a convoy of over 200 vehicles made its way through Oostburg carrying powerful messages like “You matter” and “It's ok to not be ok.” The event was a tribute to the memory of Nicole Warner a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short by suicide at just 19 years old Watch: Sheboygan-Manitowoc convoy shines light on mental health awareness: we would hang out all the time," her brother Nicole was known for her outgoing personality and had a lot of friends She was particularly passionate about 4-H and her horse Nicole was “fighting demons,” as their mother “Now it’s five years later and her friends are having babies And what would she be doing today?" Deenice said The heartbreak for the Warner family didn’t stop there my dad had left some flowers for my daughter out where she passed the Warner family sought a way to channel their grief into something positive “Everyone always said it’ll be normal in a while “Seeing three people at home when it used to be four is weird.” The convoy was a step toward raising awareness about mental health Seth led the pack on a motorcycle dedicated to Nicole which is the purple and the light blue stripe,” Seth said I did also put her name on the front and her birth and death date on the back.” Once the trek concluded at the Manitowoc Expo community members gathered to fundraise with raffles I’m actually running an ultra-marathon in honor of my uncle,” Zach explained “It’s just great to see the community involvement and how many people came out for it," his wife added Nicole's friend Nathan Hassler drove his newly-owned semi in the convoy "I figured it's the first year with it on the road driving it for myself so I figured I'd bring it out spend some money and show some support," he said Hassler brought his partner Taylor and 8-month-old daughter and says he's hoping these messages of love and support will tame the tough world we live in — for her sake "Everybody has a voice and they need to use it This year’s event proceeds will go to Plymouth-based nonprofit Mental Health America Lakeshore to utilize in local schools “Letting people know that they’re not alone in the world "There are plenty of people out here for everyone to talk to there’s someone,” one participant emphasized “See if we can try to save one person," Deenice said Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip Report a typo Sheboygan letter-writers on Evergreen Park plan, respect for dialogueShare your views in a letter of 250 words or fewer by emailing it to breid@gannett.com or news@sheboyganpress.com.Sheboygan PressHere are this week's letters to the editor of the Sheboygan Press See our letters policy below for details about how to share your views Read more in Opinion: Click here for the latest Opinion headlines A recent letter (“Oppose expanding mountain biking at Evergreen Park,” April 26) opposing Sheboygan County Cycling’s Evergreen Park Concept Plan repeats fearmongering from the “Save Evergreen Park” Facebook page these bike trails are already there and have been for more than 30 years Much of the park needs re-vegetation and repair after years of neglect The city is not wholly to blame; the lack of volunteers is How many of the plan’s critics volunteer with the city to improve the park It’s sad to think that most of them sit at home angrily posting on Facebook on a page cultivating an echo chamber and deriding comments that appear “in favor” of the project SCC is the only nonprofit putting in meaningful volunteer hours for trail maintenance If the detractors were about “saving” the park they would welcome a plan that addresses the trail issues they highlight rehabilitating trails so they drain well and erode less And the Concept Plan will benefit walkers of the park; multi-use trails are a cornerstone of the plan and watch/listen/attend SCC’s Q&A — it could be fruitful Mountain bikers will continue to be a daily presence in Evergreen Park It would be a shame for the community to lose an opportunity to add about $1 million of improvements (20% already funded) to a park we all know needs work not dismiss itAt a public listening session in Plymouth April 28 Assembly member Lindee Brill made a troubling statement: while she is willing to hear from constituents “you’re not going to change my mind usually on things.” Listening sessions are meant to give the public a voice — not just a microphone to speak into while decisions stay pre-determined When an elected official says outright that new perspectives are unlikely to change her thinking it undermines the very purpose of public engagement Assembly member Brill has a duty to represent all of her constituents Real leadership means considering different views and — yes — sometimes being willing to change Refusing to listen with an open mind doesn’t show strength; it shows inflexibility that harms the people she was elected to serve We deserve representatives who respect dialogue Assembly member Brill’s approach is disappointing and it should concern everyone who believes that democracy works best when leaders are willing to listen and learn — not just dictate As a frequent walker/runner through Evergreen Park hearing countless bird calls and being immersed in the serenity of our city’s gem But a private cycling club aims to turn our beautiful park into a mountain biking destination adding new trails and constructing large asphalt areas for bike skills training jumps and tricks — all of which would involve removing trees and overall increasing the traffic and noise of the park I am deeply concerned a group could take over a park in what could be called a “land grab” of city property the city can no longer handle maintenance of the trails has the city ever asked for volunteers to assist a survey was sent to all Sheboygan city residents regarding the club’s plans And did it make clear what these plans actually were There are other locations in Sheboygan more suited to a cycling center A mountain biking park is not what our Evergreen Park was intended to be nature’s beauty cannot be repurchased at any price” (Ansel Adams) Do you want our treasured park to be changed forever please contact our mayor and alderpersons and ask them to vote “No” on proposed plan Resolution 156-24-25 My family moved to Sheboygan a year-and-a-half ago We bought a house just outside Evergreen Park and use the park regularly and my kids all agree that the Shaw Family Playground is the best in the city there has been much commotion over the plans Sheboygan County Cycling has for upgrading the park While I appreciate the desire to protect the park I feel the negativity needs to be addressed Many community members see the “Save Evergreen Park” signs and are afraid without knowing the details until I learned specifically what SCC has planned The proposed changes by SCC will significantly improve the safety and usability of the park By clearly marking and widening the trails these improvements will help protect the park’s ecosystem by reducing erosion and minimizing damage to the environment but I am excited for the opportunity to learn and teach my children with the resources that are planned to be added Evergreen Park is a beloved shared resource and these upgrades will enhance its accessibility and sustainability for everyone I urge the community to support SCC’s plans and help make Evergreen Park a safer and more enjoyable place for all Letters to the editor are published in the order in which they are received and letter-writers are limited to having one letter published per month. Letters can be emailed to news@sheboyganpress.com and Editor Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com including being no more than 250 words and be from local authors or on topics of local interest All submissions must include the name of the person who wrote the letter their city of residence and a contact phone number SHEBOYGAN – Here’s a roundup of some things to know from across the community Local Food Fair at Nourish Farms May 10Nourish Farms will host its fifth annual Local Food Fair from 9 a.m The free event features more than 40 local vendors For more details, go to nourishfarms.org Sheboygan Theatre Company’s production of “Legally Blonde: the Musical” will open May 9 at the Leslie W Johnson Theatre at Horace Mann Middle School Based on the novel and the hit movie of the same name “Legally Blonde: the Musical” chronicles the journey of the famously perky Elle Woods UCLA sorority girl who finds her life turned upside down when she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner May 17 performance includes ASL translation Tickets available by calling the Community Recreation Department at 920-459-3773 or online at stcshows.org Read more: Grammy-winning Cajun band to kick off Sheboygan's 10-date summer Levitt AMP Music Series WordHaven BookHouse book lovers and anyone who feels they “have a book in them” at 2 p.m & Thriving,” the one-hour class with Q&A will be led by Wisconsin authors Amy E Suggested admission is $20, but a news release said all are welcome, regardless of ability to pay. For more information, visit https://www.wordhaven-bookhouse.com/new-events/keep-going or call WordHaven at 920-395-2375 Upcoming events at Kohler-Andrae State Park Learn to fly event coming to Sheboygan County AirportEAA Chapter 766 is hosting a “Flying Start” program at 9:30 a.m. May 17 at the Sheboygan County Airport the event will introduce attendees to the steps and requirements for learning to fly Anyone with an aviation interest is invited to attend The event is part of EAA Learn to Fly Week which features free interactive webinars from May 13 to May 15 aim to grow participation in aviation through various activities Keep up with your phone: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Sheboygan Press app In remembrance of the 50th anniversary of the fall of Cambodia, Neil Hansen and his co-author, Luann Grosscup, will recount his harrowing and poignant tale at the Aviation Heritage Center of Wisconsin at Sheboygan County Airport this month In the months leading up to the Cambodian holocaust in 1975 returned to Southeast Asia to fly in Phnom Penh a world away from the peaceful flying he had been doing in New Zealand The Cambodian government was in a state of collapse who would eventually murder nearly 3 million of their fellow countrymen Hansen escaped with his life by stealing a plane and flying in the blind to Bangkok mere hours before the Khmer Rouge closed the airport His story is immortalized in his book “Flight: An Air America Pilot’s Story of Adventure Read more: Story behind vintage Sheboygan photo of well-dressed man on a dead horse remains a mystery Wade House Historic Site will open for the season May 24 One of Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums Wade House in Greenbush includes an 1850s stagecoach inn that was built to serve traffic along a plank road connecting Fond du Lac and Sheboygan The site tells the story of frontier entrepreneur Sylvanus Wade and his family during the 1850s and 1860s the historic site includes the Dockstader blacksmith shop and Herrling sawmill water-powered sawmills of its kind in the nation which houses the state’s largest collection of antique carriages and working wagons Visitors can tour the historic inn and the carriage museum and take horse-drawn wagon rides through Kettle Moraine Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children with free entry for Wisconsin Historical Society members Some planned events throughout the season include horse-powered rides in a replica stagecoach Goat Yoga and a Father’s Day weekend event featuring interactions with farm animals “Savor the Solstice: A Cocktail and Beer Tasting Adventure” also returns June 19 Perennial favorites like Wade House Carriage Driving Days The season runs through Nov. 2 and hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Tickets can be purchased online at wadehouse.org or by calling 920-526-3271 Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com SHEBOYGAN – Nearly 200 protesters gathered near Fountain Park to protest President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk’s actions in the first 100 days of this presidential term, joining thousands across the country on May Day Not Penguins,” “Impeach Convict Remove,” “Dump Trump” and “May Day Save Democracy From Trump!” were just a few of the signs protesters held standing on the four corners and along the streets at the busy North Eighth Street and Erie Avenue intersection Donald Trump has got to go” and “We are many they are few.” Protesters waved American and Pride flags advocating for worker and immigrant rights were also collected to benefit mothers at Safe Harbor and Bridgeway House Donations can still be dropped off at Paradigm Coffee and Music Those who spoke with the Sheboygan Press said they were participating because they were outraged with federal funding cuts tariffs and other actions targeting working people a former teacher with 35 years of experience said she taught in the Philippines under a dictatorship She said she feels Trump’s executive orders and the Department of Government Efficiency are moving the U.S you know you've never let this country go,” she said “A coup is happening right now in front of our eyes.”  Hilt participates in the weekly “We the People” protests that have been held at the corner of North 14th Street and Erie Avenue at 4:30 p.m Thursdays and noon Saturdays for the past several months "This is about saving our democracy so we can live in it Dugan is facing federal charges for allegations of trying to assist an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest he said his suppliers are seeing delays getting products from Mexico and challenges shipping products from China and South Korea “I have no way to plan because it could be completely changed the next day,” Van Wattingen said Tariffs imported from China have a 145% tariff, which Trump has said will “come down substantially” at some point A couple weeks ago he said his administration was negotiating with other countries on tariffs Numerous Anti-Trump protests have emerged across the state since he took office, including in sixth congressional district communities like Manitowoc and Oshkosh Glenn Grothman told the Sheboygan Press protesters in Sheboygan were “ill-informed” and should wait to see what actually comes to fruition federal staffing and bureaucratic agencies America was pushing affirmative action and DEI way too much and was too race-conscious,” Grothman said “And I was glad that President Trump stood up to these people who I think were trying to divide America.”  said she was protesting with the community to demonstrate she cares for any community member She’s also worried how possible federal funding cuts could impact county resources for low-income communities with limited options, like programming for mental health, low-income housing vouchers and the Families + Neighbors Together program The neighborhood-based prevention and early intervention initiative offers support related to housing Perrella said the county hoped Families + Neighbors Together would receive federal funding after the American Rescue Plan Act funds end the cuts will trickle down to a point that perhaps in a few months we will feel the pain even more,” Perrella said Grothman told the Sheboygan Press he isn’t sure how federal funding cuts could affect local programs but he said they shouldn’t be funded with federal funds “They (protesters) have to realize that we can't keep spending as we have been," Grothman said Andrew and Cheryl Sohn said they’ve been disappointed when calling Grothman’s office They also said they were told several times by staffers that recent actions involving a move to dismantle the Department of Education and sweeping funding cuts were made by the executive branch But the Sohns want to know where Grothman stands on the issues and if he plans to take any action and Glen Grothman is doing nothing,” Cheryl said “If this comes to a vote, is he going to stand up for the people of Wisconsin, or is he going to just be spineless and not do his job?” Andrew said about DOE “We're always answering calls both in Fond du Lac and in Washington,” Grothman said The Republican Party of Sheboygan County could not be immediately reached for comment New exhibit listening session May 4: Above & Beyond, Wisconsin folk artist will explore Mexican immigrant experience in next cultural exhibit Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com a New York-styled pizza shop expansion and the release of new Sargento products were among the top business stories in April affiliated with Random Lake-based Bertram Communications Read more: Kohler high schooler will share impact of trip meeting Lionel Messi at Make-A-Wish fundraiser New trampoline park opening near Blue Harbor Resort Co-owners and couple Courtney and CJ Rhoades will host a grand opening for Bounce Trampoline Park, 802 Blue Harbor Drive, May 17 Plans for the trampoline park include a ninja course Birthday party rentals and membership