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Great lady down: The making of a celebrity eagle
It was New Year's Eve, 1980, when I received a call from a local farmer located
a few miles south of Guttenberg. He told me had found a bald eagle in his field
three days earlier and it couldn't get off the ground. He had left it alone most
of the first day, but it became more apparent to him that it couldn't fly, and
it would have a tough time surviving. He made a decision to move the eagle to an
out-of-use milkhouse on the farm. He put water and two small newborn pigs that
had died in with the bird. Checking the next day, he found the pigs were gone,
and the eagle looking much better, however, it did favor one wing. Two more dead
pigs were left with the eagle, and the next morning he called my office. I drove
directly to the farm and met with the eagle's rescuer. I could see the eagle did
have an injured wing. I explained to the farmer my biggest concern when dealing
with injured birds of prey was dehydration and the bird would be shipped to the
Raptor Research and Rehabilitation Center in Minnesota. I cut a hole in the
bottom of a gunny sack for the eagle's head and pulled the sack down over the
bird - this would keep the wings from being injured further. Next, I tied the
feet together, without getting a talon in my hand. (I've had that happen in the
past, and it's not a good feeling, and infection is very probable). I then slid
a sweatsock over the head of the bird covering its eyes. This would keep it more
calm while riding in the car. I stopped in Guttenberg at Butch's Gas Station to
fill up and make a phone call. I called John Lyons, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Refuge Manager stationed in McGregor. I told John I realized it was close to a
holiday, but if we would get the ball rolling, we would get the eagle on its way
to the rehab center in the next day or so. I gave him my location and phone
number. He said he would call back in a few minutes. I walked out to my vehicle
where Butch was gassing it up. He pointed to the gunny sack in my rear window,
and asked. "What ya got there?" he asked. "An injured eagle," I explained. Butch
looked at me with a big grin and said, "Watch this." He then walked back and
forth next to my rear window. As he moved, the sweatsock moved to follow him.
Butch moved and then the sweatsock‹ back and forth. Stands to reason, if you
have eyes that could read a newspaper from a mile away, an old sweatsock wouldn't
be a problem. About that time the phone rang. It was John. He told me, "You aren't
going to believe this. You have a very important passenger! Holiday or not, a
pilot is being called out, and will be landing his plane at the Prairie du Chien
airstrip in a few hours." I was to chauffeur my guest to Prairie du Chien and
meet with Wisconsin DNR Officer Dennis Kirschbaum at his residence. Dennis had a
larger bird transport cage and he would deliver the eagle to the airstrip when
the airplane arrived. Weeks went by and then months. I was working on a trapping
case on the Mississippi River with Dennis Kroush, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Officer. I told him I had turned in several eagles over the years, but didn't
know if they made it or not. I told the story of the New Year's Eve eagle. He
said he would check it out and get back to me. The next time I met this officer,
he said, "Sit down, Ed this is some story." He then told me that the
veterinarians called in to work on the eagle on New Year's Eve discovered that
the bird was a mature female and that she had been shot. The Raptor Center's
chief surgeon repaired the fracture in her wing, and she came through it just
fine. She was the most impressive specimen of a bald eagle that had ever gone
through the center to that date. The majestic eagle was given the name, "Freedom,"
and she was chosen to be part of the ceremony in Washington D.C. to honor the
returning Iranian hostages. I learned later from the Raptor Center that the
eagle tipped the scales at thirteen and one-half pounds, and it was judged to be
four or five years old. For Freedom's trip to Washington D.C., a private Lear
jet was donated to transport her and her escorts - staff from the Raptor Center,
several press personalities and a photographer. The bird was carried in her own
specially designed crate topped with a huge yellow ribbon. In Washington D.C.,
the group was met by television cameras, press photographers, political
representatives and American ex-prisoners of war. During her four-day visit,
Freedom was housed at the Washington National Zoo, and her health monitored
closely. The day of the ceremony, with more than 3,000 in attendance in
Constitution Hall, Freedom stood tall and proud on the arm of her caretaker.
