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Sen. Felzkowski Praises Joint Finance Actions on Dental Health Access Published on 05/08/2024 under News

The state's Joint Finance Committee approved a plan aimed at expanding the state's oral healthcare workforce and includes an investment at Northcentral Technical College.

In the most recent legislative session, State Senator Mary Felzkowski of Tomahawk, authored a package of bills to address rural dental health access. She says, "For some reason, in public policy discussions, we still undervalue the fact that oral healthcare is healthcare. A child with a toothache can't focus in school, and an adult with debilitating oral pain can't function healthily in their daily life."

Yesterday's action by the JFC continued those efforts, releasing $20 million to the Wisconsin Technical College System for dental pathways. NTC in Wausau will receive $2 million which will help establish an Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary program and a Dental Therapy program.

Felzkowski worked with NTC to establish dental therapy in Wisconsin. Dental therapists, as proposed, would serve under the supervision of a dentist to cover limited dental work such as fillings. She says, " NTC has been an invaluable partner over these last 8 years as we have worked together to bring dental therapy to Wisconsin. I'm tremendously proud that they will now get to lead the way in educating our state's first dental therapists."

She added, "Putting these dollars into the workforce pipeline is the most effective way to target the oral healthcare access crisis in our state."

In Other News

Part 2: Rhinelander School District Expanding Student Opportunities for Future Teachers

Published on 01/02/2025 under News Earlier this week we told you about some of the innovative steps the Rhinelander School District is taking to facilitate current students interested in becoming future educators. The district recently shared a bit more on those efforts. Some of these opportunities allow these students to gain real-world experience by immersing them in the classroom with young learners and experienced educators. A new program the district is trying this year is an Education Internship which allows a deeper dive into the teaching profession. They are currently piloting the program with two high school seniors. The interns work four hours daily in elementary or middle schools, collaborate with teachers, attend staff meetings, and even teach lessons. And coming up next year they plan to launch Hodag Academies which the district says will 'take its education programming to new heights.' Among the six career pathways will be the Education & Training Academy. It will include specialized tracks in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Counseling. This pathway will integrate coursework, mentorship, and partnerships with institutions like UW-Stevens Point and Nicolet College. The district also offers dual-credit courses like Child Development and Introduction to Teaching where students can earn college credit while still in school.

Published on 01/02/2025 under News It won't be long before peregrine falcons return to their nests around the state for breeding season. That includes the Wisconsin Public Service and We Energies Power Plants, which have played a key role in the bird's recovery over the years. They recently published their 2024 nesting report prepared by peregrine falcon manager Greg Septon. Since the program began in 1992, there have been 431 peregrine falcon chicks hatched at the WPS and We Energy facilities. This year there were four active nesting sites which hatched a combined 9 chicks. As we covered this spring, their names were inspired by the Olympics and Olympians with ties to Wisconsin. The Northern-most, the Weston Power Plant near Wausau produced a single chick, along with an unhatched egg. This nest has been active since 2006 with 45 young birds, a little more than two per year. Septon wrote that most peregrines end up nesting within 200 miles of where they were hatched. The chicks are banded before leaving the nest, though sightings are rare. According to the report, in addition to their home state, Wisconsin-born birds were also spotted this past year in Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. And then there's Pete... Born at the power plant in Port Washington in 2023, Pete showed up at a bird recuse in Nicaragua last winter. Fortunately, she was eventually released back into the wild. That entire report is available on the WPS and WE Energies Websites.

Published on 01/02/2025 under News Awards season is right around the corner, and that includes some recognition for outdoor enthusiasts in the state of Wisconsin. The DNR is currently accepting nominations for several awards the agency hands out each year. The Wisconsin Ethical Hunter Award is presented to a hunter who showed outstanding character in the field. This particular award is for a singular action rather than life-time achievement. Examples of past winners include helping track a harvest, returning lost gear, or advising non-hunters about an ongoing hunting season on public property. While most nominations come from the gun/deer season, nominees can represent any hunting season over the past year. The deadline for nominations is at the end of the month. Meanwhile, the nomination period is also open for the Invasive Species Action Awards. These are presented to individuals, groups, and professionals that have made significant contributions to preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive species in the state of Wisconsin. This deadline for these nominations is Feb 16. The DNR has additional information on both award nominations on their website. (Ethical Hunter) (Invasive Species Action)

Published on 01/02/2025 under News Respiratory viruses occur more frequently at this time of year, and some individuals may be at greater risk of serious infection. According to the CDC, those with diabetes, even well managed, are significantly more likely to experience flu-related complications that those without diabetes. Aspirus family medicine physician Alex Trecartin explained that infections can complicate diabetes management. He says, "Our body's metabolism changes during illness, and blood glucose control can be harder to maintain." At the same time, diabetes can weaken the immune system. They recommend taking a proactive approach that starts with maintaining good glucose control. Other tips can be applied by everyone and include immunization and practicing good hygiene. Dr. Trecartin says, "Washing your hands frequently is perhaps the most important thing you can do to lower your risk of respiratory infection."

