Door County Medical Center is flexing its greatest attribute, its staff, when it comes to its dispute with one of the insurance providers it works with within the federal insurance marketplace.

The hospital announced earlier this month that it was terminating its contract with Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative effective January 1st, 2025. The two sides could not come to an agreement when it came to reimbursement for medical services. Door County Medical Center President and CEO Brian Stephens says the two sides have been in talks for the past year, but they could not agree on an increased reimbursement to offset the rising costs hospitals across the country face. The contract termination means patients will have to choose between sticking with their insurance or their medical provider regarding their health. Stephens says that while finding the right plan to fit your needs and budget is important, it is just as crucial to maintain the relationships that patients and doctors have formed.

Stephens expects plans similar to those Common Ground Healthcare Cooperative has offered Door County Medical Center patients since 2018 will be available to them when the federal marketplace's open enrollment window opens on November 1st if a new agreement cannot be reached.

You can be one of many to honor Fr. Tony Birdsall this Sunday when his 90th birthday will be celebrated after the 10:30 a.m. mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Sturgeon Bay.  A Door County native, Fr. Birdsall grew up in Maplewood and now lives on Shiloh Road south of Sturgeon Bay, where he continues his love of raising chickens and growing flowers, shown at the Door County Fair.  Fr. Birdsall will celebrate the mass on Sunday and looks forward to seeing many of the parishioners he has served in the community over the years.

Fr. Birdsall served as a full-time priest for four years in Green Bay before going to Appleton and Hilbert and served for 21 years at Corpus Christi, where he retired in 2008.  He is the current chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and regularly celebrates mass at local parishes in Door County, including Washington Island.

 
The community is invited to an open house from 11:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Social Hall adjacent to the church. Heavy appetizers, refreshments, birthday cake, and other desserts will be served. Fr. Tony asks for only your “presence” and no presents at the celebration. 

With more water activity on the lake and the bay increasing, just like the temperatures outside this week, local law enforcement and emergency personnel have been busy responding to several recent incidents on the water in Door County.

After two water rescues over the weekend, distress calls were made Tuesday afternoon near Door Bluff Road in Liberty Grove and on South Lake Michigan Drive in Sturgeon Bay.

Liberty Grove/Sister Bay Fire Chief Chris Hecht reported that a boat was stranded on the bay and required towing to shore at about 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Just south of Sturgeon Bay on Lake Michigan, an inflatable sailboat raft had a broken rudder that required the two people aboard and the vessel to be towed in by a Good Samaritan around 4:30 in the afternoon, according to Door County Sheriff's Deputy Pat McCarty.  He emphasizes the importance of taking safety precautions before and while you are on the water this summer.

The search for 32-year-old Billy Salnik, who has been missing since his boat capsized near Chambers Island over two weeks ago, continues this week. Volunteers on both sides of the bay have organized searches for Salnik, but they have been unable to locate him.

The 18-year-old Gibraltar High School student, who was charged with felony Possession of a Firearm on the Grounds of a School back in March, was found not competent to stand trial on Tuesday.

During the competency trial, Door County Circuit Court Judge David Weber ruled that Aidan Rice didn't understand the court proceedings and could not assist in his defense.

Rice, who was 17 at the time of the incident, said then that a former student led to him bringing a gun to Gibraltar for multiple days until his arrest on March 15th. In his criminal complaint, Rice said he was scared of a former student who allegedly pounded on a bathroom door while he was at Wal-Mart a week prior. He added in the complaint that he knew it was illegal to bring the gun, but he had it to protect himself in case the former student showed up. School Resource Officer Heather Bemmann stated then that the unidentified student had not been on campus since last November.

Court records show that a status case review is scheduled for October 24.  If Rice is deemed competent to stand trial then or later, the case can resume.  

Your child will have the opportunity to benefit from a new partnership between two Door County youth organizations this fall.  The Door County YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club of Door County are teaming up in Fish Creek with "The Club at the Y" afterschool program.  The first-ever program is free to all members of both organizations and will start on Monday, September 9, at the Jackie and Steve Kane Center.  Door County YMCA Branch Executive Holly Butenhoff says they are excited to offer the afterschool program to kids from fifth through eighth grade from 3:00 pm until 5:30 p.m.

Boys & Girls Club Director of Operations Chelsea Adams says the premise behind the collaboration between the two organizations is to serve more kids in northern Door County and teach the importance of mentorship.

The Club at the Y will offer programming involving academics, creative arts, sports, STEAM exploration, workforce readiness, emotional wellness, and more. For more information on the new program, contact the Door County YMCA or the Boys & Girls Club of Door County.  

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When the young daughter of Ali Hernandez and Rimvydas Balciunas broke ground in her future home in Sister Bay with her tiny toy shovel, her parents could also see an entire community of people witnessing it unfold.

Close to three dozen people congregated at the end of Ava Hope Trail in Sister Bay to celebrate the groundbreaking of a house being built for Ramirez, who works at the nearby Northern Door Children's Center. The future home started as a grant written by the United Way of Door County to address the peninsula's childcare challenges. Their work led to a Workforce Innovation Grant from the State of Wisconsin that allowed the United Way of Door County to partner with the Door County Housing Partnership to purchase ten lots from the Village of Sister Bay for $100,000, well below what they could have gone for on the open market. United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle is excited to see the ten lots turn into a neighborhood.

Mariah Goode has been with the Door County Housing Partnership since it was created over five years ago to establish a strategy to develop affordable housing in the area. The partnership has helped build six homes in Door County, but Goode says it is important that the organization lays its foundation in the Sister Bay area.

 

 

 

 

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Assisting the Door County Housing Partnership with the home is Door County Habitat for Humanity, which will provide the labor to build the home. In a year when they did not have their own partner family, Executive Director Lori Allen is thrilled that the organization will be able to support their mission with a home build.

It meant a lot to Ramirez and Balciunas that so many people supported their dream of owning a home.

You can support the build by donating money to the Door County Housing Partnership or time to the Door County Habitat for Humanity.

If you are camping at Peninsula State Park this summer, Park Superintendent Eric Hyde asks you to make sure you are checked in and stay for your allotted time.

Peninsula State Park is one of eight in Wisconsin participating in a trial program asking its campsite visitors to check in on their phones when they arrive. The reason is to ensure campsites are filled, especially during the summer when finding an opening is easier said than done. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources already has a no-show policy, saying that you must occupy the reserved campsite by 3 p.m. on the second day of the reservation and be present for the duration of the reservation or risk forfeiting the site. 

Hyde says the issue of no-shows has been a growing problem since the pandemic when checking in for a stay no longer required a stop in the ranger's office. Hyde says compliance right now is about 40 to 50 percent, which he hopes can grow.

The practice is optional as of now, but Hyde adds that it could be after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources discusses how the trial period went this summer. As for attendance, Hyde says the park has rebounded after a slow start due to the wet start to the season, adding that the campgrounds have been mainly full for much of the summer.

With all the water you can enjoy surrounding the Door Peninsula, emergency personnel hope you take the extra time to do so safely. On Saturday, emergency personnel tended to two water rescues on opposite sides of the peninsula, one at Cave Point County Park and another off Bay Shore Drive in Sister Bay. In the latter incident, Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht said the accident occurred when the boater potentially took too tight of a turn or caught a wave at the wrong time and capsized. The boat's occupants were able to tow it to shore and right the vessel as emergency personnel arrived. 

With the summer winding down, Hecht reminds boaters that the lake and the bay should not be treated like an inland body of water.

The two water rescues come as crews continue to search for 32-year-old Billy Salnik, who has been missing since his boat capsized near Chambers Island over two weeks ago. Volunteers on both sides of the bay have organized searches for Salnik, but they have been unable to locate him.

One of the most iconic panoramic views in Door County will have a neighboring property controlled by the Door County Land Trust.  The property below the Grand View Scenic Overlook and Park hill in Ellison Bay was purchased by the Door County Land Trust from Barbara and Don Fuhrmann.  The six acres of land was purchased by the Fuhrmanns in 2000 to preserve it from development.  Door County Land Trust Executive Director Emily Wood says Fuhrmanns sold the property for the exact price they paid for it nearly 25 years ago.  She notes that the acquisition is a perfect next chapter in the Grand View story.

  “This is a perfect next chapter in the Grand View story, which was initiated when a 44-unit condominium and residential project was approved for the site. The Fuhrmanns were also visionaries who bought their property with a clear purpose—to shield it from development—and the Door County Land Trust is honored to ensure that their long-held dream of permanent conservation will endure." 

The Land Trust’s initial 16-acre purchase of Grand View Park was in 2012 through private donations, the Wisconsin DNR Knowles-Nelson Stewardship, and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Scenic Byways Fund.  Property ownership was then transferred to the Town of Liberty Grove with an agreement that they would manage and maintain the park with support from the Land Trust. The newly protected properties will be celebrated on August 9 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Grand View Park during the Door County Land Trust Annual Gathering.  You can find more information on the event here.  

(photo by Dan Eggert)

Thanks to Cosmopolitan magazine, you can place Door County right up there with Hilton Head, S.C., Fairbanks, Alaska, and Sedona, Ariz., regarding summer travel destinations. The publication cited cherries, ice cream spots, and a two-ferry trip to Rock Island State Park as reasons why Door County is one of the country's 15 most underrated summer travel destinations. The area made a similar list with USA Today earlier this year, and a road trip from Green Bay to Door County was ranked second in the state and 115th in the country in most-sought road trips. No matter the list, travel writers continue to discover Door County and share the good news with their readers. Destination Door County’s Jon Jarosh says its earned media program is a big reason why millions of dollars worth of exposure brings visitors from around the country.

Jarosh says you will likely see travel writers around Door County this week as they explore the area’s lavender fields and cherry orchards.

Term limits and an enforceable ethics code for United States Supreme Court Justices are being proposed by President Joe Biden months before Election Day and his exit from office. Published by the Washington Post on Monday, the Democratic President cited recent Supreme Court decisions to give broad immunity to presidents and overturned Roe vs. Wade as part of his rationale for making the proposal. "I have great respect for our institutions and the separation of powers," Biden wrote in his op-ed piece. "What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public's confidence in the court's decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach." His proposal calls for no immunity for crimes a former president committed in office, 18-year term limits for U.S. Supreme Court justices, and a code of conduct for those justices. Liberals applaud the proposals after recent decisions and reports that some of the court's conservative members have taken lavish gifts without recusing themselves from different cases. Conservatives have spoken out about it too, with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) saying that Democrats made no efforts to change things when the high court was more liberal-leaning and former President Donald Trump calling the proposal illegal and "unconstitutional." Jay Heck from Common Cause Wisconsin is more encouraged by the prospects of a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices than term limits but believes both measures are worth the conversation.

Heck says the conversation shows how consequential elections are, adding that it is likely that the next president will be able to name two or even three new justices to the U.S. Supreme Court in addition to other federal judgeships across the country to lifetime appointments. He believes the margins in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House are too tight to turn the proposal into the law of the land.

The final touches on roadwork for Michigan Street will force you to find an alternate route for at least the next 12 to 24 hours. Beginning at 1 p.m. on Monday, the eastbound Lane on Michigan Street between S. 15th Avenue and S. 16th Place will be closed to complete the asphalt repairs caused by a broken water main earlier this summer. While motorists traveling westbound on Michigan Street will not be affected, eastbound traffic will turn on S. 15th Avenue to Rhode Island Street and then back to Michigan Street from S. 16th Place. Please avoid the area if possible and use caution if you cannot avoid it. The detour signs will be taken down on Tuesday after the road has time to cure and cool down.

You'll be able to visit your local municipal clerk beginning on Tuesday to cast your ballot for the upcoming fall primary. July 30th is the first day you can absentee vote in-person if you cannot participate in the election on August 13th. Just like if you vote on Election Day, you must bring proper voter identification with you to receive a ballot. Highlighting the ballot are Republican primaries for the Eighth Congressional District and State Assembly and two referendum questions. The first question will prohibit the legislature from delegating its power to appropriate money, while the second query would require legislative approval before the governor can spend federal funds. Algoma City Clerk Erin Mueller expects to have great voter participation.

While the deadline to register to vote online or by mail has passed, you can register at your clerk's office until August 9th or at your polling place on election day. You can vote in-person absentee at your clerk's office until August 11th, though exact hours may vary by municipality. All ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on August 13th. Mueller adds that after the Wisconsin Supreme Court flipped a previous decision on drop boxes for elections, the city has reopened its secure drop box inside their offices to accept ballots if everything is filled out correctly.

FALL PRIMARY DEADLINES FROM MY VOTE WISCONSIN

July 24, 2024 - Deadline to Register by Mail - Your voter registration form, along with proof of residence must be postmarked to your municipal clerk no later than July 24, 2024. Find your Municipal Clerk's Contact Information here. 

July 24, 2024 - Deadline to Register to vote online. - Voters who are able to match their name, date of birth, Wisconsin Driver License or State ID number, and address with the Wisconsin DMV can register to vote online through July 24, 2024.

August 9, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m. - Deadline to Register in Your Municipal Clerk's Office-  Voters may register in-person in their municipal clerk's office during the clerk's business hours until 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024.  Find your Municipal Clerk's Contact Information here.

August 13, 2024 from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m - Register to Vote at Your Polling Place- Voters can register to vote at their polling place on Election Day, August 13, 2024.  Find your Polling Place here. 

Absentee Voting- Deadlines for the August 13, 2024 Partisan Primary
All voters in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them for any reason.  Voters must be registered before they can request an absentee ballot.   Voters may request their absentee ballot in writing.  To request an absentee ballot on MyVote.wi.gov click here.  You must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request, more information on photo ID can be found here.

June 27, 2024 - Deadline for municipal clerks to send absentee ballots to voters with an active request already on file- Municipal clerks can begin mailing absentee ballots once official ballots are received and have until June 27, 2024 to send ballots to all voters with a request on file by that day. Requests received after June 27, 2024 must be fulfilled within 24-48 business hours.

August 8, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Regular and Permanent Overseas Voters-  If you are a regular or a Permanent Overseas Voters, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 8, 2024.

August 9, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Indefinitely Confined and Military- If a voter is indefinitely confined, or military and not away from home, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 9, 2024. 

July 30, 2024, possibly through August 11, 2024 -Deadline for In-Person Absentee- Voters can possibly request and vote an absentee ballot in-person in their municipal clerk's office through August 11, 2024.  Office hours vary by municipality. Some municipal offices may not offer additional in-person absentee hours. Check MyVote or contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours.   

