February 18

Gives Williams credit for setting up meeting
The news article in last week's paper, "North Breeze opponents find hope in proposed water rules," reported that Neil Micke and myself met with Rep. Spencer Black of Madison who chairs the state's groundwater working group.
The article did not report that Rep. Mary Williams was responsible for organizing this meeting. Rep. Jerry Petrowski and a member of Sen. Decker's office were also invited by Mary to attend this meeting and they did.
In a letter dated February 10, 2010, Rep. Mary Williams and Sen. Russ Decker have jointly requested DNR Secretary Matt Frank for an Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The letter states "It is with the utmost concern for the preservation of resources and protection of area citizens that we request an Environmental Impact Study on the proposed North Breeze Dairy in the Township of Little Black."
We look forward to Mr. Frank's response to Rep. Williams and Sen. Decker. An Environmental Impact Study should be mandatory for a project of this magnitude in a water poor area.
— Steve Suchomel, Town of Little Black

Urges voters to support help for rural hospitals
On January 1, the state began cutting $15 million in payments to rural hospitals like Memorial Health Center that care for low-income, uninsured people on Medicaid. Known as “Critical Access Hospitals,” these hospitals provide all rural citizens with nearby quality care as well as thousands of good paying jobs. Frankly, these cuts could not come at a worse time for the Medford area or Taylor County.
With the economy struggling, Medicaid enrollment is increasing and so are hospital losses from charity care as more people lose their health insurance. The economy is taking a toll on most everyone, including many hospitals.
Nearly half of Wisconsin’s rural hospitals are either losing money or barely breaking even. Many have been forced to reduce services and some have eliminated jobs. Massive cuts to Medicaid will make this even worse.
Medicaid is a state/federal partnership. Historically, for every $1 Wisconsin puts in, Washington adds about $1.50. This cost sharing encourages states to provide health care to those without insurance. But there is a problem: when Wisconsin cuts $6 million from Medicaid, it sends $9 million in matching federal health care dollars back to Washington . . . for other states to use. Wisconsin deserves these dollars as much as any other state.
Fortunately, rural hospitals have a solution – a modest assessment (1.6 percent) on each hospital’s revenues that will be put into Medicaid and capture Wisconsin’s fair share of federal health care dollars. The additional money will be used to increase, not cut, Medicaid payments and preserve rural hospital services and jobs.
Please join me in asking our state legislators to stop these devastating cuts and protect the health of rural Wisconsin by voting for the Rural Hospital Assessment.
— Gregory A. Olson, Memorial Health Center President/CEO, Medford

Sarcastic thank you to sledder who rode on Ice Age Trail
I want to thank the snowmobiler who has been taking care of the Ice Age Trail in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest near Medford. More precisely, north of County Highway M along Sailor Creek Road up to the Yellow River and South at least as far south as the lakes at the south fork of the Yellow River. I am a cross country skier, and my passion is skiing on non-groomed trails deep in the forest, the Ice Age Trail is perfect for backwoods/back country skiing.  I have skied some beautiful areas of northwestern Wisconsin, and most of those have been along the Ice Age Trail, Chippewa Moraine and Blue Hills areas have been my favorite until I had the opportunity to explore the Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest area and add it to my list.
Last Sunday was the third time I have been up there this year, each time a new experience, with challenges and adventures worth the drive and anticipation of getting there.
The thoughtfulness of this unknown snowmobiler is worth mentioning.  When I arrived I was of course excited to get on my skis and use my skills as best I could. From the parking area on Sailor Creek Road to the intersection of the trail was nice and I felt the comfort of my skis gliding across the snow covered crust in perfect form, just as they should. Two hundred yards into the trail I was surprised to come upon snowmobile tracks coming off the lake to the east, exactly where the trail was. I have only skied on this type of “groomed trail” a few times, it isn’t very often that the snow machines go off the snowmobile trails developed by the state and local organizations exclusively for them and other ORV, much less in a quiet area of a National Forest.
I was able to take my skiing to a whole new level; I would have never thought that I would want to do any unexpected Extreme Skiing on X/C skis.  The way the snow was packed down made the downhill runs so much faster and easier to lose control, small switchbacks became amazing with the uncontrollable speed, the uphill was intensified as well by the irregularity of the way the snow was packed, and using the Herringbone technique to ascend hills was a completely new experience and challenge. One of the most memorable new experiences I have to thank my new unknown friend for was descending a hill and trying to maintain control and getting my ski caught in the ski rut left by the powerful machine, when I almost lost control and felt something snap in the back of my right thigh, (hamstring maybe?) it was literally breathtaking.
This magnanimous sledder and his unselfishness in preparing the Ice Age Trail for those who come to the forest to enjoy it as untouched as possible is to be applauded, this individual has plowed over saplings in the middle and alongside the trail and ran them over and stripped bark from them on both sides, one in each direction, all the way from the trail head to the Yellow River and back.  I am not sure why the sled didn’t try to cross the ice covered river, there are at least another three miles to the intersection of 571 to be groomed. Too bad, the ice was thin.
I guess the bottom line is I would like to personally thank this adventurous person, if you know who it is please call the local Sheriff's Department, DNR or Ice Age Trail Alliance with the name of the individual and they may pass it along so any other hiker, skier, backpacker, snowshoer or other outdoor enthusiast can let them know how they feel about the help in taking care of one of Wisconsin’s most treasured trails and landmarks. I have some tell tale pictures of how cautious this person has been, this is the second time of my three experiences near Medford that I have had the pleasure of skiing on this type of groomed trail and no-trace skiing.
— Glen A. Mercier, Eau Claire 

