>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO OUR NEW
SEASON OF "IN WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK THE LIGHTS ARE BACK
ON IN THIS MARITIME JEWEL
THANKS TO LIGHTHOUSE LOVERS
ACROSS THE STATE.
NOT IN MY BACKYARD IS WHAT SOME
LAKEFRONT OWNERS ARE TELLING
STATE OFFICIALS.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUCCESS STORY.
IS THERE NO ROOM AT THE INN FOR
SOME UW COLLEGE STUDENTS?
FIND OUT AHEAD "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.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN,
PAUL P. CARBONE COMPREHENSIVE
CANCER CENTER PROVIDING CANCER
RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND
TREATMENT.
COMPREHENSIVE AS DESIGNATED BY
THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.
INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE
WEB.
AND WISCONSIN'S TECHNICAL
COLLEGES, PROVIDING LOCAL
EDUCATION FOR THE CRUCIAL
OCCUPATIONS ESSENTIAL TO OUR
COMMUNITIES.
WISCONSIN'S TECHNICAL COLLEGES,
COMMUNITIES FIRST.
>> WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS,
INVASIVE SPECIES, POLLUTED
WATERS, ENDANGERED WILDLIFE.
IT'S NICE TO GET GOOD NEWS ONCE
IN A WHILE.
PRODUCER LIZ KOERNER HAS ONE OF
THOSE STORIES.
>> IT'S A SUMMER DAY ON TOP OF
MAIDEN ROCK, A BLUFF
OVERLOOKING LAKE PEPIN ON THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER 300 FOOT OF
ROPE IN MY CAR.
YOURS IS ONLY 2.
>> THIS IS THE STARTING POINT
FOR SCIENTISTS ROPING UP TO
RAPPEL DOWN TO A BIRD'S NESTS.
THEY'RE CALL EYRIES WHERE THEY
HOPE TO FIND YOUNG PEREGRINE
FALCONS.
BOB ANDERSON IS THE DIRECTOR OF
THE IOWA-BASED RAPTOR RESOURCE
CENTER.
>> GIVE DIRECTIONS UPSTREAM OR
DOWNSTREAM.
>> PEREGRINE FALCONS WERE
ENTIRELY WIPED OUT EAST OF THE
MISSISSIPPI BY THE LATE 1960s.
THE PESTICIDE CALLED D.D.T.
CAUSED THE CASUALTIES.
WISCONSIN WAS ONE OF THE FIRST
STATES TO BAN THE USE OF THIS
DEADLY CHEMICAL IN 1970.
AND WHILE PEREGRINES ARE STILL
ON THE STATE ENDANGERED AND
THREATENED SPECIES LIST DNR
OFFICIALS SAY THEIR NUMBERS ARE
NOW AT A HEALTHY LEVEL.
MANY PEOPLE HAD A HAND IN THE
RETURN OF THE PEREGRINES, AND
BOB ANDERSON PLAYED A VITAL
ROLE.
HE STARTED OUT BY BREEDING
THESE WILD BIRDS IN CAPTIVITY
IN THE MID 1970s.
>> I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT TO
HAVE MADE THE FIRST BIRD TO
BREED IN MINNESOTA AND THE
FIRST BIRD TO BREED IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN AFTER THEY
WERE WIPED OUT.
>> OVER THE YEARS ANDERSON AND
PROJECT VOLUNTEERS HAVE
SUPPLIED 250 YOUNG BIRDS TO
RECOVERY EFFORTS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
THESE BIRDS HAVE BRED IN NEST
BOXES PLACED HIGH UP ON
BUILDINGS ESPECIALLY THOSE
ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL IN PART
BECAUSE PREDATORS CAN'T GET TO
THE NEST BOXES.
>> USUALLY THE PREDATOR WE'RE
DEALING WITH IN THE MIDWEST IS
THE RACCOON.
A RACCOON CAN'T GET NATURALLY
THEY'LL HAVE HIGHER SUCCESS
RATES IN THE WILD RATHER THAN
JUST PICK OUT A LEDGE THAT'S
AVAILABLE.
>> GETTING THE PEREGRINES BACK
TO LEDGES IN THE WILD IS WHAT
HE WAS ULTIMATELY DETERMINED TO
DO.
