OUT AND ABOUT

AUGUST 2010 • INTER-COUNTY COOPERATIVE PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION

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Out & About

A summer guide to Northwestern Wisconsin

Enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors!

Sunset on the St. Croix River. – Photo by Erik Barstow (BarstowPhotography.com)

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Out & About - August 2010

There’s plenty to see and do in Burnett County After the storm

Sunscreen, please

Brian Chryst of rural St. Croix Falls captured this sky scene following three rounds of a nasty storm that went through the Spencer area on July 14. - Photo by Brian Chryst

Sharing

This small and pretty rare albino squirrel has made a home in the hillside behind a town of Siren home. While there are less rare white squirrels, this one has the characteristic pink eyes, the sure sign that it is a genuine albino. – Photo by Nancy Jappe

Trumpeter pose

A pasture in rural Webster is shared by a horse and a bird, two species that rarely see eye to eye this close up. - Photo by Gary King

These trumpeter swans were photographed north of Siren by Tracey Green. “Not the best (photo), but I love the posturing male,” noted Green. - Photo submitted

Out & About - August 2010

Local events August

5-8 - Siren - Siren Summerfest Days, Crazy Days, sidewalk sales, arts & crafts, queen pageant.

7 - Siren - Annual Coin Show - Sponsored by Fishbowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club at senior citizens center - 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. John Biver, 715-468-2012.

7 - Siren - Siren Lions Club BBQ - 11 a.m. - ? Crooked Lake Park, call 715-3497399.

7 - Siren - Burnett Arts Festival at Lakeview Events Center, 715-349-8448.

7 - Lewis - Youth in the Outdoors at Coyland Creek, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., 715-653-4273.

8 - Danbury - Ice-cream social at the Fort, 1 - 4 p.m. 715-866-8890.

8 - Webster – 2nd Alarm pancake breakfast at the Jackson Fire Hall, 8 a.m. noon.

8 - Siren - Syren Area Garden Club tour, noon - 5 p.m., 715-653-4242.

9 - Grantsburg - Pink Ball Golf Tournament - Women's League - for cancer research - Breast Cancer Society at Grantsburg Golf Course - 4 p.m. tee time.

10 - Grantsburg - Nature's Little Explorers at Crex, 10 - 11:30 a.m., 715-4632739, Alison.Cordie@wisconsin.gov.

11-13 - Danbury - Day Camp at Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, 715-8668890, www.theforts.org.

13 - Danbury - Wild rice pancake breakfast at the Fort, 8 a.m. - noon, 715-8668890.

13-15 - Webster - Gandy Dancer Days. Sponsored by the Webster Chamber of Commerce.

13-15 - Lewis - Lewis Memorial United Methodist Church Tent Revival.

14 - Webb Lake - Webb Lake Men’s Club Carnival. Dunk tank, midway, concessions, children’s games, teen events, turkey shoot, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Webb Lake Fire Department.

14-15 - Charles E. Lewis Days, Lewis, 800-222-7655.

21 - Danbury - The 10th-annual Oktoberfest - German dance and folk music, crafts, authentic German beer, brats, sauerkraut, - noon - 9 p.m. in Danbury Behind Log Cabin Store - Sponsored by Danbury Area Lions, Klaus Neider, 715-244-3403.

21 - Cushing - Cushing Fun Days.

21 - Frederic - Frederic Art and Craft Fair, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., by the museum, 715-327-4807.

21 - Frederic - Northland Ambulance Chicken Dinner.

26 - Danbury - Garden Tea, Forts Folle Avoine Historial Park, 715-866-8890.

26 - 29 - Grantsburg - Burnett County Agriculture Society Fair. Exhibits galore including animals, crafts, flower and crops. Demo derby on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.; Tractor pull at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Bruce, 715488-2472.

27-29 - Danbury - 37th-annual Traditional Wild Rice Powwow, at the St. Croix Casino Danbury, Tom at 715-349-2195, ext. 146.

September

3-5 - Siren - Siren Lions Annual Labor Day Garage Sale in Crooked Lake Park, Siren.

4-5 - Voyager Village - 34th-Annual Arts and Crafts Fair, Voyager Village Community Center, Webster, 715-259-3714.

4-6 - Balsam Lake - Corn on the Curb, 715-485-3424.

5 - Danbury - Wild Rice Pancake Breakfast at Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

11 - Osceola - Wheels and Wings Community Fair, Osceola.

18 - Webster - 30th-annual Webster Lions Musky Madness Tournament, Yellow Lake, 715-866-4788.

18 - Grantburg - Turkey shoot, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grantsburg Rod and Gun Club, www.grantsburggunclub.com.

24-25 - Siren - Siren Harvest Fest, 715-349-8399 or 715-349-8282.

25 - Grantsburg - Mushroom ID Hike, 10 a.m. to noon at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, 715-463-2739.

25 - Cushing - River Road Ramble, www.ourtimehascom.com/cushing.

25 - St. Croix Falls - Autumn Fest, 715-483-0022.

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A “to do” list

Burnett County has plenty of sights and activities to keep you busy all summer long

BURNETT COUNTY – Located in Wisconsin’s great northwestern territory, Burnett County features the unparalleled beauty of the wilderness with spectacular scenery, and offers opportunities for outdoor activities at their best!

Most of Burnett County was once buried under Glacial Lake Grantsburg which left over 500 lakes and dozens of creeks, rivers and brooks – more than 30,000 acres of water teeming with northern, muskies, panfish, trout, catfish and sturgeon. Along the St. Croix River Valley there is an abundance of fish, game, waterfowl, wild rice, deer, bear, beaver, otter and dense red and white pine forests.

About 125 of the county’s lakes have public access. Others are served by private resorts. Boat, canoe and pontoon rentals and sales, bait and tackle shops and expert fishing guides are available throughout the county. Whether you enjoy fishing, boating, waterskiing, swimming or just watching the sunset over the water, Burnett County’s crystal waters offer it all.

The St. Croix River, which forms Burnett County’s western boundary with Minnesota, and its major tributary, the Namekagon, form the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, one of the most beautiful and least developed river systems in the Upper Midwest, offering more than 150 miles of wild and scenic river canoeing and kayaking. Burnett County canoe outfitters and shuttle services provide convenient access, information and support for unexcelled wilderness canoeing adventures.

At Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park, visitors to Burnett County can venture back in time 200 years, to the time when two competing trading companies set up fur-trading operations here on the banks of the St. Croix.

In Burnett County, outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts will find more than 150,000 acres of densely forested public lands; hundreds of miles of groomed trails for bicycling, hiking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding and 50,000 acres of restored wetlands, bogs and prairie. Home to more than 250 species of birds, including rare and endangered trumpeter swans, great blue herons, ospreys, sandhill cranes, eagles, grouse, prairie chickens, ducks and geese, deer, bear, fur-bearing and prairie mammals and reptiles, Burnett

County’s forests, waters and wetlands offer wildlife adventures unlimited; fishing, ice fishing, wildlife observation, birding, plant collecting, berry, nut and seed gathering and big and small game hunting.

There are six golf courses open to the public in Burnett County, including one that is rated among the 10 best in Wisconsin; everything from par 3 to par 72, nine-hole and 18-hole courses, driving ranges and miniature golf, too. Here, shoppers will find antique, craft and specialty shops, flea markets, garage sales and craft shows.

Dairy farming is the mainstay of Burnett County agriculture, boasting a world cheesemaking champion at the Burnett Dairy Cooperative in Alpha.

World-class cheeses and exquisite fresh country produce are available throughout the county at roadside stands and “pick-your-own” farms, two county fairs and area harvest festivals.

Special things to do World championship watercross The exciting sport of watercross, where snowmobiles cross open water at top speed, began in Burnett County. The annual world championship competition, which is held every July on Grantsburg’s Memory Lake, draws competitors and spectators from all over the world.

County fairs In July and August, sample the best of Burnett County’s agricultural products, view the winning livestock, visit with the proud producers, trainers and handlers, enjoy the food, refreshments, rides, games and competitions at the two lively and colorful county fairs: The Central Burnett County Fair was in Webster; and the Burnett County Fair will be held in Grantsburg.

Town events Throughout the summer months, towns enjoyed a variety of celebrations, such as Frederic Family Days on June 1820, Fishermen's Party in Milltown and 100th-Anniversary June 19-27, Balsam Lake Freedom Festival on July 2 - 4, Danbury Days on July 3, Centuria Memory Days on July 9 - 11, Lucky Days held in Luck, July 16-18, Siren Summerfest on July 30 - Aug. 1 and Gandy Dancer Days will be held on Webster on Aug. 6 - 8.

Need more info?

Burnett County Dept. of Tourism & Information 7410 CTH K, No. 112, Siren, WI 54872 Phone: 1-800-788-3164 • (715) 349-5999 Web site: www.burnettcounty.com Danbury Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 196 • Danbury WI 54830 Phone: (715) 656-3292

This humungous toadstool was found lurking in the underbrush at Forts Folle Avoine during the rendezvous celebration. - Photo by Carl Heidel

Out & About • August 2010

Published by the Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association, Frederic, WI 54837 Manager: Doug Panek Contributing writers/photographers/compositors: Staff members of the Inter-County Leader and the state DNR

Grantsburg Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 451 • Grantsburg, WI 54840 Phone: (715) 463-2405 Siren Chamber of Commerce 24082 St. Rd. 35 N • Siren WI 54872 Phone (715) 349-5525 Webster Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 48 • Webster WI 54893 Phone: (715) 866-7774

Polk County Information Center 710 Hwy. 35 South • St. Croix Falls, WI 54024 Phone: 1-800-222 POLK • (715) 483-1410

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Out & About - August 2010

Ravine Trail restored at Interstate Park

Stonework back to 1930s CCC standards

by Gregg Westigard Leader staff writer ST. CROIX FALLS – The Ravine Trail in Interstate Park is now restored to its classic state as it was built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1930s. A crew of workers from the new Wisconsin Youth Conservation Corps completed a month’s work on the hillside descent Friday, July 16. Now hikers in the state park can safely walk from the Skyline Trail down some 260 feet to the beach area on a newly laid path that fits into the landscape so well it appears to have been there for years.

