CTV MOVES TO DIGITAL 900s
As of Aug. 12, Chippewa Valley Community Television will move to new channels. Public access Channel 11 (general) will move to channel 993, and channel 12 (government) will move to 994. The move is a result of the “Cable TV Competition Bill”, signed into law in December, which allows cable companies to make franchise agreements with the state of Wisconsin instead of individual municipalities. This means CTV will no longer be available as part of the basic (analog) cable package, only on Charter’s digital packages – so you must have digital cable to catch those city council meetings and Unarius Academy. CVCTV executive director Joel Desprez said the organization is disappointed because “we want to get our service to as many cable subscribers as possible,” and there are a lot of people who won’t have a QAM digital converter for all their TV sets or will opt not to subscribe to the digital service at all. On the upside, he said, CVCTV’s programming will be available to a wider area, stretching as far north as Rice Lake.

HOSPITAL HEARTS LOCAL FOOD
Sacred Heart Hospital is part of the Chippewa Valley Buy Local Consortium, a newly launched organization to bring together farms and institutions that wish to sell and purchase food locally. The hospital has pledged 10 percent of its $2 million annual food budget to purchasing local food and committed in-kind support of $1500 to the project. The consortium, a kind of buying club, is funded by a “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” grant of more than $40,000 to River Country RC&D Council, a nonprofit in Altoona that helps farmers sell directly to customers.

NASHVILLE-EC RADIO PARTNERS
Local country music station, WAXX-FM (104.5) is thinking outside the box – or state. Starting in mid-August, Katie Bright of the “George and Katie in the Morning” show is moving to Nashville, Tennessee, where she’ll broadcast live the doings of country music celebrities, awards, parties, and adding new material to the show and website. “We hope to bring a taste of what happens there home to our listeners here everyday,” says Bright, who once lived in Nashville and is excited about moving back. Co-host George House remains in Eau Claire, and little else will change in the show. Bright feels strongly about the show’s local flavor and is committed to staying “in the know,” but believes this move will set WAXX apart from other stations. “We plan to shake things up a bit here in the Chippewa Valley,” says Bright. “Change is good!”

EC HOSTS BIKE/PED CONFERENCE
Eau Claire will host Wisconsin’s 2008 State Pedestrian and Bicycle Conference Aug. 13-14 at the Ramada Convention Center, billed as the educational and networking event for transportation professionals, educators, public health specialists, parks and recreation managers, elected officials, planners, and citizens who are involved in the creation of bicycle-and pedestrian-friendly environments. This year’s conference will focus on the current energy crisis and how non-motorized advocates and transportation professionals can be a force for positive economic and social change. Learn more and register at www.wcwrpc.org.