>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IN
WISCONSIN," I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK AN UPDATE ON THE
CATASTROPHIC FLOODING THAT HIT
MUCH OF WISCONSIN LAST JUNE.
MONTHS LATER, WE'LL SHOW YOU
HOW PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES ARE
REBUILDING AND STARTING OVER.
WILL YOU STILL BE ABLE TO WATCH
YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS COME
THIS FEBRUARY?
WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT YOU
NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PREPPING
YOUR TV FOR THE SWITCH TO DTV.
AND WE'LL REMEMBER THE RICH
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY OF A MAN
WHO DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO
CONSERVING OUR STATE'S NORTHERN
TREASURE.
WE'LL ALSO GUIDE YOU TO A
STUNNING BUT REMOTE WATERFALL
FOUND ON FLORENCE COUNTY'S PINE
RIVER "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 IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY 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.
>> AS WINTER APPROACHES, OUR
WEATHER WORRIES TURN TO
BLIZZARDS AND ICE STORMS.
HOW SOON SOME OF US HAVE
FORGOTTEN THAT ONLY FIVE MONTHS
AGO ALL WE COULD THINK ABOUT
WAS RAIN, DAYS OF RAIN.
RAIN WHICH FLOODED THE UPPER
MIDWEST FROM DES MOINES, IOWA,
TO FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.
WE BROUGHT YOU MANY STORIES
ABOUT THE FLOODING, INTRODUCED
YOU TO MANY PEOPLE WHO WERE
STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH THE
RISING WATERS.
SO BEFORE WISCONSIN TRADES SAN
BAGS FOR SNOW SHOVELS, WE
THOUGHT WE SHOULD REVISIT THE
PEOPLE AND PLACES WE TOLD YOU
ABOUT LAST JUNE.
THIS WEEK, ART HACKETT TAKES US
BACK TO THE SITE OF A
FLOOD-TRIGGERED DISASTER THAT
CAPTURED THE NATION'S ATTENTION.
LAKE DELTON.
>> IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE
THE LAKE DELTON DAM HAS HELD
BACKWATER.
THE LAKE IS CURRENTLY JUST A
NARROW CREEK.
THESE ARE THE FINAL DAYS OF
WHEN IT'S POSSIBLE TO STAND ON
THE BOTTOM OF LAKE DELTON.
DECEMBER 1st, THE DAM GATES
WILL BE CLOSED, THE LAKE WILL
START TO REFILL.
EVENTUALLY WHERE I'M STANDING
NOW WILL BE UNDER ABOUT 20 FEET
OF WATER.
SINCE JUNE, TOM DIEHL HAS BEEN
PROPRIETOR OF A LITTLE SKI SHOW
ON THE PRAIRIE.
FROM HIS STAGE HE LOOKS OUT
OVER ACRES OF GRASS BROWN BY
FROST.
MORE LIKE A FARMER, DIEHL
CONTEMPLATES THE HARVEST.
>> IT HAS TO BE CUT AND TAKEN
OUT.
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, WE HAVE A
PROBLEM OF TREMENDOUS ALGAE
NEXT YEAR.
>> HE FRETS OVER THE BEGINNINGS
OF WHAT, IF LEFT UNCHECKED,
WILL BECOME A FOREST.
>> THERE ARE COTTONWOODS OUT
THERE WITH 3 INCH TRUCKS.
THOSE WILL GROW IN UP TO TWO
FEET OF WATER.
>> ON THE DISTANT SHORE THERE
ARE TOO PONTOON BARGES USING
THREE TIMES A DAY DURING SUMMER
SHOWS.
BARGES FROZEN IN TIME.
>> THAT'S WHERE THEY PARK EVERY
NIGHT IN THE SUMMERTIME.
THEY WERE PARKED THERE ON JUNE
7th AND UNFORTUNATELY IT'S
IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THEM OUT OF
THERE NOW.
>> ON JUNE 7th TOM DIEHL STAGED
HIS LAST SKI SHOW OF 2008.