>> I FELT THEY WEREN'T SAVED
UNTIL THEY HAD THEM BACK ON
THEIR HISTORIC HAUNTS.
WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE STOPPED
RELEASES I KEPT GOING AND DID
RELEASES AND WE BRED THE FIRST
PEREGRINE TO BREED ON THIS
CLIFF.
>> DAN BERGER REMEMBERS.
>> WE FOUND THE LAST ACTIVE
SITE WAS RIGHT HERE IN 1962 AND
THEY HAD FOUR YOUNG.
>> BERGER WORKED HANDS-ON WITH
THE BIRDS.
TODAY HE'S HERE TO WITNESS THE
WORK OF ANDERSON AND THE
PROJECT VOLUNTEERS AND HE ISN'T
ALONE.
ANDERSON WELCOMES INTERESTED
BIRDERS OF ALL AGES.
>> I AM A BOY.
>> YOU ARE A BOY.
WOW.
>> SO THIS IS A BOY FALCON AND
WE'LL NAME IT GRIFFIN.
>> OH.
>> TWO YEARS AGO WHEN I GOT TO
HOLD ONE WAS THE MOST EXCITING
BECAUSE I COULDN'T TELL IF MY
HEART OR ITS HEART WAS BEATING
FASTER.
>> DOES IT HAVE SHARP CLAWS?
>> THEY BAND THE PEREGRINE
CHICKS IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THEIR
PROGRESS.
ANDERSON SAYS THE CHICKS SEEM
TO TOLERATE THIS STRANGE
EXPERIENCE AND LIFE GETS BACK
TO NORMAL SOON AFTER THEY
RETURN TO THE NEST.
BANDING HAS TAUGHT SCIENTISTS
LIKE ANDERSON A LOT ABOUT HOW
TO SUCCESSFULLY REINTRODUCE
THEM TO THE WILD.
>> WE'RE LEARNING A GREAT DEAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE WORD PEREGRINE
MEANS WANDERER.
FOR MANY YEARS WE THOUGHT IF
YOU RELEASED THE PEREGRINE
ANYWHERE IT COULD START A
POPULATION ANYWHERE.
THAT'S NOT QUITE TRUE.
BY FOLLOWING THE BIRDS BY USING
THESE BANDS WE'VE DISCOVERED
THAT THE MALES STAY WITHIN 70
MILES AND THE FEMALES STAY
WITHIN 200 MILES.
>> IT'S BEEN 30 YEARS SINCE
ANDERSON BEGAN HIS WORK WITH
PEREGRINES AND HE CAN PROUDLY
CLAIM HIS EFFORTS HAVE PAID OFF.
ON THIS DAY THEY FOUND THREE
CHICKS IN THE MAIDEN ROCK NESTS.
HE WOULD LIKE TO GET A FEW MORE
PAIRS TO USE THE NATURAL SITES
BUT THE PEREGRINE RECOVERY
EFFORT HERE CAN BE CALLED A
CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY.
>> I REALLY THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT YOU LOOK AT
THESE ENVIRONMENTAL SUCCESS
STORIES WITH THE SAME AMOUNT OF
ATTENTION THAT YOU DO WITH
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
WHAT I MEAN BY ENVIRONMENTAL
SUCCESS STORIES WE OUTLAWED
D.D.T.
A LOT OF SPECIES STARTED COMING
BACK.
THE PEREGRINES ARE COMING BACK.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE
SUCCESS STORIES TO GIVE US
AMMUNITION AND TO GIVE US THE
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO TAKE ON
ANOTHER PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
>> YOU THE WANT TO BE HEARD,
NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP.
THIS WEEK MARKS THE END OF THE
COMMENT PERIOD FOR PROPOSED
STATE RULES GOVERNING SHORELINE
DEVELOPMENT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES WANTS TO UPDATE THE
RULES THAT CAN DETERMINE WHAT
CAN AND CANNOT BE BUILT ON
WISCONSIN SHORES.
WE FIRST TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS
WHEN THE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO
UPDATE THE RULES IN 2005.
AT THAT TIME THE ZONING
PROPOSAL DREW SO MANY
UNFAVORABLE COMMENTS THAT THE
DNR WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING
BOARD.
