Star News Top Stories

November 26, 2009

Seidl surprised at city’s concern now about feeding of ducks
My wife Martha and I were surprised and dismayed at the unexpected concern suddenly over the feeding of waterfowl along the river in the city. Since we are two of the alleged nasty folks who feed buckets of corn to the birds on a daily basis we are especially troubled over this turn of events. To put this entire issue into proper perspective I believe a little history lesson is in order. Let me provide what I know.
The City of Medford was instrumental in introducing the first ducks to the millpond. Precisely when it was done and where the first ducks came from I’m not sure. What I do know is that the city assumed responsibility for these first birds to the point that the city purchased the food they were fed and Department of Public Works employees actually fed the birds every day. It was when a previous Director of Public Works learned that my wife and I quite frequently also fed the birds he approached us and asked if we would assume the responsibility of doing the feeding if the city provided the food. We agreed and the practice has continued since then although the city no longer purchases the food, we do. City officials have never asked us to discontinue the practice.
We continued feeding the birds because over the years many of the original wild ducks had interbred and became domesticated to the point that they had lost their wild instincts. In addition, some irresponsible individuals dropped off and abandoned a number of domestic geese, which are incapable of flying (at present there are eight of these birds). If we had not continued our feeding program many of these birds would simply starve and the same would occur today if feeding were discontinued.
I question whether Alderman Riggles deserves or merits the honorific Doctor of Veterinary Medicine if his solution to this perceived problem is to simply stop feeding and let the birds which can't fly starve.
Since virtually everyone in Medford knows that Martha and I have faithfully and routinely been feeding these waterfowl every day for about 20 years and since we have been doing it at the request of city officials why we weren't afforded the common courtesy by someone at city hall or on the council to discuss this issue is beyond me. It's quite apparent we have a group of people going off half-cocked to solve a problem without bothering to study all the issues.
Although we recognize that the ducks do contribute to the fowling of the shoreline when we don't get rain for several days, they are not the more serious problem, the Canada geese are, and prohibiting feeding along the river will not solve the problem because the geese do not normally feed when on the millpond – they fly out each evening to feed in surrounding grain fields. This problem will resolve itself when the millpond freezes over and the geese leave for the winter.
If fowling of the river walk is the primary concern of city officials perhaps they should look at forbidding public events in the park and along the river because of the filthy mess left by humans after such public events. The entire park and riverbank is a disaster area.
In closing I wish it to be known that in the event feeding of the ducks and other waterfowl is forbidden I will personally file a formal complaint against the city for inhumane treatment of wildlife.
If the public is truly concerned over this issue I don't understand why in all the years we have been feeding the birds not one individual has ever complained to us personally about the excrement left by the birds yet many people make complimentary comments about how nice it is that we are taking care of the wildlife,
— Jim & Martha Seidl, Medford

Hunter asks DNR wildlife biologist: Where are all the deer?
Attention: Mark Schmidt, Wildlife Biologist for Rusk and Taylor counties
Your quote from The Star News (Nov. 12, 2009) states, “one message we need to get out to the public is that there are fewer deer out there. A combination of some pretty good deer kills over the years and winter survival factors we’ve had over the last two years have reduced fawn crops the past two years.”
In 2008 the DNR sold a $2 antlerless Tags (no limit) plus a buck and antlerless tag that all hunters got with their license. When the DNR promotes the slaughter of all the does and fawns, obviously you have fewer deer. Is this about money or about the deer herd?
In November of 2009 Schmidt admits that we have fewer deer, but in 2009 in Unit 26 (Taylor County) the DNR issued 5,000 antlerless permits available to hunters. When I called the DNR Hotline in Madison on November 16, they reported that 2,700 permits had been sold in this unit. Schmidt claims that there are about 20 deer per square mile in Taylor County. What a joke! I live in unit 26 (a large part of which encompasses the Chequamegan National Forest) and we are lucky if there are eight deer per square mile.
Another factor Schmidt doesn’t mention is predators (wolves and bear) or the effect they have on our deer herd. In 2008 while hunting in Kansas I saw 43 bucks in five days. Could you as a hunter see 43 bucks in Taylor County today? A non-resident hunting license in Kansas and Iowa costs about $400. A non-resident license in Wisconsin is $160. An antlerless tag in Kansas is $80 for non-residents while only $20 for non-residents in Wisconsin. In the herd control area an antlerless tag for non-residents in Wisconsin is only $2. Something is wrong with this picture.
The DNR wildlife biologists are the individuals responsible for our low herd numbers. Wait until next year and the possibility of a 16 day season. Mark Schmidt and Keith Wanake are like the two Northwest pilots who were busy looking at their computers and found themselves lost.
— Butch Podolak, Gilman

It is a time to give thanks for what we have
As I drive down the streets it seems every other house is for sale. My family has been through difficult times, as I know many others have been. I know what it is like to lie in bed at night awake wondering if my family will be out on the streets this cold winter or have a roof over their heads. I pray for those in similar situations as I have felt that pain and sense of loss. We all want what is best for our families. My heart goes out to those in that situation.
I hope that real estate agents and banks find more compassion in their hearts for those families that are losing their homes and dreams. Instead of treating people as if they are dispensable, there are innocent children in a lot of these situations. As adults we need to try our best to protect them from adult problems. To help make their transition easier not more difficult.
This Thanksgiving I am blessed more than words can say because I have a family that is loving, strong, and more valuable than anything materialistic.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and given us hope for a brighter future. Your thoughts and love have gotten us through. We have found a home.
— Jenny Ludwig, Medford

Says Strenke should have gotten death penalty
In response to The Star News editorial on “Murderer shouldn’t get better health care than workers.”
Well in my opinion on the Daryle Strenke joke about reconstructive surgery to fix his face wouldn’t be coming up in the state if we had the death penalty. He wouldn’t be here looking for surgery at taxpayers expense after being convicted of murder.
As long as I’m in the complaining mode, if this health care bill is so good I think all people in a political office from president on down should have to have their insurance as the rest of us Americans not illegal immigrants.
Also, when a person gets voted out of office they shouldn’t get paid the same salary as when in office for the rest of their life or a salary for their partner. They should have to sign up for unemployment benefits and live off of that and support a family like the people who have to work for a living or try to work when there aren’t any jobs to be had.
As far as a cost of living raise for people on social security, we won’t get one for a while, but you can see the people in government from president on down got a raise just because they think they are doing such a great job.
— Bob Shook, Westboro

Congress out of touch on health care reform
A couple weeks ago, Linda Osolkowski stated that “Every year 45,000 Americans die from lack of health care.” I will not challenge her statement at this time.
I personally know of no one who has died from lack of health care. What is interesting is that I know several people who have died of complications after being treated by our health care system, I will wager several people reading this could say the same thing. One might therefore, come to the conclusion that more people have probably died from complications of our health care system than those that have died from being denied access to it.
Now my government wants to force people to buy insurance into this system. This law will force those least able to afford it to buy “health insurance.” It might help big insurance companies, big medicine, and big pharmaceuticals, but I believe it will ultimately hurt the health of more people than it will help. It will help to saddle my children and their children with a government debt that cannot be repaid.
I have written to Misters Obey, Kohl, and Feingold about these issues. Their responses lead me to me believe that no matter how well intentioned they may be they are out of touch with reality. If I remember correctly Mr. Obey cared so little about what his constituents thought, he didn’t even plan a town hall meeting on this subject. When those who represent us think they know better what is good for us than we do, this is no longer government of, by and for the people. My children deserve better and I believe yours do too.
— James Staffeil, Medford.