The wait is over for Oconomowoc’s Halei Heinzel, who was officially named the next Alice in Dairyland in front of a packed ballroom at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay Saturday night.

Henizel beat out Fox Lake’s Cierra Essock, Denmark’s Katrina Hoesley, Kewaunee’s Kiley Pagel, Kiel’s Lauren Siemers, and Big Bend’s Michaela King for the title after the three-day finals event that included stops at individual agricultural businesses Thursday and Friday, the Wisconsin Products Showcase on Friday night, and the last competition on Saturday night. The last few days have been a whirlwind, but the ending was a dream come true for Heinzel.

Saturday night marked the beginning of the end of the road for Ashley Hagenow’s term as the Alice in Dairyland. She says the experience has only deepened her appreciation for Wisconsin’s agriculture, including what she discovered during her multiple trips to Door County over the last year.

Hagenow will serve as Alice in Dairyland through the end of June, which is Dairy Month. Alice in Dairyland is a one-year, full-time public relations position with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) supported by several agriculturally minded organizations from around the state.

The finals also brought to Door County more than two dozen Alices to participate in some of the events around the 2024 Door County Alice in Dairyland Finals. Next year, Crawford County will host the annual event.

Picture courtesy of Kevin C. Ress

After the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a variance for the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse inside Peninsula State Park, the Door County Historical Society hopes you can help support their efforts to make the dream a reality. Earlier this year, residents weighed in on a variance allowing the Door County Historical Society to add additional features to the site to expand its historical interpretation areas and other amenities to visitors. Even though the Door County Historical Society manages the site, the state owns the lighthouse, so the organization needs the variance approved to improve. Executive Director Amy Frank says having the variance approved is just the first step they needed to accomplish before returning the site to its 1868 roots.

Frank adds that some preliminary work is already underway at the lighthouse and its neighboring structures, but she hopes to have more DNR approval to work at the site by the end of May. The Door County Historical Society is approximately a third of the way to its $3 million goal for improving the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse site.

Gibraltar kindergarten students will have their artwork destroyed by zoo animals in the coming weeks, and you should not be shocked to learn that they are okay with that.

Secondary art teacher Laura Miekle and kindergarten teacher Lizz Thomas joined forces last month to create paper mache toys for the animals at the NEW Zoo in Suamico to enjoy. The piñata-like creations are filled with treats for the animals that they have to play with in order to get them. The project paired secondary school art students with kindergarten students to make toys for animals made out of newspaper, flour, and non-toxic paint. Meikle says the collaboration will result in enrichment for the animals and a special experience for the students.

According to the Minnesota Zoo, enrichment gives the animals something to think about, encourages exercise, and a degree of control of their environment. The kindergarten students are slated to visit the NEW Zoo later this year where they could see their projects played with by some of the animals.

Picture courtesy of Gibraltar Area Schools

With May being recognized as National Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to take some time to talk about mental health here in our own community. Over the years, I have written on the subject of wellness, of which Mental Wellness is a critical piece. Just as with the other components of wellness, there can be various degrees or conditions. When we look at physical wellness, it isn’t all or nothing. We each have our current state of fitness or nutrition, which we are either working to improve or are satisfied with. Mental Health is much the same. Each of us experiences transitions and swings from day to day, week to week, or year to year. For any of us to say we are in a perpetual state of happiness or positivity would be disingenuous.

For most of us, we are able to maintain an ability to function even as our mental wellness fluctuates. However, there are those who are not so fortunate. Their mental state can create a real and absolute barrier to even the simplest of tasks. The behavior exhibited by those experiencing such significant challenges can, in turn, challenge those around them.

At times the interactions may not seem logical, or the statements without reason, causing us to retract and isolate ourselves from the behavior we are not comfortable with. Scenarios such as this have been part of our society for many years in communities across the country, but just as with many aspects of cultural change, we here in Kewaunee County have been somewhat isolated from them.