THE NEXT DAY, THE LAKE'S WATERS
WERE RISING TO FLOOD STAGE.
THE DAY AFTER THAT, JUNE 9th,
THE WATERS WERE GONE.
LAKE DELTON'S NORTH WALL
RUPTURED.
THE WATER DRAINED INTO THE
WISCONSIN RIVER.
FIVE HOUSES WERE DESTROYED
AROUND THE LAKE COUNTLESS
BUSINESSES WERE HIGH, DRY AND
FACING ECONOMIC DISASTER.
>> EVERYONE ON THE LAKE THAT
DEPENDED UPON THE WATER BEING
THERE FOR THEIR COMMERCE WAS
SEVERELY EFFECT ECONOMICALLY.
WE MADE THE DECISION FROM THE
GET GO THAT WE HAD PROMISED 150
YOUNG PEOPLE JOBS, WE KNEW WE
WERE GOING TO HAVE TO SOMEHOW
TRY TO FIND A WAY TO CONTINUE
THE SHOW WITHOUT THE WATER.
>> DIEHL LOADED UP HIS SHOW
WITH EXTRA LAND-BASED ACTS.
>> GRANDSTAND HERE SEATS HOW
MANY PEOPLE?
>> A LITTLE LESS THAN 5,000.
>> WHAT KIND OF CROWDS WERE YOU
DRAWING?
>> 250, 300 PEOPLE.
IT WAS STILL A GOOD SHOW.
>> STARTING OUT WHEN TOMMY
OPENED THE SHOW IN 1953 IT WAS
WATER, WATER, WATER, EVERY
BILLBOARD AND AD.
LOOKING BACK I GUESS I
UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DIDN'T
ATTEND.
>> LIKE EVERY OTHER BUSINESS
AROUND LAKE DELTON, THE SKI
SHOW IS DEPENDENT UPON THE
WATER.
>> IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT COUNT
ON US, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
WATER VERSUS IT'S DECEMBER 1st
AND THE WATER IS HERE.
>> THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION IS NEARING
COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT WHICH
WILL BRING BACK THE WATER.
THE AREA WHERE THE FIVE HOUSES
ONCE STOOD NOW LOOKS LIKE AN
OPEN PIT MINE BUT IT SOON WILL
BECOME AN ENLARGED BAY, ITS
WALLS ARMORED WITH ROCK.
AN ARMY OF WORKERS IS BUILDING
A 500 FOOT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY
AND THE EARTHEN STRUCTURE WHICH
WILL CARRY IT.
DOT PROJECT ENGINEER SAYS IT'S
A $5 MILLION PROJECT.
>> IT WILL PERFORM LIKE A DAM
SO THERE IS A LOT OF VERY
SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
EMPLOYED THERE.
>> A MACHINE THAT LOOKS LIKE A
ONE-LEGGED MANTIS IS EMBEDDING
A THREE FOOT WIDE CLAY BARRIER
GOING DOWN TO BEDROCK.
>> IT WILL STOP THE POTENTIAL
FOR SEEPAGE AND ENSURE THE
STABILITY OF THE EMBANKMENT.
>> HE SAYS GEOLOGICAL STUDIES
DONE DURING THE PREPARATION OF
THE SITE FOR RECONSTRUCTION
INDICATED IT WAS SEEPAGE OF
LAKE WATER THROUGH THE LAKE
WALL IN ADDITION TO THE FLOW OF
WATER OVER IT WHICH CAUSED THE
CATASTROPHIC COLLAPSE.
DIEHL HAS WATCHED THE
CONSTRUCTION SINCE THE
BEGINNING.
HIS CONFIDENCE WASN'T RESTORED
UNTIL THE CLAY BARRIER WAS
COMPLETE.
>> UNTIL THERE IS WATER ON THE
BOTTOM OF THE LAKE THAT
UNCERTAINTY WILL ALWAYS BE
THERE.
>> BEFORE THE LAKE CAN BE
REFILLED THE DNR WILL TREAT THE
STANDING WATER TO KILL OFF
ROUGH FISH SUCH AS CARP.
