A drive down nearly any Wisconsin town’s Main Street will reveal a beautiful, historic downtown district.
Most of these classic downtowns were built in the 19th century, and they are rich in history.
According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the development of the automobile and the rise of malls and shopping centers further from town centers endangered these historic downtowns.
Many historic buildings were knocked down in the 1960s — others went out of business or struggled to survive.
In the late 20th century, many people took action to restore their small businesses.
Wisconsin’s historic downtowns began to adapt and thrive once more.
During the pandemic, these small businesses struggled — but thanks to “shop small” initiatives, many were able to survive and thrive.
Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.Photo by Caroline Crowley.
Trimberger: When most people think of places to surf they imagine the coasts of California, Hawai’i or Mexico — definitely not Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Colloquially known as the “Malibu of the Midwest,” Sheboygan is the freshwater surf capital of the world.
The Sheboygan surf scene has made a name for itself, whether it’s through attracting out-of-towners to ride the waves of Wisconsin beaches or pop culture references like the 2007 children’s animated movie “Surf’s Up.”
But in terms of real surfers, Mike Miller is head board waxer at EOS, the only surf shop in the city. He’s been surfing since 2004 and sat to speak with me about what makes Sheboygan’s waves so good.
Miller: We have a pretty good wave here. Like it, it’s a cleaner wave. We get some better days just cuz our geography of the lake. Um, we just have cleaner, we’re known for cleaner waves, so, you know, there’s waves on all the Great Lakes and many different areas, but, um, Sheboygan is right in the middle of the lake, so off north or or south wind…it is different, but we get pretty clean waves and we remind ourselves just the lake.
Trimberger: For the past 50 years, folks have been surfing off the coast of Sheboygan’s beaches. While the surfing community is always changing, Mike says a new crowd is getting involved.
Miller: We’re starting to see younger local kids get into it more, which in the past that was like they said, a lot of, lot of out, out of towners and like, I just didn’t know if the local scene was like the local community. Was that just up to speed on it? You know, they know that we do it and just some people just think it’s. Their thing, and like anybody that tries surfing, they get into it. They love it.
Trimberger: Tyler Stewart, a current senior at Sheboygan South High School is one of those kids. He’s been surfing on Lake Michigan for the past four years.
Stewart: I got into surfing when I first started working at EOS Surf the local board shop here in Sheboygan. And um, I’d say probably like six weeks after I learned how to surf for the first time, they had me start doing lessons. I was out there every day that I could.
Trimberger: And while Tyler isn’t on the waves as much as he used to, he’s incredibly fond of the community.
Stewart: The people here just, they don’t get mean at all like it. You can’t get in an argument because we’re all out there for the same reason. We’re just out there to have fun and relax and hear the waves crash behind us.
Wisconsin’s demographic continues to grow older, with concerns raising over how the state will support its aging populations.
The elderly population in the state, those 65 years and older, is projected to nearly double from 2010 to 2040, according to a study by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Demographic Services Center.
Key concerns include how to properly care for an increasingly older population, with their being tensions between long-term care facilities and Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, which supplies much of their funding.
Additionally, an aging population means the working-age population is projected to shrink, with experts split on how to alleviate those pressures.
Population aging is likely to put large amounts of stress on long-term care facilities, LeadingAge Wisconsin CEO John Sauer said.
Sauer said as the state ages, more long-term care facilities will be needed. However, those services are becoming sparser as some facilities close due to budgetary issues, according to Sauer.
Two-thirds of the patients that long-term care facilities manage are funded by Medicaid, and the DHS is paying less than half of nursing homes what it costs to care for those patients, Sauer said.
“When the state goes out and contracts for bridge replacement, they don’t pay the contractor 65 or 75 cents on the dollar for the costs,” Sauer said. “And that’s what we need to move to for our reimbursement system for nursing homes, so that we have a payment system that better approximates that cost of care.”
Since early 2020, 2,666 beds, or spaces in long-term care facilities, have been closed, according to Sauer. Sauer said the number of beds closed in that timeframe is equivalent to 41 full nursing homes.
The reasons behind the closures are a mixture between facilities closing down and others decreasing their number of available beds, Sauer said.
Sauer said the problem is not the actual number of beds themselves, but the number of staff they have to man those beds. Long-term care facilities in Wisconsin are at less than 70% bed occupancy, but are facing a 28% vacancy rate in caregiver positions, according to Sauer.