The fit crew, in hard hats and work boots, included Gina Diliberti, Jake Gerry, Rick Beckel, Brianna Burke, Kelly Sykora and Charlie Thompson. Diliberti, the crew leader, is an artist and sculptor from Milwaukee. The others are a high school student and college students with majors in ecology, environmental science and premed. They have camped out in the park for the past four weeks.

The work involved setting flat-stone steps into the hillside and connecting the steps with a series of crushed basalt paths that zigzag down a steep embankment. Before the trail could be restored to its original shape, a series of wooden steps and railing installed 15 years ago and now unsafe had to be removed.

The stone steps came from the old CCC traprock quarry that was the source of much of the material for the stonework throughout the park. A major part of the work involved “feathering” stones left in the quarry, splitting the large basalt rocks by drilling holes and driving wedges. Once split, the heavy stones needed to be hauled to the work site and set in place. All the work

The WisCorps crew completed four weeks of trail building in Interstate Park. The crew in hats (L to R) includes Jake Gerry, Rick Beckel, Brianna Burke, Kelly Sykora, and Charlie Thompson together with crew leader Gina Diliberti and Interstate Park Supervisor Kurt Dreger. In front are WisCorps Director Matthew Brantner and Tucker. - Photo by Gregg Westigard

was heavy lifting and muscle power.

Kurt Dreger, Interstate Park supervisor, brought WisCorps to the park. Dreger, who has a list of trail projects needing work, read about the new Corps and its specialty in conservation projects. The Ravine Trail project was high on his to-do list, but he wanted the work to fit into the hillside setting and restore/preserve the original CCC design as much as possible. Dreger found that WisCorps was interested, shared his view on how the project should be done and had a crew available.

Web site locates artists, crafters, farms, galleries, classes and more

NORTHWEST WISCONSIN - Looking for a place to go berry picking? For a particular artist or crafter? For art classes, festivals, galleries or museums in Northwest Wisconsin?

Now there’s a place online where you can find all these things and more. It’s heritagepassage.com, the improved, relaunched Web site of Wisconsin’s Northwest Heritage Passage.

“Our goal is for heritagepassage.com to be the ‘go to’ one-stop source for information about Northwest Wisconsin’s arts, crafts, artists, galleries, heritage and niche agriculture,” says Passage Vice President Jerry Boucher of Clear Lake. He and his creative team at What’s Playing magazine, along with Passage board members, accomplished the makeover in the spring.

Boucher continues, “The site is now more user-friendly and informative. We are posting learning opportunities: classes and those who wish to teach them.” On the updated site, users can list their arts events, download forms to join WNHP, order some of the remaining free 2009 foldout maps and find information about artists, crafters, growers, museums, theaters and other artsrelated destinations and products throughout 13 Northwest Wisconsin counties.

The site’s new banner showcases the work of Julie Crabtree, who is nationally recognized for her fine-art embroidery. Background texture designs are by Loretta Pederson.

“The Passage membership represents a huge amount of regional talent and many heritage resources,” Boucher notes.

WNHP was founded 11 years ago to support and promote arts, crafts, niche agriculture and the heritage of Northwest Wisconsin, originally focusing on counties along the Hwy. 63 corridor. Since then, coverage has expanded. “We’re here to support the ‘creative economy,’” says Boucher.

As of January 2010, Wisconsin is home to 10,207 artrelated businesses that employ 45,938 people, according to the Creative Industries Report from Americans for the Arts.

Passage members are listed on the site with links to their Web sites and other contact information. The Web site is an ongoing work in progress, and user comments are welcomed. To make suggestions, visit www.heritage passage.com and click on Contact Us. For additional information, call 715-635-9303. – submitted by Harriet Rice

MADISON – Unique perspectives on rural Wisconsin’s barns are immortalized in a new edition of a book by award-winning author Jerry Apps and photojournalist Steve Apps.

“Barns of Wisconsin,” originally published in 2001, describes how the earliest pioneer structures became low steel buildings of modern dairy farms, and how barns have adapted to meet the needs of each generation.

Apps, a University of WisconsinMadison professor emeritus, was born and raised on a small farm in Waushara County. In this book, he draws on his experience of hours working in a barn, milking and feeding cows, helping store hay in the haymow, and appreciating the barn’s importance to the life of a farm.

Two of the barns featured in the book are located in Washburn County.

Award-winning Wisconsin State Journal photojournalist Apps, who travels throughout the state documenting its beauty, including farmsteads and barns, provided more than 100 full-color photographs for the

book, which are highlighted by dozens of historic images. Both men worked together to illuminate a vanishing way of life, exploring myriad barn designs and the history and craftsmanship of Norwegians, Swiss, Finns and others who built and used them. The book also discusses the disappearance of barns from the landscape, and preservation efforts to save these symbols of American agriculture.

The book was published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, which was founded in 1855 and is the state’s oldest publisher.

Both men have Web sites where more information can be found – www.jerryapps.com, and www.steveapps.com.

“Barns of Wisconsin” can be purchased by calling 888-999-1669, or by visiting www.wisconsinhistory. org/shop. It is available at the Wisconsin Historical Museum Shop, 30 N. Carroll St., Madison, WI 53703.

The book can also be ordered on Amazon.com. – with info. from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press

”Barns of Wisconsin” celebrates our rural heritage

To get to the new Ravine Trail work, follow the Skyline Trail from its base next to the park center building and gift shop. The level trail passes through a wooden stretch along the top of the bluff. Look for the wooden Ravine Trail sign. The restored trail descends down the hillside and connects with a staircase that continues down to a stone shelter from the ‘30s and the beach parking area. Following the Meadow Valley and Horizon Rock Trails will bring hikers back to the center, a hike of about two miles.

Who built this boat?

A Minnesota man is searching for the builder of this unique vintage cedar-strip boat that he now uses at his cabin on a lake near Danbury.

Rick Lund of Brooklyn Park says he purchased the boat from a man in Amery who told him that he had purchased the boat years before from an elderly couple in Shell Lake and that the couple had owned the boat for years. The wife told the Amery man of the rides they would take on Shell Lake and the picnic lunches she would pack to eat along the way. She also mentioned that the boat had been built by a retired master boatbuilder in the 1950s. Last fall, Lund finished refurbishing the boat. “I would love to find out who made this wonderful boat,” he noted. “Elmer Anderson of Shell Lake has been helping me out but hasn’t had much luck in finding the maker, but I would like to thank Elmer for his efforts.” The boat is a 14-foot, three-seat fishing-style boat with a small deck in the front that has running lights and a spotlight. The most unusual characteristic of the boat is the recessed transom in the back.

If you know who the elderly couple was or who built the boat, please contact Lund at 763-360-4425 or lund.home@netzero.com. - Photos submitted

Tell them you saw it in the

Out & About

Out & About - August 2010

Page 5 WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

CREX MEADOWS WILDLIFE AREA

Lake district uses camera to stress importance of controlling invasive species

by Marty Seeger Leader staff writer MILLTOWN – With last year’s discovery of Eurasian water milfoil in Burnett County’s Little Trade Lake and the more recent finding of EWM in Pike Lake near Amery, the threat of EWM and other invasive species infecting more area lakes is very real.

Over 430 of Wisconsin’s lakes harbor EWM, and once the pesky aquatic plant is found, the effort to eradicate it, or simply contain it is, well, not that simple.

Take Beaver Dam Lake near Cumberland for example, which is one of Barron County’s best fisheries. According to the Beaver Dam Lake Management District‘s proposed budget for 2010, approximately $135,000 will be spent just to control and conduct surveys on EWM, and another $9,000 will be spent on an aquatic management plan. In some cases across the state, the township or county is forced to pick up the tab, making EWM just as harmful for those living off the lakeshore.

For those on the lakeshore, EWM and other invasive species can drop property values by as much as 13 percent. Fishing can also be dramatically affected as EWM crowds out native aquatic vegetation and reduces fish habitat, and in many instances, the quality of the entire fishery.

The Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest times of the season for boaters in Wisconsin, and the Half Moon Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District in Polk County was ready to educate boaters on the importance of removing aquatic vegetation from boat trailers before backing into the lake.

“It’s really interesting to see what people do here. They’re so curious about it, which is what we wanted,” said lake district treasurer Dan Leh, pointing to an

by Michael Leland Wisconsin Public Radio STATEWIDE - Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is again warning people who have

Crex Meadows

GRANTSBURG – Among the boundless natural resources to be found in Burnett County is Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, the largest wildlife area in Wisconsin.

Located near Grantsburg, Crex Meadows encompasses 30,000 acres of wetland, prairie and forest.

It is home to deer, bear, coyote, beaver and other mammals, along with more than 265 species of birds.

Thousands of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, loons, eagles, ducks, grouse, and osprey make their home, at least part of the year, at Crex Meadows.

In summer, eagles, osprey and loons are busy raising their young amidst the blooming prairie plants.

Management of Crex Meadows has focused on restoring the wetlands and prairies that historically were found in the area. Since its purchase by the Department of Natural Resources in 1946, 29 flowages have been built and 7,000 acres restored.

With the exception of a 2,400-acre refuge, the area is open to hunting and trapping. Crex Meadows is considered one of the best waterfowl and sharptailed grouse hunting areas in Wisconsin.

Along with hunting, visitors can enjoy birdwatching, hiking, tours and wildlife viewing.

Excellent access to the wildlife area is provided by more than 40 miles of road, from which most wildlife can be seen.

