Committee on Environmental and Forestry Public Hearing
The Assembly Committee on Environment and Forestry, of which I am a sitting member of, held a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss the following two bills:
This bill prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from requiring that a person sell reformulated gasoline if certain conditions are met. Under the federal Clean Air Act and under current state law, reformulated gasoline is the only type of gasoline that may be sold in areas designated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency as not meeting certain federal air quality standards and in certain other areas designated by the governor or by DNR. Reformulated gasoline is gasoline that is specially formulated to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants.
Assembly Bill 599: Relating to: determinations of navigability of a stream.
This bill establishes conditions under which, if the Department of Natural Resources has determined that a stream is not navigable, DNR's ability to change that determination is restricted. The bill also exempts certain impoundments from regulations relating to navigable waters.
Additionally, as part of the Red Tape Review initiative, the committee also discussed the following administrative rules. As you may recall from previous e-updates, the goal of the Red Tape Review initiative is to review each chapter of the administrative code, working to remove unnecessary, burdensome, and outdated regulations.
NR 215: List of Toxic, Conventional, and Non-conventional Pollutants
Rep. Swearingen during the Environment and Forestry Public Hearing.
Associated Builders and Contractors "Building Wisconsin" Award
I am honored to have received the Associated Builders and Contractors “Building Wisconsin” award last weekend. The award is given to legislators who have shown a commitment to advocating for free enterprise, open competition and Wisconsin’s merit shop construction industry. The industry plays an integral role in our economy and supports thousands of good-paying jobs. I take great pride in knowing that through our work here in Madison, we are supporting hard-working Wisconsinites all throughout the state.
Rep. Swearingen with Tom Gaber (left) and Dave Gaber (right) was presented the award at Gaber Electric in Rhinelander.
3rd Annual Lighting Up St. Germain Holiday Parade
I had a great time attending the 3rd Annual Lighting Up St. Germain Holiday Parade last Saturday. The event was a fun time for the whole community and a great way to kick start the holiday season. I would like to congratulate the St. Germain Chamber of Commerce for organizing such a festive and jolly event!
Horse drawn carriage rides were available during the parade.
Rep. Swearingen with Penny Wiesmann (left) and Judy Jurries (right) from the St. Germain Area Chamber of Commerce.
Heating Assistance
As the winter heating season approaches, Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) reminds customers that energy assistance applications now are being accepted by the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP).
WHEAP, directed by the Wisconsin Department of Administration, provides qualifying residents assistance with energy bills and emergency needs. Assistance is made in the form of a grant.
Eligibility for energy assistance is determined by household income level, and residents do not need to be behind on energy bills to receive a grant. More residents may be eligible for energy assistance this year due to changes in the income guidelines.
In order to receive a WHEAP grant, applicants must provide:
Proof of income for all household members for the past three months
Social Security numbers for all household members
Their most recent energy bill or their electric and/or natural gas account number
Photo ID (only applies to first-time applicants)
Rent certificate or statement (if heat is included in the resident’s rent, or the resident provides a separate heating payment to the landlord)
Anyone applying for energy assistance must contact the designated county agency. A list of energy assistance agencies in Northeastern and North Central Wisconsin can be found on the WPS website or by calling 866-432-8947.
The 2017-2018 Wisconsin Blue Books are now available upon request. If you would like to request a copy of the 2017-18 Wisconsin Blue Book, please reply to this email with your name and full mailing address.
Additional requests can be made by emailing Rep.Swearingen@legis.wi.gov or calling my office at 608-266-7141 or toll free at 888-534-0034. My office will be processing the requests over the next couple of weeks prior to shipping them across the 34th Assembly District.
You can view previous versions of the Wisconsin Blue Book online by clicking here.
Rhinelander School District Offers "Fab Lab Exploration" Class for Members of the Community
The RHS Fab Lab is offering the community a chance to attend a class this December to explore all the exciting things a Fabrication Laboratory can do. Participants will learn about and have the chance to use a Vinyl Cutter, 3D printers, 3D scanners, laser engravers and CNC Milling. The class is a great opportunity for a hands-on experience with easy to use and fun technology. In this class you will examine each tool and its associating software and construct practical items, decorations and signs. Your imagination is truly the limit to what you can make in a Fab Lab.
