Letters to the editor

Dear editor, On January 24, the Baraboo school district approved the installation of a $512,685 project to install solar panels on Baraboo High School and the Baraboo’s Jack Young Middle School. They accomplished this with $84,335 of grants and $60,000 raised locally by renewable energy supporters in the Baraboo community. According to a newspaper article, the solar panels will meet 18.5% of the middle school’s electrical needs and 17.9% of the high school’s electrical needs. The savings in purchased electricity will allow the projects to be entirely paid off in 12.7 years for the middle school project and 10.3 years for the high school project. As I see it, the Baraboo school board has recognized that the climate threat is a real and present danger to the future of its students and is willing to make a serious investment to begin facing the challenge. They recognize that students deserve a concrete demonstration of hope for their future. Bravo for Baraboo. It’s obvious to me that Sauk Prairie is just as progressive a community as Baraboo. I’m sure our citizens comprehend the danger ahead even if we don’t know exactly how to respond. We have at least equivalent resources in terms of talent, generosity, and leadership. There is evidence that we are interested in renewables (solar supplying some Prairie du Sac municipal buildings, solar to be installed in the new police station, multiple solar installations on homes in and around our town, solar and other renewables on Weber Auto Parts). So....let’s get started! Solar on Sauk Prairie Schools. The time is now.   Tom Sullivan Village of Prairie du Sac   Sauk Prairie Healthcare wants to express our gratitude as we recognize the commitment of our Mobile Meal Volunteers, allowing us to continue serving Sauk Prairie community members during the pandemic without interruption in 2021.   Although our 2021 volunteers are too numerous to mention, the groups who regularly assisted include Bank of Prairie du Sac, Concordia United Methodist Church, Council of Catholic Women St. Norbert’s Church, First United Church of Christ, Friends of Sauk Prairie Healthcare, Grandview Services, Maplewood of Sauk Prairie, Quartz Health Systems, Sauk Prairie High School NHS, FFA and Alumni, Sauk Prairie Kiwanis, Sauk Prairie Optimists Club, Schwarz Insurance, St. Aloysius Church, and St. John’s Lutheran Church. We are also thankful to individuals who regularly delivered meals including John Balfanz, John Mast, Sr. Lorene Haas, Eileen Klepper, Deb & Jim Fanta, Sue & George Paul, Sandy & Ernie Bruckert, Della Ryan, Anita Clemens, Lisa Theis, Patty & Steve Barritt, Becky & Bill Papendieck, Lew Dillon, John & Nancy Klabough, Cindy Ausloos and many others.  Your dedication makes this program possible.   We wish all our extraordinary volunteers a happy and healthy 2022!   Sincerely, Shawn Lerch, CEO  Sauk Prairie Healthcare