PRODUCER ART HACKETT BRINGS US
AN UPDATE ON HOW THE PROCESS IS
GOING THE SECOND TIME AROUND.
>> THIS PROPERTY ON A FLOWAGE
NEAR TOMAHAWK IS A PLACE WHERE
NATURE COMES TO MEET YOU.
THE ONLY DEVELOPMENT ON THE
PARCEL IS A SMALL COTTAGE.
IT WAS BUILT BEFORE THE STATE'S
MINIMUM ZONING STANDARDS TOOK
EFFECT IN 1968.
THOSE STANDARDS SAY THE LOT IS
TOO SMALL TO ALLOW ANY
STRUCTURE AND THE OWNER OF THE
PROPERTY CAN'T SPEND ANY MORE
THAN HALF OF THE CABIN'S VALUE
ON IMPROVEMENTS OR REPAIRS.
EVENTUALLY THE SMALLER
STRUCTURES WIND UP BEING TORN
DOWN.
>> WE ASK OURSELVES HOW DOES
THAT MEET THE GOAL OF OUR
PROGRAM?
WE SAID IT DOESN'T REALLY MEET
OUR GOAL.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROTECT WATER
QUALITY HABITAT SO WHY DON'T WE
ALLOW YOU TO REBUILD OR RESTORE
WITH MINOR EXPANSIONS IN SOME
CASES WITHIN THAT 75-FOOT SET
BACK AND IN TRADE WHAT YOU DO
IS ANALYZE YOUR SHORELINE AND
FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROTECT THE
WATER QUALITY HABITAT.
>> FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE DNR
HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO UPDATE
THE SHORELINE ZONING
REGULATIONS KNOWN BY THEIR
ADMINISTRATIVE RULE NUMBER NR
115.
WHEN NR 115 WAS UP FOR A PUBLIC
HEARING IN OSHKOSH IT DREW
PRAISE FROM THE MAN WHO OWNS
THE CABIN NEAR TOMAHAWK.
>> IT WILL ALLOW ME TO UPDATE
THAT STRUCTURE ON AN EXISTING
DEVELOPED LOT RATHER THAN
DEVELOP A VIRGIN LANDSCAPE NOW
WHICH IS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT
PROBABLY OF MARGINAL
SUITABILITY.
>> BUT THE RULES INVOLVE A
TRADE.
IN ORDER TO DO THINGS NOW
RESTRICTED, PROPERTY OWNERS
WOULD HAVE TO AGREE TO REDUCE
THE EFFECTS OF RUNOFF FROM
IMPERVIOUS SURFACES SUCH AS
ROOF, DRIVEWAYS AND TURF GRASS
LINES.
IT COULD INCLUDE RAIN GARDENS
WHICH ALLOW WATER TO SOAK INTO
THE GROUND.
KNOLL DOLDE'S OPINION WAS AFTER
40 YEARS WITHOUT REVISED RULES
IT'S ABOUT TIME.
>> IT'S TIME NOR ACTION TO
PROTECT THE RESOURCES OF
WISCONSIN AND FULFILL THE STATE
CONSTITUTION.
>> DOLDE WAS THE ONLY PERSON AT
THE OSHKOSH HEARING TO SPEAK
OUT IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED
NEW RULES.
>> THE RAIN GARDEN, HAS ANYBODY
LOOKED AT THE HEALTH CONCERNS
OF PUTTING MOSQUITO BREEDING
PONDS ON YOUR PROPERTY AND WHAT
IT DOES TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN A
CLOSED IN AREA?
>> I HAVE 30 PLUS YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH
SHORELAND DEVELOPMENT AND I
FIND THIS CODE TO BE
PARTICULARLY ONEROUS.
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF NUMBERS IN
THE DNR'S PROPOSED RULES.
ONE NUMBER IN PARTICULAR SEEMS
TO BOTHER PEOPLE, 35 AS IN 35
FEET.
THAT'S THE DISTANCE BACK FROM A
HIGH WATERMARK THAT THE DNR
WOULD PREFER TO HAVE PLANTED
WITH NATURAL VEGETATION.
