>> WELCOME TO "IN WISCONSIN."

I'M PATTY LOEW.

THIS WEEK A CREATURE RARELY SEEN HIDDEN IN THE WILDS OF WISCONSIN.

>> THESE ARE NOT BABY OWLS.

THESE ARE FULL GROWN.

>> IT'S A SIGHT YOU CAN CATCH ONCE A YEAR AT A PLACE CALLED WOODLAND DUNES.

PLUS AN UPHILL BATTLE TO RAISE MONEY FOR TWO COLLEGE WOMEN FROM THAILAND WHO ARE GIVING HOPE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND THE DNR TRIES TO PRESERVE THIS PARCEL OF LAND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> THE PROPERTY HAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL TOPOGRAPHY.

GREAT VIEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY SETS A CONCEPT OF A PARK PROPERTY.

>> SEE WHY THIS UNIQUE PRESERVATION PROJECT IS DESCRIBED AS PEARLS ON A STRING.

THIS WEEK ON "IN WISCONSIN."

>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY WHO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.

AND THE AN -- A VETERINARY TEAMWORKING WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.

>> WISCONSIN IS HOME TO AN AMAZING ARRAY OF ANIMALS AND SOME WE RARELY SEE.

SO WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT ONE RAPTOR THAT CAN EASILY HIDE IN THE WILD.

"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER JO GARRETT SHOWS YOU THIS ILLUSIVE NIGHT OWL AT A PLACE CALLED WOODLAND DUNES IN MANITOWOC COUNTY.

>> THERE IS AN ANIMAL THAT IS SO SECRETIVE, SO HIDDEN, YOU'RE LUCKY IF YOU HEAR ITS CALL IN THESE WOODS.

TO SAY NOTHING OF ACTUALLY SEEING THEM.

THESE MYSTERIOUS CREATURES ONLY EMERGE AT NIGHT, WHICH IS WHY JIM ARRIVED IN THE WANING HOURS HERE AT THE WOODLAND DUNES NATURE CENTER IN MANITOWOC COUNTY.

DUFEK VOLUNTEERS HERE AS A MEMBER OF A GROUP CALLED THE NIGHT GANG.

>> THE NIGHT GANG IS A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO COME OUT TO CHECK THE NETS AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING THE NIGHT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 10:00 P.M., MIDNIGHT, 2:00 A.M. PEOPLE COME OUT.

>> THEY SHOW UP AT THESE TIME SLOTS NEARLY EVERY NIGHT FOR NEARLY SIX WEEKS.

EVERY NIGHT THESE NETS GO UP.

>> WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD AS MANY AS 70 IN A NIGHT WHEN YOU GET A NORTHWEST WIND.

>> YOU DON'T WANT TO STICK YOUR FINGER IN THERE, OH MAN.

THERE IS SOMETHING IN HERE.

NOW REMEMBER, THESE ARE FULL GROWN.

>> BERNIE BROUCHOUS REVEALS THE ANIMAL THE NIGHT GANG NETED SQUINTING IN THE SUNLIGHT.

>> THESE ARE NOT BABIES, THEY'RE FULL GROWN.

>> THIS IS A SAW WHET OWL.

THEY'RE THE STARS OF THE ANNUAL OWL FEST.

THE NAME IS SAW WHET.

WISCONSIN'S SMALLEST HOUR.

>> THEY MAY BE 8 INCHES, WING SPREAD 14, 16 INCHES.

THEY'RE VERY LIGHT.

A COUPLE OUNCES.

>> IT PROVIDES A CHANCE TO SEE THAT PETITE PREDATOR UP CLOSE AND TO GAIN AN APPRECIATION OF HOW IT SURVIVES IN THE WORLD OF NIGHT.

>> WHERE DO YOU SEE THE EARS?

DO YOU SEE THEM?

SEE THAT DISC THERE?

DISC SHAPED FEATHERS HERE?

THEY DIRECT THE SOUND TO BEHIND THAT DISC AND THAT'S WHERE THE EAR IS.

IF YOU LOOK, THERE IT IS, SEE?

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> LOOKS WEIRD.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

>> IT LOOKS WEIRD.

>> THESE FEATHERS DIRECT THAT TO THE BACK OF THE DISC WHERE THE EARS ARE.

ONE IS HIGHER, ONE IS LOWER.

>> THIS BIRD IS A HOOK.

