>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN,"
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK A BIG STAKES BATTLE
DOWN ON THE FARM.
>> 8500 COWS?
THAT'S TO ME AN INDUSTRY, NOT
FARMING.
>> WHAT'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT OF THE LARGEST PROPOSED
DAIRY HERD IN WISCONSIN HISTORY?
PLUS ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY LIFE
THREATENING INDUSTRY AND AN
INSURANCE INDUSTRY HOLDING HER
FUTURE IN IT'S HANDS AND A
MIGRATION OF EPIC PROPORTIONS
FROM JANESVILLE TO PANAMA.
THOSE STORIES IN WEEK "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.
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.
>> WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH THE
FUTURE OF FARMING IN WISCONSIN.
THE AVERAGE HERD IN THE DAIRY
STATE IS STILL LESS THAN 90
COWS.
THE LARGEST COULD GROW TO 8,500.
FOR A HERD THAT SIZE, THE DNR
NOW REQUIRES A FULL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
JUST LIKE A MAJOR POWER PLANT
OR HIGHWAY PROJECT.
"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ART
HACKETT TAKES YOU TO FOND DU
LAC COUNTY WHERE THAT FARM
POLICY IS BEING PUT TO THE TEST
IN THE TOWN OF ROSENDALE.
>> THE ROSENDALE DAIRY IN FOND
DU LAC COUNTY IS SO BIG YOU CAN
HARDLY SEE IT.
THE BARNS STRETCH ACROSS THE
FROZEN HORIZON, ALMOST BEYOND
THE FIELD OF VISION.
INSIDE A STARTUP HERD RIDES A
MERRY-GO-ROUND TO BE MILKED.
AFTER THAT THE COWS RETURN TO
THEIR STALLS TO LOUNGE AND EAT
SILAGE ON A BED OF SAND.
>> THE ROSENDALE DAIRY
CURRENTLY MILKS ABOUT 700 COWS.
THAT WOULD BE LARGE BY
WISCONSIN STANDARDS.
BUT IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO
THE FUTURE.
THAT COULD INVOLVE AS MANY AS
8,500 COWS, TEN TIMES AS MANY.
THE EXPLANATION FOR THE CURRENT
SIZE OF THE HERD IS SIMPLE.
IT'S JUST BELOW THE LIMIT WHERE
WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES IMPOSES
STRICTER REGULATIONS.
PHASE ONE WOULD INCREASE THE
HERD TO 4,000 COWS, PHASE TWO
WOULD ADD 4,500 MORE.
>> MY GRANDFATHER WAS 19, THERE
WAS 150,000 DAIRYMAN.
TODAY THERE ARE 14,000 DAIRYMAN.
THAT BEING SAID ABOUT THE SAME
AMOUNT OF MILK IS BEING
PRODUCED.
THERE HAS BEEN A NATURAL
CONSOLIDATION.
>> MORE COWS MEANS MORE MANURE.
OSTROM SEES THAT AS A GOOD
THING.
>> SOME OF WISCONSIN'S BEST
CROP FARMERS ARE HERE.
IN A 10-MILE RADIUS THERE ARE
100,000 TILLABLE ACRES IN CORN
AND SOYBEANS.
COWS LOVE CORN AND ALFALFA AND
THE CROP FARMERS IN THE AREA
WILL BENEFIT FROM THE NUTRIENTS
THAT CAN BE DELIVER BACK IN THE
FORM OF MANURE.
>> HE'S SO PROUD OF HIS FARM'S
MANURE HANDLING CAPABILITIES HE
WANTED TO SHOW US A MANURE
SEPARATION SYSTEM THAT WILL
PROCESS THE WASTE SO IT WILL BE
MORE VALUABLE TO FARMERS.
>> WHAT WE'LL DO, IT WILL BE A
MORE POTENT NUTRIENT AND THE
LIQUID TO APPLY ON THE FIELDS.
>> SOME OF THOSE CLOSER FIELDS
ARE NEXT DOOR TO MELISSA
WILLIAMS' HOME.