RETIRED FISH MANAGER GORDON
PRIEGEL, WHO SERVES ON THE LAKE
DELTON VILLAGE BOARD, WILL THEN
OVERSEE THE RESTOCKING OF YOUNG
GAME FISH.
>> WE'LL BE STOCKING LITERALLY
MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF ADULT
FAT HEAD MINNOWS, GOLDEN SHINE
MINNOWS AND SUCKER FRY.
>> PRIEGEL SAYS HE WOULD LOVE
TO BE ABLE TO IMPORT ADULT FISH
FROM OTHER LAKES BUT THAT'S NOW
BANNED BECAUSE OF EFFORTS TO
CONTROL FISH VIRUSES.
IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE FISHING
IS BACK TO NORMAL.
>> I WOULD SAY PROBABLY FIVE TO
SIX YEARS, AND I WOULD THINK
PROBABLY THREE YEARS OF NO
FISHING AND THEN SOME REAL
STRICT REGULATIONS SIZE LIMITS,
BAG LIMITS AND SUCH.
>> BY NEXT MAY, THE PRAIRIE
WILL BECOME A LAKE AGAIN.
PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SIT BY
IT, CRUISE ON IT AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY FOR TOM DIEHL,
WATERSKI ON IT.
>> ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION, THE HIGHWAY
IS EXPECTED TO BE REBUILT AND
REOPENED AROUND DECEMBER 1st.
BY NOW YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD
THAT ON FEBRUARY 17th, 2009
THERE WILL BE A FEDERALLY
MANDATED NATIONWIDE SWITCH FROM
THE ANALOG TELEVISION SIGNAL TO
A DIGITAL BROADCAST SIGNAL.
BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED
TO DO TO PREPARE YOUR OWN TV
FOR TRANSITION?
REPORTING ANDY SOTH TAKES US
THROUGH SOME EASY STEPS TO
BECOME DIGITAL READY.
>> MAYBE YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD
ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL
TELEVISION.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THESE.
AS A PUBLIC TV EMPLOYEE I'VE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS
BUT TODAY I CAN FINALLY DO
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AS A PUBLIC TELEVISION
EMPLOYEE, I DON'T EXACTLY HAVE
THE CASH ON HAND TO GOUT AND
BUY A NEW DIGITAL TV PLUS I
SUBSCRIBE TO THE ART HACKETT
PHILOSOPHY OF TELEVISION.
>> PEOPLE SHOULD WATCH
TELEVISION OVER THE AIR WITH AN
ANTENNA THE WAY GOD INTENDED IT.
>> IN OTHER WORDS, I DON'T WANT
TO GET A BILL FOR CABLE OR
SATELLITE BUT IF YOU SUBSCRIBE
TO THE SERVICES YOU DON'T NEED
TO WORRY, YOUR PROVIDER WILL
TAKE CARE OF YOU.
BUT IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND YOU
GET YOUR TELEVISION OVER THE
AIR THROUGH AN ANTENNA, YOU ARE
GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ACTION.
YOU'LL NEED TO GET ONE OF THESE
DIGITAL CONVERTER BOXES.
THERE ARE MANY TO CHOOSE FROM
BUT THEY ALL MAKE IT POSSIBLE
TO WATCH DIGITAL TV ON A
NON-DIGITAL SET.
I'VE BEEN WAITING TO BUY THE
CONVERTER BOX UNTIL I GOT THE
SPECIAL DISCOUNT COUPONS IN THE
MAIL.
I SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE THEM ON
THIS WEBSITE.
THESE COUPONS ARE MORE LIKE
THOSE GIFT CARDS CHAIN STORES
SELL.
THEY COVER $40 OF THE COST OF
THE CONVERTER BOX.
EACH HOUSEHOLD IS QUALIFIED TO
GET TWO OF THEM.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PROVIDES
THE COUPONS BECAUSE THE
TRANSITION TO DIGITAL
TELEVISION IS A FEDERAL MANDATE.
