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DNR recommends getting passes online

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Get your vehicle or trail pass before visiting one of Wisconsin’s many outdoor recreation areas. Wisconsin has 50 state parks, 15 state forests and 44 state bike trails. If you’re headed to one this weekend, you’ll need a daily or annual admission sticker for your vehicle.

The annual pass is $28 for Wisconsin residents. If you’re headed to a state trail, make sure you have a state trail pass, as wardens will be out checking passes this weekend. Annual passes are $25, and daily passes are $5.

The Department of Natural Resources says you can save time by buying these stickers and passes online.

WJMC

ATV & UTV operators urged to ride safely

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Wisconsin ATV and UTV operators are urged to ride safe this season. Jake Holsclaw is Off-highway Vehicle Administrator with the Department of Natural Resources.

“First and foremost, we just want people to remember that, hey, these are like any recreational vehicle and they come with some responsibilities, right? So, we want to make sure that people are aware of how to operate these machines safely. We want to make sure that everybody’s wearing a helmet if at all possible.”

The DNR also recommends all ATV and UTV operators complete a safety course, which is also a requirement for younger operators. And as always, ride sober. Already this year, there have been 5 ATV and UTV fatalities in Wisconsin.

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‘Little White Schoolhouse’ relocation in Ripon may impact historic status

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Ripon’s historic Little White Schoolhouse was successfully moved to a new location on Monday – though not without controversy. Republican Party of Fond du Lac County Chairman Timothy Bachleitner said a more appropriate location could have been found.

PHOTO: Hometown Broadcasting

“It’s about setting, it’s about atmosphere,” he explained. “What the State Historical Society and the National Historical Society wants to see happen is that these landmarks are preserved in their original field conditions.”

According to a letter from the Wisconsin Historical Society, the move of the building known as “Birthplace of the Republican Party” may have led to its delisting as a National Historic site.

“There are plenty of places in the community that this could have been put and it would have retained its status, it would have stayed a landmark it just would have taken a little bit of work from the entities that have been involved in this move,” said Bachleitner.

Bachleitner said at a meeting of the State Historical Society last fall he pointed out moving the schoolhouse would violate some national standards.

Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes said the delisting of the Schoolhouse as a National Historical site because of its move came as a surprise to Chamber officials. Kimes said they did due diligence and received approval from the Wisconsin Historical Society to remain on the State Registry, expecting the National Park Service to follow suit with the national designation.

Kimes said the Chamber learned in late March the move could lead to delisting, but had no previous notification it was even being considered. She said they are appealing the decision.

Bob Nelson, Hometown Broadcastng 

DNR tightens fish consumption advisories for Madison, Wausau, Stevens Point lakes

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There are new fish consumption advisories being posted for the Yahara chain near Madison, and some lakes in Central Wisconsin.

The Department of Natural Resources is recommending people limit the amount of fish they eat from the Yahara chain of lakes, Lake Wausau, and the Lake Du Bay chain.

DNR Toxicologist Sean Strom says new testing in those areas shows increased PFAS contamination in popular fish like bass, crappies, and walleyes. “So certainly go out continue fishing, continue to eat those fish, but just be aware of the consumption advisories that might be in place for that given body of water.”

Strom says the updates are part of the agency’s efforts to protect the public. “So in about 2017, we started to include PFAS as part of that monitoring. And as a result, the more you look, the more we have found. And so when warranted, consumption advisories are issued.”

You can find full fish advisories online at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Fishing/consumption 

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/ 

Don’t stress out on missing sales over the holiday, says Madison College expert

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If you didn’t get that gift you wanted on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, don’t worry.

Madison College marketing professor Steve Noll says that waiting for sales on something you want may be a lost cause when it comes to hot items. 

“The general rule this year is if you find an item anywhere that you know you want, buy it. Don’t wait for it to go on sale because it may not be available the next day.”

Noll says that you should always, as a rule, shop around when you can, and see if the price being offered on the website you’re on is really a deal it’s advertised to be.

“As we get closer and closer to Christmas we will see products like that starting to dip in price as retailers realize that they may have inventory leftover.”

Noll says people should be careful with who they’re handing out their credit cards to online. If it’s not one of the major retailers, consider using a payment program like Paypal or Apple Pay. 

Sarah Meaney leaving Wisconsin’s top Tourism job

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Secretary-designee Sarah Meaney

Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Sara Meaney is leaving the Evers Administration.

Governor Tony Evers appointed Meaney in December 2018, among the first appointments announced to the Democratic governor’s cabinet. Along with Department of Health Services Secretary Andrea Palm, Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson and Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dawn Crim, Meaney has never received a confirmation vote from the Republican controlled state Senate.

Evers’ office announced Meaney will leave the post later this month to take a career opportunity outside of state government.

Evers described Meaney as “a relentless advocate for the tourism industry even before the pandemic, but especially as it has faced unprecedented challenges this past year.” Deputy Secretary Anne Sayers will serve as interim Tourism secretary.

State tourism gets $8 million in coronavirus stimulus money

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The latest piece of Wisconsin’s coronavirus stimulus money is going to the state’s tourism industry.

Governor Tony Evers and Tourism Secretary-designee Sara Meaney announced that $8-million in grants will be provided to tourism boards and tourism managers across Wisconsin. Tourism promotion and development organizations can apply through September 28.

Evers said the coronavirus has hit Wisconsin’s $22-billion tourism industry particularly hard.

Wisconsin added to Chicago’s mandatory travel quarantine order

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Wisconsinites will be requited to quarantine, if they travel to Chicago for the foreseeable future.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday that Wisconsin will be added to the city’s quarantine list “later this week,” noting concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in other states.

That announcement was confirmed on Tuesday. Beginning Friday, July 31, anyone traveling to Chicago from Wisconsin, Missouri, North Dakota, and Nebraska will have to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The city said it will update the list of affected states every Tuesday – adding or removing states depending on the latest data, and will go in effect the following Friday.

Lighfoot said Chicago is doing well in terms of keeping the number of new COVID-19 cases relatively low, because the city has been “extremely prudent.”

Keep yourself safe from ticks this summer with The Tick App from UW-Madison

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A UW-Madison research team is working to help make it safer to be outside with a program to find and identify ticks.

It’s called The Tick App and researcher Bieneke Bron says they want to prevent the spread of tick borne illnesses like Lyme Disease. 

There are several features to help you figure out what steps you need to take to protect yourself. Bron says you can even get a tick forecast from your phone before you go out. 

“If you have your GPS location on it will find out in what county you are and it pulls from a database what activity level we expect for the deer ticks.”

You can also upload pictures of ticks you find and researchers will identify them for you. Bron reminds people that ticks are excellent at hiding inside of things like clothing and other debris.

It’s also important to make sure you check your pets for ticks after they come back inside. 

“After going outside or after running into leaf litter or out in the backyard if you have the time and opportunity.”

You should also keep a close eye on any bedding your pet uses in order to be sure ticks aren’t hiding in there either.

You can download the app for both Apple and Android at The Tick App.