For those of us in Law Enforcement and our partners in the mental health professions, we have been responding and providing resources to those who find themselves in a state of mental health crisis for many years. Our response options have ranged from short-term emergency detention in a care facility to crisis plans that allow the individual to remain in the community with the support of family and local resources. It is always the goal to provide such resources that will allow the individual to regain a functional state of mental wellness. In many cases, this is exactly what has happened, but for some, their mental state does not allow them to fully regain that ability. For some, they exist in a delicate balance between functional independence and debilitating dysfunction. So, how do we as a community respond in those instances? How do we show patience and compassion to those whose behavior challenges our social norms? How do we as a community balance empathy for their condition with accountability regarding their behavior?

These are challenges that will test us both as individuals and as communities. We pride ourselves on being from a community that supports each other. We have come together during times of personal tragedy and struggle for so many throughout the years, and these challenges will require the same response. It is easy to show care for those who stay within the social and behavioral expectations. It is not as easy when those who need our help and support display behavior that results in our initial human response of retraction and isolation. We must continue to work together so that those experiencing struggle are not met with judgement or alienation, but rather compassion and inclusion.

A bird looking for a new home is to blame for the power being knocked out on Sturgeon Bay’s east side for approximately 20 minutes on Friday. The power outage occurred at around 10:15 a.m. when the starling flew into the 1st Avenue Substation, electrocuting itself. The outage knocked out power for Door County Medical Center, Sturgeon Bay High School, NEW Radio, the Door County YMCA, and other businesses and residences. Crews were near the substation when the outage occurred and they were able to address the problem quickly. Despite the necessary precautions, Sturgeon Bay Utilities General Manager Jim Stawicki says this time of year is usually bad for wildlife and electricity.

Stawicki apologized for the inconvenience the power outage caused residents and businesses in the area, even though it is a common occurrence. According to The Nature Conservancy, about 13 million Americans lose power to wildlife annually.

Whenever there is darkness and negativity in the world, Rabbi Michoel Feinstein of the Chabad of the Bay Area hopes you can provide light with kindness and positivity. College campuses across the country have flashpoints for pro-Palestinian protests that have led to hundreds of arrests at schools like Columbian University, Northwestern University, University of California-Los Angeles, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students are calling for the universities to sever their ties with Israel and to support a ceasefire in Gaza. The protests have turned violent in some cases as police officers have attempted to break down encampments that have been created. Feinstein says everyone has the right to a peaceful protest, but he has been alarmed by the rhetoric and the violence that has occurred along with it.

According to Al Jazeera, more than 34,500 people in Gaza, about 500 in the West Bank, and 1,100 people in Israel have been killed in Israel since the Muslim terrorist group Hamas launched their attack on October 7th. Dozens more were kidnapped by the Hamas militants. Feinstein says the community has been supportive of its congregation since the attacks occurred, including a toy and clothing drive that was sent to Israeli families last year. We did reach out to the UWGB chapter of Students for a Democratic Society for comment after they hosted a pro-Palestinian rally on campus on Wednesday, where they highlighted the more than 13,000 Palestinian children that have been killed since October, according to UNICEF.

Thanks to a state grant announced on Tuesday, you will see new equipment coming to Washington Island School. Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced more $493,000 in fab lab grants for 18 school districts across the state, including Washington Island. The district will receive a $25,000 grant from the state and will provide 50 percent in matching funds to extend the investment into its science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM programming. Thanks to the community’s efforts to raise the matching funds, technical education teacher Matt Sullivan says much of the funds will go towards upgrading the school’s computers to use its current equipment to its fullest capabilities.

Washington Island Superintendent of Business Services Sue Cornell credits the teachers for going the extra mile to bring its students a more in-depth experience and sometimes secure the extra funding needed to make it happen. This is the second time Washington Island School District has received money through the state’s Fab Labs Grant program.

The event may look different to you, but the reimagined Rotary Shipyard Tours goal will remain the same. Announced earlier this year, the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay is now working with Shoreline Boat Tours and the Door County Maritime Museum to showcase “Sturgeon Bay Working Waterfront Tours, Past and Present.” During the three-day event, a charter boat will take interested guests on 90-minute tours as they highlight seven unique working waterfront points of interest while exploring their connections to Sturgeon Bay’s maritime history. Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay’s Keith Mutchler says the event will give guests a different look at the city’s working waterfront while supporting the club’s efforts in the community, including awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships to high school seniors.