IT PROMISES TO BE A HUGE STEP
UP IN QUALITY NOT JUST ON HIGH
DEFINITION SETS EVEN THE SIGNAL
ON OLD TVs WILL BE CLEARER FOR
NO FUZZY PICTURE OR STATIC AND
MORE CHANNELS WILL BE AVAILABLE
OVER THE AIR.
LIKE THE DIGITAL TRANSITION IN
MUSIC FROM ALBUM TO CD TO MP3,
THE DIGITAL BROADCAST
TRANSITION CREATES OPPORTUNITY.
THE MOVE TO DIGITAL TV WILL
FREE UP SPACE ON THE AIRWAVES
SO THE GOVERNMENT CAN LEASE OUT
FOR NEW COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGIES LIKE DATA DELIVERY
TO HAND HELD DEVICES AND WHO
KNOWS WHAT ELSE?
SO YOU CAN THINK THAT THESE
COUPONS AS YOUR PERSONAL SLICE
OF THAT PIE.
OKAY, I HAVE MY COUPONS.
LET'S GO SHOPPING.
>> HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> GOOD.
I'VE GOT MY COUPONS.
I WANT TO FIND OUT ABOUT
GETTING A DIGITAL CONVERTER.
>> I'VE SEEN A FEW OF THOSE IN
THE LAST MONTHS OR SO.
IT'S BEEN QUITE POPULAR.
STILL USE AN ANTENNA?
>> YES.
>> JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
WE'LL SHOW YOU THAT BOX.
WE CARRY A BOX THAT IS A
DIGITAL ANALOG CONVERTER BOX TO
ALLOW YOUR OLD TVs TO NOW WORK
WITH THE NEW SIGNAL OVER THE
AIR.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PLUG
YOUR ANTENNA INTO HERE, BUT
THAT IS WHEN YOU MAKE THE
SWITCH FEBRUARY 17th OF 2009 IS
WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO NEED FOR
AN ANALOG TV SET IN ORDER TO
RECEIVE A DIGITAL SIGNAL.
THE PRICE IS $49.95 PLUS TAX.
YOUR COUPON WILL BE FOR $40.
YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY THAT FOR THE
ADDITIONAL CHARGE WILL BE
AROUND $12 AFTER TAX FOR THAT
BOX.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT MY BOX.
READY TO HOOK IT UP.
THE MANUAL PROVIDES CLEAR
INSTRUCTIONS.
PLUG IN MY ANTENNA, AND THEN
THIS WILL GO TO MY TV.
LET'S MATCH THE COLORS.
ALL RIGHT.
PUT THE POWER IN THERE.
BACK OF THE TV HERE.
THE CONVERTER BOX GENERATES AN
ON-SCREEN MENU THAT SCANS AND
LOCATE THE DIGITAL CHANNELS.
OKAY, LOOK, I'M GETTING
MULTIPLE VERSIONS OF WISCONSIN
PUBLIC TELEVISION.
THIS IS GREAT.
I HAVE TWICE THE CHANNELS I HAD
BEFORE, THE PICTURE IS
TERRIFIC, I DON'T HAVE TO PAY A
MONTHLY CABLE OR SATELLITE BILL
AND FOR A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT
OF JUST OVER $10 I'M READY FOR
THE DIGITAL TRANSITION.
SO TO REVIEW, IF YOU WATCH
TELEVISION OVER THE AIR WITH AN
ANTENNA, HERE IS WHAT YOU
SHOULD DO.
LOG ONTO THE DTV WEBSITE OR
CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND WAIT
FOR YOUR COUPONS TO ARRIVE IN
THE MAIL.
THEN GO TO A RETAILER AND
PURCHASE YOUR BOX.
COME BACK HOME, PLUG INTO YOUR
ANTENNA AND TV AND THE LAST
STEP, SIT, WATCH AND ENJOY.
>> YOU CAN GET MUCH MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT THE
NATIONWIDE TRANSITION TO DTV
THIS FEBRUARY BY GOING TO OUR
WEBSITE AT wpt.org/inwisconsin.
AGAIN IT'S wpt.org/inwisconsin.