packages will also be offered The Rhoades have been gymnastics coaches for 12 years team for trampoline and tumbling for five years Courtney said they saw an opportunity to bring a family friendly activity to the Sheboygan area The New York-styled pizza shop is working to open the Uptown Slice Depot in the former Greece e Spoon restaurant in downtown Sheboygan Uptown Slice shared on social media it’s pursuing a second location because high demand has pushed the existing location and quicker production for pickup and delivery orders Uptown Slice also envisions the expansion allowing for more menu items and a small retail space Sargento’s new products include spicy shredded cheese varieties The shredded cheese varieties are seasoned with Frank’s RedHot Hot Sauce In partnership with Mondelēz International Sargento also launched three Shareables with Ritz and Triscuit crackers general manager of consumer products at Sargento said the company found through consumer research there is a demand for more flavorful Read more: Condemned EBCO center is empty and for sale. What we know about the building and tenants. Joyce Kindschuh was surprised with custom-labeled Italian sausages and other company merchandise during a visit to the Johnsonville Marketplace with her son The gifts were in honor of her 95 birthday and her roughly 15 years of service to the company Joyce started working at Johnsonville part-time in the summer of 1979 preparing and offering samples at grocery stores around the state She feels she retired from Johnsonville despite other companies offering sampling demo gigs Johnsonville has remained a favorite sausage product “I wouldn't buy Klement's or any other brand,” Joyce said you can donate food to those in need simply by leaving non-perishable food items in a bag inside or next to your mailbox Mail carriers in Sheboygan and across the United States that day will collect the donations as part of Stamp Out Hunger the largest single-day food drive in the country In Sheboygan, the Sheboygan County Food Bank will work with local mail carriers and volunteers to pick up the donations on routes and transfer them to the SCFB’s warehouse The SCFB receives donations from Sheboygan A news release said the donations help supply food during the summer months for the SCFB’s Sheboygan Cares Food Pantry and Community Cafe as well as its 40 partner organizations Read more: Lakeland U men’s wrestling collects over 1.5 tons of food for food bank in inaugural drive residents can place non-perishable food items in a bag inside or next to their mailboxes The SCFB then works with local mail carriers and volunteers to pick up the donations SCFB said the most helpful donations include the following: Purchasing these items ahead of the food drive helps avoid the collection of expired items If residents’ donations are missed or not picked up they can drop them off at SCFB’s warehouse at 3115 N Stamp Out Hunger is SCFB’s community-wide partnership food drive each year that is only second to Making Spirits Bright in amount of food received The goal this year is to collect 35,000 pounds of donations we remain dedicated to serving Sheboygan County families and individuals who are facing hunger,” said Patrick Boyle we have a limited budget to purchase food and the rest of the food we distribute is donated caring way for anyone in our community to get involved in helping make a difference for our neighbors in need.” Read more: Sheboygan’s Making Spirits Bright collected 117K pounds of food & saw 89K visitors in 2024 You can also volunteer to help with the May 10 drive.Volunteers are vital for the food drive’s success. SCFB said it is still in need of volunteers to drive their personal vehicles and help letter carriers pick up donations along their routes. To sign up to volunteer, visit sheboygancountyfoodbank.com the long-serving City Attorney of Sheboygan This was just two days after a troubling criminal conduct report was submitted to the Common Council on March 17 spans 127 pages and details allegations of misuse of city data programs and raises significant ethics concerns The origins of this investigation date back to June of last year when the Fond du Lac Police Department launched an inquiry into Adams following complaints from several city employees They expressed concerns about Adams' conduct involving an email archiving system called Data Cove which permits users to search key terms throughout city emails and download them Adams had complete access to emails from various city departments "I think the issue was overuse and going out of the scope of what the intended purpose was for this program." Investigators examined Adams' search history within Data Cove and discovered "concerning searches," according to the report While Adams claimed most of his searches related to open records requests his search history included multiple queries for Sheboygan Police Lieutenant Bill Adams who is also his cousin and was on leave due to an internal investigation at the time Watch: Sheboygan City Attorney Charles Adams retires amid conduct investigation The document noted there were suspicions that Adams was seeking information about the investigation in order to benefit his cousin in the investigation Adams conducted repeated searches for his son and searched for phrases like "any text Adams." These actions reportedly pulled up sensitive city emails regarding HIPAA Adams's access to Data Cove was eventually revoked The Fond du Lac investigators concluded their report by recommending that Adams face charges of "misconduct in public office." District Attorney Joel Urmanski stated that he "determined there was no criminal law violation," thus closing that aspect of the inquiry the City of Sheboygan is now conducting its own investigation into policy Mayor Sorenson emphasized the importance of learning from this experience encouraging the community to understand that the misuse of programs is unacceptable "I think this is definitely another experience that we want to make sure that we're learning from and growing from," Sorenson stated "This is a message to the community that misuse of programs is not appropriate and that it doesn't happen again." The city has indicated that the findings of its internal investigation will be released in the near future Stay tuned for updates as this story develops SHEBOYGAN – John Michael Kohler Arts Center has released the 10-date lineup for the 11th season of the Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series The free weekly summer concert series kicks off June 26 with Grammy Award-winning Cajun band Lost Bayou Ramblers who will headline the series’ 100th concert since its start in 2015 The season continues throughout summer with a lineup spanning genres from Celtic to New Orleans-style brass and jazz to ranchera Musicians will come from as far as France and Jamaica but also include regional acts Nine of the concerts will be on Sheboygan’s City Green Here’s the full lineup for this summer's concert series: What do the shows include?Shows include performances by an opening band and the headliner The on-stage action is accompanied by a variety of food trucks the participation of Sheboygan-area community organizations generally held in the evening.The friendly-family concerts attract thousands of people arranging their blankets and chairs on the lawn All concerts are at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, with the exception of Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20, when performances happen in conjunction with the Midsummer Festival of the Arts Watch for more details, including announcement of opening bands, online at jmkac.org/levitt SHEBOYGAN – Flawless Hoops will host an inaugural all-star game for high school basketball players this May The 2025 Sheboygan County High School All-Star Game will bring together the top 16 senior boys’ basketball players from across the county May 4 at Sheboygan Lutheran High School will precede the All-Star Game at 1:30 p.m The All-Star Game and 3-Point Shootout for the Flawless Hoops’ men’s league will follow the high school events Flawless Hoops Board Member Colin Simmelink said the organization invited coaches from 12 local high schools to nominate a few players for the competition Some schools have multiple representatives and some players decided not to participate because of spring sport commitments Several high school basketball players participating in the All-Star Game were named to the 2025 Lakeshore Elite Boys Basketball