Freedom was returned to Minnesota and later released along the Mississippi
River bluffs near Prescott, Wis. A television special was made from the footage
taken at the Washington D.C. ceremony and during her release. Nationally
recognized artist Ed Bierly painted the eagle's portrait, entitled "Flight to
Freedom" celebrating 1982 as the Year of the Eagle. Freedom was released far
from the Guttenberg farm where I first met her. Since then, I've made a few
calls and talked to a few people expressing my concern that if eagles mate for
life, we should make every effort to get rehabbed birds back to the location
they were found. This has been done, at least for the ones I have since sent in
since. As you can see, Freedom's story was a joint effort and it began with a
call from a farmer. Lately I have been reading newspaper articles of how a few
farmers are concerned about the population increase of our national bird, and
their concerns about losing livestock. Well, I'm here to tell you I've worked
and lived around both eagles and farmers all my life, and the farmers I know are
as proud of Freedom and her family as you and I. Maybe there are those that aren't.
But then again, maybe they haven't taken time to look into her eyes. That will
change you, believe me, take it from one who knows, that will change you.
Ed M. Lawrence retired from a 31-year career as conservation officer for the
Iowa Department of Natural Resources in northeast Iowa in 1999. He and his wife
Kris live near McGregor.
Bagley State Patrol officer carries torch for Special Olympics
A Bagley woman, Wisconsin State Patrol Inspector Lorie Floyd, has been selected
to deliver the "Flame of Hope" to the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games
in Nagano, Japan. Floyd will be one of 110 runners from 19 countries
participating in the final leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special
Olympics. "This is so exciting for me," said Floyd, who has never traveled to
Japan. "It's a wonderful opportunity." Floyd will fly out on Feb. 16, then carry
the torch through Japan leading up to the Games, which begin on Feb. 26 and end
on March 5. The journey consists of more than 7,300 miles delivering the "Flame
of Hope" from Athens, Greece to the Opening Ceremonies of the Games in Nagano,
Japan. Floyd said that there will be 12 teams of runners in the final leg of the
Law Enforcement Torch Run. She will be one of nine in her group, which will run
between three and nine miles a day for nine days. One member of Floyd's group
will be a Special Olympics participant. Each member of the group will carry the
torch for one day and will speak during presentations at several communities
along the route. The 12 teams will each run a different route, and in all, will
visit 66 communities across the Nagano Prefecture as they spread friendship and
promote the Special Olympics World Winter Games. Floyd, who is married and has
three children, was instrumental in the start up of the first Crawford County
Special Olympics team. She has been with the State Patrol for nearly 24 years,
with 15 of them devoted to doing Law Enforcement Torch Run work with Special
Olympics. "The Torch Run and Special Olympics has been an opportunity for me to
teach my children about volunteering," said Floyd. "Each year, we do the Torch
Run together and my children look forward to participating with me." Floyd's
favorite Torch Run memory to date is carrying the torch into the state final leg
run in Stevens Point as well as traveling through the city of La Crosse with
motorcycles, squads, horses and officers from many agencies. "I will be 44 years
old and haven't run in 24 years," said Floyd. "I started to run several months
ago and am working to achieve a goal just like our athletes. I expect to be able
to share in their joy in the Final Leg, to feel what they feel when they do
their best." Floyd said that when she began training about four and a half
months ago, she couldn't make it a half mile up a hill near her rural home. She
now can run up to seven and a half miles at a time and trains four to five days
a week, running three to four miles a day on a hilly gravel road near Bagley. "It
(the training) has been good for me all the way around, mentally and physically,"
said Floyd, whose training runs on the quiet, long and winding road are aided by
her spirited training partner "Sammy," the family dog who runs alongside. "It's
important that I train properly in order to fulfill my part of the commitment,"
said Floyd, who noted that the weather in Nagano is much like the weather here.
Floyd said that during one training run it was so cold that her eyelashes
started to freeze. Another time, icicles formed in her hair due to freezing
rain. Floyd said that she continues to support Special Olympics as it give the
athletes a chance to build confidence and achieve goals. "It gives them a
wonderful new social life and makes their lives better physically and mentally,"
she said. "I do feel inspired by all the Special Olympics athletes," said Floyd.
