Many farmers in Crawford County have taken a major hit. That's according to the county's UW Extension Agent. Vance Haugen says crop losses countywide are totaling thirty percent, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Haugen says in some cases, entire crops of alfalfa are completely gone: the plants themselves have been washed away. For farmers like that, help from the feds would be appreciated. And something that's not needed, it almost goes without saying, is more rain. Haugen says the soils are saturated, and even a little more rain could make an already nasty situation worse. Haugen says that, up until the recent flooding, farmers in Crawford County were looking forward to a good harvest.
Badger Care Plus hit by tougher federal guidelines
August 22, 2007 By
New regulations from the Bush administration could jeopardize Governor Doyle's plan to make sure all children get access to health care coverage.
According to the governor's spokesperson Matt Canter, the Badger Care Plus proposal would raise the income eligibility limit for families. So more middle class, working families would have access to health care coverage for their children.
But the Bush administration says the federal Medicaid portion was meant to cover uninsured low income children and they must be signed up first before states can use federal money for families who make 250% more than the poverty level. That's 51-thousand 625 dollars a year for a family of four.
But Canter says Badger Care Plus is flexible and can survive. It has to survive the legislature first.
Critics say the administration is just trying to pre-empt a move in Congress to expand health care coverage access for children in a federal program known as S-Chip. Something Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin knows about. She believes states, such as Wisconsin, should be able to come up with their own plans suited to their needs.
Spencer man honored for wearing a helmet
August 22, 2007 By
A Spencer-area man will receive an award tonight at the Governor's Conference on Highway Safety in Stevens Point. His story serves as a pointed reminder about the importance of wearing a helmet when motorcycling.
It was a beautiful June night when David Lucht journeyed home on STH 98 after a fire department meeting night. That's when a deer ran across the road and crashed into him.
Lucht says he never saw it and doesn't remember much after the initial hit. But his head smashed into road and he skidded for many feet. Lucht says, thankfully, he was wearing his helmet.
The forty-eight year old Lucht, husband and father of two, says he's thought often about what "might" have happened. He says he loves to ride and never used to wear a helmet until he witnessed an acquaintance die in a motorcycle accident a few years ago.
Lucht says his story is a reminder to the importance of wearing a helmet, especially in an area of the state known for a high deer population.
Lucht still has the helmet, which is pretty beat up, and he says he may go to area schools to stress the importance of wearing helmets to youngsters.
More storms, more damage in southwest WI
August 22, 2007 By
Wind caused more damage than water overnight.
Jane Larson at the state Emergency Operations center says sixty mile an hour straight line winds damaged several homes, trailers and some farm silos in Vernon, Crawford and Richland counties.
An additional inch and a half of rain fell and caused flooding in DeSoto which is on the Mississippi River along the Crawford-Vernon County line. Several homes had to be evacuated.
DNR crews are out assessing the structural soundness of questionable dams and clean-up continues. FEMA will be in the area next week trying to determine what if any federal disaster assistance will be made available.
But as bad as the damage appears federal help is not a given. Wisconsin asked for federal help two years ago after twenty-seven tornadoes swept through the state in one day killing one person in Stoughton. That request was denied.
But with flood damage reaching the forty-million mark so far, Larson says the losses will go up and they will go through the long process of requesting federal help for the people most affected by the floods.
Johnston & Schuman share lead at State Open
August 22, 2007 By
Mike Johnston shot a 1-over-par 73, while Schuman fired a 3-under 69 and find themselves tied for the lead heading to the 36 hole final at the Wisconsin State Golf Open at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.
Schuman is the Wisconsin Badgers golf coach and Johnston is a teaching pro from Milwaukee. They're both at 2-under par 142.
Ryan Helminen, UW junior Dan Woltman and Mike Witt are next at 143.
Rain has put a little bit of a damper on the first two rounds, but the top 60 scorers advance to the final 36 holes today.
