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Wed
31
Jan

Lessons in Learning - Wachuta

By Rachel Mergen

Since she was in first grade, Jenny Wachuta, third grade teacher, along with second and fifth grade religion classes at one point, for the past 35 years at Prairie Catholic School, knew she wanted to be a teacher. She remembers loving her teacher, being around kids her age and learning new things as she attended St. Mary’s Ridge Catholic School near Cashton.

Her love for teaching was also inspired by her admiration for her older sister’s teaching career, along with her experience with babysitting neighborhood children and spending time with her three younger siblings.
She attended Viterbo College in La Crosse to major in Early Childhood Education, because, according to Wachuta, “being with young children always brought me joy.”

Wed
31
Jan

Lessons in Learning - Hemmer

By Rachel Mergen

For the past 36 years, Lori Hemmer has been teaching elementary students at Prairie Catholic School, including first graders presently and, in the past, second and third grade students. The school has been a part of her life long before those 36 years though, as she attended St. John’s Catholic School as a child, which eventually became a part of Prairie Catholic.

She recollected some of her fondest memories from her education at the school, “My favorite teacher was Sister Angeline. I remember her as being very kind. You just knew she cared about you. I remember always hanging by her on the playground. Back then the nuns wore full habits. My friends and I were very curious about what Sister Angeline’s hair looked like under her habit. She always told us she had purple and pink feathers for hair. We were always hoping to catch a glance.”

Mon
29
Jan

Annual fisheree an outdoor activity for the whole family


Adults as well as children can get outdoors this weekend and enjoy some local recreation at the 68th annual Ice Fisheree, Feb. 2-4, headquartered at The Crooked Oar Bar north of Prairie du Chien. (Courier Press file photo)

The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce and Jaycees will host area ice fishing enthusiasts for the 68th annual Ice Fisheree Feb. 2-4, with headquarters at The Crooked Oar Bar and Marina just north of Prairie du Chien on County K.

Festivities will begin Friday evening, Feb. 2, at The Crooked Oar (formerly Lake-view Marina), with a dart tournament beginning at 6:30 p.m. There will be an entry fee with competition starting at 7 p.m. Those who wish to take a chance at cards instead of darts, registration for the euchre tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. as well, and cards will be shuffled at 7. A 52-card gun raffle will also be held on Friday evening and continue throughout the weekend.

Mon
29
Jan

Courier Press to publish keepsake Matt Antoine posters

By Correne Martin

In Prairie du Chien, we’re PdC proud, or #pdcproud—in terms of hashtags.

The Courier Press has adopted the hashtag #pdcproud as a means of collectively showing our pride and support for our hometown Olympian skeleton slider Matt Antoine. The hope is that, as some of Matt’s biggest fans, community members can jump on board and start taking and posting pictures on social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and then include #pdcproud with those posts. Examples might be pictures of you cheering him on; displaying USA or red, white and blue colors; holding signs you made for him; or perhaps posing in front of his street sign in Prairie du Chien, his picture at the high school, or the posters you’re going to start seeing in business places around town.

Mon
29
Jan

PdC EMS looks to let ambulance license lapse


Since 1965, the Prairie du Chien EMS has provided services in the Crawford County area. But, due to declining membership, loss of a medical director, a downgraded license and a lack of calls received, the organization has come to the point of surrendering its ambulance license. (Photo by Correne Martin)

A corkboard in the PdC EMS building displays some of the fun memories members have had.

By Correne Martin

Since 1965, Prairie du Chien EMS has provided services in the Crawford County area. But, due to declining membership, loss of a medical director, a downgraded license and a lack of calls coming in, the organization has come to the point of surrendering its ambulance license altogether.

“We all feel deeply disappointed,” said Joe Morovits, PdC EMS president.

“We worked so hard to keep this business going for the public,” added Jerry Barrette, former 34-year member. “I feel like we were taken for granted. People thought we’d always be here.”

Mon
29
Jan

Proposed Great River Road Trail

 

Proposed trail 

along Great River Road taking its first steps

By Ted Pennekamp

 

There is a movement afoot for a proposed multi-use trail along the Great River Road (Highway 35) in Crawford and Vernon counties.

Wed
24
Jan

Spahn & Rose Foundation awards grant for chamber addition

The Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce has been pondering the idea of adding to its facility for the purposes of a community/conference center, observation deck and a wrap-around walkway. With a recent $5,000 grant from the Spahn & Rose Foundation, the chamber has now reached over 70 percent of its project costs. Spahn & Rose has been in business since 1904 and is headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. The Prairie du Chien lumber yard has been in town since 1991 and at its current location since 2005. Every year, the Spahn & Rose Foundation donates to nonprofit organizations in the communities that are home to its 24 lumber yards. According to Brent Posten, Prairie du Chien’s general manager, this is the first time any entity from Prairie du Chien has ever applied for the grant. Chamber CEO Bob Moses said he expects the project to utilize Spahn & Rose materials during the construction process. Moses said the goal is for groundbreaking to happen in April.

Wed
24
Jan

Fame achieved by people with Crawford County connections

Rachel Mergen

Numerous men and women of various fame were born and raised in Crawford County. Others simply spent time in the local communities at some point in their lives. There are certainly more than just seven such individuals, but what follows is a cross-section of those with local connections who are known across the country and, in some cases, the globe.

Barbara Bedford
Barbara Bedford, born as Violet May Rose in the Prairie du Chien and Eastman area, was a silent film actress, who appeared in many films. Her long list of film appearances included in the “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Tumbleweeds” and “Cradle of Courage.”

Wed
24
Jan

Prairie du Chien Olympian featured on own trading card

Prairie du Chien’s Matt Antoine is among the athletes who will be part of TOPPS latest set of Olympic trading cards, which will be issued Friday. TOPPS has been the official trading card partner for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams since 2012, and this year’s set will showcase a record 50 athletes who represent the country.

Each hobby box of 2018 Topps U.S. Olympics & Paralympic Hopefuls includes one autographed card and two relic cards, which feature a piece of Team USA apparel worn by the athlete.

Fans can have a chance to find autographs from athletes such as Lindsey Vonn, Bode Miller, Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, take place Feb. 9-25, and Antoine’s events will be Feb. 15-17.

Wed
24
Jan

Haugen to Retire

 

Longtime Crawford County Agent to retire

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Longtime Crawford County Agent Vance Haugen will soon be retiring. In fact, Vance, who has worked for more than 26 years in the UW Extension Office in Crawford County, will officially retire on Jan. 31.

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