The class will take place over the course of three days. The main part is scheduled for Saturday, December 16, from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm. The class will also meet on the evenings of Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. RHS encourages you to sign up even if you are unable to make one or both of the evening meetings. All classes will take place in the RHS Fab Lab.
The instructor for the class will be RHS Industrial Technology teacher Mike Wojtusik. The fee is $45 per person. All ages are welcome (5th grade or younger must be accompanied by an adult who is also registered for the class).
Pre-registration is required. Please register by Thursday, December 14. To register, please visit the 'Community' section of the School District of Rhinelander website:
http://www.rhinelander.k12.wi.us/community/. Online registration is available with a credit or debit card. Simply follow the instructions on the website. Paper registration is available by mail or drop off. If you have questions, please contact Community Education Coordinator Mike Cheslock at 715-365-9745.
DNR Outdoor Report
Published November 30, 2017 by the Central Office
Another Wisconsin nine-day gun deer season is in the books, and preliminary registration numbers show a slight increase in statewide buck harvest, with 98,364 hunters successful in their pursuit of an antlered deer. Similar to 2016, northern counties again showed the most significant increases in both buck and antlerless harvest. Overall, preliminary figures show that 195,738 deer were registered down slightly from the 197,262 registered in 2016.
The gun deer season continued to show hunting as a safe recreational activity, as the season ended with seven hunting incidents and no hunting-related fatalities. None of these incidents involved mentored youth hunters.
The GameReg registration system worked well overall, with 62 percent of registrations completed online and 36 percent completed via telephone--while other hunters continued to visit walk-in stations that offer these services.
A muzzleloader season is now open through Dec. 6, and the archery season is open through Jan. 7. A four-day antlerless-only hunt will take place Dec. 7-10, while the holiday hunt will be offered in select counties from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2018. Any legal firearm, crossbow or archery equipment may be used during these hunts.
While the nine-day hunt has ended, hunters are reminded to connect with DNR staff on social media through the department's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Also, be sure to check out Wild Wisconsin - an all new web and podcast series focused on all things deer hunting. So far, more than 200,000 viewers have used the series to help prepare for deer season.
In the north, most of the snow that had fallen previously has melted with temperatures in the 40s and 50s. Marshes, ponds, and shallow lakes have a half an inch to an inch thin layer of ice on top and in most areas Ice is not safe to go out and ice fish yet. For those open water anglers, musky season closes today Nov. 30.
Snowshoe hares and weasels have gotten their white winter coats in anticipation of blending in with the snow-covered landscape. However, they are very visible in the fallen leaves and underbrush of the brown woods and their lack of camouflage makes them easier targets for predators. Bears are denned up.
Duck hunters are still having success on the Green Bay and other inland bodies of water. Pheasant stocking will resume on some state wildlife properties now that the regular gun deer season is over. And a reminder that the Dec. 10 deadline for spring turkey and bear permits is now just over a week away.
Wisconsin is experiencing a blizzard of snowy owls this year, with more than 100 found statewide since Oct. 20. Seeing one is a great thrill but remember to minimize stress on them by not approaching too closely. While the specific distance varies by situation, you are too close if the bird becomes alert, spends time watching you, and/or flushes from its perch. Learn more about finding and respectfully viewing snowy owls on the DNR website.
Flocks of snow buntings have also been reported. These plump songbirds possess lots of white in their plumage which when are in a flock suggests the image of a swirling snowstorm.
2018 Wisconsin State Park stickers are on sale Dec. 1 and make great gifts. Stickers are available at park and forest offices, all DNR service centers and by phone at 888-936-7463.
Woodruff DNR Service Center area
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - The State forest is enjoying October like weather! Most of the snow is gone and temperatures are above normal! Ice on area waters is thin at best, so outdoor enthusiasts need to be careful when crossing swamps and waterways on their way to their deer stands or if just out and about. It is a great time to sneak, look and listen to see if you can see that buck trying to get away from you! Be sure to check out the ironwood trees to see if there is a partridge budding in it! - Rosalie Richter, visitor services associate
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
