The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council has named the winners of its 20th annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees. These recognize outstanding efforts to protect the state’s tradition of open government, as well as highlight some threats to it.

The winners are:

To the editor:

Thanks to the people who stopped and pushed my car the afternoon of March 19. They literally may have saved lives or property damage as I was stuck halfway across the southbound lane of Waukechon Street and could not move either way.

Harold Wilkes, Shawano

To the editor:

Both candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court have trial court and appellate court experience. However, Judge Maria Lazar has superior qualifications for the job.

Judge Lazar spent more years on the trial court bench, handling a variety of cases. Ms. Taylor served in Dane County, where courts are restricted to a particular area of law.

The passing of Jerry Apps is the closing of a very large book. It may take years before many of us realize just how important he was in our lives, but that time will come.

Not only was he an excellent writer, but he could verbally tell a story to entertain you.

State Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) and Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk (R-Hubertus) have introduced Wisconsin Senate Bill 666/Assembly Bill 701, which would adopt the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), bringing long-overdue free speech protections for citizens and journalists in Wisconsin.