“We have plenty of available nursing home beds,” Sauer said. “The struggle we have is we can’t staff those empty beds. The workforce crisis is fueled by a reimbursement system that pays less than cost. We must increase our investment in the long-term care system.”
The DHS administers two other programs through Wisconsin’s Division of Medicaid Services meant to help provide long-term care: the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and the Family Care Partnership Program, according to DHS Communications Specialist Jennifer Miller. These programs aim to assist in care as an alternative to nursing homes and mixes health and long-term support services in home and community setting, respectively, according to Miller.
Wisconsin’s latest state budget included a 5% raise in Medicaid funding, specifically targeting increase for wages paid to direct care providers serving Medicaid long-term care participants, according to DHS Communications Specialist Elizabeth Goodsitt.
The state is attempting to alleviate Medicaid funding concerns through multiple avenues, with the DHS announcing that they will start to cover 91% of Medicaid costs for nursing homes, up from the old rate of 77%.
The additional funding will be used as a tool to attract healthcare professionals and alleviate staffing issues, according to Sauer.
Sauer is cautiously optimistic about this change. He said the DHS determines what counts as allowable expenses, and therefore what they will cover, so some legitimate costs of operation for nursing homes may still not get covered.
Sauer does hope the new system is able to assist with some of the struggles long-term care facitilies are facing, as he believes nursing homes are incredibly influental for the future well-being of Wisconsin.
“We need to prepare right now, to have a viable and sustainable long-term care system that would include nursing homes,” Sauer said. “The demand is coming our way.”
As elderly citizens continue to take up a larger portion of the state’s demographic that leaves fewer and fewer percentage of the state’s population to be of working age. Job opening are expected to drastically increase as the older generations retire, but the the state’s workforce is projected to stay virtually the same, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
This problem is notably worse within the healthcare field, where instances of resignation and increasing demand for care are combining to create vast worker shortages, according to Wisconsin Hosptial Association Media Specialist Erin Collins. These trends are referred to as the Great Resignation and the Silver Tsunami, and have led to the highest vacancy rates for registered nurses since 2005, according to Collins.
Additionally, Wisconsin’s birth rate is facing a steady decline, meaning that these problems are likely around for the long term, according to a study by the Wisconsin Policy forum. The study suggests that when lawmakers consider policies on immigration, taxes and family leave, they should do so with the context of needing more children to build the students, workers and citizens of tomorrow.
Many experts are suggesting using immigration to fill population gaps and meet labor demand, according to the Milwuakee Journal Sentinel.
Some experts suggest filling employment vacancies with H-1B visas, which allow companies to bring in college-educated workers to for specailized fields, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Those experts say such immigration could help local economies and give them an entrepreneurial boost, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Other experts believe such immigration programs could drive down wages and Wisconsin should focus on existing workers, according to the Milwakuee Jouranal Sentinel.
As we move towards a more elderly state, lawmakers, employers, long-term care facilites and workers must take into account the changing demographics. The entire state of Wisconsin has to build to a better future together.
It is time to face the fact that Wisconsin’s climate is changing and has been for some time now.
This year’s weather stayed in the high 60 to 70 degrees, which is much longer than normal, and the amount of snowfall this winter was minimal compared to winters past explained Matt Turner a geography professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) released an impacts and adaptations report examining weather patterns from 1950 to now. So far, the average annual temperature has risen 1 degree Fahrenheit and winter temperatures have risen an average of 2.5 degrees. The average precipitation has also increased by roughly 10 percent, and more floods are expected to occur. These changes have affected season durations and led to an expanding growing season.
This new normal for Wisconsin weather has lasting environmental effects, especially on the agriculture industry.
According to Turner, certain crops are expected to have decreased yields because they are not adapted to grow in these new higher temperatures.
Turner also pointed out that more precipitation and the new season durations meant that the growing season is longer “but with instances of dry spells falling between large rainfall events tied to flooding.”
“We consider climate change to be our greatest challenge in the coming years,” said Kristen Kordet, the owner and primary operator of Blue Moon Community Farm. “We are already seeing more severe weather events that threaten our soil, our crop health and our overall viability.”
These changes have resulted in some fear about the future of agriculture and instilled farmers with the need to enhance their farming practices to be more inclusive of these new weather patterns.