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU
INSTALL TURF GRASS IN LIEU OF A
NATURAL VEGETATION THAT IS
GENERALLY TALLER IS YOU'LL HAVE
INCREASED RUNOFF AND WHAT THAT
INCREASED RUNOFF MEANS AS THE
WATER LEAVES YOUR SITE IT DRAGS
ALONG PHOSPHOROUS AND OTHER
POLLUTANTS AND THERE IS NOTHING
TO SLOW IT UP.
>> MANY WATERFRONT PROPERTY
OWNERS LOOK AT THE TERM NATURAL
VEGETATION AND SEES PROBLEMS.
>> THERE HAS TO BE MAINTENANCE
TO IT.
RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE THIS
JAPANESE VINE OR SOMETHING THAT
COMES IN, IT'S AN INVASIVE
THING.
I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL IT OUT
AND IT SPREADS EASY.
IF I HAD ALL NATURAL HERE, THAT
WOULD OVERTAKE THAT AREA
TOTALLY.
>> THIS RULE DOESN'T COME OUT
IF IT WERE ADOPTED TOMORROW.
IT DOESN'T SAY THAT TOMORROW
YOU HAVE TO RESTORE YOUR
SHORELINE.
IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING OF THAT
KIND.
>> DNR SHORELINE TEAM LEADER
GREGG BREESE SAYS THE ONLY TIME
PROPERTY OWNERS WOULD HAVE TO
ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF RUNOFF
WOULD BE IF THEY REMODEL OR
EXPAND THEIR PROPERTY.
AND EVEN THEN THE NEW RULES
OVER OPTIONS.
>> YOU COULD ALSO INSTALL A
RAIN GARDEN.
YOU COULD ALSO INSTALL DIV
ERTION SWALES AND A COMPLETELY
RESTORED BUFFER.
>> SOME PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T
SEE A PROBLEM WITH A NATURAL
BUFFER.
>> WHY PEOPLE BUY A COTTAGE AND
HAVE ANOTHER LAWN TO MOW HAS
ALWAYS ESCAPED ME, THE LOGIC.
YOU GO UP THERE TO HAVE FUN,
NOT TO HAVE ANOTHER PLACE TO
WORK.
>> I'VE LIVED HERE 20 YEARS
ALMOST.
TO ME THE WATER QUALITY IS
BETTER THAN IT WAS EVER.
SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH
THAT CONCEPT THAT IS GOING TO
IMPROVE IT GREATLY.
>> NOEL DOLDE MEANWHILE SAYS
THE LIMITATIONS ARE THERE FOR A
REASON.
HE SAID AN ACQUAINTANCE HAD
EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT HIS
COMMENTS AT THE HEARING.
>> I SAID YOU KNOW, WE'RE
NEIGHBORS.
HE LOOKED AT ME.
HOW IS THAT?
I SAID YOUR LAND ENDS AT THE
WATER AND I OWN THE WATER.
AND HE LOOKED AT ME AGAIN AND I
SAID WATER BELONGS TO EVERYBODY
AND IT GAVE HIM PAUSE TO THINK.
ZONING IS THERE FOR A REASON.
>> YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin TO FIND OUT
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT ON
THE SHORELINE ZONING RULES BUT
HURRY, THE COMMENT PERIOD ENDS
SEPTEMBER 7.
DNR STAFF WILL MAKE ANY
NECESSARY CHANGES BASED ON THE
COMMENTS.
THE PROPOSED RULES WILL THEN GO
FIRST TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES
BOARD AND THEN TO THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FOR APPROVAL.
IT'S WEEK TEN IN STATE BUDGET
TALKS WITH THE REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
APART.
EACH WEEK WE'LL BRING YOU A
SERIES OF REPORTS CALLED
"BUDGET BRIEFS" WHERE WE'LL
FOCUS ON DIFFERENT DISPUTED
BUDGET ITEMS AND HOW THE
OUTCOME MIGHT AFFECT YOU.
THIS WEEK AS SCHOOL BEGINS
THOUSANDS OF UW STUDENTS ARE
STILL WAITING TO HEAR WHETHER
OR NOT THEY'LL HAVE FINANCIAL
AID FROM THE STATE.
THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE WAYS THE
UW SYSTEM IS AFFECTED BY THE
BUDGET STALEMATE.
WE SHOULD TELL YOU THAT
WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION IS
ALSO PART OF THE UW SYSTEM.
