BY TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

Friends of Council Grounds State Park (FoCGSP) recently announced the winners of this year’s annual amateur photo contest, featuring images taken at Council Grounds State Park.
The 2023 contest received 35 entries from residents of Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Jersy, and Illinois. The Friends group narrowed the pool of entries to their favorite three images in each of four categories: Landscape, Wildlife, Plants, and People Using the Park, and then invited the public to vote for their favorites, via Facebook or email.
“After adding together votes by ‘likes’ and comments on our Facebook page, along with emailed votes, then removing the duplicates, I would like to thank people for following the voting rules; there were very few duplicates!” said Laurie Svetlik, a member of FoCGSP.
This year’s contest winners, by category, are as follows:
Wildlife
First place: Watching the Ducks – Lynn Marrier, Merrill
Second place: Wood Turtle – JoAnn Milewczyk, Merrill
Third place: Fawn’s First Summer – David Forsythe, Kronenwetter

Landscape
First place: Filtered Sunlight – Tammy Carey, Appleton
Second place: Sit For a While – Beth Bartelt, Merrill
Third place: Lacy Winter Pines – Jerry Marrier, Merrill

Plants
First place: Sparkling Grasses – Jodi Turner, Merrill
Second place: Ghostly Indian Pipe – Tina Kulvete, Merrill
Third place: Giant Oak – Sarah Scheunemann, Stevens Point

People Using the Park
First place: Northern Lights Silhouette – Chuck Wensel, Merrill
Second place: Night Light Hike – Robin Ehrenberg, South Elgin, Ill.
Third place: Sunset Cruise – Wayne Simon, Merrill

“Weather permitting, we will be holding a fall candlelight walk near the end of October (no date set yet) where finalists can pick up 8×10” prints of their photos and prizes,” Svetlik said. Photos and prizes will be mailed to out-of-town winners.