Ran on Friday, August 31, 2007
Kind wants students to get more active
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Back-to-school discussions are on everyone's tongues, even Washington lawmakers.
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, has called for reforms to measure student achievement as The No Child Left Behind Act is up for reauthorization this fall.
"While it is important to hold our school accountable for progress, No Child Left Behind has created an education system that is too focused on standardized tests, and not the students themselves," Kind said.
Replacing the rigid exams with individual growth models and multiple areas of testing would be a more accurate measure of success, he said.
"Success isn't measured by reading and math scores alone," he said. "We need to give our teachers flexibility to cater to each student's needs, rather than tying their hands with a one-size-fits-all approach."
Student fitness also is important, Kind said.
The congressman recently introduced "Fit Kids Act," requiring states to have a minimum number of minutes of physical activity each week. Math, reading and science scores will still be included.
"In light of all the studies and trends, we see when kids get more physical education, they get a better education," Kind said. "It's no longer just enough to educate the mind anymore, but the body as well."
This push is one supported by National Education Association President Reg Weaver.
"There is a fundamental crisis in America," Weaver said. "And it's going unnoticed and undiscussed."
That crisis, he said, is too much focus on reading and math and not enough on art, music and physical education in the testing.
"There needs to be multiple measures," Weaver said.
Aside from more rounded testing, districts also need more mandated funding to have the resources to fulfill the requirements.
Friday, August 31, 2007
CASE beefs up security to ensure student safety
Ran on Friday, August 31, 2007
CASE beefs up security to ensure student safety Card access system, cameras installed
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Numbers are a fundamental part of a new school year: new math books, locker combinations and the number of rows behind the cute boy in social studies class.
For the five Catholic Area Schools of the Eau Claire Deanery, numbers are a fundamental part of their new security equation.
Each door entrance will be numbered to simplify directions for visitors. Additionally, a card access system - to deter unauthorized school visitors - and cameras were installed during the summer.
"It's to give access to who should be there, and restrict access to who shouldn't be in, or at least make them check in first," CASE President Cindy Hofacker said.
New measures to keep students safe are a priority, Hofacker said.
"It's a reaction to the way the world is," Hofacker said. "Not because of a specific problem, but because society has changed."
Staff and faculty will have cards to get into the buildings.
Each building is different, but all schools in the system now have more security.
Students, along with their parents, will be able to get in and out during the opening and closing minutes of the school days.
"It won't impact their daily lives," Hofacker said. "Students shouldn't have to worry about security. Adults should have to worry about security."
Hofacker said she recognizes the inconvenience it may have initially on the school community, but she thinks the changes are necessary, and the $100,000 price tag, paid through fundraisers started last year, is worthwhile.
"It's a small amount of money when you consider the security of your children," she said.
Significant security changes began when elementary school Principal Joseph Eisenhuth and two others attended a crisis management convention in the spring.
The physical changes to the buildings are only a third of the security plan, Eisenhuth said. The others are policy and training.
"Each teacher will have the tools to manage a variety of situations," Eisenhuth said.
By the end of the semester, every teacher in the CASE system will be trained and certified in first aid. By the end of the year, some staff and faculty members will be CPR certified.
The policy portion includes a lengthy document outlining procedures for a variety of situations, including how to react to things such as a fire, weather emergency, utility issue or the death of a student. There is also a neon-colored quick reference sheet for basic responses in addition to the longer form.
"It's important to always secure students first," Hofacker said.
While the school system implemented other security measures in the past, the updated version is more than a physical upgrade.
"It's important to get updated," Hofacker said. "Some of the situations (we are concerning ourselves with now) just weren't there in the past."
There were other concerns CASE had to consider.
Some of the academic buildings are attached to parishes. Security for those facilities had to be in conjunction with the church officials as well.
Hofacker said it forced the churches and schools to realize each other's issues and discuss security plans to come up with the best system.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com
CASE beefs up security to ensure student safety Card access system, cameras installed
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Numbers are a fundamental part of a new school year: new math books, locker combinations and the number of rows behind the cute boy in social studies class.
For the five Catholic Area Schools of the Eau Claire Deanery, numbers are a fundamental part of their new security equation.
