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Quiet Wis. Town Reflects On Noise At Capitol

By Lindsey Seavert, WCCO-TV

ALMA, Wis. (WCCO) -- Alma, Wis. is a town that knows about history. Along the Mississippi in western Wisconsin, more than 200 buildings in the town create a National Historic District.

But history is being made in Alma and across Wisconsin at this moment.

The 19th century river community of just 942 people now faces its future after unprecedented fury in the state's capitol. As public workers storm Madison, protesting the Governor's plan to remove their collective bargaining rights, shouts are met with quiet disapproval in Alma.

Gov. Scott Walker says his plan could save 330 million dollars over the next two years, and prevent 5,500 lay-offs.

News reports blare above the bar in the Alma Hotel, a popular gathering spot downtown.

"I think the Republicans were trying to pull a fast one and the Democrats stood up and said no way," said Shawn Winkler, who is a welder in Alma.

One of those Democrats who left Wisconsin is one of Alma's own, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout. Here, her rural farmhouse is empty.

"What a great move," said Winkler, who added that's why she voted for Vinehout. "She is a great woman. I'm behind her 110 percent. I helped her campaign, she is down to earth, she represents us."

But public worker Jennifer Kleckner says she isn't sure who has her best interest.

"Now if feels like we have been thrown out, like a baby in bathwater," said Kleckner, who says she is Buffalo County's only public health nurse. She says with low wages, she needs collective bargaining rights to survive.

"The benefits that really help us balance everything out. If the ability to bargain with that is taken away, it's really going to hurt us, hurt the bottom line of what we put food on the table with and what we pay our bills with," said Kleckner.

A cost people here say should be a warning for Minnesota and other states to pay attention. Winkler is a Twin Cities transplant who is alerting her friends in Minnesota.

"Being sister states, they've got to wake up," said Winkler.

Kleckner says she and other public workers have been protesting on Facebook.

"It's about the ability to have a voice," said Kleckner.

In a historic town where much remains unchanged, there's new uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring.

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