neighbors-1111 november 2011
DESCRIPTION
An insightful magazine featuring articles and information about Wisconsin’s interesting people, businesses, destinations, scenery and lifestyles in rural and urban areas.TRANSCRIPT
THIS ISSUE Heirloom Turkeys Autumn Glory Rock in the House!
November 2011 Vol. 1, Issue 9
AMERICAN HERITAGE LowLand Bison Ranch Stevens Point
Neighbors Stories of interest from your community!
FEATURE ARTICLES
8 American Heritage
Lowland Bison Ranch helps insure the future of this historic beast.
14 Heirloom Turkeys Nami Moon Farms raises and salvages rare and legacy breeds of poultry and practices sustainable farming.
20 Autumn Glory
A fall drive produces an inspiring montage of cinematic scenery and foliage.
Neighbors
Table of Contents November 2011, Vol. 1, Issue 9
COLUMNS
4 Together Thoughts from Jim Faivre, Neighbors’ publisher.
6 Grounded Ruth Johnson, Neighbors’ Editor, reflects on daily life.
26 Day Trips-Fountain City
Rocks First, it was House on the Rock. Now, we enjoy the Day Trips’ journey to Rock in the House and surrounding countryside!
Nami Moon’s heirloom turkeys must be discussing some serious business – probably predators!
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VISIT US OR VIEW OUR FULL INVENTORY ONLINE:
www.scaffiditrucks.com & www.scaffidicars.com
“Top notch sales and service!”
“Overall, that is why we purchase vehicles from Scaffidi Motors. Their team always works hard to find the vehicle that fits our needs. From a pricing standpoint, they are very competitive,” states T.J. Kennedy, Heartland Farms.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Rich Dunn, Joe Ebben (Scaffidi Trucks), T.J. Kennedy, Kathy Staack (Scaffidi Motors), Carl Phillips & Wes Meddaugh with some of Heartland Farm’s trucks from Scaffidi Trucks and Scaffidi Motors.
Exceptional People Exceptional Service
Stevens Point, WI (888) 414-4629 Tomahawk, WI (866) 978-1347
Celebrating America. I love November,
particularly Thanksgiving, when we reflect on our nation’s heritage while enjoying the company of family and friends. This month, on Veteran’s Day, we pay homage, to the brave men and women in our military service, who staunchly defend our country, often facing grave dangers and making extreme sacrifices. All three of our feature articles, American Heritage, Heirloom Turkeys and Malek Family Stewardship Farm in Autumn Glory, focus on individuals raising heirloom animals, poultry or fruits and vegetables These entrepreneurs are helping to preserve the beneficial qualities and unique diversity of our early breeds and plant varieties. I was extremely impressed with the efforts of Phil & Ione Hausler, LowLand Bison Ranch, who have raised bison since 1994. Witnessing the powerful presence of these magnificent beasts up close was incredible. Thank you for all your thoughts and comments! Keep them coming.
Together
Above: I love architecture of any kind and the corral/workout area that Phil Hausler, Lowland Bison Ranch, built for his bison is truly remarkable. With steel plates in several areas to help manage the average 1,500-lb bison, there is also a system of catwalks overhead to survey them in the pens. Bottom: I visited Don Malek, who showed me his apple trees. He also gave me a tour of Malek Family Stewardship Farm, a certified organic potato and vegetable farm, owned and operated by Don’s son, Chris. Don even shared some vegetables fresh from the field. I threw the squash back because I could not eat it raw.
Happy trails and blue skies for all!
Jim Faivre
Publisher, Neighbors [email protected]
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NO JOB TOO BIG
OR TOO SMALL!
SATISFYING PAVING NEEDS ACROSS CENTRAL WISCONSIN Residential Agricultural Commercial EVEN Railroads! B&B Paving Co., owned by Jim & Marilyn Benjamin, earns many new customers via current customer referrals. Our work stands the test of time and the heaviest loads, whether they are simply pedestrians or fully loaded semis and trains! “We get the job done right the first time, every time!” EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, REASONABLE RATES & FREE ESTIMATES! SITE PREPARATION ASPHALT PAVING PARKING LOT, DRIVEWAY, PATIO
& WALKWAY PAVING ON-SITE PULVERIZING PAVEMENT REMOVAL & RECYCLING
(We can even recycle your existing driveway in place.)