Published on 01/02/2025 under News For those who chose fitness as a New Year's resolution, the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander offering their annual Winter Walking Challenge. Those signing up have through the end of of February to complete their target distance goal. In order to accommodate those of all levels, walkers can choose 25, 50, or 100 miles. Organizers note its simply a fun way to stay active when many people are cooped up inside. While the Hodag Dome offers a little bit of warmth amid the chilly Wisconsin winter, participants can log their miles in other locations including the outdoors. They're offering different prizes for participants including Hodag Dome pint glasses, t-shirts and sweatshirts. The Winter Walking Challenge runs through February 28. Those interested can learn more and register by stopping at the front desk at the Hodag Dome.

Published on 01/01/2025 under News 2025 is going to be a celebratory year for Wisconsin State Parks as they're celebrating the 125th anniversary of the system. People can get a jump start with a 'First Day Hike.' The 'First Day Hike' is actually a nationwide campaign encouraging people to explore their state parks, forests or trail systems on New Year's Day. Steve Schmelzer is a DNR Park and Recreation Management Program Bureau Director. He says, "Starting the new year in the outdoors is refreshing for both our body and mind, and what better way to kick off the 125th anniversary of the Wisconsin State Park System than by attending a First Day Hike." Visitors can explore on their own, but many parks will also have guided hikes and organized events as well. Right here in Lincoln County, the Friends of Council Grounds will be offering a short, snowflake-decorated hiking trail, along with some festive treats and a bonfire from 11am to 1pm. And they'll also have an organized 'tree identification hike' scheduled at noon. Friends of Rib Mountain will have similar events down in the Wausau area. A full list of activities is available on the DNR website. Schmelzer says, "First Day Hikes bring together visitors from all walks of life looking for winter fun. We hope that events like this will inspire passion for the outdoors and a desire to explore our state's natural treasures as we celebrate 125 years

Published on 01/01/2025 under News From losing a few pounds to learning a new skill, many are starting off 2025 with New Year's resolutions. Next comes the challenging part, sticking to goals. Around half of Americans will make a New Year's resolution. According to the National Institutes of Health, three quarters will keep that resolution for the first few weeks, but come July, that number drops to just 46 percent. Local health officials offered a few tips for people to keep their resolutions, and it all starts with choosing an attainable and specific goal that you can keep track of. Some of the most common goals are to get healthy or lose weight. But a better goal may be changes like establishing a gym routine, a regular walking scheduling, or drinking a set amount of water daily. It's likely you'll slip up at times, but that doesn't mean you should give up. Simply turn the page and get back on your routine the next day. And if you need a little support, don't be afraid to share your resolution with friends, family, or others sharing your same goals. The accountability may provide a little extra support or motivation. In addition to fitness goals, other popular resolution ideas include: reading more, setting aside money, traveling more often, quitting smoking, and spending more time with friends and families.

Published on 01/01/2025 under News The Lights of the Northwoods in Rhinelander has quickly become a holiday tradition. While initially an event around the Christmas holiday, it's now a month-long spectacle. And organizers also welcome in the New Year with a bang. The annual celebration concludes this evening with a special New Year's Day fireworks show. Throughout December, Hodag Park has been decorated with hundreds of thousands of holiday lights and displays. Visitors can either drive or walk through the park to take in the festive atmosphere. They've also been busy supporting local food pantries and community organizations via donations. There is one last chance to check out the lights with a shortened path today. That's to accommodate the fireworks which are scheduled to begin at 7pm. They do recommend arriving early so that everyone can get parked and settled in before the show begins.

Published on 01/01/2025 under News Each December the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce gathers winter gear for those in need. The collection wrapped up a bit early this week, and was another success thanks to the generosity of the community. The collection is known as the Big Bundle Up, it's the local continuation of what was originally a statewide effort. Over the past month, the Rhinelander Chamber and their partners have been accepting hats, mittens, coats, boots and other cold weather gear to restock the Warm for Winter Clothing Pantry at First Congregation United Church of Christ. With the collection effort wrapping up Tuesday, they were able to contribute more than 600 items. The Warm for Winter Clothing Pantry holds twice monthly distribution events through March. They take place on the second Monday(4pm-6pm) and last Saturday (9:30am-11:30am) of each month. For those who would still like to donate, both the Church and the ADRC of Oneida County have drop off boxes.

Published on 01/01/2025 under News For more than 30 years, Louisiana Pacific has been among the leading employers in Tomahawk. They also continue to give back to the community. LP has facilities in around two dozen locations. In a year-end summary, their Foundation announced distributing more than $1.3 million in monetary and product donations to the various communities they call home. That includes right here in Northwoods. Among their most significant contributions this year, LP Tomahawk donated $15,000.00 to the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing. The non-profit supports safe housing, basic needs, and support to families and individuals while helping them get back on their feet. They serve Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas counties. They've also worked with the Tomahawk School District over the years. LP Foundation President Breeanna Straessle said, "Our mission is to strengthen communities, protect our environment, and foster the next generation of talent. We're proud to see how our contributions continue to create a lasting impact across the U.S. and Canada." Dating back to 1973, the Foundation has donated more than $23 million.

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