THIS PAST APRIL PRODUCER FRED
WESSEL INTRODUCED US TO MARTIN
HANSON, A MAN WHOSE
CONSERVATION EFFORTS HAVE GONE
A LONG WAY TO PROTECT SOME OF
WISCONSIN'S MOST VALUABLE
NATURAL AREAS, INCLUDING
NORTHERN FOREST LANDS AND THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS.
THREE WEEKS AGO HANSON PASSED
AWAY AT HIS HOME IN ASHLAND
COUNTY.
AND WE DEDICATE THIS REPORT TO
HIS MEMORY.
>> MARTIN HANSON OF MELLEN,
WISCONSIN, DOESN'T OFTEN DRIVE
THROUGH THESE WOODS, WOODS HE
HELPED RESTORE FROM THE EARLY
YEARS OF CLEAR-CUTTING.
>> I HOPE I'M ON THE ROAD.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT YEAR THIS ONE
WAS MADE?
>> 1962.
>> GOOD THING THIS THING HAS
BRAKES.
>> NOW IN HIS NINTH DECADE
HANSON TAKES CONSERVATION
ISSUES VERY SERIOUSLY BUT NEVER
PASSES UP A CHANCE TO JOKE
AROUND.
>> I'VE ALWAYS FOUND WHERE
THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S
RELATIVES.
UP THE HILL.
>> AS ONE OF WISCONSIN'S MOST
ACTIVE CONSERVATIONISTS HE HAS
SPONSORED MANY COMPLEX
INITIATIVES.
STILL HE'S APT TO DESCRIBE
HIMSELF WITH A SINGLE WORD.
>> TROUBLEMAKER.
A LOT OF THEM CALLED ME THAT,
WHAT THE HECK.
I'M NOT ASHAMED OF THAT.
>> THE PEOPLE HE MAKES TROUBLE
FOR ARE THOSE WHO MAY NOT AGREE
WITH HIM ABOUT NATURE AND
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
>> HE JUST SEEMS TO GET
INVOLVED IN ANY CONSERVATION
ISSUE AND THEN REALLY WORKS.
>> HANSON WAS BORN IN CHICAGO
IN 1927.
IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE
DEPRESSION, HIS FAMILY LOOKED
FOR VACATION PROPERTY IN
NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
IN ASHLAND COUNTY THEY FOUND
REMOTE AND RUGGED LAND WITH
GRANITE OUTCROPPINGS NEAR THE
GREAT DIVIDE OF WISCONSIN'S
WATERSHEDS.
>> WELL, MY FATHER BOUGHT THE
PLACE IN 1926.
IT WAS 1240 ACRES.
IT WAS CUT OVER AND BURNED OVER
AND BASICALLY IT HAD NO TREES.
AND MY MOTHER LOOKED AT IT AND
SAID HE HAD LOST HIS MIND.
HE BOUGHT IT FOR $3 AN ACRE AND
PAID $2 AN ACRE TOO MUCH.
NO TREES TO SPEAK OF.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THE TIMBER
BARRONS LEFT IT.
>> FOR THE FAMILY THE RAIL AND
ROAD TRIPS TO THE NORTH COUNTRY
MEANT SUMMERS WITH PLENTY OF
OUTDOOR RECREATION AND CONTACT
WITH WILDLIFE.
>> AS THE KID I SPENT ALL MY
TIME UP HERE IN THE SUMMERS.
>> FOR MARTIN HANSON IT WAS AN
IDYLLIC, IF NOT PRIVILEGED
RETREAT.
>> MARTIN'S FATHER OWNED A
FURNITURE BUSINESS IN CHICAGO.
AT THE TIME HE INHERITED THAT I
THINK HE QUIT WORK AND INVESTED
HIS MONEY VERY WISELY.
HE'S ALWAYS LIVED FRUGALLY.
HE DOESN'T BUY FANCY CLOTHES
AND SO HE DOESN'T SPEND MUCH.
AND HE'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.
>> HANSON'S LOVE OF NATURE AND
CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES ARE
DEEP ROOTED.