ASPHALT REPAIR
James & Marilyn Benjamin 6817 Johnnies Lane Stevens Point, WI 54482
(715) 592-4775
EDITOR, PHOTOGRAPHER, DESIGN & PRODUCTION CIRCULATION & WEB MANAGEMENT Ruth Johnson
[email protected] 715-347-3755 www.journeywi.com
Grounded
Neighbors
Kaleidoscopes. I remember when I was a child and I first
peered through one of these cylindrical masterpieces. I was awed by how a little tube could magically change the world’s image. Fall reminds me of kaleidoscopes. This is because it is as someone violently shook the vast expanse of summer’s greenery and shattered it into a riotously vibrant patchwork ablaze with splashy, fluorescent hues. Autumn’s glory is the subject of one of this issue’s articles, which displays photos taken during a drive through the rural Stevens Point/Rosholt/Custer area. Also featured are two stories that tie into Thanksgiving and our American heritage, one about heirloom turkeys (Nami Moon Farms) and the other centering on bison (Lowland Bison Ranch). Bison are unbelievably powerful beasts, larger than imaginable with huge, rippling muscles and massive heads. Their workout corral harbors several steel plate walls to help contain them since they can easily break right through wood if provoked. I hope everyone has a warm and inviting Thanksgiving, full
of festive feasting and family get-togethers! My thanks to our readers for all their great comments and suggestions. Warm regards,
Ruth Johnson Editor, Neighbors Magazine
Left: This dominant bull bison chooses a female and defends her against other males through fighting, butting heads or using its horns.
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AMERICAN HERITAGE LowLand Bison Ranch Stevens Point, WI By Ruth Johnson, Editor
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Before westward railroads
advanced across the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean, seas of nearly 100 million bison covered North America’s open ranges. Early trailblazing explorers reported waves of huge, hairy beasts filling huge expanses of grassy areas. When spooked, they stampeded, and the ground would literally tremble, which reportedly, sounded like rolls of thunder across the prairies. Railroads saw these huge herds as a danger to trains and pushed for their elimination. Since bison hides were quite valuable, hunters were happy to oblige in the systematic slaughter. Within 100 years of the Lewis & Clark expedition, which paved the way for settlement of the west, bison almost disappeared from western ranges.
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Opposite Page: Magnificent buffalo roam, play and challenge each other at LowLand Bison Ranch. Top: Bison bulls fight often, particularly during rutting season. They use their massive heads as battering rams, producing a momentum force of 2,000 pounds moving at 30 mph. Middle: Bison bulls are North America’s largest land mammal weighing a whopping 1,500+ pounds. Right: Prior to the mid-1800s, an estimated 100 million bison inhabited North America’s plains as pictured on this Library of Congress vintage postcard.
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Within 100 years of the Lewis & Clark expedition, which paved the way for western settlement of the United States, the bison had almost disappeared from western ranges. Only a few hundred bison remained, sheltered in the isolated valleys of Yellowstone National Park. RESURGENCE In the last century, bison enthusiasts endeavored to reverse the bison’s near extermination, helping transplant them back into native habitats and working to rebuild herds. These same protectors also fostered initiatives to treat bison as a precious commodity to harvest in a sustainable fashion for their meat, hides and horns while restocking the herd through reproduction.
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Top: Bison are wild creatures, not domesticated cattle and require careful handling. They are territorial and very protective of their families and can be dangerous. Middle: Phil and Ione conduct wagon tours that allow visitors to get up close to the bison. Bottom: The herd eats over 700 huge bales of hay every year as well as grazing many acres.
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Ione, who is also the entire Stevens Point School District’s Agri-Science Instructor and FFA Advisor, explains, “We focus on raising and harvesting bison using a system of natural setting grazing for 100% grass fed meat with no hormones or other additives used.” “We breed our own bison to sustainably replenish the herd on a continuous basis.” SUPERIOR RED MEAT According to Phil, “Bison meat is a sweeter, richer and nutritious meat, low in fat with healthy fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 and less cholesterol than other red meats. “ “We sell all parts of the bison meat from ground bison to rib eye steak to summer sausage and every other cut of meat imaginable.”
