Serving the Greater Northwoods  

 Oneida - Vilas - Florence - Forest

District Dialogue

February 22, 2016

Last Thursday, February 18, marked the last day for regular business in the Wisconsin State Assembly.  I was proud that a number of my legislative proposals were supported by my colleagues and signed into law by the Governor.  I will continue to ensure that your voice is heard in Madison.  To review any of my legislative proposals, please feel free to visit my Legislative Homepage.
 
This session, Assembly Republicans worked to balance the two- year state budget, increased funding for education, cut taxes, and bolstered the state's rainy day fund.  Additionally, Wisconsin's current unemployment rate is 4.3%; a historic fourteen-year low.  Measures such as our unemployment rate directly reflect that policies set in place by Wisconsin Assembly Republicans continue to grow our economy.  As we move into the summer, I will continue to work on issues that are pertinent to northern Wisconsin and our hardworking taxpayers.

Speaker Vos signs Assembly Bill 422 prior to heading to Governor Walker.

Over the past several weeks the Wisconsin State Assembly held floor sessions to vote on a number of bills supporting heroine and opiate addiction treatment, Alzheimer's and dementia care, and initiatives to support rural Wisconsin.  I co-sponsored each of the bills below and was very pleased with the support they received on the Assembly floor. 
 

The H.O.P.E (Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education) Agenda was created to combat the heroin epidemic in Wisconsin.  The bills listed below received bi-partisan support and were signed on Tuesday, February 16.  This session Rep. Nygren continued to offer solutions to drug addiction and treatment with four additional bills focused on prescription drug abuse and addiction. 

Assembly Bill 657:  Relating to: treatment and diversion programs and making an appropriation.

Assembly Bill 658:  Relating to: the use, possession, manufacture, distribution, and advertisement of a masking agent and providing a criminal penalty

Assembly Bill 659:  Relating to: opioid treatment programs

Assembly Bill 660:  Relating to: guidelines for prescribing controlled substances and the examination authority of the Medical Examining Board

If you would like to review the bills below, please use their respective links.  You can also follow the progress of the H.O.P.E Agenda by visiting the H.O.P.E website. 

 The Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia introduced ten bipartisan bills to improve the care of those suffering from these diseases by providing community-based resources and education. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in America and the only one in the top ten that can’t be prevented, treated or cured, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.  On Thursday February 18, all ten bills were passed by the full Assembly with bipartisan support.

Assembly Bill 783:  Relating to: funding for a virtual dementia tour license and making an appropriation

Assembly Bill 784:  Relating to: funding for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and making an appropriation. (FE)

Assembly Bill 785:  Relating to: dementia specialist certification program

Assembly Bill 786:  Relating to: report on dementia crisis unit pilot program and placement of individuals with dementia

Assembly Bill 787:  Relating to: funding for respite care under the Alzheimer's Family and Caregiver Support Program and making an appropriation

Assembly Bill 788:  Relating to: funding for dementia care specialists in aging and disability resource centers and making an appropriation

Assembly Bill 789:  Relating to: continuing legal and judicial education on elder law-related issues.

Assembly Bill 790:  Relating to: dementia training grants for mobile crisis teams and making an appropriation

Assembly Bill 791:  Relating to: informed consent for psychotropic medications in nursing homes and community-based residential facilities

Assembly Bill 792:  Relating to: referrals for subjects of alerts for missing adults and operator's license review.

For more information on the Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia, go to http://legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/committees/assembly/ad/.

The goal of the Rural Wisconsin Initiative is to retain and attract the younger generation to Wisconsin’s smaller, rural communities. Rural Wisconsin is not only a great place to start your career, but also an ideal location to raise a family.  Below are the two proposals that were approved by the full Assembly on Thursday, February 18. 

Assembly Bill 793: Relating to: the teacher loan program

Assembly Bill 820:  Relating to: duties of the Public Service Commission under the broadband expansion grant program and certification of political subdivisions under that program

Assembly Bill 561 was authored by Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz) and Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) to make a number of changes to existing Managed Forest Law (MFL).  A majority of the provisions included in this bill were recommendations from the Wisconsin Council on Forestry.  

