Killing Frost This Morning

This morning we had our killing frost for the Fall. 29°F for the morning low. Usually we get the killing frost the 1st or 2nd week of October, so it's a little early this year but pretty close. Growing season officially comes to an end.

I've had a fire in the stove at night for awhile, but day and night both the last few days. Heck, I had a fire in the stove shortly after the 4th of July! No sense having free heat if you're not going to stay warm at all times. When it’s 50s outside, or forecast 50s low for the night, I’ll start a small fire. 60s if it’s quite windy. We like the house above 70.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Mars

The planet Mars rises around 1 a.m. and stands high in the southeast at first light. It looks like a bright orange star. It will rise a little earlier and grow brighter throughout the rest of the year.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

M22

Messier 22 (also known as M22 or NGC 6656) is an elliptical globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius near the Galactic bulge region. It is one of the brightest globulars that is visible in the night sky. It contains roughly 70,000 stars and is one of the nearer globular clusters to Earth at a distance of about 10,600 light-years away.

Picture was taken with my Canon Powershot camera optics only, no scope. Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker and resized for posting, image is otherwise unedited.

Stack: 58 light frame JPEGs, in-camera dark subtraction
ISO speed rating: 1600
Shutter speed: 15.0 sec
Aperture: f/4.3
Zoom 10x (Focal length): 330mm (equiv.)*
Exposure bias: +0.0 EV
Original image size: 1600 x 1200 Pixels
Flash used: No
Date taken: Friday, June 26, 2009
Time taken: 11:23 PM
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot SX100 IS

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Black River State Forest Conditions

Conditions as of Monday, September 28, 2009:

All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trails

The entire trail system was groomed one week ago and is in good condition. This will be the last grooming cycle for this season. All ATV trails will close for the season on October 15.

The section of ATV trail from Campground road to the Clay School Parking lot is temporarily closed again due to excessive water on the trails and riders going off trail to avoid these sections. During this time of closure a temporary route has been authorized with the Town of Komensky. Please ride with the utmost respect on this new route. You must stay on the roadway at all times and be mindful of speed.

Work is complete on upgrading the wetland crossings on a 1.1-mile section of trail from Wildcat Road heading west. There is some top dressing to be done on the crossings; this work will be done the week after the trails close for the season. As soon as we receive the necessary wetland permits we will begin work on the section that is now temporarily closed.

An example of a recently upgraded section of trail can be found north of the Highway 54 parking lot to Bartos road. These projects will protect the long-term sustainability of the trail system and lessen the frequency of trail closings due to large rainfalls. Over the course of the next two years we hope to upgrade all wetland crossings on the property.

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Jupiter looks like a brilliant star

The planet Jupiter looks like a brilliant star to the Moon's lower right this evening. Jupiter far outshines all the true stars in the night sky, so it's hard to miss.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Pictures of My Place

This is a picture of my place as it looks through the lens of the tax ASSessor's camera and through the eyes of the Town of New Chester.


This is reality. I say so, the bank says so, potential buyers say so, the insurance company says so..........


- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

A Wild and Windy Day For Cutting Firewood!

We're under a wind advisory and the wind blew pretty hard all night. The oaks that died from oak wilt eventually fall when the roots rot off. After a wind like this, there are usually some that have come down. That's when I turn them into firewood. Until then, the woodpeckers and other little critters enjoy them.

The wind was still strong this morning, but not too serious. I decided to go out and cut up a little load and haul it back here to the museum. But first I wanted to check on the neighbor's cabin.

On the way to the cabin, there was one small oak blocking the trail. I cut that up and split it and it gave me about half a load in my little ATV trailer. When I finally got to the cabin, a large oak had fallen about 100 feet from it. I decided I would cut that up and split it for the neighbor. But first, I would check the rest of the trails and finish filling my trailer.

I found another oak blocking a trail. I cut and split that and there was about a load and a half in it. I finished filling my trailer and stacked the other load in the woods. I'll haul it up someday.

So, back to the cabin to cut the large oak there. When I get there, the wind has picked up a lot. Stronger than it has been all night and all morning so far. I need to carry the saw the 100 feet or so to the tree, because the neighbor has a food plot for the deer between the cabin and where the tree fell. I don't want to trample it all down with my ATV and trailer. So I park in front of the cabin, reach for my saw, and CRAAAACK! CRAAAASH! Another large dead oak right next to the one I would have been cutting snaps off two feet above the ground.

Uh, I think I will cut the trees for the neighbor tomorrow! I jump back on the ATV and all the way home the wind is really howling. I'm riding along looking at the big oaks overhead swaying and twisting just like wheat in the field. It made me a little bit nervous. The wind was supposed to starting dieing down this afternoon, not get stronger. I'll bet tomorrow I find more trees toppled.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

When Nature Is Freakier Than Sci-Fi

Fishermen off the northern coast of France have found a large parasitic isopod (a relative of the louse) that has evolved a rather hideous method for survival in its host: It gets into the fish’s mouth and then devours its tongue. It then attaches itself at the back of the fish’s throat where it presumably feeds of whatever the fish normally eats. The really bizarre part is that the fish doesn’t seem to suffer any ill effects other than the loss of its tongue.


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the Garnet Star

The reddest star visible in northern skies stands high overhead this evening. Its official designation is Mu Cephei, but it is also known as the Garnet Star. It is a red supergiant, which means it is much larger and cooler than the Sun.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Go To The Light

The invention of a feather-duster for security lights, patent pending.




- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Another Quote From An Old Movie Called "Four Friends"

"I'm tired and I have to go to work. That is America."

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

11-year-old boy finds pink grasshopper

A rare pink grasshopper has been found by a schoolboy taking part in a nature trail.

The insect was found by 11-year-old Daniel Tate who thought it was a flower until he saw it jump and then he realised it was a grasshopper.

The insect was later identified by wildlife officers as an adult female common green grasshopper, which has been born pink.

Daniel, who attended the wildlife event at Seaton Marshes, near Sidmouth, Devon, with his great grandfather, said: "I was looking for grasshoppers when I saw something pink.

"I thought it was a flower but I saw it moving, so I tried to catch it. It jumped and then I knew it was a grasshopper."

He added: “I was really excited to hear that no one else had found a pink grasshopper at that place before.”

Fraser Rush, nature reserves officer for East Devon District Council, said: “There are millions of common green grasshoppers but I have never seen a pink one. The female comes in a variety of colours, normally different shades of green and brown. Occasionally it tends towards purple, but this is a leap beyond that to pink.”

He added: “Pink grasshoppers are unusual but not unheard of. However the intensity of the pink in this case must make it highly unusual.”

Mr Rush said the pink grasshopper was “a natural variety of the species, albeit a rare one. It has not been caused by any mutation, or any environmental effects.”

He added: “There is a chance it will have bred already and will pass on its pink gene.”

After being studied the grasshopper was released back into the reserve.

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Quote From An Old Movie Called "Four Friends"

"You want to hide from life, but life will find you, and step on you."

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Space Shuttle Discovery landing safely (after a 2,000 mile diversion)

The Space Shuttle Discovery is seen above the Earth during the mission.


The International Space Station seen from the Shuttle.


The space shuttle Discovery, lands on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base near Rosamond, California.