Self-guided auto tour booklets, bird lists, and other pamphlets are available at the Crex Headquarters on CTH D and F. For more information call 715-463-2896. - submitted

Going through the motions

The Half Moon Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District and Milltown Township are committed to keeping the lake clean for future generations. Pictured (L to R): Lake district members Rick Miller and Mike McMahon, Harlen Hegdal (Milltown town chairman), Dan Leh (treasurer), Pat McMahon (chairman), Josh Hatton (Clean Boats, Clean Waters employee) and Laurie Leh. – Photo by Marty Seeger angler checking out the landing’s newly installed motion camera recently. Prior to glancing at the camera, the angler spent a couple of minutes checking his boat trailer for weeds in a staging area before backing into the lake.

It’s difficult not to notice the camera, standing just over 2 feet and enshrined in solid stainless steel case with a solid base of concrete. When you walk in front of it, it can trigger an audio message about removing aquatic plants, but more importantly, records video of the boat backing in and out of the lake.

“I designed the camera five years ago to provide an ongoing preventative tool for the lake associations and districts,” said Eric Lindberg of Environmental Sen-

try Protection, LLC. Last year, in cooperation with the Milltown Township, the lake district applied for a DNR grant to help pay for half of the Internet-Landing Installed Device System, which is the first to appear on a Polk County lake. A number of lakes in Burnett County have already had I-LIDS cameras for the past four years including Yellow Lake, which has three, and Lake 26 and Mud Hen Lake each have one. So far Lindberg says the I-LIDS have had positive results. Once a camera takes video, it gets immediately uploaded to a computer that is monitored daily by a lake district member like Leh, Lindstrom or another volunteer.

In the first year they caught at least 10

damage from recent storms to watch out for scam artists.

DATCP’s Brock Bergey says these people often show up in communities that have been hit by storms and offer to do repair or cleanup work at a low price. He

says they may not have a background in home improvement and do a shoddy job.

In other scenarios, people may put up a down payment and never see the crews again.

DATCP says these contractors or com-

Storms bring out potential scams

launches where they noticed obvious weeds on trailers backing into the lake, and the following year, an ordinance was adopted in Burnett County that held the boat owner liable if they were caught backing a trailer with weeds into the lake.

Since the ordinance was put in place in Burnett County they’ve issued five citations to careless boaters, but have also handed out 10 gift certificates to those who cleaned their boats off at the launch.

I-LIDS are capable of reading registration numbers and license plates as well.

The ordinances in Burnett County and other counties across the state eventually led to a statewide no-transport law, making it illegal to leave a boat launch without first removing aquatic plants and animals that may be attached to trailers.

“The goal here is to get people to kind of modify their behaviors before we lose our lakes to Eurasian water milfoil, zebra mussels and all the other nasty critters that can take over the lake,” Lindberg said, adding, “It’s designed to do education and also provide a tool for enforcement.”

Along with the educational benefit and enforcement benefits, I-LIDS are helpful because they run continuously throughout the week. Volunteers for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program generally work the busiest time of the week to educate people about invasive species. Josh Hutton, a high school junior, works at the Half Moon landing on the weekends and is paid by the lake association.

But volunteers and cameras aside, the real responsibilities of keeping a lake free of invasive species rest on the general public. Lake associations, law enforcement, townships and volunteers can only do so much and it only takes a single boat or trailer to pollute a lake.

It takes just a few minutes to pull off to the side and remove aquatic plants and animals from boats before leaving the lake.

“The board is committed to keeping this lake clean,” said Half Moon Lake chairman, Pat McMahon, but added, “We have to be active, all of us.”

panies are often from out of town or out of state. It recommends hiring local, reputable companies, or companies people are familiar with to do this kind of work.

Page 6

Summer schedule of events set at Fort

Well, now, my last foray into the premises of Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park resulted in my discovery of the coming summer’s schedule of events.

Seems there are a slew of things for folks to become involved with this year, and even more may come about.

The following is the list of special events presently planned. Most are geared to enhance the fort’s educational mission of interpreting the original fur post sites; a couple are fundraisers; all are fun excursions exploring the essence of our heritage. Note that some have details yet to be finalized – when they are, further information will be forthcoming or folks can call 715-8668890 or check the Fort’s Web site: www.theforts.org.

To the schedule: Wild rice pancake breakfasts will be held on the following Sunday mornings: Aug. 15 and Sept. 5.

Sunday, Aug. 8 – Ice-cream social.

Yummy, ‘nuff said (besides, it’s all I know at this point!).

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Aug. 11, 12, 13 – Day camp. This annual edu-

POLK/BURNETT COUNTIES – The local farmers markets are in full swing with an abundance of cucumbers and dill for pickling, slicing and eating. Green and yellow beans, yellow and white onions, red and gold potatoes, orange carrots, ruby-red beets, green pea pods, red radishes. It is time to eat colorfully!

Many farmers have signed up to be vendors at the markets bringing a wide variety of fresh, picked-this-morning vegetables for you and your family to enjoy. At the Frederic market, the Amundson family has the biggest kohlrabi we’ve ever seen along with beans, zucchini, summer squash, Yukon Gold potatoes and more.

Dill and pickling cucumbers could be bought from the Vue family farm. Tony Hochstetler is still baking his wholewheat zucchini bread. He also offers

Out & About - August 2010

Folle Avoine Chronicles Woodswhimsy the gnome

cational program is designed for children entering fifth through seventh grades to obtain firsthand experience at what life was like in fur trade times.

Site staff and volunteers guide the youngsters through a series of activities that bring the era to life.

Thursday, Aug. 26. An elegant “high tea” with all the trimmings. Savory sweets and such, all served on handpainted tea sets.

Saturday evening, Oct. 9. The Beaver Club Dinner – a Fur Trade Celebration.

Based on the lavish but decidedly boisterous original fur traders club of the late 1700s-early 1800s, this event features food, song, story, and fur-tradestyle gaiety.

There also may be more craft classes added to this schedule. I will try to

Al Johnson of Forts Folle Avoine firing up the French-Canadian-style clay oven he built last summer. Several demonstations and a class will feature the oven during events this summer at the Fort site. – Photo submitted

obtain more information on these and keep you up to snuff.

Farmers market update

fresh honey and spins a great story about capturing a swarm of bees. The Gladiolus Lady is selling blooms by the stem or by the bunch. Adolf and Elvira have raspberries, eggs, jam and lots of produce.

The Ritchey family cares for a huge garden between Luck and Frederic and are selling produce at the Frederic market this year. The kids nominated their mom’s Garden Goulash as one of their favorite ways to eat beans. If you have an abundance of vegetables at your house you may enjoy this creamy medley, which is a variation of the recipe they shared at the market last Saturday.

Garden Goulash Veggie ingredients: 1 cup green/yellow beans, cooked 1/2 cup carrots, thick sliced, cooked

The Ritchey family, Amanda, J.P., Alex, and their mom Robin, play a quick game of cards while waiting for their next customers at the Frederic Farmers Market.

1/2 cup peas, cooked 1 cup corn, cooked and cut off the cob 1 cup, zucchini, cubed and cooked 1 cup, red potatoes, cubed and cooked

White sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of butter until melted. Stir in 1 tablespoon of flour. Stir and cook until bubbly. Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk. Stir constantly and cook over medium heat for two minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon fresh chopped dill and a dash of nutmeg.

Serious decision making for Joel Wells at the Amundson Family Stand. What to buy?

Beets or carrots, cukes or potatoes … or all of them? – Photos submitted

Signed, Woodswhimsy

Instructions: Combine the veggies (feel free to change the amounts and kinds of vegetables to your liking) in a baking dish. Pour the white sauce over the veg-

gies. Bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and bake until the cheese melts.

Local markets schedule Alpha: Thursdays, 4 – 6 p.m. in the Burnett Dairy parking lot. Falun: Fridays, 4 - 6 p.m. near Johnson Lumber.

Grantsburg: Mondays, noon – 2 p.m. in the library parking lot. Siren: Saturdays, 1 - 3 p.m. in the senior citizens center parking lot. Frederic: Saturdays, 8 a.m. noon in the Inter-County Leader parking lot. - submitted

Out & About - August 2010

Page 7

Crex education and visitor center

GRANTSBURG – The Crex Meadows Wildlife Education and Visitor Center is open from April through October, seven days a week, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center opened to the public on April 13, 2002, and was funded by monies raised by the Friends of Crex. The center is located at the junction of CTH D and CTH F. At the front of the building you will find a prairie garden with many of the prairie grasses and wildflowers found in the wildlife area. Many of the plants are labeled to help you with identification. This area was created and is maintained by Friends of Crex volunteers. Also notice the brick walk with bricks purchased by donors to honor friends and family. Proceeds from the sale of these bricks were originally used to help build the visitor center, and new funds are now put towards the endowment fund which was set up in 2003 as a source of perpetual funding for interpretive programs at the center.

The grounds at the wildlife education and visitor center include a paved handicapped accessible walkway through prairie plantings. Check out the birdhouses at the beginning of the walkway for nesting bluebirds and flickers. Behind the center is a boardwalk and nature trail. The boardwalk was built in 2004 and goes over a pond that was constructed by the local chapter of Ducks Unlimited and is used for educational purposes.

Inside the center you will find exhibits, bird and mammal displays, as well as artwork by local artists. Pamphlets, maps and other brochures are available both inside and out to help you plan and enjoy your visit better. Souvenirs are available at the gift shop, The Bog Shoe. The Friends of Crex sell these items to help fund the wildlife interpretive program.

Other facilities include offices for Friends of Crex and DNR staff, a 52-seat auditorium equipped with audiovisual booth, a small stage and a podium, a full kitchen and a large classroom/meeting hall. These facilities are used by the Friends of Crex and the DNR and are also available for groups and organizations to use for meetings and events. Please contact the Crex staff at 715-463-2739 for more information on how to reserve space for your next event.

Crex Meadows staff and volunteers are available to guide tours of the wildlife area. If you have a wildlife club, birding club, school group or other group interested in coming to Crex Meadows for a guided tour, please contact them at 715-4632739 for more information.