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Top: Despite their size, bison are agile and quick, capable of speeds in excess of 30 miles per hour and they can jump easily jump a 6-foot fence. Phil built these special pens with steel plate walls and catwalks overhead so he can safely monitor the bison while preparing them for their “workouts” in their play area. Left: Ione and Phil make their own apple cider, sold on the farm.
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(Continued from Page 11) Carefully capturing the bison’s full potential, the Hauslers also sell the bisons’ skulls, hides and leather. Ione and Phil love to give tours of their 130-acre ranch, especially to schoolchildren, who enjoy seeing bison in their natural environments and their workout area. The ranch also hosts an annual Open House in August featuring bison-oriented events, wagon rides and more. Ione says she is very careful to caution visitors that bison are not domesticated animals, “They are wild beasts, very protective of their families and territorial.” “They run faster than 30 mph and jump at least six feet. Even so, they are very loveable and entertaining and provide a great deal of entertainment.”
Top: This photo inside the Hausler’s truck gives you a perspective of how big bison really are. Back when bison ran wild, only Alaska brown bear were considered more dangerous. Bottom: The Hauslers utilize the whole bison and sell it in their shop at the farm and online. Bison meat is very tasty, rich in flavor, quite lean yet full of protein with less saturated fat than beef. It also includes these great nutrients: zinc, niacin, iron, vitamin B6 and selenium.
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Old World Charm Taste beyond compare!
Ski’s is an experience, not just shopping, a very special place! At family owned and operated Ski’s, quality knows no bounds and you receive only the freshest, finest meats, seafood, 100+ Wisconsin cheeses, Boar’s Head deli products and other treats. Savor Ski’s famously delicious homemade brats and sausages and the most tender beef, pork and chicken, cut by our expert butchers. New in-season seafood refreshed daily – from salmon, halibut and cod to crab legs and lobster! We offer Wisconsin’s finest artisan and master cheese makers with ‘squeaky fresh’ cheese curds on Friday and Saturday. Visit us soon for your good, old-fashioned, neighborly meat market experience!
5370 US Highway 10 E Stevens Point, WI 54482
(715) 344-8484
www.skismeatmarket.com Mon-Fri: 10am–6pm Sat: 9am–6pm Sun: 10am–4pm
Page 12 Neighbors-November 2011
HEIRLOOM TURKEYS & OTHER PASTURE RAISED POULTRY Nami Moon Farms, Custer By Ruth Johnson, Editor
A murder mystery was what I walked into when I arrived
for my interview with Nami Moon owners, Chris Holman and Maria Davis, who are fulfilling their dream of engaging in sustainable farming hearkening back to our earlier rural community heritage. That very morning, Chris and Maria woke up to find 15 of their 75 heirloom turkeys “gobbled” up by unknown assailants. The only evidence remaining was scattered turkey feathers. Maria discloses, “We think an owl, our poultry’s primary enemy, spooked the turkeys, swooping in to snatch a quick dinner. Then the rest of the turkeys may have flown from the relative safety of their pen, into nearby trees and brush.” However, the major marauder may have been a bobcat, recently sighted in the Custer area. Actively engaged in raising legacy breeds, Chris and Maria work hard to protect their poultry from predatory villains. Kelby, their Great Pyrenees guardian dog, patrols the large paddocks housing each poultry group.
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Opposite Page: Nami Moon raises many heirloom poultry breeds, including these Standard Bronze turkeys, ducks and 2,700+ chickens yearly. Top: Owls are the number one predator of pastured poultry but a bobcat may have eaten several of Nami Moon’s turkeys. Bottom: Maria and Chris interact with all their poultry and can differentiate individual birds since each bird possesses unique personalities.
