97.5 WFHR and 105.5 WIRI. Your Wisconsin Rapids Home, or locally grown radio. Here's
your Daily News Roundup.
From the Wisconsin Rapids local newsroom, I'm Melissa Kaye.
It's Wisconsin Salt Week, a chance for environmental advocates to highlight how salt impacts
our waters, Savannah Tomey Olsen reports.
This is the time of year where we use salt to make streets less slick and sidewalk safer.
According to Wisconsin SaltWise, all it takes is 1 teaspoon of salt to pollute 5 gallons
of freshwater and make it toxic to some species.
The Department of Natural Resources says just over the last 20 years or so, chloride in
our water supply has risen by about 28%.
That can even impact how our water tastes, according to Megan Ripy, an assistant professor of
civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.
The USEPA and the WHO do make recommendations that are intended to be a protective of people
on low sodium diets, so that's a value of about 20 milligrams per liter sodium.
Over the last 20 years, more than a third of Wisconsin community wells have exceeded
the lower end of those standards.
Aaron Robman owns extra mile snow plowing.
They take care of 70% of all the commercial pavement in West Bend.
He says about 10 years ago, he was hesitant to adopt eco-friendly measures.
But now, pre-wedding salt before dropping it and using more advanced plows have allowed
him to drop his salt use.
I was not sold.
The rest of my employees, they drink the coolant and we're like, Aaron, you gotta take
some of this too.
And I'm like, no, no, I gotta take care of our customers.
This isn't the way to go.
They got me on board.
It's good coolant.
It really is.
These practices work.
They're incredibly more sustainable for the environment and they're incredibly profitable.
Wisconsin salt wise hosts free training for snow removal pros to teach them some of these
more eco-friendly practices.
For Civic Media News, I'm Savannah Tomay Olsen.
Our Republican candidate for governor was endorsed by President Donald Trump this week.
Trump said on social media that Tom Tiffany, who is the current representative in Wisconsin's
seventh congressional district, has always been at his side and as governor, Tiffany would
work to grow the economy, cut taxes, secure the border, ensure law and order, support the
military and protect gun rights.
Tiffany, a long supporter of Trump, launched his campaign in Warsaw in September.
After the endorsement, Washington County executive Josh Schoeman dropped out of the gubernatorial
race, meaning Tiffany will face medical service technician Andy Manski in the August 11th
Republican primary.
The primary for Democrats is much more crowded with seven candidates still in the race.
Scammers are using the tactic of impersonating local government entities and officials to
obtain money for fake tax bills and other fees like building permits or zoning submissions.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection has received reports
from individuals, businesses and even government entities of being targeted in this manner.
Officers will use email and text messages that seem legitimate with well written details,
sometimes impersonating specific individuals using official government logos, street addresses
and titles.
They may even ask potential victims to immediately wire money to avoid late fees, fines, legal
action, or even arrest.
Scammers try to instill a sense of urgency to get you to act out a fear of retribution.
The DATCP recommends using verified contact information for local government entities,
utility providers.
The City of Marshfield will be removing ash trees in Pekhan Parkway beginning in February.
These trees are infected with emerald ash borer and the city will remove them before
they become hazardous.
The trees on the north end of Pekhan Parkway will be cut down and a planting effort will
begin the spring with a diverse selection of tree species suited to the area.
United Way of Southwood and Adams counties launched their free tax filing through my free
taxes for this year's tax season.
If you earn less than $89,000 last year, you can file your federal and state taxes online
for free.
Now through April 15, you can contact the helpline for assistance in filing.
You can find more information at uswac.org slash my free taxes.
It's the time of year again to look for Black Bear Den locations.
The DNR's Bear Den team is asking for den reporting from the public to help with an
ongoing statewide study on Black Bear reproduction and population.
Bear cubs are typically born in late January or early February and the dens are usually
spotted because you can hear the cubs squeaking, grunting, or humming.
Your encourage to report as much information as possible without approaching or disturbing
the dens.
Helpful information includes GPS coordinates, photos of the den from approximately 30 yards,
a description of the site and surrounding area, and information on bear activity near
the site.
This weekend and next are sled safe weekends and the DNR will be increasing patrols to ensure
all snow enthusiasts get home safely.
Six snowmobile fatalities have already happened this year and alcohol is among the top factors
in fatal crashes.
The Bucks Slump continues high on Mike Clemens with sports NBA.
The Bucks head to Boston next to play the Celtics after losing to the Wizards.
109 to 99 miles Turner had 21 points 14 rebounds but says that missed shots were not the Bucks
problem.
In Milwaukee, outgoing team president Peter Fagan, given a farewell ceremony, Fagan asked
if he discussed the trade rumors with Yanis who was in attendance.
I'd like to say how do we knock out the noise, you know, and Yanis I always joke about
it.
He's focused on rehab.
All he cares about is getting back on the court.
The one thing that's undeniable, this is his home.
This is like where he raised his family.
This is like what he loves.
That's the Bucks Peter Fagan with sports on Mike Clemens.
It is going to be mostly sunny with a high right around 12 degrees here this afternoon.
The windshield, that's going to stay below zero here most of the day even though it won't
be all that windy.
Tonight partly cloudy with lows hovering around zero.
Tomorrow mostly sunny with a high in the low 20s.
I'm meteorologist Sean Cable.