>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
HOLLYWOOD CAME TO WISCONSIN TO
FILM PUBLIC ENEMY.
BUT DID THE STATE'S FILM TAX
CREDIT PAY OFF?
THE STATE'S BUDGET CRUNCH IS
PUTTING A SQUEEZE ON DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS AROUND THE STATE AND
NOW IT COULD GET EVEN WORSE.
PLUS AN OLD WORLD TOUR WITH A
MODERN EDGE WHEN WE VISIT ALBION
WORDS IN NEW GLARUS.S
AND COME FOR A TRIP DOWN THIS
WILD RIVER IN WASHBURN COUNTY.
>> YOU CAN GO FOR A LONG STRETCH
ON THE RIVER AND FEEL LIKE, WOW.
>> THOSE REPORTS COMING YOUR WAY
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, OFFERING
-- TKAERB WE'RE ON FOR YOU.
AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH PET
OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED
BY BIKE WISCONSIN.
>> RECORD LAYOFFS, HIGH
UNEMPLOYMENT, HOME FORECLOSURES.
IT'S A PWHRAEBG ECONOMIC PICTURE
IN WISCONSIN.
2010 MIGHT NOT BE ANY BETTER FOR
A STATE PROGRAM THAT'S SHORT OF
FUNDING.
"IN WISCONSIN"'S FREDERICA
FREYBERG JOINS US TO EXPLAIN.
>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT
2010 COULD BE WORSE FOR DISTRICT
ATTORNEY OFFICES ACROSS THE
STATE WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET
PROBLEMS.
IN FACT, THE STATE JUST SENT A
NOTICE SAYING THEY SHOULD EXPECT
LAYOFFS, AND THIS COMES AT A
TIME WHEN PROSECUTORS IN DA
OFFICES ACROSS WISCONSIN ARE
ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED BY NRLY
30%, AND THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE
STATE'S OWN AUDITORS.
>> DANE COUNTY ASSISTANT DA
CHRIS FREEMAN IS ALWAYS ON THE
RUN.
>> PAUL, COULD YOU CHECK ME OUT?
>> FREEMAN IS JUGGLING 400
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES?
>> I GOT DD, BRADDY IS GOING TO
BE A WAIVER.
CAN YOU DO THAT ONE FIRST?
I FEEL LIKE CONSTANTLY WE'RE
AGAINST THE GUN.
I'D BE LYING IF I DIDN'T TELL
YOU THERE ARE TIMES YOU WORRY
THINGS ARE SLIPPING THROUGH THE
CRACKS.
>> RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING ON A
CASE OF IDENTITY THEFT.
>> JUDY WORRIES ABOUT THE SAME
THING.
>> MY NIGHTMARE IS THAT A CASE
SITTING IN ONE OF THESE PILES
HERE THAT I HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO
YET INVOLVES AN OFFENDER WHO IS
GOING TO COMMIT SOME MORE
SERIOUS CRIME.
>> OCTOBER LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE
OLDEST ONE.
WHOOPS.
SEPTEMBER.
MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
>> INCOMING POLICE REPORTS STACK
UP WAITING FOR PROSECUTORS TO
MAKE CHARGES.
CLERKS WHO MANAGE THE STACKS SAY
THEY ARE OVERRUN.
>> WHAT IT IS IS IT'S PILE
MAINTENANCE.
IT'S A WHOLE NEW CATEGORY THAT
WE'VE HAD TO DEVELOP IN THE
INTAKE OFFICE TO MANAGE THE
BACKLOG.
>> IN DANE COUNTY THE NUMBER OF
SWORN LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS
DOUBLED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WE HAVE FEWER FULLTIME,
PERMANENT ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEY POSITIONS THAN WE DID
20 YEARS AGO.
>> ONE OF THE PEOPLE SOUNDING
THE ALARM OVER THE SHORTAGE OF
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS IN
WISCONSIN IS BRIAN BLANCHARD.
>> SINCE THE STATE TOOK OVER
THIS PROGRAM IN 1990 IT HAS BEEN
PRETTY MUCH NEGLECTED.
THERE HAVE NOT BEEN NEW
POSITIONS ADDED TO ADD
POPULATION GROWTH.
