Newville's 'Break in the Weather' party a rite of spring

Newville's 'Break in the Weather' party a rite of spring

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Neil Johnson
April 26, 2014
NEWVILLE—It didn't matter that the Rock River was an icy 43 degrees on Saturday.

That's a lot warmer than the air temperatures during many days of this past winter.

And if you jumped in the frigid river, as five people did during a belly-flop contest at Anchor Inn in Newville on Saturday, you weren't worried.

You got a double-shot of liquid courage beforehand: a sip of cinnamon-flavored whiskey, and cheers from 1,500 people who were celebrating the color of your undies and the start of a new spring.

The belly flops and other southern Wisconsin revelry—beer, brats and live bands playing 1970s and 1980s classic rock—went on Saturday at the Anchor Inn as part of the tavern's annual Break in The Weather party.

The long-running event in Newville—and its heralded Rock River belly-flop contest—is as familiar to Edgerton-area residents and Lake Koshkonong vacationers as the Groundhog Day woodchuck “Punxsutawney Phil” is to Punxsutawney, Penn.

For residents and Lake Koshkonong vacationers, the Break in the Weather party, which runs from noon until after midnight, is an annual rite. The ice is finally off the Rock River, and the season of fun has returned to Newville.

“Look at the buds popping out on that thing,” a tattooed man in a leather and denim motorcycle jacket said to his friend. He was pointing to a tree on the riverfront veranda at the Anchor Inn. “Isn't it nice to see that?”

It was an unexpected Walt Whitman moment for a motorcycle dude, but hey—it has been a long, nasty winter.

Anchor Inn owner John Kinnett smiled from the tavern's deck, which overlooks the river. On the back lawn, people sipped Leinenkugel beer, a group played beanbag toss and two Walleye fisherman putted past in a boat. The sky was blue and the temperature 60 degrees.

Not a heat wave, but compare it to the weather Jan. 26, just three months ago: a low of 7 below with 3 inches of snowfall.

“This, today, is a true break in the weather,” Kinnett said. “Even this spring, we haven't been able to string two warm days together. Yesterday was a good warm up. I bet the folks will pour in today.”

Kinnett said the annual party used to bring in 5,000 people, but now crowds have leveled off at about 3,000. Though floods have threatened the event, which has been run by different owners for 41 years, it has never been canceled, Kinnett said.

The crowd ranges from motorcyclists to locals to Lake Koshkonong vacationers returning to the area.

“It's great. This now is when you see all the usual groups come out. It's the first time we've seen many of them return from the winter. They're waking up,” Kinnett said.

Four Machesney Park, Ill., women stood under the tavern's big, white tent and danced to a classic rock cover band Pink Houses tear into a guitar, tambourine and fiddle breakdown cover of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

The women's brightly-colored toenail polish set off their new flip-flops and spring tops. They couldn't hear a word a Gazette reporter was trying to shout to them: something about a church song being played at a tavern tent revival.

The women just smiled at the reporter.

One town of Fulton police crew and three Rock County Sheriff's office squads were assigned to the party, which at one point in the afternoon had about 2,000 people.

In the past, the Break in the Weather Party has netted a handful of arrests, and on one occasion a man died when he tried walking home intoxicated from the event. A drunk driver hit him, said Rock County Sheriff's Deputy Greg Niles, who was on patrol Saturday.

The most common offense in the past, Niles said, has been people leaving the event and carrying their beer with them.

“It's mostly no big deal,” Niles said.

Jason Johns, a native of Oregon, Wis., the party Saturday was a big deal, though. Water dripped from Johns' head in beads after he belly flopped twice into the Rock River, once with a dollar bill stuck to his forehead.

Johns, an Iraq War veteran who was injured in action, said the cold river and the people at the Newville party made him feel alive.

“It's s---t like this that reminds me I've got nothing in the world to complain about. It's about living life,” Johns said.

- See more at: http://www.gazettextra.com/article/20140426/ARTICLES/140429756#sthash.m63071Rg.dpuf

Police report no major incidents at Newville party

Police report no major incidents at Newville party

By Gazette staff
April 27, 2014
NEWVILLE—The Rock County Sheriff's Office said there were a few drunken driving arrests but no major public safety incidents linked to Saturday's “Break in the Weather” party in Newville.

The annual event, which is hosted at Anchor Inn, a tavern in Newville, ran all afternoon and evening and drew crowds between 1,500 and 2,000 people Sunday, authorities estimated. It included music and special events.

Rock County Sheriff's Sgt. Josh Lund said police arrested two people for drunken driving after they drove away from the event. He said police cited two people for carrying open alcohol containers off the grounds at Anchor Inn.   

