School district/ from page 3
The salaries of the board of education members will stay the same as follows: president and clerk - $1,750, treasurer and vice president - $1,600, and nonofficers $1,500. Also noted this year, starting Jan. 1, 2012, the school district will have to charge an additional 5 cents per meal as mandated by the state. The federal nutrition guidelines make the state charge a minimum amount for meals. There is currently a rate of about 60 percent of all students that receive free or reduced lunches. It was noted that several people that qualify for this are not utilizing the service. By not using the service, it is actually costing the school district more money to provide meals. The state reimburses the district at a higher rate than the school charges people who pay out of pocket for the meals. So all are encouraged to apply for the free and reduced lunch program by contacting the district office. As far as issues the district will be working on this year, the district will be working on curriculum. New elementary Principal Kim Osterhues has a background with curriculum and will be assisting the district in getting this up to date. Curriculum will continue to be a goal and focus this year and into the future. As previously reported, the 3-6 Wisconsin Promise Award has been awarded to the school four years straight. The school is one of the top 29 schools in the state to receive it four or more years in a row. Jim Connell pointed out this is not out of the 400 some school districts, and this is from a pool of over 10,000 schools in the state. “This is a really big deal,” he noted. The community is being asked to participate in a survey to voice their opinions on upcoming and current issues facing the district. To take the survey, please visit: www.survey2000.com. The access code for the Shell Lake School District is: 5M5T – YTDF – M62Y – VCJ7.
Shell Lake Lions Calendar Winners
September 19 - $30 Andrea Hartwig, Shell Lake September 20 - $30 Chuck Robotti, Shell Lake September 21 - $30 Solon Springs Lions, Solon Springs September 22 - $30 JoAnne Olson, Shell Lake September 23 - $30 Becky Buhl, Fox River Grove, Ill.
Shell Lake Marine
Winners also announced on WJMC FM Radio
Temps & levels
Temperatures recorded at Spooner Ag Research Station 2010 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 21 Sept. 22 Sept. 23 Sept. 24 Sept. 25
2011 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 21 Sept. 22 Sept. 23 Sept. 24 Sept. 25
High 58 59 71 67 64 63 54
High 56 69 67 58 47 55 58
Low 35 42 49 37 41 51 38
Low 52 48 49 39 40 43 39
Lake level: Sept. 27, 2010: 1,217.75’ MSL Sept. 26, 2011: 1,217.86’ MSL
Precip .11” rain 1.91” rain .04” rain Precip. .40” rain
.14” rain .06” rain .06” rain
SEPTEMBER 28, 2011 - WASHBURN COUNTY REGISTER - PAGE 5
Could your home survive a wildfire?
New DNR video showcases simple steps one homeowner took that saved his home
MADISON – Homeowners who live in or near storm-damaged areas in Northwest Wisconsin are urged to act now to protect their homes from wildland fires. State wildfire experts say with so many trees on the ground and drying, the potential is there for intense fires in 2012. The Department of Natural Resources has recently completed a nine-minute video on the effectiveness of the Firewise program. The video features an Adams County homeowner whose Firewise house survived being overrun by the 3,400-acre Cottonville fire while neighbors all around him lost theirs. When wildfires happen in Wisconsin, they cause great damage. But, by following a few basic protection tactics, you can safeguard your rural home and buildings. The department has created a stormrecovery Web page listing resources available to homeowners for help with cleanup. The page also features a home protection strategy developed by wildfire experts called, Firewise. People who have questions about dealing with storm-downed trees can also call the DNR call center at 888-WDNR-INFO, 888-936-7463, for information seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and talked with a live customer service specialist. “Homeowners who spend the time and energy to make their property Firewise will not only reduce the risk of a wildfire destroying their home or their neighbor’s home, it will also make it easier and safer for firefighters to protect homes in the event of a blaze,” said DNR’s Firewise program coordinator, Jolene Ackerman.
How Firewise works “Key to the effectiveness of Firewise is an assessment of your property and the fire hazards within an area of 100 to 200 feet around buildings,” said Ackerman, “an area called the Home Ignition Zone.”
The DNR has a Home Ignition Self-Assessment brochure to get homeowners started. “When beginning the Firewise process, start with the buildings on your property,” says Ackerman. “Clear debris off roofs and out of rain gutters. Prune all tree limbs, especially conifers (or evergreens), within 10 feet of roof edges. Don’t forget to keep decks swept off and clean out areas under them that have built-up debris. Accumulated dead vegetation supplies the fuel for a flying ember to smolder and ignite a fire. “Next, remove all flammable materials from within three to five feet around building foundations. This means removing annuals and cutting back perennials as they die off in the fall. Remove excessive amounts of mulch and anything flammable that may be stored next to your siding. “Clear fallen leaves, brush and dried grass for 30 feet around buildings. Remove dead and dying trees and brokenoff limbs. Prune conifer branches to a height of 6 feet. Keep this 30-foot area maintained throughout next spring’s fire season. Store firewood and other combustible materials at least 30 feet away from the house and other buildings and clear a space at least 10 feet around them. “Next, look at the vegetation in the zone that extends 30 to 100 feet beyond buildings. Remove as many fallen branches and trees as you can this fall. Start with the pines as they are considered to be the most flammable tree type in our state. “Move this material to a local brush collection site or have it chipped on your property. Burning should be your last option. If you decide to burn, start piling the material now and wait to burn it when the ground is completely snow covered. Keep piles small and burn early in the winter rather than late winter to minimize the chance that embers could still be smoldering and flare up when the snow melts. “Finally, clear fallen trees, shrubs and limbs along your driveway. Keep tree limbs pruned 15 feet above your driveway to accommodate emergency vehicles, should one need to access your property. Remember, a firefighter cannot help save your home if they cannot get
Register Memories
1951 - 60 years ago
• Mike Perry, 4-1/2 years old, hooked a 34-inch musky in Shell Lake. He was fishing with his uncle, Charles Garnhart. • Mrs. Charles Baker, 52, was killed by an accidental discharged of a gun being brought through her kitchen door. The former Lena Louise Rockaway of Shell Lake, she lived in the Town of Maple Plain, Barron County, near Cumberland. • Ruth Hefflinger, a nurse at the local hospital, was honored at a surprise dinner and prewedding shower at the shelter house in the park. • Little Roger Harnesk was spending some time with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Olsen, in the Woodyard community.