Crex Meadows is the largest wildlife area in Wisconsin. It contains 30,000 acres of prairie, wetlands and forests. Since its purchase in 1945, work has been under way to restore the native plant and wildlife communities that were disrupted during settlement by wetland drainage and control of naturally occurring wildfires. Because of intense management conducted at Crex, native plants and wildlife are again flourishing. This wildlife showplace is home to 270 kinds of birds and numerous other wildlife plus an abundance of colorful prairie flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer. To learn more about Crex Meadows, explore their Web site at www.crexmeadows.org. – from Crex Meadows Web site

Gandy Dancer Trail

The 98-mile recreation trail follows the railroad grade from St. Croix Falls north to Superior. This grade was commercially used for approximately 100 years starting in the late 1880s. Upon abandonment, part of the corridor was purchased by Burnett County and the state of Wisconsin for use as a recreational trail. The trail was named for the railroad workers, who used tools made by Gandy Tool Co. and came to be known as Gandy Dancers.

Recreational use on the trail is divided by geographic location: south half and north half.

The south trail segment extends 47 miles from St. Croix Falls to Danbury, paralleling Hwy. 35 most of the distance.

This segment was surfaced with crushed limestone in 1995 and offers a smooth, hard surfaced trail with use limited to biking and hiking from April through November. A bike pass is required.

The north segment runs 51 miles from Danbury through eastern Minnesota to Superior.

The segment offers a wilder, more remote trail experience. Hiking, mountain biking and ATV use is permitted. No pass is needed to use the north section of the Trail, but ATVs must display valid registration.

A Wisconsin State Trail Pass is required of all bicyclists 16 years of age or older riding the trail between St. Croix Falls and Danbury. A Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Conservation Patron license will be honored as a bike pass. Trail passes must be visibly displayed when using the trail. A pass is not needed for hiking. Handicapped/disabled persons in wheelchairs do not need a pass.

Trail passes are available at the Polk and Burnett County Tourism centers and from business vendors located in communities along the trail. Pass fees are $4 for a daily pass and $20 for an annual pass, subject to change.

Trail passes are issued to individuals, not bikes. As such trail passes cannot be passed from person to person or shared with others.

Public parks and rest areas are located in or near the villages on the trail.

Trail passes are available at the following locations: Polk County: Luck: Luck Country Inn and Natural Alternative Co-op Frederic: Frederic Depot, the village office St. Croix Falls: Polk County Information Center Milltown: Northbound Sports Centuria: Glass Bar Burnett County Danbury: Hill Home Center, Log Cabin Store.

Siren: The Lodge at Crooked Lake, Yourchuck’s True Value, Best Western, Timberland Gifts & Goods, Inc., Peggy’s Fashion Rack, county clerk’s office or Burnett County Parks office Webster: Webster Ace Hardware - from the Gandy Dancer Trail Web site

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Out & About - August 2010

Burnett Arts Festival blends area history with fi fin ne arts and crafts

SIREN – In the early 1800s, the first settlers arrived in what is now called Burnett County. Their history and the trails they traveled will come alive at the Burnett Arts Festival, Saturday, Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., at the Lakeview Event Center on Hwy. 35/70 just north of Siren.

Blending art, history and culture makes this year’s BAF unique, according to Burnett Area Arts Group President Harriet Rice. “We partnered with the Burnett County Historical Society for our special exhibits and guest speakers,” she said.

“Combining these elements with sights, sounds, tastes and touch makes for a fun, day-long adventure the whole family can enjoy.”

In addition to shopping and meeting nearly 50 local and regional fine artists and artisan crafters, visitors can interact with BCHS history interpreters from Forts Folle Avoine, a local fur trader historic site, as they display and talk about replicas of 1800s firearms, historical maps, documents, tools, and other artifacts arranged within a “wedge” encampment constructed inside the event center. Collector and primitive jewelry crafter Al Johnson will be on hand to explain the culture reflected in his array of vintage trade beads.

From the Russell Palmer Research Center/Library at the Forts, Sue Armstrong

and May Schultz will have historic documents on display along with sales of history-related books by local authors and reprints of the first Burnett County platt book published in 1918. They will also

consult with residents interested in local family genealogy.

Historian Clayton Jorgenson of Grantsburg will recount stories of the original Burnett County trails, roads and historic places, relating anecdotes to his collection of vintage maps. “Clayton is a most entertaining storyteller; he loves his subject matter and he knows nearly everything about the history of our communities – it’s fascinating to hear him,” said Rice.

Two local musicians will entertain throughout the day: the Mitch Keating Duo from Grantsburg and Doug Crane of Siren.

Siren artist and North Wind Arts owner Jenny Goalen will lead a public art project in which visitors of all ages are invited to help create a mosaic she designed depicting an historic scene from Burnett County’s history. BAAG is donating the completed artwork to the Burnett County Government Center where it will be on permanent public display.

Members of the community have submitted their own artistic interpretations of Burnett County which will be showcased in an exhibit entitled “Burnett County Through Artists Eyes – Yesterday and Today.” Some works will be for sale.

There will be a silent auction of art as well as prize drawings throughout the

It was always a dream of mine to someday score a job with the DNR, working outdoors as a wildlife biologist, studying elk herds in the Rockies – or shocking fish as a fisheries biologist on a local lake – it all sounded good to me.

Marty After high school I Seeger actually pursued that dream for a couple of years while attending The Vermilion Community College in Ely, Bottom Minn., but eventually Line realized that working with wildlife wasn’t my passion, or at least, understanding the math and science that comes with it wasn’t for me.

Fortunately, the love of the outdoors

hadn’t left me, and writing eventually proved to be a great way to connect me with the outdoors. While I may never attempt employment for a job with the DNR, the itch to get involved comes back from time to time, or at least to get involved with the DNR in some fashion. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of ways to help study wildlife or get involved.

The game bird brood observation survey is a good start. For those of you interested in the wild turkey, pheasant, ruffed grouse, gray partridge, sharptailed grouse, bobwhite quail or greater prairie chicken, you can help the DNR by recording all game bird broods seen in your area through Aug. 21 of 2010.

“This is sort of our effort to reach out to citizens to gather their input, and their observations from the field,” says Sharon Fandel, the DNR’s acting upland wildlife ecologist.

With such a small DNR staff size,

Fandel says the more information they can get from the public the better in determining how populations are doing in the state. Although the bird surveys themselves have been going on for decades with landowners and DNR staff, this is relatively new in getting a large portion of public involved, and there’s still plenty of time to help out with the surveys. It takes little time and is a great way to get youth involved with the outdoors. To get started, and for more information on the surveys, visit http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/ wildlife/harvest/brood.htm.

“Also, it’s just an effort to capitalize on the citizen science that we can use.

So if we can make it fun and interesting for people to help us do the work, that we’re trying to do with a limited staff, and be able to gather good data from that assistance, then why not?” Fandel said.

Although the brood surveys are not

by Priscilla Bauer.

Leader staff writer GRANTSBURG – Cindi Peer was ready; she had a strategy and with her husband, Greg, at her side, smiled confidently and said, “I’m lucky, he’s not.”

Peer went to Grantsburg Family Foods recently to grab some groceries, as many as she could in one minute to be exact.

She had won a speedy shopping spree in a drawing held during the store’s recent

remodeling celebration and it was time to test her shopping savvy.

As soon as assistant manager Matt Fury gave her the signal to start Peer closed in on the candy aisle and was off and running, literally.

Followed by Fury, pushing several empty carts just in case she filled her first, Peer made a quick stop at the cheese shelves.

Then, showing no signs of frenzy, Peer

Grantsburg historian Clayton Jorgensen, will be the featured speaker and will display his vintage maps and tell how the first roads and trails came to be in Burnett County. – Photo by H. Rice

day.

The Lakeview Event Center bar will be open, featuring wine tasting, beer and other adult beverages. BAAG will sell food for lunch, water and soda; there’s kettle corn and desserts, too. “Last year’s BAF attracted nearly 2,000 visitors,” noted Rice. “Once again BAAG is the recipient of grants from the Wisconsin Humanities Council and the Wisconsin Arts Board – we are grateful for their support.”

The BAF, held in conjunction with the Siren Summerfest, is sponsored by the Burnett Area Arts Group and North Wind Arts & Gallery. Admission and parking are free. For additional information, call 715-349-8448. - submitted

hard-core science, the general observations by the public provide the DNR with an index that can show how populations are doing. It creates a better database from which to work, and can help give a broader perspective to go along with other data that can contribute to wildlife numbers.

Fandel says that the surveys have already been showing use online, but if you don’t have access to submit information online, you can also submit paper copies. For that, you may contact the survey database manager, Brian Duhey, at 608-221-6342. For those not interested in the brood surveys, there are also opportunities to participate in online surveys that aim to help monitor deer reproduction. All of this information can be found on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.wi.us.

Grantsburg Family Foods celebrates store remodeling with customer shopping spree

Cindi Peer was ready; she had a strategy and with her husband, Greg, at her side, smiled confidently and said, “I’m lucky, he’s not.” Peer went to Grantsburg Family Foods to grab some groceries, as many as she could in one minute to be exact. Peer won the speedy shopping spree in a drawing held during the store’s recent remodeling celebration and it was time to test her shopping skills. – Photos by Priscilla Bauer

Recent remodeling at Grantsburg Family Foods Store, including the expanded produce and deli areas, was celebrated recently with a customer appreciation drawing for a one-minute shopping spree.

made her way methodically to the meat section where she handled hams with ease.

With seconds to go Peer piled a few more pounds of pork in her cart then was cheered on to the checkout.

At the register Peer realized she’d racked up a hefty haul. The total tally was $284.87.

As store manager Jeff Lehnen began the bagging, Fury finalized the feat, presenting Peer with her rewarding receipt.

Note: Peer generously gifted her groceries to the Shady Knoll Home residential living and respite care facility in Grantsburg.

Out & About - August 2010

Davis’ blooming yucca plant

Michael and Marlyn (Strasser) Davis are shown standing beside the blooming yucca plant (or possibly a combination of two plants) growing in their garden in the town of Siren.