Lund said the event had no disturbances reported, no underage drinking citations and there were no vehicle crashes involving people at the event.

One of the people arrested for OWI also was cited for a concealed weapons violation. Lund said the person had a rifle on the backseat of their vehicle. The gun was not in a case, but there was no ammunition in the vehicle, he said.

Reporting Requirements of RKLD on the Dredge Project

The Corps authorized the carp gate as part of the permit issued to Mr. Brian Christianson on September 20, 2012. Please continue to work with the WDNR to their satisfaction.

In addition, please provide the required maintenance and monitoring reports for this site as indicated in the Corps permit and the Eco-Resource Consulting, LLC report dated January 20, 2012.  Monitoring reports are to be submitted to the Corps for a total of 3 years - 2013, 2014, and 2015.  Failure to submit the reports in a timely manner will result in non-compliance of the Corps permit.  Please submit the 2013 monitoring report (due 12/31/13) no later than May 15, 2014.  The 2014 report should be submitted by 12/31/14 and the 2015 report should be submitted by 12/31/2015.  As stated in my May 15, 2013 email to you, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Sigmarsson, and Mr. Christianson, if the performance standards have been met in 2015, no additional reports will need to be provided to the Corps.  If the standards are not met, additional maintenance and monitoring may be required.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Stacy Marshall

Stacy L. Marshall
Biologist/Project Manager
United States Army Corps of Engineers

Deputies to focus on Newville's Break in the Weather Party

By Gazette staff

April 24, 2014

NEWVILLE—Rock County sheriff's deputies will be focusing on the Newville area on Saturday, when the local taverns host their annual Break in the Weather Party.

The sheriff's office plans extra patrols to enforce traffic laws and local ordinances to deter drunken driving, according to a news release.

Similar efforts have been made in past years.

Deputies will also check taverns to ensure minors are not being served alcohol.

Intoxicated driving and underage alcohol consumption are the main targets for deputies, but they also will be on the lookout for aggressive driving, following too closely, speeding and failure to wear seat belts, according to the release.

“Sheriff (Bob) Spoden firmly believes selling alcohol is a legitimate business activity, but such action is a privilege to which very serious and specific responsibilities apply,” the release reads. “This same responsibility also pertains to persons choosing to consume alcohol. Therefore, Sheriff Spoden is asking everyone involved in this annual event to have fun but remain responsible.”

The weather forecast for Saturday is mostly sunny with a high of 56 and low of 38, with a chance of showers at night.

ALL GATES 100% OPEN

Lake level = 779.46 today

Over 3 feet ABOVE DNR Summer Max.

Break in the Weather Party is Saturday!

At
Anchor Inn
Newville

38th Annual

Break-In-The-Weather Party

April 26th, 2014 BANDS

12:00 – 2:00    Dan Reilly (bar)

3:00  – 7:00     Pink Houses (tent)

6:00  - 10:00   TBA (bar)

8:00  - 12:00   Shot Gun Jane (tent)

ENTERTAINMENT 2:00 - ??    Belly Flop (into the frigid waters of the rock river)    

2:00 – 11:00     Shotgirls

Check Out Emigail's in Newville

Emigail's Roadhouse brings bayou to little Newville

By Joan Neeno, Special to The Gazette

April 16, 2014

NEWVILLE—On the last weekend in April, “Break in the Weather” celebrations around Lake Koshkonong will turn the unincorporated hub of Newville into party central. The Anchor Inn will be packed with revelers enjoying live bands, beer and bar food.

Just across Highway 59, little Emigail's Roadhouse also will be at capacity. While it's not as flashy as its neighbor, Emigail's draws a devoted fan base. It offers smaller musical acts, a good bar and very good food that goes well beyond your standard bar food.

Emigail's specializes in Cajun food, and the staff does it well. Mitch, Lisa and Nancy joined us for a Tuesday night dinner recently. The weather hadn't broken yet, but Emigail's was doing impressive business for a typically slow night.

No doubt about it, people are there for the food. The place doesn't have much ambiance to speak of. The bar takes up most of the back wall, and a few tables are scattered on either side of the front door alongside the ATM, video games and jukebox. The service is friendly but not fancy.

The nondescript setting quickly becomes a non-issue when you see the dishes coming out of the kitchen. In our case, the neighboring table was more than happy to tell us what they ordered and their favorites.

We had to try the gator bites ($10), a basket of breaded, deep-fried alligator. Mitch found it a bit salty, but I didn't mind. The breading was nice and light, and the moist meat tasted like … chicken. But let's face it, eating gator is a much better story than chicken nuggets.