August 13, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline for Hospitalized Voters- Voters who are in a hospital may request a ballot be brought to them by an appointed agent if they are hospitalized in the 7 days preceding the election.  Hospitalized electors may request an absentee ballot between August 6, 2024 and August 13, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

August 13, 2024 @ 5:00 p.m.- Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Military If a voter is in the military and away from home, then your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 13, 2024. 

August 13, 2024 @ 8:00 p.m.- Deadline to Return Absentee Ballot-  If you have already received an absentee ballot, you must return your absentee ballot by mail or delivery to your municipal clerk.  Your ballot must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, August 13, 2024.

Peninsula Players Theater in Fish Creek invites you to put on your blue suede shoes and watch out for great balls of fire when Million Dollar Quartet opens on July 31st. Set in 1956, Million Dollar Quartet tells the story of a famous recording session at Sun Studio in Memphis, Tenn. that featured Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Originally opening in Florida in 2006, different productions of Million Dollar Quartet have taken place across the country, including an eight-year run in Chicago and nearly 500 shows on Broadway, where it garnered three Tony Award nominations. Peninsula Players' Audra Baakari Boyle says this is a great opportunity for audiences to catch a Tony Award-winning musical in an intimate environment alongside the bay.

Starring  Aja Alcazar, Jake Busse, Andrés Enriquez, Jordan Golding, Ben Heppner, Sam Linda, Garrett Lutz, and Eion Meldrum, Million Dollar Quarter runs from July 31st to August 18th.

Crossroads is excited to welcome Tim Dahl and Jason Miller from Door County Soil & Water and the Door County Invasive Species Team (DCIST) on Thursday, August 8, at 5:30 pm to discuss resources available to all as part of the Resources for Landowners Series.

The first European settlers at Crossroads, the Hans and Bertha Hanson family, were from Norway, and apparently, many of the men who lived in the boarding house on what now is our Ida Bay Preserve were Scandinavian immigrants. 

We celebrate our pioneer heritage. But we also must acknowledge that when people from other lands came to Door County, the land was forever changed.

My friend Eric Hemenway, a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, explained,  "the Native People of the Great Lakes adapt our lives to fit the environment. The settlers adapted the environment to fit their lives.”

From the time of European settlement until the present, humans have altered the land and water. Many of those efforts, often done with the best intentions, degraded the environment. People from other lands have, over the centuries, introduced non-native plants. 

Crossroads and other environmental organizations, aware of humans' role on the landscape,  have learned from past blunders, including the introduction of non-native plants and their impact on the environment. Tim and Jason will be helping to connect resources for current residents to help address these non-native plants and reestablish native species.

Agricultural plants made it possible for us to feed humans and domestic animals. We need to have agriculture, but according to writer/professor Dr. Douglas Tallamy,  "If you were to add up the amount of land in various types of built landscapes that is not dedicated to agriculture—suburban developments, urban parks, golf courses, mine reclamation sites, and so forth—it would total 603 million acres, a full 33% of our lower 48 states. We have not targeted these places for conservation in the past, but that was back when our conservation model was based on the notion that humans and their tailings were here and nature was someplace else."Door County has open land that could be restored, and there are landowners willing to attempt this significant ecological work. The Crossroads  Resources for Landowners lecture series will introduce the Door County Soil and Water and DCIST programs.

The speakers will discuss how they can help landowners with the inevitable problem of invasive species. The program is free and open to the public, but it will be recorded and, after processing, will be posted on the Crossroads website.

Monday, August 5

Summer Nature Programs – Finding Fossils

 Our summer naturalist will present a hands-on program on finding fossils appropriate for all ages. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center. Crossroads, 2041 Michigan. 

Tuesday, August 6 

10:00 Summer Nature Program

Join our summer naturalist for a program about butterflies. Nets will be provided. All ages are welcome. Free Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Wednesday, August 7

10:00 am Summer Nature Program: Fantastic Flyers

Join one of our naturalists for free family-oriented activities featuring flying migrating creatures. Meet in the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads,2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Thursday, August 8

5:30 pm Resources for Landowners Series: DCIST and Door County Soil & Water

This summer, Crossroads is hosting the Resources for Landowners lecture series, a speaker series aimed at connecting Door County landowners with the tools and resources available for restoring and managing the natural resources found on their land. Tim Dahl and Jason Miller speak on Door County Soil & Water and the Door County Invasive Species Team, their programs, and the resources they offer landowners.

You cannot get much busier with capital projects in the first few months of a new job than Kewaunee County Administrator Jeremy Kral. The former Brown County Health and Human Services Executive Director was appointed to the role in February as he took over for Scott Feldt. In the nearly six months since, Kral has had to dive into the county's biggest projects, including the jail, highway shop, and broadband expansion. Kral says he dove into the history of the projects so he could best determine what steps he could take.

While the jail project has dominated the headlines, Kral says the highway shop project also presents the county with many aspects to consider moving forward. He believes the highway shop project will be more straightforward than the discussions around the jail.

At the last Kewaunee County Board meeting, the decision to hire an owner's representative for the jail project was tabled until August to allow supervisors an opportunity for supervisors to review the contract.

A retired water quality research engineer who has authored 55 published articles in scientific journals on the contamination and hazard to water resources in agricultural landscapes found in the Midwest will share his expertise on the topic in the area next Wednesday.  The Door County Environmental Council is hosting "This Land is Their Land: Historical Perspectives on Cornbelt Water Quality" at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor on July 31.  The program features Chris Jones, who wrote "The Swine Republic, Struggles with Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality."  Retired from the Hydroscience & Engineering School at the University of Iowa, Dr. Jones says Door County and Iowa share the same challenges and health concerns regarding improving groundwater quality.  He says we need regulation of production agriculture with increased concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

Jones adds that the farming industry needs to embrace the idea of climate change and design systems that can cope with extreme weather changes.   The live presentation by Dr. Jones will be shown via Zoom to in-person and online audiences at the Kress Pavilion at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31.  You can find the link here at www.dcec-wi.org.

With the struggles of planting crops in the rear-view mirror, you will see farmers struggling with the decision on how to get across the finish line this fall. According to the United States Department of Agriculture's Wisconsin Crop Progress and Condition Report, soybean blooms were at 47 percent, a couple of days behind the pace of last year and the five-year average. Corn silking was 40 percent complete, ahead of last year's pace and the five-year average. While both crops are in better condition than last year, there is less of it in the fields. The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service says 300,000 fewer acres were planted this year than last. While other crops took up some of those acres, many were affected by the wet spring. Throw in low corn prices, and Rio Creek Feed Mill agronomist Adam Barta says farmers have to decide to protect what they have already worked so hard to grow.

Barta suggests farmers scout their fields to see how they may be affected by disease before taking additional measures if they have not already treated them with fungicides and herbicides.

Pictured above are tar spots on a corn plant, one of the many diseases farmers are looking for in their fields this time of year.

If you plan to take a dip in the lake or the bay this weekend to cool off, you must be mindful of where you go. Beaches at Selner Park in Kewaunee and Egg Harbor Beach are closed due to elevated bacteria counts in the water. Another beach at Robert La Salle County Park near Clay Banks also has an advisory due to elevated bacteria. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, elevated bacteria levels are reported when the E.Coli levels are higher than the recreational water quality levels. These levels can fluctuate because of delays in conventional lab analyses, which can take 18-24 hours. The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends people don’t swim at beaches with elevated bacteria levels, especially small children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Symptoms of exposure to bacteria in the water include nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, chills, fever, and rashes.

You can see up-to-date beach closures by clicking this link

Dozens of storefronts and other vendors welcomed shoppers on Thursday as a part of Destination Sturgeon Bay's Sail Through The Avenues Sidewalk Sales. Tables from area businesses lined the curbs to offer steep discounts on some of their products while food trucks gave others an olfactory invitation to check out the scene on Sturgeon Bay's 3rd Avenue. Destination Sturgeon Bay's Alexa Soto says the event gave shoppers a chance to save and be introduced to local businesses they may have never known existed.

Entering the final month of the summer, the activities are still going strong in Sturgeon Bay as the city kicks off its Maritime Week festivities. Activities include the weekend-long Classic and Wooden Boat Show at the Door County Maritime Museum, the Bloodys, Brews, and Bacon event at Sonny's Italian Kitchen on August 3rd, the Coast Guard Person of the Year and Mariner Award Dinner on August 5th, and the U.S. Coast Guard Picnic on August 9th. You can find a full listing of those activities by clicking this link.

Many communities nationwide struggle with critical issues like mental health, affordable housing, and childcare, but a new fund through the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation looks to address those concerns right in your backyard. Earlier this month, the foundation launched the One Community Fund, designed to address rural communities' escalating needs in Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties. Senior Vice President of Community Impact Amber Paluch says the foundation looked at community data when creating the list of critical needs the One Community Fund will help address, which also includes financial stability, diversity and equity, transportation, and aging. She hopes the fund will help address those issues that take on unique qualities in Kewaunee County.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the One Community Fund has received approximately $275,000 in donations so far. The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation supports Brown, Oconto, and Kewaunee counties through grants and other programs.

Door County Highway Commissioner Thad Ash asks you to drive carefully over a recently repaired portion of County Highway U in Clay Banks. The roadway at the intersection of Shiloh Road and Rosewood Road was washed away after the area took on several inches of rain in a few hours' time span. The storm left a 25-foot-wide by 200-foot long by 12-foot deep gash that had to be filled with a custom-made 200-foot long culvert and gravel. Since crews have to allow the gravel to settle before the road can be paved, the Door County Highway Department is asking you to reduce your speed and drive cautiously over the recently repaired roadway. Ash had estimated the fix would cost approximately $200,000, though Disaster Damage Aid through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation could allow the county to receive up to 75 percent reimbursement toward the overall repair cost if their petition is accepted. 

Adding onto the Door County Historical Museum while keeping your tax dollars in mind is why the county is returning to the drawing board.

Door County Administrator Ken Pabich updated the Door County Board of Supervisors during his portion of the meeting on Tuesday. The discussion around the museum dates back to 2008, well before Younkers closed their Sturgeon Bay location on 4th Avenue in 2018. The proposed project called for over 14,000 square feet of space to be added to the current museum, which requires the county to demolish the former Younkers building along 4th Avenue, among other adjustments. The project was put on hold in March when the bids they received were over budgeted by $3 million. Pabich says they are going back to the drawing board to see if they can accomplish what they want to do at the right investment for the county.

The Door County Historical Museum is not the only cultural institution in downtown Sturgeon Bay that could see some changes in the future. Pabich says the county has been in discussions with the Miller Art Museum about a potential move from the Sturgeon Bay branch of the Door County Library, citing the age of the building and the needs of both institutions as the reason. Pabich believes there will be an announcement on those plans later this summer.

You may see construction crews at Kewaunee School District in the coming years as the administration and school board do their facility planning for the next ten years. The district collaborated with EUA and Miron Construction to update its facilities plan, which looks at the current buildings' condition and tries to determine what may need to be added. The district is bucking a statewide trend where 69 percent of districts have declined enrollment over the last decade. While the high school has room for continued growth, the elementary and middle schools are nearing capacity. In addition to other improvements throughout the buildings, plumbing and HVAC projects not addressed in 2016 will need to be included in any work accomplished this time. Kewaunee School District Superintendent Scott Fritz stresses that no specific projects have been mapped out yet but adds that now is the time to start discussing what may need to be done.

Kewaunee School District voters passed a $16.2 million referendum in 2016 that addressed approximately 62 percent of the $26 million facility needs. The referendum not only included improvements to all three schools and athletic facilities, but also the removal of the former Hillcrest School and district office.  Public feedback sessions are being planned for later this fall.

You won't confuse the Door County Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay as an international hub for air traffic, but being about 100 miles away from the world's busiest airport for a week is helping it seem that way. The EAA AirVenture is entering its final days in Oshkosh this weekend, with over 677,000 people expected to attend the 10-day event. More than 10,000 aircraft make their way to Oshkosh's Wittman Regional Airport for the event, creating close to 150 takeoffs/landings per hour. Many of those airplanes travel the area while they are in town, including to Door County. Airport Maintenance Superintendent Craig Ross says as EAA AirVenture grows, so does the air traffic at Cherryland. He adds that people worldwide are stopping by to see what Door County offers.

Ross expects Door County's other airports, such as Ephraim/Gibraltar and Washington Island, to see boosts to their aircraft numbers thanks to the event. EAA AirVenture runs through Sunday.

Your experiences finding and retaining a job in Door County will likely be talking points for Destination Door County President and CEO Julie Gilbert after she officially joined the Governor's Council on Workforce Investment. Gilbert was appointed to the group by Governor Tony Evers earlier this month to help the state create ways to develop Wisconsin's workforce. Door County has paid extra attention to it in recent months, with workforce development, child care availability, and affordable housing all anchoring Destination Door County's Destination Stewardship Plan released in April. Gilbert credits their partnership with the Door County Economic Development Corporation for helping the area create a road map for this issue that could help other communities in the state.

Gilbert's first meeting on the council will take place in August. The council continues to work through a strategic plan for workforce development launched in 2022.

Driving while being impaired by drugs or alcohol continues to be a problem throughout the state, including Door County.  According to the Department of Transportation, in Door County, 22 people are injured or killed in a crash involving a driver believed to be impaired by drugs or alcohol in an average year.  Last week alone, two accidents in the area involved drivers with previous Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) records and where alcohol may have been a factor in the incidents.  Door County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says alcohol is a contributing factor in several crashes on the local roads, and the Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for OWI.  If a law enforcement officer stops you and fails an administered field sobriety test, you will be arrested for OWI. 

McCarty notes that there are plenty of ride-share options available for drivers who may have had too much to drink. He encourages motorists to report any vehicles on the roadways where the driver may be impaired by calling the dispatch center with a description of the vehicle and its location.     

Overall, in Door County, most injury and fatal crashes occur between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., with over 40 percent (50/124) happening on a Friday or Saturday.  July has the highest number of injuries and fatal crashes of the year.  

A multi-state outbreak of Listeria has caused the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local delis to take additional precautions.  The CDC reported last Friday that initial information shows that the outbreak impacted people who ate meats sliced at deli counters.  Since May, 28 people have been infected in 12 states, including one in Wisconsin.  Two deaths were reported, one in New Jersey and one in Illinois.

