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.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Publications high on local universities
Ran on Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Publications high on local universities
By Keighla Schmidt
Leadert-telegram Staff
Chippewa Valley universities rank high among the nation's 4,500 higher education institutions in recent publications.
UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls both made U.S. News & World Report magazine's top public master's degree-granting universities in the Midwest and The Princeton Review's list of best Midwestern colleges. UW-Stout also made the Princeton list.
UW-Eau Claire has been among the top five public institutions in the Midwest every year since 1995.
"U.S. News and other prestigious publications consistently name UW-Eau Claire among the best of the best because of our exceptional faculty and staff," Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said. "The rankings tell employers and others that UW-Eau Claire provides its students with one of the best educational experiences available in the Midwest."
The rankings are important to the colleges.
"We're pleased that the report tells a story nationally that our students, faculty, staff and alumni already know: that we are an exceptional place," said UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz of the U.S. News ranking.
The rankings are determined by separating the schools into categories and scored in various academic categories.
"The survey asks other college leaders to evaluate our reputation for quality experiences, and it measures our resources and the satisfaction of our alumni through their continuing commitment and connection to UW-RF," Betz said.
The Princeton review has a different methodology.
Students are sent a voluntary survey of 80 questions regarding their life at the institution. A minimum number of responses is not required, but the editors look for commonalities in the students' replies. This year, 120,000 students replied, averaging 325 responses per institution.
The rankings are intended to provide potential students with a picture of the campus from present students. They aim to help determine which schools would be a best fit for an individual student.
Categories range from "The toughest to get into," to "Lots of beer," (a category UW-Madison topped).
UW-Stout Director of Communications Doug Mell said he attributes the Blue Devil Princeton ranking to the practical, hands-on teaching methods.
"Our methods are really geared towards making students ready for professional careers," Mell said. "We're not a lot of chalk and talk."
Publications high on local universities
By Keighla Schmidt
Leadert-telegram Staff
Chippewa Valley universities rank high among the nation's 4,500 higher education institutions in recent publications.
UW-Eau Claire and UW-River Falls both made U.S. News & World Report magazine's top public master's degree-granting universities in the Midwest and The Princeton Review's list of best Midwestern colleges. UW-Stout also made the Princeton list.
UW-Eau Claire has been among the top five public institutions in the Midwest every year since 1995.
"U.S. News and other prestigious publications consistently name UW-Eau Claire among the best of the best because of our exceptional faculty and staff," Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich said. "The rankings tell employers and others that UW-Eau Claire provides its students with one of the best educational experiences available in the Midwest."
The rankings are important to the colleges.
"We're pleased that the report tells a story nationally that our students, faculty, staff and alumni already know: that we are an exceptional place," said UW-River Falls Chancellor Don Betz of the U.S. News ranking.
The rankings are determined by separating the schools into categories and scored in various academic categories.
"The survey asks other college leaders to evaluate our reputation for quality experiences, and it measures our resources and the satisfaction of our alumni through their continuing commitment and connection to UW-RF," Betz said.
The Princeton review has a different methodology.
Students are sent a voluntary survey of 80 questions regarding their life at the institution. A minimum number of responses is not required, but the editors look for commonalities in the students' replies. This year, 120,000 students replied, averaging 325 responses per institution.
The rankings are intended to provide potential students with a picture of the campus from present students. They aim to help determine which schools would be a best fit for an individual student.
Categories range from "The toughest to get into," to "Lots of beer," (a category UW-Madison topped).
UW-Stout Director of Communications Doug Mell said he attributes the Blue Devil Princeton ranking to the practical, hands-on teaching methods.
"Our methods are really geared towards making students ready for professional careers," Mell said. "We're not a lot of chalk and talk."
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Living and learning
Ran on Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Living and learning
Regional universities avoid UW-Madison housing crunch
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
What's often viewed as a fundamental component of college life — the dormitories — is being denied to some students in Wisconsin.
Large universities such as UW-Madison are turning away hundreds of students requesting housing each year.
School officials at UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout and UW-River Falls say they have a place for anyone looking for a dorm room.
The difference is in the numbers.
UW-Madison had 29,639 undergraduate students enrolled in fall 2006, with 7,237 beds available. UW-Eau Claire had 10,152 undergraduates and about 4,000 beds available, UW-Stout had 7,517 undergraduates and room for about 3,000 on campus while UW-River Falls had 5,753 undergraduates for the 2,400 wanting to live in the dorms in the fall 2006 semester.
Housing officials from the three Chippewa Valley schools said no students have been turned away for housing this year.
The philosophy at UW-Eau Claire is that any student who wants university housing won't be put on a waiting list, said Chuck Majors, director of housing and residence life.
For the first time in about 12 years, UW-Eau Claire's overflow won't force students to stay in motels.
"We're in good shape," Majors said.
About 80 of the 4,000 students who live on campus will be in the dormitory study lounges at the beginning of the fall semester.
The situation is slightly more cramped in River Falls.
West Area Coordinator Jason Nuehaus said about 200 students will be packed into the university's 10 student housing buildings. Some will have as many as six people to a room.
In an effort to get more students in, both universities have built new buildings to house their undergraduates.
At UW-Eau Claire, Chancellors Hall was built in 2000 and has apartment-style housing for 324 students. In 2005 UW-River Falls opened South Fork Suites, adding 240 beds in suites. UW-River Falls is awaiting the state budget to pass for clearance to build an addition to the suites.
At UW-Stout, housing is going in the opposite direction. Plans are in the works to tear down the oldest housing building, Geter-Tainter-Callahan hall, in favor of a new dining facility in 2010.
There are a few extra rooms for the 3,000 students living on campus in the 10 dormitory buildings, said Scott Griesbach, UW-Stout's housing director.
"We'll be reducing housing to 2,700," Griesbach said. "We're not planning to build any more housing buildings."
The campus added a suites building in 2005 for 296 students.
Living and learning
Regional universities avoid UW-Madison housing crunch
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
What's often viewed as a fundamental component of college life — the dormitories — is being denied to some students in Wisconsin.
Large universities such as UW-Madison are turning away hundreds of students requesting housing each year.
School officials at UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout and UW-River Falls say they have a place for anyone looking for a dorm room.
The difference is in the numbers.
UW-Madison had 29,639 undergraduate students enrolled in fall 2006, with 7,237 beds available. UW-Eau Claire had 10,152 undergraduates and about 4,000 beds available, UW-Stout had 7,517 undergraduates and room for about 3,000 on campus while UW-River Falls had 5,753 undergraduates for the 2,400 wanting to live in the dorms in the fall 2006 semester.
Housing officials from the three Chippewa Valley schools said no students have been turned away for housing this year.
The philosophy at UW-Eau Claire is that any student who wants university housing won't be put on a waiting list, said Chuck Majors, director of housing and residence life.
For the first time in about 12 years, UW-Eau Claire's overflow won't force students to stay in motels.
"We're in good shape," Majors said.
About 80 of the 4,000 students who live on campus will be in the dormitory study lounges at the beginning of the fall semester.
The situation is slightly more cramped in River Falls.
West Area Coordinator Jason Nuehaus said about 200 students will be packed into the university's 10 student housing buildings. Some will have as many as six people to a room.
In an effort to get more students in, both universities have built new buildings to house their undergraduates.
At UW-Eau Claire, Chancellors Hall was built in 2000 and has apartment-style housing for 324 students. In 2005 UW-River Falls opened South Fork Suites, adding 240 beds in suites. UW-River Falls is awaiting the state budget to pass for clearance to build an addition to the suites.
At UW-Stout, housing is going in the opposite direction. Plans are in the works to tear down the oldest housing building, Geter-Tainter-Callahan hall, in favor of a new dining facility in 2010.
There are a few extra rooms for the 3,000 students living on campus in the 10 dormitory buildings, said Scott Griesbach, UW-Stout's housing director.
"We'll be reducing housing to 2,700," Griesbach said. "We're not planning to build any more housing buildings."
The campus added a suites building in 2005 for 296 students.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Report: DNR behind in state dam inspections
Ran on Wednesday,August 15, 2007
Report: DNR behind in state dam inspections
By The Associated Press And Leader-telegram Staff
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has not inspected at least 230 state-regulated dams since August 1997, despite a state law that requires inspections at least once every 10 years, according to a newspaper's analysis of state data.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said in a report in its Monday edition that the dams that have not been inspected make up about one-quarter of the 926 state-regulated dams.
The dams are inspected by private inspectors and the state Department of Natural Resources.
The Journal Sentinel said 67 of the dams that have not been inspected during that time are considered a high or significant hazard.
"It has nothing to do with the soundness of the dam," said Gary Lepak, water management engineer with the DNR. "It's if the dam would fail, what would happen."
If a lot of damage would happen if a dam broke, the hazard is considered high.
Lepak said some of the ratings are labeled high due to zoning issues.
In the Chippewa Valley, the DNR annually schedules inspections for dams that are due. "It's part of our scheduling," Lepak said. "Every year we sit down and look at structures that need to be inspected."
In the DNR's Dam Safety Program database, two dams in Chippewa County are marked with the last inspection in 1981. However, Lepak said one has been done in the past month, and the other is scheduled to be inspected next year. Both have low hazard ratings.
The high-hazard Middle Appleton Dam on the Lower Fox River in Outagamie County has gone the longest without an inspection, the newspaper said, adding that its last check was in November 1981.
Nearly 80 percent of all state-regulated dams have no emergency action plans in case the dams fail, as required by law, the Journal Sentinel said. It said about half of the 205 high-hazard dams and 84 percent of the 135 significant-hazard dams have no emergency plans, according to the records it inspected.
"For the significant- and high-hazard dams, it concerns me because you are talking about a potential for loss of life," said Meg Galloway, a state dam safety engineer.
Randy Romanski, a top aide to Wisconsin's DNR secretary, said that all high-hazard dams that have not been inspected in 10 years would get visual inspection by Sept. 30 and full inspection by August 2008.
"Public safety is the highest priority, and we're going to do everything we can to protect public safety," he said. "We're confident that there are no dams out there that are an imminent threat of life or major property damage that are in danger of failing."
The inspections consist of checking the soundness of the structure, the changes since the construction or last inspection, the potential growth factor of the region and the control of the seepage.
"All dams are going to have some leakage," Lepak said.
Report: DNR behind in state dam inspections
By The Associated Press And Leader-telegram Staff
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has not inspected at least 230 state-regulated dams since August 1997, despite a state law that requires inspections at least once every 10 years, according to a newspaper's analysis of state data.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said in a report in its Monday edition that the dams that have not been inspected make up about one-quarter of the 926 state-regulated dams.
The dams are inspected by private inspectors and the state Department of Natural Resources.
The Journal Sentinel said 67 of the dams that have not been inspected during that time are considered a high or significant hazard.
"It has nothing to do with the soundness of the dam," said Gary Lepak, water management engineer with the DNR. "It's if the dam would fail, what would happen."
If a lot of damage would happen if a dam broke, the hazard is considered high.
Lepak said some of the ratings are labeled high due to zoning issues.
In the Chippewa Valley, the DNR annually schedules inspections for dams that are due. "It's part of our scheduling," Lepak said. "Every year we sit down and look at structures that need to be inspected."
In the DNR's Dam Safety Program database, two dams in Chippewa County are marked with the last inspection in 1981. However, Lepak said one has been done in the past month, and the other is scheduled to be inspected next year. Both have low hazard ratings.
The high-hazard Middle Appleton Dam on the Lower Fox River in Outagamie County has gone the longest without an inspection, the newspaper said, adding that its last check was in November 1981.
Nearly 80 percent of all state-regulated dams have no emergency action plans in case the dams fail, as required by law, the Journal Sentinel said. It said about half of the 205 high-hazard dams and 84 percent of the 135 significant-hazard dams have no emergency plans, according to the records it inspected.
"For the significant- and high-hazard dams, it concerns me because you are talking about a potential for loss of life," said Meg Galloway, a state dam safety engineer.
Randy Romanski, a top aide to Wisconsin's DNR secretary, said that all high-hazard dams that have not been inspected in 10 years would get visual inspection by Sept. 30 and full inspection by August 2008.
"Public safety is the highest priority, and we're going to do everything we can to protect public safety," he said. "We're confident that there are no dams out there that are an imminent threat of life or major property damage that are in danger of failing."
The inspections consist of checking the soundness of the structure, the changes since the construction or last inspection, the potential growth factor of the region and the control of the seepage.
"All dams are going to have some leakage," Lepak said.
Warriors and citizens
Ran on Monday, August 20, 2007
Warriors and citizens
Military honors reserve soldiers who were called to duty during wartime
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
The gloomy and rainy weather didn't dampen the spirits of those who showed up to honor some Chippewa Valley soldiers in Phoenix Park Sunday morning.
Some members of the U.S. Army Reserve's 397th Engineer Battalion were recognized in a Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen ceremony for their tours served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
"I've heard many comrades talk about soldiers that didn't have a reception with warmth and acceptance," said Sgt. Lisa Ahnefeld, who served a year in Iraq and has been home for more than a year. "It's certainly a joy."
Fifteen members received flags encased in wooden and glass cases. The Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen is a national program recognizing Army Reserve soldiers and their family members.
State and local political leaders thanked the soldiers for their service and their families for the sacrifices they made.
"Thank you. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you," said State Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire.
Lt. Col. David Raihle of the 397th said the ceremony was about focusing on the soldiers' contributions, not any political disputes surrounding the war.
"We may have political discussions, but when it comes to your service and your sacrifice, there should be no questions," Raihle said. "You gave us a year of your life, we owe you care and concern."
Without their civilian skills, the soldiers would be lost, said guest speaker Col. Scott Anderson of the 372nd Engineer Brigade.
"These people bring their civilian skills to the battle field." Anderson said. "There are welders and people who know how to operate tractors."
Ahnefeld, who has been in the Army for 12 years, said the Army is her career.
"I'll do it for the rest of my life," she said. "It's my duty, my job and an honor."
Warriors and citizens
Military honors reserve soldiers who were called to duty during wartime
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
The gloomy and rainy weather didn't dampen the spirits of those who showed up to honor some Chippewa Valley soldiers in Phoenix Park Sunday morning.
Some members of the U.S. Army Reserve's 397th Engineer Battalion were recognized in a Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen ceremony for their tours served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
"I've heard many comrades talk about soldiers that didn't have a reception with warmth and acceptance," said Sgt. Lisa Ahnefeld, who served a year in Iraq and has been home for more than a year. "It's certainly a joy."
Fifteen members received flags encased in wooden and glass cases. The Welcome Home Warrior-Citizen is a national program recognizing Army Reserve soldiers and their family members.
State and local political leaders thanked the soldiers for their service and their families for the sacrifices they made.
"Thank you. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you," said State Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire.
Lt. Col. David Raihle of the 397th said the ceremony was about focusing on the soldiers' contributions, not any political disputes surrounding the war.
