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By the Numbers

We give you a two-pronged “By the Numbers” this week.

First, some facts and projections from the 2008 Door County Workforce Profile. (View the report at dwd.wisconsin.gov. Search Door County Workforce Profile 2008.) The numbers continue to hammer home the point that peninsula leaders must deal with our aging population in a meaningful way, and fast, or bingo is going to be considered a “young man’s” activity by the time today’s newborns are graduating from high school.

2,082

Population growth of Door County from 2000 to 2007

26.3

Percent increase in the population in the Town of Gibraltar between 2000 and 2007

23

Percent of Door County’s population that will be 65 or older in 2010

43.1

Projected percent that will be that age 2030

19

Percent drop expected in the number of residents that participate in the labor force between 2010 and 2030

And now, the Rodney “Chief” Billerbeck Edition, in honor of the longtime Gibraltar coach who died March 18 at the age of 83. Over the years he took the helm of football and basketball teams at Gibraltar, but was most recognized for his time as the school’s baseball coach. His story is best told with more than statistics, but the numbers are a good place to start.

377

Career wins as baseball coach accumulated by Billerbeck, a state record

1979

The year Billerbeck led the Vikings to the first team sport state championship in Door County history

18

Conference baseball titles Billerbeck won at Gibraltar

1

Number of youth baseball teams named after Billerbeck. The Nor-Door Chiefs Legion team is named for him.

0

Number of conference losses for the 1963 Gibraltar Vikings basketball team, coached by Billerbeck