BUT THIS WEEK'S "BUDGET BRIEFS"
EXAMINES ANOTHER UW BUDGET ITEM
THAT HITS VERY CLOSE TO HOME
FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
FREDERICA FREYBERG REPORTS.
>> UW DORMS AT CAMPUSES ACROSS
THE STATE ARE BULGING WITH NEW
RESIDENTS AND ALL THEIR STUFF.
MOVE-IN DAY IS AN EXERCISE IN
EXHAUSTION AND THIS YEAR CAUSE
FOR CONTROVERSY WRAPPED UP IN
THE STATE BUDGET.
>> THIS YEAR WE TURNED AWAY 700
STUDENTS AND DIDN'T GIVE THEM
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE ON
CAMPUS.
>> TO HELP EASE THE CRUNCH
UW-MADISON WANTS TO BUILD THREE
NEW DORMS.
SIX UW CAMPUSES HAVE PLANS TO
BUILD ADDITIONAL RESIDENTS
HALLS TO THE TUNE OF $205
MILLION.
THE STATE MONEY FOR THE DORM
PROJECTS WOULD BE BONDED OUT OR
BORROWED OVER 30 YEARS AND PAID
BACK BY THE FEES STUDENTS PAY
TO LIVE IN THEM.
LEGISLATORS MUST APPROVE THAT
BORROWING.
WHILE DEMOCRATS APPROVE
REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS DO
NOT.
>> WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD WHAT
HAS BEEN CALLED A BUILDING
SPREE IN WISCONSIN.
>> IT'S NOT JUST THAT.
>> THESE ARE SUITES FOR FOUR
STUDENTS, EACH OF THEM GETS A
SINGLE BEDROOM, ABOUT 8 BY 10
FEET.
THERE IS A SMALL LIVING AREA 12
FEET SQUARE AND A SMALL
KITCHENETTE.
>> THE NEW PLANS AT RIVER
FALLS, OSHKOSH, PARK SIDE,
STEVENS POINT AND WHITEWATER
CALL FOR PRIVATE BEDROOM
SUITE-TYPE DORMS.
>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED A TAJ
MAHAL BUILDING WHEN A DORM
STYLE THAT WE HAVE IS
SUFFICIENT.
IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO CHARGE
STUDENT MORE WHEN THEY'RE
ALREADY PAYING HIGHER FEES FOR
TUITION.
>> MANY PARENTS WOULD PREFER TO
PAY SLIGHTLY RESIDENCE HALL
FEES THAT ARE STILL
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN OFF
CAMPUS RENT.
>> THIS IS WHAT THEY ASK OF US.
IF WE DON'T OFFER IT THEY'LL GO
TO A COLLEGE THAT DOES.
>> UW ARCHITECTS SAY SUITE
STYLE DORMS ARE THE NEW
CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> THE DORMS THAT YOU AND I
WENT TO AND STAYED IN IN
COLLEGE WERE ACTUALLY JUST FINE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE SUCH A LUXURIOUS
ACCOMMODATIONS YET SOMEHOW WE
SURVIVED.
>> THE UNIVERSITY COUNTERS THAT
THIS ISN'T YOUR FATHER'S
COLLEGE CAMPUS ANYMORE AND
WISCONSIN MUST KEEP UP.
>> WE WANT THOSE STUDENTS HERE
IN WISCONSIN STUDYING AT OUR
HOME GROWN UNIVERSITIES PAYING
OUR TUITION AND COMING BACK AND
GETTING JOBS HERE IN WISCONSIN.
OR DO WE WANT THEM GOING OFF TO
ANOTHER STATE.
>> UW-MADISON'S NEW DORM PLANS
DON'T CALL FOR PRIVATE SUITES.
PROPOSED RESIDENTS HALLS ON
THAT CAMPUS WOULD BE MORE IN
KEEPING WITH THE DORM JUST
COMPLETED THIS FALL FOR
INCOMING FRESHMEN.
>> WHAT DID YOUR PARENTS THINK?
>> THEY WERE SO JEALOUS.
>> THE BRAND-NEW OGG HALL HAS
SLIGHTLY LARGER ROOMS THAN THE
OLD STYLE DORMS BUT THE ROOM
HAVE SEPARATE CLOSETS.
