Becoming valedictorian is no easy feat, as it takes hard work throughout all years of a student’s high school career. For Sturgeon Bay High School’s Valedictorian Christy Braun, it was support from her favorite teachers and hard work that made finding out she was nominated that much sweeter. 

From spending most of her time in school in the science lab to dominating the pool in the fall for the Door County United swim team, Braun spent the majority of her time doing things she loved, but also activities that benefited her in the long run. The honor of valedictorian did not come as a shock to Braun, but claimed she was pleasantly surprised when she found out because of the amount of deserving candidates in her class. 

As for advice for underclassmen who are aspiring to be their classes valedictorian, Braun offered a brief tip to those students. 

Swimming was a big part of Braun’s high school career, as she even stated that with the sport being in the fall, she was able to ease into high school better thanks in part to the family that she built on the team. She will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison to major in Biochemistry and eventually attend med school and become a doctor, which has been the goal since middle school for Braun. 

Just because the school year in the local area is nearing a close, it does not mean the books you are currently reading need to be closed. Thanks in part to the summer reading program held by the Door County Library, those hours of reading can be tallied up to a reward. 

The Door County Library is kicking off its summer reading program titled "All Together Now" at the beginning of June, and it runs all the way through the end of August. The library is hoping to bring together a sense of community with this year's theme. Any age can register and take part in summer reading through the library, but they will have to register in an age group while they track their hours of reading. Door County Library’s Youth Services Librarian Beth Lokken talks about the program that runs through the summer and why she believes it is important. 

Registering for the program is simple, as you can choose to register at the library with the forms Lokken mentioned, or on the Beanstack app. The library will also be hosting events that you can find on their website, which also holds the app to track your hours. The Door County Library hopes that reading, learning and a sense of community will be kept through the summer months with this program.

The tutorial for how to use the Beanstack app from the Door County Library is below. 

Good weather usually means a good turnout and that is exactly what happened at the Door County Master Gardeners Plant Fair on Saturday morning. 

From the opportunity to get education on plants and the different types to tips on gardening, the plant fair had something for everyone that attended at the Peninsula Agricultural Research Station. From vegetables to vines to annual flowers, there were plenty of options for shoppers to choose too. Door County Master Gardeners President Shawn Mathys talked about the annual event that ran Friday night and Saturday morning.

Consumers walked out of the plant fair with full arms as tomatoes and peppers were the hot commodity being sold Saturday morning. All of the plants that were for sale today were grown at The Garden Door, so the community was buying local. Mathys said the high quality of plants and vegetables is the reason so many people come back every year the fair is put on. 

The proceeds from this event were to support the Door County Master Gardeners Association education programs and The Garden Door.

The Southern Door School Board is on the search for a new superintendent for the second time since 2021 after Chris Peterson resigned from the position on Thursday. Peterson was placed on administrative leave following a special school board meeting held in mid-March.

The school board has met several times since then with Southern Door School Board President Penny Price saying in early April that the board “remains committed to doing what is best for the District.” Business manager Jason Melotte has filled in Peterson’s absence during that time, which has included the ongoing work with the district’s referendum projects and a threat that was resolved in early May. Melotte’s contract with the district was amended last month to compensate Melotte for the extra duties he has taken on as a result. In a statement from the district on Friday, Peterson called it a great privilege to serve as the superintendent of Southern Door, expressing his confidence that “the great work of this district and the progress that will be made will continue." School Board Penny Price thanked Peterson for his commitment to the students and families of the district, adding that they are committed to ensuring a seamless transition to the next superintendent." Peterson’s resignation is effective June 30th.

There was no update on the contract status of Southern Door Athletic Director Mark Jonas after Thursday’s special meeting. At a school board's regularly scheduled meeting in May, a discussion over his contract in closed session was laid over until a future meeting by a unanimous vote. Jonas filed a restraining order against the district in late April, but the case was dismissed in Door County Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Wisconsin’s delegation in the U.S. Senate was just as split as the governing body when they approved a bill to suspend the debt ceiling until early 2025 paired with other bipartisan concessions. The U.S. Senate approved the measure 62-36, with Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin siding with the majority and Republican Senator Ron Johnson voting with the minority. In addition to suspending the debt ceiling, the measure also keeps non-defense discretionary spending in 2024 level with this year and 1 percent more in 2025.