>> THE MANURE WILL BE SPREAD
JUST BEYOND THOSE -- THAT LINE
OF TREES THERE.
>> WILLIAMS, HER HUSBAND AND
TWO CHILDREN LIVE ABOUT TWO
MILES FROM THE DAIRY.
SHE DOESN'T SEE MANURE AS A
BENEFIT.
AT LEAST NOT IN THE QUANTITIES
GENERATED BY 8,500 COWS.
>> 700 COWS, 1,000 COWS, MAYBE
WOULDN'T BE SUCH A CONCERN BUT
8,500 COWS?
THAT'S TO ME AN INDUSTRY, NOT
FARMING.
>> ELAINE AND SEVERN SWANSON
ALSO LIVE NEAR THE DAIRY.
ELAINE SAYS UNTIL PEOPLE
STARTED TO PROTEST, THE DNR
HADN'T PAID ATTENTION TO THE
LAND SURROUNDING THE FARM.
>> SUCH AS THE SOILS.
THE CONDITION OF THE SOILS,
HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO
CONTAMINATION BECAUSE OF OUR
SHALLOW GROUNDWATER LEVEL.
>> SWANSON HAD THE SOIL DATA
READY WHEN THE DNR HELD A
HEARING ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ON THE STATEMENT.
NEVER BEFORE HAD THE DNR
REQUIRED THIS LEVEL OF ANALYSIS
OF A WISCONSIN FARM.
>> THEY WANT TO BRING IN MANY
ANIMALS HERE.
THAT WILL GENERATE THE MANURE
OF A CITY.
AND SO IT'S A LOT OF MANURE.
>> THE HEARING IN RIPON DREW
YOU KNOW HOW AMERICA IS DIVIDED
INTO RED STATES AND BLUE STATES
IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR?
OPPONENTS, INCLUDING ELAINE
SWANSON WORE RED CAPS THAT
SIMPLY SAID NO.
>> FOR THE SWANSONS, THIS IS
LAND WE TREASURE.
NOW THIS LAND IS BEING
THREATENED BY ASSAULT FROM A
FACTORY FARM.
>> THE AUDIENCE WAS MOSTLY BLUE
PRO-ROSENDALE DAIRY PEOPLE
WEARING COLOR COORDINATED
T-SHIRTS AND CAPS PROVIDED BY
ROSENDALE'S PUBLIC RELATIONS
CONSULTANTS.
>> THERE IS MORE THAN
SUFFICIENT LAND AVAILABLE FOR
THE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND
PRACTICES OF INJECTING MANURE
AND IT'S NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO RUN
OFF WHEN IT'S INJECTED.
>> IT'S CLEAR TO ME THE FACTS
PROVIDED PROVIDE FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR A COUPLE OF
AWESOME FAMILIES TO PROVIDE FOR
OUR WELFARE IN OUR ECONOMY HERE
IN THE STATE.
>> IN QUESTIONS BEFORE THE
HEARING PEOPLE WANTED TO TALK
TO DNR STAFF ABOUT HEALTH AND
WELFARE, NOT ECONOMIC WELFARE.
THE FARMS PLAN FOR SPREADING
THE MANURE IS SUPPOSED THE TAKE
SOIL CONDITIONS INTO ACCOUNT.
YET THE DNR'S OFFICIAL POSITION
BORROWS A PHRASE FROM RONALD
REAGAN, TRUST BUT VERIFY.
>> THE BIGGEST HEALTH RISKS YOU
HAVE ARE FROM BACTERIA IN WATER.
WITH THAT SAID WE ARE
RECOMMENDING THE PEOPLE SAMPLE
THEIR WELL EVERY YEAR FOR
BACTERIA AND NITRATES.
WE RECOMMEND IT TO ANY
COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE
PRIVATE WELLS.
>> THE SWANSONS ARE AMONG THE
PEOPLE WITH PRIVATE WELLS.
