>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, COMING ON TO JURUSTIC
PARK AND MEET MARSHFIELD'S DINO
MAN.
>> I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS
MUCH OF AN ARTIST.
I JUST THINK I'M HAVING FUN.
I'M HAVING A BALL.
>> AND CATCH OUR REPORT ON AN
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FISHING
LURE AS ANGLERS GET READY FOR
THE WEEKEND'S OPENER.
GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
WITH MILWAUKEE'S TREE COP.
>> THAT'S MY BEAT, THE WHOLE SME
OF MILWAUKEE.
--
CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
ALL OF IT.
>> IT'S THE END OF AN ERA AS WE
SALUTE A TEAM OF RETIRING
JOURNALISTS NEXT ON "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.
WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH, AND
MINNEAPOLIS, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> THIS THIS WEEK, WE DEDICATE
OUR SHOW"IN WISCONSIN"
REPORTER JO GARRETT AND HER CREW
AS THEY HEAD INTO RETIREMENT.
THE FIRST PLACE JO TAKES YOU IS
INTO A BACKYARD UNLIKE ANY
OTHER.
THIS ONE IS FILLED WITH CRITTERS
AND LOTS OF CREATURES AND LOTS
OF, WELL, THERE'S A REASON WHY
IT'S CALLED JURUSTIC PARK.
COME ALONG AND EXPLORE THE WILD
WORLD OF AN ECLECTIC ARTIST IN
MARSHFIELD.
>> WHAT IS THIS?
>> IT STARTED WITH THIS.
WE'RE IN THE BACKYARD OF THIS
MAN, CLYDE WINNIE A.
>> I MADE THAT ABOUT 17 YEARS
AGO AND HUNG IT UP IN THE TREE
HERE.
NEVER INTENDED TO MAKE ANYMORE.
ONE DAY ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS
CAME ALONG AND HE SAID WHERE
YOU EVER GET SIKE
THAT?
I SAID I DUG IT OUT OF THE MARSH
OUT HERE.
>> THEY INHABITED THE MARSH
DURING THE IRON AGE.
THEY'RE ALL EXTINCT NOW.
>> HE COULDN'T STOP AND NOW
YEARS AND THOUSANDS OF
EXCAVATIONS LATER WYNIA'S
BACKYARD IS THICK WITH HIS
CRITTERS.
>> EVERYTHING IS RUSTY.
WE USED TO PAINT SOME THINGS,
BUT I GOT TIRED OF IT, SO WE
JUST STAYED STRAIGHT WITH RUST.
SO JURUSTIC PARK.
>> THE NEIGHBORS ARE VERY
TOLERANT.
THANK GOODNESS.
>> NAN WYNIA, CLYDE'S WIFE, IS
ALSO AN ARTIST.
>> CALLS IT HER HOBBIT HOUSE.
I HAD TO HIRE A COUPLE HOBBITS
TO STAND FRONT.
>> WHEN HE FIRST STARTED DOING
THESE AND HAD THEM ON THE DECK
AND PEOPLE GOT WIND OF IT,
PRETTY SOON PEOPLE WERE DRIVING
IN OUR DRIVEWAY.
>> IT WAS WHO GOT THE
CRITTERS HERDED OFF THE DECK AND
INTO THE BACKYARD.
>> DID YOU EVER THINK YOUR YARD
WOULD LOOK LIKES?
>> OH, NO.
NO, NO, NO.
ALL OF A SUDDEN IT JUST
EXPLODED.
THAT WAS 13 YEARS AGO.
AND IT JUST --
>> 15,000 PEOPLE JUST IN THE
SUMMERTIME.
>> YOU CAN, OF COURSE,W
JURUSTIC PARK ALL ON YOUR OWN,
BUT THE TOTAL EXPERIENCE IS BEST
HAD WALKING THE PLACE WITH
WYNIA.
>> NOW, THESE ARE WISCONSIN
PIRANHAS.
VICIOUS PFISHES.
FISHES.>> THAT'S BECAUSE THETURESHES --
OFTEN HAVE A STORY.
>> HERE'S A MARSH COW.
SEE THOSE FINS THAT LOOK LIKE
SHOVELS?
