Earlier this week I joined my Assembly Republican colleagues in unveiling our pro-kid education budget. Investing in our children’s education and ensuring that every child in Wisconsin has the opportunity to succeed is one of my top priorities as your State Representative. The GOP plan will invest a historic $12 billion in K-12 education and calls for $200 per pupil in additional funding for the first year, and $204 per pupil in the second year of the budget. The plan also calls for a $12 million increase in mental health services and a 13% increase in state funding for special education. The budget also fully funds high-cost transportation aid helping geographically larger school districts. Our plan delivers results for our children in a fiscally responsible manner, and it is my sincere hope that our education budget will move forward with bi-partisan support.
Budget Motion Passes
I was happy to hear that a budget motion put forth by Senator Tiffany and myself was successfully passed by the Joint Finance Committee this week. Our motion will provide Lakeland Star Academy in Minocqua a $250,000 grant. Lakeland Star Academy provides an invaluable service to our community, providing a world class educational environment to students with autism. By tailoring its curriculum and programs to the needs of each individual student, Lakeland Star Academy enables students to reach their maximum potential. I am thrilled to see our motion receive support and look forward to seeing the budget process move forward in the legislature.
Memorial Day Events
This Memorial Day I hope everyone will be able to attend a ceremony or service to honor America’s fallen heroes. The men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom will never be forgotten. I am honored to have been asked to speak at the Rhinelander Memorial Day Ceremony. Below is a list of Memorial Day events throughout the district.
This week two school groups from Central School and Zion Lutheran in Rhinelander visited the State Capitol. I hope everyone enjoyed their tour of the Capitol and learning about our State Government!
Students from Central School in the Capitol Rotunda.
Zion Lutheran students outside the Assembly Chambers.
I received this thoughtful thank you card from 4th graders at Sugar Camp Elementary who recently toured the Capitol. Thank you so much! I hope you all had a great time in the State Capitol.
Pioneer Park Historical Complex
Memorial Day weekend marks the opening season of the Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander. Learn about the history of the Northwoods including the importance of the logging industry to the area. Visiting the park is a great experience for the entire family. Pioneer Park also has several opportunities to volunteer over the summer. If you are interested please see below:
Wisconsin Historical Society Listening Session
On May 30, 2019, the Wisconsin State Historical Society will be holding a listening session on the planned new State Historical Museum. The listening session will take place in Eagle River at Olson Memorial Library, from 6:00 - 7:30 P.M
Mother Nature reminded some people in the north last weekend that winter was not quite finished. Pattison State Park received 3 inches of snow, but it did not last long as temperatures rebounded to the mid 50s after the storm.
Memorial Day weekend has arrived and so has the green growth. A green up of vegetation and regular rains have lowered spring fire danger statewide.
Water levels are still very high on the Wolf River system and a number of central Wisconsin lakes and local government officials have placed emergency slow no wake orders on some waters. Check with county or local officials before boating.
The northern zone musky season opens this weekend. White bass have been biting very well on the Wolf River, where there are also still walleyes being caught but not as many as there were a few weeks ago. Walleye are beginning to find their way back to the Upriver Lakes and Lake Winnebago and anglers have been having some success on rock reefs, although strong winds made fishing difficult on the system, particularly Lake Winnebago. Panfish anglers have also been finding some crappie and bluegill action in bays and channels. Fox River walleye fishing has slowed and anglers were getting a lot of sheepshead out of Voyageur Park.
High winds and waves creating unsafe conditions also kept a lot anglers off Green Bay and Lake Michigan. Waves were said to be 8 feet in the bay. Waves were crashing hard against the Lake Michigan jetties made them difficult to fish off. There were a few brown trout reported at Port Washington. Coho and brown trout were the most targeted fish out of Racine and Kenosha but very few coho have been caught lately.
This is the final week of turkey season and hunters are reporting good success. Many birds are being seen and toms are still strutting.
Early reports of fawns have come in. Please remember that fawns are often left alone for very long periods of time. This does not mean they have been abandoned and need human intervention. Fawns give off very little scent and are spotted to help camouflage them from predators. Adults stay away to protect the fawns. Please leave fawns alone and enjoy watching them from a distance. If you have any questions about "keeping wildlife wild" please check out the DNR website . There have also been reports of fox pups, including one near the Woodruff DNR hatchery.
Ramps are abundant in the woods. Trilliums are blooming in Door County with their carpet of white, making the woods a magical place. Bloodroot, spring beauties, marsh marigolds, trout lilies and bellwort are flowering.
Scarlet tanagers, indigo buntings, Baltimore orioles, rose-breasted grosbeaks, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and American goldfinches have been providing a bonanza of color even casual bird lovers can get excited about.
Oneida County - It's a great time of year to get out to hear and see song birds. This Blackburnian warbler is foraging for insects on the trunk of a large white pine in Vilas County. We've gotten a number of calls from landowners seeing and asking about fox pups. We have our own litter near the Woodruff DNR hatchery. Geese have broods of goslings already. - Michele Woodford, wildlife biologist, Woodruff
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
