Local Features

Muscular Christianity is a philosophical interpretation of Christianity that centers on the moral and physical beauty of athleticism. It has had many proponents over the years, but few as colorful as the Reverend Frederick Wedge. Historian Gary Entz has the story.

Did you know that Earth Day has its roots in Wisconsin? The Masked Biologist takes a glimpse back at the origins and early years after the original Earth Day in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

In this month's installment of Field Notes, Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses how maple trees produce sap for real maple syrup.

Have you had the opportunity to get outside? The Masked Biologist gives us some ideas for nearby outdoor activity destinations in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

When we think of the Northwoods, one thing that comes to mind is the Supper Club. These iconic restaurants, along with all nonessential business, have been closed to in-person business as a result of the COVID-19 virus. These closures have supper club owners wondering about their future. They also have concerns about their laid off workers, the companies that supply them with food and beverages, and their patrons who are unable to enjoy the establishments that are part of their lives. Brad

By the middle of the century, the climate, the waters, and the species of northern Wisconsin could look like today’s southern Wisconsin. That’s according to projections presented at a scientific conference last week. In turn, climate change could force southern Wisconsin to look like states including Kansas and Virginia. The shifts are just a few of the many disruptions we’re facing as the Earth gets warmer and wetter, shifts that were detailed at the Wisconsin Waters 2020 convention. The

Each spring the hardwood forests of the Northwoods come alive with activity as the process of collecting maple sap begins. The people doing this work range from large commercial operations to single individuals tapping a few trees. As part of WXPR’s We Live Up Here series, we visited two very different operations before social distancing guidelines went into effect. The first stop was a visit with Joe Polak, owner of Maple Hollow, nestled in a dense maple forest just northeast of Merrill. As you

Are the Northwoods walleye you catch safe to eat, or do they have too much mercury? The answer is tied to several factors, but new research shows a surprising variable might have the biggest effect. The water level of the lake where you caught the fish could tell you more about its safety than anything else. The realization of the connection started years ago, when lakes researcher Dr. Carl Watras found an interesting trend. The water level on Northwoods lakes, and even the Great Lakes, followed

When you hear the name Samson, what springs to mind – possibly a religious story, or maybe the name of a larger-than-life animal? The Masked Biologist says all of the above, and explores the humanization of animals in this week’s Wildlife Matters.

Instead of making its iconic Stormy Kromer hats, Ironwood-based Jacquart Fabrics is now making hospital masks and gowns. Near Antigo, wildlife rehabilitators don’t have the luxury of staying away from work. In this edition of We Live Up Here, we explore how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of businesses in our area. Just several weeks ago, things could not have been going better for Bob Jacquart, CEO of Jacquart Fabrics and Stormy Kromer in Ironwood, Michigan. His 100 or so employees were