“Yucca plants don’t grow up here,” Michael said, commenting that these plants are usually found in New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming or California. It is believed that the plant only blooms once in its lifetime. When the photo was taken, it was in the second week of bloom. Marlyn got the plant via mail order some years ago. There is also a second yucca that bloomed five or six years ago, and three smaller ones planted along the garage.

The yucca is New Mexico’s state flower. It grows in hot and dry areas as far north as Canada and is used as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Photos by Nancy Jappe

Early warning

The colors of these leaves just north of Siren remind us that fall is not far away - perhaps an early warning? - Photo by Dawn Green

Self serve

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The Herrick family on Bass Lake on Evergreen Avenue in Polk County received a visitor about 6:30 a.m. Thursday morning, July 8. “He checked out the feeders in front and the woodpile behind the house,” noted Julie Herrick. “After ambling back and forth awhile, he loped off into the thicket.” But the bear returned at about 8:30 a.m., pulling on a branch to access the feeder. “All I saw was the rear end of him and the branch shaking wildly,” noted Julie. “He ran off again, and needless to say, we didn‘t waste any time pulling down the feeders!” - Photo submitted

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Out & About - August 2010

Rumors Bar and Grill in Siren opened July 16

by Nancy Jappe Leader staff writer SIREN – The grand opening of Rumors Bar and Grill was held Friday, July 16.

Hobbie and her husband, Mark, who are already a part of the neighboring Best Western Northwoods Lodge, took back the restaurant when the previous owner of TJ’s Sports Bar pulled out recently.

There wasn’t even a gap in open hours – the building was normally closed Monday and Tuesday. When Wednesday came around, the new ownership was in place.

“People had been asking what was going on,” Hobbie said. “There were so many rumors floating around. We didn’t want this to be seen as a negative. We say, ‘It is just rumors.' (That) stops the conversation.”

Hobbie thought about “Talk of the Town” as a possible name.

Then “Rumors” was suggested, a name that really seemed to fit.

Hobbie’s goal is to make Rumors a place for a positive dining, evening-out

Years ago, Lisa Hobbie told caterer Kathe Good that one day she wanted to work for her.

That has now happened with the opening of Rumors Bar and Grill in Siren. Working in partnership there are: (L to R) Lisa and Mark Hobbie, holding their son, Mitchell, and Good, the bar and grill’s chef/kitchen manager. – Photos by Nancy Jappe

The inside of the Rumors Bar and Grill in the Northwoods Crossing building on the southwest corner of the stoplight intersection in Siren will stay basically the same under new ownership. Changes in the bar, taking it away from the sports-bar look, are under way.

experience. She wants it to be a place that everybody goes to have a good meal and a fun time, and a place where, to quote from the TV sitcom “Cheers,” “everybody knows your name.”

Her name is already known in the local area. Hobbie is the daughter of banker Kerry Brendel and his wife, Cindy, from Frederic. She worked at the Best Western Northwoods Lodge during high school and is currently its director of operations.

She is also employed as communications coordinator for Northwest Passage in Frederic.

“People ask me how I can do it (all),” Hobbie said. “My answer: it works with really great people (on the team).”

A key person on the team is also well known in the local communities.

Chef/kitchen manager Kathe Good got her cooking start in her family’s business, Sporty’s, north of Siren. She ran a catering service, Good Stuff Catering, for many years and had a business location on the west end of Main Street, Siren.

Good and Hobbie got to know one another when Good supplied breakfast muffins for the motel customers. “I told her someday I would work for her,” Hob-

bie recalled. The two would talk about upcoming weddings and other events planned at the motel. Now the time has come when they are working as partners.

They have the kind of relationship where they can finish each other’s sentences as they talk about this or that.

When the complex changed hands, Hobbie knew she had a commitment to keep to the people who had planned to use the facility for weddings and other upcoming events. “I felt I wanted to fulfill that commitment as far as I could,” she said. Thirty events are already scheduled between now and the end of the upcoming winter. Hobbie plans on adding a lot more, including maybe an adult prom and a bluegrass night with band and polka music.

A lot of changes are in the works for the near future, including refurbishing in the bar area. “People will be quite surprised.

Many good things are taking place that will be exciting for everyone,” Hobbie said, adding that the changes will turn the bar into the opposite of a sports bar.

Pricing of meals in the grill will center on keeping the cost for most everything under $10. The daily specials will feature Good’s Sporty’s Spuds and Oakey Pig chicken on Mondays, tacos on Tuesdays, wacky wings (a big plate of wings) on Wednesdays, thick-cut pork chops Thursdays, fish fry Friday, prime rib Saturday and ribs on Sunday. Everyone will get a treat at the end of a meal, and there will be drink specials every night.

On hand from time to time will be the Hobbie’s 16-month-old son, Mitchell Douglas, the light-haired charmer called “the best little host.” Mitchell loves to wipe down tables, and he has been seen going around the dining room pushing a vacuum cleaner.

“I am sure glad to be here. What a blessing!” Good said. “It’s just a fun place.”

Rumors Bar and Grill is open seven days a week, from 5-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Specialty store opens in Siren

Out & About - August 2010

by Nancy Jappe Leader staff writer SIREN – “This is a ‘people’s’ store.

People make it what it is,” Brian Langdon said as he talked about the new specialty shop he and his wife, Pat, have opened in Siren. “If there are things people want, we will be more than happy to [get them]. We have already done that. In the month since we opened, we have brought in a lot more product that people have requested. That is what makes the store fun. If five or six people ask for [an item], you know it is going to sell, and it has.”

Langdon aptly describes himself as a “people person,” a person who enjoys talking to those around him. He’s also a person who enjoys owning his own business, having fun bringing to life around him ideas that originate in his own creative brain and from his own experiences.

Before they moved to Burnett County and Voyager Village five years ago, Brian and Pat Langdon owned an animalhealth pharmaceutical business. That business was located in Farmington, Minn. They thought about moving to the Lake Superior area, but found that the cost of housing was higher there than they wanted to pay. They found and bought a house they liked in Voyager Village. Luckily this was before the housing market crashed, and their house in the Twin Cities area sold right away, at a higher price than they had expected.

Since he has been up north, Langdon has worked at odd jobs for several different companies. He had a big area to cover as an advertising salesman for Advance Printing in Hayward. His terri-

tory ran from Hwy. 70 to Michigan, over to Duluth, down to Pine City, Minn., and Rush City, Minn. He met a lot of people and made a lot of contacts. But the lure of owning his own business again wouldn’t let go.

“Owning your own business for that length of time, you get it in your DNA – wanting things to go my way. There is a lot of fun in creating your own business.

There are a lot of headaches, but it’s fun and self-satisfying,” Langdon said. He followed this with a quick caution: “Owning your own business is not for everybody. You have to have a different mind-set when you do this kind of stuff.”

“I think Siren was the best possible location for a store like this,” he went on, bringing the listener back to the new business. He explained that there are specialty stores in Hayward and the surrounding areas, but if people want to get something similar to what is carried in JLM Country Store, they have to go to Hudson or Duluth/Superior.

So what does the country store carry?

In stock you will find: Bulk foods, snacks, specialty beverages, including organic and gluten-free, dietary supplements and energy bars. A special emphasis on organic and gluten-free products is identified by the lime-green label in front of the display.

What might be considered unusual items carried in the store include beverages that are organic and gluten-free, Watkins organic spices, energy bars that are very sought after by customers.

Since the store opened June 8, soup mixes and snacks have gone over very well, along with the gluten-free products.

Surprising to Langdon, vitamins, miner-

Some of the many products carried in JLM Country Store in Siren located at 24248 Hwy. 35/70. The owners are very open to the idea that if you don’t see what you are looking for on the shelf, ask and they will get it for you, something they have already done for customers in the since the store has been open.

Brian Langdon and his wife, Pat, are the owners of a new specialty store in Siren known as JLM Country Store. The store offers bulk foods, snacks, beverages and supplements plus a variety of organic and gluten-free products. – Photos by Nancy Jappe als, medicinal teas and nutritional products haven’t yet taken off.

“As people ask for something, we bring it in,” Langdon said, adding that his pricing is competitive with big stores like Wal-Mart and Walgreens.

With JLM Country Store, the Langdons are trying to provide products that can’t be found anywhere nearby. “One of the fun things about it is pulling things together and bringing in things that are unusual,” Langdon commented. He loves the thought that the stores in Siren are all different, that they provide customers with a wide shopping experience when each store has its own niche items.

“As a community, that is what we should be doing … everybody with different things to get people into this community and stay in this community,” he said.

As to future plans, Langdon would like to start four or five similar stores in small communities, with Siren as the base store. “I’m in this for the challenge. It is fun to sell something and make it so it can be replicated very easily,” he said.

In addition to the wide variety of products offered in JLM Country Store, the Langdons provide reference books on such things as vitamin supplements and nutritional ailments. There’s an area where people can sit and read the books

JLM Country Store is located in the shopping complex just south of Crooked Lake Park, on the east side of the highway. It is open five days a week – closed Sundays and Mondays. The number to call for information is 715-349-HEALTH (4325).

and take information from them. Someday there may be books for people to buy and take home to read at their leisure, but for now, the books are for in-store reference.

JLM Country Store is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Saturdays the hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The hours may be altered from time to time, depending on what events are going on in town. And, geared to meeting people’s needs, as Brian Langdon is, he quickly added that if there is something you really need, just call him. The number to call is 715-349-HEALTH (4325) or on the Internet at www.jlmcountrystore.com.

Pultizer Prize-winning play at Festival Theatre

ST. CROIX FALLS – The 2010 Theatre Series continues at Festival Theatre, where “Proof” opened on Saturday, July 31. This is the company’s 21st consecutive year of producing professional theater in the Upper St. Croix River Valley. When “Proof” opened, it joined this summer’s rotating repertoire of three productions including “To Fool the Eye” and “Red, White and Tuna.”