A WAY IN TO AN INTERESTING ANIMAL, TO AN INTEREST IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WOODLAND DUNES.

>> IT'S A GATEWAY SPECIES ALONG THE WISCONSIN RIVER OR YOU MAY HAVE BALD EAGLES CONGREGATING.

FOR US IT'S SAW WHET OWLS.

THEY'RE VERY APPEALING TO PEOPLE.

THEY'RE A CALM BIRD.

THEY'RE AMENABLE TO BEING SHOWN AND RELEASED.

BEING ABLE TO GET PEOPLE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY LIKE THAT FORMS A CONNECTION.

SO FOR US THEY'RE A GATEWAY.

>> BERNIE BROUCHOUS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO MAKING THAT CONNECTION.

HE'S NOT A RESEARCHER.

FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE HE WORKED IN LOCAL GROCERY STORES.

>> USUALLY WE'LL CATCH BETWEEN 200 AND 400 OWLS EACH FALL.

>> FOR ALL OF HIS LIFE BROUCHOUS HAS BEEN PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH BIRDS.

BIRD WATCHING AND BANDING.

EVERY YEAR THE SAW WHETS MIGRATE THROUGH THE WOODS AND WETLANDS OF WOODLAND DUNES AS THEY MIGRATE SOUTH ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN.

>> IT LAYS WITH ITS TALONS UP WAITING FOR ME.

HE'S SNAPPING HIS BEAK.

HE WANTS TO SCARE US.

I BAND IN THE RIGHT LEG.

>> INFORMATION ABOUT THESE LITTLE BIRDS IS RECORDED.

SECRETS SPILL OUT OF THEIR WINGS.

>> YOU SEE THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT COLORS OF THESE.

THESE ARE LIGHTER THAN THESE.

SO THAT MEANS THIS IS AN ADULT.

IT WAS NOT HATCHED THIS YEAR.

WE WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY GO.

HOW LONG IT TAKES THEM TO GET THERE.

DO THEY COME BACK TO THE SAME SPOT.

>> HOW MANY HAVE BIRD BOOKS?

ALL RIGHT.

YOU LOOK IN THERE AND IT TELLS YOU WHERE THE BIRD NESTS AND WHERE IT GOES IN WINTERTIME.

THAT'S ALL THROUGH THE BANDING PROGRAM.

>> THERE WAS NO WOODLAND DUNES NATURE CENTER WHEN BROUCHOUS STARTED BANDING HERE.

IN FACT, IT WAS THE SUCCESS OF HIS BANDING EFFORTS THAT PUT THIS PLACE ON THE MAP AS A MIGRATORY HOT SPOT.

BECAUSE OF THAT, BROUCHOUS PUSHED TO GET THIS PLACE PRESERVED.

1200 ACRES AND 30 YEARS LATER, IT IS.

THIS IS A BIRD HAVEN.

BUT IT IS THE SAW WHETS THAT STEAL THE SHOW.

>> I'VE BEEN FASCINATED BY OWLS AND I LEARNED OF THIS EVENT GOING ON AND THOUGHT WOW, I HAVE TO GO DOWN AND BE PART OF THAT.

>> YOU DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO ADOPT THIS OWL.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO RAISE IT.

WE'VE GOT ONE, OKAY.

>> BROUCHOUS HAS SPEARHEADED A PROGRAM TO ADOPT AN OWL AT OWL FEST.

IT WILL HELP THE CENTER BUY NEW NESTS.

>> LET HIM GO.

THERE HE GOES.

>> HE WENT TO THE MULBERRY TREE INSTEAD OF THE LILACS.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SEE HIM NOW.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WALK UP TO HIM.

>> IT IS SOMETHING TO MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO KNOW THAT I HELPED AND DID SOMETHING THAT IS OUT THERE IN THE WILD.

>> TO BE OUT THERE IN THE WILD.

BROUCHOUS NOW SERVES AS THE CENTER'S ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR.

HE'D LOVE TO PASS ON HIS LOVE OF BIRDS.

>> WE WANT TO TEACH KIDS TO LOVE THE OUT OF DOORS.

THAT'S DIMINISHING AND THAT'S A DISASTER.

IT'S A PIECE OF WILDERNESS.

THESE KIDS HAVE NEVER SEEN AN OWL LIKE THIS BEFORE.

THEY DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS EXIST.

