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Wed
15
Nov

Warczak’s life revolves around preserving records

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/15/2017 - 12:28

The Warczak-Patterson History Room was officially dedicated at the Bloomington Public Library on Aug. 28, 2016. It was made possible by a donation from the George Redman Estate, as Redman was a longtime village employee. It was named for two historians from the village of Bloomington: Jim Warczak, a longtime Bloomington High School teacher, former village librarian and avid historian; and the late Robert Patterson, who was a prominent businessman, collector and historian. Warczak and Marge Patterson (Robert’s wife) are pictured cutting the ribbon held by Joan Senn (far left), library board president, and Kathy Atkins (far right) Bloomington Public LIbrary director. (Photo by Sue Kuenster)

By Rachel Mergen

“I never dreamed I would get what I have now. I thought many items would remain in boxes forever,” Jim Warczak, Bloomington historian, shared about his current project, the Warczak-Patterson History Room. The history room is in no way the first contribution Jim has made to the local community throughout his own history. His resume includes school teacher, librarian, adviser and historian for the area.

Wed
15
Nov

Prairie du Chien School District gains revenue through open enrollment

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/15/2017 - 12:20

By Ted Pennekamp

There is good news again for the Prairie du Chien School District regarding open enrollment for this school year.

District Administrator Robert Smudde said open enrollment into the district this year is 85 students. Open enrollment out of the district is 31 students. So, there is a net gain this year of 54 students.

“We gain $610,000 in new revenue to the district, which is higher than last year’s revenue of $489,999 by $120,001,” said Smudde. “This benefits our students greatly by giving extra revenue to the district for staffing and innovative programming.”

Smudde also said the district is seeing a gain of new open enrollment applications and students attending this year of 17 more than last year.

Mon
13
Nov

Broadcasting underwater noise may be a sound solution for repelling Asian carp on Mississippi River

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 11:15

A silver carp is tagged with an acoustic transmitter (black tag located on the fish’s back) to monitor movement in the Mississippi River. Fish were monitored in response to the recording of a boat motor as part of the “Use of Sound to Alter Behavior of Silver Carp and Bighead Carp” research conducted by the United States Geological Survey.

Field implementation of sound as a deterrent to movement of bighead carp through a constructed lock approach channel was conducted by the United States Geological Survey. Six speakers were suspended off rafts across the middle of the channel, and a recording of a boat motor was played in both directions (to the left and right in the photograph) to deter fish passage through the channel. (Photos submitted)

By Ted Pennekamp

How can Asian carp be stopped? That is the question that biologists and other researchers have been working on for many years in their continuing quest to deter the invasive species from advancing up the Upper Mississippi and many other rivers.

Mon
13
Nov

Trio arrested on drug charges

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 11:13

Three individuals were taken to the Crawford County Jail  after being arrested on drug-related charges, among others, during the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 8.

According to the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, at about 2:45 a.m., a patrol deputy observed a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the roadway, with its hazard lights on, on County N and Plum Creek Road in rural Wauzeka. The deputy pulled in behind the vehicle and activated his lights.

The rear passenger immediately exited the vehicle and approached the squad car. He was identified as George Vallem, 36, of Boscobel. While speaking with the deputy, a meth pipe was located on the ground near Vallem’s feet. Vallem attempted to discard the pipe without the deputy’s knowledge. He was subsequently arrested for possession of meth paraphernalia.

Mon
13
Nov

Mingle and Jingle holiday shopping event Nov. 18 in downtown Prairie du Chien

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 11:12

Prairie du Chien’s downtown business community is hosting a holiday shopping event they hope will get people moving from door to door. On Saturday, Nov. 18, from noon to 7 p.m., the first Mingle and Jingle shopping promotion will involve fun-filled events, specials, giveaways and other festivities. This is intended to get customers into the many downtown storefronts as possible so they can see what there is to offer.

Shoppers will stop at their first business for a sheet of paper to take with them to be initialed at each business place. These initials will count toward a raffle ticket for a grand prize drawing done at the end of the day.

Customers will receive one entry per business where they stop. They will also receive an entry for every $10 they spend at a retail store. Other non-retail businesses will have specials, such as one entry per drink purchased, for those participating at their establishment.

Mon
13
Nov

Animal shelter ready to open after 10 years of fundraising

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 11:11

A little picket fence has been painted around the puppy area inside the Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter lobby. The shelter is nearly ready and is anticipated to open Dec. 4. (Photos by Randy Paske)

Dog kennels are shaping up inside the new animal shelter that will open next month in the North Gateway Business Park in Prairie du Chien, after 10 years of fundraising by local volunteers.