"We may have political discussions, but when it comes to your service and your sacrifice, there should be no questions," Raihle said. "You gave us a year of your life, we owe you care and concern."
Without their civilian skills, the soldiers would be lost, said guest speaker Col. Scott Anderson of the 372nd Engineer Brigade.
"These people bring their civilian skills to the battle field." Anderson said. "There are welders and people who know how to operate tractors."
Ahnefeld, who has been in the Army for 12 years, said the Army is her career.
"I'll do it for the rest of my life," she said. "It's my duty, my job and an honor."
Gimme 5 Artist offers advice on her tattos
Ran on Monday, August 20, 2007
Artist offers advice on her tattos
Veronica Swanson
Age: 27
Occupation: Tattoo artist at Inkorporated, 223 Barstow St.
Talks about: Life as a tattoo artist.
Editor's note: Gimme 5 is a five-question interview on topics of local interest.
How did you get into the business?
"My boyfriend at the time was being apprenticed in it, and I was always interested in art so I got into it too. Then I started my apprenticeship for body piercing and tattooing."
What is the most common type of tattoo you do?
"A lot of hearts, banners, roses, nautical stars. A lot of upper arm, they tend to be the most common."
Do you have a favorite or most memorable tattoo that you've done?
"Yes. I just got back from Sturgis and I did these awesome Chirstmas tree lights wrapped around a lady's legs. It's old school Christmas tree lights."
What is considered when calculating the cost of a tattoo?
"Size, detail, color and location."
What advice do you have to someone considering their first tattoo?
"It's going to be on you for the rest of your life; make sure it's going to be something that means something to you. Don't go and put some random thing that you're going to regret later; it should have meaning to you.
"I tell my customers to leave and sleep on it. If they don't come back that's OK, because then they really didn't want it. I'd rather do that than have them regret it later."
— Compiled by Keighla Schmidt
Artist offers advice on her tattos
Veronica Swanson
Age: 27
Occupation: Tattoo artist at Inkorporated, 223 Barstow St.
Talks about: Life as a tattoo artist.
Editor's note: Gimme 5 is a five-question interview on topics of local interest.
How did you get into the business?
"My boyfriend at the time was being apprenticed in it, and I was always interested in art so I got into it too. Then I started my apprenticeship for body piercing and tattooing."
What is the most common type of tattoo you do?
"A lot of hearts, banners, roses, nautical stars. A lot of upper arm, they tend to be the most common."
Do you have a favorite or most memorable tattoo that you've done?
"Yes. I just got back from Sturgis and I did these awesome Chirstmas tree lights wrapped around a lady's legs. It's old school Christmas tree lights."
What is considered when calculating the cost of a tattoo?
"Size, detail, color and location."
What advice do you have to someone considering their first tattoo?
"It's going to be on you for the rest of your life; make sure it's going to be something that means something to you. Don't go and put some random thing that you're going to regret later; it should have meaning to you.
"I tell my customers to leave and sleep on it. If they don't come back that's OK, because then they really didn't want it. I'd rather do that than have them regret it later."
— Compiled by Keighla Schmidt
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Insect inhabitation
Ran on Sauturday, August 18, 2007
Insect inhabitation
Pests eat more than 300 kinds of plants
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
It may seem like an oxymoron, but an insect that has invaded the Chippewa Valley is described as a "beautiful pest" by Tom Kalb, the UW Extension horticulture agent in Eau Caire County.
Beauty aside, Japanese beetles are cataclysmic to many plants.
"They're not choosy; they will eat over 300 kinds of plants," Kalb said.
Some of their favorites are also human favorites, such as rose bushes, crabtrees and linden trees.
What Kalb described as a "perfect storm" for the beetles has led to their inhabitation in the Chippewa Valley this summer. The unseasonably warm winters, and dry, hot summers have fostered the flowering population. Dry conditions, lack of disease-introducing rain and stressed plants from last year's similar situation have made it easy for the bronze and metallic green crawler to invade.
Having a big appetite, the bugs eat everything off a plant except the fibrous veins, Kalb said, leaving it bare and with obvious destruction.
"When you fight Mother Nature, she usually wins," Kalb said.
Ironically, the lawns and areas most manicured and best kept have the highest risk of being infested.
Thriving on wet conditions, the bugs will live and reproduce in the lawns being watered daily in the dry heat.
Golf courses are high-risk areas because they're landscaped and watered daily.
Galen Sabelko, groundskeeper at Princeton Valley Golf and Grill in Eau Claire, said the bugs have made homes on his greens.
"They like to go on the most manicured grass," he said.
Earlier in the season, the adult beetles mated and laid eggs on the fairways, tees, greens and birch trees around the course. At that time, Sabelko said he sprayed the trees with insecticides to rid the greens of the pests' larvae.
A few years ago the course left the bugs alone and nature took its course; the bugs were prey to crows.
"If you don't treat them," he said, "the crows will tear at the ground they're in."
Schmidt can be reached at 830-9203, 800-236-7077 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Insect inhabitation
Pests eat more than 300 kinds of plants
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
It may seem like an oxymoron, but an insect that has invaded the Chippewa Valley is described as a "beautiful pest" by Tom Kalb, the UW Extension horticulture agent in Eau Caire County.
Beauty aside, Japanese beetles are cataclysmic to many plants.
"They're not choosy; they will eat over 300 kinds of plants," Kalb said.
Some of their favorites are also human favorites, such as rose bushes, crabtrees and linden trees.
What Kalb described as a "perfect storm" for the beetles has led to their inhabitation in the Chippewa Valley this summer. The unseasonably warm winters, and dry, hot summers have fostered the flowering population. Dry conditions, lack of disease-introducing rain and stressed plants from last year's similar situation have made it easy for the bronze and metallic green crawler to invade.
Having a big appetite, the bugs eat everything off a plant except the fibrous veins, Kalb said, leaving it bare and with obvious destruction.
"When you fight Mother Nature, she usually wins," Kalb said.
Ironically, the lawns and areas most manicured and best kept have the highest risk of being infested.
Thriving on wet conditions, the bugs will live and reproduce in the lawns being watered daily in the dry heat.
Golf courses are high-risk areas because they're landscaped and watered daily.
Galen Sabelko, groundskeeper at Princeton Valley Golf and Grill in Eau Claire, said the bugs have made homes on his greens.
"They like to go on the most manicured grass," he said.
Earlier in the season, the adult beetles mated and laid eggs on the fairways, tees, greens and birch trees around the course. At that time, Sabelko said he sprayed the trees with insecticides to rid the greens of the pests' larvae.
A few years ago the course left the bugs alone and nature took its course; the bugs were prey to crows.
"If you don't treat them," he said, "the crows will tear at the ground they're in."
Schmidt can be reached at 830-9203, 800-236-7077 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Down on the farm
Ran on Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Down on the farm
MENOMONIE — A 100-year-old barn one mile east of Menomonie fell victim to a storm that blew through the area Monday night.
It was one of at least a dozen barns blown down in Dunn and St. Croix counties. The storm also damaged several homes, knocked out power to thousands — some until Thursday — felled trees and dropped much-needed rain on dry crops.
The Menomonie barn, at the home of Byron Barnhart, E5891 571st Ave., collapsed when north winds hit, said his son, Larry Barnhart, who lives adjacent to his father.
"It was straight wind," Larry Barnhart said. "Everything was laying to the south."
Larry Barnhart said he lost five trees at his home, and his father lost a couple of trees.
When the barn collapsed it sounded like "very large, deep thunder without the lightning strike," Larry Barnhart said. "With the next lightning strike we could see it was down and flat as flat."
The Barnharts' 36-by-88-foot barn was used mostly for storage.
Xcel Energy said 20,000 west-central Wisconsin customers were out of power at the height of the storm.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, fewer than 9,000 customers remained without power.
The hardest hit areas, according to Xcel, include Menomonie, Durand,Amery, Somerset, Hudson, La Crosse and Sparta.
Some parts of Menomonie and Durand weren't expected to have power restored until late Thursday night, according to Xcel Energy.
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative said more than 250 of its 10,000 customers lost power, starting about 11 p.m. Monday night. All but one customer had power restored by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Dunn County
Numerous trees were reported downed in the city and throughout the county, according to Dunn County Emergency Management Coordinator Bruce Brantner.
The east side of Menomonie seemed to get the brunt of the storm. Trees were down throughout the city's industrial park and near the Dunn County Judicial Center, near U.S. 12 and Stokke Parkway.
Power was out at the Judicial Center until about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Courts continued, and offices were open with backup generators to light the building and to operate the 911 system.
The Red Cedar Medical Center operated with emergency backup generators from about 10:50 p.m. Monday until 8:15 a.m. Tuesday because of power outages.
Half the campus at UW-Stout in Menomonie didn't have power from 10:30 p.m. Monday until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Bob Schultz, an account manager at Xcel, said the UW-Stout administration buildings and computer management buildings were among the powerless ones. Some dorms and academic buildings also lost power.
The Dunn County Government Center, Human Services Department and Judicial Center also lost power but had it restored Tuesday.
This is the worst power outage County Attorney Scott Cox can remember in his 15 years with the county.
"It is unusual for the power grid to be down this long, but we are coping," he said. "The backup generator has helped us to keep operating. We were fortunate it could have been worse."
According to Menomonie police reports, power poles were down near the Dunn County Recreation Park and along Interstate 94 between exit 41 and 45.
A semitrailer truck was blown off the interstate, lying on the shoulder Tuesday.
Other roads that had multiple trees down included Cedar Falls Road, Dairyland Road, Stokke Parkway, Badger Road, Stout Road and Wilson Avenue East, Street Department Supervisor Bruce Heath said.
A couple of street light poles went down near U.S. 12 by the Dunn County Health Care Center and Andersen Windows.
"We believe it was high winds," Heath said. "There were no funnel clouds reported."
At the Menomonie airport, the winds flipped over plane, Heath said.
Downtown Menomonie did not have traffic lights Tuesday because of the power outages.
Portable generators were being used Tuesday to power the sanitary lift stations in northern and eastern parts of the city. The lift stations bring sewage to the wastewater treatment plant.
Brantner said no injuries were reported.
"Any time we can make it through damaging weather with no people injured or any deaths, we've been lucky," Brantner said.
St. Croix County
Cleanup began Tuesday after the storm flattened 11 barns and damaged dozens of homes near New Richmond, Emerald and Star Prairie.
No injuries were reported, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department Capt. Mike Winberg said.
"It sounds like lots of straight-line wind damage," he said. "There was one home that looked like it went down. Roads are blocked. Driveways are blocked."
The National Weather Service said initial reports from Monday night's storms indicated a roof blown off an airport hangar and extensive damage to some houses and barns in the area.
Near Emerald, on Highway G, the wind knocked down a large Emerald Dairy free-stall barn, trees and power lines and flattened corn in some fields.
Powers can be reached at 715-235-9018 or pamela.powers@ecpc.com. Staff reporter Keighla Schmidt, The Country Today and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Down on the farm
MENOMONIE — A 100-year-old barn one mile east of Menomonie fell victim to a storm that blew through the area Monday night.
It was one of at least a dozen barns blown down in Dunn and St. Croix counties. The storm also damaged several homes, knocked out power to thousands — some until Thursday — felled trees and dropped much-needed rain on dry crops.
The Menomonie barn, at the home of Byron Barnhart, E5891 571st Ave., collapsed when north winds hit, said his son, Larry Barnhart, who lives adjacent to his father.
"It was straight wind," Larry Barnhart said. "Everything was laying to the south."
Larry Barnhart said he lost five trees at his home, and his father lost a couple of trees.
When the barn collapsed it sounded like "very large, deep thunder without the lightning strike," Larry Barnhart said. "With the next lightning strike we could see it was down and flat as flat."
The Barnharts' 36-by-88-foot barn was used mostly for storage.
Xcel Energy said 20,000 west-central Wisconsin customers were out of power at the height of the storm.
As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, fewer than 9,000 customers remained without power.
The hardest hit areas, according to Xcel, include Menomonie, Durand,Amery, Somerset, Hudson, La Crosse and Sparta.
Some parts of Menomonie and Durand weren't expected to have power restored until late Thursday night, according to Xcel Energy.
Eau Claire Energy Cooperative said more than 250 of its 10,000 customers lost power, starting about 11 p.m. Monday night. All but one customer had power restored by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Dunn County
Numerous trees were reported downed in the city and throughout the county, according to Dunn County Emergency Management Coordinator Bruce Brantner.
The east side of Menomonie seemed to get the brunt of the storm. Trees were down throughout the city's industrial park and near the Dunn County Judicial Center, near U.S. 12 and Stokke Parkway.
Power was out at the Judicial Center until about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Courts continued, and offices were open with backup generators to light the building and to operate the 911 system.
The Red Cedar Medical Center operated with emergency backup generators from about 10:50 p.m. Monday until 8:15 a.m. Tuesday because of power outages.
Half the campus at UW-Stout in Menomonie didn't have power from 10:30 p.m. Monday until 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Bob Schultz, an account manager at Xcel, said the UW-Stout administration buildings and computer management buildings were among the powerless ones. Some dorms and academic buildings also lost power.
The Dunn County Government Center, Human Services Department and Judicial Center also lost power but had it restored Tuesday.
This is the worst power outage County Attorney Scott Cox can remember in his 15 years with the county.
"It is unusual for the power grid to be down this long, but we are coping," he said. "The backup generator has helped us to keep operating. We were fortunate it could have been worse."
According to Menomonie police reports, power poles were down near the Dunn County Recreation Park and along Interstate 94 between exit 41 and 45.
A semitrailer truck was blown off the interstate, lying on the shoulder Tuesday.
Other roads that had multiple trees down included Cedar Falls Road, Dairyland Road, Stokke Parkway, Badger Road, Stout Road and Wilson Avenue East, Street Department Supervisor Bruce Heath said.
A couple of street light poles went down near U.S. 12 by the Dunn County Health Care Center and Andersen Windows.
"We believe it was high winds," Heath said. "There were no funnel clouds reported."
At the Menomonie airport, the winds flipped over plane, Heath said.
Downtown Menomonie did not have traffic lights Tuesday because of the power outages.
Portable generators were being used Tuesday to power the sanitary lift stations in northern and eastern parts of the city. The lift stations bring sewage to the wastewater treatment plant.
Brantner said no injuries were reported.
"Any time we can make it through damaging weather with no people injured or any deaths, we've been lucky," Brantner said.
St. Croix County
Cleanup began Tuesday after the storm flattened 11 barns and damaged dozens of homes near New Richmond, Emerald and Star Prairie.
No injuries were reported, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department Capt. Mike Winberg said.
"It sounds like lots of straight-line wind damage," he said. "There was one home that looked like it went down. Roads are blocked. Driveways are blocked."
The National Weather Service said initial reports from Monday night's storms indicated a roof blown off an airport hangar and extensive damage to some houses and barns in the area.