Kim Jakubowski and her husband Jake co-own Westridge Farms and have worked together since 2004. In their time working together, they have seen major droughts and excessive rain.
“We are organic vegetable farmers for our full time living, this is our livelihood, and we need to find ways to fight the battle,” said Jakubowski.
One of the biggest problems has been diseases, such as black rot, that occurs due to excessive heat and moisture. The brassica crops –– broccoli, cabbage and kale –– are just one variety of crops affected by this rot.
Both the Blue Moon Community Farm and Westridge Farm made a point of adding high tunnels, similar to greenhouses but without heating, to help shelter sensitive crops, such as the brassica, from the elements.
The farms have implemented other practices as well.
So far, Westridge Farms has applied no-till practices to minimize soil disturbances caused by heavy rain and floods. They also started adding more compost to their soil because it acts like a sponge and helps to absorb water.
The Blue Moon Community Farm has implemented similar practices. In the summer, marsh hay is added as mulch to keep the soil covered, which protects the crop quality. They also add leaf mulch and compost to their fields to improve water absorption.
These adaptive practices are necessary for keeping the agricultural industry alive and well. These new extremes of hotter temperatures and increased rain and humidity do concern farmers, but it is clear that steps have already been taken to mitigate the harms of climate change on agriculture.
“I am concerned that not enough farmers will have the ability to get ahead of the problem in order to stay in business,” said Kordet. “Mitigation isn’t cheap. I hope that support, research and education can be directed to retooling farmers for changes that need to happen.”
Individuals across Wisconsin have been experimenting with delta products for several years now, and new hemp-derived products and marijuana alternatives are becoming popular across the state.
An anonymous student from UW-Milwaukee explained that Delta 8 has come as a good alternative for those seeking a non-THC product.
“I’ve seen many take it as a legal option to enjoy marijuana but without the risk that comes with legitimate THC. Weed smokers, in general, are pretty stoked about Delta 8 products from what I’ve seen,” they explained.
When buying said delta product, the individual explained that they have been more careful with it, considering they are synthetic cannabinoids that do not hold as much research as normal THC products. The UW-Milwaukee student said he’s exprienced concerns over regulation and scamming, but has become more comfortable over time with knowing what works for them as opposed
“When deciding on a brand I usually buy from influencers in the weed scene who produce their own Delta 8 products,” the student said. “Since a lot of these products aren’t federally tested yet, it’s a lot safer to base your purchase off of a personality you trust.”
Experts have expressed concern over the rise of these THC products.
According to Dr. Cecilia Hillard, the director of the Neuroscience Research Center at Wisconsin Medical College and a cannabis researcher, THC has a lot of alcohol-like characteristics that help people relax and feel more sociable. For 85% of people, that kind of cannabis does not cause problems, but another 10-15% of people develop cannabis use disorder, she said.
“That’s one of the big issues with any drugs like alcohol or cannabis. This potential idea that using cannabis early can really mess up brain development, particularly causing psychiatric disorders that are devastating and long-term consequences,” Dr. Hillard said. “There is some evidence in human literature that children who use a lot of high THC content and cannabis or start using it at a young age increase their risk of developing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.”
Dr. Hillard also brought up a counterargument, saying that there may be some other genetics that causes an individual to use cannabis when they are young and develop psychosis.
“It’s so hard to do studies in humans because you have the chicken and the egg problem,” she said. “More and more I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not so much a causative relationship. Yes, maybe high-dose cannabis use in adolescence is associated or correlated with psychosis but I’m not sure we can say it causes it.”
While the rise of delta products in Wisconsin leaves some experts concerned, it has left small-business Hemp farmers thriving. Luke Heidt, the owner of Wisconsin Hemp Flower in Eau Claire, said he’s in support of legalizing hemp, but doesn’t expect regulations to change anytime soon.
“Marijuana will not be medically legalized for at least another two years with the people currently in office. It would be great for Wisconsin.” said Heidt.
In November, 82% of Dane Country residents indicated on their ballots that marijuana should be legalized. Dr. Hillard echoes this sentiment.
“In my opinion, we are better off developing those molecules and putting them under FDA regulation and selling them under use and drugs rather than people using whatever cannabis regulation they can buy to treat various conditions,” she said. “I think we should legalize and tax just like we do alcohol and fund research.”