THEY'RE FOR COOLING PURPOSES.
LAY ON HER BACK AND DIG H
INTO THE MUCK.
[ MOOING ]
>> THIS IS A SWIVEL-HEADED SWAMP
WATCHER.
HE DOES 360 DEGREES.
KEEPS HIS EYE OUT FOR ACID RAIN.
THEN HE CAN WARN THE OTHERS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE HOSPITAL
NOW, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'LL BE
ABLE TO USE IT AS A BACKUP FOR
THE AMBULANCE HELICOPTER.
>> THIS IS NOT A PLACE FOR STARK
VISUALS.
>> THIS IS CHEEKY, MY NEW BIRD.
>> IT'S AMAZING FOR EXCAVATED
ANIMALS, THEY HAVE A LOT OF
MOTION TO THEM, DON'T THEY IN
>> YEAH.
[ BELLS RINGING ]
>> DING, D AND DONNA.
>> IT SEEMS THAT WYNIA'S ART
MANIFESTO COULD BE SUMMED UP IN
ONE WORD: PLAY.
>> THIS IS SPRING CAMPAIGN
KEVORKIAN GUNSLINGER. --FORM.THAT'S A
SHE'LL DO THAT WITH A 800-POUND
SKIRT.
>> SHE'S A GAL IN MOTION.
>> THIS DOESN'T QUITE FIT WITH
THE CLASSICAL ARTISTS.
HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT?
>> JURUSTIC PARK IS THE KIND OF
PLACE WHERE THE PHRASE A WILLING
SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF REA
ADDS TO THE EXPERIENCE.
IT MOVES.
>> OF COURSE IT MOVES.
THIS IS A CLASS OPERATION, LADY.
>> THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OFFICE
CHAIR.
>> YES.
IT'S BEST JUST TO SURRENDER.
SURRENDER TO THE SOUND.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT A BOTTLE ROCKET
IS, DON'T YOU?
>> SURE.
>> STAND OVER THERE.
I'M GOING TO FIRE ONE OFF.
>> NOTE THAT CURRENT WISCONSIN
LAW ON FIREWORKS REQUIRES A
PERMIT IF A FIRE WORK DEVICE
EXPLODES OR LEAVES THE GROUND.
>> STAND RIGHT HERE?
>> YEAH.
>> DO I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A
WORKPLACE INJURY?
>> THAT LAW DOESN'T APPLY.
WE CHECKED, WHEN THE BOTTLE
ROCKET IS A BOTTLE OF WATER.
>> THAT YOU WOULDN'T GET
WET.
>> YOU SHOULD BE DOWNRE.
>> WE'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.
>> WAIT A MINUTE.
READY?
YOU GOT TO LOOK WAY UP.
THREE, TWO, ONE, UP.
>> I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT MAKES THAT
WORK.
SEE THAT HOSE?
RUNS IN THE SHOP THERE.
MY WIFE'S IN THERE BLOWING.
NICE LUNGS, HUH?
SHE'S A REALLY GOOD WOMAN, YOU
KNOW.
>> NAN WYNIA MIGHT BE CALLED THE
CO-CONSPIRATOR OF JURUSTIC PARK.
SHE'S A TALENTED ARTIST IN MANY
MEDIA, CURRENTLY WORKING IN
GLASS.
>> THE FASTER I MOVE IT, THE
THINNER IT GETS.
I DON'T WANT TO PULL IT TOO
FAST.
I'M GOING TO GET IT HOT RIGHT
THERE AND LET THE HEAT EQUALIZE
AND THEN PUSH IT TOGETHER, MAKE
A LITTLE MARIA, IT'S CALLED.
>> AND CLYDE, NAN'S ART
SEEMS SPARKED BY PLAY.
>> IT'S FUN.
LOOK HOW THIS GLASS BEHAVES.
IT'S WONDERFUL.
AND WHEN IT'S COOL, I CAN TAKE
IT AND USE THIS PUNTY AND MAKE A
LOOP DE LOOP.
THAT'S A V TECHNICAL TERM,
LOOP DE LOOP, ON THE TOP, SO WE
CAN HANG IT.
