>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IN
WISCONSIN."
I'M KATHY BEASON FILLING IN FOR
PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK.
>> ALL ABOARD.
>> HOP A TRAIN THAT WINDS
THROUGH A REMOTE FLOODPLAIN
FOREST AND GET A RARE VIEW OF A
BEVY OF BIRDS.
MEET THIS COLLEGE STUDENT WHO
CAST HIS FIRST PRESIDENTIAL
VOTE EVER THIS WEEK AND IN THE
PROCESS, SAW A GENERATIONAL
DREAM REALIZED.
>> BECAUSE OF OBAMA, LIKE THERE
IS A WEIGHT LIFTED, I THINK,
WITHIN OLDER MEMBERS OF THE
BLACK COMMUNITY.
>> AND DISCOVER HOW PEOPLE
SUFFERING FROM DIABETES
COMPLICATIONS ARE FINDING SWEET
RELIEF THROUGH SUPERMARKET
HONEY.
WE'LL ALSO TAKE YOU TO CHIPPEWA
COUNTY WHERE A SMALL COMMUNITY
BUILT A BIG TRIBUTE TO OUR
VETERANS "IN WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IWISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> TUESDAY'S ELECTION WAS
HISTORIC.
HISTORIC IN ITS VOTER TURNOUT
NUMBERS, HISTORY MAKING FOR ITS
IMPORTANCE IN THESE TURBULENT
TIMES BUT MOSTLY THIS
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL GO
DOWN IN HISTORY BECAUSE BARACK
OBAMA WAS THE FIRST
AFRICAN-AMERICAN NOMINEE
ELECTED TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE
IN OUR LAND.
FREDERICA FREYBERG REPORTS ON
ONE FIRST-TIME VOTER WHO WAS
AWED BY THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN
CAST SUCH A VOTE.
THE EXCITEMENT AMONG YOUNG
COLLEGE STUDENTS WAS PALPABLE
AHEAD OF THIS ELECTION.
PERHAPS ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS
LIKE 19-YEAR-OLD DAN EZ SMITH.
>> I'VE BEEN WAITING TO VOTE
FOR A LONG TIME.
>> A SCHOLARSHIP EDUCATION
MAJOR AT UW-MADISON AND
FIRST-TIME VOTER PLUGGED INTO
THE ISSUES AND MORE THAN READY
TO TAKE PART IN THE PROCESS.
EVEN WHEN THAT MEANT GETTING TO
THE POLLING PLACE TO WAIT IN
LINE LONG BEFORE HIS FIRST
MORNING CLASS.
>> PRETTY EXCITING.
RIGHT NOW I WANT TO GO BACK TO
SLEEP.
>> NOT ENOUGH TO MISS THIS.
HE CAST HIS FIRST GENERAL
ELECTION VOTE EVER AND HE CAST
THAT VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA.
BUT NOT, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT,
BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR.
>> I DIDN'T VOTE FOR OBAMA
BECAUSE HE'S BLACK.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUMED
THAT I WAS.
I WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR HILL
TREE FOR A LONG TIME.
I AGREED WITH HIS POLICIES MORE.
IT WASN'T A THING OF RACE TO ME.
>> THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T
MATTER.
>> TO BE ABLE TO SAY THE FIRST
TIME I VOTED WAS FOR THE FIRST
BLACK PRESIDENT, THAT'S AMAZING.
>> SMITH SAYS HE REGARDS VOTING
AS HIS CIVIC DUTY BUT HE SAYS
HE ALSO DID IT IN HONOR OF HIS
GRANDFATHER.
>> MY GRANDFATHER, HE RECENTLY
PASSED BUT BEFORE HE DIED I'VE
NEVER SEEN LIKE HIM AND ALL HIS
OTHER 60, 70-YEAR-OLD BROTHERS
SIT AROUND AND CRY BECAUSE OF
OBAMA.