“This has been quite a wild summer,” said Danette Olsen, executive director at Festival Theatre. “We haven’t attempted a rotating repertoire season for many years and, with our very small stage space and practically nonexistent backstage or storage, having three shows up and running in rotation is an engineering feat of great magnitude. In truth, it’s going quite well, much to the credit of set designer David Markson and technical direction by Rod Sietsema. We couldn’t have a better crew, which is lead by Peter Weber and the entire artistic company has kept their shoulders to the wheel putting it all together.”

As the only full-on drama of the season, “Proof” carries the weight of fulfilling Festival Theatre’s commitment to staging serious plays along with lighthearted.

Written by David Auburn, “Proof” was awarded both a Pulitzer Prize as well as a Tony Award in 2001. It is a family drama set in Chicago where a young woman has been caring for her father, a retired mathematics professor. When he dies and leaves behind 103 notebooks that could be full of brilliance, a former student believes that the notebooks may hold some of the most important

Page 11

mathematics being done today. Ultimately, “Proof” examines the relationship between genius and madness as well as the fears that inhabit those who witness mental illness within their families.

Starring as daughter and father are Kaija Pellinen (Catherine) and Rob Gardner (Robert), with Jaclyn Johnson and Darrell Johnston in supporting roles. “Proof” is directed by Jennifer Ward.

A critic for the New York Times called “Proof” an exhilarating and assured play, one “that turns the esoteric world of higher mathematics literally into a backporch drama, one that is as accessible and compelling as a detective story.”

“Proof” contains adult language and subject matter.

It will be on stage at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12, 13, 26 and 28 and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 12 and 22. For a complete schedule of all the Festival Theatre productions, see the Web site www.festivaltheatre.org or call for a season brochure.

“Proof” is Flex Pass eligible for those who are (or become) subscribers to Festival Theatre, otherwise tickets for the play are $26 for adults and $13.50 for youth.

Festival Theatre is located in downtown St. Croix Falls, at 210 North Washington St. To reach Festival Theatre by phone, call 715-483-3387 or 888-887-6002. - submitted

Kaija Pellinen and Rob Gardner star in “Proof” which opened Saturday, July 31 at Festival Theatre. – Photo submitted

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Trumpeter swan success story continues with DNR, volunteer efforts

Out & About - August 2010

For the good of the swan

by Marty Seeger Leader staff writer RANGE – Resembling a small naval fleet, approximately 25 kayaks of nearly every length, shape and color slipped into the waters of Townline Lake, located just north of Range on CTH D. Under bright, baby-blue skies and a light breeze, the crew had just one goal in mind as they paddled methodically toward a large flock of trumpeter swans that had taken residence there to molt.

After several minutes of paddling, and positioning kayaks to corral the flightless birds away from the shoreline, this reporter, (a first-time kayaker), finally caught up with one, and placed a gentle hand on its back. The hefty swan stopped paddling almost in an instant, and gently lowered its head.

“Good job, we got him,” said Polk County wildlife biologist Michelle Carlisle, who was just one of about 30 DNR employees, interns and volunteers that gathered for an annual occurrence they call the swan roundups, which take place in random locations across the state each year.

After enlisting two pairs of hands to help steady her kayak, Carlisle gently hoisted the docile swan into her skiff without as much as a twitch, and it was back to business for the others to try and round up the rest of the swans scattered across the lake.

Getting started At precisely 10:15 a.m., on Thursday, July 15, Mike Weinfurter, chief pilot from the DNR hangar in Rhinelander, arrived overhead and began circling Townline Lake. Weinfurter quickly radioed down to the waiting crowd below, to inform those with radios that he could see 27 swans. For several years, the DNR has used the planes to help coordinate the ground efforts of the kayakers, and to help spot fleeing swans the kayakers can’t see.

After a short briefing from retired, (now part-time) avian ecologist Pat Manthey on how to handle birds, and what to expect, kayakers got to work. It took about three hours to capture a total of 26 swans, with most being last year’s cygnets (hatched last year). The birds were then moved to large crates where a handful of other volunteers and DNR staff banded the swans on both legs and fitted them with numbered collars before being released safely.

“It’s a record. It’s the most we’ve ever caught at one site,” Manthey said.

Swans are spectacular to observe with their sheer size and graceful flight, but for about one month each year they become flightless during the molting process. It makes it easier to capture the birds and gives the DNR an opportunity to continue the study of a species that was extirpated from the state of Wiscon-

A volunteer gets set to turn a trumpeter swan back out to Townline Lake, just north of Range. The swan was fitted with a yellow collar and banded on both legs. – Photos by Marty Seeger

sin for about 100 years. They were extremely valuable, not only as a food source, but also for their plumage, and those factors, among others, eventually led to their demise.

Reintroduction efforts It wasn’t until the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that the DNR started efforts to reintroduce the species back in the state.

“In the early years we were releasing birds that we had in captivity to reestablish its population,” said Manthey, noting that the majority of the Wisconsin population got its start from gathering wild nest eggs from trumpeter swans in Alaska. The eggs were then hatched in incubators and raised at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Since then, the trumpeter swan has reached a sustainable population and was removed from the state’s list of endangered species just last year.

“I think that it’s obviously a success,” Manthey said.

When asked what the current state population might be, Manthey could only guess because she has yet to work on that data, but said it could be close to 200 nesting pairs and close to 800 total birds during the peak of the season. And while the population numbers are handy in reference of the trumpeter swan success story, Manthey says the DNR’s focus has been on monitoring the breeding population.

“They can be anywhere, and we just can’t cover the whole state, so we put the resources we have into the breeding population, and that’s a good way to monitor the population anyway, to see how they’re reproducing,” Manthey said.

Through the swan roundups and banding efforts, Manthey says they can gather a wealth of information from

migration patterns, which can lead to creating or protecting suitable habitat, to tracking the age of the birds. It also gives them an idea of how well the population is going to do based on the age in which a bird begins breeding.

They’ve found that several birds have began nesting as early as age 2, but believe that age number is rising due to the competition for more breeding sites.

The recent drought in the northwest may has also contributed to a shorter number of nesting sites as well.

“The drought in the northwest is something we hadn’t seen before, so it’s being interesting to see how that’s affecting productivity,” Manthey said.

Collaborative effort The general public and caring volunteers are a big portion of the success of the trumpeter swan, and an important tool for tracking swans across the state and beyond. The yellow bands around the swans long necks are noticeable and easy to read through a set of binoculars, and Manthey encourages anyone to contact her with basic information about the birds. All she needs is the collar number, a location and a general observation of the swan’s behavior.

“Once people get really interested in a bird, and hear something about it, they’re more inclined to help care for it,” Manthey said.

There are several more swan roundups planned this summer starting

With a honk and flicker of its tail feathers, a trumpeter swan paddles out to its temporary home on Townline Lake.

The trumpeter swan is a unique species to the state, and its recovery has been a true success story.

in central Wisconsin, and back to Burnett, Douglas, Vilas and other counties.

Manthey hopes to band about 100 birds this year, yet isn’t sure how much longer the roundups will continue. She does know, however, that there’s no shortage of help out there from those passionate about keeping the trumpeter swan around for generations to come.

“Everyone who comes out to do it is so good-natured and good about it.

They’re getting dirty, they’re getting wet, they’re working hard and yet people are always just really happy to be helping with the swans.”

To contact Manthey about a swan sighting, e-mail her at: Patricia.Manthey@Wisconsin.gov, or call 608-792-7207.

Pat Manthey, at right, secures a yellow collar around the neck of a trumpeter swan, that didn’t seem to mind the attention.

One of 26 trumpeter swans that were captured on Townline Lake gets its photo taken by one of several volunteers as part of the swan roundups organized in part by the DNR. Smiling faces were a common theme throughout the day.

Out & About - August 2010

Page 13

North Memorial Aircare trains local responders

by Carl Heidel Leader staff writer DANBURY - North Memorial Aircare came to Danbury Tuesday evening, July 20, to train emergency first responders in the use of helicopter ambulance support. The training event in Danbury drew emergency crews from Danbury, Dairyland and Centuria.

Deb Fischer from NMA spent the first hour of the training session teaching firemen, EMTs and rescue workers how to work safely with the helicopter support. Then a helicopter crew from Princeton, Minn., flew in to give the workers firsthand experience in “hot loading” patients into a helicopter for transport to a trauma center.

Members of the helicopter crew, flight nurse Nancy Strong (L) and flight medic Phil Zimmerman (C) direct rescue workers as they load a “patient” into the helicopter for transport to a trauma center while the helicopter’s rotors continue to turn.

LEFT: Well, the kids have to check out all of this, too. So this group examines the tail rotor on the helicopter.

- Photos by Carl Heidel

The training event drew a crowd of folks curious about what was happening in Danbury. Among them was this child.

Brian White (L), helicopter pilot, answers questions from curious onlookers.

White, like many of the Aircare pilots, comes from a background of flying helicopters for the U.S. Army.

Deb Fischer gives last-minute instructions to the emergency workers she is training.

Page 14

Out & About - August 2010

Volunteers needed to help build Habitat homes

BURNETT/POLK COUNTIES - The first Habitat for Humanity home in Osceola is now under construction. Though construction is moving right along, help is needed to complete this home. Would you like to be part of building a home for and with a family who needs one?

Construction days are Wednesdays and Saturdays. Windows were going in late July; then siding will go on. Drywalling will be next, then painting, flooring and trim. Usually one or two highly experienced builders lead the build activities with a group of willing volunteers.

A second Habitat build started near Webster, so if that’s closer for you, please consider volunteering on that build.