The CDC says Listeria is a common bacteria that can live on many foods and cause an intestinal illness that is usually mild.  It can take three to four weeks to determine if someone’s illness is part of an ongoing outbreak.  Because some people recover without medical care or being tested for the bacteria, the actual number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the reported number.    

According to the CDC, Listeria infections are especially dangerous for people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems. The victims of this outbreak ranged in age from 32 to 94.

The CDC says there are no signs that pre-packaged deli meats are a concern and that reheating deli-sliced meats before eating will kill any germs on them.

You won't see orange barrels and barricades on the streets of Algoma after this weekend.  The major street project in the City of Algoma this summer is rapidly coming to a close.  City Administrator Matt Murphy says construction crews are grading Freemont Street and Division Street on Wednesday afternoon and will then take care of the small stretch on Jefferson Street (Highway 54).  Paving crews will place new asphalt down on Friday, finishing with Frank Avenue on Saturday.

Murphy adds that all streets should be reopened to thru-traffic and normal flow by next Monday. Part of Jefferson Street will be closed from Thursday until Friday afternoon. He advises drivers to follow the temporary detours and be respectful when approaching the work zone areas where road crews are paving and base-coating the streets with asphalt.   

After a few months of downtime, you can enjoy one of the most fun activities at the Door County YMCA, which is back and operational.  The waterslide at the pool has reopened this week after being fixed by the maintenance team at the YMCA.  Aquatics Director Heidi Honold says the waterslide is running well, and plans are to open it every Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon.  She says the YMCA depends on volunteers to help at the top of the waterslide while assisting the lifeguard on duty.

Honold adds that you need to be 16 years of age or older to run the top of the waterslide and that you can sign up to volunteer at the Door County YMCA website through "Volunteers Matter."  You can find the open pool hours at the Door County YMCA in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay here.

James Milhaley, a long-time Write On, Door County member and author, will have his life celebrated this Saturday in Fish Creek from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. A former Sturgeon Bay resident and valedictorian of his Sturgeon Bay High School class, Mihaley, 61, passed away on February 1 in Culver City, California, after living there for 25 years.

Write On Door County is hosting a celebration of Mihaley’s life during the week that coincides with the popular Recharge Your Creative Battery retreats at Write On that Mihaley led.  Write On Door County founder and executive director Jarod Santek says this Saturday is an appropriate time to honor Mihaley for his contributions to the community and his impact on his students who took his retreats over the years.

Mihaley was the author of the middle-grade novel You Can’t Have My Planet, But Take My Brother, Please! and the poetry collection The Yogi Manifesto. At the time of his death, he was working on a fictionalized history of Palmer Johnson Yachts. His stepfather, Mike Kelsey, was one of the three partners who ran the company.

Door County officials hope you see better outcomes for those battling addiction in the area after the board unanimously approved the transfer of $100,000 to its sober living project. Door County Health and Human Services Department Head Joe Krebsbach gave the board an update on their efforts as a part of his presentation to ask for nearly a third of the over $303,000 in the county's opioid settlement funds. Currently, the county sends people out of the county to participate in a similar program, which is currently serving three women and two men. Krebsbach said some problems occur with this strategy that increase the likelihood that the individuals relapse and have to start their sober journey over again.

Earlier this year, the Door County Board approved $15,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to establish a sober living facility in the area. The county used those funds to work with CORE Treatment Services, Inc. to complete the first phase, which includes a community assessment and a feasibility study to determine if, when, and how a sober living facility could be launched.  In his update, Krebsbach said they are ironing out the details with CORE Treatment Services, who will oversee the facility.

Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor continues to keep the beat of the Big Band Jazz session, but you will notice one important person missing from the faculty ensemble. Drummer Bob Chmel passed away earlier this year after a distinguished music career with over 30 years of faculty experience at Birch Creek Music Performance Center. In addition to playing at Birch Creek, the Kent State University played with the likes of the Glenn Miller Band and Frank Sinatra, Jr. Executive Director Mona Christensen says Chmel had an immense knowledge and passion for jazz music, something he made sure to pass onto his students and audiences.

Tickets are still available at Birch Creek Music Performance Center when they host a special memorial concert in his honor on Friday.  You can listen to our full interview with Christensen by clicking this link. 

Picture courtesy of Birch Creek Music Performance Center

Two Green Bay men were injured when the driver drove off the road Sunday night in the Town of Gardner,  with the driver accumulating three violations along the way.

Door County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called out to Stevenson Pier Road near County Highway C just after 9 p.m. to a vehicle resting in a ditch. The men were allegedly heading southbound on the Stevenson Pier Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle and drove through a ditch. After hitting a bridge sign on his way into the ditch, the driver drove through a small creek before eventually stopping his vehicle.  Both men were injured, but they were treated on the scene. The driver was cited with his second Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) violation, speeding, and failure to keep the vehicle under control. According to the accident report, the driver’s alcohol test is still pending. 

An Arlington Heights, Ill. man was cited for driving without a valid license and failing to yield to the right of way from a stop sign after he struck another vehicle with his passenger van last Friday afternoon in the Town of Sturgeon Bay. Shortly before 4:10 p.m., a Sturgeon Bay man was driving southbound on County Highway U when the passenger van driven by the Illinois man pulled out in front of him at the Silverdale Road intersection. The impact of the collision sent both vehicles into a nearby yard, with the passenger van going towards a tree on the property. According to the accident report, the deputy on the scene could smell alcohol on the breath of the Illinois man but did not see enough through the field sobriety test to add an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) citation. The Sturgeon Bay man suffered a possible injury from the crash, but he was treated on scene. 

With City Engineer Chad Shefchik leaving his post for a new role at Portside Builders next week, the City of Sturgeon Bay will be utilizing the experience it has on hand to reorganize the engineering department.  City Administrator Josh Van Lieshout says Shefchik did a marvelous job the past several years for Sturgeon Bay and that current Engineer Technician Brian Spetz will be stepping in as the new Senior Engineering Technician.  That position combines Spetz's current duties with the daily activities of the city engineer.  Van Lieshout explains why the move makes sense on several levels.

Shefchik says he has been happy to work through major projects with Door County and Sturgeon Bay Utilities over the years.  Another accomplishment was completing the infrastructure analysis and replacing enough roadways each year to maintain a reasonable schedule within the city.

Shefchik started with the City of Sturgeon Bay as the Municipal Services Crew Supervisor in 2013 before taking over for Tony Depies as the City Engineer in 2016.  He will be doing design and sales for remodeling projects at Portside when he leaves his engineering position with Sturgeon Bay on July 30. 

Door County Democratic Party Chairperson Kris Sadur believes the country's Democrats will unite behind Vice President Kamala Harris in the wake of President Joe Biden's announcement on Sunday. Biden endorsed Harris to run as the new nominee for the Democratic Party as a part of his announcement, saying that his "very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it's been the best decision I've made." In the wake of the announcement, Senator Joe Manchin (Ind., W. Va) entertained the idea of switching back to the Democratic Party to run for president but joined former President Barack Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's call for an open nominating process. Other Democrats, including U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, have already supported Harris. Sadur believes Democrats will be united as they head toward next month's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

She and Kewaunee County Democratic Party Chairperson Stan Johnson both echoed the message of the state Democratic Party Chairperson, thanking Biden for his time in office.

There is no new information behind the disappearance of a 32-year-old Little Suamico man whose boat was recovered near Chambers Island over a week ago. Crews from local and state emergency personnel and the U.S. Coast Guard have been searching for Billy Salnik after he went missing along with his two children while sailing from Oconto Harbor to Door County. While his children were discovered a few days later, search efforts have not been able to find Salnik. Among those searching for Salnik is the Chambers Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which boasts over 30 residents among its members. Eighteen members boarded five boats over the weekend to search an area of about 30 square miles of water alongside agencies like the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Gibraltar Fire/Rescue. Gibraltar Fire Chief Andy Bertges says the Chambers Island CERT is a great example of what can be done when neighbors work together.

Bertges adds that the Chambers Island CERT is a great example of what they are trying to accomplish on the mainland in situations when emergency services are strained.

Picture courtesy of Gibraltar Fire and Rescue

The team that brought you the schooner Trinidad has discovered another near the shoreline of Algoma. On Friday, the Algoma Chamber of Commerce announced that the Wisconsin Underwater Archaeology Association has located the schooner Margaret A. Muir 150 years after it is believed to have sank. Using similar techniques to what they used to discover the Trinidad last summer, Brendon Baillod, Robert Jaeck, and Kevin Cullen found the ship in May using historical records and high-resolution cameras. According to the chamber, the Muir was a 130-foot ship built in Manitowoc to supplement the grain trade across the Great Lakes. The ship was on its way to South Chicago with a full load of bulk salt from Michigan when it encountered rough winds after clearing the Straits of Mackinac. It was not until the Muir was near Ahnapee (present-day Algoma) that it was realized that the ship was taking on water, and it eventually sank on September 30th, 1893. Baillod, Jaeck, and Cullen discovered the wreck in about 50 feet of water just outside the Algoma Harbor entrance. The group will now try to help the Muir follow the same course the Trinidad did by nominating it to the National Register of Historic Places, a feat the Trinidad accomplished earlier this month.

Two Door County organizations committed to affordable and workforce housing in the area are joining forces beginning this month to build a new home in Sister Bay.

The Door County Housing Partnership and Door County Habitat for Humanity approved the arrangement last week to bring a new home to Ava Hope Trail in Sister Bay later this year. Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Door County, the home is being built for the family of a childcare worker.

Door County Habitat for Humanity volunteers will provide the labor for the 1,240-square-foot house, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The Door County Housing Partnership, which owns the lot thanks to a deal reached with the Village of Sister Bay, will execute the sale and ensure that it remains affordable for years to come.

Door County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Lori Allen is thrilled that their volunteers will be able to build this year after the organization needed more funding or a partner family lined up to do their home build this year. “In place of us not building this year, we are keeping our volunteers engaged and keeping their work in affordable housing,” Allen said. The organization is looking for build volunteers and you can contact them to get more

While the two organizations have worked together on past home builds, this will be the first the pair have worked on north of Sturgeon Bay. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for July 30th.

President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he is dropping out of the presidential election race. After mounting calls from Democrats for him to end his re-election campaign, Biden made the announcement and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to run as the new Democratic Party nominee.

In his statement, Biden says, “It is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down.”  

Biden said he will elaborate more on his decision to end his presidential re-election bid later this week when he addresses the country.   

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin released the statement below after Biden's announcement.

“It has been an honor to work with Joe Biden to deliver real, meaningful change for working Wisconsinites across our state. Today, seniors are paying less for their prescription drugs, our state has been put to work rebuilding our infrastructure, and millions of Wisconsinites with preexisting conditions have health care coverage because of the work we’ve done together. Throughout all of that work, I’ve been inspired by his decency, integrity, and dedication to service, and I am deeply grateful for that. Thank you, President Biden.”

Heroes from all walks of life in your community could be just the people Ultimate Air in Luxemburg and other Lennox dealers across the country are looking for before the summer turns into the fall and winter.

Like other programs run by heating and cooling equipment manufacturers nationwide, the Lennox Feel The Love program accepts nominations of everyday people who could use a little extra support after giving back to their communities and country. Recipients are selected, and Lennox dealers install the heating or cooling equipment free of charge. It becomes a family and a community affair for Ultimate Air, which takes donations from local businesses to bring some extra cheer to the occasion. Bailey Bomber from Ultimate Air says it has become one of the company's favorite days of the year.

You have until August 31st to submit your nominations so a recipient can be selected ahead of the Feel the Love installation week from October 5th through October 12th.  You can submit your nomination here.

Picture courtesy of Ultimate Air

On Tuesday, July 25, as a part of the Crossroads Landowner Series, Amy Shafer of Pheasants Forever will speak on programs and resources available in Door County for restoring and managing open land. 

At the first lecture of this series, Mike Grimm suggested that landowners first define the intended outcomes of their efforts. If the intent is to improve wildlife habitat, landowners should understand the importance of "host plants."  

By coincidence (or maybe it’s not so coincidental in that everything in the environment is connected) the three upcoming Summer Nature programs (offered Monday-Wednesday at 10:00) will feature “butterflies",  "glaciers" and  "insects."

By planting and maintaining an open land, one is contributing to the food web. Green plants capture the energy of the Sun and convert it to food. That energy is passed along when animals eat the leaves, stems, and roots of a plant. 

But many creatures, great and small, are carnivores. Not able to eat plants, they can obtain food energy only by eating the creatures that do eat plants. And of the herbivores, caterpillars --immature forms of moths and butterflies—apparently are the most important link in the food chain.

Dr. Douglas Tallamy, an entomologist, native plant advocate, and professor, and his students have been studying caterpillars and native plants. They conclude that "not all native plants are equal. Some plants have more ecological value than others. Most native plants don’t offer much value regarding the number of moth and butterfly caterpillars they host." 

Their research shows that 14% of native plant species are larval hosts for 90% of caterpillar species.

Host plants are defined as plants that provide food for butterfly or moth larvae (caterpillars). Adult butterflies or moths lay their eggs on host plants, and the larvae hatch and eat from the plant before undergoing metamorphosis into butterflies.

Monarch butterflies are famous for laying their eggs only on milkweed plants. They are not unique! Almost all butterflies and moths are very, very selective, laying eggs solely on one or several species of plants.

Surprisingly, trees such as oaks, cherries, and willows host the greatest number of moth and butterfly species, but many upland wildflowers are also host plants. The greater the diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of moths and butterflies. That said, some native flowers host far more butterfly species than others, and it would be wonderful to just list these plants.

But here is the glacier connection: In addition to giving us the Great Lakes, the glaciers left the Door Peninsula with several different and difficult soil types. We have sand, clay, rock, and wet areas. Just as certain plants support certain insects, different soil types support different host plants.

To meet restoration goals, a landowner or manager needs to introduce plants that will thrive in their land's unique conditions and select plants with the greatest ecological value.  The Landowner Series was created to help interested citizens learn how best to manage the land they steward. While we encourage people to attend in person to meet and talk with the restoration professionals, we will record the lectures, which will be posted on our website soon.