Each door entrance will be numbered to simplify directions for visitors. Additionally, a card access system - to deter unauthorized school visitors - and cameras were installed during the summer.
"It's to give access to who should be there, and restrict access to who shouldn't be in, or at least make them check in first," CASE President Cindy Hofacker said.
New measures to keep students safe are a priority, Hofacker said.
"It's a reaction to the way the world is," Hofacker said. "Not because of a specific problem, but because society has changed."
Staff and faculty will have cards to get into the buildings.
Each building is different, but all schools in the system now have more security.
Students, along with their parents, will be able to get in and out during the opening and closing minutes of the school days.
"It won't impact their daily lives," Hofacker said. "Students shouldn't have to worry about security. Adults should have to worry about security."
Hofacker said she recognizes the inconvenience it may have initially on the school community, but she thinks the changes are necessary, and the $100,000 price tag, paid through fundraisers started last year, is worthwhile.
"It's a small amount of money when you consider the security of your children," she said.
Significant security changes began when elementary school Principal Joseph Eisenhuth and two others attended a crisis management convention in the spring.
The physical changes to the buildings are only a third of the security plan, Eisenhuth said. The others are policy and training.
"Each teacher will have the tools to manage a variety of situations," Eisenhuth said.
By the end of the semester, every teacher in the CASE system will be trained and certified in first aid. By the end of the year, some staff and faculty members will be CPR certified.
The policy portion includes a lengthy document outlining procedures for a variety of situations, including how to react to things such as a fire, weather emergency, utility issue or the death of a student. There is also a neon-colored quick reference sheet for basic responses in addition to the longer form.
"It's important to always secure students first," Hofacker said.
While the school system implemented other security measures in the past, the updated version is more than a physical upgrade.
"It's important to get updated," Hofacker said. "Some of the situations (we are concerning ourselves with now) just weren't there in the past."
There were other concerns CASE had to consider.
Some of the academic buildings are attached to parishes. Security for those facilities had to be in conjunction with the church officials as well.
Hofacker said it forced the churches and schools to realize each other's issues and discuss security plans to come up with the best system.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com
Thursday, August 30, 2007
No deal between Charter, Big Ten
Thursday, August 30, 2007
No deal between Charter, Big Ten
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
When Big Ten Network kicks off tonight, Chippewa Valley cable TV customers won't be among the viewership.
Network officials want cable companies to add Big Ten Network to their expanded basic lineups, but many, including Charter Cable, have blocked that idea.
"It's a great program for those customers interested in Big Ten sports," said John Miller, director of communications for Charter. "But we have to protect our customers who are not interested in sports or the Big Ten."
Mike Vest, media relations manager for Big Ten Network, said he doubts the cable company could find people who said 70 other channels were more important. Big Ten Network ran a full-page ad in the Leader-Telegram last week urging Charter customers to call the company and ask it to add the channel to its expanded basic lineup.
"The cable industry doesn't operate on an a la carte system," Vest said. "They want to put us on a sports tier; the problem with that is there are no channels on the sports tier that provide local coverage."
Miller said Charter doesn't want to raise the cost for all expanded basic cable customers to add a channel a number of them may never watch.
The Big Ten Network reportedly is asking about $1.10 per subscriber per month for its network in the eight-state Big Ten region. Charter would rather put the network on a special "sports tier" with other sports channels and charge extra to those who want the sports tier.
Many cable providers, including Charter, are at a similar standoff with NFL Network, which is the only network that will televise the Green Bay Packers game on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Dallas.
Vest said Big Ten Network has made offerings to the cable companies that could help offset the costs so customers won't have to be charged more.
So far, one Badgers football game, The Citadel at Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, is scheduled to appear exclusively on Big Ten Network.
The new network says it will televise more than 70 Badgers games in various sports in the coming year, including "25 football and basketball games."
No deal between Charter, Big Ten
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
When Big Ten Network kicks off tonight, Chippewa Valley cable TV customers won't be among the viewership.
Network officials want cable companies to add Big Ten Network to their expanded basic lineups, but many, including Charter Cable, have blocked that idea.
