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Mon
14
Nov

Nonagenarian reflects on life in the olden days

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 11:57

Rita (Weighner) Clayton, 96, a former Prairie du Chien resident, was recently interviewed by her great-great-nephew Adam Novey about the olden days.

Rita’s husband, DuWain Clayton died 25 years ago, just before Thanksgiving. At 96 years old, she still keeps this photograph of them fastened to the cover of a notebook in which she records her memories.

Prairie du Chien native, Rita (Weighner) Clayton, 96, recently participated in an hour-long videotaped interview produced by her great-great-nephew, Adam Novey, of Wyocena (Wis.).

Rita, who currently resides at Leisure Terrace in Overland Park, Kan., was born in 1920 to Melvin and Elda (Zabel) Weighner in their two-room living quarters in the back of a barn in Frenchtown. She resided in Prairie du Chien until she and her husband, DuWain, moved to Beloit and then to the Kansas City area after World War II.

Rita spoke of the days when her father farmed and worked as a mechanic at Ray Weighner’s car dealership, while her mother stayed at home and was an excellent seamstress and cook. The kids’ chores included carrying in wood, carrying out ashes from the cook stove, pumping water, and fluffing grandpa’s feather bed which they did not always do to his satisfaction.

Mon
14
Nov

Ecumenical Thanksgiving service Nov. 23 at PdC UMC

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 11:54

All welcome to join service and community choir

The annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving service in Prairie du Chien will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 23, At 7 p.m., at the Prairie du Chien United Methodist Church, 625 S. Dousman St. All members of area communities, of any denomination, are invited to this celebration of thanks and the beginning of the holiday season.

Every year, the Prairie du Chien Clergy Association organizes this service, which is usually held at the church that has the newest pastor. This year, Pastor Barb Cook fills that role at the United Methodist Church.

The service features a family-friendly message and service as well as wonderful music by a community choir directed by Lori Frailey. There will be a collection and offering, which goes toward the Community Christmas Dinner (held at noon, Dec. 25, in the Prairie Catholic School basement).

Mon
14
Nov

Recount possible in 32nd Senate District

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 11:53

58 votes separate incumbent Shilling from Kapanke

A recount is possible for the race to take the seat in State Senate District 32.

Only 58 votes separate leading candidate Jennifer Shilling, the incumbent in the election, and Dan Kapanke in the district’s balloting. Shilling had 43,565 votes to Kapanke’s 43,507.

But, there is no recount just yet.

The losing candidate has to wait until the last day the county board of canvassers meet, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and Kapanke has three days to request a recount after all votes are canvassed.

The district covers four counties—La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford and Monroe—so the recount request might not be made until Nov. 15-16. The target date for completing a recount is Dec. 1.

Kapanke won’t have to pay recount costs because the difference is less than .25 percent.

Mon
14
Nov

Personal trainer finds her element in body building

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 11:51

Deidre Dillman, 27, of Prairie du Chien, recently won the amateur figure class in the Minnesota Mayhem Natural Body Building Championships. This was her first time in a body building compeittion, though she plans to enter more in the future and hopefully achieve professional status.

By Correne Martin

“I just like being strong; it’s part of me. I need to do it. It’s my lifestyle.”

Deep down, that’s how personal trainer, turned body builder, Deidre Dillman, feels. She’s been known in the Prairie du Chien community since her high school and college days as a decorated cross country and track athlete.

“I’ve always been a runner. It’s just kinda my thing,” she smiled.

These days, at the age of 27, Deidre is a personal trainer and strength trainer for Suppz Gym in Prairie du Chien. She’s been there about four years and, while she loves getting others pumped up about being healthy and strong, she’s personally chased gradually greater goals for herself.

She’s always enjoyed lifting heavy weights. “I love it. It’s helped me with everyday things, my self confidence,” she said. “I’m all about the pump. I wanna get to a 300-pound back squat.”

Wed
09
Nov

Burglary at Glen Haven bank

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:48

At a burglary at Peoples State Bank in Glen Haven Sunday morning, Nov. 6, evidence was collected along with a video of the activities and suspect. Above is an image taken from the video to see if the suspect can be identified.