The House passed the bill on Wednesday by a 314-117 vote with District 8 Rep. Mike Gallagher voting in favor. Senator Johnson blasted the vote, saying that without a specific dollar amount that “no one can tell for sure how much additional borrowing will occur as a result.” On the flip side, Senator Baldwin applauded the vote, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the compromise “ensures we will not default on our debt, crash our economy and raise costs for Wisconsin families.” With Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggesting the government will be out of money by June 5th, President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law immediately.

You can read Senator Ron Johnson’s statement below.

“The original bill passed by the House to increase the debt ceiling contained the bare minimum of spending restraint and policy improvements.  The original bill also increased the debt ceiling by a fixed dollar amount – $1.5 trillion. The Biden-McCarthy deal suspended the debt ceiling, and no one can tell for sure how much additional borrowing will occur as a result. Unfortunately, Democrats seem to have no problem mortgaging our children’s future and Republicans haven’t figured out a way to stop them. I’ve consistently voted against massive deficit spending, so I’ll let those who consistently support it vote to increase the debt ceiling to accommodate their recklessness.”

— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) June 1, 2023

The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations (UN) launched the first World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2006 in an effort to unite communities around the world in raising awareness about elder abuse. WEAAD serves as a call-to-action for our communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders, and reaffirm our country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all.

While there is no singular definition for elder abuse — some are based on age, vulnerability, or determined by state statutes or tribal codes — The Elder Justice Roadmap offers one definition, created by the field for the field. It states that elder abuse is “abuse, neglect, abandonment, or financial exploitation of an older individual by another person or entity who has a trust-based relationship with the older adult or any harm that occurs because an older person is targeted by a stranger based on their age or disability.  Each year, an estimated 5 million older adults experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation.  Older Americans lose an estimated $2.6 billion to $36.5 billion annually due to elder financial abuse and exploitation, funds that could be used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. Unfortunately, abuse occurs in every demographic and can happen to anyone — a family member, a neighbor, even you. While cases of elder abuse appear to have been on the rise during the pandemic, it is commonly understood that many cases never come to light. One study has estimated that only one in 24 cases of abuse are reported.

When we come together, we can prevent elder abuse from happening. We can put support services in place, and direct community resources toward addressing elder abuse. Our country must reaffirm our commitment to justice and create a sturdy structure of support that will benefit us all as we get older. Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated 1 in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation. And that’s only part of the picture: Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under-reported, in part because so many of our communities lack the social supports that would make it easier for those who experience abuse to report it. In addition to being a clear violation of the American commitment to justice for all, elder abuse is an issue with many consequences for our society. Its effects on our communities range from public health to economic issues. 

The good news is that we can prevent and address the issue of elder abuse. There are many ways to strengthen our social supports through policies, services, and programs that keep us integrated in our communities as we age.

• We can think about the role of transportation in reducing social isolation and adjust systems so that we can all continue to move throughout our communities as we age.
• We can figure out new and better ways to arrange and coordinate the teams, agencies, and programs that work specifically with older people.
• We can develop programs to educate families and professionals who work with older adults to understand the importance of preventing isolation, how to spot the warning signs of abuse, and what to do to address abuse or neglect. By doing all that we can to strengthen the social support structure, we can reduce social isolation, protect communities and families against elder abuse, and build a nation that lives up to our promise of justice for all.

For more information please contact Kewaunee County Human Services at 920-388-7030.

*Portions of this article were taken from the World Elder Abuse Awareness tool kit; https://eldermistreatment.usc.edu/weaad-home/take-action/

A company that specializes in structural engineering and restoration is working on the Potawatomi State Park Tower this week on behalf of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Wood Research and Development from Jefferson, Oregon has a team of engineers studying the tower.  Engineer Kim King from Wood Research and Development (WRD) of Jefferson, Oregon started inspecting and evaluating the tower on Tuesday and will conclude on Thursday.  WRD was commissioned by the Sturgeon Bay Historical Society a few years ago to conduct a study.  King says the tower looks to be in structurally good shape with some strategic areas of deterioration.