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Words of Wisdom from a Great Leader

You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

.....Abraham Lincoln

There's no yellow brick road to follow at Fritzler maze

"Toto, I have the feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

That famous line from Dorothy in"The Wizard of Oz" will come to mind for visitors at the 10th anniversary of the Fritzler Family Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, which will observe the 70th anniversary of the film staring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley.

This year's corn maze is designed in the shape of the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow from the 1939 film. It opens to the public Saturday, and Glen Fritzler said visitors this year will see a change in the farm that also includes pumpkin and corn cannons, a newly decorated barrel train, the Creature, a Verti-scope tunnel, go-carts and jumping pillows.

There are two new pumpkin cannons, including one that can shoot 8-inch-diameter pumpkins at targets.

Helicopter rides will be offered to view the maze from the air.

"We've changed almost everything," Fritzler said. "We've been working on this since April every day with eight to 10 people out here, so it's entirely different this year."

The corn was planted in May, the elaborate labyrinth was carved into the 13-acre field in early June. The corn is now about 10 feet tall, Fritzler said. The maze is divided into two phases and has only one exit. Fritzler said those lucky enough to stumble into the correct pathway will find the exit in less than 30 minutes. For others -- well, it will take longer.

Fritzler said he and his son, Trevor, took a trip before Trevor's senior year in high school, so he hired a crew from Utah to cut the maze.

"It took them less than a day, but then they do about 100 a year. It would take Trevor and I about a week to carve it," he said.

He and his wife, Pam, were overwhelmed this year by the number of people wanting to work at the maze. He said they took about 400 applicants and have hired 300, mostly teenagers, to work in two to three shifts a day once the maze and fun park are fully operational.

"We had a fair amount of adults who wanted to work this year, which is probably a sign of the economy, I'm sure," Fritzler said. He said he hired all those teens who said they wanted to work to earn extra money for their families.

The newly painted barrel train was the brainchild of his Fritzler's wife, Pam, he said. It's painted to look like an American flag.

"When it goes over the hills, it looks like an American flag waving. It's absolutely stunning," Fritzler said.

Where to go
The Fritzler Maze is seven miles south of Greeley on U.S. 85, just south of the intersection with Weld County Road 44 on the west side of U.S. 85. It will be open from Sept. 12-Nov. 1. September hours are 5-10 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays and 12-6 p.m. Sundays. In October, it will be open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 12-6 p.m. Sunday.

The haunted attractions and Scream Acres will open at dusk Sept. 25.

Daytime tickets are $10-$13 and haunted tickets are $6-$20. Special offers and discounts can be found on Facebook or at www.Fritzlermaze.com. For more information, call (970) 737-2129.

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ISS Tonight

25 Sep -3.4 19:18:31 WNW 85

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

ISS Tonight

23 Sep -3.5 20:04:33 WNW 89

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Antares

Antares, the orange heart of the scorpion, is low in the southwest as night begins to fall, a little to the upper left of the crescent Moon. Antares consists of two stars, but one is so bright that it hides the other from view.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

World's top ten most mysterious and horrible spots

Russia's "Pravda," selected the top ten most mysterious and terrifying spots in the world. The dead-associated history museum, the mysterious magic market, the gloomy "ghost swamp", the underground tombs, as well as the mansion ghost tour and so on, people can not help but get a chill down their spine!

1. American Museum of Philadelphia

When it was first established, the museum was used for medical students to do research in human anatomy and deformity of the local people. Now it has become a museum displaying many gruesome things; various diseased, injured, and deformed cases, as well as the ancient medical equipment and biological development in the exhibition hall. There are more than 20,000 exhibits, including photos of war victims, Siamese human remains, dwarf skeleton as well as a colon and other human parts. There are also some unique collections, such as a female body that resembles soap a long with a childs two headed skull. In such a gloomy environment, the audience can not help but be horrified.

2. Truk lagoon, Micronesia

Truk Lagoon is located in the southeastern Hawaiian Islands. According to scientist's research, more than 50 warships and submarines of World War II lie at the bottom of Truk Lagoon. At the bottom of the lake there is now a coral and marine life here has become a paradise for scuba diving enthusiasts. Unfortunately, many divers don't come back after they dive.

3. Magic Sonora Market, Mexico

Sonora has a magic market, where a large number of witches gather. A witch sitting in her own small shop claims that as long as she has 10 U.S. dollars she will be able to eliminate poverty and suffering.

4. Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island is known as the world's most mysterious place. On the island there are many world-famous statues. These statues are facing the sky, as if praying for something. In addition what is surprising is the stones are 20 meters tall and weigh 90 tons by themselves, know one knows how they were carved or completed.

5. Mancsak Swamp, Louisiana

The Marshes have an alias - "ghost swamp". It is located near New Orleans. There are legends that the swamp was cursed by a voodoo curse queen. In 1915 there were three villagers in this swamp who mysterious disappeared.

6. Underground tomb in Paris, France

178 kilometers of underground tunnels bury about 7 million people in Paris. Remains are neatly arranged in the walls and year of death is marked. Air in the tomb is very dry and filled with the flavor of rotting corpses. The tomb is cut from limestone and was created after the cemeteries were full because of disease outbreaks at the beginning of the 18th century. It was first host to 70 people.

7. Winchester Mystery House, California

San Jose, Calif., has a Winchester Mystery House where there are always many strange things. In 1884, a widow named Sarah Winchester began the construction of a magnificent mansion. The construction took a time consuming 38 years and was not completed until after the widow's death. After the completion of the house there have always been strange things happening that can not be explained, it was known as the Winchester Mystery House. There are 160 luxurious rooms, equipped with modern heating, drainage systems, gas lights, three elevators and 47 fireplaces. There are embedded in the floor of the windows, stairs leading to nowhere; open the door, but there is only a blank wall. There are rumors that Sarah and other tortured souls still walk in these rooms.

8. Mary King Street, Edinburgh, Scotland

A narrow cobbled side street with a haunting past. In the 1645 plague spread to Edinburgh and this street was completely blocked at the time. Some legends say that when a member of the family had the plague, they were all sealed behind bricks and doors then burnt or starved to death.

9. Sicily

Crowley is likely to be the world's most notorious magician. In 1920 he was considered one of the most evil people. Crowley claimed that Hitler had stolen from him the Swastika. Crowley built a private home which was covered in bizarre dark murals. According to rumors, Crowley constructed the building so that he could be free to enjoy sex. Crowley admired powerful filmmakers, and a documentary film was made in the house but film mysteriously disappeared. This building has now become a ruin.

10. Chernobyl

In 1986, Kiev, Ukraine the most serious nuclear power plant leak in history happened. Hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate, resulting in 19 miles of the city becoming desolate.

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ISS Tonight

22 Sep -2.4 19:39:39 NW 35

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

autumnal equinox

Today is the autumnal equinox (day and night are equal in length), which marks the beginning of fall in the northern hemisphere and spring in the south. Over the next three months, the Sun will move farther south in the sky so we will see less and less sunlight each day until after the winter solstice in December.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Cellphone radiation levels vary widely, watchdog report says

Some cellphones emit several times more radiation than others, the Environmental Working Group found in one of the most exhaustive studies of its kind.

The government watchdog group on Wednesday releases a list ranking cellphones in terms of radiation. The free listing of more than 1,000 devices can be viewed here.

Concerns about radiation and cellphones have swirled for years. Scientific evidence to date has not been able to make a hard link between cancer and cellphones. But recent studies "are showing increased risk for brain and mouth tumors for people who have used cellphones for at least 10 years," says Jane Houlihan, senior vice president of research at the Washington-based group.