1961 - 50 years ago
• Voters turned out in very small numbers for the first official city election of the new city of Shell Lake with only 145 voters going to the polls. The small turnout of voters was due to the fact that only one of the council seats was in contest. In the First Ward Oliver Frey gained the vote over Charles Counselman 26 votes to 23. H.L. (Roy) Hanes was unopposed in the race for mayor, and John Christiansen was unopposed as a candidate for justice of the peace. • Sally Rundle was given recognition for her high achievement in the initial stage of the seventh-annual National Merit Scholarship competition. • Parishioners from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church were discussing plans to enlarge the church and construct a hall.
to it. “These are just a few things you can do to protect your home and property. By taking action now, you are lowering the chance of losing your property to wildfire. Talk to your neighbors about the importance of preparing your properties now, before spring fire season. “ If you would like a Home Ignition Zone Assessment packet mailed to you contact Ackerman at 608-267-7677, email jolene.ackerman@wisconsin.gov, or write to her at Box 7921, 101 S. Webster Street, Madison, WI 53703. – from the WDNR Web site
Public forum on mining set
RICE LAKE — The Blue Hills Solidarity Network is hosting a discussion about the rapidly expanding sand mining and processing that is happening in this region. The presentation will take place Monday, Oct. 3, in Rice Lake at the UW-Barron campus Room 204 in Ritzinger Hall at 6:30 p.m. The silica sands, also commonly called frac sands, are in increasing demand by companies that use these sands in their drilling process for natural gas and oil in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, North Dakota and elsewhere across the country. As a result, more and more mines are being proposed. The mines often remove entire hills while the processing plants release crystalline silica, which can be inhaled and cause cancer or other ailments. According to the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, four mines or plants are operating or under consideration in Barron County, one in Burnett, 11 in Chippewa, one in Rusk and one in Dunn. Altogether in Wisconsin, 41 sites are operating or proposed. When the sand is used for extracting natural gas or oil, it is combined with chemicals that threaten water supplies. For more information call 715-9452164 or e-mail bluehillssolidaritynetwork@gmail.com. — from Blue Hills Solidarity Network
Compiled by Suzanne Johnson
• Officers of the St. John’s Teens Society were Lora Washkuhn, president; Diane Heftner, vice president; Janice Semm, secretary/treasurer; and Alayne Norton, reporter.
1971 - 40 years ago
• Members of the Shell Lake baseball team were Tom Biver, Harlan Johnson, Ted Biver, Herb Schrankel, Kevin Johnson, Mike White, Dick Pederson and manager Bill Ailport. • Roger W. Mortensen, Shell Lake, a bricklayer’s apprentice under Enerson Construction, participated in a bricklaying contest at the London Square Mall in Eau Claire. • Births reported at Indianhead Memorial Hospital were Christine Ann to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cusick, Sarona, on Sept. 24; and Isaac Alan to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Bair, Sarona, on Sept. 27. • Roger Jacobs, son of Merlin and Vera Jacobs, returned to Hancock, Mich., where he was a sophomore at Michigan Tech Institute.
1981 - 30 years ago
• A ground-breaking ceremony for Salem Lutheran Church’s new church was held. The Rev. Norm Luecke said it was expected the congregation would be moving into their new building come spring. • Ernie W. Heuer, 58, who had farmed on the east side of Shell Lake for 29 years, was killed in a 30- to 40-foot fall from a silo at his farm. • Nancy Scharhag, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Scharhag, Shell Lake, was a practice teacher in physical educa-
tion and health at Cumberland High School. • Gary and Katherine Beardsley and family were the new owners of the Chauncey and Mabel Lane farm in the Town of Dewey.
1991 - 20 years ago
• Bob Lambert was the new Shell Lake High School principal. • Winners of the annual mini-golf tournament at Red Barn Campground during Town and Country Days were Paul Naglosky, Larry Sutherland, Steve Jeska, Dan Dunbar, Tyler Pockat and Scott Schlapper. • The Harvest Home, operated by Julie Foss, had pumpkins, squash, Indian corn, corn bundles and straw bales, everything for fall. • Winner of the greased-pig competition at Barronett’s Colorfest were Jake Arnes in the 7 to 10 age group and David Marker, ages 11-14.
2001 - 10 years ago
• The local Shell Lake churches along with Boy Scout Troop 51 were conducting a winter coat, mitten and boot drive. • Bill Ailport was retiring from TruGas of Shell Lake. • Members of the high school crosscountry team were Kathryn Cardwell, Tiffany Spears, Jill Oostdyk, Emma Wabrowetz, Kayla Kemp and Tera Reynolds. • Mike Bartz was named the Northern Wisconsin Region Law Enforcement and Science Media Leader.