INSTEAD OF 60 TO A BATHROOM
IT'S MORE LIKE 8.
>> A LARGER DOUBLE ROOM.
>> STILL DESPITE NOT CALLING
FOR SO-CALLED SUITE-STYLE
APARTMENTS UW-MADISON'S PLANS
ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK WITH
ALL THE OTHERS.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT MY
COLLEAGUES AND I THAT MADE
THESE DECISIONS ARE OPPOSED TO
GIVING MORE ROOMS TO MORE
STUDENTS.
IT REALLY AMOUNTS TO THE TYPE
OF BUILDING THAT IS GOING TO BE
BUILT AND HOW MUCH TAXPAYERS
AND STUDENTS CAN AFFORD.
>> UW OFFICIALS SAY THEY WOULD
STILL HAVE TO BOND FOR DORMS
THAT MIGHT COST A LITTLE LESS
BUT WORRY IN THAT CASE STUDENTS
WOULD NOT RENT THEM.
>> AND SO WE'D LOSE THE REVENUE
STREAM THAT ALLOWS US TO PAY
BACK THAT SLIGHTLY SMALLER BOND.
>> WE'LL EXAMINE ANOTHER STATE
BUDGET ITEM UNDER DEBATE IN
NEXT WEEK'S "BUDGET BRIEFS".
>> OUR NEXT REPORT TAKES US TO
WISCONSIN'S ONLY NATIONAL PARK,
THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL
LAKESHORE.
LAST SEASON JOANNE GARRETT
BROUGHT US TO THE RASPBERRY
ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE BEING
RENOVATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
100 YEARS.
IT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING.
MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS
SPENT, MORE THAN 50 DIFFERENT
CRAFTS PEOPLE CONTRIBUTING
THEIR TARENTS.
JO PROMISED TO TAKE US BACK AND
SHOW US THE COMPLETED
LIGHTHOUSE.
HERE GOES.
>> WHEN LAST WE SAW THE
RASPBERRY ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, IT
WAS DEEP IN THE THROES OF
RESTORATION.
THINK OF IT AS THIS OLD HOUSE
ON STEROIDS.
>> WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED HERE
THE BUILDING WAS IN QUITE A
STATE OF DISREPAIR.
IT HAD BEEN MAINTAINED TO THE
BEST OF EVERYONE'S ABILITY BUT
IT'S OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
>> KEN KOTNEY IS THE PRESIDENT
OF A CONSTRUCTION FIRM BASED IN
ASHLAND THAT WON THE NATIONAL
CONTRACT TO RENOVATE RASPBERRY.
THIS LIGHTHOUSE IS MADE OF WOOD
AND AS ANY HOMEOWNER WILL TELL
YOU, WEATHER CAN TAKE ITS TOLL.
AND WHEN THE WINDS BLOW ACROSS
THIS BIG LAKE, ONE OF THE
LARGEST IN THE WORLD, WELL, IT
MAKES FOR LOTS OF WEATHER.
>> THAT'S LAKE SUPERIOR AT ITS
BEST.
WE HAVE OUR PREDOMINANT WINDS
COME FROM THE WEST/NORTHWEST
AND THIS IS ON THE WEST SIDE.
>> THE FAMED SUPERIOR STORMS.
A YEAR LATER THAT UNPREDICTABLE
WEATHER ALMOST SPOILED THE
PLANS FOR THE GRAND REOPENING
OF THE LIGHTHOUSE HELD IN
BAYFIELD.
BUT THE CLOUDS PARTED, THE
FIRST BOAT LOAD OF VISITORS WAS
FERRIED OVER AND AS THE ISLAND
CAME INTO VIEW.
>> IT LOOKS GORGEOUS.
>> AS IN YEARS GONE BY, THE
KEEPER CAME TO GREET THEM, JIM
STOWELL, PARK SURFACE EMPLOYEE
HARKENING BACK TO KEEPERS PAST.
>> HOW IS YOUR LIFE OUT HERE?
>> NOT BAD.
IT'S ALWAYS A BEAUTIFUL DAY ON
THE BERRY.
>> ON THE BERRY.
>> YOU'RE LIVING ON RASPBERRY
TIME.
>> FIRST A RIBBON CUTTING,
AFTER A TWO-YEAR ABSENCE THE
PUBLIC WAS ALLOWED BACK INTO
RASPBERRY.