>> PUT HIM ON YOUR HAND ON THAT FINGER AND YOU CLOSE YOUR HAND.

>> IT'S A TOUCH OF WILDNESS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL HELP A LOVE OF NATURE TAKE WING.

>> OPEN YOUR HAND AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

>> I'LL TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU.

DON'T PULL YOUR HAND AWAY.

>> THIS SATURDAY MORNING IS OWL FEST AT WOODLAND DUNES.

WHERE THEY'LL ONCE AGAIN SHOW OFF THE SAW WHET OWLS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT wpt.org AND CLICK ON INWISCONSIN.

THE SWALE HABITAT WAS DESIGNATED A SITE OF ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE FROM THE WISCONSIN DNR.

THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SIMILAR HABITATS IN THE WORLD.

WATCH OUR WEB-ONLY CLIPS ABOUT THE WOODLAND DUNES AND THE BENEFIT THEY PROVIDE TO THE NEARBY CITIES OF TWO RIVERS AND MANITOWAC.

IN JUST A FEW MINUTES WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT ANOTHER SWATH OF LAND IMPORTANT TO PRESERVING A PIECE OF WISCONSIN NATURE.

BUT FIRST A FOLLOW UP TO A REPORT THAT "IN WISCONSIN" FIRST BROUGHT YOU LAST MAY.

IT IS ABOUT TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

JOSEPH QUINNELL AND SUSAN PERRI ARE ON A QUEST TO HELP TWO WOMEN FROM A FAR AWAY LAND GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

AS LIZ KOERNER SHOWS YOU, SUCCESS COMES WITH A PRICE IN STEVENS POINT.

>> THE SCENT OF INGREDIENTS LIKE LEMON GRASS AND HOT PEPPERS FILL THE AIR AT THIS CAMPUS GATHERING.

FONGTIP AND AOR HAVE PREPARED FOOD FROM THEIR HOME IN THAILAND.

THEY'RE ATTENDING UW STEVENS POINT BECAUSE TWO UNDER GRADS FOUGHT A BATTLE THAT MOST SAID WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO WIN.

>> I WOULD DESCRIBE THEM AS A FORCE TO BE WRECK ONED WITH OR A JUGGERNAUT.

SOMETHING ON SOME LEVEL UNSTOPPABLE.

>> JOSEPH QUINNELL AND SUSAN PERRI TOOK ON IMPOSSIBLE ODDS TO BRING THESE TWO WOMEN TO WISCONSIN TO GET THEM A COLLEGE EDUCATION.

EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE BORN IN THAILAND THE THAI GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T GRANT THEM CITIZENSHIP.

THEIR PARENTS IMMIGRATED FROM MYANMAR.

>> MY MOM CAME TO THAILAND AND I WAS BORN IN THAILAND BUT I CAN'T BE A THAI CITIZEN.

>> WITHOUT CITIZENSHIP THEY HAVE VERY FEW RIGHTS.

A COLLEGE EDUCATION AND A GOOD JOB IS OUT OF THE QUESTION AND TRAVEL IS EXTREMELY LIMITED.

THEY'RE CONSIDERED STATELESS.

>> IN THAILAND IN A STATELESSNESS IS THE HIGHEST RISK TO BEING TRAFFICKED.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS A NICE WORD FOR WHAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S MODERN DAY SLAVERY.

FOR ACADEMIC GROWTH, NEW PROGRAM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THEY'RE BOTH ART STUDENTS.

QUINNELL IS STUDYING PHOTOGRAPHY.

IN 2005 HE DECIDED TO SHED THE LIGHT ON THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY PUTTING HIS PHOTOGRAPHY SKILLS TO WORK IN THAILAND.

>> MY FIRST WEEK IN THAILAND I WAS OFFERED A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND YOU CAN READ ABOUT THAT ALL YOU WANT OR WATCH DOCUMENTARIES AND DO THE RESEARCH, BUT YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW AWFUL IT IS UNTIL YOU ARE LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL, YOU KNOW, WHO IS SMILING UP AT YOU, A GENUINE CHILD SMILE AS HER PRICE IS BEING QUOTED.

>> HIS QUEST IS PERSONAL.

>> I'M REALLY OPEN ABOUT MY PAST.

MY CHILDHOOD.

I WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED FOR OVER TEN YEARS.

AND I STARTED TO -- I STARTED TO USE ART TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE STORIES.