teams including Kohler High School senior Max Breitenbach; Howards Grove High School senior Trent Grunewald; and Sheboygan North High School senior Logan Steffensmeier Read more: Dombeck: If there was a state championship for community support, Oostburg would win gold Kohler High School senior Brody Duchow and Howards Grove High School senior Conor Cruz made the honorable mention list Sheboygan Lutheran varsity assistant coach Simmelink said Flawless Hoops is planning to include a girls’ All-Star Game next year What's happening with Der Biergarten?: Sheboygan Biergarten future: City seeking new vendor after contract dispute Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce on May 1 revealed recipients of Sheboygan County Best Under 40 Awards at a dinner at The Village in Kohler The awards recognize young professionals ages 21-40 who reside or work in Sheboygan County Nominations were taken until March 26 and then a panel of judges from the Sheboygan County Chamber Board of Directors and past winners determined the recipients Read more: A trampoline park opening, new Sargento products & more business news from April Mystery remains: Who's the well-dressed man on a dead horse in vintage Sheboygan photo? — The Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department has reported a significant increase in scam calls designed to defraud residents Fraudsters are impersonating law enforcement employees using intimidation tactics to extort money from their victims Dispatcher Tracy Villa noted that scammers often assert that the victim has missed jury duty or has an outstanding warrant demanding immediate payment to avoid arrest a typical scenario might start with the caller identifying themselves as “lieutenant” or "sergeant" and threatening legal action if the victim does not pay Detective Ben Jeanty explained that payments are often requested in forms such as money transfers "These scammers—they do this for a living," Jeanty said "This is what they call their full-time job have started asking customers purchasing gift cards in large amounts additional questions to ensure the legitimacy of the transaction our community partners have helped us a lot,” Jeanty said Residents are advised to avoid answering unknown calls and to verify the identity of any caller claiming to be from the sheriff's department by contacting them directly Watch: Sheboygan County residents targeted by scam calls posing as law enforcement “Law enforcement will never request payment over the phone,” Villa emphasized She said it's best to completely redial the number you know to be correct If someone does fall victim to such a scam the sheriff's department encourages reporting it to help raise awareness and protect others "We would prefer to help you through it and make sure you're protected," Villa added residents can contact the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department at 920-459-3112 SHEBOYGAN – Construction is under way to bring a new trampoline park to the South Pier area in May Near Blue Harbor Resort, Bounce Trampoline Park a toddler area and a foam pit to the renovated 11,000-square-foot space on the second floor Several birthday party rooms will also be included The trampoline park is on track to host a grand opening May 17 owners and couple Courtney and CJ Rhoades thought a trampoline park would be a good addition to the area and traveled the country in a converted school bus for two years Courtney and CJ wanted to move back to a Midwest community and find a place that didn't have a trampoline park yet and they're planning to move to the area this month after living in the state for a year-and-a-half Read more: Whistling Straits Restaurant among best golf course restaurants, USA TODAY readers say which we love because there's lots of families,” Courtney said She said the mayor’s office was extremely adamant about bringing the trampoline park to Sheboygan and filling the empty building “Families in Sheboygan have long been seeking more fun and Bounce Trampoline Park will certainly meet that need,” Mayor Ryan Sorenson said in an emailed statement to the Sheboygan Press The nearest trampoline parks are Xtreme Air Trampoline Adventure Park in Appleton and Sky Zone Brown Deer in the Milwaukee area Courtney and CJ have been gymnastics coaches for 12 years, currently at M&M Gymnastics in New Berlin. Courtney competed through high school, and CJ was on the U.S. team for trampoline and tumbling for five years competing nationally and globally in places like Spain and Bulgaria CJ also performed with a trampoline show company as a side gig Courtney said Bounce Trampoline Park may also offer advanced trampoline pop-up classes but they’re going to transition away from coaching when the trampoline park opens They’d like to offer trampoline safety classes so parents feel assured their children are having fun while staying safe "A lot of trampoline parks are really chaotic (with) kids running around we're very aware of the correct way to jump on the trampolines,” she said but Courtney said it might be a couple months before it opens to allow for inspections and staff training The Rhoades are still deciding what to do with the theater space on the first floor but Courtney said it could be used for movie nights They’re still working on details for party and membership packages at the trampoline park but expect to offer some discounts and incentives Read more: Sheboygan's Hmong Summer Festival canceled as a result of scheduling conflicts Bounce Trampoline Park’s grand opening May 17 will feature a ribbon-cutting The trampoline park will offer early sign-up times. Learn more on the trampoline park’s Facebook or Instagram page. Contact Bounce Trampoline Park at Office@bouncesheboygan.com Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area lies in northwestern Sheboygan County just one mile west and north of Elkhart Lake It covers over half of the townships of Russell and Greenbush The area historically known as Sheboygan Marsh includes over 14,000 acres of land and surface water It contains the largest restored wetland in the Wisconsin watersheds of Lakes the Department of Natural Resources staff provides wildlife and forestry management of the 8,285-acre Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area In addition to managing the 871 acres of state-owned lands the DNR manages the 7,414 acres of county-owned lands by a formal management agreement executed with Sheboygan County in 1984 The Sheboygan Marsh provides habitat for many different wildlife species The main marsh and smaller wetland impoundments provide migratory stopover and brood rearing habitat for numerous species of waterfowl and wetland birds and alder thickets are commonly used by white-tailed deer The prairies on the south side of the marsh provide habitat for grassland birds and are part of the stocked pheasant hunting program Common wildlife species found on this property are white-tailed deer and numerous waterfowl and shorebird species The formation of the marsh started as a large ice block which melted and formed a kettle lake after the last glacial advance sedimentation eventually caused the lake to transform into a shallow-water marsh Up to 50 feet of marl and peat is evidence that the glacial lake has been converted to a shallow-water marsh over the past 12,000 to 14,000 years Native American tribes that occupied the marsh as far back as 12,000 years ago include the Menominee The earliest European settlements in the area date back to the mid-1800s Sheboygan businessman John Bertschy bought approximately 6,000 acres of Sheboygan Marsh from the federal government which acquired it from the Menominee Tribe in 1831 Bertschy dug ditches and removed the natural limestone dam to drain the marsh for agricultural use this first attempt to drain the marsh failed a second attempt to drain the marsh was fairly successful with the digging of over 20 miles of ditches from 6 to 20 feet deep and over 60 feet wide Due to low post-war prices and the high availability of farmland the demand for this new "wilderness farmland" vanished restoration efforts to build a dam to restore the marsh to its natural water level and to nurture the habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife were led by Charles E Broughton and the Sheboygan Chapter of the Izaak Walton League fish and forestry management of the 8,166-acre Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area In addition to managing the 752 acres of state-owned lands the area was a shallow-water