CTIA, the wireless industry lobbying association, disagrees. In a statement it noted that "scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices do not pose" a health hazard.

That's why the American Cancer Society, World Health Organization and Food and Drug Administration, among others, "all have concurred that wireless devices are not a public health risk," the CTIA statement says.

Houlihan acknowledges that "the verdict is still out" on whether cellphones can be linked directly to cancer.

"But there's enough concern that the governments of six countries" — including France, Germany and Israel — "have issued limits of usage of cellphones, particularly for children."

Houlihan says her group is "advising people to choose a phone that falls on the lower end of the (radiation) spectrum" to minimize potential health problems. The Samsung Impression has the lowest: 0.35 watts per kilogram, a measure of how much radiation is absorbed into the brain when the phone is held to the ear.

The highest: T-Mobile's MyTouch 3G, Motorola Moto VU204 and Kyocera Jax S1300, all at 1.55 W/kg.

The Apple iPhone, sold exclusively by AT&T in the USA, is in the middle of the pack at 1.19 W/kg.

The Federal Communications Commission, which sets standards for cellphone radiation, requires that all devices be rated at 1.6 W/kg or lower.

The Environmental Working Group says the FCC's standard is outmoded, noting that it was established 17 years ago, when cellphones and wireless usage patterns were much different. The group wants the government to take a "fresh look" at radiation standards.

The FCC currently doesn't require handset makers to divulge radiation levels. As a result, radiation rankings for dozens of devices, including the BlackBerry Pearl Flip 8230 and Motorola KRZR, aren't on the group's list.

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ISS Tonight

21 Sep -2.2 20:50:18 WNW 44

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Spectacular First Images from the Rejuvenated Hubble Space Telescope

Astronomers have declared NASA's Hubble Space Telescope a fully rejuvenated observatory with the release of observations from four of its six operating science instruments. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland unveiled the images at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

"This marks a new beginning for Hubble," said Ed Weiler, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. "The telescope was given an extreme makeover and now is significantly more powerful than ever, well-equipped to last into the next decade."

Topping the list of new views are colorful, multi-wavelength pictures of far-flung galaxies, a densely packed star cluster, an eerie "pillar of creation," and a "butterfly" nebula. Hubble's suite of new instruments allows it to study the universe across a wide swath of the light spectrum, from ultraviolet all the way to near-infrared. In addition, scientists released spectroscopic observations that slice across billions of light-years to probe the cosmic-web structure of the universe and map the distribution of elements that are fundamental to life as we know it.

"I fought for the Hubble repair mission because Hubble is the people's telescope," said Mikulski, chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee that funds NASA. "I also fought for Hubble because it constantly rewrites the science textbooks. It has more discoveries than any other science mission. Hubble is our greatest example of our astronauts working together with scientists to show American leadership and ingenuity."

"I want to salute Team Hubble -- everyone who worked on Hubble from the Goddard Space Flight Center and Space Telescope Science Institute scientists in Maryland, to the ground crew at the Kennedy Space Center, to the Johnson Space Center where the astronauts train, and to the astronauts who were heroes in space," she concluded.

The new instruments are more sensitive to light and, therefore, will improve Hubble's observing efficiency significantly. It is able to complete observations in a fraction of the time that was needed with prior generations of Hubble instruments. The space observatory today is significantly more powerful than it ever has been.

The new results are compelling evidence of the success of the STS-125 servicing mission in May, which has brought the space observatory to the apex of its scientific performance. Two new instruments, the Wide Field Camera 3 and Cosmic Origins Spectrograph, were installed, and two others, the Advanced Camera for Surveys and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, were repaired at the circuit board level. Mission scientists also announced that the Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer have been brought back into operation during three months of calibration and testing.

"On this mission we wanted to replenish the 'tool kit' of Hubble instruments on which scientists around the world rely to carry out their cutting-edge research," said David Leckrone, senior project scientist for Hubble at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. "Prior to this servicing mission, we had only three unique instrument channels still working, and today we have 13. I'm very proud to be able to say, 'mission accomplished.' "

Hubble now enters a phase of full science observations. The demand for observing time will be intense. Observations will range from studying the population of Kuiper Belt objects at the fringe of our solar system to surveying the birth of planets around other stars and probing the composition and structure of extrasolar planet atmospheres. There are ambitious plans to take the deepest-ever near-infrared portrait of the universe to reveal never-before-seen infant galaxies that existed when the universe was less than 500 million years old. Other planned observations will attempt to shed light on the behavior of dark energy, a repulsive force that is pushing the universe apart at an ever-faster rate.

Hubble is back and better than ever. Let the observing begin!

For images and more information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

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ISS Tonight

20 Sep -2.3 20:26:01 NW 34

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

ghostly pyramid of light

Look toward the east an hour or two before sunrise the next few days for a ghostly pyramid of light rising from the horizon. It may look like early twilight, but it's really the zodiacal light, which is a glow that comes from far beyond Earth.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Is That Vine Poison Ivy……Or Not?

I have a lot of poison ivy. Fortunately I’m not allergic to it. Maybe all those times fishing for trout barefoot when I was a kid helped desensitize me to it? It grows pretty big, reaching a foot tall, but I have never seen it climb anything where I live, trees or otherwise. It sticks to the ground, at least every plant I have ever seen does, but it’s vine-like root system travels a long way just under the leaf litter. It gets clumps of tiny blossoms in the Spring, and white pea-sized berries in the Fall. Also in the Fall, the leaves turn red and/or yellow.

Poison Ivy likes shade, growing all around under the trees, I’ve never seen it climb here but I have seen pictures from places where it does:


Flowers in the Spring:


Berries in the Fall. The red leaf on the right side of the photo is poison ivy, the other leaves are not:


One other vine that does climb trees is wild grapes:


I hate grapevines. They are such a tangled mess and sometimes make for dangerous wood cutting. They get big enough that I am able to cut a few pieces of firewood out of them, but not big enough to split them:


Another vine that climbs trees is this thing. It’s leaves turn bright red in the Fall. I don’t remember what it’s called, but it’s not poison ivy:


And then there’s this thing that climbs trees. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not poison ivy either:


- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

double heart

Leo The Lion will have a double heart tomorrow morning, as the planet Venus cozies up to his "regular" heart, the star Regulus. They are low in the east at first light. Venus is the brilliant "morning star," with fainter Regulus just to its right.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

WEREWOLVES, WITCHES, SEA MONSTERS & TINY TERRORS

Monster hunter Linda Godfrey takes us on a tour of Wisconsin’s strangest legends.

IN THE FALL, WHEN THE TREES GO BARE AND THE WIND WHIPS through the hills, Wisconsin’s miles and miles of unassuming dairy farms seem quite capable of hiding some sort of Gothic menace. Those winding country roads, so peaceful during daylight, become downright eerie when the sky turns black.

It’s the perfect setting for a spooky campfire story, and the Badger State has plenty of them: haunted inns, unexplained creatures, UFOs. Many originated centuries ago when various populations—first, Native Americans; later, Germans, Norwegians, Bohemians and Swedes—flocked to this naturally abundant land of glacial plains and more than 8,000 lakes.