>> THE WYNIAS ARE BOTH RETIRED.
CLYDE WORKED AS A LAWYER AND NAN
WAS A NURSE.
THEIR ART IS NOW THE CENTER OF
THEIR LIVES.
>> WE DESCRIBE IT AS PLAY
BECAUSE WE DON'T DESCRIBE IT AS
WORK BECAUSE WE'RE LOVING IT.
>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF
PERMISSION.
MINE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT
PERSON'S, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S MINE.
IT'S A LITTLE WONKY, BUT SO AM
I.
>> I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS
MUCH OF AN ARTIST.
I JUST THINK I'M HAVING FUN.
I'M HAVING A BALL.
POSITRON, VERY AFFIRMATIVE BIRD.
SHE FLIES AND SINGS.
>> PLAY.
YOU CAN SEE THAT MANIFESTO IN
ALL ITS GLORY IN THE WYNIA
BACKYARD.
>> CLYDE WYNIA ALWAYS WELCOMES
VISITORS TO JURUSTIC PARK JUST
OUTSIDE MARSHFIELD.
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE BY GOING
TO OUR WEBSITE AT wpt.org AND
THEN CLICK ON ISCONSIN."
WELL, ANGLERS HOPE TO PULL SOME
ONSTERS OUT OF THE WATER THISM
WEEKEND DURING WISCONSIN'S
FISHING OPENER.
AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE LURE
INVENTED HERE IS REVOLUTIONIZING
FISHING.
IN FACT, POPULAR SCIENCE
MAGAZINE VOTED IT ONE OF THE TOP
TEN INVENTIONS.
THIS WEEK, JO GAR FRANK
BOLL AND BRAD WRAY SHOW YOU HOW
THE INVENTOR IS ANGLING FOR
SUCCESS IN DANE COUNTY.
>> I GREW UP HERE, A BLOCK FROM
HERE UP ON THE HILL.
>> BEN HOBBINS GREW UP FISHING
IN LAKE MENDOTA.
>> USED TO COME DOWN HERE RIGHT
AFTER THE PAPERTE AT ABOUT
5:30 AND FISH FOR AN HOUR OR TWO
BEFORE SWIM PRACTICE IN THE
SUMMER.
>> HE LOVES TO FISH AND HE'S
PASSING ON THAT LOVE OF FISHING
TO HIS DAUGHTERS.
>> REMEMBER HOW?
OKAY.
>> HOBBINS HAS ALSO CAST A
BUSINESS INTO MOTION THAT MAY
PROVE A BOON TO WISCONSIN'S
WATERS.
IF ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN,
IT COULD HELP SOLVE A HUGE
ENVINMENTAL PROBLEM,
REVOLUTIONIZE AN INDUSTRY AND
REEL IN MEGA DOLLARS AND JOBS.
STOP RIGHT THERE.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT.
THIS IS CALLED A SOFT LURE OR
SOFT BAIT.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT 50
YEARS AND THEY WORK.
SOME SOFT LURES LOOK LIKE
MINNOWS.
SOME RESEMBLE WORMS.
>> THEY LOVE THESE.
YOU GET THAT LIFE LOOK, A REAL
LIFE LOOK, AND THE FISH, THEY
JUST CAN'T RESIST THEM.
I'VE USED THEM MY WHOLE LIFE.
THEY'RE GOOD.
>> HOBBINS HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS
IN MARKETING AND HIGH-TECH BOTH
HERE AND ABROAD, BUT NOW FROM
HIS CURRENT HOME IN WAUNAKEE HE
HAS BECOME A BACKYARD INVENTOR.
SO WE WENT TO HIS BACKYARD TO
HEAR HOW IN THE PROCESS OF
SOLVING A FISHING PROBLEM HE HAD
HE SOLVED ANOTHER PROBLEM WE ALL
HAVE.
>> THESE WINTER ICE-FISHING
SEASON WAS COMING UP AND I WAS
KIND OF DAYDREAMING SLIGHTLY
ABOUT THAT AND THEN I WAS
THINKING ABOUT HOW COLD MY HANDS
WOULD BE WHEN I WOULD BE PUTTING
ON THESE LITTLE PHOSPHATE
TIPPERS WE CALL THE LITTLE BAIT.