>> POPULATION GROWTH MEANS MORE
PEOPLE TO COMMIT CRIMES.
MORE PEOPLE MEANS MORE ARRESTS.
IT ALL ADDS UP TO MORE CASES,
BUT NOT MORE PROSECUTORS TO
HANDLE THEM.
>> VICTIMS ARE COMPETING WITH
EACH OTHER FOR OUR ATTENTION.
JUDGES ARE WAITING FOR US TO
APPEAR IN COURT BECAUSE WE'RE IN
MULTIPLE COURTS AT THE SAME
TIME.
POLICE AND VICTIMS AND FAMILY
VICTIMS ARE WAITING FOR US TO
CHARGE CASES.
>> ALL RISE.
>> ACCORDING TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND
THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU,
ABOUT 120 ASSISTANT DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS ARE NEEDED STATEWIDE
TO MEET CASELOAD DEMAND.
>> I KNOW THERE'S A GREAT
PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ON
THE STREETS, BUT NO ONE TO BE
ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CHARGING
DECISION AND THE PROSECUTION OF
THE CASE.
IT'S JUST CAUSING GREATER
INJURY.
AND CREATING FURTHER TRAUMA FOR
SO, SO SERIOUS -- THE CRISIS IS
SO SERIOUS AND I CAN'T EMPHASIZE
IT ENOUGH.
>> IN FACT, THE VICTIM WITNESS
OFFICE TOLD US TO SPEAK WITH
BRIAN AND KRISTIN TO HEAR WHAT
COURT DELAYS FEEL LIKE FOR
VICTIMS.
>> CAN YOU JUST TELL ME SOMEDAY
THIS WILL END?
>> IT TOOK TWO YEARS FROM THE
TIME OF THE BABYSITTER'S ARREST
UNTIL SHE WAS SENTENCED TO
PRISON.
>> IT'S REVICTIMIZING.
EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO PREP FOR
ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS, YOU GO
RIGHT BACK TO THAT INITIAL
FEELING OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
AND IN THE MEANTIME, IN BETWEEN,
YOU DON'T HEAL, YOU CAN'T HEAL.
YOU DON'T EVEN START HEALING.
>> THEY HAD NO IDEA THERE WAS A
STAFFING SHORTAGE IN THE DA'S
OFFICE.
>> NEVER ONCE DID WE EVER FEEL
LIKE OUR CASE WAS NOT THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO THE PEOPLE
THAT REPRESENTED US.
>> PEOPLE DID TRIAGE.
I'M REALLY TELLING ATTORNEYS
HERE, LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO LOOK AT YOUR 10, 20 MOST
SERIOUS CASES AND REALLY KEEP
TRACK OF THEM IN EVERY RESPECT.
AND YOU'RE GOING TO EFFECTIVELY
BE DOING TRIAGE ON THE BALANCE
OF THEM.
>> BLANCHARD SAYS THAT MEANS
ONLY SO MANY MINUTES PER CASE
FILE, HAVING PROSECUTORS
CONSIDER PLEA DEALS, DISMISSALS.
HE CALLS IT STRATEGIES TO
SURVIVE THE DAY AND WORRIES IT
LEADS TO ASSEMBLY LINE JUSTICE.
>> IT GETS VERY DISHEARTENING
FOR SO MANY OFFICES, DETECTIVES,
INVESTIGATORS, WHO PUT MANY,
MANY HOURS INTO THIS KIND OF
WORK.
>> MELANIE HAFRPTON IS AN IS A
MADISON INVESTIGATOR.
THE SHORTAGE IS OUT OF HER HANDS
BECAUSE FOR 20 YEARS COUNTY
PROSECUTORS HAVE BEEN FUNDED BY
STATE GOVERNMENT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE THE
STATE LEGISLATURE DOES TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION IS THAT GOVERNMENT
DOES THOSE THINGS THAT PRIVATE
CITIZENS CAN'T DO FOR
THEMSELVES.
AND PRIVATE CITIZENS CAN'T
PROSECUTE THEIR OWN CASES.
>> BUT THE GOVERNOR RELEASED A
STATEMENT TO US SAYING THE STATE
AUDIT SHOWING THE NEED FOR MORE
PROSECUTORS DOES NOT SHOW A
COMPELLING OR CLEAR NEED IN
THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.
