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Mon
06
May

City, residents and businesses getting ready for more flood clean-up efforts in Prairie du Chien

Submitted by admin on Mon, 05/06/2019 - 10:40

St. Feriole Island is still mostly covered with water, but it is hoped that the river will have receded enough by mid-May that clean-up efforts can begin. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)

The St. Feriole Island Ballpark parking lot was full. The three ball diamonds, the concession stand and the press box are high and dry, however, because the ballpark was constructed so as to be higher than a 100-year flood.

The River is expected to get down to 16 feet by May 10. Minor flood stage is 16 feet.

This alligator looks quite content, having found a nice resting spot on the roof of a quiet cottage on North Main Street near the intersection with Frederick Street.

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Mississippi River crested at 21.75 feet on Friday, April 26 and has been steadily receding since. At 6:45 a.m. on Monday it was at 18.32, and it is expected to be down close to 16 feet by May 10.

Wed
01
May

Now I know what it feels like to experience dementia

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 11:11

Wearing specialized gear like monocular glasses, sound-emitting headphones and knitting gloves, participants of Dementia Live can experience some of the challenges dementia sufferers do.

By Correne Martin

For just seven minutes, I struggled. 

I couldn’t flip the newspaper pages or punch the tiny keys on the phone. I had to adapt when I couldn’t remove silverware from the drawer or pick up a pen from the table. My dexterity was weakened and I could hardly open the pet food container to feed my dog.

I saw people around me smiling and nodding, sometimes shrugging their shoulders and laughing. But I could barely hear what they said. 

My distant vision was poor and my peripheral vision was non-existent. To see and hear someone behind me, I had to turn my entire body around and face her—and even then, my senses were limited. 

Wed
01
May

Woodman Veterans Memorial effort gets going

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 11:09

Construction of the Woodman Area Veterans Memorial began recently in Woodman. The memorial will honor all of the area men and women who served and are serving in the U.S. military. This unique memorial also points out the unique diversities as “One Nation, Under God,” the country strives to preserve freedom and equality throughout the globe.

The statue was inspired by the only Civil War veteran from the Woodman area laid to rest in the Woodman Cemetery: Chauncy Bangs. On the four sides of the statue base, four different stories about military history will be told.

The front side tablet thanks all of the Woodman area service men and women for their service and recognizes Chauncy Bangs as the inspiration for the statue. 

Wed
01
May

PdC names lieutenant, new officer sworn in

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 11:08

Casey Cox (left), K-9 officer with the Prairie du Chien Police Department, was sworn in as the new lieutenant April 25. (Submitted photos)

Dwight Kussmaul is a new full-time police officer in Prairie du Chien. His wife, Sam, participated in his pinning ceremony April 11.

Dwight Kussmaul was sworn in on April 11 as a new full-time officer with the Prairie du Chien Police Department. He will be in field training for 12 weeks. He lives in Prairie du Chien and is married with two daughters.

Casey Cox was sworn in as lieutenant of the department on April 25. He steps into the position formerly held by Terry Sprosty, who retired earlier this year. 

Cox is from Prairie du Chien, attended SWTC Academy, Madison Area Technical College for his associate degree and Upper Iowa University for his bachelor’s degree.

Wed
01
May

Hooray for hemp

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 11:01

 

Licenses increase in state 

as well as in Crawford County

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Mon
29
Apr

Second crest 21.75 feet, the fourth highest ever

Submitted by admin on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 14:18

These are just two of the houses whose back yards are in the vicinity of North Prairie Street.

Several homes in Prairie du Chien were affected by the flood, including this one as viewed from the Highway 18 Bypass. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)

Most of the trailer homes at Big River Campground had to be moved to higher ground.

This is part of South First Street near the intersection with West Brunson Friday.

This back and side yard, along with various structures, were inundated near North Prairie Street.

This is a view of North Prairie Street in Prairie du Chien Thursday.