Wishes all treatment centers would have higher levels of care
In the past 10 years I've been in the socialist building called "Human Services."
There is one department that stands out from all the rest, "Assessment." The book learners only know what they've read in college, having never known the reality of addiction.
The process goes like this: Answer pages of ridiculous questions and then they add up the yeas and nays in order to categorize your addiction!
At L.A. Phillips a treatment center, it goes like this: When you walk in the door, it's like being wounded on a battlefield and all the medics rush to you, each knowing their job, in order to save you and bind your wounds. No questionnaire, no lecture, simply knowing what to do. But unfortunately there isn't enough funding to expand facilities like this. No, just jail!
The courts make you pay monetarily, but if you falter in any way...
The final power trip is to strip you of your driving privileges indefinitely! Or jail you because you're an addict. Imagine: cold turkey from alcohol, nicotine, other. Canada puts them in treatment, not jail!
My suggestion for all book learners is to be forced to work at L.A. Phillips for a period of time. In return, they will receive a free education on what addiction is all about!
What's next? Obesity?
— Betty "Boots" Jensen, Lublin

Virtual academy offers help for puzzled parents and students
There are many reasons that parents decide to educate their children at home. Some know they want to home-school even before their children are born, while others are thrust into circumstances that force them to explore further options.  Thankfully, a vast majority of students fare very well in our schools, but some just do not- for as many different reasons as there are students, I suspect.
If you are considering teaching your child from home, you may question whether your family has what it takes to do it. I wondered the same thing, and didn’t even know if we could swing it financially, knowing how expensive curriculum can be. A neighbor referred me to the Rural Virtual Academy (RVA) in Medford, and we were pleased to find a place where care for my child, and high academic standards, were paramount. I discovered the ability to navigate the challenges and rewards of providing education in my home. The RVA provided all the tools we needed to guide my student through her studies, and we received support, direction, and all the materials needed at no cost to me. Though the RVA is a “virtual school,” I was pleased to find that little work was required on the computer and there were opportunities beyond the schoolwork for my child to interact with others. We experienced education at its best.
The RVA functions out of Medford, and is an extension of the Rib Lake, Abbotsford, Colby, Medford, Prentice and Merrill school districts. If you live in one of these towns, your K-8 student can join at any time of the year.
However, if you live outside of these school districts, your student must open-enroll before February 19 in order to attend at no cost to your family. The curriculum is available to be seen online, and the public is always welcome to see the curriculum first-hand at the office in Medford. The friendly and professional staff are eager and able to help you determine whether it is a good fit for your family’s needs. 
I would like to thank the RVA for the wonderful help they have been to my family, and I encourage anyone interested in finding out more to contact the RVA Office at 748-4620.
— Rebeccah Hopkins, Rib Lake