THE STATE IS NOT FILLING 3500
JOBS THAT ARE CURRENTLY OPEN.
STAFFING INCREASES ARE
PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT.
NO STAFFING INCREASES IN
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICES MEANS
PROSECUTORS LIKE CHRIS FREEMAN.
>> IT REALLY IS A CONSTANT
JUGGLING ACT.
>> WILL LIKELY NOT SEE CASELOAD
RELIEF ANYTIME SOON.
>> SINCE THAT REPORT FIRST
AIRED, WE'VE LEARNED A COUPLE OF
THINGS ABOUT THE FUNDING OF
ASSISTANT DAs IN WISCONSIN.
THE LAST STATE BUDGET FOUND THE
MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PROSECUTORS
BY ATTACHING AN EXTRA FEE ON
YOUR UTILITY BILLS.
BUT EVEN WITH THAT FEE, THERE
WILL STILL BE LAYOFFS?
>> WELL, TT IS BECAUSE THE
STATE DAs OFFICES HAVE MORE
THAN A $2.5 BUDGET SHORTFALL IN
THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
LATER THIS MONTH THE STATE IS
EXPECTED TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS
ABOUT EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE
WILL BE LAID OFF.
>> WHAT ABOUT FUR LOWS?
>> WELL, THE ASSISTANT DA'S
UNION AGREED TO FIVE FURLOUGH
DAYS INSTEAD OF THE EIGHT THAT
OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES ARE TAKING
AND THEY REFUSED TO GIVE UP THE
2% PAY RAISE IN THE MIDST OF THE
STATE'S CRISIS.
>> INTERESTING.
THANK YOU.
FREDERICA FREYBERG REPORTING.
IN OUR MONEY MATTERS SERIES THIS
WEEK, A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW YOUR
TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT.
THE ORIGINAL WISCONSIN FILM TAX
CREDIT WAS DESIGNED TO ATTRACT
HOLLYWOOD-STYLE VIDEO AND FILM
PRODUCTIONS TO OUR STATE.
THE FILM PUBLIC ENEMIES OPENED
LAST JULY FEATURING ACTION SHOTS
FROM WISCONSIN.
IT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE'S
FILM TAX CREDIT.
BUT THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS NOT
WITHOUT ITS CRITICS AT A TIME
WHEN THE STATE IS STRUGGLING TO
MAKE ENDS MEET.
LIZ KOERNER LOOKS AT WHETHER THE
INVESTMENT IS PAYING OFF IN
WISCONSIN.
>>WISCONSIN.
>> FOR FANS OF JOHNNY DEPP, IT
WAS A DREAM COME TRUE, A CHANCE
TO SEE HIM IN PERSON WORKING ON
LOCATION IN WISCONSIN.
THE HOLLYWOOD FILM PUBLIC
ENEMIES CAME HERE IN PART
BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S NEW FILM
PRODUCTION CREDIT, A REBATE
PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM PAYS BACK 25% OF THE
COST OF PRODUCTION.
BUT AFTER ONE YEAR, THE STATE
SAYS THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS
TOO LOW.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
COMMERCE, PUBLIC ENEMIES
PROVIDED A $5 MILLION ECONOMIC
BENEFIT TO WISCONSIN.
THE REBATE CAME TO $4.6 MILLION.
>> SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY, WELL,
ISN'T THAT GOOD?
WE BROKE EVEN.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A
COMPETITIVE NATURE OF STATE
GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETING, THAT
EVERY PROGRAM HAS TO BE COMPARED
TO SOMETHING ELSE.
WE DON'T BUDGET IN THE ABSTRACT.
>> ADVOCATES OF THE REBATE
PROGRAM DISAGREE WITH THE
STATE'S ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC
ENEMY'S ECONOMIC IMPACT.
THEIR TOTAL IS MORE THAN $2
MILLION MORE.
>> WE HAVE FIGURES COMING OUT OF
OSHKOSH OF $3.5 MILLION IN
ECONOMIC INPUT.
WE HAVE $1.5 MILLION QUOTED IN
COLUMBUS.
THIS IS MONEY THAT TOURISTS
PENT ON HOTEL ROOMS,ISTSS
RESTAURANTS.