"It's a great program for those customers interested in Big Ten sports," said John Miller, director of communications for Charter. "But we have to protect our customers who are not interested in sports or the Big Ten."
Mike Vest, media relations manager for Big Ten Network, said he doubts the cable company could find people who said 70 other channels were more important. Big Ten Network ran a full-page ad in the Leader-Telegram last week urging Charter customers to call the company and ask it to add the channel to its expanded basic lineup.
"The cable industry doesn't operate on an a la carte system," Vest said. "They want to put us on a sports tier; the problem with that is there are no channels on the sports tier that provide local coverage."
Miller said Charter doesn't want to raise the cost for all expanded basic cable customers to add a channel a number of them may never watch.
The Big Ten Network reportedly is asking about $1.10 per subscriber per month for its network in the eight-state Big Ten region. Charter would rather put the network on a special "sports tier" with other sports channels and charge extra to those who want the sports tier.
Many cable providers, including Charter, are at a similar standoff with NFL Network, which is the only network that will televise the Green Bay Packers game on Thursday, Nov. 29, at Dallas.
Vest said Big Ten Network has made offerings to the cable companies that could help offset the costs so customers won't have to be charged more.
So far, one Badgers football game, The Citadel at Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, is scheduled to appear exclusively on Big Ten Network.
The new network says it will televise more than 70 Badgers games in various sports in the coming year, including "25 football and basketball games."
Monday, August 27, 2007
All right on the road
Raon on Sunday,August 26, 2007
All right on the road
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's the symbolic end of summer, it's the magic day when white is no longer acceptable to wear — and it's the day many motorists crowd the roads on their way to celebrate the Labor Day holiday.
With more vehicles on the road, motorists face an increased risk of a fatal accident.
From 1996 to 2005, 99 people were killed in Wisconsin during the long Labor Day weekends, the state Department of Transportation reports. Over those 10 years, an average of 10 fatal accidents happened annually on the holiday weekend.
"Any time there is a holiday, there is a risk," Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department Capt. Jeff Pettis said.
The main contributor to fatal accidents is diverted attention, Pettis said. On the way to holiday celebrations, drivers easily can be distracted, thinking about how to get there and the activities scheduled, as well as chatting on cell phones or to passengers.
On the way home other risks surface. Often drivers leave late in the night, some possibly after drinking alcohol. Drivers likely will be tired. They can get relaxed manning the vehicle, and attention can shift from the road. And there are many other drivers who are in similar conditions, increasing the chances of an accident, Pettis said.
"People will have stayed late and are get eager to get home," he said. "Any time we start rushing, we miss things."
But accidents aren't limited to holidays.
In 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 801 people were killed and 53,462 were injured in the state's 125,174 reported traffic accidents, says the state Department of Transportation. The graphic at right only shows the number of accidents where safety equipment usage was recorded.
Let's navigate through an accident, including who's likely to cause one, the price that driver will pay and ways to stay safe on the road.
Demographic disparities
In Wisconsin, there were 307 accidents in which male drivers were killed in 2005; nearly a third were between the ages 16 and 24, according to the DOT. Comparatively, a fifth of women in the same age group constituted the 147 deaths of female drivers.
Police recognize the gender differences. "Men tend to be riskier," Pettis said.
He also noted men are issued more operating-while-intoxicated citations and are involved in more single-vehicle accidents than women are.
But men aren't causing all the accidents. DOT statistics show 17,245 female drivers were involved in crashes resulting in injuries in 2005, 654 more than the 16,591 male drivers. However, the statistics do not show which gender driver was at fault.
Despite young drivers being involved in so many fatal accidents, Jackie Faanes said she wasn't too worried about the statistics being stacked against boys when her 16-year-old son Jake got his license in October.
"I was kind of nervous," the Eau Claire mother said, "but I didn't feel too bad."
At the same time, Jake's driving made her life easier because he could share the responsibility of towing himself and his younger siblings, Megan, 15, and Kevin, 12, to sports practices.
Jake said he doesn't mind occasionally driving to practices or picking up groceries for his mom. While it's not his favorite aspect of driving, he said, "I guess I'd take that over not driving at all."
Driving allows him more independence. "The best part is I don't have to wait around for rides," he said.
