January 9

DNR Report

Superior DNR Service Center area

Brule River State Forest - A wet blanket of snow fell on the Brule area over the past 24 hours. Warm temperatures remain, making roads slick and slushy. Although many people are thankful for this prolonged fall weather of warmer temperatures and good driving conditions, many are hoping for at least enough snow to make it a white Christmas. We are still waiting for enough snow to quench the thirst of cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. The ground is still very soft so a few days of cold weather would also be helpful to create a solid base before we can start grooming and prepping the trails. - Edwin Koepp, visitor services associate.

Spooner DNR Service Center area

Crex Meadows State Wildlife - Winter is here, although the flowages are not iced over due to the warmer weather we have been experiencing. The roadways are clear and easy to travel, and winter birds are here. A few sandhill cranes are lingering in the farmland along Highway 87 south of Grantsburg near Assembly Road. Colder weather should make these birds leave soon. Trumpeter swans and Canada geese can be found in open water and in farm fields during the day. Rough-legged hawks have been seen. Bald eagles, crows and ravens are common. Lots of deer carcasses are along the roadways in and around the wildlife areas and these are popular sites to see these carrion feeders. Sharp-tailed grouse were reported along East Refuge Road. Common redpolls and American tree sparrows have been seen along the roadsides and at area feeders. Northern shrikes are present. Otters are easier to find during the winter months as they play and feed on the ice. Wolves have been active in and around the wildlife area - look for their tracks on sandy roads and freshly covered snowy roadways. - Kristi Pupak, natural resources educator.

Park Falls DNR Service Center area

Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) - With the mild weather of the last two weeks, most lakes have lost their ice cover and this put an end to any sort of early-season ice fishing. Some of the smaller lakes still held a thin layer of very soft ice, but it was not even close to a thickness that would support any kind of ice travel. Colder temperatures are predicted for the next week and should give the lakes a re-start on this winter's ice cover. But, it will take several nights of single-digit low temperatures to get the 3 to 4 inches of ice needed to support a person on foot. With the re-opening of many area lakes, there were a few anglers that took advantage of the situation and gave open-water fishing a try. Conditions have been rather windy and brisk, and success was generally low with just a few perch, crappie and small walleye being caught. Most anglers though are just biding their time until good ice re-forms on their favorite waters. - Skip Sommerfeldt, senior fisheries biologist, Park Falls
Flambeau River State Forest - One of these days, we will get enough snow so we can open our snowmobile trails and the ski trail! All of our grooming equipment is ready to go. We have had about 2 inches of rain the past few days and about 1.5 inches of snow on Monday. Otherwise the hiking trails throughout the forest are open but you will want to wear your rubber boots. The snow we received sure helped to pick up our holiday spirit. The Flambeau River is high and moving fast. Kayak and canoe enthusiasts need to put on their dry suits. Little Falls/Slough Gundy Scenic Area is beautiful with the snowfall. The lakes and river are open. Not much activity out there because of the precipitous weather. The chickadees are out in force investigating anybody in their territory with their round little black heads and little busy bodies and the pine siskins are flittering from branch to branch feeding on small seeds and cones. Lots of birds out there! It's easy to catch their movement without the leaf cover and the white layer of snow. The forecast for this week and weekend includes snow and colder temps then we have had lately and lows in the teens and single digits Friday morning. There have been a few grouse hunters out there and the archery and crossbow deer season is still open. Come north and enjoy the Flambeau River State Forest. Both Lake of the Pines and Connors Lake are closed till next season. - Diane Stowell, forestry technician.

Woodruff DNR Service Center area

Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest - Ski season is off to a slow start. All cross-country ski trails have been cleared and are ready for enough snow to groom, but there has not been enough so far this season. Snow is in the forecast this week and next. - Tony Martinez, forestry facilities worker.

Antigo DNR Service Center area

Langlade County - In the Antigo Area - Lakes that were iced over have opened up again with the recent rains and warm temps. Rivers and streams are either at or near record levels for this time of year. The unusually mild weather has provided for some good late season grouse hunting. Hunters are finding near ideal conditions to work their dogs one last time before the snow falls. - Eric J. Borchert, wildlife technician, Antigo.

Alzheimer Taskforce Update

Click here to view audio message.

A Message from Alzheimer Taskforce Chairman Rep. Mike Rohrkaste:

Hi everyone, Representative Mike Rohrkaste here with my second video update for the Speaker’s Task Force on Alzheimer’s and Dementia. The holidays are coming up fast and I just wanted to update all of you on the progress our bi-partisan task force has made.

As many of you may have noticed, the task force has been busy these last few months. Since October, have held six public hearings with four of them being held outside of Madison. Our public hearings were held at various locations throughout the state, including Valley VNA Senior Service in Neenah, Nicolet College in Rhinelander, Iowa County Health and Human Services in Dodgeville, and at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire. Our task force was also able to tour several facilities before our public hearings and I would like to thank all of the facilities that took the time to host us.

We all know that Alzheimer’s and dementia are a rising concern in the state of Wisconsin and across the U.S. This disease affects thousands of people every day here in our state and the goal of this task force is to help find solutions to some of the problems these diseases cause.

When traveling throughout Wisconsin, I believe we heard several common themes at our public hearings. Some of these include the need for increased respite care, additional dementia care specialists, and an increased awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our state needs to be educated and sensitive to the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. To many these are moms and dads, brothers and sisters, or friends who are living with these diseases and we need to do better to support them and those caring for them.

Although there is a lot of work that needs to be done we have heard of many great programs that are already being utilized by caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia throughout Wisconsin. Memory Cafés and dementia-friendly communities are some of the most successful programs and we have seen praise for them all around the state. These programs also continue to raise awareness in our communities and I would highly encourage any business or public facility to become dementia-friendly. Also, local Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Dementia Care Specialists are great resources for caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

As we move into the New Year, the task force will be looking to introduce several pieces of legislation which we hope will alleviate some of the problems these diseases pose. Once again, thank you all who are watching and thank you to all of those throughout our great state who have participated in or hosted our public hearings and tours.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Highlighting Wisconsin's Economic Growth

As 2015 is coming to a close, I would like to highlight some of the economic growth numbers and labor numbers as reported by the Department of Revenue and the Department of Administration.

According to the most recently released outlook by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Wisconsin's gross domestic product is projected to rise 4.0 percent in 2015 and 4.1 percent in 2016, in line with the projected national rate of increase of 4.2 percent and 4.5 percent in those years, respectively.

Total non-farm employment in Wisconsin is expected to increase 1.5 percent in 2015 and 1.4 percent in 2016. Nationally, non-farm employment is expected to increase 2.3 percent in 2015 and 1.8 percent in 2016. Wisconsin personal income growth is projected to increase 3.0 percent in 2015 and 3.6 percent in 2016. While this is slightly below the expected personal income growth nationally of an increase of 3.9 percent in 2015 and 4.6 percent in 2016, it is similar on a per capita basis.

Click here, for the full DOR Report.

According to the DOA Annual Financial Report:

- Wisconsin's unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate and is below the rates of other states in the Great Lakes region.
- Wisconsin's labor force participation rate of 68.2 percent was the ninth highest nationally in 2014 and well above the national average of 62.9 percent.
- Wisconsin's growth in gross domestic product since 2007 exceeds the region's growth over the same period.
- Wisconsin's per capita income growth since 2007 has exceeded the nation's and the region's growth.
- Wisconsin's median household income, $58,080, is 8.2 percent above the national average.
Click here, for the full DOA Annual Financial Report.