BUT NO ONE'S TRACKING THAT
MONEY.
>> THE PRIMARY GOAL OF A STATE
REBATE IS TO CREATE JOBS.
BRANDON SAYS ANOTHER STATE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM OFFERED TO
SARGENTO FOODS COST TAXPAYERS
MUCH LESS PER JOB.
>> WE GAVE THEM $3 MILLION IN
TAX CREDITS.
THEY CREATED 500 NEW JOBS, ALL
FAMILY-SUPPORTING WAGES WITH
BENEFITS.
THEY PUT $50 MILLION INTO NEW
PRODUCTION FACILITIES.
>> TO COMPARE JOBS AT SARGENTO
CHEESE AND THE FILM INDUSTRY IS
LIKE COMPARING APPLES TO
ORANGES.
THE JOBS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY
ARE HIGH-TECH.
THIS IS HIGHLY SKILLED LABOR
THAT IS PAID A SUBSTANTIAL
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
>> WHEN IT COMES TO PAYROLL FOR
PUBLIC ENEMIES, BRANDON SAYS
EVEN THOUGH UNIVERSAL PAID $1.9
MILLION IN WAGES TO WISCONSIN
RESIDENTS, THE MAJORITY OF MONEY
WENT TO OUT-OF-STATE WORKERS,
NOT INCLUDING THE STARS.
>> FOR EVERY DOLLAR WE SPENT ON
A WISCONSIN RESIDENT, WE SPENT
$7 ON OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS.
>> BUT PUBLIC ENEMY WASN'T THE
ONLY FILM ELIGIBLE.
BT MEDIA IS A PROTECTION COMPANY
IN MILWAUKEE.
THEY PRODUCED A SMALLER BUDGET
FILM.
>> IT WAS SHOT HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
WE WERE ALREADY -- HAD PREPPED
IT IN FLORIDA.
LOCATIONS WERE STARTED IN
FLORIDA.
CREWS READY TO FLORIDA TO GO.
WE SWITCHED OUR PLAN BECAUSE THE
INCENTIVE PROGRAM CAME TO
WISCONSIN.
>> THEY ALSO APPLIED FOR A
REBATE FOR THEIR FOUR-PART PBS
SERIES CALLED PIONEERS OF
TELEVISION.
>> AND WE'RE BRINGING ALL THAT
WORK HERE, THE EDITING, THE
WRITING, THE MUSIC, ALL THE
POST-PRODUCTION WORK IS ALL
BEING DONE HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> OTHER ADVOCATES OF THE REBATE
PROGRAM WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE IT
TO FOCUS ON CREATING MORE JOBS
IN WISCONSIN AND REWARD
PRODUCTION COMPANIES THAT SPEND
MONEY IN THE STATE.
>> I THINK IF WE CAN TIGHTEN
THOSE LOOPHOLES A LITTLE BIT AND
MAKE IT WISCONSIN RESIDENTS THAT
GET JOBS OUT OF THIS, IT'S A
HOMERUN.
>> THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED
ELIMINATING THE REBATES
ENTIRELY.
IN ITS PLACE HE'S PROPOSED .5
MILLION IN GRANTS.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO TECHNOLOGY,
SMALL STUDIOS, YOUNG OR START-UP
DIRECTORS AND IN-STATE
PRODUCTIONS.
>> VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT IS
CURRENTLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE
REBATE PROGRAM.
BRIAN RAFFLE IS THE CO-OWNER OF
THE COMPANY CALLED RAVEN
SOFTWARE.
THE COMPANY EMPLOYS 185 PEOPLE.
HE'S NOT CONVINCED THE GRANT
PROGRAM WILL CREATE JOBS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHO'S OUT THERE,
WHO'S GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET
TO THE TILL FIRST, SO TO SPEAK.
SO IT HELPS, YOU KNOW, IN
BUSINESS TO BUILD A PLAN AND TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE
REASSURANCES THAT YOU CAN COUNT
ON THIS.
SO THAT WOULD -- IT'S A NICE --
IT'S A NICE THOUGHT, BUT, YOU
KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY
GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
>> RAFFLE SAYS THAT ONE YEAR
ISN'T LONG ENOUGH TO PROVE THE
VALUE OF THE REBATE PROGRAM.