Thursday, July 25  

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Crossroads Landowner Series: Pheasants Forever

Amy Schaefer will speak on Pheasants Forever, describing the programs and the resources they offer landowners and how they connect Door County landowners with the tools and resources available in the county for restoring and managing the natural resources found on their land.  Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Monday , July 29

10:00 Sumer Nature Program: Butterflies

Butterflies are masters of transformation. Seek our summer butterflies in Crossroads’ gardens, meadows, and fields. Nets will be provided. Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, July 30

10:00 Summer Nature Program:  Glaciers  

Ice Age glaciers provided Wisconsin with an amazing gift-our Great Lakes. We will explore how glacial ice has transformed our landscapes. This free program is for all ages! No pre-registration is needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

Wednesday, July 31

10:00 Summer Nature Program: Insect Safari

Learn the secrets of insects as they transform from egg to adult. Hand lenses and collecting nets provided.  This free program is for all ages! No pre-registration is needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan. Sturgeon Bay

Picture courtesy of Crossroads at Big Creek

With the raise of every paddle last Saturday, you saw a pig become much more than that to Mason Vertz and the Kewaunee County community.

For years, Vertz has battled seizures due to epilepsy, which is caused by brain disorders, genetic conditions, and other factors. When it was determined that his medication would no longer be able to control his seizures, Vertz underwent brain resection surgery at Children’s Hospital Wisconsin in Milwaukee to try to control them for good.

Meanwhile, Vertz was trying to prepare his hogs and chickens for last week’s Kewaunee County Fair. His family stepped in as he recovered in Milwaukee. After his experience at Children’s Hospital Wisconsin, he knew he had to give back somehow. With his parent's approval, he decided that if he were lucky enough to enter a hog in the Saturday afternoon auction, all the money would go towards the place that gave him a new lease on life.

It would take nearly three minutes to announce the two dozen businesses and individuals who would help Vertz raise $12,000 for Children’s Hospital Wisconsin. Vertz says it was an emotional moment when he realized the lives he could touch thanks to the generosity of the entire community.

Every year, dozens of businesses and individuals participate in the Kewaunee County Animal Sale and next month’s Door County Quality Market Animal Sale to reward exhibitors for their hard work and dedication.

Mason's dad, Isaac, contributed to the interview.

Picture from Beckie Vertz

The Academy season may be halfway over, but there is still plenty of great music to enjoy at Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Egg Harbor. Wednesday marked the beginning of the first of two Big Band Jazz sessions at Birch Creek, featuring the standards of Basie, Miller, and Ellington, among others. What makes the Big Band Jazz sessions unique goes beyond the notes on the page. Whether it is the student ambassador ensembles touring the county's countryside during the week or the faculty bands under the roof of the concert band, Executive Director Mona Christensen says the improvisation that occurs during the individual pieces gives it a different vibe. She adds that it is especially impressive when you factor in that many students have never met each other before performing, and the faculty do not see each other during the 50 weeks they are away from Egg Harbor.

The first session of Big Band Jazz runs through July 27th, and it will include a memorial concert for the late drummer and Birch Creek faculty member Bob Chmel on July 26th. The second session runs from July 31st to August 10th. You can listen to our full interview with Christensen by clicking this link.

A sunken schooner near Algoma has gone from mystery to the National Register of Historic Places. The Wisconsin Historical Society made the announcement of Wednesday. It was just over a year ago that Brendon Baillod and Robert Jaeck found the 156-year-old 140-foot schooner Trinidad, on July 15th, 2023 using various tools, including survivor accounts of the shipwreck and side scan sonar technology. According to Baillod, the ship was built in New York in the 1860s, and it was primarily used for grain trade between Milwaukee, Chicago, and Oswego, New York. The Trinidad sank shortly after leaving the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in May 1881, about 10 miles from Algoma’s shores. He called it a unique vessel to find because of its backstory and its condition. The vessel was added to the State Register of Historic Places in March. The Isabel and Orrin Johnson House in Neenah was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on Wednesday.

(photo from Wisconsin Historical Society)

Whether you drive, ferry, or fly to Washington Island this weekend, there will certainly be plenty of activities for you.

One of those activities is the Washington Island Lions Club Fly-In Fish Boil at the Washington Island Airport. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., cars and airplanes alike stop by for a traditional fish boil lunch and some conversation to support the work of the Washington Island Lions Club. While being on a short flight from the EAA Airventure grounds in Oshkosh certainly helps, Lions Club member Joel Gunnlaugsson says community support is how the event has lasted for over 70 years.

The Washington Island Rec Run on Saturday and an Islanders baseball game on Sunday only add to how busy the area has been since the calendar turned to July. From a motel owner and ferry captain perspective, Gunnlaugsson says island traffic has rebounded from a slower and much wetter June.

Your quest to find the best barbecue in the Midwest will not include a trip to Washington Island this year.

Following the recent passing of Death's Door BBQ organizer Richard Jepsen, his family, Kansas City Barbecue Society members, and the event's committee announced on Wednesday that the 12th edition of the contest would be canceled for 2024. Jepsen nurtured the contest from humbled beginnings to make Death's Door BBQ Contest one of the premier barbecue showcases in the Midwest and the entire country. Pitmaster Timothy Schopp has helped organize other regional contests and says Jepsen's love for Washington Island and the community's connection with the contest were unrivaled.

Schopp is uncertain about the contest's future, saying they are still mourning Jepsen's death. Acknowledging the hard work of organizing these events, Schopp hopes it will return and be renamed in Jepsen's honor. The Death's Door BBQ Contest raised thousands of dollars annually for local causes.

This morning, you may find it difficult to do some of your everyday tasks that require the internet after a widespread technology outage that affected flights, hospitals, banks, credit card companies, and even the Door County Daily News.

According to the Associated Press, the disruptions are caused by access disruptions to Microsoft 365 and services. Microsoft 365 and cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike say they are working on the issue but did not outline a timeline for when they expect to get everything back online.  They did say that the outage was not because of a cyber attack but rather a recent content update that had a defect. The Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency say they are working with CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and federal, state, local, and critical infrastructure partners to assess and address system outages fully. They did say that the outage is not because of a cyber attack.

Meanwhile, government agencies and businesses are trying to navigate the situation as best they can. General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee asks passengers to stay home if their flight is delayed or canceled due to the worldwide ground stop affecting some of the airlines they serve. The Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency say they are working with CrowdStrike, Microsoft, and federal, state, local, and critical infrastructure partners to assess and address system outages fully. Some counties are also affected by the outage, with WBAY reporting that Outagamie County is encouraging people to wait until the issues are resolved before coming in for services. Kewaunee County Administrator Jeremy Kral and Austin Straubel Airport Director Marty Piette say they are business as usual because their respective counties do not use the Crowdstrike platform. 

Your second installment is due soon if you haven’t fully paid your property taxes this year.  Door County Treasurer Ryan Schley reminds you that the payment deadline is Wednesday, July 31st.  Failing to pay your taxes on time can mean penalties of 1.5 percent per month retroactive to February 1st, equivalent to a 10.5 percent penalty. 

You can make payments via cash, money order, or personal or cashier’s check.  Additional service fees are added to credit or debit cards or electronic checks.  You can contact the Door County Treasurer’s office in Sturgeon Bay if you have any questions regarding your property taxes.

For the second time since your kids left for the summer, the Kewaunee School District is introducing a new administrator to its ranks. Earlier this week, the Kewaunee School Board officially approved the hiring of Zac Krause as its new middle school principal. Krause replaces Brian Annen, who resigned from the post last month but will stay with the district as a literacy teacher/instructional coach. A Mishicot native, Krause taught sixth-grade science and social studies at Kewaunee Middle School this past year, in addition to being the summer school principal this year. Superintendent Scott Fritz says the resignation of Aaron Dobbe from the high school principal role set off a domino effect through the rest of the district and believes it is a good thing that the right people were under their roof.

Earlier this summer, the school board approved Lindsey Hudson as the new high school principal to replace Dobbe. The first day of school for Kewaunee School District is September 3rd.

A glass of lemonade on the blacktop at Sunrise Elementary School in Sturgeon Bay not only quenched your thirst but a need in the community. For the second summer in a row, Sunrise Elementary summer school students took to their playground to host a lemonade stand as a part of their summer school class. The proceeds from the sale go toward a new playground, but this time around, it will not be at their school. In May, the Sturgeon Bay School District received an $80,000 grant from the Destination Door County Community Investment Fund to support Sunrise's efforts to build a new ADA-accessible playground for its students and nearby community members.  The new playground would have a poured-in rubberized surface and equipment to allow people of all ability levels to play together. After five years of fundraising, Sunrise Elementary looks to break ground on its new playground. Volunteer Kendra Vandertie says the students focused on their friends at Sawyer Elementary School.

Teacher Mandy Schoeneman says the students are not only having fun with their lemonade stand but also learning a lot.

The class will have to sell a lot of lemonade and other treats to bring similar joy to Sawyer Elementary students who are in need of new playground equipment. Vandertie says they are approximately $400,000 short of their fundraising goal.

Helping you experience the benefits of microgreens and native perennials is the goal of Grow Door County and owner Matt Peter. Microgreens are young, edible plants harvested after their first true leaves emerge. When harvested before they reach full maturity, they could contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than they would if grown longer. The perennial part of the Grow Door County business helps residents introduce beautiful, native plants to their yards while also supporting the area's biodiversity. Peter says he enjoys the educational part of his job when he greets customers at the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market.

In addition to being present at other farmers markets in Door County, you can also find Grown Door County products throughout the peninsula at select stores. You can listen to the full interview with Matt Peter by clicking this link. 

You can help replenish supplies for the new Community Closet at the Door County YMCA this month while celebrating the spirit of giving and Christmas in July.  A Holiday Giving Tree is on display at Sturgeon Bay and Fish Creek program centers this month, with ornaments that note the needed items for the Community Closet.  Marketing and Events Coordinator Makayla Thoma says the Community Closet personal items drive is a simple yet impactful way to contribute to the well-being of members throughout our community.

Thoma adds that the Door County YMCA Holiday Giving Tree will stay up through the end of the month. You can remove an ornament from the Tree and bring in any personal care and hygiene items by July 26 to help restock the Community Closet.

The search continues for 32-year-old Billy J. Salnik after his boat capsized near Chambers Island over the weekend. On Wednesday, the Door County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the children recovered from the water on Monday were Salnik's with assistance from the Brown County Medical Examiner's Office. Five-year-old Charlotte and three-year-old Joshua were together and wearing personal floatation devices when they were discovered. Salnik remains missing, and Door County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says the vast area they are searching is making their efforts difficult.

After conducting drone search efforts on Wednesday, McCarty says marine searches with K-9 assistance are planned for tomorrow. According to Wisconsin K9 SOS, dogs can be cross-trained to locate live and deceased human scents in urban, wilderness, and water settings. He also encourages recreational boaters to keep an eye out for signs of Salnik as well. The incident remains under investigation.

Picture courtesy of Brown County Emergency Management

The next step toward potentially building a new Kewaunee County Jail facility will have to wait at least a month after the Kewaunee Board voted to table a resolution awarding an owner's representative contract to Cadence Consulting. After interviewing three firms, the county asked the Milwaukee-based firm to be its owner's representative, which acts on the county's interests regarding the projects, starting with the Request for Proposal (RFP) and concluding with the jail's construction. Without enough time to review the contract's details, the board delayed a decision until the August meeting. Even after the board had made its decision, Cadence Consulting owner Michael Hacker addressed the group, explaining their role and how they could help the county proceed.

Ahead of the discussion about the new jail, Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department Lt. Jason Veeser addressed questions about their current facility, which has a laundry list of items from the state jail inspector it needs to address. After Supervisor Milt Swagel asked how the county could proceed with either building a new jail or repairing the old one without knowing estimates, Veeser said it was a matter of priorities that was delaying the answers to those questions.

In other business, John Ortlieb was sworn into office as the new District 16 Supervisor. A current Algoma City Council member, Ortlieb replaces Virginia Haske, who passed away earlier this year.

Although a light agenda allowed the Sturgeon Bay Common Council to conduct its meeting on Tuesday night quickly, the City took time to make a special proclamation for Maritime Week, which runs from August 2 through August 9.

During the 15-minute meeting, Mayor David Ward saluted the U.S. Coast Guard and its impact on the community, pointing out that 55 people are currently stationed in Sturgeon Bay.

After the consent agenda was approved, the Common Council moved on a declaring official intent to reimburse expenditures from borrowing proceeds for planned projects that Sturgeon Bay Utilities is working on as part of the Clean Water Fund Program. SBU General Manager Jim Stawicki says the upgrades are needed for bio-solid handling improvements and will cost about $5,000,000, with a debt service of about $184,000 annually.    

City Administrator Josh Van Lieshout then reported that the budget process is moving forward. Department heads have turned in their budget requests, which will be part of the 2025 Operating Budget, which will be reviewed and finalized later this fall.   

Help of Door County, the only agency in Door County providing support to domestic violence victims, has a permanent executive director leading the organization. HELP's Board of Directors announced this week that they have selected Moriah Turk Benzow as the new Executive Director.  Benzow had been serving as the interim executive director since January, filling in for Milly Gonzales, who left to become Associate Director of End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin.   
 

Benzow has a strong background in victim services and the Door County community. She has been with HELP since 2019, starting out as a volunteer. This experience ultimately motivated her to work towards her degree in organizational leadership while being the agency's program manager. She shares her vision for the organization and the holistic approach that makes a difference in the area.

Rebeccah Cavanaugh, Chair of HELP's Board of Directors, says "We are incredibly excited to have Moriah step up to the role of Executive Director. Moriah brings immense enthusiasm, creativity, community connection, and commitment to this vital work."

HELP provides free and confidential services while offering safe places for victims, legal advocacy, women's education and support groups, community outreach with youth and family services, intervention, and a transitional living program.

You may see little work going on from State Highway 42 as you drive by, but construction crews are hard at work transforming Gibraltar Area Schools for years to come. Demolition crews began by tearing down the high school art and music rooms and another classroom so they could begin Phase I of the two-year project. Gibraltar Area School District Superintendent Brett Stousland says much of the work is happening inside the building, forcing the administration to play musical chairs to ensure everyone gets their work done.
 

The improvements were approved in 2023 as part of a $29.8 million referendum to demolish the 1930s and 1950s sections of the building. In their place, the district plans to build a new two-station gym, community space, and classrooms, in addition to updates to the cafeteria and offices. The work will be finished by the 2025/2026 school year.