>> THIS IS A TIPPER.
AND THIS WAS HOBBINS' PROBLEM.
>> SO YOUICALLY HOOK ON LIKE
THIS ON THE END OF THE HOOK AND
THE FISH WILL COME IN AND YOU
CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL ONT IF
YOU'D LIKE AND YOU'LL SEE HOW
EASY THEY COME RIGHT OFF.
IT'S GONE.
SO YOU'LL GO THR HUNDREDS OF
THESE WHILE YOU'RE FISHING.
>> MISERY WAS THE MOTHER OF
INVENTION.
>> LITERALLY IT FEELS LIKE YOUR
HANDS FREEZE OFF JUST BECAUSE
THEY GET RIPPED OFF EVERY OTHER
STRIKE PRETTY MUCH OR EVERY
OTHER FISH.
SO I THOUGHT, WELL, HOW CAN I
SOLVE THIS?
AND I THOUGHT FOR A FEW M,
AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND I
THOUGHT I THINK I'VE GOT THE
IDEA.
>> THROUGH HIS KNOWLEDGE OF
HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING, HOBBINS
CAME UP WITH A WAY TO STRENGTHEN
SOFT LURES SO THIS TOUGHER LURE
STAYS ON THE HOOK.
>> SO I'M FISHERMAN.
YOU'RE --
>> I'M LIKE A FISH AND THE HOOK
ISG.
OUCH.
THERE.
>> OH, MAN.
>> YEAH.
>> SEE, THESE --
>> YEAH.
OKAY.
IT HOLDS.
I GOT YOU.
>> OKAY.
HERE'S THE PART WHERE ALL THE
NONFISHING PEOPLE ARE THINKING
NEW SOFT LURE.
BIG DEAL.
WELL, IT IS.
THAT'S BECAUSE THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY HAS A POTENTIAL
PAYOFF FOR ALL OF US.
BECAUSE OF WHERE ALL THOSE MANY
OLD SOFT LURES ENDED UP.
>> YOU KNOW, BOOM.
>> SO YOU LOST IT.
>> LOTS GOING TO THE BOTTOM OF
THE LAKE OR FLOATING AROUND AND
THAT'S IT.
HERE'S ANOTHER BIG -- THIS IS
ANOTHER SWIM.
SAME.
BOOM.
IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH PRESSURE.
A TUBE, YOU KNOW, VERY POPULAR
BAIT, BOOM.
NOW, THIS IS HOW FAST -- THAT'S
HOW FAST THESE LURES ACTUALLY
ARE LOST.
IN THE ENVIRONMENT, THESE ARE
ALL IN OUR LAKES AND STREAMS.
SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT.
WHEN YOU SEE HOW EASY YOU LOSE
THESE AND THEN YOU REALIZE FIVE
DECADES OF THAT AND FIVE DECADES
OF 25 MILLION PS OR SO OF
PLASTIC EACH YEAR, BILLIONS AND
BILLIONS OF POUNDS THAT ARE
SITTING IN THERE.
AND IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT
BREAKING DOWN.
>> SO HOW IS OUR FREEZE LINE
LOOKING THERE?
>> PLASTIC.
THIS MANUFACTURERIAL WAS A
CRITICAL PART, OF COURSE, TO
HOBBINS' QUEST.
AS WAS THIS PLACE, THE PALMER
ENGINEERING CENTER AT THE
UW-MADISON.
HOBBINS CAME HERE AND MET WITH
THE CENTER'S CODIRECTOR TIM
OSSWALD.
OSSWALD SAW THE PROBLEM FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF A PLASTICS
PROFESSIONAL WITH CONCERNS ABOUT
PLASTICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
>> WHEN THE LURES FALL OFF, THEY
WILL END UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE
LAKE OR A RIVER.
THEY WILL NOT BIODEGRADE.
IT WILL TAKE THOUSANDS OF YEARS
BEFORE THIS BREAKS DOWN, IF AT
ALL.
>> THOUSANDS?
>> THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
BECAUSE IT'S A POLYMER.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE BOTTOM OF
THE LIKE THAT EVEN WILL CAUSE IT
TO BIODEGRADE BECAUSE THE
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS THAT COULD DIE --
BIODEGRADE THE POLYMER WON'T
REACH THAT FAR DOWN.
>> PLASTICS CAN LEACH.
>> THE PLASTICIZER INSIDE WILL
START LEACHING OUT.
NOW FOR A POUND OF THESE LURES,
YOU COULD HAVE UP TO A HALF A
POUND OF PLASTICIZER THAT IS
GOING TO SEEP INTO THE LAKE.
>> AND THESE PLASTICIZERS THAT
MAKE THE LURES WIGGLY INCLUDE
CHEMICALS CALLED SALATES, AND
THEY ARE A OLD A
CAUSE FOR CONCERN.
>> SOME OF THESE SALATES CAN BE
QUITE DANGEROUS TO CHILDREN.
THEY HAVE SALATES IN THEM, WHICH
THEY COULD EMULATE ESTROGEN,
WHICH CAN HINDER THE SEXUAL
GROWTH OF LITTLE BOYS, FOR
EXAMPLE.
AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF UGLY
THINGS.
THEY'RE ALSO A CARCINOGEN.
>> HE SEES AS A SOLUTION TO
A PROBLEM AND A B TO THE
INDUSTRY.
HE'S A VIGOROUS PROPONENT OF
THIS MATERIAL WHICH IS SO MUCH A
PART OF OUR MODERN LIFE.
THE POLYMER LAB OFTEN WORKS WITH
BUSINESSES IN THE STATE TO TRY
OUT NEW IDEAS AND TEST NEW
METHODS OF MANUFACTURING.
>> THERE ARE COMPANIES IN THE
STATE THAT WHEN THEY TRY
SOMETHING OUT, THEY COME AND TRY
IT OUT ON OUR MACHINES.
BUT IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR
THE COMPANIES IN THE STATE.
>> AND IN THIS CASE, OSSWALD'S
STUDENTS CREATED THESE MOLDS FOR
HOBBINS.
>> THEY DON'T LOOK VERY
HIGH-TECH, AND THEY AREN'T, BUT
IT'S VERY CLEVER HOW THEY'RE
MADE.
>>MADE.
IT W TAKE MONTHS IF NOT A
YEAR TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH
PROTOTYPES.
WE SHORTENED THE TIME TO
MAYBE -- I THINK BY 30 DAYS OR
SO WE HAD PARTS.
>> SCORE ANOTHER ONE FOR THE
POLYMER LAB.
>> HE COULD USE OF THESE
OLDS EVEN ON HIS KITCHEN TABLE.M
>> HOBBINS USED MODELS
CREATED BY THE POLYMER LAB TO
MAKE HIS SOFT LURE PROTOTYPES,
WHICH HE MEN BROUGHT TO THE -- THEN BRO
FISHING SHOW IN LAS VEGAS.
THEY SCORED SECOND PLACE IN NEW
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, UGE
BOOST AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A
GREAT PAY-OUT IN BUSINESSES AND
JOBS.
>> THE SOFT BAIT MARKET HAS BEEN
ESTIMATED BY THE WISGROUP, A
WISCONSIN COMPANY THAT DOES NEW
PRODUCT ASSESSMENTS, AT $250
MILLION MARKET.
>> HOBBINS IS THRILLED ABOUT THE
POTENTIAL, FOR HIMSELF, FOR THE
LAKES, FOR THE STATE.
>> I'VE BEEN AN AVID OUTDOORSMAN
MY WHOLE LIFE, AND TO BE ABLE TO
CONTRIBUTE ON THE CONSERVATION
SIDE, IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
YOU KNOW, NOT FOR ME, BUT FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT AND FOR
FISHERMEN.
IT JUST HELPS EVERYBODY.
>> BEN HOBBINS HAS ALSO BEEN
INSTRUMENTAL IN THE EFFORT TO
RESTORE LAKE DELTON AFTER IT
DRAINED IN THE WAKE OF A
DEVASTATING BREACH IN THE FLOODS
OF 2008.