King notes that he and his team will finalize a report that will be submitted to the DNR within 30 days. The 75-foot Potawatomi State Park Tower was built in 1931 and was closed to the public in 2018.  The DNR had come forward with a plan for the restoration of the tower with a spiral ramp that includes three levels of the tower with a price tag of $6 million back in January.  Governor Tony Evers announced in March that emergency repairs to the historic structure were approved with an estimated cost of $500,000.  

Wildlife officials are reminding you to slow down for wild animals after a bald eagle struck in Kewaunee County last week died. Sue Theys of Wildlife of Wisconsin told Fox News Digital on Monday that the bird passed away after a few days of examination. Theys suggested something was wrong with the bald eagle before it was struck, adding that it was very thin and it was possibly not strong enough to get out of the way of the oncoming car. The eagle died two days after it was taken in and the Department of Natural Resources has the option to do a necropsy if it chooses to do so. Things had looked more promising last week when the hope was that a dented beak was the most the bald eagle may have to suffer long-term from after being struck by a vehicle last Thursday. Deputies discovered the bald eagle in a ditch near what is presumed to be its nesting location near County Highway K and Red River Lincoln Townline Road, which is between the communities of Frog Station and Casco. The Kewaunee County Sheriff’s Department contacted a bald eagle rescue group for an expert’s opinion on the bird. At the time it appeared the bald eagle did not sustain any major injuries and that it could have been released near where it was found once it was healthy.

The City of Algoma will have a new police chief starting in June.  David Allen will be sworn into office on Monday, June 5th and replace Randy Remiker who is retiring after joining the Algoma Police Department as its chief in 2018. 

Allen comes to Algoma with over 20 years of experience as a Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden, many of which was in Kewaunee County.  Remiker resigned as the chief back in March and will remain in the Algoma area as he takes on additional duties in the New Mexico National Guard after being promoted to Brigadier General earlier this year.

Algoma City Administrator Matt Murphy says the swearing-in ceremony for Allen will take place at City Hall prior to the Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. next Monday.

There is a good chance that no matter where you went in Door County over the weekend, the flashing lights and sirens of a police car, a fire truck, or an ambulance vehicle were not far behind. The Door County Dispatch Center took 400 calls according to the sheriff’s department’s reports with the majority being for traffic stops and 911 follow-ups. Fire departments were busy with seven fire calls, five of which occurred on Friday. The Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department bookended the weekend of fire calls with one occurring just before noon on Friday and the other a little after 11 a.m. on Monday. In Friday’s call, firefighters from the BUG and Southern Door Fire Departments tended to a grassfire near Gravel Pit Road, an effort that took about 90 minutes to complete. The blaze started with hot embers from a fire pit igniting some nearby dead leaves, which then eventually spread to some nearby trees. BUG Assistant Fire Chief Jim Wautier says with how dry it has been, you have to be extra cautious.

On Monday, BUG Fire arrived on the scene of another fire on Horseshoe Lane where an outlet melted the plug of a space heater that was connected to the wall but not being used. BUG Assistant Chief Ryan Wery says crews were on the scene for approximately 30 minutes to make sure the fire was completely out after the homeowner was able to put it out ahead of their arrival. Other fire incidents occurred in Gibraltar, Egg Harbor, Sturgeon Bay, and Jacksonport.

 If you have not had a reason to check out their new Sister Bay Clinic and Rehab facility, Door County Medical Center is giving you one on June 11th.

That is when Door County Medical Center is hosting its open house for its new facility, which first opened its doors at the end of March. The building replaced their clinic in Fish Creek, which proved to have tight quarters for all of the services they provided and their staff. Door County Medical Center President and CEO Brian Stephens touted the facility’s benefits earlier this year.

Stephens and Board of Directors President, Patti Vickman, will present a dedication ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by guided tours through the new clinic and rehabilitation facility. The open house runs until 2 p.m.

A problem the City of Sturgeon Bay has been dealing with for a while will be getting some relief as the city was awarded a grant towards a new aquatic weed harvester. 

Many boaters will be breathing a sigh of relief with this news as there will be less weeds in shallow areas, which has caused many headaches for boaters. The city received a $45,551 grant from Destination Door County as part of their Community Investment Fund grants, which is made possible by room tax revenues. Josh VanLieshout, the City of Sturgeon Bay’s City Administrator, talks about what the aquatic weed harvester truly is and why the city truly needed it. 