marsh formed by a natural limestone dam in the Sheboygan River The marsh water level dropped after the natural limestone dam was removed and drainage ditches were dug Since constructing a man-made dam to restore the historic level of the natural dam water levels have been managed by attempting to imitate the fluctuations and drawdowns of a natural shallow-water marsh system management activities on Sheboygan Marsh are directed at habitat improvements for nesting and migratory waterfowl and the development of facilities for compatible outdoor recreational pursuits The wetlands are managed through drawdowns invasive species management and native vegetation seeding.Lowland timber of northern white cedar tamarack and hardwoods are managed through modern sustainable forestry practices using occasional selective-cut and salvage timber harvests Abandoned farm fields in the upland areas have been planted for prairie and grassland species These fields are managed through prescribed burning A 1,522-acre waterfowl refuge is established on the southern end of the property to provide resting and feeding areas for migratory waterfowl Waterfowl hunting in this refuge is prohibited at all times and all entry is closed to all entry from Sept The Sheboygan Marsh Wildlife Area offers many recreational opportunities: Sheboygan Marsh is also a Land Legacy Place Significant Native American mounds that mark summer and winter solstices on a property immediately north of the marsh Recent archaeological investigations have classified Sheboygan Marsh as an "archaeological treasure" of national significance It remains a candidate for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places as well as helping to finance the management of the marsh Download [PDF] a map of this property If you want to explore this property further, you can access an interactive map Find out more about how to adopt this wildlife area © Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Site requirements | Accessibility | Legal | Privacy | Employee resources (This story has been updated to accurately reflect the results of the Sheboygan Falls School District referendum results due to a reporting error in the county's unofficial election results.) SHEBOYGAN – Ryan Sorenson was among several incumbents to hold onto their public seats following the April 1 election in Sheboygan County Sorenson defeated challenger John Belanger in the mayoral race, receiving 58.3% of the votes, according to Decision Desk HQ Belanger is currently representing District 2 Sorenson was first elected as mayor in spring 2021 becoming the youngest person to hold the role He said he is enthusiastic to continue representing his hometown Belanger said he is disappointed with the outcome but he "thoroughly enjoyed the process and meeting people and getting out in the community and hearing concerns so that's all very positive." He added he had a tremendous amount of support Grazia Perrella narrowly held onto her seat to represent District 7 Daniel Peterson was unseated by Michael Close to represent District 3 and incumbent Trey Mitchell ran uncontested to represent District 9 Other new elected alders include Ryan Menzer There were no incumbents in those races because Barb Felde and Angela Ramey did not seek reelection Alders are scheduled to be sworn in during the first meeting of 2025-2026 session April 15 SASD Board members are scheduled to be sworn in at the next meeting April 22 Former SASD Board member dies: He ‘left a lasting imprint.’ SASD Board member and former detective Mark Mancl dies at 59. 46,906 ballots were cast countywide, doubling voter turnout from last spring's election when 23,669 ballots were cast, according to Sheboygan County's unofficial election results 15,853 ballots were cast compared to 7,282 ballots cast last year Find more Sheboygan County election results at https://tinyurl.com/449h7muu Related: Meet Sheboygan mayoral, alder and SASD candidates running in the April 1 election Related: Mayoral candidates Ryan Sorenson, John Belanger share thoughts on affordable housing, marina and more The majority of local voters voted "yes" to amending the state constitution to require voters present a valid photo ID when voting SHEBOYGAN – City of Sheboygan on Monday announced it was lifting its winter parking restrictions That is two weeks earlier than the original March 31 end date While restrictions are no longer in effect the city noted in a news release that residents should stay alert for snow emergency notifications in case of severe weather as temporary parking rules may be enforced To receive real-time updates on snow emergencies, road conditions and other citynotifications, people can sign up for Nixle alerts by texting SHEBOYGAN to 888777 or visiting www.sheboyganpolice.com/winter-parking/ Read more: Michael Willmas to lead Sheboygan's new Department of Facilities & Operations SHEBOYGAN – Sheboygan police on Wednesday said 10 arrests had been made and four more were expected after an investigation of a March 30 shooting and disturbance at End Park Police said the investigation revealed that on the night of the incident a verbal disturbance occurred outside a tavern that was broken up by officers on foot patrol Two groups involved in that disturbance met at End Park where a physical altercation started between two men members from both sides armed themselves with handguns which eventually led to shots being fire by both sides Police said nobody was struck by gunfire or seriously injured in the incident Suspects are both male and female and range in age from 19 to 24 years old Read more: Sheboygan appoints next planning and development director police said 10 people had been taken into custody during the ongoing investigation and four suspects were still outstanding Suspects are facing charges including first-degree recklessly endangering safety disorderly conduct and violations of city park curfew Police had responded to the park at 1236 Bell Ave March 30 after receiving several reports of shots fired Responding officers found numerous spent shell casings in the roadway around the park Police said preliminary investigation revealed a large disturbance had occurred between around 20 people in the park and the immediate area around the park Read more: Sheboygan Biergarten future: City seeking new vendor after contract dispute — Kathleen LaBonte never expected the news she received over the weekend The nonprofit she leads is being forced out of its building by April 15 LaBonte founded Sheboygan Area Pay It Forward to meet the needs of the unhoused population in the area Her team opened the doors to the center a little over two years ago so much about what’s going to happen to our peers with not having a space to go," she told TMJ4 LaBonte’s landlord said the building is being condemned for a number of electrical and structural issues The problems are too severe and the repairs are too expensive “Half the room was crying,” Corvid Lilim Macias said “It makes us feel like we’re not outsiders that we’re not the undesirables,” Macias explained and I think for a lot of people it does too.” Watch: Sheboygan’s Pay It Forward day shelter told to vacate property by mid-April Pay It Forward sometimes hosts more than 60 people at a time The nonprofit has tripled in size in the two years since it opened “I always wanted a really big family…12 kids she worries she won’t be able to provide for the community that relies on the center The Community Cafe and Open Door two other resources for the unhoused population “It’s a real shame what’s happening right now,” Jake Lawlor shook his head He says the nonprofit has helped him through his strokes of bad luck with job loss “What we’re losing isn’t really a building central part of the community,” Lawlor noted “There’s a lot of anger and distress toward homeless people and this is just a place where we can all be around people who accept us.” Pay It Forward is set to close after April 6 giving staff and volunteers time to take all their donated items to storage until they find a new location LaBonte: “We’re hopeful that / we can pick right up where we’re leaving off.” Macias: “Their hearts are bigger than this location.” Milwaukee once again ranked among the worst metro areas in the country for ozone-polluted air, according to a new report by the American Lung Association Milwaukee placed 26th worst out of 228 cities for ozone pollution The organization's annual report compared metro areas nationwide using air quality data collected