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(608)266-5780 | State Capitol, Room 307 West, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708 | rep.billings@legis.wi.gov

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Friends and Neighbors,

Early Voting

Early voting is now open for the 2018 Wisconsin Primaries! The 2018 Wisconsin Primary will take place on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. Ballots will be cast for a Justice of the Supreme Court and for the La Crosse County Treasurer. In order to vote, you must present an acceptable photo ID. Acceptable photo IDs include: a Wisconsin DOT issued driver's license, a Wisconsin DOT issued identification card, a U.S. passport or a Military ID.

Before you can request an absentee ballot, you must be registered. You can register to vote online, in-person at the municipal clerk's office -- this can be done until the Friday before the election -- or at your polling place on Election Day. If you choose to register online, you must print the form provided to you online as well as a proof of residence document and bring it to your municipal clerk's office or your polling place in order to complete your registration.

More information on how to register to vote, where your polling place is, a comprehensive list of acceptable photo IDs and more information about the 2018 Wisconsin Primaries can be found here.
 

Children's Caucus

Members of the La Crosse Area Family Collaborative (LAFC) came to the Capitol this week to brief the bipartisan legislative Children's Caucus on the fantastic work they do in our community. The LAFC has been very successful in their early intervention efforts and have seen reduced rates of children entering Child Protective Services and being being placed in out-of-home care. This neighborhood-based approach seeks to improve self-sufficiency in our community's most vulnerable families by providing immediate assistance and support as it is needed. The model employs community social workers and neighborhood resource officers - police officers who are assigned to a specific community and who build close relationships with the residents living there to best enforce the law and serve as liaisons between citizens and city administrative leaders. Neighborhood Resource Officer Dan Ulrich, who works in La Crosse's Washburn neighborhood, spoke to the Children's Caucus about the importance of building relationships with the members of the community he serves. He said neighbors know him by first name and feel comfortable talking to him and to the neighborhood's social worker; this puts them in the most favorable position to provide guidance and support. The success of the program also hinges on partnering with local non-profit organizations, faith-based groups, schools, government agencies and various stakeholders in the community.

A huge "thank you" goes out to La Crosse County Human Service Department Director Jason Witt, LAFC Director Isaac Hoffman and Officer Ulrich, who shared their expertise with the Children's Caucus. I am proud to represent a community that approaches these serious problems with innovative solutions and goes "all in" to make sure our most vulnerable members are supported.

La Crosse County Board Supervisors Monica Kruse and Tina Tryggestad joined Isaac Hoffman, Officer Dan Ulrich, Jason Witt and me for the LAFC presentation earlier this week.

Constituents in the Capitol

It was another busy couple of weeks of constituent meetings. I am always very grateful when people make the drive to come visit my office, especially during the winter. Below are photos of some of the groups I met.

I always know I'm in good hands on Doctor Day! Thank you, doctors and residents from Gundersen Health System and Mayo Health System for coming to talk about your legislative priorities.

Thank you, Catherine Kolkmeier, for being such a fierce advocate for the American Heart Association.

UW-L Alumni Day is one of my favorite days in the Capitol. A number of legislators and Capitol staff graduated from UW-L, and it is always a pleasure for all of us to meet the new generation of leaders.

A number of important bills this session have concerned the real estate industry, and I appreciate the realtors from the La Crosse Area who came to offer their expertise and weigh in on these issues.

High school student officers from Future Business Leaders of America, Future Farmers of America and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America visited me in the Capitol. It was inspiring to talk to these intelligent and driven young women.

Black History Month

As you likely know, February is nationally celebrated as Black History Month. This year, several of my colleagues in the Wisconsin legislature have formed a Black and Latino Caucus with the aim of highlighting issues in communities of color throughout the state. The group will be hosting a 2018 State of Black and Brown Wisconsin on February 12. In the State of Black and Brown, members of the black and Latino communities will discuss the strides communities of color have made, and the challenges they still face today.

There will be a number of upcoming events in La Crosse recognizing Black History Month and highlighting the accomplishments and lives of people and communities of color, including:

• Queer Cinema: "STILL BLACK: A Portrait of Black Transmen" -- Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. in the Cartwright Center, Room 337 (UW-L)

• "It Takes Respect" Keynote Presentation by Aeneas Williams -- Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center Main Theatre (Viterbo University)

• "Film Screening and Discussion: Lyfe's Journey" featuring singer and actor Keith Robinson -- Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in the Lunda Center (Western Technical College)

• "2016 Reflections of Ebony Weekend" -- Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27 (UW-L)

• "Movie Screening & Discussion: Cru" Featured Speaker: Actor/Singer Keith Robinson -- Friday, February 26 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Hall of Nations (UW-L)

• "Essence of Education" - Dinner and Featured Speaker: Dr. Shonta Smith at 5:30 p.m. in the Cartwright Center (UW-L)

• "Curiosity and Wonder: the Intersection of Art & Science" -- Sunday, February 28 - Tuesday, March 1 (UW-L)

• "South Asian Film Festival" -- Monday, February 29-Monday, March 7 at 6 p.m. in Centennial Hall, Room 1309 (UW-L)

DNR Wisconsin Hunter Ethics Award

Nominations for the 2017 Wisconsin Hunter Ethics Award are now open! You can nominate a person who displayed responsibility, safety and courtesy toward others on a specific occasion while out hunting. Examples of practicing hunting ethics include returning lost gear, helping find lost game or in any way acting in a way that furthers the rich history of responsible and respectful hunting in Wisconsin. Nominations must be based on a single instance you can point to as opposed to on a hunter's usual demeanor and conduct. All acts that happened between January 1 and December 31, 2017 would qualify as long as they were associated with deer, squirrel, turkey or another Wisconsin hunting season.

The winner will be determined by a four-person committee that studies all nominations. Vortex Optics, a Wisconsin based riflescope company, has partnered with the award for the second year and will provide a prize to the Wisconsin Hunter Ethics Award winner.

To submit a nomination for an act by a licensed Wisconsin hunter, send the explanation of the ethical act, along with the hunter's name, address and telephone number to Chief Warden Todd Schaller by email or letter. Submissions are due by February 15.

Email: Todd.Schaller@wisconsin.gov
Mailing address: Department of Natural Resources
Attention: Chief Warden Todd Schaller LE/5
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
 

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