Mitch had the gumbo yaya with shrimp ($16), a Cajun favorite with andouille sausage, diced tomatoes and a choice of chicken or shrimp. He liked the flavor and the level of heat, which fell nicely between a kick and blazing hot.

The Guaymas shrimp ($16) was a milder dish featuring shrimp poached in a sauce of ancho chili, mushrooms and green onions, served over angel hair pasta. Lisa graciously shared her dish with the table, and it was a winner. The jumbo shrimp were tender and perfectly cooked. The pasta was nicely sauced, and the flavors well-balanced. Most of us liked it best of all the dishes ordered.

Nancy wasn't in the mood for spicy, so she ordered the “normal” deep-fried shrimp ($16), served with choice of side. The kitchen knows how to use the deep fryer; the shrimp were tender inside while the breading was light and crispy. The portion was generous, and Nancy left happy and full.

My husband, Richard, ordered the crawfish poboy ($10). The soft French roll was stuffed with breaded, deep-fried crawfish and sauced with a tasty, but not spicy, remoulade. It was a good sandwich.

I chose the jambalaya ($14) with a little trepidation because, unlike Richard, I don't particularly like crawfish. I'm glad I got over my reservations because Emigail's jambalaya is rich, spicy and satisfying. The crawfish tails enhanced the flavors of the rice, vegetables, andouille and chicken breast. The portion was huge, and the leftovers made for a good lunch the next day.

With its unassuming exterior and laid-back vibe, it's easy to forget about Emigail's. Next time you're in Newville, park your car just a little way away from the Rock River and pretend you're eating in the bayou. You'll be happy you did.

Flooding Not as Severe as Predicted (So Far)

Koshkonong has Crested….

Rock River Flood Inundation Mapping Project Update

I wanted to let everyone know that Terry Zien, USACE St. Paul District, called me on Friday and advised that the USACE is still waiting for funding for the proposed Flood Inundation Mapping Project for the Rock River  (yes, it is still alive!)  The USACE is waiting for their FFY 14 budget and have been operating under a continuing resolution.  Those projects submitted last year are being considered for funding in the FFY14 budget.  Shirley Johnson along with WDNR have done some work, but can’t move forward until there is an approved budget.  Terry advised that they are expecting to receive funding soon.   

It’s like FEMA, we are still waiting for funding for last year’s PDM grants, yet FEMA is asking for applications for this year! 

In any event, I’m pleased that the project still has movement. 

Roxanne K. Gray

Mitigation Section Supervisor

State Hazard Mitigation Officer

608-242-3211

Imagine that - the Rock River could become a tourist attraction….

…Maybe even protect the property tax base too

_______________

Embracing the Rock

Janesville appears ready to use the Rock River downtown as an attraction

By Marcia Nelesen

   mnelesen@gazettextra.com  

   JANESVILLE

   After years of giving the cold shoulder, Janesville appears ready to snuggle up to the Rock River.

   Residents have shunned the natural resource that many planners have said could and should become the city’s major attraction.

   Doors of downtown businesses face away from the river, for example. Only one business, Main Street Saloon, takes advantage of the view with a back deck.

   Concrete walls keep floodwaters away, but they keep residents out of the river, as well.

   A majority of residents who gathered in April for a downtown redevelopment meeting identified the river as the area’s most important attribute, said Ryan Garcia, economic development coordinator for the city.

   The focus is 240 acres stretching from Traxler Park south to the Jackson Street bridge—an area with more than four miles of riverfront and one dam.

   A meeting Thursday will be the second of three and will offer maps for residents to see alternative uses for six redevelopment sites.

   The Rock River as an attraction appeared to be a common denominator of many of the suggestions from residents during the first meeting, Garcia said. Most of those who attended want to figure out ways to get people to and in the river, he said.

   Suggestions include a river rapids course for kayaking or an arcade in the lower level of the Olde Towne Mall that leads to a pedestrian river crossway and public space on the other side.

   At the meetings, the consultants from SAA Design Group of Madison—a landscape architecture and civic engineering firm hired with a $200,000 federal grant—urge people to think in different ways, Garcia said.

   The resulting plan will outline how the city could put the redevelopment plan into action, including the costs of suggested projects, available grants and changes in zoning, Garcia said.

   “This is an action-oriented plan,” Garcia said. “This is what you have to do to make it happen.

   “What we’re trying to do is create something behind their (business) buildings so they take it upon themselves to reorient themselves to the river,” Garcia said.