A burglary at Peoples State Bank in Glen Haven is being investigated by the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

On Sunday, Nov. 6, just after 6 a.m., the sheriff’s department received an alarm complaint from the bank at 13207 Main St. in Glen Haven. Deputies arrived, checked and secured the building. While clearing the building, they noticed the back door had been kicked in and other damage was done inside.

Once the bank had been cleared and no suspects were located, the Grant County K9 unit was called to the scene in an attempt to track the suspect. The track led to a neighboring property, which was checked and cleared. K9 Riko continued to check the area and was unable to find a second track to continue searching for the suspect, according to the sheriff’s department.

Wed
09
Nov

Jail inmate found unresponsive

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:47

On Nov. 7, at about 4:30 p.m., a Clayton County Sheriff’s Office inmate was found unresponsive by jail staff. Michael C. Breckenfelder, 32, was found in his jail bunk area with no visible signs of life. Clayton County sheriff’s office staff and Central Ambulance Service provided CPR and were able to revive Breckenfelder. He was transported to Central Community Hospital in Elkader, lowa, and later air lifted to University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City.

Breckenfelder was held in the Clayton County Jail on the charges of domestic abuse with strangulation (class d felony), domestic abuse assault causing bodily injury (serious misdemeanor), possession of burglary tools (aggravated misdemeanor), and driving while license suspended (simple misdemeanor).

No immediate details will be released as this incident remains under investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office.

Wed
09
Nov

Head Start a little known program for school readiness, family support

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:45

In Head Start, children ages 3-5 learn basic skills and curriculum taught in other early childhood schools. The program is income and needs based and enrolls up to 17 kids per school year, though only six are currently enrolled.

During an activity night, parents and their children work on motor skills while interact with playdough together.

By Correne Martin

In a growing sea of early childhood programs, Head Start sets itself apart because of its approach to not only educate children ages 3 to 5, but also support the whole family.

Head Start is a free, federally-funded, school readiness program. It started in Prairie du Chien in 1967. From home-based when it began to center-based as it is now, over 1,000 children and their families have been served in Crawford County. The Prairie du Chien Head Start Child and Family Development Center is presently located at 116 E. Broadway St.

Wed
09
Nov

Tranel defeats Bennett

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:43

Incumbent Travis Tranel (R, Rural Cuba City) defeated newcomer Jesse Bennett (D, Rural Wyalusing Township) for State Representative in the 49th District as a result of Tuesday’s general election.

Tranel was victorious by a vote of 15,057-11,344. Tranel received 57 percent of the votes. Bennett got 43 percent.

Tranel won in Grant County 13,542-10,170. Bennett won in the village of Bagley 130-58. Tranel took the village of Bloomington 186-167. In Blue River, the vote was tied at 91-91. Tranel won in Cassville 222-171. Tranel won Dickeyville 307-218.

Wed
09
Nov

Nerison elected to seventh term

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:41

Republican Lee Nerison has been re-elected to a seventh term in the Wisconsin State Assembly’s 96th District. The dairy farmer netted 16,001 votes, or 61 percent, while his challenger, Viroqua businesswoman, Democrat Alicia Leinberger, slated 10,184 votes, or 39 percent from the district, according to regional news outlets.

Crawford County ended up in line with the rest of the district, according to the county clerk’s office’s final unofficial results. Nerison recorded 4,396 votes in the county, or 58.7 percent, and Leinberger had 3,093, or 41.3 percent.

Wed
09
Nov

Shilling wins by 44 votes

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 11/09/2016 - 13:41

A slim margin of 44 votes appears to have separated 32nd District State Senator Jennifer Shilling (D) from her challenger Dan Kapanke (R), with 96.9 percent of precincts reporting, early Wednesday morning, Nov. 9. Shilling had 40,883 votes, or 48.9 percent, over Kapanke, who had 40,839 votes, or 48.8 percent at that time. Third-party candidate Chip DeNure (I) had tallied 1,969 votes, or 2.4 percent.

Though her key opponent is holding out until vote totals are official, Sen. Shilling, the Senate minority leader, released an acceptance statement at about 3:40 a.m. Wednesday:

“I am proud to have earned the support of the voters in the 32nd Senate District and I look forward to continue serving as a strong voice for western Wisconsin in our State Capitol.

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