As I enter into the final 60 days of my time as Sheriff, I think back over the amazing experience that it has been, and the equally amazing people I have had the opportunity to work alongside in keeping Kewaunee County a great place to live, work, and raise our children. Over the past few weeks, I have started the process of transition, to include cleaning out my office, which has brought back so many memories and reflections of projects, plans, initiatives, and overall work that I have had the honor of being part of. Bringing me to my topic for this week: Capacity.

The word capacity comes from the Latin word “capacitas,” which means breadth or being able to hold much. In this article, I will apply the word capacity to our ability handle the various pressures, stressors, and challenges that we face in life. Each of us has our own unique capacity for such loads, but what is truly remarkable about each and every one of us, is that we have the ability to increase our capacity. 

In the mechanical world, capacity is static. If you have a half-ton truck, you know its payload capacity is 1,500 to 2,300 pounds. If you have a three-quarter ton truck, that capacity is 3,000 to 4,268 pounds. Anyone who has grown up on a farm, knows the consequences of exceeding the capacity of your truck. It doesn’t end well. 

In the world of human nature, however, we can grow that capacity. We do this by continually challenging ourselves, accepting failure, then building on that failure with the knowledge gained through it. In the resiliency world, we call this “Failing Forward”. As I look back over the past 34 years in law enforcement with 20 of those as Sheriff, I have done a great deal of Failing Forward.

When I ran for this office, I was a young 36-year-old patrol officer, with what I thought was a significant amount of life experiences to meet the challenge before me. To be honest, I didn’t know if I had what it would take, but I was blessed with a strong sense of optimism, so away we went. Remarkably, I was able to convince enough people in this community to have as much faith in me as I had in myself. My capacity was about to tested.

From the moment I raised my right hand, my life changed forever. I ceased to be Matt Joski, and took on both the title and obligations that went along with my new identity: Sheriff Joski. 

There has not been a day that hasn’t challenged me. Every interaction increased my capacity through a broadening of perspective, an increase in tolerance, and an appreciation for the beauty of each person with whom I interacted. There were times when that broadening came easy, and was a result of a pleasant event or conversation. Other times, it was the result of an event or interaction filled with pain and suffering. What is important, is that in either circumstance there was in fact growth, and an increase in capacity. I can never be that idealistic 24-year-old that put on the uniform so many years ago. I’ve seen too much, and I am grateful for all of it, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, for it has made me who I am. 

Within us, we each have our unique capacity to handle the many challenging events and people in our lives. Don’t be afraid to expand that capacity.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will cross a major item off its to-do list Tuesday when it holds its first meeting of November. The council will hold a public hearing on its 2027 budget before considering its approval.

Last week, Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward estimated that the city's property tax levy would increase by 3%. In an update provided by City Administrator Josh Van Lieshout, the council will need to pass two resolutions before officially adopting the budget and tax levy. The resolutions would increase the general fund contingency line item by $500,000, offset that increase by appropriating an additional $500,000 from the general fund balance, and update the 2026 tax increment figures and transfers for the affordable housing tax incremental district and TIDs 4 through 11, according to the finance director's Oct. 28 memo.

Overall, the tax levy would increase from $8,832,205 in 2026 to $9,274,494 in 2027. Ward said last week that the council worked hard to keep the levy increase below the rate of inflation.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council will also consider rezoning two parcels on Neenah Avenue from office/business park to mixed commercial residential when it meets in the council chambers at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

If there is gold to be had lately, Gibraltar alum Brandon Stillman has been nearby.

As Upper Deck Company's associate manager of talent relations, Stillman followed up his gold medal-clinching experience with the U.S. hockey team in February with a spot under the catwalks of Tropicana Field when the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first World Series title in franchise history.

Stillman attended games in all three of the Brewers' playoff series, catching a foul ball in San Diego during the National League Division Series being among the highlights. He says being around so many Wisconsinites during the Brewers' three games in Tampa Bay made his first World Series experience even more special than he expected.

Stillman feels fortunate to have a job that has allowed him to witness so many memorable sports moments in person, many involving his favorite teams.

With a Packers Super Bowl victory still on his bucket list, Stillman has plenty of events on his Upper Deck calendar, including NHL and NBA action.

Residents at Door County Medical Center's Pete and Jelaine Horton Center Skilled Nursing Facility had several special guests Friday who helped celebrate Halloween while putting their school's annual fund theme into practice.

St. John Bosco Catholic School's 4K and 5K students dressed up in their Halloween costumes and visited the facility to play bingo with residents and see artwork they had created for them earlier in the year. The visit was part of St. John Bosco's "Faith in Action" theme for the school's annual fund drive, which supports its operations. St. John Bosco School Board Trustee Ashley Schanock says students are learning how small acts of kindness can make a difference, even at a young age.

Schanock says work is already underway for its Advent Angels project to collect food, tolietries, and other items to make lufe brighter this holiday season. The school's annual fund drive, which runs throughout the year, has already raised more than $20,000 toward its goal of $50,000 by the end of November.

As deer activity rises in Door and Kewaunee counties, so does the chance of encountering one on the road when you least expect it. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, deer-related crashes account for about 14% of all traffic crashes statewide, totaling more than 17,000. Closer to home, Kewaunee County has already experienced 273 deer-related crashes, matching its total at this point in 2020 and nine more than at this time last year. Door County has recorded fewer deer-related crashes this year, with 324 compared to 466 at this point last year. Nearly two dozen deer-related crashes have occurred this week, something Door County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Kyle Veeser says is likely due to cooler temperatures and the start of the rut. He adds that it is important to remain vigilant while driving, especially around dawn and dusk.

If you hit a deer, Veeser says it is important to contact the Sheriff's Office so deputies can ensure the deer and any debris are removed from the roadway to keep other motorists safe. Deer-related crashes are also part of the reason the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha encouraged hunters last week to use all available tags associated with their licenses to help control the deer population.

With October 31 falling on Saturday in 2026, Halloween-themed activities abound on the peninsula. The following are a sampling of community Halloween events happening around Door and Kewaunee Counties. For the complete details on each event, look up the event online.

Start the day off with Thrills and Chills in Sturgeon Bay! The childrens’ costume parade begins at 9:45am and will  close Third Avenue, while the Jack O’ Lantern Days in Fish Creek costume march begins at 1pm, in Clark Park by the Town docks.

Ephraim and Baileys Harbor are hosting family friendly activities Saturday afternoon and into the evening. 

Jack O Lantern Days in Fish Creek continues Saturday evening, 4:30-6:30pm with the Haunted Trail. 

For trick or treating times in each Door County community, please look online.

In Kewaunee County, family activities are offered at Lakehaven Hall, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. 

Trick or Treat times by community, check VisitKewauneeCounty.com for community specific times.

Even as the United Way of Door County's Techquity program comes to an end, its impact will last for years to come. Thanks to a grant from Techquity WI, United Way of Door County and the Door County Economic Development Corp. partnered to provide free, long-term laptop loans and digital navigation assistance to eligible Wisconsin residents.

Hundreds of laptops were distributed as part of the program, helping people better connect to their schoolwork, health records, job applications and more. United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says they heard amazing stories about how the program was changing lives.

Kohnle adds that volunteers are distributing the final laptops this week as they work through the program's waiting list.

United Way of Door County has reached approximately 27% of its $1.25 million annual campaign goal. To support the campaign, the organization will host its annual Door County Jeep Run on Nov. 7. You can learn more about the event at this link.

What if George Bailey ran down Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay instead of Genesee Street in Bedford Falls? Third Avenue PlayWorks is not going quite that far, but they are giving the story a local feel as the cast of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Door County prepares to begin rehearsals next month.

Adapted by Neil Brookshire, It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Door County gives the 1940s radio play classic a new spin, with some Door County businesses starring in some of the commercial reads.

Artistic Director Jacob Janssen says TAP has performed It's a Wonderful Life many times in the radio play format, and the cast is definitely in the holiday spirit as they prepare for the show's December opening.

Tickets are on sale now, with the production opening for a pay-what-you-will preview Dec. 2 and running through Dec. 27. TAP will also host a post-show conversation Dec. 11 following its 2 p.m. matinee. You can listen to our full preview of the show here.

Mother Nature gave Wisconsin farmers a helping hand last week, allowing them to move from field to field as they worked to finish harvesting crops and planting for next year.

According to the USDA's latest Crop Progress and Condition Report, farmers had 6.7 days suitable for fieldwork last week, two more than the previous week.

The favorable conditions helped farmers make significant progress, with the soybean harvest reaching 87% completion, 11 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.

Farmers also made up ground on other crops, with the corn-for-grain harvest reaching 42% completion, just 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. Winter wheat planting reached 88% completion, 4 percentage points behind average.

Your commute across Sturgeon Bay's downtown bridges could be interrupted in the coming days by a World War II submarine.

The USS Silversides Museum announced this week that the USS Silversides could begin its journey back to its home dock in Muskegon, Michigan, as early as Thursday. However, its departure could be delayed until Nov. 4 if weather conditions do not cooperate.

The historic World War II submarine made the 113-mile journey to Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay in July, marking its first open-water trip since 1987. Shortly after its arrival, the submarine began undergoing a $3.5 million restoration to help preserve it as a maritime attraction for decades to come.

USS Silversides Museum staff showcased some of the improvements on social media as part of the submarine's homecoming announcement.

Before becoming part of the USS Silversides Museum, the submarine sank 23 Japanese ships, destroyed 16 sea mines and rescued two downed pilots during its World War II service.

The departure of the USS Silversides will make room at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for the winter fleet, which is expected to begin arriving in the coming weeks.

Last year, Manitowoc's USS Cobia underwent similar dry-dock repairs at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding.

You can follow the USS Silversides Museum on Facebook for the latest updates on the submarine's departure.

The skill of learning to read another language takes time, patience, and is made easier with the help of someone fluent in that language. Gaining that skill is something to celebrate, and Literacy Door County (LCD) hosted an intimate gathering Tuesday evening to celebrate 11 years of helping people achieve literacy.

More than 40 people gathered - former students and family members, tutors and supporters - at the Kress Center in Door County for 'The Next Chapter Gala' of LDC. (Door County Media Group/NEW Radio/Door County Daily News is a supporter of Literacy Door County and the Gala).

The story of LDC's formation and services was shared, and organization board President Kelly Hellmann thanked sponsors, and especially the tutors who share their time and knowledge. The organization trains volunteers to provide one-on-one English tutoring to any adult in need.

Viktor, a former welder at Therma-Tron-X (TTX), moved to America three years ago from Ukraine. He connected with the Literacy center in Sturgeon Bay and tutor Joyce. While tutoring Viktor to read, write and solve math problems in English, she accompanied him to TTX to help him learn the tools of his trade. 

"Literacy center is a great opportunity for people new in this country, who want to learn English and make their life better," Viktor said, while briefly sharing his story of immigration and starting a new life in the U.S.

Per LDC's code of privacy, last names were withheld at the Gala.

Giving everyone a chance to shine is the goal of the Miss Magnificent Pageant, which is coming to Luxemburg in January for its Wisconsin debut.

The story began in Alabama, where former beauty pageant contestant and Miss Magnificent Pageantry founder Lillian Mason volunteered with therapeutic horseback riding and equine-assisted activities for people with special needs.

When Mason moved to Texas to become a teacher, she became involved with her school's Best Buddies chapter and developed a connection with a student who became fascinated with her beauty pageant background.

Fourteen years later, Miss Magnificent Pageantry has hosted events in Texas and Louisiana, crowning 94 queens, 108 princesses, and 33 escorts.

Mason and her husband moved to the area about a year ago so he could work at the power plant. Now a special education teacher at Luxemburg-Casco Intermediate School, Mason is looking forward to making a lasting impact when the inaugural Miss Magnificent Wisconsin Pageant takes the Luxemburg-Casco theater stage at 1 p.m. on Jan. 16. 

Registration is now open through Dec. 11 for the Miss Magnificent Wisconsin Pageant

Participation is free for anyone ages 5 and older. More information about the pageant and registration here.

There are still plenty of ways to stay active at the Door County YMCA, even if the fall session is already underway.

During this week's Y-Wednesday Podcast, Door County YMCA Specialty Wellness Director Abby Baker stopped by to discuss the start of the fall session and the options available for those looking to join a class.

Baker says members can still register for classes that have openings or take advantage of drop-in opportunities to see if a particular class is a good fit before making a commitment.

She also highlighted the YMCA's LIVESTRONG program, a 12-week, small-group exercise and movement program designed for adult cancer survivors.

Baker says getting back into a fitness routine after cancer treatment can be challenging, but the LIVESTRONG program focuses on meeting participants where they are in their fitness journey and helping them improve their strength, confidence, and overall well-being.

You can listen to the full conversation on this week's Y-Wednesday Podcast by clicking on the link.

The Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) ‘Beacon Awards’ were announced Monday afternoon, adding notable community members and business owners to an esteemed group dating back to at least 1998.

These annual awards aim to recognize key individuals, businesses, and organizations who serve as a “source of light and inspiration for the community”, according to Chamber Executive Director Bradley Kautenburg.

Award winners will be recognized as a guest of the Algoma Area Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 9, at The Grain Loft in Algoma. 

Kautenburg talked about a couple of the stand out award winners, one being Annette Schisel, owner of Intention Boutique - Algoma, who's brought new energy to the City.

The Keeper of Tomorrow's Light award is one Kautenburg is especially fond of, he talks about the necessity of acknowledging younger community members' efforts.

2026 Beacon Award winners:

Tower Business Award – Lynn Heidemann/Steel Street Trading Co. and Gallery. (For a business that shows leadership in the business community, while also making an impact on our local community.)

Pillar of Light Award – Megan Lautenbach/Millie's Pub and Grub. (For a volunteer or community person who makes a significant impact on the Algoma area.)

Lantern Education Award – Jesse Duerst/Algoma School District. (For an educator or school employee who goes above and beyond to meet the needs of students, peers or the education community.)

Rising Star Award – Annette Schisel/ Intention Boutique-Algoma. (Award recognizing a new company or Chamber member of note that has had an impact on the local business community.)

Shining Shore Improvement Recognition – Erin LaBonte & Don Krumpos/Yonder. (For a business nominated by the public/membership for notable improvements to their physical place of business or website.)

Keeper of Tomorrow’s Light Youth Award –  HOPE Squad/Algoma School District. (Award for a volunteer or community member ages 12 – 18 who has made a significant impact on the local community.)

Winners are welcome to invite friends and family to join the celebration; guests are responsible for their own costs.

As deer activity picks up with cooler temperatures and the approaching rut, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters not to overlook basic safety precautions.

DNR Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha says the final week of October and first week of November typically bring increased activity during the archery deer hunting season as temperatures drop and the breeding season begins.

Kratcha says the excitement of heading into the woods should not come at the expense of safety, especially for hunters using elevated tree stands.

According to Bowhunting.com, falls from tree stands are a leading cause of serious and fatal hunting injuries in the United States.

As of Oct. 20, hunters in Door and Kewaunee counties had harvested approximately 800 deer, including 346 antlered deer.

Decorate for the holidays, while supporting local history through the Gibraltar Historical Association’s annual greenery sale. GHA sources the decorations from Wisconsin, and they arrive before Thanksgiving. 

GHA Executive Director Laurie Buske says the greens are so fresh, they last well into January, even longer if used outdoors.

The proceeds from this 13th annual sale support the varied programming GHA hosts, from the historic Noble House on the corner of Hwy 42, to the educational talks, and community concerts during summer. 

For more information on the Gibraltar Historical Association and the greenery sale, visit their website.

Voters in three area school districts will decide next Tuesday whether to allow their districts to exceed state-imposed revenue limits to help fund school operations.

The Luxemburg-Casco, Southern Door and Sturgeon Bay school districts are all seeking voter approval for operational referendums on the Nov. 3 ballot.

The Luxemburg-Casco School District is asking voters to approve $1.8 million annually for three years, replacing an existing three-year referendum approved in 2024 that provides the same amount of funding each year.

The Sturgeon Bay School District is seeking approval to exceed its revenue limit by $3.75 million annually for five years to support district operations, including more competitive teacher compensation. 

The Southern Door School District is asking voters to approve $2.055 million annually for three years after a larger operational referendum failed in April.

All three districts have hosted community information sessions to answer questions and explain the financial challenges behind their requests.

Luxemburg-Casco Superintendent Jo-Ellen Fairbanks believes voters understand that the state's school funding formula has not kept pace with rising operational expenses.

Sturgeon Bay Superintendent Dan Tjernagel appreciates the conversations he has had with voters and addressing concerns they have with the referendum as it relates to conversations about tax increment districts and the future Memorial Park improvements.

Similarly, Southern Door Superintendent Kevin Krutzik says he has had to address parts of the 2022 capital referendum and rising property taxes with residents during his conversation. In both cases, Krutzik understands the concern, but one does not necessarily impact the task at hand now.

Voters will also decide three proposed amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution addressing the closure of places of worship during emergencies, the governor's partial veto powers and affirmative action policies.

Other races on the ballot include governor, state Assembly and state Senate seats.

In-person absentee voting continues through Oct. 30 at participating municipal clerks' offices, with Election Day set for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

An Algoma farm will have to explore other financing options for its proposed expansion after the Kewaunee County Board rejected an industrial development revenue bond financing resolution last week.

El-Na Farms is proposing to construct a new barn, milking parlor, and a manure management system to accommodate an additional 3,000 cows at its current operation. If approved, the financing arrangement would have allowed El-Na Farms to issue up to $15 million in bonds through the county to help finance the project. Industrial development revenue bonds are often used by local governments to support private investment, create construction jobs, and boost local economic activity without putting county tax dollars at risk.

Kewaunee County Board Chair Dan Olson, who supported the resolution, says opposition to the resolution centered on adding more cows to a county where cattle already outnumber people by nearly 5-to-1, according to government data.

Olson adds that the board's decision last Tuesday does not prevent the project from moving forward.

Even if the financing resolution had been approved, the project would still have needed approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and local zoning authorities before construction could begin.

The Kewaunee County Board also approved contracts for the renovation and construction of its highway facilities and accepted conservation aid for Bruemmer Park during the meeting.

Leaves falling from the trees and Sturgeon Bay bridges closing for maintenance are two signs that winter is approaching.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced Monday afternoon that two of the city's bridges will undergo routine maintenance in November.

