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3/1/12 5:00pm |
The Good Life: A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County - The West Side delved into a report called "The Good Life: A Cultural Direction for Eau Claire County". The result of more than two years of study of area cultural offerings and citizen surveys the report creates an action plan for local government and local arts and cultural organizations to follow in building a cultural economy and infrastructure in Eau Claire County. Host Rich Kremer was joined by "Good Life" collaborators including L.E. Phillips Memorial Library Director John Stoneberg, Eau Claire Regional Arts Council Executive Director Ben Richgruber and Chippewa Valley Museum Director Susan McLeod.
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2/23/12 5:00pm |
New teen court program in Dunn County - The West Side looks at the roots of Dunn County's new teen court program. Guests discuss what types of crimes qualify for teen court, and why so many counties are turning to this restorative justice model.
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2/15/12 5:00pm |
West Side celebrates 10 years - For it's 10 year anniversary, The West Side takes a look into the evolution of media in Wisconsin. Joining Host Rich Kremer are original West Side host Mary Jo Wagner, and Henry Lippold, a longtime producer, to talk about how the West Side got its start.
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2/9/12 5:00pm |
Ethanol's affect on Western Wisconsin - The West Side discusses the world of ethanol and how a cut in federal subsidies for corn based ethanol may affect the Western Wisconsin ethanol industry. Western Wisconsin has two ethanol plants, Ace Ethanol in Stanley and Western Wisconsin Energy in Boyceville. Also, around 40% of all locally grown corn makes its way through those plants.
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2/2/12 5:00pm |
$65.7 million additional cuts to UW System campuses - The West Side looks at the effects of an additional $65.7 million in cuts to University of Wisconsin System campuses, as well as other issues affecting higher education in Western Wisconsin. Guests include Chancellor Brian Levin-Stankevich, UW-Eau Claire; Chancellor Dean Van Galen, UW-River Falls; and Doug Mell, Executive Director of Communications and External Relations at UW-Stout.
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1/26/12 5:00pm |
Viability of Chippewa Valley Airport - The West Side discussed the viability of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport despite the existence of an international airport in the Twin Cities. Guests included Charity Speich, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Manager; Dave Duax, Eau Claire City Councilor; and C.W. King, Chippewa Falls City Councilor.
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1/19/12 5:00pm |
Possible affects of DNR restructuring - The West Side discusses the recent restructuring of the Department of Natural Resources by Gov. Scott Walker and the republican state legislators, and how this will affect permitting proposals, mining laws, and wetland protection. Guests include John "Duke" Welter, Joe Knight and Dave Carlson.
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1/12/12 5:00pm |
Political climate in 2012 - The West Side looked ahead to the 2012 political season, including the recall efforts against Gov. Walker and other state senators, the mining proposal in Northern Wisconsin, frac sand mining, and pending legislation in the upcoming legislative season. Guests included Republican State Representative Scott Suder and Democratic State Senator Kathleen Vinehout.
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1/5/12 5:00pm |
Replacing the Stillwater lift bridge - The West Side discussed the decades long debate on how to replace the 80-year-old Stillwater life bridge. Critics say the proposed replacement bridge would be an expensive endeavor and would destroy the scenic beauty of the river valley.
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12/22/11 5:00pm |
2011 in review - A group of Western Wisconsin reporters looked back on the top stories of 2011 during The West Side News Year in Review. Topics included changes to collective bargaining and the successive protests, the local recall election of state senator Sheila Harsdorf, and the expansion of frac sand mining in the region.
Guests included Tom Giffey, Editorial Page Editor for the Eau Claire Leader Telegram; Jerry Gallagher, assistant news director for WQOW News 18 and Michael Foley, Editor of the Hudson Patch.
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12/15/11 5:00pm |
Eau Claire Postal Processing center could be closed - The West Side discussed the possibility of U.S. Postal Service closing five processing centers in Wisconsin, including one in Eau Claire. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Kent Stelter, co-chair of the Chippewa Valley Postal Customer Council and Dan Ropa, writer and producer of The Bottom Line newsletter. Commentary was also provided by Pete Nowacki, spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service.
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12/8/11 5:00pm |
The challenges returning veterans face - The West Side discussed the services and challenges facing returning veterans. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Clifton Sorenson, Veteran Services Officer for Eau Claire County and Dan Walsh, psychologist and counselor to families of soldiers.
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12/1/11 5:00pm |
Health of Chippewa Valley housing market - The West Side looks at the health of the Chippewa Valley housing market. Host Rich Kremer was joined by David Fitzgerals, President of the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin; Sherry Stabenow, Foreclosure Prevention Coordinator for Western Dairyland; and Ross Clay, Loss Mitigation Specialist for Royal Credit Union.
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11/17/11 5:00pm |
Oh Deer Edition - To preview the upcoming gun deer hunt Host Rich Kremer was joined by "Outdoor Guys" Joe Knight and Dave Carlson as well as DNR Warden Scott Thiede for the "Oh Deer Edition" of The West Side. Guests discussed their deer hunting tales and traditions along with some new regulations for hunters.
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11/10/11 5:00pm |
Fighting poverty in Eau Claire - The West Side looked into the growing problem of poverty and hunger in Eau Claire and what local non-profits are doing to fight back. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Rachel Keniston, Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Table and Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Foundation, Sue Bornick. Talk centered on local data showing an increase in the number of people facing food insecurity and poverty along with how local philanthropic efforts are helping those in need.
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11/3/11 5:00pm |
Possible effect of wells at frac processing plants - The West Side looked into a study aimed at finding how high capacity wells at frac sand processing plants will impact groundwater levels in Chippewa County. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Dan Masterpole, Chippewa County Conservationist; Madeline Gotkowitz Hydrogeologist; and Paul Mclean, Director of Corporate Development for Preferred Sands.
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10/27/11 5:00pm |
Tech colleges and Wisconsin's economic recovery - The West Side discussed the role of technical colleges in Wisconsin's economic recovery. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Bruce Barker, President of the Chippewa Valley Technical College and Wisconsin Technical College President Morna Foy. Guests talked about waitlists for high demand programs like nursing and welding as well as stagnant funding for student financial aid and the recent 30% cut in state aid to the tech college system.
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10/20/11 5:00pm |
West Central Task Force responds to increased drug crime - The West Side discussed the West Central Drug Task Force's response to an increase in drug-related crimes in the Chippewa Valley. Host Rich Kremer was joined by task force members Eric Larsen, Eau Claire Deputy Chief of Police and Dunn County Sheriff Dennis Smith. Discussion touched on some recent, high profile methamphetamine and heroin busts, how the task force is reacting and how effective the drug task force will be with cuts in state and federal funding.
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10/13/11 5:00pm |
Western Wisconsin's fall harvest - The West Side discussed Western Wisconsin's fall harvest and the expansion of soybean and corn farming in the area. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Tom Ferguson, owner of Ferguson's Morningside Orchards and president of the Wisconsin Apple Growers Association, Jerry Clark, UW-Extension Agronomy Educator for Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties and Gary Olson, a dairy farmer south from Strum. The discussion touched on local crop yields, the recovery of milk prices and the fine art of apple growing.
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10/6/11 5:00pm |
Social services in tough economic times - The West Side discussed changes in Medicaid programs, BadgerCare and the recent establishment of consortiums between counties to pool resources and better serve the public. Host Rich Kremer was joined by Judy Demers, Director of Barron County Health and Human Services and Colleen Bates, Chair of the Eau Claire County Human Services Board.
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