between 2021 and 2023 Overall, the report found 46% of Americans, or more than 156 million people, live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. That's nearly 25 million more people than in last year's report with Milwaukee among the cities seeing worsening particle pollution people of color were disproportionately more likely to be exposed to unhealthy air or have chronic illnesses that make them more vulnerable to poor air quality Though people of color make up about 41% of the U.S they accounted for more than 50% of people living in counties that the American Lung Association awarded "failing" grades for air quality Here's what to know about worsening air quality across Milwaukee and Wisconsin Residents across the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha area are being exposed to worsening levels of both ozone and particle pollution occurs when sunlight and heat combines with gases from cars the report found the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha area averaged 9.5 days a year of unhealthy ozone levels — compared to 6.7 days in last year's report Racine County ranked the worst in the metro area for ground-level ozone pollution refers to the tiny bits of solids and liquids that linger in the air from factories power plants and wildfires and is a problem year-round the Milwaukee area surged to 50th worst out of 223 metro areas nationwide for short-term particle pollution Milwaukee County ranked the worst in the metro area for short-term particle pollution receiving an "F" grade from American Lung Association drought and wildfires are among the drivers of worsening air quality nationwide according to the American Lung Association Smog and particle pollution can cause serious health effects, including asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, impaired cognitive functioning, and even lung cancer or premature death. In Milwaukee, the American Lung Association estimated more than 900,000 people are at higher risk of these more serious health impacts based on factors like having pre-existing health conditions or belonging to marginalized communities The Trump administration is also attempting to dismantle a wide range of clean air regulations on oil Of Wisconsin's 72 counties, 26 reported data on ozone pollution These five had the greatest average number of high ozone days according to the American Lung Association: Kenosha County (weighted average of 13 high ozone days per year)Sheboygan County (average of 9.7 high ozone days)Racine County (average of 9.5 high ozone days)Ozaukee County (average of 9.3 high ozone days)Milwaukee County (average of 8.7 high ozone days)Of the 18 Wisconsin counties that reported particle pollution data these five had the greatest number of high particle pollution days: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends the following tips to minimize the risk of outdoor air pollution: How to check air quality in WisconsinTo keep tabs on Wisconsin air quality, you can sign up for DNR air quality advisories and check air quality forecasts at airnow.gov The map below also tracks air quality across Wisconsin: SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Sheboygan County voters will help narrow down the candidate pool for the state superintendent of public instruction race in the primary election Tuesday No local races will appear on the Feb. 18 ballot, but voters will see incumbent Jill Underly and challengers Brittany Kinser and Jeff Wright in the superintendent of public instruction race Two candidates will continue to the April 1 election Underly is seeking a second four-year term Wright is the Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent and Kinser is an education consultant A Q&A with the candidates can be found on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel webpage The last day to vote early in-person in Sheboygan was Feb. 14. Polling places, which can be found at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ Unregistered voters should take a valid ID and proof of residence Absentee ballots must be returned to the city clerk’s office or the ballot drop box in the Mead Public Library book return drive-thru by noon Feb Absentee ballots can be dropped off at a polling place until 8 p.m alder and board of education races will take place during the spring election April 1 Races for odd-numbered districts will appear on the ballot Alders Barb Felde and Angela Ramey are not seeking reelection for districts 1 and 5 Susie Boore is running unopposed for Ramey's seat Mitchell is running unopposed to represent District 9 again Meyer and Ryan Menzer District 3: Incumbent Daniel Peterson and Michael Close  District 7: Incumbent Grazia Perrella and Juan Perez Sheboygan Area School District Board of EducationIncumbents Mary Lynne Donohue and Allie Tasche will face off against challengers Roger Oliver Rhonda Brami and Denise Wittstock for three open seats on the SASD Board of Education Hein and Supervisor IIII Brad Lambrecht are running unopposed for their seats Schwinn is running against challengers Jon Paul and Brian Hahn for the Supervisor II seat Weber and Tom Bigler are seeking reelection in uncontested races for Districts 1-3 School District of Sheboygan Falls Board of EducationIncumbents Scott Kuehn John Mauer and Chuck Otte will run against challenger Ed Brey for three seats on the Board of Education President Michael DeHaai is seeking reelection uncontested Benjamin Meerdink and David Reichle are seeking reelection for three seats on the Board of Trustees Cedar Grove-Belgium School District Board of Education  The Board of Education has two seats up for election one from Sheboygan County and one from Ozaukee County John Krechel and Reinaldo Cesco are running for the Ozaukee County seat Incumbent Michael Lubbert is running for the Sheboygan County seat Village Board President Michael San Felippo is not seeking reelection Incumbent Barbara Ruege will face challengers Eric Tremblay Jamie Vorpahl and Gary Smith for three open seats on the Board of Trustees Eric Stowell and Jeff Schultz are not seeking reelection Katie Bichler and Amie Wilson are running unopposed for three seats on the Board of Education Village President Richard Sadiq is not seeking reelection but trustee Lynn Shovan is running for that seat uncontested Paul Rudnick and Michael Wolf will go up against challengers Mark Landgraf and Andrew Voruz for three trustee seats Incumbents Sarah Tegen and Sarah Rudnick are seeking reelection for two open seats Village President Dale Wuestenhagen is seeking reelection unopposed Incumbents Scott Sixel and Joshua Pieper are seeking reelection for three open trustee seats School District of Howards Grove Board of EducationIncumbents Edl Pahl Jr and Alan Meyer are running unopposed for two seats Schnettler is seeking reelection unopposed The Board of Trustees has three seats up for election and Mike Zimmerman will run against challenger Laurie Lindow Kohler School District Board of EducationIncumbents Paul Carlsen and Emily Regennitter are running for two open seats on the Board of Education Village President Brian Hilbelink is seeking reelection unopposed Steve Jay Eggebeen are seeking reelection for three seats on the Board of Trustees Incumbent Eric Hartman is running for reelection Matthew Lee will run uncontested to replace Debbie Harmeling Jeff Tauscheck and Dave Herrmann are running unopposed to represent Districts 1 Kevin Sande is running unopposed for the District 2 seat John Nelson is not seeking reelection for the position Janell Bohn and Tony Backhaus are running uncontested for three open Board seats a $29.8 million decrease in funding than previously sought by the school district The elementary school improvements call for building a classroom for four-year-old kindergarten and before/after school programs; replace window roof and kitchen equipment; upgrade site drainage and mechanical system; and add new playgrounds the district hopes to build a career and technical education addition and a new fitness center at reduced sizes; renovate existing gym and locker rooms like science labs and special education rooms; upgrade safety and accessibility to elevators stairways and restrooms; and upgrade maintenance areas The second question on the November referendum which proposed a $21.5 million project for a new auxiliary gym was eliminated based on the fall voting results we feel it very important to return to our community with a revised plan that demonstrates we have heard them and that we have listened,” District Administrator Zach Pethan said in a statement “The immediate facility and space needs we have at the elementary and high schools are not going away and neither is our goal to create facilities that align with our promise to 'Expect the Exceptional' in Sheboygan Falls.”  