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Get your loved ones Something Special from Wisconsin this holiday season

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 If you’re looking for a special gift this holiday season, why not get your loved ones Something Special From Wisconsin?

That’s the state program that helps you find locally made and grown products. Alice in Dairyland Julia Nunes says it’s a great way to beat those pesky supply chain issues. 

“Lucky for us that Something Special From Wisconsin program has options really for anyone on your Christmas shopping list and it’s a great place to go. And if you use the local mail service I’m sure it’ll arrive before the holiday season.”

Nunes says it’s a great way to find unique gifts with a Wisconsin flavor. 

“When shoppers are looking at their products or shopping online they can know that anything in the Something Special From Wisconsin program is supporting local businesses and keeping our dollars here in Wisconsin.”

New this year, you can get specially curated gift boxes. “Those are perfect if you’re looking for something for someone who isn’t from Wisconsin and you want to send them a piece of Wisconsin goods.”

You can find those boxes and a complete list of products in the program online at https://somethingspecialwi.com/ 

DNR reports 26 fatal ATV/UTV crashes this year

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More than two dozen people have died so far this year in ATV/UTV crashes in Wisconsin. According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says most of those 26 crash victims were not wearing helmets or seatbelts, which are two things the agency recommends for safe operation of the off road vehicles.

Alcohol was also a factor in a number of fatal crashes.

Lieutenant Martin Stone, DNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator, said nearly half of this year’s fatalities were due to rollover crashes, and that monitoring speed and using caution on rough terrain is critical. He said some terrain in Wisconsin is too steep for ATVs and UTVs.

The DNR also recommends riders take a safety certification course.

DNR awards over $6 million in clean water grants to local groups

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The Wisconsin DNR is awarding over 6 million dollars to local groups in order to help clean up and maintain lakes and rivers.

DNR Lakes and Rivers Team Leader Alison Mikulyuk says nearly 250 groups will be working to restore Wisconsin waters. 

“Grants are available to groups that want to take on projects to protect and restore lakes, rivers and wetlands, and help control invasive species. Together we can ensure we have healthy waters far into the future”

Among the projects are trout habitat restoration in Forest County, watershed management near Lake Winnebago, and multiple projects to reconnect wetlands to streams and rivers. 

Mikulyuk says this is part of the Department’s overall approach of keeping Wisconsin’s waters clean at the local level. 

Holidays are no time for weak online passwords

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Many of us have a lot to learn, when it comes to online security, and many people are vulnerable to being hacked over the holidays. Two of the most easily hacked passwords of 2020 were – once again – “password,” and “123456.”

Steve Noll is a Digital Marketing Professor at Madison College. “You would figure that by now people would’ve learned that you shouldn’t just use the word ‘password’ as a password. But they haven’t.”

Many of us also have week passwords for our social media accounts, as illustrated earlier this year, when a Dutch hacker guessed President Trump’s Twitter password.

“And his password was M-A-G-A 2020. That was it. That was his password in October,” Noll said. He added that weak passwords are particularly problematic during the holidays, which is “prime pickings for online hackers.”

2021 Annual State Parks passes on sale starting Tuesday

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The Department of Natural Resources is getting ready to open up sales of annual state park passes on Tuesday.

State Parks business director Chris Pedretti says they’re continuing to expand the ways you can purchase passes, since many offices are still closed. 

“Big thing to remember is that our offices at those properties are still closed, so you can’t actually go into the building but many properties will have drive-up window service and all properties have self registration options.”

The state created its first online sales system for the state park passes earlier this year, and that has been a big success, says Pedretti.

“We are offering online sales this year for our Wisconsin State Park stickers, so that’s a great new addition for people to be able to purchase online and get them mailed directly to them.”

You can order your stickers online at http://wiparks.net, or by calling the help line at 888-WDNR-INFO

Turn your deer into tasty venison with tips from the DNR and UW-Extension

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Once you’ve got your deer on the ground this season, now comes the time to turn that deer into tasty food.

DNR wildlife management director Eric Loebner says adding deer meat to your diet is a great way to get lean, healthy protein. 

“Making that homegrown sustainable organic meat protein source, you know really it’s unique to the experience and it certainly adds to the experience and as well.”

There’s more and more interest these days in processing and butchering deer at home, rather than taking it to a meat processor according to Loebner.

“There’s even videos out there now about the whole nuances of making your own meat at home, whether you’re making sausage or whether you’re making bacon.”

The UW-Extension offers tips and classes on handling your own deer, as well as canning and preservation processes.

Loebner says it’s important to be ready to field dress your deer by yourself while COVID-19 continues.

Temperatures are getting cool enough to properly hang a deer, but won’t freeze it outside, so be sure to get your deer to a processor or cut it up yourself before too long. 

DNR sees increased license sales ahead of gun deer season

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The gun deer season starts this weekend, and the Department of Natural Resources says things are looking good heading into opening on Saturday.

DNR wildlife management director Eric Loebner says that COVID-19 hasn’t put a damper on enthusiasm in this year’s hunt. 

“Right now we’re at about a 9 percent increase over last year, so certainly the interest is out there and that interest is carrying throughout all outdoor recreational activities.”

Loebner reminds people to keep their COVID-19 precautions in mind, and to wear masks around other hunters, and wash hands when you get the chance. 

“Although getting out in nature is a great way to escape the mental challenge that we may be experiencing with a quarantine and a global pandemic, but it’s also important to think about protecting yourself and protecting your family members and those around you.”

The department is recommending against taking long trips to hunting camp this season.

“And if your camp is not that far from your house, you know, a short distance, I would also recommend people think twice about getting into a cabin or riding in a vehicle with non-household family members.”

Tommy Bartlett Show in Wisconsin Dells closes permanently

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A perennial Wisconsin Dells attraction is closing down, permanently.

The owners of the Tommy Bartlett Show say the ski show is not coming back next year. President Tom Diehl says that the loss of revenues from being closed for the 2020 season makes it impossible to reopen for 2021.

The move will not affect the year round Exploratory Museum in the Dells.

The ski show had been in operation since 1953.

Bucks and Brewers sit out games in protest of Jacob Blake shooting

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Wisconsin’s professional sports teams did not play scheduled games Wednesday night.

The Milwaukee Bucks never emerged from the locker room, for Game 5 of their playoff series with the Orlando Magic, and released a statement saying they were “calling for justice for Jacob Blake.”

The NBA then cancelled Game 5 of the series between Houston and Oklahoma City, and the LA Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers.

Players for the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnatti Reds also did not play, saying they wished to draw attention to racial injustice and systemic oppression.

MLB games between Seattle and San Diego and the Dodgers and Giants were also cancelled.

 

Marcus Theaters set to restart summer movie season by opening locations across the Midwest

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Marcus Theaters is getting ready to reopen their theaters by the end of the week.

The company says it will be reopening select locations on August 21st, and more on the 28th.

That includes locations in Wausau, the Milwaukee area, Sun Prairie, La Crosse and the Fox Valley.

Shows will be running in reduced capacity so that social distancing can take place, and they’re asking people to buy their tickets online. You will have to wear a mask inside, except when you’re eating.