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.

A day at All-City Diving

 The dive of Keefe Mitman, Hill Farm Swim Club, is watched by judges, foreground, during the 13-14 boys event at the Madison All-City Dive Meet at Shorewood Hills Pool in Madison, Wis., Monday, July 25, 2011.

 Justin Temprano, Parkcrest Swim and Tennis Club, 13-14 boys/11-12 girls Madison All-City Dive Meet at Shorewood Hills Pool in Madison, Wis., Monday, July 25, 2011.

 LaVonne Cornell-Swanson of Madison, mother of 13-14 boys Parkcrest Swim and Tennis Club diver Nate Swanson, watches the Madison All-City Dive Meet from the stands at Shorewood Hills Pool in Madison, Wis., Monday, July 25, 2011.

 Judges hold up their scores after a dive in the 13-14 boys event at the Madison All-City Dive Meet at Shorewood Hills Pool in Madison, Wis., Monday, July 25, 2011.

A few tables at windows offer a view of North Hamilton Street at The Blue Marlin in Madison, Wis., Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Grilled Ahi Tuna served with couscous, mushrooms, roasted onion, spinach, roasted beet butter and tarragon yogurt.

Talking "corn"

Garden manager Dan Johnson, left, talks "corn" with service camp participants in Middleton Outreach Ministry's garden in Middleton, Wis., Thursday morning, July 14, 2011.

Mooney caravan to EAA

EAA AirVenture is the largest American gathering of aviation enthusiasts and it's held right here in Wisconsin. Although it's only in Oshkosh, it affects the entire state, dramatically increasing its air traffic and tourism for a couple weeks every July.

 Mooney aircraft involved with the 2011 Mooney Caravan to the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh, sit parked on a ramp at Wisconsin Aviation in Madison, Wis., Friday, July 22, 2011. Mooney's are known for their signature reversed vertical stabilizers.

 Larry Brennan, standing, of Burbank, Calif., leads a briefing for Mooney pilots at Wisconsin Aviation. The pilots discussed formation flying practice flights they would take later Friday to prepare for a caravan to the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh.

 Maj. David Marten, an Air Force experimental test pilot, prepares for taxi and takeoff at Wisconsin Aviation. Marten, in his Mooney airplane, readied for a formation flying practice flight with two other Mooneys in preparation for tomorrow's 2011 Mooney Caravan to the EAA AirVenture event in Oshkosh.

 David Piehler of Wausau, Wis., pilots his Mooney M20J ("Mooney 201") in the vicinity of the Madison airport during a formation flying practice flight.

 Two Mooney M20J ("Mooney 201") airplanes fly over the vicinity of the Madison airport during a formation flying practice flight.

 

 Mooney aircraft with their unique tail sections sit parked on a ramp at Wisconsin Aviation.

 

Mooney pilots Chris Shopperly of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, left, and Bret Lowell of Denver, Colo., talk about their formation practice flight at Wisconsin Aviation.

Hottest day of summer

August Nelson, 6, of the Town of Middleton plays on a hot day at the Walter R. Bauman Aquatic Center in Middleton, Wis., Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

Remembering the geese

Emily Smith, director of The PAWS Institute in Edgerton, arranges flowers around a makeshift memorial in front of the City-County Building in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in remembrance of the geese the Madison Parks Division is having killed this summer at four area parks to reduce health and environmental problems stemming from their droppings.

Fake shooting

A police officer searches a vehicle in the vicinity of 1126 and 1125 Catalpa Circle in Madison, Wis., Tuesday afternoon, July 12, 2011, after police received reports of a shooting via an untraceable cell phone call. No evidence of a shooting was found after the buildings and a nearby vehicle were searched.

A nearby resident watches City and Town of Madison police search the area.

Summer school

For a story on the expansion of Madison Public Schools' summer school program.

Jovana Aguilar listens to teacher Erich Eifler in a summer science class at Hawthorne Elementary School in Madison, Wis., Friday morning, July 8, 2011.

Eifler works with his summer science class at Hawthorne Elementary School.

Eifler plays "Simon Says" with his summer school students during a break outside.

Henna

Madison Aubey, 12, visiting from New York, draws henna on the hand of her younger cousin, Julia Aubey, 9, of Madison, during a henna tattoo workshop at the Meadowridge Branch of the Madison Public Library in Madison, Wis., Monday afternoon, July 11, 2011. About two dozen people, variety of ages, participated. Plant-based ink is used to draw on the skin. The temporary tattoo lasts about 3-4 weeks.

Landjaeger

Jerry "Flapp" Plantenberg packages freshly-smoked landjaeger sausage sticks at Zuber's Sausage Kitchen in Monroe, Wis., Tuesday, June 28, 2011. The small company makes about 5,600 pair of landjaeger per week, distributed by nine companies and available at hundreds of convenience stores throughout the state.

Still ticking...

I'm always amazed at the places this job takes me. The other week, it was high up into the clock tower at the Green County Courthouse. The clock was purchased from a Boston manufacturer for $500 and installed in 1892. It is still working today. The only modification is, instead of being powered by weights and cables, they've converted it to run on electricity.

County clerk Mike Doyle looks at writings on the walls of a shed housing clock mechanisms in the clock tower of the Green County Courthouse in Monroe, Wis., Tuesday, June 28, 2011.

 The original directions for care and use of the tower clock still hang.

Some vandalism has occurred to windows in the gear house.

 A small shed houses the clock gears and mechanisms in the middle of the clock tower.

Alleged assassination plot

 James McVay appears for an initial appearance before Court Commissioner Todd Meurer at the Dane County Public Safety Building in Madison, Wis., Thursday afternoon, July 7, 2011. Meurer ordered a competency examination but later cancelled it, setting an extradition hearing for August. McVay is charged with murder in South Dakota, and told police here that he was plotting to kill President Barack Obama and other people along the way. 

 James McVay, left, appears with a public defender during the initial appearance.

Rhythm and Booms

Fireworks fans stake out their piece of grass hours before the display at Rhythm & Booms at Warner Park in Madison, Wis., Saturday afternoon, July 2, 2011. 

"Ali Baba" provides a wild ride for youths in the carnival area.

A Swinging Good Time: Kenny Janisch of Beloit swings family friend Tyler Daniels, 4, around and around while waiting for the fireworks display.

People look to the skies to spot the Golden Knights U.S. Army Parachute Team descend into Warner Park several hours before the fireworks.