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According to Chris, “Since our birds tend to stay close to home, we originally let our birds roam free in their area of pasture. However, owls take their toll. Eventually, we modified the movable range shelters we use, to protect the birds at night.” PERCEPTIONS Chris and Maria practice sustainable agriculture and humane livestock husbandry, pasture raising heritage breeds, keeping breeds alive for flavor diversity. They provide a farm sanctuary area for poultry pecked and bullied by other poultry, so they enjoy some quality of life before processing. Maria explains, “Happy poultry translates into healthier, nutritious and delicious birds for our customers, who definitely discern the difference.” “We give our fowl nearly ten times more pasture space than required. They graze from opulent grasses, alfalfa, sweet clovers, dandelions, wild flowers, chicory, yarrow and other herbs. We supplement with fresh water, minerals and our own antibiotic-free feed blend consisting of locally sourced corn and soybeans, probiotics, yeast, kelp and other micronutrients, which we have milled for us at Arnott Milling.” “While hybridized breeds, like the Cornish Cross, fulfill the average person’s desire for size,” Chris explains, “the poultry industry has teetered on the edge of extinguishing the rich taste our palates desire.”
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Top: Nami Moon Farm raises Muscovy Ducks for meat because their meat yield is higher than other ducks with 50% more breast (98%) lean and 50% less fat. Their Indian Runner Ducks, which are prolific egg producers, will lay 250 or more sublime-tasting eggs/year. Middle & Bottom: Maria demonstrates how to hold poultry, first getting a good hold and grasping their ankles so they cannot claw you.
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FULL UTILIZATION Nami Moon operates on the 41-acre property owned by Maria’s parents and includes beehives, vegetables, mushrooms, fruit, berries, poultry and eggs. Maria’s mother, Cindy Davis, says, “I lived here for over 16 years without utilizing the land or knowing what it looked like. Now, I have walked most of it and even helped plant an acre of hops.” “It is pretty wonderful seeing all of the great things Chris and Maria are doing with the farm,” exclaims Cindy. “I especially like the bees, who seem to have it all together - very organized, everyone has a job to do and no one complains!” Nami Moon grows its oyster mushrooms by placing mushroom spawn (mycelium) between stacked box elder logs. Covered to promote inoculation, the mycelium breaks down the logs. Once the logs are uncovered and exposed to air, mushrooms grow, ripen, and are picked and sold at local farmer’s markets. Nami Moon’s Facebook page, facebook.com/namimoonfarms, details their full product line and farmers markets, grocers and many other sources that sell their products.
Top Left & Right: The farm grows their oyster mushrooms on box elder logs. Middle: Modified range shelters provide much-needed night protection and roosting space for the turkeys. Bottom: The bee population continues to grow each year, providing pollen to Nami Moon’s fruits and honey, which is sold to customers.
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Page 31 Neighbors-June 2011
Rising Star Mill Nelsonville, Portage County
Imagine having your own Pete Sanderson Limited Edition print!
Renowned landscape photographer, Pete Sanderson, offers prints from his multi-faceted collections, which he believes epitomize the unique beauty of Wisconsin. Pete Sanderson will personally print and sign each 11”x14” pigmented ink jet print on cotton paper.
FOR PRICES OR TO ORDER, CALL OR VISIT
Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts, 2501 Church St, Stevens Point
(715) 341-7773
Prints are available for pickup at Koerten's Fine Framing & Gifts or can be mailed for additional $10.00 to cover shipping and handling.
“Rising Star Mill is perhaps my favorite Portage County image. As the rising sun first penetrated early morning fog, the reds and yellows seemed to glimmer.” ~ Pete Sanderson. Below: Moraine Lake, Lincoln County
Other Pete Sanderson Images at Koerten’s Fine Framing & Gifts
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Page 20 Neighbors-November 2011
AUTUMN GLORY Fall Color in Portage County By Ruth Johnson, Editor
Back road discoveries. One of the best
adventures is the kind you take on a warm fall day, when the foliage is at its prime. Drive nowhere in particular, just enjoy autumn’s views in full splendor and capture its grandeur in photos. I decided I wanted to shoot some apple trees and capture their fall fruit brilliance. I had a destination in mind. I knew Don and Arlene Malek grew different varieties of apple trees. Sure enough, their little orchard burgeoned with yellow, green and red fruits. Don suggested I also drive down the lane to the family farm where, his son, Chris, owns/operates Malek Family Stewardship Farm, a certified organic potato and vegetable farm specializing in heirloom and exotic produce varieties.
