Wisconsin Leads Census Participation

• Wisconsin had the highest level of participation of any state in the 2010 United States Census. Eighty-one percent of Wisconsinites mailed back their census form. Census returns were strongest in the Midwest, where Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and Indiana joined Wisconsin to form the top five respondents. Door County’s participation rate was 84 percent, while the national rate was 72 percent.

• The Village of Egg Harbor renewed the contract of Administrator Josh Van Lieshout for three more years at its July 12 board meeting.

• The Village of Ephraim is considering expansion of its fire station and has appointed a certified engineer to design an addition. The village has also appointed a sub-committee made up of Fire Chief Niles Weborg, Assistant Fire Chief Justin MacDonald and Fireman Paul Pillat. The sub-committee is charged with finding a new pumper truck for Ephraim with a tentative delivery date of 2012.

• Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold was named legislator of the year by the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers for his support of veterans’ issues. The organization singled out Feingold’s support of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, which provides grants to state and local governmental entities to conduct outreach to veterans and help them obtain the care and benefits to which they are entitled.