Letter to the editor:
I have followed and researched the raw milk dispute at least 10 years very closely. My interest in it comes from my early life growing up on a small dairy farm. We ate meats, eggs, milk, sometimes homemade butter fruits and veggies grown right there on the farm. There are many many folks living in Wisconsin who led similar lives and if they’re over 50 are probably pretty healthy from the experience.
My observations show that up to the 1960’s our overall health here in the U.S. was pretty darn good. There were rare cases of cancer, dementia, heart& circulatory, diabetes, arthritis, asthma, ADHD. Today these same health problems are very high on the lists for all age levels. A question we all need to ask is why have these diseases grown in frequency so dramatically??
My research points a finger at our diets more or less forced on us over the years since the ’60s. Our foods available have gone from farm fresh unprocessed to corporate farm produced, grain-fed, confinement raised, crowded living conditions last but not least corporate processed.
Looking at the aforementioned disease curves one would have to wonder why the incidence rate increased so dramatically when we started processing, pasteurizing, homogenizing our foods we consume daily! This fact is very obvious when we read books, research papers, items on the internet which are abundant and thorough on the subject.
Pharmaceutical use has gone through the roof for all ages. Mostly because we’re dealing with INFLAMMATORY type diseases. If we look into science just a little we’d find to be really healthy the first thing we need is a diet that provides our bodies with a balanced ratio of close to 1:1 of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. That is about where our diets were up to about the 1960’s. Today depending on what we eat the ratio runs 15-70:1 favoring Omega-6. Based on what medical books tell us Omega-6 is very inflammatory by nature, if it gets too far from 1:1 we are subject to inflammatory diseases. Which is why the disease curve has gone berserk since the ’60s.
The raw milk argument is the DATCP and FDA trying to make production, sale and consumption of healthy raw milk illegal. Back in 1929 Dr. John E. Crewe (one of the founders of the Mayo Clinic) published a report entitled “Raw milk cures many diseases.” Crewe certainly was not a “crackpot” with weird ideas. His method was to place a patient on a strict diet of grass-fed milk for a given length of time. Most times the patients were cured completely of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart & circulatory, arthritis which were at the time known.
There are 25 states that allow production, sale, and consumption of raw milk. Here in “America’s Dairyland” it is illegal. The DATCP does clandestine operations to harass, catch, and prosecute producers and users. What a waste of time and money most of these folks are doing what they prefer to do when it comes to diets.
Funny thing about the whole issue is that they would be better off researching the health & nutritional benefits of allowing farmers who have Grade A permits to produce and sell raw milk to those who want to use it so they can get healthier and maybe even reduce or eliminate use of pharmaceuticals. Once one tries raw milk and finds it tastes great and is healthy for you they will want more.
The legislature a few years ago passed a raw milk bill sent it to Governor Doyles desk he with much pressure from milk processors and medical profession vetoed the bill. Encourage your legislators to pass the upcoming milk bill I’m quite sure our Governor will sign it this time. It will also keep the DATCP from harassing small farmers who have had the foresight to develop markets for farm fresh meats, eggs, fruits, veggies, and MILK!!
Thanks for your time.
Regards,
Chuck Bolder
Merrill
Dear Editor,
We would like to take this opportunity to let our community know about the tremendous support provided by many of our local businesses to Special Education Students via the Work Study Program at Merrill High School. The Work Study program is a specially designed program for students with special education needs in which they are able to receive hands on training and employment support, as well as earn high school credit toward graduation. These experiences are beneficial to their future educational and career plans and provide business with opportunities to develop a highly skilled workforce from within the local high school population. The most rewarding part of this program is seeing our students who have struggled in the classroom for much of their lives meet success on the job site.
Our local businesses provide guidance, training, and vocational education beyond classroom instruction. The dedication and cooperative effort between the school and businesses ensure that MAPS Special Education students are given the opportunity to gain valuable employability skills. This program allows students begin to learn how to transfer what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real life situations.
The time, guidance, patience, and partnership are truly invaluable to our students. We are immensely grateful for the continual support from the Merrill community. We urge you to support your local businesses, especially those who have given so much of their time and experience to our youth.
Respectfully,
Craig Hoffman & Amy Heimerl
SPED Work Study Coordinators
Editor,
In the last few weeks, there have been at least thee domestic violence homicides in Wisconsin, including one in our own Lincoln County. Even though I did not know the latest victim, I was acquainted with Trish Waschbisch, the Director of the DV program/shelter in Marinette, who was killed by her boyfriend on April 28. Yes, the Director of a Domestic Violence Program herself, Trish was planning to leave the relationship and was killed by her abuser. Domestic violence happens to people regardless of economic and education level, race, culture, sexual orientation and age.
Many people are surprised when a “nice” person is arrested. Domestic Violence perpetrators are often nice outside of the home. They have chosen who they will be abusive with and have power and control over. Having power and control over another is a calculated, planned way to relate to another- not a loss of self-control, the result of a bad day or a bad temper.
Every county in WI has a Domestic Violence Program and most counties have shelters where people that are abused and their children can go to be safe. Please let friends, loved ones and others know that leaving is the MOST dangerous time for a victim of violence. It is not enough to encourage people to leave; we also should know what resources are available to help keep them safe. If your or someone you know is leaving a violent relationship, you can go to the local shelter for safety. If you do not want to stay in the local shelter, they will help you find a shelter in another county. If you are elderly or handy-capped, most shelters have rooms specifically for these needs. Advocates and Directors of Wisconsin DV programs are dedicated to helping victims and their children stay safe. They will help you or your loved one with safety planning, restraining orders and many other resources. If you or someone you live is being abused, emotionally, physically or sexually, PLEASE seek help from a Domestic Violence Program. If you are looking for help for someone else, you can remain anonymous. You are important, your friends and family members are important. Please seek help before it is too late.
Beth Plautz
Merrill
Editor,
Our first annual Remembering Kyle Memorial Scholarship – Night Of Music & Sounds event, remembering our family’s four-year old little boy, Kyle, who died of leukemia, couldn’t have been any more perfect! We dedicated our evening to a very special, inspiring, courageous lady, Angie Grambort, while celebrating the one year, post heart transplant anniversary for Angie’s and her husband Fred’s amazing 7-year old daughter, Katrina! Prior to the evening, our family’s hopes and committment for our event was to offer one scholarship to one graduating MHS senior that has been deeply and directly touched by cancer, either having had cancer themselves or if their parent or sibling has faced cancer. However, because of the incredible musical talent, and support from performers, volunteers, donors, and over 300 people in attendance, together we were able to award our Remembering Kyle Memorial Scholarship to all five of our applicants! This is a dream come true for our family because having to choose one was so very difficult, but choosing five was a thrill! Our 2013 Remembering Kyle Memorial Scholarship recipients and honorees, along with their families, are Emily Roberts, Colin Sutton, Paul Theorin, Jenna Zamzow, and Tommy Zuelsdorff. Thank you for allowing us to honor you, and your loved ones at our event, and also for sharing your most difficult journey with all of us!
We cannot thank everyone enough for whatever way you helped make this wonderful thing happen! We are already so looking forward to our 2014 event, where we will do it, again. Another most touching aspect of this event was the response from so many people that participated and attended because they have asked to be part of the Remembering Kyle Memorial Scholarship – Night Of Music & Sounds event again next year! Not asked by me, again… but asked me themselves. Touching is an understatement. So a huge, very heartfelt thank you to everyone that played a role in bringing our five scholarship winners even just a little bit of well-deserved joy because of this event and because of the five scholarships that came as a result of so much love in one auditorium on one Friday night in Merrill!
Beth Anne Rekowski
Merrill