Register
W A S H B U R N
INSIDE
Feb. 22, 2012
C O U N T Y
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012 Vol. 123, No. 27 • Shell Lake, Wis.
Weekend watch
w c r e g i s t e r. n e t
• Free community breakfast , Saturday, 7-10 a.m., First United Pentecostal Church, Spooner. See Events, page 8
The early bird gets the worm
75¢
Shell Lake jazz band’s annual Cabaret See page 2
Dads and daughters enjoy a special evening out See page 11
SPORTS
Basketball and wrestling See pages 12-14
County endorsement key in private land purchase using stewardship money
Will county get payments in lieu of taxes and how much?
People you should know: Terry Johnson See back page
BREAKERS
Robins have been sighted in the area so spring cannot be too far away. The male robin arrives first to scout out and establish his territory. The female arrives later to build her nest. If it’s any consolation to those who enjoy winter, the old wives’ tale goes something like, it has to snow on a robin’s tail three times before spring is officially here. — Photo by Larry Samson
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BURNETT COUNTY – Summer Conservation Camp scholarships offered. As spring approaches and Burnett County residents dream of summer breezes, students and parents alike are eagerly planning their summer agendas. Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Camp offers the perfect opportunity for students to combine career development with fun. The Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association will be holding their 34th-annual Conservation Camp this year June 12-15 and the association is encouraging youth from all 72 counties to attend and learn more about natural resource conservation. Students will investigate a variety of natural resources including wildlife, soils, forest, lakes and streams, and learn how those resources are managed by professionals. Students can also gain some hands-on experience in the field and find ways that they can use their talents to help protect our natural resources. Conservation Camp also offers a unique opportunity to meet friends from around the state and enjoy hiking, swimming and canoeing. The Burnett County Natural Resources Committee is sponsoring two WLWCA camp scholarships for high school youths entering ninth through 11th grades in fall 2012. Scholarships include registration, meals and lodging for four days. Applications to attend Conservation Camp are available at the Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department located in the Burnett County Government Center. Deadline for application is Friday, May 18. To find out more about this program and other environmental educational opportunities in the county contact Dave Ferris or Ann Lane at the Burnett County Land and Water Conservation Department, 7410 CTH K, Siren, WI 54872 or call 715-349-2186. - submitted
F I N D U S O N L I N E @ w w w . w c r e g i s t e r. n e t
by Jessica Beecroft WASHBURN COUNTY - On the agenda of the county board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 21, was the endorsement of a proposed purchase of $1 million of private land using stewardship funds and placing the property under the guidance of the DNR. Key to the issue for county supervisors is the potential loss of property tax revenue from the 262 acres of pristine land located between the Minong Flowage and the confluence of the Namekagon River, an area protected under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. Application for stewardship funds by the Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association, which has been working on the project for years, is relying heavily on the support by the county board and the towns of Minong and Chicog. At the Feb. 13 meeting of the county’s executive committee, the proposed land purchase was the focus of debate. Fred Blake, WCLRA citizen volunteer said, “The whole program started four years ago when two owners of the property brought it to our attention that they were putting their property on the market, but want to keep it conserved.”
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According to Blake, the DNR negotiated to purchase it and then to protect it. However, they were unable to do so at the time. The WCLRA sent in the application for the Stewardship Grant to purchase the land and are hoping to get a matching grant toward the purchase. This project has been in the works for three or four years. With potential of receiving 75-percent funding toward the purchase of the land, Blake said, “This gives us a great chance to leave this land open to the public for hunting, fishing, etc. Two appraisals will be done. Then the DNR will get a certified value. This is the amount the grant will be funded on.” He said the land in question bridges two pieces of land already owned by the DNR. “One of the factors that are absolutely critical is the payment in lieu of taxes,” he added. “This (payments) is still a part of it which means it would not penalize the county. If this was not the case, we would have backed away from the idea and it would have been dead. We feel solid because we have researched this, but we realize the community has to feel confident in this decision as well.” The Town of Chicog agreed to support the proposal from the WCLRA with the promise of no financial burden from the project. The previous purchase price was $1.2 million, an appraisal was done for $1.445 million, and most recently $1.16 million was the appraised value.
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See Endorsement, page 3