Patti and Mick McLaughlin of Eau Claire are facing what some parents might consider their worst nightmare. Their twin sons, Shayne and Aarin, 15, will get their licences soon, and the boys' younger brother Tye, 12, is not far behind.
However, Patti McLaughlin believes her sons are prepared to handle a vehicle.
"I know my kids," she said. "They understand the reality and dangers in driving ... they know it's a privilege and not a right."
She views getting behind the wheel as a milestone in her children's lives. Her sons agree.
"I guess it's kind of exciting," Shayne McLaughlin said.
Aarin McLaughlin also looks forward to getting his license, but he's concerned about being distracted.
"I'm nervous about everything that's going on around (me on the road) at the same time," he said.
In an effort to reduce accidents and deaths among teen drivers, Wisconsin legislators passed a graduated drivers license law in 1999. After teens spend at least six months with their instructional permits, they can apply for a probationary license. It places restrictions on drivers for about three years before they get their regular license.
"It's a good thing to limit who we drive with because there are pressures with friends in the car," Aarin McLaughlin said.
Jake Faanes, who has been driving solo since October 2006, said having restrictions was a nuisance at first, but said he understands the reasoning behind the law.
"It was a pain in the beginning," he said. "But it's probably a good deal — less accidents and tickets are good."
The probationary license requires drivers to have no moving traffic violations resulting in a conviction for six months beforehand. The license also restricts who, and how many passengers, can ride with the driver.
Demerit points double during this period.
Coverage costs
With two young men strapping on seat belts behind the steering wheel, Patti McLaughlin said she wasn't sure if her 15 1/2-year-old sons will have a vehicle wrapped in a big, red bow on their sweet 16th birthday. Insurance rates will be high, and they need to prove they deserve a car before they get one, she said.
Because young men are involved in more fatal accidents, insurance companies consider the age and gender of drivers to determine their rates.
"If there's a young male in the car, it's more likely an accident will happen," said Kelly Savage, a representative of State Farm Insurance Cos.
Age and gender are only part of the insurance rate equation. Insurance companies also look at claims history: the number of claims filed, whose fault an accident is, where a person drives, the individual's driving record and credit and the other potential drivers listed on the same policy.
Claims history and driving records hold the most weight in setting rates, Savage said — which hits new drivers hard.
Young drivers don't have a driving record. Because State Farm has little information about the driving habits of the freshly licensed drivers, their rates are higher, she said.
Progressive Auto Insurance representative Leah Knapp added, "Younger, and older, drivers typically have the most car crashes, which may result in them paying higher rates."
Parents weigh other factors when buying a car for their teens.
In buying Jake a car, the Faaneses considered his driving experience, as well as the costs and practicality of different vehicles.
Already owning two Suburbans to tote the family of five, the Faaneses opted to get Jake a compact car, a 2001 Saturn Ion.
"We didn't really need another big car," Jackie Faanes said.
They also waited until the snowy weather months passed to get Jake a car.
"All of his drive times were pre-winter," she said. "We thought we'd just wait."
Drop to the shop
Fixing a car is another accident expense.
Dave Savage, general manager of Superior Auto Body, 301 N. Farwell St., spends his days fixing damaged cars.
Dave Savage, no relation to Kelly Savage, said the most common accident he sees is drivers not paying attention and ramming into each other in parking lots. He also fixes many fender benders, in which drivers bump into another vehicle on the road.
The average repair, he said, costs about $2,100, with about 55 percent paying for the labor. The $2,100 would cover fixing a bumper, headlights and hood, for example.
"It doesn't take much to add up to $2,100," Dave Savage said.
Many cars won't even get repaired, he said, because they are considered "totaled" — meaning the value of the car is less than the cost to repair it. If labeled as totaled, insurance companies won't pay for the fix.
"In the past five years, there have been more totaled cars because people are holding onto cars longer," he said. "It doesn't take much for an older vehicle to be totaled."
As people head out on Labor Day, Capt. Pettis offers these safety tips for the road: Plan your trip. Take your time. Use safety equipment. And don't drink and drive.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203, 800-236-7077 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
****The print version of this story has many graphics and other information worth checking out, go buy one!****
All right on the road
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's the symbolic end of summer, it's the magic day when white is no longer acceptable to wear — and it's the day many motorists crowd the roads on their way to celebrate the Labor Day holiday.
