Here Today, Gone In Two Weeks

Though I’ve become accustomed to reporting the news each and every week in the Arcadia News-Leader, all of a sudden, we have become news. When it was first revealed to me that the News-Leader, which has been my baby for a little over a year now, was being sold, my first reaction was fear. How would this affect me? Will I still have a job? Would I have to move for the third time in as many years? To be honest, it was a period of utter confusion and myriad emotions. The last time I left a job in journalism, I was completely lost … out in nowhere, Wyoming, where very few job opportunities presented themselves – except for those that required working in the gas fields. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a tough gal, but, when it comes to making ends meet, that was definitely not what I had in mind.

And, once I moved back here to Wisconsin, it took a while to get back on my feet, but, once I did, I found this job. Sadly, one year to the day after I started, I was told that the News-Leader would be done at the end of December. While I know how this news has affected Andrew, Annie and myself, I am hopeful that those of you who have enjoyed the News-Leader will find the new Trempealeau County Times to be a suitable substitute. Granted, there may be some content changes that readers will have to adjust to, I have a feeling that the Times’ broader coverage of the entire county will be beneficial to many, especially those who subscribe to more than one local paper.

Instead of seeing repetitive news items in both papers, there will be more news content from other local communities. That, in essence will allow people in Arcadia to be more aware of what’s happening in Blair, Whitehall and Galesville. And when it comes to advertising, I have no doubt that a county-wide newspaper will prove to be superior to a local newspaper. First of all, you have coverage area. Instead of reaching readers in Arcadia and its surrounding areas, advertisers will be able to reach a much broader audience.

Second is the monetary factor. Instead of placing several ads in several papers throughout the area, advertisers will be able to place one ad and reach basically the same amount of readers. Though the inception of the new paper is still a few weeks off, clearly, I’m sure everyone has questions that they would like to have answered, (i.e. where will the papers be sold?… how will this affect news and sports coverage of Arcadia? … how many pages will the new county-wide paper be? … where will I go to renew subscriptions or place ads?).

Some changes I do know and can share with you are that the new paper will be printed in a tabloid format, as opposed to broadsheet, the Sheriff’s Log that appears in the News-Leader will continue to be published and the office will be based out of Whitehall (the current Whitehall Times office). As we learn more, we will continue to share that information with you. Like you, we here at the News-Leader have been wondering these same types of things. So, if there are any questions that you would like answered regarding these changes, please don’t hesitate to call (323-3366 ext. 240) or e-mail (editor@arcadianewsleader.com) me. I may not have an answer for you right away, but I will get one. And please be patient and bear with us during this transitional period.

Jennie Oemig,
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

Black Friday Makes Mockery of Holiday Spirit

During a time when everyone is giving thanks and surrounding themselves by family and friends, most thankful that they made it through another year, the commercially-charged event that has become known as Black Friday throws a wrench into the spirit of things. Less than 24 hours after the turkey has been carved and the typical feast devoured, crazed shoppers line up outside the malls, department stores and every other shop known to man, eager to get their Christmas shopping started – and, for many, completed – before they return home.

But what really irritates me is the lengths to which people will go to secure the hottest toy or most wanted video game console of the holiday season. While some of those items are in limited supply, others are on store shelves even before the huge Black Friday sales. It’s just the matter of saving a few bucks that drives people to fight, tooth and nail, to get their hands on those particular items – not to mention standing in line all night or sleeping in store parking lots awaiting the wee morning hours when the stores open their doors.

Over the years, there have been numerous reports of people fighting over items and shoppers being trampled to death … all in the name of greed.I understand how important Black Friday is, as it stimulates the economy just before the end of the year, but, clearly, the shopping holiday brings out the absolute worst in people. This year, alone, there were several instances in which people let that greed get the better of them. In Buffalo, N.Y., a man was trampled trying to enter a Target store. In Sacramento, Calif., shoppers and security personnel in a Walmart store were pushed and shoved, forcing an evacuation of the electronics section. Then, of course, there was the incident in West Palm Beach, Fla., in which merchandise three women had purchased was stolen from their vehicle while they continued their shopping spree.

Honestly, what is wrong with people? When did decorum become passé? And, believe me, the stores that advertise ridiculously low prices for short periods of time on particular items – of which they often have only a limited supply – aren’t helping matters. If anything, they’re feeding the insanity. Granted, I have never once been a part of the shopping extravaganza, there was one year when I unintentionally got caught up in the whole mess. I had to run to Best Buy the day after Thanksgiving on my way back to UW-River Falls to get some ink cartridges for my printer in order to be able to print out an extremely important term paper I had to turn in the following week.