>> LIKE MICROSOFT, HOW MANY
DIFFERENT BUSINESSES HAVE SPRUNG
UP AROUND THAT, AND ONCE YOU
STARTED ATTRACTING CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES, MORE AND MORE TEND
TO KIND OF CONGLOMERATE TOGETHER
AND WORK TOGETHER.
>> THE DEVELOPMENT OF CREATIVE
INDUSTRIES HAS ALREADY STARTED.
RDI STAGES NEAR MILWAUKEE
INVESTED $6 MILLION IN
PRODUCTION FACILITIES, WHICH
INCLUDE A LARGE SOUND STAGE.
>> THE ONLY REASON WE ACTUALLY
MADE THE INVESTMENT WAS BECAUSE
WE KNEW THE INCENTIVES IN 2006
WERE PROJECTED TO BEGIN IN 2008.
WE HAVE TWO BUILDINGS NOW.
WE HAD A THIRD ON THE HORIZON
BUT WE'RE HOLDING OFF ON THAT
WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THESE INCENTIVES.
>> ONE YEAR INTO THE FILM TAX
CREDIT THE GOVERNOR PARED DOWN
THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S NOW A CAP OF $500,000 ON
CREDITS PER FISCAL YEAR.
OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE A
REQUIREMENT THAT A 25% CREDIT
FOR SALARY, WAGES AND CONTRACT
PAYMENTS BE PAID ONLY TO
WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.
IF A FILM WANTS A 25% CREDIT ON
PRODUCTION EXPENDITURES, IT MUST
BUY WISCONSIN PRODUCTS.
ONE OTHER STIPULATION.
IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, 35% OF THE
OVERALL PRODUCTION BUDGET MUST
BE SPENT IN WISCONSIN.
SINCE THESE CHANGES WENT INTO
EFFECT, ONLY ONE VIDEO GAME
PRODUCTION HAS APPLIED FOR A TAX
CREDIT.
JANINE FROM RDI STAGES IN
MILWAUKEE TOLD US THAT SINCE
FILM PROJECTS IN WISCONSIN HAVE
DRIED UP, THEIR EXPANSION
PROJECTS ARE ON HOLD.
AN INDEPENDENT MOVIE IS BEING
PRODUCED BY THE OWNERS OF ALBION
SWORDS WITHOUT THE HELP OF
WISCONSIN'S FILM TAX CREDIT.
THE MOVIE IS CALLED 2012:
DEEVOLUTION.
IT FEATURES THEIR SWORD
MANUFACTURING FACILITY AND OTHER
LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN.
MORE ABOUT THE MOVIE IN A
MOMENT.
BUT FIRST REPORTER ANDY SOTH
SHOWS YOU THIS CUTTING EDGE
BUSINESS WITH ITS TRADEMARK
SWORDS IN NEW GLARUS.
>> NEW GLARUS, AMERICA'S LITTLE
ITZERLAND, HAS LONG KEPTLITTLESW
EUROPEAN TRADITIONS ALIVE.
IT'S A GOOD PLACE THEN FOR THESE
MEDIEVAL ENTHUSEISTS TO PRACTICE
AN ANCIENT CRAFT.
THE CONTEXT IS PROVIDED BY
ALBION, A SPECIALIST IN THE
MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF SWORDS.
>> WHO BUYS SWORDS?
THEY'RE ONE OF THE MOST
UNNECESSARY THINGS YOU COULD
PURCHASE.
>> ALBION'S CEO, AMY, ADMITS
PEOPLE HAVE AN UNUSUAL FIRST
REACTION TO HER BUSINESS.
>> THEN THEY SEE THEM AND THEY
HOLD THEM AND THEY BUY THEM,
BECAUSE THEY REALLY ARE --
THEY'RE JUST FANTASTIC PIECES OF
HISTORY.
>> THE PIECES COME TOGETHER IN A
FORMER MEAT PROCESSING PLANT.
IT STARTS WITH A BLANK, THE
BASIC SHAPE OF A SWORD, CUT FROM
A STEEL PLATE BY A COMPUTERIZED
MILLING MACHINE.
>> WE DO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF
MODERN EQUIPMENT.