>> THE EFFECTS, THE POLLUTION
THAT IT CAUSES BEYOND THE NEEDS
OF THE FARM ARE THE THINGS THAT
WE FIND, THAT JUMP OUT AT YOU.
THE DNR ALLOWS POLLUTION TO
TAKE PLACE, AIR AND WATER AS
LONG AS IT DOESN'T EXCEED
CERTAIN LIMITS.
>> DESPITE THE OPPOSITION TO
THE MEGA FARM PROJECT, THE
DEVELOPER IS MOVING AHEAD
WITHOUT WAITING FOR DNR
APPROVAL.
NEXT THURSDAY NIGHT RIGHT HERE
ON "IN WISCONSIN" WE'LL TAKE A
CLOSER LOOK AT HOW HE'S BETTING
THE FAMILY FARM THIS PROJECT
WILL GET THE GREEN LIGHT BY
EARLY MARCH.
YOU CAN PROVIDE THE WISCONSIN
DNR WITH WRITTEN COMMENTS ON
THE ROSENDALE DAIRY PROJECT
UNTIL FEBRUARY 4th.
MORE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS.
THE STATE NATURAL RESOURCES
BOARD MET THIS WEEK TO EMBRACE
AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUCCESS STORY
MORE THAN 100 YEARS IN THE
MAKING.
IN THE LATE 1800s, TRUMPETER
SWANS VANISHED FROM THE
WISCONSIN LANDSCAPE.
JUST THIS WEEK THE NATURAL
RESOURCES BOARD VOTED DOWN AN
MOTION TO REMOVE THE TRUMPETER
SWANS FROM THE STATE'S
ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST.
A PLAN STARTED MORE THAN 20
YEARS AGO AND HAS SURPASSED
ANYONE'S WILDEST EXPECTATIONS.
WISCONSIN IS NOW HOME TO MORE
THAN 125 BREEDING PAIRS.
THE TRUMPETER SWAN IS NORTH
AMERICA'S LARGEST WATERFOWL AND
CAN WEIGH UP TO 30 POUNDS WITH
A WING SPAN OF SEVEN FEET.
NOT TO BE OUTDONE, THE OSPREY
IS MAKING A REMARKABLE RECOVERY
OF ITS OWN.
THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
VOTED TO DELIST THE OSPREY FROM
THREATENED SPECIES STATUS.
DECIMATED BY INSECTICIDES IN
THE 1970s.
THE POPULATIONS WILL BE
MONITORED FOR THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS
REMAIN HEALTHY.
TWICE A YEAR IN WISCONSIN
MILLIONS OF BIRDS TRAVEL
THROUGH OUR STATES FROM HERE TO
THERE ON A MIGRATION AS OLD AS
TIME.
CRITICAL TO THEIR SURVIVAL,
NATURE'S REST STOPS.
THIS WEEK REPORTER JO GARRETT
TAKES YOU TO PANAMA, THE WINTER
HOME OF THESE TINY AVIAN
TRAVELERS WHO JOURNEY BEGINS AS
THE WARM WEATHER WANES AT THE
COOK ARBORETUM IN JANESVILLE.
>> THEY SAY DRINK YOUR TEA.
IT'S A MNEMONIC FOR JUST ABOUT
EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER.
>> MNEMONIC, A DEVICE, OFTEN A
VERSE OR RHYME.
USED TO AID MEMORY.
ANDY PAULIOS HAS A BUNDLE.
>> THOSE ARE GOLD FINCHES
FLYING OVERHEAD, CHIPPER
CHIPPER, CHIPPER CHIPPER.
THERE ARE BIRDS EVERYWHERE AND
THEY SING SO THEY'RE NOTICEABLE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF ANIMALS OUT
HERE WE WALK PAST THAT YOU
NEVER SAW BECAUSE THEY DON'T
TALK TO YOU.
>> PAULIOS IS ONE OF THE
STATE'S BEST BIRDERS.
HE WORKS IN BIRD CONSERVATION
FOR WISCONSIN'S DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES.
