about the program and how to apply. Healthcare organizations are looking for creative ways to fill open positions that are being left at high rates. According to a Wolters Kluwer poll done with nursing leaders around the country, 92 percent say the current nursing shortage will intensify over the next 18 months as hospitals battle burnout and retirements.  

Southern Door School District Superintendent Chris Peterson remains on leave after the school board met again on Monday.

School Board President Penny Price shared that there was nothing new to report since their previous meetings, which included a discussion between school board members, Peterson, and legal counsel on March 16th.  She added that “this is a pending personnel matter, and, as such, further comment is not appropriate at this time.”

Price concluded that the School Board “remains committed to doing what is best for the District” and that the district’s business manager Jason Melotte will handle the day-to-day operations in Peterson’s absence.

The school board is scheduled to meet again on April 17th. 

The Easter Bunny will be busy this weekend hiding eggs, but there is one place in Door County that he may enjoy more than others. The Shining Stars 4-H Club in Brussels is preparing to host their 25th annual Easter Egg Hunt at Brussels Town Park with four different age groups participating. Club leader Amanda Larson has seen her kids grow up with the event as they enter their sixth year with the Shining Stars. She says means lot to them to help carry on an Easter Saturday tradition in Brussels.

The Shining Stars 4-H Easter Egg Hunt starts promptly at 9 a.m. with the youngest kids kicking off the free event first. You can look at the list below to see where other Door County communities are hosting their Easter Egg Hunts.

• Baileys Harbor: 9 a.m. at Recreational Park
• Sister Bay: 10:30 a.m. at Sister By Sports Complex
• Jacksonport: 10:30 a.m. at Lakeside Park (Registration opens at the shelter at 10 a.m.)
• Ellison Bay: 11 a.m. at Fitzgerald Park

Picture courtesy of Pixabay

You will be able to experience what a school classroom looked like over 100 years ago this summer.  The Belgian Heritage Center in Door County is currently renovating the old schoolhouse facility in Namur.  Located adjacent to the center's main building, the schoolhouse is being recreated to appear as it was in the early 1900s.  President Joe Alexander says the project renovation started a few years ago and included replacing 11 windows with hopes to be open for tours when the Belgian Heritage Center opens for the season on May 26th. 

Alexander adds that the Curly Lambeau Exhibit of the founder of the Green Bay Packers is one of the more popular displays on site.   Northeastern Wisconsin was the largest settlement of Walloon people in the United States, after being founded in 1858.  Walloon is a language of French dialect spoken in southeastern Belgium.  The Belgian Heritage Center will host a Booyah and Bread lunch event on Sunday April 23 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  You can find more details on that event and the history of the Belgian settlement in Door County with this link.

(photo courtesy of Rick Weddig)

You will have to wait until July if you are looking for financial assistance to install an electric vehicle (EV) charger at your business or non-profit. The second quarter application window opened at 8 a.m. on Saturday and was closed before the work week could even hit a second day. That was what Destination Door County Community Engagement Manager Morgan Rusnak expected Friday afternoon, saying that the first come, first serve applications for the first round were filled in just a couple of days. The first wave of applicants was primarily lodging establishments and one civic group, but Rusnak said there was interest across all business sectors. She explained in February that this program can benefit residents and visitors alike.

Once the purchases from the first round of grants become finalized, there will be close to 60 EV charger stations throughout Door County.

You will see plenty of Door and Kewaunee counties at the Destination Imagination Global Finals next month in Kansas City.

Three Sevastopol Destination Imagination teams clinched their spots in the competition after finishing in the Top 3 at the Wisconsin Affiliate Tournament held at UW-Green Bay on Saturday. In the Far-Fetched Scientific Challenge, Sevastopol’s Da’Magix team took 1st place with a score of 396.47, outpacing teams from Waukesha and Wauwatosa. They also earned a special award for outstanding design, engineering, execution, and performance. The team 7 Musketeers took a close second place to Waupaca’s Red Pickles team in the Fine Arts-based Flip the Script competition. Sevastopol’s The Ultimate Miners were the only team in the Engineering-based Thrill Ride competition.