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Opposite Page: Not sure who owns this farm near Rosholt but it was too picturesque to pass up. Top: The hills around Custer and Rosholt were ablaze with a virtual quilt of color. Right: Don and Arlene Malek’s dwarf apple tree looked like someone hung giant rubies from its branches.
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CORNUCOPIA Chris grows many potato varieties including heirlooms and an ever-changing array of vegetables chosen for exceptional taste and nutrition, on their 84-acre certified organic farm. They also offer organic alfalfa/grass hay in bales or as standing crop harvested by the customer. Chris says, “Our farm has been in the family for over 100 years. We established Malek Family Stewardship Farm in 2008, started growing organic potatoes in 2001 and were certified in 2003.” “We believe that healthy food requires healthy soil, so we feed each acre organic matter and balanced minerals.”
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Top: Don Malek digs up some organic carrots on the Malek Family Stewardship Farm, his son’s certified organic potato/vegetable farm. Squash, beets, onions, melons and sweet potatoes are also shown in the small photos in each picture on this page. Left: Arlene Malek helps pick the potatoes and other vegetables that will be shipped to customers or packaged for direct pickup. Today’s harvest featured fingerling potatoes
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“We sell our produce in farmers markets, retail stores, co-ops, restaurants, bakeries, cafeterias and also take orders from households for pick-up at our farm or home,” says Chris. “We also maintain a Facebook page for further information. FOLIAGE PHOTOGRAPHY When shooting fall leaves, aim for many different colors and try close-ups and unusual angles. Take your shots when the sky is bluer than blue! A blue sky is a perfect contrast to deep autumn colors.
Top: I found this rock when I was clearing some land and rescued it to display as a focal point. Every rock is NOT created equal. Some are truly beautiful. Right: When shooting fall foliage in trees, try standing under them and shooting upwards for a very dramatic result. Bottom: One of Malek’s apple trees.
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Day Trips By Heather Kizewski & Ann Marie Worzalla
EXPLORING FOUNTAIN CITY
HERITAGE Fountain City’s ancestry is mostly Swiss, German, and Norwegian heritage since it was northern European immigrants who first homesteaded the area. The original industries of the area were timber and farming with the Mississippi River serving as the transportation passage for the region. Today, the population is 983. Agriculture still remains an important economic contributor to the area.
Top Left: The views of the Fountain City’s Mississippi river valley from high on Eagle’s Bluff. Below: Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum is packed with themed collectibles like these vintage tractors.
ELMER’S VINTAGE TOY AND AUTO MUSEUM Our first stop, located on Eagle’s Bluff - the highest point along the Mississippi, Elmer's Auto & Toy Museum is one of the largest museums of its kind in the country. The panoramic views from the bluff alone make it worth the visit.
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Welcome to Day Trips! Inspired by an authentic passion for travel, we share unique adventures accomplished in one day; no overnight bags required. We are sisters-in-law from Stevens Point and Amherst. Our families are involved in potato farming, so we are firmly entrenched in Central Wisconsin. For more than six years, we ventured forth searching for unique destinations. It is amazing how far you do not have to go to experience the moments we often seek in faraway lands. We hope to spark your wheels into motion. You are only a day trip away!
Above: Sisters-in-law, Ann Marie Worzalla (left) & Heather Kizewski (right).
This trip was inspired by the wonderful Duellman family we met on our whitewater rafting in July. We journeyed to Fountain City on an unusually warm and bright October day, with autumn colors close to their peak. Formerly known as Holmes Landing, a name acquired from a family who traded with Chippewa and Sioux Indian tribes, Fountain City was the first permanent Buffalo County settlement. Located on the Mississippi river across from Winona, MN, it is considered ‘The River Bluff Capital of the World.’