AND ON A DAY IN JULY HE TOOK US
TO THIS GREEN WOOD.
A PLACE WHERE 125 DIFFERENT
BIRD SPECIES HAVE BEEN SIGHTED
OF SOME 400 BIRD SPECIES THAT
CALL WISCONSIN HOME FOR AT
LEAST PART OF THE YEAR.
>> ALL THREE STATE-THREATENED
BIRDS ARE SINGING RIGHT FROM
HERE.
IN THE DISTANCE OVER HERE IN
THE UNDERGROWTH YOU CAN HEAR
HOODED WARBLER.
IT SAYS WHEE DEWHEE DEAND
BEHIND US IS AN ACADIAN FLY
CATCHER AND HE SAYS PIZZA.
IN THE DISTANCE I CAN HEAR A
CERULEAN WARBLER.
JUST SO YOU KNOW WHAT IT SOUNDS
LIKE.
THOSE ARE THREE OF THE BIRDS A
LOT OF BIRDERS COME TO SEE AND
HEAR AT THIS SPOT.
>> WHERE IS THIS SPOT?
WELL, IT'S CALLED COOK
ARBORETUM AND IT IS NO FAR AWAY
REMOTE FOREST.
IN FACT, IT'S JUST ONE MILE AS
THE CROW FLIES, OR AS THE BLACK
POLE WARBLER FLIES, FROM THE
CITY OF JANESVILLE.
>> THIS TIME OF YEAR I ALMOST
BIRD EXCLUSIVELY BY EAR.
I TAKE MY BINOCULARS BECAUSE
IT'S A CARDINAL SIN NOT TO HAVE
THEM WITH YOU.
I USE THEM VERY RARELY WHEN I'M
OUT.
ONCE YOU GET GOOD ENOUGH TO
YOUR EAR TO IDENTIFY THINGS.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS LOSING MY
HEARING BEFORE PROBABLY LOSING
MY SIGHT.
>> MID-SUMMER IS A TIME WHEN
SOME OF WISCONSIN'S BIRDS ARE
STILL NESTING.
>> WE MUST BE CLOSE TO A NEST
SHE MUST HAVE A BABY OUT THERE
OR SOMETHING.
>> IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, COME
FALL, MANY OF OUR BIRDS WILL BE
GONE.
>> PROBABLY WELL OVER HALF OF
THE SPECIES THAT NEST IN
WISCONSIN SPEND THE WINTER IN
THE TROPICS AND SO THEY ARE
REALLY ONLY HERE FOR THREE OR
FOUR MONTHS AND WE THINK OF
THEM AS OUR BIRDS BUT REALLY
THEY PROBABLY SPEND MORE TIME
OUTSIDE OF WISCONSIN THAN THEY
DO INSIDE OF WISCONSIN.
>> THEY'RE MIGRANTS.
THEY COME AND GO.
THEY'RE BIRDS LIKE THIS ONE.
A GOLDEN WINGED WARBLER, EVERY
SEPTEMBER WISCONSIN'S GOLDEN
WINGS TRAVEL THE SKIES
THOUSANDS OF MILES TO THEIR
WINTERING GROUNDS IN CENTRAL
AND SOUTH AMERICA.
THEY END UP IN PLACES LIKE
PANAMA TO THE GREAT DELIGHT OF
BIRDWATCHERS.
AND THE LOCALS.
WHO, OF COURSE, REGARD OUR
BIRDS LIKE THE GOLDEN WING, AS
THEIR OWN.
>> GOLDEN WING WARBLERS.
OKAY.
OKAY, TO THE RIGHT OF THE LIGHT.
>> YOU GOT HIM.
>> FRANK, YOU'RE THE MAN.
>> WOW.
>> A WATER THRUSH, PERHAPS
WISCONSIN-BORN, CRUISES A RAIN
PUDDLE IN PANAMA IN SEARCH OF
INSECTS.