THE LAKE AND ALL OF ITS FISH
LITERALLY WASHED AWAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO OUR
WEBSITE, wpt.org, AND THEN
CLICK ON "IN WISCONSIN."
FROM FISHING TO FOREST TRI, BUT
FIRST WE WANT TO BEGIN OUR NEXT
REPORT WITH A SALUTE.
THESE THREE TREASURED MEMBERS OF
OUR "IN WISCONSIN" TEAM ARE
RETIRING.
SO PAY ATTENTION TO JO GARRETT'S
CLEVERLY CRAFTED WORDS,
VIDEOGRAPHER FRANK BOLL'S VIDEO
AND EDITING, PLUS THE MUSIC AND
AUDIO OF SOUND RECORDIST BRAD
WRAY AS THEY TAKE YOU TO THE
STATE'S LARGEST CITY FOR A
CLOSER LOOK AT A NATIONALLY
RENOWNED FORESTRY PROGRAM.
WE MIGHT BE GOING OUT ON A LIMB
HERE, BUT THE PROGRS
ENFORCED BY A MAN THEY CALL THE
TREE COP IN MILWAUKEE.
>> I MONITOR THE CITY TREES,
PROTECT THE TREES IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
FROM CONSTRUCTION DAMAGE OR
OTHER DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR TO
THEM.
THAT'S MY BEAT, YEAH, THE WHOLE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
ALL OF IT.
>> IF THERE'S A STREET OR
SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN
MILWAUKEE, JIM KRINGER IS THERE.
HIS BEAT IS TREES.
>> MORNING, TONY.
>> HOW'S IT GOING?
>> GOING ALL RIGHT.
YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLEAR?
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE.
>> OKAY.
>> T CALL HIM THE TREE.
>> ONE MINUTE TO GET WHERE.
>> KRI IS A MAN IN MOTION.
>> I HAVE TO COME BACK.
>> MEASURING.
>> EVERYTHING ON THIS SIDE WOULD
HAVE HAD TO COME OUT.
>> MOVING.
>> WE'LL GET HER DONE.
ALL THIS IN HERE COMING OUT.
13TH AND MITCHELL AND THE CURB
AND GUTTER IS COMING OUT HERE.
>> I DRIVE ABOUT 120 MILES A
DAY, AND I WALK ANYWHERE FROM 12
TO 17 MILES A DAY COVERING THE
BEAT.
>> KRINGER HAS BEEN WALKING THIS
BEAT FOR 25 YEARS.
>> THIS IS THE RESULT.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT MILWAUKEE'S
URBAN FOREST.
FOR MANY, THESE TREES ARE AN
ESSENTIALOF THE CITY'S
INFRASTRUCTURE.
BOB MCFADDEN IS A FORMER FOREST
SERVICES MANAGER FOR MILWAUKEE.
>> ITMILWAUK
TREES CAN MAKE A CITY.
>> THAT'S ALL YOU NEED.
>> PRESTON COLE IS THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERINTENDENT
SERVICES FOR THE CITY OF
MIE.
>> I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SOCIAL
DYNAMICS BEHIND HAVING A
WELL-CANOPIED CITY GOES A LONG
WAY TOUCING VIOLENCE, GOES A
LONG WAY TO INCREASING OUR
PROPERTY VALUE AND GOES A LONG
WAY TO DEFINING OURSELF AS A
COMMUNITY.
>> THIS CANOPY ALSO GOES A LONG
WAY IN CUTTING CITY COSTS.
>> WE GOT 284,000 TREES IN THE
CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
THOSE TREES SAVE THE HOMEOWNERS
AND TAXPAYERS $21 MILLION A
YEAR.
>> ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS,
THE TREES OF MILWAUKEE'S URBAN
FOREST PROVIDE $1.5 MILLION A
YEAR IN COOLING COSTS.
$4.5 MILLION IN POLLUTION
ABATEMENT.
AND $15.5 MILLION IN GROUNDWATER
TREATMENT.
>> THAT'S SAVED BY THE
HOMEOWNERS.
THE MORE TREES WE PLANT, THE
MORE MONEY THAT'S BEING SAVED.
>> AND THE MORE TREES THEY SAVE,
THE MORE MONEY THEY SAVE.