LIKE THERE IS A WEIGHT LIFTED,
I THINK, WITHIN OLDER MEMBERS
OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY BECAUSE
OBAMA IS LIKE THEM REALIZING
ALL THEIR HARD WORK WASN'T FOR
NOTHING, YOU KNOW?
SO HE PASSED.
WE ACTUALLY BURIED HIM WITH AN
OBAMA BUTTON ON HIS LAPEL.
HE JUST WANTS TO SEE OBAMA GET
ELECTED SO BAD.
>> SMITH SAYS HE BELIEVES MOST
OF HIS OWN GENERATION DOESN'T
CARE ABOUT THINGS LIKE RACE OR
GENDER IN A CANDIDATE.
SO DID HE TAKE THIS ELECTION
AND ITS FIRST BLACK NOMINEE FOR
GRANTED?
>> I TRIED NOT TO TAKE IT FOR
GRANTED.
I THINK SOMETIMES I DO AND BLOW
THINGS OFF BUT I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
TO REMEMBER LIKE WHO FOUGHT FOR
THEM, YOU KNOW?
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO REMEMBER
ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DIED SO WE
COULD DO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
WAKING UP ON A TUESDAY IN
NOVEMBER AND GOING TO LIKE, YOU
KNOW, FILLING IN A BUBBLE ON A
SHEET OF PAPER.
>> IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BACK TO
THE BOOKS FOLLOWING THE BIG
VOTE BUT JUST HOURS SEPARATED
THE MUNDANE FROM THE MADNESS
THAT WAS ELECTION NIGHT.
[CHEERING]
>> MINNESOTA, YEA, HEY HEY.
>> IN PARTS OF THE WORLD
INCLUDING INSIDE THIS STUDENT
APARTMENT IN WISCONSIN PEOPLE
WENT WILD WHEN THE BIG MOMENT
CAME WHEN BARACK OBAMA WAS
ANNOUNCED THE VICTOR.
>> OH MY GOD, THEY CALLED
CALIFORNIA, HE WINS, OH MY GOD.
[SCREAMING AND CHEERING]
>> WE DID IT!
YES!
>> WE'RE IN THERE, WE'RE IN
THERE.
>> YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT
TO.
LOOK AT HIM.
THIS IS FOR MY GRANDFATHER WHO
JUST PASSED AWAY.
PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS SO -- HE
WANTED SO BAD TO VOTE AND FOR
HIM ALL HIS HARD WORK, THIS IS
AMAZING.
THIS IS HISTORY, THIS IS
LONG-AWAITED.
THIS IS DESERVED.
THIS IS RIGHT.
>> HISTORY WAS MADE IN ELECTION
2008.
AND WITH IT NEW GENERATIONS
GIVEN A NEW SENSE THEY, TOO,
CAN DO AND BE ANYTHING.
OF COURSE, WISCONSIN ALSO HAD A
WHOLE HOST OF OTHER POLITICAL
RACES THAT WERE DECIDED THIS
WEEK.
ALL OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL
INCUMBENTS WERE REELECTED
INCLUDING 8th DISTRICT
CONGRESSMAN STEVE KAGEN WHOSE
RACE AGAINST JOHN GARD WE
PROFILED A FEW WEEKS AND WE
ALSO REPORTED ON A RACE BETWEEN
JOE EGELHOFF AND DEMOCRAT PENNY
BERNARD SCHABER.
SCHABER TOOK THAT RACE.
IT FLIPPED FROM REPUBLICAN TO
DEMOCRAT GIVING DEMOCRATS
CONTROL OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
WE MOVE TO ANOTHER MODE OF
TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR NEXT
STORY.
JOANNE GARRETT BRINGS THIS
REPORT THAT PROVIDES AN OLD
LOCOMOTION, BIRD WATCHING AND A
JEWEL OF A LOCATION.
>> ALL ABOARD!
>> YOU KNOW, I HAD HEARD ABOUT
THE TRAIN RIDE.
AND I THOUGHT BIRDING MY TRAIN,
I DON'T THINK SO.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE MY CUP
OF TEA.
THE FIRST TIME WE CAME OUT I
WAS BLOWN AWAY.