HE GOT EARLY LESSONS IN THE
VALUE OF LAND MANAGEMENT AS THE
TREES PLANTED BY HIS FAMILY
MATURED TO HELP REFOREST THEIR
PROPERTY.
>> MY BROTHER AND I, OUR CHORE
EVERY DAY WAS TO HAUL A BUCKET
OF WATER TO EACH TREE.
WE HAD A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>> HIS EXPOSURE TO HUNTING AND
FISHING ALSO BEGAN IN THOSE
YEARS BEFORE WORLD WAR II.
>> THAT'S WHERE I CAUGHT MY
FIRST MUSKY.
36 INCHES LONG.
>> HOW OLD WERE YOU?
>> ABOUT 12 OR 13.
I STARTED OUT WITH A RIFLE AND
HUNTED DEER AND IN WORLD WAR II
ENLISTED IN THE NAVY.
I NEVER FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.
MY CONGRESSMAN DAVID OBEY SAID
WHOEVER GAVE ME A MEDAL MADE A
HECK OF A MISTAKE.
>> AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR
HANSON SPENT MORE AND MORE TIME
AT THE FAMILY PROPERTY.
HIS CURIOSITY AND KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT WILDLIFE CONTINUING TO
GROW AS DIVERSE SPECIES CAME
BACK TO THE REBORN FORESTS.
>> I LOOKED UP IN THE TREE AND
THERE WAS A LYNX LOOKING AT ME.
>> HE TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY BOTH
TO OBSERVE WILDLIFE AND TO HUNT
BIG GAME.
>> THEN I TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE
OF A BOW AND ARROW AND WENT UP
TO ALASKA AND GOT A BROWN BEAR,
A GRIZZLY BEAR.
>> EVENTUALLY HIS ENTHUSIASM
LED TO MAKING FILMS ABOUT BOW
HUNTING TO SHOW HUNTERS IN
VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS BACK HOME.
>> HERE IS THE CHANCE, AND I
HAD MY SHOT.
>> I STARTED OUT TAKING
PICTURES WITH A 16 MILLIMETER
MOVIE CAMERA YEARS AGO UP IN
ALASKA AND HERE.
>> FOR SEVERAL YEARS HANSON
HELD BOW HUNTING RECORDS FOR
GAME TAKEN WHILE MAKING HIS
MOVIES.
>> WE ESTIMATED THE WEIGHT TO
BE ABOUT 500 POUNDS.
>> ONE OF HIS MOVIES DOCUMENTED
A HUNT OF AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT
NATURE.
>> MARTIN AND HIS BROTHER WENT
TO ALASKA AND CAPTURED SHEEP,
LITTLE ONES.
>> LOUIS, THE YOUNGEST RAM
FIRST.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAD TO BE
CAREFUL OF WAS NOT TO OVERFEED
THE SHEEP.
>> THEY TOOK THESE TO THE
BROOKFIELD ZOO IN CHICAGO.
FLEW THEM BACK FROM ALASKA WITH
THEIR OWN MONEY.
>> A FEW YEARS LATER HE HAD A
CHANGE OF HEART OF HUNTING OF
ANY KIND AND GAVE IT UP
ENTIRELY IN THE 1960s.
>> HE SHOT A BIG BUCK AND HE
THOUGHT WHAT DID I DO THAT FOR?
I WOULD MUCH RATHER WATCH IT.
>> I SAID TO MYSELF.
I DIDN'T WANT THE HORNS, I
DIDN'T WANT THE HIDE, AND I
DON'T CARE FOR VENISON, SO WHY
DID I SHOOT IT?
I CAN'T EVER SEE IT AGAIN.
THEN I STARTED TAKING PICTURES
OF THEM AND HAVE TAKEN VIDEO
EVER SINCE.
>> THOUGH THE CABINS AT BEAVER
DAM LAKE WERE NEVER WINTERIZED,
HE BEGAN LIVING THERE YEAR
ROUND IN 1961.
>> I LIKE THE WOODS, I LIVE IN
THE WOODS.
