VILLAGE OF ELMWOOD, WI – The Elmwood Area Community Club (EACC) held their 4^th Annual Fall Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Butternut Park. With cool weather, fall was in the air for the event that began at 11:00 a.m., including lots of wind.

Despite the weather, many families bundled up to ride the hay wagon through town and participate in an array of carnival games, including bean bags, basket toss, and classic relay races.  New this year, was the offering of free face painting and henna painting by Jane Mannetter.

The EACC served up a delicious spread including homemade chili, Sailer’s hotdogs and brats, caramel apples, hot chocolate and smores.

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the October 17, 2024 issue of the Sun-Argus newspaper. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (715) 778-4990. Single issues are also available at area newsstands and our office in Spring Valley, WI.

WOODVILLE, WI – The Woodville Lions Club held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, October 14, 2024, at the Lions Den in Woodville, Wisconsin with 20 member Lions in attendance. They were joined a bit later by Past District 27-E2 Governor Rhonda Bierbrauer. One of the items on the meeting agenda was to approve donating $300 to the Wisconsin Lions Missions Hurricane Relief fund.

Club President Kelsey Brewer called the October meeting To Order and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Lion Larry Knegendorf said a thoughtful Table Prayer that included a note of remembrance and reflection for Barb Johnson who just passed away recently. In his prayer Lion Knegendorf noted that Barb Johnson was our first Syttende Mai Queen who was coronated in 1952. Her husband Ron was a dedicated Woodville Lion for decades before his passing a few years ago.

Lion Larry asked that the Johnson and Aaby families be remembered in prayer. The funeral for Barb Johnson will be held at Zion Lutheran Church this Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with dinner served at 6:00 p.m.

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the October 17, 2024 issue of the Woodville Leader newspaper. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (715) 778-4990. Single issues are also available at area newsstands and our office in Spring Valley, WI.

Submitted by Debby Walters, BBBGC

BALDWIN, WI – For the past nine years, the Botany Belles and Beaus Garden Club (BBBGC) has sponsored a Nature Photography Contest during Chili Fest. Local amateur photographers submit their photos in six categories: Birds, Bugs & Beasts, Edibles (including fungi, edible or not), Landscapes, Plant Portraits, Sunrise/Sunset, and a Youth category.

This year 40 photographers participated in the contest. Each photographer shows a different aspect of the world around them and shared the beauty that they found with Chili Fest attendees. The Garden Club is so appreciative of the photographers who took the time to send in their entries and the over 250 Chili Fest attendees that took the time to vote on their favorites.

In the Birds, Bugs and Beasts category, Laurie Bornman’s Juicy Meal took first place. Sheila Hill’s Sweet Nectar took second place and Sheri Erickson’s Stay for Lunch photo took third place.

The Edibles category included fungi (mushrooms) this year, whether they were edible or not.  First place goes to Heidi Eliason’s Mushroom in the Forest, Mike Hyland’s Luscious Strawberries took second place, and Brianna Faye’s Inky Cap Mushrooms earned third place.

So many beautiful landscapes in the area, the states and the sky! The Northern Lights appeared in our skies many evenings this year, and Tambri Lawless captured a photo of the Northern Lights over Woodville which took first place. Kelli Larson’s Reflection photo took second place, followed by Sheri Erickson’s Pot of Gold at the End photo.

Plants which are near and dear to every gardener’s heart are the fourth category. First place is Willow Oosten’s After the Storm photo. Second goes to Ashley Smith’s Hidden Gem and Sheri Erickson’s Peaceful placed third.

And who hasn’t admired a sunrise or a sunset? As in all the categories there were wonderful submissions.  Somehow Amy Boldt captured the silhouette of a buck on The Buck Stops Here which took first place, second place went to Sheila Hill’s Dancing Aurora, and Hot Pink by Anne Immel placed third.

Youngsters 16 or under have quite the eye for beauty in the natural world also. There were more entries than ever in this year’s youth category, so it was even harder to vote. Seven-year-old Lennon Larson took top place with her Sure-Footed Goat. Second went to Charles Smith’s (age 10) Bee Awesome and third place goes to LaReina Smith (age 5) for her butterfly picture.

The top photographer in each category receives Chamber Bucks which can be spent at many area businesses. As one of the photographers said it isn’t about the winning, but about sharing her photography in a fun way. Garden Club members enjoy sharing the entries with the public, and appreciate the venue that Chili Fest provides. Look for notices about the 2025 contest near the end of July and submit your photos. For sure categories are Birds, Bugs & Beasts, Landscapes, Plant Portraits, Sunrise/Sunset and Youth entries. The last category can vary from year to year.

2024 Nature Photography Winners – Contest sponsored by Botany Belles & Beaus Garden Club. The categories are followed by the First, Second and Third Place winners.

Birds, Bugs & Beasts: 1^st Place – Laurie Bornman – “Juicy Meal,” 2^nd Place – Sheila Hill – “Sweet Nectar,” 3^rd Place – Sheri Erickson – “Stay for Lunch.” Edibles: 1^st Place – Heidi Eliason – “Mushroom in the Forest,” 2^nd Place — Mike Hyland “Luscious Strawberries,” 3^rd Place – Brianna Faye – “Inky Cap Mushrooms.” Landscapes: 1^st Place – Tambri Lawless – “Northern Lights over Woodville,” 2^nd Place – Kelli Larson – “Reflection,” 3^rd Place – Sheri Erickson – “Pot of Gold at the End.” Plant Portraits: 1^st Place – Willow Oosten – “After the Storm,” 2^nd Place– Ashley Smith – “Hidden Gem,” 3^rd Place– Sheri Erickson – “Peaceful.” Sunrise/Sunset 1^st Place– Amy Boldt – “The Buck Stops Here,” 2^nd Place – Sheila Hill – “Dancing Aurora,” 3^rd Place– Anne Immel – “Hot Pink.” Youth: 1^st Place– Lennon Larson (age 7) – “Sure-footed Goat,” 2^nd Place– Charles Smith (age 10) – “Bee Awesome,” 3^rd Place – LaReina Smith (age 5) – “Butterfly.”

SPRING VALLEY, WI – The Village of Spring Valley held their regular monthly board meeting on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 6:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers in the Village Hall.

President Theresa Koch issued the Call to Order and the Roll Call was taken with only Trustee Lukes absent. Village Clerk Emerson, Greg Adams, Cedar Corp and Nicole Verdon, SVHRC, were present along with this reporter for the Sun-Argus.

Koch led the Pledge to the flag.

To read this and other premium articles in their entirety, pickup the October 10, 2024 issue of the Sun-Argus newspaper. Click to subscribe for convenient delivery by mail, or call (715) 778-4990. Single issues are also available at area newsstands and our office in Spring Valley, WI.