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Mother Surrenders 3-Hour-Newborn in La Crosse, Wis.

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) -- A mother surrendered a 3-hour-newborn at a La Crosse fire station, invoking the state's Safe Haven law.

La Crosse fire Capt. Tony Nickelatti tells the La Crosse Tribune the woman brought the boy to a fire station at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Nickelatti says she gave a medical history and she was very helpful.

It was the first time in La Crosse County someone invoked Wisconsin's Safe Haven law, which was enacted in 2001. It allows a parent to surrender an unharmed infant to police, fire, medical or emergency personnel or a hospital within 72 hours of birth and remain anonymous.

Deanna Hoffman with La Crosse County Child Protection Services says once the baby is deemed healthy, he will become eligible for foster care and adoption.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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