Near Emerald, on Highway G, the wind knocked down a large Emerald Dairy free-stall barn, trees and power lines and flattened corn in some fields.
Powers can be reached at 715-235-9018 or pamela.powers@ecpc.com. Staff reporter Keighla Schmidt, The Country Today and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
An Oasis no longer
Ran on Tuesday, August 14, 2007
An Oasis no longer
Fire destroys Osseo bar, restaurant
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
OSSEO - For the past six years, Dave Oliver and Karen Olson have provided a galley for Marines and other veterans at their downtown Osseo business.
Those vets will have to find another place to eat after Oliver's Oasis Saloon and Restaurant on Harmony Street was destroyed by fire early Monday morning.
Oliver and his son James Oliver are both Marine veterans, and the tavern was decorated with Marine memorabilia.
Dave Oliver said he was thankful firefighters from Osseo and several other departments were able to salvage many items, including photos, buffalo and bull skulls, and five new rifles.
"They saved everything of value," Oliver said. "We got a lot of stuff in there. It was almost like a house.
"The Fire Department did an excellent job. They were here quickly in the middle of the night. They were polite, professional and managed to save an adjoining attached building."
A realty office attached to the saloon had minimal damage.
Oliver hasn't decided if he will rebuild the eatery. He will wait until he hears a verdict from an insurance agent. "I don't know what the whole thing entails," he said.
The Osseo Rural Fire Department and other departments worked from about 1 to 5 a.m. putting out the fire. Assisting Osseo were firefighters from Whitehall, Eleva, Strum, Augusta and the Township Fire Department.
No one was hurt in the fire.
Osseo Fire Chief John Haugen said the old construction of the building made extinguishing the fire difficult.
The fire apparently started in the basement of the building, where Oliver kept dry storage and electrical equipment, Haugen said. The cause of the fire was not known.
Janet Morris of Whitehall often ate at the restaurant.
"They had really good food," she said. "They always had daily specials and fish on Fridays."
An Oasis no longer
Fire destroys Osseo bar, restaurant
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
OSSEO - For the past six years, Dave Oliver and Karen Olson have provided a galley for Marines and other veterans at their downtown Osseo business.
Those vets will have to find another place to eat after Oliver's Oasis Saloon and Restaurant on Harmony Street was destroyed by fire early Monday morning.
Oliver and his son James Oliver are both Marine veterans, and the tavern was decorated with Marine memorabilia.
Dave Oliver said he was thankful firefighters from Osseo and several other departments were able to salvage many items, including photos, buffalo and bull skulls, and five new rifles.
"They saved everything of value," Oliver said. "We got a lot of stuff in there. It was almost like a house.
"The Fire Department did an excellent job. They were here quickly in the middle of the night. They were polite, professional and managed to save an adjoining attached building."
A realty office attached to the saloon had minimal damage.
Oliver hasn't decided if he will rebuild the eatery. He will wait until he hears a verdict from an insurance agent. "I don't know what the whole thing entails," he said.
The Osseo Rural Fire Department and other departments worked from about 1 to 5 a.m. putting out the fire. Assisting Osseo were firefighters from Whitehall, Eleva, Strum, Augusta and the Township Fire Department.
No one was hurt in the fire.
Osseo Fire Chief John Haugen said the old construction of the building made extinguishing the fire difficult.
The fire apparently started in the basement of the building, where Oliver kept dry storage and electrical equipment, Haugen said. The cause of the fire was not known.
Janet Morris of Whitehall often ate at the restaurant.
"They had really good food," she said. "They always had daily specials and fish on Fridays."
Monday, August 13, 2007
Growing like weeds
Ran on Monday, August 13, 2007
Growing like weeds
Workers cut 164 tons of unwanted plants out of Half Moon Lake
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
In 24 days of weed-cutting this year, city workers harvested 164 tons of weeds, up from last year's 98 tons, said Phil Johnson, the city's parks superintendent.
But it still wasn't enough to stay ahead of the plants that make the lake green during summer.
City officials like to begin cutting weeds when the DNR identifies there are 13 nodes on plants so regrowth is less likely, Johnson said.
"We're trying to cut in a timely manner to reduce the size of the weed beds around the lake," he said.
City and DNR officials said weather was the main factor in the failure of cutting this year.
"The lakes got warm very early," said Buzz Sorge, a DNR lake management planner. "The ice came off very early."
The weeds, an invasive exotic plant called curly-leafed pondweed, grew faster than usual.
Besides clogging the lake in early summer, the curly-leafed pondweed causes algae blooms to grow when it dies and releases nutrients. The nutrients make the algae grow.
The curly-leaf pondweed dies in late June and then releases reproducing turions that grow about a foot before the cold weather forms ice. Then, while the native plants remain dormant, curly-leaf grows a few more feet while it's still cold. In the spring it starts growing before native plants and takes over the shallow lake.
Officials said they could consider 16-hour cutting days instead of eight hours or buying another weed harvester for about $110,000, but the cost likely is prohibitive.
"We just can't afford to do that," Johnson said.
Growing like weeds
Workers cut 164 tons of unwanted plants out of Half Moon Lake
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
In 24 days of weed-cutting this year, city workers harvested 164 tons of weeds, up from last year's 98 tons, said Phil Johnson, the city's parks superintendent.
But it still wasn't enough to stay ahead of the plants that make the lake green during summer.
City officials like to begin cutting weeds when the DNR identifies there are 13 nodes on plants so regrowth is less likely, Johnson said.
"We're trying to cut in a timely manner to reduce the size of the weed beds around the lake," he said.
City and DNR officials said weather was the main factor in the failure of cutting this year.
"The lakes got warm very early," said Buzz Sorge, a DNR lake management planner. "The ice came off very early."
The weeds, an invasive exotic plant called curly-leafed pondweed, grew faster than usual.
Besides clogging the lake in early summer, the curly-leafed pondweed causes algae blooms to grow when it dies and releases nutrients. The nutrients make the algae grow.
The curly-leaf pondweed dies in late June and then releases reproducing turions that grow about a foot before the cold weather forms ice. Then, while the native plants remain dormant, curly-leaf grows a few more feet while it's still cold. In the spring it starts growing before native plants and takes over the shallow lake.
Officials said they could consider 16-hour cutting days instead of eight hours or buying another weed harvester for about $110,000, but the cost likely is prohibitive.
"We just can't afford to do that," Johnson said.
Welcoming home
Sunday,August 12, 2007
Welcoming home
Foreign exchange hosts have 'family all over the world'
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegran Staff
The Amy and Mitchell Myers family of Rice Lake is welcoming its 10th "child" into its home.
Cedric Retzmann, 17, arrived in Wisconsin as a foreign exchange student late Wednesday night from Bamberg, Germany.
He joins the Myers' two children in the U.S. and former exchange students from Belgium, Ghana, Norway, Iceland and Indonesia as part of the extended family.
"We now have family all over the world, and it's amazing knowing that we have people who care about us and love us in all these different places," Amy Myers said. "It makes the world that much smaller."
Having taken in students since 2000, Amy Myers said she feels hosting foreign students is more than providing a place for someone to sleep. It's something the family does to foster a learning environment and improve the world.
"It's about creating a more tolerant and peaceful world," she said. "It's about being a world citizen, not just a citizen of a town."
The family hosts students through American Field Service Intercultural Programs. Myers also volunteers for AFS as a recruit for host families. AFS has students traveling around the world in 50 different countries. This year, the program is bringing 45 students to northwest Wisconsin for a yearlong stay.
Scott Hume, regional director of AFS, also stressed the idea of shrinking the world.
"It helps build bridges between different cultures," he said. "Often, these people would never have met or seen things they get to now."
Eau Claire schools will not host foreign exchange students this year due to budget cuts.
"I think that is so sad," Myers said. "I understand the problem with growing class sizes, but it's really sad that that is a program they're forced to eliminate."
Rice Lake High School will have eight exchange students this year.
"The most important thing is I find friends," Retzman, a senior, said. "Real friends."
Myers hopes to help Retzmann make friends by getting him involved with "the most important part of their stay": extra curricular activities.
"Getting to know people and other kids is so important," she said. "Kids who don't get involved have challenges and struggles."
Retzmann, who has studied English for five years, said he is thinking of joining the soccer team to get to know some faces before his classes start in September. He said he settled on soccer because he doesn't think he's built for football.
"I am tall and thin, not the American football type," he said.
He also hopes to build a strong relationship with his host family.
"I want everything to go well with them," he said. "To not have a lot of fights, but do a lot with them and also have some free time to do things on my own."
Myers also hopes things will go smoothly, and concentrates on portraying what life is like in an American family.
"It's not about seeing the U.S.," Myers said. "But being part of a family and seeing how family life is like in the U.S."
As one of four chosen German foreign exchange students to take part in a documentary project based in Berlin, the hopeful film-maker, Retzmann, will document his yearlong stay with a video camera and laptop.
"What I film will be given and used for part of a 90-minute long documentary on young students' study abroad experience," he said.
He hopes this will launch him into the film industry as a producer or editor, he said.
The Myers family also has been on the other end of the exchange.
The Myers' daughter, Lydia Bolder, 22, was a foreign exchange student in 2002 in Saudi Arabia when she was 17.
Welcoming home
Foreign exchange hosts have 'family all over the world'
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegran Staff
The Amy and Mitchell Myers family of Rice Lake is welcoming its 10th "child" into its home.
Cedric Retzmann, 17, arrived in Wisconsin as a foreign exchange student late Wednesday night from Bamberg, Germany.
He joins the Myers' two children in the U.S. and former exchange students from Belgium, Ghana, Norway, Iceland and Indonesia as part of the extended family.
"We now have family all over the world, and it's amazing knowing that we have people who care about us and love us in all these different places," Amy Myers said. "It makes the world that much smaller."
Having taken in students since 2000, Amy Myers said she feels hosting foreign students is more than providing a place for someone to sleep. It's something the family does to foster a learning environment and improve the world.
"It's about creating a more tolerant and peaceful world," she said. "It's about being a world citizen, not just a citizen of a town."
The family hosts students through American Field Service Intercultural Programs. Myers also volunteers for AFS as a recruit for host families. AFS has students traveling around the world in 50 different countries. This year, the program is bringing 45 students to northwest Wisconsin for a yearlong stay.
Scott Hume, regional director of AFS, also stressed the idea of shrinking the world.
"It helps build bridges between different cultures," he said. "Often, these people would never have met or seen things they get to now."
Eau Claire schools will not host foreign exchange students this year due to budget cuts.
"I think that is so sad," Myers said. "I understand the problem with growing class sizes, but it's really sad that that is a program they're forced to eliminate."
Rice Lake High School will have eight exchange students this year.
"The most important thing is I find friends," Retzman, a senior, said. "Real friends."
Myers hopes to help Retzmann make friends by getting him involved with "the most important part of their stay": extra curricular activities.
"Getting to know people and other kids is so important," she said. "Kids who don't get involved have challenges and struggles."
Retzmann, who has studied English for five years, said he is thinking of joining the soccer team to get to know some faces before his classes start in September. He said he settled on soccer because he doesn't think he's built for football.
"I am tall and thin, not the American football type," he said.
He also hopes to build a strong relationship with his host family.
"I want everything to go well with them," he said. "To not have a lot of fights, but do a lot with them and also have some free time to do things on my own."
Myers also hopes things will go smoothly, and concentrates on portraying what life is like in an American family.
"It's not about seeing the U.S.," Myers said. "But being part of a family and seeing how family life is like in the U.S."
As one of four chosen German foreign exchange students to take part in a documentary project based in Berlin, the hopeful film-maker, Retzmann, will document his yearlong stay with a video camera and laptop.
"What I film will be given and used for part of a 90-minute long documentary on young students' study abroad experience," he said.
He hopes this will launch him into the film industry as a producer or editor, he said.
The Myers family also has been on the other end of the exchange.
The Myers' daughter, Lydia Bolder, 22, was a foreign exchange student in 2002 in Saudi Arabia when she was 17.
Friday, August 10, 2007
FDA detects no risk
Ran on Friday, August 10, 2007
FDA detects no risk
Tests so far show Prilosec, Nexium don't cause heart problems
By the Associated Press and Leader-Telegram staff
WASHINGTON — The popular heartburn drugs Prilosec and Nexium do not appear to spur heart problems, according to preliminary results of U.S. and Canadian probes announced Thursday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its Canadian counterpart began reviewing the drugs, used by tens of millions of people in May. That is when the manufacturer, British-based AstraZeneca, provided them an early analysis of two small studies that suggested the possibility of a risk.
The FDA followed up on those studies and found that they seemed skewed: Patients who underwent surgery were younger and healthier than those treated by drugs, suggesting the heart link was a coincidence.
Dr. Jaime Zighelboim, a Luther Midelfort gastroenterologist, said the drugs are safe and have an excellent track record.
"I certainly concur with the FDA's current analysis of the published literature that there is no evidence linking these drugs with an increased risk of heart problems," Zighelboim said.
Those studies compared treating the chronic heartburn known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, with either of the two drugs or with surgery, as well as tracked patients for five to 14 years. The company's initial analysis counted more patients treated with drugs who had had heart attacks, heart failure or heart-related sudden death.
While the studies' designs make safety assessments difficult, many of the participants who developed heart problems had risk factors before starting the drugs, Health Canada said Thursday.
The FDA then looked at 14 additional studies of the drugs and found no evidence of heart risks. In fact, in a few studies where patients received either medication or a dummy pill, those who took the heartburn drugs actually had a lower incidence of heart problems.
The FDA plans to complete its probe within three months, but issued a public notice Thursday that it "does not believe that health care providers or patients should change either their prescribing practices or their use of these products at this time."
Health Canada reached the same initial conclusion. It also urged doctors and patients to make no changes until its own probe is finished by year's end, noting that untreated GERD can lead to serious complications.
The drugs are among a family of acid-reducers known as proton pump inhibitors. FDA's Dr. Paul Seligman said Thursday that while the agency's focus is on Nexium and Prilosec, it is "interested in the data from all similar products" as it looks for all available evidence to settle the heart question.
FDA detects no risk
Tests so far show Prilosec, Nexium don't cause heart problems
By the Associated Press and Leader-Telegram staff
WASHINGTON — The popular heartburn drugs Prilosec and Nexium do not appear to spur heart problems, according to preliminary results of U.S. and Canadian probes announced Thursday.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and its Canadian counterpart began reviewing the drugs, used by tens of millions of people in May. That is when the manufacturer, British-based AstraZeneca, provided them an early analysis of two small studies that suggested the possibility of a risk.
The FDA followed up on those studies and found that they seemed skewed: Patients who underwent surgery were younger and healthier than those treated by drugs, suggesting the heart link was a coincidence.
Dr. Jaime Zighelboim, a Luther Midelfort gastroenterologist, said the drugs are safe and have an excellent track record.
