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It's something you hear often from Northern Wisconsin residents and local government officials: all the money goes south.
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News out of Madison this week twice confirmed that regional infrastructure doesn't get stronger because in situations where it could be done, no one makes the much-needed investments.
This week, Sen. Bob Jauch announced that $200,000 would be devoted to a study of dentistry in rural and Northern Wisconsin. The willingness to bring dental hygiene to the impoverished masses is noble, and everyone seems receptive to building a dental school ... in Marshfield.
So why doesn't someone build a dental school up here? We'd have jobs for secretaries, custodians, recruiters ... it would feed millions into the local economy, and we could pay to fix our own cavities. Then we wouldn't have an above-average number of adults missing permanent teeth (43 percent compared to the state average of 38 percent). Worrisome.
I'm really curious about how they acquired that statistic, by the way, if Northerners don't go to the dentist regularly and it's not a question on the U.S. Census form. Off subject, it's reminiscent of Don Knotts in "The Shakiest Gun in the West": "I'm gonna spread dental health through the West like a plague!"
Sorry. My dad made me watch it.
Anyway, consider the eight biotech companies moving to the state (as Gov. Jim Doyle announced last week). Read down the list of lucky cities, and you'll see Madison four times, Hudson three times and Fitchburg (Dane County) once. Fitchburg has an estimated median household income of $62,285; Chetek's is $37,458.
I realize companies chose those cities for their locations, but Chetek does have a good location. We're 45 minutes from a metropolitan area, and we've got plenty of room for development.
It's strange, when you think about it. Most Northerners I've met are of good character and have a strong work ethic. They're kind, friendly, willing to go out of their way to be helpful.
It's a beautiful region, too, so bucolic and rich with natural resources that Minnesotans and Illinoisans race here every summer weekend to get out of the city.
We have marvelous quality-of-life. Low crime rates. Great hunting and fishing. Acres of space. Water everywhere. Pretty trees and flowers.
We rock.
So why can't we convince everyone else?
It reminds me of Barron County's Waste-to-Energy Plant Manager Al Zeltner, who got a phone call from Obama's transition team. The plant's turbine project was an ideal candidate for stimulus funding, they enthused.
They were never heard from again.
You know, maybe it's all about marketing. Maybe we just need a new logo:
Rusticate with us!
Leave your teeth in the Northwoods!
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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