Visit Green Bay and you’ll hear loup garou (werewolf) legends that build on traditional French folk tales. Near Door County, where there were Polish populations, shrines were built in farms to keep the devils away. Add to that a rich legacy of Native American mysticism—Wisconsin reputedly has more animal-shaped effigy mounds than anyplace else in the world—and the ground is fertile for weirdness.

THE BEAST OF BRAY ROAD

AMONG THE STATE’S MOST ENDURING legends is that of the Beast of Bray Road, a creature seen along a now-infamous country lane in the small southeastern Wisconsin town of Elkhorn. Reports of a bizarre wolf-like animal roaming this area go back several decades, but it was local resident Linda Godfrey who broke the story wide open in 1991.

Working as a reporter for the community newspaper The Week, she got a tip that the local county humane officer had a file marked “werewolf.” Inside were the names and numbers of a half-dozen eyewitnesses who all told variations of the same story: A hairy, manlike, wolf-headed creature was strolling around like something out of a nightmare.

Godfrey contacted a young woman named Lori Endrizzi, who had reported to Walworth County’s animal control officer that she had seen a brownish-gray animal the size of a man, with pointy ears and long claws, kneeling on the side of Bray Road munching on roadkill. “To this day I believe it was satanic,” Endrizzi told Godfrey in a follow-up interview years later.

More recently, in 2004, a fortysomething nurse from Milwaukee named Marie told Godfrey she saw a hairy, six-foot-plus-tall “thing” with silver fur and a dog-like head on the outskirts of Elkhorn. She was driving with her teenage daughter and a friend on an October night in 2004 and decided to play a prank on the two teens by acting as if the car suddenly stalled out. But as she slowed down, she noticed something along the side of the road among the high corn fields.

At first Marie thought it was an animal, but when she got a closer look and saw the shiny yellow reflection of its eyes, she says she knew it was something otherworldly, beyond the norm of nature. “The legs were all wrong—its knees bent the wrong way,” she said. “We all screamed and drove away like a rocket.”

Godfrey has chronicled scores of other accounts—all detailed, lucid and eerily alike—in her books The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin’s Werewolf and Hunting the American Werewolf. But she’s more than a one-monster girl: In Weird Wisconsin and its sequel Strange Wisconsin, the author also describes myths involving zombies, pig-men and murderous midget colonies.

She refers to herself as an “investigator of strange phenomena and unexplained creatures.” And when I asked her for a personal tour of creepy Wisconsin legends, she was happy to oblige.

THE SEA SERPENT OF LAKE GENEVA

WHEN I MEET GODFREY, KNOWN TO MANY as the “Werewolf Lady,” in downtown Lake Geneva, the fiftysomething wife and mother of two is dressed for a long day of monster hunting in her pink baseball hat and black “Werewolf University” T-shirt. Even her car announces her credentials, with a vanity license plate reading “BRAY BST.”

Strolling along a public lakefront trail dotted with impressive mansions, Godfrey tells me of the many monsters that are rumored to have made homes in Wisconsin’s plentiful lakes. In the 1920s, there were frequent “dragon” sightings in Lake Kegonsa, off Williams Point. And Rock Lake in Jefferson County is the supposed lair of a slithery beast known as Rocky, whose local popularity inspired a beer called Rocky’s Revenge. “It’s one of my favorites,” Godfrey says. This doesn’t surprise me.

As we peer out onto the crystalline Geneva Lake, hugely popular with tourists from throughout the Midwest, I learn that it’s not only home to hundreds of pleasure boats, but also to an estimated 65-foot sea serpent named Jenny.

At 142 feet, the lake is Wisconsin’s second-deepest. Its central-most point, known as “The Narrows,” is where most Jenny sightings have occurred. The Chicago Tribune reported that two boys and a man saw a huge scaly reptile with razor sharp teeth while fishing in 1892. In 1902, the Milwaukee Sentinel published a similar article. Some theorize that Jenny may be a surviving plesiosaur, a sea reptile from the Cretaceous period.

In Strange Wisconsin, Godfrey posits a connection with area Native American tribes who told tales of monster serpents. “There used to be a huge water spirit mound in the lakeshore near Flat Iron Park, just beyond the beach over there,” she says, pointing into the distance. “It was demolished to make downtown Lake Geneva, which is very bad juju.”

Considering the rarity of modern-day Jenny appearances, we decide to set our sights elsewhere. Godfrey points out a rolling hill near Highway 12 and County Road H. “There was a sighting right here of the wolf-man,” she says. Despite the notoriety of Bray Road, she says the nearby Kettle Moraine State Forest, a pristine 20,000-acre hiking and recreational area filled with dense pine woods and hardwood forests, is a far better place for aspiring monster hunters.

“There have been many more sightings here than at Bray Road,” she says. “It’s a very logical habitat.”

That might be true, but if there’s one area in southeastern Wisconsin with the greatest concentration of mysterious happenings, it’s where we’re headed next: the town of Whitewater.

MYSTICAL WHITEWATER

HOME TO A BRANCH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, Whitewater gained a reputation as a paranormal hotbed back in 1889 with the establishment of the Morris Pratt Institute, the nation’s only Spiritualist College.

The founder, Morris Pratt, struck it rich when he discovered iron ore in Wisconsin after a Madison psychic advised him where to dig. “As a spiritual payback, he started the Institute,” Godfrey says. Townspeople called its building “the Spook Temple,” and while it was eventually torn down, the Morris Pratt Institute still offers spiritualism courses in Milwaukee.

“They had an all-white séance room on the third floor. They may have been doing pagan rituals,” Godfrey says. “People would call them witches, because at the time any supernatural doings [were considered the work of] witches. There may have been early witch covens, but there is no evidence.”

Regardless, rumors of witches conducting outdoor ceremonies in the fields around present-day Wells Hall run rampant. A sacrificial altar is said to be buried on the grounds of this drab concrete dorm, which has seen its share of disturbances. “A few years ago a student rolled off his bunk and out one of the eighth-story windows to his death,” says Godfrey, who, somewhat not surprisingly, attended Whitewater herself in the early ’70s. “It’s been reputed to be haunted ever since it was built.”

Walking past Wells Hall, we head up a hill to Starin Park, dominated by an imposing stone tower. Godfrey points out the wrought iron fence around the tower; until recently, a fence surrounded the park, but its spikes were turned inward, as if to keep something in as opposed to keeping trespassers out.

There are also stories about how Whitewater’s three cemeteries, when looked at on a map, form a near-perfect isosceles triangle. “Supposedly, the witches planned that. And everything along the lines [of the triangle] is haunted,” Godfrey says.

Before leaving Whitewater, Godfrey suggests we stop at Indian Mounds Park, once a sacred prayer and burial ground for local Native Americans now located in a generic subdivision. In her opinion, the crude-looking elevated mounds contribute to the overall spiritual ethos of the town.

“They’re weathered, so the shapes are not so delineated,” Godfrey says. “But these were massive earth works. Some were oriented to certain compass and astronomical points; they were very precisely engineered. And no one knows how or why, because the people who did it no longer survive.”

We walk carefully; stepping on them would be a sign of disrespect. The last thing we need is an angry spirit on our trail. We’re about to investigate one of the strangest legends of them all: the mythic colony known as Haunchyville.

SEARCH FOR HAUNCHYVILLE

THE MIDGETS FLED TO THE cornfields of Muskego at the end of the traveling circus era, so the stories go. And indeed, the town of Delavan (about 40 miles away) once served as the winter headquarters for several circuses. But the little people of Muskego are no longer interested in entertaining; they’re rumored to brandish tiny clubs, which they use to beat trespassers.

