Finally, the results from last week’s election are in and the news is very good for environmentalists. Nation wide, voters approved a record 8.4 billion dollars for conservation funding. There were 124 measures up for vote involving conservation and 88 of these passed. This totalled $8,400,116,140 dollars. Most impressive was the Minnesota sales tax increase that will generate 5.5 billion dollars for conservation over the next 25 years in that state. Florida also voted very favorably to allow land under conservation easement to now be tax free. The 2008 tally beat previous records from 2006 when 6.7 billion was passed and 1998 when 5.8 billion was approved.
Locally, JoDaviess County passed two referendums making it less attractive for CAFO’s (Contained Animal Feeding Operations) to move into the county.
In these tough economic times it is refreshing to see that conservation continues to trend towards priority. Congratulations everybody!
Above poster by ISO50
Just south of Brodhead, Wisconsin near the Illinois border stands a living link to our regions past. One of the areas most famous trees. The Indian Half-Way Tree was used by Indians to mark the half-way point between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River (see map here). Oneida Indians would use this Bur Oak tree as a marker, meeting point, place to camp and a spot to divide the party as some would head in canoe down the Sugar River just west of the tree.
In 1867 the new owner of the land, Charles Warner, saw an Indian chief standing in front of the farm. Pointing to the tree, the chief made them understand that it should never be cut. It never has. The last Indians to utilize this tree was during the spring of 1878 when a father and son stopped for a night.
According to present day experts, the tree is off by about six miles. Today, the tree proudly stands and has been protected by many owners through the years still marking the half-way point along the ancient Indian trail.
Brodhead, WI is within an hour drive from Galena. The tree is located south of Brodhead off of Hwy. 81 on Half-Way Tree Road. The sign and tree are visible from the road.
