Notes From the Dockside: The lucky spot

With all the new innovations in fishing equipment, boats and motors and the proliferation of information about fishing it is still impossible to discount the value of just pure luck.

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Bill would create sandhill crane hunting season

Wisconsin News
More farmers are complaining about crane damage to crops. The sandhill is the most abundant of all cranes. Wisconsin has around 25,000 of them.

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Boat safety courses offered

The Hudson Flotilla of the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering a series of public boat safety courses.

Briggs & Stratton announces job cuts

Wisconsin News
The Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton says it will cut 690 U.S. jobs, and cut 77 more in the Czech Republic due to a falling demand for its lawn-and-garden products.

Hike, snowshow at Afton park

Minnesota state parks and state trails will host 38 candlelight events this winter, including an event at Afton State Park on Saturday, Feb. 4. If there is not enough snow for snowshoes, the trail will still be illuminated for hiking.

Annual bird count takes place Feb. 17-20

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count, hosted by Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada, will be held Feb. 17-20.

• Northern cardinal
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DNR to invite wolf hunters

Wisconsin News
About 100 Wisconsin landowners who've had problems with grey wolves will be invited to apply for state permits to kill those animals.

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Hot Air Affair features balloons on Feb. 3-5

It’s all about the balloons! And a new balloon is coming to Hudson for the first time for the 23rd annual Hudson Hot Air Affair.

• The Airganic Garden balloon
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Notes From the Dockside: Wax worms and corn dogs

We pulled up in front of the gas station and I yelled back to my two grandchildren that were buckled up in the back seat. “Does anyone want corn dogs?” I heard a cheer go up from the backseat and then Amelia shouted “I love corn dogs.”

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Snowmobile ride far from home honors local teen’s memory

Tom Hackworthy of Hudson will travel to the far north of Wisconsin next week on a special mission. He will snowmobile 650 miles from Manitowish Waters to Copper Harbor, Mich., and back on the first Bryan Aumann Memorial Ride to benefit Wishes & More.

• Brian Aumann and his snowmobile
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Open water rare for this time of year

The St. Croix River is largely open water this January, which is rare and the result of the unseasonably high temperatures.

• Open water on the St. Croix River near Hudson
• The I-94 bridge over the St. Croix River
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Snow: you can find it at Badlands Sno-Park

There is a little corner of our area where you can enjoy a feeling of winter. Located in the town of Hudson, Badlands Sno-Park is in its 42nd year of operation by the Kinney family.

• A group of tubers starts down the new turbo run
• PHOTO GALLERY: Badlands SnoPark has snow!
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Program on Belwin Conservancy held

Friends of the Hudson Library is sponsoring program featuring Tara Kelly, director of ecological restoration for the Belwin Conservancy.

Farmers profit despite recession

Wisconsin News
A shaky economy and high energy prices during 2011 did not prevent Wisconsin farmers from having a good year, according to UW Madison professor emeritus Ed Jesse.

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Fair weather feathered friends

Diane Bauer took these photos of birds playing in a bird bath on her deck in the town of Hudson. Temperatures hovered in the low 50s for a couple of days in early January — these photos were taken Jan. 10.

• Bluebirds in January
• House finches enjoy a good splashing
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