The 'geese guardian'

From our story by Doug Erickson: "Under a large white oak tree, William Watson feeds a flock of domestic geese — and other waterfowl — at Babcock County Park in McFarland. He has fed the geese daily for 26 years, but a new Dane County ordinance will prohibit him from continuing."

Mid-Continent Railroad Museum - A restoration

From our story by Barry Adams: 

"The '1385' has seen better days. The 104-year-old steam engine has traversed the country pulling freight and passengers, been in movies and shuttled colorful wagons from Circus World Museum in Baraboo to Milwaukee for the Great Circus Parade.

Led by a $250,000 matching grant from the Wagner Foundation, a fundraising campaign is under way to cover the costs of a restoration for the 1385 that is expected to cost an estimated $1.2 million. If completed, it would be the largest restoration project in the museum's history but less than the estimated $2 million it is taking to restore the museum following the floods of 2008.

"When I look at it, I know what (it) can be and that's the drive to keep it going," said Don Meyer, [above] project director of the 1385 restoration effort. "I know the impact that it has on the general public."

 The builder's plate of Chicago & North Western No. 1385, a steam engine under restoration at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wis.

 

Children mill-around Copper Range No. 29, a locomotive on display at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, Wis., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Children and other visitors to the museum may someday be able to ride the rails driven by the old steam technology if the Chicago & North Western No. 1385 is successfully restored.

Wisconsin Badgers Media Day

Media day was – for the most part – all about Russell Wilson, the new quarterback at Wisconsin. Assignment: make a few nice portraits of Wilson for our season preview tab insert, and get a photo showing the media pack constantly surrounding the poor guy.

 

Wisconsin football season begins... so does Russell Wilson mania

It's time to get the Wisconsin Badgers football season underway. The Badgers landed Russell Wilson, a highly coveted quarterback from N.C. State with one year of eligibility remaining. The hype is really something else.  

We start with the first practice of the season.

 

 On-field manager Jake Risse drags out equipment for Wisconsin football team's first practice of the season at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Friday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2011. 

  

  Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, gets settled into practice with quarterbacks coach Paul Chryst, right, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., Friday afternoon, Aug. 5, 2011.

 

Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson, throws a pass during practice.

From left, Wisconsin redshirt freshman wide receiver Connor Cummins (31), redshirt freshman tight end Sherard Cadogan (86), and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jeff Duckworth (15) go through warm up drills at the start of practice.

 Wisconsin running backs Montee Ball (28), left, and James White (20) check their gloves during warmup drills.

 Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema watches over warmups during practice.

High school football is back

The Waunakee High School Warriors football team practices at the school's practice field in Waunakee, Wis., Wednesday morning, Aug. 3, 2011.