"They have fun when they compete, whether they win or lose. The joy I see as
they simply gain confidence to try anything makes me proud to be part of their
lives." The Crawford County Special Olympics Program is in its infancy, having
begun last spring, said Floyd. Last summer, Crawford County had a team for the
first time. The team consisted of 11 track and field athletes, seven of whom
participated in the State Special Olympics Meet in Stevens Point. Floyd is the
president of the Crawford County Special Olympics and board members include
Randy Weeks, Darci Knapp, Milo Connors and Tom Rehmus. Anyone interested in
volunteering as a coach, helping out or who has a family member who may wish to
participate in the Crawford County Special Olympics may contact Floyd at (608)
996-2107, or Lori Books at (608) 485-0423, or Tom Rehmus at the Opportunity
Center at (608) 326-6486. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest
grass-roots fundraiser for Special Olympics programs in the world. This year,
the Final Leg teams will carry the torch more than 2,000 kilometers before
completing the journey to the Opening Ceremonies of the Eighth Special Olympics
World Winter Games. During the ceremony, the cauldron will be lit and the Games
will be declared open. Roughly 2,500 athletes from 80 countries will compete in
seven sports including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, figure
skating, speed skating, snowshoeing and floor hockey. The Lighting Ceremony will
take place at the Atrium of Athens' famed Zappeion Olympic Palace. The Arrival
Ceremony, welcoming the Flame to Japan, will be held in Tokyo's Metropolitan
Square. The Unification Ceremony, combining the "Flame of Hope" with the "Flame
of Friendship" (a similarly symbolic flame that has traveled through Japan to
raise awareness of the Special Olympics movement) shall be held at Matsumoto
Castle in Nagano Prefecture. A cultural landmark, the castle is located in
Matsumoto City. Daily departure and arrival ceremonies will be held for the
Torch Run Final Leg participants as they visit the 66 communities across the
Nagano Prefecture. The Opening Ceremonies of the Games, to be held in Olympic
Memorial Arena in Nagano City, will mark the conclusion of the Torch Run Final
Leg.
Special Olympics Wisconsin is a year-round program of sports training and
competition for children and adults with cognitive disabilities. More that
10,000 athletes in more than 220 communities train and compete in 18 different
Olympic-style summer and winter sports. For more information, interested persons
may visit specialolympicswisconsin.org or call (800) 552-1324.
| Going it alone
Kyle Wellumson performs for the love of the sport
Gymnastics is a challenging and demanding sport, one in which each
individual performs in a pressure-packed situation before the discerning
eyes of judges and the audience. Imagine, then, the challenges faced by
being the only boy on the high school girls' team. Having endured his
share of peer pressure comments and other obstacles, Prairie du Chien
sophomore Kyle Wellumson has stepped up and shown his mettle as one of
the very few male gymnasts in Wisconsin who perform on girls' teams.
Wellumson is a gymnast for the pure fun of it, performing his
highly-skilled floor exercise routines before the applause of
appreciative crowds and the cheering of the other gymnasts. No matter
how well done, however, his routines are exhibitions that are never
judged nor scored. Thus, Wellumson does not actually get to compete, or,
for that matter, earn a high school letter. "Sometimes I wish there was
a way I could compete. It would help push me to get better. I wish I
could know where I stand," Wellumson said. "But I kind of like it the
way it is where I don't have to be perfect all the time and be judged."
Ever the consummate teammate, Wellumson not only concentrates on his own
routine, he helps others with theirs. "I enjoy helping my teammates get
better," he said. "I help out the coach, help build routines and help
spot a lot with new tricks." Wellumson also mixes music for his
teammates' floor exercise routines and sometimes films the meets so that
team members can see themselves in action and make improvements.
Wellumson is quick to credit his teammates as well for their help with
his floor exercise and vault and for their unwavering support. "They
keep me on the team," he said. Now in the midst of his second season on
the team, Wellumson has become used to being the only boy. "I'm used to
it now," he said. "It would be weird if it was the other way around."
Wellumson noted, however, that other teams in the SWAL 1 are not yet
accustomed to seeing a male gymnast. "They're always staring at me with
a kind of scared look," said Wellumson about his unintended intimidation
factor. But, once the girls on the opposing team realize that they won't
be competing against Wellumson, they get back to normal. The girls on
opposing teams might truly have something to fear, at least on the floor
exercise and possibly the vault, next season. That is because a Stevens
Point boy and his mother have filed an injunction against the WIAA
claiming gender discrimination. If Stevens Point Area Senior High junior
Keith Michael Bukowski wins his case, boys would be allowed to compete
on girls' gymnastics' teams if no boys' team exists. Thus, Prairie du
Chien High School would have to allow Wellumson to compete on an equal
basis with the girls. In such a case, Wellumson would not only get to
compete, but would also have the chance to earn a letter, earn a trip to
the state meet, earn a gymnastics' scholarship, and anything else that
other gymnasts can achieve. "It's better him than me," said Wellumson in
noting that he wouldn't be ready at this point to be involved in a
controversial lawsuit against the WIAA. Wellumson did say, however, that
he fully supports Bukowski and is considering attending one or more of
the court hearings to show his support. "It would be cool to go to the
courtroom and let him know that he's not the only one out there,"
Wellumson said. "I'm kind of excited because that (a win for Bukowski)
would mean that I would be able to compete." The federal law, Title IX,
enacted in 1972, prohibits gender-based discrimination in all federally
funded education programs and activities. Since then, many girls have
competed in such sports as football, wrestling and hockey. In fact, a
Prairie du Chien girl competed as part of the wrestling team a couple of
seasons ago. High school boys in Wisconsin, on the other hand, have not
been allowed to compete on girls' teams when no boys' teams existed. For
now, Wellumson is happy to be able to participate in exhibitions and is
grateful to Coach Becky Nommensen for helping to make it possible to
have him on the team. "I thank Becky a lot for pushing me and letting me
be on the team," said Wellumson, who first became interested in
gymnastics after watching the 1996 Olympics when he was 7 years old.