With more vehicles on the road, motorists face an increased risk of a fatal accident.
From 1996 to 2005, 99 people were killed in Wisconsin during the long Labor Day weekends, the state Department of Transportation reports. Over those 10 years, an average of 10 fatal accidents happened annually on the holiday weekend.
"Any time there is a holiday, there is a risk," Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department Capt. Jeff Pettis said.
The main contributor to fatal accidents is diverted attention, Pettis said. On the way to holiday celebrations, drivers easily can be distracted, thinking about how to get there and the activities scheduled, as well as chatting on cell phones or to passengers.
On the way home other risks surface. Often drivers leave late in the night, some possibly after drinking alcohol. Drivers likely will be tired. They can get relaxed manning the vehicle, and attention can shift from the road. And there are many other drivers who are in similar conditions, increasing the chances of an accident, Pettis said.
"People will have stayed late and are get eager to get home," he said. "Any time we start rushing, we miss things."
But accidents aren't limited to holidays.
In 2005, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 801 people were killed and 53,462 were injured in the state's 125,174 reported traffic accidents, says the state Department of Transportation. The graphic at right only shows the number of accidents where safety equipment usage was recorded.
Let's navigate through an accident, including who's likely to cause one, the price that driver will pay and ways to stay safe on the road.
Demographic disparities
In Wisconsin, there were 307 accidents in which male drivers were killed in 2005; nearly a third were between the ages 16 and 24, according to the DOT. Comparatively, a fifth of women in the same age group constituted the 147 deaths of female drivers.
Police recognize the gender differences. "Men tend to be riskier," Pettis said.
He also noted men are issued more operating-while-intoxicated citations and are involved in more single-vehicle accidents than women are.
But men aren't causing all the accidents. DOT statistics show 17,245 female drivers were involved in crashes resulting in injuries in 2005, 654 more than the 16,591 male drivers. However, the statistics do not show which gender driver was at fault.
Despite young drivers being involved in so many fatal accidents, Jackie Faanes said she wasn't too worried about the statistics being stacked against boys when her 16-year-old son Jake got his license in October.
"I was kind of nervous," the Eau Claire mother said, "but I didn't feel too bad."
At the same time, Jake's driving made her life easier because he could share the responsibility of towing himself and his younger siblings, Megan, 15, and Kevin, 12, to sports practices.
Jake said he doesn't mind occasionally driving to practices or picking up groceries for his mom. While it's not his favorite aspect of driving, he said, "I guess I'd take that over not driving at all."
Driving allows him more independence. "The best part is I don't have to wait around for rides," he said.
Patti and Mick McLaughlin of Eau Claire are facing what some parents might consider their worst nightmare. Their twin sons, Shayne and Aarin, 15, will get their licences soon, and the boys' younger brother Tye, 12, is not far behind.
However, Patti McLaughlin believes her sons are prepared to handle a vehicle.
"I know my kids," she said. "They understand the reality and dangers in driving ... they know it's a privilege and not a right."
She views getting behind the wheel as a milestone in her children's lives. Her sons agree.
"I guess it's kind of exciting," Shayne McLaughlin said.
Aarin McLaughlin also looks forward to getting his license, but he's concerned about being distracted.
"I'm nervous about everything that's going on around (me on the road) at the same time," he said.
In an effort to reduce accidents and deaths among teen drivers, Wisconsin legislators passed a graduated drivers license law in 1999. After teens spend at least six months with their instructional permits, they can apply for a probationary license. It places restrictions on drivers for about three years before they get their regular license.
"It's a good thing to limit who we drive with because there are pressures with friends in the car," Aarin McLaughlin said.
Jake Faanes, who has been driving solo since October 2006, said having restrictions was a nuisance at first, but said he understands the reasoning behind the law.
"It was a pain in the beginning," he said. "But it's probably a good deal — less accidents and tickets are good."
The probationary license requires drivers to have no moving traffic violations resulting in a conviction for six months beforehand. The license also restricts who, and how many passengers, can ride with the driver.