IT IS JUST SUCH A GREAT TIME.
AND IT GETS YOU DOWN TO THE
HABITATS YOU NORMALLY CAN'T GET
INTO, WHICH IS REALLY FUN.
>> THIS IS A RARE VISIT TO ONE
OF THE WILDER PLACES IN
WISCONSIN.
THERE ARE NO ROADS HERE.
YOU CAN HIKE IN BUT IT WILL
TAKE YOU HOURS.
OR YOU CAN RIDE THESE RAILS.
THE RUN IS 8 1/2 MILES BUT IT
ONLY HAPPENS MAYBE A DOZEN
TIMES IN A YEAR.
IN MAY AND SEPTEMBER.
THEY CALL IT THE TIFFANY TRAIN
BECAUSE IT TRAVELS THROUGH THE
TIFFANY BOTTOMS STATE WILDLIFE
AREA.
THE RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH IT
IS THE CHIPPEWA.
THIS IS A WILD PLACE AND IT'S
OWNED BY US, THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN.
>> WE'RE TALKING 13,000 ACRES
IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP HERE.
IT'S THE LARGEST FLOODPLAIN
FOREST IN THE MIDWEST.
THIS AREA IS GIGANTIC.
>> MR. THOMPSON IS A LAND
MANAGER AND A BIRDER.
>> IT'S GIGANTIC AND REMOTE.
YOU COULD SEE ALL KINDS OF NEAT
THINGS AND NEVER SEE ANOTHER
PERSON BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BUMP
INTO A LOT OF CRITTERS.
>> A FEMALE GROSBEAK.
>> GREAT.
>> THE TIFFANY IS ONE OF THE
BEST BIRDING PLACES IN THE
STATE.
IT'S BIG, IT'S WILD AND IT'S
GOT LOCATION.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MAP.
THE CHIPPEWA FEEDS THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER, ONE OF THE
WORLD'S MAJOR -- HUNDREDS OF
DIFFERENT BIRD SPECIES MOVE
THROUGH THIS PLACE.
>> 75% OF ALL THE BIRDS THAT
OCCUR IN WISCONSIN UTILIZE FROM
A BREEDING STANDPOINT THIS
PARTICULAR TRACT OF FOREST AND
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ADDITIONAL
SPECIES THAT OCCUR IN NORTHERN
MINNESOTA AND NORTHERN
WISCONSIN THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY BREED HERE AND
TRAVEL THROUGH HERE YOU HAVE
VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING COMING
THROUGH THIS SYSTEM BECAUSE
IT'S SO LARGE.
>> WHICH IS WHY ON A SATURDAY
IN SEPTEMBER, THOMPSON AND
OTHER DNR VOLUNTEERS ARE
LEADING A BIRD WATCHING TRIP IN
TIFFANY SPONSORED BY THE
NON-PROFIT GROUP THE NATURAL
RESOURCES FOUNDATION.
>> I'LL KEEP A BIRD LIST.
>> FELLOW DNR EMPLOYEES MIKE
MOSSMAN AND GEORGIE STEEL AND
DAVE LIND RUDE AND CHRIS
JOHANSEN ARE THERE TO SHOW OFF
THE PLACE.
>> WE HAVE THE COMBINATION OF
THIS FLOODPLAIN FORESTS.
THE LARGEST INTACT FLOODPLAIN
FOREST IN THE MIDWEST IN
AMONGST THE PRAIRIE OPENINGS.
>> AND FIELD QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT WAS THE BIRD WE JUST
HEARD OVER HERE?
>> THE WOOD PECKER?
THE RATTLING.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A KING FISHER.
>> WHILE THEY'RE WATCHING THE
WILDLIFE.
>> A RESTING MONARCH.
>> LET'S BACKTRACK.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE TRAIN.
ITS STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS,
TRAIN FANS WHO FOUND A
MOTHERLODE HERE.
