An atypical year has forced those preparing the 2021 Sauk County budget to adopt optimism as they crunch the numbers.
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GALLERY: Scenes of COVID-19 impact in Sauk, Columbia counties
Curbside begins under COVID-19
Cones stand along the north side of the square March 17 which were placed by the Downtown Baraboo organization amid a state mandate for all businesses to close at 5 p.m. that day.
Baraboo School District launches meal distribution during COVID-19 closures
Elaine Parsons holds the door while fellow Baraboo School District employees Peggy Considine, center, and Julia Pillsbury wheel carts of sack meals Tuesday morning out of Baraboo High School to load onto buses for home delivery.
Pardeeville food prep-Linda Glasgow
Linda Glasgow packs broccoli into bags Thursday morning at Pardeeville High School. The district is providing breakfasts and lunches, available to be picked up daily at the school or at bus stops, for anyone under 18 who lives within its boundaries while schools are closed due to COVID-19.
Downtown Portage empty
West Cook Street sidewalks in downtown Portage were almost deserted on Thursday morning. Most businesses are closed due to the state's "safer at home" order and social distancing guidelines meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Devil's Lake State Park reopens Friday
Devil's Lake State Park reopened Friday after being closed since April 10 in response to the coronavirus pandemic and crowding. The park, located south of Baraboo, will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and closed on Wednesdays for maintenance. Buildings, including shelters and restrooms, will remain closed.
Play pauses in the COVID-19 pandemic
Swings are taped off twice at East Elementary School in Baraboo in an effort to keep children from playing on them. All playgrounds were closed as part of the mandated COVID-19 closures.
In-person election in a pandemic
Paul Kelly, a registered write-in for the city Police and Fire Commission, casts his ballot while wearing a mask made by his wife, Johanna, April 7 at the Baraboo Civic Center. Kelly said because of asthma and past bouts with pneumonia he has been staying at home over concerns for his health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was only outside because of the election.
Voting in a mask
Tom Williams, of Baraboo, casts his vote with a mask covering his face April 7 at the Baraboo Civic Center.
Unclear future
A handwritten sign in the window of the Square Tavern highlights the uncertainty for businesses in the face of mandated closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Signs of solidarity
The Al. Ringling marquee highlights a message of solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic closures.
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Emily Rymkus and Robert Jimenez of the National Guard talk to a visitor about the COVID-19 testing process at a drive-through testing event Wednesday in rural Baraboo. The pair were part of a group which administered nasal swab tests to people who stayed in their vehicles.
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Shayna Dye, Sauk County environmental health manager, checks off the name of a registrant Wednesday during a countywide COVID-19 drive-through testing event. National Guard members administered nasal swabs to those looking to be tested, who remained in their vehicles.
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Baraboo School Board Recorder Ellen Weiland, standing on right, swears in incumbent Tim Heilman, left, and new members Paul Kujak and Gwynne Peterson before Monday’s meeting at Baraboo High School. Kujak and Peterson are serving their first three-year term on the board and Heilman is serving his second after they earned the most votes out of six candidates April 7. The board moved its meetings to BHS to allow for social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Four members were present in person Monday while the remaining three participated via live video conference.
Riverwalk outing
Josh Reinhardt pushes Jacob and Charlotte during a family outing Friday along the Baraboo Riverwalk near Statz Park. A sign posted by the Baraboo Police Department mandates users along the riverwalk maintain a distance of 6 feet from one another under an emergency order from Gov. Tony Evers.
Fishing on Friday
Devin Schaefer, 17, of Baraboo, casts a fishing line Friday into the Baraboo River.
Family on Baraboo Riverwalk
Karla Reinhardt points out goslings to her child, Jacob Reinhardt, during a family outing Friday along the Baraboo Riverwalk.
Meals from Boys and Girls Club
Baraboo Boys and Girls Club volunteer Lacey Steffes hands off bags of food as fellow volunteer Jon Welsh puts together the free meals April 21 at Campbell Park. The free hot meals are provided every week day between 4 and 4:30 p.m. at four locations throughout the city to help ensure children have food as schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Baraboo School District launches meal distribution during COVID-19 closures
Baraboo School District employees Carol Reasa, left, and Elaine Parsons load sack meals onto a bus Tuesday morning at Baraboo High School to be delivered to children’s homes because of school closures amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Empty parking lot
A mostly empty parking lot stretches up to Baraboo High School on Monday with schools closed due to COVID-19. Monday would have been the first day of classes following spring break.
Organizing meals during a pandemic
Baraboo Boys & Girls Club employees pass out food March 27 in the 1st Street parking lot of the Baraboo Civic Center as part of the club’s program to distribute free meals on weekdays for children 18 and under at four locations around the community. It has given out 200 meals per day since Monday, according to Boys & Girls Clubs of West-Central Wisconsin Executive Director Karen DeSanto. The program, organized in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related closures, will continue indefinitely, DeSanto said.
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Baraboo Common Council members and residents attending a special council meeting March 17 at City Hall practice social distancing, which is meant to keep people separated by 6 feet or more, as they listen to officials talk about plans in the face of the global pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Remember to social distance
A sign outside of Walgreens reminds customers to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on March 21 in Baraboo.
PLUMMETING GAS PRICES
Gasoline prices plummeted throughout the week and hovered around $1.69 per gallon Friday in Baraboo as more and more institutions shutter their doors and people stay home to avoid exposure to the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. Schools have been closed indefinitely and Gov. Tony Evers has mandated the closure of bars and that restaurants offer takeout orders only.
Pardeeville elementary
Five candidates are vying for three seats on the Pardeeville school board in the Tuesday, April 4th election. Shown here is Pardeeville Elementary School.
Britney Goodrich
Britney Goodrich packs a bag with food Thursday morning at Pardeeville High School. The district is providing breakfasts and lunches, available to be picked up daily at the school or at bus stops, for anyone under 18 who lives within its boundaries while schools are closed due to COVID-19.