Algoma also had a number of teams qualify for Global Finals including The Kit-Kat Jam (St. Paul's), Swing, and Duck Usta in the Scientific-based Far Fetched competition and The Candy Vans, Screaming Teapots, and Kids Rock in the Fine Arts-based Flip the Script competition.

You can click on this link to see the full scores.

The Destination Imagination Global Finals will take place in Kansas City from May 20th through 23rd. 

While more and more counties are starting to see their COVID-19 community levels elevate over the last week, you will not see Door or Kewaunee counties among them. As they have been since late January, Door and Kewaunee counties ended the month of March at the low COVID-19 community level. Fifteen counties found themselves in the medium level and two in the high level.

In their weekly COVID-19 situation update, Door County had 12 tests come back positive for COVID-19 out of 19 tests administered, though 16 reportedly came back negative as well.

In Kewaunee County, the Centers for Disease Control shows four new cases out of 47 tests performed.

The Wisconsin Hospital Association pointed out that they are seeing the most number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 since March 13th at 330, which is 44 more than the previous week. 

Six anglers were rescued on the ice on the waters of Green Bay in Door County on Sunday afternoon.  Brussels-Union-Gardner Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Wery says a call came in at about 2:45 p.m. that six men were stranded on a floating piece of ice that had broken away about one-fourth of a mile offshore near Big Rock Road in Little Sturgeon.  With the extremely windy and rough conditions, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Natural Resources were called in to use air boats to reach the men.  The first group was taken to shore safely at about 3:45 p.m. and the rest at about 4 p.m., according to Wery.  No injuries were reported, and Southern Door and Sturgeon Bay fire departments were also present to assist during the initial MABAS call, while Door County Emergency Services and Gardner Emergency Services were also at the scene.

If you have not voted already, make sure you grab your photo identification and head to your local municipal clerk’s office beginning at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

The spring election features many state and local elections and several referendum questions depending on where you live. Stealing the headlines has been the Wisconsin Supreme Court race featuring Janet C. Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly. According to Politico, more than $37 million has been spent on the race, which would be the most money spent anywhere in the country on a state Supreme Court race. It could be a major driver for people going to the polls. According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Kelly’s battle against current state Supreme Court Justice Jill Karfosky in 2020 had a turnout rate of 35 percent, the highest it had been since the 2011 Wisconsin Supreme Court election. No other spring election without a presidential preference selection has had a statewide turnout rate above 28 percent.

The state’s voters will also decide on three different referendum questions pointed at crime and welfare.

Speaking of referendum questions, Gibraltar and Washington Island school district voters will weigh in on their measures with Gibraltar looking to make massive changes to its facilities and Washington Island hoping to keep the status quo. The Town of Egg Harbor will have its own as well, asking its residents if curbside garbage and recycling pickup should occur.

Approximately 11 races in Door County and five in Kewaunee County are contested. You can find those races below. Polling places are open until 8 p.m.

KEWAUNEE COUNTY

West Kewaunee Town Chair

Dan Kassner (i)

Milt Swagel

Kewaunee Common Council

District 3: Robin Nelson (i)

Joe Mills

Luxemburg Village Board (three seats)

Dan Rueckl (i)

Ronald Tlachac (i)

Mike Faltynski

Mark Fort

Bob Seidl

Lincoln Supervisor 1

Jordan Nowak (i)

David Routhieaux

Lincoln Supervisor 2

Brent Eisenman (i)

Tony Strnad

DOOR COUNTY

Sister Bay Village Board (three seats)

Patrice Champeau

Vivian Nienow

Lilly Orozco

Andrew Torcivia

Alison Werner

Sarah White

Gardner Town Chair

Carl Waterstreet (i)

Paul DeWitt

Gardner Supervisor 1

Glen Merkle (i)

Keitha McDonald

Gardner Supervisor 2

Mark Lentz (i)

Mike Marchant

Gibraltar Town Board (two seats)

Brian Merkel (i)

Thomas M. Birmingham

Vinni Chomeau

John Selenica

Nasewaupee Supervisor 1

Mark Hilsabeck

Bill Krueger

Nasewaupee Supervisor 2

Don Sixel (i)