Demerit points double during this period.
Coverage costs
With two young men strapping on seat belts behind the steering wheel, Patti McLaughlin said she wasn't sure if her 15 1/2-year-old sons will have a vehicle wrapped in a big, red bow on their sweet 16th birthday. Insurance rates will be high, and they need to prove they deserve a car before they get one, she said.
Because young men are involved in more fatal accidents, insurance companies consider the age and gender of drivers to determine their rates.
"If there's a young male in the car, it's more likely an accident will happen," said Kelly Savage, a representative of State Farm Insurance Cos.
Age and gender are only part of the insurance rate equation. Insurance companies also look at claims history: the number of claims filed, whose fault an accident is, where a person drives, the individual's driving record and credit and the other potential drivers listed on the same policy.
Claims history and driving records hold the most weight in setting rates, Savage said — which hits new drivers hard.
Young drivers don't have a driving record. Because State Farm has little information about the driving habits of the freshly licensed drivers, their rates are higher, she said.
Progressive Auto Insurance representative Leah Knapp added, "Younger, and older, drivers typically have the most car crashes, which may result in them paying higher rates."
Parents weigh other factors when buying a car for their teens.
In buying Jake a car, the Faaneses considered his driving experience, as well as the costs and practicality of different vehicles.
Already owning two Suburbans to tote the family of five, the Faaneses opted to get Jake a compact car, a 2001 Saturn Ion.
"We didn't really need another big car," Jackie Faanes said.
They also waited until the snowy weather months passed to get Jake a car.
"All of his drive times were pre-winter," she said. "We thought we'd just wait."
Drop to the shop
Fixing a car is another accident expense.
Dave Savage, general manager of Superior Auto Body, 301 N. Farwell St., spends his days fixing damaged cars.
Dave Savage, no relation to Kelly Savage, said the most common accident he sees is drivers not paying attention and ramming into each other in parking lots. He also fixes many fender benders, in which drivers bump into another vehicle on the road.
The average repair, he said, costs about $2,100, with about 55 percent paying for the labor. The $2,100 would cover fixing a bumper, headlights and hood, for example.
"It doesn't take much to add up to $2,100," Dave Savage said.
Many cars won't even get repaired, he said, because they are considered "totaled" — meaning the value of the car is less than the cost to repair it. If labeled as totaled, insurance companies won't pay for the fix.
"In the past five years, there have been more totaled cars because people are holding onto cars longer," he said. "It doesn't take much for an older vehicle to be totaled."
As people head out on Labor Day, Capt. Pettis offers these safety tips for the road: Plan your trip. Take your time. Use safety equipment. And don't drink and drive.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203, 800-236-7077 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
****The print version of this story has many graphics and other information worth checking out, go buy one!****
August rains provide some relief for farmers
Ran on Saturday, August 25, 2007
August rains provide some relief for farmers
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
The scorching, dry days of much of the summer in many parts of the Chippewa Valley may be a foggy memory for some people, amid the recent gloomy rain.
But that's not the case for area farmers who welcomed the needed rain on their crops.
"It was spotty, but most places showed signs of being too dry (before the recent rains)," said Trempealeau County UW-Extension agriculture agent Jon Zander.
Herman Boettcher, who farms in Bloomer with his wife, Patricia, son, Marc, and Marc's wife, Diane, said half his crop was damaged from the drought and the other half is of fair to good quality.
"The rain came later than we would have liked to see it," he said. "But it helped immensely."
Boettcher grows corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on his dairy farm. He said corn and alfalfa took the biggest hit, bringing in 10 percent of normal yield for the earlier harvest.
The recent rain, however, should bring in a strong fourth crop of alfalfa in October, he said.
For much of the corn crop, the rain came too late for farmers who planted on light soil, said Jerry Clark, UW-Extension crops and soils educator.
On the other hand, soybeans got the rain at a good time, he said.
"It helped the soybeans fill up their pods if they weren't mature yet," Clark said.
Much of what is harvested is used to feed livestock.
"From a dairy farm standpoint, the key is the feed lasting though the winter," Clark said
Even though the recent rain has helped, some farmers may have to buy extra hay to feed their cows.
Boettcher said he may squeak by.