Tickets for the 90-minute tours scheduled for June 21st, 22nd, and 23rd are on sale now. They are $75 apiece and include admission to the Door County Maritime Museum. All proceeds will benefit the work of the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay.

Despite the disappointment felt at the last Door County Board of Supervisors meeting, you will still see plenty of pride among the LGBTQIA+ community this June. At its meeting in April, the Door County Board of Supervisors opted not to include a discussion for a June Pride Month Proclamation in its May agenda. The decision came after Door County officials passed a policy last fall that narrowed the scope of flags that could be flown on county property. Other municipalities in the county, including Sturgeon Bay, Sister Bay, and Baileys Harbor, have issued similar proclamations in the past, recognizing the diversity in the county.  Open Door Pride founder Cathy Grier believes just being able to address the board about the issue was a win and says it will not slow down their efforts to help the LGBTQIA+ community not feel like an acronym but human.

Open Door Pride is organizing several events to celebrate Pride Month this June. The organization is teaming up with The Miller Art Museum to present the “What’s My Pride? Project” beginning June 1st. In addition to their weekly presence at the Sturgeon Bay Farmer’s Market during the month, the annual Open Door Pride Fest will also take place once again at Martin Park on June 29th.

A disease thought to be eliminated in 2000 is back in the state of Wisconsin, and public health officials want you to take the necessary steps to protect yourself.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced a confirmed case of measles in Dane County/Rock County last week, explicitly listing locations in Milton, Janesville, Madison, and Cottage Grove where people may have been exposed. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person via air droplets, and its symptoms can take up to three weeks to manifest. The Centers for Disease Control declared measles eliminated at the turn of the century because of the absence of continuous disease transmission for over 12 months. The CDC credits vaccinations for keeping the disease at bay, kindergarten vaccine coverage has declined nationwide since the 2020-2021 school year due to the pandemic and vaccine hesistancy. Door County Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jim Heise believes Door County is well positioned if measles becomes more widespread but fears that there is vaccine fatigue.

Heise recommends you get vaccinated against measles and similar diseases that have been all but eradicated if it is right for you and your family. Symptoms of measles include a rash, cough, runny nose, fever, and sore throat. Since measles is a virus, there is no specific medical treatment for it, but you are encouraged to stay at home, rest, and drink plenty of fluids if you contract it.

Your next CT scan at Door County Medical Center could be done with state-of-the-art technology after the hospital acquired the new Canon Aquilion Serve SP CT Scanner.

Introduced by the company last November, the Canon Aquilion Serve SP CT Scanner boasts several significant improvements aimed at getting clearer images for diagnoses and improving the patient experience. Door County Medical Center Diagnostic Imaging Manager Tonya Altmann says the artificial intelligence used by the machine will help lead to a more streamlined operation of the scanner, helping to move the patient easily and reduce the amount of exposure to the radiation used.

Altmann adds that it was important for her to have equipment like this in Door County to serve the community better. This scanner represents the first of its kind to be installed in the region.  

Picture courtesy of Door County Medical Center

There will be more for you to enjoy at this year’s Sturgeon Bay Fine Art Fair happening Memorial Day weekend. The 26th edition of the annual event will welcome a record number of over 80 artists to Martin Park on the city’s east side. Artists across several different disciplines will be competing for ribbons and cash prizes during the two-day event, including Best of Show. Destination Sturgeon Bay Marketing Coordinator Alexa Soto says while art is the focal point, there will be plenty of other activities for visitors to check out.

Sponsored by Door County Medical Center, the 2024 Fine Art Fair will take place Saturday, May 25th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 26th, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The necessary construction work on State Highway 42 in Door County this spring might test the patience of many drivers. Still, it might also present questions on what constitutes “local traffic” and whether you are considered “thru traffic.”  

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WiDOT) and the Village of Egg Harbor are working on two projects simultaneously: one stretching about 15 miles from the 42/57 split north of Sturgeon Bay to Rainbow Ridge Court and the other from County T to the north end of Church Street in Egg Harbor. 

To be considered "Local Traffic" and bypass the detours, you must live, shop, work, or have another stop within the road closure area.