THE BIRDS THAT MAKE THESE
EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEYS TO THE
RAIN FOREST OF THE FARAWAY
TROPICS ARE CALLED NEO-TROPS IN
BIRDERS LANGUAGE SHORT FOR
NEO-TROP --TROPICALS.
ORIOLES, WARBLERS AND THOSE
GUYS HAVE ALL EVOLVED TO EAT
INSECTS AND SO THEY NEED TO GO
DOWN TO THE TROPICS TO GET THAT
FOOD.
THEY GO DOWN TO MEXICO AND
CENTRAL AMERICA WHICH IS PRETTY
AMAZING BECAUSE THESE BIRDS ARE
ONLY A FEW OUNCES IN WEIGHT AND
CAN FIT IN THE PALM OF YOUR
HAND BUT THEY'RE TRAVELING
THOUSANDS OF MILES EVERY YEAR.
>> ALL THAT TRAVELING HAS A
COST.
>> THESE BIRDS ARE LOSING 30 TO
40% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT
OVERNIGHT.
A LITTLE 6 OUNCE OR 10 OUNCE
BIRD MIGHT LOSE TWO OR THREE
OUNCES OVERNIGHT SO IT HAS TO
FIND A SPOT THAT'S SAFE FROM
PREDATORS AND ALSO THAT IT CAN
GORGE ITSELF ON INSECTS AND
FRUIT.
>> WHICH IS WHERE COOK
ARBORETUM COMES IN.
THE LARGEST, UNINTERRUPTED
BLOCK OF FOREST IN ROCK COUNTY.
GREAT FOR BIRDS TO NEST.
GREAT FOR BIRDS TO REFUEL.
>> THIS SPOT IS GREAT BECAUSE
IT'S A NICE BIG BLOCK OF FOREST
BOTH FOREST AND THE PRIVATE
LAND.
A GOOD COMBINATION OF HAVING
GOOD HABITAT TO HAVE SOME
REALLY GOOD BIRDS.
>> HOW GOOD?
DURING OUR VISIT THERE WAS A
SIGNIFICANT SCORE.
THIS LITTLE BOMBSHELL.
IT'S A FEMALE CERULEAN WARBLER
AND IT IS A THREATENED SPECIES
IN OUR STATE.
>> NOT ONLY ARE THEY THREATENED
HERE IN WISCONSIN BUT THEY'RE
PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
IMPERILED WARBLERS IN NORTH
AMERICA.
A LOT OF THEIR HABITAT HAS BEEN
LOST IN THE EASTERN U.S., MOST
RECENTLY TO A LOT OF
MOUNTAINTOP MINING EFFORTS IN
THE APPALACHIANS AND THEN TO
MAKE THINGS WORSE THEY ALSO
WINTER IN THE ANDES MOUNTAINS.
IT MUST BE ON ITS WAY TO PERU
IN TWO WEEKS HERE.
A BIRD THAT U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE AND OTHER
GROUPS ARE WORRIED ABOUT.
SO IT'S GREAT THAT A LITTLE
SCHOOL FOREST LIKE THIS CAN
>> COOK ARBORETUM.
IT SERVES AS A WAY STATION FOR
THESE LITTLE BIRDS ON THEIR
LONG JOURNEY.
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD
RESEARCH NOW THAT SHOWS THEIR
POPULATIONS CAN BE IMPACTED OR
LIMITED NOT JUST ABOUT WHERE
THEY LIVE AND PRODUCE YOUNG,
BUT WHERE THEY STOP AND REFUEL
DURING MIGRATION.
THIS IS SORT OF A CLASSIC KIND
OF CERULEAN HABITAT.
IT WOULD BE A CITY PARKS, URBAN
PARKS OR YOUR BACKYARD ON ANY
GIVEN DAY ON MIGRATION COULD BE
REALLY IMPORTANT TO A BIRD.
IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE WARBLER
THAT SPENDS THE AFTERNOON IN
YOUR BACKYARD EATING THE
CATERPILLARS OFF YOUR TREE TO
THAT WARBLER IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
A LIFESAVER.
