Wisconsin
Woofstock music festival fundraiser to benefit Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin
JANESVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) – The Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin is holding its 2nd annual Woofstock music pageant fundraiser.
This household and dog-friendly group occasion will probably be held at Beloit’s Telfer Park on Saturday, June 11 from 2-10 p.m.
For the primary time since 2019, the occasion will supply reside music, meals vehicles, native distributors, household actions and a beer backyard.
Native musicians will carry out reside all through the occasion, together with throughout a Pet Occasion (dance social gathering). Quite a lot of meals vehicles will probably be on web site all through the occasion as nicely.
Grey’s Brewing Firm will supply a number of native brews within the beer backyard, and Timber Hill Vineyard may have wine slushies on the market.
Quite a lot of different distributors and household actions may even be out there together with caricatures and a doggy impediment course.
Admission costs are $15 for adults upfront and $20 the day of the occasion. Children six to 12 are $5, and youngsters 5 and underneath are free. Canine admission can be free.
Tickets could be bought on-line right here or on the occasion. Woofstock t-shirts and canine bandanas are additionally out there to order on the web site.
A signed canine waiver is required to enter the occasion and could be accomplished upfront right here or offered on the park entrance.
Go to the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin’s web site for extra data on Woofstock.
Copyright 2022 WMTV. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin
Coleman honors 1960 grad, Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Famer Roger Pillath
COLEMAN (NBC 26) — A Cougar great was in attendance for an intense wrestling match between Luxemburg-Casco and Coleman.
Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Famer Roger Pillath, a 1960 Coleman graduate, is a two-time individual state heavyweight champion, winning titles in 1959 and 1960. He was also a member of Coleman’s first state championship team in 1960.
Pillath attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1960 to 1964, excelling in both football and wrestling.
He won Big Ten heavyweight wrestling titles in 1962 and 1964 and finished as the NCAA national runner-up in 1962 at Oklahoma State University.
In addition to his wrestling success, Pillath was the left tackle for Wisconsin’s Big Ten championship football team in 1962 and played in the 1963 Rose Bowl against USC.
After college, he was selected 39th overall in the third round of the 1964 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, where he played until 1965. He then spent the 1966 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before injuries cut his professional career short.
Following his playing days, Pillath transitioned to coaching, becoming the head wrestling coach at Port Washington High School. He led the Pirates to a WIAA state runner-up finish in 1970 and guided them to a state championship in 1971.
In recognition of his achievements, Pillath was inducted into the Wisconsin Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991.
Before Coleman’s match, the school honored Pillath by displaying his original high school football jersey.
“I’m proud to be part of the Coleman athletic scope,” Pillath said. “For a small school, athletics has always been really important. I was totally honored by this, and I’m just thankful that I was able to take part in it.”
Principal Douglas Polomis hopes hanging Pillath’s jersey in the hallways will inspire student-athletes.
“There have been so many great wrestlers who have gone through this program, and he kind of laid the foundation for it,” Polomis said. “Hopefully, it will inspire some of our kids to realize that, huh, a small-town kid can make it big. Have a dream, have a passion, and go for it. And looking around our hallway saying, wow, even a kid from our school can accomplish that.”
Before the match, Coleman also recognized a community member, Stephanie Meyer, who is battling stage 4 colon cancer. Meyer, who began chemotherapy immediately after her diagnosis, attended the match with her husband, three children, and extended family.
Community members wore “Team Steph” shirts to show their support and remind Meyer that she is not alone in her fight.
The match between Luxemburg-Casco and Coleman ended in a 35-35 tie.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin police recover 690 grams of marijuana, stolen handgun from vehicle
MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – Police in Wisconsin are investigating after locating drugs in a vehicle that two individuals fled after crashing on Tuesday night.
According to the Madison Police Department, officers noticed a white sedan ignore a red light signal at the intersection of John Nolen Drive and Williamson Street around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Officers attempted to pull the suspect vehicle over, but the car fled.
As the suspect vehicle fled, it hit a curb and a parked car with nobody in it near the intersection of Williamson Street and South Paterson Street. Shortly after, officers were alerted to reports of a white sedan that crashed into another unoccupied vehicle. Witnesses reported that two people fled the suspect vehicle on foot.
The Madison Police Department and additional agencies utilizing K-9s and drones searched the area to no avail, locating no suspects; however, officers recovered evidence from the white sedan and area, including a stolen handgun, 690 grams of marijuana and items that relate to distribution.
No arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Anybody with information is asked to contact the Madison Police Department at (608) 255-2345
No more details were provided.
Wisconsin
Smith: Commission’s decision on solar farm likely dims future of prairie chickens in Wisconsin
Prairie chicken booms and dances at Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area
Prairie chickens boom and dance on a lek at Paul J. Olson Wildlife Area near Wisconsin Rapids. Video from 2022
The plight of the greater prairie chicken in Wisconsin appears set to take a turn for the worse.
As a longtime advocate for the native bird, that’s a hard statement for me to write.
And although it does include assumptions and uncertainties, species experts say it’s the logical conclusion.