Democrat Gov. Tony Evers plans to incorporate marijuana legalization into his 2023-2025 budget, but for Heidt, the future of cannabis companies remains very foggy.
“Hemp companies are small companies that have built themselves up. A certain amount of hemp stores would close, but every two years cannabis changes and there are new trends,” Heidt said. “Whenever a bill is proposed in Wisconsin, it’s usually not a good bill.”
Although this may be true, Heidt’s business is thriving and plans to continue to do so.
“I’m glad to see small businesses succeed, but I can’t see legalization being good for small businesses. Hemp people are always seeing how things change and are trying to stay in business,” he said.
Heidt also said he thinks Delta 8 products will diminish over time. He explained that the marijuana industry changes about every two years. Just like trends, marijuana products fluctuate.
“No matter what happens, Delta 8 products will disappear, and if it does become legal, they will be available online,” he said. “I think there is still a market for it if people need it for those who take a drug test.”
“Everyone that stated in hemp claimed to have some interest in the cannabis or interested in making money. These are helping keep a lot of businesses in business. Without Delta 8, a lot of places would have gone out of business,” Heidt said.
Although Delta 8 products have kept businesses afloat, it’s not viable for the long haul.
“My initial concerns were that Delta 8 wouldn’t be as regulated, therefore allowing for more scamming to take place. But after frequent uses of Delta 8, I find it to be a less intense version of THC,” the UW-Milwaukee student added.
“Hemp had low-cost production because I was using space that already excites me. I had an extended knowledge base about cannabis. The only thing I had to learn was how to run a business,” said Heidt.
Regulations have not changed much on CBD and delta products, which has opened opportunities for both farmers and small businesses. Both of these products have turned into a profitable alternative to medical marijuana.
Scattered throughout Wisconsin are 52 state parks, eight southern forests and recreation areas and 41 state trails that extend for 1,980 miles. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources State Park System protects Wisconsin’s natural wonders while making Wisconsin a desirable destination for tourists. Each property provides diverse recreational opportunities for Wisconsin natives and visitors to enjoy.
“There is a hidden gem in every property and every property has something special,” said DNR Recreation Partnership Section Chief Missy VanLanduyt. “Whether it’s going to one of our properties at a different time of day, day of the week or different season, we always encourage people to get out and make memories.”
Wisconsin’s state parks, forests and recreational areas see more than 20 million visits each year. All properties are open year-round, so whether it’s frigid cold or blazing hot, here are the top five nature playgrounds you can visit in Wisconsin.
Click here to explore Wisconsin’s state parks and forests. Map by Alison Stecker.
Devil’s Lake State Park
Devil’s Lake is the most popular state park in Wisconsin, amassing around 3 million visitors each year, said VanLanduyt. People are very drawn to the park’s natural features and recreational opportunities, including hiking, rock climbing and hiking.
“What makes the property unique is its good diversity in recreation, diversity coupled with the views of the lake and opportunities on land and water,” said VanLanduyt.
Devil’s Lake has east, west and south blocks. Those who hike east and west will see incredible views of the Baraboo Hills, which draw people in for camping and weekend getaways. The beach and water are also perfect for those interested in picnicking or just hanging out, VanLanduyt said.
“There are visitors every day to all of our properties. Definitely less in the winter, but all of our properties have all-year-round recreation,” said VanLanduyt. “Some even have higher visitation in the winter.”
Winter camping is at Devil’s Lake throughout the entire season at the Quartzite Campground, which has no-flush restrooms and a winterized water tap for visitors. Other winter activities include ice fishing and snowshoeing.
“Located 500’ above the countryside, the park is known for its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside,” said Natural Resources Property Supervisor Kevin Swenson.
Blue Mound has two 40 feet observation towers on the mound overlooking the driftless area and the Baraboo Bluffs. The vertical elevations of the mound also provide visitors with challenging hiking and mountain biking, Swenson said.
“It’s the destination in the summer for mountain biking and the destination in the winter for cross-country skiing,” VanLanduyt said.
Blue Mound is also the only state park to have a pool, which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. As the Wisconsin weather transitions to the winter, the hiking trails turn into 9 miles of cross-country skiing trails and the 15 miles of mountain bike trails convert to Fat Tire Mountain Biking and snowshoeing.