The new harvester will join two other ones that were currently in use beforehand. The weeds will not be permanently gone, but the tops that were causing the issues for boaters will be eliminated, as well as some of the stray weeds that VanLieshout called “floaters.” 

The harvester will soon be built, and the City of Sturgeon Bay expects to have it in use by the spring of 2024. 

You may see AJ Dillon with a deputy mayor alongside with him the next time he comes to Door County. A team bonding trip to Door County once again grabbed headlines as pictures and videos surfaced on social media over Memorial Day weekend, featuring players enjoying time on a boat and an impromptu race between receiver Christian Watson and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, who is married to Packers defensive back Jonathan Owens. The thousands, if not millions of views of the pictures and videos turn into tremendous earned media value for Door County. Destination Door County Chief Communications Officer Jon Jarosh says whether it is AJ Dillon, Simone Biles, or another Packers celebrity, it is about the authenticity as much as it is about the reach.

Jarosh says Destination Door County looks forward to working with the Packers on whatever their role can be for the 2025 NFL Draft, adding that it certainly helps their case that several Packers executives, including team president Mark Murphy, have put roots down in Door County.

A plethora of cars lined the outfield grass of the Brussels Town Park baseball field on Saturday morning as the second annual Brussels Car and Motor Show was underway.

New this year to the car and motor show were the tractors, which was also a big hit alongside the many different cars. From muscle cars to the biggest attraction, the large General Lee bus, participants were able to judge the vehicles that were brought to the show. The judging ran until 1:00 p.m. 

All the proceeds from the second annual fundraiser go to the Brussels Union Gardner Fire Department, who were the hosts of the show. The money the fire department makes will go towards replacing some of its turnout gear for its 50 firefighters. The turnout gear has a typical life span of 15 years, though some of the equipment the BUG Fire Department employs is more than 20 years old. 

The trophies for the winners were awarded at 3:00 p.m. and there were dash plaques for the first 100 entries. 

Below are pictures from the car show at the Brussels Town Park. 

With the school year around Door and Kewaunee county slowly winding down, the Packerland Conference has announced their annual Packerland Scholar Athlete Awards for the 2022-2023 season. The two different awards that were presented were the Packerland Outstanding Achievement award and the Scholar Athlete Award. 

The Packerland Outstanding Achievement award is given to a three-sport athlete for their junior and senior years. The outstanding scholar must have earned a total of seven (7) athletic letters throughout their high school career. The outstanding scholar athlete must have maintained a minimum 3.9 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) compiled in accordance with the WIAA Scholar Athlete formula.

SCHOOL                                BOYS                                          GIRLS

ALGOMA                                                                             Emily Kirchman

                                                                                            Amelia Robinson

GIBRALTAR                                                                            Betsy Lecy

KEWAUNEE                    Payton Kohnle                              Emily Todd

                                     Mitchell Thompson

NEW LUTHERAN          Elijah Meerstein

PESHTIGO                     Grant Bauman

SEVASTOPOL                                                                     Bailey Rikkola

STURGEON BAY                                                                 Sanya Wienke

Packerland Conference principals may select four (4) students, two (2) boys and two (2) girls, as Packerland Conference Scholar Athletes. Student athletes, cheerleaders, pom/dance squad members, student trainers, and managers may be selected. The Scholar Athlete award is given to a second semester senior who must have earned at least four varsity letters through athletic participation in WIAA sanctioned sports during the complete freshman, sophomore, and junior years as well as the fall and winter seasons of the senior year. The scholar athlete must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). 

SCHOOL                               BOYS                                         GIRLS

ALGOMA                     Owen Robertson                         Halle Panger

                                      Ryley Robinson                        Amelia Robinson

GIBRALTAR                  Will Friedenfels                        Colleen Carlisle

                                        Garrett Voight                            Betsy Lecy

KEWAUNEE                 Sawyer Pribek                             Emily Todd

                                 Mitchell Thompson

NEW LUTHERAN          Brady Paul                               Natalie Lange

                                          Kian Rai                                    Greta Wise

OCONTO                        Davon Caylor                             Kate Bahrke

                                         Bryton Fuller                           Alyse Viestenz

PESHTIGO                    Grant Bauman                            Allison Peters

                                      Andrew Nelson                          Brooklyn Phillips

SEVASTOPOL               Logan Retzlaff                         Johanna Andreae

                                                                                            Reese Schauske

SOUTHERN DOOR      Alec Guilette                                Allianna Dufek

                                     Jack Peterson                                Brooke Strege

STURGEON BAY   Benjamin Lawrey-Hooker                Christiana Braun

                                                                                              Madelyn Wind

Not Pictured: Sanya Wienke and Emily Todd 

Kohnle picture courtesy of Kewaunee Baseball Instagram 

You will be able to explore Door County’s largest farmers market beginning this weekend.

