Judged as Wisconsin’s
Section A
VILAS COUNTY
NEWS-REVIEW
Wisconsin Newspaper Association 2012 Large Weekly Division
EAGLE RIVER, WI 54521 • (715) 479-4421 • vcnewsreview.com
VOL. 127, NO. 17
$1.25
WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012
North Woods not immune to misuse of prescribed drugs Task force links health groups, tribes, police ___________ BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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While celebrities in the entertainment world have made headlines due to their misuse of prescription medications, the North Woods is not immune to this growing epidemic. National stars’ subsequent rehabilitation efforts or untimely deaths due to overdose have brought misuse of prescription medications and their risks to the forefront of the national media. To help battle the epidemic at the local level, several North Woods organizations have formed a task force that
includes representation from tribal, county and healthcare organizations, pharmacies and law enforcement. The task force recently met at the Marshfield Clinic Minocqua Center to address the issues. Dorothy Chaney, program manager for Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach, presented some eye-opening statistics to the group. According to the national Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than 100 people die each day from a drug overdose. From 1999 to 2008, prescription drug overdose deaths increased from 4,000 to 15,000 nationally. . According to the report “Reducing Wisconsin’s Prescription Drug Abuse: A Call to Action” issued recently by the state of Wisconsin Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, this problem has reached epidemic propor-
tions. The report cited the 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health showing more than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs. Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Chaney said the reports show the greatest rise has been in the incidence of misuse and diversion of drugs like Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and other opiates. “A very alarming reality is the increasing numbers of people who progress very quickly from opiate abuse to heroin addiction,” said Chaney. “Misuse and abuse of opiate drugs is very dangerous and can lead to lethal overdoses or serious lifelong addiction problems.”
Studies also show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet, noted said Bob Kovar, prevention specialist for the Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach. “One of the major things we need to inform parents and their children about is that these drugs are not safe if they are not prescribed for you or if you use them beyond their prescribed dosage,” said Kovar. “Area youth have a low perception of risk with misusing these medications since they get them from their home medicine cabinet. The truth is they are highly dangerous, very addictive and lead to life-threatening problems like drugged driving. We need to raise awareness about this problem and To DRUG ABUSE, Pg. 9A
STORM DAMAGE — A wind storm moved through the North Woods July 4, uprooting several large pine trees on Gary Scherbarth’s property in Three Lakes. See more photos and story on Page 9A. —STAFF PHOTOS
Child, man drown over holiday week Three Lakes woman killed in Hwy. 8 crash ___________ BY NEWS-REVIEW STAFF
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BEATING THE HEAT — North Woods residents and visitors took to the water to cool off from a heat wave that pushed the temperature above 90 degrees several days last week. These youths
Connect to Three Lakes set Thursday at school ___________ BY NEWS-REVIEW STAFF
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Expanded from the former technology fairs, Connect to Three Lakes will offer information on using technology in the social and business lives of area residents and visitors this Thursday, July 12, at the Three Lakes School gymnasium. Mike Kwaterski, a spokesman for the event, said Connect to Three Lakes will be an opportunity to meet businesses and service organizations from Three Lakes, as well as learn about advancements in technology. “This is a great opportunity to get to know more about Three Lakes all in one location,” said Kwaterski. “In addition, there will be opportunities for small-business
owners to learn how they can improve their businesses.” The event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and will be sponsored by the Three Lakes Economic Development Subcommittee of the Plan Commission. Within the event, there will be ongoing hands-on presentations on setting up and using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Skype and LinkedIn. There will be feature presentations as follows: Jeff Bruss on using the mobile Web; assistant manager Shannon Walker of Verizon Wireless Advantage on hands-free communication options for vehicles; First To CONNECT, Pg. 4A
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Wolf hunt plan ready for vote n With the wolf population topping 800, the DNR is proposing a wolf hunting plan. Pgs. 3A & 11A
enjoyed a large water toy at Camp Luther on Planting Ground Lake. The heat and humidity moved out of the region by the end of the weekend. —Staff Photo By KURT KRUEGER
A 2-year-old child and a 46year-old man died in what appear to be water-related accidents last weekend, according to the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department. Two-year-old Colin Becker of Eden Prairie, Minn., apparently drowned in a pool at a residence on Thousand Island Lake Road in the town of Land O’ Lakes last Friday about 6:25 p.m. According to the department’s preliminary investigation, several children were playing unsupervised in a pool at a family vacation home when one of the children noticed the unresponsive child in the pool. Authorities said the victim was removed from the pool and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was immediately started. The child was then transported by Land O’ Lakes Ambulance and was assisted
by Ministry Eagle River Memorial Hospital paramedics. The child was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Vilas County Sheriff’s Department and Vilas County Coroner’s Office is continuing the investigation into the incident. In another Vilas County incident, the sheriff’s department said the body of Gerald Ackley Jr., 46, of Lac du Flambeau, was found in Fence Lake near 2116 Thorofare Road in the town of Lac du Flambeau last Saturday about 7:25 p.m. Authorities said Ackley was discovered floating unresponsive offshore and CPR was attempted. The Vilas County Coroner’s Office pronounced Ackley dead at the scene. The Vilas County Sheriff’s Department reported it as a To DEATHS, Pg. 3A
Inspirational teen with ties here carries Olympic torch in England ___________ BY GARY RIDDERBUSCH NEWS-REVIEW EDITOR
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AYLESBURY, ENGLAND — A northcentral Wisconsin teen who spends time at her grandparents home in Clearwater Lake carried an Olympic torch Monday on its journey through the United Kingdom. Peyton Medick, 14, accepted the flame onto her torch wearing her official white Olympic torchbearer suit and then carried the flaming torch a little more than 300 yards to the next runner. She was one of more than 8,000 people who will carry an Olympic torch leading up to the Olympic Summer Games in London from July 27 to Aug. 12. She was the 61st runner out of about 120 to carry the torch Monday. Peyton is known in central Wisconsin as the creator of Peyton’s Promise, a nonprofit organization she started at age 8 to help fill food pantries in Marathon County and beyond. But To PEYTON, Pg. 2A
North Woods visitor Peyton Medick, 14, donned a big smile after carrying an Olympic
torch for more than 300 yards in Aylesbury, England, Monday. —Contributed Photo