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• Body of missing Chippewa County woman found
• 'Habitat Handout Day' in Baldwin this Saturday

By Wheeler News Service

Chippewa County sheriff's officials say a search plane has found the body of a missing woman on Friday afternoon.

Barbara Harvatine, 74, was reported missing by her husband Thursday morning. The plane spotted her body in Bob Lake.

Authorities say that evidence suggests the woman walked away from her home near the lake, leaving her cane and walker behind.

The Chippewa County coroner is reviewing her death.

BALDWIN - Property owners interested in making their land wildlife friendly are invited to attend "Habitat Handout Day" on Saturday and receive free trees, shrubs and seed for wildlife food plots.

The distribution will occur from from 2:30-4 p.m, Saturday, May 3, at the state Department of Natural Resources work shop at 890 Spruce St.

Plants and seed will be distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. Interested landowners are asked to bring their own bags to carry seed and buckets for the seedling plants.

DNR wildlife technician Mike Soergel said corn and sorghum seed for wildlife food plots were donated by the Pierce/St. Croix chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Indianhead Chapter of Pheasants Forever and BioDiagnostics Inc.

There will be habitat agreements to be signed - ensuring these materials will be used for wildlife habitat and not for residential or commercial purposes. Soergel said volunteers from Pheasants Forever and the National Wild Turkey Federation do much for area wildlife populations, both by raising funds and donating their time and skills to projects.

Each landowner will be limited to seed for three acres (about 50 pounds) and to 200 trees and shrubs.

Property owners are key partners in the effort to preserve and enhance wildlife populations, Soergel said.