THE EASIEST DECISION I EVER
MADE WAS TO LIVE HERE.
IT'S A LOT NICER NOW THAN WHEN
I FIRST CAME UP HERE.
I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME
HERE ON AND ON.
I WAS A PROFESSOR IN THE
WILDLIFE ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
LEOPOLD WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT.
ONCE I GOT TO KNOW MARTIN I
WOULD HAUL A BUS LOAD OF
STUDENTS UP HERE.
MARTIN IS REALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE
ABOUT THE WILDLIFE, VEGETATION
AND EVERYTHING.
IF THERE WAS A POLICY THE
SERVICE HAD THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE
HE WOULD ORGANIZE A BIG MEETING.
>> IN ONE PROJECT HANSON TEAMED
UP WITH OTHERS TO CAPTURE WILD
ELK AND REINTRODUCE THEM INTO
WISCONSIN WHERE THEY HAD BEEN
ABSENT FOR OVER 100 YEARS.
>> HE ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY IN
THE BACKGROUND.
HE DIDN'T LIKE TO BE IN THE
FOREFRONT.
TELL US, MARTIN, SOME OF THE
THINGS YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN.
>> I'M NOT GOING TO GET ON THAT
KING.
>> YOU CAN BRIEFLY GO THROUGH
THEM.
THE APOSTLE ISLANDS.
>> I KNOW ORRIN RONSTADT,
THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW.
>> THE APOSTLE ISLANDS HE WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THOSE.
>> WHEN GAYLORD NELSON BECAME
WISCONSIN'S GOVERNOR AND
SENATOR IN 1961, HANSON FOUND
BOTH A TRUE FRIEND AND A
LIKE-MINDED ADVOCATE TO HELP
BRING THE APOSTLE ISLANDS UNDER
FEDERAL PROTECTION.
>> WELL, GAYLORD HAD A VERY
DISARMING WAY OF SPEAKING AND
HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT VALUES
THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, THE
PLACES THEY LIVE.
>> HANSON HELPED MAKE A FILM
THAT SENATOR NELSON USED TO
GAIN SUPPORT.
>> UP HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL
PART OF LAKE SUPERIOR IN
WISCONSIN THE APOSTLE ISLANDS.
>> IN 1963, SENATOR NELSON
CONVINCED PRESIDENT KENNEDY TO
GO ON AN 11-STATE CONSERVATION
TOUR.
>> I PERSUADED HIM WHEN HE
LANDED IN DULUTH WE SHOULD TAKE
SOME ARMY HELICOPTERS AND FLY
OVER THE APOSTLE ISLANDS.
>> ON THAT TOUR GAYLORD HAD ME
AS A TOUR DIRECTOR.
WE LOOKED AT THE ISLANDS AND
CAME OVER THE SAND BEACHES AND
CLIFFS.
THERE IS NO GROUP OF ISLANDS
LIKE IT.
ONE OF THE BETTER SAILING AREAS
OF ALL THE GREAT LAKES.
I MENTIONED THAT, I GOT THE BIG
KENNEDY SMILE.
>> SADLY, MARTIN HANSON'S
HELICOPTER FLIGHT WITH THE
PRESIDENT CAME TWO MONTHS
BEFORE THE ASSASSINATION IN
DALLAS.
BUT EVENTUALLY GAYLORD NELSON
AND MARTIN HANSON'S DREAM WAS
REALIZED WITH A 1970 LAW THAT
CREATED THE APOSTLE ISLANDS
NATIONAL LAKESHORE.
BY THEN, HANSON HAD MOVED OUT
OF THE OLD FAMILY CABINS AND
INTO A NEW HOUSE THAT BROUGHT
HIM EVEN CLOSER TO THE NATURAL
WORLD AROUND HIM.
>> WHEN I BUILT THIS HOUSE, THE
IDEA WAS TO SEE WILDLIFE AND I
PUT ALL THESE WINDOWS IN AND I
DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER LIVE
IN A GLASS HOUSE, BUT HERE I AM.