"I certainly concur with the FDA's current analysis of the published literature that there is no evidence linking these drugs with an increased risk of heart problems," Zighelboim said.
Those studies compared treating the chronic heartburn known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, with either of the two drugs or with surgery, as well as tracked patients for five to 14 years. The company's initial analysis counted more patients treated with drugs who had had heart attacks, heart failure or heart-related sudden death.
While the studies' designs make safety assessments difficult, many of the participants who developed heart problems had risk factors before starting the drugs, Health Canada said Thursday.
The FDA then looked at 14 additional studies of the drugs and found no evidence of heart risks. In fact, in a few studies where patients received either medication or a dummy pill, those who took the heartburn drugs actually had a lower incidence of heart problems.
The FDA plans to complete its probe within three months, but issued a public notice Thursday that it "does not believe that health care providers or patients should change either their prescribing practices or their use of these products at this time."
Health Canada reached the same initial conclusion. It also urged doctors and patients to make no changes until its own probe is finished by year's end, noting that untreated GERD can lead to serious complications.
The drugs are among a family of acid-reducers known as proton pump inhibitors. FDA's Dr. Paul Seligman said Thursday that while the agency's focus is on Nexium and Prilosec, it is "interested in the data from all similar products" as it looks for all available evidence to settle the heart question.
Key issue on campus
Ran on Friday, August 10, 2007
Key issue on campus
In wake of Virginia Tech shooting, officials discuss safety
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
About 100 Chippewa Valley residents and officials heard ideas Thursday about how to make state campuses safer.
The state Task Force on Campus Safety met at UW-Eau Claire. Task force members discussed the best ways to handle security and preparedness at all state campuses.
The task force includes faculty and staff from universities and technical colleges, as well as police, students and community representatives throughout the state.
Gov. Jim Doyle formed the group after the murders at Virginia Tech in April. A student, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people before taking his own life.
"How do we protect the safety of the general public at a school?" Doyle asked those gathered in Davies Center.
Among the issues discussed Thursday was whether to identify a student with mental health problems who may pose a threat.
Gary Pavela, who teaches at the University of Maryland and has been honored for his work by the National Association of College and University Attorneys, said there is a fine line between keeping medical information private and protecting the public by identifying someone as a potential risk because of things they reveal to a counselor.
"No one wrote or adopted federal or state (patient privacy) laws with the view toward putting lives at risk," he said, adding that reasonable privacy needs to be applied.
Campuses need to be careful how they react to the Virgina Tech tragedy, Pavela said.
"We could go too far and make implicit connections," he said. "We need to be careful in making dramatic policy changes."
The Virginia Tech tragedy made Doyle think as a parent.
"One of the most troubling aspects of Virginia Tech was that student was a roommate," Doyle said. "I believe people have a right to know their son or daughter will not be put into danger."
The task force is expected to make recommendations to state campus officials before classes begin next month.
Key issue on campus
In wake of Virginia Tech shooting, officials discuss safety
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
About 100 Chippewa Valley residents and officials heard ideas Thursday about how to make state campuses safer.
The state Task Force on Campus Safety met at UW-Eau Claire. Task force members discussed the best ways to handle security and preparedness at all state campuses.
The task force includes faculty and staff from universities and technical colleges, as well as police, students and community representatives throughout the state.
Gov. Jim Doyle formed the group after the murders at Virginia Tech in April. A student, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people before taking his own life.
"How do we protect the safety of the general public at a school?" Doyle asked those gathered in Davies Center.
Among the issues discussed Thursday was whether to identify a student with mental health problems who may pose a threat.
Gary Pavela, who teaches at the University of Maryland and has been honored for his work by the National Association of College and University Attorneys, said there is a fine line between keeping medical information private and protecting the public by identifying someone as a potential risk because of things they reveal to a counselor.
"No one wrote or adopted federal or state (patient privacy) laws with the view toward putting lives at risk," he said, adding that reasonable privacy needs to be applied.
Campuses need to be careful how they react to the Virgina Tech tragedy, Pavela said.
"We could go too far and make implicit connections," he said. "We need to be careful in making dramatic policy changes."
The Virginia Tech tragedy made Doyle think as a parent.
"One of the most troubling aspects of Virginia Tech was that student was a roommate," Doyle said. "I believe people have a right to know their son or daughter will not be put into danger."
The task force is expected to make recommendations to state campus officials before classes begin next month.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
What do you think of Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record?
Ran on Thursday, August 9, 2007
What do you think of Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record?
Ed Leustek, 59
Eau Claire
"I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about those things. The world is always on the change and if you react to the past and expect the past to continue as it was, I think you’re going to be grossly disappointed."
Jack Nelson, 11
Chippewa Falls
"It’s very impressive, I would probably never be able to do that. I wouldn’t think I’d make it in the major leagues. Baseball is my favorite sport."
Erin Joyce-Miller, 47
Eau Claire
"I wish I didn’t have to wonder if he was using steroids or not. Cause then I could be really happy for him. But if he’s cheating he didn’t really get to break the record."
Jesse Seifert, 17
Pepin
"He did a nice job. It’s not as good as Hank Aaron doing it without the possibility of steroids, but it’s still cool."
Lisa Wilman, 29
Spring Valley
"Who is he?"
-Compiled by Leader-Telegram reporter Keighla Schmidt
*side note on this one: This was in the sports section, first time for that :)
What do you think of Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record?
Ed Leustek, 59
Eau Claire
"I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about those things. The world is always on the change and if you react to the past and expect the past to continue as it was, I think you’re going to be grossly disappointed."
Jack Nelson, 11
Chippewa Falls
"It’s very impressive, I would probably never be able to do that. I wouldn’t think I’d make it in the major leagues. Baseball is my favorite sport."
Erin Joyce-Miller, 47
Eau Claire
"I wish I didn’t have to wonder if he was using steroids or not. Cause then I could be really happy for him. But if he’s cheating he didn’t really get to break the record."
Jesse Seifert, 17
Pepin
"He did a nice job. It’s not as good as Hank Aaron doing it without the possibility of steroids, but it’s still cool."
Lisa Wilman, 29
Spring Valley
"Who is he?"
-Compiled by Leader-Telegram reporter Keighla Schmidt
*side note on this one: This was in the sports section, first time for that :)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Health care ideas debated
Ran Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Health care ideas debated
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Chippewa Valley Republicans and Democrats don't see eye to eye on health care reform.
In the Democrat-controlled Senate, a health care plan called Healthy Wisconsin, included in the budget, was passed. Under the Healthy Wisconsin plan, people could contribute 4 percent of their monthly income, with no deductibles for children, to a trust and employers would pay between 10 and 14 percent on gross employee wages.
The Assembly, led by Republicans, cut that idea. Instead they proposed Health Saving Accounts where families would have a minimum deductible of $2,200, and a reported average of $4,070. Money is put into a personal account to be used exclusively for health care.
A consumer watchdog report released by Citizen Action of Wisconsin Tuesday said HSAs should be feared.
Tom Ahrens, western Wisconsin regional organizer for CAW, likened HSAs to "snake oil."
"It's a fancy-looking bottle with colorful liquid," he said. "This is the Assembly version of snake oil. It won't solve the problem, it will only make it worse."
According to 2002 census figures, the average income for a family in Wisconsin is $66,988. Paying thousands of dollars before receiving help is a irrational expectation of the average family, Ahrens said.
"It's a scam to let rich people shelter their tax money and dodge responsibility in that area," he said.
State Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, said the snake-oil analogy is turned around.
"They've got that backwards; the Healthy Wisconsin program is snake oil," Moulton said.
Moulton called Healthy Wisconsin a huge government-run system without legitimate public input.
"A government run socialized medicine plan is not the solution to a problem," Moulton said of Healthy Wisconsin. "In the long run, what will happen will be huge costs, lower quality and less access."
Citing countries such as Canada and France which currently have universal health care plans and have, he said, given some thought to turning to market-driven forums, Moulton thinks Healthy Wisconsin would be a program promoting socialist health care plans.
"Government will have to ration care," he said. "And decide who will pay for it."
State Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, supports Healthy Wisconsin as an innovative idea.
People will be able to chose from state-sponsored health care companies and no one will be denied coverage, Smith said.
The Healthy Wisconsin plan is one Jill Schwenzfeier of Eau Claire likes to hear.
With 7- and 3-year-old children who have special needs, health care for them is a challenge. Each month the family is in limbo decided which bill to pay and which company to beg to not send to collections.
"I'm having to choose between going bankrupt or caring for my kids," she said.
With the Healthy Wisconsin plan, she would be able to pay for coverage and her children would get the help they need.
Health care ideas debated
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Chippewa Valley Republicans and Democrats don't see eye to eye on health care reform.
In the Democrat-controlled Senate, a health care plan called Healthy Wisconsin, included in the budget, was passed. Under the Healthy Wisconsin plan, people could contribute 4 percent of their monthly income, with no deductibles for children, to a trust and employers would pay between 10 and 14 percent on gross employee wages.
The Assembly, led by Republicans, cut that idea. Instead they proposed Health Saving Accounts where families would have a minimum deductible of $2,200, and a reported average of $4,070. Money is put into a personal account to be used exclusively for health care.
A consumer watchdog report released by Citizen Action of Wisconsin Tuesday said HSAs should be feared.
Tom Ahrens, western Wisconsin regional organizer for CAW, likened HSAs to "snake oil."
"It's a fancy-looking bottle with colorful liquid," he said. "This is the Assembly version of snake oil. It won't solve the problem, it will only make it worse."
According to 2002 census figures, the average income for a family in Wisconsin is $66,988. Paying thousands of dollars before receiving help is a irrational expectation of the average family, Ahrens said.
"It's a scam to let rich people shelter their tax money and dodge responsibility in that area," he said.
State Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, said the snake-oil analogy is turned around.
"They've got that backwards; the Healthy Wisconsin program is snake oil," Moulton said.
Moulton called Healthy Wisconsin a huge government-run system without legitimate public input.
"A government run socialized medicine plan is not the solution to a problem," Moulton said of Healthy Wisconsin. "In the long run, what will happen will be huge costs, lower quality and less access."
Citing countries such as Canada and France which currently have universal health care plans and have, he said, given some thought to turning to market-driven forums, Moulton thinks Healthy Wisconsin would be a program promoting socialist health care plans.
"Government will have to ration care," he said. "And decide who will pay for it."
State Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, supports Healthy Wisconsin as an innovative idea.
People will be able to chose from state-sponsored health care companies and no one will be denied coverage, Smith said.
The Healthy Wisconsin plan is one Jill Schwenzfeier of Eau Claire likes to hear.
With 7- and 3-year-old children who have special needs, health care for them is a challenge. Each month the family is in limbo decided which bill to pay and which company to beg to not send to collections.
"I'm having to choose between going bankrupt or caring for my kids," she said.
With the Healthy Wisconsin plan, she would be able to pay for coverage and her children would get the help they need.
ICE contact cards get warm reception
Ran Wednesday, August 8, 2007
ICE contact cards get warm reception
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Imagine an infant whose parents have just been killed in a car accident. The child has no way to communicate with authorities to tell them who to contact.
Eau Claire County law enforcement doesn't want that to happen in the Chippewa Valley. AAA today is unveiling the In Case of Emergency Contact Program so someone can be contacted in an emergency.
ICE cards are available at AAA's Eau Claire office, 3630 Oakwood Hills Parkway, and from the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department.
"Following a traffic crash or other emergency, it is critical to get immediate medical treatment for victims and notify their loved ones," said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Too often their actions are delayed because law enforcement officials and other emergency response personnel cannot quickly identify victims' emergency contacts."
Eau Claire Police Lt. Karl Fisher recalls many cases where he has had difficulty identifying the victim.
"This is an excellent program," Fisher said.
ICE encourages motorists to use a variety of ways to identify someone to call in an emergency.
The first is a small card with names and numbers in the glove compartment, console or visor. Second, the letters ICE should be programmed in cell phones next to names of people to be called.
"First responders are trained to look to personal belongings to get hold of a person to talk to," Pam Moen of AAA Wisconsin said. "This is about saving time."
Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department Capt. Jeff Pettis said he remembers a fatal car accident where two extra hours were tacked on to an investigation trying to identify a family.
"It's amazing the number of people who travel without identification at all," Pettis said. "This is only going to help."
Moen recommends listing three people. A spouse or significant other may seem like an obvious choice, but they often accompany the driver, she said.
ICE contact cards get warm reception
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Imagine an infant whose parents have just been killed in a car accident. The child has no way to communicate with authorities to tell them who to contact.
Eau Claire County law enforcement doesn't want that to happen in the Chippewa Valley. AAA today is unveiling the In Case of Emergency Contact Program so someone can be contacted in an emergency.
ICE cards are available at AAA's Eau Claire office, 3630 Oakwood Hills Parkway, and from the Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department.
"Following a traffic crash or other emergency, it is critical to get immediate medical treatment for victims and notify their loved ones," said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. "Too often their actions are delayed because law enforcement officials and other emergency response personnel cannot quickly identify victims' emergency contacts."
Eau Claire Police Lt. Karl Fisher recalls many cases where he has had difficulty identifying the victim.
"This is an excellent program," Fisher said.
ICE encourages motorists to use a variety of ways to identify someone to call in an emergency.
The first is a small card with names and numbers in the glove compartment, console or visor. Second, the letters ICE should be programmed in cell phones next to names of people to be called.
"First responders are trained to look to personal belongings to get hold of a person to talk to," Pam Moen of AAA Wisconsin said. "This is about saving time."
Eau Claire County Sheriff's Department Capt. Jeff Pettis said he remembers a fatal car accident where two extra hours were tacked on to an investigation trying to identify a family.
"It's amazing the number of people who travel without identification at all," Pettis said. "This is only going to help."
Moen recommends listing three people. A spouse or significant other may seem like an obvious choice, but they often accompany the driver, she said.
Roundabout gets moving
Ran Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Roundabout gets moving
Project expected to help at busy intersection
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
South side motorists will be navigating a new roundabout intersection at Rudolph Road and Golf Road by mid-September.
After monitoring and analyzing the crossroads, Public Works Director Brian Amundson said a roundabout was the best solution to the accident-prone intersection.
With 9,600 vehicles traveling on Golf Road each day and 4,600 on Rudolph Road, the intersection averaged five right-angle accidents annually. Those crashes could be corrected by a four-way traffic light or a roundabout, Amundson said.
"We determined a roundabout was a better solution," Amundson said.
There were three main reasons Amundson cited for the roundabout resolution.
A roundabout reduces the number of conflict points a four-way intersection has from 32 to eight.
Secondly, it reduces the severity of accidents by slowing down speeds.
Lastly, and often most overlooked, according to Amundson, is the reduction of delay for individual drivers.
"If I'm coming up and there is no oncoming traffic, I don't have to stop. I continue driving," Amundson said.
At a traffic light, it's more likely a stop would be mandated.
Kilian Murphy, who lives on the south side and regularly drives on Golf Road, said the inconvenience of the present detour will pay off when construction is over.
