Update on Lake Superior Barrels Project December 18th

Lake Superior Barrels Project
 
December 18th Washburn, WI
Washburn Library
 
 Program will begin at 6:00

Since the mid 1990’s, the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has been researching and conducting investigations on approximately 1,450 55-gallon barrels dumped into Gichigami (Lake Superior) by the US Army between 1959 and 1962 in collaboration with the Army Corp of Engineers and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). It is the goal and responsibility of the Red Cliff Band to fully characterize the type and extent of Department of Defense wastes, which may have impacts on the natural resources within the Ceded Territory. The Red Cliff Band is dedicated to working with federal agencies to clean up, restore and protect the ecosystems of the Ceded Territory. The Red Cliff Band is also committed to the economy, natural resources, and cultural uses within Chippewa Ceded Territory and to determine if further remedial work is required to preserve and protect the rich natural resources of Gichigami.
 
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has a Cooperative Agreement with Army Corp of Engineers to provide an update to area stakeholders who also have a vested interest in this project. A PowerPoint program will be presented and also any questions that may arise will be answered. These informational sessions are open to the public.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Gary Defoe Jr. Project Manager                                      Frank K. Koehn                                                            
88455 Pike Road                                                                619 17th Ave. W
Bayfield WI 54814                                                              Ashland, WI 54844
Phone: 715-779-3650                                                        218.341.8822                                            
gary.defoejr@redcliff-nsn.gov                                         frankjkoehn@gmail.com        

Holiday Party Pictures and Notes From Andrea Kaminski's Talk

 

What a wonderful time attendees had at our 2014 Holiday Party at the Hotel Chequamegon! 

Our speaker was Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Wisconsin. A bonus for those of you who couldn't attend:  Click here to view Andrea's notes for her talk.

Thank you Madelaine for the pictures!

Annual Holiday Party at the Hotel Chequamegon

Please join us for our annual Holiday Party on Wednesday December 10th at 5:30 at the Hotel Chequamegon in Ashland.

We are pleased to welcome Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters Wisconsin, as our guest speaker. 

$22.00 per person (tax and tip included)

Please reply by December 5th.  

Send your check and meal choices to:

LWV/ABC
c/o Julia Waggoner
P O Box 175 
Ashland, WI 54806

Dinner Choices:

Herb Crusted Chicken Breast
Served with vegetables, breadsticks, 
salad and baby red potatoes. 

White Fish Your Way
Beer Battered or Broiled, with lemon dill aioli or tartar sauce.
Served with vegetables, breadsticks, salad and baby red potatoes. 

Molly Cooper’s Sirloin Steak
An eight ounce sirloin grilled to perfection, 
sautéed in a sweet Bourbon glaze.
Served with vegetables, breadsticks, salad and baby red potatoes. 

Pasta de Angelina
Broccoli, pine nuts, red pepper flakes and basil,
Sautéed and tossed with garlic infused olive oil and angel hair pasta.
Served with breadsticks, vegetables & salad. 

Dessert 
Dish of Ice cream with Crème de Menthe 
Coffee included.

LWV/ABC 2014-16 Economic Inequality Study Kickoff

AT ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN MAY THE LWV OF ASHLAND AND BAYFIELD COUNTIES ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING LOCAL STUDY FOR THE YEARS 2014-16:

“What are the specific ways in which the Chequamegon Bay region is impacted by economic inequality, and what can we do about it?”

Board members Jan Penn and Linda Jorgenson are working together to organize the study.  They plan to invite other local organizations to co-sponsor the study.  

THE FIRST MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 AT 7 PM AT THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES VISITOR CENTER.

If you are interested in joining the Study Committee please come to the meeting or Contact Us.

New Format for the "Debate" at NGLVC Tonight

Due to the last minute cancellation by Jamie Francis (Republican Candidate for 74th Assembly District) and Dane Deutsch (Republican Candidate for 25th Senate District), the debate at the Great Lakes Northern Visitors Center has been changed to a discussion. 

Janet Bewley and Beth Meyers will each be allotted 30 minutes with a panel of reporters to discuss issues within each district. KUWS-Superior (91.3FM) and WUWS-Ashland (90.9FM) will air the discussions live.

WPR 25th Senate District & 74th Assembly District Discussions

6:00pm - Janet Bewley (Democratic Candidate 25th Senate District)
6:30pm - Beth Meyers (Democratic Candidate 74th Assembly District)

You can read the Meyers campaign response to the cancellation here: Meyers 10-28 Press Release

Information about the Transportation Referendum on the Ballot November 4th

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Creation of a Transportation Fund

Shall section 9 (2) of article IV and section 11 of article VIII of the constitution be created to require that revenues generated by use of the state transportation system be deposited into a transportation fund administered by a department of transportation for the exclusive purpose of funding Wisconsin’s transportation systems and to prohibit any transfers or lapses from this fund?