After more than 10 years of almost continuous fundraising and donation requests, Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter (RABAS) volunteers will soon see their long-awaited dream become reality. The RABAS Board of Directors recently hired Staci Roth to fill the full-time shelter manager position. Staci is from Wauzeka. She has many years of experience in animal health care as a vet tech in La Crosse, as well as operating her own parrot rescue in Coon Valley. Staci is passionate about helping homeless animals find their forever homes and is very excited about being the manager of Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter. The Board of Directors feels Staci is a “perfect fit” for the organization and hopes her enthusiasm for animal rescue will be contagious to the entire community.

Mon
13
Nov

Jury debates between strangulation or hanging

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/13/2017 - 11:10

Crawford County Lt. Investigator Jaden McCullick displays evidence in the courtroom, the 2x2 “T” from the post that Jimmy McDaniel said Linda Kline used to hang herself. Attached to the “T” is the extension cord allegedly used as well. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Carl Wingren, a forensic pathologist who was hired by the defense to review Linda Kline’s autopsy report, pictures and medical records, demonstrates how Kline would have positioned herself for the partial suicidal hanging the defense claims happened in the case. Also pictured is Jimmy McDaniel’s co-counsel Vince Rust. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Stier performed the autopsy on Linda Kline and believes with 100 percent certainty that this case involves a manual strangulation.

Trial expected to end Monday, maybe Tuesday

By Correne Martin

Blunt force trauma, manual strangulation and a staged scene? Or a partially-suspended, suicidal hanging?

What happened to Linda Kline on Oct. 4-5, 2016? Was she a depressed alcoholic who impulsively decided to take her own life? Or was she murdered by her boyfriend, then manipulated post-mortem to make her look like she’d hung herself by a household extension cord?

What will become of Jimmy McDaniel, her boyfriend and alleged assailant? He took the stand to testify in Crawford County Court Friday afternoon and again Monday. Judge Lynn Rider expects the trial to end today (Monday) or tomorrow.

Two different forensic pathologists—one who performed the autopsy on Kline’s body, and the other who didn’t personally examine her body, but was hired by the defense to review the case—testified, giving strongly opposing opinions about what happened.

Thu
09
Nov

Day one of murder trial depicts tumultuous relationship

Submitted by admin on Thu, 11/09/2017 - 09:34

Jimmy McDaniel (left) walks into the Crawford County second-floor courtroom at the beginning of his trial, in which he faces first-degree reckless homicide and strangulation charges. Also pictured is his legal team, Jeffrey Erickson (center) and Vince Rust. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Holly Little is a brother-in-law to Linda Kline, who lived with him and her sister, Michelle Little (who has since passed), in October 2016 when she died on the property. Holly Little was the first to testify in court Tuesday. He is shown here describing the layout of his backyard, where Kline was found dead.

McDaniel accused of first-degree reckless homicide, strangulation

By Correne Martin

Jimmy McDaniel and Linda Kline had a complicated relationship fueled by alcohol. Witnesses observed their constant fighting. But that doesn’t mean anyone else but the two of them knows exactly what happened Oct. 4 and 5, 2016, at her sister’s Bridgeport house where they were staying.

It is the job of a select Crawford County jury to determine whether or not the accused, McDaniel, 49, is guilty of first-degree reckless homicide and strangulation. 

Wed
08
Nov

Stop signs coming out on Dunn Street, school zone enacted near New Frontier

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/08/2017 - 11:08

By Correne Martin

Two stop signs on the northeast side of Prairie du Chien were removed by city resolutions approved at Tuesday night’s council meeting. The two signs were located at Dousman Street at the intersection of Dunn Street, and on East Dunn Street at the intersection of South State Street. The removal was decided in order to improve traffic flow in those areas, as the city’s hospital is no longer located in that location.

Further housekeeping action was approved by the council regarding North and South Illinois Street. Until recently, drivers approaching Illinois Street from Park Street were unable to take a left or a right on Illinois. An ordinance amendment passed, which will now permit drivers to turn north on Illinois Street there.

Wed
08
Nov

One of two WWII veterans in Wauzeka Legion shares his memories

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/08/2017 - 11:03

Bob Hazen is one of only two World War II veterans remaining on the Wauzeka American Legion. He enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17 and only served a few years but, at the age of 90, he’s still very proud of his service to this country.

By Correne Martin

Rather than being drafted, Bob Hazen signed up for the Navy in 1944. He was just 17 years old.

His brother George, the first ever Army soldier drafted from Crawford County, advised Bob in written correspondence to join the Navy.

“He said at least I’d have a warm bed and good food ‘til they blew up my ship,” he remembered.

Bob graduated from Wauzeka High School one night and was on the train the next morning, at 5 a.m., headed for Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. He endured only six weeks of training and then went off to California, where he boarded a Navy ship.

“I was scheduled to go to Okinawa (Japan) but, on the way over, [the U.S.] dropped the atomic bomb, ending the war. So I never went there,” he said.

Aboard the 1,500-man ship for the two-week trip overseas, Bob said he cooked for all the passengers three times a day.

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