BIGGER TREES, BIGGER CANOPY.
KRINGER'S TITLE IS URBAN
FORESTRY INSPECTOR.
IT'S A JOB HE HELPED CREATE FROM
SCRATCH, A JOB THAT BEGAN ON
THIS STREET.
>> BACK IN 1978, AUGUST OF THAT
YEAR, WE HAD A WINDSTORM COME
THROUGH HERE.
AS A SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT
PROJECT HAD JUST FINISHED UP.
ONE EVENING IN AUGUST 90
TREES FALL OVER IN THIS CANOPY,
LYING ON TOP OF HOUSES AND CARS.
>> IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE MESS, AND
PEOPLE WERE MAD.
KRINGER WAS HIRED AND ARMED WITH
THE SKILLS GAINED FROM A SUMMER
FORESTRY JOB, AN INTEREST IN
CONSTRUCTION AND A BA IN
ENGLISH, OFF HE WENT IN SEARCH
OF AN ANSWER, IN SEARCH OF A
SOLUTION.
>> AND THE ALDERMEN WANTED TO
KNOW WHY, WHY THESE TREES WERE
FALLING OVER IN THE CITY OF
MILWAUKEE.
>> SO BEGAN A 25-YEAR ODYSSEY
THAT HAS RESULTED IN A
NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED TREE
INSPECTION PROGRAM THAT HAS
PRODUCED SPECTACULAR RESULTS.
BEFORE KRINGER CAME, TREE LOSSES
IN MILWAUKEE NUMBERED IN THE
HUNDREDS.
>> CITY OF MILWAUKEE AVERAGED A
LOSS OF BETWEEN 400 TO 600
ANNUALLY THAT FELL OVER,
PRIMARILY IN CONSTRUCTION SITES.
FROM 1981 UP UNTIL NOW, 2005,
WE'VE HAD L THAN 50 FALL OVER
IN CONSTRUCTION SITES.
>> THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THIS
CANOPY BEGINS AT GROUND LEVEL,
OR BELOW, WHERE THE ROOTS MEET
THE STREET.
>> IF YOU CUT THROUGH TOO MANY
STABILIZERS, OKAY, THE TREE CAN
NO LONGER SUPPORT ITSELF DURING
WIND STORMS AND THEN THE TREE IS
GOING TO FALL OVER.
TAKE A LOOK IN HERE.
THIS IS WHERE I'VE GOT MY ROOT
PLATE.
ANYTIME YOU CUT INTO THIS, THIS
IS GOING TO ROCK DIRECTLY INTO
THE TREE.
EVERYTHING ON THIS SECTION OF
THE TREE WOULD EVENTUALLY ROT
OUT, MEANING ALL OF THESE ROOTS
WOULD ROT.
YOU'D HAVE NO SUPPORT ON THIS
SIDE OF THE TREE WHATSOEVER.
>> MANY COMMUNITIES SIMPLY
DITCHED THE TREES.
THEY VALUE THE STRAIGHT LINE.
MILWAUKEE VALUES ITS TREES.
CONSIDER THIS OLD BEAUTY.
>> THIS IS AN AMERICAN ELM, ONE
OF THE LST ONES IN THE CITY
OF MILWAUKEE THAT'S STILL LEFT.
>> IT'S AN OLD BEAUTY WITH
BULGING ROOTS THAT RAISED UP THE
SIDEWALK AND GOT IN THE WAY.
>> MOST COMMUNITIES THEY'D CUT
IT DOWN.
IT'S CHEAPER FOR THEM TO CUT THE
TREE DOWN, NOT TO HAVE IT IMPACT
ON CONSTRUCTION.
>> MILWAUKEE DIDN'T CUT IT DOWN.
THEY WENT AROUND.
TO SAVE A TREE, KRINGER WILL
INSIST THAT THEY NARROW A WALK.
>> WE'VE ALREADY REDUCED THE
WALK BY A F
>> RAISE A WALK.
>> SO MY NEW WALK IS AY
GOING TO BE THIS HIGH.
WHICH IS GOING TO GR THE
ENTIRE ROOT SYSTEM ITSELF.