With absentee ballots in the hands of some voters, you can learn more about the candidates running for Wisconsin’s Eighth Congressional District this week. Congressional candidates Andre Jacque, Roger Roth, and Tony Wied have been crisscrossing the district several weeks before the August 13th primary. Jacque currently represents Door and Kewaunee counties as the First District State Senator. Roth was the State Senate President from 2017 to 2021 and served in the Senate until 2023. Wied ran a successful gas and convenience store enterprise in the Green Bay area before selling the business last year.

Moderated by conservative radio host Joe Giganti, the debate will take place on Friday at the Providence Academy in Howard from 6 to 8 p.m.

The news comes amidst the Republican National Convention going on in Milwaukee. On its opening night, it was announced that Ohio U.S. Senator JD Vance would be the running mate for former President Donald Trump in his bid for the White House.

The debate is a ticketed event, and the proceeds will support Desert Veterans of Wisconsin. More details are available here.

A 64-year-old Manitoba man and his passenger had to be transported to Door County Medical Center on Saturday morning after he collided with a turning vehicle. The accident occurred after 10:15 a.m. on State Highway 42 near Highland Road. According to the incident report, the motorcyclist was traveling northbound on the highway when a sports utility vehicle turned in front of them, causing a side-impact collision. The vehicle's 62-year-old De Pere woman driver told the responding deputies that she was turning into a business and never saw the motorcyclist coming. She was cited for failing to yield the right of way. While both vehicles were towed due to disabling damage, the motorcyclist and his passenger, a 67-year-old Manitoba woman, were transported to the hospital to be treated for possible injuries.

The search is still on for a Little Suamico man whose boat capsized while sailing to Door County with his two young children. 

Bill Salnik was sailing on his blue sail boat named “My Lady Blue” with his family from Oconto Harbor to Riley’s Bay in Door County to spend the day before heading back Sunday afternoon. Friends and family had not heard back from Salnik as of 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Speaking with Green Bay media members Monday, Door County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Pat McCarty said the boat was discovered at approximately 6:20 a.m. near Chambers Island.

At about 11:20 a.m., McCarty added that the bodies of two children were found in the water approximately a mile south of where the vessel was recovered. Salnik and his two children were not with the boat when it was found. Salnik has yet to be found.

McCarty concluded that search and rescue efforts by the Door County Sheriff's Department, Door County Emergency Services, U.S. Coast Guard, and other agencies are ongoing by land, air, and water. He encouraged boaters to call the authorities if they saw anything. 

Picture courtesy of Brown County Emergency Management

A group of farms in Door and Kewaunee counties experimenting with different conservation strategies you see in area fields is now one operation larger. The Door-Kewaunee Demonstration Farm Network is a joint venture with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Peninsula Pride Farms. Augustian Farms and Deer Run Dairy in Kewaunee, Kinnard Farms in Casco, and Brey Cycle Farms in Sturgeon Bay have all been a part of the network since the beginning. This year, the network brought in 3H Family Farms in Egg Harbor as its fifth operation. 3H Family Farms, run by Brian and Bud Haberli, have begun introducing conservation strategies such as interseeding into their fields over the last few years. Barry Bubolz from the National Resources Conservation Service, which also works with Peninsula Pride Farms on their conservation strategies, says 3H Family Farms helps give them another unique perspective on the work they are trying to do.

3H Family Farms will host the next Peninsula Pride Farms Conservation Conversation on July 16th at 6 p.m. You can find more details about the event below.

Athletes from all walks of life and ages converged on Egg Harbor this weekend for the Door County Triathlon series. 

Over 1,500 participants and 110 teams took part in the Half Iron, Sprint, and Kid triathlon events. Participants as young as six years, and some pushing 80 years old, took on the challenge of stacking swimming, cycling, and running events on one of the warmest summer weekends for Door County. In Sunday’s Half Iron event (1.2m swim, 56m bike, 13.1m run), Patrick Brady of Waunakee won the men’s race with a time of 4:02 while Nicole Heininger of Madison captured the women’s title with a time of 4:34.

In Saturday’s Sprint event (750m swim, 20k bike, 5K run), Brian Andryk of Verona won the men’s race with a time of 1:06. At the same time, Riley McMahon was at the top of the podium for the women with a time of 1:15. There were also relay divisions for the sprint and half iron distances.

In the Mark Ernst Memorial Kids Triathlon, Camden Eppley (age 6), Margaret Greisen (age 7), Hudson Kruse (age 8), Gerhardt Gurgel (age 9), Mercy Hansen (age 10), Quintin Biese (age 11), Sawyer Hansen (age 12), and Raina Pergande (age 13) won their respective groups in the age-appropriate distances.

In other events this weekend, Zach Olson (12:09, 2 miles) and Logan Jadin (23:19, 4 miles) won their respective races at the Belgian Days Run, while Collin LeGrave won the Crown and Sash Dash at the Kewaunee County Fair.

Photo by Kelly Leaver

Update 7/15/2024 7:20 a.m.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay, the sailing vessel has been located just south of Chambers Island. Crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay are currently on scene and are towing the vessel to Fish Creek. We will post more information when appropriate.

ORIGINAL POST

The United States Coast Guard wants your assistance in helping them locate a missing boater in the Bay of the Green Bay. Coast Guardsmen from Station Sturgeon Bay are searching the bay and the surrounding area after it reportedly went missing around 5 p.m. on Saturday. According to social media posts shared by Door County Scanner 2.0, Bill Salnik was sailing on his blue sailboat named “My Lady Blue” with his family from Little Suamico to Riley’s Bay in Door County to spend the day before heading back Sunday afternoon. The U.S. Coast Guard has since deployed boats, helicopters, and HC-130 to help conduct its search, telling locals that they should expect heaving air traffic throughout the night and early morning until the boats and occupants are found.

Door County Republican Party Chairperson Stephanie Soucek will be among the thousands converging on Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention. Soucek was elected as one delegate to represent the district at the convention, which will conclude with the nomination of former President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for President. A portion of the convention will include a discussion surrounding the party's platform, published last week. Soucek acknowledged that much of the dissent around the platform is its stance on abortion, which, according to the Associated Press, failed to mention a national ban on the practice for the first time in 40 years.

Part of the appeal of running as a delegate for this year's Republican National Convention was that it is in Milwaukee, the first time the party has ever hosted the event in the Badger State. She says it is a tremendous opportunity to showcase the state and build on the momentum surrounding Trump and the Republican Party.

The Republican National Convention runs at the Fiserv Forum from July 15th through July 18th.

According to a UW-Whitewater report, the buffering icon on your device could cost your community thousands, if not millions, of dollars. The Door County Economic Development Corporation and County of Door officials commissioned the study from the university's College of Business and Economics Fiscal and Economic Research Center to learn about habits from the county's secondary residents. Unlike tourists, secondary residents own a home in Door County but do not claim it as their primary residence. According to the study, secondary residents said they would stick around Door County for about 15 more days yearly if they had reliable, high-speed internet. As it is, those 15 extra days could generate an extra $750,000 in state and local taxes and stimulate the economy with more than $18.6 million above the $110 million that secondary residents generate annually. DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie says reliable high-speed internet could address other issues.

Lawrie says they plan on visiting municipalities with this data as a sign of encouragement for them to address the importance of broadband access in their communities. You can click here to read the entire study.

An improved child care center in Sister Bay is closer than you think after Northern Door Children’s Center announced this week that its Essential Campaign is 90 percent complete. The $3.6 million reconstruction and expansion project will reimagine the current space to serve up to 160 students full-time. By comparison, the facility currently handles 169 students, though many only attend part-time. Northern Door Children’s Center’s Karen Corekin-DeLaMer hates to call it a silver lining, but she believes life during the pandemic exposed the importance of childcare, especially in places like Door County, where spots in area daycare are limited.

Phase II of the $3.6 million project is the most expansive of the two phases. It will include expanded and reconfigured infant and toddler classrooms, flexible classroom space, an outdoor classroom, a new library and bathrooms, and more administrative space. You'll be able to learn more about the project here.

The F.B.I has identified the gunman who attempted to assassinate Donald Trump Saturday evening at a political rally in Butler, Pa.

According to the New York Times, Thomas Matthews Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pa., was the gunman who fired at Trump and then was killed by counter-snipers.  

One person died from Crooks' shooting spree and two others were reportedly seriously injured

Trump was struck in the right ear five minutes into his speech and was rushed away by the Secret Service to a nearby hospital for observation, and was later released, flying home to New Jersey.

With the Republican National Convention slated to start Monday, Trump will travel to Milwaukee Sunday night.

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin posted on social media after the assassination attempt, calling for national healing and unity for all Americans.

President Lincoln correctly stated, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Let’s take this moment of tragedy and turn it into a process of national healing and unity. pic.twitter.com/2MiDNHKQ4F

— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) July 14, 2024

Ever since we acquired a weed-filled abandoned orchard (a quarter century ago), Crossroads at Big Creek has been involved in restoration. Admittedly, we have made mistakes along the way, but we have endeavored to respond to emerging science, and this year, we are evaluating our recent efforts. 

As part of our mission to inspire environmental stewardship, we are committed to showcasing and sharing what we have learned and resources we have encountered. So, this summer, we are offering a "Resources for Landowners" lecture series.

On Thursday, July 26, at 5:30 pm, Amy Schaeffer of Pheasants Forever will describe how, in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and the Wisconsin DNR, biologists from Pheasants Forever are helping implement wildlife habitat conservation on private lands with information and sometimes with financial assistance. This lecture will be of special interest to people who want to restore fallow fields or abandoned orchards, agricultural fields, or recent clearcuts.

Understand that, left unmanaged, fields are almost always temporary and that if fields are left un-mowed, trees and shrubs will take over. A fallow field will become a young forest within twenty-five or thirty years. This natural succession was desirable at once, but in this age of invasive species, the result will rarely provide quality wildlife habitat.

We at Crossroads have deliberately decided to maintain some field and shrubland habitats. In some cases, we must.  Where electric transmission lines cross our property, we are required to keep our vegetation far below the wires. But we also value this increasingly rare habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife. 

When Europeans first settled the Door Peninsula, forests covered most of the land. However, during the Lumber Era, these woodlands were decimated, and many settlers established farms. While some areas of Door County still support agriculture, many places could not be successfully cultivated, and farms were abandoned. 

Upland birds such as sparrows, American woodcocks, golden-winged warblers, eastern towhees, brown thrashers, and pheasants have thrived in areas of brushy cover for more than a century, but their habitat has decreased in recent times due to development or forest succession.

 We care about the habitat and wildlife diversity on our three properties, so we now try to maintain or enhance them. We know that many landowners and managers share our commitment, and it is indeed a commitment, both labor-intensive and expensive.

Our speaker will address the ways and means landowners can achieve the goal of developing wildlife habitat, and anyone interested in wildlife will learn from this free presentation. 

 Crossroads also offers Summer Nature Programs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 1:00. All are welcome, and reservations are unnecessary.

Monday July 22 

 10:00 am Summer Nature Programs – Insect Safari

Join our summer naturalist for a free family-oriented activity. Learn the secrets of insects as they transform from egg to adult. Hand lenses and collecting nets will be provided. Reservations are not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 

Tuesday, July 23

10:00 am - 11:00 Summer Nature Programs – Fantastic Flyers 

Join our summer naturalist for a free family-oriented activity. Experience the mysteries of migration in our fields and woodlands. Reservations are not required. Meet the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 

Wednesday, July 24 

 10:00 am Summer Nature Programs – Finding Fossils

Join our summer naturalist for a free family-oriented activity. 

Discover how hard-shelled creatures from an ancient sea became the fossils we find at Crossroads. Reservations are not required. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay. 

Thursday, July 25  

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Crossroads Landowner Series: Pheasants Forever

Amy Schaefer will speak on Pheasants Forever, describing the programs and the resources they offer landowners and how they connect Door County landowners with the tools and resources available for restoring and managing the natural resources found on their land.  Free and open to the public. Meet at the Collins Learning Center.

Seeing the state from a different point of view has been one of Joey Thuecks' favorite perks of Kids from Wisconsin, including when he potentially sees you in Brussels on July 26th. A graduate of Luxemburg-Casco High School, Thuecks attended UW-Stevens Point last year as a musical theater major and dance minor. Thuecks' first Kids from Wisconsin show was at the Wisconsin State Fair to support a friend performing. She offered Thuecks the advice and encouragement to audition.

Thuecks has enjoyed perfecting the craft of singing and performing high-energy dance numbers while traveling around Wisconsin. The most important journey, however, was within Thuecks.

Thuecks and Kids from Wisconsin will perform at the Southern Door Auditorium on July 26th at 7 p.m. Other nearby performances include New London (July 16th) and Manitowoc (August 15th). 

Picture courtesy of Kids from Wisconsin

The shopping experience planned for later this month in Sturgeon Bay hopes to be so fun that even your significant other will want to come along. Destination Sturgeon Bay will host its annual Sail Through The Avenues Sidewalk Sales ahead of the city's celebration of its maritime history in August. While local businesses will still bring many items outside for deal-hungry shoppers to peruse, the event has a festival feel with live music and food trucks also participating. Even though many of the Sail Through The Avenues Sidewalk Sales activities will take place on 3rd Avenue, Alexa Soto from Destination Sturgeon Bay says the event will help businesses build on an already strong summer of foot traffic.

The event will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 26th.

The Kewaunee County Board will decide on Tuesday if Cadence Consulting is the group that can help answer its decades-old issue with its jail facilities. After interviewing three firms, the county selected Milwaukee-based Cadence Consulting to be its owner's representative, which act on the county's interests regarding the projects, starting with the Request for Proposal (RFP) and concluding with the jail's construction. The county will be charged $175 an hour for work on the project's first phase, which will be more specified before Tuesday's board meeting. Once the county moves to phase two, the county will pay Cadence Consulting a percentage fee. Designing a jail facility that is both space- and cost-efficient has been a challenge in recent years, including last year when bids came in $8 million over budget. Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says the time spent examining the issue over the years benefits them. It is just the issue of justifying the cost for the needs.

When it meets on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Kewaunee, the Kewaunee County Board will also vote on entering a settlement agreement related to the opioid crisis and accept a $40,000 immunization COVID-19 Supplement 4 grant. 

