Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE-The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Department of Performing and Visual Arts and Pioneer Players will open their fall theater season with "Dead Man's Cell Phone" by Sarah Ruhl. The production opens with a special pay what you can preview performance on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and continues through the week with evening performances Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 12-14, at 7:30 p.m. There is also a matinee performance on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. All performances are in the Center for the Arts Theatre on the UWP campus.

This 2007 surrealist comedy by Ruhl explores the incessant ringing of cell phones, the constant need to be in touch with everyone and anyone, how we deal with death, and the choices we make that can change our lives. When Jean answers the cell phone of a dead man in a café, her world will never be the same. Described by New York Times critic Charles Isherwood as "a beguiling comedy ... a hallucinatory poetic fantasy that blends the mundane and the metaphysical, the blunt and the obscure, the patently bizarre and the bizarrely moving," "Dead Man's Cell Phone" is a thoughtful exploration of human interaction in the 21st century.

The five member cast includes UWP students Jared Baker, Lizzie Hansen, Erin McDermott, Kalynn Raifsnider and Craig Schlagel (who is also the costume designer). Karalyn Fitzgerald is the stage manager. Scenic and lighting designs are by Brad Carlson, the UWP theater program's technical director/designer, and the production is directed by Ann Dillon Farrelly, UWP professor of theater.

According to Farrelly, "This play is not your traditional theater experience. The play is funny, poignant and strange, and the world in which it takes place is surreal and unbalanced. The characters are eccentric and awkward one moment, wise and philosophical the next. Ruhl is one of the most exciting American playwrights working today and it is an honor to be the first theater in Wisconsin to produce this wonderfully weird play."

Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $6 for UWP faculty and staff, and $5 for UWP students with a valid ID, seniors and persons under the age of 18. Tickets are available through the University Box Office at (608) 342-1298 or at www.uwplatt.edu/arts/cfa/information/office.html.

RACINE, Wis. - Thanks to a long-term partnership announced today between Case IH Agriculture, Ritchie Implement Inc., and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP) Pioneer Farm, students in the UW-Platteville School of Agriculture soon will have access to the newest agricultural equipment and precision farming technologies available, as well as the practical expertise of Case IH and the Ritchie team.

"Access to new Case IH agriculture equipment will be a tremendous asset to Pioneer Farm - the precision farming solutions will greatly increase the productivity of our operations," says Phil Wyse, director of Pioneer Farm. "But more so than that, this partnership advances the mission of Pioneer Farm - to enhance the agricultural education experience for students on campus and for agriculturists throughout the surrounding communities. That's what we're really excited about."

Pioneer Farm, the university's 430-acre working farm, boasts some of the best soil in southwest Wisconsin. The gently rolling fields, managed with conservation in mind, rotate between corn, oats and alfalfa, and those crops help support the farm's dairy, beef and swine enterprises. A combination of new Case IH tractors, hay tools, skid steers, tillage implements, a planter and a combine, delivered in early 2010 and each year thereafter, will be used in the farm's day-to-day operations. The equipment allows students and farm visitors to see the productivity-enhancing benefits of Case IH equipment in real-world applications.

"With the support of Ritchie's and Case IH, the UWP Pioneer Farm is able to make use of cutting-edge farming technology," Wyse adds. "We applaud Ritchie Implement and Case IH for this valuable partnership."

"Students and university researchers will get to see, run, test and learn all about the newest innovations in production agriculture first-hand," explains Ron Ritchie, president of Ritchie Implement Inc., a Case IH dealer with locations in Barneveld, Cobb and Darlington, Wis. "Our goal is not only to broaden ag students' educational experience and better prepare them for their farming careers, but also to enhance educational opportunities for active producers locally, regionally and across the state. We're excited to be part of that important effort."

As part of the agreement, Case IH product specialists will be available to support classroom instruction and participate in student clinics and shared community activities such as University Field Days with hands-on field demonstrations.

"Our locally based Case IH product specialists can bring a great deal of insight and field experience to students and the community," says Jeff Schmaling, senior director of accounts management for Case IH. "They have the unique opportunity to visit farms across the region and help Case IH customers maximize their equipment's productivity and ROI in a variety of crops and field conditions, and they will bring that same practical experience to the university."

School of Agriculture students also will be invited to participate in the annual Case IH Student Plant Tour offered at one of its U.S. manufacturing locations: Racine, Wis.; Benson, Minn.; Fargo, N.D.; Goodfield, Ill.; or Grand Island, Neb.

Schmaling emphasizes the alliance is a win-win for all parties involved. The university will assist Case IH in conducting engineering research and testing new products. Case IH and Ritchie's also will have the opportunity to bring potential customers and employees to Pioneer Farm to see Case IH equipment in action.

"The support of Ritchie's and Case IH allows us to take our agriculture education, research and community outreach efforts to the next level, without increasing costs," says Dr. Carol Sue Butts, UWP interim chancellor. "Together Case IH, Ritchie Implement and the university will be able to share and exchange knowledge in diverse areas such as biodiesel technology, agricultural mechanics, agribusiness economics, precision farming, soil conservation and more. This truly benefits everyone - students, researchers, faculty, surrounding community members and the state of Wisconsin," adds Butts.

The partnership is a natural fit. The three Ritchie locations serve southwestern Wisconsin; Case IH is headquartered in Racine, Wis.; and graduates of the UWP School of Agriculture, recognized as one of the top agricultural schools in the nation, frequently accept positions with both Case IH and Ritchie's.

Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment - for those who demand more. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; utility vehicles and site-specific farming tools. Case IH is a brand of CNH (NYSE: CNH), a majority-owned subsidiary of Fiat Group (FIA: MI).