Build days there will be Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Wild Rivers Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, builds homes with families who

are living in substandard housing, who are unable to purchase a home on their own, and who are willing to partner with Habitat to build it. The home, when complete, is then sold to the family on a nointerest loan. Habitat raises funds and gets donations of material as much as possible. The home is built with the family and mostly volunteer labor, lead by an expert construction manager. Habitat’s mission is to end homelessness and poverty housing. To volunteer call Ernie Nauman at 715-825-4841 or for the Webster build, call the Habitat office at 715472-6080. - submitted

Fine furniture in Grantsburg

Long-established business moves downtown

by Gregg Westigard Leader staff writer GRANTSBURG – Clem and John Beaulieu have been making fine furniture for many years. Their furniture has been sold through catalog and shipped worldwide. Now, to get more local visi-

bility, the father and son have moved their shop into a former gas station on Pine Street in downtown Grantsburg.

JDB Designs makes custom furniture, repairs furniture, etches mirrors and glass, and carves signs. The front of their shop contains examples of their quality work, while the back of the shop has the machines where the craftsmen do their work.

The first Habitat for Humanity home in Osceola is now under construction. - Photo submitted

Herzel Camp renovation complete

Kraus-Anderson Construction Company, one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest commercial general contractors and construction managers, completed a facility renovation for Herzl Camp on Devils Lake north of Webster. Situated on 140 acres with 1,500 feet of lakefront, Herzl Camp has served the Jewish community since 1946. Owned by Herzl Camp Association and designed by Partners & Sirny architects, phase one of the $2.8 million project includes 15 new cabins, a bathhouse, handicap accessibility to the lakefront, trails and paths, a septic system and site irrigation. Other highlights include four gathering spaces with fire rings and an area for outdoor worship. Additional plans next year call for 10 more cabins, a second bathhouse and several small program buildings. - submitted After being in business for years, Clem and John Beaulieu have moved their custom furniture shop to downtown Grantsburg. – Photo by Gregg Westigard

Art medley on display at Bremer

FREDERIC - A very inventive triangular display designed by Mark Buley and housing 96 pieces of art is currently on display at Bremer Bank in Frederic.

The art medley exhibit which contains work by over 75 local area artists, will run through Aug. 20.

Each 6” x 6” framed work is for sale for $20 - but which one you get will be determined when the number you sign up for is matched with the artwork’s preassigned number. Works were generously donated to Frederic Arts and includes pieces by established artists as well as anyone who wanted to support arts programming.

The public is invited to visit the exhibition and purchase a piece (maybe more) in the lobby of Bremer Bank during regular business hours by contacting any available teller.

Drivers must yield to pedestrians

STATEWIDE — Although traffic fatalities in Wisconsin through June were down slightly compared with the same period last year, pedestrian fatalities have increased in 2010. As of the end of June, 21 pedestrians have been killed on Wisconsin roadways compared with 11 on the same date last year.

To help stop this tragic trend, the Wisconsin State Patrol is reminding motorists that Wisconsin law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians: • Who have started crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light if there’s no walk signal.

• Who are crossing the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals.

• When a vehicle is crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway. In addition, drivers may not legally overtake and pass any vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians at an intersection or crosswalk.

Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians who are legally cross-

ing roadways may be issued citations that cost approximately $175 to $232 (depending on the type of violation) along with four demerit points assessed on their license. A citation for passing a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians costs $326 with three demerit points.

“To prevent needless deaths and injuries, drivers must slow down and pay attention, so they can safely yield to pedestrians,” said Captain Jeff Frenette of the Wisconsin State Patrol Northwest Region. “Drivers should be particularly alert in areas where children often cross roads, such as near schools, parks, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods.

Pedestrians also must be cautious, and they should not suddenly move into the path of a vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield. While using their cell phones and other electronic devices, pedestrians should not become so distracted that they fail to pay attention to the traffic around them.” — from Wisconsin State Patrol

Keep in touch all year

Sale ends Saturday, Aug. 21. More information about art in Frederic at www.FredericArts.org - submitted

www.the-leader.net Subscribe to the Leader

Out & About - August 2010

Page 15

Two Rustic Roads in Burnett County BURNETT COUNTY – The Rustic Roads System in Wisconsin was created by the 1973 State Legislature in an effort to preserve what remains of Wisconsin’s scenic, lightly traveled country roads for the leisurely enjoyment of bikers, hikers and motorists.

A few years ago, two Burnett County roads were

added to the system. (See maps at right). Another Rustic Road in the county includes River Road and Skog Road between Fish Lake Road and Hickerson Road, south of Hwy. 70 near Grantsburg.

At right, top, R-79, consists of Clendenning Road beginning at Hwy. 35 south of Danbury and ending on CTH F. At right, bottom, R80, consists of CTH E beginning at the intersection of CTH A and paralleling McKenzie Lake until its intersection with Tokash Road near the Washburn County line.

Unique brown and yellow signs mark the routes of all officially designated Rustic Roads. Each road is numbered. To avoid confusion with the State Trunk Highway number, a letter “R” prefix is used with the number. – from Wisconsin’s Rustic Roads - A Positive Step Backward.

Don't let accidents or injury ruin your summer fun

Wound Healing Center in Amery offers summer safety tips

AMERY – A summer to-do list usually contains such carefree items as buying suntan lotion, catching the latest movie blockbuster and delving into a paperback thriller, instead of something as mundane as restocking the first aid kit.

“Emergency rooms see a spike in visits during the summer as people spend more time outdoors and pursue activities they don’t have time for during the rest of the year,” said Trisha Carlson, who, as director of clinical quality and education for National Healing Corporation, trains health-care professionals on the latest therapies for chronic wounds which may stem from untreated cuts, burns, bites and infections.

The local experts at the Wound Healing Center in Amery, a National Healing Corporation Wound Healing Center, offer the following safety tips to help keep your summer accident and injury free.

• When choosing a pedicure salon, avoid risk of infection by checking that foot spas are disinfected nightly and between each customer. Microorganisms can enter through skin so don’t use a foot spa if you have removed hair from the legs less than 24 hours before or if you have open wounds including bug bites, bruises, scratches or rashes such as poison ivy.

• Break in new shoes before wearing them on a hike or vacation. People with diabetes, who are at a higher risk for chronic foot wounds, should always wear socks and avoid wearing sandals or shoes which can irritate the skin and lead to blisters.

• Never make your own fireworks or relight a “dud.” For minor burns caused by fireworks, barbeque grills and campfires, relieve pain and prevent contami-

nation by submerging the burn in cool water. Use sterile dressings but don’t apply ointment or home remedies such as butter or petroleum jelly that may seal in heat or cause infection.

• Avoid recreational water illnesses by following public health warnings posted at beaches and lakes since even very small amounts of sewage or animal waste can infect open sores or be swallowed. For “swimmer’s itch,” an allergic skin rash cased by parasites in contaminated salt or fresh water, resist the impulse to scratch and soothe it with cool compresses, anti-itch lotion, corticosteroid cream or a paste made of baking soda.

• Children, the elderly and those with high blood pressure have increased risk for heat exhaustion and, during warm days, should drink more water and stay away from beverages containing caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar.

• Always wash your hands after being outside because dirty hands are a primary source of infection.

• Insect repellents can help reduce exposure to mosquito bites that may carry viruses. Use enough repellent to cover exposed skin but don’t apply it to cuts, wounds or irritated skin. Sweating or getting wet may require reapplication more, but a rule of thumb to follow is to reapply when mosquitoes begin to bite.

• Most cases of Lyme disease occur in the spring and summer months, putting campers, hikers and gardeners at greater risk. Choose light-colored clothing that enable ticks to be seen and cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts, long pants and a hat. Conduct a full-body check for ticks each night before going to bed after outdoor activities.

For more information on treating chronic or infected wounds, contact the Wound Healing Center located at ARMC West Campus on 230 Deronda St. in Amery or call 715-268-0175. - submitted

Hospitals/Clinics Burnett Medical Center Grantsburg 715-463-5353 Burnett Medical Center Clinic Grantsburg 715-463-5317

Community Memorial Hospital Spooner 715-635-2111

Cumberland Memorial Hospital Cumberland 715-822-2741 Frederic Regional Medical Clinic Frederic 715-327-5700

Ingalls Family Medicine Clinic Webster 715-866-4271

Indianhead Medical Center Shell Lake 715-468-7833 Luck Medical Clinic Luck 715-472-2177

Northwest Medical Center Spooner 715-635-2151

St. Croix Regional Medical Center St. Croix Falls 715-483-3261 Shell Lake Clinic Siren 715-349-2910

St. Croix Tribal Health Clinic Hertel 715-349-8554

Mellow yellow

Tell them you saw it in the

Out & About

Yellow mushrooms were growing along the Yellow River at Forts Folle Avoine Historical Park near Danbury. - Photo by Marilyn Blake

Page 16

by Nancy Jappe Leader staff writer

Out & About - August 2010

Looking back over 100 years

TOWN OF SCOTT – Saturday, July 17, was a very special day for people in Burnett County’s town of Scott – people with Scott history in their backgrounds and those with an interest in the days of the past.

On this day, the new 100-year history book on the township, titled “Scott Revisited,” was officially released and an official copy presented to Doug McCreadie, the town chairman, and supervisor Gary Lundberg.

Shirley Muller is credited for all the hard work and dedication she put into the book. “We could not have done it without her,” members of the Town of Scott History Club wrote in the title page to the book.

“Scott Revisited” builds on the early history of the township that was put together in 1965 by Beatrice Derrick.

When she wrote her book, a 142-page soft-cover book titled “Great Scott,” she wrote at the end: “This is my personal tribute to Scott—I shall now lay my pen down and trust that someone at some future date will carry on where I left off.”

That challenge passed on to the Scott history club, a group of dedicated townspeople who came together for the main purpose of writing the history as part of the 100th celebration of the birth of the township back in 1910.

The cost for the book is $20 plus $3 for shipping and handling. To order contact the town of Scott at 28390 CTH H, Spooner 54801 or phone 715-635-2308. The town hall is staffed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Original residents The book starts out with a tribute to “the original residents of Scott,” the Ojibwe or Anishinabe people.

“When white men or Europeans first came to this area, it was inhabited by the Ojibwe tribes,” Dave Okonek wrote.

