Oct. 30 – Nov. 13

• The Sevastopol School Board approved a 2009-10 budget of $9,636,341, with a tax levy of $7,399,063. The next school board meeting is Nov. 23 at 7 pm.

• September’s Challenge Walk MS raised over $250,000 for research and programs for people with multiple sclerosis. The three-day, 50-mile walk was held in Door County.

• Howard physician Marc Trager became the fifth Republican to join the race to challenge incumbent Congressman Steve Kagen (D – Appleton). He joins Reid Ribble, Marc Savard, Andy Williams, and Kerry Thomas in the race for the Republican nomination. Kagen is serving his second term as the 8th Congressional District Representative to the United States Congress.

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard a Door County man’s argument that the wording of a 2006 referendum to ban gay marriage and civil union rights for same-sex couples was unconstitutional. Bill McConkey of Baileys Harbor, a self-described conservative, has argued for several years that the referendum involved two questions and, by law, should have been proposed as two separate referenda. A ruling is not expected for a couple months.

• The Friends of Wisconsin State Parks honored two Door County parks Oct. 23 at an awards banquet at the Horicon Marsh International Education Center. Newport Wilderness Society was given a Hero Award as the most Successful Friends Group. Peninsula State Park was awarded a Gold Seal Award for best family campground, and Newport State Park was given a Gold Seal Award as the Best Walk-in Campsite. Nick Meiers, assistant summer naturalist at Peninsula State Park, received an award of his photo of a sunset taken at Weborg Point. The awards are selected by the public through voting on the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks Web site.

• The Homebuyers Tax Credit was extended and expanded in a $24 billion federal stimulus bill signed into law Nov. 6. The tax credit was scheduled to expire Nov. 30, but will now stay in effect through April 30, 2010. First-time homebuyers will continue to be eligible for a credit up to $8,000, and now existing homeowners will be eligible for a credit up to $6,500. Current homeowners must have lived in their current residence for at least five of the last eight years. The maximum purchase price is $800,000.