Serving the Greater Northwoods  

 Oneida - Vilas - Florence - Forest

District Dialogue

March 4, 2016

On Tuesday, March 1, Governor Walker signed two of my bills into law. I was very pleased that both proposals garnished bipartisan support while working through the legislative process. 

Assembly Bill 421:  Exemption from civil liability when placing fish cribs and other DNR permitted structures.

Assembly bill 421 was drafted at the request of a local lake association to promote fish habitat on Wisconsin lakes and waterways. The goal of this legislation is to improve fish and wildlife habitat on Wisconsin waterways by removing civil liability from property owners placing certain structures in navigable waters and wetlands.

Under current law, to place a fish crib or various course woody habitats into a lake, the property owner must follow all Department of Natural Resource permits to meet all of the appropriate specifications and requirements. My office has been contacted by lake associations and other concerned citizens indicating liability is deterring them from taking advantage of these DNR offered programs. Our proposal will keep the rules and regulations in place for all permit holders, while removing liability if and when the DNR specifications are met. This proposal will continue to protect our environment through DNR permits and specifications while boosting fish habitat statewide.

The DNR, along with Trout Unlimited, are supportive of our efforts to promote fish and wildlife habitat on Wisconsin waterways and wetlands.

I was very pleased the Governor signed this legislation.  It is now officially 2015 Wisconsin Act 220.

Happy to have Rollie Woltjen, (past President of the Lake George Association) along with his wife Karen and grandson Miles join us for the bill signing.

Assembly Bill 598: Continuing the state’s commitment to controlling and eradicating Aquatic Invasive Species.

Assembly Bill 598 was drafted to continue Wisconsin’s commitment and progress to eliminating and treating Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) on Wisconsin waterways. For years, AIS has proven to be a significant problem for local businesses and tourism economies. Under current law, $2 million in grant funds are distributed annually from the Department of Natural Resources to local governments and lake associations. Although these efforts have combated AIS and in some cases eradicated the invasive species, there is still more work to be done.

This legislation expands the lake management network to included watercraft inspections and lake surveys to be eligible for grant funding. For example, known AIS transporters are “dirty boats” entering a lake on a boat launch. Volunteers will check boats and other watercraft for AIS while leaving and entering lakes. Providing funding for these activities will help prevent the spread of AIS into un-impacted Wisconsin waterways.  The legislation is now officially 2015 Wisconsin Act 250.

Governor Walker Signing Assembly Bill 598 into Law.

Please click the video above for my closing remarks in regards to the end of the 2015-16 legislative session. 

On Wednesday, March 2, I attended the Wisconsin Broadband Stakeholder Workgroup, a consortium of members from the public and private sectors that are working to expand broadband throughout Wisconsin.  I, along with Rep. Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) and Sen. Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), serve as the three legislators for the workgroup.

At the beginning of the meeting the group discussed the two bills that recently passed the Assembly floor to assist broadband expansion.  Assembly Bill 820, authored by Rep. Quinn (R-Rice Lake) allows the Wisconsin Public Service (PSC) to designate communities as "Broadband Ready."  This certification will help attract businesses and residents who are looking for a vibrant internet connection for their business or home. 

The second bill, Assembly Bill 647, was authored by Rep. VanderMeer (R-Tomah).  Currently, there is $6,000,000 in funding for grants to expand broadband service to underserved areas of the state, but the PSC is prohibited from making more than $1,500,000 in grants in a fiscal year.
 

This legislation eliminates the yearly maximum amount prohibition and allows the PSC to allocate the grants until funding is depleted. The grant funds will still only be used to reimburse the construction of broadband facilities. They cannot be used to reimburse the operating expenses of a telecommunications provider or the monthly bill of a telecommunications service customer.

We are in high hopes that the Senate will move both pieces of legislation forward in the March 15 session.

The Wisconsin Broadband Stakeholder Workgroup meeting at the Public Service Commission in Madison.

Following the legislative update, our group discussed the successes of the Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) in Wisconsin.  The Connect America Fund are federal funds administered from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide broadband to underserved areas of the country.  This funding has been extremely beneficial to rural and northern Wisconsin.  By 2020, CAF II funding is estimated to allocate $570 million, connecting over 230,000 residences in Wisconsin alone!  Wisconsin has been the largest beneficiary from CAF II funding only second behind the state of California.  