   “It becomes another front door.”

   Creation of a town square was another common focus, and the plans identify areas where that could happen.

   Each plan addresses the removal of the downtown parking plaza over the river. Residents believe additional parking must be provided near high-traffic areas, Garcia said.

   Anyone is invited to the second meeting, and Garcia said he hopes to see people who were at the first meeting, as well.

   Residents will be asked to suggest options for land use, such as preferred areas for public and commercial spaces and entertainment. For example, an area designated “naturalized” rather than “urban” might mean the concrete river walls would eventually be removed, Garcia said.

   A third meeting will be scheduled the week of July 18. The final plan will be presented to the plan commission in September and to the Janesville City Council in October.

Lake Koshkonong Pelicans

Thanks to Jeff Brown for the photo.

Carp Seiners and Pelicans

Hi,

Yesterday my husband emailed about the dead fish and a pelican trapped in the fish nets.  This morning there is a dead pelican there.  We just want to pass this on, in case it is of concern to the Rock Koshkonong Association.

Bonnie Geyer

Observing the Carp Seiners

Mr. Christianson;                   April 13, 2014

On Friday the group completed a net activity and set up their pens in front of my  neighbor’s house. On Saturday morning I note that a majority of the fish in one pen are dead floating on their backs. The fish in the second pen were OK yesterday and seem to be OK today as well. I would believe there are more than 200 dead fish. The pens have become an attraction for the Pelicans. In trying to pull fish from the pen one was caught but now after 20 minutes it is loose and the Pelicans have left. My purpose in reporting this to you is that in case all these dead fish are not taken out but left in the Lake the death cause be known. Second leaving the pens up 24 hours or more risks Pelicans getting caught. If unable to free themselves and were to die we suspect publicity would be unfavorable. I do not know if the Pelicans would be attracted if there were not so many dead fish.

Regards

Jim geyer

Lake Levels to Jump

Nice Aerial View of Frozen Koshkonong

Koshkonong Has Crested

So far, so good.

Just keep the rain away, and keep this slow warm-up, warming-up.

flood risk normal in Janesville

Planting for farmers delayed because of frozen ground, flood risk normal in Janesville

By Andrea Anderson
March 31, 2014
JANESVILLE— Sunday's sunshine and warmer weather make the lower winter temperatures feel like a distant memory, but for local farmers winter is far from a memory and is putting a dent in plans.

The frozen ground is delaying local farmers' planting schedule.

Farmers have to wait until the ground is thawed and dry enough to get on the fields to prepare for planting. They also are unable to plant crops when the soil is too cold or too wet.

Doug Rebout, a local farmer, is normally out working the fields this time of year to prepare for the first day of planting on April 15. Because of this year's frozen ground he's not.

Instead, he's waiting for the ground to warm up and for the soil to dry out.

“It's not like we go out and measure the temperature or anything, it's just more of an instinct,” Rebout said.

Rebout plants 2,600 acres of corn, 1,000 acres of soybeans, 150 acres of winter wheat and a couple hundred acres of hay.

He won't be planting by April 15 and doesn't have an exact date when he will begin.

“Mother nature is your main thing that tells us when we can and can't go,” Rebout said.

Last year planting began April 28.

Once crops are planted it doesn't mean it's smooth sailing. There could be heavy rain, droughts or other conditions that delay harvest.

Rebout is waiting patiently and he hopes others will, too.

“Once we get going we're going to be putting in a lot of long hours, we hope people are patient with us on the roads,” Rebout said.

The winter that would never end, and still hasn't for some, could have been a blessing in disguise.

As spring approached, the weather was warmer one day and colder the next, allowing for a gradual snow and ice melt and leading to a gradual rise in Rock River water levels.

These are ideal conditions to keep the risk of flooding as low as possible, said J.J. Wood,  National Weather Service meteorologist.

“You want it to be a gradual melt,” Wood said. “Then if you do have runoff, it's not going to raise the level of the river too much.”

Certain parts of the Rock River have a 50 percent chance of flooding by June, according to the river's forecast completed by the National Weather Service.

The forecast depends on precipitation, snow melt and soil conditions.

The forecast is normal, Wood said.

According to measurements, the river's water level in Afton is up 6.7 feet from about 4 feet at the beginning of the month, Wood said. The flood stage, or the point where water begins to flood roads or reach homes, is 9 feet.

“Right now I would say it's in a normal type of range for this time of the year, it's nothing unusual,” Wood said.

For the river to exceed flood stage at least once or twice by June is not out of the question, unless there was a drought, Wood said.

Ground temperature also contributes to flooding.