One of the most significant and beneficial aspects to Assembly Bill 561 is financial benefits to local municipalities.  This bill distributes closed acreage fees to municipalities in which the closed MFL land is located. Currently these fees are deposited into the Conservation Fund.  Below are a number of additional provisions included in Assembly Bill 561

• Provides greater clarity to private property owners who sign a contract with the DNR and allows them to leave the program if changes are made they do not support

• Increases the cap of 160 acres of closed MFL to 320 acres in a single town for non-industrial owners

• Restores a landowners ability to lease MFL closed land to another person for the purpose of allowing them to engage in a recreational activity

• Requires MFL open land to be accessible to the public by foot by public road or from other land open to public access

• Increases minimum acreage requirement for enrollment to 20 acres, but allows a one-time opportunity for currently enrolled parcels to renew their enrollment in the program without satisfying the 20-acre requirement 

• Allows any owner to designate an additional parcel of land as MFL if it is at least 3 acres in size and is contiguous to any MFL land

• Allows a landowner to remove between 1 and 5 acres to build a residence

• Allows a landowner to withdraw land to meet productivity requirements in the case of a natural disaster

• Changes the calculation for assessing withdrawal tax

• Allows a person who meets certain educational and/or professional work experience to write required cutting notices

Assembly Bill 561 cleans up inconsistencies in the current MFL program and addresses conflicts to reflect current economic conditions.  Returning closed acreage fees to local municipalities will be a boost to local budgets.

Assembly Bill 561 is supported by the Wisconsin Towns Association, Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, Wisconsin County Forests Association, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin Counties Association, along with MFL enrollees and loggers.  I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation to keep the logging industry in northern Wisconsin vibrant. 

On February 16, a group of students from Nicolet Area Technical College visited the Wisconsin State Capitol for "A Celebration of Student Engagement". Several students presented research on their respective areas of expertise. Nicolet Area Technical College along with many other technical schools, attended the event in the Capitol rotunda.

Technical colleges, like Nicolet, provide students with real-world experience and training for future employment. Keep up the good work, and thank you for visiting! 

Rep. Swearingen visiting with Nicolet College students in the Capitol Rotunda

On Tuesday, February 16, Jessica Keao and Rebecca Gerow from the Crandon School District traveled to Madison to meet with me on college readiness, comprehensive school counseling, and workforce development.  Thank you for making the trip, nice meeting both of you!

It was great to share a quick word with Pat Weber, Utility Manager at Eagle River Light and Water Department.  I appreciate you making the trip and the good conversation.

It's always great to meet with Northwoods resort and hotel owners!  On Wednesday, Buck Drossart (The Pointe in Minocqua) and Jason Behling (Northernaire Resort in Three Lakes) stopped in Madison with the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association.  It was nice to see both of you again in Madison!
 

While many regions of the state were just finishing shoveling after this past week's snowfall, this weekend promises significantly warmer temperatures across the state with a high chance of snowmelt especially in the south. That being said, some area lakes in the Northwoods are holding on 10 to 12 inches of ice, with a thin and more brittle layer on top that is still making vehicle travel inconvenient.

After another recent dusting, numerous cross-country trails, particularly in the northern and some central counties, where almost a foot or more of snow remains, have been groomed in the past week and are as prepared for warmer temperatures as possible.

This weekend is the 43rd annual American Birkebeiner Ski Race from Cable to Hayward, the largest Nordic ski race in North America. The race reached its 10,000 skier limit and race officials closed the course this week until race day to try and preserve as much of the base as possible and have the trail in the best shape it can be with the projected warm-up. Skiers who compete in the Birkebeiner have been visiting the Flambeau River, Northern Highland-American Legion and other park and forest properties to prepare for the competition.

Snowmobile trails were in good condition across the northern tier of counties and some northeaster counties on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Snow Conditions Report (exit DNR), but the warm weather coming will take a toll on trails. Some central and northeastern counties have announced they will be closing trails before the warm-up.

Those skiing, snowshoeing and hiking may well be treated to a variety of tracks, from small rabbit imprints to larger deer and mid-sized weasels. If you're watching the skies or the treetops, keep your eyes open for raptors, as hawks and owls are tending their nests and eagles are circling for food. If you're simply out for a short walk around the house, or pondering the bird feeder, you may see goldfinches, red breasted and white breasted nuthatches, woodpeckers of several varieties and more.

The walleye bite has still been fickle for many Northwoods anglers, with primarily small sizes being reported. However, action for panfish has remained more consistent, with anglers reporting catches of perch, crappie and bluegill, particularly in deep water areas. Anglers fishing Green Bay off Door County did well with the whitefish but perch were hard to come by. Anglers reported lots of cracks in the ice covered with snow and hard to see. One UTV got stuck when one of its tires went through a crack earlier in the week.

At the end of the sixth day of the Lake Winnebago System sturgeon spearing season on Feb. 18, the Upriver Lakes harvest included four adult females, which was enough to trip the 90 percent trigger, so the Upriver Lakes season will come to a close Friday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. The harvest of 15 fish from the Up River lakes brought the season total to 290 fish. The harvest on Lake Winnebago picked up again for the second day in a row with a total harvest of 36 fish, bring the season total to 245.