“The colorful autumn after the explosion of color from the oaks and maple trees, and the snow begins to fall, the park transforms into a winter paradise,” Swenson said. “The elevation of the mound provides the park with more snow each year than the surrounding countryside. This makes it an excellent location for some of the best winter activities around.”
Governor Dodge State Park
Governor Dodge is one of the largest state parks in Wisconsin, with over 5,000 acres of valleys, bluffs and steep hills.
“There is a lot of acreages that are spread out,” said VanLanduyt. “It’s not a very compact park.”
Located in the Driftless Area, Governor Dodges offers a ton of camping, trails, hiking, fishing, kayaking, hunting and cross-country skiing opportunities. It is also one of the only parks with a waterfall.
“One of the big draws is Stephen’s Falls,” VanLanduyt said. “We don’t have a lot of waterfalls in the south and there are accessible trails overlooking it.”
Governor Dodge is also a popular equestrian destination. With close to 30 miles of equestrian trails and a brand new horse campground that opened in May, the property offers some of the best horseback riding to locals and visitors.
“There are a lot of different terrains to traverse. The trails are challenging but not crazy difficult,” said Jean Warrior, the president of Friends of Governor Dodge Equestrians. “There is enough up and down so it’s good conditioning for the horses, and it’s not crazy hard where beginner riders would feel uncomfortable. It’s really a very nice riding destination for people and horses with plenty of shade.”
Riders have the option to explore three types of trails: a 6.7-mile long interior trail, a 15.3-mile long outer horse trail and a 2.5-mile long upland trail.
“A lot of us enjoy the sections of trail that have views of the lakes,” Warrior said. “I particularly like the section of the driftless trail after you cross over the Twin Valley Lake dan. You can wave at the people out in their boats and the southern loop of the driftless trail goes through some really beautiful old forests.”
Warrior believes Governor Dodge is such a popular spot for horseback riders because there are so many other activities to do as well.
“One of the reasons the horse campground has been so popular is that you can’t ride your horse all day every day,” she said. “When you’re camping, it’s great to be at a place that has so many other recreational opportunities.
Kohler-Andrae State Park
Kohler-Andrae State Park is one of the last natural preserves located alongside Lake Michigan. It’s located less than an hour north of Milwaukee in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and its long shoreline differentiates itself from the other state parks.
“The park is known for its sandy two-mile long beach along Lake Michigan, unique sand dunes and towering white pine trees reminiscent of points further north,” said Park Manager Edward Muzik.
The two-mile long trail is called the Dune Cordwalk, which takes visitors through the sand dunes, wetlands and large white pines located in the 141-site campground, Muzik said.
“A lot of species of plants are [also] protected and the cordwalk takes you through all of them while protecting them,” VanLanduyt added.
According to Muzik, visitors can also enjoy this property year-round. Although ice conditions on the boardwalk and park roads may prohibit hiking in the winter, the park has short cross-country ski trails and snowshoe trails.
Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit
Although it’s not a state park, Kettle Moraine State Forest is one of the most popular natural resources in Wisconsin, according to VanLanduyt. It is most notable for the glacial moraine that travels through the forest. The forest covers more than 22,000 acres of kettle lakes, prairies and glacial hills and there are more than 100 miles of trails.
“I have many favorite areas of the Forest, and the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is one of those. It’s a shorter trail, but the south end has numerous springs that create the headwaters for the Scuppernong River,” said Deputy Superintendent of the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit Brian Lemke. “The spring pools are shallow and you can see the sediment moving around as the water is emerging from the ground.”
According to Lemke, the property has 336 campsites located within three family campgrounds, two group camps and a campground for visitors camping with horses. There are approximately 60 miles of horse and snowmobile trails, self self-guided nature trails, 127 miles of hiking trails and 54 miles of mountain biking trails.
“The Forest is able to provide recreation to many types of groups; whether they are looking for trails, wildlife/bird viewing, glacial features, historic cabins and interpretive areas and many miles of trails,” said Lemke. “We also provide hunters and anglers with a place to recreate.”
The Southern Unit is also known for being a fully contained natural state area.
“We also have about a dozen State Natural Areas within the forest that provide critical habitat for several rare species of plants and animals,” Lemke said.
Interested in visiting any of these properties? Check out the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website for more information regarding admission tickets.