>> THESE TINY TRAVELERS NEED TO
REFUEL AND THEY NEED THEIR REST
STOPS.
PLACES LIKE COOK ARBORETUM.
A JOURNEY THAT CAN COVER
CONTINENTS.
THE JOURNEY BACK HOME.
>> THE COOK ARBORETUM IN ROCK
COUNTY IS ON THE GREAT
WISCONSIN BIRDING AND NATURE
TRAIL.
TO SEE OUR PREVIOUS REPORTS ON
THE TRAIL AND EXPLORE MORE
INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE
AT wpt.org/inwisconsin.
AND A QUICK PROGRAMMING NOTE,
REPORTER JO GARRETT IS
PREPARING A ONE-HOUR "IN
WISCONSIN" SPECIAL SHOWCASING
THE GREAT WISCONSIN BIRDING AND
NATURE TRAIL.
WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THE
PREMIER OF "ON THE TRAIL"
SUNDAY, MARCH 1st AT 7:00 ONLY
ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
IN OUR NEXT REPORT, PUTTING
WORDS TO PAPER CAN BE A FORM OF
THERAPY.
FOR PATTY BOEHLKE IT HELPED HER
COPE WITH CANCER.
A PLACE THAT BROUGHT HAPPINESS
WHEN SHE HAD PAIN.
SHE FOUND HELP IN A PATIENT
ADVOCATE THAT HELPED HER WORK
THROUGH INSURANCE QUESTIONS.
PRODUCER LAURIE GORMAN
CHRONICLES THE EMOTIONAL
JOURNEY OF ONE WOMAN FROM
BARABOO WHO FOUND HER VOICE IN
THE STRUGGLE SHE FACED.
>> AS IT BEGS THIS VISITOR'S
UPSWEEPING GLANCE.
TO WORRY TO WATCH MY STEP RIGHT
NOW.
I NEED TO RISK LEAVING THIS
TRAIL TO CHANCE.
>> PATTY BOEHLKE WROTE THOSE
WORDS TO DESCRIBE PARFREY'S
GLEN IN BARABOO.
HER OWN STORY BEGAN TO TAKE A
DIFFERENT PATH THREE YEARS AGO.
>> WE WERE JUST TAKING
SOMETHING OVER TO ASHLEY'S DORM
ROOM AND SHE CALLED ME ON MY
CELL PHONE, THE DOCTOR DID AND
SAID WE FOUND A THREE
CENTIMETER BRAIN MASS ON THE
MRI.
AND WITHIN ABOUT TEN MINUTES WE
HAD TO GO OVER TO ASHLEY'S DORM
ROOM AND DROP OFF SOME OF THE
STUFF FROM MENARD'S.
HAD TO WALK IN HER DORM ROOM
KNOWING THAT -- AND I DIDN'T
SAY -- I COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
I COULDN'T SAY A THING BECAUSE
IT WAS HER FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL,
AT COLLEGE.
SHE WAS JUST MOVING IN.
SO WE DID EVERYTHING, GOT HER
ALL SET UP, LOADED HER UP,
MOVED HER IN, SAID GOODBYE,
LEFT AND WENT HOME AND SHE
DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING WAS GOING
ON THAT DAY.
IT WAS A TOUGH DAY.
IT WAS PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST
DAY.
SO THAT WAS HARD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE KIND
OF STUFF YOU DEAL WITH.
>> SHE HAS DEALT WITH A LOT
SINCE THAT DIAGNOSIS OF BRAIN
CANCER IN THE FALL OF 2005 AND
AS EXPECTED HER PATH WAS A
TOUGH ONE.
THE INITIAL COURSE OF TREATMENT
INCLUDED BRAIN SURGERY AND
CHEMOTHERAPY, BUT THE CANCER
RETURNED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.
>> THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
SCARIEST WAS -- THE FIRST TIME
YOU'RE THINKING OH YEAH, I FEEL
GOOD, I CAN BEAT THIS, I'M
DOING GREAT.