Another sign of spring has arrived, as skunk cabbage has started to emerge on the boardwalk loop north of the beach at the Pike Lake Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Northern Region

Flambeau River State Forest - The Flambeau Hills Cross Country Ski Trail conditions at the Flambeau River State Forest are very good. Crews groomed the trail Feb. 16. This gorgeous trail sweeps through the Flambeau from the north end off of Hwy. 70 to the south end off of Hwy. W Trail Head. If you ski the whole route you will have skied 14 miles. The Flambeau Hills Ski Trail winds around and up and down the hills in the interior of the forest. There seems to be some local folks who hit this trail daily. Of course, next weekend is the Birkebeiner in Hayward and area residents that compete use the Flambeau Hills Ski Trail to prepare for the competition. The snowmobile trails on the Flambeau are in great condition and being enjoyed by lots of folks around the state. The snowshoe trails are also in good condition. There is no better way to get great exercise and enjoy close encounters with the wildlife in the area. Snowshoers have been able to identify lots of deer, rabbit, weasel, coyote and wolf sign. Fishing has been slow. You wouldn't know it by the fun folks are having out there. The lakes are dotted with fishing shacks, tip-ups and buckets. Sounds like the weekend temps will be warmer and fun will be had by all, not just the below 0 diehards. Temperatures this week and weekend are on a warming cycle. We had about 3 inches of snow in the Winter area this week. Friday temps are supposed to reach 40 degrees. This week a golden eagle had been seen off of Hwy. W chowing down on some carrion. They are a very large bird, dark brown with lighter golden brown plumage on their heads and necks. They are not often seen in this area and it really excites us bird lovers! There is a cow-calf elk group that has been seen often off of Hwy. W, a mile or so west of the Flambeau River State Forest Headquarters. They look fat and sassy. We treasure each glimpse of them. The logging operations on the Flambeau are working very hard. With the oncoming warming temperatures it will be more difficult to move the logs and pulp out of the forest. So they are taking advantage of every moment till the road banns go on. - Diane Stowell, forestry technician advanced and visitor services associate

Woodruff DNR Service Center area

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Snowmobile trails are in good condition but the warm weather coming will knock them down. Law enforcement has been getting some poor fishing reports. There is layer of slush underneath the top snow pack on many area lakes. With rain predicted for Friday (and warm temperatures) the lake ice could become dangerous. Increased snow depths are bringing more diversity to the Northwood's bird feeders. A bobcat is frequenting our feeders looking for suet and venison scraps, and hopefully grabbing a mouse or rabbit off guard! Red poles, goldfinches, red breasted and white breasted nuthatches, blue jays, chickadees, hairy, downy and pileated woodpeckers are the daily visitors for sunflower and thistle seeds. Their visits are pure sunshine during these bleak winter days when one doesn't want to venture out for a ski or snowshoe. The days are getting noticeably longer allowing time for outdoor exercise after work. 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
Forest cross-country ski conditions were good as of Feb. 18. Escanaba and Madeline trails were groomed and tracked Feb. 17. McNaughton and Raven trails were groomed and tracked Feb. 16. - Tony Martinez, forestry facilities worker

Upcoming Community Events

Please click the following links for upcoming community events!

Minocqua Winter Farmers Market: February 26, Minocqua

FREE Open Skate Under the Lights: February 26, Manitowish Waters

Post Lake Improvement Association Ice Fishing Jamboree: February 27, Pelican Lake

Locals learn to ski for free: February 28, Minocqua

Winter Waterfall Tour: February 26, Manitowish Waters

Annual Lakeland Skating Show: February 27-28, Minocqua

Ho-Drags on Ice: February 27, Rhinelander

Carrol Lake Ice Fishing Tournament: February 27, Woodruff

Three Lakes Trails Gun Raffle: February 27, Three Lakes

Squirrel Hill Skiathlon & KBeat the Bunny Races: February 27, Minocqua

River Valley's Loop Around the Lake: February 27, Minocqua

Cross Country Cruisers Club Ride: February 27, Arbor Vitae

Firefighters Ball: February 27, Florence

Keyes Peak Snowmobile Hill Cross and Hill Challenge Races: February 27, Florence

Camp Jorn All-You-Can-Eat Pizza Fundraiser: February 27, Manitowish Waters

Pipke Park Winter Party: February 27, Presque Isle

Winter Park Bark: February 28, Minocqua

Land O'Lakes - Annual Kids Fishing Jamboree: February 28, Phelps

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

Keyes Peak Winterfest 2016: March 5, Florence

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