THIS RAILROAD WAS ABANDONED IN
1979 AFTER A DERAILMENT.
ABANDONED UNTIL THIS GROUP TOOK
OUT A LEASE FROM THE POWER
COMPANY THAT ACTUALLY OWNS
THESE TRACKS.
THEY BRING THEIR OWN RAILROAD
CARS AND THEY CLEARED THE
TRACKS.
NO SMALL TASK.
TERRY OF THE NON-PROFIT
CHIPPEWA VALLEY MOTOR CAR
ASSOCIATION.
>> NATURE HAD TAKEN THE THING
OVER AGAIN.
THERE WERE TREES GROWING UP
BETWEEN THE TIES, BETWEEN THE
RAILS.
WE HAD TO CUT DOWN THROUGH HERE
WITH CHAIN SAWS AND IT TOOK US
THREE YEARS TO GET 8 1/2 MILES
SOUTH.
>> IT'S WIDE OPEN NOW AND MAKES
FOR ONE OF THE MORE UNUSUAL
TRAIN TRIPS IN THE COUNTRY.
>> WE DO THESE RIDES PROBABLY
SEVEN, EIGHT TIMES A YEAR.
WE HOOK ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE
CARS TOGETHER AND WE CAN HAUL
60, 70 PEOPLE.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF
COUNTRY.
IT'S PRISTINE AND KICKBACK AND
WATCH THE SCENERY GO BY FOR 8
1/2 MILES.
>> IF IT'S SO WEEKENDS FULL WHY
SO FEW TRIPS HERE JUST IN MAY
AND SEPTEMBER?
>> AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS TODAY,
THIS PLACE IS A GREEN HELL IN
THE SUMMER.
TALL NETTLES, POISON IVY.
THIS IS A HEAD NET PLACE.
WHEN THE DEER FLIES HATCH,
NEVER MIND, YOU'RE A DONOR.
>> BUT DURING THOSE PRECIOUS
DAYS IN SPRING AND FALL, THERE
IS NO PLACE FINER.
MARY KEESE ELABORATES.
>> IT'S AWESOME TO COME OUT
HERE AND HAS SOMEONE WHO HAS A
BIRD BOOK.
>> SPRING PEEPERS AND GOLD
FINCH, CANADA GROSS,
>> HE LISTS OFF 12 DIFFERENT
BIRDS HE'S SEEN OR HEARD AND I
FELT DEAF.
>> WHEN DID YOU START BIRDING?
>> TODAY.
IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL.
REALLY INTERESTING.
YOU JUST LEARN SO MUCH COMING
ON THESE THINGS ABOUT WISCONSIN.
NATURE IS SO AWESOME.
I'M ENJOYING IT.
>> THE TIFFANY BOTTOMS STATE
WILDLIFE AREA IS ONE OF THE
MANY STOPS ALONG THE GREAT
WISCONSIN BIRDING AND NATURE
TRAIL.
YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION ABOUT
THE TRAIL AS WELL AS MORE ON
HOW YOU CAN RIDE THE TIFFANY
TRAIN BY LOGGING ON TO OUR
WEBSITE AT wpt.org/inwisconsin.
THE ADDRESS IS
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
WE TURN NOW FROM A JOURNEY INTO
THE WILD TO A JOURNEY TOWARD
SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY.
OUR NEXT REPORT BY PRODUCER LIZ
KOERNER FEATURES A SURPRISING
SUBSTANCE THAT RESEARCHERS HOPE
WILL CURE A SERIOUS MEDICAL
PROBLEMS THAT AFFLICTS MANY
PEOPLE WITH DIABETES.
>> IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT BUT
THIS BEE HIVE IS A NATURAL
PHARMACY.
IT'S PROVIDING A POTENTIAL CURE
FOR ONE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS OF
DIABETES.
JAY BUREAU DOES A DAILY BATTLE
WITH THIS DISEASE BUT MANAGES
TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE FUNNY
SIDE OF LIFE.
>> I'M HAPPY IN THE SPRINGTIME
WHEN THE FLOWERS START BLOOMING.