I FEEL FINE.
I'M ON TREATMENT.
BUT THEN WHEN IT COMES BACK
THAT FAST AND YOU ARE THINKING
WOW, YOU KNOW, OKAY.
THE FIRST STUFF DIDN'T WORK,
NOW WHAT?
YOU KNOW?
AND WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE,
YOU KNOW?
I WAS FEELING, YOU KNOW, A
LITTLE UNSURE ABOUT MY CURRENT
-- MY CURRENT TREATMENT,
DOCTORS, WHAT THEY WERE
SUGGESTING, YOU KNOW?
AND I THOUGHT I NEED TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST STUFF
DIDN'T WORK SO WE NEED TO LOOK
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
>> LOOKING SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR
BOEHLKE MEANT SEEKING A SECOND
OPINION FROM A SPECIALIST
OUTSIDE HER OWN HMO.
HER REQUEST WAS DENIED.
>> IT WAS TOTALLY DEVASTATING
AND WE WERE JUST LIKE, YOU
KNOW, HANDS IN THE AIR, WHAT DO
WE DO NOW AND WHERE DO WE GO?
>> MAPPING OUT HOW TO DO THE
RADIATION, HOW TO DO THE
SURGERY.
>> THROUGH THE INTERVENTION OF
HER SURGEON BOEHLKE WAS ABLE TO
GET THE NEEDED APPROVAL AND SAW
THE SPECIALIST.
>> WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT
CLINICAL TRIALS AND OPTIONS
THINKING OUT OF THE BOX KIND OF
OPTIONS, YOU KNOW?
AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN ALL
OF A SUDDEN HOPE STARTED TO
ENTER THE PICTURE AGAIN.
>> A CALMING BREEZE JUST WRAPS
ME UP AS ASPEN SPEAK WITH
RUSTLING SHINE.
I'VE OPENED A DOOR TO A CANVAS
OF GOD FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A
NORMAL TREK.
BUT FOR ME I FEEL LIFE CHANGES
THIS TIME.
THE DRUGS FROM THE CLINICAL
TRIAL KEPT THE TUMORS AT BAY
FOR NEARLY A YEAR BUT THEY
RETURNED FOR A THIRD AND THEN A
FOURTH TIME.
>> AT THIS POINT AFTER FOUR
SURGERIES, THE NEUROSURGEON IS
JUST NOT REAL COMFORTABLE GOING
IN A FIFTH TIME.
NOT TO SAY THAT HE WOULDN'T,
I WOULDN'T HAVE PRESSED HIM
THAT WAY, BUT WE WANTED TO SEE
ABOUT OTHER OPTIONS.
>> THOSE OTHER OPTIONS INCLUDED
STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY, A
HIGHLY PRECISE FORM OF
RADIATION THERAPY USING HIGH
FOCUS X-RAYS.
IT REQUIRED ANOTHER REFERRAL
AND FOR THE SECOND TIME A
DENIAL FROM THE HMO.
>> I'LL DO WHATEVER I NEED TO
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE INSURANCE
COMPANY HAS THE LAST SAY IN
EVERYTHING AND OBVIOUSLY WE
DON'T HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS OR
$500,000 TO PAY FOR A
STEREOTACTIC RADIOSURGERY.
I'VE GOT THINGS GROWING INSIDE
MY HEAD AND I REALLY DON'T WANT
TO WASTE A LOT OF TIME AND WE
DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF TIME
TO WASTE ANYWAY.
WE WANT TO GET IT OVER WITH.
>> ONCE AGAIN, BOEHLKE APPEALED
THE DENY ALL FROM HER INSURANCE
COMPANY WHILE HER CANCER
PROGRESSED.
THE APPROVAL CAME THROUGH BUT
THE PROCESS MADE HER ANGRY AND
DISCOURAGED.
>> THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT
DIFFERENTLY, YOU
THEY COULD HAVE APPROVED IT
RIGHT AWAY AND THEY COULD HAVE
GIVEN ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
PEACE OF MIND.