On Jan. 16 the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin issued a final decision approving plans for a solar farm adjacent to Buena Vista State Wildlife Area, a public property home to most of the state’s threatened prairie chickens.
The project as designed by Vista Sands Solar will be the state’s largest solar farm, generating up to 1,315 megawatts and covering at least 7,110 acres, or more than 10 square miles, in the Village of Plover and Towns of Grant, Plover, and Buena Vista in Portage County.
As the climate warms and our energy demands increase, the project got wide support for its potential to add substantial solar power to the grid.
However it was strongly opposed in the conservation community for its planned location and potential risks to prairie chickens.
The prairie chicken requires large grasslands, a rare habitat in 21st century Wisconsin. The vast majority of native prairie in the state has been converted to agricultural fields or other human developments.
And as the grasslands have declined so have the prairie chickens and dozens of other species dependent on the habitat. In 2024 the Department of Natural Resources counted just 288 male prairie chickens on 37 leks, also known as booming grounds or breeding sites, in the state.
All were on four state-owned properties in central Wisconsin, with 73% of the birds on Buena Vista.
Since prairie chickens have called a “bird of avoidance” due to their aversion for trees, buildings and overhead structures, the prospect of thousands of solar panels on land adjacent to the state’s largest remaining population of prairie chickens raised alarms among wildlife conservationists.
The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation led the charge and, largely through the efforts of George Meyer, a lawyer, former Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and former WWF executive director, intervened in the process.
The WWF forced the PSC and DNR to perform an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal.
The process played out over the last 10 months or so, including multiple reports, legal proceedings and public hearings.
The WWF asked for the solar project to be no closer than one-half mile from the grasslands and one mile from any lek.
Concerns identified through the EIS led Vista Sands to modify several aspects, including removal of most overhead transmission lines.
And though the developer offered other concessions, including funding positions for two researchers at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point and donating $2.1 million to help the DNR implement the state’s prairie chicken management plan, it largely dug its heels in on the location. As designed, it will be closer to Buena Vista than WWF recommended.
The PSC agreed with the company’s arguments and voted 3-0 in favor of the modified plan in December. The decision was finalized in the Jan. 16 written announcement.
Supporters of the project have said no study exists showing negative effects of a solar farm on prairie chickens. That is true.
Absence of a study, however, is simply that.
Peter Ziegler of Slinger, past president of the Society of Tympanuchus Cupido Pinnatus, Ltd. (Greater Prairie Chicken Society), said past experiences with the species indicates development so close to Buena Vista would likely push prairie chickens only one way – closer to their end in Wisconsin.
The WWF has 30 days to file an appeal to the PSC decision. Meyer said the organization is considering its options.
“The big issue is the distance the solar arrays are from the grasslands and the leks,” Meyer said. “It’s tough because we need more clean energy but we took this on to try to help keep as much undisturbed habitat as possible for the prairie chickens. We’re studying it and will make a decision (on a potential appeal) in the next couple weeks.”
No matter the outcome, everyone who loves prairie chickens owes the WWF and Meyer a thanks for their efforts in this case.
And If you haven’t seen prairie chickens dance on a lek, make plans to do so. It’s one of the greatest wonders of Wisconsin wildlife.
Milwaukee County parks to host kid’s ice fishing clinics
Free ice fishing clinics for youth will be offered Saturday at four Milwaukee County parks.
The events will be led by members of local fishing clubs who will teach participants to ice fish and stay safe while enjoying the activity. Instruction will begin indoors with lessons on ice safety, fish identification, knot tying, proper equipment use and other fishing techniques. Fishing equipment is available to borrow, but attendees are asked to bring their own if possible.
Clinics begin on the hour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The events are for youth ages 15 and under; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.
The locations are: Dineen Park, 6901 W. Vienna Ave., Milwaukee, clinic run by members of Inner City Sportsmen Club; Greenfield Park, 2028 S. 124th St., West Allis, run by Milwaukee Great Lakes Sports Fishermen; McCarty Park, 8214 W. Cleveland Ave., West Allis, run by Southside Sportsmen’s Club; and Scout Lake, 5902 W. Loomis Rd., Greendale, run by Walleyes Unlimited.
The clinics are sponsored by the Wisconsin Council of Sport Fishing Organizations, Hunger Task Force, Milwaukee County Parks and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Attendees don’t have to register but advance notice is appreciated for groups larger than 20. For more information, contact DNR fisheries biologist Laura Schmidt at Laura.Schmidt@wisconsin.gov or (414) 416-0591.
Urban Ecology Center reopens Washington Park branch
The Urban Ecology Center will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday to celebrate the reopening of its facility in Washington Park in Milwaukee.
The UEC’s Washington Park branch was established in 2007 and its building has been undergoing extensive renovations for the last 18 months. The updated facility will allow the organization to double the number of people it reaches, including more early childhood education programs, according to UEC.
Following remarks at the 10 a.m. ceremony, UEC staff will host its annual Winterfest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The public is invited for both events, which are free.
The UEC’s Washington Park branch is at 1859 N. 40th Street, Milwaukee.
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