News Bulletin: New Eagle License Plate Design in High Demand

WHAT HAPPENED

• On Sept. 1, 2015, Governor Scott Walker proclaimed September 2015 as Coastal Awareness Month in Wisconsin in recognition of the important impact that the Great Lakes have on the state. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are integral to Wisconsin’s economy, recreation, tourism, cultural history and quality of life. The Governor’s proclamation is a reminder for the people of Wisconsin to protect, promote and enjoy the state’s Great Lakes. As part of September is Coastal Awareness Month, on Friday, Sept. 25, at 10 am at the Northport Pier Visitor Center & Ferry Landing, 215 Hwy. 42, Northport, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program will host a commendation in celebration and recognition of the Washington Island Ferry’s 75th anniversary.

• Sales of Wisconsin’s new eagle design license plate are taking off and on pace to exceed the first year performance of its two predecessor Endangered Resources plates, state endangered resources officials say. “We’re pleased with the early results and happy to give people an opportunity to buy a great plate and help care for one of the great things they love about Wisconsin,” says Owen Boyle, acting director of the Department of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Conservation program. Sales of the specialty plate donate $25 annually to the Endangered Resources Fund, which pays for work by DNR Natural Heritage Conservation staff and partners to care for native species, including rare plants and animals and state natural areas such as Baileys Harbor Boreal Forest and Wetlands in Door County, Rush Creek in Crawford County and Van Vliet Hemlocks in Vilas County. The Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles started processing applications for the plate and have issued 427 eagle plates since then, according to Cody Castillo, lead worker in the division’s special plates unit. In the first year of the badger design, 1,800 plates were sold and 1,400 wolf plates were sold in that design’s first year. To learn more about the eagle plate and how to order it, go to dnr.wi.gov and search “eagle plate.”

“We very much appreciate people buying the plate and helping promote it,” Boyle says. “We invite people to share a photo of them with their plate to show what nature means to them.” To submit photos for our “Talon Your Eagle Plate Story” promotion, motorists who buy the plate can go to the DNR Facebook page (facebook.com/WIDNR). Photos also may be submitted via mobile device using this link: woobox.com/v3qqhs. People also may submit their photo via Twitter or Instagram by posting their photo and using the hashtag #wieagleplate. Anyone submitting photos must be at least 16 years old and must own the license they photograph. They will receive a free tote bag featuring the eagle plate design.

COMING UP

• The main clinic entrance to Ministry Door County Medical Center (MDCMC) in Sturgeon Bay will be closed starting Saturday, Sept. 26, and will reopen Saturday, Oct. 3 due to renovations related to the clinic construction project. MDCMC is expanding clinic space to increase patient comfort and accessibility. The new clinic will be completed in spring of 2016. During the closure, patients will be directed to the Emergency Department entrance, where valet services will continue to be offered. Volunteers will be on hand to assist patients in finding their destination. “Our goal is to continue to provide the best care, in a convenient, close-to-home location,” says Jodi Hibbard, Director of Clinic Operations. “All clinic, hospital and emergency services will continue without interruption during the week-long entrance closure.”

• On Oct., from 9 am to 11:30 am (lunch following), the Ephraim Moravian Church, 9970 Moravia St., will host a Heartland Poverty symposium at the church. The forum and luncheon are free, and all who are involved as community leaders, faith leaders, and any citizens who are interested in learning more about poverty in Door County are encouraged to participate. The facilitator is David Liners, state director of WISDOM, an ecumenical consortium of churches that work on justice issues in Wisconsin. The forum will give an overview of the “hidden” poverty we have in Door County, and what can be done individually and as groups to alleviate the poverty here. RSVP to attend so they know approximate numbers for the luncheon: 920.854.2804.