Godfrey’s never been able to find anyone willing to join her on a search for Haunchyville, and as we turn on Mystic Drive, the street most often associated with sightings, she peers out the car window like an excited teenager. We nearly enter a driveway marked “Private Property,” but considering the city of Muskego is known to issue fines to Haunchy-seekers, we decide to turn around.

Driving back along Mystic Drive, we notice a teenage girl walking her dog. We ask if she’s ever heard of Haunchyville. “Sure,” she says, and points to a horse fence about 50 yards away. “That’s where I was told the Haunchies live, but I’ve never seen them.”

We head in that direction and spy a cluster of three small structures just past a burned-out cornfield. One could be an abandoned child’s playhouse. But the other two don’t look like they were built for children. Particularly strange is a mini stone house with a curved roof and a tiny little doorway the perfect size for someone of diminutive stature. A careful peek inside shows it’s full of beer cans, but they were probably left behind by normal-sized teenagers.

After snapping some pictures for her “Were-blog,” Godfrey acknowledges she can’t be certain we’ve stumbled onto Haunchyville. But the visit provided just enough evidence to keep one more weird Wisconsin legend alive.


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Facebook case a first for DNR wardens

Technology aside, public still key for tips

One Waukesha County man is guilty and another awaiting court action in what the Wisconsin DNR Law Enforcement Division is calling its first arrest based upon a Facebook video of illegal deer shining spotted by an anonymous tipster.

“This was new territory for us. We learned a lot,” Conservation Warden Supervisor Rick Reed said of the case involving a video posted on the popular social networking Web site.

There have been DNR arrest cases built from information found on other Web sites – such as Craig’s List and EBay, Reed said. However, DNR’s first-ever Facebook-based case against Adam Frame, 25, of Mukwonago, and Dustin Porter, 24, of Sullivan, had one strong similarity to the more traditional cases.

“We rely heavily on the public to help us catch violators,” Reed said. “There is simply too much going on throughout the state – and on the Internet – for us to keep up with it on our own.”

This was the case of the alert citizen who spotted the video titled: “Hunting… Muktown style.” Reed said “Muktown” is a joking reference to Frame’s place of residence -- Mukwonago. Published reports indicate Frame posted the video of the two allegedly using a personal vehicle’s headlights to shine deer and ultimately take shots. No deer were shot, according to the complaint.

“The tip came in late November or early December in 2008,” Reed said. “It was not until later in the investigation that we learned it actually occurred in 2007.”

Reed credits Conservation Warden Doug Zeihen, who acted as the primary investigator with Reed as secondary, for his skilled work at “piecing the computer evidence together with other known facts.” Gathering evidence from computers in a manner that is acceptable to the courts requires certain parameters, he added.

“Learning the legal aspects through this investigation was new and each site has its own legal setup for subpoenaing information,” Reed said. “There also is a whole set of terminology associated with computers that we are not used to dealing with. Gathering basic information from an Internet site takes more time and additional follow-up to confirm accuracy.

“Computers do provide some evidence that we do not normally have,” Reed said. “The legal system is definitely still adjusting.”

The complaint notes the two men were on their way home from a tavern when the alleged incident occurred in the town of Mukwonago. Reed said due to the timing of the tip and other factors, it was impossible to speculate on the condition of the two men.

On August 14, Frame was found guilty under a plea deal to shining wild animals and possessing a firearm in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Frame was fined $354 to be paid $25 each month beginning in September – or spend 6 days in jail.

The case again Porter is pending in Waukesha County Circuit Court.

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New invasive crayfish found in Wisconsin

A new invasive crayfish that can harm native fish, frog and crayfish populations was found in Wisconsin late last month, presenting an early test case for a new invasive species rule aimed at keeping new invaders from gaining a foothold in Wisconsin, state invasive species officials say.

“This is exactly what the Natural Resources Board and the Legislature expected us to do with this rule: respond to citizen reports of new invasives, check it out, and if it’s on the prohibited list, get out there as quickly as possible develop a containment and control strategy,” said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. “If we can get on it quickly, we have a much better opportunity to eradicate new introductions from the state.”

The red swamp crayfish, found by a citizen Aug. 25, 2009, in a Washington County subdivision pond, is prohibited under the new rule that took effect Sept. 1, 2009, and which gives the DNR authority to take fast action to eradicate prohibited species.

The crayfish was confirmed Aug. 26 by Milwaukee Public Museum experts as a red swamp crayfish, a Louisiana native raised by southern aquaculture operations, often sold to school teachers for their classrooms and to restaurants. This marks the first time the crayfish has been documented in Wisconsin, and its arrival is of particular concern because it reproduces prolifically and can move overland, increasing its chances of spreading on its own.

Since the discovery of the crayfish, DNR fish biologist Sue Beyler and aquatic invasive species staff have been setting traps and surveying nearby waters to determine whether it’s a reproducing population and whether the crayfish have spread, important information for eradicating it. They are developing a control plan that will explore options such as trapping and chemical treatment to eradicate the crayfish, and also developing a long-term monitoring plan for area waters.

Signs have been posted around the pond to alert boaters, anglers, and other potential users of the park where the pond is that the invasive species is present and that it’s illegal to move live crayfish from the pond.

Because it can move over land as well as in the water, there is concern the red swamp crayfish could spread to the nearby Menomonee River, a tributary of Lake Michigan. Red swamp crayfish feed on aquatic plants, snails, insects and fish and amphibian eggs and young. They can reduce amphibian populations through direct predation and competition for habitat and can cause declines in native crayfish species.

Reports from Washington state, where the crayfish has infested several inland waters, also suggests its rampant feeding and burrowing can release phosphorus and other nutrients, leading to more algae blooms that decrease water quality and recreational use of a water.

DNR invasive species officials are also moving on a number of other recent reports of new invasive species. A rapid response plan is already underway in Walworth County to eradicate an aggressive invasive species, yellow floating heart, from a pond next to Delavan Lake by draining the water, dredging it, and installing a liner.

Another species on the prohibited list, brittle water nymph Najas minor, was just confirmed late last week in Mason Lake, bordering Adams and Marquette counties and work is beginning there with partners to develop a control plan.

“We’ve had good success in the recent past in working with partners and landowners to control new introductions, and hope those efforts can be a good model for dealing with these new crayfish and other newly identified invaders” Frank said.

One recent success was the apparent eradication of Hydrilla, another aggressive invasive aquatic plant now on the prohibited list, after a Marinette County landowner reported in 2007 an unusual plant in her private pond. Soon after samples were confirmed by University of Wisconsin Herbarium, the landowner, the county, the DNR and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and federal agencies worked to develop a containment and control plan.

With a state Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response Grant and cooperation of the pond owner, Hydrilla was contained using an herbicide treatment to eliminate plant growth and drain the pond to destroy Hydrilla tubers by freezing over winter. To date, Hydrilla has not been identified in the pond nor surrounding waters.

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My Property Tax Rate Is Four Times Higher

I fought the good fight in the name of everything that is fair and just, but alas, I have lost. The Town of New Chester has decided that my property is worth $14,643 per acre, four times the acreage value of neighbors' properties for miles around. The reason? Because I don't own as much of it as others do. The logic? Less property is always worth more than more property.