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE USED THAT
BACK THEN.
BUT IF THEY COULD HAVE, THEY
WOULD HAVE.
>> A HEAT-TREATED BLANK IS
SHARPENED TO MAKE A BLADE.
THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE A
WEAPON THAT IS SHARP, BUT
STRONG.
THE TEST FOR THIS BLADE PUTS THE
OLD GINSU KNIFE TO SHAME.
THIS DRUM IS THE SAME GAUGE AS A
SUIT OF ARMOR.
>> IF THIS WAS USED AGAINST AN
ARMORED OPPONENT, JASON COULD
JUST TAKE A HONE AND REMOVE THAT
DAMAGE AND PUT IT BACK INTO
SERVICE BACK IN THE TIME OF
MEDIEVAL TIMES.
>> THIS TEST DEMONSTRATES THE
BLADE'S FLEXIBILITY.
>> SO THAT YOU GET A REALLY
STRONG EDGE THAT HAS THE ABILITY
TO STAY SHARP, BUT A BLADE THAT
WILL BE ABLE TO BE FLEXED AND
TAKE THE SHOCK OF BATTLE.
THERE HE GOES.
FINALLY.
>> WE WOULD CALL THIS A VERY
SUCCESSFUL BLADE.
>> THE SHARPENED BLADE GETS A
CROSS GUARD AND A POMMEL THAT
COUNTERS THE WEIGHT OF THE BLADE
IN THE USER'S HAND.
>> BOTH WERE DESIGN ELEMENTS.
THE MEDIEVAL, THE RENAISSANCE,
THE DARK AGES, THEY WERE A WAY
FOR THE SWORDSMITH TO EXPRESS
THEMSELVES IN THE SWORDMAKING
PROCESS.
>> IF YOU JUST LOOK AT IT, IT'S
JUST SUCH A REMARKABLE PIECE OF
ENGINEERING, AND IT'S
FRIGHTENING.
IT'S DEADLY AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL
AT THE SAME TIME.
AND THAT'S A RARE OCCURRENCE.
>> IT WOULD BE A RARE OCCURRENCE
FOR ANYONE TO ACTUALLY NEED A
SWORD MADE TO SUCH EXACTING
STANDARDS GIVEN TODAY PEOPLE ARE
RARELY CALLED UPON TO SLAY DRAG
DRAGONS OR JOIN THE CRUSADES.
WHY PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO WHAT
MAY BE AN OVERSIZED LETTER
OPENER.
>> WE WANT TO GET THE BEST
POSSIBLE PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE
SWORD, EVEN THOUGH MOST -- 99%
OF THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE OUR
SWORDS JUST BUY THEM AND LOOK AT
THEM AND THEN PUT THEM ON A
DISPLAY ON THEIR WALL.
>> THAT AUTHENTICITY IS
ESSENTIAL BECAUSE THE CUSTOMER
IS NOT JUST BUYING A SWORD.
THEY'RE BUYING A TOOL TO HELP
THEM TRAVEL BACK IN TIME.
>> IN TODAY'S EXTREMELY
STRESSFUL TIMES, PEOPLE NEED AN
ESCAPE.
AND FANTASY AND HISTORY ARE AN
ESCAPE.
AND THEY WANT TO FEEL KNIGHTLY.
THEY WANT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT A
KNIGHT WOULD HAVE EXPERIENCED.
>> THAT EXPERIENCE CAN BE AS
POWERFUL AS ONE OF THESE
WEAPONS.
>> WE'VE HAD CUSTOMERS WRITE TO
US AND SAY WHEN THEY OPENED UP
THE BOX, THEY BROKE INTO TEARS.
THEY SLEEP WITH THEM.
THEY HANG THEM ON THEIR WALLS.
IT'S FASCINATING.
>> THE OWNERS OF ALBION SWORDS
ARE WRITING AND PRODUCING THE
MOVIE 2012: DEEVOLUTION SHOT ON
LOCATION IN NEW GLARUS.
THE MOVIE EXPLORES WHAT MIGHT
HAPPEN ON DECEMBER 21, 2012,
WHEN THE EARTH'S SOLAR SYSTEM
ALIGNS WITH THE CORE OF THE
GALAXY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
25,000 YEARS.