"We may have to buy some haylage; it just depends on our fourth crop," he said.
Despite milk prices being high, the extra profit for many likely will be offset by the extra expense of having to buy more feed, Clark said.
Schmidt can be reached at 830-3203.
August rains provide some relief for farmers
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
The scorching, dry days of much of the summer in many parts of the Chippewa Valley may be a foggy memory for some people, amid the recent gloomy rain.
But that's not the case for area farmers who welcomed the needed rain on their crops.
"It was spotty, but most places showed signs of being too dry (before the recent rains)," said Trempealeau County UW-Extension agriculture agent Jon Zander.
Herman Boettcher, who farms in Bloomer with his wife, Patricia, son, Marc, and Marc's wife, Diane, said half his crop was damaged from the drought and the other half is of fair to good quality.
"The rain came later than we would have liked to see it," he said. "But it helped immensely."
Boettcher grows corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa on his dairy farm. He said corn and alfalfa took the biggest hit, bringing in 10 percent of normal yield for the earlier harvest.
The recent rain, however, should bring in a strong fourth crop of alfalfa in October, he said.
For much of the corn crop, the rain came too late for farmers who planted on light soil, said Jerry Clark, UW-Extension crops and soils educator.
On the other hand, soybeans got the rain at a good time, he said.
"It helped the soybeans fill up their pods if they weren't mature yet," Clark said.
Much of what is harvested is used to feed livestock.
"From a dairy farm standpoint, the key is the feed lasting though the winter," Clark said
Even though the recent rain has helped, some farmers may have to buy extra hay to feed their cows.
Boettcher said he may squeak by.
"We may have to buy some haylage; it just depends on our fourth crop," he said.
Despite milk prices being high, the extra profit for many likely will be offset by the extra expense of having to buy more feed, Clark said.
Schmidt can be reached at 830-3203.
Apple growers see good harvest
Ran on Saturday, August 25, 2007
Apple growers see good harvest
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Rejoice fruit lovers and pie makers: Apple season has arrived.
Early season apples are being harvested and are ready to eat. Many orchards throughout the Chippewa Valley get business rolling Labor Day weekend.
Eau Claire Orchards, 6470 Balsam Road, will begin all-day events Sept. 1.
Todd Kimball from Eau Claire Orchards said the orchard is family oriented and focused on "agri-tainment," a hybrid of agriculture and entertainment.
The 12,000-tree, 400-acre orchard has a corn maze, an apple sling shot aimed at a target where apples reach speeds as high as 75 mph, an apple train with wagons made of apple-picking bins, pumpkin bowling and, closer to Halloween, a haunted house.
"We think it's important people bring the family out," Kimball said. "We try to make it kid friendly."
Having two sons of his own, Brandon, 10, and Trent, 4, Kimball and his wife, Amanda, see the impact the orchard has on children.
"The whole orchard experience should be a family experience," Todd Kimball said.
The Fall Creek family has been involved with the orchards for 11 years. This year, the early summer weather looked as if it may be hard on the crops, but the recent wet, cooler weather has helped considerably, Todd Kimball said.
"A drought is rough on any crop; apples are the same," he said. "But we got enough rain when it was needed most."
There are about 20 varieties of apple trees in the orchard. Some of the early season varieties, such as Paula Red, Redfree and Zestar, may be slightly smaller, but not significantly.
Other varieties, such as Mcintosh, Cortland and the coveted Honeycrisp, are harvested later in the season and are on track to be of normal size, Todd Kimball said.
He said the Honeycrisp, an apple genetically engineered at the University or Minnesota, has been gaining popularity for about six years. Of the orchard's 12,000 trees, 5,000 are Honeycrisp and Zestar varieties.
The early season variety, the Zestar, is engineered and tastes similar to the Honeycrisp. It's just harvested a few weeks earlier, Todd Kimball said.
"People just love to eat 'em," he said.
The sweetness of Honeycrisp means they don't require much sugar if made into pies. It will be available later in September.
Apple growers see good harvest
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Rejoice fruit lovers and pie makers: Apple season has arrived.
Early season apples are being harvested and are ready to eat. Many orchards throughout the Chippewa Valley get business rolling Labor Day weekend.