The siding going up on the Door County Granary may be from outside the area, but you can find what it is being used for its addition up the road. Crews are busy along Sturgeon Bay's west waterfront, covering the former Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator for the first time in several years. The Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation purchased approximately 2,200 panels from a contractor dismantling the former Globe Grain Elevator in Superior, Wis. The siding's reddish hue will be a throwback to what the granary looked like in the 1930s. Closer to the ground, work continues on the 550-foot addition that will house public restrooms, a utility room, a catering kitchen, and office space. Nicknamed the Boxcar Annex, the structure will mimic a train car that would have been used on the Ahnapee and Western Railroad. The foundation and its contractors worked with Henschel's Sawmill in Sevastopol to secure 7,000 linear feet in white cedar planks to give it some extra charm. It was a full circle moment for the Henschel family, which started a year after the Teweles and Brandeis Grain Elevator opened and would have done business at the site numerous times over the years. Door County Granary Project Manager Nicole Matson says involving a local business like the Henschel's was important in the project.

The Door County Granary has September 21st circled on its calendar as its soft opening date. The event will coincide with Sturgeon Bay's Harvest Festival.

Picture courtesy of the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society Foundation

After years of being enjoyed by visitors of the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse inside Peninsula State Park, you will be able to find a maritime artifact closer to home. The Door County Historical Society announced it was relocating the anchor of the schooner Oak Leag to Bullhead Point in Sturgeon Bay last week. According to the Door County Historical Society, the three-masted Oak Leaf was built in 1866 and helped transport commodities like grain, lumber, and coal across the Great Lakes before it sank in 1923. The move will allow the Door County Historical Society to continue its work around the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse as it adds additional features to the site to expand its interpretation areas and other amenities. Sturgeon Bay Municipal Services Director Mike Barker says they were thrilled to work with the Door County Historical Society to bring the anchor to Bullhead Point Park, near where another anchor sits and the wreck of the Oak Leaf lies mere yards away.

Barker expects the anchor to be installed at Bullhead Point sometime next week. Door County Historical Society Executive Director Amy Frank thanked the City of Sturgeon Bay for supporting the anchor's relocation. "This move allows us to place the anchor near its resting place, providing a tangible connection to the rich maritime history of Sturgeon Bay."

Photo by Chuck Baum

You will find Camp Cuesta in safe hands after the Door County Land Trust and the Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes (GSNWGL) jointly announced the sale on Thursday. The GSNWGL announced its intentions to sell the Baileys Harbor camp in 2022 as a part of the organization’s long-term property plan. “We have mixed emotions about selling Camp Cuesta, but we are excited about the future with the Door County Land Trust,” said Patti Shafto-Carlson, CEO of GSNWGL. “Their commitment to preserving and maintaining the property aligns perfectly with our vision and values.” The purchase of the 24-acre property will help the Door County Land Trust expand its Kangaroo Lake Nature Preserve. The sale included GSNWGL donating the buildings to the Door County Land Trust, allowing the community, including area Girl Scouts units, to participate in programming at the site for years to come. Door County Land Trust Executive Director Emily Wood says it is an honor to take on the role of steward for Camp Cuesta.

Wood says they will update the buildings before planning additional programming. To complete the purchase, the Door County Land Trust is raising money from the community, with a generous donor matching the first $50,000.

A new emergency alert system scheduled to be in place this September is now available.  Door County Emergency Management announced Thursday that the service is already active. Door County Emergency Management is replacing its current Code Red system with the Door County Ready platform. The Smart911 platform allows users to opt into alerts delivered via text, voice, and e-mail regarding potentially hazardous situations involving weather, traffic, and other emergencies. Emergency Management Director Jeb Saelens explains why getting information out quickly in emergencies is important.

 The Code Red system will remain active until August 31st. When you sign up for Door County Alerts, you will receive reliable information about emergencies, including tailored updates based on your specific needs and geographic location.  You can register for Door County Ready by clicking on this link.

The Kewaunee County Fair officially opened on Thursday, but the memories you see exhibitors making started long before the gates opened at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. While some exhibitors kicked off the 2024 edition of the event under the Andy Barta Legacy Show Pavilion, Nolan Lambrecht of Kewaunee was preparing his pigs for their show later in the day. He is thankful for the help he has received over the past seven years to help him become the showperson he is today.

While Lambrecht is an old pro at the Kewaunee County Fair, Jackson Schultz-Tilot celebrated his first time exhibiting with a merit award for his poster of his great-grandfather, who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He is proud to be able to share a little bit of his story.

A month ago, Megan Salentine was more than satisfied attending the fair as an observer, supporting her younger brother and sister with their exhibits after aging out last year. In a pinch, the 2017 Junior Fairest of the Fair became the 2024 Fairest of the Fair. Salentine is excited to showcase one of her favorite weekends of the year while being a role model to others.

The Kewaunee County Fair runs through Sunday.

Whether you are a triathlete or just sitting around your house, this weekend's heat wave could test your overall health. The National Weather Service is warning Wisconsinites about the very warm and humid weather entering the area this weekend, reaching its peak on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-to-high 80s, with humidity levels making those temperatures feel even warmer. Stormy Gale from Door County Public Health says loose clothing and increased fluid intake are just some ways to beat the heat.

Gale recommends checking in on each other as well during the course of the day, especially when it comes to the fine line between heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

The heat wave is also a reminder to motorists to check their backseats before leaving their cars for extended periods of time. Even with their windows cracked, their car can be 10 to 15 degrees warmer than it is outside on a warm day, making it especially dangerous for kids and pets that are potentially left behind.

You can once again search for treasures while supporting affordable housing in Door County after Door County Habitat for Humanity reopened its offices and ReStore on Tuesday. Two weeks ago, Door County Habitat for Humanity was among the many homes and businesses impacted when approximately four inches of rain fell on Sturgeon Bay over two hours, forcing flood waters to go in every direction. The result meant that the organization known for building and rehabbing homes had to do the same for its facility. Volunteers worked through the holiday week to prepare the building for reopening, filling three 20-foot dumpsters. Executive Director Lori Allen says it took the entire community to help it bounce back.

Because flooding is not covered by the organization’s insurance policy, Allen estimates the repairs and lost revenue from the closure will cost them approximately $45,000. To help close the gap, Door County Habitat for Humanity is hosting a special event at the ReStore on July 20th with live music, food trucks, and more. 

A mother in Northern Door County will have an exciting story to tell their child about the day they were brought into the world. After 11 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department and Door County Emergency Services were called to the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Station, where a woman was driving to deliver her baby. Those plans were cut short as emergency personnel were quickly diverted and were sent to the intersection of State Highway 42 and Wildwood Road, where the baby was eventually delivered. Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Chief Chris Hecht was there when it happened, something he says has only happened four or five times in his 30-plus-year career. He adds that it is a special experience to be a part of when it happens because of its rarity.

Door County Emergency Services Director Aaron LeClair was not there for today's roadside birth, but he has had the situation occur twice in his career. He says it is just another example of the great care his crews provide on a daily basis.

Because of patient confidentiality, no other details are available.

In a previous version of this story, we mixed up Highway 57 and Highway 42. We regret this error.

You will walk on a nationally recognized pathway the next time you venture on the Crescent Beach Boardwalk in Algoma.  The Crescent Beach Boardwalk by Lake Michigan was featured as one of the top ten "Best of Summer Boardwalk and Pathways" in the country.  Rails To Trails Conservancy, a champion of public spaces that create safe ways for everyone to walk, bike, and be active outdoors, highlighted Algoma's boardwalk.  Algoma was the smallest community by far, receiving the distinction along with major walkways like Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, Navy Pier, and Venice Beach Boardwalk.  The half-mile Crescent Beach Boardwalk was built in 1995 as a community project and hosts summer events, including the Soar on the Shore Kite Festival in August.  Friends of Crescent Beach Coordinator Cathy Pabich says through volunteer help and the Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership, the boardwalk has become one of Algoma's most important assets.

The Rails to Trails Conservancy preserves railroad corridors and research over 25,000 miles of trails across the United States.  

(photo submitted)

After a huge influx of visitors over the 4th of July weekend in Door County, you can expect traffic disruptions this weekend on the roads in the townships of Sevastopol and Egg Harbor starting on Saturday as the 20th annual Door County Triathlon takes place.  The event will have 2,000 athletes competing from Frank E. Murphy Park down to the northern edge of Sturgeon Bay.  Door County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Pat McCarty advises drivers on the heavier traffic expected on State Highway 42 and to use caution traveling on the triathlon route on roadways like Bay Shore Drive and County HH. 

McCarty adds that law enforcement and volunteers will be manning several of the intersections involved in the triathlon and directing traffic, with additional signage posted on the route. A list of traffic obstructions for the bike race is listed here.

The Door County YMCA Strivers have continued their impressive success as they gear up for the next season this fall.  Coach Nikki Pollman says the gymnastics program is building off the nine competitors who participated in the National Championships held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, last month.  The Silver Team (ages 9-13 year-olds) finished in second place out of 12 teams nationally and have won back-to-back state championships.  Pollman says the Strivers program is growing this season based on that success and the hype behind the upcoming  2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Pollman hopes to bump all the Silver Team participants into the Gold level for the upcoming season with a new crew of 17 young girls coached by Gymnastics Director Demi Ploor this fall.  This year, the Level Seven participants may move up to the eighth level (out of 10) for the older teenage gymnasts who compete at advanced high school and low-level college routines.  You can listen to the entire interview with Pollman and Ploor on the Y Wednesday Podcast here.   

By August, you could be back driving the complete scenic route on County Road U in Clay Banks.  Door County Highway Commissioner Thad Ash says the roadway, which suffered a catastrophic collapse at the Rosewood Road and South Shiloh Road intersection on June 25, has a 25-foot-wide by 200-foot long by 12-foot deep hole that has to be filled.  He expects the new culvert that is being custom-built this week to be delivered by next week while crews prepare by removing some blacktop and the old culvert at the site.

Ash estimates that the County U project will cost close to $200,000 when fully completed.  Door County is applying for a Disaster Damage Aid petition through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to receive up to 75 percent reimbursement toward the overall repair cost.  The traffic detours will continue to be County Roads J and S and Kennedy Drive until the reconstruction on County U is completed.

You can catch the Midwest premiere of a play written by a familiar name at Peninsula Players beginning on Wednesday.

Taking place in Connecticut during the late 1940s, the play The Angel Next Door is a comedy adapted from Ferenc Molnar's Play at the Castle. It is about a mansion populated with playwrights, actors, and a young writer with a housekeeper who wants them to leave. The play is written by Paul Slade Smith, who not only wrote the 2007 Peninsula Players production of Unnecessary Farce but also starred in such company shows as Chicago, Once a Ponzi Scheme, and Murder on the Nile. Audra Baakari Boyle from Peninsula Players says Smith's familiarity with the space helps make for special performances no matter his role.

The Angel Next Door plays from July 10th to July 28th. You can click this link to hear the entire conversation with Audra Baakari Boyle, including a sneak peek at Peninsula Players' next show, Million Dollar Quartet.    

It rocks three days every July, but the legacy of Belgian Days in Brussels ensures you have a beautiful park to visit the rest of the year. The Brussels Lions Club hosts its annual Belgian Days this weekend as its only fundraiser of the year. Much of the money made during the event gets invested in the festival's home at Brussels Town Park. In the past year, a new park entrance and pickleball courts have been added in addition to other improvements. Brussels Lions Club member Jared Spude says the organization has upped its game not just to put on the best Belgian Days possible but also to have a larger impact on the park and in the community.

Spude says that in the future, they hope to use the success of Belgian Days and the help from other community partners to fund improvements to the park's restroom facilities. Belgian Days runs Friday through Sunday, and highlights include live music, food, and a baseball tournament all three days, the Saturday run/walk, and the Sunday parade.

How the state spends your money will be up for your vote as part of the primary coming up in August.

Two referendum questions will be featured on the ballot and sent to voters before the primary election day on August 13. The first question will prohibit the legislature from delegating its power to appropriate money, while the second query would require legislative approval before the governor can spend federal funds. Both questions received unanimous support from Legislative Republicans and dissent from Legislative Democrats.

The issues were put into the limelight during the pandemic when Governor Tony Evers determined how the majority of the COVID-19 aid was spent, often at the disagreement of Republicans in the Legislature. According to Wisconsin Watch, the governor currently has the authority to, in certain instances, accept federal funds without Legislative approval.

Supporters of the referendum questions say the process is necessary to offer checks and balances on how the money is spent, while detractors call it “a power grab” and argue that it will slow down the process when funding is needed during emergencies. After being approved by the Wisconsin Legislature in two consecutive sessions, a “yes” vote in next month’s primary will change the state constitution to allow the Legislature more of a say on how those funds are spent.

These are the third and fourth constitutional amendment referendum questions to be put forward to voters this year. In April, voters voted to prohibit non-governmental funds from being used for election activities and allow only election officials designated by law to administer elections. In November, voters will vote to change the constitution again to ensure that only U.S. citizens 18 or older can vote in federal, state, local, and school board elections. You can find comments from supporters and opponents on the two referendum questions below. 

REFERENDUM QUESTIONS

Question 1: “Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?"

Question 2: “Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?”

SUPPORT FOR REFERENDUM QUESTIONS FROM BALLOTPEDIA.ORG

State Rep. Robert Wittke (R-62): "Billions of federal dollars pour into our state in the last couple of years. These Supplemental Federal funds were important to our state’s economic wellbeing, but only Governor Evers made the determination for allocation of all that money without legislative consideration. AJR 6 would amend the Wisconsin Constitution by prohibiting the governor from allocating federal moneys without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or by legislative rule, and it also provides that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated."

OPPOSITION FOR REFERENDUM QUESTIONS FROM BALLOTPEDIA.ORG

Jennifer Giegerich, government affairs director of Wisconsin Conservation Voters: "[The measure] would amend the Wisconsin Constitution to add another level of government process during times when we are most vulnerable and depend on efficiency and a smooth process to receive much needed support. Our current system of the governor and legislature working together to fashion a timely state budget, with known deadlines and a long deliberative process, is not effective when dealing with emergencies." 

Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign: "There are lawmakers in the state legislature who want to pass another set of anti-democratic amendments in August that will allow lawmakers to stonewall the Governor by forcing the Governor to receive legislative approval (both the senate and the assembly) before the Governor can spend federal dollars that are appropriated to Wisconsin. We do not need red tape when emergencies and natural disasters happen in Wisconsin." 