Murphy's father, Michael, is a neurologist at Sacred Heart Hospital and Kilian said he likes the roundabout that was installed near the hospital.
"I think it's exciting," the 18-year-old Eau Claire resident said. "It might go a little faster."
At least one roundabout neighbor isn't as excited about the interchange alteration.
Living on one of the roundabouts four corners, Jim Newell, 1515 Golf Road, has his yard marked with plastic neon construction flags.
"I can say I'm not happy about it," Newell said. "It's a foolish project; there are other ways to do it."
His home will remain unscathed, but the yard will have a triangular section cemented as a sidewalk cuts across the yard making room for the new intersection.
Newell said he doesn't think the final product will achieve anything a signal could not.
Amundson said the initial cost of a roundabout is more than a traffic signal, it is more cost effective over time.
By paying less for electricity, bulb replacements and sign replacements, a modern roundabout pays for itself, Amundson said.
Ninety percent of the $230,000 project will be paid for through a federal grant, Amundson said. The remaining 10 percent will come from local tax dollars.
Eau Claire has two other roundabouts, each about two years old. Near Sacred Heart Hospital at the Hendrickson Drive and Heights Drive intersection, a roundabout was installed to clear up a previously awkward Y-intersection, Amundson said.
The other roundabout is in Sherman estates on the west side of Eau Claire.
Roundabout gets moving
Project expected to help at busy intersection
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
South side motorists will be navigating a new roundabout intersection at Rudolph Road and Golf Road by mid-September.
After monitoring and analyzing the crossroads, Public Works Director Brian Amundson said a roundabout was the best solution to the accident-prone intersection.
With 9,600 vehicles traveling on Golf Road each day and 4,600 on Rudolph Road, the intersection averaged five right-angle accidents annually. Those crashes could be corrected by a four-way traffic light or a roundabout, Amundson said.
"We determined a roundabout was a better solution," Amundson said.
There were three main reasons Amundson cited for the roundabout resolution.
A roundabout reduces the number of conflict points a four-way intersection has from 32 to eight.
Secondly, it reduces the severity of accidents by slowing down speeds.
Lastly, and often most overlooked, according to Amundson, is the reduction of delay for individual drivers.
"If I'm coming up and there is no oncoming traffic, I don't have to stop. I continue driving," Amundson said.
At a traffic light, it's more likely a stop would be mandated.
Kilian Murphy, who lives on the south side and regularly drives on Golf Road, said the inconvenience of the present detour will pay off when construction is over.
Murphy's father, Michael, is a neurologist at Sacred Heart Hospital and Kilian said he likes the roundabout that was installed near the hospital.
"I think it's exciting," the 18-year-old Eau Claire resident said. "It might go a little faster."
At least one roundabout neighbor isn't as excited about the interchange alteration.
Living on one of the roundabouts four corners, Jim Newell, 1515 Golf Road, has his yard marked with plastic neon construction flags.
"I can say I'm not happy about it," Newell said. "It's a foolish project; there are other ways to do it."
His home will remain unscathed, but the yard will have a triangular section cemented as a sidewalk cuts across the yard making room for the new intersection.
Newell said he doesn't think the final product will achieve anything a signal could not.
Amundson said the initial cost of a roundabout is more than a traffic signal, it is more cost effective over time.
By paying less for electricity, bulb replacements and sign replacements, a modern roundabout pays for itself, Amundson said.
Ninety percent of the $230,000 project will be paid for through a federal grant, Amundson said. The remaining 10 percent will come from local tax dollars.
Eau Claire has two other roundabouts, each about two years old. Near Sacred Heart Hospital at the Hendrickson Drive and Heights Drive intersection, a roundabout was installed to clear up a previously awkward Y-intersection, Amundson said.
The other roundabout is in Sherman estates on the west side of Eau Claire.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Parched fields drastically cut farmers' hay yields
Monday,August 6, 2007
Parched fields drastically cut farmers' hay yields
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Lack of rain, heat and dry soil have made life difficult for Chippewa Valley farmers growing hay to feed their animals.
"For a lot of people it causes a lot of stress, because of the uncertainty it causes," said Carl Duley, Buffalo County UW-Extension agriculture agent.
David and Dette Bischoff of Comstock, in western Barron County, felt that uncertainty and took drastic measures. In June they cut back from 40 to 20 dairy heifers after recognizing early in the season that they would be short of hay.
"It was a rain problem," David Bischoff said. "It was just a gut feeling; we decided we would be better off if we cut back."
After cutting their herd in half, the Bischoffs now have enough hay to last through spring. However, the Bischoffs, who have farmed for 10 years, will make a smaller profit from the dairy herd than they have in previous years.
Roy Anderson, 87, who lives off Highway P in the township of Lake Hallie, sells the hay he harvests from 100 acres each year typically to horse owners. His price is $2.25 a bale. This year there was much less to sell.
"The hay crop was short because of the dry weather," Anderson said.
Tim Jergenson, Barron County UW-Extension agriculture agent, said there has not been enough rain for the hay.
"It's a really, really dry period," Jergenson said.
Recently, farmers across Barron County harvested 50 percent of the hay they usually do during the second of three annual cuttings.
Some weekend rain helped the crop slightly, but overall conditions remain dry with many area counties still in severe drought, which also is affecting corn and other crops. The National Weather Service reported 0.19 inch of rain accumulated Saturday at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
"It's not enough to really put a dent in the drought," National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Freidlein said Sunday.
Jergenson agreed. "Everyone is happy about the rain; it just isn't enough. We can't go back in any way and recapture any of the hay we missed."
According to the National Weather Service, April-through-July precipitation is about 4 inches below average in Bloomer and 5.8 inches below average at the airport on Eau Claire's north side.
The below-average precipitation is a concern across the region. Eau Claire County UW-Extension Agriculture Agent Mahlon Peterson said the Eau Claire County outlook is even more grim. The second hay crop produced only one-tenth of an average year's harvest.
Peterson said farmers have options to compensate for the lack of rain. "In most cases they design rations to contain more corn silage or roughage," he said.
Peterson said the worst-case scenarios are reducing the herd size or buying feed at a higher price.
Some areas will harvest more than 200 bushels of hay per acre, and others will be as low as 20 bushels per acre, Peterson said.
"Rains have been very spotty," Peterson said of the situation coutywide.
Duley said drought conditions were similar in Buffalo County, where he said the second crop of hay cut recently produced 35 percent to 40 percent of what it would on an average year.
Duley said 1992 was the last time a drought was this widespread in Buffalo County.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Parched fields drastically cut farmers' hay yields
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Lack of rain, heat and dry soil have made life difficult for Chippewa Valley farmers growing hay to feed their animals.
"For a lot of people it causes a lot of stress, because of the uncertainty it causes," said Carl Duley, Buffalo County UW-Extension agriculture agent.
David and Dette Bischoff of Comstock, in western Barron County, felt that uncertainty and took drastic measures. In June they cut back from 40 to 20 dairy heifers after recognizing early in the season that they would be short of hay.
"It was a rain problem," David Bischoff said. "It was just a gut feeling; we decided we would be better off if we cut back."
After cutting their herd in half, the Bischoffs now have enough hay to last through spring. However, the Bischoffs, who have farmed for 10 years, will make a smaller profit from the dairy herd than they have in previous years.
Roy Anderson, 87, who lives off Highway P in the township of Lake Hallie, sells the hay he harvests from 100 acres each year typically to horse owners. His price is $2.25 a bale. This year there was much less to sell.
"The hay crop was short because of the dry weather," Anderson said.
Tim Jergenson, Barron County UW-Extension agriculture agent, said there has not been enough rain for the hay.
"It's a really, really dry period," Jergenson said.
Recently, farmers across Barron County harvested 50 percent of the hay they usually do during the second of three annual cuttings.
Some weekend rain helped the crop slightly, but overall conditions remain dry with many area counties still in severe drought, which also is affecting corn and other crops. The National Weather Service reported 0.19 inch of rain accumulated Saturday at Chippewa Valley Regional Airport.
"It's not enough to really put a dent in the drought," National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Freidlein said Sunday.
Jergenson agreed. "Everyone is happy about the rain; it just isn't enough. We can't go back in any way and recapture any of the hay we missed."
According to the National Weather Service, April-through-July precipitation is about 4 inches below average in Bloomer and 5.8 inches below average at the airport on Eau Claire's north side.
The below-average precipitation is a concern across the region. Eau Claire County UW-Extension Agriculture Agent Mahlon Peterson said the Eau Claire County outlook is even more grim. The second hay crop produced only one-tenth of an average year's harvest.
Peterson said farmers have options to compensate for the lack of rain. "In most cases they design rations to contain more corn silage or roughage," he said.
Peterson said the worst-case scenarios are reducing the herd size or buying feed at a higher price.
Some areas will harvest more than 200 bushels of hay per acre, and others will be as low as 20 bushels per acre, Peterson said.
"Rains have been very spotty," Peterson said of the situation coutywide.
Duley said drought conditions were similar in Buffalo County, where he said the second crop of hay cut recently produced 35 percent to 40 percent of what it would on an average year.
Duley said 1992 was the last time a drought was this widespread in Buffalo County.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Thirst and goal
Ran on Monday,August 6, 2007
Thirst and goal
Football, heat a double whammy during preseason
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
The most important safety equipment for high school athletes might not be a helmet, pads or the right shoes — it might be a water bottle.
High school sports practices get under way this week. With recent temperatures in the 90s and humidity as high as 93 percent, student-athletes can run the risk of overheating.
Coaches are on the lookout for teenagers who are active in the heat.
"It's an issue and a concern," said Dean Rosemeyer, who is starting his first year as Eau Claire North High School's head football coach. "We do a lot of talking about hydrating."
To prevent an emergency, Rosemeyer will encourage his players to take frequent water breaks and spend time in the shade.
"We need to have their tanks filled," he said.
The overheating hazard was thrust into the national spotlight in August 2001 when Minnesota Vikings starting offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke during training.
Rosemeyer said players do many conditioning drills that involve a lot of running to get their bodies in shape. Wearing all the extra football gear further raises their body temperatures.
Last week, Regis High School senior Zac Berry left a workout early at his father's request. Berry had gone straight from his job that sometimes takes him outside to football practice.
"(Overheating) could be a problem," said Berry, who plays tight end and defensive end.
Menomonie High School senior Jared Sawle, a quarterback, said the additional gear gets warm, so he takes extra measures to stay cool and encourages others to do the same.
"You should drink plenty of water," Sawle said. "And if you do feel like you're getting too warm, ask for a break. The coaches will probably give it to you; it's more important than another rep(etition)."
Chippewa Falls Senior High School football Coach Chuck Raykovich agrees.
"It's not a problem for us," he said, "because we have an open-door policy as far as liquid goes."
Raykovich said his players can bring their own water bottles or drink the water provided.
"They can get water whenever they want it."
Those are things Dr. Jim Walker likes to hear. As team physician for Menomonie, Walker said the best way to avoid a heat-related emergency is to avoid excessive heat and stay hydrated.
Not just football
Although their pads and helmets trap the heat, football players aren't the only fall student-athletes at risk of overheating.
North High School Athletic Director Dave Turner said even students playing sports that require less gear — such as cross country runners, soccer and tennis players — must be mindful in the heat.
Walker said long-distance runners need to closely monitor themselves because the conditions in which they work out and the lengths to which they push themselves prime their bodies for overheating.
Taking direction from the athletic director, North High School head soccer Coach Terry Albrecht said he monitors players' activity.
"It's one of the issues I pay pretty close attention to," Albrecht said. "I'm usually pretty good at spotting when an athlete isn't doing too well."
He also asks senior players to alert him when teammates seem as if they might be in danger. The boys' soccer team has one more advantage over football players who must practice in the heat: The soccer players can remove their shirts and cool down.
"The football guys can't do that," Albrecht said.
Rosemeyer has another option, too.
"We have them take their shoulder pads off," Rosemeyer said. "It lightens the load a little bit."
Turner warned those involved with indoor sports to watch for signs of overheating too.
While volleyball players in the gym and swimmers in the pool are out of the direct sun, they aren't in air conditioning.
Beating the heat
Athletic directors rely on the coaches to schedule practices at times that make the most sense depending on the weather.
"We expect coaches to take ownership on a sport-by-sport basis," Turner said.
While he doesn't put any specific time of day off limits, Turner said he encourages coaches to consider the heat and the effect it could have on the players.
Rosemeyer, for example, has scheduled football practices from 8 a.m. to noon.
Menomonie's Sawle said last week's players' minicamp only in the morning.
Seeking consistency, Raykovich said Chippewa Falls holds practices at the same time during the summer and during the school year — 4 to 8 p.m.
Albrecht, who has coached soccer for 25 years, splits the preseason workouts into two sessions. Conditioning runs from 9 to 11 a.m., and field training runs from about 2 to 4 p.m. He said the hard, constant work is in the earlier, cooler portion of the day.
"It's intentional to avoid the heat and to give them a break," Albrecht said.
Watching games from the sidelines, Walker provides his medical expertise and pushes athletes with muscle cramps and borderline heat exhaustion to drink water infused with a dissolving electrolyte packet.
"It tastes awful, but it replaces the electrolytes," Walker said. "The big thing is hydrating — before, during and after."
Why it's a problem
During tryouts or early season practices when athletes are trying to impress the coaches and get ready for the season, Turner said they will push their bodies to a new level.
"Kids will go way past the point of danger when an adult would know to stop," Turner said.
Coaches and athletic directors didn't cite any serious situations where athletes have had to seek medical attention for a heat-related emergency, but "it's always a potential," Turner said.
Schools are familiar with helping athletes beat the heat.
"It's something we deal with every year," said Steve Kolden, Menomonie High School athletic director and co-principal.
"We have to watch the heat, watch the humidity index and get them plenty of water."
The recent warm weather may even be good for athletes heading into practice.
"We're fortunate it's been so warm," Rosemeyer said. "It's gotten us all acclimated."
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Thirst and goal
Football, heat a double whammy during preseason
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
The most important safety equipment for high school athletes might not be a helmet, pads or the right shoes — it might be a water bottle.
High school sports practices get under way this week. With recent temperatures in the 90s and humidity as high as 93 percent, student-athletes can run the risk of overheating.
Coaches are on the lookout for teenagers who are active in the heat.
"It's an issue and a concern," said Dean Rosemeyer, who is starting his first year as Eau Claire North High School's head football coach. "We do a lot of talking about hydrating."
To prevent an emergency, Rosemeyer will encourage his players to take frequent water breaks and spend time in the shade.
"We need to have their tanks filled," he said.
The overheating hazard was thrust into the national spotlight in August 2001 when Minnesota Vikings starting offensive lineman Korey Stringer died of heat stroke during training.
Rosemeyer said players do many conditioning drills that involve a lot of running to get their bodies in shape. Wearing all the extra football gear further raises their body temperatures.
