Wisconsin News and Sports
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.
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
Milwaukee city leaders seem to making a serious push to host the G-7 Summit next year.
The effort comes after President Trump was pressured into not hosting the event at one of his own resorts.
Mayor Tom Barrett has sent a letter to the White House promoting the city, and Vice President Mike Pence told local officials Milwaukee is being considered while he made a visit last week.
Locations to actually host the event itself could be the American Club in Kohler or one of several resorts in Lake Geneva.
A widely reviled landmark on the University of Wisconsin campus is going away. “Nails’ Tales,” a pile of footballs in roughly the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, has graced the south plaza near Camp Randall Stadium and the UW Fieldhouse for 14 years.
And for all those years, Badger fans have been more or less unanimous – they don’t like “Nails’ Tales.” Contractors began prepping the site on Monday, and according to a UW press release, the sculpture will be removed Wednesday and stored off-campus.
Even the foundation should be gone by the time the Badgers’ host Central Michigan for their home opener, September 7th. The removal is part of a larger plan to reconfigure the area.
If you’re looking to get your hunting and fishing licenses online this year, make sure you’re doing it in the right place.
Kimberly Currie with the DNR says scammers set up very similar looking websites at genuine sounding web addresses.
“We have a growing number of people who like to use online services, and we want to make sure they’re using our site and not an imposter.”
It’s a lot like how there’s websites that pose as the D M V or other state agencies. “If you read the small print, they’re pretty direct in telling you they’re not an official state website, but they will charge you a fee and often they just give you a pamphlet on how you can reach our website.”
Currie says one way to always be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for is to head to a trusted local retailer. “Sporting good stores, hardware shops, bait and tackle shops across the state of Wisconsin, who are ready, willing and able to assist you in that process.”
You can also head online to http://gowild.wi.gov to use the state’s official online system, or use the Go Wild app on your smartphone.
The annual Hodag Country Music Festival starts tomorrow, and if you’re on your way up north to Rhinelander to see the show, be aware there’s some sticky traffic problems in the area.
Captain Tyler Young with the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office says they’re expecting several years of problems, owing to long term construction.
“And we foresee this being an issue again next year as they continue working on the Stevens Street Project.”
They are especially concerned about high-profile vehicles like campers and travel trailers. “If they get stuck in the City of Rhinelander, they’re going to be rerouted on city streets with tight turns and vehicles parked on the streets, and it’s going to be hard to get that type of traffic through.”
Young says they’ve worked with the Wisconsin DOT and Hodag promoters to make sure all routes to Highway 17 will be clearly marked. You can find a link to the detour info at hodag.com, or on the state’s 511 traffic site.
Summer heat and calm conditions on many lakes across the state is causing lake scum and algae blooms.
Gina LaLiberte with the DNR says those ‘blue-green’ algae that cause the blooms can sicken people and cause skin irritation.
“Any time you see discolored water that can be green or other colors, or you see foamy scums or mats, be suspicious that’s blue-green algae. And look for better water conditions elsewhere for swimming.”
The algae forms any time there’s high temperatures, plenty of sunlight, and little wind.
LaLiberte says it’s very important to keep pets out of the water if there’s blooms
“Dogs really don’t care what the water looks like. If they’re thirsty they’ll drink even scummy green water that we would not even want to put our feet into.”
Many strains of those algae can cause stomach discomfort and skin irritation, and the symptoms can be even more severe if you ingest the algae. If there’s lake warnings posted about algae, find another lake or stream to swim in.
Summer is here and more people will be heading out on the water, but the Department of Natural Resources is reminding you be safe out there.
Chief Warden Todd Schaller says the best way to prevent accidents is to wear your personal flotation devices and be sure your surrounding are safe.
“Wisconsin’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors, and certainly our waterways. And we want you to do it for years to come and not have that tragic event.”
People need to be especially careful in the Great Lakes this time of year, because even a short time overboard can be deadly. “It might be 80, 90 out, but those water bodies, their temperatures lag behind ,and hypothermia can set in even in July.”
Schaller says people also need to be very careful on rivers this time of year, because even seemingly calm rivers and streams are moving large amounts of water and it only takes one mistake to get pulled downstream.
Federal officials are finally putting the REAL ID standard into use for airline travel, so now’s the time to get your license upgraded.
The change will come in October of 2020. Wisconsin DMV deputy administrator Patrick Fernan says the state has been issuing the upgraded licenses since 2013.
“So everyone in Wisconsin will have had the opportunity, when 2020 rolls around, to provide the documentation necessary to get a REAL ID during their normal renewal time.”
He says the process to get an upgraded REAL ID requires a few more documents than the usual license or ID.
“A birth certificate or passport is required in order to prove date of birth and citizenship. Then, proof of address and some other things that are on the website.”
You can find a complete list of valid document and schedule a time to come out and get the new ID online at http://wisconsindmv.gov.
Fewer hunters were in the woods harvesting more deer during this year’s gun deer season. That report from the DNR on Tuesday.
Ecologist Kevin Wallenfang says the decline in hunting sales for the gun hunt doesn’t concern them so much, because totals from the other seasons make up for it.” As crossbows and as the archery season and some of the added seasons out there such as holiday hunt and the antlerless hunt have been added on, we see more of the harvest getting taken outside of the regular gun deer seasons.”
The total deer harvest was up about 7 percent. Wallenfang says this is a rebound after poor weather last year snarled the deer hunt.
“It’s kind of a typical season really, in that some areas increased and some areas went down a bit, so there’s really not anything surprising about the season at this point.”
More hunters are also taking advantage of CWD testing this year. “We’ve got crews working out at our C W D testing labs, pretty much all hours of the day trying to get animals processed as quickly as we so that we can get results back to hunters as quickly as we can,” says Wallenfang.
The hunt is also one of the safest on record, with no gun fatalities and only three injuries during the whole nine days.
