The Wisconsin State Assembly now has three bipartisan speaker task forces: the Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia; the Speaker’s Task Force on Urban Education;
and the Speaker’s Task Force on Youth Workforce Readiness.

Tuesday August 4th, It was announced that I was appointed to serve on the bi-partisan Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Created by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the task force will collaborate on and explore policy recommendations, raise awareness, and ensure future quality of care for those affected.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, roughly 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, with two-thirds of those being women.  It’s reportedly the 6th leading cause of death in our country and the only one in the top ten that can’t be prevented, slowed or cured.  The number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias will grow each year as the size and proportion of the U.S. population age 65 and older continue to increase.
By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million — a 40 percent increase from the 5.1 million age 65 and older affected in 2015.

I’m honored to have been assigned to the Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, for several years, I have been a court appointed guardian for the elderly in Iowa County. I’m proud to have the opportunity to bring awareness to this important issue. These diseases impact the citizens of Wisconsin every day, affecting friends, and family. I look forward to working alongside my legislative colleagues to improve care for those suffering as well as those caring for them.

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This week at the Wisconsin State Fair, some local livestock and cheese makers from the district
were honored. It's always great to recognize people in our community, I want to congratulate the following people and business owners in the district for their accomplishments and being honored at the Wisconsin State Fair!  

Out of the 146 fine Wisconsin cheesemakers that were exhibited, congratulations to the following:
Swiss
1st place Silvan Blum, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
2nd place Neal Schwartz, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe
3rd place Team Chalet, Chalet Cheese Co-op, Monroe

Brick, Muenster
2nd place Dave Buholzer, Klondike Cheese Company, Monroe

Feta
1st place Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Company, Monroe
2nd place Lenny Bass, Lactalis USA, Inc., Belmont

Flavored Pepper Cheese
1st place Heriberto Nickolas, Maple Leaf Coop, Monroe

Smear Ripened Cheese
1st place Andy Hatch, Upland’s Cheese, Dodgeville

Reduced Fat or Lite Cheese
1st place Jim Demeter, Klondike Cheese Company, Monroe
2nd place William Knox, Maple Leaf Coop, Monroe

Open Class for Soft and Spreadable Cheese
3rd place Lenny Bass, Lactalis USA, Inc., Belmont

Open Class for Semi-Soft Cheese
1st place Brett Krattiger, Maple Leaf Coop, Monroe
3rd place Brett Krattiger, Maple Leaf Coop, Monroe

Flavored Goat Milk Cheese
1st place Jean Rossard, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont

Natural Goat Milk Cheese
2nd place Martin Chavez, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont
3rd place Doug Waechter, Montchevre-Betin, Inc., Belmont

Latin American Cheese
2nd place Nick Siedschlag, Chula Vista Cheese Co., Browntown
3rd place Chad Duhai, Zimmerman Cheese, South Wayne


47th Annual Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction
This year at the 47th Annual Governor’s Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction at the Wisconsin State Fair auction, 25 animals were sold for a total of $419,750, which is a new all-time record for the fair. Each exhibitor receives 80% of the winning bid, and the remaining 20% being applied to youth scholarships, grants, and auction expenses.

The 2015 grand champion steer was sold Wednesday night for a record of $65,000. Lauren May’s 1,300-pound Crossbred steer was purchased by Roundy’s. The 15-year-old Iowa County exhibitor who is from Mineral Point was also last year’s top seller after earning grand champion honors in 2014. Lauren is the sister of Brock May, who had either sold the champion or the reserve champion steer at the state fair for 6 consecutive years between 2007-2012.

Olivia Leahy, of Lafayette County, whose animal was named reserve grand champion steer at this year’s fair, sold for $32,000 to Kenosha Beef International/Birchwood Foods.

Myles Leahy, from Lafayette County, for the second year in a row had the top hog sale for a record of $35,000 to Potawatomi Hotel and Casino.

Calvin Reilly, from Lafayette County, for the third straight year, exhibited the Grand Champion Lamb. His Hampshire went for a record of $21,000 on the auction block and was purchased by Meijer.

Congratulations, to all of you!

Recently, I've had the pleasure attending several local events, touring local businesses, as well as meeting with people in Madison.

 I was able to tour Unimin with Representatives Bob Kulp (Stratford), and Nancy Vander Meer (Tomah).  Founded in 1970, Unimin Corporation has grown from a small, local sand mining company to become a leading producer of non-metallic industrial minerals in the worldwide Sibelco Group.  Their products are essential in nearly every manufacturing and industrial process.

Touring local businesses is always a great opportunity to be out in the community, getting a close look at area businesses, and meeting staff.  Last week, along with Representative Mary Czaja (Irma), I toured Gollon Bait & Fish Farm in Dodgeville.  In 1991 the Gollons moved to their current facility and began raising game fish for pond stocking. The family is currently in it's 4th generation supported by a strong family and a team of hardworking professional employees.  It is the largest fish farm in the State!

This week I visited and toured the Wisconsin Whey Protein Plant in Darlington and heard about their operation and expansion.  The company is making a big investment which will result in more jobs and valuation for Lafayette County.  Touring the plan with me were Darlington Mayor Dave Breunig; Bev Anderson, Jack Sauer, Lafayette County Board Chairman; Tom Brown, Vice President Wisconsin Whey Protein and Luis Lopez, Lafayette County Development Corporation.

For several years I have been a court appointed guardian for the elderly in Iowa County. I have spent my first few months in office advocating for issues that affect our older population. That's why it was a pleasure to tour Pleasant View Nursing Home in Monroe with Director Terry Snow. I also had the honor of having lunch with some of the residents and their family. We had a great a discussion and they were very interested in state government and had many questions.  I enjoyed hearing about their family and lives.
 

Yesterday, I visited the UW-Madison campus, at the lab of Dr. Su-Chun Zhang at the Waisman Center. Dr. Zhang was joined by Dr. Anita Bhattacharyya and Dr. Richard Moss. They gave a tour of the lab and spoke about their research

If you ever find yourself in Madison or your group plans to visit the State Capitol, I hope that you can stop by my office, 304 North. It is a beautiful facility full of history. I'd definitely encourage you to take a tour someday - the Capitol and surrounding area would make a great day trip for the family.

Unimin Corporation with Reps. Kulp and Vander Meer.	Gollon Fish & Bait Farm with Dave "Bud" Gollon Sr, Dave Gollon, Rep. Mary Czaja, Rep. Novak, Tim Gollon
Wisconsin Whey Protein Plant, Darlington (l-r), Darlington Mayor Dave Breunig; Bev Anderson; Rep. Novak; Jack Sauer, Lafayette County Board Chairman; Tom Brown, Vice President Wisconsin Whey Protein and Luis Lopez, Lafayette County Development Corporation.	Green County Pleasant View Nursing Home, Monroe.

Sincerely,