THE MOVIE IS EXPECTED TO BE
RELEASED IN INDEPENDENT THEATERS
NEXT OCTOBER AND ALREADY HAS
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST.
OLD WORLD WAYS ARE BEING
PRESERVED IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
PRISTINE AND UNTIMED. UN-- UNTIMED.
THAT'S HOW THE STATE'S NEWEST
RIVER IS DESCRIBED.
SIT BACK AND LET US TAKE YOU
DOWN THE TOTAGATIC RIVER IN
WASHBURN COUNTY.
>> TAKE A LONG LOOK AT THIS FALL
DAY ON THE TOTAGATIC RIVER.
* *
>> IT'S A GOLDEN PANORAMA OF
CHANGE.
* *
>> AND IN THE FUTURE, THE ONLY
CHANGE YOU'LL SEE ON THIS RIVER
IS THIS CHANGE, THE TURNING OF
THE NATURAL WORLD.
THE TOTAGATIC WILL STAY WILD,
UNDEVELOPED, PROTECTED, FOREVER.
AS OF 2009, FOUR SECTIONS OF THE
70-MILE LONG RIVER, INCLUDING
THIS SECTION, ARE NOW PART OF
THE STATE'S WILD RIVER SYSTEM.
* *
>> THIS MAKES THE TOTAGATIC ONE
OF FIVE STATE WILD RIVERS.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT'S
BEING SAVED, WE JOINED UP FOR A
PADDLE WITH A GROUP OF BOATERS
WHO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE
DECADE-LONG EFFORT TO PRESERVE
THIS PLACE.
>> MY SHOULDER SURGERY.
>> THE GROUP INCLUDED JOHN
HAACK, AN EDUCATOR FOR THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
EXTENSION.
THE WOMAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CANOE IS KATHY BARTILSON,
WISCONSIN DNR, ST. CROIX RIVER
WATERSHED.
AND ENERGETIC FRED IS A CITIZEN
VOLUNTEER FOR THE WASHBURN
COUNTY LAKES AND RIVERS
ASSOCIATION.
>> I'M KEEPING ON DOING THIS AS
LONG AS I CAN.
>> I STARTED MY INTERVIEW
SESSIONS ABOUT THE RIVER WITH A
HARDBALL.
HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE THE NAME?
JOHN HAACK.
>> WELL, THE NAME IS DIFFERENT
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE FROM
AND HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT.
MANY LOCALS PRONOUNCE IT
TOTAGATIC.
A LOT OF US PRONOUNCE IT
TOTAGATIC.
AND SOME PEOPLE EVEN PRONOUNCE
IT TOTAGATIC.
>> FRED.
>> I ALWAYS USE TOTAGATIC.
IN MY NOTES IT'S JUST TOTO.
>> KATHY.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE WASHBURN
COUNTY PLAT BOOKS, IT'S SPELLED
BOTH WAYS ON THE SAME PAGE,
TOTAGATIC.
>> WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO GET
NEAR THE DEBATE ABOUT HOW TO
SPELL THE NAME.
BUT WE DO WONDER WHAT IT MEANS.
>> IT'S AN OJIBWA WORD.
I'VE HEARD THAT IT MEANS SOFT,
BOGGY PLACES.
>> YES, THIS RIVER IS THAT IN
MANY PLACES.
>> AND BEAUTIFUL AND FLOWING IS
ANOTHER DESCRIPTION I'VE HEARD
OF THE TRANSLATION.
>> LET'S GO WITH THE BEAUTIFUL
AND FLOWING.
>> GOING THROUGH THE CANYON-LIKE
AREAS AND THEN OUT INTO THESE
WIDE FLOODPLAINS, FORESTS, WHERE
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUST IN
WONDERLAND.
>> IT'S AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN COME
TO BEING TOTALLY PRISTINE.
THIS IS HARDLY TOUCHED.
AND TO ME THAT IS A REMARKABLE
GIFT.
>> BEAUTIFUL PART ABOUT THIS
RIVER IS THE BANKS ARE STILL
INTACT WITH NATIVE VEGETATION.
YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF
DISTURBANCE.
THERE ARE HOMES AND A FEW DOCKS.
THEY'RE MODEST AND THEY'RE FEW.