>> HE'LL INSIST ON CERTAIN
EQUIPMENT, WHATEVER IT TAKES.
>> IT'S ALL FOR THE TREES.
ALL FOR THE TREES.
>> THIS IS THE TREE COP'S
FAVORITE CASE.
LAYTON AVENUE.
>> THE ORIGINAL, THE ROAD WOULD
HAVE BEEN HERE, WOULD HAVE GONE
THROUGH THE CENTER OF EVERY
SINGLE TREE ON THIS PROJECT, SO
ALL 280 TREES WOULDE HAD TO
COME OUT.
>> IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
>> THEHEDRAL THAT YOU HAVE
IS GOING TO BE HERE FOR AG
TIME TO COME.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT REALLY IS.
AND IT ADDS TO THE NEIRHOOD.
EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE DOWN THAT
BLOCK OR THAT AREA, YOU SAY LOOK
WHAT THE CITY'S DONE, LOOK WHAT
THE CITY'S ACCOMPL BECAUSE
YOU COULD HAVE GONE IN THERE AND
CUT EVERYTHING DOWN.
EVERY SINGLE TREE ON THAT
PROJECT COULD HAVE COME DOWN.
HOW LONG DOES A MAN LIVE?
87, 88 YEARS?
WHEN WE'RE GONE, THEY'RE STILL
GOING TO BE HERE.
THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE
GROWING.
STILL GOING TO BE STRONG.
>> SPRING IS A BUSYE FOR JIM
KRINGER AND THE TREE INSPECTION
PROGRAM.
HE ALSO TEACHES CLASSES AT
UW-MADISON IN SIDEWALK
MANAGEMENT AND HOW TO PRESERVE
TREES IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT
DURING CONSTRUCTION.
NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE
REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE
NEXT EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN."
>>
IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE --
>> THE IMAGES ARE STRIKING.
AND WHILE THEY'RE USED FOR
TRAINING METEOROLOGISTS, THEY
WERE TAKEN BY ATIST.
>> WE ALWAYS NEED MOREOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING
AT IN WISCONSIN.
>> I'M "IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER
ADAM SCHRAGER.
DESPITE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY, SEE
HOW REAL PEOPLE ARE NEEDED IN
FRONT OF THE STORM TO PROTECT
THEIR COMMUNITIES FROM SEVERE
WEATHER.
>> ONE DAY, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE
TO HELP YOURSELF TO FREE FRUIT
LIKE THIS APPLE ALL ACROSS THE
STATE.
IT ALL STARTS WITH A HOLE IN THE
GROUND AND SOME DEDICATED
VOLUNTEERS.
>> THIS WISCONSIN ISLAND GETAWAY
ONCE ENTERTAINED THE RICH AND
FAMOUS.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WE RECOGNIZE
FROM THE HIS BOOKS CAME OUT
HERE AND DID BUSINESS WITH
CHESTER.
>> A LOOK AT CHESTER'S BRIGHT
IDEA AND THE REASON THIS PLACE
LOOKS A LOT LIKE ICELAND.
>> THOSE "IN WISCONSIN" REPORTS
NEXT THURSDAY AT 7:30 RIGHT HERE
ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> FINALLY, ANOTHER HEART-FELT
GOODBYE FOR THREE COLLEAGUES, JO
GARRETT, FRANK BOLL AND BRAD
WRAY.
THEY'VE WORKED ON HUNDREDS OF
STORIES.
THE LIST OF AWARDS GO ON AND ON.
THEY WILL BE MISSED NOT ONLY FOR
THEIR OUTSTAN WORK, BUT ALSO
FOR THEIR FRIENDSHIP AND THE
EXPERIENCES THEY SHARED WITH US
AND OUR VIEWERS.
SO WE HONOR THEIR WORK AND
ACHIEVEMENTS.
PENINSULA STATE PARK IN DOOR
COUNTY.
WE HOPE JO, B AND FRANK SOAR
IN RETIREMENT.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK IN WISCONSIN.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
>> 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.
WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL
SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE, OSHKOSH, AND
MINNEAPOLIS, A VETERINARY TEAM
WORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND
FAMILY VETERINARIANS, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.