March 19 – April 2

• State Representative Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) will receive two awards for his legislative efforts concerning public access television and seatbelts. The Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels has awarded Bies their 2010 “Friend of Access Award” in recognition of his efforts to secure passage of two proposals regarding the cable television and ensuring the viability of community access channels.

The Meharry State-Farm Alliance will award Bies its “Seatbelt Champion Award” for his efforts on raising awareness of the importance of seatbelts and his work on Wisconsin’s seatbelt laws.

“I greatly appreciate both of these awards,” said Bies. “These kinds of issues are often overlooked but still impact the lives of many people.”

• The Village of Egg Harbor is now leasing slips for the 2010 season at the newly reconstructed marina. There will be slips for both long-term or seasonal lease and also slips dedicated for transient use.

Amenities include gas and diesel fuel, pump out availability, Wi-Fi, free water, electricity and cable TV, playground and shower facilities, a full-time marina staff and close proximity to downtown restaurants and shopping.

For more information contact the Village of Egg Harbor at 920.868.3334 or email [email protected].

• Feed the Fish, director Michael Matzdorff’s movie filmed in Door County in the winter of 2009, will be screened at the Wisconsin Film Festival April 16. Matzdorff was interviewed about the film recently by the Web site Rex Sikes Movie Beat. Listen to the interview at http://www.rexsikes.com.

• Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Kewaunee was selected to receive a $4,904,000 loan and $2,086,500 grant for the construction of a new wastewater treatment system that will improve efficiency, protect public health and safeguard groundwater quality. The project will construct a new aeration basin, headworks, laboratory and office. An existing building will be upgraded. The new waste water system will meet State Department of Natural Resources requirements.

The project is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

• Northern Door officials and fire chiefs decided to table discussion of forming a Northern Door Fire District until the fall at a meeting March 29.

Liberty Grove Town Chairman John Lowry said he’s happy that a conversation has begun among fire chiefs and municipal officials.

“The important thing is that everyone sat around the table and talked,” Lowry said. “It’s like with the room tax discussions a few years ago. Once you talk enough, people realize they can get along.”

Lowry said board members learned a lot about how much the fire department has evolved over the last 20 years and the extent of mutual aid agreements, and fire chiefs hopefully became more aware of some board and public concerns. Lowry said it’s clear that recruiting enough volunteer manpower is a major issue for the departments.

“The possibility of forming an auxiliary to handle paperwork, traffic control and such was brought up and is worth looking into,” Lowry said. Such a group would not need the training that firefighters require.