Mark Feuerstein

Nasewaupee Supervisor 3

Gene LaPlante

Tim Smith

Forestville Town Chair

Larry Huber (i)

Kevin J. Guilette

Baileys Harbor Town Chair

Don Sitte (i)

David Eliot

Liberty Grove Town Chair

John Lowry (i)

Janet Johnson

Washington Supervisor (two seats)

Martin Andersen (i)

John Jessen

Valerie Carpenter

Margaret Foss

You may soon have another option for childcare in Kewaunee County. Earlier this year, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Algoma closed on a former dentist’s office and chiropractic clinic that will be transformed into a childcare center.  A committee at the church has been hard at work securing what they need to make it successful, including additional licensed teachers and a childcare director. With many childcare centers in Door and Kewaunee counties (having) steep waiting lists, Pastor Joel McKenney says the church saw a need in the community they thought they could help fill.

McKenney expects that they will have at least one room dedicated to childcare at its nearby school available this fall. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has found other opportunities for outreach centered around children, including its diaper bank, Tiny Sprouts playgroup, and its clothing swap area.

You could have your design on the 2024 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission sticker. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is accepting any Wisconsin high school student's artwork, private and homeschooled students included. Artworks should focus on outdoor recreation, animals, or plants in Wisconsin. 

This is an opportunity for students to express their love for nature and Wisconsin, as well as to participate in the art community. All motor vehicles entering state parks and recreation areas must have a vehicle sticker. Some state forests and trail parking areas also require a sticker. 

Students can submit entries through April 30th, 2023. Rules, submission guidelines, and past winner stickers can be found by clicking this link.

Kewaunee School District custodian Rich Kinstetter does a lot more than just clean the buildings after you leave for the day. His commitment to doing that extra something is being recognized by commercial cleaning company Tennant after Kinstetter was named a finalist in its “Custodians Are Key” program.

The district has had to use Kinstetter’s talents for more than setting up and taking down chairs for events and scrubbing the building’s hallways. He has worked 16-hour days for the district, serving as a substitute teacher for 13 years when needed before resuming his custodial work in the evenings. Kinstetter holds a Bachelor’s degree in education and has thought about going into teaching full-time, but the flexibility of being able to do both.

In the past, Kinstetter has also filled in as a bus driver. Tennant’s “Custodians Are Key” award will be awarded in May with the winner receiving $5,000 for themselves and $10,000 for the school.

You can blame the high winds along with the snow for the issues you may have experienced on Saturday in Door County. Power outages started to populate mid-morning across Door County as winds gusts were expected to hit between 35-50 miles per hour. Even businesses in northern Door County had to close their doors for at least a few hours due to the power outages. As of 4:30 p.m., 250 of the over 9,100 Wisconsin Public Service customers resided in Door County with power potentially returning by 10 p.m. Even the Washington Island Ferry experienced some issues because of the weather. Gale force winds canceled trips until 4 p.m. It could have been worse for the area as some communities in northern Wisconsin received another foot of snow or more due to the winter storm.

Photo from Washington Island Police Department

Top Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Washington Island School is heading back to the International SeaPerch Challenge at the University of Maryland later this spring and in fact, you will see two teams this year. Washington Island's four teams dominated the field, with three of them finishing 1, 2, 3 in the final standings.

Team Flounder and Team Sea Angels will represent the school and the region at the International SeaPerch Challenge on May 13th. It is the second straight year at least one team from Washington Island qualified for the international competition.

Schools that also competed against Washington Island included Ashwaubenon, Clintonville, De Pere, Elkhart Lake, Green Bay, Gresham, Little Chute, and Marinette. Teams had to do a presentation in addition to taking their robotic vehicles through two different courses in the pool.

Pictures and video courtesy of Miranda Dahlke

The month of April is designated in the State of Wisconsin as Sexual Assault Awareness month. For those who have been impacted by the brutality of these senseless acts the pain and suffering never truly vanishes. Historically the victimization of these crimes did not end with the act itself but unfortunately were further perpetrated by a culture of secrecy and transferred blame on the part of those who were attacked rather than the attacker. For many years these crimes were minimized or even justified based on the condition of the victim or even in some cases the very clothing that they were wearing at the time of the attack.

