Beckie Gaskill
Recent Stories
PFAS release and ecological responses to land-applied biosolid
The recent Great Lakes Virtual PFAS Summit featured a presentation entitled, “PFAS release and ecological responses to land-applied biosolids.” Dr. Weilan Zhang of the University at Albany in New York State said PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl) in biosolids must be removed or stabilized before land application to prevent PFAS pollution, which would then be potentially up taken by plants.
Oneida County land and water conservation department reveals new lake classification and protection tool
Over the last several years, the Oneida County land and water conservation department has worked with a team of stakeholders to create a lake classification system, a large undertaking for a county with over 1,100 lakes. Of those, 451 are names lakes, with the rest being small “pot hole” lakes of 50 acres or less.
DeWayne ‘Speck’ DeByle’s legacy is more than just a downtown businessman
Most Rhinelander residents will remember Speck DeByle as a downtown businessman, often seen eating lunch at the Northwestern or walking through town, dressed impeccably. But many people, too, will always remember the sporting side of DeByle, the side that brought him to join the Hodag Sports Club decades ago when he and Jim Birginal approached the club to ask if they could shoot.
Wisconsin Conservation Congress citizen resolution submission opens Jan. 5
Wisconsin residents have the opportunity annually to be involved in a process that is unique to the state, that of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress citizen resolution process. In this process, residents are able to put forth a resolution that they would like to see become a regulation in relation to any of the state’s natural resources.
Violet’s spectacular return home
It is never an easy thing when a beloved family pet goes missing. It is even harder when the pet is a rescue, trying to recover from unbearable conditions in a new, loving home. This was the case for Violet, a six-year-old basset hound, rescued by Elizabeth Kowieski’s family only six months ago. She slipped out of a friend’s house on Christmas Day and spent a few days eluding those who only hoped to help her make a safe return.
Speck DeByle, pillar of Rhinelander community, passes away at 92
The name Speck DeByle has been synonymous with downtown Rhinelander for decades. Most Rhinelander natives over a certain age can say they shopped at DeByle’s Clothing Store for back-to-school, work and play for years. DeWayne “Speck” DeByle, 92, passed away on Christmas Eve.
Could traditional food resource consumption put tribal communities at greater PFAS risks?
Gavin Dehnert of Wisconsin Sea Grant at the University of Wisconsin Madison was asked by the Voigt Intertribal Task Force to come look at contaminants found in the liver of several wolves found by the task force. This started some research into looking at more traditional food sources consumed by Native Americans and also looking at PFAS contaminants through a “One Health” lens rather than looking individually at environmental health, human health and wildlife health.