For more information on broadband expansion in Wisconsin please visit this website.  This website has recently been refreshed and updated with new coverage maps.

Discussing underserved areas throughout rural Wisconsin.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 02/05/16
CONTACT: Amber Weldon, 715-358-1320, weldon.amber@marshfieldclinic.org

Progress being made to improve Northwoods opioid addiction services

The HOPE Consortium, formerly the Northcentral Region Opioid Treatment Consortium (NROTC), is making progress in coordinating and expanding regional treatment services for patients with opioid use disorder.

Last May, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) granted the Consortium just under $700,000 a year with anticipated funding over five years totaling $3.4 million. The grant was awarded to the Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc. (FHC), on behalf of the HOPE Consortium for a comprehensive program to provide services to people addicted to opioid drugs.

“Since then we’ve made progress and have renamed the group to reflect legislation passed last year by the Wisconsin state legislature to help battle opiate addiction. The Heroin, Opiate Prevention and Education (HOPE) legislation was a series of bills aimed at fighting the growing heroin and prescription drug epidemic in our state,” said Bob Kovar, program manager, Tribal Services, Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach. “We wanted to adopt a name reflecting the work being done across the state.”

The Consortium is a partnership of nearly 20 organizations, including The Human Service Center of Oneida, Vilas and Forest Counties; Iron County Human Services; Price County Health and Human Services; the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians; Forest County Potawatomi community; Sokaogon Chippewa Community Health Clinic; FHC; Marshfield Clinic; Ministry Behavioral Health; Options Counseling Services/Koinonia Residential Treatment Center; DLM Consulting; Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment, Duluth; and law enforcement agencies of the five-county consortium region.

Greg Nycz, FHC executive director, said, “Consortium members have united to focus on detoxification and treatment, improving quality of life for individuals addicted to opioids. Special focus areas are now on services for women of child-bearing age and reducing the number of deaths associated with opioid addiction. We also focus on men and affected family members since the pain of addiction is often shared by others.”

According to “Wisconsin Local Health Department Opioid Survey Results, 2015” published by DHS, Wisconsin deaths involving opioid pain relievers rose 64 percent and heroin-related deaths rose more than 734 percent from 2005 to 2014. Combined Wisconsin deaths from all opioids more than doubled from 2005 to 2014.

The region served by the Consortium persistently leads the state in the number of controlled substances prescribed per individual, according to the Wisconsin Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. Most alarmingly, rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, a group of problems occurring in newborns exposed to opiates while in the womb, in the region are among the highest in the state.

The U.S. makes up 4.6 percent of the world’s population but consumes 80 percent of the global opioid supply, including 99 percent of hydrocodone produced, with Vicodin being the most prescribed medication in the U.S.

“For many prescription opioid users, the shift to illegal and highly addictive heroin use is swift and of growing concern. Heroin is a cheaper, more readily available option when prescription supplies dwindle or when cost of medication is prohibitive,” said Pat Ustianowski, AODA coordinator, Family Resource Center, Lac du Flambeau.

“Opioid dependence is a complex health condition often requiring long-term treatment and coordinated care. The HOPE Consortium’s primary purpose is to reduce health and social consequences and improve well-being and social functioning of people affected by opioid dependence,” said Tamara Feest, executive director, The Human Service Center.

“This grant offered Consortium members the chance to improve quality of care for those addicted to opioids while reducing incidence of relapses and overdoses. We are now developing a more comprehensive array of evidence-based treatment options as well as individualized treatment plans for every participant,” said Kari Decorah, LPC, SAC, co-director, Options Counseling Services.

The HOPE Consortium meets regularly to establish priorities, discuss progress and build working relationships that allow for regional coordination and expansion of treatment services.

“Treatment for this addiction is a complex undertaking requiring consideration of the whole person,” said Dottie Moffat, project manager, DLM Consulting. “The HOPE Consortium’s first priority was to expand availability of care coordination services to all residents of the region.”

Consortium-based care coordination is modeled after services provided to women with substance abuse disorders in Vilas, Forest and Oneida counties through the Human Service Center’s Tri-County Women’s Outreach program. This grant extends services to all residents of the region, including men.

“We have added four care coordinators to the region with capacity to provide services to any resident suffering from opioid addiction,” said Moffat. “Recruitment is still underway to hire additional care coordinators.”