Thinking that I would be in and out, able to avoid the crowds since I didn’t get there until after 9 a.m., it wasn’t long before I found out the error of my ways. On Black Friday, there is no such thing as quick when it comes to shopping, which I realized when I got in line to check out. Trying to find the end of the line was a trying task in itself, as I had to venture past the washers, dryers and refrigerators, then past the microwaves and vacuums, all the way back to the TVs. Needless to say, I was glad I skipped my morning coffee that day … going to the bathroom was certainly not an option. After that one encounter, I vowed never to leave the house on Black Friday ever again … unless, of course, it was to go to the bar with friends to hang out with a more sane crowd.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

In Case Of Emergency ...

I may have spoken too soon in last week’s editorial about positivity being the end result of change. With last Tuesday’s announcement regarding the city’s only hospital, the opposite is true in this case. While I understand the reasoning behind the forthcoming closure of Franciscan Skemp Healthcare’s (FSH) Arcadia hospital, I’m sure I’m not the only one who is frustrated by the decision.

First of all, regardless of the numbers that have been recorded at the hospital over the past few years, I am fairly certain that the peace of mind gained by knowing that hospital-based care was not far away was far more important. I know that some people base their home-buying decisions on, not only educational facilities, but accessibility to a hospital. Not having a hospital in the city could be detrimental to the housing market and overall economic state of this community. While I am glad that FSH will be expanding its clinic services and nursing home care, the mere fact that there will not be 24-hour care is somewhat unsettling, especially given the fact that people are active outside the 9-5 timeframe. And given the fact that we have manufacturing companies in this town and many, many farms in the vicinity, life-threatening accidents do happen.

The thought of not having that kind of care right here in Arcadia is certainly something to worry about. Say someone is in a bad car accident along Highway 93 just up the hill from Arcadia (which has been known to happen) and the individual needs immediate medical attention. Well, guess what. Once that hospital closes, that attention will be at least 20-25 miles away, which could prove fatal in some instances. Regardless of what the numbers show, there’s no doubt in my mind that the lack of patients goes far beyond need. Over the past few years, with the economy faltering, I’ll bet hospitals across the country saw a decrease in numbers. That’s because health care is expensive and those who have been laid off or are only working part-time jobs in order to make ends meet likely don’t have health care coverage.

As I’ve alluded to in the past, when it comes to budgeting money, health care is usually one of the things that is a ways down the list of importance. Take me, for example. A few months ago, I rolled my ankle. And this wasn’t just like a twist or a sprain. My foot and leg were completely perpendicular … to the point that I heard a snap. And I’m not one to complain about pain, but that hurt something fierce. Within an hour, my ankle swelled up to the size of a grapefruit and it turned purple.

Granted, I should have played it smart and went to the hospital to have it X-rayed to make sure I hadn’t broken anything, I did the math in my head. Without health insurance, there was no way I would be able to pay the bill. Ergo, I let it mend on its own. It took over two weeks for the swelling to go down and, to this day, anytime I walk, my ankle makes a clicking sound. When I stand too long or when there’s bad weather, it swells up, likely because it didn’t mend properly, but, all in all, it healed well enough that I can still get around.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one who would trade a few days of limping for hundreds of dollars. However, I think that closing the hospital now was a bad call. If and when ObamaCare takes effect, people’s attitude toward emergency care will likely change as well. That being said, I think now would be the opportune time for another health care provider to start thinking about locating a hospital in Arcadia. I’m sure it would gain overwhelming support.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

Changes

Whoever said change was bad was completely wrong. Just look at all of the changes that have taken place right here in little ol’ Arcadia. Considering this is a town of under 5,000, I’d say we’ve got it pretty good. Unfortunately, that, oftentimes, can be taken for granted. We have city officials who care about developing this area and making Arcadia all that it can be. We have an amazing educational system that strives for excellence. We have a hugely successful business industry. And we have one of the best economies of any municipality in the state, which is only solidified by a generous and extraordinarily active community.

When I began working and living in Arcadia, I quickly learned just what a great community it really was. With so much potential, it only made sense that vast changes would take place that would make it even better. And, boy was I right. In less than 12 months, the City of Arcadia has undergone quite the facelift. Not only is there a new McDonald’s on the east end of town, but there have been new businesses celebrating their grand openings all year long.

And then, there’s the obvious reconstruction project that took most of the summer to complete. Sure, it was a pain with all of the detours and delays while construction was underway, but just look at the final result: turn lanes that allow for better traffic flow, a beautiful parking area that’s more than just pavement, curb and gutter (which will most likely become the defining cornerstone of the business district) and a vastly improved sewer system. Oh, and let’s not forget about the city’s first traffic signals. Then there’s the relocation of the Arcadia Area Historical Society to the former OLPH Church. In my opinion, there’s no better place to have a historical museum than in one of the most iconic and historical buildings in the city. There is also a significant change in education on the horizon, as the Arcadia School District is moving forward with plans for a new PK-8 facility to replace the current elementary and middle school on Main Street.