Yes  ____  No  _____

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What does this mean? In a nutshell, this amendment would establish the Department of Transportation in the state constitution and limit how monies in the Transportation Fund can be spent. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? Turns out there is more to it and in order to help you make an informed decision, we've found four articles with good information about this ballot item. 

According to Paul Fanlund's October 13th article in the Cap Times, "An analysis of the database of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a respected nonprofit, nonpartisan group that tracks campaign contributions, shows that from Jan. 1, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2013, the special interests that back the ballot question, led by groups with a financial stake in more highways, contributed $21.6 million to individuals and political action committees....Predictably, organizations supporting the amendment include producers of road-building material, various fossil fuel energy interests, tourism interests, chambers of commerce, and of course Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state’s retro business lobby." 

According to the LWV Dane County website, "A “no” vote would mean that the Department of Transportation continues to be a statutory agency. A “yes” vote would mean that. . .(f)unds in the transportation fund may not be. . .used for any program that is not directly administered by the department of transportation.” 

An editorial in the Cap Times states, "At a point when the Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects that Gov. Scott Walker’s austerity policies will lead to a $1.8 billion shortfall in the next budget cycle, the worst thing the state could do would be to limit the flexibility of legislators and the governor when it comes to budgeting."

Finally, Craig Thompson, Executive Director of Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin, states in an editorial to the Cap Times, "We are naturally reluctant to solve problems by amending the constitution. That is a healthy reflex. This issue, however, truly belongs in the constitution. This is not a narrow bit of fiscal policy, but rather a common-sense safeguard that will keep transportation user fees dedicated for their intended purpose."

Please use these articles as resources for developing an informed decision at the polls on Tuesday November 4th.  

Wondering why our League didn't host a candidate's forum this year?

This letter to the editor was submitted to the Ashland Daily Press last week.

No LVW forums prior to elections

I am writing on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties to express our disappointment that we will not be able to hold voter forums this month leading up to the November 4 elections. The League’s forums are a chance for all area citizens to ask questions of the candidates and are operated in an unbiased, fair manner. Unfortunately, some of the candidates in this season’s elections did not respond to our forum invitations or indicated that they were “too busy” to participate in League forums. To their credit, Janet Bewley, Beth Meyers and Kelly Westlund all enthusiastically agreed to participate, and provided a number of dates they would be available. Their opponents did not.

The League of Women Voters will continue offering forums, if candidates will agree to participate. The service is for the voters, and candidates who are unresponsive or refuse to attend are denying citizens a chance to hear from them, learn of the candidates’ positions, and gain the knowledge necessary to make informed voting decisions on election day.

We encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote on Nov. 4, and are delighted that because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week, photo IDs will not be required.

Madelaine Herder, President

League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties

Link to Letter

This may be one of the most important elections of our lifetime - Elizabeth MacNamara

The League Update

October 16, 2014

Dear League Members,

It is easy to tell that Election Day 2014 is getting closer. In my recent travels to Wisconsin and this week in Texas, you see the candidates’ yard signs everywhere and the television ads have picked up and seem to run at every opportunity on every channel. What I have also seen first-hand is all the work the Leagues are doing in these final weeks. Hundreds of candidate debates and forums are being held and tens of thousands, if not millions, of voters’ guides are getting into the hands of voters and available online through VOTE411.org. Leagues are doing what they do best: providing the information all voters need to get ready and vote on November 4th.

This may be one of the most important elections of our lifetime. There is a great deal on the line - control of the US Senate - and thus the direction of our country going into the next presidential race, literally hangs in the balance of how many people register and vote this year. Big issues are weighing on the minds of voters: continuing to get our economy back on track, our national security during these very scary and uncertain times, affording quality education, and health care.

Keep up the great work of preparing and informing voters. This work is one of the most valuable things we do for our communities. As you turn your attention to get-out-the-vote activities and helping Election Day go smoothly by working at or observing the polls, remember to send out a press release and letter to the editor, update your Facebook page and Twitter feed, call up your neighbors, and make sure your voters’ guide is available in local grocery stores, schools, lobbies and bus stops. This is what the League does best. But voters can only take advantage of the resources if we share them far and wide.

In League,

Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Wisconsin Voter ID Law

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked Wisconsin's voter ID law on Thursday evening, meaning that Wisconsin voters will not be required to bring any forms of identification to the polls on Nov. 4.

The court granted the request by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Advancement Project and other groups in a 6-3 vote, restoring an injunction that had been placed on the law by a federal district court.

For more information see WPR and NY Times articles. And of course all the other articles in the news...

State Issues Meeting: We are all in the same canoe!

Elizabeth MacNamara, Andrea Kaminski and Mike Wiggins, Jr.

Thank you Mike Wiggins Jr. for speaking at the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin State Issues Meeting.

League of Women Voters of Ashland & Bayfield Counties sent three representatives to the meeting.

Mike is shown with League of Women Voters National President, Elizabeth MacNamara, and Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director of Wisconsin.

Yes, we are all in the same canoe on many issues facing our state.