Wellumson said that he was also inspired by his older sister Shauna, who
participated on the Prairie du Chien High School gymnastics team. Mostly
self -taught,Wellum-son began by completing his first back flip in his
back yard when he was in the sixth grade. "I landed on my head a couple
of times before I got it," he said with a smile. He learned more tricks
and perfected them over the years by practicing on his own and with the
Middle School team, which a couple of friends signed him up for in
eighth grade. As far as the future is concerned, Wellumson said he will
continue to participate on the girls' team through his high school
years. He said that he hasn't thought about the possibility of someday
competing on the men's team at the university level.
Iowa family will lease, operate Children's Ranch
Last September, Doug Roelofson took a vacation that changed his life.
Roelofson, a partner in a Ford-Chrysler dealership from the north
central Iowa town of Belmond, had a tradition of taking his son on a
week-long trail riding trip with a group of friends made up of dads and
kids. Someone suggested that instead of heading for southern Illinois or
northern Missouri as they usually did, that they come to the northeast
Iowa-southwest Wisconsin region and try the trails. During the trip, the
group stayed at La Riviere horse camp and Doug visited the Children's
Ranch where the kids took part in a gymkhana. Doug learned that the
Children's Ranch was for sale, and he got excited about the
possibilities. "I was looking for a change," he said. He got a change
alright. Doug along with his wife Christina and their son Tim, 11, are
in the process of moving out to the ranch with their seven horses. They
intend to begin leasing the facility on April 1. They sold their
$250,000 home, and their interest in the car dealership. They will move
into a mobile home on the property. And they have big plans. Roelofson
plans to create a for-profit segment to the operation while retaining
the free children's programs that the facility has become known for. "Keeping
the [free] children's programs will be our number one priority," he
said. Christina, Doug's wife, will run the programs for young children
and Katie Dosio, a previous employee of the Children's Ranch, will
continue to run programs for older children. A small herd of 14 ranch
horses are used for the children's programs. The Roelofsons' don't plan
to conduct raffles as a fundraiser as the Children's Ranch has done in
the past. Instead, they will seek grant funds from foundations to help
support the program. On the for-profit side of the operation, Roelofson
intends to add horse camping amenities such as a shower building and
hitching rails for 25 electrical hookup sites. He also intends to market
the facility for boarding locally and regionally. He notes that the
trails at the 462-acre facility add a special appeal for boarders from
larger cities, such as Madison, and the large barn has 72 stalls.
Additionally, they will sponsor equestrian events such as team penning,
gymkhana and others. Eventually, Roelofson hopes to build bunkhouses
(plus a new home for his family) and an indoor arena, and host organized
horse camping outings for groups such as church youth or 4-H or just
families. But that will have to wait. For now, Doug and his family have
a one-year lease on the property, and have formed a company called
Prairie Hills, in order to conduct business. Their intention is to
purchase the property at the end of the lease period.
Jim White seemed happy and relieved with the arrangement. He had
announced early last fall that he planned to shut down operations, sell
the horses and sell the property. "It means everything to me, and it
looks like our dream will continue," he said. Doug said that the process
of creating the agreement with the White's and the Children's Ranch
board took most of the fall and ten trips to the area. He said that
while he expects the White's and others will offer some help and advice,
"It's going to be our baby," he says. Doug said that although this is a
big change for his family, it wasn't too hard to convince Christina. He
just showed her the barn first. "She's one of those barn goddess types,"
he said. "She'd much rather be in the barn than the house."
Doug and Christina planned to retire to a small horse operation
anyway. "Now we get to do it fifteen years early," Doug said. |
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