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The elaborate collection of meticulously maintained antique cars and trucks –literally hundreds- dating back from 1910 had us blinking our eyes in disbelief. My first thought was, who is waxing ALL these vehicles? There is not a speck of dust or debris to be found! Immaculate understates this place - even the gravel seems perfectly manicured. Hidden among the rolling hills of Fountain City, visitors from all over, lined up on the winding back road waiting to park. Family owned and operated since 1994, there are five museum buildings to tour with collections including hundreds of muscle, antique & classic autos & trucks, Indian and Harley Davidson motorcycles, old bicycles and high wheel bikes and vintage racecars. The museum carries the largest pedal car display in the country with 500-600 cars and over 100 pedal tractors, including small pedal riding toys (horses, tricycles, wagons) along with thousands of vintage toys and antique farm tools dating from the 1800’s. ROCK IN THE HOUSE On April 24, 1995, Maxine Anderson was taking photos of a remodeling project completed in her home. At 11:38 am, a 55-ton boulder dropped off a bluff towering 500-feet above the home and smashed into the bedroom she had photographed moments prior. Maxine, terrified, tried escaping, but the impact caused the doors to jam, trapping her inside. An employee who worked across the street at the Corp of Engineers Base witnessed the rock come down the bluff and hit the house.
Above: Elmer’s is a paradise for John Deere fans, who marvel at the huge pedal tractor display. Bottom: Ann Marie sizes up the 55-ton boulder that barreled down a bluff, smacking into the house.
He rushed over to aid whoever was inside. Although the doors were jammed, he managed to get the kitchen door open and Maxine escaped unharmed. PERMANENT ESCAPE Who could blame them? Maxine and her husband, Dwight, moved out immediately, returning later only long enough to pack their belongings.
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Subsequently, John & Frances Burt of Fountain City purchased the home with the boulder still occupying the bedroom and opened it as a tourist attraction. The city has declared the residence a historical site and thousands of tourists come to see Rock in the House” from all over the world. Many newspapers and magazines have written about it, even People.
QUAKING DISCOVERY We were surprised to discover the house site unmanned with simply a box out front, where you leave $2.00. Like walking into a stranger’s home, it seemed almost wrong. A pretty chandelier hangs from the ceiling in the dining room. Wall bulletin boards display photos and handwritten information regarding the incident. We walked around inspecting the rooms, which was fine until a nearby train rocketed through, rattling the house and perhaps another boulder. We felt certain that at any moment, another rock could come rolling down and/or the rest of the house could crumble upon us. FLEEING TENDENCIES Interestingly, the bulletin board documented an uncannily similar occurrence in April 1901. A five-ton rock, loosened by a warm early spring and melting snow, plummeted down the bluff. It landed on the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dubler, adjacent to Rock in the House, instantly killing Mrs. Dubler while she slept, crushing her body beyond recognition. Mr. Dubler awoke to find himself plunged into the cellar amidst the ruins of his home. He managed to survive virtually unscathed with only a slight forehead bruise. Needless to say, we took our photos and bolted. SEVEN HAWKS WINERY While walking the streets of Fountain City, we noticed a brick building with an arm-twisting sign that read, ‘Free Wine Sampling.’ The building, a print shop in the 1870s, housed the Seven Hawks Winery’s historic tasting room. Ink stains still embed the beautiful hardwood floor.
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Top: This photo illustrates how truly massive the rock was that landed on the Anderson’s house. Below: The rock is certainly much taller than Heather, who had a hard time spanning it!