The Bayview Bridge will be closed Nov. 2-4 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. The work will include replacing the live load shoes, which are components that help support the weight of traffic when the movable bridge is in the lowered position.

Motorists in passenger vehicles are encouraged to use the Michigan Street Bridge to cross the bay, while trucks and taller vehicles should use the Maple-Oregon Street Bridge during the closures.

On Nov. 10, the Maple-Oregon Street Bridge will be closed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for routine maintenance and the installation of a new center lock actuator. The mechanism extends and retracts locking bars that secure the movable span when the bridge is fully lowered.

Motorists are advised to use the Michigan Street Bridge or Bayview Bridge as alternate routes during the closure.

According to WisDOT, both bridges remain safe for travel outside the scheduled closures. Motorists may see bridge engineers, maintenance equipment and drones during the work.

Boys and girls across Door and Kewaunee counties are hoping to make Santa's nice list this year, but it is up to their parents to register them for local holiday toy programs.

Door and Kewaunee county officials have released details for this year's Toys for Tots and Toys for Kids campaigns.

In Kewaunee County, registration for children ages 12 and younger opens Nov. 2. Families can register by clicking this link or calling 920-388-7160. Toy distribution will take place at Holy Rosary Parish in Kewaunee on Dec. 19 from noon to 2 p.m.

The program has been a passion project for Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski for more than 20 years, and he feels blessed that the community continues to support it year after year.

Families in Door County can register now for the Toys for Kids program ahead of the toy distribution event at the 4-H Building at John Miles County Park on Dec. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Northern Door families will not have to travel to Sturgeon Bay this year, with the Northern Door Children's Center hosting a distribution event on Dec. 13 from noon to 1 p.m.

Organizer Jaci Baermann says she relied on the Door County Toys for Kids program as a mother a few years ago, making it especially heartwarming to see the community give back.

Last year, the Kewaunee County Toys for Tots program distributed more than 2,000 toys, games, stuffed animals, and books to 225 children. The Door County Toys for Kids program distributed thousands of gifts, making Christmas brighter for 675 children.

Collection boxes will soon appear at more than 100 businesses across Door and Kewaunee counties to gather donations for their respective local programs.

The Door County Board has several items on its agenda for Tuesday's meeting, including confirming a new department director, accepting grant funding and discussing the county's public safety radio system.

Supervisors are expected to confirm Melissa Annoye as the county's new Health and Human Services director. Annoye previously served as the Human Services director in Kewaunee County following a 20-year career in public health. She replaces Joe Krebsbach, who has held the position since 2012 after previously serving as Community Programs director and helping lead the county through multiple department mergers.

The board will also consider appointing Murray "Flip" Crummer and Pat Schutz to the Nutrition Advisory Council.

Supervisors will consider accepting a pair of grants totaling approximately $75,000 for the county's Land Information Office and another $125,000 for the Door County Deflection Program through the Sheriff's Office.

The board is also scheduled to enter closed session to discuss the potential purchase of real estate and the construction or leasing of radio tower sites as the county works to upgrade its public safety radio system.

The meeting will also include recognition of Door County Manufacturing Month and Crash Responder Safety Week.

Tuesday's meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the County Board Room at the Door County Government Center in Sturgeon Bay.

A 53-year-old New London motorcyclist suffered minor injuries last Saturday after being rear-ended by a pickup truck in the village of Ephraim.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. on State Highway 42 near Coral Hill Road. According to the crash report, the motorcyclist was traveling south when he slowed for traffic ahead of him. A pickup truck driven by a 73-year-old Green Lake man struck the motorcycle from behind.

The motorcyclist suffered minor injuries but did not require hospitalization. The Green Lake man and his wife were not injured.

No citations were issued in connection with the crash.

You will have to rely on an alternate route if you plan to drive through Ephraim next week.

The Door County Highway Department announced Tuesday that State Highway 42 will be closed through the village between Meadow Lane and North Shore Road from Oct. 27-29.

The closure is necessary for sanitary sewer work.

With the road impassable during the project, motorists will have to use County Highway Q (Church Street) and State Highway 57 to get around the construction.

A 55-year-old Sturgeon Bay man was transported to a Green Bay hospital after a rear-end collision sent his vehicle through a fence in the town of Nasewaupee last Tuesday.

The crash occurred shortly before 8:40 a.m. on County Highway C near White Tail Road. According to the crash report, the man was driving through heavy fog when he applied his brakes. A 20-year-old Sturgeon Bay man driving a dump truck behind him saw the vehicle slowing down but was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.

The impact sent the 55-year-old man's vehicle off the road and through a fence at Door County Cherryland Airport before coming to rest.

The dump truck driver told the responding deputy that he was slowing down to make a left turn onto White Tail Road when they encountered what he described as the worst fog he had ever seen.

A witness to the crash said they were traveling approximately 25 mph behind the dump truck because of the poor visibility.

The dump truck sustained disabling damage and had to be towed from the scene. No citations were issued in connection with the crash.

Kewaunee County Board Chairperson Dan Olson says there is no more efficient way to provide emergency medical services under the county's current system, but acknowledges that other options may need to be considered in the future.

During Tuesday's Kewaunee County Board meeting, Olson appointed nine members to the Kewaunee County EMS Staffing and Funding Analysis Committee. They include County Board member Gary Paape, Kewaunee County EMS Council Chairperson Tom Vandenack, Algoma Rescue member and Kewaunee County Coroner Rory Groessl, Kewaunee Rescue member Deb Pribek, Luxemburg Rescue member Dan Opicka, Pierce Town Chairperson Brian Paplham, Luxemburg Village President Bob Seidl, Kewaunee Mayor Jeff Vollenweider and Algoma Mayor James Winter.

Like many fire and EMS departments nationwide, Kewaunee County's emergency services rely heavily on volunteers and part-time personnel. Approximately 60% of fire and EMS departments across the country are primarily staffed by volunteers and part-time workers. According to the National Fire Protection Association, the number of volunteer firefighters nationwide declined from 827,000 in 2008 to 635,000 in 2023, while emergency call volumes have been trending upward.

Olson says that without more people stepping up to volunteer, the county may have to consider more costly alternatives to maintain emergency services.

Increasing training requirements and limited availability because of work and family obligations are among the challenges communities face when staffing fire and EMS departments.

Olson says discussions about the potential staffing challenges have already begun, and he hopes the committee can develop recommendations by next summer.

The Peninsula Symphonic Band and Swingin' Door Big Band will play to a different beat in 2027 after the organization announced two new music directors who will replace Jason Palmer on the conductor's podium.

Bruce Briney will serve as music director of the Peninsula Symphonic Band, while Anthony Williams will lead the Swingin' Door Big Band.

Briney has performed with the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra for the past 30 years and currently serves as conductor of the Quincy Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. He also taught at Western Illinois University after earning degrees from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois.

Williams has served as an adjunct music lecturer in the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies. He has also served as a music adjudicator for the Trinidad and Tobago Music Festival, the National Parang Association's adult and school competitions, and other events.

Former Peninsula Symphonic Band director and current member Paula Eggert thanked Palmer for helping grow the ensemble and expressed confidence that Briney and Williams will continue that progress.

"The Peninsula Symphonic Band grew significantly during Jason's tenure, and the addition of the Swingin' Door Big Band allowed the bands to reach a broader audience," Eggert said. "Dr. Briney and Mr. Williams will allow the bands to continue excelling musically and to continue building our impact in Door County."

Palmer announced last December that 2026 would be his final year leading the Peninsula Symphonic Band and Swingin' Door Big Band.

He will share the baton with his successors during upcoming concerts. Briney will conduct a march during the Peninsula Symphonic Band's Veterans Day concert on Nov. 12, while Williams will lead the Swingin' Door Big Band in a jazz arrangement of a Christmas carol during its holiday concert on Dec. 10.

Residents and visitors to Washington Island School will soon have a little more room to move around when they attend basketball games and other events.

School officials, friends, family, and community members will cut the ribbon on the $5 million Bradley Jordan Memorial Gymnasium on Nov. 7. The new facility features six basketball hoops and a dividing curtain, allowing for two practice courts or one full-size regulation court with retractable spectator bleachers for games. The addition also includes an entry lobby, concession area, two team locker rooms, and an equipment storage room.

The Bradley Jordan Memorial Gymnasium began as a dream in 2024 to honor the legacy of the late Bradley Jordan. The Bradley Jordan Memorial Foundation raised $2.5 million to help make it a reality, thanks in part to a matching grant from the nonprofit group Island Angels. The fundraising effort involved the entire community, from children donating proceeds from lemonade stands to the Washington Island Lions Club pledging $25,000, along with contributions from countless businesses and individual donors.

Bradley Jordan Memorial Foundation President Shea Lehman says it took everyone pitching in to make the project a reality.

“Bradley was a ‘get it done’ kind of guy, so he would have loved seeing how his community raised the money and built this gym in less than two years. What a wonderful way to honor a fine young man and enrich our close-knit community.” 

The opening ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and will feature a welcome, remarks, and benediction, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Bradley's siblings and friends will then take the first shots on the new basketball court.

With the new facility in place, Washington Island will host the Great Lakes Islands Basketball Tournament for the first time in December 2027.

The changing season makes late October and early November an ideal time to explore the outdoors and discover some of nature's most fascinating mysteries. As Halloween approaches, thoughts often turn to magic, folklore, and things that appear mysterious. While fairy rings may sound like something from a storybook, these remarkable circles found in lawns, meadows and forests are real and offer a glimpse into the hidden world of fungi beneath our feet.

Throughout October, Crossroads at Big Creek invites the community to connect with nature through special programs and self-guided activities.

Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a monthlong countywide celebration honoring A.A. Milne's beloved bear and presented by the Friends of Door County Libraries, continues throughout October. As a community partner, Crossroads is bringing a little Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve with self-guided activities, indoor and outdoor discoveries, and opportunities for visitors of all ages to enjoy Pooh-inspired adventures while exploring the natural world.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1:30 p.m., visitors are invited to join a Wandering Wednesday hike. These naturalist-led walks offer an easy and enjoyable way to observe seasonal changes, discover signs of wildlife, and explore the wonders of autumn. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leashes, and registration is not required.

The fascination with fungi continues Monday, Nov. 2, at 1:30 p.m. during a special Movie Matinee featuring "Fantastic Fungi." The visually stunning documentary explores the magical, mysterious, and medicinal world of fungi and their extraordinary role in sustaining life on Earth.

Later that afternoon at 3:15 p.m., children ages 6 to 12 are invited to attend Crossroads Critter Club: Mysterious Moths. Wisconsin is home to more than 1,000 species of moths, and participants will discover the amazing adaptations and secret lives of these often-overlooked nighttime insects. Advance registration is required because space is limited.

Visitors can continue their exploration throughout November with a self-guided Trail Tales Storybook Walk along Meadow Trail featuring "Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from Our Friends the Fungi" by Kallie George. Inside the Collins Learning Center, hands-on exploration stations will provide additional opportunities for all ages to learn about mushrooms and the important roles fungi play in nature.

One of the most intriguing fungal phenomena visitors may encounter this season is the fairy ring. Fairy rings can appear as circles of mushrooms, lush green grass, or even rings of brown grass. They form as underground fungal networks called mycelium spread outward from a central point while feeding on decaying leaves, roots, and other organic matter beneath the soil.

As the fungus grows, mushrooms may emerge along the outer edge of the expanding network, creating the circular shapes that have inspired centuries of folklore. Some fairy rings can expand several feet each year, and one famous fairy ring in France stretches nearly half a mile across and is believed to be hundreds of years old.

Beyond their mysterious appearance, fungi are essential to healthy ecosystems. Some form beneficial partnerships with tree roots, helping forests absorb water and nutrients. Others serve as decomposers, breaking down dead organic material and recycling nutrients back into the soil.

This Halloween season, while stories of magic and mystery capture our imaginations, nature offers plenty of real-life wonders of its own. Whether you're following Pooh's adventures through the Hundred Acre Wood, searching for mushrooms along the trails, discovering mysterious moths or spotting a fairy ring in the forest, Crossroads at Big Creek provides opportunities to experience the remarkable connections that make the natural world come alive.

Upcoming Programs

Throughout October: Winnie-Pooh-Looza

Join Crossroads at Big Creek for Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a monthlong celebration honoring A.A. Milne's beloved bear. As a community partner in this countywide event presented by the Friends of Door County Libraries, Crossroads is bringing a little Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve throughout October.

For more information, visit https://crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/winnie-pooh-looza/.

Wednesday, Oct. 28 — 1:30 p.m.: Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leashes.

Registration is not required. The program is free and open to the public.

Monday, Nov. 2 — 1:30 p.m.: Movie Matinee: "Fantastic Fungi"

Experience a time-lapse journey exploring the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth.

Monday, Nov. 2 — 3:15 p.m.: Crossroads Critter Club: Mysterious Moths

Wisconsin is home to more than 1,000 species of moths. Children ages 6 to 12 are invited to discover the fascinating world of these nighttime insects.

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. To register, contact Crossroads or visit https://crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/ccc-mysterious-moths/.

Throughout November: Trail Tales Storybook Walk

Enjoy a self-guided storybook walk along Meadow Trail, beginning at the west trailhead. November's featured story is "Mushrooms Know: Wisdom from Our Friends the Fungi" by Kallie George.

Trails are open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at no charge. The Collins Learning Center will also feature hands-on exploration stations where visitors of all ages can learn more about mushrooms.

Location for all programs: Crossroads at Big Creek, Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St., Sturgeon Bay.

With less than two weeks until Election Day, Wisconsin voters are encouraged to make sure they have the proper identification before heading to the polls.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds voters that a Wisconsin driver's license or state identification card can be used to vote, whether it is REAL ID-compliant or not.

"Most people already have some form of identification they can use for voting purposes, including a driver's license or ID card," DMV Administrator Tommy Winkler said.

Those who need an identification card can apply at a DMV service center by providing proof of name and date of birth, proof of identity, proof of Wisconsin residency, such as a piece of mail, their Social Security number, and proof of citizenship or legal status in the United States. Documentation requirements may vary depending on the applicant's circumstances.

Although identification cards are mailed to applicants, DOT officials say the temporary receipt issued by the DMV can be used for voting while the card is being processed.

Residents can apply at DMV service centers, including the Sturgeon Bay location in Cherry Point Mall on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the Algoma location on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, other acceptable forms of photo identification include certain U.S. passports, tribal identification cards, military or Veterans Affairs identification cards, and certificates of naturalization. Specific requirements and expiration rules apply to some forms of identification.

In-person absentee voting continues through Oct. 30 in municipalities offering voting that day. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

A few weeks ago, I spent some time discussing “car-mmunication” as a form of nonverbal communication that we display when we are driving. Everything from speeding to failing to use turn signals communicates something about us, not only as drivers but also as human beings.

This week’s topic, “Following Too Closely,” aligns with this same theory. Just as the use of, or failure to properly use, your high beams indicates a person’s consideration for other drivers, a person’s need to tailgate indicates a high degree of aggressiveness and impatience.

First, let's establish the statutory language on this issue. Wisconsin Statute 346.14(1), “Distance Between Vehicles,” covers this behavior. It states: “The operator of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” The fine for this offense is more than $200 and carries a four-point assessment on your license.

While the statute does not give a specific following distance for passenger vehicles, it does state that trucks with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more must maintain a following distance of 500 feet.

So, the question is: What is too close? This depends on the traveling speed of both vehicles, as well as road and weather conditions. In a city or village, at low speeds, the distance may be less than when traveling on rural roads where speeds are greater. The primary concern is related to those rural roads and highways. For these, it is prudent to keep a distance of approximately 300 feet between your vehicle and the vehicle you are following. What is significant about 300 feet? It is approximately the distance between utility poles along the road and a way to gauge your distance at any given moment.

The reason following too closely is a concern is that it shows absolute disregard for your safety as well as the safety of those you are following. If you consider the reaction time needed when a deer or other object enters your lane of travel, you can imagine the results when that reaction time is eliminated due to following too closely. While the driver you are following may be able to see, process, and respond, all you may have time to do is cause a crash that could lead to injuries not only to yourself but also to your passengers and other motorists.

Many drivers think that if they hug the vehicle in front of them, it will somehow force that vehicle to speed up. I am here to tell you that is not the case. Following too closely is a form of nonverbal communication that does nothing more than create a dangerous environment and communicate to the driver in front of you that you are a rude, inconsiderate person who is only focused on your own needs.

You can avoid the need to follow too closely by planning and leaving plenty of time for your intended travels. This is especially important as we transition into the winter season, not only because road conditions will be less forgiving but also because those conditions can change at a moment’s notice. A change of just a few degrees in temperature can be the difference between stopping and sliding.

If you are the victim of an inconsiderate driver following too closely, please feel free to call law enforcement. Often, these impatient, rude drivers follow up their tailgating with a passing maneuver, which will give you an opportunity to get their license plate number and allow us to “educate” them. If you can call law enforcement safely, please do so. If you are willing to give a statement, it will give us the ability to heighten that educational experience for them through a citation.

Regarding the seasonal increase in car-deer crashes, our year-to-date total stands at 241. Last year at this time, it was 250. These past two years' totals are up quite a bit from previous years, so please slow down and give yourself plenty of reaction time.

As the President, and ex-President, of two neighboring community business associations, Josh Cory-Yaeggi is diligently working to stay neutral, as the formation of the Sevastopol Business Association (SBA) progresses. 

A few months ago, the Town of Sevastopol hosted a couple community open houses, inviting community members to the Town Hall in Institute. Collective idea generation led to seven business and community members getting together, and starting the ball rolling on the Town’s own marketing and promotion entity.

Cory-Yaeggi stepped up to serve as president of SBA, on the platform of collaboration. As the manager of the Bay Shore Inn on the bayside, Cory-Yaeggi reaps the benefits of membership in Destination Sturgeon Bay (DSB), which include a robust website, representation in printed publications, tourism generating events, and networking opportunities. He said he can also see the benefits of a Town-focused marketing entity.

Since Door County adopted a countywide room tax in 2008, the collections from the Town of Sevastopol have been designated to Sturgeon Bay, because the City had an established destination marketing organization, whereas Sevastopol did not. As time has passed, and with the increase in room tax from 5.5 to 8 percent in 2022, that amount of room tax revenue has increased, significantly. 

The Town of Sevastopol is Door County’s second-largest municipality by population and land area, and second or third by equalized value (depending upon the year), stretching from the roundabout at Egg Harbor Road (south of Culver’s) to Town Line Road (including Cave Point Park and half of Clark Lake). 

As of December 2025, the Town had collected $744,456 in room tax for 2025. That amount was $698,158 in December 2024. As of August 2026, room tax collections are on par with 2025.

The portion designated to DSB in 2026 amounted to about $88,000, and could reach $95,000 in 2027, according to Linda Wait. Wait owns a consulting and bookkeeping business in Sevastopol, and is helping to spearhead the formation of the SBA. 

DSB currently has about 20 members that are Town of Sevastopol businesses, such as Glidden Lodge, Bay Shore Inn, Grandma Tommy’s, Westwood Shores, Door 44 winery.

After SBA is officially designated as a 501c(60), non-profit business organization, which could take well into summer of 2027, according to Cory-Yaeggi, the next steps are still to be determined, according to both Wait and Cory-Yaeggi.

With the Town’s designation of Destination Sturgeon Bay as the town’s marketing entity, DSB’s bylaws had been written to devote a seat for a town-appointed liaison. Information from those liaisons has led to collaborative projects - such as DSB supporting a recent Town park bathroom renovation with $10,000 from the organization’s general fund. There will still be Sevastopol business owner/operators who serve on the DSB board, but that government liaison seat would disappear. So, while the SBA founders brainstorms ideas, and gather the necessary information for legally establishing the organization, DSB is planning to operate without the funds from the Town of Sevastopol in 2027.

A deer is being blamed for setting off a series of events that sent a 27-year-old Fish Creek man to the hospital Thursday morning.

The crash occurred at 6:10 a.m. on County Highway A near Highland Road in the town of Gibraltar. According to the crash report, the man was traveling south on County A when he encountered a deer in the roadway. He swerved to avoid the deer but lost control of his vehicle, driving into a ditch and across a driveway before the vehicle rolled over and came to rest on its roof near some trees.

The man was not cited but was taken to Door County Medical Center with a suspected minor injury.

The crash closed one lane of County A for nearly an hour while crews removed the vehicle and cleared the scene. The lane reopened at 7:15 a.m.

Midsummer’s Music Autumn Music Fest concludes this weekend with a collaboration featuring violinist David Perry, violist Allyson Fleck, cellist Matt Zalkind, and pianist Jeannie Yu. Bringing together four distinguished artists with diverse and accomplished careers, this special concert celebrates the spirit of musical friendship and collaboration that lies at the heart of chamber music.

The programs - at MUSE in Sturgeon Bay on Saturday evening, and at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor Sunday afternoon - will feature an engaging selection of works for varying combinations of instruments. From intimate lyrical moments to dazzling virtuosic passages, David Perry and Friends offers a fitting and unforgettable finale to Autumn Music Fest.

For tickets to Midsummer’s Music performances, visit their website.

You can play an important role in helping area hospitals maintain the staffing they need to care for their communities.

According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the United States is facing a projected shortage of more than 267,000 full-time registered nurses by 2028, while the Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036.

The shortages are especially concerning in rural areas, which is why the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary is working to keep the pipeline of young medical professionals flowing to the peninsula through its Angel Scholarship Campaign.

Last year, the organization raised more than $122,000 to help students and health care workers in Door County begin or further their education in the field. The funding helped the auxiliary award a record number of scholarships covering fields such as pharmacology, nutritional studies, diagnostic imaging, biomedical engineering, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, nursing, physician assistant studies and premedical studies.

David Resch of the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary says he has met several scholarship recipients over the years and is proud of the impact the program has had on their lives and the community they serve.

Door County Medical Center physician assistant Mollie Petersen credits the scholarship she received from the auxiliary with helping launch her health care career.

“The generosity of the donors to the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary helped me attend Marquette University to become a physician’s assistant,” Petersen said. “I have been practicing at Door County Medical Center since 2011 and I can’t imagine a career more fulfilling.”

Door County and Algoma high school graduates pursuing health care careers, previous graduates enrolled in health care-related programs, and Door County Medical Center employees continuing their health care education are eligible for the scholarships.

The Door County Medical Center Auxiliary has raised $35,000 toward its $100,000 goal for the Angel Scholarship Campaign.

You can support the program by donating here.

A 39-year-old Ellison Bay man was cited for failure to yield the right of way following a two-vehicle crash in the town of Liberty Grove on Oct. 15.

The crash occurred at the intersection of Old Stage Road and State Highway 57 shortly before 1:45 p.m. The Ellison Bay man and his passenger, a 40-year-old Ellison Bay woman, were attempting to cross Highway 57 in a pickup truck when they collided with a southbound sedan driven by an 80-year-old Ellison Bay man.

The pickup truck driver told the responding deputy that he did not see the sedan because it was traveling behind another vehicle pulling a camper.

The pickup truck driver and his passenger were uninjured. However, the sedan driver and his passenger, an 81-year-old Ellison Bay woman, suffered suspected injuries that did not require hospitalization. The sedan had to be towed due to disabling damage.

The Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay is partnering with Rotary International to bring awareness locally to World Polio Day on Saturday, October 24, with ‘Pints for Polio’.

'Pints for Polio' is a partnership with local taverns and establishments, according to Michelle Lawrie, who’s spearheading the fundraiser.

Participating establishments can choose how they want to participate with the fundraiser. Rotarians will be delivering posters with information for their customers, and a QR code, guiding you to an online donation portal. For details of participating establishments, visit the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay facebook page.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources hopes hunters have a safe and successful hunting season while helping manage local deer populations.

So far, hunters have harvested 299 deer, including 160 antlered deer, in Kewaunee County and 499 deer, including 186 antlered deer, in Door County since the deer hunting season began Sept. 12.

Based on recommendations from county deer advisory councils, hunters are eligible for additional free antlerless deer tags, including up to 10 in Door County if they purchase licenses for both the archery/crossbow and gun seasons.

DNR Warden Chris Kratcha says deer populations in Door and Kewaunee counties are extremely high. He encourages hunters to use as many of their available tags as possible to help control the population.

Hunters who have run out of freezer space can also help those in need through the DNR's deer donation program. Meat processors across the state, including three in Door and Kewaunee counties, accept Wisconsin-harvested deer free of charge so the venison can be donated to area food pantries.

Since the program began in 2000, hunters have donated more than 100,000 deer, providing over 4 million pounds of ground venison to community members in need.

Area Lions Clubs are also once again accepting deer hides to raise money for programs, including the Lions Camp in Rosholt.

If your organization can make a difference in the community but needs a little help accomplishing its mission, United Way of Door County wants to hear from you.

United Way of Door County opened its application window for 2027 funding Tuesday, calling on organizations that address critical community needs and can create lasting, positive change.

Executive Director Amy Kohnle said the organization is focusing on initiatives that address youth opportunity, healthy communities, financial security and community resilience. She is proud of the support United Way has been able to provide to every corner of the county over the years.

"Through our annual grant process, we have the opportunity to invest in important services, strengthen partnerships, and work together to address the changing needs of our community," Kohnle said. "We encourage organizations whose work aligns with our impact areas to apply."

Organizations can visit United Way of Door County's website or contact Kohnle for more information about the grant application process. The application deadline is Nov. 13.

In August, United Way of Door County announced its annual fundraising campaign goal of $1.25 million, which helps support nearly two dozen programs and partners. Those include United Way of Door County's Child Care Initiative, Healthy Door County, STRIDE — School-Based Mental Health Services, the Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition, and the Door County Partnership for Children and Families.

Notice was given to Sister Bay Water and Sewer Utility customers that their rates will increase 3%, or an average of $3 for the average residential customer, and up to $20 for commercial and public authority customers. 

SBWSU is scheduled to file an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin at the end of October, and rates would increase beginning January 1, 2027. This rate increase does not require a public heard, under state statute.

if you have questions, call the SBWSU: 920-854-2246.

Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward says city staff and council members put in a lot of hard work and had productive discussions while crafting the city's proposed 2027 budget.

The Common Council reviewed the finer details of the budget during its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, which also included discussions about potential fee increases for municipal services, City Hall, and fire department services.

Ward estimates the city's property tax levy will increase by 3%. He says city officials worked to trim approximately $500,000 from the proposed budget to keep the increase below the rate of inflation.

Ward expects to get a better picture of the impact of the city's Premier Resort Area Tax next week. The revenue could help ease budget pressures if collections are on pace to exceed the $400,000 the city budgeted for the tax's first six months.

The Sturgeon Bay Common Council approved several municipal services fee increases, including those for boat slips and launch passes. However, Ward says the council sent proposed fire department and City Hall fee increases back to the Finance Committee for further discussion.

While the soybean harvest surged ahead over the past week, Wisconsin farmers found themselves behind in other areas, thanks in part to Mother Nature.

According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report released earlier this week, farmers had 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork, down from 6.1 days the previous week. Rain and the state's first hard frost of the season contributed to the slowdown.

Despite the weather, the soybean harvest jumped from 54% complete to 72%, putting it 9 percentage points ahead of the five-year average.

Farmers are trying to catch up in their corn and wheat fields. The corn harvest for grain is 5 percentage points behind the five-year average at 24% complete, while winter wheat planting and emergence are both more than 10 percentage points behind their respective averages. Winter wheat planting is 73% complete, while 47% of the crop has emerged.

The weather could help farmers make progress over the next week, with a 20% or lower chance of showers through next Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Sister Bay trustees officially accepted the resignation of Administrator Ben Andrews Tuesday evening, with little more than a quick voice vote on the agenda item of their monthly meeting at the Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Station.

After only 8 months of employing Andrews, the trustees, especially President Nate Bell, were focused on how to move forward with the duties necessary of operating the village. Discussion at both the Personnel Committee and Village Board level has focused on creating a Zoning Administrator position, to help reduce some of the more technical workload from the Administrator.

Tuesday’s meeting had been noticed with a resolution to create that Zoning Administrator position, but the Trustees tabled the topic, saying it was premature before finalizing the hiring process of a Village Administrator. The trustees authorized President Bell, and Personnel Committee Chair Louise Howson, to begin contacting potential candidates for a part-time, interim Administrator, to alleviate some work from staff and reduce legal consultations. The trustees voted not to exceed $10,000 in payments to an interim administrator.

In other business, Howson read out a Proclamation Honoring Joy Lang, for “her long-term volunteer efforts and her outstanding stewardship of the Village’s floral displays. The Village extends its gratitude and celebrates her enduring commitment to making Sister Bay a more vibrant, welcoming, and beautiful place for all.”

Lang has spearheaded the annual flowerbed plantings, and landscape care, around the Village. She has been co-owner of Jerry’s Flowers in the Village. 

Photo of Joy Lang, granddaughter Talulah, and son Nate.

And the Sister Bay Historical Society is applying for annual Class B ‘beer’ and Class C ‘wine’ licenses, to cover the alcohol served a various events the organization now hosts throughout the year. With the three weekends of Christkindlmarket at the Corner of the Past historical village, the organization was exceeding the legally allowed event days that fall under a Temporary license.

Errant sparks from an antique tractor set fire to an old barn building at 1397 Mill Road in Forestville on Tuesday afternoon, calling out firefighters from Algoma, Brussels-Union-Gardner, Casco, Nasewaupee, Luxemburg, Southern Door, and Sturgeon Bay.

Southern Door Fire Chief Rich Olson explains what happened.

Firefighters were on the property for 2 and a half hours, and saved the contents to the owners satisfaction, Olson said. The Chief extended a special thank you to one of the Southern Door firefighters, for serendipitously answering the call with equipment that aided their firefighting response.

If your kids are looking for something to do, the Door County YMCA has opportunities at both of its program centers to keep them busy.

In this week's edition of the Y-Wednesday Podcast, Youth Development Executive Paul Briney highlighted some of the activities kids can participate in over the coming weeks.

Kids can get an early start on Halloween with the YMCA's second annual Trunk-or-Treat event from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Jackie and Steve Kane Center in Fish Creek and from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center.

Both locations are looking for more participants willing to set up in their parking lots and hand out candy from their vehicle trunks.

Briney also highlighted the YMCA's Super Kids Fun Nights, where students in grades 1-5 can enjoy swimming, gym games, crafts, and other activities on select Fridays.

You can listen to the entire Y-Wednesday Podcast at this link.

Opening night of “Hello, Dolly!” at Southern Door High School next month will take on special meaning thanks to some familiar faces.

Before Kaitlyn Kluge, Jesse Thorson and Jude Alrand take on the roles of Dolly, Horace and Cornelius, the Southern Door School District will honor the cast that first brought “Hello, Dolly!” to the stage in 1971 with a special pre-show reception Nov. 12.

Fifty-five years ago, former Southern Door School District Superintendent Patti Vickman brought the title character to life with songs such as “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and “Before the Parade Passes By.” Back then, they did not have the Southern Door Auditorium or costume designers like  Kelly Tassoul and Kim Welch. They performed in the old high school gym with a couple of microphones dangling from the ceiling. Outside of a couple of dresses they rented, Vickman remembers her mom making her costumes. Looking back, she says it was one of the great experiences she had in high school.

The idea of bringing back the original cast was born at a graduation party when Vickman ran into director Madeline Wilkins and learned that "Hello, Dolly!" was this year's musical. Vickman's advice to the 2026 cast is to dive into their characters and have fun with it.

The pre-show reception will take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 in the high school library before the opening night performance. The production runs through Nov. 15.

‘We’re hiring’, is the message the Door County Sheriff Department wants to get out. Sheriff Tammy Sternard and the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee requested to spend up to $24,000 on a recruitment campaign and sign on bonuses for new jail staff, and received the approval nod Tuesday from the County Administrative committee.

Sheriff Sternard said the DCSD, like so many businesses on the peninsula, struggles to attract and retain employees. Especially when their competition includes Brown and Kewaunee Counties, larger areas with more options.

The Sheriff and County Administration received approval to reallocate funds toward a graduated sign-on bonus of $2,000 for new jailers, with bonus money provided after the employee meets time benchmarks. The recruitment campaign would also include $8,000 for recruitment advertising. County Administrator Ken Pabich referenced the success of the emergency dispatcher recruitment campaign, and suggested targeting Northeast Wisconsin Technical College attendees, trade publications, and trying to stretch their advertising reach further away. 

Supervisor Todd Thayse questioned the long term success of a sign on bonus, in regards to long term retention and turn over of those employees after their bonus is received. Thayse retired in 2022 as the vice president and general manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay.

Sheriff Sternard said she saw success in the dispatch recruitment program with spreading out the bonus over several months.

The training miles are behind Sevastopol graduate Max Krohn, with only the 50-mile journey between Gills Rock and Sturgeon Bay remaining.

The former Sturgeon Bay resident has been training for this weekend's Fall 50 since announcing his goal of raising $20,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Door County and its healthy living initiatives.

The organization holds a special place in the heart of his grandfather, Dave Resch, who has served the club for 20 years.

Krohn said in August that his grandfather's stories, along with his interactions with club officials and members, would provide plenty of motivation to get outside and run.

Entering the final week, Krohn is about halfway to his fundraising goal. Resch hopes people will be inspired by Krohn's story, which includes a spinal injury that temporarily paralyzed him from the neck down, and his determination to improve the lives of local youth through his fundraising efforts.

Donations can be made to Krohn's fundraising campaign online.

The Fall 50 begins at 6:30 a.m. Saturday for solo runners like Krohn. Teams will depart from The Shoreline Restaurant in Gills Rock in waves at 7:30 a.m., 8:20 a.m., 9:10 a.m., and 10 a.m.

The course takes runners through Ellison Bay, Sister Bay, Ephraim, Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek, Juddville and Egg Harbor before finishing at Sunset Park in Sturgeon Bay.

The course remains open to traffic, so motorists and runners are encouraged to use extra caution throughout the event.

Your civic duty is the latest target of a series of scam phone calls being reported in Door County.

The Door County Sheriff's Department announced Monday that it has received reports of a phone scam in which callers claim to represent the department's administration and pressure residents to report for jury duty.

Scammers are telling their targets that they are required to report to the Door County Justice Center for jury duty months after a court summons was allegedly delivered.

The department says the calls are fraudulent, despite scammers using official-sounding language to trick people into believing they are in trouble for failing to report for jury duty.

The Door County Sheriff's Department reminds residents not to provide personal, financial, or payment information to unsolicited callers, not to rely on caller ID, and to contact the department if they believe they have been targeted.

The 80th annual Fall Festival was a topsy turvy event, with large crowds, two days of decent weather, and strong community spirit. Although the weather threw a curveball and forced a delayed Saturday morning set up for the Arts and Crafts vendors, the traditional activities went off as usual.

Noteworthy, amongst the treats and libations, is the designation of the Sister Bay Volunteer of the Year, who serves as the official Grand Marshal of the Fall Fest parade on Saturday morning. 

This year, the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department was chosen as the Volunteer(s) of the Year, due to their impact on the northern Door County communities. 

In a statement from the Sister Bay Advancement Association, which hosts Fall Fest and chooses the Volunteer of the Year, organizers said,

“Their impact extends far beyond emergency response. Our firefighters and EMRs (emergency medical responders) are also local business owners, employees, neighbors, and volunteers who give so much of themselves to make our community special. They’re always ready to lend a hand at community events, whether that means giving Santa a ride into town for Capture the Spirit, helping launch ping pong balls on Sunday of Fall Fest, hosting a pancake breakfast, or playing an integral role in Marina Fest and s much more!”

Congratulations, and thank you, to the members of the SBLGFD.

With just over two weeks remaining before voters head to the polls for the fall election, local party leaders are expressing confidence in their candidates' chances of success in Washington, D.C., and Madison.

Over the last several weeks, candidates for Wisconsin governor, state Assembly, state Senate and U.S. Congress have visited Door and Kewaunee counties to introduce themselves to voters and share their ideas for moving the state and country forward.

In the governor's race, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany hosted one of his Tavern Talks in Sturgeon Bay last Thursday and is planning to bring his get-out-the-vote rallies to Luxemburg on October 24, while Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley has get-out-the-vote rallies scheduled for Kewaunee and Sturgeon Bay on Oct. 25 after being in Egg Harbor late last month.

Last Wednesday, state Assembly candidates Rep. Joel Kitchens and Renee Paplham and state Senate candidates Nic Cravillion and Mark Becker participated in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Door County.

Kewaunee County Republican Party Chairman Kirt Johnson applauded the campaigns being run by Tiffany, Cravillion and Kitchens. He says Republicans need to carry the enthusiasm they had for President Donald Trump in 2024 to the ballot box on Nov. 3.

Door County Democratic Party Chairman Kris Sadur says she senses a desire for change among the people she has spoken with and believes the candidates who can deliver that change are on the ballot.

In-person absentee voting begins Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 1 in some parts of the state, although most municipalities will conclude voting by Oct. 30. Completed absentee ballots must be received by municipal clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

Launching a boat, renting a shelter, and setting off fireworks are just some of the activities that could cost a little more in the city of Sturgeon Bay following discussions during Tuesday’s Common Council meeting.

The city's alders will discuss increasing or establishing fees for services provided by the Fire Department, Municipal Services, City Hall, and Community Development Department.

Under the proposal, daily boat launch passes would increase by $2, while seasonal passes would increase by approximately $5 to $10. Shelter rental fees would increase by $10 to $44, depending on the shelter's size and the renter's residency status. Pet licenses for dogs and cats would increase by $7, regardless of whether the animals are spayed or neutered. A complete list of the proposed fees is included in Tuesday's agenda packet.

The proposed fees were developed during budget meetings in which city staff were asked to review options for covering expenses.

The discussion is part of a broader review of the 2027 budget, which will also take place during Tuesday's meeting. The council hopes to schedule a budget hearing for its Nov. 3 meeting.

According to minutes from the Oct. 5 Committee of the Whole meeting, City Administrator Josh VanLieshout said the proposed tax rate would increase by 8.5% to 11% under the current budget proposal.

In addition to delaying filling vacancies in the police and municipal services departments, eight items were removed from the 2027 budget to reduce the capital levy, with $204,500 directed to the debt service levy.

Tuesday's meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at Sturgeon Bay City Hall.

After less than one year of employment, Ben Andrews is no longer working for the Village of Sister Bay as administrator. However, the Village has cause for a celebration of Joy.

The Village trustees will meet and discuss next steps at their monthly meeting beginning at 6pm, Tuesday at the Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Station on Mill Road. Part of that conversation includes the possibility of creating a Zoning Administrator position, to relieve some of those duties from the Village Administrator. 

In 2025, the Village employed Innovative Public Advisors, a public-sector executive recruitment firm, to replace Administrator Julie Schmelzer, who worked for the Village for 3 years. Schmelzer followed Beau Bernhoft, who started in Sister Bay in 2019, after Zeke Jackson left in 2017 (there was an 18 month gap in administrators). Prior to Jackson, Bob Kufrin served the village for 9 years, following Ron Kane.

The Village of Ephraim has employed at least a part time zoning administrator since the late 1980s, starting with a shared Village Clerk and Administrator position, then splitting the duties into two positions. Currently, Brent Bristol is Ephraim’s zoning administrator. 

Trustees will begin Tuesday’s meeting with some Joy, a proclamation for Joy Lang, that is! 

The Village will honor one of its long standing business owners (Jerry’s Flowers) and community members with an official proclamation commending her decades of volunteer service in support of the Village’s floral displays - she has contributed countless hours to planting, maintaining, and caring for the flowers that welcome residents and visitors throughout the community. Lang has also been a dependable volunteer for community events in the Village, such as Fall Fest.

The proclamation states that ‘Joy’s work exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism, demonstrating how individual dedication can positively influence the community and inspire others to get involved.” 

A 27-year-old Sturgeon Bay man told deputies he fell asleep behind the wheel before striking two trees and suffering suspected serious injuries over the weekend in the town of Sevastopol.

Deputies discovered the vehicle shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday. Evidence at the scene indicated the man was traveling north on Bay Shore Drive near Little Harbor Drive when he failed to negotiate a curve. His truck left the roadway, drove over a fallen tree, and struck a standing tree.

The truck was unoccupied when a deputy discovered it among the trees.

The driver was cited for failure to keep his vehicle under control, failure to wear a seat belt, and failure to notify police of the crash.

Installation of new water and sewer laterals are planned the Sunshine House property off of Jaycee Court. Construction is scheduled to begin Tuesday, October 20 at approximately 7:00 am. If all goes as planned, the street will be reopened by the end of the day on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Access will be maintained on Jaycee Court throughout the work from the West from N. 12^th Avenue and from the North from Georgia Street.

The City is asking drivers to avoid this area if possible.

The intersection of the “Post Office Alley” and Louisiana Street, between N. Third Ave. & N. Fourth Ave., will be closed Tuesday, October 20 for replacement of a storm sewer manhole at the alley entrance on the South side of Louisiana Street. 

Manhole replacement work is expected to be completed by the end of the work day on Tuesday.  Concrete replacement will follow immediately on Wednesday and Thursday.  Asphalt pavement replacement, depending on weather and contractor coordination will be completed as soon as possible afterward.

Louisiana Street will be accessible for “Local Traffic Only” from the West using N. Third Ave., and from the East using N. Fourth Ave.  As the work progresses limited thru traffic will be allowed on Louisiana Street when possible.

During this work the Alley will be ROAD CLOSED with limited access from the South only using Michigan Street.  Please avoid using this alley unless absolutely necessary.

While “A Cherry Pie Christmas” takes place in the "Cape Cod of the Midwest" in Door County, the music behind the film was born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Composer Ed Grenga is no stranger to providing the soundtracks for Christmas movies. His credits include “The March Sisters at Christmas” (2012), “The Spruces and the Pines” (2017), “A Snow White Christmas” (2018), “Christmas a la Mode” (2019), “Christmas on Ice” (2020), “A Cape Cod Christmas” (2021), “A Show-Stopping Christmas” (2022), “The Snowball Effect” (2022), “Letters to Santa” (2023) and “A Very Vermont Christmas” (2024), in addition to “A Cherry Pie Christmas.”

Grenga never thought about his musical scores becoming part of someone else's holiday traditions. However, he knows of at least one person who has made his work part of hers: Staci Griesbach, who helped bring the idea of a Door County Christmas movie to life.

His relationship with fellow Massachusetts native John Stimpson helped bring him on board for “A Cherry Pie Christmas” and gave him a sense of the music he would be creating.

Destination Door County is already planning the second edition of its Door County Christmas Trail, which attracted more than 3,000 participants from 35 states and generated more than $36,000 in trackable sales between Nov. 1 and Jan. 5 last winter.

The Southern Door Auditorium will also host a screening of the film Dec. 12.

If you are eager to get into the holiday spirit, you can watch the movie and listen to Grenga's work here.

FAVORITE SCENE OF THE MOVIE FEATURING HIS MUSIC

Changes could soon be on the way for the Kewaunee County Highway Department's facilities.

The Kewaunee County Board will consider a resolution on Tuesday to approve contracts for the renovation and construction of the department's main highway shop in Footbridge and its facilities in Algoma, Casco, and Stangelville.

The county plans to work with SMA Construction Services, which would provide construction management services for the project. The estimated cost is $15,690,290. The board authorized up to $4.2 million in borrowing for the project earlier this year.

Kewaunee County Board Chairman Dan Olson said he was confident that the numbers would come back in their favor from the bidding process, which closed on Oct. 1.

The meeting's agenda also includes resolutions recognizing two former board members, authorizing conservation aid for Bruemmer Park and considering industrial revenue bond financing for a project at El-Na Farms.

The meeting begins with a budget hearing at 6 p.m. at the Kewaunee County Administration Center in Kewaunee.

The changing season makes October an ideal time to explore the outdoors and observe these natural phenomena firsthand. Crossroads at Big Creek offers several opportunities for community members to connect with nature throughout the month.

Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long countywide celebration of A.A. Milne's beloved bear presented by Friends of Door County Libraries continues throughout October. As a community partner, Crossroads is bringing a touch of Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve with self-guided activities, indoor and outdoor discoveries, and a special Winnie-the-Pooh Trail Tale inspired by Pooh and friends.

You are also invited to participate in Wandering Wednesday hikes at 1:30 p.m., where naturalists lead easy walks through the preserve, highlighting seasonal changes and the wonders of the natural world, from colorful foliage and forest ecology to weather patterns and signs of approaching winter.

For those fascinated by both science and storytelling, Lasers and Lightsabers: From Fusion Energy to Movie Magic on October 22 and 23 blends cutting-edge science with behind-the-scenes insights from the world of filmmaking in a dynamic and visually engaging presentation.

Families looking to make the most of a school holiday can join the School's Out Excursion: Bees & Bears on October 23. Guests can explore interactive exhibits, enjoy self-guided games, and visit the special Winnie-the-Pooh and Hundred Acre Wood Trail Tale while discovering connections between nature, pollinators, and beloved storybook characters.

The celebration of pollinators continues on October 24 during the Bee's Knees Honey Workshop: Inside the Hive. Participants can meet local beekeepers, learn how honey is made, discover why pollinators are so important, and even try on a real beekeeper suit during this family-friendly event.

Garden lovers won't want to miss Tales (and Tails) of the Secret Garden on October 27 presented by the Door County Master Gardeners Association and Wild Ones - Door Peninsula. Door County musician Colin Welford will share the story of creating his three-quarter-acre Secret Garden in Ephraim, discussing the hardscaping, plant selection, and pollinator-friendly practices that transformed the space into a place of beauty and tranquility.

Crossroads at Big Creek encourages everyone to slow down and enjoy the wonders of autumn. From the chemistry behind vibrant fall colors to the work of decomposers on the forest floor, the season offers countless opportunities to witness the remarkable processes that shape our natural world every day.

Upcoming Programs

Month of October

Winnie-Pooh-Looza

Join us for Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long celebration honoring A.A. Milne’s beloved bear! As a community partner in this countywide event brought to you by Friends of Door County Libraries, Crossroads at Big Creek is bringing a little Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve throughout October. Please visit crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/winnie-pooh-looza/ to learn more. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Wednesday, October 21

10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club: Fall Session

Junior Nature Club is a free, six-week outdoor adventure designed for preschool-aged children and their families to discover, explore, and connect with the natural world. Please register. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday

Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.

Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Thursday, October 22

1:00 p.m. | Nature Club: Fall Session

Nature Club is a free, six-week program for children ages 6-8 who love to discover, investigate, and learn about the outdoors. Each week, kids will connect with nature through hands-on activities that encourage movement, friendship, and a lifelong sense of wonder. Class is full; contact us to join the wait list. 

5:00 p.m. | Lasers and Lightsabers: From Fusion Energy to Movie Magic

Join us for a dynamic, visually rich presentation blending cutting-edge science with behind?the?scenes storytelling from the world of filmmaking. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Friday, October 23

9:30-1:00 p.m. | School's Out Excursion: Bees & Bears

Gather your family and friends and make the most of your day off with a day of nature, learning, and adventure at Crossroads! Explore interactive exhibits, enjoy self-guided games, explore our special Winnie-the-Pooh and the Hundred Acre Wood Trail Tale. Free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

1:00 p.m. | Lasers and Lightsabers: From Fusion Energy to Movie Magic

Join us for a dynamic, visually rich presentation blending cutting-edge science with behind?the?scenes storytelling from the world of filmmaking. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Saturday, October 24

10:00 a.m. | Bee's Knees Honey Workshop: Inside the Hive

Get the buzz on bees! Meet members of the Door County Beekeepers Club and learn how honey is made, why pollinators are important, and what it takes to care for a hive. Try on a real beekeeper suit and enjoy fun, family-friendly activities throughout the event. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tuesday, October 27

10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club: Fall Session

Junior Nature Club is a free, six-week outdoor adventure designed for preschool-aged children and their families to discover, explore, and connect with the natural world. Please register. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

6:30 p.m. | DCMGA & Wild Ones: Tales (and Tails) of the Secret Garden

Popular Door County Musician Colin Welford will discuss how, with help from friends, he created a ¾ acre Secret Garden in Ephraim. He will share stories of how, through hardscaping and careful plant selection, he created a pollinator haven and a place of beauty and tranquility. Free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Maintenance crews will be repairing pavement on Northbound and Southbound Wisconsin Highway 57 between the south county line and Wisconsin Highway 42 on Monday, October 19 through Thursday, October 22, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A moving lane closure will be used during repairs.

For the most current traffic impacts, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's website: https://projects.511wi.gov/maintain-ne/schedule/

All Door and Kewaunee County entrepreneurs with a new business, side hustle, or great idea for the next best thing are invited to enter the annual Lighthouse Launch pitch contest. 

Prize money, and the contest, are being offered by Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) and the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Kewaunee County. DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie explains what happens during the contest.

Pitch contest entrants must be 18 or older to enter, and the deadline for entry is Halloween, October 31. The Lighthouse Launch competition will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 6 pm, at Stone Harbor Resort, in Sturgeon Bay. 

Lawrie said that will the prize money is great, the true value of this contest comes in the form of valuable feedback, expanding your network, and building visibility for your venture.

Pitch development training sessions will be offered Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5-6 pm, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 12-1 pm. The Oct. 27 workshop will be held at the DCEDC Office in Sturgeon Bay, while the Oct. 28 workshop will be held at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg. A virtual option will be available for both sessions.

For more information visit the DCEDC website: LiveDoorCounty.org  

October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. We have all heard the term bullying, but what does it actually mean? Bullying is defined as unwanted aggressive behavior involving an observed or perceived power imbalance and repetition of behaviors or a high likelihood of repetition.

Bullying is unfortunately a reality for far too many in our communities, both young and old. Much like any other form of violence, bullying is not isolated to any particular age group, gender, or demographic. Just about every one of us can look back on our lives and recall a time when either we were personally bullied or witnessed one of our friends or schoolmates being bullied. It's hard to believe that with all the advancements and awareness, this type of behavior still exists, but it does. With the advent of social media, it has actually gotten much worse. This is because, unlike in the past, bullies not only impact your life on the playground or in the classroom; they can now follow you into your personal life due to the constant presence of social media.

There is good news in that we have learned a great deal about what creates bullies and how to neutralize their ability to isolate and intimidate. The key is for those in authority to respond to reports of bullying immediately to show, without question, that bullying will not be tolerated. That message needs to carry over into our homes through the lessons we teach our children, not only by what we say but also by our own actions and how we treat fellow adults. Bullying is, without question, a learned behavior. It is learned on the playground and in the classroom and carries over into the workplace and social interactions as adults. We need to send a strong message to our own children, a message of empathy and compassion, not ridicule and rumor.

However, this approach and the efforts to create a kinder, more compassionate society are only half of the equation. Regardless of our best efforts, we never have and never will purge our world of people and situations that will challenge us. Sometimes, life is hard. And to that, I share a word of wisdom from former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and that word is: "Good."

That's right. It is good that we have hardships, as they make us stronger. It is good that the best things in life usually demand the most effort and sacrifice from us. It is good that there are difficult people and situations that we have to endure. It is in the hard that we find our strength. It is in the hard that we discover, cultivate, and sustain gratitude.

While we must continue our work toward more kindness, empathy, and compassion, we must also embark upon initiatives to improve our overall durability and that of our children. Even with our best efforts, we will be sending our youth out into a world that is often unkind and lacks empathy and compassion. Life isn't fair. It never was, and it never will be. The best we can hope to do is focus on what we can control (hint: The only thing we can control is ourselves), influence those in our proximity, and, through it all, never lose our sense of purpose.

Thirty-four years ago, I embarked upon a calling with the idealistic belief that I was going to change the world. I hope that I have made the community I served a better place, but I am under no illusion that I changed a great deal of anything. I would submit, however, that my greatest achievement has been that the world has not and never will change me.

Over the past several months, the City of Sturgeon Bay's Local Transportation Board spent considerable time discussing e-bike safety and how young riders could be better educated about safely navigating streets and sidewalks.

As a proactive response, Sturgeon Bay Police Department School Resource Officer Derek Jennerjohn is developing an e-bike safety education program in partnership with the Sturgeon Bay School District.

The program is scheduled for launch this coming Spring, and will focus on students in grades 3–6 at Sunrise Elementary and T.J. Walker Middle School.

Something like a hands-on, bike rodeo will be part of the program for Sunrise Elementary students, providing an opportunity to practice important bicycle safety skills.

In a social media post Wednesday, Alderman Spencer Gustafson wrote that educating kids about e-bike safety has been a priority for him, as he serves on the Local Transportation Board.

"While rules and regulations certainly have their place, I believe teaching our younger generations how to ride responsibly, understand traffic laws, and recognize potential hazards is equally important," Gustafson wrote.

A 62-year-old Robstown, Texas, woman was injured Thursday night when the vehicle she was riding in was rear-ended by another driver in the town of Sevastopol.

The crash occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of state highways 42 and 57.

The woman was one of four people from Texas in the vehicle when it was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by a 48-year-old Stevens Point woman.

According to the crash report, the Stevens Point woman was looking down at her phone when she struck the other vehicle.

No other injuries were reported, and neither vehicle needed to be towed from the scene. The Stevens Point woman was cited for failure to keep her vehicle under control.

After initially being left out of a freeze warning covering much of northeastern Wisconsin, including Kewaunee County, Door County is now under a frost advisory.

The National Weather Service issued the advisory for Door County from 3 to 9 a.m. Saturday. Temperatures could fall as low as 33 degrees, with the coldest conditions expected across southern Door County.

As with a freeze warning, residents are encouraged to cover sensitive plants or bring them indoors to protect them from the cold.

The freeze warning for the rest of the region remains in effect from 1 to 9 a.m. Saturday, with temperatures potentially dropping to between 25 and 30 degrees.

In addition to protecting sensitive plants, residents are encouraged to bring pets indoors and shut off outdoor water supplies to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

Hundreds of residents in Door and Kewaunee counties may be starting their weekend with an inconvenience.

As of 2:15 p.m. Friday, more than 800 Wisconsin Public Service customers were without power across the two counties. The hardest-hit areas included Ahnapee (336 customers), Egg Harbor (260) and Forestville (183).

According to WPS, the outages were related to equipment problems, with power expected to be restored by 5 p.m.

The outages come as high winds move into the area, bringing gusts of 30 to 45 mph.

You can stay up to date on power outages here.

Be prepared to see fewer trucks on area roads near Kinnard Farms in Casco after Sedron officially completed work on its manure processing facility this week.

Kinnard Farms became the second Midwestern farm to have such a facility, which converts manure from the 9,000-cow dairy into an OMRI Listed liquid ammonium nitrate fertilizer, a dry solid fertilizer and clean water. The facility is expected to eliminate the need to haul and land-apply 120 million gallons of liquid manure annually while providing fertilizer for other farmers to use and removing thousands of truck trips from area roads.

“We’ve been working toward this for years, and the system is doing exactly what Sedron said it would,” said Lee Kinnard of Kinnard Farms. “The reclaimed nutrients pay for the facility, we get the water back, and our neighbors see fewer trucks on the road. That’s what being a good steward looks like now.”

Sedron Vice President of Development Lucas Reid has been involved with the project every step of the way. He remembers the moment that inspired the technology more than a decade ago, when Bill Gates took a sip of water produced from human waste by the Janicki Omni Processor. That demonstration sparked conversations about what was possible, including a potential application at Kinnard Farms.

Now that the facility is fully operational, Reid is excited to see its benefits, especially for organic farmers who could use the liquid ammonium nitrate fertilizer in their fields.

The other Varcor system is located at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana, where it processes manure from more than 20,000 animals. According to Sedron, the fertilizer is available to growers and distributors nationwide in grades containing 7% and 10% nitrogen, with a 16% grade expected by 2028.

Behind every gravestone is a life story, and the Door County Historical Society (DCHS) is hosting an evening to explore  how researchers discover those stories during its October Dine & Discover program, “Grave Digging: Researching a Life Story,” on Monday, October 26, at Door County Fire Company in Sturgeon Bay.

This past summer, DCHS partnered with the Bayside Cemetery Association in observing the cemetery’s 150th anniversary and honoring individuals whose lives contributed to Door County’s history. The October program takes that exploration a step further by asking: How do you turn a name on a gravestone into the story of a real person?

Presenter Dennis Jacobs is a historian and historic reenactor based in Green Bay. He will lead participants through the process of researching a person’s life, and talk about practical tools for moving beyond names and dates to uncover the details that bring a person’s story to life.

For more information about the Dine and Discover events hosted by the Door County Historical Society, visit their website.

Students in the Southern Door School District is using previously scheduled two days off to address an urgent water supply issue next week.

The district announced Thursday that its facilities will be closed Oct. 22-23 to address the issue. The closure will also affect the Talon Community Fitness Center.

Superintendent Kevin Krutzik said the district is taking advantage of two previously scheduled days off for students to complete the necessary work while the building is empty.

The school is expected to reopen Monday, Oct. 26.

A little wind and rain won't stop one of Door County's oldest festivals from getting off on the right foot.

Sister Bay Fall Fest celebrates its 80th anniversary beginning Friday with weekend highlights such as the Friday night fish boil, Saturday's Fall Fest Parade at 11 a.m., featuring the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department as grand marshal, and the Fall Fest Derby Race at 10 a.m. Saturday. Children's activities, live music and other festivities will also take place throughout the village.

One unwelcome guest could be the weather, with rain and strong winds expected Friday. Sister Bay Advancement Association's Abby Doobie and Erin Peddle says conditions should improve for the rest of the weekend, and organizers have plans in place to make Friday enjoyable despite the forecast.

As a result of Fall Fest, State Highway 42 will be closed through the village Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The former Shopko property will serve as a park-and-ride location, with additional shuttles available to help visitors get around the village.

More information about Fall Fest is available below.

Residents in more than a dozen counties across central and northeastern Wisconsin, including Kewaunee County, are being encouraged to protect their plants, pets, and outdoor plumbing ahead of freezing temperatures this weekend.

A freeze watch is in effect from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday, with temperatures potentially dropping to between 25 and 30 degrees. According to the UW Climatology Office, the timing is right in line with the average first freeze date of Oct. 14.

Residents are encouraged to cover sensitive plants or bring them indoors to protect them from the cold. Pets should also be brought inside, and outdoor water supplies should be shut off. Hoses and sprinklers should be disconnected to prevent trapped water from freezing and damaging outdoor faucets, irrigation systems, and indoor plumbing.

As of Thursday afternoon, Door County was not under the freeze watch.

It has been a long time coming for Algoma Fire Chief Tom Ackerman, but the big reveal of the department's new fire station on Sunset Avenue in the city's industrial park is finally here.

The department will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

According to contractor Bayland Buildings, the 19,100-square-foot facility includes 5,800 square feet of office space, meeting rooms, and fire and emergency medical services operations areas, providing dedicated space for department personnel and daily operations.

An additional 11,300 square feet houses drive-through apparatus bays and a wash bay, providing room for emergency vehicles, equipment, and routine maintenance. The facility also features a 2,000-square-foot mezzanine for additional flexible space.

The new station is a far cry from the department's former downtown headquarters, where firefighters had to squeeze past equipment to reach the second floor and navigate crowded corridors during events and emergency calls.

Ackerman says the new facility has been worth the wait.

As for the former fire station, the Algoma Common Council met in closed session earlier this month to discuss two bids to purchase the property. The council voted 7-0 to proceed with the sale of the building to Michael and Heidi Gwiazda for $150,000.

Travelers heading to or from Washington Island on Friday will need to adjust their plans due to expected high winds.

The Washington Island Ferry Line has canceled all Friday afternoon and evening trips because of the forecast. On Thursday, the National Weather Service issued a gale warning from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

Winds of 20 to 30 knots, with gusts up to 40 knots, are expected to produce waves of 4 to 7 feet on the bay and 6 to 10 feet on Lake Michigan. The strong winds and hazardous waves could reduce visibility and potentially damage or capsize boats.

During this time of year, the Washington Island Ferry Line operates hourly trips between the mainland and the island from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., along with two evening trips.

Ferry officials are expected to decide whether to operate Friday morning trips later Thursday.

UPDATE:

A 21-year-old Sturgeon Bay man was airlifted to Door County Medical Center after his manure truck overturned in the town of Forestville on Tuesday.

The crash occurred around 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of County Highway D and Forest Drive. According to the crash report, the man was attempting to turn onto County D from Forest Drive when his truck overturned into a ditch.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was notified after manure began leaking from the truck. According to DNR Northeast Region Spill Coordinator and Hydrogeologist Cody Heinze, an estimated 5,000 gallons of manure spilled into the roadside ditch. The spill was contained by constructing berms in the ditch, and the manure was recovered using a vacuum truck.

As a result of the cleanup efforts, no impacts to nearby wetlands or waterways are anticipated.

The driver was taken to the hospital with suspected minor injuries. He was cited for failure to keep his vehicle under control and failure to wear a seat belt.

One last hurrah is planned for this season for the group working to restore the catwalk to the Algoma Pierhead Light in Algoma, with an Oktoberfest on October 17 at the Algoma Boat Club.

Fundraising efforts by the Save the Catwalk group have totaled $50,892 as of October 14, with an additional $8,700 in donated goods and services. Also included are a $1,000 grant from the Wisconsin Public Service Foundation, and a $1,000 grant from Algoma Utilities and the WPPI Foundation.

The Save The Catwalk group set a fundraising goal of $400,000, to be reached by the end of 2027.

Fundraising efforts began in early 2026, with a successful summer event, similar to the upcoming Oktoberfest, according to Jacqueline Toepfer, treasurer of the group Save The Catwalk. 

In addition to the food and drinks at the Oktoberfest event, raffles and auctions will be hosted. Toepfer  talked with Paige Funkhouser about the efforts to restore and save one of Wisconsin's last two remaining pierhead catwalks on Lake Michigan (the other being Sturgeon Bay). 

For information about the efforts to save the Algoma pierhead catwalk - and the Oktoberfest party - visit SaveTheCatwalk.com

Click here to listen to the conversation.

A 21-year-old New London man was cited for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, possessing open intoxicants, and failing to keep his vehicle under control after his car rolled over several times in the town of Baileys Harbor early Monday morning.

The crash occurred at 2:40 a.m. on State Highway 57 near Ahrens Road. According to the crash report, the man began drifting toward the shoulder as he approached a curve before crossing into the northbound lane and eventually leaving the roadway. His vehicle rolled over several times before coming to rest on its side.

One lane of Highway 57 was closed until 4 a.m. while authorities investigated the crash and crews removed the vehicle. The scene was cleared shortly after 4:30 a.m.

As we transition between summer's outdoor activities and focus on indoor winter wellness and fitness, the Sturgeon Bay YMCA has options for all ages. 

During this week's Y-Wednesday, we talk with the YMCA's Healthy Living Director Sarah Gavin about 3 main things: 1) The free to access outdoor pavilion, fireplace, and the multi-modal trail around Peterson Park, including the exercise equipment along the trail; 2) Healthy Living Fair next week; 3) Registration for the Fall 2 schedule of classes.

The upcoming Healthy Living Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20, 8:30am-12pm, and is sponsored by Door County Medical Center. 

Gavin promises all attendees will get "Free Stuff", and there's door prizes to win!

The Healthy Living Fair will include 35 vendors from Door and Brown counties, offering information, screenings, a flu shot clinic. Pre-register for screenings and shots, call the Y, or stop by. Expired prescription medication recycling also available. 

Free rides available through Door County Connect. Free entry to the Fair.

Registration for Fall 2 schedule of classes opens Monday, Oct. 19 for YMCA Members, and on Wednesday, Oct. 21 for community members. Offerings include fitness and wellness classes for all ages and for everybody. For the full schedule of classes, visit

DoorCountyYMCA.org, or for a printed schedule, stop by the Y.

Mark your calendars for the YMCA’s Trunk or Treat event Oct. 30.

You can listen to the full Y-Wednesday Podcast with Gavin here.

The Door County Highway Department will be resurfacing County Highway (CTH) OO from CTH S to Shiloh Road, beginning October 19, with an expected completion the first week of November (Nov. 6, without painting the stripes), all weather dependent.

The project will consist of pulverizing the existing asphalt, sawing and removal of driveways and intersections, grading and compaction, paving 4” of hot mix asphalt in 2 lifts, shouldering, and centerline markings.

Pulverizing of the existing asphalt, driveway excavation, grading, and compaction will begin next week.  The paving of two lifts of asphalt will take place the last week of October. The road will then be shouldered after a short cure period, and centerline striped. 

There will be an adhesive applied between the two lifts of asphalt, so the Highway department strongly advises you not to drive on the oiled surface (follow the signage). Traffic will be controlled by a flagging operation during construction, and every effort will be made to keep access open to traffic. Use caution when traveling around road construction equipment and crews and obey all signage.

Oh, bother? Not in Door County! Yes, Pooh, two Door county communities are celebrating on October 14, the 100th anniversary of the publication of A.A. Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh.

For the day, the Town of Washington will become “The Hundred Acre Wood,” while the Village of Egg Harbor will be known as “The Bee Friendly Village.” Both communities municipal boards signed ceremonial proclamations honoring Pooh’s centennial and celebrating the joys of reading, libraries, and time spent outdoors.

The proclamations are part of Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long, countywide celebration organized by the Friends of Door County Libraries, featuring dozens of free programs and activities inspired by Pooh, from storytelling and creative writing to art and outdoor adventures.

For the schedule of Winnie-Pooh-Looza activities, visit friendsofdoorcountylibraries.org.

If you think you might do well teaching in an early childhood classroom, United Way of Door County and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College can help you explore that possibility.

Thanks to funding from the Raibrook Foundation and Goodwill North Central Wisconsin, United Way and NWTC will offer an Early Childhood Education Certificate program that will allow students to earn two early childhood education certificates and qualify to work at child care centers in Door County. The grant funding allows prospective students to attend tuition-free.

This is the third time United Way of Door County and NWTC have offered the program, and Child Care Community Coordinator Molly Gary believes it has been a successful partnership.

Classes begin Nov. 17 and will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. through May 6 at NWTC's Sturgeon Bay campus. More information is available by clicking here.

Thanks to Mother Nature, you can expect to see green fields after the harvest and hopefully before the first snowflakes fly.

Planting cover crops like winter wheat and triticale has become a fall staple for area farmers as a way to control erosion and promote good soil health. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, cover crop usage increased by 42% in 2025, covering more than 350,000 acres across the state. That helped prevent more than 661,000 tons of soil erosion on farm fields.

While some farmers were able to get their cover crops growing ahead of the first frost, others were not as fortunate. With many farmers making quick work of their corn silage harvest, Rio Creek agronomist Adam Barta says you should expect to see more green fields locally this year as farmers were able to plant their cover crops sooner.

According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, winter wheat planting is on par with the five-year average.

With more farm equipment on the roads, drivers are advised to use extra caution where equipment may be entering and exiting fields, allow plenty of time and space when turning or passing, and watch for lights, flashers, and slow-moving vehicle emblems.

For the first time since 2020, your friendly neighborhood ghosts, goblins, and ghouls will be able to take to the streets on a Saturday for Halloween. The novelty is not lost on community organizers and leaders alike.

While most communities host trick-or-treating on Halloween, Luxemburg and Casco usually hold their festivities the Sunday before. With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, both communities will also hold trick-or-treating that day, although at their traditional times of noon to 2 p.m. in Casco and 2 to 4 p.m. in Luxemburg. Kewaunee (3 to 6 p.m.) and Algoma (4 to 6 p.m.) will hold their trick-or-treating festivities later in the day.

In Door County, several communities are taking advantage of the Saturday Halloween to incorporate their spooky traditions into the holiday itself. Egg Harbor, Ephraim, Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek and Baileys Harbor are among the communities hosting special Halloween festivities, including trick-or-treating at local businesses and attractions, costume parades and contests, and other activities inviting families to get into the Halloween spirit before touring neighborhoods in search of more candy.

Destination Sturgeon Bay's Alexa Soto says its Thrills and Chills event will be even more special this year because of the Saturday date and the involvement of the local community.

Regular trick-or-treating hours will still take place in Baileys Harbor and Sturgeon Bay, beginning at 4 p.m.

Voters in Door and Kewaunee counties will have opportunities to hear from candidates themselves over the next week as the start of in-person absentee voting approaches Tuesday, October 20.

According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, more than 127,000 absentee ballots have already been returned by mail out of nearly 348,000 issued statewide. That includes 353 ballots in Kewaunee County and 689 in Door County received by their respective municipal clerks as of Tuesday, Oct 13.

For those waiting to hear from the candidates before casting their ballots, several opportunities are coming up.

In Wisconsin's gubernatorial race, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley are scheduled to debate Oct. 21 in Milwaukee. The debate will air on WISN-TV, more than a week after Wisconsin attorney general candidates Josh Kaul and Eric Toney debated Sunday.

Closer to home, U.S. Rep. Tony Wied will debate Rick Crosson on Oct. 22. The debate will be carried live on WFRV-TV's streaming platform and air on tape delay at 7 p.m. that evening and at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 25.

The League of Women Voters of Door County will host a candidate forum for the Wisconsin Assembly and state Senate races Oct. 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Southern Door School Auditorium. The Assembly race features state Rep. Joel Kitchens and Democratic challenger Renee Paplham, while the state Senate race features Nic Cravillion and Mark Becker.

The forum will be recorded by the League of Women Voters of Door County. The organization hosted a candidate forum for Door County sheriff ahead of the August primary, which is still available to watch online.

In-person absentee voting begins Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 1 in some parts of the state, although most municipalities will conclude voting by Oct. 30. Completed absentee ballots must be received by municipal clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The announcement of a new Health and Human Services (HHS) department director was made at the Door County HHS committee meeting Monday afternoon. 

Melissa Annoye will be transitioning from Kewaunee County, where she’s worked for public health for 20 years and is currently the Human Services Director. 

Her experience in the rural, and agriculturally focused Kewaunee County provided her the opportunity to work in all facets of health and human services, which she said is why she thinks Door County chose her as a candidate.

In her new role, which she will begin November 2, Annoye plans to start building a team within her own department, and taking a look at department finances.

Annoye replaces Joe Krebsbach, who’s held the position since 2012 after working as the Community Programs director, and leading the county through multiple department mergers.

About 90 minutes separated two motorcycle crashes on County Highway U in the town of Clay Banks on Saturday.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., a 47-year-old Oshkosh man was traveling north near Sand Lane when he went off the roadway while attempting to negotiate a curve. He told a responding deputy he was unable to maintain control of his motorcycle as he entered the curve. He was taken to Door County Medical Center for treatment of a serious injury.

In the second crash, a 31-year-old Menasha man was also traveling north on County Highway U, this time about a half-mile from County Highway J. Similar to the first crash, the man told a responding deputy he approached a curve, braked too late, and entered the ditch. He was also taken to Door County Medical Center for suspected minor injuries.

Both men were wearing helmets and other protective clothing. Neither was cited in connection with the crashes.

A two-vehicle crash in the town of Egg Harbor closed a portion of State Highway 42 near a popular business Thursday morning.

The crash occurred shortly after 9:45 a.m. near one of the driveways to Wood Orchard Market along Highway 42 near Charmant Way. According to the crash report, a 73-year-old Peoria, Illinois, man was attempting to leave the Wood Orchard Market parking lot when his vehicle was struck by a northbound vehicle on Highway 42.

The collision caused the Peoria man's vehicle to roll over, while the other vehicle, driven by a 52-year-old Sturgeon Bay woman, veered into the southbound lane. The Peoria man told a responding deputy he did not believe the oncoming vehicle was as close as it was, while the Sturgeon Bay woman said she attempted to brake but could not avoid the collision.

While the woman was traveling alone, the man had three passengers, including a 74-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman from Jasper, Georgia, and a 72-year-old woman from Peoria, Illinois. All five people involved in the crash were transported to hospitals in Sturgeon Bay and Green Bay.

The Peoria man was cited for failure to yield the right of way. The crash closed Highway 42 in both directions for more than an hour before the roadway reopened shortly after 11 a.m.

Dry grasses and windy conditions helped spread a small fire in the Town of Gardner on Saturday, after a property owner’s lighting off of some old flares got out of his control.

Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wautier said the damage was minimal, and contained to about a 100 by 300 foot area.

In other fire calls over the weekend, the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department responded to a call at the Bayside Cemetery Friday evening. A pile of leaves was still smoldering from an earlier burning.

The Egg Harbor Fire Department responded to the HTR Door County Campground and RV Resort, for what Fire Chief Justin MacDonald referred to as a “tree branch on a wire” that sparked. No fire suppression was necessary.

As fall settles in, leaves drop and the winds change, Wautier warned anyone burning outdoors  -  even in contained fire pits - to be diligent.

Health care officials want to help you decide where to go when you are not feeling well.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, excessive use of emergency departments is the fourth-largest source of financial waste annually at $38 billion, in addition to contributing to long waits, doctor burnout, and other concerns.

It is not always the patient’s fault, either. Emergency departments can offer peace of mind about a medical concern without having to wait for an office to open, even if the visit comes at an additional cost.

Dr. Eric Adar is the Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Door County Medical Center, and he recommends talking to someone at the hospital first because they could direct you in a direction that can better assist you and get you seen faster.

Adar says DirectCare should be reserved for common complaints like congestion, earaches, and other issues that may not require an X-Ray or a blood test. You can listen to Adar's explanation of the types of issues each facility can address below.

HOW TO KNOW WHERE TO GO

With the popular Cherry Drop event heading to Sturgeon Bay for New Year's Eve, Sister Bay is relying on one of its icons to welcome 2027.

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant and Butik will host its inaugural New Year's Eve Goat Drop on Dec. 31. Instead of the ball in New York City or the cherry of previous celebrations, an illuminated goat will grace the sky above the Stabbur Beer Garden before dropping to ring in the new year.

“We love traditions in Door County, but every tradition has to start somewhere,” Al Johnson's co-owner Rolf Johnson said. “We hope years from now people will be saying they remember coming to Sister Bay for the very first Goat Drop.”

The announcement comes ahead of the village's Sister Bay Fall Fest, scheduled for Oct. 16-18, and Capture the Spirit, scheduled for Nov. 27-28.

After receiving feedback from more than 1,100 Door County community members, the future of how you travel through the area is beginning to come into focus.

Door County Trails began visiting the county’s 19 municipalities late last month to share its vision for creating a countywide network of safe, multiuse pedestrian and bicycle trails.

“This planning effort is creating a tool for Door County municipalities to use as they consider future trail development,” said Door County Trails Executive Director Julie Schmelzer. “By highlighting areas where trail connections are desired, the plan provides municipalities with a starting point for evaluating potential trail corridors and conducting detailed trail planning.”

The organization worked with KL Engineering, Stantec and Chastain & Associates to develop the strategic plan, with the presentations providing municipalities with ideas on how to proceed.

“We’re providing a roadmap for municipalities to work together,” Schmelzer said. “We can provide grant assistance and coordinate with municipalities throughout the design and implementation phases to ensure connectivity and continuity across the countywide network.”

For example, Door County Trails helped the town of Gibraltar secure $4.7 million in grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to connect Fish Creek and Ephraim via a multiuse pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The group presented its plan to the Sturgeon Bay Common Council last week, with additional meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.

For "Farmer Dave" and Tonya Edwards, it's the goodbyes that hurt the most. Late this summer, the founders of Wilson's Wish announced they would be saying goodbye to their Luxemburg farm to move closer to family. The farm provided refuge for animals others felt they could no longer care for, including Lily Beans, a goat that uses a wheelchair, and Lyle, a three-legged cow.

Many of the Wilson's Wish animals were introduced to groups on the farm and at other locations throughout the community to demonstrate the power of inclusion among animals.

In recent weeks, the Edwardses have helped find new homes for the animals and sold their farm ahead of their move to the Wautoma area. Tonya Edwards says it was the generosity of the community that kept them going after they took on the challenge in 2019.

Edwards hopes this isn't goodbye for good. While they will no longer care for animals daily, she hopes "The Wish" will transform into a nonprofit organization that helps provide safe passage for animals seeking a second chance in a new home.

As crisp autumn mornings arrive in Door County, many residents will begin to notice a familiar seasonal sight: delicate ice crystals sparkling across lawns, leaves, and windshields. While beautiful, frost is also a fascinating example of science at work.

Frost forms when surfaces near the ground become cold enough for moisture to freeze into tiny ice crystals. On clear, calm nights, heat escapes more easily from the ground, allowing grass, soil, leaves, and other surfaces to cool rapidly. With little wind to mix the air, colder air settles near the ground while warmer air remains above, creating ideal conditions for frost formation.

This is why frost can sometimes appear even when the temperature reported by a thermometer is slightly above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature at the surface where frost forms can be colder than the air a few feet above the ground.

Not every location experiences frost in the same way. Low-lying areas often cool more quickly because cold air settles there, while higher or sheltered locations may remain frost-free. These differences create a patchwork of frosty and frost-free areas throughout the landscape.

Contrary to popular belief, frost does not always mean that plants have been damaged. Frost is simply ice forming on surfaces. Plant damage occurs when freezing temperatures cause ice to form within or around plant tissues, potentially harming cells. As autumn progresses, many plants prepare for winter through dormancy or other adaptations that help them survive freezing temperatures.

The changing season makes October an ideal time to explore the outdoors and observe these natural phenomena firsthand. Crossroads at Big Creek offers several opportunities for community members to connect with nature throughout the month.

October also marks Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long countywide celebration of A.A. Milne's beloved bear presented by Friends of Door County Libraries. As a community partner, Crossroads is bringing a touch of Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve with self-guided activities and indoor and outdoor seasonal discoveries inspired by Pooh and friends.

Visitors are also invited to participate in Wandering Wednesday hikes at 1:30 p.m., where naturalists lead easy walks through the preserve, highlighting seasonal changes and the wonders of the natural world, including the weather patterns and ecological shifts that shape autumn.

Families can celebrate the season during Trails & Treats on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Guests can trick-or-treat along luminary-lit paths glowing with community-carved jack-o'-lanterns in this free, family-friendly event.

For those inspired by nature's ability to transform ordinary materials into something extraordinary, Let's Get Crafty!: Mosaics on Monday, October 19, at 1:30 p.m. offers participants the opportunity to create unique works of art using discarded glass materials.

Crossroads at Big Creek encourages everyone to take a closer look at the natural world this fall. Those tiny ice crystals are more than just a sign of changing seasons. They're a reminder of the intricate relationships between temperature, water, plants, and the atmosphere that shape our environment every day.

Over the years, I have been asked to speak on the topic of leadership numerous times, and as usual, I try to look to nature for examples. It is fitting that at this time of year, we see the perfect example of not just leadership but the equally important role that followership plays in every functioning organization, team and government.

For this example, we need not look any further than the skies above us, as the geese are embarking upon what is undoubtedly going to be a grueling and exhausting journey. This is a journey they make without contemplating their own individual needs any more than those of the group. It is, in fact, instinctual in nature, rooted in their purpose as they have known it their whole lives. So, they take to the skies with no guarantee of success or expectation of comfort.

Just as with any species, leadership roles are established. This is a simple, universal fact: Any time more than two are in a similar space, someone will lead and others will follow. The role of the leader is to know that their place in leadership, no matter how short or how long, is dependent on their ability to influence those around them for the greater good. What gets missed many times is the important role of the followers, as they hold the key to mutual success through their actions as much as, if not more than, those of the leader. And the journey begins.

Most understand the aerodynamics behind the formation in which geese fly. The leader is at the point, taking on the brunt of the headwinds, while those in succession fly tightly behind, benefiting from the airflow. Many are also aware that the leader does not maintain that position for the entire flight, as it would be physically impossible to do so for any great distance. They, in fact, take turns bearing the brunt of those headwinds throughout the journey, allowing for a rest cycle.

But here's the part that many miss, and that is the seemingly random noise that goes on throughout the flight, regardless of which bird is leading. The honking we hear has its own purpose. It is the call of encouragement from the followers to the leader. They are calling out, "We believe in you!" "You've got this!" "We won't let you fail!" Each time a new leader ascends to that lead role, those honks of encouragement remain. Maybe there are geese who are more popular or geese who are better suited for the leadership role, but in their world, none of that matters, just mutual success. I can't imagine a formation where the leader is doing their best to sustain their energy through the winds and storms as those following shout out negative honks like, "You suck!" "You don't know where you're going!" "We are never going to get there!"

I don't know a great deal, but I know this: Leadership is not easy, nor was it ever meant to be. Those who seek such roles should not do so under any illusion that it is anything short of a continual challenge. But as with any challenge, it brings with it a great deal of fulfillment, and anyone who has been given such an amazing opportunity will usually have no regrets. For the rest of us, let's be mindful of the impact we have on those who are in roles of leadership. Rather than trying to tear them down, let's work to build them up. Even if they are not the most popular bird or even fly in directions that you may not agree with, remember that you never know when you yourself may find yourself in that place of leadership, taking on those headwinds.

A stop at Wisconsin Cheese Masters in Egg Harbor on select Saturdays this month could net you more than just a better cheddar. United Way of Door County has provided celebrity cheesemongers at the storefront for the past several years. Not only do visitors get a chance to sample some of the best cheeses from around the state, but they also get to learn about the work of United Way of Door County, much of which may otherwise go unnoticed.

United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says it is a great opportunity to educate people about the organization's programs, especially the many cheese aficionados visiting from outside the area.

Stewart and Theresa Fett, Tara DuBois and Ann Smejkal will work behind the counter this Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at Wisconsin Cheese Masters. Celebrity cheesemongers will also work the counter Oct. 17.

In August, United Way of Door County announced its annual campaign goal of $1.25 million, which helps support nearly two dozen programs and partners, including United Way of Door County's Child Care Initiative, Healthy Door County, STRIDE — School-Based Mental Health Services, the Door County Alcohol and Other Drug Coalition, and the Door County Partnership for Children and Families.

A little more carbon's being cleaned out of the air, after 72 trees and bushes were planted in eastern Egg Harbor on Thursday, by the crew members of the Door County Parks department and volunteers of the Climate Change Coalition of Door County.

Black cherries, white and yellow birch, aspen, sugar maples, and serviceberries in a 5 gallon size were planted, fenced, and will be watered by County Parks crew members. The area is referred to as the Horseshoe Bay Pasture, and is part of Murphy Park.

Funding for this tree planting came from a County Conservation Aid grant, money the county can apply to receive from the State, for use on fish and wildlife habitat projects.

Parks employees used augers to dig the holes prior to the volunteer work day on Oct. 8, due to the compaction of the pasture as a parking lot for community events, and Door County's notorious rocks. 

The trees were planted to the west of a nature trail that follows the base of the bluff from County G north to Horseshoe Bay Farm.

The schooner Utopia is preparing to celebrate the holidays as it concludes its first year docked in Sturgeon Bay.

This summer, the Utopia was officially gifted to the Patriot Racing Project, a veteran peer-support charity that brings veterans together through sailing and hands-on craftsmanship. Through its partnership with the Door County Maritime Museum and the efforts of Patriot Racing Project Executive Director Jack Gage, the Utopia has been open for tours, sailing excursions for veterans, and learning opportunities for Sea Scout Ship 1261 in Sturgeon Bay.

Its mission for the remainder of the year is more festive in nature. Halloween revelers will be able to trick-or-treat and tour the vessel Oct. 31 before it transforms into a Christmas tree ship that will sail back and forth between northern Michigan and Sturgeon Bay with Christmas trees in tow.

Gage says it will be the first time a Christmas tree ship has made the trip to and from Sturgeon Bay in more than a century.

Gage says the Christmas trees arriving Nov. 14 will be sold to benefit the Patriot Racing Project.

If you are looking for a sweet ride, the Luxemburg Area Chamber of Commerce and the Luxemburg Police Department are asking you to avoid two "businesses."

In an email sent to chamber members Thursday, officials identified Cruxel Automotive, supposedly located next to Augie's, and Chambers Automotive, supposedly located in a Spartan Construction warehouse, as fraudulent businesses. The discovery came after a person emailed the chamber asking about a local car business he had seen online that seemed a little too good to be true.

While the websites looked legitimate, appeared to be local, and offered attractive vehicles, there were signs that the businesses were nothing but a mirage. According to chamber officials, the addresses belonged to different businesses, while the reviews and deals being offered were also suspicious.

The Luxemburg Area Chamber of Commerce is asking customers and businesses alike to look out for each other by using caution when clicking links and ads online, reporting potential fraud to police, and never purchasing gift cards to pay off debts.

The news comes days after the Luxemburg Police Department hosted a presentation on fraud. Billions of dollars are lost to scammers every year, including $1.1 million taken from unsuspecting Luxemburg residents since January 2025.

Before hibernation sets in, Winnie-the-Pooh is spending time at Write On Door County, in Fish Creek (Juddville, actually, Pooh). 

This Saturday morning, the writing center is hosting a workshop on creating memorable characters. Few children’s characters celebrate their 100th birthdays! Space is limited, please pre-register. 

Write On is celebrating the centennial anniversary of the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh in partnership with the Friends of the Door County Library. At Write On, you can find kits to help you write a letter to Pooh. At the end of the month, letters will be collected and mailed from Door County to the official collection box in Hartfield, England, where letters to Pooh have been sent for decades. 

During open hours, you and your friends can explore the nature trails with writing activities inspired by Pooh. Write On helped create a Pooh-etry trail at Newport State Park that is open for hiking.

If you love Winnie-the-Pooh, Door County is turning October into a celebration of the beloved bear, his friends and the timeless stories of A.A. Milne. Winnie-Pooh-Looza marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Milne’s classic “Winnie-the-Pooh,” first published in 1926. The countywide celebration, organized by the Friends of Door County Libraries, features activities throughout October, including Hundred Acre Wood walks, story and poetry trails, creative workshops, nature activities and special programs at Door County’s eight libraries.

Upcoming Winnie-the-Pooh-looza events at Write On, Door County: 

October 11: Letters to Winnie-the Pooh family workshop, 11am-12pm

October 12: Memories of Pooh: A Special Memoir Monday Edition. 10-11 am

October 23: Music of the Hundred Acre Wood featuring the Griffon String Quartet & Kevin O'Donnell. 4 pm

Photo 1: Lila Canard holds her letter to Pooh

Photo 2: Write On, Door County Executive director Amy Hennings shows the Hike and Write guidebooks in a box outside the Write On center. 

Businesses involved with Door County’s family-friendliest of the big fall festivals have already rolled out the pumpkins, and they’re ready for revelers to arrive.

This year’s Pumpkin Patch in Egg Harbor begins festivities at 9 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday. The family focus is even more tuned in this year, says Kevin Wehrenberg, President of the Egg Harbor Business Association (EHBA), which organizes and hosts Pumpkin Patch. That means more rides by the Kress Center (corner of Orchard and Church Streets).

Fresh food offerings coming from a food truck court near Shipwrecked (corner of Cty G and Hwy 42) will open up space in Harbor View Park for festival goers, Wehrenberg explained. 

Live music, carnival rides, a large arts and crafts vendor fair, face painting, pumpkin and scarecrow displays throughout the village, a roaming magician, kids games and activities, bucket and 50-50 raffles, are the entertainment offered this weekend. 

The festival is fun for all ages, Wehrenberg said, which means its serving its purpose of bringing people to the Village, to Door County, and into businesses. The money earned at Pumpkin Patch helps EHBA help the communityl

For more information about Pumpkin Patch, visit the Egg Harbor Business Association website.

While the corn harvest has moved along quickly, it is taking a little longer to get soybeans out of the fields across the state.

According to the USDA Crop Progress and Condition Report, farmers had 4.3 days suitable for fieldwork last week, the lowest number since early July. Despite the wet weather, the corn silage harvest remains 10 percentage points ahead of the five-year average at 87% complete. Approximately 72% of the corn crop is considered mature, 2 percentage points ahead of the average.

Soybean leaf drop is also slightly ahead of average at 88%, but only 11% of the crop has been harvested, 16 percentage points behind the average.

Adam Barta of Rio Creek Feed Mill says soybeans are starting to arrive at the company's facilities, adding that quality will depend on field locations and soil types.

Barta says with the corn silage harvest wrapping up so quickly this year, he expects much greener fields this fall and winter as cover crops take hold.

Winter wheat planting is also behind schedule, with 48% of the crop planted, about 10 percentage points behind the average.

The upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Kewaunee on Oct. 17 is a lot more than just a National Honor Society project for Kewaunee seniors Blake Bortolini and Blake Temme.

Both Bortolini and Temme have lost grandparents to the progressive brain disorder, which slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and accounts for the majority of dementia cases. Bortolini, who lost his grandfather, Glenn Teske, to Alzheimer’s earlier this year, ran the idea past his friend and football teammate to see if he would help with the endeavor.

They say it is a great way to honor their grandparents’ legacies while raising awareness in the community.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 110,000 people are living with the disease in Wisconsin, including more than 500 in Kewaunee County.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Kewaunee begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Kewaunee High School track. You can register for the event or make a donation here.

Florida-born and Nashville-raised country artist Payton Sullivan is looking forward to the Midwest hospitality — and the cheese — when her tour stops at the Resch Center in Green Bay on Friday night.

Sullivan is making her Wisconsin debut while opening for Sugarland on a tour of more than 20 arenas across the United States. It comes within a week of signing her first publishing contract and releasing her new single, “F150,” as she works on her debut album with Sugarland’s Kristian Bush as a producer.

As a woman who found her voice singing Sugarland songs at karaoke before appearing on “The Voice,” it is all starting to feel real to Sullivan.

Wisconsin feels like a state she should have visited before, but Sullivan is looking forward to exploring cities like Green Bay when she performs.

Limited tickets are still available for Friday’s show at 7 p.m. Sugarland is making its fourth stop in Green Bay, but its first since 2018.

Listen to our full interview here

Runway and taxilane improvements at the Door County Cherryland Airport in Sturgeon Bay are complete, and pilots are already taking advantage of the fresh surfaces.

Pointing out the new construction, and talking about some of the challenges encountered during the project, Cherryland Airport Manager Craig Ross said he’s seen planes taking off the last few days that he hasn’t seen out of their hangers in a long time. He’s also happy about the runway for the life extension it will provide on the airports supporting equipment.

During taxiway construction, significant rain created a need to re-do the base with the addition of geotextile fabric for additional support. Runway construction required more fill than construction quotes planned and priced for, leading to increased project costs. 

At the July meeting of the Door County Board of Supervisors, supervisors approved the transfer of almost $150,000 from the county’s reserve fund to cover the cost overruns, and get the construction crews re-mobilized to Sturgeon Bay to finish the work. Initial cost estimates projected the construction to total $5.8 million, funded primarily by state and federal dollars. For completion, the project required an additional $485,965.42. 

The project included runway and taxiway reconstruction, in addition to electrical equipment upgrades, and tree trimming and removal. 

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, tree removal has been taking place on both sides of Potawatomi State Park’s entrance road, in the vicinity of the park’s maintenance or service area. “Trees needed to be removed to maintain a safe path of travel for aircraft utilizing the neighboring airport’s runways. Any trees or near obstructions or encroachments that impacted the airport’s required clearing areas and aviation easements (agreements that allow the airport to use the airspace above the property) required removal.” 

Per a request by the Door County Supervisors, a Department of Transportation investigation into the project’s management is underway. No updates have been provided to the County, as of October 5, according to County Administrator Ken Pabich. 

One of the biggest fire hazards in your home could be connected to your wall right now.

Firefighters across the country are commemorating Fire Prevention Week by highlighting the dangers of overcharging batteries and electronic devices and encouraging people to make safe charging a superpower. Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for an increasing number of destructive house fires across the country. Fires involving the batteries are especially dangerous because of their scorching temperatures, toxic smoke and risk of reignition.

In August, an overcharged lithium-ion battery was blamed for a $60,000 apartment fire in Kaukauna. Southern Door Fire Department Chief Rich Olson has also seen the damage caused by lithium-ion battery fires after responding to one that destroyed a building in his jurisdiction.

He says there are some simple steps you can take to prevent fires when charging batteries and devices, such as charging them on a hard surface, disconnecting the charger when you are done and avoiding aftermarket chargers.

To celebrate Fire Prevention Week, the Southern Door Fire Department will host an open house at its Forestville station from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature a firehouse bounce house, exit truck maze, fire truck tours and more.

Two of the Door peninsula’s living and breathing agricultural products - cows and fish - were the focus of the Southern Door Fall Farms and Fisheries tour on Tuesday.

This is the second trial run of agricultural, cultural and historical tours the Southern Door Business Association is planning to host in 2027. This tour stopped at Brey Cycle Farms near Forestville, Doorco Holsteins in Brussels, and Lindal Fisheries near Little Sturgeon Bay.

Karyn Stroschein, community engagement coordinator for the Southern Door Business Association, and owner of Sand Bay Beach Resort near Little Sturgeon Bay, is the organizer of these tours and talked about why the SDBA is hosting them.

The success and media interest of the first two tours has encouraged Stroschein and the SDBA to pursue offering the tours during the summer and fall. The plan is to use Door County trolleys for transportation during the tours.

For more information on Southern Door County and future tours, go to the SDBA’s website, SouthernDoorCounty.com.

With every passing day, more leaves are changing colors and activities are getting closer at the Door County YMCA.

During this week’s Y-Wednesday Podcast, Competitive Swim Team Coach Mike McHugh highlighted the swim team’s fall prep program as the upcoming season approaches.

A parent meeting is scheduled for Oct. 14, when families can learn about the Door County YMCA Swim Team program and the opportunities available through it. Families can begin signing up for the swim team and other Door County YMCA programs Oct. 19 for members and Oct. 21 for the general public.

McHugh also highlighted the upcoming Healthy Living Fair on Oct. 20 and the YMCA’s Trunk or Treat event Oct. 30.

You can listen to the full Y-Wednesday Podcast with McHugh here.

If you want to take care of your voter registration from the comfort of your own home before heading to the polls, a significant deadline is approaching.

You have until Oct. 14 to register by mail or online. If you register online, you must be able to match your name, date of birth, Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID number, and address with Wisconsin DMV records.

If you register to vote by mail, your registration form, along with proof of residence, must be postmarked to your municipal clerk no later than Oct. 14.

If you miss the deadline to register online or by mail, you are not out of luck. You can register in person at your local municipal clerk’s office through the final day of in-person absentee voting Oct. 30 or register at your polling place on Election Day.

With every election come the usual reminders for voters, especially those casting a ballot for the first time. You will need an acceptable photo ID to receive your ballot, and you can visit your local DMV to get a free ID card if you do not already have one.

While mail-in absentee voting is underway, you can cast your in-person absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 general election beginning Oct. 20.

You can see all the deadlines for voter registration and absentee voting here.

Agencies like the Luxemburg Police Department want you to take extra precautions when it comes to protecting your financial assets. Billions of dollars are lost to scammers every year, with investment scams, targeted emails, and tech support scams among the most frequent ways people lose their money.

In Wisconsin, government impersonation, utility scams and toll road text scams are among the most common. Even rural communities like Luxemburg can be affected by online scams, with $1.1 million extorted from unsuspecting residents since January 2025.

Luxemburg Police Department Officer Courtney Dorner hosted a fraud awareness seminar Monday, highlighting the importance of stopping, hanging up, verifying and reporting suspicious activity to prevent you or someone else from being scammed.

In addition to calling your local police department, you are encouraged to contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center if you believe you are being scammed.

You can watch the full presentation below:

As Door County’s only non-profit yoga and wellness center organization, a second year of successful operation is reason to celebrate for The Yoga Womb. 

For the week of October 4-11, the studio at 58 W. Maple Street, Sturgeon Bay, is offering all classes for free. Not only is this a way for people to try a class they’ve been eyeing or tentative to try, said Yoga Womb Executive Director Brooke Ulrich, it’s also a way to experience the community that The Yoga Womb works to cultivate.

Mat pilates instructor Amber Novotny said the community space is what drew her to teach at The Yoga Womb.

To fulfill the non-profit mission of The Yoga Womb year round, the studio offers weekly free classes such as meditation, trauma informed yoga, and a sobriety circle. Through annual donations, a scholarship fund is maintained, awarding 12 scholarships to people who qualify and commit to attending classes.

Ashley Adams, a yoga instructor specializing in trauma informed yoga, said she thrives in the spirit of community at The Yoga Womb.

To help support the scholarship fund and year round weekly free class offerings, The Yoga Womb is also hosting a silent auction this week, with online bidding available. The week’s celebrations will culminate in a Capstone Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 12-2pm, with free treats, henna, entertainment by the ‘Hype Dancers’, and winners of the silent auctions. Anyone wanting to take a free class this week must register on The Yoga Womb’s website.

No matter how you are entering the job market or where you are coming from, finding a new career could be a tricky proposition if you are not prepared. According to HIGH5 Test, an online psychometric assessment, more than half of job seekers have attended a job fair in the past 12 months, with more people attending them and more employers using them to find future employees. They also tend to work better for job seekers finding that new career with 45 percent of attendees securing at least one interview and 24 percent receiving a job offer. Kim Carley from We Are HOPE, Inc. in Sturgeon Bay says a little confidence goes a long way to becoming successful in finding a job at a job fair.

We Are Hope, Inc. is hosting its job and resource fair on October 13th at the We Are HOPE, Inc. EmployAbility Hub at the Cherry Point Mall in Sturgeon Bay  from 2 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. There is still space for employers looking to add people to have a table to promote job opportunities.

Residents will find it easier to apply for jobs, attend online classes, receive health care and overcome other digital barriers thanks to a new program.

United Way of Door County and the Door County Economic Development Corporation have partnered to provide no-cost, long-term loaner laptops and digital navigation assistance to eligible Wisconsin residents. The partnership was made possible through Techquity WI, a statewide initiative powered by United Way of Wisconsin.

Eligible residents must belong to a household with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level or be part of an ALICE household — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — that lacks internet service or is considered under-connected.

United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle says the program can make a real difference in the lives of people in the community.

DCEDC Executive Director Michelle Lawrie echoed those sentiments, saying access to technology is a key driver of economic opportunity.

“Expanding access to technology helps remove barriers to workforce participation and ensures more residents can contribute to and benefit from Door County’s economy,” Lawrie said.

To determine if you are eligible, contact United Way of Door County.

The visually striking vessel, BBC Phillippines, arrived at the mouth of Sturgeon Bay Monday afternoon, and then anchored for a while before docking at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS).

The 482 foot heavy lift vessel traveled from Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada to deliver a load of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) tanks to FBS for use on future projects.

There are seven ships in the BBC 12K-500B series fleet, each capable of carrying 12,400 megatons (mt) of cargo, with two deck cranes capable of moving 250 mt. The BBC Philippines was built in 2023.

DoorCountyDailyNews caught video of the BBC Philippines coming into Sturgeon Bay and docking between the Stone Quarry and Idlewild peninsula.

Tail slaps, sprays and jumping salmon greet visitors who stop by the Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility right now, as hatchery staff hold the annual salmon spawning to assist the sport fishery.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Biologist Logan Sikora talks about what biologists are doing these first few weeks of October at the Spawning Facility just outside of Sturgeon Bay.

The salmon’s natural inclination is to return to the stream they were born to spawn, Sikora said. Part of that natural process is death, after 1-3 years swimming in the depths of Lake Michigan.  

The Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility is open Mondays and Thursdays the first three weeks of October. Sikora said if the gates are open, visitors should park, and ask questions of the fishery staff. Heads up, the operation can be a little messy and wet, and is on uneven ground.

A 24-year-old Fish Creek man received five citations and was taken to the hospital following a motorcycle crash in Ephraim on Thursday.

The crash occurred at about 8:20 p.m. on State Highway 42 near Crystal Springs Road. According to the accident report, the man was approaching a left-hand curve on Highway 42 when he lost control of his motorcycle, entered a ditch, and struck a fence post.

The man suffered minor injuries and was taken to Door County Medical Center for treatment while his motorcycle was towed from the scene. He later admitted to drinking and was arrested for operating while intoxicated.

In addition to the OWI citation, the man received citations for operating a vehicle without a valid license, operating a motorcycle without a valid license, failure to keep a vehicle under control, and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration.

The crash closed one lane of Highway 42 for nearly an hour before it reopened shortly before 9:15 p.m.

A 16-year-old Sturgeon Bay teen was taken to a Green Bay hospital last week following a single-vehicle rollover crash in the Town of Nasewaupee.

The Door County Sheriff’s Department was notified of the crash shortly after 7:45 p.m. and responded to Idlewild Road near Feest Road roughly 15 minutes later. When deputies arrived, they learned the teen had been ejected through a side window after his vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch and rolled over.

The teen was sitting in a friend’s vehicle when the deputy arrived and had lacerations to his face and the back of his head.

The responding deputy found deep tire marks in the gravel indicating the teen had lost control of the vehicle and was unable to correct it as the vehicle began to spin before the crash. One of the tires broke off at the hub assembly and separated from the vehicle as it rolled in the ditch before coming to rest.

The teen told the deputy he had been driving the speed limit when he swerved to avoid an oncoming deer.

He was cited for failure to notify police of a crash, failure to keep a vehicle under control, driving too fast for conditions, operating left of center, operating a motor vehicle without an adequate muffler, driving on tires with less than 2/32-inch tread, not wearing a seat belt, equipping a non-police vehicle with blue lights, and traveling at an unreasonable and imprudent speed.

Idlewild Road reopened at approximately 8:30 p.m. after the vehicle was towed and the scene was cleared.

The learning continues at the Door County Maritime Museum as the leaves turn. October 1 marked the first of seven monthly presentations in the Maritime Speaker Series and a precursor to Lighthouse Passport Days, which conclude Oct. 4.

Anecdotes about Sturgeon Bay’s role in the country’s military conflicts, important people in the city’s maritime history and landmarks like Plum Island and the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal highlight the Museum’s fall and winter programming. Education Programs Manager Andrea Stromeyer said it is important to continue reaching out to the community throughout the year and sharing the maritime history that defines the area.

In addition to the fall and winter programming at the Museum’s Sturgeon Bay campus, you can visit Cana Island Lighthouse in Baileys Harbor, the Death’s Door Maritime Museum in Gills Rock and the Tug John Purves in Sturgeon Bay all remain open through the end of October.

You can find the full Maritime Speaker Series schedule below.

• November 5: Great Lakes Influence on the Cold War. Presenter: Kevin Osgood, President/CEO, Door County Maritime Museum
• December 3: The Extraordinary Life & Times of Georgia Green Stebbins. Presenters: Barb & Ken Wardius
• January 7: Hjalmar Holand. Presenters: Brennan Christianson, DCMM Collections Coordinator and Joe Taylor, Door County Museum & Archives
• February 4: This One’s No BS! Totally True-ish Stories from the Sea Services. Presenters: Captain Jack Gage, Founder of Patriot Racing Project (USMC) and Kevin Osgood (USN, USCGAux)
• March 4: Plum Island’s Restoration Initiative. Presenter: Mary Beth Volmer, Friends of Plum and Pilot Islands
• April 1: How Joseph Harris Built the Canal. Presenter: Kathryn Spoerl, Joseph Harris Sr.’s descendant.

The cast and crew of “The Call List” have just a week’s worth of calls left to make, and they hope you answerat Third Avenue Playworks in Sturgeon Bay. After opening at the end of September, “The Call List” is set to close with a matinee Sunday.

“The Call List” is part of the World Premiere Wisconsin Festival and got its start at the Door Kinetic Arts Festival before being completely rewritten and brought to the TAP stage.

Written by Brian James Polak and starring Eva Nimmer, “The Call List” tells the story of a young woman who is handed a list of names to call to notify them of a law firm client’s death, only to discover a mystery unfolding in front of her. Artistic Director Jacob Janssen said the play was inspired by a podcast and embraces the challenge of writing something that features only one half of a conversation.

After “The Call List” closes Sunday, Third Avenue PlayWorks will begin preparing for the holidays with “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Door County,” beginning Dec. 2.

You can listen to our full conversation with Janssen here.

The adage, "Everyone born and raised in Door County is related to someone," is especially relevant to the history of Zion Methodist Church in Fish Creek. Genealogy of those family trees will be part of a Gibraltar Talks presentation on Tuesday, October 6, 6:00pm, hosted at Zion Church, 8781 County F, Fish Creek.

During the talk, which the Gibraltar Historical Association is calling “History of the Zion Methodist Church and Cemetery”, dedicated parish members will share their research about the founding families, with such surnames as Reinhard, Franke, Gauger, and Sohn.

The first segment of the program will cover the 145-year-old cemetery, its origins, and the development of neighboring families over time. Like many cemeteries, it began as the Reinhard family cemetery, belonged to the Town of Gibraltar for more than 35 years, and then returned to church ownership. 

The second portion of the program will be held in the Parish Hall and focus on the church’s origins and the many families involved in its history. This simple, historically significant church has served as a gathering place for generations of neighbors. Attendees are encouraged to engage with the area's rich history, learn about the local community, and explore potential personal connections.

For more info, visit the Gibraltar Historical Association website events page. 

As autumn settles across Door County, the days grow shorter, the nights get cooler, and a different cast of wildlife begins to emerge. For those who take the time to slow down and listen, fall offers an opportunity to experience one of the preserve's most fascinating residents: the Great Horned Owl.

On crisp autumn evenings, you may hear the deep, resonant hoots of these remarkable birds echoing through the darkness. Primarily nocturnal, Great Horned Owls spend much of the night hunting and patrolling their territories.

According to Interpretive Naturalist Jess Poppie, Great Horned Owls are among nature's most adaptable predators.

"One of the things I love most about Great Horned Owls is their ability to thrive in so many different environments," said Poppie. "They can be found in forests, wetlands, grasslands, and even suburban neighborhoods. They're incredibly resilient birds and perfectly suited for life in Wisconsin throughout the changing seasons."
Chilly autumn temperatures pose little challenge for these owls. Their dense feathers provide exceptional insulation, while their powerful talons allow them to capture a wide variety of prey. They are also known for their nearly silent flight, made possible by specialized feathers that reduce noise and help them move stealthily through the night
Sometimes called the "Tiger Owl" because of its reputation as a fierce hunter, the Great Horned Owl plays an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Though often heard more than seen, its distinctive call adds a sense of mystery and wonder to an evening walk.

The next time you're outside after sunset, pause and listen. You may not spot a Great Horned Owl, but if you hear that unmistakable hoot drifting through the darkness, chances are one is nearby.

Fall is also a season of imagination, exploration, and community adventure. Throughout October, Crossroads is proud to serve as a community partner in Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long celebration presented by the Friends of Door County Libraries in honor of A.A. Milne's beloved bear. The preserve will host special activities and opportunities to enjoy a little Hundred Acre Wood magic while exploring nature. Stop in the Collins Learning Center during open hours for "Tinkers, " self-led hands-on activities for all ages featuring bears and bees.

Those interested in experiencing the changing season firsthand are invited to join Wandering Wednesday on October 14 at 1:30 p.m. This free, naturalist-led hike offers an easy walk through the preserve while highlighting seasonal changes.
Families won't want to miss Trails & Treats on Friday, October 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Participants can trick-or-treat along luminary-lit trails glowing with community-carved jack-o'-lanterns, creating a magical autumn experience for all ages.
Creativity takes center stage on Monday, October 19, at 1:30 p.m. during Let's Get Crafty: Mosaics, where participants will turn discarded glass into unique works of eco-friendly art. Registration is requested for this free program.

On Tuesday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m., the Door County Beekeepers Club will present Keeping Track of Your Honeybees, exploring how hive records and field notes can strengthen beekeeping practices and provide valuable insights throughout the season. Registration is not required.

Whether you've walked the Crossroads trails for years or are discovering them for the first time, autumn offers countless opportunities to connect with nature. All programs are held at the Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, unless otherwise noted. Thanks to the generosity of our community, Crossroads is able to offer free programming for all ages. If you cannot attend a program, remember that the trails are open all day, every day, free of charge. As autumn deepens and the sounds of the night become more noticeable, the season offers endless opportunities to experience the wildlife, wonder, and sense of discovery that make Crossroads such a special place to explore.

Upcoming Programs

Month of October
Winnie-Pooh-Looza
Join us for Winnie-Pooh-Looza, a month-long celebration honoring A.A. Milne’s beloved bear! As a community partner in this countywide event brought to you by Friends of Door County Libraries, Crossroads at Big Creek is bringing a little Hundred Acre Wood magic to the preserve throughout October. Please visit crossroadsatbigcreek.org/event/winnie-pooh-looza/ to learn more. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI
 
Wednesday, October 14
10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club: Fall Session
Junior Nature Club is a free, six-week outdoor adventure designed for preschool-aged children and their families to discover, explore, and connect with the natural world. Please register. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

1:30 p.m. | Wandering Wednesday
Join a naturalist-led hike through the preserve. Enjoy easy walking and seasonal discoveries during this approximately one-hour outing. Well-behaved dogs are welcome on leash.
Registration is not required. This program is free and open to the public. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI
 
Thursday, October 15
1:00 p.m. | Nature Club: Fall Session
Nature Club is a free, six-week program for children ages 6-8 who love to discover, investigate, and learn about the outdoors. Each week, kids will connect with nature through hands-on activities that encourage movement, friendship, and a lifelong sense of wonder. Class is full; contact us to join the wait list. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI
 
Friday, October 16
5:30-7:00 p.m. | Trails & Treats
Join us for a free fun-filled pumpkin carving event where pumpkins and carving tools are provided—just bring your creativity! Space is limited so please RSVP to reserve your spot by visiting crossroadsatbigcreek.org or by calling 920-746-5895. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Monday, October 19
1:30 p.m. | Let's Get Crafty: Mosaics
Spend your afternoon turning discarded glass materials into one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly art pieces. This hands-on activity is perfect for anyone who loves creative expression and wants to give new life to upcycled materials. This program is free and open to the public. Please register. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tuesday, October 20
10:00 a.m. | Junior Nature Club: Fall Session
Junior Nature Club is a free, six-week outdoor adventure designed for preschool-aged children and their families to discover, explore, and connect with the natural world. Please register. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

5:30 p.m. | Keeping Track of Your Honeybees
What can we learn from keeping field notes when you check your hives, and how does this impact your beekeeping journey? Join the Door County Beekeepers Club to find out how documentation can help in many ways. Free and open to public - registration not required. Meet at: Crossroads at Big Creek Collins Learning Center, 2041 Michigan St, Sturgeon Bay, WI

It will cost you a little more money to mail your Christmas gifts to loved ones this year. Higher rates for the U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, and Parcel Select shipments will take effect Sunday and last through Jan. 17.

According to USPS, the increased rates are needed to offset the additional expenses that come with higher holiday shipping volumes. Last year, USPS accepted nearly 9.9 billion pieces of mail and packages between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve morning, handling more than 88 million packages a day during the season’s peak.

While most of the increases range from 50 cents to $5, depending on the weight of the package and its destination, heavier parcels will see prices increase by $7.50 to $21.

You can see the full breakdown here.

Expect to see more equipment on roadways across the state as farmers tackle a second crop in their fields with harvesters. Approximately 5% of the state’s soybean crop has been harvested, according to the latest Crop Progress and Condition Report from the USDA, including 2% in northeast Wisconsin.

It comes as farmers are making quick progress on their corn silage harvest, which is 75% complete compared with the five-year average of 62%. The maturity of the soybean and corn crops is on par with past years, with both within 1 to 2 percentage points of their five-year averages.

The progress comes as Wisconsin farmers had just over five days suitable for fieldwork, allowing them to not only harvest corn and soybeans but also seed winter wheat and cover crops.

For farmers already thinking about next year’s soybeans, Peninsula Pride Farms is hosting its next Conservation Conversation on Tuesday, where the organization will explore the topic of growing the crop on dry ground. The presentation by agribusinessman Dave LaCrosse begins at 4 p.m. at the corner of Badger Lane and State Highway 29 in Kewaunee.

This week, I chose to resubmit an article from two years ago. It is unfortunate that issues still remain due to a lack of common sense and common courtesy.

As we continue through the transition from summer to fall and the activities surrounding our agricultural community that we are so proud of, I wanted to share some observations. I have written many times about our efforts to coordinate with and provide guidance to our local agricultural community regarding operations on public roads and the obligation to our community and other motorists sharing those same roads.

In some of these areas, we have been successful, while in others, we continue to see room for improvement. We have seen transfer site operations where proper signage and practices mitigate risk, while others fail to take the time and effort to create a safe environment for their workers and others in the surrounding area. We have seen haulers make use of tarping mechanisms to minimize debris leaving their loaded trailers, while others take shortcuts and continue to disregard their obligation to the communities in which they are working.

I bring up these contrasts between responsible and irresponsible operations as a call to action. I am asking those farms, haulers and contractors that have taken the time and spent the resources to do the right thing to call out their counterparts who are failing in their obligation to run legitimate and safe operations.

While we in law enforcement will continue to respond to complaints, attempt to identify those in violation and issue the proper and well-earned citations, we cannot be everywhere. If we ever hope to arrive at a place where we have a truly professional and accountable agricultural community, we will need to work together.

Just as in law enforcement, when one officer’s actions reflect on all other officers, so too do the actions of one hauler or farmer reflect on the entire agricultural community.

Thank you to all those who do the right thing each and every day. Thank you to those operations that have created and nurtured a culture of safety rather than a culture of expedience for the purpose of profit. Thank you to those who are truly doing their best to be good neighbors in our community, which relies so heavily on the success of our agricultural industry.

Whatever your role may be on a given day, ask yourself: “Am I doing the right thing?”

Clean out those closets and mark your calendar for the next Electronics Recycling Day for all Sturgeon Bay Utilities customers, Wednesday, October 7, from 8am-5pm, at SBU, 230 E. Vine Street.

This is a contactless drop off, so you can stay in your car and staff will do all the unloading.

This is a free drop off for such items as: CPU towers, monitors and tvs, phones, speakers DVD players, printers, dehumidifiers, clothes washers and driers, mircowaves, dorm refrigerators, air conditioners, gaming systems and power supplies.

For questions about recycling specific items, call SBU: (920) 746-2820.

An opportunity for kids to experience aviation, and possibly see Sturgeon Bay from the air, is available tomorrow during the Young Eagles Rally at Door County Cherryland Airport. 

The EAA, as in the same one that’s in Oshkosh, is sponsoring this event from 10am-2pm, and inviting young people to the airport.

Cherryland Airport’s resident flight school owner Kevin Perry, ‘Perry Air’, is volunteering his time and fuel to give kids a taste of piloting a real airplane.

The rally will feature more than airplane rides. Civil Air Patrol cadets will be on hand with an informational booth, and attendees can explore a STEM booth and other aviation-related activities designed to introduce young people to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 

Craig Kolbeck, President of EAA Chapter 630, shared one of the ‘flying’ science experiments taking place Saturday.

The event also offers an opportunity for the community to discover the Door County Cherryland Airport, a resource that serves as a gateway to aviation, education, and economic activity in our region, says Craig Cross, airport manager. 

Door County Cherryland Airport, 3538 Park Drive, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235. Free entry Saturday, October 3, 10am-2pm.

A mini free community art gallery is now open on Third Avenue in Sturgeon Bay, next to - really part of - the Andrea Naylor Gallery and Studio.

Painter Andrea Naylor regularly hosts art classes for children at her studio. During breaks between class sessions, parents were asking for ways to keep their children engaged with art. After a little research, Naylor discovered that mini art galleries, similar to the mini free libraries, have become a national project.

For Naylor, who’s a busy mom herself, creating and hosting the box has helped her engage artists of all ages outside of the studio. 

To see the box, experience or exchange artwork or art supplies, stop by 45 S. Third Avenue, Sturgeon Bay.

More than 6,000 miles and several tanks of gas later, Casco’s Coy Vlies found himself in the ultimate victory lane last Sunday. After winning season titles at Luxy Raceway in Luxemburg and 141 Speedway in Francis Creek, Vlies drove his way around a late crash in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, to win the IMCA national title in Northern SportMods.

The achievement is not lost on Vlies, who followed his father’s lead and got into racing at a young age. After a winning streak to start the season, Vlies added trips to Minnesota and Iowa to his calendar to earn enough points in the standings to make Sunday’s championship a reality.

Thanks to his sponsors, an understanding boss and a lot of time behind the wheel and under the hood, Vlies said he could not be happier with how the most competitive part of his season concluded.

Vlies is not done getting behind the wheel. He will participate in this weekend’s annual Spooky Showdown presented by Rendezvous of Luxemburg. Race time is 6:30 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Vlies will also race at 141 Speedway next weekend before calling it a year.

Better, clearer communication between emergency departments is the goal as Kewaunee County prepares to update its radio system.

In 2009, the state of Wisconsin began building a statewide radio system known as WISCOM. The system was primarily developed to improve interoperability, allowing agencies to communicate with each other during emergency calls. In the years since, the state has been developing the next generation of the system, requiring local departments to update their radio equipment.

Earlier this year, Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski credited a share of more than $2 million in grants with helping law enforcement, fire, EMS and other first responder agencies, along with the county’s highway and emergency management departments, acquire new radios.

While the state secured a rebate on radios purchased through the grants, local agencies still have to provide about 20% of the funding. Casco Fire Department Capt. Dan Andres said his department needs to purchase about 20 radios to make sure it has enough for everyone, adding that the equipment is extremely important.

The added expense makes fundraisers like the Luxemburg Community Fire Department’s Burger/Brat Fry on Friday and Casco Fire Department’s Milk Bottle Tournament on Saturday even more important.

Andres hopes to have the funding in place to purchase the radios by the end of the year and have them in-house early next year.

You will be able to hear from local candidates for the Wisconsin State Assembly and state Senate later this month. The League of Women Voters of Door County will host a candidate forum for the two races Oct. 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Southern Door School Auditorium.

The 1st Assembly District race is a rematch of 2024, when Rep. Joel Kitchens, a Republican, defeated Democratic challenger Renee Paplham. During their campaign announcements in April, Kitchens said he would continue working to direct more funding into classrooms while easing the tax burden on residents in Door and Kewaunee counties. Paplham said she believes the district is ready for a change and that it goes well beyond the “D” and “R” that might be next to someone’s name.

The 1st Senate District race will feature Republican Nic Cravillion and independent Mark Becker as they look to replace retiring state Sen. Andre Jacque. Cravillion is a small-business owner, a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and Jacque’s current district director. Becker is a small-business owner and former Brown County supervisor and chairman of the Republican Party of Brown County.

The public may submit questions at the forum or before the event by emailing vsforums@lwvdoorcounty.org by Oct. 11. Questions must be relevant to the position of Wisconsin state legislator and addressed to all four candidates.

Election Day is Nov. 3.

Owls, bats, and range lights, are just a few of the encounters hikers may have on a Ridges Sanctuary night hike during October. The Sanctuary offers these hikes to provide visitors opportunities to learn about the creatures that become active after the sun goes down, and to check out the Range Lights doing their work as navigational aids. 

The Ridges Sanctuary Interpretive Naturalist Amy Shook talks about what hikers could possibly experience.

Hikes last about one hour, and travel along the hidden brook boardwalk. Closed-toed shoes, and weather appropriate layers are recommended. Naturalists request that you do not bring any flashlights, light-up shoes, etc., the goal is for everyone’s eyes to adjust to the dark and to be able to see as the animals do at night. The hike is suitable for ages 8 and older.

Registration is required. Cost is $15 per adult, $7 for children. The Ridges Sanctuary members receive a discount. Hikes are scheduled for Friday, October 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, and begin at 6pm. For details and registration, visit The Ridges Sanctuary website.

Photo credit: Jackie Rath

A vehicle was destroyed Thursday evening in the Village of Sister Bay while its owner worked at a nearby restaurant. The Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Department responded shortly after 5 p.m. to a parking lot across the street from the Waterfront Restaurant.

According to Fire Chief Michael Goldstone, the vehicle had been parked for approximately an hour before the fire started in the engine compartment. Goldstone arrived in a department command vehicle and attempted to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher before calling for additional assistance. He said firefighters are confident the fire was accidental, but the amount of damage would make a thorough investigation nearly impossible.

Crews were on the scene for approximately 45 minutes, with the damage limited to the engine compartment and front of the dashboard. Goldstone said no one was hurt, and there was enough space around the car to prevent damage to other vehicles.

No matter the title you are chasing next February, you can be part of a major milestone for the Miss Door County Scholarship Program. The organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary and hopes to commemorate the milestone by awarding $30,000 in scholarship money at its pageant Feb. 6, 2027, at the Southern Door Auditorium.

In June, Miss Door County Kaylee Griep, Miss Cherryland Paige Nikodem, Miss Cherryland Teen Elise Jackson and Miss Door County Teen Mia Glocke represented the area at the Miss Wisconsin Pageant.

Jackson was named first runner-up in the Miss Wisconsin Teen competition. In addition to the $1,000 scholarship she earned for her placement, Jackson won a $500 scholarship as the Patriotism Reigns Award winner. She celebrated her brother’s military enlistment as part of an essay competition.

Griep earned a $500 scholarship for placing in the Top 11 and an additional $1,000 scholarship for the Hometown Pride Award, recognizing the Door County pride she showcased in a two-minute video.

Former titleholders also found success at the pageant, with Miss Door County 2024 and current Miss Northern Lights Kylee Duessler placing in the Top 11. Former Miss Cherryland 2025 and current Miss Titletown Hannah Mertens won the non-finalist interview award.

Applications are now open for the Miss Door County, Miss Door County Teen and Miss Cherryland titles by clicking on this link. You can find the eligibility requirements below.

The new Miss Door County, Miss Cherryland and Miss Door County’s Teen will move on to compete in the Miss Wisconsin and Miss Wisconsin’s Teen competitions June 16-19, 2027, in New Berlin. The Miss Wisconsin winners will advance to represent the state in the Miss America competition in September in West Palm Beach, Florida.

GUIDELINES

To be eligible to compete for the titles of Miss Door County / Miss Door County’s Teen a woman must:

• Must live, work, or go to school full-time in Door County, Algoma, or Luxemburg-Casco
• Miss contestants must be no younger than 18 by September 1, 2027 and be no older than 28 by September 30, 2027
• Teen contestants must be no younger than 14 by September 1, 2027 and be no older than 18 by September 30, 2027
• Note: 18-year-olds have the option to choose if they would like to be a Miss or a Teen contestant

To be eligible to compete for the title of Miss Cherryland a woman must:

• Must live, work, or go to school full-time in the following counties: Kewaunee, Brown, Outagamie, Waupaca, Shawano, Menominee, Oconto, Marinette, Langlade, Forest, and Florence
• Miss contestants must be no younger than 18 by September 1, 2027 and be no older than 28 by September 30, 2027

To be eligible for our “Little Sister Program” called our Cherry Blossoms, which is a non-competitive mentorship program with the opportunity to perform on stage, a girl must:

• Must live or go to school full-time in Door County, Algoma, or Luxemburg-Casco
• Cherry Blossoms must be between the ages of 5 – 13 at the time of the show on February 6th, 2027
• *note this program is currently full, but accepting waitlist applicants

The areas of competition include private interview, artistic expression in talent, lifestyle and fitness in sportswear, on-stage interview, and evening gown.

Whether you’re an experienced arborist, or want to meet like-minded tree-loving people, the Climate Change Coalition of Door County is hosting community tree planting events this month, and is inviting you to help make Door County a little greener. 

Each planting event runs from 9:00-11:00am. You can bring your own tools and equipment, or just show up, Lutsey said, and the Coalition will supply the necessary tools for you.

The upcoming planting locations are as follows: Saturday, October 2 at the Ingwersen property in the Sister Bay area, Thursday, October 8 at Frank Murphy Park in Egg Harbor, Friday, October 9 at Crossroads at Big Creek

The trees planted at each location are area specific, and native species are conscientiously chosen. The Climate Change Coalition has hosted recent tree planting events at Newport State Park with the Newport Wilderness Society, The Ridges Sanctuary, Door County Land Trust properties, and Peninsula School of Art properties. The County of Door has been instrumental in their efforts, Lutsey added. 

Taking part in planting trees at one of these events not only helps the Door County environment, it helps people make connections in the community, says Lutsey.

For specific info about the tree planting events, visit the Climate Change Coalition's website.

Sturgeon Bay officials are busy crafting the 2027 budget ahead of its public hearing in early November, but a big piece of the puzzle has yet to be determined.

Making sure the city keeps up with road maintenance has long been a goal of Sturgeon Bay Mayor David Ward. It is part of the reason the city pursued a Premier Resort Area Tax, or PRAT, in recent years as officials looked for ways to fund improvements.

The 2025-27 state budget allowed the city, along with the town of Minocqua, to join other tourism-oriented communities, including Ephraim and Sister Bay, in charging an additional 0.5% tax on items typically associated with tourism.

The PRAT went into effect July 1, with initial returns from the first three months not expected to be known until later this month. Ward believes those numbers will give officials a better idea of what stays in the budget and what gets cut.

Ward says the budget is otherwise pretty “run of the mill,” with its only major capital project being improvements to Nautical Drive. The city has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to help pare down the cost of that project.

The budget is on the agenda for the Sturgeon Bay Committee of the Whole meeting Monday at 4 p.m. in City Hall’s community room.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and a new law hopes to bring a small piece of comfort to those who have lost a child. According to the CDC, 1 in 175 births in the United States is stillborn, which is defined as the loss of a baby beginning at 20 weeks of pregnancy through delivery.

Prior to the signing of the Stillbirth Recognition and Support Act, or Wisconsin Act 241, earlier this year, the grief of losing a child could be compounded by medical, funeral, counseling and other related expenses. The law creates a $2,000 refundable individual state income tax credit for parents to help provide support.

For Green Bay resident Maggie Koch, she is grateful the bill became law six years after she experienced a stillbirth and never got to see her daughter, Olivia, grow up.

“I am incredibly grateful to the group of loss moms whose grassroots efforts partnered with legislative support to make this happen!”

It is an issue state Sen. Andre Jacque became aware of when he first joined the Wisconsin Legislature and attended his first Joint Finance Committee meeting. During his final term, Jacque became a co-sponsor of the legislation, which he says will never remove the pain of losing a child but at least acknowledges that loss by providing support for affected families. He says it means a lot to him that he was able to help get the bill across the finish line before he departs his seat at the end of the year.

If your child was stillborn in 2026, you will be able to access this resource when filing your taxes early next year.

For one final time in 2026, a visit to Algoma’s Crescent Beach included a view of a cruise ship. Wednesday marked the final time Viking Cruises dropped anchor outside the Algoma Marina this season, allowing visitors a chance to explore the city and surrounding area.

According to Visit Kewaunee County, 13 cruise ships made Algoma one of their stops, many during journeys between cities such as Duluth, Milwaukee and Toronto. Thirty ambassadors, along with the Algoma Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, helped welcome approximately 5,000 passengers since May, distributing more than 3,500 yellow welcome bags along the way.

At the beginning of the season, Visitor Services and Volunteer Coordinator Kiera Bair called it a community effort to ensure cruise ships and their passengers continue to return to Algoma.

Viking Cruises is already planning at least eight trips next year with stops in Algoma. The cruise ship Polaris will make its first trip back May 20, while the Octantis will return two days later on May 22. You can see the schedule here.