the district said the estimated annual tax impact will be $0.25 per $1,000 of equalized property value a property valued at $250,000 would see an increase to $62.50 in annual taxes The last approved referendum for the school district passed in 2016 supporting the $30.9 million middle school construction and high school roof and exterior door replacements — The Humane Society of Sheboygan County has been dealing with death threats after it euthanized one of its longest-resident dogs Watch: "No-kill" Sheboygan Humane Society under fire for euthanizing dog: "We are dealing with little souls in crisis,” said executive director David Diaz Pork Chop was surrendered to the humane society and sheltered there for eight months Some dogs you only have a few days before they start to show mental changes,” noted Veterinarian Annie Saunders “My interactions with pork chop were never anything but positive." Saunders had a special bond with him but unfortunately he didn't do well cooped up and around other dogs It was “to the point where he was hurting himself—like he would run into the kennel with his face." "We'd come into the kennel full of blood," she said The shelter team said they had exhausted all options from training and anxiety medication to fosters and adopters "I'm giving him belly rubs on the front and telling him what a good boy he is…” Saunders said while wiping tears from her eyes Some people said it made them “sick,” that “it's not fair.” "To receive death threats and threats for the physical well-being of staff here—from people who are just reading something that is inflammatory on social media—to me is just unacceptable,” Diaz remarked The big question most had was why did this happen at a no-kill shelter "No-kill does not mean no euthanasia,” Saunders explained “No-kill means we're not going to euthanize for space or treatable conditions." A shelter with this designation has to save at least 90 percent of the animals it receives TMJ4 asked Diaz what he would say to the people who had submitted applications to foster or adopt Pork Chop unfortunately,” adding that dogs like Pork Chop have a very “narrow corridor” for leaving the shelter "We are wholeheartedly sure that we are making the right decision in those cases." He had playtime on the beach and even got to eat cheeseburgers and a whole birthday cake The team said this is a harsh reminder of the reality of shelter life They encourage people to get educated—but more than anything—to apply to foster and adopt these animals For more information, go to adoptsheboygancounty.org/adopt-foster SHEBOYGAN COUNTY – Sheboygan-area voters will determine the outcomes of mayoral city council and school board at the polls April 1 Voters countywide helped narrow the state superintendent of public instruction race to Democrat incumbent Jill Underly and Republican challenger Brittany Kinser They will see various state and local races on their ballots Voters living within the Kiel and Sheboygan Falls school districts will see a referendum for school improvements absentee ballots can be dropped off at the City Clerk's office or the Mead Public Library ballot drop box until noon Election Day They can also be returned to respective polling places until 8 p.m Meet the Sheboygan candidates: Meet Sheboygan mayoral, alder and SASD candidates running in the April 1 election Meet Sheboygan mayoral candidates: Mayoral candidates Ryan Sorenson, John Belanger share thoughts on affordable housing, marina and more Local races Local races across the county include Sheboygan mayor town board and village trustees and school board members Board member representing within the city of Sheboygan  Board member representing outside the city of Sheboygan Board of Education member representing the town of Ashford Board of Education member representing village of Eden Fond du Lac County; town of Eden north of County Trunk B Michael Weiss (i) Cedar Grove-Belgium School District Board of Education Sheboygan County seat: Michael Lubbert (i) Ozaukee County seat: John Krechel Reinaldo Cesco Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah School District Board of EducationSarah Tegen (i) Sarah Rudnick (i) School District of Howards Grove Board of Education Ed Pahl Jr (i) Alan Meyer (i) Kewaskum School District Board of EducationBradley A Petersen (i) Timothy Ramthun (i) Kiel Area School District Board of EducationJon Lee (i)Todd Wendling Stuart G Long (i)Kohler School District Board of EducationEmily Regennitter  Paul Carlsen (i) New Holstein School District Board of EducationDonald Turba (i) Heidi Brill (i) Victoria Anhalt (i) Oostburg School District Board of EducationEric Rick Hartman (i) Matthew Lee  Plymouth Joint School District Board of Education members to represent in the city of Plymouth and at large Dan Steinhardt (i)Janell Bohn (i)Tony Backhaus (i)Random Lake School District Board of EducationKatie Bichler (i) Amie Wilson (i) Jena L Schneider (i) School District of Sheboygan Falls Board of EducationChuck Otte (i) Scott P Kuehn (i) John Mauer (i) Ed Brey State Referendum Question: Photographic identification for voting: Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election subject to exceptions which may be established by law Question: Shall the Kiel Area School District Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $24,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: district-wide renovations safety and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings Question: Shall the School District of Sheboygan Falls general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $70,000,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions and renovations at the High School and removal of a portion of the existing building; construction of additions and renovations at the Elementary School including for a secure entrance and elementary classrooms; districtwide safety physical education and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings MILWAUKEE – A licensed chiropractor in Sheboygan has been charged with 12 felony counts of child pornography possession in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Kobylinski holds an active chiropractor license with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services to practice in Sheboygan A defense attorney has not been listed in the case carries a fine up to $100,000 and/or an imprisonment sentence up to 25 years the complaint said the court will impose a $500 surcharge for each image or copy of an image associated with the crime More court news: Sheboygan reaches $150K settlement with former HR director in case filed in early 2024 informed the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that it was alerted Dec a subscriber “had uploaded several images containing Child Sexual Abuse Material through their Yahoo NCMEC reported the tip to the Division of Criminal Investigation Jan which was forwarded to Milwaukee Police Department March 9 for further investigation based on the geographical location of one of the IP addresses in the NCMEC CyberTipline report Administrative subpoenas obtained for the subscriber and IP address information for the account associated with the upload revealed the IP address subscriber was Kobylinski Milwaukee police conducted a search warrant of Kobylinski’s residence Feb recovering “numerous items of evidentiary value," including a "My Passport" external hard drive and a Toshiba 1TB external hard drive from the upstairs bedroom More court news: Ex-Sheboygan Falls assistant fire chief facing child sex assault has bond reduced to $25K A MPD detective previewed both hard drives finding “several folders and subfolders that contained thousands of images of Child Sexual Abuse Material” on each Personal photos of the defendant and work-related documents were also found the complaint describes files of female children between the approximate ages of 3 and 9 years old “engaging in sexually explicit conduct." Three of the photos described had either a “LS-Models” or "LS-Magazine" watermark which were Ukraine-based hardcore child pornography websites that have been shut down An initial appearance is scheduled for 1:15 p.m Sheboygan letters address school district, democracy, DEI & the Middle EastSend your views to news@sheboyganpress.com or breid@gannett.com.Sheboygan PressHere are this week's letters to the editor of the Sheboygan Press I am deeply disappointed with the recent performance of liberal Sheboygan School Board candidates Mary Lynne Donohue Allie Tasche and Denise Wittstock during a candidate forum It was evident they were ill-prepared and lacked the necessary knowledge and understanding of the critical issues facing our schools today co-chairperson of the Sheboygan County Democratic Party raising doubts about her impartiality and ability to make decisions based on what is best for our students Allie Tasche seemed to be fixated on diversity in the student body A district should provide the best education possible for all children Tasche appears to be more interested in identity politics than in addressing the real challenges facing our schools Perhaps most concerning was Denise Wittstock’s response when asked how she would amplify teachers’ voices “I don’t know,” speaks volumes about her lack of vision and leadership I strongly urge voters to carefully consider the qualifications and positions of these candidates before casting their ballots Our children's education is too important to be left in the hands of individuals who seem either unprepared or unwilling to tackle the pressing issues facing our schools knowledgeable leaders who will prioritize the needs of all students and work tirelessly to provide them with the best education possible Return to the ConstitutionWith the end of the United States Revolution for independence our insightful and talented founders gave us a Constitution that is the model for democracies worldwide To prevent a return to the rule of a king or dictator governmental power was placed into three independent and separate After almost 240 years of our successful constitutional republic our nation now faces attack on its basic operation The majority party in the legislative branch remains silent and inactive abdicating its check-and-balance power to a small group of poorly informed people in the executive branch the creation and modification of federal agencies The wholesale dismantling of federal agencies now occurring will end up in the loss of lives because of the massive monetary and staffing cuts in foreign aid and many other governmental operations created in response to need over the decades but not totally at the hands and whims of only a few in the executive branch No one elected or anointed them to do this unconstitutional and illegal dictatorial purge The preservation of our nation appears to now be in the hands of the judicial branch and the halls of public opinion and action What is happening to our nation is not simply a partisan disagreement Continued silence and corrective inaction will surely be the demise of our great constitutional democracy that we all should value and defend Middle East is ‘a crisis area’The Middle East has been And the area has only gotten worse since then The Israel/Palestine situation is a just another example of the disharmony that exists in the Middle East After seeing the condition of the Israeli captives who are finally being released by Palestine one can understand why the surrounding Arab states don’t want to take in any of the Palestinian refugees Is it any wonder fellow Arab countries won’t take any Palestine refugees I find it so troubling to hear the way DEI is denigrated and has become the boogeyman in just about every segment of our society figure out why parents would NOT want their children in classrooms/schools where DEI is the rule This is the DEI that I adhered to for more than 40 years: “The original interpretation of ‘diversity and inclusion’ in schools meant actively representing a variety of student backgrounds and identities within the classroom (‘diversity’) ensuring all students have fair access to learning opportunities regardless of their differences (‘equity’) and creating a welcoming environment where every student feels valued and can fully participate (‘inclusion’) — essentially aiming to foster a learning space that respects and leverages the unique experiences of each student.” I particularly remember one high school dyslexic student whom I believed could pass three national exams in my classes if I could get special accommodations for him I filled out forms and wrote letters (three times) to get permission to READ each of his exams This equal opportunity allowed him to earn several college credits provided a pathway to higher education and has led to a successful career Why wouldn’t any parent want a teacher to respect their child’s diversity provide equal opportunities for them to achieve and make them feel comfortable and valued in their classroom Dear Sheboygan Area School District employees I just wanted to take a moment during Public Schools Week to personally thank you for the incredible work you do every day Education is the foundation of our communities and your dedication to our students here in the Sheboygan community makes all the difference Whether it’s staying late to help a student finding creative ways to engage a classroom or simply offering words of encouragement the impact you have goes far beyond textbooks and lesson plans and I deeply appreciate your passion and commitment Please know that I see and support the work you do and I will continue advocating for the resources our public schools need to thrive (This story was updated to add new information.) SHEBOYGAN – City Attorney Charles Adams is retiring from his role after 10 years following a third-party report about his conduct and performance shared with the Common Council according to City Administrator Casey Bradley Adams shared his decision to retire with Bradley March 19 after the Common Council convened in closed session at the March 17 meeting regarding a conduct and performance report about Adams from law firm von Briesen and Roper The city said in the announcement it isn't taking any formal action on information discussed Adams believes withdrawing from the position is "in the mutual interest of both parties." "My career goal was to serve the public interest and help make Sheboygan a premier place to live work and play," Adams said in a news release Local bar seeks monetary damages: Dave's Who's Inn seeking nearly $13K in damages from city due to temporary closure The city said it will contract with outside counsel to fulfill the city attorney's role during the transition Bradley said the mayor will make a recommendation for an appointment he was hired as an assistant city attorney in 1996 The news release said he assisted with the creation of a neighborhood associations system created a chronic nuisance ordinance and a building code enforcement system Adams also facilitated an alcohol licensing process to prevent crime at local taverns and helped make the municipal code and zoning ordinance more accessible KOHLER – Deertrace Kohler’s Joann store does not have a closing date yet but it will have a going-out-of-business sale as the craft store’s more than 800 locations are set to close “JOANN leadership, our Board, advisors and legal partners made every possible effort to pursue a more favorable outcome that would keep the company in business,” the company said in a statement online “We are committed to working constructively with the winning bidder to ensure an orderly wind-down of operations that minimizes the impact on all our stakeholders "We deeply appreciate our dedicated Team Members our customers and communities across the nation for their unwavering support for more than 80 years,” the statement continued More news: Kiel native's new book '100 Things To Do In Sheboygan Before You Die' explores local attractions A Joann spokesperson could not be immediately reached to learn if a closing date is set for the Sheboygan County location The company's restructuring site said the timeline for store closures will vary over the coming months a Joann staff member said the Deertrace Kohler store did not have a closing date yet The local store has already been labeled a "liquidation store." Stores will be open during going-out-of-business sales Joann gift cards will be accepted through Feb. 28, according to a customer FAQ page military and health care discounts are paused Only items on site are available for purchase Remaining stores will begin sales pending court approval of the auction results Wednesday Find the local Joann store at 4079 State 28 Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com.