Burnett County Clean-up:
Once again the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, Washburn County Dept of Forestry and the WI Dept. of Natural Resources worked together to coordinate the WBHA Annual County Forest Clean-Up. With Chicog Town Hall as headquarters, over 100 trucks continuously waited in line to unload an accumulated 30 plus tons of garbage picked up throughout Washburn, Douglas & Burnett county forests. Allied Waste Services once again graciously donated three garbage trucks and a semi trailer for white goods for the annual clean up.
Over 200 volunteers participated in picking up everything imaginable including a pickup camper, a boat, a truck cab, and the usual mountain of tires. Joining the volunteers were several members of the Spooner and Minong Department of Natural Resources, Washburn County foresters.
After a morning of hard work, volunteers enjoyed a great meal of hamburgers and brats with all of the fixings prepared by the Washburn County Forestry Department. As fellow hunters and volunteers enjoyed their lunch, Rep. Ann Hraychuck was on hand to introduced herself commend everyone for their efforts.
Price County Clean-up:
Thank you to all the volunteers that came out to the WBHA'S Price County Clean-up. We collected more then 2 tons of metal and tin, along with many tires and garbage.
Volunteers: Phil Devin, Bernie and Cindy Hoekstra, Ivy, Trevor and Joe Janak, Travis Taves, Jim and Brett Chester, Curly Stadtmueller and the Price County Foresters Corey Verdegan and Damon Polus.
Wood County Clean-up:
The Wood County Forest clean-up got started from a suggestion of the County Forester, Fritz Shubert at the Wood County Wild Life Area Advisory Committee to the County Board. I brought it up at the Mid-State Houndsmen Association meeting; everyone thought it was a good project. Scott McCauly, president of the Wisconsin Trappers Association, called the next day saying he had Firestone committed to pick up the tires. They showed up with a big truck and picked up garbage along the roadsides all day long and hauled out a big load of tires. They came back the next day to pick up tires that grew overnight. Firestone also furnished t-shirts, hats and antiseptic tubs.
More than forty people showed up, including members of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters, Wisconsin Trappers, Wilderness Sportsmen Club, as well as some local people. One person living nearby was checking trucks coming into the area. When he found out what we were doing, he volunteered to bring his backhoe to lift or move anything that we needed help with. A forest product company furnished all of the pizza and soda that we could want. I also received a thank-you letter from some people who live next to the area we cleaned. The county has now put up berms on the fire lanes into the area. I hope that with the berms and the article in the paper, people will think twice before dumping garbage in the forest. I believe that everyone who helped did a fine job.