BOB KRUMMENCAHER, THE PARK
SUPERINTENDENT.
>> WE JUST SPENT TWO YEARS AND
A MILLION HALF DOLLARS AND
BROUGHT THIS LIGHTHOUSE BACK TO
WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
>> THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> THE TIME AND TOLL OF LAKE
SUPERIOR AND 100 YEARS, REALLY,
THE BUILDING WAS DEGRADING.
WE RESTORED THE FOUNDATION, WE
REBUILT THE ROOF, WE FIXED UP
EVERY BOARD WE COULD AND
REPLACED THE ONES WE COULDN'T.
WE REDID EVERY WINDOW.
WE LOVELY BROUGHT IT BACK.
NOW IT LOOKS LIKE 1924 WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF 2007 TECHNOLOGY.
>> IT'S A SNAPSHOT.
IT'S A SNAPSHOT IN HISTORY.
>> OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO STOP
TIME HERE IN 1924.
>> THE FAMILY ATE SUNDAY DINNER.
>> YOU COME BACK 50 YEARS FROM
NOW WE'LL STILL BE TELLING THE
STORY OF 1924.
>> THE CHOICE OF 1924 IS A BIT
ARBITRARY.
>> THE HISTORIC PERIOD COULD
HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM 1863
THROUGH 1940s.
WE LOOKED BACK TO TRY TO FIGURE
OUT WHERE DO WE KNOW THE MOST
ABOUT AND ALL THE KEEPERS KEPT
DIARIES BUT LEE BENTON, THE
KEEPER IN THE EARLY 1920s KEPT
A VIVID DIARY.
WE KNOW MORE ABOUT HIS STORY
AND HIS FAMILY AND HIS
DAY-TO-DAY LIFE THAN WE DO ANY
OF THE OTHER KEEPERS.
THIS WAS THE CENTER OF THE
LIGHTHOUSE UNIVERSE OF THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS AND BENTON AND
HIS FAMILY WERE PROUD OF THE
SITE AND PEOPLE CAME AND PLAYED
CROQUET LIKE THEY'RE DOING NOW.
THEY TENDED THE FLOWERS.
>> THE ROLE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE
KEEPER MAY SEEM QUAINT NOW BUT
THEIR WORK WAS CRUCIAL FOR THE
SHIPS ON SUPERIOR, CRUCIAL TO
WISCONSIN'S MARITIME INDUSTRY.
IN A TIME WITHOUT GPS AND
RADAR, THE BEACON FROM A
LIGHTHOUSE WAS SHELTER IN THE
STORM.
BOB KRUMMENCAHER.
>> THE LAKE WAS THE HIGHWAY BUT
IT WAS ALSO A VERY DANGEROUS
HIGHWAY.
THERE WERE GREAT HAZARDS OUT
THERE.
KEEPING PEOPLE ALIVE IS WHAT
THEY WERE ABOUT.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT
THEY COULD DO WAS KEEP THAT
LIGHT SHINING BECAUSE THEY WERE
SOMETHING THAT THE MARINERS
COUNTED ON.
THE WORST THING IS IF THE LIGHT
WENT OUT.
PEOPLE COULD DIE.
>> IT WAS SHELTERS FOR THE
SAILORS AND HOME, SWEET HOME
FOR THE KEEPERS.
MONIES FOR THIS RENOVATION
COVERED ONLY THE LIGHTHOUSE.
IN A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT,
ALL OF THE OBJECTS IN THE HOUSE
THAT GIVE IT SUCH LIFE WERE
DONATED OR PURCHASED THROUGH
CONTRIBUTIONS.
JOAN COALER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
HOME SWEET HOME AND A DOMED
TRUNK.
>> THAT DOME-TOP TRUCK I GOT IN
ST. LOUIS AT A GARAGE SALE IN
1968 AND I REFINISHED IT.
AND I SPENT HOURS ON THAT
TRUNK, HOURS ON IT.
I'VE HAD IT IN MY HOME.
AND THEN WHEN I HEARD THAT THEY
WERE LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
UP HERE AND THEY WANTED
SPECIFICALLY A DOME-TOP TRUNK
AND I THOUGHT WELL, WOULDN'T
THIS BE GREAT?
IT WOULD BE USEFUL HERE AND IT
WOULD ALWAYS BE HERE.
IT WAS JUST GREAT TO THINK OF
HOPEFULLY THE PERMANENCE OF
THIS AND THESE WONDERFUL THINGS.
>> I DONATED THE COOKBOOK.
>> ALICE HUDSON OF WASHBURN.
>> I SAW A NOTICE IN THE PAPER
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THINGS
FOR THE RASPBERRY ISLAND
LIGHTHOUSE.
MY MOTHER AS A YOUNG GIRL USED
TO COME OVER HERE ON VACATION.
SHE WAS A FRIEND OF HAROLD
BENTON'S WIFE.
THEY WERE NEIGHBORS.
SHE CAME OUT HERE FOR A WEEK AT
A TIME IN THE LATE 1920s AND
THEY JUST HAD GOOD TIMES.
SHE HAD SO MANY TALES TO TELL
ABOUT RASPBERRY ISLAND AND THE
LIGHTHOUSE.
>> KATHLEEN D'ANGELO OF MADISON
CREATED THIS PAINTING.
>> THIS DEPICTS A SCENE WITH
ONE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS
IN THE EARLY 1890s.
FRANCIS YOKER.
HE WENT DOWN TO PUT HIS BOAT IN
THE BOAT HOUSE AND GOT BLOWN
OUT INTO THE MAIN WATERS AND
ENDED UP BEING STRANDED ON OAK
ISLAND.
KNOWING THIS WOULD BE HERE IN
THE APOSTLE ISLANDS AND PART OF
THE PARK SERVICE I DIDN'T
HESITATE ONE SECOND.
>> THIS IS A CRITICAL PART OF
AMERICAN HERITAGE AND THE
APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL
LAKESHORE AND THE RASPBERRY
ISLAND LIGHT STATION IN
PARTICULAR ARE HERE BECAUSE
PEOPLE CARED ENOUGH TO KEEP
THEM HERE AND THESE PLACES
DON'T JUST SURVIVE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY REQUIRE IN THIS CASE
LEGISLATION, THEY REQUIRE
COMMITTED PEOPLE, THEY REQUIRE
A FAIR AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY
AND PRIVATE MONEY AND THE
DEDICATION OF HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE.
>> HUNDREDS HAVE POLISHED THIS
JEWEL BACK TO PERFECTION AND
IT'S OPEN AGAIN FOR OUR PERUSAL.
>> THE RASPBERRY ISLAND
LIGHTHOUSE IS NOW OPEN FOR
VIEWING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT
OUR WEBSITE AT
wpt.org/inwisconsin.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS
WEEK.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN REPORTER
ART HACKETT TAKES US TO THE
SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE
WHERE FARMERS ARE DEALING WITH
THE AFTERMATH OF DEVASTATING
FLOODING.
>> I HAVE AN UNSALVAGEABLE CROP.
EVEN IF THERE IS ONE POTATO
UNDER EACH HILL IT WON'T BE
WORTH IT TO HARVEST IT, ALL THE
FUEL AND LABOR.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO PLOW THE
WHOLE THING UNDER?
>> MORE THAN LIKELY, YEAH, MORE
THAN LIKELY.
>> REPORTER ANDY SOTH TELLS US
WHY SOME MADISON RESIDENTS ARE
DIVORCING THEIR CARS.
AND REPORTER LIZ KOERNER
EXPLAINS HOW THIS DOG HELPS
HUMANS IN DESPERATE
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME ENJOY A WALK
NEXT TO SISKIWIT FALLS, A
SPECTACULAR SITE TUCKED AWAY IN
BAYFIELD COUNTY.
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
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
PAUL P. CARBONE COMPREHENSIVE
CANCER CENTER PROVIDING
EDUCATION RESEARCH, EDUCATION
AND TREATMENT.
THE CANCER CENTER IS
COMPREHENSIVE AS DESIGNATED BY
THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE.
WISCONSIN'S TECHNICAL COLLEGES
PROVIDING THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE
AND SKILLS THEY'LL NEED FOR THE
ECONOMY OF TOMORROW.
WISCONSIN'S TECHNICAL COLLEGES,
COMMUNITIES FIRST.