>> ONE MORNING 11 YEARS AGO HE
WOKE UP TO A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.
>> GOT UP ONE MORNING AND THE
BED IS ALL BLOODY AND I SAID
THAT AIN'T GOOD.
>> YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT RIGHT
THERE.
>> THE CAUSE OF THE BLOOD WAS A
DIABETIC YOU WILL -- ULCER ON
THE BOTTOM OF HIS BIG TOE.
THE DOCTOR HAD TO AMPUTATE HIS
TOES TO SAVE HIS FOOT.
>> ONCE YOU LOSE THAT YOUR TOES
THAT GOES YOUR WHOLE BALANCE
SYSTEM.
THE FIRST FEW DAYS YOU WALK
LIKE YOU'RE DRUNK.
>> HE SAYS EVEN THE AMPUTATION
DIDN'T CHANGE HIS ATTITUDE
TOWARD LIFE.
>> IT'S ONLY DIFFICULT IF
SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE IT.
LIFE IS THAT WAY AND THAT'S THE
WAY I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT.
>> TWO YEARS AGO ANOTHER ULCER
OPENED UP ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS
FOOT.
IF THIS ONE DOESN'T HEAL HE MAY
OF FORCED TO HAVE THE REST OF
HIS FOOT AMPUTATED BUT HE
SIGNED UP FOR A CLINICAL TRIAL
DESIGNED BY DR. JENNIFER EDDY
AT UW HEALTH FAMILY MEDICINE
CLINIC IN EAU CLAIRE.
THE TRIAL USES A SALVE ON THE
ULCER THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU.
IT IS SUPERMARKET HONEY.
>> WE HAVE TO GET THE PRESSURE
OFF.
>> BACK IN MEDICAL SCHOOL SHE
WAS INTRIGUED BY A LECTURE
GIVEN BY THE AUTHOR OF A BOOK
THAT TRACED HONEY BACK TO AN
SENT EGYPT AND HUNDREDS OF
ARTICLES CLAIMING THE SUCCESS
OF HONEY.
THERE WERE NO CLINICAL TRIALS
TO PROVE IT.
>> THERE IS LITERATURE OUT
THERE THAT HONEY MAY BE
EFFECTIVE IN HEALING DIABETIC
WOUNDS.
WHAT I'M HOPING TO CONTRIBUTE
IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF
SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE WHICH HAS
BEEN LACKING.
>> FOR THE DOUBLE BLIND STUDY
DR. EDDIE NEEDED A PLACEBO THAT
LOOKS AND FEELS LIKE HONEY.
SHE TURNED TO DAVE KLEINGARTNER
A LOCAL PHARMACIST WHO CREATED
HER IMITATION HONEY FROM
SCRATCH.
HE SAID HIS FIRST TRY WOULDN'T
FOOL ANYONE.
>> THE FIRST ONE WAS LIKE -- IT
WAS A BRIGHT YELLOW LIKE BIG
BIRD YELLOW.
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HONEY,
ALTHOUGH IT SMELLED LIKE HONEY,
IT DIDN'T LOOK OR FEEL LIKE
HONEY.
>> KLEINGARTNER KEPT TRYING.
>> TOOK LOTS OF
EXPERIMENTATION, LOTS OF
FAILURES TO COME UP WITH THE
RIGHT COLORS, TEXTURE OF THIS
IMITATION HONEY, I GUESS WE
CALL IT.
AND FINALLY GOT IT RIGHT, I
GUESS.
>> ACCORDING TO DR. EDDIE THERE
ARE URGENT REASONS TO FIND A
WAY TO HEAL DIABETIC FOOT
ULCERS.
?
>> IN 2001 WE HAD 82,000
DIABETIC AMPUTATIONS FOR FOOT
ULCERS IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT'S
LIKELY TO INCREASE.
>> 24 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE
UNITED STATES NOW HAVE DIABETES.
AND FOOT ULCERS ARE A COMMON
COMPLICATION OF THIS DISEASE.
THEY ARE A PROBLEM BECAUSE
THEY'RE HARD TO HEAL.
