Local Farmers Named Conservation Farmers of Year
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SERVING GAYS MILLS, “WISCONSIN’S APPLE CAPITAL,” AND SOLDIERS GROVE, “AMERICA’S FIRST SOLAR VILLAGE” & Kickapoo Scout VOL. 114 • NO. 45 THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 ONE DOLLAR COVID 19 DAWS testing Cancellation offers update Crawford, Vernon and Rich- list growing land counties are in commu- Note: this is the most up-to-date nication with the water test- information that we have at the ing lab at UW-Stevens Point time of going to press. We will regarding the timing for the continue to share updated infor- Driftless Area Water Study mation on our Facebook page as (DAWS) spring well testing it becomes available. initiative. As of Monday, March 16, The tests will go forward, there were no confirmed cases though the date may be de- of COVID-19 (cornona virus) layed. More information will in Crawford, Vernon, Rich- be available from your coun- land, Monroe or Grant coun- ty’s Land Conservation De- ties. We will update on our partment soon. Facebook page as information Crawford County: the let- becomes available. ters inviting residents to par- State of Wisconsin ticipate in the spring well test- ing went out via U.S. mail the • Governor Tony Evers an- week of March 8. The Land nounced on Friday, March Conservation has had a good 13, that all K-12 schools in response, and reports that Wisconsin would be closed “spots are filling up fast.” effective Wednesday, March 18. Many schools have opted Richland County: the Land to close their doors effective Conservation Department is Monday, March 16. The an- slightly delaying sending out ticipated reopening date was the letters, but expects them to April 6, 2020; however, the go out soon. the school closure has now Vernon County: continue been changed to indefinite. to contact Sarah McDowell • Governor Tony Evers is at the Land Conservation De- calling on utility companies partment if you are interested across Wisconsin to keep in participating in the spring power turned on for people well testing at 608-637-5480 even if they are not paying or smcdowell@vernoncounty. their bills. org. During this time, your best method for contacting the • In support of Gov. Tony LCD is via e-mail. Evers and the Wisconsin De- partment of Health Services See COVID-19 Page 2 Col 1 In Sparta Monroe County Hospitals offer Local angler catches trophy tiger trout leads region in drive-through Gary Peters of Richland Center was fishing with Len Harris in Crawford County recently and caught this enormous rare tiger trout. The fish was promptly released. Gary’s tiger measured just under 17 inches. The current catch-and-release record for flood monitoring a tiger trout is 16 inches. Gary has submitted the photo to the state for review for a new state record for ‘Catch-and-Release By GILLIAN POMPLUN COVID-19 tests State Record Tiger Trout.’ A tiger trout is a sterile, intergeneric hybrid of the brown trout and the brook trout. The fish is an anomaly in the wild, with the brook trout having 84 chromosomes and the brown trout 80, according to Wikipedia. Monroe County is lead- ing the charge in the Drift- Gundersen Health less Area regarding develop- Gundersen Health System is ment of a stream monitoring now offering a drive-up test- and flood forecasting system. ing site at the Onalaska Clinic. At their meeting in Sparta on Patients who are experienc- Local farmers named Conservation Farmers of Year Wednesday, March 11, mem- ing mild symptoms of CO- bers of the county’s Climate VID-19 including fever, dry The Wisconsin Land and as the keynote speaker. With that have made extraordinary perform their speeches during Change Task Force heard from cough, tiredness or shortness Water Conservation Associa- two decades of leadership with contributions in conservation the opening luncheon. For the members of the county board of breath can go must first go tion (WI Land+Water) hosted The Nature Conservancy, Wis- across the state, during a lively poster contest, student artwork present that they believed the through a prescreening pro- its 67th Annual Conference consin Conservation Voters, Conservation Awards Banquet is on display and voted on by County Board of Supervi- cess in order to be eligible for this past March 4-6 at the KI and the International Crane ceremony. Recipients of the our membership during the sors would likely vote to fully the drive-up testing. Convention Center in Green Foundation, Deputy Secretary 2020 Conservation Awards conference. Winners advance fund purchase and installation Bay, Wisconsin. The confer- Sayers highlighted her pas- are: to the national competition. of stream sensors, hydrologic You must call your primary ence brought together over sion for the environment and care provider, call Gunder- • Kevin and Carolyn Parr of WI Land+Water concluded monitoring stations, and road- 450 conservation profession- how intertwined conservation Harmony Hills Farm – Con- the