Fortunately, those days are over and we as a society have come to recognize the severity of sexual assault for what it is. We have striven to provide the greatest possible support for the victims while working towards the most severe level of accountability for the perpetrators. We have opened channels of communication to those who have had to live in the shadows of victimization allowing their voices to finally be heard. One of the organizations that have been instrumental in this transformation is our own Kewaunee County Violence Intervention Project. Having personally worked alongside these amazing advocates for change, I can attest to both their courage and their dedication in the area of victim support and community awareness. Below are some important dates for local awareness events.

April 4th is the Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action - VIP will be hosting a FREE Community Education Night on this day at ESI Hub in Algoma 5:30-7:30 for teens and adults of any gender.

The schedule for the evening is as follows: 5:30-6 Sexual Assault Prevention Education Presentation | 6-6:30 Break-Out Activity for youth and adults | 6:30-7 Self-Defense Class

April 5th is Start by Believing Day which is to bring attention to the importance of believing when someone discloses that they have been sexually assaulted.

April 18th is the Kewaunee County Volunteer Expo

April 26th is Denim Day which is a day that you can show your support for sexual assault victims and survivors by wearing denim. Denim day began after a ruling in a sexual assault case that determined that the victim had asked for it because she wore tight fitting jeans. We wear denim to support victims and survivors of sexual assault and to join together in communicating that the clothes we wear does not imply consent.

During this month of April there will be events held to bring awareness to the issue of sexual assault and to the many that have been and continue to be impacted. This year for Sexual Assault Awareness, the Violence Intervention Project will be busy at numerous locations.

Luxemburg-Casco and Algoma Schools are bringing VIP in to talk about Prevention Education throughout the month of April. 

Outreach at Schools:

• Algoma Middle/High School April 14th
• Luxemburg-Casco High School April 24th
• Outreach Information Will Be Displayed:
• Bellin Health in Kewaunee, Algoma, and Luxemburg
• Door County Medical Center in Algoma
• Prevea in Kewaunee
• Algoma Library (along with book recommendations for all ages)
• Kewaunee Library (along with book recommendations for all ages)
• Algoma Middle/High School Entry
• Violence Intervention Project Yard
• Kewaunee County Courthouse
• Kewaunee County Bars - Giving out "What's In Your Glass" cards to test for drugs.

If any Institution or Businesses are interested in prevention education presentations, please call the Violence intervention office at: (920)487-2111 and ask for Heather to schedule a date and time.

Please take the time to join in supporting those affected by these senseless acts and bringing a greater awareness to our need as a society to rid our communities of Sexual Assault. Their Helpline number is: (920)837-2424

You could see Door County and other artists featured in a local gallery. The Cappaert Contemporary Gallery showcases artists with a range of talents. From metalwork, fiber arts, and mixed media you’ll be able to find something that piques your interest. The gallery is open seasonally and will reopen in May, this season they welcome Chris Vander Velde, Rebecca Stahr, Katherine Steichen Rosing, and Lynn Wilson. The owner of Cappaert Contemporary Gallery, Ginnie Cappaert, talks more about her gallery and the artists she hosts. 

To see featured artists click this link.

Whether you are a human or an elf, The Gnoshery in Sturgeon Bay hopes you join them on an adventure this Sunday for a good cause. “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” opened worldwide on Friday, over 20 years after the first theatrical adaptation was released and almost 50 years after it first appeared as a table-top role-playing game. The game Dungeons and Dragons has stood the test of time since people started gathering around tables to roll dice and draw cards to explore fantasy worlds. Pat Fuge, the Head Gnome at Gnome Games and The Gnoshery in Sturgeon Bay are excited to see how the movie will reinvigorate the brand for a new generation of gamers.

To celebrate the opening of the movie, The Gnoshery is giving away free passes at its Sturgeon Bay location for a screening at the Sturgeon Bay Cinema 6 on Sunday at 11 a.m. In exchange for the free fun including popcorn and soda, The Gnoshery asks you to donate what you can to the Shriners Transportation Fund to help families get to medical services wherever they need to go.