>> PEOPLE WITH DIABETES HAVE
SUPPRESSED IMMUNE FUNCTION AND
DECREASED BLOOD SUPPLY.
BOTH THOSE THINGS MAKE IT
DIFFICULT FOR DIABETIC ULCERS
TO HEAL.
>> THERE IS SOME DEBATE ABOUT
WHICH HONEY WORKS THE BEST.
IN 2007, THE FDA CLEARED A
PRODUCT FOR USE MARKETED AS
IMMEDIATE MEDI HONEY.
>> FOR HOSPITALS IT'S GOOD TO
HAVE SOMETHING STANDARDIZED SO
THE ISSUE OF LAWSUITS IS
REDUCED.
I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT MEDI
HONEY IS BETTER THAN
SUPERMARKET HONEY.
I FEEL CONFIDENT IN USING
SUPERMARKET HONEY FOR PATIENTS.
>> HONEY DEHYDRATES BACTERIA IN
THE WOUND AND HAS AN ACID PH
WHICH SLOWS THE GROWTH OF
BACTERIA.
>> ADDITIONALLY THERE IS AN
ENZYME IN HONEY CALLED GLUCOSE
OXIDASE THAT SECRETES A SMALL
AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
WHICH IS BACTERSIDAL.
>> PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT
BENEFIT TO PATIENTS LIKE THIS
MAN AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE IS
THAT THE HONEY CURE DOESN'T ADD
TO THE PROBLEM OF ANTIBIOTIC
RESISTANCE OR SUPER BUGS.
>> SOMETIMES THEY'RE TREATED
WITH MULTIPLE COURSES OF
ANTIBIOTICS AND LEADS TO THE
GROWTH OF THESE SUPER BUGS SO
THEY SERVE AS A REPOS TORY FOR
SOCIETY FOR THE GROWTH OF THESE
BAD BUGS.
>> BECAUSE HE'S IN THE STUDY HE
DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE IF HE'S
ACTUALLY USING HONEY.
HE MIGHT BE USING THE PLACEBO
INSTEAD.
SO FAR HE'S HAD SOME SUCCESS.
THE WOUND HAS GOTTEN SMALLER
AND NO INFECTION HAS DEVELOPED
AND AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, HE
REMAINS VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL OF THIS STICKY
SWEET CURE.
>> IT'S GIVEN ME A LOT OF HOPE,
YEAH.
HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO HEAL.
I CAN'T COMPLAIN.
>> DOCTOR EDDY TELLS US SHE'S
HOPING TO ATTRACT 40
PARTICIPANTS FOR THE HONEY
STUDY.
SO FAR SEVEN HAVE SIGNED UP.
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE STUDY ON OUR WEBSITE
AT wpt.org/inwisconsin.
WE HAVE ONE MORE REPORT FOR YOU
THIS WEEK BUT FIRST, A PREVIEW
OF WHAT YOU CAN FIND ON "IN
WISCONSIN" NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BRING YOU AN UPDATE ON
THE CATASTROPHIC FLOODING THAT
HIT MUCH OF WISCONSIN LAST JUNE.
SIX MONTHS OUT WE'LL SHOW YOU
HOW PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ARE
REBUILDING AND STARTING OVER.
WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT MAKING THE SWITCH TO
A DIGITAL TELEVISION SIGNAL
THIS FEBRUARY.
AND WE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE
RICH ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY OF A
MAN WHO DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO
CONSERVING OUR STATE'S NORTHERN
TREASURES.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
BUT FIRST WE LEAVE YOU WITH
THIS FINAL REPORT.
THIS COMING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER
11th, IS VETERAN'S DAY.
MEMORIALS TO AMERICA'S VETERANS
ARE SOMETIMES NEXT TO A PUBLIC
BUILDING, SOMETIMES TUCKED AWAY
IN A CEMETERY.