If you are traveling beyond the 42/57 junction and don’t plan on stopping before you reach the construction zone, you must take the detour route. This classifies as “Thru Traffic.”  

If Mother Nature cooperates, the detours are expected to last until the middle of June. However, if work is not completed by June 28, the closures will end and begin again after Labor Day. 

You can find the detours and alternate routes online through the Village of Egg Harbor website, along with helpful links and information below.

Other construction work beginning soon by the WisDOT:

Sturgeon Bay) To invest in Wisconsin’s transportation system, Governor Evers signed a $2.3 million contract to improve seven miles of WIS 42 from Rainbow Ridge Court in the town of Egg Harbor to Bluff Lane in the town of Gibraltar. Project construction begins Monday, May 13, 2024, and will finish in June of this year.  

Northeast Asphalt, Inc. from Greenville, Wis. is the Prime Contractor.

Project improvements

This is a resurfacing-level project that includes milling 2” of the existing asphaltic lanes and overlaying with 2”. Other work includes installing centerline and shoulder rumble strips, upgrading the guardrail and associated excavation, adding gravel to existing shoulders, and pavement marking.

Traffic impacts

WIS 42 will be constructed under single-lane closures via flagging operations for both local and through traffic.

• Note: WIS 42 south of County EE in the project work zone is currently closed for a village of Egg HarborLocal Program project. The construction for this state highway resurfacing will utilize the local closure.

Detour: A WIS 42 detour is being provided by other projects. The detour will follow WIS 57, County V, County A, and County EE.

Project benefits

The purpose of the project is to improve the deteriorating pavement to extend the roadway's service life and upgrade other roadway deficiencies. The project will reduce roadway roughness and provide a smoother driving surface for motorists. The improvements will also extend the life of the existing pavement. New rumble strips will alert vehicles who leave the lane of travel and create a safer driving environment. Upgrades to guardrail and shoulders will further enhance safety.

More information

• Visit the WIS 42 construction website at https://projects.511wi.gov/wis42shore/.
  • Website also contains information for a second WisDOT state highway project on WIS 42 currently under construction in Door County. Egg Harbor is conducting a third project on WIS 42. 
• During construction, traffic impacts and construction operations can be found on the Northeast Region Weekly Highway ConstructionAdvisory at  https://projects.511wi.gov/weeklyupdates-ne/
• Wisconsin’s Northeast Region Twitter @WisDOTnortheast.   

Work Zone Safety

Each year in Wisconsin, both highway workers and motorists are killed and injured in crashes that happen in highway construction zones. Motorists should slow down, be patient, and pay attention to their surroundings in this and all work zones.

For more information regarding work zone rules for motorists, the law restricting hand-held devices, and general work zone safety information, please see our work zone safety website at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/workzone/.

This week at Crossroads, our public programs focus on under-appreciated, but essential components of our environment: biodiversity, fungi and dark skies.

On Saturday, May 11, the Crossroads Habitat Healers will plant native tree seedlings at the Crossroads Workshop starting at 9:00 a.m. The same day, the Door Peninsula Mushroom Club will be in the Collins Learning Center presenting the 2nd Annual Mushroom Day, which will run from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m.

At the Stonecipher Astronomy Center, on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 pm, the program at the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society (DPAS) will be “Dark Skies and Wildlife.” 

We at Crossroads are guided by the words of Aldo Leopold who wrote, “The land ethic simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land... In short, a land ethic changes the role of Homo sapiens from conqueror of the land-community to plain member and citizen of it.”

While Leopold was a passionate advocate for planting trees, he did not write much about biodiversity, fungi, and dark skies….probably because, when he was alive, we were not yet aware of their importance.   

Planting a variety of native trees and shrubs is an extremely effective way to enrich the environment for birds and other wildlife. Dr. Douglas Tallamy explains, “Understand that moths and butterflies and many of our insect pollinators lay their eggs in the leaves of native trees.”

Almost all of our songbirds feed their young exclusively with fat juicy caterpillars. Without a variety of native plants, we would not have a variety of caterpillars. And without a variety of caterpillars, we will not have a variety of nesting birds. If we want nesting birds in the yard, we need a variety of native trees.

