ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
The Ashland Logging Museum will hold a dedication ceremony for the Norway Bluff Fire Tower Sunday, July 7 from 1-3 p.m. The dedication is being held as part of the town’s Ashland Summer Fest. Festivities will begin at the Museum with a fund-raiser breakfast featuring bean-hole beans, homemade donuts, eggs and ham from 7-9 a.m. An ecumenical church service will follow beginning at 10 a.m. at the Ashland Fish and Game Club. The Girl Scouts will be cooking barbecue at the Fish and Game Club before the Tower dedication begins at 1 p.m.
Moved from Norway Bluff near Munsungan Lake in T9 R9 WELS, 35 miles west of Ashland, in May of 2012, volunteers — along with the Ashland Boy Scout Troop 179 — have put in well over 600 hours of labor to restore the cab, scrape and paint the metal framework, and reassemble all the parts. Eagle Scout candidate Malcolm Milligan spearheaded the Boy Scout effort to complete the restoration of the cab. Milligan will be receiving his Eagle Scout rank during the dedication ceremony.
The museum will be open from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. July 7 and includes a new display featuring pictures and memorabilia donated by several local families of life at the various fire towers. More on the event can be found by searching “Ashland Logging Museum” on Facebook or by contacting Amanda Barker at 435-4870.
Ashland Adventure 7K Challenge
Are you up for a challenge? In conjunction with the Ashland Summer Fest, the Ashland Area Cross Country Ski Club is sponsoring an exciting 7K race through the woods and waters of Ashland Saturday, July 6.
As a Challenge race, the course isn’t just running — there will also be obstacles set up along the way such as crawling through culverts, slogging through mud, fording a river, and crossing a pond via a rope. Without question, participants will get muddy, dirty, bug bitten and wet. How much more fun could you have?
The $15 entry fee benefits the Ski Club and includes a spaghetti supper after the race. For more information, contact Linda Milligan at 227-9135 or search “Ashland Area Cross Country Ski Club” on Facebook.
Summer Fest Kids Carnival and Craft Fair
To be held at the Ashland Rec Center during the Ashland Summer Fest, and in conjunction with the Kids Carnival, there will be a Craft Fair Saturday, July 6 from 1-3 p.m. Crafters are being sought to sell their goods. Typically the Kids Carnival is a busy time with a lot of foot traffic, so crafters should do well. Please contact Jessica (Nason) Eastman for space pricing and fair details at 435-8097 or e-mail her at heelsforthesoul@gmail.com.
Portage Lake voters approve School Department budget
Portage Lake voters approved the Portage Lake School Department budget referendum June 11. Fifty-one residents cast their votes, with 43 in favor and six opposed. The second ballot question passed by a close 24-23 vote. The significance of the second vote is that next year’s school budget will be a “one step” process without the referendum vote. This means interested residents should attend the school budget warrant meeting which will be held sometime next May. It is at this meeting the proposed school budget will be explained in detail to the public; during which the proposed budget will be either approved or voted down.
The other item voted on was for a new school board member for Portage Lake. Robert Reece won the election 26-23. Reece will replace Gerry Cormier on the school board.
Sen. King to hold Constituent Outreach Hours
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A staff member of U.S. Sen. Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) will hold outreach hours for Ashland area constituents this week.
Part of Senator King’s new “Your Government, Your Neighborhood” initiative, office outreach hours are an opportunity for area residents to meet directly with a staff representative to discuss specific problems, legislative issues, or any concerns regarding federal government agencies. No appointment is necessary.
Staff members will be at the Ashland Town Office at 17 Bridgham Street on Friday, June 28 from 10 to 11 a.m.
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 227-7760 or Feenhop@aol.com.