Looking back on all of the old newspapers while researching information for the “From Our Files” section, its unbelievable how far this community has come. And, if you go even further back and look at old photos of downtown Arcadia, when the streets were made of dirt and horses served as one of the main modes of transportation, there’s no doubt that this community is headed in the right direction. While we may not be to the point of flying cars or hoverboards (as Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future” had predicted would happen by 2015), the leaps and bounds that technology has allowed us to take only leads me to believe that more change is on its way.

Oddly, “Back to the Future” also predicted daily and weekly newspapers would be delivered “Via Compu-fax Satellite” and that clearly is not, nor will it ever be, the case. While the Internet has become a primary source for retrieving news these days, I often wish the prediction that the newspaper industry would be flourishing instead of floundering would have come true.
But, as I have learned, nothing positive can ever be achieved without change.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

Exercise It Wisely

Throughout our lives, we, the citizens of these United States, are urged every November or April to exercise our right to vote. While it is a right to go to the polls every election day and select those who will represent us in office, the mere thought of uneducated and apathetic voters casting ballots troubles me. These days, it’s difficult enough to juggle work, family, finances and other obligations without adding anything to the mix. And while I do think that this generation of voters is much more inclined to actually research the candidates and learn the issues, there are still those who register to vote without knowing anything about their potential representatives.

And I can honestly say that, once upon a time, I fell into that category. With my 18th birthday falling in October of an election year, I was more wrapped up in the reality of being an adult. Voting was the last thing on my mind. Besides, my apathetic self had adopted the, ‘one vote won’t make a difference’ philosophy. Four years later, my bad decision making once again reared its ugly head. Caught up in the whole MTV “Rock the Vote” hype, as well as being surrounded by a college crowd that was certain that our future depended on us getting to the polls and making a difference.

Of course, smart college student that I was, I focused my attention on the presidential race – Gore vs. Bush. I steadfastly threw my support behind Bush because all of my views on the majority of issues mirrored his. I developed a cocky attitude that I was right and all of those who supported Gore were imbeciles … including my better half. Together for three years, we never had as heated arguments as we did leading up to that election. Our political differences drove an insurmountable wedge between us and, eventually, our relationship bent until it broke. Looking back, I can’t help but kick myself for getting so wrapped up in politics that it adversely affected my life.

But, I digress. Heading to the polls that November, I looked over my ballot and realized I failed to do my homework. Sure, I had the president vote all figured out, but then came all the other candidates for Senate, Congress, Assembly and sheriff, with a referendum thrown in for good measure. Like the typical uninformed constituent, I merely chose the names that sounded familiar – those of the incumbents. After filling it out, I left feeling like a failure. Sure, I had done my part and fulfilled my right to vote, but I really had no idea what I was doing.

That’s why people need to realize that votes do count. And just because an incumbent has been in office for 30-some years doesn’t mean he or she is the right person for the job. Guess that whole live and learn saying rang true for me. And while I realize there are only a few days before Nov. 2 gets here, please do yourself a favor and, if you intend to vote, make sure you do some research. Going to the polls without any knowledge of who the candidates are and what they stand for is like walking into a final exam at school without ever having cracked a book.

Also, just because the option to vote party lines is there doesn’t mean you have to use it. These days, I find it hard to believe that any one person agrees or disagrees with either perspective entirely. Don’t be lazy. Get to know the candidates, the issues and go into your polling place knowing exactly who and what you’re supporting. After all, this is our country and we have to live with it until the next election rolls around … so let’s make it the best that it can be. And remember, every vote does count.

Jennie Oemig,
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

Seat Belts Save Lives ... Mine Included

In recognition of national teen driver safety week, I thought it would be appropriate to reiterate the importance of safe driving.
To be fair, safe driving is pertinent whether you’re a teenager or not. And the main cause of fatalities is the fact that people are not buckling up when they get behind the wheel. All our lives, we’ve been told to buckle up for our safety … that that strap might save our lives if we’re ever in an automobile accident. I’m living proof of that. If it weren’t for those thin pieces of interwoven nylon, chances are I wouldn’t be here today.

When I moved to Wyoming in the summer of 2007, there were a number of things I had to get used to, such as climate (I’ve seen snow in July), environment (I’ve walked past a moose on the sidewalk) and, of course, altitude (you’d be surprised how quickly you can get drunk at 7,000 feet). But all of those things I had pretty much anticipated. One thing I never took into consideration was that I would have to adapt to the rules of the road in the west. Over there, the speed limit on the interstate is 80 miles per hour and 65 miles per hour on the highways. But that’s not even the worst of it.