At the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market, over 80 vendors will greet shoppers every week with even more joining the festivities off-and-on during the season. In addition to food items, flowers, crafts, jewelry, and other items will also be available for purchase. This marks the second year the Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market takes over 3rd Avenue between Michigan and Nebraska Street and up Nebraska Street to 5th Avenue. Destination Sturgeon Bay Executive Director Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski says the feedback about the change has been good since they took over coordinating the market.

The United Way of Door County will be back at the market as well, allowing those individuals and families on FoodShare to purchase tokens with their EBT funds. Thanks to Door County Medical Center, you will receive an extra dollar for every $2 you purchase in tokens, which can be used at select vendors. United Way of Door County Executive Director Amy Kohnle said last month that the token problem is a win for everyone.

The Sturgeon Bay Farmers Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday through October 14th. Destination Sturgeon Bay is still taking vendor applications for the season, though spots are limited.

In the name of their safety for the future, the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department wants to see your best vehicle in Brussels Town Park on Saturday. The department is hosting its second annual Car and Motor Show fundraiser so it can afford to replace some of its turnout gear for its 50 firefighters. The turnout gear has a typical life span of 15 years, though some of the equipment the BUG Fire Department employs is more than 20 years old.

Like other volunteer fire departments, that means having to put on their party planning committee hats to make sure they can raise the necessary money while thanking the community for the support they already provide. BUG Fire Chief Curt Vandertie says it can be difficult at times to juggle firefighting and fundraising duties along with parenting and full-time job duties demanding their time, but he hopes it is worth it in the end for all involved.

Your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tractors are invited to participate in the show for $10 an entry. If you are not entering the show, you can check out the show for free with food, drinks, and live music available to enjoy. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Even if you are busy this weekend, you still have an opportunity to keep your wallet in your pocket when heading to one of Door County’s five state parks. This Saturday and Sunday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is offering free park admission to its 50 state parks, 15 state forests, and 44 state trails. You will also be able to fish in the state’s waterways without having to purchase a license. If your plans keep you away from a state park this weekend or you want to go to another one at a different time, your library card can help. The Algoma and Kewaunee public libraries have daily state park passes available to check out. Families are allowed to check out one pass per month and must pick a specific date to attend.

The Door County Libraries will raffle off state park day passes as a part of its summer reading program. The free passes are available through August 26th.

According to the DNR, Wisconsin’s state parks, forests, and trails draw more than 20 million visitors each year.

After phase one completed the construction of the playground set, the Town of Gibraltar is now able to put the finishing touches on the new feature at the Fish Creek Beach. 

Phase two will feature the soft surface that will go underneath the playground. The town was able to get this money for the surface from a grant that was given by Destination Door County as a part of the first round of the Community Investment Fund grants. DDC gave $15,700 for the surface, which covered the entire cost of the second phase. Town of Gibraltar Treasurer Lisa Cain-Bieri was the one who wrote the grant and talks about when the project will be completed and what factors played into the playground. 

Community members that enjoy the Fish Creek Beach will also enjoy the new playground to give kids more opportunities to spend their time while at the beach. Cain-Bieri said bringing the playground back was a big community project as many people wrote letters in hopes for the playground to return. 

If you are a talented musician, Birch Creek Music Performance in Egg Harbor would like to hear from you, especially if you play the clarinet. Birch Creek’s opening night is June 22nd with the percussion, steel band, and world music session beginning. While its second big band jazz session is full, its symphony session beginning with a concert on July 4th and the first jazz session with its opening concert on July 19th could use a few more people to fill out its instrumentation for the season. Executive Director Mona Christenson says auditioning is relatively easy and you receive great feedback regardless of whether you are accepted or not.

You can learn more about how to audition for Birch Creek Music Performance Center by clicking this link. You can listen to our full interview with Christenson here.

You can weigh in on how Door County markets itself as a tourist destination. Destination Door County is calling on residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to participate in a 15 to 20-minute survey as they develop a comprehensive Destination Master Plan. The goal of the plan would identify the amenities, programs, and experiences that will guide the long-term sustainability of Door County and its visitor economy. A similar survey done prior to the pandemic gave Destination Door County the idea and the tools to become more of a destination manager rather than a destination marketer. It paved the way for the Care for Door County movement, which included a sustainability pledge and eco-centric events such as guided nature hikes and park clean-up events. Door County residents are invited to click this link to take their survey with a chance to win a prize from Destination Door County. Civic leaders and other stakeholders are encouraged to click this link to take their survey. Both surveys will be available until June 21st.

Rep. Mike Gallagher was one of the 314 members of the House of Representatives to approve a deal to suspend the debt ceiling in exchange for some cuts to government spending on Wednesday. The congressman, whose Eighth Congressional District includes Door and Kewaunee counties, was one of five Wisconsin congressional members to vote in favor of the deal. Wisconsin Democratic Reps. Mark Pocan and Gwen Moore and fellow Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany voted against the measure.

In a statement released after the vote, Gallagher said the Fiscal Responsibility Act pulls the brakes on government spending while also looking to secure unspent COVID-related funds, restart student loan payments, and strengthen work requirements for those on welfare. He did chastise the bill for not raising the funding for the Department of Defense or eliminating mandatory spending. You can read his full statement below.

The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate ahead of the June 5th deadline set by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who suggests the government could run out of money by then. Last week, U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (Republican) and Tammy Baldwin (Democrat) weighed in on the debt limit. Sen. Johnson told WisPolitics.com that it was a “phony crisis” but that he would support the House bill. Senator Baldwin told the website that she has not signed onto a letter urging President Joe Biden to use the 14th Amendment to bypass Congress to raise the debt ceiling, but she had not ruled it out.

You might have to adjust your plans when visiting the Door County YMCA in Sturgeon Bay as the facility continues its expansion work.  CEO and President Tonya Felhofer says the YMCA is making some changes to classes and access as the work continues as scheduled.  She shares that classes scheduled from June 12 through 25th will be canceled while new flooring is being installed.

No 24/7 access will be allowed during the class closure period with only the track, pool, and fitness areas open to members at the Sturgeon Bay Program Center.  The YMCA is adding 16,300 square feet to the Sturgeon Bay facility with plans to have the expansion completed by September.  The new complex will include social gathering spaces, an expanded wellness center, a new youth activity center, a kitchen, and an outdoor classroom. 

You can listen to the entire interview with Tony Felhofer on the Y Wednesday Podcast page here.  

Another brush fire in the area was put out quickly by the Brussels-Union-Gardner Fire Department on Tuesday.  The BUG Fire Department was dispatched at about 4:30 p.m. for a fire just off Eden Lane in the Town of Gardner.  Captain Pat O’Hern says the fire started on the shore and reached a wooded area, but was quickly contained.

O’Hern adds that about 150 gallons of water were used to douse the fire.  With current fire danger at a high level across the state, including Door and Kewaunee counties, local officials and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are advising people to avoid any outside burning.  The DNR and local fire departments responded to over 90 wildfires in the past week. The Town of Egg Harbor already placed a burning ban in effect Tuesday until the area receives substantial rainfall. 

If you missed one of the two bass fishing tournaments this month or the Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair over the weekend, put your hands together because you are in luck. Destination Sturgeon Bay launched its street art project for 2023 with a new palette for artists from across the Midwest to paint. After three years of cherries and previous strings that included sturgeon, chairs, and benches, artists this year painted 27 bass statues to be displayed around the city. Destination Sturgeon Bay Executive Director Cameryn Ehlers-Kwaterski says the change of pace is nice for everyone involved.

All 27 bass will be auctioned off this fall as a part of the 23rd Annual Street Art Auction on Saturday, September 16th. You can see the bass in and around the city, including nearby 3rd Avenue where the Sturgeon Bay Farm Market will kick off their season on Saturday.