A second Consortium priority is expansion of access to safe and effective medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction when indicated by an evidence-based standard and desired by the patient. Key components of the MAT strategy include behavioral health counseling, ongoing communication between MAT providers, behavioral health providers and care coordinators and a long-term exit strategy for patients to live drug free.

“Our primary mission to reduce opioid use disorder is to be better stewards of opioid prescribing,” said Dr. Michelle Bensen, Pain Management, Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Center, who is board certified in addiction medicine and medical director for the grant. “The grant works with people who have opioid use disorder with treatments that are abstinence-based to medication-assisted treatment. Our pain clinic has worked very hard for the last five years to make pain management non-opioid based for chronic pain. We also want to safely prescribe medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction in an evidence-based fashion. We know this medicine works when combined with a treatment plan and dramatically improves prognosis to achieve recovery.”

“Consortium efforts have also focused on increasing use of quantitative urine testing to prevent diversion or misuse of prescribed medications,” said Dr. Michael Larson, clinical psychologist, Pain Management, Minocqua Center.

“We are grateful to all HOPE Consortium members who’ve come together with us to improve the impact they’re already making for those suffering addiction in our communities,” said Nycz.

Also, a website is being developed to provide resources for those addicted and their families.

For more details about the HOPE Consortium, contact Kovar, 715-358-7308.

####

The HOPE Consortium is a collaboration with Marshfield Clinic, Family Health Center of Marshfield, Inc., Ministry Behavioral Health, Options Counseling Services/Koinonia Residential Treatment Center, Forest County Potawatomi, Sokaogon, Chippewa, Lac du Flambeau Chippewa, DLM Consulting, LLC, Price County Health and Human Services, the Human Service Center (Forest, Oneida and Vilas counties, Iron County Human Services and the Center for Alcohol and Drug Treatment (Duluth, MN) and law enforcement agencies of the five-county consortium region.

On Wednesday, March 2, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Wisconsin Realtors Association during its annual Legislative Day in Madison.  We were able to discuss the realtors' legislative priorities, which included removing hurdles to successful real estate transactions, making home ownership and property ownership more affordable, and the expansion of broadband in underserved communities in northern and rural Wisconsin.  Thanks for visiting the Capitol!  

Rep. Swearingen, Rep. Mursau, and Sen. Tiffany with members of the Wisconsin Realtors Association.

The Wisconsin Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a week-long leadership training and career awareness program for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors with disabilities.

Being selected to attend the YLF is a distinct honor that you can be very proud of. Please take the time to apply - you'll have the time of your life!

YLF is for:

• Students who show leadership potential by being active in their school and community

• Students who have a disability (physical, learning, cognitive, emotional, sensory, etc.)

• Wisconsin residents

• Students who are currently sophomores, juniors or seniors in high school

Why Attend the Youth Leadership Forum?

• To give you a place to meet other students your age who are experiencing similar issues and concerns

• To help you increase your leadership skills so you can further your future goals and reach them

• To assist you in becoming a leader in your school and community.

Do you still have questions about YLF? If you do, check out the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

If I’m interested, what do I do next?

• Complete the application

• Get 3 letters of recommendation that highlight your leadership skills

• Complete two essay questions

If you are interested in applying for the 2016 program, contact:
John Shaw
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
101 East Wilson Street, Rm. 219
Madison, WI 53703

http://www.wi-bpdd.org/projects/YouthLeadershipForum.cfm

Ice conditions have improved on most waters across the Northwoods and ice depths have been ranging from 12 to 16 inches. Strong winds have blown a lot of the snow from the surface, and cold nighttime temperatures have frozen many slush areas, greatly improving travel conditions. Fishing pressure spiked with the nicer weather and rapidly approaching closure of the general inland gamefish season this Sunday, March 6.. Walleye provided some fair action at times but with the changing weather, fishing for northern pike was real variable. Panfish action has been a hit or miss.

More than 50 boats were out open water fishing on the Fox River in Green Bay with some walleye being caught. Along Door County, areas to the north of Sturgeon Bay are seeing open water and ice shifting and cracking. Anglers fishing south of Murphy Park reported 12 inches of ice at the most remaining with pockets of open water and less ice. The shipping channel from Bay Ship to the lake is open and continues to loose ice at a steady pace with the warm weather. Anglers in the southern Lake Michigan counties are casting off the harbors. Variable catches of brown and steelhead are being reported.

