BARN FIRE

     As many of you already know, it is definitely winter in Wisconsin and with that comes a few more fires due to wood stoves and other heating units on full force.
     Barn fires seem to be more common in the winter-time and can be a pain in the butt for the firefighters fighting them.
     On Wednesday morning, I covered Shawano County's first barn fire of 2013, near the small village of Gresham. It's still unknown how the fire start, but it was a big one. When the first fire department arrived on scene, the barn was already engulfed in flames. In total, there were five area fire departments on the scene. Just watching all the fire crews working together is amazing, it has to be tough to coordinate all that communication and help, but they seem to do it flawlessly.
     The owner of the barn was able to save about 70 cattle, but lost about three young heifers in the blaze.
     Covering a fire can be a tough assignment, whether you are a rookie photojournalist or someone with years and years of experience. Some tips are to listen to the firefighters, they know what is going on there, stay out of their way, use a big lens so you can stay out of their way, park a ways away so you don't block their fire trucks from getting in and out of the area and don't bother then while they are working the fire to get quotes for the paper/television. You can always talk to a nearby deputy/police officer or wait until things have calmed down or just call the chief when you get back to your desk. Let them do their job.
     Enjoy the rest of the week!

    

PLAYOFF TIME

     The Green Bay Packers rolled over rival Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night in a NFC wild card playoff game at Lambeau Field and the action was great!
     Saturday night it was Packers fullback John Kuhn that provided the best action during the game, emotional celebrations, getting knocked into the air while scoring and running hard through tackle attempts. On the defensive side of the ball, Clay Matthews had a decent night, sacking Vikings quarterback Joe Webb several times.
     Up next for the Packers is a road trip to San Francisco next weekend for Divisional playoffs.
     Here are some of my favorite images from Saturday night's game.

The Vikings fumbled this punt return in the fourth quarter and Green Bay Packers special teams players picked up the loose football.

Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings is upended after making a catch.

Green Bay Packers lineman Josh Sitton throws a block while running back DuJuan Harris runs for more yards against the Vikings.

Lambeau Field in the winter. Nothing better than that and the players were having fun with the cold air like Packers linebacker Clay Matthews does here.

Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn goes airborne in the third quarter as he scores a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings.

LOOKING BACK ON 2012

     I know this is a few days late, but I was finally able to flip through my work from 2012 and decided to put together a few of my best images from this past year. 
     It's a wide-range of topics from car accidents to fires to sports and even some portraits. Some of the events I covered were new experiences for me and some of them also gave me the chance to work on some soundslide videos, which are always fun to put together. I'll be doing a few more of those in 2013.
     With no particular order, here are my favorite images from 2012.
     Enjoy!

Shawano police officer Scott Ruen plays tug-of-war with his K-9 partner Aldo just after starting duty recently. Aldo is the city's only K-9 and has been with Ruen in 2010.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources conducted a planned burn on several fields around the Navarino Nature Center on Tuesday afternoon. Over 10 acres were burned in 3 hours, 45 minutes. The burns are conducted every three years to destroy invasive species and to destroy dead vegetation.

Aerialists hang from the ceiling of the Crawford Center during the first performance of the Beja Shrine Circus in Shawano on Monday. The circus shows including elephant, tigers and dog acts as well as aerialists, clowns and motorcycles.

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) intercepts a pass intended for Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings in the third quarter of a game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won the game 23-14.

Ethan Giamelle, of Rainbow Valley Rides, works on putting together the Lolliswings ride in the kiddie park area of the midway on Tuesday afternoon. Giamelle said it takes about an hour
for each ride to be put together.

Firefighters from the Shawano Area Fire Department battle a fire at 337 S. Andrews St. in Shawano on Saturday. Firefighters were called to the scene of the fire at 10 a.m. No one was home at the time of the fire and no one was injured. No cause has been determined.