Eau Claire Orchards, 6470 Balsam Road, will begin all-day events Sept. 1.
Todd Kimball from Eau Claire Orchards said the orchard is family oriented and focused on "agri-tainment," a hybrid of agriculture and entertainment.
The 12,000-tree, 400-acre orchard has a corn maze, an apple sling shot aimed at a target where apples reach speeds as high as 75 mph, an apple train with wagons made of apple-picking bins, pumpkin bowling and, closer to Halloween, a haunted house.
"We think it's important people bring the family out," Kimball said. "We try to make it kid friendly."
Having two sons of his own, Brandon, 10, and Trent, 4, Kimball and his wife, Amanda, see the impact the orchard has on children.
"The whole orchard experience should be a family experience," Todd Kimball said.
The Fall Creek family has been involved with the orchards for 11 years. This year, the early summer weather looked as if it may be hard on the crops, but the recent wet, cooler weather has helped considerably, Todd Kimball said.
"A drought is rough on any crop; apples are the same," he said. "But we got enough rain when it was needed most."
There are about 20 varieties of apple trees in the orchard. Some of the early season varieties, such as Paula Red, Redfree and Zestar, may be slightly smaller, but not significantly.
Other varieties, such as Mcintosh, Cortland and the coveted Honeycrisp, are harvested later in the season and are on track to be of normal size, Todd Kimball said.
He said the Honeycrisp, an apple genetically engineered at the University or Minnesota, has been gaining popularity for about six years. Of the orchard's 12,000 trees, 5,000 are Honeycrisp and Zestar varieties.
The early season variety, the Zestar, is engineered and tastes similar to the Honeycrisp. It's just harvested a few weeks earlier, Todd Kimball said.
"People just love to eat 'em," he said.
The sweetness of Honeycrisp means they don't require much sugar if made into pies. It will be available later in September.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Festival in the Pines will have free shuttle
Ran on Thursday, August 23, 2007
Festival in the Pines will have free shuttle
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Festival in the Pines turns 25 this weekend, and about 250 arts and crafts vendors, 14 food vendors, and 15,000 to 20,000 visitors are expected in Carson Park on Saturday and Sunday.
"Festival in the Pines is popular because it's so family-oriented," said festival coordinator Dan Ropa. "We cater to both shoppers and young families."
The festival draws attendees from surrounding states and has and estimated economic impact of $300,000.
Vendors offer a variety of goods, including one-of-a-kind clothing, furniture and other hand-crafted items.
Family fun is fostered through returning attractions such as a free petting zoo, inflatable rides, a trout fishing pond and games. A new attraction is pony rides.
Live entertainment from area and professional performers are scattered throughout the two-day event.
Local restaurant owners who wanted to have their own version of "The Taste of Eau Claire" started the event 25 years ago. Some local food establishments will have booths at the festival, serving fest staples such as corn dogs, cheese curds, mini doughnuts and barbecue pork sandwiches.
Parking in the park will be limited.
Ropa encourages festgoers to use the free shuttle from one of the four locations.
Festival in the Pines will have free shuttle
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Festival in the Pines turns 25 this weekend, and about 250 arts and crafts vendors, 14 food vendors, and 15,000 to 20,000 visitors are expected in Carson Park on Saturday and Sunday.
"Festival in the Pines is popular because it's so family-oriented," said festival coordinator Dan Ropa. "We cater to both shoppers and young families."
The festival draws attendees from surrounding states and has and estimated economic impact of $300,000.
Vendors offer a variety of goods, including one-of-a-kind clothing, furniture and other hand-crafted items.
Family fun is fostered through returning attractions such as a free petting zoo, inflatable rides, a trout fishing pond and games. A new attraction is pony rides.
Live entertainment from area and professional performers are scattered throughout the two-day event.
Local restaurant owners who wanted to have their own version of "The Taste of Eau Claire" started the event 25 years ago. Some local food establishments will have booths at the festival, serving fest staples such as corn dogs, cheese curds, mini doughnuts and barbecue pork sandwiches.
Parking in the park will be limited.
Ropa encourages festgoers to use the free shuttle from one of the four locations.
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