>> QUINNELL'S PAST MADE HIM WANT TO HELP OTHER KIDS AT RISK FOR ABUSE.

HE MET HUNDREDS OF THEM AT A SCHOOL FOR STATELESS CHILDREN IN NORTHERN THAILAND.

THE SCHOOL IS RUN BY SOMPOP JANTRAKA WHO HAS BEEN -- THESE STUDENTS DIDN'T HAVE CITIZENSHIP AND COULDN'T GO TO COLLEGE.

QUINNELL CAME UP WITH WHAT MOST CONSIDERED AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.

>> THE ONE PERSON WHO BELIEVED FROM THE GET GO WAS SOMPOP.

>> WHEN HE GOT HOME, QUINNELL CONVINCED PERRI TO WORK WITH HIM TO DO WHAT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE.

THEY PETITIONED THE THAI GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW THESE YOUNG WOMEN TO TRAVEL TO WISCONSIN TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY.

IT TOOK THREE YEARS AND THE ASSISTANCE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND THAILAND BUT QUINNELL AND PERRI'S PERSISTENCE MADE THIS IMPOSSIBLE DREAM COME TRUE.

>> THE DAY THAT WE HAD THAT TRAVEL DOCUMENT IN HAND, THE DAY THAT THE THAI GOVERNMENT ALLOWED A STATELESS PERSON TO TRAVEL TO THAT EXTENT, I TOOK IT AND I WENT OFF BY MYSELF FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IT WAS SO EMOTIONAL TO HOLD THIS THING IN MY HAND.

SOMETHING THAT WE HAD WORKED FOR FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

>> IT IS CALLED THE THAILAND PROJECT.

>> AND THAILAND PROJECT MAKE ME HAVE A GOOD DREAM AND I CAN DO IT.

YES.

>> EVEN BEFORE SECURING THE TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, PERRI AND QUINNELL TOOK ON ANOTHER SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TASK.

THEY BEGAN TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE STUDENTS' FIRST YEAR OF CLASS AND LIVING EXPENSES.

TO RAISE AWARENESS QUINNELL PUT UP A CAMPUS-WIDE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT.

IMAGES OF RED LIGHT DISTRICT IN THAILAND.

>> I REALLY BELIEVE THAT A PHOTOGRAPH, YOU KNOW, CAN CHANGE THINGS.

>> PERRI DESIGNED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN URGING STUDENTS TO SEE RED.

THEY RAISED MORE THAN $14,000 IN ONE WEEK.

WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM A LOCAL CHURCH, DENTAL OFFICE AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS, THEY MET THEIR FIRST YEAR GOAL.

>> AND I'VE LOVED, YOU KNOW, WORKING ON DIFFERENT PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH DIFFERENT ISSUES LIKE THE FUNDRAISING ISSUE.

>> THE BATTLE TO FUND THE REST OF FONGTIP AND AOR'S EDUCATION NEEDS MORE.

>> FONGTIP, ONE OF THE WOMEN FEATURED IN OUR REPORT, HAS BEEN GRANTED THAI CITIZENSHIP, WORK IS UNDERWAY TO ACHIEVE THE SAME STATUS FOR AOR.

QUINNELL AND PERRI TRAVELED BACK TO THAILAND WITH THE WOMEN LAST SUMMER AND SUCCESSFULLY RENEWED AOR'S TRAVEL DOCUMENT.

ANOTHER FIRST IN THAI HISTORY AND BOTH GOT NEW U.S. STUDENT VISAS.

THESE PHOTO SHOW THE WOMEN'S OUT RAGE SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH CHILDREN.

THE CHALLENGED THE CHILDREN TO SEE EDUCATION AS THE ANSWER.

BOTH ARE NOW IN THEIR SECOND YEAR AT UW STEVENS POINT AND THEY'VE RAISED ENOUGH MONEY FOR THIS YEAR'S TUITION.

EFFORTS ARE STILL UNDERWAY TO RAISE MONEY FOR YEARS THREE AND FOUR.

UW STEVENS POINT OFFICIALS SAY THE THAI PROJECT IS FUNDED ENTIRELY BY PRIVATE DONATIONS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE, JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE wpt.org AND CLICK ON IN WISCONSIN.

NEXT WEDNESDAY THE WISCONSIN NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE A FIRST OF ITS KIND PROJECT.

THE PRICE TAG, $125 MILLION.

