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Capitol rotunda Holiday Tree is lit

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – or the Holidays, if you will – at the Wisconsin Capitol. Over the noon hour on Friday, Governor Tony Evers flipped the switch to illuminate the Capitol Holiday tree.

The Medford High School choir sang a variety of Christmas carols, including “O Christmas Tree.” The rotunda evergreen was was officially called a Holiday Tree beginning in 1985, before Governor Scott Walker called it a Christmas tree in 2011.

This year’s 30′ tree comes from the Medford area and celebrates science, with ornaments made by Wisconsin school kids.
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Deer kills decline for 2019 hunting season

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The number deer harvested during the just-concluded gun-deer season is down sharply compared to a year ago. A preliminary report from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says hunters killed 90,286 deer in 2019, down from 123,090 in 2018. That’s a decrease of 26.7%.

The DNR’s Jeff Pritzl said the drop can likely be attributed to the late start to the season.

“Because of the calendar shift, having the latest possible season opener, that does have an effect when we look at that phenomenon from previous years,” Pritzl told WTAQ.

Hunters have told the DNR the deer have been hard to find. “Deer activity and observations of deer certainly appeared to be depressed and slow compared to what we’re accustomed to or what expectations were,” said Pritzl.

There were no counties in the state that reported increases from a year ago.

More snow coming to Wisconsin this weekend

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You’re not going to escape it – there is at least a chance of snow for just about everyone in the state over the next few days.  

The National Weather Service says you should enjoy the nice holiday weather today because Friday, Saturday and Sunday figure to include snowfall throughout Wisconsin.  

Western Wisconsin could be covered by another six inches of snow, while Madison and Milwaukee can expect about an inch.

Check your hunting cabin for carbon monoxide, says WPS

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While most people have updated their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at home, a Wisconsin Public Service spokesperson says you should also check your hunting shack as well.

Spokesperson Matt Cullen tells WXPR Radio to be safe, check the detectors at the shack. “No matter if you are one of the tens of thousands of deer hunters planning to take part in the opening of the gun deer hunting season, or anyone else, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide.

“Just like in your home or apartment, every hunting cabin should have a carbon monoxide and a smoke detector installed. That way you will be aware of the presence of carbon monoxide if it does appear inside your hunting cabin.”

Cullen says a heating safety inspection should be performed at the cabin. He says that’s just as important as the other safety precautions you are implementing. “Making sure the area around the heating system is clear.

“You should check the vents and flues to make sure they are clear of animal nests or debris that could block them and cause carbon monoxide to be trapped indoors. You may want to check the flame on your furnace. You should have a blue flame coming out. If you have a yellow flame, it might need professional adjustment

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless. Warning signs of poisoning include sudden flu-like symptoms, dizziness, headaches or sleeplessness, pale complexion, and cherry red lips, nausea or vomiting, fluttering heartbeat. It could lead to unconsciousness and death.

On a separate point, Cullen also cautions hunters to be aware of power lines and electric distribution equipment.

WXPR

Another Wisconsin city opens up deer hunting inside city limits

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Another Wisconsin city is opening up a deer hunt inside its borders.

The Richland Center Common Council finalized plans Tuesday night to allow bow hunting on city-owned property.

Hunters will have to wait until after the nine-day gun season to try out the new hunt. Only allow bow hunting is allowed, no guns. Hunters must stay more than 300 feet away from any walking paths.

Richland Center has seen an uptick in problems like car-deer crashes and Lyme disease within city limits.

DNR offers ice advice to hunters

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Deer hunters will be dealing with some challenging conditions when they hit the fields as the gun season opens Saturday. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wardens are urging them to watch out for the ice, especially if they aren’t familiar with the area.

It has been unusually cold, but the ice on ponds and marsh areas may not be thick enough and that could be dangerous. Hunters are being urged to take a “spud bar” with them to tap the ice. If it’s thick enough to walk on, it won’t crack when the hunter taps it with the metal.

We Energies Cookie Book 2019 edition now available

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The We Energies cookie book is back for 2019.

Spokeswoman Amy Jahns says the books track all the way back to 1928 when the Wisconsin Electric Company was just starting to hook up customers to electric appliances. 

“We needed to teach our customers how to use those electric appliances, and what better way to do that than show them how to bake cookies?”

Jahns says this year’s book honors the 91 years of the Cookie Book’s history. 

“We asked our customers to send in recipes and memories of baking with their grandmas over the years, and we got some really great submissions.”

500 recipes were sent in and over 30 of them made it to the print edition. You can request a copy or get a digital version of the book online at their website.

Midwest Express announces destinations, warm cookies

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Midwest Express has announced its first destinations when the airline relaunches flight operations.

Flights will be from Milwaukee’s Mitchell airport to and from Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, and Omaha. Earlier this month, the airline signed an agreement with Elite Airways LLC to begin non-stop flight service by the end of the year.

Midwest Express will establish its own reservations system, customer service operations and in-flight amenities — including cookies. The last flight on the old Midwest Airlines was in 2009.

Republicans unveil package of mental health bills

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Legislative Republicans unveiled a package of bills on Tuesday aimed at improving mental health in Wisconsin.

One of the bills will increase the funding available to non profits for youth mental health services. Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin executive director Andy Gussert says helping kids as they go through childhood is a vital and needed task. 

“There are some people who may want to debate whether we should spend money on addressing youth mental health or trauma informed care. But it’s not really debate. We will spend money on these youths at one time or another.”

Another bill will overhaul how the state licenses psychologists, something that Dr. Bruce Erdmann says is sorely needed. 

“The current licensing law was drafted in the early 1990s, when the internet was in its infancy, email was only used by a select few and nerds, cell phones were unheard of, and no one knew anything about texting.”

Other bills will encourage psychiatrists to move to Wisconsin though the use of tax deductions, and also provide funding for the Clubhouse organization to improve mental heath facilities. 

Another year of high security costs for Summerfest

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Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett says changes may be coming for Summerfest after another six-figure security tab. 

Milwaukee Police say it cost the city 800-thousand dollars to provide security for this year’s Big Gig. Summerfest organizers paid about 125 thousand-dollars of that, taxpayers are on the hook for the rest.

It’s the fourth year in a row that Summerfest costs have been so high.