Warmer weather brought an abrupt end to ice fishing activity along the east shore of Lake Winnebago. As a reminder all fishing shelters must be removed from inland waters south of Highway 64 by the end of the day Sunday. Many of the area fishing clubs removed their tree lines and pulled their bridges following the closure of the recently completed sturgeon spearing season, which came to a close on Sunday Feb. 28 after a maximum 16-day season. The season on the Upriver Lakes closed after just seven days. This year's harvest included 703 fish including 19 fish that were 100 pounds or larger. The largest fish of this season was a 147.9-pound, 77-inch fish speared from Lake Poygan on Monday Feb. 15.

March typically marks the beginning of northward bird migration. Over the next couple months, numerous bird species will migrate into and through Wisconsin as they travel to their breeding areas. This migration will slowly gain momentum and builds toward a climax that usually occurs in late April or early May. Luckily, the Mississippi River has quite a bit of open water for this time of year, providing excellent viewing opportunities for diving ducks including ringnecks, bluebills, buffleheads, and goldeneyes.

Elsewhere, on the ground, more and more mammals are emerging from the cold and beginning to forage, communicate and explore. Likewise, individuals trekking across our state's trails and natural areas are finding tracks and shed antlers.

Skunk cabbage is emerging and pussy willows have started to show some furry catkins in Dane County. In Columbia County the maple sap is running at the Mackenzie Center, where staff tapped trees for the first time last week and are expecting an excellent season.

Upcoming State Natural Area Workday

Get outside and cut up buckthorn at Bluff Creek SNA [PDF]. Come cure your cabin fever and help volunteers during our monthly Southern Kettle Moraine SNA workdays on the second Saturday. Enjoy a short hike, then help cut and pile brush, learn something, meet knowledgeable people, and enjoy the beauty of this fen area in the process. Buckthorn can spread and shade out rare fen plants at this site. If interested, please click on the link above for more information. - Jared Urban, conservation biologist, Dane County

Northern Region
 

Flambeau River State Forest - The Flambeau Hills Cross Country Ski Trail conditions are icy due to the warm temperatures of last week. Temperatures will be in the 20s and 30s this week with a warming trend coming this weekend. It's uncertain if the weather will allow for some decent skiing. There is a 40 percent chance of snow on Friday. A warming trend starting again this weekend. The snowmobile trail was used heavily last weekend but it is also very icy and may have some bare spots. The snowshoe trails at Lake of the Pines and Little Falls Slough Gundy are also icy. Be careful out there and it may be time to wear your cleats. Fishing has been slow but some bluegills, panfish, and walleye have been caught. You wouldn't know fishing is slow, folks are having lots of fun out there. The lakes do vary in the depth of the ice from 4 inches to 8 inches so we are suggesting folks not to drive out on the ice as it could be risky. Geese have been observed heading north and a few common goldeneyes were observed on the river. Some of the birds seem to be on high activity. Many are building nests and going through some courtship activities. Folks are enjoying watching the otters slide and play along the edge of the ice. Due to the warming temperatures the bears have been coming out of the dens. They are not wandering far, but the tracks indicate they are waking up, though staying close. Deer have been using the roads more for getting around. The top hard layer of snow makes it difficult for mobility and much easier for predators, and soon there will be an enticing show of grass along the road edges. Be careful when driving the northern roads. logging on the forest is quickly coming to an end. March 7 road bans go on, so large truck traffic will stop on township and county highways. So before then, longs hours will be spent trucking out the logs and pulpwood from the logging sites. Join us on Saturday, March 5 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the new and beautiful Flambeau River State Forest Headquarters as Ron Weber shares a screening of Learning from the Land to help celebrate "Aldo Leopold Weekend". This video chronicles Leopold's life using various passages from "A Sand County Almanac". A short walk along the Flambeau River will follow with readings from Sand County Almanac. We hope you can come and enjoy some refreshments with us while you are here. - Diane Stowell, forestry technician advanced and visitor services associate

Woodruff DNR Service Center area

Oneida County - With the recent warm weather the lake ice conditions have changed and travel is now very easy but good ice cleats are recommended. The panfish bit has been good, especially in the mornings. However snowmobile trail conditions are poor. - Tim Ebert, conservation warden, Woodruff