Trees and shrubs take simple chemicals from the ground and air, and using the energy of the Sun, through the process of photosynthesis, combine these chemicals into the compounds which make up wood.

After a tree dies (and sometimes it is still alive), fungi take apart the chemical compounds, feed on the carbohydrates, and break down the wood into simple chemicals.

Fungi are not plants nor are they animals. Rather, fungi are living organisms belonging to their own kingdom. There are countless kinds of fungus, all of which probably are more closely related to animals than to plants because they cannot manufacture food.

Some can be harmful. Truly remarkable, the mycorrhizal fungi that have a symbiotic relationship with the roots of many plants are extremely beneficial.  Other fungi feed on dead (and sometimes live) trees and other plants and animals.

Just as apples contain the seeds which will grow into new apple trees, many fungi have fruiting bodies called mushrooms which contain the spores which grow into new fungi.

Most fungus spores blow around and fall in places where they cannot grow. But the spores that fall on dead wood can grow. As they grow, feeding on the sugars manufactured in green leaves, fungi decompose the wood, turning it back into simple chemicals. They help dead trees break down and put chemicals back into the soil—recycling!

Door Peninsula Mushroom Club will hold its 2nd Annual Mushroom Day to celebrate these remarkably varied fruiting bodies we call mushrooms with guided hikes, lectures, demonstrations, and vendors. Whether you are a seasoned mycophile or just curious about the magical world of mushrooms, this event is for you! And it is free and open to the public.

Research scientist Christopher Kyba wrote that for nocturnal animals, “the introduction of artificial light probably represents the most drastic change human beings have made to their environment."

But how on Earth could limiting artificial light at night help protect wildlife?  At the May meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society, Coggin Heeringa will present the program “Dark Skies and Wildlife” and will review emerging research pertaining to the negative effect of artificial light on plants and insects and, by extension, wildlife. The program is free and open to all. Weather permitting, we will open the observatory for night sky viewing.

Spring has sprung. Visit Crossroads by day to see wildflowers and in the evening to hear the frog chorus and see dancing woodcocks. The trails are open all day, every day, free of charge.

Saturday, May 11

10 am to 3 pm 2nd Annual Mushroom Day

Enjoy visiting mushroom-related vendors. Engage in indoor and outdoor mushroom activities, hear informative lectures and learn about wild mushrooms and how to cultivate your own at home. Whether you’re a seasoned mycophile or just curious about the magical world of mushrooms, this event is for you!

Collins Learning Center, Crossroads, 2041 Michigan, Sturgeon Bay

9:00  Habitat Healers: Seedling Tree Plantings

This week Habitat Healers (Crossroads volunteers) will be planting tree seedlings! Wear clothing and footgear that can get dirty and wet and bring a water bottle. Instruction, equipment, and gloves provided along with cookies and lemonade at the end! There is no need to register in advance and all ages are welcome. Meet at the Workshop at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay.

Tuesday, May 14,

 7:00 Meeting of the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society

Visitors are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting of DPAS. Coggin Heeringa, will present the program, “Dark Skies and Wildlife” will interest people who love astronomy  and naturalists. Weather permitting, a viewing night will follow the meeting. Meet at the Stonecipher Astronomy Center, 2200 Utah in Sturgeon Bay.

If you boat off the shores of Door and Kewaunee counties, you may be familiar with the work of Green Bay Marine Conservation Warden Jordan Resop out on the water. Serving on the DNR Warden Team since 2017, Resop was awarded the Boating Officer of The Year Award earlier this week by the state agency. Resop helps manage the Sturgeon Bay Service Center, covering Lake Michigan and its tributaries. According to the DNR, Resop is a highly sought-after trainer who is dedicated to community involvement and customer service. An example of that is work trying to bring loaner life jacket kiosks to an area municipality. Nominated by their peers, Resop was one of a dozen recipients of awards from the DNR’s Division of Public Safety and Resource Protection in honor of their exemplary public service.  

