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Pulling ‘Nails” – UW landmark being removed

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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.

DNR warns outdoorsman away from phony websites when buying licenses

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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. 

Expect some big detours on the way to Hodag music festival this weekend

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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.

Keep an eye out for algae blooms on the lake this summer, says the DNR

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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.

DNR offers summer water safety tips

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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.

Wisconsin DMV recommends getting REAL ID soon before federal enforcement starts

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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.

 

DNR: fewer hunters harvest more deer this season

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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.

GOP lawmakers ask Evers to retain Klett as tourism secretary

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Republicans members of the Wisconsin state Assembly are making an unusual push for Governor-elect Tony Evers to retain the state tourism secretary.

Ten GOP members of the Assembly tourism committee sent Evers a letter urging him to keep Stephanie Klett in charge of the Department of Tourism.

The letter says Klett helped grow tourism from a $14.8 billion industry in 2011 to more than $20.6 billion today. Committee chairman Travis Tranel has started an online petition asking for Klett to keep her job. Nearly 2,000 people had signed it as of last Wednesday.

Republican Governor Scott Walker, who lost his reelection bid to Evers, appointed Klett as tourism secretary at the start of his first term in 2011.

Wisconsin nine day gun deer season opens on Saturday

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The Wisconsin gun deer season opens Saturday, and hunters are getting ready to take to the fields and forests to bag a buck or doe.

As you head out to your favorite hunting spot, it’s a good idea to give your tree stand or deer blind a once over.

State hunter education administrator John King says you want to make sure that your stand can still support you on your hunt, before you head out on opening day.

“Obviously on a metal stand we’re going to have some rust, so we want to just make sure that things are still good structurally for that tree stand if we leave it out there from year to year.”

Also check to make sure all the bolts and straps holding your stand to your tree are in good working order and give the ladder you use to get in and out a check as well.

If you’re using a heater in your deer blind, King says you want to make sure it’s working properly ,and to keep combustible materials away from it.

“Through the years we’ve had some people suffer injury and even death because of carbon monoxide poison, and then also we’ve had a few shacks catch on fire and burn to the ground.”

Be sure to sweep out the blind or shack as well, and make sure that there’s no extra critters sharing the space with you inside while you’re out hunting. You should also make sure your windows are clean and ready to open, and that your shooting lanes are clear.

If you find you’ve got an extra deer you can’t fit in your freezer or don’t need this season, consider donating it to charity. The Wisconsin deer donation program is back in action, and local butcher shops and meat processors are ready to handle your extra venison.

Stevens Point based People’s Meat Market co-owner Lee Falkavage says the process is very simple.

“There’s a paper you have to fill out. They want to know kinda where you shot it so if it does turn positive they can track that deer. So all you do is sign it off and drop it off and on your way you go.”

Hunters have donated over 90-thousand deer since the program started in 2000, which has put 3.6 million pounds of meat into food pantries.

You can find a list of donation locations online at https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/deer.html

Unique geographical point in Marathon County gets new marker

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A very special point in Marathon County has a new geological marker.

That marks the point of 45 degrees north, 90 degrees west, the center of the north half of the Western Hemisphere.

Central Wisconsin Convention and Visitors Bureau director Richard Barrett says it’s a unique draw to the little town of Poniatowski. “This has always been listed as one of our tourist destinations but it wasn’t really utilized that much because the marker was never here”

It’s a a one of a kind location. “There’s only four in the world. Two are underwater, one is in the mountains of China, we’re the only accessible one.”

The newly developed marker on the point has been bringing in tourists and curiosity seekers from around the world.

WJFW