Wisconsin Village To Sell Religious Display To Private Group

Holmen, Wisconsin's Village Board seems to have found an response to a citizen's church-state complaint. A display of a cross and a star has been on Star Hill since 1960 when the city and the Lions Club shared the cost of construction. Five years ago the village bought Star Hill land, including the display, for a water reservoir. (See prior posting.) At its May meeting, the Village Board will vote on selling the part of the property housing the display at its $100 appraised value to the Lions Club in hope of ridding the village of the church-state conflict. Yesterday's Holmen Courrier says that after the sale, the site will be fenced to designate which land is privately owned. It is not clear whether the city will continue to pay the cost of electricity to light the cross during Lent each year.