Water covered a good portion of West Pine Street.

The lower level of the Winneshiek Bar building was surrounded but the bar was open for business this past weekend.

This view from Pike’s Peak State Park in Iowa shows how high the water was on the trees and, in the distance, the railroad bridge over the Wisconsin River.

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The Mississippi River crested at 21.75 feet on Friday, not major flood stage, but the fourth highest ever recorded at the McGregor gauge, surpassing the crest of 21.58 in 1969. The river has only gone above major flood stage of 22 feet twice (1965 and 2001).

Mon
29
Apr

Two local men arrested regarding meth activity

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 13:22

On Wednesday, April 24, at about 9:10 p.m., the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 2000 Chevy Silverado on Highway 18 near the intersection of Giard Road. Suspicion of drug activity was detected during the stop and the Prairie du Chien Police Department K-9 Unit was called to assist. 

As a result, a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle and a subsequent search located approximately 43.7 grams of methamphetamine. The driver, 46-year-old Michael John Werges, of Marquette, Iowa, and 52-year-old Kenneth Elwood Marketto, of Prairie du Chien, were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to deliver, a class B felony. 

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Prairie du Chien Police Department and Monona Police Department.   

Mon
29
Apr

Sources of Strength creating a culture shift among PdC high schoolers

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 13:04

Color Run/Walk May 4 at La Riviere Park

By Correne Martin

Created as a prevention program for suicide, bullying and substance abuse, SOS—or Sources of Strength—is a culture shift agenda that’s gaining strength among the Prairie du Chien High School student population. It’s designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms, increase help-seeking behaviors and encourage connections between peers and caring adults.

Mon
29
Apr

Tree-mendous outdoor education opportunity for 2019 first grade class

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 12:40

Crawford County Conservationist Dave Troester shows Ellie Kramer, a Prairie Catholic School first grader, how to spray water from a powerful hose attached to a forester pack. This was just one of the hands-on demonstrations provided at the annual first grade Arbor Day program at the county courthouse lawn Friday. (Photos by Correne Martin)

Retired teacher Mark Pedretti shows B.A. Kennedy Elementary School first graders the cones on a Jack pine tree and explains how they open up, birds eat the seeds and then contribute to beginnings of another tree being planted. Pictured getting a close look are (front to back) Camden Fradette, Will Redman and Jacob Pagenkopf.

The entire group posed for a picture together in celebration of Arbor Day.

Trace Martin and Breanna Perkins helped Tom Nelson open the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mark Pedretti shows the kids an antler shed and talks about how it contains minerals that the squirrels come eat. He said squirrels will often eat the whole thing.

Tom Nelson involves a number of the first graders as the group begins envisioning planting their class' flowering crabapple tree.

A highlight of the event was shooting the forester pack's connecting hose toward a few bottles, simulating how a forester fights local wildfires.

Mrs. Sagedahl helps a few of her students along.

By Correne Martin

Flooding waters didn’t stop the annual first grade Arbor Day program from happening. Instead of learning and planting a tree at the St. Feriole Island Memorial Gardens, the public and private school first graders of Prairie du Chien received “tree-mendous” education Friday, April 27, on the lawn of the Crawford County Courthouse. A flowering crabapple tree will be planted in honor of the 2019 first grade class at Lucky Park when waters recede.

Wed
24
Apr

Workshops to discuss childhood adversity, how kids react, and working through it

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 04/24/2019 - 14:12

By Correne Martin

On April 30, in Prairie du Chien, there will be three workshop opportunities for the public to examine the effects of adversity on child development and behavior, and how to build resiliency to offset potential adversity. 

Children’s Justice Support Coordinator Peter Daniels, who works in human services for Crawford and Vernon counties, will offer the free, one-hour ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) seminars at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. in room 236 of the Crawford County Administration Building. Daniels works with all the schools in both his assigned counties and can lead teacher trainings, but this is the first occasion available to the general public. 

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