IT IS DESCRIBED AS PEARLS ON A STRING AND COULD BRING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO A PART OF THE STATE WHERE THERE ARE NO LARGE AREAS OF LAND LEFT TO PRESERVE.

"IN WISCONSIN" REPORTER ART HACKETT SHOWS YOU WHY THIS PROPERTY BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON IS SO VALUABLE TO JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> I'M TOLD IT'S THE THIRD HIGHEST HILL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND I CAN'T-- >> DALHART HOLZHEUTER IS TALKING ABOUT A 170 ACRE PARCEL OF LAND SOUTHEAST OF WATERLOO.

>> MY BIRTHPLACE WAS RIGHT BEHIND THE HILL HERE.

MY FOLKS MOVED TO THE CRAWFISH RIVER.

MY GRANDFATHER'S OWNED LAND IN THE AREA SINCE 1916.

>> HE RENTS OUT PART OF THE LAND AND MAINTAINS A GRASS COURSE ON THE PROPERTY FOR LAKESIDE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL'S CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM.

>> I PURCHASED IT PROBABLY ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO AND THIS WAS MY RETIREMENT FUND.

>> HOLZHEUTER DECIDED TO TAP THAT FUND WHEN HIS STRAWBERRY CROPS WERE FLOODED ALONG THE CRAWFISH RIVER.

>> I HAD AN OFFER ON THE PROPERTY UP HERE FROM A DEVELOPER FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MUCH NICER IF MORE PEOPLE COULD HAVE THE VIEW THAT IS SEEN FROM UP HERE THAN JUST A COUPLE PEOPLE.

>> AND SO THE WISCONSIN DNR IS BUYING THE PROPERTY.

>> THE PROPERTY HAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL TOPOGRAPHY.

GREAT VIEWS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT REALLY FITS A CONCEPT OF A PARK PROPERTY.

>> BUT THE PURCHASE OF HOLZHEUTER'S LAND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY MAY BE THE BEGINNING OF AN EFFORT WHICH BEGAN MORE THAN A YEAR AGO AND WHICH COULD CONTINUE OVER 30 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

>> THE STATE LEGISLATURE SAID TO THE DNR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OWN THE ENTIRE STATE.

YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN AND YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY AREAS IN WISCONSIN FOR CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION AND RECREATION.

>> THE RESULT WAS THE LAND LEGACY REPORT.

>> IT REALLY IS A GREEN PRINT FOR LOOKING AHEAD IN WISCONSIN TO WHAT OUGHT TO BE PROTECTED.

>> JEFFERSON COUNTY BEGAN THE FIRST MAJOR EFFORT TO BUILD FROM THAT GREEN PRINT.

THE RESULT IS THE GLACIAL HERITAGE AREA.

>> WE SAID WE THINK WE HAVE SOME UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN THE JEFFERSON COUNTY AREA TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.

WE ARE BASICALLY THE LAST GREEN SPACE BETWEEN MILWAUKEE AND MADISON.

SO AS I LIKE TO SAY, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NECESSARILY THAT GOOD, BUT IT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

>> THE GLACIAL HERITAGE AREA DESCRIBES DESCRIPTION.

IT IS NOT A COUNTY, STATE FACILITY OR A BIKE TRAIL.

IT'S ACTUALLY ALL OF THE ABOVE.

WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH EACH OTHER.

>> THE PROJECT ACTUALLY BEGINS IN SOUTHERN DODGE COUNTY WHERE THE DNR ALREADY OWNS THE MUD LAKE AND WATERLOO WILDLIFE AREAS.

THERE ARE NEARLY A DOZEN OTHER PUBLIC CONSERVATION AREAS EXTENDING DOWN INTO ROCK COUNTY.

THE PLAN IDENTIFIES HALF A DOZEN MORE PROPERTIES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ACQUISITION IN THE FUTURE.

ALL WOULD BE TIED TOGETHER WITH A NETWORK OF BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAILS.

THE CLUSTER IS DESCRIBED AS PEARLS ON A STRING.

>> THE PEARLS ARE VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCE AREAS IN JEFFERSON, DODGE, DANE AND ROCK COUNTIES.

THE STRING IS THE CONNECTION WITH THE TRAIL AND CONNECT ONE NATURAL RESOURCE AREA TO ANOTHER AND CONNECT OUR COMMUNITIES WITH OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AREA.