So, they have effectively elevated my property tax to four times the going rate of other acreage, without raising taxes. How fair is that?

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

EDIT:
Ha ha ha ha! Yes indeed commenter, I think you're on to something, they are picking on me because of my fancy vehicles!

Lining your pockets; warming your home

Replacing an old, inefficient woodstove with a new one that meets environmental guidelines can earn homeowners nearly $2,000 in state and federal tax credits, experts say.

Homeowners who purchase a 75-percent-efficient wood or pellet stove, fireplace or fireplace insert can receive a 30 percent federal tax credit for costs incurred, up to $1,500, says Larry Milligan, owner of Orley's Stoves and Spas in Medford.

"We explain this is not a rebate. But this is a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, and not simply a tax deduction," Milligan says.

In addition to the federal credit, the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit program offers a tax credit of up to $300 for installation of qualifying wood or pellet stoves.

Retailers and environmental officials want to make sure the public understands the language of the 2009 economic stimulus legislation, which states the federal tax credit is for "biomass heating appliances," Milligan says.

"Which most people don't understand means their woodstove (or fireplace)," he says.

The bottom line is homeowners can benefit from the tax credits. And everyone will benefit from cleaner air, Milligan says.

"This is great for the public," he says.

Woodstove season will start once cooler weather arrives, and now is the time to make the change, says Rachel Sakata, air quality planner for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in Portland.

"We want people to burn smart," Sakata says.

Studies show the new stoves improve both indoor and outdoor air quality, says Sakata. Many of the older stoves still in use are not properly installed. This allows smoke to seep inside homes as well as up chimneys, creating air pollution, she says.

"The elderly and children are especially sensitive to particulate matter," Sakata says.

Medford was part of a 10-year study testing the efficiency of the new stoves' high combustion features. The results of that study showed conclusively that environmental woodstoves helped clean up the air, Milligan says.

Results like those in the Medford study have persuaded the government to create incentives such as the current tax credit to get the "dirty burning" stoves out of circulation and replaced with "green" stoves. The high-efficiency stoves burn both hotter and cleaner than noncertified stoves. And they use far less wood, Sakata and Milligan agree.

The new stoves have high combustion chambers which consume both wood fiber and gasses, Milligan says.

"Woodstoves offer the least expensive heat," Milligan says. "We have models that burn for 20 to 40 hours on one load of wood."

Oregonians who heat with wood and pellet stoves can claim a fuel tax credit worth $10 per cord or per ton of pellets. These credits can be added to the federal credit.

The tax credits only apply to new installations in primary residences, Milligan says.

"We've had people come in to us and want to use the credit on an installation in their vacation home. That doesn't work," Milligan says.

Qualifying products include many EPA-certified freestanding wood or pellet stoves, inserts and fireplaces. Homeowners should contact their local hearth appliance dealer to determine which brands and models qualify for the tax credit.

The unit must be fully installed by Dec. 31 to receive the credit for 2009, but the program is expected to remain in place for 2010, Milligan says.


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Massive UFO development: China might disclose soon

Something bigger-than-big has happened in China as far as the UFO and extraterrestrial mystery is concerned. So big, you might want to make sure you are sitting down and not holding a hot drink as you read this.

Readers of All News Web might now be familiar with the Solar Eclipse UFO Sighting that occurred in Deqing, Guandong Province, where a clear daytime UFO was seen by dozens of students and filmed and photographed by at least nine, producing incredible images such as the one above. The UFO was also seen to morph, changing colour and shape.

Other than All News Web no other news publication outside of Asia has carried the story although it has sent shock-waves through China's massive UFO community and even amongst conventional scientists.

Now it has been reported in China that the famous Purple Mountain Observatory has confirmed that they observed a UFO on the day of the eclipse and have forty minutes worth of footage which they will spend the next year studying.

Purple Mountain Observatory Director and Chinese Academy of Sciences Fellow, JI Hai-sheng said at present it is impossible to speculate what the unidentified object is.

Sina.com writes that:

'Purple Mountain Observatory and Chinese Academy of Sciences said yesterday that during the July 22 total solar eclipse observation, China had discovered near the sun, by observing staff, an unidentified object, it's physical nature remains to be further studied.'

'Currently manpower is being organized to deal with this data, complete the data analysis and reveal the scientific results and this will take at least one year's time to finalise.'

'Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences Fellow, JI Hai-sheng said at present it is impossible to speculate what the unidentified object is however research has started.'

UFO activity in China has been extra-ordinary over the last few months with mega-event after mega-event taking place. Have extraterrestrials decided that China will be their partner in first contact?

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FDA says residue is frog or toad; how did it get in Pepsi can?

The "disgusting" blob in Fred DeNegri's Diet Pepsi can was probably a frog or toad, the Food and Drug Administration said.

DeNegri was grilling in his backyard tiki bar in Ormond Beach, Florida, when he popped open a can of Diet Pepsi, took a big gulp and started gagging, his wife, Amy, said.

He emptied out the can down a sink but something heavy remained inside. He shook the can until something resembling "pink linguini" slid out, followed by "dark stuff," Amy DeNegri said.

But the heavy object inside the can never came out, she said.

"It was disgusting," said Amy DeNegri, 54. "And now, what started out as a normal afternoon in our tiki bar has blown up into this crazy thing."

The DeNegris took pictures before calling poison control and the FDA, which showed up the next day to examine the can in question and collect it for lab testing.

The couple received a copy of the completed report last week from the Food and Drug Administration Office of Regulatory Affairs, which concluded the foreign matter appeared to be a frog or a toad.

"The animal was lacking internal organs normally found in the abdominal and thoracic cavity," the report notes.

A second, closed can from the same 36-pack of Diet Pepsi from Sam's Club, was also submitted for testing, according to Amy DeNegri. No abnormalities were detected, the report states.

The FDA also conducted an investigation at the local Pepsi bottling plant in Orlando from August 4 to 11 and "did not find any adverse conditions or association to this problem," spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey said.

"We have not determined when or how the contamination occurred," DeLancey said in an e-mail.

Pepsi says the FDA results "affirmed" the company's confidence "in the quality of our products and the integrity of our manufacturing system," according to spokesman Jeff Dahncke.

"The speed of our production lines and the rigor of our quality control systems make it virtually impossible for this type of thing to happen in a production environment. In fact, there never has been even a single instance when a claim of this nature has been traced back to a manufacturing issue," Dahncke said in an e-mail.

"The FDA conducted a thorough inspection of our Orlando facility and found no cause for concern. In this case, the FDA simply was unable to determine when or how the specimen entered the package."

When asked if Pepsi believed it was not responsible for the animal getting into the can, Dahncke said, "We have addressed the facts of the investigation and stated our position. It's not appropriate for us to comment beyond that."

But the DeNegris say they're hopping mad over Pepsi's handling of the matter.

Amy DeNegri said she hasn't heard from Pepsi since the day after the incident occurred, when she spoke with someone over the phone. At first, the woman was apologetic, but DeNegri says her attitude changed after she told her that the FDA was coming to take the can for testing.

"She asked for my pictures, I sent them and never heard back," she said.

The retired school staffer says she and her husband are seeking legal advice to examine their options.

"I want to see Pepsi fess up to it and compensate my husband for the negative publicity they have caused," she said. "I'm easy, but they're the ones that are making it hard."

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Splittin' a Little Firewood

My favorite, the 6 pounder!