>> HANSON AND HIS SIBLINGS HAD
DONATED MOST OF THEIR LAND TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IN
1970.
RECENTLY, THAT AREA OF MORE
THAN 1,000 ACRES WAS SOLD TO
THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE
PREVENTING ANY NEW THREATS TO
THE WOODS AND WILDLIFE.
ALL IN ALL, A FAR CRY FROM THE
LEFTOVERS OF THE TIMBER BARONS.
>> I ENHANCED IT BY PLANTING
SOME PINE TREES AND COVER FOR
WILDLIFE, SO I HAVE A MIXED
FOREST.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOUR WILDLIFE
LIKE.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE SHOT
PROBABLY 1,000 VIDEOTAPES.
WHILE I TAKE PICTURES FROM MY
HOUSE HERE AND THEN I HAVE
SEVERAL DIFFERENT BLINDS, I
HAVE SOME BLINDS WHERE I'LL SIT
ALL DAY TO GET PICTURES.
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN
YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE ONE YOU
WANT.
I SPENT NINE DAYS ALL DAY LONG
BY A BEAVER POND AND GOT THEM
PUTTING DOWN TREES, DIFFERENT
SPECIES HAULING THE BRUSH TO
THEIR WINTER FOOD SUPPLY,
FIXING UP THEIR HOUSE FOR
WINTER AND YOU GET A MULTITUDE
OF SPECIES HERE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I ENJOY.
>> HANSON'S PATIENT CAMERA WORK
HAS DOCUMENTED WILDLIFE
BEHAVIOR IN ALL THE SEASONS AND
INCLUDES BEARS OF ALL SIZES,
FOXES, DEER, EAGLES, VULTURES,
CRANES, DUCKS, OTTERS, WOLVES,
ELK, BOBCATS PLAYING WITH A
HAPLESS MOUSE AND AN ACTUAL
WISCONSIN BADGER.
>> I'D EDIT THE VIDEOS AND MAKE
COPIES AND GIVE IT TO FRIENDS
AND PEOPLE THAT VISIT ME AND
PEOPLE I KNOW.
I'VE PROBABLY GIVEN AWAY OVER
300 OF THEM.
>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST FANS OF
HANSON'S VIDEOS WAS HIS GOOD
FRIEND GAYLORD NELSON AND LIKED
HIS FOOTAGE OF TWO CRANES
FACING DOWN AN EAGLE.
>> WRITING THE SCRIPT AND BEING
ACCURATE OF WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT
A SPECIES IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A CYCLE TO ALL LIVING
THINGS AND HOW THEY INTERRELATE
WITH ONE ANOTHER.
>> LIKE LEOPOLD HANSON HAS BEEN
A KEEN OBSERVER OF THE CYCLES
OF WILDLIFE.
WITH THE EXTRA ADVANTAGE THAT
HE LIVES IN THE WOODS YEAR
ROUND.
IN THE WOODS HE HELPED REVIVE
AND CONSERVE SO WELL SINCE HIS
FAMILY FIRST CAME HERE MORE
THAN 80 YEARS AGO.
>> THAT REPORT WAS VOICED BY
WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S TIM
FLEMING.
IN A STATEMENT RELEASED
FOLLOWING THE NEWS OF MARTIN
HANSON'S PASSING, GOVERNOR JIM
DOYLE SAID NOT ONLY DID HE LEAD
THE CONSERVATION FIGHT WITH HIS
WORDS BUT ALSO BY HIS ACTIONS,
GENEROUSLY DONATING PRISTINE
LAND TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN FOR RESEARCH AND
WORKING TO ESTABLISH THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL
LAKESHORE.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WILL
MISS MARTIN.
WE ALL WILL.
WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A
LOOK AT THE SORT OF STATE
NATURAL TREASURE THAT MARTIN
HANSON WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT
PRESERVING.
IT'S MEYERS FALLS ON THE PINE
RIVER IN FLORENCE COUNTY.
ENJOY AND FOR "IN WISCONSIN"
I'M PATTY LOEW.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTLY FRIENDLY ENERGY.
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.