One of the most exciting events of the year is the Governor’s Conference on Tourism that took place earlier this week at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee. Known as the Super Bowl of Tourism in Wisconsin, this event allows the Department of Tourism to showcase their new advertising campaigns and discuss the importance of tourism on our state.
Governor Walker and Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett spoke to around 900 tourism industry representatives during the three day conference. They highlighted that tourism has a more than $19 billion impact on the economy in Wisconsin, which is up 30 percent over the last five years.
Rep. Swearingen speaking with Governor Walker at the Tourism Conference
Rep. Swearingen and Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett
As the co-chairman of the Assembly Committee on Tourism, this was a great opportunity to network with a number of individuals in the industry throughout the state. The Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Tourism attracts innkeepers, restaurateurs, local tourism officials, attraction operators, state agency officials, tourism educators, and other representatives of the hospitality industry.
Rep. Swearingen meeting with members of the Minocqua Chamber of Commerce, Eagle River Chamber of Commerce, Boulder Junction Chamber of Commerce, St. Germain Chamber of Commerce, and the Vilas County Tourism Director
If you would like to view the new advertising commercials unveiled by the Department of Tourism, please click on the pictures below. The first two ads feature a real family who has been vacationing in Hazelhurst, Wisconsin for 60 years. The final ad captures the state’s amazing fall colors through drone footage.
The Assembly Committee on State Affairs met on Wednesday for a public hearing to continue with our busy committee agenda. We started the public hearing by discussing and reviewing administrative rule chapters in the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). This process, known as the Red Tape Review, is an important initiative that seeks to remove unnecessary, burdensome, and outdated regulations.
Additionally, the committee reviewed two bills that came from the Legislative Council Study Committee on Access to Civil Legal Services last year. Assembly Bill 115 and Assembly Bill 116 would provide funding and the delivery of legal services for the indigent in civil cases. The legislative council study committee was tasked with reviewing the need for legal services by indigent civil litigants and identifying additional non-GPR (General Purpose Revenue) sources of revenue to provide legal services for the indigent.
Assembly State Affairs Committee Hearing
Red Tape Review
SPS 70: relating to authority and definitions of acupuncturists
SPS 71: relating to certification of acupuncturists
SPS 72: relating to safe practices of acupuncturists
SPS 73: relating to grounds of discipline for acupuncturists
Assembly Bills
AB 115: relating to the authority of the departments of administration, children and families, workforce development, justice, and health services to allocate federal grant money for civil legal aid.
AB 116: relating to the creation of the Interagency Legal Aid Coordinating Council.
Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry Update
Continuing with a busy week of committee work at the Capitol, the Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry held an informational hearing where the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) provided an overview on the Managed Forest Law Program. The committee also heard testimony and presentations from the Wisconsin County Forest Association and their partners regarding timberland health and management, funding, and recreation in Wisconsin. I would like to thank Jane Severt, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin County Forest Association, and Henry Schienebeck, the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, for their work on these important issues.
The Assembly Environment and Forestry Committee Hearing
Wisconsin Association of School Boards Legislative Day
I had the chance this week to have a serious conversation with members of the Rhinelander school board, Rhinelander School Superintendent Kelli Jacobi, and a member of the Three Lakes school board. During their visit to my office, we discussed school funding and provisions in the Governor’s initial budget proposal. I appreciate the group making the trip to Madison to keep the conversation going.
Rep. Swearingen with members of the Rhinelander School Board, Rhinelander Superintendent Kelli Jacobi, and Terry McCloskey of the Three Lakes School Board
Tavern League of Wisconsin Legislative Day
This week was the Tavern League of Wisconsin Legislative Day at the state Capitol. I had the opportunity to meet with Tavern League members in the 34th Assembly District to discuss important issue that affect the industry statewide. Among some of the topics that we covered was the importance of the Safe Ride program across the state of Wisconsin. There is no other program like Safe Ride in the nation, which allows people who have had one too many a safe means of transportation home. I would like to thank all of the tavern owners in the Northwoods that took the time out of their busy schedules to make the trip to Madison to advocate on behalf of the Tavern League!
Rep. Swearingen with members of the Oneida and Vilas County Tavern Leagues
The weather this week has reminded us that winter is not quite over. This is very much the "tweener" period for outdoor pursuits. Looks kind of like spring but it was 5 degrees in parts of the state early this week. Astronomical spring officially arrives next Monday with the vernal equinox.
Most of the state received at least some snow, with heavier amounts falling in central and southeastern parts of the state. The Lapham Peak Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest received enough to groom ski trails but they are not expected to last long with a warmup and rain in the forecast.
A few Northwoods lakes still had fishermen out fishing for crappies last weekend but safety is questionable on what ice remains and many landings have open water. Recent cold weather brought some ice back to some lakes in southern Wisconsin; however, not enough to safely venture out on.
The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway still has high flows but they have come down substantially. Anglers are flipping the switch from ice-fishing to open water fishing and many are fishing from the shores of the lower stretches of rivers but with little success as fish runs are still on hold.
Anglers were catching steelhead in the Milwaukee River and brown trout in the harbor before the snowstorm. Some brown trout were caught near Jones Island or trolling near the Harbor Gaps, where some also reported catching lake trout.
Spring steelhead fishing opens on March 25 for the lower stretch of the Brule River from Highway 2 downstream to Lake Superior. There is still some ice and snow along the edges of the river, but there is little snow left in the forest.
The cold temperatures last week left a hard crust on the remaining snow and firmed up some previously soft ground, enabling folks to explore just about anywhere and hunt for deer sheds. Some bucks are still being seen with antlers hanging on, but the majority have shed.
Snowshoe hare coats are beginning to turn brown, river otters are giving birth, grouse have started drumming and the turkeys started strutting.
Just like clockwork, numerous bird species that are short-distance migrants recently arrived back in southwestern Wisconsin. Red-winged blackbirds, grackles, and robins have arrived in droves, while lesser numbers of killdeer, song sparrows, bluebirds, and eastern meadowlarks have filled in the gaps.
Migrating waterfowl have been moving through southeastern Wisconsin. The Bong Recreation Area has a had a wide variety of waterfowl stopping on the property including mallard, pintail, widgeon, ring-neck, redhead, canvasback, scaup, hooded merganser, wood duck, goldeneye, shoveler, tundra swan, Canada geese, and trumpeter swan. Six trumpeter swans have stopped on the property in the last month and two have remained for the last three weeks.
Maple sugarers were collecting sap last week but due to the fluctuating temperatures it has been on and off again. With a warm-up in the forecast the sap run may be in full swing again. There will be a maple sap program at High Cliff State Park this Saturday. A cool phenomenon this time of year is maple sap icicle. These can be located on maple trees that have been damaged and the sap freezes at it leaves the tree.
Pussy willows have begun budding. Hazelnut will be blooming soon, and the silver maples and willows will start to flower also.
Now is a good time to do invasives control work on woody species like buckthorn, honeysuckle, or even large oriental bittersweet. Cutting the stems and immediately treating the cut surface with an appropriate chemical is very effective.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - The cold temperatures of last week brought some hard crusty snow enabling folks to explore just about anywhere in the forest. Time to hunt for deer sheds? With cross country and snowmobile trails closed for the season, one has to rely on their feet to get them outside and enjoy this quiet time of the year. Quiet except for that chickadee or nuthatch that keeps telling us that spring is coming! - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Community Events
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