Greg Rusch, of Shawano, Wis., paints a portion of the blue line on the ice at the Crawford Center in Shawano on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012 in preparation of the upcoming hockey season. Behind Rusch is Mike Johnson, also of Shawano. Following painting an inch of ice will be put down to finish the rink. The Green Bay Junior Gamblers will be using the ice center on Saturday

Green Bay Packers punt returner Randall Cobb escapes a tackle attempt by San Francisco 49ers punter Andy Lee in the fourth quarter on his way to a touchdown.

Dean Werth, of Clintonville, holds his daughter, Willow, while attempting to get a photo of sturgeon as they swim past in the Wolf River on Wednesday afternoon. The sturgeon began spawning in Shawano on Monday and were beginning to wrap up Wednesday.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews sacks New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the third quarter of their game on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Walleyes for Tomorrow chairman Mike Arrowood measures walleye eggs to put the correct amount into the hatchery jars at the group's portable fish hatchery in Cecil. The hatchery can hold between three to four million walleye eggs.

Natalie Colon, right, dumps a bottle of cold water over her sister, Isabel, as the two begin the running portion of the triathlon on Wednesday in Leopolis.

Shawano Area Firefighters look over the scene of a semi-truck rollover on Highway 29 just west of the Highway 22 exit just outside of Shawano on Thursday afternoon. The truck lost its load of grain and blocked both east bound lanes, forcing traffic around via the on and off ramps of Highway 22. The semi-truck driver sustained minor injuries.

A WINTER DIP

     How many of you have ever jumped into a lake or river in the winter-time for fun? How many have ever thought about doing that?
     I can tell you for a fact that I have never done either. It just doesn't sound fun to me, but it was sure fun capturing images of a polar bear plunge on New Years Day on Tuesday as The Lighthouse bar in Shawano held its 14th annual Polar Bear Plunge.
     About 20 people took part in the event, which was held on the coldest day of winter thus far. Many of those jumping wore their swimsuits and braved the windy, cold weather before jumping into the channel behind the bar.
    My teeth were chattering just watching them, one by one, as they leaped into the water and jumping out screaming from shock. Many of them were already reacting even before hitting the water, as you'll see from some of my images.
     What's the thrill in doing something like this? Well, many of those jumping in said it's a rush and do it as a way to kick off the new year. Others were doing it to help raise money for the local Humane Society and some were just doing it because they were dared by a friend or family member to do it.
     It's a great way to kick off the new year for me, being able to cover this event. This weekend it's another big event as the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings for a Wild Card Playoff game. There won't be anyone jumping into frigid water, but there may be some athletes jumping into the arms of waiting fans in the end zones.
    Have a great 2013!

PURPLE AND GREEN

     It was a NFC North Division rivalry game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Sunday as the Green Bay Packers hosted the Minnesota Vikings.
    The Packers were coming into the contest after suffering a 38-10 loss at the hands of the New York Giants the week prior and came out Sunday moving quickly against the Vikings -- with a lot of short, dump off passes to move down the field.
     There was plenty of action on the field with big plays from receivers James Jones, Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb and tight end Jermichael Finley and also on the other side of the ball with running back Adrian Peterson.
     Unfortunately, it was an off day for me. I usually have one of those a season where it seems like everything happens on the opposite side as me or I just didn't happen to get the big play. Don't get me wrong, I got some nice images, but I didn't get that one, key to the whole game, type of photo today.
     My favorite photograph from the game came in the first quarter when WR Jones dove for a touchdown and reached across the goal line hitting the pylon for the score. Bad part was the touchdown was called back on a holding call against the Packers.
    I've gotten quite a few nice images of Jones making big-time catches this year and have two more games to go yet. Should be fun to see what else that talented athlete can do.
    The other favorite photo for me came in the second quarter when a pass intended for Greg Jennings was intercepted by the Vikings. I love Jennings' reaction as the ball is getting intercepted.
     The Packers have just two home games left -- against the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans. Lets home this slump of mine is just for one game.
      Enjoy!

Packers receiver James Jones reaches for a touchdown in the first quarter. The TD was called back because of a holding call against the Packers.

Packers safety Morgan Burnett celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Vikings.

A pass intended for Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings is intercepted in the second quarter.