>> JEFFERSON COUNTY ALREADY HAS THE GLACIAL DRUMLIN TRAIL CONTION IT.

THE WILD GOOSE TRAIL COMES DOWN FROM FOND DU LAC BUT ENDS.

THE PLAN IS TO EXTEND IT TO FORT ATKINSON.

>> COUNTY WIDE WE WOULD HAVE A BIG SYSTEM OF TRAILS GREAT FOR OFF THE ROAD FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO RIDE ON THE ROAD.

>> PADDLE SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS LIKE JOHN MCKENZIE OF FORT ATKINSON HOPE THE PLAN WILL HELP ORGANIZE A WATERWAY THAT RUNS FROM MUD LAKE ALL THE WAY TO LAKE KOSH TO NONG.

>> THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AMENITIES ARE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO.

>> THE JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD ENDORSED THE GLACIAL HERITAGE AREA BY A LOPSIDED 20-6 VOTE.

SUPERVISOR JIM MODE OF FORT ATKINSON WAS AMONG THE DISSENTERS.

HE SAYS HIS CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY FARMERS, ARE CONCERNED IT WOULD DRIVE UP THE PRICE OF LAND.

>> I THINK APPRAISERS APPRAISE IT AND COME UP WITH A FAIR VALUE.

BUT WHEN THEY'RE PAYING UP TO $4,000 FOR SOME LAND THAT REALLY ISN'T PRIME FARMLAND, THAT TENDS TO RUN THE PRICE OF THE PRIME LAND UP EVEN HIGHER.

>> DNR DIRECTOR OF LANDS STEVE MILLER DISPUTES THIS.

>> IT'S NOT A RESULT OF BUYING LAND FOR CONSERVATION AND RECREATION PURPOSES, IT IS THE URBAN S *SH SUBURBAN RURAL DEVELOPMENT.

>> MODE SAYS IT'S ALSO A PROBLEM OF TIMING.

>> I THINK THE STATE MIGHT BE SPENDING MONEY ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS RATHER THAN TAKING CARE OF OBLIGATIONS THAT ARE WITH US AT THE PRESENT TIME.

>> THE PROJECT WOULD BE FUNDED FROM THE $60 MILLION A YEAR THE LEGISLATURE HAS EARMARKED FOR THE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

GLACIAL HERITAGE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $125 MILLION BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER MANY YEARS.

>> ALL THE DEPARTMENT CAN DO IS LAY A VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

IF THE MONEY IS THERE, WE CAN MOVE AHEAD.

IF FOR SOME REASON THE FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT THIS DRIES UP BECAUSE OF SOME OTHER DECISIONS ARE MADE ABOUT STEWARDSHIP IN FUTURE LEGISLATURES, WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT.

>> THE DESIGNATION OF THE AREA MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO BUY PROPERTIES LIKE HOLZHEUTER'S HILLTOP WHEN THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO ALL.

>> IT WILL BE FAIRLY EASY TO MOVE WHEN IT MOVES INTO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP TO PUT UP A PARKING LOT AND SIGN HERE IS HOW TO USE IT AND PEOPLE CAN GET OUT THERE ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

MR. HOLZHEUTER WANTS US TO BUY THE GAS TO KEEP MOWING THE TRAILS.

WE NEED THE HELP.

>> MONEY FOR THE PROJECT WILL COME FROM THE KNOWLES NELSON STEWARDSHIP FUND NAMED FOR TWO FORMER WISCONSIN GOVERNORS AND HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1989.

THE FUND CURRENTLY PROVIDES $60 MILLION A YEAR TO PURCHASE AND PRESERVE LAND FOR PARKS, WILDLIFE AREAS AND WATERSHEDS.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PRESERVATION PROJECTS TO DATE, THE TURTLE FLAMBEAU FLOWAGE IN IRON COUNTY.

AN UPDATE NOW ON FLOOD RAVAGEDED GAYS MILLS.

THE KICKAPOO RIVER STORMED THE COMMUNITY AND FLOODED OUT HOMEOWNERS.

LAST NOVEMBER VILLAGE LEADERS VOTED TO PURCHASE 30 ACRES TO ESSENTIALLY MOVE GAYS MILLS UP AND OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.

THEY RECENTLY BROKE GROUND FOR 35 NEW HOMES WITH PLANS TO MOVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, LIBRARY AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

THE COST ABOUT $13 MILLION IN STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS ALONG WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENTS.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF "IN WISCONSIN," AN UPDATE ON AFGHANISTAN.