“This book gives a very complete and sometimes heart-wrenching account of the hardships these people faced, both by nature and the conquering spirit of the Europeans.

“Many of our area names are derived from the Ojibwe language,” Okonek went on. “Chittimo means red squirrel.

Meenon means blueberry. Namekagon means area rivers … Some of the food we eat today we learned about from our Indian friends, such as maple syrup and wild rice.”

Family histories Opening the pages, a reader will discover histories of the families whose names are known around the township.

Connie Bryski Fischer, a woman whose parents first came to “God’s Country” from Chicago for family summer vacations, told about discovering a skunk on the seat in the outhouse (“outhouse being an unpleasant place for a city kid”), and watching as the skunk ran out through the door. “We were safe … from each other,” she wrote.

The girls in Fischer’s family ran Casey’s Ice Cream Bar, a business located

John Holmes was an Ojibwe man who befriended Peter Durand, an early settler of the town of Scott, by giving him fresh meat for Holmes’ wife when she was ill. The first settlers of the town of Scott were the Ojibwe or Anishinabe people. “My father, David J. Okonek, and many people of his age, spoke highly of the Ojibwe they knew,” current-day resident Dave Okonek commented.

Town of Scott History Club members include (L to R): Mick Peterson, Mary Okonek, Martha Derrick, Alice Okonek, Kathy Young, Shirley Muller, Bev Kimball, Dave and Kathy Okonek and Ginny James. The history club, and in particular Shirley Muller, worked long and hard on compiling a history of the township. “It was a very easy task. I would do it again,” Muller said. – Photos by Nancy Jappe

on the corner of CTH H and Long Lake Road from 1954 to 1964. A customer once asked if the children got paid for working there. “We never considered being paid for working for the family,” Fischer related. When she asked her dad about this, he said, “The next time someone asks if you get paid, tell them you’re getting a million-dollar education with the public,” he answered.

Author Beatrice Pearl Durand Derrick was born in the township in 1907. She got her first job washing dishes at Birch Island Camp at the age of 11. After marriage and the raising of three boys, she built up a cabin- and resort-cleaning business, was the correspondent for the town of Scott for the local newspaper and published several stories. One of them was a 600-page book on the Durand family; the other the forerunner of the current Scott history, “Great Scott.”

The Arthur and Elinore Durand family’s living room was turned into a grocery store; however, according to the book, the store scarcely paid for itself.

Daughter Rose Marie Durand wrote about the store in an article for the Durand Heritage Foundation newsletter in 2001.

Durand described the disastrous night when she made a nighttime visit to the candy counter in the living room/store.

She tripped over a chair that her parents had placed across the doorway, tipping over a stack of kettles and tinware. She didn’t remember getting a spanking, but to this day, she doesn’t like chocolate in any form.

One of the early settlers, Lewis

Shirley Muller (R) from the town of Scott was recognized for the hard work and dedication she gave to the production of an update of the book written 45 years ago by her aunt, Beatrice Derrick. Muller gave credit to the members of the Town of Scott History Club who worked with her.

Durand, shoveled snow to clear the railroad tracks for 10 days during a historic snowstorm in 1922. He earned 30 cents an hour, which was earmarked for new clothes to replace his usual bib overalls.

When he got home with the money, he found that his parents needed cash to pay their taxes. His earnings were quickly turned over to them.

During the rough times following the Great Depression, people in the township lived on almost nothing. L. Virginia Durand James wrote in 2000 that “no one focused on the bleakness of the times.

How could they feel sorry for themselves when they heard of soup lines in the cities? They knew that hungry people were digging through garbage to find food. They reminded each other how blessed they were to live where they did.”

Bachelor Raymond Durand (1903-1989) lived almost all his life within five miles of his birthplace. During one prolonged dry spell, Durand gave the local priest $10 to pray for rain. Rain came, in such droves that the corn crops were damaged. The next time there was a need for rain, Durand gave the priest only $5, asking that he pray for only half as much rain.

At his funeral, nieces and nephews stood around the cemetery, sharing stories about Uncle Ray and pouring a final wine toast to “a man who was content to live a simple life and who would be dearly missed by many.”

Such are the stories told in the book, tracing the histories and updating families, going down the alphabet from Iler

and Loleen Anderson to Karen Kowal Wiggins, with a final section on the women of the township. This section was written by Kathy Okonek and given the title “Women – We’ve Come a Long Way Baby.”

Okonek begins her story with laundry and the way getting the washing done has changed over the years, going from the time when the women would have to make laundry soap out of lye and lard, or fat of some kind, then heat the water on the kitchen woodstove. Okonek’s mother-in-law, Avis Okonek, had a Sears Water Witch. “When the kids arrived home from school, they could tell it was wash day by the way the house smelled (strong odor of soap, hot water exhaust and engine oil) as soon as they opened the door,” Okonek said. “Let’s face it, the housework and fieldwork was such that there wasn’t time for a woman to work away from home, even if she had wanted to do so … It used to be a Man’s World.

Women didn’t get the right to vote until the 19th Amendment to the Constitution … passed in 1920.”

The book includes information on Scott residents who served in the military, starting with Philander and Daniel Brisbin who served in the Civil War, and Floyd Marsh who served in the Spanish American War. There’s a description of the township schools, churches, senior center and other organizations.

See 100 years, next page

Dave and Kathy Okonek are shown beside a wedding dress worn by Dave’s aunt, Susan Okonek, when she wed Wayne Christner in 1929. Okonek was the eighth child born to John and Francisca Okonek. She and her husband lived on CTH A and Christner Road.

Out & About - August 2010

Page 17

The town of Scott Consolidated School, which opened in 1921, was sold to Don Durand in 1993 for $1. Durand moved the school to his property where he remodeled it. The building can be seen on CTH H one mile south of its original location where the fire hall and town hall now stand.

and community functions are usually well attended. Fishing and hunting are still popular with young and old residents, as well as with visitors who are attracted to our beautiful lakes and countryside.

“As some lament the decreasing number of young permanent residents and This photo, with the children unidentified, was taken in the 1930s at the intersection of families, one must realize that our town CTHs A & H. There were dirt roads and no ditches. The only building at the time at that inter- is not young, but rather 100 years old. section was the town of Scott Consolidated School and, according to the book, maybe Tromb- Getting to that centennial mark has been ley’s Store. an interesting and vibrant ride. A new 100-year journey is just beginning.” visits so?” the book states. “She did look 100 years continued very stern but she was probably paid to look that way. We did associate her with Township schools the tests that she sometimes brought with Schools existing before 1921 included Durand (Gaslyn), Kessler, Fender- her …She was always dressed nicely Beatrice Derrick was the author of “Great Okonek and Hastings-Ferron Park. One usually wearing high heels.”

Scott,” a 142-page soft-cover history of the The book goes on to describe one of school was destroyed by fire; the others first 50 years of the town of Scott. Her niece, were moved after being closed to educa- those visits by the superintendent, when Shirley Muller, and members of the Scott histion. Durand (Gaslyn) was the first she walked outside on an icy step and tory club have updated the book to commemschool, built in 1901. The consolidated fell. “What did we do?” the authors state. orate the 100th anniversary of the township.

“We ducked away from the window Scott School was built in 1921.

The book, “Scott Revisited,” was released for The book describes a visit of the coun- we’d been watching from and laughed. sale Saturday, July 17.

How could we be so insensitive?” ty superintendent to one of the schools, In a section titled “Memories Through an unannounced visit that the students the Decades,” Charles Durand recalled always dreaded. “Why did we dread her how he and his cousin, Willie Durand, tossed .22 shells into the school furnace when the teacher was shoveling coal into the furnace. “The shells made a muffled popping noise,” Durand said. “Mr. Carlton was puzzled and alarmed enough that he went to see a school board member after school. He voiced his concern that the new shipment of coal must have too much petroleum in it.”

Conclusion In conclusion, the book states: “In spite of the tremendous changes taking place in the past 100 years, in society in general, and our community specifically, many things remain much the same. Young and old still enjoy radio, TV, recorded and live music, communicating with family and friends and most of the latest trends in technology. Family card and board games are still played, and church

In 1912, James Norris built an extravagant home with two bathrooms and three fireplaces on property he purchased on Oak Lake in 1907. After Norris died in 1920 and his wife in 1927, H. W. Strickler bought the property and formed the 5 Lakes Club, later changed to Five Lakes Club. In 1949 William Dhein bought the property. His son, Fred, and wife Marian, ran the resort until 1967, when it was sold to Bob Breene. The lodge burned to the ground in two hours in 1982. - Photos submitted

Page 18

Out & About - August 2010

Public libraries

Polk County Public Libraries Frederic - Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 715-327-4979.

Luck - Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and closed Sunday. 715-472-2770.

Milltown - Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Closed Sunday. 715-485-2313.

Burnett County Public Libraries Grantsburg - Monday and Tuesday, noon - 6 p.m.; Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday. noon - 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - noon, summer only. 715-483-2244.

Webster - Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Closed Sunday.

Keep in touch all year www.theleader.net.

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Out & About - August 2010

Tell them you saw it in the

Out & About

Page 19

Page 20

S U M M E R

Out & About - August 2010

skies

Looking up has offered area photographers a variety of photo opportunities this summer, whether it’s capturing images of an approaching storm, fireworks or colorful sunsets. Photographer Erik Barstow captured breathtaking sunsets on Sand Lake (photo at left) and on a lake near Amery (photo below). Leader staff member Greg Marsten captured the purple haze sunset (photo at right) recently.

Hummingbird feast T w o female rubythroated hummingbirds spar for feeding rights while a male watches the contest from the feeder.

A male ruby-throated hummingbird hovers for a moment before landing on the feeder.

A ruby-throated hummingbird rockets skyward after feeding.

Photos by Carl Heidel

Capturing Crex

Crex Meadows Wildlife Area at Grantsburg offered up some exceptionally colorful and stunning images, captured by photographer John Reed.