conference with the as- side alerts proposed by the sen’s telephone nurse advisors als from various organiza- is with Wisconsin’s economy and connect online with a pro- servation Farm Family of the sociation’s annual business committee as the ‘local op- tions across the state, includ- and identity. Year meeting, where counties voted tion.’ vider through the Gundersen ing county Land Conservation VirtualVisit app. Patients also Many presentations offered • Representative Katrina on two resolutions and one That local option, a $55,300 Committee (LCC) members There were 40 conservation Shankland – Friend of Conser- floor resolution. The approved package, calls for installation must be 2 years or older. By and Land Conservation De- phone or online, a nurse or presentations throughout the vation resolutions by our association of two weather stations; 16 partment (LCD) staff, state eight breakout sessions, with can be found here. stream sensors; two roadside provider will determine if the and federal agency staff, and • Seth Ebel – Outstanding patient should undergo COV- a wide variety of topics. Many Conservation Employee, En- The conference would not detectors; and four warning both nonprofit and industry sessions offered Continuing have been possible without the poles with beacons for known ID-19 and influenza testing at representatives. gineer the drive-up site. That testing Education Credits (CEUs) and • Eric Fehlhaber – Outstand- incredible support from our problem areas on roads in involves a swab that gets in- Over the three days, at- Professional Development sponsors, exhibitors, and part- times of flooding. The data tendees had the opportunity ing Conservation Employee, serted into the nose. Staff will Hours (PDHs) for technical County Conservationist ners. Special thanks to our: for this local option would notify patients of results. to attend professional im- staff to maintain their job cer- Silver Sponsors be housed free of charge with provement breakout sessions, tifications and licenses, as well • Zach Wilson – Brad Mat- the National Weather Service Dr. Megan Meller, an infec- a silent auction, and multiple son Youth Education Award Land Nav tion preventionist at Gunder- as obtain timely knowledge of (NWS) in LaCrosse. Yearly networking opportunities. Ad- best management practices in The Parr Family will host Petenwell and Castle Rock maintenance is estimated at sen Health System, said that ditionally, association mem- the 2020 Conservation Ob- Stewards they making sure both patients their fields. $1,300, and set up of an alert- bers took part in Area Asso- Following the Wednesday servance Day on their farm in Bronze Sponsors ing system at $1,000 per year. and hospital staff stay safe ciation meetings, the Youth Vernon County. The celebra- during this process. and Thursday breakout ses- American Transmission These devices would be de- Education Committee’s Poster tion this summer will include Company ployed in Monroe County in “We have staff who have sions were social hours where and Speaking Contest, and the attendees had the opportunity tours and presentations on Certified Crop Advisor the Little LaCrosse and Kicka- volunteered their time to drop annual business meeting. The their farm. poo River watersheds. everything and be here to assist to talk with exhibitors, bid on Board association also awarded out- silent auction items, and vote The Youth Education Com- Sensor locations in determining if COVID-19 is standing staff, supervisor, and Complete Fencing, LLC on the Youth Education poster mittee hosted the 63rd An- One of the proposed sensors in our community or not,” said citizens that have made pro- nual Conservation Awareness Conservation Services, Inc. Meller. She continues, “We’ve contest. Social hours were would be placed in Cashton, found contributions to conser- sponsored by Land Nav and Poster and Speaking Contest Transcendent Technologies gotten [our hospital staff] all vation in Wisconsin. which sits at the headwaters Petenwell and Castle Rock during the conference. During Wisconsin Farmers Union of the Kickapoo River, West set up, we have run though the A conservation conference the speaking contest, students process, we have checked out Stewards. Fork Kickapoo River, Coon “Our conference brought WI Land+Water recog- deliver topical speeches of Creek and Little LaCrosse all angles and we are ready to their choice, and the winners See PARRS Page 9 Col 5 go.” together the boots-on-the- nized individuals and families River watersheds. This is the ground conservation profes- The drive-up testing site, area where the super storm sionals and leaders for an that set up the breach of five located at the lower level inspiring three days to share entrance at the back of the flood control dams and his- our work, connect with other toric flooding of 2018 vented Gundersen Clinic in Onalaska, passionate conservation- will run from 8 a.m. until 4:30 its wrath. ists, and honor those who go The meeting was once again p.m.