DriftlessNow.com’s focus is on the nature, geological features, cultures, and people of the Driftless area. In addition, we showcase events that celebrate the pride and diversity that makes the Southwest Wisconsin Driftless region unique.
DriftlessNow.com’s focus is on the nature, geological features, cultures, and people of the Driftless area. In addition, we showcase events that celebrate the pride and diversity that makes the Southwest Wisconsin Driftless region unique.
A Native American, Paul hails from the North Shore Chicago suburb of Riverwoods, Illinois. Graduating from Deerfield High School, he spent most of his childhood vacationing at his family’s cabin and lake house West of Oxford, Wisconsin, eventually putting roots in this diverse state.
Having spent most of his adult life in Wisconsin, Paul started his journalism career working as the Editor of the Ho-Chunk Nation’s Hocak Worak newspaper. Eventually, after a twelve-year break from the industry, he took a job at a small paper in the Driftless area that led him and his wife Amanda to start DriftlessNow.com.
Paul is passionate about telling people’s stories and sharing their individual, unique, and special relationship with the areas they live in. Believing that everyone has a story to tell, he believes the Driftless area of Southwest Wisconsin itself has amazing stories of geology, history, and culture that are endless.
DriftlessNow.com showcases the Driftless area’s people, their personal interaction with communities, each other, unique businesses, and the beautiful flora and fauna that makes the Driftless so special.
Amanda spent most of her life in Kenosha, WI after moving around every two to three years due to her father’s military career in the United States Navy. Amanda and Paul have a daughter that is 3, and two sons, 15 and 17, all who keep her busy and enjoying motherhood. Amanda also enjoys exploring small towns and the outdoors and taken an interest in nature photography.
Attending Southern New Hampshire University, Amanda graduates in May of 2024 with her Bachelors degree in Human Services. Amanda, through her education, has developed her own unique writing style.
In addition to DriftlessNow.com, Amanda and her husband Paul, create custom dream catchers and other Native American crafts under Arentz You Smiling LLC. Her crafting is not limited however and she enjoys painting in acrylic and water color pencil as a hobby.
She looks forward to contributing her creativity in DriftlessNow.com’s focus of the Driftless area.
Len Harris is a retired trout angler from Richland Center, Wisconsin. He was raised in Gays Mills 33 steps from the Kickapoo River. He has fished the streams and rivers of the Driftless for over half a century. He is married and has one daughter.
Len writes for four local newspapers. He has been a staff writer/photographer for Midwest Outdoors Magazine for 14 years. His stories have appeared in many magazines. A couple worthy of note are American Angler Magazine, Our Wisconsin Magazine, Midwest Fly-fishing Magazine, Field and Stream. There are about a dozen more.
Len has written two books: "The Stream of Time" and "Brigadoon Creek". Both are available on amazon. He was a fishing guide for five years. He presented three times at the biggest fishing show in Wisconsin, The Madison Fishing Expo.
Len primarily chases trout but will pursue pike and walleye when the trout fishing is slow.
For more of Len Harris’ work, visit lenharris.blogspot.com, www.facebook.com/len.harris or www.facebook.com/groups/1654997701453820/
Lee D. Van Landuyt- Contributing Writer
Lee was born and raised in Kenosha, WI graduating from High School in 1962. He fell in love with the great outdoors as a youth and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for over 35 years.
In 1964, Lee enlisted in the United States Air Force. He entered the Air Force Academy Preparatory School - graduating in 1965. With no available appointments, he attended the A.C.&W. Radar School in Mississippi. From there, he was assigned to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. He traveled through Germany, spent time in Berlin and saw duty in France and England during the Cold War era. Lee is a Lifetime member of the V.F.W.
Upon returning home in 1968, Lee went back to school while teaching in Kenosha. He received his B.A. Degree from U.W. Parkside and a M.S. Degree in from U.W. Milwaukee. He taught social studies (U.S. history) and English at Washington Park High School in the Racine, WI for over 30 years, retiring 20 years ago. To continue serving the community, he volunteers weekly as a Teacher’s Aide at Doudna Elementary School in Richland Center.
Lee and his wife, Cathy, enjoy everything to do with the great outdoors and nature. Hunting, fishing and exploring are always “another great adventure” to them. Lee makes good use of his knowledge of geography, things in nature and years of teaching by writing articles for the benefit of others who are not familiar with what “God’s Country” has to offer.
Robert Potter- Contributing Writer
Robert Day Potter (“Bob”) was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and moved to the Driftless Area upon retirement from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006. He soon “flunked retirement” and went back to teaching writing and communication at the Reedsburg campus of Madison College. After ten years with Madison College, Bob “retired” again, and has joined the Driftless Now team. His publishing credits include a novel, The Mentor: Shaping a New Generation (2012) and the nonfiction Patriotic Expats: Former G.I.s Describe their Lives in Germany (2019). Bob has a special interest in documenting the stories of Driftless residents. He lives with his wife, Barb, in Hillsboro and may be contacted at robertdaypotter@gmail.com.
Dena Eakles-Contributing Writer
Dena Eakles is an advocate for sustainable living and peace. With the understanding that our greatest identity lies in our humanity, Dena writes and speaks about our interconnectedness with one another and the Earth.
Founder of Echo Valley Farm, a community sustained farm, in the Town of Forest and adjacent to Wildcat Mountain State Park, Dena loves the night skies of the Driftless, the rippling creeks, the lush springs and the wondrous seasons – whatever challenges they may bring.
Dena is the author of The Peace Warrior, inviting readers to the power and the beauty of the human spirit and founder of the educational and charitable nonprofit Echo Valley Hope. Past studies include Traditional Chinese Medicine and with indigenous healers of South and North America.
You can catch her two-minute commentary on Driftless Community Radio WDRT, 91.9 FM every Thursday at 5:30 pm or read her blog letkindnesswin.wordpress.com.
DriftlessNow.com Crisis Response Team
Pictured far left-Princess Leia Arentz, right, on top l to r brothers Sammy(RIP) and Wolf(RIP) and below, their sister Nellie.