Last week, Regis High School senior Zac Berry left a workout early at his father's request. Berry had gone straight from his job that sometimes takes him outside to football practice.
"(Overheating) could be a problem," said Berry, who plays tight end and defensive end.
Menomonie High School senior Jared Sawle, a quarterback, said the additional gear gets warm, so he takes extra measures to stay cool and encourages others to do the same.
"You should drink plenty of water," Sawle said. "And if you do feel like you're getting too warm, ask for a break. The coaches will probably give it to you; it's more important than another rep(etition)."
Chippewa Falls Senior High School football Coach Chuck Raykovich agrees.
"It's not a problem for us," he said, "because we have an open-door policy as far as liquid goes."
Raykovich said his players can bring their own water bottles or drink the water provided.
"They can get water whenever they want it."
Those are things Dr. Jim Walker likes to hear. As team physician for Menomonie, Walker said the best way to avoid a heat-related emergency is to avoid excessive heat and stay hydrated.
Not just football
Although their pads and helmets trap the heat, football players aren't the only fall student-athletes at risk of overheating.
North High School Athletic Director Dave Turner said even students playing sports that require less gear — such as cross country runners, soccer and tennis players — must be mindful in the heat.
Walker said long-distance runners need to closely monitor themselves because the conditions in which they work out and the lengths to which they push themselves prime their bodies for overheating.
Taking direction from the athletic director, North High School head soccer Coach Terry Albrecht said he monitors players' activity.
"It's one of the issues I pay pretty close attention to," Albrecht said. "I'm usually pretty good at spotting when an athlete isn't doing too well."
He also asks senior players to alert him when teammates seem as if they might be in danger. The boys' soccer team has one more advantage over football players who must practice in the heat: The soccer players can remove their shirts and cool down.
"The football guys can't do that," Albrecht said.
Rosemeyer has another option, too.
"We have them take their shoulder pads off," Rosemeyer said. "It lightens the load a little bit."
Turner warned those involved with indoor sports to watch for signs of overheating too.
While volleyball players in the gym and swimmers in the pool are out of the direct sun, they aren't in air conditioning.
Beating the heat
Athletic directors rely on the coaches to schedule practices at times that make the most sense depending on the weather.
"We expect coaches to take ownership on a sport-by-sport basis," Turner said.
While he doesn't put any specific time of day off limits, Turner said he encourages coaches to consider the heat and the effect it could have on the players.
Rosemeyer, for example, has scheduled football practices from 8 a.m. to noon.
Menomonie's Sawle said last week's players' minicamp only in the morning.
Seeking consistency, Raykovich said Chippewa Falls holds practices at the same time during the summer and during the school year — 4 to 8 p.m.
Albrecht, who has coached soccer for 25 years, splits the preseason workouts into two sessions. Conditioning runs from 9 to 11 a.m., and field training runs from about 2 to 4 p.m. He said the hard, constant work is in the earlier, cooler portion of the day.
"It's intentional to avoid the heat and to give them a break," Albrecht said.
Watching games from the sidelines, Walker provides his medical expertise and pushes athletes with muscle cramps and borderline heat exhaustion to drink water infused with a dissolving electrolyte packet.
"It tastes awful, but it replaces the electrolytes," Walker said. "The big thing is hydrating — before, during and after."
Why it's a problem
During tryouts or early season practices when athletes are trying to impress the coaches and get ready for the season, Turner said they will push their bodies to a new level.
"Kids will go way past the point of danger when an adult would know to stop," Turner said.
Coaches and athletic directors didn't cite any serious situations where athletes have had to seek medical attention for a heat-related emergency, but "it's always a potential," Turner said.
Schools are familiar with helping athletes beat the heat.
"It's something we deal with every year," said Steve Kolden, Menomonie High School athletic director and co-principal.
"We have to watch the heat, watch the humidity index and get them plenty of water."
The recent warm weather may even be good for athletes heading into practice.
"We're fortunate it's been so warm," Rosemeyer said. "It's gotten us all acclimated."
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Personality in the plants
Ran on Saturday, August 4, 2007
Personality in the plants
Speaker's creative streak reflected in his gardens
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Karma: What goes around comes back around.
Mike McKinley of Eau Claire is bringing karma to the land by planting trees in an area about one mile south of Eau Claire where early European settlers converted forest to farmland.
Twenty-five acres of land used to grow crops a dozen years ago is now GEM Gardens, an expanse of rolling hills, raspberry plants and trees that is open to the public.
And it started over a bottle of wine with his late wife, Nancy.
"We wanted an interesting place for ourselves," McKinley said. "We wanted to have something different that people would want to come to and bring their friends."
The absence of a parking or admission fee shows McKinley's earnest desire to share nature and the gardens he created.
The multiple gardens and large amounts of foliage make him charitable, at least according to one old friend.
Retired Eau Claire physician Phil Happe has known McKinley for about 30 years and said he is a special guy.
"He's very generous," Happe said. "He's pleasant."
Placed around the 25 acres are small gardens of flowers and bushes arranged in different shapes - a star, rectangle, triangle and pine tree.
"A garden reflects the person," he said. He described himself as nontraditional, highly creative and risk-taking person, as reflected in his gardens.
McKinley has been landscaping since he was 17 and likes to use to use scraps from his father's junk pile to construct garden features such as fountains and garden characters.
"It's a really fun experience," he said. "I just like to see how things happen."
Copper pipes formed into a functioning water fountain near the parking lot give first-time visitors a preview of the garden's intricacies.
Each year a different floral scheme is chosen for the annuals. Along with raspberries, visitors can take fresh bouquets of flowers home, depending on what is in bloom. Payment is on the honor system.
A gazebo, pagoda and seven water features are strewn across the lawn.
Water is a commodity for the 25-acre oasis. Rain is collected into a 10,000-gallon tank and is used on the plants so underground water tanks don't run dry.
Mulch is used around the trees and gardens to trap the water and slow weed growth.
McKinley earns his living by speaking with businesses across the U.S. about best practices. He also recently sold the educational publishing company he started. The author of five books, he has more on his mind than just gardening.
Always working, McKinley enjoys intertwining his two passions.
"I create the best speeches when I'm gardening," he said. "I create the best gardens when I'm creating my speeches."
The gardens require constant attention and frequent maintenance. McKinley said the equivalent of 2 1/2 full-time employees work the grounds.
Manicuring the grounds takes about 30 hours of mowing and lots of weed pulling when the grass gets long.
Though GEM Gardens took lots of planning, McKinley said it also required some trial and error.
"Usually more error," McKinley said. "The strategy is usually, 'OK, this would be good to do.' "
His advice for gardening - and life - is: "If it doesn't look right, pull it out."
Berries abound
Thousands of raspberry plants bring visitors to the garden to pay $10 so they can fill a bucket with berries. Berries also are sold on the honor system.
Enjoying retirement, Happe, who worked for Luther-Midelfort, goes to the gardens about six times a year to pick raspberries.
He enjoys the nostalgic sentiment in picking. Happe said it brings him back to his childhood days of picking strawberries in the summertime near Minneapolis. Now he brings his visiting grandchildren to GEM Gardens to pass on the memories.
"It's such a beautiful setting," Happe said. "I love to pick berries. It's a great setting, it's relaxing and a good time to meditate."
Each year McKinley plants about 300 new raspberry plants in GEM Gardens. By mid-June they are in bloom; the picking season continues until the first frost.
There are a few berry patches within the garden. The oldest bushes are near his home on the property. They were planted about 25 years ago and still bear fruit. Another section, known as "The Strips," has row upon row of berries.
"People like it because it's easy to walk on either side of the plants and find the berries," he said. "Sometimes I have to teach them how to pick. ... The best berries aren't at the top, they're under the leaves."
The newest raspberry patch is atop a hill where five circles of the crop are growing and ready to be picked.
"It wasn't for anything other than looks," McKinley said of the design.
He chose the crop because it requires little attention and maintenance.
Near the new patch is a maze of Japanese larch pine trees. Eight years ago McKinley planted 2-foot-tall trees, which now stand about 7 feet tall. If left untrimmed, the 530 trees would grow to be about 50 feet tall, McKinley said.
A raised platform emerges from the middle of the maze to provide a view of the garden expanse.
The past few years have been filled with construction and designing new features. McKinley hopes to calm some of the commotion after his wedding this August to Deb Grabrain in the garden.
Believing there is "more to life" for retirees, the 64-year-old thinks fish fries and bingo games are limiting and plans to continue speaking and gardening.
"I started this to see if you can take nothing and build it into something," he said. "There's always another year to do it in."
Personality in the plants
Speaker's creative streak reflected in his gardens
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Karma: What goes around comes back around.
Mike McKinley of Eau Claire is bringing karma to the land by planting trees in an area about one mile south of Eau Claire where early European settlers converted forest to farmland.
Twenty-five acres of land used to grow crops a dozen years ago is now GEM Gardens, an expanse of rolling hills, raspberry plants and trees that is open to the public.
And it started over a bottle of wine with his late wife, Nancy.
"We wanted an interesting place for ourselves," McKinley said. "We wanted to have something different that people would want to come to and bring their friends."
The absence of a parking or admission fee shows McKinley's earnest desire to share nature and the gardens he created.
The multiple gardens and large amounts of foliage make him charitable, at least according to one old friend.
Retired Eau Claire physician Phil Happe has known McKinley for about 30 years and said he is a special guy.
"He's very generous," Happe said. "He's pleasant."
Placed around the 25 acres are small gardens of flowers and bushes arranged in different shapes - a star, rectangle, triangle and pine tree.
"A garden reflects the person," he said. He described himself as nontraditional, highly creative and risk-taking person, as reflected in his gardens.
McKinley has been landscaping since he was 17 and likes to use to use scraps from his father's junk pile to construct garden features such as fountains and garden characters.
"It's a really fun experience," he said. "I just like to see how things happen."
Copper pipes formed into a functioning water fountain near the parking lot give first-time visitors a preview of the garden's intricacies.
Each year a different floral scheme is chosen for the annuals. Along with raspberries, visitors can take fresh bouquets of flowers home, depending on what is in bloom. Payment is on the honor system.
A gazebo, pagoda and seven water features are strewn across the lawn.
Water is a commodity for the 25-acre oasis. Rain is collected into a 10,000-gallon tank and is used on the plants so underground water tanks don't run dry.
Mulch is used around the trees and gardens to trap the water and slow weed growth.
McKinley earns his living by speaking with businesses across the U.S. about best practices. He also recently sold the educational publishing company he started. The author of five books, he has more on his mind than just gardening.
Always working, McKinley enjoys intertwining his two passions.
"I create the best speeches when I'm gardening," he said. "I create the best gardens when I'm creating my speeches."
The gardens require constant attention and frequent maintenance. McKinley said the equivalent of 2 1/2 full-time employees work the grounds.
Manicuring the grounds takes about 30 hours of mowing and lots of weed pulling when the grass gets long.
Though GEM Gardens took lots of planning, McKinley said it also required some trial and error.
"Usually more error," McKinley said. "The strategy is usually, 'OK, this would be good to do.' "
His advice for gardening - and life - is: "If it doesn't look right, pull it out."
Berries abound
Thousands of raspberry plants bring visitors to the garden to pay $10 so they can fill a bucket with berries. Berries also are sold on the honor system.
Enjoying retirement, Happe, who worked for Luther-Midelfort, goes to the gardens about six times a year to pick raspberries.
He enjoys the nostalgic sentiment in picking. Happe said it brings him back to his childhood days of picking strawberries in the summertime near Minneapolis. Now he brings his visiting grandchildren to GEM Gardens to pass on the memories.
"It's such a beautiful setting," Happe said. "I love to pick berries. It's a great setting, it's relaxing and a good time to meditate."
Each year McKinley plants about 300 new raspberry plants in GEM Gardens. By mid-June they are in bloom; the picking season continues until the first frost.
There are a few berry patches within the garden. The oldest bushes are near his home on the property. They were planted about 25 years ago and still bear fruit. Another section, known as "The Strips," has row upon row of berries.
"People like it because it's easy to walk on either side of the plants and find the berries," he said. "Sometimes I have to teach them how to pick. ... The best berries aren't at the top, they're under the leaves."
The newest raspberry patch is atop a hill where five circles of the crop are growing and ready to be picked.
"It wasn't for anything other than looks," McKinley said of the design.
He chose the crop because it requires little attention and maintenance.
Near the new patch is a maze of Japanese larch pine trees. Eight years ago McKinley planted 2-foot-tall trees, which now stand about 7 feet tall. If left untrimmed, the 530 trees would grow to be about 50 feet tall, McKinley said.
A raised platform emerges from the middle of the maze to provide a view of the garden expanse.
The past few years have been filled with construction and designing new features. McKinley hopes to calm some of the commotion after his wedding this August to Deb Grabrain in the garden.
Believing there is "more to life" for retirees, the 64-year-old thinks fish fries and bingo games are limiting and plans to continue speaking and gardening.
"I started this to see if you can take nothing and build it into something," he said. "There's always another year to do it in."
Mission-minded
Ran on Saturday, August 4, 2007
Two Eau Claire churches send students and adults to Mexico who are ...
Mission-minded
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Neither the heat, the language barrier nor the need for passports could keep more than 60 high school students from going on a mission trip to Mexico.
"The experience of going to Mexico and bringing the Gospel is pretty appealing," said Adam Berge, pastor of youth and family ministries at Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Eau Claire.
Groups of students and chaperones from Bethesda and Jacob's Well went to the San Quintin Valley in Baja California, Mexico, for a week in late June. This mission was chosen because it was in an established area and churches were already there, Berge said.
"We got to participate with a local church," he said. The Rev. Berge expected the involvement would make an impact and not dissolve with their departure.
It was the largest group Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church has taken on a mission - a total of 86 people, Berge said.
They worked with a mission group called Missions to Mexico. Founder and president Mike Fink said it was a larger sized group for the organization which annually brings 700 missionaries across the border.
"They were really, really wonderful people," Fink said. "Very generous."
Fink split the group into two teams because of its large size. Students were able to serve two of roughly 100 churches in the rural area of the valley - Tourre Fuerte, which translates to strong refuge, and Nuevo Pacto, meaning new covenant.
Each group performed construction and maintenance work on church buildings, did evangelism work home to home in the community and taught vacation Bible school to area children.
"Every year (the group size) seems to grow and grow," he said.
Mariah Mousel, 15, of Eau Claire contributed to the growing number. It was her first mission trip.
"I didn't know what to expect," she said. "I was hoping to change some lives while we were down there."
Mousel said she thinks the group did change lives by helping to open people to Christ.
At the end of their week, the children who attended the Bible school classes were asked to come forward if they were ready to accept Christ into their lives.
About 30 children came to the front of the church, Mousel said.
Dani Waller, 15, of Eau Claire had been on youth outings organized with the Bethesda youth group before, but this was her first mission trip.