NOW THERE IS A NEW MEMORIAL
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
REPORTER ART HACKETT SAYS THE
BLOOMER VETERAN'S MEMORIAL IN
CHIPPEWA COUNTY IS ATTRACTING
ATTENTION IN A TOWN THAT
PREVIOUSLY OFFERED VETS LITTLE
RECOGNITION AT ALL.
>> UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2008,
THIS IS HOW THE CHIPPEWA COUNTY
COMMUNITY OF BLOOMER REMEMBERED
ITS MILITARY VETERANS.
>> THE VETERANS RAN THE GOLF
COURSE.
THAT WAS THE MEMORIAL BECAUSE
IT WAS THE VETERAN MEMORIAL
CLUBHOUSE.
>> DAVE OLSON SAYS IT'S NOT
FROM A LACK OF RESPECT.
IT IS JUST THAT THE VETERANS
NEVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
>> THEY WEREN'T ASKING TO BE
RECOGNIZED.
THEY WEREN'T ASKING TO BE
APPRECIATED.
THEY FELT THAT IT WAS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WAS THEIR LITTLE
SPOT.
>> OLSON IS THE CITY OF
BLOOMER'S FUNERAL DIRECTOR.
JIM HUDACEK IS A RETIRED SCHOOL
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
THEY WERE PART OF THE COMMITTEE
WHICH DECIDED THAT IN THIS TIME
OF WAR BLOOMER NEEDED SOMETHING
MORE TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO
SERVED THEIR COUNTRY.
>> VETERANS TEND NOT TO WANT TO
DRAW ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES.
THEY JUST DON'T TALK ABOUT
THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCE TO
OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN OTHER
SERVICE MEMBERS.
>> HUDACEK SERVED AS A COMBAT
MEDIC IN VIETNAM.
>> WE WERE AT FIRST THINKING OF
A STONE IN THE COMMUNITY TO
RECOGNIZE THE SACRIFICES
FAMILIES AND VETERANS MAKE.
FROM THERE IT JUST GREW.
>> WHAT THE MEMORIAL BECAME WAS
A MONUMENT ROUGHLY THE SIZE AND
SHAPE OF A BASEBALL DIAMOND.
IT'S BASED ON A DESIGN BY JIM
KOUBA, A RETIRED MATH TEACHER.
FIVE BLACK GRANITE TABLETS LIST
THE NAMES OF EVERY AREA
RESIDENT, LIVING OR DEAD, WHO
HAS SERVED IN THE MILITARY.
FLAGPOLES STAND IN WHAT WOULD
BE THE OUTFIELD.
THERE IS A BELL TOWER BEHIND
HOME PLATE.
THE COMMITTEE FORMED TO BUILD
THE MEMORIAL CONDUCTED A
TWO-YEAR CAMPAIGN IN THE
COMMUNITY WITH NOTICES IN THE
LOCAL PAPER AND LETTERS TO
CHURCHES ASKING PEOPLE TO
NOMINATE VETERANS THEY KNEW.
>> THE CRITERIA THAT WE'RE
USING IS YOU MUST BE HONORABLY
DISCHARGED, HAVE SERVED IN THE
MILITARY AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE
THE ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE,
MARINES, COAST GUARD AND
MERCHANT MARINES DURING WORLD
WAR II.
>> SOME VETERANS REMEMBER ED
HERE FOUGHT BEFORE BLOOMER
EXISTED.
ALVIN SERVED IN THE WAR OF 1812.
OTHER VETERANS FOUGHT IN WARS
MOST HAVE FORGOTTEN.
WILLIAM LEAVENS SERVED DURING
THE MEXICAN WAR.
IT OCCURRED BETWEEN 1846 AND
1848 FOLLOWING THE ANNEXATION
OF TEXAS.
>> THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO GET
THIS DONE FASTER AND I WANTED
TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE
MAJORITY OF THE NAMES OF THE
PEOPLE IN THE AREA HERE.
THIS IS NOT ONLY A TRIBUTE TO
THE DEAD VETERANS IT'S ALSO A
TRIBUTE TO THE LIVING VETERANS.
