January 2012, From the Editor
From the Editor
My family spent many wonderful summer vacations camping in the Northwoods. My two sons, now grown and on their own, still bring out the camping gear once or twice a year and make a trip north. As adults, I think they finally understand what people meant when referring to the area as “north of the tension zone.”
But the Northwoods is more than a place for city slickers to get away from it all. It probably could be described as the forestry capital of the country — Wisconsin leads the nation in forestry jobs and its hardwood products are among the world’s finest. And, this area of the state is increasingly becoming a place where people go to retire. Those retirees have spawned growth in another industry, health care. Writer Jen Bradley takes us north this month for a tour of the promise and the problems the area faces.
Ms. Bradley also reports on the construction industry this month. This sector of the economy has been hit harder by the recession than most others and the prospects for next year are not encouraging, at least in home construction.
On a brighter note, Nancy Herrick tells us about the Great Lakes Distillery, a company that got its start just seven years ago. Its products have already won national awards for its gin and vodka and the Milwaukee company is expanding.
We are also continuing our coverage of an issue that we hear is important to many state businesses — the gap between the skills manufacturers need and the skills of the current job applicants. Ronnie Garrett tells us about what some companies are doing to close the gap.
One last thing — 2012 is going to be an important election year. One major change is that each voter will have to show a picture identification card at the polls. I recently checked with Reid Magney, the spokesman for the Government Accountability Board, and he cleared up some common misconceptions.
What if the address on your driver’s license is not current?
“It does not have to be your current address,” said Magney. “The identification is to prove that the voter is the person pictured, not to verify the address.”
What if I cut my hair, shaved my beard and no longer wear glasses?
“You just have to reasonably resemble the picture.”
People who are “indefinitely confined” because of illness or age do not have to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and stand in line to get a state identification card, he said. They can continue to vote absentee.
If you have any questions, call your city, village or town clerk or visit the GAB website at http://gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/photo-id for more information. You can register with your local clerk or even at the polls on the day of the election, Magney said. But if you are registering, you will need not only a picture ID but identification to prove your address.
In addition to the presidential primary that will be held Feb. 21, there could be a recall election for Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and some other state senators. Petitioners have until Jan. 17 to file the petitions with the GAB.
Marie Rohde
mrohde@crwmag.com