"It was definitely the highlight of the summer," Waller said.
She recalled meeting with a young girl at the Bible school who touched her heart.
The 9-year-old girl sat and read the Bible with her - sharing the Gospel as a smile overtook the young girl's face.
"You could tell how much it meant to her to hear 'Jesus loves you,' " Waller said.
Despite taking two years of Spanish-language courses, Waller said she wasn't fluent in the language, but it wasn't a problem.
"The language barrier was easily overcome," she said. "Especially with the kids; they're so understanding."
Berge also found that to be true.
"We were surprised about how well we could communicate," he said. "A smile goes a long way."
The team brought smiles to the faces of people in pain as well. Four doctors accompanied the youth and set up a medical clinic while across the border.
Dr. Andrew Floren, an occupational physician at Luther Midelfort, and his wife, Dr. Lydia Floren, a family practice physician in Bloomer, call themselves a "pair-o-docs."
The two doctors, along with Dr. Phil Jacoby, who works in family practice at Marshfield Clinic, and Dr. Greg Kishaba, a Luther Midelfort pediatrician, all worked together to serve the medical needs of several hundred natives.
"Some we could help remarkably," Andrew Floren said.
The people were given vitamins and pain relievers, and some were given much more.
While traveling with the intention of being missionaries to the local people, the group found themselves being ministered themselves through one local man they called Antonio.
Antonio was working with the group and he had abdominal pain. He was told he had a hernia.
The hernia required surgery, and through donations from the missionaries, more than $800 was raised for Antonio's surgery.
"We expect to give them something, but we came back and we're the ones given something," Berge said.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203.
Two Eau Claire churches send students and adults to Mexico who are ...
Mission-minded
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Neither the heat, the language barrier nor the need for passports could keep more than 60 high school students from going on a mission trip to Mexico.
"The experience of going to Mexico and bringing the Gospel is pretty appealing," said Adam Berge, pastor of youth and family ministries at Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church in Eau Claire.
Groups of students and chaperones from Bethesda and Jacob's Well went to the San Quintin Valley in Baja California, Mexico, for a week in late June. This mission was chosen because it was in an established area and churches were already there, Berge said.
"We got to participate with a local church," he said. The Rev. Berge expected the involvement would make an impact and not dissolve with their departure.
It was the largest group Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church has taken on a mission - a total of 86 people, Berge said.
They worked with a mission group called Missions to Mexico. Founder and president Mike Fink said it was a larger sized group for the organization which annually brings 700 missionaries across the border.
"They were really, really wonderful people," Fink said. "Very generous."
Fink split the group into two teams because of its large size. Students were able to serve two of roughly 100 churches in the rural area of the valley - Tourre Fuerte, which translates to strong refuge, and Nuevo Pacto, meaning new covenant.
Each group performed construction and maintenance work on church buildings, did evangelism work home to home in the community and taught vacation Bible school to area children.
"Every year (the group size) seems to grow and grow," he said.
Mariah Mousel, 15, of Eau Claire contributed to the growing number. It was her first mission trip.
"I didn't know what to expect," she said. "I was hoping to change some lives while we were down there."
Mousel said she thinks the group did change lives by helping to open people to Christ.
At the end of their week, the children who attended the Bible school classes were asked to come forward if they were ready to accept Christ into their lives.
About 30 children came to the front of the church, Mousel said.
Dani Waller, 15, of Eau Claire had been on youth outings organized with the Bethesda youth group before, but this was her first mission trip.
"It was definitely the highlight of the summer," Waller said.
She recalled meeting with a young girl at the Bible school who touched her heart.
The 9-year-old girl sat and read the Bible with her - sharing the Gospel as a smile overtook the young girl's face.
"You could tell how much it meant to her to hear 'Jesus loves you,' " Waller said.
Despite taking two years of Spanish-language courses, Waller said she wasn't fluent in the language, but it wasn't a problem.
"The language barrier was easily overcome," she said. "Especially with the kids; they're so understanding."
Berge also found that to be true.
"We were surprised about how well we could communicate," he said. "A smile goes a long way."
The team brought smiles to the faces of people in pain as well. Four doctors accompanied the youth and set up a medical clinic while across the border.
Dr. Andrew Floren, an occupational physician at Luther Midelfort, and his wife, Dr. Lydia Floren, a family practice physician in Bloomer, call themselves a "pair-o-docs."
The two doctors, along with Dr. Phil Jacoby, who works in family practice at Marshfield Clinic, and Dr. Greg Kishaba, a Luther Midelfort pediatrician, all worked together to serve the medical needs of several hundred natives.
"Some we could help remarkably," Andrew Floren said.
The people were given vitamins and pain relievers, and some were given much more.
While traveling with the intention of being missionaries to the local people, the group found themselves being ministered themselves through one local man they called Antonio.
Antonio was working with the group and he had abdominal pain. He was told he had a hernia.
The hernia required surgery, and through donations from the missionaries, more than $800 was raised for Antonio's surgery.
"We expect to give them something, but we came back and we're the ones given something," Berge said.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203.
ConocoPhillips pulling gas brands out of state markets
Ran on Saturday, August 4, 2007
ConocoPhillips pulling gas brands out of state markets
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Gas stations across Wisconsin - including several in the Chippewa Valley - are taking down their Conoco, Phillips 66 and Union 76 signs.
The company was pulling its gas brands out of parts of Wisconsin effective Friday, according to Terry Hunt, coordinator of Downstream Communications, which works for ConocoPhillips.
ConocoPhillips is leaving many states, including Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and certain portions of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona and Nevada, Hunt said, adding the company hopes to focus on states where it has refineries, including California, Washington, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Louisiana.
"Our strategy is to be located in markets where we can capitalize on our efficiencies and stronger competitive positions," Hunt said.
The transition was announced to marketers at the end of January, she said.
"We're thinking in the long run it will be beneficial to be around our refineries," Hunt said.
The company is not anticipating any fiscal losses, she said.
Handy Mart, 300 Prospect St., Durand, no longer sells Conoco gasoline but for now is selling "unbranded" product, meaning it sells fuel that is not a brand, Manager Jody Olson said Friday.
Olson said he is unsure what brand of gasoline the store will buy.
"We'll have to just get our gas from another brand," he said.
The store will remain a Handy Mart, he said.
An Elk Mound Phillips 66 store changed to a BP station, an employee said Friday. A manager at the store could not be reached for comment.
Customers were given little warning. Ken Hanson of Chippewa Falls shops at what was a Phillips 66 station in Cameron. Using his Conoco credit card to fill up on a near-daily basis, he said the manager called him to let him know Friday morning his card no longer would work.
"It was a shocker," said Hanson, who works for the Eau Claire Press Co. "On our end it caused a lot of problems."
Conoco credit cards no longer will be honored at the former stations. If the card is a Conoco Mastercard, however, it still will be valid, Olson said.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
ConocoPhillips pulling gas brands out of state markets
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
Gas stations across Wisconsin - including several in the Chippewa Valley - are taking down their Conoco, Phillips 66 and Union 76 signs.
The company was pulling its gas brands out of parts of Wisconsin effective Friday, according to Terry Hunt, coordinator of Downstream Communications, which works for ConocoPhillips.
ConocoPhillips is leaving many states, including Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina and certain portions of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arizona and Nevada, Hunt said, adding the company hopes to focus on states where it has refineries, including California, Washington, Montana, Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Louisiana.
"Our strategy is to be located in markets where we can capitalize on our efficiencies and stronger competitive positions," Hunt said.
The transition was announced to marketers at the end of January, she said.
"We're thinking in the long run it will be beneficial to be around our refineries," Hunt said.
The company is not anticipating any fiscal losses, she said.
Handy Mart, 300 Prospect St., Durand, no longer sells Conoco gasoline but for now is selling "unbranded" product, meaning it sells fuel that is not a brand, Manager Jody Olson said Friday.
Olson said he is unsure what brand of gasoline the store will buy.
"We'll have to just get our gas from another brand," he said.
The store will remain a Handy Mart, he said.
An Elk Mound Phillips 66 store changed to a BP station, an employee said Friday. A manager at the store could not be reached for comment.
Customers were given little warning. Ken Hanson of Chippewa Falls shops at what was a Phillips 66 station in Cameron. Using his Conoco credit card to fill up on a near-daily basis, he said the manager called him to let him know Friday morning his card no longer would work.
"It was a shocker," said Hanson, who works for the Eau Claire Press Co. "On our end it caused a lot of problems."
Conoco credit cards no longer will be honored at the former stations. If the card is a Conoco Mastercard, however, it still will be valid, Olson said.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Friday, August 3, 2007
St. Croix divers called to Minnesota disaster
Ran Friday, August 3, 2007
St. Croix divers called to Minnesota disaster
By Leader-telegram Staff
A St. Croix County emergency team was asked to help at the Interstate-35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis for three hours Wednesday night.
Wes Halvorsen, operations manager for the EMS unit, said the team of four people was called to the site with a rescue boat.
The dwindling daylight hours restricted the crew from getting into the water, even though it is capable of working at night, Halvorsen said.
"We stayed around in case they decided to do some diving at night," he said.
The team was on-site for three hours, said Ken Kolbe of St. Croix EMS and a First Responder.
"They wanted to do as much as they could while they still had daylight because they don't want to put rescue people at odds," Kolbe said.
St. Croix County has a mutual aid agreement and often works with Pierce County and with Minnesota's Washington County. But this incident was unusual.
"It's pretty rare to go far into the Minnesota side," Halvorsen said.
Halvorsen said the crew was called shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday and mobilized quickly. Arriving at the staging area on the Washington Street bridge with many other fire department, police and rescue personnel, he said authorities took inventory of available equipment.
All the emergency personnel, bystanders and victims created an atmosphere Halvorsen described as "chaotic."
"There was a lot of stuff going on," he said.
Scheduled to return to the site on Saturday, the St. Croix County dive team is expected to participate in a recovery mission. They will look for vehicles or bodies of missing motorists or personnel, Halvorsen said.
The crew consists of Halvorsen, dive coordinator Glen Hartman and divers Jay Penfield and James Duffy. All four are from Hudson.
St. Croix divers called to Minnesota disaster
By Leader-telegram Staff
A St. Croix County emergency team was asked to help at the Interstate-35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis for three hours Wednesday night.
Wes Halvorsen, operations manager for the EMS unit, said the team of four people was called to the site with a rescue boat.
The dwindling daylight hours restricted the crew from getting into the water, even though it is capable of working at night, Halvorsen said.
"We stayed around in case they decided to do some diving at night," he said.
The team was on-site for three hours, said Ken Kolbe of St. Croix EMS and a First Responder.
"They wanted to do as much as they could while they still had daylight because they don't want to put rescue people at odds," Kolbe said.
St. Croix County has a mutual aid agreement and often works with Pierce County and with Minnesota's Washington County. But this incident was unusual.
"It's pretty rare to go far into the Minnesota side," Halvorsen said.
Halvorsen said the crew was called shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday and mobilized quickly. Arriving at the staging area on the Washington Street bridge with many other fire department, police and rescue personnel, he said authorities took inventory of available equipment.
All the emergency personnel, bystanders and victims created an atmosphere Halvorsen described as "chaotic."
"There was a lot of stuff going on," he said.
Scheduled to return to the site on Saturday, the St. Croix County dive team is expected to participate in a recovery mission. They will look for vehicles or bodies of missing motorists or personnel, Halvorsen said.
The crew consists of Halvorsen, dive coordinator Glen Hartman and divers Jay Penfield and James Duffy. All four are from Hudson.
Regis grad witnessed collapse
Ran on Friday, August 3, 2007
Regis grad witnessed collapse
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
A flat tire often causes frustration, but Tony Wagner was thankful for his co-worker's car trouble Wednesday night, when he was delayed just long enough to narrowly avoid the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The 21-year-old Eau Claire native and 2004 Regis graduate lives and goes to school in Minneapolis, where he is a student at Augsburg College. He left work at First Commercial Bank to drop off a co-worker who had gotten a flat tire before work that morning.
Wagner was on I-35W trying to rush home to meet friends and then go to the Minnesota Twins baseball game.
As he drove, Wagner suddenly couldn't figure out what was happening on the highway ahead of him. He slammed on the brakes of his Acura Integra, 200 feet - and, he estimated, 30 to 60 seconds - before driving onto the bridge.
"It looked like a giant sandstorm," Wagner said of his approach to the Mississippi River crossing. "I pulled my car off (the road) and took another bridge home."
During the rest of the ride, Wagner caught glimpses of the I-35W bridge and realized what had happened. The 1967 truss-style span collapsed into the river shortly after 6 p.m.
"I wanted to get a hold of all of my friends and make sure they were all OK," he said. "It turns out I was the closest one to the bridge by a long shot."
Deciding to skip the Twins game to help keep the roads less congested, Wagner and his friends watched rescuers from his balcony about a block from the bridge.
They were ready to help if needed. "I wanted to be able to do whatever was asked of me and help however I can," he said.
Wagner said he could hear police, fire and rescue crews working late into the night.
Once the news got out about the bridge, calls flooded cell phones, shutting down circuits and restricting communication. Wagner was able to leave a phone message for his parents, Vicki and Steve Wagner, of Eau Claire letting them know he was safe. They spoke about 90 minutes later.
As Vicki Wagner watched TV coverage of the tragedy, she recognized the area as her son's neighborhood.
"We were concerned," Vicki Wagner said by phone on Thursday. "We have two kids in college; it's really scary when they are gone."
Vicki Wagner said she doesn't think it was a coincidence that her son and the bridge share a name. The bridge originally was called St. Anthony's Bridge; Tony's full name is Anthony.
"Somebody was watching over him," she said.
Tony Wagner, who is majoring in business finance, accounting and economics, is working this summer as a commercial loan administrator. He wasn't sure when or how he would make it to work Thursday.
"All the major roads I'd normally take are closed," he said at 11 a.m., four hours after he usually arrives at work.
Bridge repairs, which started about a month ago, had restricted traffic lanes and at times closed the bridge entirely. Two lanes in each direction were open when the bridge gave way.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Regis grad witnessed collapse
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff
A flat tire often causes frustration, but Tony Wagner was thankful for his co-worker's car trouble Wednesday night, when he was delayed just long enough to narrowly avoid the Interstate 35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis.
The 21-year-old Eau Claire native and 2004 Regis graduate lives and goes to school in Minneapolis, where he is a student at Augsburg College. He left work at First Commercial Bank to drop off a co-worker who had gotten a flat tire before work that morning.
Wagner was on I-35W trying to rush home to meet friends and then go to the Minnesota Twins baseball game.
As he drove, Wagner suddenly couldn't figure out what was happening on the highway ahead of him. He slammed on the brakes of his Acura Integra, 200 feet - and, he estimated, 30 to 60 seconds - before driving onto the bridge.
