News Bulletin: Feb. 5 – 12

WHAT HAPPENED

• Effective Feb. 3, the southwest section of the Door County Snowmobile Trail System opened and is listed in fair condition. All other sections remain open. Call 920.746.9959 for the current trail status and conditions or check the Door County government website at co.door.wi.gov and click on the “Snowmobile Trail Conditions” quick link on the right side of the homepage for the full report.

• On Jan. 27, Sturgeon Bay Police Dept. officers were dispatched to a residence on the east side of Sturgeon Bay for a suspicious phone call. Officers found that a male had called the complainant from a 414 area code stating he was calling on behalf of the Sturgeon Bay Fire Department and the Door County Fire Department. The man asked for a donation to the departments, which the complainant told the man she wouldn’t be donating as she believed it was a scam. A short time later the complainant hung up on the man. The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department is not asking for donations nor do they contact people by phone for donations. Contact police if you have any questions about suspicious calls, mail, or any other incidents at 920.746.2450.

• Sixty-three small regional businesses have formed the Chequamegon Bay Downstream Business Coalition, a coalition opposed to the proposed hog operation in the Town of Eileen, Bayfield County. The 63 businesses employ 937 employees and represent a cross-section of industries – including agriculture, entertainment, technology, transportation and tourism. The Coalition was formed by Farms Not Factories (“FNF”), a local sustainable agriculture group, as an attempt to highlight the current number of small businesses who are dependent on clean water, clean air and northern Wisconsin quality of life as well as the employees who currently work and live in the Chequamegon Bay region, say members. Dale Reicks, owner of the proposed Badgerwood Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, has said they would bring 30-35 jobs to the region. The Coalition hopes to show that in contrast to the 30-35 promised jobs; the region currently has at least 937 jobs and 63 local businesses that would be at risk if the water is compromised. The hog farm will produce 10 million gallons annually of manure in the Fish Creek watershed, which flows into Lake Superior. “As the operator of the Washburn Marina, our business depends on the pristine waters of Chequamegon Bay to draw customers, who come to this location from all parts of the United States for the clean water,” said Michelle Shrider, general manager of Washburn Marina. To join the coalition or for a complete list of members, visit farmsnotfactorieswi.org/chequamegon-bay-downstream-business-coalition/.

COMING UP

• State Representative Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) announced a series of in-district listening sessions. The mission of these sessions is to connect with constituents to discuss issues and concerns that directly impact the 1st Assembly District. “The Assembly is planning to wrap up this session by the beginning of March,” said Rep. Kitchens. “My colleagues and I have had a busy couple of weeks in Madison, and I would like to connect with my constituents to discuss recent progress, and the future of our district.” Kitchens will be available to meet with constituents at the following locations and times: Kewaunee County Listening Session: Algoma City Hall Council Chambers, Monday, Feb. 8, 4-5:30 pm. 

Door County Listening Session: Sturgeon Bay High School Library, Monday, Feb. 8, 7-8:30 pm.

• The League of Women Voters of Door County will hold a candidate forum for the Southern Door Board of Education at 7 pm on Weds., Feb. 24, at the Southern Door High School Library. The candidates are Gregory R. Keolpien, Kim DeGrave Nowikowski, Jamie Schmilling, Kim M. Starr, Cory Vandertie and Kim D. Welch.

• Sturgeon Bay City Clerk Stephanie Reinhardt urges voters to make sure they have an acceptable photo ID for voting, beginning with the February 2016 primary election. Acceptable photo IDs include Wisconsin driver’s license; Wisconsin state ID card; military ID card; U.S. passport; a Certificate of Naturalization within two years of issuance; driver’s license receipt issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, within 45 days of issuance; ID issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe; a photo ID issued by a Wisconsin-accredited university or college, along with an enrollment verification document, valid for two years from the date of issuance. IDs are still valid if they expired after the date of the most recent general election (Nov. 4, 2014). An acceptable photo ID is not required to include a current address. You can receive a free state ID from your local Department of Motor Vehicles office of you specifically request a free ID for voting purposes.