YOU CAN GO FOR A LONG STRETCH ON
THE RIVER AND FEEL LIKE, WOW.
* *
>> STATE WILD RIVERS MEANS
HOUSES AND OTHER STRUCTURES MUST
BE SET BACK AT LEAST 300 FEET.
PIERS THAT EXIST NOW CAN BE
REBUILT, BUT NO NEW DEVELOPMENT
IS ALLOWED.
SO THE VIEW WILL STAY LIKE THIS.
>> IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY RIDE.
A TRAVEL ON THE TOTAGATIC CAN
SOMETIMES INCLUDE SOME LEG WORK.
THAT SQUEAKING SOUND YOU HEAR IS
OUR RUBBER BOAT SCRAPING THE
SHALLOW RIVER BOTTOM.
IN LOW WATER YOU'RE WALKING YOUR
BOAT.
AND SINCE IT'S WILD, NO ONE'S
COMING OUT TO REMOVE THE RIVER'S
OBSTACLES.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE
FREEFALLS. -- TREE
FALLS.
>> YOU GET OUT AND WALK AROUND
THEM OR YOU CRAWL UNDER THEM.
YOU DO ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO DO.
>> YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN HERE.
THIS PLACE IS SHORT ON
AMENITIES.
BIG ON WILD.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE UNLIKE A
NATIONAL PARK.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE WILD RIVER
IS TO KEEP IT WILD WHERE WE
DON'T HAVE DESIGNATED
CAMPGROUNDS.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH GOING TO REMAIN
AS WE SEE IT TODAY.
>> IT WILL STAY LIKE THIS.
IT WILL STAY WILD, A GOLDEN
JEWEL FOR WISCONSIN.
* *
>> LAST WEEK, "IN WISCONSIN"
VENTURED DOWN THE STATE'S OTHER
NEWLY DESIGNATED WILD RIVER, THE
BRUNSWEILLER IN ASHLAND COUNTY.
CONSERVATIONIST MARTIN HANSON
HELPED PRESERVE IT FROM FUTURE
DEVELOPMENTS.
>> HE FELT THAT IT WAS HIS LIFE
MISSION TO PRESERVE IT.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE TO CHECK IT
OUT, JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin AND THEN
CLICK ON IN WISCONSIN.
YOU'LL GET TO SEE JO GARRETT'S
FULL REPORT.
THE CLEAN-UP OF A WISCONSIN
RIVER IS TAKING ON EPIC
PROPORTIONS.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THE REPORTS
WE'RE WORKING ON FOR THE NEXT
EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN."
>> I'M ART HACKETT IN DE PERE,
WHERE THE DREDGING OF PCBs
FROM THE FOX RIVER HAS NOW
REACHED FULL-SCALE.
>> I'M ANDY SOTH AND I'LL SHOW
YOU HOW THIS SIMPLE SHACK
INSPIRED AMERICA'S GREENEST
BUILDING.
>> IT'S REALLY A SHOWCASE.
WE WANTED TO SHOW WHAT WAS
POSSIBLE.
>> I'M REPORTER JO GARRETT AND
I'M HERE AT TENNIS SON BAY.
BEHIND ME IS A SCULPTURE CALLED
WOODWIND.
LOOKS PRETTY NICE NOW, BUT WAIT
UNTIL YOU SEE IT AT NIGHT.
>> IT'S ALIVE OUT THERE AND
THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
>> THOSE REPORTS NEXT THURSDAY
AT 7:00 ON OUR STATEWIDE NEWS
MAGAZINE PROGRAM "IN WISCONSIN."
FINALLY THIS WEEK, WE CLOSE OUT
JANUARY WITH A LOOK AT THE
WINTER SNOW BLANKETING THE OLSON
OAK WOODS IN DANE COUNTY.
IT'S OWNED BY THE MADISON
METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT AND
THE DNA AND DESIGNATED A STATE
NATURAL AREA IN 1980.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK IN WISCONSIN.
CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY
WWW.CLOSED-CAPTIONING.COM
* *
MAJOR FUNDING R "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 THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND
ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF
MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH, A
VETERINARY TEAM WORKING WITH PET
OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, PROVIDING
CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED
BY BIKE WISCONSIN.