Ferry Line gets grant to repower Robert Noble

• The Washington Island Ferry Line was awarded a grant for $145,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to repower the Robert Noble ferry. New Tier II CAT diesel engines are expected to reduce the ferry’s fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent and burn fuel more cleanly, reducing the emissions of harmful particulates by hundreds of tons over the next 20 years. The repowering will be done by Bay Shipbuilding later this fall. The grant will cover about 23 percent of the total project cost, while the ferry line will cover the rest.

The Robert Noble was built by Peterson Builders of Sturgeon Bay in 1979.

• Pat Veeser, a Luxemburg machinist, announced that he will run as a Democrat for the 1st Assembly District seat held by Republican Garey Bies of Sister Bay. Bies has held the seat since 2000.

• The Door County Silent Sports Alliance (DCSSA) held their annual meeting at the Lodge at Leathem Smith Sept. 26. The organization’s 2011 efforts were recapped and 2012 board members were elected.

One focus of the organization has been working on the development of a countywide bike route plan. Sturgeon Bay Mayor Thad Birmingham provided words of encouragement for the project and the group’s objectives.

“Government works incredibly slow,” he said. “The point is perseverance. All of you here need to really just stay the course, believe in what you’re doing.”

Nate Selle and Josh Van Lieshout were elected as new board members, while Rich Dirks was reelected to his board position. Bryan Troutman was appointed co-president with Bob Dickson.