Because there are so many animals that live in the mountains and cities are few and far between, drivers tend to share the road with nature … even mores than in Wisconsin. In addition to deer, you have moose, pronghorn, bison and mountain goats to contend with in those parts. So, one morning while I was driving out near the Jonah Field and Pinedale Anticline, two large energy fields in Wyoming, I came across a herd of pronghorn. Going 65 and rounding some sharp corners, not to mention the fact that shoulders are pretty much non-existent on rural highways, I swerved to avoid hitting one of them. Getting off the pavement, I yanked the steering wheel to get back on the road. Unfortunately, I ended up overcorrecting the vehicle and it started to roll.

While I had always been told that car crashes seem to take place in slow motion, I never believed it until I lived through it. The car rolled for what seemed like forever, though it was only one a a half times. After my car came to rest on its roof in the ditch on the opposite side of the road, I began to assess my situation. I was alive, so that was a good start. Looking around, I saw that two of the windows were shattered and there was glass everywhere. Still in somewhat of a state of shock from had just happened, I didn’t even realize that my index finger had been lacerated and was bleeding profusely. My primary concern was finding my phone and calling for help. Unfastening my seat belt, I looked all over the upside down wreckage for my cell.

While I eventually did find it, it was pretty much a lost cause. I was out in the middle of nowhere and didn’t get much in the way of reception. Thus, I had to wait for a truck driver to come by and call for help. When the police, paramedics and other emergency personnel showed up, the officer who questioned me pointed out that my finger was bleeding pretty badly. Initially turning down treatment, I eventually told the officer that it might be a good idea to go to the hospital and have my finger looked at. Eight stitches and several bumps and bruises, including marks on my waist and shoulder from where the seat belt held me in the vehicle, was all I got out of the terrifying ordeal.

But, I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened had I not buckled up that morning. Would I have been ejected from the car? Would I have died? Would I have survived the crash, but had injuries so severe that I would have died before I got treatment? Would I be brain damaged or paralyzed if I did make it out alive? Thankfully, because of those two straps, I didn’t have to find out. But, any other day on any other road, there are people who aren’t as fortunate … who decided not to buckle up. Sure, I know of instances where people died because they were wearing their seatbelts, but those are few and far between.
Since that day, I’ve never not buckled up … and neither should you.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader

If You Build It, They Will Excel

In regard to the meeting two weeks ago, I must applaud the decision of the facilities committee. Considering the recent disaster this community has faced and adding to that the poor economic condition, I think it took a lot of courage to insist upon a new elementary and middle school. While there will surely be a great deal of concerns, mainly of the property tax variety, I think it’s important to realize what’s at stake … the education of the children in this community. While Arcadians’ wallets may be dealt a huge blow if this process moves forward, ultimately, those kids are the ones who will be affected most by the final decision.

Though money always seems to come up as a concern when a construction project of this magnitude is being discussed (to be truthful, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a time when funding was not an issue), at some point in the future, a new building will have to be constructed. And If you look at the economy, barring another major downswing in the market, things never tend to get cheaper. Let’s be honest … an increase in property taxes will never be something people will welcome with open arms. But, a lot can change in just a few years. If it were the pleasure of the committee and school board to wait five or so years to move forward with a new facility, when it absolutely, positively needs to be built, chances are it will cost even more.

Given that construction companies are practically begging for work these days, it’s more likely that, if the project were bid out sooner rather than later, the cost will be significantly less. And then, when you take into consideration the value of the children and the fact that their futures hinge on the education they receive right now, one would think cost would be a non-issue. Making sure those kids are in a conducive learning environment should be job one. A noisy building that was initially built 90 some years ago, has an unreliable heating system and consists of rooms that can no longer contain modern class sizes, is a far cry from conducive.

When I was in elementary school, the building I attended classes in left quite a bit to be desired. While not necessarily unusable, it was, without a doubt, in need of some serious upgrades. Handicap accessibility was lacking, it was unbelievably cold and drafty during the winter months, what with a faulty heating system, and security was minimal … I mean, how secure could a building constructed almost a century prior possibly be? And while there’s no doubt that teaching methods and the material are two crucial factors in a child’s academic success, I would have to argue that environment is just as important, if not more so. Let me tell you, listening to the clanging and banging of pipes every time the furnace kicked in during the winter months was a huge distraction, especially while attempting to comprehend long division or trying to read “Lord of the Flies” – as if those weren’t challenging enough as it was.

When you take into consideration the effects that learning environment has on students, it makes perfect sense to somehow find the funds for a new facility, regardless of the cost. While I’m not a parent and I don’t pay property taxes in Arcadia just yet, I know that a child’s education is priceless and monetary constraints of any kind should not be placed on the future leaders of this country. Sure, there’s a lot of time before anything is set in stone regarding this project, but this is merely food for thought ... something to have in the back of your minds when and if this issue comes to referendum.

Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader