The River Valley School District Board plans to close the River Valley Early Learning Center due to declining enrollment and costs, saving about $1 million annually. A special meeting scheduled for Jan. 20 will address staff reductions and employment considerations related to this closure. The board is set to finalize an operational referendum at their Jan. 9 meeting.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance holders at Sauk Prairie Healthcare Hospitals and Clinics will no longer receive in-network treatment as of April 1. Both parties blame the other for the contract termination, affecting 2,700 patients. Sauk Prairie urges patients to call their insurance company and offers options for continuity of care. Patients can still use facilities for emergency treatment.
Sunshine Week is a time to celebrate government transparency and public service, as well as a time to address lapses in the same. In October 2020, shortly after incorporating and shortly before our first edition, we sent out a Wis. Stat. 19.84(1)(b) written request by email from news media to our local governmental bodies asking that Valley Sentinel be sent meeting notices for the respective governmental bodies. Recently, we sent reminder letters by mail to the local governmental bodies in our immediate coverage area that have not been consistent in sending us meeting notices, with several having sent none at all in the past nearly 2.5 years.
‘There’s music everywhere but the Driftless is definitely magical for me’
A local artist from our very own River Valley area recently returned home after representing Wisconsin on the national stage as part of NBC’s “American Song Contest”. Jake’O performed an original song on the show last month and shared his inspiration and thoughts with us on the journey.
We finally had the chance to Waltz by and try out the newest dining and social club in the Valley. Pairing veteran businessman Mike Haight as owner and general manager with classically trained executive chef David Moreno, Roarin 20s Dining and Social Club (1170 Main Street, Plain) adds art deco charm to downtown Plain. In full disclosure, we were surprised to find out that dinner was on the house, however that has no bearing on our review. Unflappable, we took the opportunity to review some of the menu and drink options and ask Haight and Moreno some questions.
We recently had the chance to stop by and try out the newest pizza place in the Valley. With veteran pizzaman and restaurateur Rich Peterson at the helm, Rocket Man Pizza (1150 Main Street, Plain) is a gem in downtown Plain that will delight. (Disclosure: They even sent us home with some more options to try!) We took the opportunity to review the options and ask Peterson some questions.
In honor of June Dairy Month, Valley Sentinel is sharing stories of three regional farms throughout Sauk and Iowa Counties. The following story is a first-person account of the Reisinger’s dairy farm between Plain and Spring Green as the family made the decision to end their generational milking operation.
The Village of Plain met for its regular, monthly meeting June 8 where the board approved a parade, a dance and various liquor licenses within the village.
Plain A’s’s effort to come back from down six runs in the seventh inning came up just short, as they fell 14-12 to Mazomanie Mustangs on Sunday. Plain A’s put up nine runs in the failed comeback. Keegan Smith, Jack Meixelsperger, Derek Bodendein, Will Jewell, Zach Paulus, and Brock Mahoney powered the rally with RBIs.
The village of Plain and village residents gathered to celebrate the opening of a new playground.
Sauk Prairie scored three runs in the sixth inning. S Koenig and Slotty all moved runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.
The Village of Spring Green Board met April 14 virtually to stamp their approval on the Farmer’s Market location, complete the several meeting process of allowing ATV’s and UTV’s on village roads, to accept the resignation of Trustee Robin Reid as she transitions to village president — and to request the attendance of an ice cream truck owner at their next meeting to answer questions.
Plain EMS member Tracy Brent serves a to-go spaghetti dinner April 6 outside the American Legion. The dinner raised money for scholarships for River Valley seniors who plan to go into a medical field.
The Plain Village Board voted to expand staffing and adjust rates for the municipal golf course at its March 10 regular meeting.
Recently, the village of Lone Rock and the village of Plain have decided to remove fluoride from their municipal water supplies, citing resident concerns, staff safety concerns and modern dental products containing fluoride as reasons for the removal.
The village of Plain was recently awarded approximately $190,000 in community grant funds for structural upgrades to Nachreiner Avenue.
The village of Plain and village of Spring Green each met Jan. 13 to hold their caucuses, to determine which candidates will appear on the April 2021 election for their boards.
The village of Plain was approved last week for $500 in grant funds from Sauk County, which will be used toward the cost of Strassenfest, the annual event planned for Oct. 2 this year.
On Tuesday Dec. 22, a fatal, single-vehicle crash occurred around 9 p.m. in the town of Franklin.
Last week, the The The Plain Village Board met for its regular meeting Dec. 9 with only one member, Merry Ann Riek, absent.