After spending Thursday and a portion of Friday touring spots around the area, the six candidates vying for the title of Alice in Dairyland got to interact directly with community members at the Door County Gala for the Wisconsin Products Showcase. Fox Lake’s Cierra Essock, Oconomowoc’s Halei Heinzel, Denmark’s Katrina Hoesley, Kewaunee’s Kiley Pagel, Kiel’s Lauren Siemers, and Big Bend’s Michaela King are all in the running for the role and spent Friday night featuring Wisconsin-produced products like Christmas trees, honey, maple syrup, ginseng, snapbeans, and cherries. Candidates provided samples and answers to attendees checking out their displays.

 

 

 

 

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Candidates also took turns answering impromptu questions, covering issues in agriculture, topics fourth graders would want to know about, and Door County.

The Wisconsin Products Showcase is one of the final activities the candidates will participate in before the finale on Saturday.

You may play a key role in your neighbors getting faster internet in Sister Bay. The Village of Sister Bay is hosting a series of meetings in the coming weeks about the broadband services that will be made available to residents and business owners through a deal with Bertram Communications. The fiber optic cables will be buried and run to every developed property. The cost to bury the line on private property is at no cost to the property owner, but after the project is complete, should someone want a line buried and box installed, there will be a fee. The meetings will give residents and business owners an opportunity to ask questions and to sign your “Right of Entry” form, allowing crews to come onto your property to bury cable. Village Administrator Julie Schmelzer says whether you want or need the service, your cooperation could be the difference between your neighbors getting fast internet or not.

The first meeting for condominium owners and homeowner associations is Tuesday, May 7th, at 2 p.m. at the fire station. A second public informational session for homeowners, tenants, businesses, and institutions will be held at 5:30 p.m. that same day at the same place. The village will reprise those meetings for people who could not come on June 4th.

You will have the same opportunities to hunt deer in Door County as last year. The state’s County Deer Advisory Councils have met over the previous several weeks, including April 24th in Door County. While the meeting was sparsely attended, dozens of written comments were considered. Some comments called for a ban on baiting, citing that it is causing the deer to be nocturnal. The comments also showed that even though there is some disagreement about the size of the herd of Door County, many would like to see Door County split into three management zones (islands, north, south) so the actual deer populations can be reflected. Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden Chris Kratcha says that the CDAC ultimately decided to keep things as they were last year, including an extended bow season and a holiday hunt.

Just because you can only hunt deer in the fall does not mean you cannot get outdoors. The state’s turkey hunting season is underway until the end of the month, and the inland lake fishing season begins on Saturday.

You may have seen some of Kewaunee County's next leaders roaming the halls of its municipal buildings on Wednesday. Organized by the local American Legion chapters, students from the County’s three high schools toured the Sheriff’s Office, jail museum, courthouse, and administration building as part of the annual Youth Government Day. Kewaunee County Clerk Jamie Annoye says it is great to see young people in the community take an interest in what they do daily.

Annoye says this is the first time they have held their Youth Government Day since 2019. In addition to the tours led by county officials, attorney Kirt Johnson shared his experiences working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and the participants participated in a mock trial.

Pictures courtesy of Kewaunee School District

You will be able to honor the life of Midsummer’s Music co-founder Jean Berkenstock during this season’s performances throughout Door County this year. Last October, Berkenstock passed away over 30 years after she and her husband James created Midsummer’s Music so people in Door County could listen to world-class chamber music right in their own backyard. Shortly after her death, Fleck said Berkenstock helped transform the music scene in Door County.

Mozart, Mendelssohn, Brahms, and more are just some of the composers who will be featured during the nearly 40-show season. Musicians from ensembles like the Chicago Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Ravinia Festival, and the Pro Arte Quartet are scheduled to participate. The season starts June 13th with an Opening Night Gala at the Kress Pavilion in Egg Harbor. You can learn more about the upcoming season and buy tickets by clicking this link.

You will see a familiar face heading up the commercial lending position for the newly created Door County Workforce Housing Lending Corporation.  Kay Smith of Sturgeon Bay has been hired as the nonprofit’s commercial lender.  The organization is a partnership between the Door County Community Foundation and NeighborWorks Green Bay that addresses the challenge that Door County faces with the lack of affordable workforce housing.  Bringing years of experience in the financial services industry locally, Smith is a currently a board member of the Door County Housing Partnership and a past member of the board for Door County Habitat for Humanity.