>> THE MONUMENT WAS DEDICATED
DURING THE FOURTH OF JULY
WEEKEND IN 2008.
>> THIS MEMORIAL IS A LASTING
REMINDER OF OUR APPRECIATION
FOR THE SACRIFICES MADE BY OUR
MEN AND WOMEN IN THE MILITARY.
>> AMONG THOSE WHO SPOKE WAS
THE FORMER U.S. AM BASSADOR TO
CHINA WITH TIES TO BLOOMER.
>> OUR FATHER WAS BORN HERE IN
1912 AND HE GREW UP HERE BEFORE
HE LEFT WHEN HE WAS 16 YEARS
OLD TO GO TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY
AND JOIN THE NAVY AND HE WAS
KILLED AT AGE 30.
>> JOSEPH PREER ROSE TO THE
RANK OF ADMIRAL IN THE NAVY.
HIS NAME, HIS FATHER'S NAME AND
HIS UNCLES ARE ALL ON THE
MONUMENT.
HE SAYS MEMORIALS SUCH AS THIS
ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR
THE FAMILIES OF THOSE SUCH AS
HIS FATHER WHO WERE LOST AT SEA.
THERE IS NO GRAVE SIGHT AT
WHICH TO MOURN AND REMEMBER.
>> WE VISIT MONUMENTS AROUND
THE WORLD.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS
TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE GONE
BEFORE AND IT IS A VERY
WELL-DONE, SOPHISTICATED
MONUMENT FOR A TOWN THE SIZE OF
BLOOMER TO PULL IT OFF I THINK
IS AMAZING.
>> THE MEMORIAL WAS INSPIRED BY
TODAY'S ONGOING WARS.
PAULINE KNUTSON'S DAUGHTER,
TRACY ALGER, WAS KILLED IN IRAQ
BY AN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE
DEVICE.
KNUTE SEN WAS AMONG THE FIRST
TO SOUND THE MEMORIAL'S BELL.
>> AT THE FUNERAL THEY TOLD ME
HER NAME WAS ADDED RIGHT AWAY
AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT UNTIL
THAT DAY.
AND THEY TOLD ME YOU HAVE TO
GET OVER THERE AND SEE IT.
>> THE MONUMENT FOR THOSE
KILLED IN ACTION WAS ONE OF THE
FIRST PARTS TO BE COMPLETED.
IT INCLUDES TWO NAMES FROM THE
CURRENT WARS IN IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
>> TO ME BECAUSE I CAN'T GET
OVER ALL THE TIME OVER TO
STANLEY WHERE SHE'S BURIED
ALONGSIDE MY DAD, I CANNOT GET
OVER THERE ALL THE TIME TO, YOU
KNOW, PAY TRIBUTE AT HER
GRAVESIDE, WHICH IS A EASIER,
IT'S CLOSER TO HOME.
A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE.
HER FRIENDS FROM IRAQ CAN'T
WAIT TO COME TO SEE THIS ALSO.
>> FOR ME I THINK WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT JUST
THE PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE THAT
ARE MAKING SOME SACRIFICES.
FAMILIES ARE AND THIS IS A
TRIBUTE TO THE FAMILIES AS WELL
AS THE MEMBERS THAT WERE IN THE
MILITARY.
>> JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF
VISITORS THE MORNING AFTER THE
DEDICATION, THE MONUMENT IS
PROOFING TO BE AN INSPIRATION.
IT'S HISTORY TO BE SEEN AND
NAMES TO BE TOUCHED.
IT'S A CHANCE TO RING A BELL IN
REMEMBRANCE.
>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
OUR COMMUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU
TO THE VETERANS FOR WHAT
THEY'VE DONE FOR US TO ALLOW US
TO HAVE THE FREEDOMS WE TAKE
FOR GRANTED AND APPRECIATE
TODAY.
THIS IS OUR WAY TO SAY THANK
YOU, VETERANS, THANK YOU FOR
THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE US AND
GOD BLESS YOU.
[BELL RINGING]
[TAPS PLAYING]
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.