UW-Platteville is one of 13 four-year institutions within the University of Wisconsin System. Current enrollment is approximately 8000. UWP has offered instruction in agriculture for over 100 years and baccalaureate degrees since 1927. Currently there are over 600 students pursuing undergraduate academic degrees in agriculture. The University' commitment to agriculture is visible in recently constructed facilities at Pioneer Farm including a Swine Center, Agriculture Technology Center, Dairy Center, Feed Center, and Living & Learning Center.

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will be hosting the 12th annual Fall Eagle Fest on Saturday, Nov. 7 beginning at 9 a.m. in Velzy Commons, located in Ullsvik Hall on the UWP campus. The fest will feature three live flying birds of prey shows; the birds will be flown over audience members during each show.

The Fall Eagle fest will have a school art contest display, photography exhibits, commercial booths and environmental displays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. a school science fair will be held. The first of three flying birds of prey shows begins at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. a fund-raising auction will start followed by the second flying birds of prey show at noon. Tim Yager, refuge manager for the McGregor District, Upper Mississippi River Refuge System, will provide an environmental address at 1 p.m. The school art and science fair contest awards will be presented at 2 p.m. and the fest will conclude at 2:30 p.m. with the final birds of prey show.

Every hour there will be drawings for door prizes and attendees may have their picture taken with a live bald eagle. There is no charge to attend and everyone is welcome. For more information contact Amanda Trewin, associate professor of the UWP Biology Department at (608) 342-1527 or trewina@uwplatt.edu.

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will soon be in a position to aid law enforcement statewide by helping to process evidence with a new Digital Forensic Analysis Laboratory, according to UWP police officer Jason Williams and UWP criminal justice instructor Joseph LeFevre. The lab will be used for the recovery and analysis of digital data in criminal investigations. Digital data can be found on computers, cameras and other electronic devices.

Williams and LeFevre came up with the idea and suggested it to Scott Marquardt, chief of University Police. Marquardt suggested drafting a project proposal, which in turn was submitted to Chancellor Markee, now retired, who approved the proposal and authorized a search for funding through grants.

"LeFevre and I will be trained as digital forensic examiners and will be the investigators in digital data-type crimes for the university and any other law enforcement agencies," said Williams.

The grant money will fund the initial equipment required for such work, including a Forensic Recovery Computer, its software and the appropriate training for both Williams and LeFevre to become proficient in data recovery and analysis.

"The lab will greatly benefit UWP in a number of ways," added Williams. "The campus will gain recognition as one of the only UW schools to have a digital forensics analysis lab. Also, by installing a lab on our campus, we will be able to assist police agencies, including our own, with timely, accurate and forensically sound data analysis."

Williams also said that most police departments in Wisconsin send their digital evidence to the state of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation's Computer Crimes Unit for analysis, which has caused a large backlog of cases resulting in slow turnaround for results. UWP's data analysis lab could assist in the reduction of the pending analyses and help make convictions in these cases more timely. UWP would also be able to charge a nominal fee for this service that could aid in the continuing education and training of digital data analysis.

Because the lab will be assisting in real criminal investigations for law enforcement, access to the lab will be restricted. "We have to be very careful about who has access to evidence, just like any other crime lab," said LeFevre. "However, as the criminal justice department continues to develop the forensic investigation major, a class on data forensics could happen. While students can't come in the lab, we could equip a computer classroom with software used in the lab and teach basic data recovery and evidence handling."

For more information about the new lab, contact Williams at (608) 342-1584 or williaja@uwplatt.edu, or LeFevre at (608) 342-1676 or lefevrej@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Jason Williams, police officer, UWP Police Department, (608) 342-1584, williaja@uwplatt.edu Written by: Ian Clark, UWP Office of Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, clarki@uwplatt.edu

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville earned recognition at the 17th annual World Beef Expo held in Milwaukee Sept. 24-27. LR Cash, an Angus bull owned by the UWP Pioneer Farm, was named the Champion Red Angus Bull. LR Cash was part of the Supreme Grand Champion Drive, a showcase of champions from each breed where the top three overall animals are selected. In addition to receiving recognition for the quality of the Angus bull, UWP was named Premier Exhibitor in the Red Angus division for the third time and Premier Breeder in the division for the second time in school history.

Cash was purchased from Lindner's Red Angus, a Red Angus breeder located in Platteville. The animal was taken to the WBE last year as a calf. The animal was purchased more for breeding purposes than as a show animal, explained Alicia Prill-Adams, assistant farm director at the Pioneer Farm. Prill-Adams added that students and faculty are anticipating the arrival of the award-winning animal's first calves in the spring of 2010.

Laurel Ballweg, a sophomore animal science major from Lodi, was responsible for leading Cash through the shows. "I had the chance to work with him and get him ready as well as show him." said Ballweg. "Showing Cash in the Supreme Drive gave us a great sense of accomplishment."

Prill-Adams said that Ballweg, who was the lead student in preparing Cash for the show, received assistance from Kristin Taylor, an agricultural education and animal science double major from Morris, Ill.; Andrew Condon, an animal science major from Watertown; Heather Dykstra, an animal science and elementary education double major from Morrison, Ill.; Matt Storlie, an agricultural business major from Fall Creek; and Tammy Wiedenbeck, an animal science major from Lancaster.

Prill-Adams said that preparing animals for the WBE offers a great opportunity for students. "It gives them some hands-on opportunities to learn about the performance and pedigree of the cattle as well as network with other breeders," she said. "It is great that the students have the animals available to work with as it gives many of them a sense of responsibility."

Anyone with further questions regarding UWP's participation in the World Beef Expo may contact Prill-Adams at (608) 342-1326 or prillada@uwplatt.edu.