My full-size 3.5# ax. Good for kindling, bad for firewood. Sticks all the time.


Don't laugh! My cute little Fiskars. These things get rave reviews, but obviously from people who have never used anything else. It doesn't even split kindling very well.


- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Cuttin' a Little Firewood

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Lambda Aquilae

The star Lambda Aquilae is high in the south at nightfall, to the lower right of Altair, the southeastern point of the Summer Triangle. The Pioneer 11 spacecraft is headed in the star's direction, and should pass it in about four million years.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

ISS Tonight

11 Sep -2.7 19:54:30 WSW 56

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Japan Wants to Power 300,000 Homes With Wireless Energy From Space

Japan has serious plans to send a solar-panel-equipped satellite into space that could wirelessly beam a gigawatt-strong stream of power down to earth and power nearly 300,000 homes.

The satellite will have a surface area of four square kilometers, and transmit power via microwave to a base station on Earth. Putting solar panels in space bypasses many of the difficulties of installing them on Earth: in orbit, there are no cloudy days, very few zoning laws, and the cold ambient temperature is ideal.

A small test model is scheduled for launch in 2015. To iron out all the kinks and get a fully functional system set up is estimated to take three decades. A major kink, presumably, is coping with the possible dangers when a 1-gigawatt microwave beam aimed at a small spot on Earth misses its target.

The $21 billion project just received major backing from Mitsubishi and designer IHI (in addition to research teams from 14 other countries).

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ISS Tonight

10 Sep -3.0 19:29:20 SW 47

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Animal clubbing results in many citations

Initial appearances were wrapped-up yesterday in circuit court for 15 individuals from the Beaver Dam area who are accused of pursuing, shining and killing wild animals with clubs and bats last spring in Columbia and Dodge Counties, the Department of Natural Resources announced today.

This past spring, conservation wardens received a tip from a concerned citizen about the illegal chasing and clubbing of wild animals, often raccoons and opossums, in rural areas of eastern Columbia and western Dodge Counties.

On April 4, 2009, wardens apprehended several people who were chasing wild animals with spotlights and clubs. That incident resulted in a pursuit by wardens and which subsequently landed Christopher Swanke, 22, of Beaver Dam in jail on five counts of reckless endangerment and one count of attempting to flee an officer.

DNR then launched a lengthy investigation which led to the issuing of 158 citations to the 15 individuals. The citations were issued for illegally killing protected wild animals, hunting without a license, hunting with an illegal weapon and unreasonable waste of a natural resource.

Ten of the people – all from the Beaver Dam area - cited with the alleged violations were identified as: Jason W. Adams, 18, Andrew S. Chapman, 17, Derek S. Fehling, 18, Matthew J. Haas, 17, Andrew L. Peterman, 18, Gary L. Spears, 20, Christopher J. Swanke, 22, Mariah N. Schepp, 18, Jacob L. Kleckner, 19 and Austin A. Tripke, 19.

The names of the five other individuals charged with violations are being withheld because they are juveniles.

Warden Paul Nadolski, Poynette, said it was “disturbing” how the individuals, many of them high school friends, regarded the activity as a game.

“They awarded points for the accumulation of dead animals of different species,” he said.

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What kind of tree stand hunter are you? Grounded or airborne

MADISON – There are three kinds of hunters who use tree stands, according to Tim Lawhern, hunter education administrator for the Department of Natural Resources:

“The ones who have fallen from tree stands. The ones who will fall from tree stands, and the ones who may never fall because they know how to stay safe while perched above their prey.”

Lawhern said tree stands are popular – especially with bow-and-arrow hunters -- because they improve hunters’ visibility and decrease chances their scent will alert wildlife.

“Research has shown that one out of three hunters will fall from a tree stand sometime during his or her hunting career,” Lawhern said.

What causes falls?

“It can be from a weakness in the stand’s structure, incorrect installation, failure to use a fall restraint device, and hunters dozing off while on the stand,” Lawhern said. There also are the incidents when hunters shoot themselves while climbing trees with their guns, or when bow hunters fall on their arrows.

Hunters who plan to use tree stands are encouraged by Lawhern to follow these precautions to avoid accidents:

* Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting. Replace worn weak lumber.
* Read, understand and follow factory-recommended practices and procedures when installing commercial stands.
* Inspect portable stands for loose nuts and bolts each time the stand is used.
* Use a harness.
* Use three points of contact while climbing into or out off the tree stand (two feet and one hand; two hands and one foot etc.).
* Use a haul line to raise and lower your equipment – and keep firearms unloaded and arrows in a covered quiver.
* Select a tree – one large enough to support your weight -- before the season. Some mishaps occur as hunters are hurrying to set up their stands on opening morning.
* Make sure someone else knows the location of your tree stand and knows when you will be hunting there.
* Stay awake.


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ISS Tonight

9 Sep -2.9 20:39:41 WSW 60

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Montello dredge bank on Buffalo Lake and boat launch closed to all traffic

Flooding and traffic caused sinkholes along the dike; dam repairs planned

WAUTOMA – Due to concern for safety and possible failure of the Montello dam on the Fox River, the Department of Natural Resources is closing Sunset Drive to all traffic on the dredge bank including the two-way stretch on the north end that is used to access the boat launch.

The Montello dam on the Fox River experienced damage from the rains and flooding in June 2008. When traffic was rerouted from the highway to the dredge bank during the flooding, the traffic caused sinkholes to develop along the dike.

The DNR has hired McMahon Associates Engineering to investigate the condition of the embankment so that the safety of both the dam and the residents of the city can be evaluated. McMahon and its contractors took soil samples, performed strength testing and developed models to predict the stability of the dam. Early indications from the consultants suggest that the dam is in much more serious condition than originally thought.

“The Montello dam is a low-hazard structure. This means that its failure would not result in any loss of life,” said Dave Stertz, NER Dam Safety Engineer. “However, traffic on the dike increases the likelihood of failure of the dam and in order to prevent that and prevent the loss of Buffalo Lake, we must eliminate the stress that cars and trucks add to the dam.”

The DNR will be getting recommendations and cost estimates from the consultant for various options and will share more information about the dam process as it becomes available.

“We know this is an inconvenience, but we need to keep safety of citizens a top priority,” said Tom Nigus, DNR Area Wildlife Manager and manager of the state-owned dam and former lock property. “Fortunately, other boat landings are available for people to use Buffalo Lake. The Andy Krakow Fishing Access portion of the property (near the spillway) will remain open for use.”

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Altair

Altair, the brightest star of the constellation Aquila, the eagle, is high in the southeast at nightfall, forming a point of the Summer Triangle. It shines pure white, indicating that it is much hotter than our own star, the Sun.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

ISS Tonight

8 Sep -3.0 20:15:04 SW 44

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

GEOMAGNETIC MEGA-STORM

On Sept. 2nd, a billion-ton coronal mass ejection (CME) slammed into Earth's magnetic field. Campers in the Rocky Mountains woke up in the middle of the night, thinking that the glow they saw was sunrise. No, it was the Northern Lights. People in Cuba read their morning paper by the red glow of aurora borealis. Earth was peppered by particles so energetic, they altered the chemistry of polar ice.

Hard to believe? It really happened--exactly 150 years ago.