>> BOEHLKE'S BATTLE WITH THE
INSURANCE COMPANY AND HER
DESIRE TO HAVE MORE OF A SAY IN
HER OWN HEALTHCARE INSPIRED HER
TO SHARE HER STORY.
>> GETTING THROUGH THE END OF
IT AND FINDING OUT THAT, YOU
KNOW, I HAD A VOICE AND I COULD
USE THAT AND I KNEW PEOPLE THAT
I COULD GO TO TO HELP ME WAS
REAL EMPOWERING, YOU KNOW?
IT REALLY -- IT MADE ME WANT TO
DO THAT EVEN MORE.
>> PATTI BOEHLKE FOUND HER
VOICE NOT ONLY THROUGH HER
HEALTH STRUGGLES BUT THROUGH
HER POETRY.
HER POEM ABOUT PARFREY'S GLEN
WAS WRITTEN SHORTLY AFTER HER
DIAGNOSIS.
SHE PASSED AWAY IN DECEMBER OF
2008.
>> I'VE CHOSEN LIFE PATHS THAT
ARE COMFY AND SAFE BUT NOW LIFE
IS UNSURE BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE
THE SUMMIT.
THIS GLEN IS LIKE LIFE AND IT
ANCHORS MY VIEW OF THE GRACE
I'VE BEEN GIVEN AND THE
BLESSINGS FROM IT.
>> FOLLOWING HER DEATH IN
DECEMBER, PATTI'S HUSBAND
ENCOURAGED US TO TELL HER
STORY, TO SHARE HER POEMS, TO
REMEMBER HER.
WE FIRST MET PATTI LAST FALL AS
WE PREPARED A SERIES OF STORIES
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR PATIENT
PARTNERSHIPS AT THE UW-MADISON
LAW SCHOOL.
IT PROVIDES ADVOCACY SERVICES
FOR PEOPLE FACING CHRONIC OR
LIFE THREATENING ILLNESS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR PREVIOUS
REPORTS AND ADDITIONAL
INTERVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
AGAIN, THAT'S
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
NEXT TIME ON "IN WISCONSIN,"
CONTINUING COVERAGE ON THE MEGA
FARM CONTROVERSY NEAR THE TOWN
OF ROSENDALE AS ONE FARMER
PLOWS FORWARD WITHOUT WAITING
FOR DNR PERMISSION.
BEFORE REFRIGERATOR, ICE CARVED
FROM WISCONSIN LAKES WAS THE
WAY TO KEEP THE ICE BOX COOL.
THAT ERA HAS MELTED AWAY BUT
THE TRADITION IS STILL VERY
MUCH ALIVE IN JUNCTION CITY.
PLUS, VENTURE INTO THE VIDEO
REALM OF ONE HI-TECH WISCONSIN
FIRM.
>> I'M A VIDEO GAME ADDICT.
IT GOT ME IN TROUBLE WHEN I WAS
YOUNGER.
>> HE TURNED IT INTO A CAREER.
THOSE STORIES NEXT WEEK "IN
WISCONSIN."
OUR FINAL STORY THIS WEEK IS AN
EXPERIMENT THAT STARTED OUT ON
A WING AND A PRAYER, LITERALLY.
FOR THE EIGHTH YEAR IN A ROW
ULTRALIGHT PLANES HAVE LED
ENDANGERED WHOOPING CRANES LIKE
THESE VIDEOTAPED AT THE NECEDAH
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE TO
THEIR WINTER HABITAT IN FLORIDA.
14 BIRDS COMPLETED THE TREK OF
MORE THAN 1200 MILES EARLIER
THIS WEEK.
THE YOUNG WHOOPING CRANES WILL
RETURN TO CENTRAL WISCONSIN ON
THEIR OWN IN THE SPRING AND
NEXT YEAR MIGRATE BACK TO
FLORIDA.
WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH A
CLOSER LOOK AT THESE
AWE-INSPIRING CRANES.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK "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.
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.