Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Recreation / Entertainment

DNR urges snowmobile safety

By

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources urges safe snowmobiling. The DNR reports five snowmobile fatalities so far this month and urges all snowmobile operators to make safety the top priority for every ride.

The five fatalities involved single adult operators, ranging from 42 to 68 years old. Four of the five victims were men. These crashes are under investigation.

Harley-Davidson will celebrate 120th Anniversary in Milwaukee

By

Harley-Davidson is putting together a big celebration for its 120th anniversary. The American motorcycle manufacturing firm announced Homecoming Festival events to happen July 13th through the 16th to celebrate the company’s anniversary.

Those events will happen at venues across the Milwaukee area, including the Harley-Davidson Museum, and Veterans Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront, with family-friendly activities and music from headliners Foo Fighters and Green Day on the 14th and 15th.

https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/event-calendar/homecoming/ticket-options.html

Harley-Davidson Museum Vice-President Bill Davidson tells Fox 6 Milwaukee that the event is going to be spectacular. “I hope that my future relatives will be able to walk through the Harley-Davidson Museum and read about this epic event,” Davidson said

More information can be found online.

Lucky in Luck – big Megabucks winner claims prize

By

We now know the name of a Lucky Megabucks winner. Mark Cunningham, a regular player of the Wisconsin-only lotto game purchased a $15.1 million winning Megabucks ticket from Wayne’s Food Plus in Luck, for the January 4th drawing.

Cunningham came to the Wisconsin Lottery office in Madison on Monday to claim his winning ticket. “Dreams really do come true,” said Cunningham, whose prize is the largest Megabucks jackpot since a $22.2 million prize in 2015.

Super Bowl can be super tough on problem gamblers

By

Super Bowl weekend is a big one for gamblers – including those with a problem. “It’s probably the biggest event of the year.” said Rose Blozinski, Executive Director with the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling. “There are millions and millions and millions of dollars that are spent, on betting on the Super Bowl.”

The American Gambling Association projects more than 31-one-million of us will pony up some $7.5 billion on the Rams– Bengals matchup. Blozinksi said some will be trying to make good on losses

“If you’ve been betting all season, and all of a sudden you’re losing, this is going to be the make it or break it.”

If you or a family member are struggling with a gambling crisis, call the Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-GAMBLE-5

Get your loved ones Something Special from Wisconsin this holiday season

By

 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

By

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

By

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

By

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

By

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

By

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.