"It looked like a giant sandstorm," Wagner said of his approach to the Mississippi River crossing. "I pulled my car off (the road) and took another bridge home."
During the rest of the ride, Wagner caught glimpses of the I-35W bridge and realized what had happened. The 1967 truss-style span collapsed into the river shortly after 6 p.m.
"I wanted to get a hold of all of my friends and make sure they were all OK," he said. "It turns out I was the closest one to the bridge by a long shot."
Deciding to skip the Twins game to help keep the roads less congested, Wagner and his friends watched rescuers from his balcony about a block from the bridge.
They were ready to help if needed. "I wanted to be able to do whatever was asked of me and help however I can," he said.
Wagner said he could hear police, fire and rescue crews working late into the night.
Once the news got out about the bridge, calls flooded cell phones, shutting down circuits and restricting communication. Wagner was able to leave a phone message for his parents, Vicki and Steve Wagner, of Eau Claire letting them know he was safe. They spoke about 90 minutes later.
As Vicki Wagner watched TV coverage of the tragedy, she recognized the area as her son's neighborhood.
"We were concerned," Vicki Wagner said by phone on Thursday. "We have two kids in college; it's really scary when they are gone."
Vicki Wagner said she doesn't think it was a coincidence that her son and the bridge share a name. The bridge originally was called St. Anthony's Bridge; Tony's full name is Anthony.
"Somebody was watching over him," she said.
Tony Wagner, who is majoring in business finance, accounting and economics, is working this summer as a commercial loan administrator. He wasn't sure when or how he would make it to work Thursday.
"All the major roads I'd normally take are closed," he said at 11 a.m., four hours after he usually arrives at work.
Bridge repairs, which started about a month ago, had restricted traffic lanes and at times closed the bridge entirely. Two lanes in each direction were open when the bridge gave way.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla.schmidt@ecpc.com.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
Ran on Sunday, July 29, 2007
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's a secret, much like Santa Claus, that kids are left in the dark about. While they play, they are learning.
At least that's the case when they play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire.
Opening to the public Wednesday, and open for a members-only sneak peek Monday and Tuesday, a freshly renovated basement at the museum will be unveiled featuring a traveling exhibit, "Song of Korea."
The new lower level also includes activity rooms and an art studio.
"It's a big initiative to introduce Asian culture through children's museums," said Executive Director Suzie Slota.
The exhibit will teach kids by integrating traditional and contemporary Korean music. It will include drums, letter-writing in Korean and a typical Korean holiday celebration.
Another aspect of the exhibit will teach children how animal sounds are made in Korea through the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
The traveling exhibit, in EauClaire until October, was funded through a grant from the Freeman Foundation. Exhibit costs range from $30,000 to more than $100,000, Slota said.
Slota said the museum has received feedback that it should teach children about non-native cultures and traditions.
Rob Anderson and his 6-year-old daughter, Madilyn, of Eau Claire visited the museum Wednesday. Madilyn said she likes to go to the museum to play but doesn't recognize she's learning.
"I don't think (kids) understand they're learning," Rob Anderson said. "I think that's how (the museum) set it up. It's intentional."
Rob Anderson plans to bring his daughter back to the new exhibit so she can continue to be exposed to diversity.
The family recently moved from the Twin Cities area. Rob said the museum will be one way to help his daughter become more familiar and comfortable with other cultures.
The lower level renovation at the museum, which is 2 1/2 years old, is part of an anticipated expansion, Slota said. When the museum opened in December 2004 in the old Woolworth's store, the main floor was used with hopes to later use the basement and second story. "We were young, inexperienced and idealistic," she said.
Funding issues put the multi-level dreams on hold. Since then, more than 700 families have become members. Plans for more renovations on the second floor will be discussed this fall. The theme for the second floor hasn't been determined.
The lower level adds 3,300 square feet of space to the museum, including space for exhibits, offices and rooms to be used for classes and birthday parties.
So far, $700,000 of the $1.1 million to renovate the basement of the 1940s building has been raised. Most of the money came from fundraisers and donations. A new stairwell and elevator were included in the cost.
After the "Song of Korea" leaves in October, plans for a hands-on exhibit featuring water will begin.
Slota is confident future fundraising efforts will be successful.
"As soon as word gets out that we're in need (of funding) and helping the community, people will step forward," Slota said. "We work really hard to be a quality museum and be good stewards of the money the community has given to us."
Slota said she hoped the momentum the museum has built will help bring in funds needed to expand.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla. schmidt@ecpc.com.
Museum set to unveil exhibit, renovation
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
It's a secret, much like Santa Claus, that kids are left in the dark about. While they play, they are learning.
At least that's the case when they play at the Children's Museum of Eau Claire.
Opening to the public Wednesday, and open for a members-only sneak peek Monday and Tuesday, a freshly renovated basement at the museum will be unveiled featuring a traveling exhibit, "Song of Korea."
The new lower level also includes activity rooms and an art studio.
"It's a big initiative to introduce Asian culture through children's museums," said Executive Director Suzie Slota.
The exhibit will teach kids by integrating traditional and contemporary Korean music. It will include drums, letter-writing in Korean and a typical Korean holiday celebration.
Another aspect of the exhibit will teach children how animal sounds are made in Korea through the song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."
The traveling exhibit, in EauClaire until October, was funded through a grant from the Freeman Foundation. Exhibit costs range from $30,000 to more than $100,000, Slota said.
Slota said the museum has received feedback that it should teach children about non-native cultures and traditions.
Rob Anderson and his 6-year-old daughter, Madilyn, of Eau Claire visited the museum Wednesday. Madilyn said she likes to go to the museum to play but doesn't recognize she's learning.
"I don't think (kids) understand they're learning," Rob Anderson said. "I think that's how (the museum) set it up. It's intentional."
Rob Anderson plans to bring his daughter back to the new exhibit so she can continue to be exposed to diversity.
The family recently moved from the Twin Cities area. Rob said the museum will be one way to help his daughter become more familiar and comfortable with other cultures.
The lower level renovation at the museum, which is 2 1/2 years old, is part of an anticipated expansion, Slota said. When the museum opened in December 2004 in the old Woolworth's store, the main floor was used with hopes to later use the basement and second story. "We were young, inexperienced and idealistic," she said.
Funding issues put the multi-level dreams on hold. Since then, more than 700 families have become members. Plans for more renovations on the second floor will be discussed this fall. The theme for the second floor hasn't been determined.
The lower level adds 3,300 square feet of space to the museum, including space for exhibits, offices and rooms to be used for classes and birthday parties.
So far, $700,000 of the $1.1 million to renovate the basement of the 1940s building has been raised. Most of the money came from fundraisers and donations. A new stairwell and elevator were included in the cost.
After the "Song of Korea" leaves in October, plans for a hands-on exhibit featuring water will begin.
Slota is confident future fundraising efforts will be successful.
"As soon as word gets out that we're in need (of funding) and helping the community, people will step forward," Slota said. "We work really hard to be a quality museum and be good stewards of the money the community has given to us."
Slota said she hoped the momentum the museum has built will help bring in funds needed to expand.
Schmidt can be reached at 833-9203 or keighla. schmidt@ecpc.com.
Friday, July 27, 2007
No dog and pony show
Ran on Friday, July 27, 2007
No dog and pony show
Fair's animal competitions becoming exotic
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Similar to the fairy tale "The Tortoise and the Hare," a slow-moving reptile finished first Thursday at the Eau Claire County Fair.
Cats, rats, birds, fish and guinea pigs all came together as competitors brought their pets to the Eau Claire County Exposition Center in an attempt to win the purple ribbon, which signifies the grand champion.
Taking home the purple ribbon in the small animal category for the second year in a row was Rome Rauter, a 10-year-old from Foster.
Last year his sun conure, Sunny, an exotic bird, took home the ribbon, but this year Speedy, a turtle, shined above the rest of the children's pets. Both Sunny and Speedy were in the finals.
County fairs no longer are restricted to farm animals. They now include exotic animals and small pets.
"It's getting more and more commonplace to have an exotic animal," small animal Judge Jill Helming said.
Helming judges the owner's basic knowledge as well as the care and health of the animal.
"It's really important you know about your animal and how to take care of it," Helming said.
In the guinea pig competition, Joey Lantz, 12, Eau Claire won a blue ribbon with 2-year-old Spike.
"I got the blue because I was hard to stump," Lantz said. "It's something I like to do."
As an animal lover and 20-year judge, Helming travels around the state to county fairs to determine which owner and pet pair is the best.
"I believe in county fairs," she said. "I don't think anything teaches kids responsibility better than to have an animal."
The wide range of animals at the fair sometimes can be a challenge for Helming. When an eight-foot python visited the fair, she wasn't eager to touch it.
"Sometimes the kids know more about the animal than I do," she said of reptiles and "critters."
No dog and pony show
Fair's animal competitions becoming exotic
By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-telegram Staff
Similar to the fairy tale "The Tortoise and the Hare," a slow-moving reptile finished first Thursday at the Eau Claire County Fair.
Cats, rats, birds, fish and guinea pigs all came together as competitors brought their pets to the Eau Claire County Exposition Center in an attempt to win the purple ribbon, which signifies the grand champion.
Taking home the purple ribbon in the small animal category for the second year in a row was Rome Rauter, a 10-year-old from Foster.
Last year his sun conure, Sunny, an exotic bird, took home the ribbon, but this year Speedy, a turtle, shined above the rest of the children's pets. Both Sunny and Speedy were in the finals.
County fairs no longer are restricted to farm animals. They now include exotic animals and small pets.
"It's getting more and more commonplace to have an exotic animal," small animal Judge Jill Helming said.
Helming judges the owner's basic knowledge as well as the care and health of the animal.
"It's really important you know about your animal and how to take care of it," Helming said.
In the guinea pig competition, Joey Lantz, 12, Eau Claire won a blue ribbon with 2-year-old Spike.
"I got the blue because I was hard to stump," Lantz said. "It's something I like to do."
As an animal lover and 20-year judge, Helming travels around the state to county fairs to determine which owner and pet pair is the best.
"I believe in county fairs," she said. "I don't think anything teaches kids responsibility better than to have an animal."
The wide range of animals at the fair sometimes can be a challenge for Helming. When an eight-foot python visited the fair, she wasn't eager to touch it.
"Sometimes the kids know more about the animal than I do," she said of reptiles and "critters."
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Teenage driver cell ban proposed
Ran on Thursday, July 26, 2007
Teenage driver cell ban proposed
Lawmakers: Eyes should be on road
By Leader-Telegram staff and The Associated Press
Many parents admonish their teenage children not to talk on their cell phones while driving.
The state of Wisconsin may order them not to if a bill introduced Wednesday in the Legislature passes.
"I'll use it once in a while," Eau Claire 18-year-old Liz Cattau said. "I use it to text."
"Texting" is sending short messages composed of words to another phone, which requires typing the letters into the message area.
"I know it's not safe," Cattau said, but she does it anyway.
However, if the law were to pass, she said she would most likely stop using her phone while driving.
Cattau said she keeps her cell phone in her cup holder so she doesn't have to rummage around the car to find it when she needs it.
Kira Hefty, also 18 and of Eau Claire, said she knows it's risky, but she uses her phone to make calls.
"I'll use it when my friends call or to call my friends," Hefty said.
Talking while driving diverts attention from the road to the phone, something some lawmakers want inexperienced drivers to avoid.
Cindy Beaupre of Menomonie has two teenage drivers. Both, Jessica, 18, and Michael, 17, have cell phones and use them when they drive.
"It's probably a good idea to make it illegal," Cindy Beaupre said. "They're not experienced drivers, and there are already other distractions."
Those distractions include arguments over the phone, music and friends in the car, she said.
Michael Beaupre said he uses the phone to call friends and also to let his family know where he is and where he's going. Unlike Cattau who said she would stop, he does not think he would.
"I know driving is dangerous, and some people can not pay attention," he said. "I think I'd keep calling; I'd be fine."
Nick Schroeder of Durand, who has a 16-year-old daughter behind the wheel, thinks phones should be put down while driving because talking and driving is not safe.
"I really don't think (teenagers) should be using phones (while driving)," Schroeder said. "Or anyone, for that matter."
State Rep. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon, agrees.
Petrowski has proposed many unsuccessful attempts to limit drivers' cell phone use in Wisconsin.
Legislation to ban all drivers from using cell phones did not even get a hearing in 1997 and 1999. The teen driving restriction has been introduced every session since 2001 but has failed to pass despite no opposition from cell phone companies.
"We believe this bill is a good idea," said Mike McDermott, Verizon Wireless's executive director for state public policy. "Certainly we believe it makes sense for beginning drivers to devote their full attention to driving."
Teenage driver cell ban proposed
Lawmakers: Eyes should be on road
By Leader-Telegram staff and The Associated Press
Many parents admonish their teenage children not to talk on their cell phones while driving.
The state of Wisconsin may order them not to if a bill introduced Wednesday in the Legislature passes.
"I'll use it once in a while," Eau Claire 18-year-old Liz Cattau said. "I use it to text."
"Texting" is sending short messages composed of words to another phone, which requires typing the letters into the message area.
"I know it's not safe," Cattau said, but she does it anyway.
However, if the law were to pass, she said she would most likely stop using her phone while driving.
Cattau said she keeps her cell phone in her cup holder so she doesn't have to rummage around the car to find it when she needs it.
Kira Hefty, also 18 and of Eau Claire, said she knows it's risky, but she uses her phone to make calls.
"I'll use it when my friends call or to call my friends," Hefty said.
Talking while driving diverts attention from the road to the phone, something some lawmakers want inexperienced drivers to avoid.
Cindy Beaupre of Menomonie has two teenage drivers. Both, Jessica, 18, and Michael, 17, have cell phones and use them when they drive.
"It's probably a good idea to make it illegal," Cindy Beaupre said. "They're not experienced drivers, and there are already other distractions."
Those distractions include arguments over the phone, music and friends in the car, she said.
Michael Beaupre said he uses the phone to call friends and also to let his family know where he is and where he's going. Unlike Cattau who said she would stop, he does not think he would.
"I know driving is dangerous, and some people can not pay attention," he said. "I think I'd keep calling; I'd be fine."
Nick Schroeder of Durand, who has a 16-year-old daughter behind the wheel, thinks phones should be put down while driving because talking and driving is not safe.
"I really don't think (teenagers) should be using phones (while driving)," Schroeder said. "Or anyone, for that matter."
State Rep. Jerry Petrowski, R-Marathon, agrees.
Petrowski has proposed many unsuccessful attempts to limit drivers' cell phone use in Wisconsin.
Legislation to ban all drivers from using cell phones did not even get a hearing in 1997 and 1999. The teen driving restriction has been introduced every session since 2001 but has failed to pass despite no opposition from cell phone companies.
"We believe this bill is a good idea," said Mike McDermott, Verizon Wireless's executive director for state public policy. "Certainly we believe it makes sense for beginning drivers to devote their full attention to driving."
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