If large amounts of rain fall and the ground remains frozen or does not thaw enough, the majority of that rain will not be absorbed by the soil and will end up in the river, increasing water levels.

Spring brings manure hazard

Spring brings manure hazard
By Lee Bergquist
   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
   With warmer weather finally on the way, state officials are warning farmers and the public that there is a potentially high risk across most of Wisconsin for manure to pollute groundwater, streams, rivers and lakes.
   Following the highest number of manure spills in seven years in 2013, this year’s threat is due to melting snow and rainfall that could send soil and animal waste into streams.
   Under the right conditions, manure also could soak into aquifers, from which drinking water is drawn.
   Manure, an important source of fertilizer, contains bacteria, phosphorus and nitrogen, which can enrich soil. But if misapplied, it can pollute waterways and groundwater.
   So far, the seemingly endless winter has meant snow has melted gradually, which has kept manure runoff problems to a minimum, according to officials at the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
   With warmer temperatures and rain predicted over the next week, conditions could change quickly, officials say.
   The state agriculture department’s runoff risk advisory forecast is currently listed as “high” across most of Wisconsin. The system lets farmers and others check individual watersheds and judge the risk of spreading, based on soil moisture, snowpack, temperature, the forecast for rain and other factors.
   This month, the DNR and agriculture department spent more than $9,000 airing radio spots, warning farmers about proper spreading practices.
   The Journal Sentinel reported in December that farmers had the highest number of spills in 2013 in a seven-year period. Livestock operations spilled more than 1 million gallons of manure last year, which is less than 1 percent of manure produced by dairy cattle in Wisconsin.
   The data between 2007 and 2013 showed no clear trend, but state officials say there is growing awarenessof proper manure handling.
   Management and engineering issues can be a source of the problem, as evidenced last week when the DNR issued two notices of violation against a publicly financed manure digester in Dane County for environmental problems starting in 2012. The most recent spill occurred March 12.
   Still, weather is a major factor.
   “Conditions are worse this year than last year,” said Andrew Craig, a nutrient management specialist for the DNR.
   One factor that could compound any problems: Wisconsin’s largest dairy farms, with 700 or more cows, will soon be heading into the fields to start spreading.
   Known as CAFOs, or concentrated animal feeding operations, the farms are prohibited from spreading manure in February and March, except in emergencies. Some are reaching the maximum capacity of their pits and must start emptying them soon.
   “This is go-like-hell time, that’s just the way it is, “ said David Eisentraut, of Eisentraut Ag Services, a Sheboygan County company that pumps manure from pits and spreads it on fields. “Winter’s running a little late, so everyone is very tight on storage.”
   Eisentraut and others who handle much of the spreading for large farms are days away from a frenzied period, moving farm to farm, draining pits and working the manure into the soil. The work has to be done before planting season.
   Unlike CAFOs, smaller farms aren’t required to follow plans that spell out how manure is applied to individual fields.
   But some smaller farms do. Today, 26 percent of all cropland is covered by such plans, a figure that is rising steadily.
   Lynn Utesch, a small-scale beef farmer in Kewaunee County and a critic of CAFOs, believes large farms are growing too quickly, outgrowing their ability to store manure.
   Too many farms are asking for emergency approval to spread manure on frozen ground, “where it’s going to end up right in our streams,” he said.

What a difference a Month Makes….

March 1st = 775.84
April 1st = 778.28

A lake level increase of - 2 1/2 feet.

RKLD and Mother Nature Just Proved the Value of a higher SNW Trigger

So what did the new SNW ordinance accomplish this Spring?

Simply, it bought us another week of boating.

Under the old gestapo County rules, the SNW order would have been imposed a week ago.

This time of year, with snow piles still remaining and water temps near freezing, this might sound like an insignificant point.

However, for those years when lake levels jump (or decline) adjacent to a holiday weekend - Memorial Day in May, Independence Day in July, Labor Day in September - the week that the RKLD bought is very significant.

--- It is the difference between getting the kids and grandkids out on the tubes and skis, or having them spend a summer "boating" holiday in front of the tv with their IPads...

--- It enabled the UW Crew Team to stay on the river a week longer training…

--- It enables the fishing boats to get to their honey holes on plane, rather than plowing a wake into my pier (which is set too low, so I am not complaining).

Sometimes, we forget - 
...during flood conditions, the dam is little more than a speed bump, it does not hold water back; 

...during drought conditions, the dam can hold back water for a short time, stretching the recreational season a week or so.

These are the fights RKLD says is worth having, and Mother Nature is proving our motives are correct and justified today.