The WHLC provides key financial incentives for developers to build affordable rental units that is in the price range of working families in Door County.

You can find more information on the Workforce Housing Lending Corporation here.  

You will need to be patient driving in northern Door County as significant improvements on the roadways north of Sister Bay and in Ephraim amp up in the coming weeks.

On Wednesday morning, the Door County Highway Department started a resurfacing project on County ZZ from Meadow Road to Robin Lane.  The paving work will require lane closures and flagging operations at times, and the Highway Department is asking drivers to avoid driving on the oiled surface before the two asphalt lifts are lifted.  The paving part of the project will take six to eight days to get done.   No detour will be used for the project, and after a short curing period, the road work is expected to be completed by May 23, with centerline striping done later. 

Next week in Ephraim, the Door County Highway Department is upgrading the street and drainage on County Q/Moravia and Church Streets.  Starting Monday, a portion of the asphalt roadway, along with concrete and blacktop driveways, will be removed.  Crews will then grade and compact the roadway in preparation for new paving, which will take almost a week to complete.  You can expect temporary lane closures during the paving operations, and the work is planned to be done by the end of the month as long as Mother Nature cooperates.

The Door County Highway Department apologizes for any inconvenience and says you should follow all signs and use caution when traveling around road construction equipment and crews.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor who stepped up for the Door County YMCA to help the organization reach its annual campaign goal of $602,000, the YMCA raised well over $50,000 in April due to the matching fund donation.   YMCA Mission Advancement Executive Brett Cleveland says the outpouring of support is something to celebrate.

Executive Director Tanya Felhofer shares how the money raised stays entirely in Door County while meeting the program needs of the community.

The Door County YMCA has over 11,000 members while providing financial assistance to more than 1,100 persons who otherwise could not afford membership. On the Y Wednesday Podcast page, you can listen to the entire interview with Brett Cleveland and Tanya Felhofer on the annual campaign and upcoming events at the Door County YMCA.  

Katina Baur, the mother of missing three-year-old Elijah Vue, has been denied a reduction in her bond by a judge as she awaits trial for child neglect charges.

Judge Robert Dewane denied Baur’s motion to reduce or amend her $15,000 cash bond to a signature bond.A signature bond allows someone to be released with a paying bond by meeting certain guidelines and promising to report back in court.

According to ABC News, Dewane ruled to deny bail because ““This would be an entirely different situation if the child in question were here. He’s not. And I don’t know what that means in terms of the context this and taking a long view of the case here. But it’s a significant factor. I mean, she’s charged with party to the crime of neglect of the child, and the child is missing,”

Baur is scheduled to return to court on May 28 for a status conference.   Her boyfriend, Jesse Vang is also charged with felony chronic child neglect.  Vang’s status conference is set for July 28.  

Elijah Vue has been missing since February 20 from the Two Rivers area.

The American Lung Association is sending the Door Peninsula to the principal’s office for its poor grades in its most recent State of the Air report card. The organization looks at the number of days a county’s air reaches unhealthy levels on the Air Quality Index for ozone and puts those days on a weighted scale for days that are unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange), unhealthy (red), very unhealthy (purple), and hazardous (maroon). Based on data collected from 26 counties, Door County was one of seven counties with a failing grade, and Kewaunee County was one of three counties with a D grade. Only nine of the 26 reported counties received a grade of B or greater. Over the last three years, Door County had 12 orange ozone days, and Kewaunee County had five orange ozone days and one red. The State of the Air report card did not collect particle pollution data for its study.

Despite the low ratings now, it is a far cry from what was when Door County's weighted annual average, which covers a three-year time, stood at nearly 24 ozone days between 1997-1999. In fact, it did not dip below 15 ozone days until 2006-2008. Now, Door County's weighted annual average hovers around five ozone days over a three-year time period, which is where it has been since 2006-2008.

Poor air quality in northeast Wisconsin is attributed to local factors. Its location is downwind from Milwaukee and Chicago, where more pollution is produced. In 2022, the Door County area was formally redesignated to attain the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ground-level ozone, meeting a recent national standard set to protect public health. 

This article previously and accidentally excluded the term weighted annual average, which takes the number of ozone action days over the course of three years.