HEALTHCARE FOR FARMERS, AND WISCONSIN WINERIES.

HERE IS A PREVIEW OF THOSE REPORTS.

>> THIS IS FREDERICA FREYBERG.

WISCONSIN TROOPS ON THE FRONT LINES IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE FRONT OF "TIME" MAGAZINE.

>> TO SEE HIM LIKE THAT HE'S SUCH A STRONG PERSON AND HE JUST LOOKS SO VULNERABLE.

>> AN UPDATE FROM THE HOME FRONT.

>> PLUS WISCONSIN'S GREAT VINEYARDS COULD BECOME A BOUNTY FOR TOURISM.

>> WHEN YOU GET SEVERAL WINERIES IN THE REGION YOU BECOME A DESTINATION.

>> I'M ANDY SOTH.

I'LL TAKE YOU TO WISCONSIN'S NEW WINE COUNTRY.

>> THAT'S A NICE CLUSTER OF GRAPES THERE.

>> WE'LL UPDATE YOU ON AN INSURANCE COOPERATIVE THAT IS MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR A COMPANY DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS FROM CRANBERRIES.

>> THOSE REPORTS THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON OUR STATEWIDE NEWS MAGAZINE PROGRAM "IN WISCONSIN."

RIGHT HERE ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

NOW A QUICK NOTE ABOUT OUR INTERACTIVE BLOG CALLED THE "PRODUCER'S JOURNAL".

IT'S UPDATED EACH WEEK DAY BY THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE SCENES ON "IN WISCONSIN" AND OUR NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM "HERE AND NOW."

WE HOPE YOU'LL CHECK OUT THE "PRODUCER'S JOURNAL" AT wpt.org.

THEN CLICK ON IN WISCONSIN.

YOU'LL FIND OUT IN ADVANCE ABOUT REPORTS WE'RE WORKING ON.

THE PEOPLE WE'VE MET AND THE PLACES WE'VE BEEN.

WE LEAVE YOU THIS WEEK WITH AN INTERESTING FORMATION ON THE WISCONSIN LANDSCAPE.

IT TOOK NATURE MILLIONS OF YEARS TO FORM THIS SANDSTONE ARCH.

IT SPANS 78 FEET AND STANDS 65 FEET HIGH.

DIRECTLY BENEATH THE ARCH, A ROCK SHELTER ONCE USED BY PALEO-INDIANS.

WISCONSIN'S NATURAL BRIDGE STATE PARK IS A 530 ACRE SITE THAT FEATURES THE LARGEST NATURAL ARCH IN THE STATE AND IS LOCATED SOUTHWEST OF BARABOO IN SAUK COUNTY.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK "IN CAPTIONS PRODUCED BY RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY www.closed-captioning.com >> MAJOR FUNDSING FOR "IN WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING ENERGY SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB AND THE ANIMAL DENTISTRY AND ORAL SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.

A TEAMWORKING PROVIDING CARE FOR ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION ANIMALS.

WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY BIKE WISCONSIN.

>> NEXT TIME ON "IN WISCONSIN."

ON THE FRONT LINES IN AFGHANISTAN AND ON THE FRONT OF "TIME" MAGAZINE, AN UPDATE FROM THE HOME FRONT.

>> GRAPE VINEYARDS HAVE BECOME A BOUNTY FOR TOURISM.

"IN WISCONSIN" TAKES YOU TO THE NEW WINE COUNTRY.

>> THAT'S A NICE CLUSTER OF GRAPES THERE.

>> PLUS AN UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO MAKE HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE FOR FARMERS.

JOIN US FOR "IN WISCONSIN" THURSDAY AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> NEXT TIME ON "IN WISCONSIN."

ON THE FRONT LINES IN AFGHANISTAN AND ON THE FRONT OF "TIME" MAGAZINE, AN UPDATE FROM THE HOME FRONT.

GRAPE VINEYARDS COULD BECOME A BOUNTY FOR TOURISM.

"IN WISCONSIN" TAKES YOU TO THE NEW WINE COUNTRY.

PLUS AN UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO MAKE HEALTHCARE AFFORDABLE FOR FARMERS.

JOIN US FOR "IN WISCONSIN" TONIGHT AT 7:00 ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.