Many of the crops you are seeing growing in fields in Door and Kewaunee counties will travel the country later this year on a railroad car. Earlier this spring, Rio Creek Feed Mill received a $1.5 million loan from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to help fund the construction of a 1.339-million-bushel grain bin, a support tower, loading equipment, and unloading equipment at its facility in Luxemburg. The improvements are expected to make loading and unloading feed cars more efficient, leading to annual transportation cost savings of $600,000 annually in the next two years. The Luxemburg facility sees hundreds of rail cars come and go every year, taking thousands of trucks off the road. Sam Barta from Rio Creek Feed Mill says making sure its rail service remains up-to-date is critical for helping local farmers find buyers for the crops they work hard on trying to grow.

Barta says the last grain bin built at the Luxemburg facility was in 2019, joking that at the time they thought it would be the last one they would ever need. The funding was part of the approximately $5 million awarded through the Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (FRIIP). Two other projects in Reedsburg and Wrightstown also received loans through FRIIP.

Picture courtesy of Rio Creek Feed Mill

Algoma can now count itself as one of only 22 places in the state that are part of the Ice Age Trail Community.  Already a cruise ship destination, Algoma will add a new hiker-friendly blazed trail segment spanning three miles through the city.  Kewaunee County is home to about 50 miles of Ice Age Trail's 700 miles throughout Wisconsin, with a mission by the Ice Age Trail Alliance to cover a 1,200-mile route when competed.   

John Pabich of Algoma, who helped spearhead the designation effort, says the trail will significantly complement the city's other resources.

Sturgeon Bay was designated as an Ice Age Trail Community in 2020 and is the Eastern Terminus, while St. Croix Falls on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border is the Western Terminus.

Algoma is planning a ribbon-cutting and guided hike celebration on Sunday, August 25, starting at the Algoma Boat Club from 11 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

While plans are in motion for both, you must wait to find out what the future has in store for the Sister Bay Village Hall and the Village Administration Center. The village is securing drawings for a new administration center, which will be located near the intersection of Woodcrest Road and Maple Drive. Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer admits that the current administration center’s usefulness has expired, but it does have some unique features, like its stonework and retaining wall, that might be worth saving. She says the building’s future will become more known once they have final drawings. As for the Village Hall, Schmelzer says drawings are also being done, but more help will be needed to make that work a reality.

The future of the Sister Bay Village Hall has been a major discussion topic since mid-2022, prompting officials to create a task force to decide what can be done to save the structure or to demolish it.

The newest K9 you will see on the street for the Door County Sheriff’s Department will try to sniff out snuggles rather than drugs. Finn, an Australian Labradoodle, was introduced by the department ahead of the holiday weekend as he goes through therapy dog training in hopes of being certified soon. The Door County Board of Supervisors approved the addition to the force last year after being donated by Blueberry Cottage Labradoodles in Osseo, Wis. The business has donated more than a dozen therapy dogs to local police departments and district attorney offices across the state, including Tomah, Hobart, De Pere, and La Crosse. The therapy dog will be primarily used for crisis response, victim and witness support, and mental health and wellbeing programs. Coordinated Response Specialist Kyanna Francour says Finn has already brought a lot of smiles to the department and she looks forward to what Finn can accomplish when he is a fully certified therapy dog.

The Door County Crime Prevention Fund, which is also responsible for helping bring K-9 units to Door County, has been fundraising to help offset the costs of caring and training for the dog.

You can take your thoughts to the top next Thursday in Egg Harbor when National Parks Service officials are in town to talk about trails with local stakeholders.

In December, the National Parks Service joined representatives from the Town of Gibraltar, Destination Door County, Door County Medical Center, Village of Sister Bay, and the Wisconsin Bike Federation to discuss plans to link the village together and the county. Egg Harbor Trails Initiative volunteer Susan Stauber says the initiative and NPS have been working closely together, asking many questions along the way.

“We knew they were coming out next week. I had set some things with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) and I wanted them to be there for that to help facilitate and help better understand everything because they guys make trails happen,” Stauber says.

She points out how NPS officials understand all of the guidelines, the red tape, and the other ins and outs of creating a trail that could encounter physical and governmental challenges along the way. That makes it a little easier to get the answers you may be looking for, especially on how the trails could connect to other Door County communities.

Patrick Lydon and Christopher Morgan from the National Park Service will join the Egg Harbor Trails Initiative team members to discuss the project and hear your feedback on July 18th from 9-11 a.m. at Main Street Market and noon to 2 p.m. at Greens N Grains. 

Beginning on Monday, you will have to rely on a different route to get from Casco to Kewaunee. The Kewaunee County Highway Department will begin major road repairs on a stretch of County Highway C from State Highway 29 to County Highway L. The detour will rely heavily on State Highway 29 and County Highway B while the road is closed through October. Additional detours will be placed for the Kewaunee Riverview Transfer and the neighboring ATV Park since their road is inaccessible from other directions.

You can expect to find great cherries now and apples later after an interesting six months of weather for Door County orchard owners. Many cherry orchards opened to the public for the first time this week, with sweet cherries arriving first, followed by tart cherries. Last month, Toni Sorenson from Soren’s Valhalla Orchard in Sturgeon Bay expected a smaller crop than last year’s thanks to previously dry summers stressing the trees and some frost earlier this year.

Steve Wood of Wood Orchard in Sturgeon Bay is noticing the fruit of his labor hanging on trees right now, though they are the size of ping-pong balls. Like Sorenson, some of his trees were impacted by the early-year frost. Wood says they are scouting the trees to ensure the wet weather only positively impacts this year’s apple crop.

Like cherries, Wood expects apples to be available a few days earlier than usual, thanks to the mild winter and otherwise optimal growing conditions.

This fall, you may have another way to cast your ballot as absentee primary ballots arrive in people’s mailboxes. On Friday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted 4-3 along ideological lines to allow drop boxes to be used for the fall elections. According to the Associated Press, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote that “placing a ballot in a drop box set up and maintained by a local election clerk is no different than giving the ballot to the clerk.” In the dissenting opinion, Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote that reversing the 2022 decision to limit their use was not done because “it is legally erroneous, but because the majority finds it politically inconvenient.” Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck says it is a great decision for all of the state’s voters but reminds them that it does not necessarily mean that every municipality will suddenly put a drop box back out for people to use.

The decision was not the only one made by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The state Supreme Court also ruled 6-1 in the case of Evers vs. Marklein, which charged the Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature with obstructing parts of the Governor’s actions, such as releasing funding for the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program for land grants and Wisconsin Act 20 for literacy education.

Our Door County summer residents, many of whom have, over the years, become Crossroads donors and volunteers, have returned. Some have raised their children here and now share Crossroads and other natural areas with children and grandchildren.

Curiously, this week, our nature programs will focus on creatures that return each summer to the Door Peninsula. Some bats, birds, butterflies, and fish spend their entire lives here, but many species visit or live here seasonally.

So where do they go when they aren't here? And do they, like our summer people, return each year to the same place?

Researchers are very interested in these questions, and because Crossroads Cove Estuary Preserve is a significant migratory stopover site and because Big Creek is the spawning stream for northern pike and suckers, Crossroads participates in many research projects. 

Our bat hike on Friday night continues a bat monitoring project at three sites at Crossroads, which began two years ago with Dr. Gary Casper and continued as part of citizen science monitoring in partnership with the WDNR. Using acoustic surveys, Crossroads has determined that hoary bats, big brown bats, Eastern red bats, and little brown bats are present, and others are suspected. The Friday night hike will verify whether these species and others are still using Crossroads and perhaps reveal their presence in sites that have not been monitored so far.

Dr. Karen Murchie, Director of Freshwater Research at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, studies sucker migration, and Big Creek is one of her many study sites in Door County. She, with the help of local citizen scientists, is collecting data to determine whether suckers return to the same creek each year and also hopes to learn where they go the rest of the year. 

For years, Crossroads staff and volunteers have inventoried migratory birds as a part of Cornell University’s eBird program, but this past year, Crossroads installed a MOTUS tower at our Astronomy Campus. In doing so, we, along with the Door County Land Trust and The Ridges Sanctuary, became a part of an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated, automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory birds.

“Motus works by having radio transmitters on birds, and when they go near the towers, the radio signal is intercepted by that receiver,” said Jennifer Phillips-Vanderberg, the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory’s executive director. “It allows scientists to understand migration across the hemisphere on a different level than we have been able to in the past.”

Finally, as is our custom, Crossroads will collaborate with Wild Ones-Door Peninsula and the Door County Master Gardeners Association to offer a free  Monarch Butterfly tagging program in early  fall. A monarch butterfly does not return to the same place it was born. The monarchs we see flying this time of year are the grandchildren or even great-grandchildren of the monarch generation we tagged last year. Our data is sent to  Monarch Watch, an education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas.

Bats, butterflies, birds and fish all visit Crossroads during their breeding season. We hope our summer people and our Door County residents, along with their kids and grandkids visit our three preserves, which are open all day, every day, free of charge.

Friday, July 12

8:30 pm Nighttime Bat Hike at Crossroads

Explore Crossroads after dark while listening and looking for these flying mammals as part of the DNR's Anabat Research project. Space is limited, so please visit the Crossroads website to reserve a spot. This is weather-dependent. Please watch our website and/or Facebook for any changes.

Monday, July 15

10:00 am Summer Nature Programs: Butterflies

Butterflies are masters of transformation. Seek out our summer butterflies in Crossroads’ gardens, meadows, and fields. This free program is open to all ages. No registration is needed. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay,

 Tuesday, July 16

10:00 am Summer Nature Program: Fantastic Flyers

Learners of all ages can experience the mysteries of migration in our fields and woodlands. Some creatures travel 10,000 miles or more to make it to our preserve. Free and open to all ages . Meet at the Collins Learning Center. 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Door County Beekeeper Club: Interactive Honey Harvesting

Visitors are welcome at Beekeeper Club meetings. This month, the program will cover honey harvesting and equipment. Refractometers will be demonstrated, and oxalic acid will be applied. Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay.

Wednesday, July 17

10:00 Summer Nature Program : Great Lakes Fish

Learn about the fish that we find in Lake Michigan and its bays. This free program is open to all ages. Meet at the Collins Learning Center, Crossroads at Big Creek 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

With the number of brush fires seemingly rising in recent years, the Southern Door Fire Department hopes you will help them upgrade their equipment while having fun. The department recently purchased a new brush truck to replace its current vehicle, which dates back nearly 30 years. Like other volunteer fire departments, they rely on grants, fundraisers, and other avenues to help upgrade equipment. Southern Door Fire Chief Rich Olson says their annual parade and picnic has become one of the most important ways to raise funds and show their appreciation for the community’s support.

The Southern Door Fire Fighters Picnic and Parade will take place on July 27th, beginning at 11 a.m. Click this link for more details on the event.

Recently, we interacted with a motorist who took issue with having to affix a license plate to the front of his vehicle, so I thought I would revisit an article I had written a few years back on this matter.

The requirement to have both a front and rear plate is, in fact, a law in Wisconsin and is covered under Wisconsin State Statute 341.15(1), which does, in fact, require that the registered owner of a motor vehicle properly attach both a front and rear plate to the motor vehicle.

The registered owner is responsible for affixing one plate to the rear of the vehicle and the other to the front of the vehicle. We have seen some creative interpretations of this law. I have seen a person affix one of the plates to the rear of their vehicle and the other plate to the rear of another vehicle. This is considered an improper display of the plate and non-registration for the vehicle not registered to that plate. I have pulled over vehicles only to have the operator retrieve what should have been the front plate from under the driver’s seat. The main reason I have heard for not affixing the front plate is cosmetics.

While I know it does not look cool to have a front plate, it is the law. And yes, this means you may have to drive bolts into the front bumper of your most prized possession. I will use my own experience as an example. I spent many years restoring a classic vehicle and, once completed, realized that there was, in fact, no bracket to mount the front plate. With great sadness, I set about drilling into the front bumper to comply with the law. That’s what being an adult is all about: responsibility and accountability.

Now, the next question I will get is why some states do not have front plates. My answer is that it is their law, not ours. Even though they are operating a vehicle without a front plate in our state, this is one of those laws in which we recognize theirs, and they recognize ours.

A few years ago, there was pending legislation to make Wisconsin a one-plate state in an attempt to reduce costs. This legislation failed primarily due to law enforcement’s concern for officer safety. If an officer approaches a vehicle from the front, there would be no way to identify the vehicle before contact. If you do have a decorative plate that you feel would enhance the overall appearance of your vehicle, you are more than welcome to mount it above, below, or alongside the required DOT plate. This law applies to all plates, whether they be standard issues, personalized, collector, hobbyist, veteran, etc. I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful summer in our beautiful community. Stay Safe!!

You know the names of Beethoven, Gershwin, and Berstein, but Birch Creek Music Performance Center invites you to explore their catalogs deeper as they kick off their symphony session. Birch Creek opened the session on Thursday with an overflow crowd for its annual Independence Day concert, following it up with the Clampitt Concerto Competition winners on Friday. During the rest of the session, the over 90-piece orchestra will take on the relatively unfamiliar pieces of extremely familiar composers. Birch Creek Music Performance Center Executive Director Mona Christensen says it makes for a great experience for concertgoers.

The symphony session continues at Birch Creek Music Performance Center through July 13th. You can listen to our full interview with Christensen by clicking this link.

Two incidents earlier this week served as a reminder that deer activity remains high in Wisconsin and you should remain vigilant while driving. On Tuesday, a Madison man was injured when a deer struck his vehicle, County Road F, in the Town of Gibraltar. According to the incident report, the man was driving eastbound at 6:10 p.m. when the deer ran into the driver’s side of his vehicle. The man suffered minor injuries from flying glass and had a sore left shoulder because of the collision, but he did not have to be transported for treatment. The deer could not be located after the crash.  A day later, a De Pere man struck a deer while traveling on County Road C in Nasewaupee. Just before 9:20 p.m., the deer came out of the ditch and hit the vehicle's passenger side. The man’s passenger suffered a minor injury to his arm as a result of the collision, but it did not require medical transport. This is the second busiest time for car vs. deer collisions in the state because of the spring fawning season and yearling deer searching out new ranges. Last year, Door County saw 35 deer hits in June, second only to November (61).

If you plan on exploring the outdoors this summer, make sure checking for ticks is part of your routine. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin had more than 5,300 cases of Lyme disease in 2022. Lyme disease, known for causing people to suffer from fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, and other side effects, is caused when ticks bite into a host. The average number of reported cases has more than doubled in the last 15 years, and DHS officials believe cases could be even higher because many go unreported. DHS data shows Door County has a rate of 150-234 cases per 100,000 residents, higher than neighboring Brown and Kewaunee counties but lower than the rates seen in Marinette and Oconto counties. There were 50 cases in 2022, compared to 14 in Kewaunee County and more than 200 in Brown County. Last month, Kewaunee County Public Health Director Cindy Kinnard said there are ways you can help prevent ticks from latching onto you.

If you notice a tick on you, the Centers for Disease Control encourages you to use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull it straight up. The Humane Society of the United States also encourages you to check your dogs or ticks as they are susceptible to bites and could get just as sick, if not worse.

Some local businesses can expect an economic boost when the 42nd Annual Kewaunee Door Salmon Tournament begins later next week. The largest summer fishing tournament on the Great Lakes attracted a record of over 3,800 anglers last year, with anglers from over 30 states having participated in the past five years alone.  Co-organizer Kevin Naze says fishing offers a huge boon to the area, with about half of the anglers coming from outside the area.

The ten-day tournament runs from Friday, July 12 through noon of Sunday, July 21st.   Over $50,000 is awarded annually, including a first-place $15,000 cash prize, $8,000 for second and $5,000 for third place. Last year, the tournament paid out to the top 201 places. You can find more information about the 42nd Annual K-D Salmon Tournament here.  You can listen to the entire conversation with Kevin Naze on the podcast page.

(photo by Ellie Krueger)

Democratic or Republican, Door County or Kewaunee County, there is a place for you ahead of the elections this fall. The fall primary is just over a month away on August 13th, which will set the stage for the general election on November 4th. This is usually when local political parties stake out space in their communities to distribute signs, set up phone banks, pass out literature, and organize other activities. In Kewaunee County, the Republican Party will have its home base set up in the coming weeks, while the Democratic Party will have its headquarters on Steele Street in Algoma. In Door County, the two parties are set up just a few blocks apart, with Democrats located in the Door County Epicenter building and the Republicans established in the former Door County Ace Hardware on 3rd Avenue. Door County Republican Party Chairperson Stephanie Soucek says that in the brief time they have been in their new headquarters, many people have stopped in to talk.

Both parties are busy touting their local candidates. Democratic candidates Renee Paplham and Kristin Lyerly appeared at separate marches for reproductive freedom in Kewaunee on June 24th in Kewaunee and July 2nd in Sister Bay and a concert hosted at the Door County Epicenter on June 30th. The Republican Party of Door County will host U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde and Congressional candidates Andre Jacque, Roger Roth, and Tony Wied at a grand opening event for their headquarters on July 8th.

A new emergency alert system will be in place this September, and Door County Emergency Management wants you to sign up for the service sooner rather than later. Beginning September 1st, Door County Emergency Management will replace its current Code Red system with the Door County Ready platform. Using the same Smart911 platform as Kewaunee County, users can opt into emergency alerts to be delivered via text, voice, and e-mail. Emergency Management Director Jeb Saelens says it is all about getting information to residents and visitors as quickly and efficiently as possible.

You can register for Door County Ready by clicking on this link. The Code Red system will remain active until August 31st. Saelens hopes that by getting the word out early, everyone will transfer over and even get new subscribers before the switch occurs. 

A historic building that was the hub of transportation in Sturgeon Bay over 100 years ago may be moving to the city’s west side later this year.  The old Train Depot Station located on  Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding grounds at North Third Avenue has been proposed to move to a property near the Door County Maritime Museum.  After train services ended in the 1970s, the depot building was home to a microbrewery and various restaurants before Bay Shipbuilding purchased the property in 2015; now, Bay Ship wants someone to preserve and move the historic brick building that is no longer used by them.

Sean Grorich, owner of Pinky Promise Coffee, presented his initial plan to the Finance, Building, and Purchasing Committee last week. The plan was to purchase the Train Depot building and move it adjacent to the original Ahnapee & Western Railroad train tracks at the corner of North Madison Avenue and East Locust Court, where a U.S. Coast Guard boat is currently displayed.

Grorich says he would use the building for his own business and as a community space for other businesses.

The City of Sturgeon Bay will soon complete a full tax assessment of the building’s value. Grorich hopes Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding will donate up to half the estimated $150,000 cost of relocating the structure, saving the shipyard $75,000 in demolition fees.

If the City of Sturgeon Bay accepts his proposal, Grorich says the plan is to move the building this fall and open it in the summer of 2025. The structure would be staged on the west side before being placed on a permanent foundation with a basement.  

You can get into a healthier routine this summer by participating in the many wellness programs available at the Door County YMCA.  Wellness and Service Coordinator Aiden Labbe says the YMCA's "starter fit" program is a more in-depth group orientation focusing on selective long-term personal training. He describes the opportunities available and how the fitness programs allow everyone to learn something new.

Labbe says the Door County YMCA tries to nurture the progress of all members and help them achieve their individual goals no matter their fitness level.  The Door County YMCA.  He takes great pride in helping people progress over time and reach their highest performance levels. 

You can listen to the full interview with Aiden Labbe on the Y Wednesday Podcast Page here.  

A water main break in Sturgeon Bay Tuesday night caused a slight detour for traffic on Michigan Street.  Sturgeon Bay Utilities (SBU) crews discovered the break at about 5 p.m. and worked until midnight repairing the break, according to SBU General Manager Jim Stawicki.  The roadway near North 15th Drive and Michigan Street was dug up, and crews fixed the longitudinal crack roughly six to eight feet long.  Stawicki says it is difficult to pinpoint what caused the water main to crack, but loose soils might have been why the 65-year-old water main broke.  

Stawicki says the area will be allowed to settle for the next couple of weeks before the street is fully returned to its prior condition.  SBU crews may put the cold-patch mix on the roadway either late Wednesday or wait until next Monday.  

A water rescue in Door County Tuesday afternoon served as another reminder that weather conditions on Lake Michigan can change quickly and be extremely dangerous.  A man was rescued off the shores of Whitefish Dunes State Park on Tuesday afternoon.  Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says that at about 3:45 p.m.  Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says a kayaker was dislodged from his vessel and was clinging to the side of his craft in the lake when another kayaker rescued him by bringing him to shore uninjured.  McCarty emphasized the importance of checking the weather before heading to the water.  He notes a small craft advisory was in effect for Lake Michigan yesterday, with waves estimated as high as six feet.  

McCarty says you should always wear a Personal Floatation Device (PFD) when on the water and let other people know where you will be and when you will be back while monitoring weather conditions consistently.  According to The Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, there were 41 drownings in Lake Michigan last year. You can find updated marine forecasts for the open waters of Lake Michigan on the National Weather  Service website here. 

On Tuesday evening, the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved two recommendations by the Finance/Purchasing & Building Committee that will provide two development incentives to move the respective projects forward. 

The first recommendation was a request for financial assistance for a 10-unit duplex development on North 15th Avenue being built by Paul and Lori Shefchik, which was approved. Sturgeon Bay Community Development Director Marty Olejniczak says the parcel of land is vacant and surrounded by multi-family housing already. It is a good project, like a mini subdivision, that will need sewer and water main extensions to the area. The financial assistance would be capped at $150,000 and could be recouped within five years by extending the TID #6 to include the development, according to Olejniczk. 

The second project asking for assistance was related to a South Grant Avenue development by Lexington Homes Residential for Haven Ridge Crossing townhomes proposed on 79 single-family lots.  Olejniczak says the benefit to the city for creating a development agreement is that the developers would pay to upgrade South Grant Avenue, allowing for the connection of the street to Sawyer Drive, which has been a desire of the city for many years.  It would also allow Sturgeon Bay Utilities to get the water main looped to the far west side, which helps with water pressure in that area. 

The only other business conducted at the meeting Tuesday was the Sturgeon Bay Common Council approving a resolution authorizing the issuance and establishing parameters for the sale of not more than $3,630,000 in General Obligation Promissory Notes.  That will allow more flexibility for the city on financing at better interest rates and keeping its upgraded Double A Rating achieved last year.

As long as the meteorologists are on their game, you will get a reprieve from the wet weather in time to celebrate our Nation’s independence. The area received more rainfall on Tuesday, following some of the wettest months of May and June. The weather is expected to clear up in time for Egg Harbor, Maplewood, and Kewaunee to host their Independence Day Eve celebrations, which include fireworks at dusk. Kewaunee Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Vollenweider says their event, between the start of their Music in the Park and Farmers’ Market seasons, serves as a great way to bring the community out for the evening.

On July 4th, Egg Harbor will host a second day of activities to complement its parade, and Sturgeon Bay, Baileys Harbor, Gills Rock, and Washington Island will host their own Independence Day festivities. Destination Sturgeon Bay’s Alexa Soto says they are bringing plenty of excitement to Sunset Park at 5 p.m. on July 4th.

According to the National Weather Service, July 3rd and 4th will be most clear with highs near 80 degrees with no rain in the forecast until early Friday morning. Sister Bay will once again this year wait a week to celebrate the Fourth of July in its own way. They will celebrate Freedom Fest in Marina Park on July 13th.

Click on the links below for more information about the individual fireworks celebrations and other Independence Day-related events.

July 3rd

Egg Harbor

Kewaunee

Maplewood

July 4th

Sturgeon Bay

Gills Rock

Washington Island

Baileys Harbor 

You can thank Mother Nature and good timing for the lack of construction cones in the Village of Egg Harbor now and later this fall. After beginning work in January, the village wrapped up its portion of the improvements to State Highway 42 last Friday. The project allowed the village to bury utilities, extend sidewalks, and create additional parking spots along the highway. The original plan was to work through Memorial Day, take the summer off, and resume work in the fall. The mild winter allowed the early work to progress much quicker, allowing the village to coordinate some of its roadwork with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation when they began their projects on either side of the downtown corridor in the spring. As a result, Village Administrator Megan Sawyer is thrilled to welcome visitors for its Independence Day celebrations and say goodbye to construction with only some tree plantings scheduled for the fall.

Even though the roads and sidewalks are done, the project is not 100 percent complete. Sawyer says some of the trees and plants the village plans on installing will have to wait until the fall or next spring in some cases. 

The Door County Sheriff’s Department and the Sturgeon Bay Police Department want to hear from you if you relied on an 80-year-old Nasewaupee man to do your taxes or give you financial advice. Last Thursday, the two departments served a search warrant to Dale Pautsch after they conducted lengthy, complex fraud investigations into his work.  Pautsch was arrested and remains in custody after his court appearance on Friday. He is charged with four different counts related to money laundering and theft in crimes against an elderly or disabled person. Door County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Pat McCarty says they have discovered two victims of Pautsch’s. The fear is that there could be more if people did not do their homework before working with Pautsch or his ROS Consultants, Inc. business.

The investigation is ongoing, so if you have information or worked with Pautsch and ROS Consultants, Inc., you are encouraged to contact Door County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jon Gilson at 920-746-2555 or Sturgeon Bay Police Department Sgt. Investigator Luke Diebele at 920-746-2429.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay

You should be wary if you are contacted on your phone by someone claiming to be from the Door County Sheriff’s Department.  The Door County Sheriff’s Office reported on Monday that a scam was going around in which the scammer was using the names of current or retired deputies when texting or calling a potential victim.  Chief Deputy of the Door County Sheriff's Department Pat McCarty says it is particularly troubling that these scams have evolved to where people are pretending to be local law enforcement officers.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department never solicits money over the phone or by text.  Other scams may threaten you with an arrest warrant issued to you or a family member, which is never done by law enforcement. You should not call back or text the number that the scammer gives you; instead, the Door County Sheriff’s Department recommends that you contact the dispatch center at 920-746-2416, who will transfer you to the deputy to take your report.  Scammers often use scare tactics, saying you must act quickly or face untrue consequences. The Door County Sheriff’s Department is not in the business of trying to scare anyone and asks you to please be safe and cautious when being contacted over the phone or via text.

A troublesome spot for pedestrians in Sister Bay will finally get attention thanks to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation grant. On Monday, the Village of Sister Bay announced that it received a $906,000 grant to build a 4,500-foot trail along State Highway 57 from the intersection of Gateway Drive near STH 42 south to Northwoods Drive. Over the last 20 years, there have been 12 accidents along that stretch, including a 2022 incident that resulted in serious injuries for a pedestrian. Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer says the trail has been in Sister Bay’s plans for the last two decades, but they could never get the pieces to make it happen. With traffic growing along with the area in terms of homes and businesses, Schmelzer is thrilled that they got a grant to make it happen.

The civil engineering firm Stantec designed the trail, and Door County Medical Center contributed to the design fees. Schmelzer is hopeful they can complete the new trail by next May. She added that this is the first of hopefully many efforts to extend the trail system in Sister Bay to connect the village with other communities around the county. 

Two people were found safe after their boat began taking water in the Bay of Green Bay on Sunday afternoon. Emergency personnel were dispatched to an area between Nicolet Bay and Fish Creek just after 1:15 p.m. According to Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Chief Andy Bertges, the 22-foot boat had just launched near Peninsula State Park when it suddenly lost power. The wind on the bay eventually pushed the vessel to shore, where it began to take on water. The United States Coast Guard, the Gibraltar and Ephraim Fire Departments, the Door County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources were all involved in the call that resulted in the boat being tied to shore until it could be towed away on Monday. Bertges says there were no injuries and added some safety tips for boaters looking to take to the water before the Fourth of July holiday.

Unrelated to the incident, the DNR announced last week that more conservation wardens and law enforcement would be present this week as part of Operation Dry Water, which reminds boaters about safe practices such as sober boating.

If you are looking for things to do when you visit Green Bay for the NFL Draft next year, Door County would love to welcome you. More than 80 businesses and tourism industry professionals participated in a virtual informational meeting last Friday as Discover Green Bay officials discussed how the entire region can get involved when the NFL invites the world to Green Bay for the draft on April 24th-26th, 2025. Discover Green Bay CEO Brad Toll estimates that about 240,000 people will attend the event, which will have a $94 million economic impact in Wisconsin, including $20 million in Green Bay. Because Brown County’s hotel inventory is already maxed out nine months away from the first pick, Discover Green Bay Vice President of Sales and Services Beth Ulatowski says lodging businesses can expect the biggest boost.

Vice President of Digital Marketing and Communications Nick Meisner says the NFL Draft will have activities within its footprint all day, making it difficult for businesses outside of the Titletown District to hold their own draft-related events.

Destination Door County plans to post its own NFL Draft page and host similar informational sessions as draft day approaches. If you missed Friday's presentation, it is available for future viewing through Destination Door County.