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The vintage décor is welcoming. There are tall tables and an elegant sampling bar. The owners enhance the warm ambience with their informative enthusiasm. We were pleased to learn all their grapes are 100% locally grown. Their vineyards include almost 18,000 northern hybrid grapevines and 500 plum and cherry trees rendering them one of the largest vineyards in the Midwest. Although our visit here was brief, we determined our favorite wine was gold-medal winning Smiling Moon. Smiling Moon is a blended white made from estate grown Frontenac Gris and Prairie Star grapes. It is smooth with rich tropical flavors and a memorable buttery finish. MONARCH PUBLIC HOUSE A destination for travelers since 1894, the Monarch Tavern & Public House is an authentic Irish tavern and restaurant. The building still features the original hand carved oak back bar, ornate pressed tin ceilings and 100-year old tables and chairs. Stirringly beautiful Celtic music played on the jukebox. SUPERIOR IRISH DINING It is no surprise that in 2002 Discover Wisconsin television series featured Monarch Tavern & Public House or that Gourmet Magazine travel section named the Monarch as one of their recommended destinations in 2009. The menu is truly outstanding (check it out on-line!). As a tribute to the owners’ Irish ancestry, they serve specialty items like Limerick Ham, Champ, and their famous Irish Potato Soup along with many other Irish cuisines. Top: Serving travelers since 1894, Monarch Tavern & Public House claims to offer the best Bloody Marys along with their famous Fountain Brew beers. Middle: Seven Hawks Vineyards seven wines use locally-grown grapes and fruit. Below: Visitors love Seven Hawks Vineyards’ historic wine sampling facilities.
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Even though the prices are very reasonable, determining what to order was daunting. Everything sounded amazing. We highly recommend the Irish Stew – a true Irish classic with pulled beef and hand cut vegetables in savory gravy. I ordered it as Shepherd’s Pie with a serving of Irish Champ and melted butter. The Beef & Stout version is folded with a smooth dram of Guinness!
FINAL REFLECTIONS From atop Eagle’s Bluff storybook views overlooking the charming city to walking the streets along the mighty Mississippi, it somehow felt further away than most our adventures. We both agreed autumn is the best time to visit Fountain City. The colors from the bluff tops of the Mississippi River are stunning. We are very grateful our new friends, the Duellman family, inspired this Day Trips destination. We are also very happy they were able to meet us at the Monarch for dinner - a truly memorable ending to a wonderful trip!
Top: Since 1894, the Monarch Tavern has never closed its doors, which makes it Wisconsin’s longest running tavern. Current owners, John and Lori Harrington, rescued the building 16 years ago and turned one-half into an Irish Pub, the other into a restaurant. Downstairs is the Rock Bottom Pub Rock Bottom Pub where the ceilings, chairs and tables are all from the 1890's. Below: Fountain City sits in the bluffs of the Mississippi River, a picturesque town with many quaint houses, a brewery, winery and the Monarch Tavern & Public House, a restaurant/tavern awarded recognition by several travel/gourmet rating sources.
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“Eric Beggs gets the job done just the way you want it!”
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NOTHING RUNS LIKE A DEERE! John (above) & Charlene (below) Bennett of Myland Stock Farm, Westfield, WI, love their John Deere “workhorse” tractors, which both of them operate. All together, they own eight pieces of John Deere equipment. John is shown with the two newest acquisitions, a 7330 tractor with 741 loader and 6430 tractor.
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Major facelift! The back lot of this business was
completely asphalted in July, just in time for an Open House celebration. According to the owner, “We planned on paving the back lot because it suffered washouts in heavy rains and didn’t drain well. The Open House gave us a great reason to proceed with the project to provide space for this and other events.” The business turned to B&B Paving Co Inc., a tried and true firm they worked with previously. Founded by Jim & Marilyn Benjamin, B&B Paving earns many customers through referrals from satisfied customers. “Hot mix” asphalt can reach 290°C so this job requires ever-vigilant safety-mindedness. While summer is the best time to pave, it adds even further ‘fuel to the fire’. Temperatures hit the 90s the week B&B Paving worked on this lot. Paving crews deserve praise for weathering their heated work environments! Top: Jim Benjamin, B&B Paving Co Inc. owner, checks on the status of asphalt deliveries while crewmembers monitor and adjust depth and check grade as the paving machine evenly lays the asphalt. Middle: Crewmembers first graded and compacted the existing lot base and surface. Bottom: The new asphalt base is “cold rolled" to remove creases or lines, leaving a beautiful smooth lot.
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PAVING PARKING LOTS B&B Paving Co Inc, Stevens Point
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Page 36 Neighbors-November 2011
TWISTING ELBOWS As I was driving through the Custer countryside, I spotted Norman Platta and his son, Tom, standing by Norman’s John Deere 4450. Pretty nice!