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Ice conditions have solidified due to the cold temperatures and high winds blowing the snow off the ice surface. Some of the large lakes never formed thick ice so it is still advisable to use caution. The lack of uniform ice all season may cause dangerous conditions when air temperatures return to 40 and 50 degrees. The Manitowish and Trout rivers continue to flow above 20 year averages. Rhinelander news station reported that this last December was the fourth warmest and the fourth wettest on record so it follow that we are having above average river and stream flow. Snowmobile trails really need some fresh snow. Fishing action is starting to pick up on some of the lakes for panfish. Four trumpeter swans were spotted near the fish hatchery. Three campsites are plowed at Clear Lake Campground for winter campers. Use has been very light, so come on out - you will likely have the campground to yourself. Portions of the roadways in Clear Lake and Crystal Lake Campgrounds are plowed for winter walkers to have a safe place to walk out of the snow. We still have a couple of openings for volunteer campground hosts for the coming summer - one at Cunard Lake mid-summer, and one at Clear Lake in fall. Contact Joe Fieweger at 715-385-3355 ext 113 or joseph.fieweger@wi.gov if interested. - Kimberly Krawczyk, Visitor Services Associate

Changes in cross-country ski trail conditions can happen very rapidly with changes in the weather. The warm up last Saturday had the trails set up very hard with icy bare spots emerging under the heavy conifers. The winds this week dropped a lot of leafy debris and pine cones also. Raven Trail tracks were touched up March 1 when clearing the trail of branches and down trees. Thin and icy with a lot of debris under the heavy conifers on the Red and Yellow loops. Madeline Trail had all loops tracked Feb. 29. Good conditions reported. McNaughton Trail was cleared of down trees and branches and groomed old tracks twice March 1 but was unable to set new track. Escanaba ski trail conditions are fair to good conditions on the green loop 5.0 miles. Hardwood areas has nice track. Conifer areas have half formed track but still ski able. Red and blue loop not advised as icy lack of snow and snowmobilers tore up. The section along the campsites on Pallette would be the only section of the yellow untracked. - Tony Martinez and Dan Jacoby, facilities repair workers

The Wisconsin Historical Society is proud to sponsor and coordinate National History Day in Wisconsin and provide year-round support for participating teachers and students. We anticipate that more than 10,000 students will participate in the program this year. National History Day helps students learn about historical issues, ideas, people and events. The 2016 theme is “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.” Students research historical topics related to this theme utilizing primary sources and critical thinking skills. Participants produce presentations in a variety of mediums, including research papers, websites, dramatic performances, museum-style exhibits, and documentaries.

To get more information about any of the regional events or the National History Day in Madison Wisconsin; please visit our website.

Upcoming Community Events

Please click the following links for upcoming community events!

22nd Annual Three Lakes Wildlife Basketball Tournament: March 5, Three Lakes

Keyes Peak Winterfest 2016: March 5, Florence

Tim Nampel Family Spaghetti Benefit Dinner: March 5, St. Germain

14th Annual "Best Ball" Ice Golf Tournament: March 5, Minocqua

Indoor Farmers Market At The YMCA: March 5 & 12, Rhinelander

YMCA Father Daughter Dance: March 5, Rhinelander

29th Annual Kiwanis Winter Escapes Extravaganza!: March 5, Rhinelander

Community Appreciation Day: March 6, Minocqua

Locals learn to ski for free: March 6, Minocqua

Minocqua Winter Farmers Market: March 11, Minocqua

10th Anniversary St. Pat's Day Motorcycle Swap Meet: March 12, Rhinelander

5th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade: March 12, Rhinelander

American Legion Birthday Party Dinner Dance: March 12, Three Lakes

13th Annual Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser: March 12, Eagle River

Support for Sight Polish Dinner & Polka: March 12, Boulder Junction

Boulder Junction Snowmobile Cabin Fever Party: March 12, Boulder Junction

Conover - Lions Club Kid's Fisheree: March 13, Conover

Community Music Festival: March 13, Rhinelander

Corned Beef and Cabbage: March 15, Minocqua

Movie night at the Library: March 15, Presque Isle

Women's Club Breakfast Gathering: March 16, Three Lakes

St Patrick's Day Corn Beef & Cabbage Dinner: March 17, Woodruff

Conover Sno-Buddies Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner: March 17, Conover

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration: March 17, Manitowish Waters

Please contact me at Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov if you would like to UNSUBSCRIBE from my E-Updates

Office of Representative Rob Swearingen

Room 123 West

PO Box 8953, Madison WI 53708

Office: 608-266-7141

Toll Free: 888-534-0034