April 2020

Tue
21
Apr
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Spring sports canceled

For more than a month, they held out hope.

They crossed their fingers and kept preparing for a season they knew might never arrive.

Tuesday, the end officially came for high school coaches and athletes across the state.

The WIAA’s Board of Control voted, 10-1, to cancel spring sports competitions and the spring sports tournament series. Spring sports coaches will still be allowed to coach virtually through the end of the state tournament for their specific sport.

Spring coaches were also given 30 out-of-season contact days — up from the typical five days — to work with athletes in July and August. Those days can’t begin, though, unless state and/or local guidelines allow. Coaches must also work with spring athletes currently in Grades 9-12.

Tue
21
Apr
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Electric Car Parade Planned for Earth Day

MADISON–An electric car parade has been planned in celebration of Earth Day on April 22. The parade will begin and end at Marshall Park in Madison, and is expected to kick off at 11: 30 a.m. and conclude at around 1 p.m.

The parade’s goal is to celebrate Earth Day, raise awareness of care for the environment, and promote electric vehicles, in a way that practices safe distancing during Covid-19. 

All EV and plug-in hybrids are welcome to participate in the event. 

Feel free to decorate with banners, posters, signs, flags, streamers, plants, flowers, balloons, shaving cream, tin cans, etc. Please make sure everything is well attached so we are not littering our beautiful green world or causing driving hazards. Also feel free to play music or make noise!

To add your vehicle or ask questions, contact Carol Phelps at: carolandp@yahoo.com 

 

Sun
19
Apr
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Partnership Announced to Help Feed Wisconsinites, Benefit State Dairy Farmers

MILWAUKEE–Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) have joined forces with the state’s leading antihunger organization, Hunger Task Force, to help provide relief to the growing numbers of underfed and unemployed by connecting milk to emergency food organizations throughout the state.

With the substantial support of the local individual donor community during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunger Task Force will commit up to $1 million to the newly created Wisconsin Dairy Recovery Program. Wisconsin dairy farmers will be paid to supply milk to farmer-owned dairy cooperative Kemps, who will kick off the beginning phase of this week by processing thousands of gallons of milk at its Cedarburg, Wis. facility.

Thu
16
Apr
Thu
16
Apr
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State Safer at Home Order Extended

MADISON–On April 16, Gov. Tony Evers directed Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to extend the Safer at Home order from April 24,  to 8 a.m. to May 26, or until a superseding order is issued. The order implements some new measures to ensure safety and support the progress we've made in containing COVID-19, but also allows certain activities to start up again. 

“A few weeks ago, we had a pretty grim outlook for what COVID-19 could mean for our state, but because of the efforts of all of you, Safer at Home is working. That said, we aren't out of the woods just yet,” said Gov. Evers. “As I've said all along, we are going to rely on the science and public health experts to guide us through this challenge. So, as we extend Safer at Home, I need all of you to continue doing the good work you've been doing so we can keep our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe, and get through this storm together.”

Wed
15
Apr
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Francis G. "Frank" Ryan

MIDDLETON–Francis G. ("Frank") Ryan Jr., died unexpectedly on April 10, 2020 of cardiac arrest.  Born and raised in Chicago, Frank graduated from Sullivan High School in 1954 and enlisted in the United States Army in 1955 where he served nearly three years.

He graduated from Marquette University in 1962 and married Claire McMahon, a teacher at Marquette, in New York City later that year.

Hired by United Press International (UPI), Frank spent two years in their Milwaukee Bureau and transferred to Madison in 1966. As Bureau Chief and political reporter, he covered the Governor's Office and State Legislature, news stories of a tumultuous era, and sports. Frank's twice weekly commentaries appeared in newspapers statewide, and he wrote for Madison Magazine.

Wed
15
Apr
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Edna Kathryn (Schroeder) Healy

CEDAR FALLS, IA–Edna Kathryn (Schroeder) Healy, 95, went home to be with her Lord and Friend on March 30, 2020.

Edna was born on April 30, 1924, to August and Elsie (Koepcke) Schroeder on a farm near Verona, and six months later her family moved to a farm on University Avenue in Middleton.  Edna graduated from Middleton High School in 1941 and attended Madison Business College.

In 1944, Edna married Harry Burdette Healy from River Falls. They were married for 63 years.  She worked for 25 years at the Middleton Piggly Wiggly (later Eagle) where she was head cashier. Edna cherished her many friends and she always enjoyed remembering them with a card or with her famous cookies.

Edna and Harry were blessed with two children, Annelle Eickhoff (Ben) and Michael (Billie), six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Wed
15
Apr
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Lazaretto

There is an old Russian adage that people who are destined for the firing squad need not fear drowning. 

In the end, only one thing will get us, and all the thousands of other perceived threats we worried about during our rich and varied lives will ultimately fail to triumph over us. All these wolves that give pursuit will pull up short. All but one. 

There is also a famous parable about a poor beggar covered in oozing sores, probably a leper, who grovels for scraps that fall from a rich man’s table. His name is Lazarus, and from his name comes the term “lazaretto” or “lazaret.” A lazaretto was a quarantine station for maritime travelers, an island or ship where people at the end of a long journey would be locked up in isolation for a period before rejoining the general population. The crumbling ruins of old lazarettos still stand on islands off the coasts of the many countries that had bustling ports during the Age of Exploration. 

Wed
15
Apr
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Red Coat & Army Jacket

Red Coat & Army Jacket

I feel, for the most part, I am a pretty observant person. I notice my environment and I am always assessing everything around me. I see the faces of the homeless, I compliment people on their clothes and generally am able to describe the setting I’m in at a later date.

Lately one of the things I have been watching every day is my neighbors conducting a sword fight with what looks like metal vacuum cleaner tubes. They play out these makeshift swordfights daily, and their back yard is directly adjacent to ours. 

I first saw the pair, who look for be mid-teens, when I was standing over the sink washing dishes about two-and-a-half weeks ago. It seems I have been in that very spot a lot lately, what with the constant cooking going on during the pandemic. I have named them “Red Coat” and “Army Jacket” for their preferred attire during these bouts. 

Wed
15
Apr
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Loans, Grants Available to Small Businesses

DANE COUNTY–“Unprecedented.” “Historic.” “Unique.” Those are some of the words area bankers used to described the SBA (Small Business Administration), Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans available as part of the federal CARES Act.

Jim Tubbs, State Bank of Cross Plains (SBCP) President and CEO, and Ken Thompson, Capitol Bank (Capitol) President and CEO and chair-elect of the Wisconsin Bankers Association explained how the PPP loans work, and how business owners can potentially have 100 percent of the loan forgiven by the SBA.

The PPP loan process began on April 3 and banks have been busy assisting customers and processing the loans, which vary widely in amounts. The federal government set a cap at $350 billion for the program, with no limits as to how much a particular state can use.

These are some features that set the PPP loans apart. 

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