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Weekly Blast!: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently began installing Greater Prairie-chicken survey signs (pic) in the Buena Vista, Leola, and Paul J. Olson Wildlife Areas. This project, in cooperation with Town of Grant resident and local author/photographer Joe Reiderer, the Dane County Conservation League, The Ruffed Grouse Society, and the Prairie Chicken Project is intended to get citizens more aware of this local threatened bird species.   Greater Prairie-chickens (GPC) were historically only found in the southern 1/3 of Wisconsin. However, once large-scale logging occurred in the 1800s GPCs expanded their range into all 72 counties of the state. Market hunting was credited were nearly decimating their population and hunting of the species was banned in 1955. Today, only a remnant population of the millions that were now reside in the three Wildlife Areas noted above. Drs. Frederick and Francis Hamerstrom of Plainfield (she was Dr. Aldo Leopold’s first female graduate student) were credited with saving the last remaining birds in the state. Their research, which began in the 1950s, saved the GPC from extirpation (local extinction). They worked with the then Department of Conservation, UW-Stevens Point, and private donors and organizations to secure the critical grassland habitat needed. Today, less than 1000 birds exist in the State, but dozens of agency staff and volunteers work to keep the Hamerstroms’ pivotal efforts alive.   Really nice weather has finally arrived – enjoy it! Sharon

Posted on , by Dado

Weekly Blast

Town Supervisors have received both complaints and compliments regarding the right-of-way brushing that has occurred this winter season. Before I get to either, please be informed that if you see a crew along any lettered roads (for example F, FF, W, WW, or U) those are county roads. The Town of Grant is also bordered by state roads of 54 and 73. All the others are most likely town roads (although there are some private roads in the Town also). This should help you be aware of the various jurisdictions and whose crew may be out there cutting.

Complaints received have regarded the amount of brush lying near the road or lying in the ditches or swales. This year the Town budgeted $15,000 to purchase a (likely used) chipper. A chipper will allow the crew to cut brush and then blow the mulch onto the ground [Note: any merchantable timber belongs to the landowner]. As soon as possible now, the town crew will do their best to remove wood debris left in the ditches and swales to prevent flooding of these low areas, plugging culverts, etc.

If you are interested, the Oral Ruling of the two lawsuits: Heather Grys-Luecht et al. versus the Town of Grant et al. will be heard on Monday March 16 at 3:30pm in Circuit Court 3 of the Portage County Courthouse. To date, the cost of these lawsuits has exceeded $77,000 of taxpayer dollars.

The weather, including wicked winds and substantial snow is expected Saturday-Monday. Be careful out there and enjoy the snow (and hope it’s not TOO much)! Sharon