As the day unfolded, the gathering storm electrified telegraph lines, shocking technicians and setting their telegraph papers on fire. The "Victorian Internet" was knocked offline. Magnetometers around the world recorded strong disturbances in the planetary magnetic field for more than a week.

The cause of all this was an extraordinary solar flare witnessed the day before by British astronomer Richard Carrington. His sighting marked the discovery of solar flares and foreshadowed a new field of study: space weather. According to the National Academy of Sciences, if a similar flare occurred today, it would cause $1 to 2 trillion in damage to society's high-tech infrastructure and require four to ten years for complete recovery.

A repeat of the Carrington Event seems unlikely from our low vantage point in a deep solar minimum--but don't let the quiet fool you. Strong flares can occur even during weak solar cycles. Indeed, the Carrington flare itself occured during a relatively weak cycle similar to the one expected to peak in 2012-2013. Could it happen again? Let's hope not.

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ISS Tonight

7 Sep -1.6 21:25:25 WSW 30

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Nice Day for an ATV Ride

Stumpjumper, Tracie, JR, and I had a nice 80 mile ATV ride yesterday. We rode from Necedah to Bear Bluff and back. We only had one problem; we weren't sure if the trail to Swiney's is still open! The sign is gone and we didn't want to ride down it if we aren't supposed to anymore?

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

News From The Observatory - Wood Cuttin’

Like the rerun of a good TV show, here’s more wood cutting pictures.

Cut and ready for a good pounding from my 6# splitting maul:


I split it right where it lays after I cut it up. No need to move any rounds, just the lighter splits:


As I work up the tree of rounds, I toss the splits next to my wagon and continue on. I don’t handle the firewood any more than I have to:


Here it is loaded and ready for transport out of the woods:


Here it is at the wood museum. At this point it will remain on display there for up to 5 years (or less), depending upon how much I allow to be purchased between now and the time I get back around to this part of the stack:


- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Oak Wilt: Good For Stoves, Bad For Trees

Pictures of a few areas of oak wilt out in the woods:



- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Study shines light on sun spot-climate link

Small changes in the energy output of the sun can have a major impact on global weather patterns, such as the intensity of the Indian monsoon, that could be predicted years in advance, a team of scientists said.

The sun swings through an 11-year cycle measured in the number of sun spots on the surface that emit bursts of energy.

The difference in energy is only about 0.1 percent between a solar maximum and minimum and determining just how that small variation affects the world's climate has been one of the great challenges facing meteorologists.

Using a century of weather observations and complex computer models, the international team of scientists led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in the United States showed that even a small increase in the sun's energy can intensify wind and rainfall patterns.

"Small changes in the sun's output over the 11-year solar cycle have long been known to have impacts on the global climate system," said Julie Arblaster, from the Center for Australian Weather and Climate Research, a co-author of the study published in the latest issue of the journal Science.

"Here we reconcile for the first time the mechanisms by which these small variations get amplified, resulting in cooler sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific and enhancing off-equatorial rainfall."

The researchers found that during periods of strong solar activity the air in the upper atmosphere, in a layer called the stratosphere, heats up. This occurs over the tropics, where sunlight is typically most intense.

The extra warming alters wind patterns in the upper atmosphere, which in turn increases tropical rainfall.

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The rings of Saturn

The rings of Saturn stand edge-on to Earth today, which happens once every 15 years. Unfortunately, the planet appears so near the Sun that it is hidden in the Sun's glare. Saturn will return to view in the morning sky early next month.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Corn Moon

The Moon will be full at 11:03 a.m. CDT tomorrow. It is known as the Fruit Moon or Corn Moon. Most years, September's full Moon is also the Harvest Moon. This year, however, it's too far from the fall equinox, so October's full Moon gets the honor.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Chanel, world’s oldest dog, dies at age 21

Owners: Wirehaired dachshund had cataracts, but was otherwise healthy

Chanel, the wirehaired dachshund who held the Guinness World Record for oldest dog, died Aug. 28, PEOPLE Pets has learned. The pooch celebrated her 21st birthday on May 6 — that's 147 in dog years, according to the Guinness Web site.

Earlier this year, the dog's owners, Karl and Denice Shaughnessy of Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., said that the canine, who wore sunglasses for cataracts but was otherwise in good health, still had plenty of pep.

"While I go to work she sleeps all day until I come home and then when I get home she is like a ball of fire,” Denice told U.K.'s Telegraph.

But, just like humans of a certain age, Chanel occasionally had senior moments. "Sometimes I will find her walking around at night and I have to give her a little snack and then she goes back to bed,” her owner, Denice told the Telegraph.

In other interviews, Denice, who adopted the dog in 1988, said that treats from privately owned dog food company Dogswell contributed to the dog's longevity.

"We were saddened to learn of Chanel's passing on Friday evening," Marco Giannini, founder and chief executive officer of Dogswell told PEOPLE Pets in a statement. "Our team at Dogswell had built a great bond with Chanel, as well as her owners, who show great love and care for their pets. We were thankful to have had some part in making Chanel’s life a little more comfortable and enjoyable. As the World's Oldest Dog, Chanel touched many lives and inspired pet owners around the globe. She will be missed."

Another geriatric pooch named Max made headlines in early August after his family saw a story about Chanel celebrating her 21st birthday. Owner Janelle DeRouen of New Iberia, La., contacted Guinness about her terrier mix, who had a bash for his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. No word yet on whether Max will receive the title.

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Black River State Forest Conditions - Conditions as of Monday, August 31, 2009:

All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) Trails

The section of ATV trail from Campground road to the Clay School Parking lot is temporarily closed again due to excessive water on the trails and riders going off trail to avoid these sections. During this time of closure a temporary route has been authorized with the Town of Komensky. Please ride with the utmost respect on this new route. You must stay on the roadway at all times and be mindful of speed.

Work is complete on upgrading the wetland crossings on a 1.1-mile section of trail from Wildcat Road heading west. There is some top dressing to be done on the crossings but this work will be done the week after the trails close for the season. As soon as we receive the necessary wetland permits we will begin work on the section that is now temporarily closed.

An example of a recently upgraded section of trail can be found North of the Highway 54 parking lot to Bartos road. These projects will protect the long-term sustainability of the trail system and lessen the frequency of trail closings due to large rainfalls. Over the course of the next two years we hope to upgrade all wetland crossings on the property.

The entire trail system has been groomed within the last two weeks and trails are in good condition.

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ISS Tomorrow Morning

3 Sep -3.2 04:56:43 SW 50

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

new visitor center at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge

Friends of Necedah NWR President Mary Jean Bean, State Senator Dale Schultz, Refuge Manager Larry Wargowsky, Representative Ron Kind, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Deputy Director Rowan Gould spoke at the 'Unveiling a Legacy' ceremony at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge.

"The introduction of the Whooping Crane Restoration Project at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge several years ago helped secure federal funds for a new visitor center," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Deputy Director Rowan Gould. Gould was one of many federal and local officials at the unveiling of the architectural design and ceremonial ground-breaking for a new visitor center.

Bids for the new 12,000 square foot visitor center will be let in September with anticipated completion next year. Refuge Manager Larry Wargowsky said the new visitor center will help educate children and be available during the evening hours. Representative Ron Kind said, "the current one-room visitor center is unworthy of the beautiful, diverse Refuge in Necedah." He said the new visitor center will put the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on the international map.

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ISS Tomorrow Morning

2 Sep -2.7 04:31:41 N 54 NNE

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill